CHAPTER XXXI. — TWO YEARS LATER.

 More than two years have elapsed. In the fine old home at Brookline, Sam and Arthur are sitting out on the lawn. Both have changed. Arthur looks stronger and better than when Sam first made his acquaintance, His thin face is more full, his pallor has been succeeded by a faint tinge¹ of color, and he looks contented² and happy. But the greatest change has come over Sam. He is now a young man of eighteen, well-formed and robust³, handsomely dressed, with a face not only attractive, but intelligent. These two years have improved him greatly, as we shall see.

 

"I can hardly realize that Charlie is to graduate next week," said Arthur.

 

"He was a sophomore⁴ when I first met him," said Sam. "How little I thought that the meeting would be so important to me!"

 

"And to me!" said Arthur. "You have up idea how lonely I felt before you came."

 

"You have an idea how ignorant I was at that time," said Sam.

 

"You didn't know much, to be sure," said Arthur, smiling. "I remember how I had to drill you in the multiplication⁵ table."

 

"My spelling was rather weak," said Sam.

 

"I should say it was; it was original, at least," said Arthur. "To tell the truth, I was rather dismayed when I found how little you knew. But you have made it up bravely."

 

"Yes," said Sam, complacently⁶, "I think have; but still you are ahead of me."

 

"Not in all things. You write a much better hand than I."

 

"I am afraid it is my only accomplishment," said Sam.

 

"But not your only acquisition. You are a good English scholar. I don't mind telling you, however, that in the first three months I never expected you would be."

 

"I used to have the headache pretty often about that time," said Sam.

 

"Yes; I sympathized with you at first, till I began to suspect that it was all put on."

 

"It was harder for me to apply myself than you, Arthur. My street life made it so. It was only by degrees that I got the habit of application."

 

"It was a good thing for me that I had to assist you. It gave me an object in life. Besides, it made me work harder myself in order to continue able to do it. I used to get low-spirited, and feel that I was of no use in the world."

 

"You don't feel so now," said Sam, with a look of affection; for Arthur seemed to him like a dear, younger brother, whom it was his duty to care for and protect.

 

"Oh, no," said Arthur, cheerfully. "I am much better and stronger now. And that leads me to a little secret which affects both you and me. Would you like to hear it?"

 

"Yes, Arthur."

 

"Father is going to take both of us into the office, to learn business. I shall only be there about half the day, but you will have full hours. How will you like that?"

 

"It is the very thing I would like above all others," said Sam, with animation⁷. "I want to be doing something. I want to earn my own living. When are we to go into the office?"

 

"On the first of September."

 

"Not till then?"

 

"No; we are to spend the summer at the White Mountains. Late in August Charlie will sail for Europe, where he is to travel for a year, and we two are to be disposed of as I have told you."

 

"It was a lucky day for me, Arthur, when I became your companion. But for that I might have been the same shiftless fellow I was before, fit for nothing except to run errands or sell newspapers."

 

"Are you sure you are fit for anything better now?" asked Arthur, mischievously⁸.

 

"I hope so," said Sam. "Time will show."

 

The arrangement indicated was carried out. Sam, through his bright, sunny disposition⁹, had become a favorite with all the Browns, who, besides, felt grateful to him for the good effect his companionship had had upon Arthur's health and happiness. It had long been understood between Charlie and his father that Sam was eventually to be taken into the office, and promoted as rapidly as his abilities would justify¹⁰. He was allowed a liberal salary, and continued a member of Mr. Brown's family.

1 tinge   

vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息

参考例句：

• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
• There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.她声音中流露出一丝忧伤。

2 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

3 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

4 sophomore   

n.大学二年级生；adj.第二年的

参考例句：

• He is in his sophomore year.他在读二年级。
• I'm a college sophomore majoring in English.我是一名英语专业的大二学生。

5 multiplication   

n.增加，增多，倍增；增殖，繁殖；乘法

参考例句：

• Our teacher used to drum our multiplication tables into us.我们老师过去老是让我们反覆背诵乘法表。
• The multiplication of numbers has made our club building too small.会员的增加使得我们的俱乐部拥挤不堪。

6 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

7 animation   

n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作

参考例句：

• They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
• The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。

8 mischievously   

adv.有害地；淘气地

参考例句：

• He mischievously looked for a chance to embarrass his sister. 他淘气地寻找机会让他的姐姐难堪。 来自互联网
• Also has many a dream kindheartedness, is loves mischievously small lovable. 又有着多啦a梦的好心肠，是爱调皮的小可爱。 来自互联网

9 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

10 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？