CHAPTER XXV. A HARD CUSTOMER.

 Walter stopped long enough at Buffalo¹ to visit Niagara Falls, as he had intended. Though he enjoyed the visit, and found the famous cataract² fully³ up to his expectations, no incident occurred during the visit which deserves to be chronicled here. He resumed his journey, and arrived in due time at Cleveland.

 

He had no difficulty in finding the office of Mr. Greene, the agent of Messrs. Flint & Pusher. He found that this gentleman, besides his agency, had a book and stationery⁴ business of his own.

 

"I don't go out myself," he said to Walter; "but I keep a supply of Flint's books on hand, and forward them to his agents as called for. Have you done much in the business?"

 

"No, sir, I am only a beginner. I have done nothing yet."

 

[Pg 237]

 

"I thought not. You look too young."

 

"Mr. Pusher told me I had better be guided by your advice."

 

"I'll advise you as well as I can. First, I suppose you want to know where to go."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"You had better go fifty miles off at least. The immediate⁵ neighborhood has been pretty well canvassed⁶. There's C—— now, a flourishing and wealthy town. Suppose you go there first."

 

"Very well, sir."

 

"It's on the line of railway. Two hours will carry you there."

 

"I'll go, this afternoon."

 

"You are prompt."

 

"I want to get to work as soon as possible."

 

"I commend your resolution. It speaks well for your success."

 

Walter arrived in C—— in time for supper. He went to a small public house, where he found that he could board for a dollar and a half a day, or seven dollars by the week. He engaged a week's board, reflecting that he could probably work to advantage a[Pg 238] week in so large a place, or, if not, that five days at the daily rate would amount to more than the weekly terms.

 

He did not at first propose to do anything that evening until it occurred to him that he might perhaps dispose of a copy of his book to the landlord in part payment for his board. He went into the public room after supper.

 

"Are you travelling alone?" asked the landlord, who had his share of curiosity.

 

"Yes," said Walter.

 

"Not on business?"

 

"Yes, on business."

 

"What might it be now? You are rather young to be in business."

 

"I am a book-agent."

 

"Meeting with pretty good success?"

 

"I'm just beginning," said Walter, smiling. "If you'll be my first customer, I'll stop with you a week."

 

"What kind of a book have you got?"

 

Walter showed it. It was got up in the usual style[Pg 239] of subscription⁷ books, with abundance of illustrations.

 

"It's one of the best books we ever sent out," said Walter, in a professional way. "Just look at the number of pictures. If you've got any children, they'll like it; and, if you haven't, it will be just the book for your centre-table."

 

"I see you know how to talk," said the landlord, smiling. "What is the price?"

 

"Three dollars and a half."

 

"That's considerable."

 

"But you know I'm going to take it out in board."

 

"Well, that's a consideration, to be sure. A man doesn't feel it so much as if he took the money out of his pocket and paid cash down. What do you say, Mrs. Burton?" addressing his wife, who just then entered the room. "This young man wants to stay here a week, and pay partly in a book he is agent for. Shall I agree?"

 

"Let me see the book," said Mrs. Burton, who was a comely⁸, pleasant-looking woman of middle age. "What's the name of it?"

 

[Pg 240]

 

"'Scenes in Bible Lands,'" said Walter.

 

He opened it, taking care to display and point out the pictures.

 

"I declare it is a nice book," said Mrs. Burton. "Is there a picture of Jerusalem?"

 

"Here it is," said Walter, who happened to know just where to find it. "Isn't it a good picture? And there are plenty more as good. It's a book that ought to be in every family."

 

"Really, Mr. Burton, I don't know but we might as well take it," said the landlady⁹. "He takes it out in board, you know."

 

"Just as you say," said the landlord. "I am willing."

 

"Then I'll take the book. Emma will like to look at it."

 

So Walter made the first sale, on which he realized a profit of one dollar and a quarter.

 

"It's a pretty easy way to earn money," he reflected with satisfaction, "if I can only sell copies enough. One copy sold will pay for a day's board."

 

He went to bed early, and enjoyed a sound and[Pg 241] refreshing¹⁰ sleep. He was cheered with hopes of success on the morrow. If he could sell four copies a day, that would give him a profit of five dollars, and five dollars would leave him a handsome profit after paying expenses.

 

The next morning after breakfast he started out, carrying with him three books. Knowing nothing of the residents of the village, he could only judge by the outward appearance of their houses. Seeing a large and handsome house standing¹¹ back from the street, he decided¹² to call.

 

"The people living here must be rich," he thought. "They won't mind paying three dollars and a half for a nice book."

 

Accordingly he walked up the gravelled path and rang the front-door bell. The door was opened by a housemaid.

 

"Is the lady of the house at home?" asked Walter.

 

"Do you want to see her?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Then wait here, and I'll tell her."

 

[Pg 242]

 

A tall woman, with a thin face and a pinched expression, presented herself after five minutes.

 

"Well, young man," she asked, after a sharp glance, "what is your business?"

 

Her expression was not very encouraging, but Walter was bound not to lose an opportunity.

 

"I should like to show you a new book, madam," he commenced, "a book of great value, beautifully illustrated¹³, which is selling like wildfire."

 

"How many copies have you sold?" inquired the lady, sharply.

 

"One," answered Walter, rather confused.

 

"Do you call that selling like wildfire?" she demanded with sarcasm¹⁴.

 

"I only commenced last evening," said Walter, "I referred to the sales of other agents."

 

"What's the name of the book?"

 

"'Scenes in Bible Lands.'"

 

"Let me see it."

 

Walter displayed the book.

 

"Look at the beautiful pictures," he said.

 

"I don't see anything remarkable¹⁵ about them.[Pg 243] The binding¹⁶ isn't very strong. Shouldn't wonder if the book would go to pieces in a week."

 

"I don't think there'll be any trouble that way," said Walter.

 

"If it does, you'll be gone, so it won't trouble you."

 

"With ordinary care it will hold long enough."

 

"Oh, yes, of course you'd say so. I expected it. How much do you charge for the book?"

 

"Three dollars and a half."

 

"Three dollars and a half!" repeated the woman. "You seem to think people are made of money."

 

"I don't fix the price, madam," said Walter, rather provoked. "The publishers do that."

 

"I warrant they make two-thirds profit. Don't they now?"

 

"I don't know," said Walter. "I don't know anything about the cost of publishing books; but this is a large one, and there are a great many pictures in it. They must have cost considerable."

 

"Seems to me it's ridiculous to ask such a price for a book. Why, it's enough to buy a nice dress pattern!"

 

[Pg 244]

 

"The book will last longer than the dress," said Walter.

 

"But it is not so necessary. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'd like the book well enough to put on my parlor-table. I'll give you two dollars for it."

 

"Two dollars!" ejaculated Walter, scarcely crediting the testimony¹⁷ of his ears.

 

"Yes, two dollars; and I warrant you'll make money enough then."

 

"I should lose money," said Walter. "I couldn't think of accepting such an offer."

 

"In my opinion there isn't any book worth even two dollars."

 

"I see we can't trade," said Walter, disgusted at such meanness in a lady who occupied so large a house, and might be supposed to have plenty of money.

 

He began to replace the book in its brown-paper covering.

 

"I don't know but I might give you twenty-five cents more. Come now, I'll give you two dollars and a quarter."

 

"I can't take it," said Walter, shortly. "Three[Pg 245] dollars and a half is the price, and I will not take a cent less."

 

"You won't get it out of me then," retorted the lady, slamming the door in displeasure.

 

Walter had already made up his mind to this effect, and had started on his way to the gate.

 

"I wonder if I shall meet many people like her," he thought, and his courage was rather damped.

1 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

2 cataract   

n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障

参考例句：

• He is an elderly gentleman who had had a cataract operation.他是一位曾经动过白内障手术的老人。
• The way is blocked by the tall cataract.高悬的大瀑布挡住了去路。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 stationery   

n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封

参考例句：

• She works in the stationery department of a big store.她在一家大商店的文具部工作。
• There was something very comfortable in having plenty of stationery.文具一多，心里自会觉得踏实。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 canvassed   

v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查

参考例句：

• He canvassed the papers, hunting for notices of jobs. 他仔细查阅报纸，寻找招工广告。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The stirring event was well canvassed. 那桩惊人的事情已经是满城风雨。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

7 subscription   

n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方）

参考例句：

• We paid a subscription of 5 pounds yearly.我们按年度缴纳5英镑的订阅费。
• Subscription selling bloomed splendidly.订阅销售量激增。

8 comely   

adj.漂亮的，合宜的

参考例句：

• His wife is a comely young woman.他的妻子是一个美丽的少妇。
• A nervous,comely-dressed little girl stepped out.一个紧张不安、衣着漂亮的小姑娘站了出来。

9 landlady   

n.女房东，女地主

参考例句：

• I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
• The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。

10 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。

11 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

12 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

13 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

14 sarcasm   

n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic）

参考例句：

• His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
• She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。

15 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

16 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

17 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。