CHAPTER XXX. PAUL IS PROMOTED.

 "You are to go to Mr. Bradford at once," said Manson, as he received the letters Paul had brought.

There was a triumphant¹ smile on the book-keeper's face which Paul did not fail to observe.

"What does it mean?" he thought. "Has he been complaining of me?"

This would not have troubled him but for Manson's evident satisfaction. It was clear, he thought, that something disagreeable was about to happen during the interview that awaited Paul. However, he did not propose to give his enemy the satisfaction of knowing that he had given him anxiety. He merely said in his usual tone, "Very well, sir," and proceeded to open the door of the inner office.

"Mr. Manson told me you wished to see me, sir," he said.

"Oh, yes," said Mr. Bradford, wheeling round in his office chair. "Manson has been making complaints against you."

"I am not surprised at that, sir. From the first,[Pg 216] he appears to have disliked me. May I ask what he says?"

"He says you are not respectful to him."

"I am as respectful as I can be, but he is continually finding fault. It is impossible to please him."

"He wants me to discharge you."

Paul's heart beat quickly. It would be a misfortune to him to leave so good a place, especially as he was not sure whether he could regain² his place as train boy, and it would operate against him to have it known that he had been discharged by Mr. Bradford.

"Of course, sir," he answered, soberly, "that is as you please."

"Moreover," the manufacturer proceeded, "he wants me to take his nephew, Julius, in your place."

"I knew he wanted Julius in my place," said Paul, despondently³.

"And I have about made up my mind to let him try the experiment."

The blow had fallen! Poor Paul thought it hard, but his pride sustained him. He could not understand, however, how Mr. Bradford could so desert him and side with his enemy, the book-keeper.

"Then, sir, I suppose I am to go," he answered.

"Well, I can hardly employ two boys in the office, since there is not more than work enough for one."

[Pg 217]"I am very sorry, sir," said Paul, in a subdued⁴ tone. "I have tried to be faithful to you."

"And that is the reason why I intend to promote you," said the manufacturer, smiling.

Promote! The word fell like music on Paul's ears. It was all right. His friend had not deserted⁵ him after all.

"Oh, thank you, sir," he said, his face brightening.

"Come now, Paul, you didn't really think I meant to discharge you, did you?"

"It looked like it, sir," said Paul.

"I shouldn't have made you feel so uncomfortable," said his employer. "Now about this change. I am letting Manson have his way only to prove to him how unfit Julius is for the post. He hasn't tried him yet. When he does he will find him idle, lazy, and unreliable, and he will find such fault that his nephew will probably himself resign the place in disgust."

"I don't know," said Paul. "Ten dollars will reconcile him as it did me."

"Oh, bless your soul! Julius isn't to have ten dollars. He is to have four, like all his predecessors⁶ except yourself."

On the whole Paul was rather glad of that. It made Mr. Manson's momentary⁷ triumph less important.

"Now about your own affairs," said Mr. Bradford. "Are you willing to leave Chicago and travel West?"

[Pg 218]"I would like it above all things, sir," said Paul, his eyes sparkling.

"I thought you would. Well, I am about to give you an important commission. Do you know where the Black Hills are situated⁸?"

"Yes, sir; in Wyoming."

"Precisely⁹. Well, I suppose you know that multitudes have flocked there in search of gold."

"Yes, sir."

"I myself own half a mine there. It is known as the Blackstone. A man named Fox, who is resident at the mine, owns the other half, and its working is done under his direction. Now I have a shrewd suspicion that he is cheating me, taking advantage of my absence and probable inability to form any adequate judgment¹⁰ of the mine and its value."

"What makes you think so, sir?"

"His continually writing discouraging accounts of the mine, expressing his great disappointment with it. In his last letter he winds up by saying that he is willing to give or take two thousand dollars for it, though it cost the two of us ten thousand."

"Doesn't he run a risk in making such an offer?"

"Yes, but he thinks I can't attend to it myself, and will sacrifice my interest readily, just to get rid of anxiety."

"I see."

[Pg 219]"Now I want you to go out and form a judgment as to the man's motives¹¹, and get an idea of the real value of the mine."

"But, sir, I don't know anything about mines."

"Very true. Still you have good common sense, and can institute inquiries¹² without exciting suspicion. No one would suppose I would select as my agent a boy of sixteen."

"Perhaps it is rash," said Paul.

"Nine out of ten would say so, but somehow I have more confidence in you than in many men, and I believe you would serve me faithfully."

"You are right there, sir, at any rate."

"Now as to the compensation. Will twenty-five dollars a week and your traveling expenses content you?"

"Twenty-five dollars!" ejaculated Paul. "Are you in earnest?"

"Quite so. Paul, I don't pay you according to your age, but according to the nature of your work, and twenty-five dollars a week is not too much. Now, when can you start?"

"Day after to-morrow, sir."

"That will do."

"I was thinking how I could arrange about my mother, Mr. Bradford. She will need money while I am gone."

[Pg 220]"She can call every Saturday at the office and collect what you thinks she needs. Shall it be ten dollars a week? If so, it can be deducted¹³ from your week's wages."

"That will be very satisfactory, sir."

"Very well. Go home, make preparations for setting out, and come to me to-morrow for instructions. Don't tell anybody except your mother where you are going."

"All right sir."

As Paul entered the presence of the book-keeper, the latter glanced at him eagerly to see his downcast looks. He was perplexed¹⁴ to see that Paul seemed in excellent spirits, and feared Mr. Bradford had reconsidered his decision. But Paul reassured¹⁵ him.

"Mr. Manson," he said, "I am about to leave you."

"So Mr. Bradford has found you out, and discharged you," sneered¹⁶ Manson.

"At any rate," answered Paul, "I shall no longer be office-boy. Julius is to take my place."

"If you had been more respectful to me you might have staid," said Manson.

"Mr. Bradford didn't say anything about that," said Paul, smiling. "Well, good-day."

"There's something about this I don't understand,"[Pg 221] thought the perplexed book-keeper. "I thought he would make a fuss. Well, at any rate, I've carried my point. He's bounced, and Julius is in his place."

1 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

2 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

3 despondently   

adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地

参考例句：

• It had come to that, he reflected despondently. 事情已经到了这个地步了，他沉思着，感到心灰意懒。 来自辞典例句
• He shook his head despondently. 他沮丧地摇摇头。 来自辞典例句

4 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

5 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

6 predecessors   

n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 momentary   

adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的

参考例句：

• We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
• I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。

8 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

9 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

10 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

11 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

12 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 deducted   

v.扣除，减去( deduct的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The cost of your uniform will be deducted from your wages. 制服费将从你的工资中扣除。
• The cost of the breakages will be deducted from your pay. 损坏东西的费用将从你的工资中扣除。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

15 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。