He took leave of his good friends, the Lathrops, without betraying to them his condition, or they would have insisted upon giving him substantial aid. As it was, Mrs. Lathrop insisted upon preparing,226 with her own hands, a substantial lunch, which in due time Robert found very acceptable.
He set out on his journey on foot. His small capital would not allow him to travel in any other way. His clothes had been dried and pressed, and he presented a neat appearance, so that he was not likely to be taken for a tramp, though in his earlier days he had travelled in that character.
He walked in a leisurely5 way during the forenoon, and about noon sat down under a tree and ate his lunch. It was a plentiful6 one, but Robert, whose appetite had been sharpened by his walk, did full justice to it. In fact he ate it all.
"There's no particular hurry," he thought; "I may as well lie here for awhile and rest during the heat of the day."
It was not quite 2 o'clock when he was roused from a revery by hearing carriage wheels. He looked up and saw a lady in a four-wheel carriage, drawn7 by a horse who was inclined to be fractious. The lady driver was evidently anxious, for she pulled the reins8 frantically9, and called out, "Whoa! you sir! Why don't you behave? Oh dear, what shall I do?"
The horse shook his head, pranced10, backed,227 and was evidently prepared to make trouble, much to the discomfort11 and alarm of the lady.
"Oh, dear! I wish I hadn't come alone!" she exclaimed. "I didn't think Prince would behave so. It's lucky if I don't get my neck broken!"
The horse was quite aware that he was master of the situation, and that his driver had lost her presence of mind, and, with a perversity12 which we sometimes see in horses, made up his mind to act as badly as possible.
So occupied was the lady that she did not see the boy, who sat under a tree by the roadside, nor suspected that in him she was to find a deliverer.
If there was any one accustomed to horses, and utterly13 without fear of them, it was Robert, as may be supposed from the nature of his training. He sprang to his feet when he perceived the situation, and, running forward, took off his hat, and asked politely, "Can I be of any service to you, madam?"
"Can you drive horses?" asked the lady, doubtfully.
Robert smiled.
"I'm used to them," he answered.
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Robert did not wait for the carriage to stop, but with his usual activity clambered in, and was at the lady's side in an instant.
"Now," he said, "let me take the reins."
"If you are sure that you can drive," said Miss Stafford, doubtfully.
"You shall see for yourself," answered Robert, confidently.
He held the reins with a firm hand. The horse, though immediately sensible that there was a new hand at the helm, if I may speak figuratively, wasn't quite ready to yield.
Seeing that he was still fractious, Robert took the whip and brought it down smartly on the horse's flanks.
"Oh, what are you doing?" asked the lady in alarm. "Prince will run away with us!"
"Let him try it," said Robert, his eyes flashing. "If I can't subdue15 him, I'll sell out to some one that can!"
This was a boy's expression, but his confident manner served to reassure16 Miss Stafford, though Prince did really undertake to run. The road,229 however, was good, there were no carriages to encounter, and Robert gave him his head, holding the reins, however, in a strong, firm grasp.
"I never rode so fast in my life!" said Miss Stafford nervously17, as they flew over the road. "Don't let us tip over."
"No, ma'am, I won't."
After a while Prince slackened his speed. It was rather a warm day, and he found that it was not quite so good fun running as he found it when he felt that his driver was frightened—now the least sign of fractiousness was instantly followed by a smart stroke of the whip.
"I believe you do understand horses," said Miss Stafford at length.
"It's my business to understand them," answered Robert.
"You ain't a—jockey, are you?" asked the lady.
"No; I have been a circus-rider."
"You don't say so!" ejaculated the lady. "You can't jump through hoops18 and all them things, can you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You are not with a circus now, are you?"
Robert explained that he had left circus life230 for a time, but had been thrown out of employment unexpectedly.
"I am going to a birthday party of a little niece of mine," said Miss Stafford. "She is twelve years old to-day. There will be twenty or thirty boys and girls there. I wish you could do something to amuse them. It would make us all the more welcome."
"I am a little of a magician," said Robert. "If you think they would like to see some tricks—"
"The very thing!" exclaimed Miss Stafford, enthusiastically. "They are all fond of tricks. Where did you learn?"
When Miss Stafford was informed that Robert had learned of a real magician, that is of a professor of magic, she was very much pleased.
"I will engage you, then," she said, "for the afternoon and evening. When I say engage you, I mean I will pay you for your trouble."
"Oh, I won't charge anything," said Robert.
"But you must!" said the lady positively19. "Louisa Stafford never allows any one to work for nothing. Besides you have perhaps prevented Prince here from breaking my neck. I certainly won't be mean enough to make you231 work for nothing. I warrant you are not over-provided with money."
"Well, no," answered Robert, smiling. "I can't say I am. I have only a dollar and a half here, though I have some money in the hands of a friend at the East."
"And how far are you expecting to travel?"
"To New York."
"To New York—almost two thousand miles—on a dollar and a half! Goodness gracious, what a wild idea!"
"Oh, I expect to find something to do on the way, and if I don't I shall meet with good friends."
"A dollar and a half! I never heard of such a thing!" reiterated20 Miss Stafford.
Miss Louisa Stafford was a rich and kind-hearted maiden21 lady, who, unlike many of her class, was very fond of young people and a great favorite with them. No gathering22 of her nephews or nieces was considered complete without the presence of Aunt Louisa, who was sure in every way to promote the happiness of the young company. She was delighted to secure in Robert one who could so materially help her, and232 inwardly resolved to reward him well for his services.
They drove up to a large house with a broad lawn, shaded by fine trees, under which were assembled a merry crowd of young people. When Miss Stafford's carriage was espied23 there was a rush to greet her.
"How are you all, children?" she said, heartily24. "Oh; I see you are looking at this young gentleman with me. Well, he has saved my life."
"Saved your life!" exclaimed the children in chorus.
"Yes, Prince undertook to run away with and upset me, but Master Robert, here (she had inquired his name), subdued25 him, and here I am. I have taken the liberty to invite Professor Rudd to join our party."
"Professor Rudd!" repeated the children, bewildered.
"Yes; this young gentleman is a professor of magic, and he will perform some tricks this evening. This afternoon I expect you to be polite to him, and invite him to join your games."
This all were very ready to do, for Robert was233 good-looking and gentlemanly in appearance, and soon made himself a general favorite.
Supper was served between five and six o'clock, and early in the evening Robert appeared as a magician. He had quite a variety of tricks and illustrations, and this part of the programme gave great satisfaction.
The next morning (for Miss Stafford and Robert also passed the night in the hospitable26 mansion) when our young hero was ready to start out on his journey, Miss Stafford, put in his hand a sealed envelope.
"Don't open this," she said, "till you have gone at least a mile."
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1
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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pranced
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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perversity
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| n.任性；刚愎自用 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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15
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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18
hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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