CHAPTER XVI. — SAM MEETS BROWN AND IS UNHAPPY,

 Never doubting Sam's assurance, the stranger entered the gloomy building, the lower part of which is divided into court-rooms. Out of one of these a man came, to whom he addressed this question: "Where is the counting-room?"

 

"The counting-room!" repeated the man, staring. "There isn't any here, that I know of."

 

"I want to subscribe¹ for the weekly edition," explained the man from Illinois.

 

"It strikes me you're a weakly edition of a man yourself," thought the other. "He must be a lunatic," was the next thought. "I may as well humor him."

 

"Go in at that door," he said.

 

The stranger entered as directed, and at once recognized it as a court-room.

 

"It is very singular that there should be a courtroom in the 'Tribune' office," he thought. He took a seat, and whispered to a man at his side: "Can you tell me where the 'Tribune' office is?"

 

"Printing-house Square," was the whispered reply.

 

"Where's that?"

 

"Not much over a quarter of a mile from here."

 

"The boy deceived me," thought the stranger indignantly, "and I gave him fifty cents for doing it. He must be a young rascal²."

 

"What building is this?" he asked, still in a whisper.

 

"The Tombs."

 

"What, the prison!"

 

"Yes; didn't you know it?" asked the informant, in surprise.

 

"I am a stranger in the city," said the Illinois man apologetically.

 

"Did you want to go to the 'Tribune' office?"

 

"Yes; I wished to subscribe for the paper."

 

"I am going that way. I will show you if you desire it."

 

"Thank you. I shall consider it a favor."

 

So the two retraced³ their steps, and this time our Illinois friend found the office of which he was in quest. He came near finding Sam also, for as he stood in front of French's Hotel, he saw his recent acquaintance approaching, and quickly dodged⁴ inside the hotel till he had passed. A boot-black to whom he had been speaking followed him in surprise.

 

"I say, what's up, Johnny?" he asked. "Yer didn't see a copp, did yer?"

 

"No, it's that man that just went by."

 

"Who's he?"

 

"He's the man I ran away from," said Sam, not caring to tell the truth.

 

"What would he do if he should catch you?" asked the boot-black, with curiosity.

 

"Lick me," said Sam, laconically⁵.

 

"Then you did right. Is he going to stay here long?"

 

"No; he's going away to-day."

 

"Then you're safe. You'd better go the other way from him."

 

"So I will," said Sam. "Where's the Park I've heard so much about?"

 

"Up that way."

 

"Is it far?"

 

"Four or five miles."

 

"It's a long way to walk."

 

"You can ride for five cents."

 

"Can I?"

 

"Yes; just go over to the Astor House, and take the Sixth avenue cars, and they'll take you there."

 

Sam had intended to spend his entire fifty cents in buying dinner when the time came, but he thought he would like to see Central Park. Besides, he would be safe from pursuit, and the punishment which he felt he deserved. Following the directions of his boy friend, he entered a Sixth avenue car, and in a little less than an hour was set down at one of the gates of the Park. He entered with a number of others, and followed the path that seemed most convenient, coming out at last at the lake. Until now Sam had thought rather slightingly of the Park. Green fields were no novelty to him, but he admired the lake with the boats that plied⁶ over its surface filled with lively passengers. He would have invested ten cents in a passage ticket; but he felt that if he did this, he must sacrifice a part of his intended dinner, and Sam was growing prudent⁷. He wandered about the Park two or three hours, sitting down at times on the benches that are to be found here and there for the convenience of visitors. He felt ready to go back; but it was only noon, and he was not sure but he might fall in with the gentleman from Illinois, whom he had left at the entrance of the Tombs.

 

He was destined⁸ to meet an acquaintance, but this time it was some one that had cheated him. Looking up from the bench on which he was seated, he saw his host of the preceding night, Mr. Clarence Brown, lounging along, smoking a cigar, with a look of placid⁹ contentment on his face.

 

"That cigar was bought with my money," thought Sam, bitterly; and in this conclusion he was right.

 

Sam jumped from his seat, and advanced to meet his enemy.

 

"Look here, Mr. Brown!"

 

Clarence Brown started as he saw who addressed him, for he was far from expecting to meet Sam here. He saw from the boy's looks that he was suspected of robbing him, and decided¹⁰ upon his course.

 

"Oh, it's you, is it?" he said, smiling. "How do you like the Park?"

 

"Never mind about that," said Sam, impatiently. "I want my money."

 

Mr. Brown arched his eyes in surprise.

 

"Really, my young friend, I don't comprehend you," he said, withdrawing his cigar from his mouth. "You speak as if I owed you some money."

 

"Quit fooling!" said Sam, provoked at the other's coolness. "I want that money you took from me while I was asleep last night."

 

"It strikes me you have been dreaming," said Brown, composedly. "I don't know anything about your money. How much did you have?"

 

"Nearly seven dollars."

 

"Are you sure you had it when you went to bed?"

 

"Yes. I kept it in my vest-pocket."

 

"That was careless. You should have concealed¹¹ it somewhere. I would have kept it for you if you had asked me."

 

"I dare say you would," said Sam, with withering¹² sarcasm¹³.

 

"Certainly, I wouldn't refuse so small a favor."

 

"Are you sure you didn't keep it for me?" said Sam.

 

"How could I, when you didn't give it to me?" returned the other, innocently.

 

"If you didn't take it," said Sam, rather staggered by the other's manner, "where did it go to?"

 

"I don't know, of course; but I shouldn't be surprised if it fell out of your vest-pocket among the bed-clothes. Did you look?"

 

"Yes."

 

"You might have overlooked it."

 

"Perhaps so," said Sam, thoughtfully.

 

He began to think he had suspected Mr. Brown unjustly. Otherwise, how could he be so cool about it?

 

"I am really sorry for your loss," said Brown, in a tone of sympathy; "all the more so, because I am hard up myself. I wish I had seven dollars to lend you."

 

"I wish you had," muttered Sam. "I can't get along without money."

 

"Did you have any breakfast?"

 

"Yes."

 

Sam did not furnish particulars, not liking¹⁴ to acknowledge the treatment he had received.

 

"Oh, you'll get along," said Brown, cheerfully. "Come and lodge¹⁵ with me again to-night."

 

"I don't know but what I will," said Sam, reflecting that he had no money to lose now, as he intended to spend all he had for dinner.

 

"Sit down and let us have a friendly chat," said Clarence Brown. "Won't you have a cigar? I've got an extra one."

 

"I never smoked," said Sam.

 

"Then it's time you learned. Shall I show you how?"

 

"Yes," said Sam.

 

The fact is, our very badly behaved hero had long cherished a desire to see how it seemed to smoke a cigar; but in the country he had never had the opportunity. In the city he was master of his own actions, and it occurred to him that he would never have a better opportunity. Hence his affirmative answer.

 

Clarence Brown smiled slightly to himself, for he anticipated fun. He produced the cigar, lighted it by his own, and gave Sam directions how to smoke. Sam proved an apt pupil, and was soon puffing¹⁶ away with conscious pride. He felt himself several years older. But all at once he turned pale, and drew the cigar from his mouth.

 

"What's the matter?" asked Brown, demurely¹⁷.

 

"I—don't—know," gasped¹⁸ Sam, his eyes rolling; "I—feel—sick."

 

"Do you? Don't mind it; it'll pass off."

 

"I think I'm going to die," said Sam, in a hollow voice. "Does smoking ever kill people?"

 

"Not often," said Brown, soothingly¹⁹.

 

"I think it's goin' to kill me," said Sam, mournfully.

 

"Lie down on the bench. You'll feel better soon."

 

Sam lay down on his back, and again he wished himself safely back at the deacon's. New York seemed to him a very dreadful place. His head ached; his stomach was out of tune²⁰, and he felt very unhappy.

 

"Lie here a little while, and you'll feel better," said his companion. "I'll be back soon."

 

He walked away to indulge in a laugh at his victim's expense, and Sam was left alone.

1 subscribe   

vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助

参考例句：

• I heartily subscribe to that sentiment.我十分赞同那个观点。
• The magazine is trying to get more readers to subscribe.该杂志正大力发展新订户。

2 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

3 retraced   

v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯

参考例句：

• We retraced our steps to where we started. 我们折回我们出发的地方。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We retraced our route in an attempt to get back on the right path. 我们折返，想回到正确的路上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 dodged   

v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避

参考例句：

• He dodged cleverly when she threw her sabot at him. 她用木底鞋砸向他时，他机敏地闪开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He dodged the book that I threw at him. 他躲开了我扔向他的书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 laconically   

adv.简短地，简洁地

参考例句：

• "I have a key,'said Rhett laconically, and his eyes met Melanie's evenly. "我有钥匙，"瑞德直截了当说。他和媚兰的眼光正好相遇。 来自飘（部分）
• 'says he's sick,'said Johnnie laconically. "他说他有玻"约翰尼要理不理的说。 来自飘（部分）

6 plied   

v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意

参考例句：

• They plied me with questions about my visit to England. 他们不断地询问我的英国之行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They plied us with tea and cakes. 他们一个劲儿地让我们喝茶、吃糕饼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

8 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

9 placid   

adj.安静的，平和的

参考例句：

• He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
• You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。

10 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。

11 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

12 withering   

使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的

参考例句：

• She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
• The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。

13 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。

14 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

15 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

16 puffing   

v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧

参考例句：

• He was puffing hard when he jumped on to the bus. 他跳上公共汽车时喘息不已。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe. 父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 demurely   

adv.装成端庄地，认真地

参考例句：

• "On the forehead, like a good brother,'she answered demurely. "吻前额，像个好哥哥那样，"她故作正经地回答说。 来自飘（部分）
• Punctuation is the way one bats one's eyes, lowers one's voice or blushes demurely. 标点就像人眨眨眼睛，低声细语，或伍犯作态。 来自名作英译部分

18 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

19 soothingly   

adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地

参考例句：

• The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘，她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。