CHAPTER XXII. — THE YOUNG DOCTOR.

 The fact that he had obtained a place gave Sam a new sense of importance. Having drifted about the city streets for six months, never knowing in the morning where his meals were to come from during the day, or whether he was to have any, it was pleasant to think that he was to have regular wages. He presented himself in good season the next morning.

 

He was waiting outside when the doctor arrived.

 

"So you are on hand," said Dr. Graham.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"By the way, what is your name?"

 

"Sam Barker."

 

"Very well, Sam, come upstairs with me."

 

Sam followed the doctor to his office.

 

The doctor surveyed his young assistant with critical eyes.

 

"Where do you buy your clothes?" he asked.

 

"I haven't bought any," said Sam. "I brought these from the country."

 

"They seem to be considerably¹ the worse for wear. In fact, your appearance doesn't do credit to my establishment."

 

"I do look rather ragged," said Sam; "but I haven't got enough money to buy any new clothes."

 

"I have a son two years older than you. He may have some old clothes that would suit you. I'll have a bundle made up, and brought down to the office to-morrow."

 

"Thank you, sir," said Sam.

 

The doctor kept his promise, and the next day our hero was enabled to throw aside his rags, and attire² himself in a neat gray suit, which considerably improved his outward appearance.

 

"Now," said the doctor, "I would suggest that a little more attention to washing would be of advantage to you."

 

"All right, sir; I'll remember."

 

Sam scrubbed himself to a considerable degree of cleanness, and combed his hair. The ultimate result was a very creditable-looking office boy.

 

"Now," said the doctor, "I expect you to be faithful to my interests."

 

Sam readily promised this. Already he formed glowing anticipations³ of learning the business, and succeeding the doctor; or, at any rate, being admitted to partnership⁴ at some future day.

 

Several weeks passed by. Considering his previous course of life, Sam acquitted⁵ himself very well. He opened the office in the morning, swept it out, and got it in order before the doctor arrived. During the day he ran on errands, distributed circulars, in fact made himself generally useful. The doctor was rather irregular in coming in the morning, so that Sam was sometimes obliged to wait for him two or three hours. One morning, when sitting at his ease reading the morning paper, he was aroused by a knock at the door.

 

He rose and opened it.

 

"Is the doctor in?" asked a young man of Irish extraction.

 

"Hasn't come yet," said Sam. "Would you like to see him?"

 

"I would thin. He's the man that cures corns, isn't he?"

 

"Yes," said Sam. "He's the best corn-doctor in the city."

 

"Thin I've come to the right place, sure."

 

"Have you got one?"

 

"I've got a murtherin' big one. It almost kills me."

 

"Step in and wait for the doctor. He'll be in soon."

 

"I'm in a great hurry," said the young man. "It's porter I am in a store down town, and I can't stay long. How much does the doctor charge?"

 

"A dollar for each corn."

 

"O murder! does he now?"

 

"Isn't it worth that?"

 

"It's a mighty⁶ big price to pay."

 

"You see," said Sam, "he's a famous doctor; that's why he charges so much."

 

"I don't care for that at all. I'm a poor man, and it's hard on me payin' that much."

 

Here an idea struck Sam. He had often witnessed the doctor's operations, and to his inexperienced mind they seemed easy enough to perform. Why couldn't he operate a little on his own account before the doctor came? By so doing he would make a little money, and if successful he would have a future source of revenue, as patients often came when he was alone.

 

"I'm the doctor's assistant," he commenced.

 

"Are you now? So you're the young doctor?"

 

"Yes," said Sam.

 

"Then it's a mighty young doctor ye are."

 

"I know it," said Sam. "I've learnt the trade of Dr. Graham."

 

"Do you work at it much?" asked the patient.

 

"Yes," said Sam, "when the doctor's away. I aint as good as he is," he admitted candidly⁷, "and that is why I work cheaper."

 

"You work cheaper, do yer?"

 

"Yes," said Sam. "I only charge half price."

 

"That's fifty cents."

 

"Yes."

 

"And do you think you could cure me?"

 

"Of course I could," said Sam, confidently.

 

"Then go ahead," said the Irishman, in a fit of reckless confidence which he was destined⁸ to repent⁹.

 

"Sit down there," said Sam, pointing out the patient's chair.

 

The patient obeyed.

 

"Now take off your boots. You don't think I can cut through the boot, do you?"

 

He was obeyed.

 

Sam began to fumble¹⁰ among the sharp instruments.

 

"What are you goin to do?" asked the patient, rather alarmed.

 

"Oh, don't be afraid," said Sam. "You won't feel it."

 

"Won't feel the knife?"

 

"No, I'm goin to put on some liquid that'll take away the feeling."

 

"Shure you ought to know," said the patient, his confidence returning.

 

"Of course I do," said Sam.

 

"Now sit still."

 

Thus far Sam was perfectly¹¹ self-possessed. He went about his preparations with an air that imposed upon the patient. But the difficulty was to come.

 

Things which look easy often are found difficult when attempted. When Sam began to wield¹² the doctor's instruments he did so awkwardly. He lacked that delicacy¹³ of touch which can only be acquired by practice, and the result was tragical¹⁴. The knife slipped, inflicting¹⁵ a deep gash¹⁶, and causing a quick flow of blood.

 

"Oh, murder, I'm kilt!" exclaimed the terrified patient, bounding to his feet, and rushing frantically¹⁷ round the room. "I'm bladin' to death."

 

Sam was almost equally frightened. He stood, with the knife in his hand, panic-stricken.

 

"I'll have you up for murder, I will!" shouted Mr. Dennis O'Brien, clutching the wounded member. "Oh, why did I ever come to a boy doctor? Oh, whirra, whirra!"

 

"I didn't mean to do it," said Sam, frightened.

 

"You'll be hanged for killin' me, bad 'cess to you. Go for a doctor, quick."

 

Almost out of his wits Sam was about to obey, when as he opened the door he confronted his employer. Under ordinary circumstances he would have been sorry to have him come in so soon. Now he was glad.

 

"What's the meaning of all this?" asked Dr. Graham, surveying with astonishment¹⁸ the Irishman prancing¹⁹ around the office, and Sam's scared face.

 

"He's kilt me, doctor," said Dennis, groaning²⁰.

 

"He? Who?"

 

"The young doctor, shure."

 

"Who's he?"

 

"That's the one," said Mr. O'Brien, pointing to Sam. "He's cut my toe off, and I'm bladin' to death."

 

"What does this mean, Sam?" said the doctor, sternly.

 

"He was in a hurry," stammered²¹ Sam, "and I didn't want him to go away, so I thought I'd try to cure him, but the knife slipped, and—"

 

"I'll attend to your case afterwards. Sit down, sir."

 

"Will I die?" asked Dennis, lugubriously²².

 

"No danger, now. You might, if I hadn't come just as I did."

 

Matters were soon remedied, and Dennis went away relieved, well satisfied because the doctor declined, under the circumstances, to receive any fee.

 

"Now, Sam," said the doctor, after he had gone, "what do you mean by such work as this?"

 

"I thought I could do it," said Sam, abashed²³.

 

"I ought to turn you away for this."

 

"It was only a mistake," said Sam.

 

"It came near being a very serious mistake. What would you have done if I had not come just as I did?"

 

"I don't know," said Sam.

 

"Never touch my instruments again. If you do I shall discharge you at once; that is, after giving you a sound flogging."

 

Sam felt that he had got off easily, and determined²⁴ not to set up again as doctor on his own account.

1 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

2 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

3 anticipations   

预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物

参考例句：

• The thought took a deal of the spirit out of his anticipations. 想到这，他的劲头消了不少。
• All such bright anticipations were cruelly dashed that night. 所有这些美好的期望全在那天夜晚被无情地粉碎了。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。

6 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

7 candidly   

adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地

参考例句：

• He has stopped taking heroin now,but admits candidly that he will always be a drug addict.他眼下已经不再吸食海洛因了,不过他坦言自己永远都是个瘾君子。
• Candidly,David,I think you're being unreasonable.大卫，说实话我认为你不讲道理。

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 repent   

v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔

参考例句：

• He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
• Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。

10 fumble   

vi.笨拙地用手摸、弄、接等，摸索

参考例句：

• His awkwardness made him fumble with the key.由于尴尬不安，他拿钥匙开锁时显得笨手笨脚。
• He fumbled his one-handed attempt to light his cigarette.他笨拙地想用一只手点燃香烟。

11 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

12 wield   

vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等)

参考例句：

• They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。
• People may wield the power in a democracy.在民主国家里，人民可以行使权力。

13 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

14 tragical   

adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的

参考例句：

• One day she was pink and flawless; another pale and tragical. 有的时候，她就娇妍、完美；另有的时候，她就灰白戚楚。
• Even Mr. Clare began to feel tragical at the dairyman's desperation. 连克莱先生看到牛奶商这样无计奈何的样子，都觉得凄惨起来。

15 inflicting   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。
• It's impossible to do research without inflicting some pain on animals. 搞研究不让动物遭点罪是不可能的。

16 gash   

v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝

参考例句：

• The deep gash in his arm would take weeks to heal over.他胳膊上的割伤很深，需要几个星期的时间才能痊愈。
• After the collision,the body of the ship had a big gash.船被撞后，船身裂开了一个大口子。

17 frantically   

ad.发狂地, 发疯地

参考例句：

• He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。
• She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。

18 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

19 prancing   

v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The lead singer was prancing around with the microphone. 首席歌手手执麦克风，神气地走来走去。
• The King lifted Gretel on to his prancing horse and they rode to his palace. 国王把格雷特尔扶上腾跃着的马，他们骑马向天宫走去。 来自辞典例句

20 groaning   

adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• She's always groaning on about how much she has to do. 她总抱怨自己干很多活儿。
• The wounded man lay there groaning, with no one to help him. 受伤者躺在那里呻吟着，无人救助。

21 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

22 lugubriously   

参考例句：

• His mirth hoarse and ghastly, like a raven's and the sick wolf joined him, howling lugubriously. 他的笑声粗厉可怕，跟乌鸦的怪叫一样，而那条病狼也随着他，一阵阵地惨嗥。 来自互联网

23 abashed   

adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He glanced at Juliet accusingly and she looked suitably abashed. 他怪罪的一瞥，朱丽叶自然显得很窘。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The girl was abashed by the laughter of her classmates. 那小姑娘因同学的哄笑而局促不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。