CHAPTER XI. BESSIE BENTON AT HOME.

 Tom came down to breakfast rather late the next day, but he felt fresh and hopeful, having slept off all his fatigue¹. He had money enough left to pay his board for a week and a half, and was not under the immediate² necessity of obtaining work. He felt curious to see the city he was in, and devoted³ the day to wandering about the streets. He took pains to find out where B—— street, the residence of Bessie Benton, was. He had made up his mind to call there that evening. It was a quiet, substantial house, in a nice street, indicating, in its appearance, the social position of the family.

 

About four o'clock in the afternoon, Tom ascended⁴ the steps and rang the bell.

 

"Is Miss Bessie Benton at home?" he inquired of the servant who answered his summons.

 

"Yes. Who shall I say wishes to see her?"

 

"Tom—I mean Gilbert Grey," said our hero, who came near forgetting his new name.

 

"Walk in, sir."

 

Tom was ushered⁵ into a handsome parlor⁶, and took his seat on a sofa.

 

"This is rather ahead of the room old Jacob and I used to live in," he thought. "I didn't make many fashionable calls then."

 

He was interrupted by the entrance of Bessie herself, who advanced frankly⁷, and welcomed him with evident pleasure.

 

"I'm glad you didn't forget to call, Gilbert," she said.

 

"I wanted to see you again," said Tom, with unconventional frankness.

 

"I'm glad you did. I want to introduce you to papa."

 

"Is he at home?"

 

"No, he won't be home till supper time. But, of course, you'll stay to supper?"

 

"I don't know," said Tom, awkwardly.

 

"Papa told me to invite you. He expects you."

 

"Then I'll stay," said Tom, promptly⁸.

 

"How do you like the city? Have you been about much?"

 

"Yes, I've been goin' round all day. It isn't as big as New York, but I like it."

 

Just then Maurice Walton entered the parlor. He stopped short on seeing Tom, not over-pleased at the sight of a possible rival.

 

"This is Gilbert. Mr. Grey, Maurice," said Bessie.

 

"How d'ye do?" returned Maurice, ungraciously.

 

"Pretty well," said Tom. "I hope you're the same."

 

"You found the way up here pretty quick," said Maurice, rather rudely.

 

"Yes," said Tom. "I wanted to see your cousin—and you," he added, slyly, perceiving the feelings of Maurice.

 

"Where are you stopping?"

 

"At a hotel."

 

"So I supposed. There are several hotels in the city," he remarked, with a sneer⁹.

 

"Are there?" asked Tom, innocently.

 

"Are you stopping at Burnett's?"

 

"No."

 

"That is the most fashionable hotel."

 

"That is the reason I didn't go there. I ain't fashionable myself."

 

"You don't say so?" sneered¹⁰ Maurice.

 

"Are you?"

 

"I hope so."

 

Here Bessie Benton burst into a laugh.

 

"What a vain, self-conceited boy you are, Maurice," she said.

 

"I don't call myself a boy at all," said Maurice, with lofty indignation.

 

"You're a young gentleman, then?"

 

"Of course I am."

 

"At what hotel did you say you stopped?" he asked, a minute later.

 

"I didn't say," said Tom.

 

Bessie laughed again, and Maurice colored with anger.

 

"If you'd rather not tell," he returned, "it's of no consequence."

 

"It's the Ohio Hotel."

 

"I never heard of it."

 

"Didn't you?"

 

"It can't be much of a hotel."

 

"I've seen better myself," said Tom. "It don't compare with the Fifth Avenue, in New York."

 

"Did you ever stop there?"

 

"I've been there often."

 

Tom did not explain that he once blacked boots in front of the hotel for several weeks. He did not feel disposed to take Maurice too much in his confidence. The fact is, that Maurice was considerably¹¹ mystified as to Tom's position and claims to consideration.

 

There was, of course, a certain want of polish about our hero, the result of his early associations, which led Maurice to doubt if Tom was not socially his inferior. On the other hand, Tom's free and easy allusions¹² to the Fifth Avenue Hotel, for instance, tended to combat this view. He became silent, and listened to the conversation between his cousin and Tom, which was altogether too free and animated¹³ to suit his taste.

 

"I wonder how long he's going to stay?" he thought.

 

"Isn't it most supper time, Bessie?" he asked, at length.

 

"Why? Are you hungry?"

 

"Rather," said Maurice, looking significantly at Tom, hoping that he would take the hint and go. He was ignorant of the invitation which had been given and accepted.

 

"Mr. Grey will stop to supper, Maurice," said Bessie.

 

"Oh! will he?" said Maurice; but his manner was far from showing pleasure.

 

He left the room soon after, and, at six, Mr. Benton came in. He was a stout¹⁴, pleasant-looking man, with a look of Bessie about the eyes, and he very cordially welcomed our hero.

 

"My daughter tells me you took good care of her on the way from Buffalo¹⁵, Mr. Grey," he said.

 

"I tried to," said Tom.

 

"Accept my thanks for your attentions. You are not very old for a protector," he added, with a smile, "but, from her account, you answered the purpose."

 

"There wasn't much to do," said Tom, modestly. "I'd like to do it again."

 

Bessie blushed a little, and laughed.

 

"It seems the arrangement was mutually agreeable," said the old gentleman. "Are you going to stay long in Cincinnati, Mr. Grey?"

 

"Yes, sir—I expect to."

 

"Then you must come and see us often."

 

"I should like to." Tom was on the point of adding, "tip-top," but stopped just in time.

 

Here the bell rang for supper, and the party adjourned¹⁶ to the dining-room. There were seats for four. Bessie sat opposite her father, having on one side Maurice, on the other Tom. The latter, I am bound to say, felt a little embarrassed. He knew that the usages of the family he was visiting must be different from those to which he was accustomed, and he was afraid he might make some blunder. He resolved, therefore, to watch Maurice carefully, and do whatever he did. Eating with a fork, he thought odd, and not nearly as convenient as a knife. Still, he did it to avoid mistakes. Maurice watched him, hoping to detect him in blunders, but to no purpose. He was, perhaps, slightly awkward, but committed no breaches¹⁷ of etiquette¹⁸.

 

"This is Mr. Grey, Maurice," introduced Mr. Benton, at the commencement of the meal.

 

"I have the honor of knowing Mr. Grey," said Maurice, stiffly.

 

There was a slight emphasis on the word honor, which Mr. Benton did not notice.

 

After supper Mr. Benton said:

 

"I am obliged to go out on a little business, but you young people can amuse yourselves without me. Perhaps Mr. Grey would like to hear you play, Bessie."

 

"Perhaps he plays himself?" suggested Maurice, with a sneer.

 

"Do you?" asked Bessie.

 

"I can play on a hand-organ," answered Tom.

 

"Professionally?" inquired Maurice.

 

"I never was in the business," said our hero. "Is it profitable?"

 

"How should I know?" said Maurice, angrily.

 

They adjourned to a pleasant sitting-room¹⁹, where there was a piano, and Bessie took her place at the piano.

 

"I am not much of a player," she said, "but will do my best."

 

After a while she began to sing. Her voice was pleasant, but not remarkable²⁰.

 

"I don't like singing alone," she said, at last.

 

"Mr. Grey will sing with you," said Maurice, maliciously²¹.

 

"Will you?" pleaded Bessie, turning to our hero.

 

"If you'll play that," said Tom, pointing to one of the popular songs of the day, which he had caught in the street.

 

"Of course I will."

 

I don't claim that Tom was a remarkable singer; but his voice was of good quality, and harmonized well with Bessie's. He sang correctly, also, and she was much pleased.

 

"How well you sing, Gilbert," she said. "Can't you sing something else?"

 

They sang two other popular songs, to the great dissatisfaction of Maurice, who saw himself quite eclipsed by the new arrival.

 

"Isn't he splendid, Maurice?" asked Bessie, after Tom had taken leave.

 

"He's a low fellow!" said Maurice.

 

"I wish you were half as handsome and agreeable," said Bessie, warmly.

 

Maurice went to bed in a very unhappy frame of mind. Tom, on the other hand, felt, as he returned to his unfashionable lodgings²², that he had never before had so pleasant an evening.

1 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

2 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。

3 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

4 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

7 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

8 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

9 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

10 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。

11 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。

12 allusions   

暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We should not use proverbs and allusions indiscriminately. 不要滥用成语典故。
• The background lent itself to allusions to European scenes. 眼前的情景容易使人联想到欧洲风光。

13 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

15 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。

16 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。

17 breaches   

破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背

参考例句：

• He imposed heavy penalties for breaches of oath or pledges. 他对违反誓言和保证的行为给予严厉的惩罚。
• This renders all breaches of morality before marriage very uncommon. 这样一来，婚前败坏道德的事就少见了。

18 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

19 sitting-room   

n.（BrE）客厅，起居室

参考例句：

• The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
• Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

20 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。

21 maliciously   

adv.有敌意地

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。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His enemies maliciously conspired to ruin him. 他的敌人恶毒地密谋搞垮他。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

22 lodgings   

n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍

参考例句：

• When he reached his lodgings the sun had set. 他到达公寓房间时，太阳已下山了。
• I'm on the hunt for lodgings. 我正在寻找住所。