Chapter XIX — The Prize for Scholarship

 The annual examination of the grammar schools in Milltown came about the middle of June, just before summer vacation. It the First Ward¹ School two prizes had been offered by the principal to the scholars who stood highest on the rank-lists.

 

Speculation² was rife³ as to the probable result; but the choice was finally narrowed down to two boys.

 

One of these was Ben Bradford, now sixteen years of age. The other was Samuel Archer⁴, son of the superintendent⁵ of the Milton Mills. There is an old saying, "Like father, like son." Mr. Archer was purse-proud and consequential⁶, and felt that he was entitled to deference⁷ on the score of his wealth and prominence⁸.

 

"Sam," said he, two days before the examination, "what are your chances of obtaining the prize?"

 

"I think I ought to have it, father," answered Sam.

 

"That is, you think you will be entitled to it?"

 

"Yes sir."

 

"Then you will get it, as a matter of course."

 

"I don't know that."

 

"Don't you think the prize will be adjudged fairly?"

 

"The principal thinks a great deal of Ben Bradford."

 

"Is he your chief competitor?"

 

"He is the only boy I am afraid of."

 

"Who is he?"

 

"He is a poor boy—used to work in the mills."

 

"He is the nephew of the Widow Bradford?"

 

"Yes; he lives in a small house about the size of a bandbox.  I expect

 they are as poor as poverty.  Ben wears coarse clothes.  I don't

believe he has a new suit a year."

"And you have too many. I believe your bill for clothes exceeds mine."

 

"Oh, father, you want your son to dress well. People know you are a rich man and they expect it."

 

"Humph! it may be carried too far," said Mr. Archer, who had just paid a large tailor's bill for Sam.

 

"And you say the principal favors him?"

 

"Yes, everybody can see it."

 

"It is rather strange he should favor a penniless boy," said Mr. Archer, himself a worshiper of wealth. "The man don't know on which side his bread is buttered."

 

"So I think. He ought to consider that you are a man of consequence here."

 

"I rather think I have some influence in Milltown," said Mr. Archer, with vulgar complacency; "I fancy I could oust⁹ Mr. Taylor from his position if I caught him indulging in favoritism. But you may be mistaken, Sam."

 

Mr. Archer looked thoughtful.

 

Finally he said: "I think it will be well to pay some attention to Mr. Taylor. It may turn the scale. When you go to school to-morrow I will send by you an invitation to Mr. Taylor to dine with us. We'll give him a good dinner and get him good-natured."

 

So when Sam went to school in the morning he bore a note from his father, containing a dinner invitation.

 

"Say to your father that I will accept his invitation with pleasure," said the principal.

 

It was the first time he had received such a mark of attention from Mr. Archer, and, being a shrewd man, he understood at once what it signified.

 

"He's coming, father," announced Sam, on his return home.

 

"Did he seem gratified by the invitation?"

 

"I couldn't tell exactly. He said he would accept with pleasure."

 

"No doubt, he feels the attention," said Mr. Archer pompously¹⁰. "He knows I am a man of prominence and influence, and the invitation will give him social status."

 

Mr. Archer would have been offended if he had been told that the principal was more highly respected in town than himself, in spite of his wealth and fine house.

 

When the principal sat down to Mr. Archer's dinner table, he partook of a dinner richer and more varied¹¹ than his modest salary enabled him to indulge in at home. Nevertheless, he had more than once been as well entertained by others, and rather annoyed Mr. Archer by not appearing to appreciate the superiority of the dinner.

 

"Confound the man! He takes it as coolly as if he were accustomed to dine as sumptuously¹² every day," thought Archer.

 

"I hope you are enjoying dinner, Mr. Taylor," he said.

 

"Very much, thank you."

 

"I rather plume¹³ myself on my cook. I venture to say that I pay five dollars a month more than any other person in Milltown. But I must have a good dinner. I am very particular on that score."

 

"Have you a good cook, Mr. Taylor?" asked Mrs. Archer condescendingly.

 

"Why, the fact is, that we keep but one servant."

 

"I suppose your salary will not permit you to keep more than one servant."

 

"You are right, madam."

 

"Really, Mr. Taylor, I think your salary ought to be increased," said Mr. Archer graciously. "The laborer¹⁴ is worthy¹⁵ of his hire, eh? I must see if I can't induce the town to vote you an increased compensation."

 

"Thank you," said the principal quietly. "A larger salary would, of course, be acceptable, but I doubt whether the town will feel like voting it."

 

"Rest easy," said Mr. Archer pompously. "I think I can bring it about."

 

"Oh, by the by," continued the rich man, "Samuel tells me that you have offered two scholarship prizes."

 

"Yes, sir—to the two scholars who pass the best examination."

 

"How does my boy stand in the matter?"

 

"He is one of the most prominent competitors."

 

"I am very glad to hear it—very glad. Sam, you must do your best to-morrow. It would gratify me very much if you should succeed. I am ambitious for my son, Mr. Taylor, and I don't mind admitting it."

 

"Your ambition is a very natural one," said the principal. "Sam's scholarship is excellent and his record is very satisfactory."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Taylor. Your assurance is deeply gratifying to Mrs. Archer and myself. It will be the happiest day of our lives if Sam succeeds in the approaching competition."

 

"He has a very fair chance of success, sir."

 

"I think I've fixed¹⁶ things," said Mr. Archer complacently¹⁷, after the principal had taken his leave. "The prize is as good as yours, Sam."

 

1 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

2 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

3 rife   

adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• Disease is rife in the area.疾病在这一区很流行。
• Corruption was rife before the election.选举之前腐败盛行。

4 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

5 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

6 consequential   

adj.作为结果的，间接的；重要的

参考例句：

• She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
• This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。

7 deference   

n.尊重，顺从；敬意

参考例句：

• Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗？
• The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。

8 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

9 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

10 pompously   

adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样

参考例句：

• He pompously described his achievements. 他很夸耀地描述了自己所取得的成绩。 来自互联网

11 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

12 sumptuously   

奢侈地，豪华地

参考例句：

• The hall was sumptuously decorated. 大厅装饰得富丽堂皇。
• This government building is sumptuously appointed. 这座政府办公大楼布置得极为豪华。

13 plume   

n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰

参考例句：

• Her hat was adorned with a plume.她帽子上饰着羽毛。
• He does not plume himself on these achievements.他并不因这些成就而自夸。

14 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。

15 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

16 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

17 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹