Chapter XXII — Sam's Revenge

 Now that vacation had fairly commenced, Ben thought he had better make application for employment at the mills. It was generally understood that business had improved and that new hands were to be taken on.

 

On the morning succeeding the award of prizes, Ben presented himself at the office of the superintendent¹.

 

After awhile the great man arrived. He nodded patronizingly to the applicants² for employment. He saw Ben in the number and his small soul was rejoiced, for he meant to humiliate³ him.

 

He summoned one and another to a conference, engaging such as were old hands.

 

Ben began to look hopeful. He, too, had experience.

 

At last Mr. Archer⁴ beckoned⁵ to him to approach.

 

"What do you wish?" he demanded.

 

"I should like employment at the mills," said Ben.

 

"Have you been in my employ before?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

Mr. Archer opened a thick folio volume which lay upon the desk, and appeared to be looking for something, which he found at last.

 

"I can't employ you," he said coldly.

 

"Why not, sir?"

 

"Because your record is not good."

 

Ben's eyes flashed with proper indignation.

 

"I don't understand, sir," he said, in a dignified⁶ tone.

 

"It strikes me that my language is plain."

 

"What complaints were made of me? I should like to know in what respect I failed to do my duty."

 

"Probably you know as well as I can tell you," said the superintendent. "At any rate, I have no time to waste in examining into the matter. I prefer to take a boy who has nothing against him. Next."

 

Ben left the office, smarting not so much at the failure to obtain employment, as at the unfounded charges trumped⁷ up against him.

 

Just outside the office he met Sam Archer.

 

"Good morning, Bradford," said Sam, eyeing our hero curiously⁸. "Are you going to work in the mill?"

 

"No," said Ben shortly.

 

"Perhaps old Taylor will give you employment."

 

"No doubt he would if he had occasion to employ any one. Mr. Taylor is a gentleman."

 

"Do you mean to say father isn't a gentleman?"

 

"You can draw your own conclusions."

 

Ben was not quite an angel, though he was a manly⁹ boy, and he felt pugnacious¹⁰.

 

"I've a great mind to knock you down," said Sam.

 

"You may have the mind, but you haven't got the strength to do it," said Ben.

 

"I won't dirty my hands with touching¹¹ you."

 

"That's prudent¹², at any rate," retorted Ben.

 

"You'd better go home and read your prize."

 

"That's good advice, though it comes from a bad source," returned Ben. "It isn't needed, however, for I have been reading it. I can quote two lines—

 

          "'Be not like dumb, driven cattle,

            Be like heroes in the strife¹³.'"

"What do you mean by that?"

 

"I mean that you will find it hard to drive me."

 

"Perhaps so, but I've done one thing," boasted Sam.

 

"What's that?"

 

"I told father not to take you if you applied¹⁴; and that's why you are going away with a flea¹⁵ in your ear."

 

"I am not surprised to hear this," he answered. "Indeed, I am very glad to hear it."

 

"You are glad to hear it?" repeated Sam, puzzled.

 

"Yes."

 

"I don't understand why you should be."

 

"I suppose not. I am glad you know just why I was refused."

 

"Well, I hope you are satisfied."

 

"I am entirely¹⁶ so."

 

"I wonder what the fellow means," thought Sam.

 

1 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。

2 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

3 humiliate   

v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace

参考例句：

• What right had they to bully and humiliate people like this?凭什么把人欺侮到这个地步呢？
• They pay me empty compliments which only humiliate me.他们虚情假意地恭维我，这只能使我感到羞辱。

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 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

7 trumped   

v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的过去分词 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造

参考例句：

• That woman trumped up various baseless charges against him. 那个女人捏造种种毫无根据的罪名指控他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Several of his colleagues trumped up a complaint to get him removed from the job. 他的几位同事诬告他，使他丟掉了工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

9 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

10 pugnacious   

adj.好斗的

参考例句：

• He is a pugnacious fighter.他是个好斗的战士。
• When he was a child,he was pugnacious and fought with everyone.他小时候很好斗，跟每个人都打过架。

11 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

12 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。

13 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

14 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

15 flea   

n.跳蚤

参考例句：

• I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
• Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。

16 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。