Chapter XXVII — Sam Attempts Strategy

 The more Sam Archer¹ thought of the effect of his letter upon Ben's fortunes the more he felt provoked.

 

"I wish I hadn't sent him to Jones & Porter," thought he. "I hope he won't suit them."

 

When a fortnight had passed Sam managed to meet James Watson.

 

"Have you heard from Ben Bradford lately?"

 

"Yes," said James.

 

"What does he write?"

 

"That he likes his place very much. The bookkeeper is very kind to him, and assists him with advice. Then he likes being in a bookstore."

 

Sam was not overjoyed at the news.

 

"How kind you are to take such an interest in Ben!"

 

"I don't take an interest in him," returned Sam.

 

"Then what makes you ask after him so particularly?"

 

"I expected he'd be discharged by this time."

 

"What made you think so?"

 

"He didn't give satisfaction at the mill. He was discharged."

 

"So was I."

 

"But not for the same reasons," said Sam. "It was because times were dull."

 

"I rather think Ben's work was satisfactory enough, but you influenced your father against him."

 

"How much pay does he get?" inquired Sam.

 

"More than he received at the mill."

 

"I wonder whether all this is true," considered Sam. "James Watson is Ben's friend and he may represent things better than they are."

 

An excellent plan suggested itself to Sam. He would ask his father's permission to go to Boston and pass a day or two with his friend, Frank Ferguson. This would allow him to drop into Jones & Porter's store and judge for himself how Ben was situated².

 

Sam had no trouble about obtaining permission.

 

On reaching the city he decided³ to call at the store before going to his friend's residence.

 

Ben was dusting books, when a glance toward the door revealed the entrance of Sam. The latter had cherished a faint hope that James had deceived him, and that Ben was really not employed.

 

"How shall I receive him?" Ben asked himself.

 

He decided to treat him coolly, but not to quarrel.

 

"Good morning, Bradford," said Sam.

 

"Good morning, Archer," was the return greeting.

 

Sam didn't quite like this familiarity.

 

"How do you like working here?"

 

"Very much," answered Ben. "Much better than in the mill," he added significantly.

 

"I shouldn't think they'd have taken a green country boy," suggested Sam pleasantly.

 

"Perhaps they wouldn't if a friend hadn't written for me," said Ben with a meaning glance at Sam.

 

"How much pay do you get?"

 

"I would rather not say."

 

"Because it is so small," said Sam, with a sneer⁴.

 

"On the contrary, I look upon it as liberal. I am doing better than if I had remained at Milltown."

 

This was bad news for Sam.

 

"I am really obliged to the person who wrote the letter which secured me the position," Ben added.

 

"It isn't much of a business to dust books."

 

"I sell books sometimes," said Ben, smiling. "Can I show you something this morning."

 

"No, I don't want anything. Where do you live?"

 

"I board on Warren Avenue."

 

"In a cheap boarding-house?"

 

"There are some very nice people who board there."

 

Sam came to a sudden decision. Would it be possible to induce Ben to give up his place, and enter the mill again? He could be discharged after awhile, and cast adrift. It was rather foolish to suppose that Ben would snap at such a bait, but he decided to try it.

 

"I think you would be better off in the mill," he said.

 

"You could board at home, and help your aunt. You would soon be promoted, too."

 

"I thought you didn't want me to enter the mill," exclaimed Ben, amazed. "Your father told me that my record was not good;" and Ben looked indignant.

 

"Father was feeling out of sorts," said Sam smoothly⁵.

 

"He will take you on if you'll come back."

 

"What does the fellow mean?" thought Ben.

 

It didn't take him long to guess. If he should return to the mill he would be once more in Sam's power.

 

"You really think your father would employ me?"

 

"Yes, he would if I asked him to."

 

"I would thank you, Sam Archer, if I thought your offer was a friendly one."

 

"What makes you think that it isn't."

 

"The feeling which I have reason to think you entertain for me, and your conduct in the past."

 

"You are too suspicious, Ben."

 

"If I find I am, I will apologize to you. It would be foolish for me to give up so good a position in order to accept a poor one, which is not all permanent."

 

"Well, Bradford, I must bid you good morning. Just write to me if you decide to accept."

 

"If I decide to accept I will."

 

"He's getting very impudent," said Sam to himself, "If I could only get him into the mill I could fix him. We'd let him stay two or three weeks, and then ship him. But he won't do it. Stay, I think of a way."

 

What the way was may be conjectured⁶ from a letter which Ben received three days later from his Aunt Jane:

 

"My Dear Nephew: I am feeling almost heart-broken. It is reported by one who saw you lately that you are looking very dissipated. I was afraid the temptations of the city were too much for you. You are too young to go away from home. I won't blame you too much, for I feel that you are weak rather than wicked. But I shall not feel comfortable till you are at home again. Don't hesitate to give up your place. I am assured that they will take you on again at the mill, and it will be much better for you to be at home with us, till you are older, and better able to resist temptation.

 

"Your anxious aunt, "Jane Bradford"

 

Ben read this letter in amazed indignation.

 

"Sam is at the bottom of this," he concluded. "It is he that has reported that I look dissipated. He wants to deprive me of my place, and get me into the mill, where I shall be in his power. I can't forgive him for frightening my poor aunt. If I were at home, I should certainly punish him as he deserves."

 

Ben took the letter to his friend, the bookkeeper.

 

"What do you think of that?" he asked.

 

"This letter was written at an enemy's instigation."

 

"You are right, Mr. Porter."

 

Then Ben told his friend of Sam's call.

 

"Will you do me a favor, Mr. Porter?" he asked.

 

"Certainly I will, Ben."

 

"Then, will you write to my aunt, and assure her that my habits are good, and that her informant has willfully lied? It will relieve her anxiety."

 

"With pleasure."

 

The next day Mrs. Bradford received a letter, very enthusiastic in its tone, which completely exonerated⁷ our hero from the charges brought against him.

 

"Your nephew," it concluded, "bids fair to become one of our best clerks. He is polite, faithful, and continually trying to improve. You need have no apprehension⁸ about him. It would be very foolish for him to resign his situation."

1 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。

2 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

3 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。

4 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。

5 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

6 conjectured   

推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The old peasant conjectured that it would be an unusually cold winter. 那老汉推测冬天将会异常地寒冷。
• The general conjectured that the enemy only had about five days' supply of food left. 将军推测敌人只剩下五天的粮食给养。

7 exonerated   

v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The police report exonerated Lewis from all charges of corruption. 警方的报告免除了对刘易斯贪污的所有指控。
• An investigation exonerated the school from any blame. 一项调查证明该学校没有任何过失。 来自辞典例句

8 apprehension   

n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑

参考例句：

• There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
• She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。