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CHAPTER XI. A NEW ARRANGEMENT.
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About nine o’clock that evening Gilbert’s trunk arrived. He received it with satisfaction, and unpacked1 it at once, putting a part of his clothing into the drawers of a small bureau, which, with the bedstead and one chair, took up about all the space in his contracted chamber2.

Mr. Ingalls stepped in as he was unpacking3.

“You haven’t got much extra room,” he said.

“No, I wish my room was larger,” said Gilbert; “but it is as large as I can afford.”

“My room is at least twice as large, but by sharing it with another I pay no more than you do.”

“You are in luck; that is, if your room-mate is agreeable.”

“We get along very well, but I expect to lose him 107in a week. He is to leave the city. If you would like to take his place, I shall be glad to have you.”

“Will it increase my board?” asked Gilbert.

“How much do you pay now?”

“Six dollars.”

“No; you would pay the same as my room-mate.”

“Then I will accept your offer with thanks.”

“I hope you won’t have cause to repent4 it,” said Mr. Ingalls. “If you do at any time I will let you off.”

“If you should marry Miss Brintnall,” suggested Gilbert, with a smile, “you will have to give me warning.”

“No Miss Brintnall for me!” said Ingalls. “I don’t want to be a henpecked husband, or marry one who would insist on wearing the breeches.”

“The lady seems partial to you.”

“She is not only partial, but martial,” said the young man, who was apt to indulge in poor jokes; “I would as soon marry an Amazon. When you get through unpacking, come to my room; you may like to see it.”

108“I have unpacked as much as I intend to to-night. I will go with you now.”

Mr. Ingalls’ room was square in shape, and of very good dimensions; it was better furnished also than Gilbert’s. It contained two single beds, side by side, a good closet, a sofa, a bureau, rocking-chair, and several ordinary chairs. Several fair engravings adorned5 the walls, and Gilbert felt that it would be decidedly pleasanter for him to share such a room as this with a pleasant companion, than to reign7 sole master of a hall bedroom.

“How do you like it?” asked Mr. Ingalls.

“Very much better than mine. I shall be glad to change.”

“Then we will consider the arrangement decided6 upon. Can I offer you a cigarette?”

“No, thank you; I never smoke.”

“That is where you are sensible; I only indulge myself occasionally.”

They sat for half an hour and chatted. Gilbert was favorably impressed by his new friend, who, though ten years older than himself, proved a congenial 109companion. At ten o’clock he bade him good-night, and went to bed.

His bed was not particularly soft or luxurious8, but he slept soundly, and awoke in the morning refreshed. He took an early breakfast, and walked down-town with Mr. Ingalls.

When Mr. Moore, the book-keeper, arrived, Gilbert was already at work.

“A new broom sweeps clean,” sneered9 Moore, in an unpleasant tone.

“Do you mean me?” asked Gilbert.

“Yes; you are trying to make Mr. Sands think you a model.”

“I hope he won’t think that, for he will find out his mistake.”

“He will find out his mistake,” said Moore; “I predict that.”

“I intend to do my work faithfully,” said Gilbert; “there will be no mistake about that.”

“I’ve heard boys talk that way before. They don’t deceive me.”

110Just then Mr. Sands entered. He greeted Gilbert pleasantly.

“So you are on hand in good season. I like to see that.”

“I shall try not to be late, sir.”

“Where do you board?”

“In Waverly Place.”

“That is convenient as regards distance. You may go to the Post Office for letters.”

As Gilbert started for the Post Office, a boy about his own age came up and joined him.

“Are you Mr. Sands’ new boy?” he asked.

“Yes,” answered Gilbert.

“You’ve got my place, then. I used to be there.”

“Did you? I am sorry to have interfered11 with you.”

“You won’t like it. He is very hard to get along with.”

“He doesn’t look like it.”

“He discharged me for just nothing at all. That’s what my cousin, the book-keeper, says.”

“Is Mr. Moore your cousin?” asked Gilbert, who 111began now to understand the cause of his own unpopularity with that official.

“Yes; he lives at our house.”

Gilbert said nothing, judging that it would be repeated.

“I hope you will get another place,” he said, politely.

“I don’t want another place. I want to be where my cousin is.”

Gilbert felt rather awkward.

“That is natural,” he said; “I am sorry you are disappointed, but, of course, I am glad to get a place. I have to shift for myself, and it is necessary I should be earning money.”

“You won’t stay long; old Sands will discharge you.”

“I hope not. If I do my duty faithfully, I don’t see why he should.”

“That won’t make any difference. Didn’t I discharge my duty faithfully?”

Gilbert did not know, and expressed no opinion. Moreover, he thought he would not inquire, preferring 112to remain neutral. Besides, he doubted whether he could fully10 rely on the correctness of John’s statements.

“I don’t want to lose my place,” he said; “but if I do, I hope you will get it back again.”

“Suppose you resign in my favor,” suggested John, in an insinuating12 manner.

“I would rather not,” answered Gilbert, who felt that this request was decidedly cool.

“Just as I thought,” muttered John.

“Mr. Sands would not thank me for meddling13 with what is not my business. If he chooses, at any time, to put you back and dismiss me, he’ll do so without any request from me.”

John did not vouchsafe14 an answer, but walked off sullenly15.

Nothing of any importance occurred during the day, except that Gilbert found the book-keeper as disagreeable as ever. It seemed impossible to suit him. This Gilbert correctly attributed to his disappointment that his cousin had been superseded16.

113About the hour of closing, Gilbert was surprised at the entrance of Mr. Briggs.

“How are you getting on, Gilbert?” he inquired.

“Very well, thank you, sir.”

“Do you think you shall like this place?”

“Yes, sir, I think so.”

“And you don’t regret leaving school?”

“Yes, sir, I do; but that can’t be helped, and I don’t trouble myself with thinking of it.”

“You are right there; are you ready to go up town?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Come along with me, then.”

When they were in the street, Mr. Briggs said, “I will tell you in a few words what I mean to do for you, so that you can have a fair understanding about money matters. I shall pay your board, and out of your wages you will be able to buy your clothes and provide for your other expenses.”

“But, Mr. Briggs,” said Gilbert, “I shall be able to pay part of my board. I do not wish to be such a burden to you.”

114“Say no more about it,” said his guardian17, hastily, “I insist upon that arrangement.”

“But, sir, I shall want sometime to repay you for the money you spend on me.”

“When you are a rich man, I will permit you to do so. Till then, think nothing of it.”

“I am at least very grateful to you for your kindness,” said Gilbert.

For some reason Mr. Briggs seemed uncomfortable whenever Gilbert spoke18 of gratitude19, and tried to drop the subject.

“Randolph spoke of calling to see you this evening,” he said. “Shall you be at home?”

“Yes, sir, I shall be glad to have him come.”

Gilbert was rather astonished at such a mark of attention on the part of the young aristocrat20, but determined21 to treat him cordially, for his father’s sake.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 unpacked 78a068b187a564f21b93e72acffcebc3     
v.从(包裹等)中取出(所装的东西),打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 );拆包;解除…的负担;吐露(心事等)
参考例句:
  • I unpacked my bags as soon as I arrived. 我一到达就打开行李,整理衣物。
  • Our guide unpacked a picnic of ham sandwiches and offered us tea. 我们的导游打开装着火腿三明治的野餐盒,并给我们倒了些茶水。 来自辞典例句
2 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
3 unpacking 4cd1f3e1b7db9c6a932889b5839cdd25     
n.取出货物,拆包[箱]v.从(包裹等)中取出(所装的东西),打开行李取出( unpack的现在分词 );拆包;解除…的负担;吐露(心事等)
参考例句:
  • Joe sat on the bed while Martin was unpacking. 马丁打开箱子取东西的时候,乔坐在床上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They are unpacking a trunk. 他们正在打开衣箱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 repent 1CIyT     
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。
5 adorned 1e50de930eb057fcf0ac85ca485114c8     
[计]被修饰的
参考例句:
  • The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
  • And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。
6 decided lvqzZd     
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。
7 reign pBbzx     
n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势
参考例句:
  • The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
  • The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。
8 luxurious S2pyv     
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的
参考例句:
  • This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
  • The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
9 sneered 0e3b5b35e54fb2ad006040792a867d9f     
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。
10 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
11 interfered 71b7e795becf1adbddfab2cd6c5f0cff     
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉
参考例句:
  • Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 insinuating insinuating     
adj.曲意巴结的,暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 );巧妙或迂回地潜入;(使)缓慢进入;慢慢伸入
参考例句:
  • Are you insinuating that I' m telling a lie ? 你这是意味着我是在说谎吗? 来自辞典例句
  • He is extremely insinuating, but it's a vulgar nature. 他好奉承拍马,那是种庸俗的品格。 来自辞典例句
13 meddling meddling     
v.干涉,干预(他人事务)( meddle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
  • They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野,因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句
14 vouchsafe uMZzz     
v.惠予,准许
参考例句:
  • Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.埃莉诺不想给予任何回答。
  • Vouchsafe me a spirit of faith and knowledge.赐予我信心和一颗有知识的心灵。
15 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
16 superseded 382fa69b4a5ff1a290d502df1ee98010     
[医]被代替的,废弃的
参考例句:
  • The theory has been superseded by more recent research. 这一理论已为新近的研究所取代。
  • The use of machinery has superseded manual labour. 机器的使用已经取代了手工劳动。
17 guardian 8ekxv     
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者
参考例句:
  • The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
  • The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
18 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
19 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激,感谢
参考例句:
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
20 aristocrat uvRzb     
n.贵族,有贵族气派的人,上层人物
参考例句:
  • He was the quintessential english aristocrat.他是典型的英国贵族。
  • He is an aristocrat to the very marrow of his bones.他是一个道道地地的贵族。
21 determined duszmP     
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。


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