Chapter 6 Two Young Rivals

 Tom Davenport, for it was the son of Squire¹ Davenport who had offered his escort to Rose, glanced superciliously² at our hero.

 

"I congratulate you on having secured a grocer's boy as escort," he said in a tone of annoyance³.

 

Ben's fist contracted, and he longed to give the pretentious⁴ aristocrat⁵ a lesson, but he had the good sense to wait for the young lady's reply.

 

"I accept your congratulations, Mr. Davenport," said Rose coldly. "I have no desire to change my escort."

 

Tom Davenport laughed derisively⁶, and walked away.

 

"I'd like to box his ears," said Ben, reddening.

 

"He doesn't deserve your notice, Ben," said Rose, taking his arm.

 

But Ben was not easily appeased⁷.

 

"Just because his father is a rich man," he resumed.

 

"He presumes upon it," interrupted Rose, good-naturedly. "Well, let him. That's his chief claim to consideration, and it is natural for him to make the most of it."

 

"At any rate, I hope that can't be said of me," returned Ben, his brow clearing. "If I had nothing but money to be proud of, I should be very poorly off."

 

"You wouldn't object to it, though."

 

"No, I hope, for mother's sake, some day to be rich."

 

"Most of our rich men were once poor boys," said Rose quietly. "I have a book of biographies at home, and I find that not only rich men, but men distinguished⁸ in other ways, generally commenced in poverty."

 

"I wish you'd lend me that book," said Ben. "Sometimes I get despondent⁹ and that will give me courage."

 

"You shall have it whenever you call at the house. But you mustn't think too much of getting money."

 

"I don't mean to; but I should like to make my mother comfortable. I don't see much chance of it while I remain a 'grocer's boy,' as Tom Davenport calls me."

 

"Better be a grocer's boy than spend your time in idleness, as Tom does."

 

"Tom thinks it beneath him to work."

 

"If his father had been of the sane¹⁰ mind when he was a boy, he would never have become a rich man."

 

"Was Squire Davenport a poor boy?"

 

"Yes, so uncle told me the other day. When he was a boy he worked on a farm. I don't know how he made his money, but I presume he laid the foundation of his wealth by hard work. So, Tom hasn't any right to look down upon those who are beginning now as his father began."

 

They had by this time traversed half the distance from the Town Hall to the young lady's home. The subject of conversation was changed and they began to talk about the evening's entertainment. At length they reached the minister's house.

 

"Won't you come in, Ben?" asked Rose.

 

"Isn't it too late?"

 

"No, uncle always sits up late reading, and will be glad to see you."

 

"Then I will come in for a few minutes."

 

Ben's few minutes extended to three-quarters of an hour. When he came out, the moon was obscured and it was quite dark. Ben had not gone far when he heard steps behind him, and presently a hand was laid on his shoulder.

 

"Hello, boy!" said a rough voice.

 

Ben started, and turning suddenly, recognized in spite of the darkness, the tramp who had attempted to rob him during the day. He paused, uncertain whether he was not going to be attacked, but the tramp laughed reassuringly¹¹.

 

"Don't be afraid, boy," he said. "I owe you some money, and here it is."

 

He pressed into the hand of the astonished Ben the dollar which our hero had given him.

 

"I don't think it will do me any good," he said. "I've given it back, and now you can't say I robbed you."

 

"You are a strange man," said Ben.

 

"I'm not so bad as I look," said the tramp. "Some day I may do you a service. I'm goin' out of town to-night, and you'll hear from me again some time."

 

He turned swiftly, and Ben lost sight of him. 

1 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

2 superciliously   

adv.高傲地；傲慢地

参考例句：

• Madame Defarge looked superciliously at the client, and nodded in confirmation. 德伐日太太轻蔑地望了望客人，点头同意。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

3 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

4 pretentious   

adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的

参考例句：

• He is a talented but pretentious writer.他是一个有才华但自命不凡的作家。
• Speaking well of yourself would only make you appear conceited and pretentious.自夸只会使你显得自负和虚伪。

5 aristocrat   

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。

6 derisively   

adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地

参考例句：

• This answer came derisively from several places at the same instant. 好几个人都不约而同地以讥讽的口吻作出回答。
• The others laughed derisively. 其余的人不以为然地笑了起来。

7 appeased   

安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争）

参考例句：

• His hunger could only be appeased by his wife. 他的欲望只有他的妻子能满足。
• They are the more readily appeased. 他们比较容易和解。

8 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

9 despondent   

adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的

参考例句：

• He was up for a time and then，without warning,despondent again.他一度兴高采烈，但忽然又情绪低落下来。
• I feel despondent when my work is rejected.作品被拒后我感到很沮丧。

10 sane   

adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的

参考例句：

• He was sane at the time of the murder.在凶杀案发生时他的神志是清醒的。
• He is a very sane person.他是一个很有头脑的人。

11 reassuringly   

ad.安心，可靠

参考例句：

• He patted her knee reassuringly. 他轻拍她的膝盖让她放心。
• The doctor smiled reassuringly. 医生笑了笑，让人心里很踏实。