Chapter 15 Ben Loses His Place

 Ben did not find himself immediately out of employment. The next morning Mr. Crawford commenced the work of ascertaining¹ what articles he had saved, and storing them. Luckily there was a vacant store which had once been used for a tailor's shop, but had been unoccupied for a year or more. This he hired, and at once removed his goods to it. But he did not display his usual energy. He was a man of over sixty, and no longer possessed² the enterprise and ambition which had once characterized him. Besides, he was very comfortably off, or would be when he obtained the insurance money.

 

"I don't know what I shall do," he said, when questioned. "I was brought up on a farm, and I always meant to end my days on one. Perhaps now is as well any time, since my business is broken up."

 

This came to the ears of Squire³ Davenport, who was always keen-scented for a bargain. His wife's cousin, Mr. Kirk, who has already been introduced to the reader, had, in his earlier days, served as a clerk in a country store. He had no capital, to be sure, but the squire had plenty. It occurred to him as a good plan to buy out the business himself, hire Kirk on a salary to conduct it, and so add considerably⁴ to his already handsome income. He sent for Kirk, ascertained⁵ that he was not only willing, but anxious, to manage the business, and then he called on Mr. Crawford.

 

It is unnecessary to detail the negotiations⁶ that ensued. It was Squire Davenport's wish to obtain the business as cheaply as possible. The storekeeper, however, had his own estimate of its worth, and the squire was obliged to add considerable to his first offer. In the end, however, he secured it on advantageous⁷ terms, and Mr. Crawford now felt able to carry out the plan he had long had in view.

 

It was in the evening, a week after the fire, that the bargain was struck, and Ben was one of the first to hear of it.

 

When he came to work early the next morning he found his employer in the store before him, which was not usual.

 

"You are early, Mr. Crawford," he said, in evident surprise.

 

"Yes, Ben," was the reply. "I can afford to come early for a morning or two, as I shall soon be out of business."

 

"You haven't sold out, have you?" inquired Ben quickly.

 

"Yes; the bargain was struck last evening."

 

"How soon do you leave the store?"

 

"In three days. It will take that time to make up my accounts."

 

"I am sorry," said Ben, "for I suppose I shall have to retire, too."

 

"I don't know about that, Ben. Very likely my successor may want you."

 

"That depends on who he is. Do you mind telling me, or is it a secret?"

 

"Oh, no; it will have to come out, of course. Squire Davenport has bought the business."

 

"The squire isn't going to keep the store, is he?" asked Ben, in amazement⁸.

 

"No; though he will, no doubt, supervise it. He will employ a manager."

 

"Do you know who is to be the manager, Mr. Crawford?"

 

"Some connection of his named Kirk."

 

Ben whistled.

 

"Do you know him?" the storekeeper was led to inquire.

 

"I have not seen him, but he called with the squire on my mother," said Ben significantly.

 

"I shall be glad to recommend you to him."

 

"It will be of no use, Mr. Crawford," answered Ben, in a decided⁹ tone. "I know he wouldn't employ me, nor would I work for him if he would. Neither he nor the squire is a friend of mine."

 

"I did not dream of this, Ben. I am sorry if the step I have taken is going to deprive you of employment," said Mr. Crawford, who was a kind-hearted man, and felt a sincere interest in his young clerk.

 

"Never mind, Mr. Crawford, I am not cast down. There will be other openings for me. I am young, strong, and willing to work, and I am sure I shall find something to do."

 

"That's right, Ben. Cheer up, and if I hear of any good chance, rest assured that I will let you know of it."

 

Tom Davenport was not long in hearing of his father's bargain. He heard it with unfeigned pleasure, for it occurred to him at once that Ben, for whom he had a feeling of hatred¹⁰, by no means creditable to him, would be thrown out of employment.

 

"Promise me, pa, that you won't employ Ben Barclay," he said.

 

"I have no intention of employing that boy," said his father. "Mr. Kirk has a son of his own, about Ben's age, and will, no doubt, put him into the store, unless you should choose to go in and learn the business."

 

"What! I become a store boy!" exclaimed Tom, in disgust. "No, thank you. I might be willing to become salesman in a large establishment in the city, but I don't care to go into a country grocery."

 

"It wouldn't do you any harm," said the squire, who was not quite so high-minded as his son. "However, I merely mentioned it as something you could do if you chose."

 

"Bah! I don't choose it," said Tom decidedly.

 

"Well, well; you won't have to do it."

 

"It would put me on a level with Ben Barclay, if I stepped into his shoes. Won't he be down in the month when he hears he has lost his place?" and Tom chuckled¹¹ at the thought.

 

"That is no concern of mine," said the squire. "I suppose he can hire out to a farmer."

 

"Just the business for him", said Tom, "unless he should prefer to go to New York and set up as a bootblack. I believe I'll suggest that to him!"

 

"Probably he won't thank you for the suggestion."

 

"I guess not. He's as proud as he is poor. It's amusing to see what airs he puts on."

 

Squire Davenport, however, was not so much interested in that phase of the subject as Tom, and did not reply.

 

"I think I'll go down street," thought Tom. "Perhaps I may come across Ben. I shall enjoy seeing how he takes it."

 

Tom had scarcely walked a hundred yards when he met, not the one of whom he had thought, but another to whom he felt glad to speak on the same subject. This was Rose Gardiner, the prettiest girl in the village, who had already deeply offended Tom by accepting Ben as her escort from the magical entertainment in place of him. He had made advances since, being desirous of ousting¹² Ben from his position of favorite, but the young lady had treated him coldly, much to his anger and mortification¹³.

 

"Good-morning, Miss Rose," said Tom.

 

"Good-morning," answered Rose civilly.

 

"Have you heard the news?"

 

"To what news do you refer?"

 

"Crawford has sold out his business."

 

"Indeed!" said Rose, in surprise; "who has bought it?"

 

"My father. Of course, he won't keep store himself. He will put in a connection of ours, Mr. Kirk."

 

"This is news, indeed! Where is Mr. Crawford going?"

 

"I don't know, I'm sure. I thought you'd be more apt to inquire about somebody else?"

 

"I am not good at guessing enigmas," said Rose.

 

"Your friend, Ben Barclay," returned Tom, with a sneer¹⁴. "Father won't have him in the store!"

 

"Oh, I see; you are going to take his place," said Rose mischievously¹⁵.

 

"I? What do you take me for?" said Tom, haughtily¹⁶. "I suppose Ben Barclay will have to go to work on a farm."

 

"That is a very honorable employment," said Rose calmly.

 

"Yes; he can be a hired man when he grows up. Perhaps, though, he will prefer to go to the city and become a bootblack."

 

"Ben ought to be very much obliged to you for the interest you feel in his welfare," said Rose, looking steadily¹⁷ and scornfully at Tom. "Good-morning."

 

"She feels sore about it," thought Tom complacently¹⁸. "She won't be quite so ready to accept Ben's attentions when he is a farm laborer¹⁹."

 

Tom, however, did not understand Rose Gardiner. She was a girl of good sense, and her estimate of others was founded on something else than social position. 

1 ascertaining   

v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. 我当时是要弄清楚地下室是朝前还是朝后延伸的。 来自辞典例句
• The design and ascertaining of permanent-magnet-biased magnetic bearing parameter are detailed introduced. 并对永磁偏置磁悬浮轴承参数的设计和确定进行了详细介绍。 来自互联网

2 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

3 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。

4 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

5 ascertained   

v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 advantageous   

adj.有利的；有帮助的

参考例句：

• Injections of vitamin C are obviously advantageous.注射维生素C显然是有利的。
• You're in a very advantageous position.你处于非常有利的地位。

8 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

9 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。

10 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

11 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

12 ousting   

驱逐( oust的现在分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• The resulting financial chaos led to the ousting of Bristol-Myers' s boss. 随后引发的财政混乱导致了百时美施贵宝的总裁下台。
• The ousting of the president has drawn widespread criticism across Latin America and the wider world. 洪都拉斯总统被驱逐时间引起拉丁美洲甚至全世界的广泛批评。

13 mortification   

n.耻辱，屈辱

参考例句：

• To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是：我的稿件被退了回来。
• The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。

14 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。

15 mischievously   

adv.有害地；淘气地

参考例句：

• He mischievously looked for a chance to embarrass his sister. 他淘气地寻找机会让他的姐姐难堪。 来自互联网
• Also has many a dream kindheartedness, is loves mischievously small lovable. 又有着多啦a梦的好心肠，是爱调皮的小可爱。 来自互联网

16 haughtily   

adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地

参考例句：

• She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
• Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯，走到二楼，我刚好站在那儿。

17 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

18 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

19 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。