Chapter 3 Sam Sturgis' New Idea

 During the week which Ben had agreed to take before coming to a final decision, he had another offer of employment.

 

This is how it came about:

 

A little out of the village, in a handsome house, the best in Hampton, lived Major Sturgis, a wealthy landholder, who had plenty to live upon and nothing in particular to do, except to look after his property. He was a portly man, who walked with a slow, dignified¹ step, leaning on a gold-headed cane², and evidently felt his importance. His son, Sam, was a chip of the old block. He condescended³ to associate with the village boys, because solitary⁵ grandeur⁶ is not altogether pleasant. He occasionally went to New York to visit a cousin of about his own age. From such a visit he had just returned, bringing back with him a new idea.

 

'Father,' he said, 'Cousin Henry has a boy about his own age to wait on him, black his boots, and run errands.'

 

'Has he?' asked the major mechanically, not looking up from the daily paper which he was reading.

 

'Yes, sir. He don't pay him much, you know, only five dollars a month and his board, and Henry finds it very convenient.'

 

Major Sturgis did not reply. In fact, he was too much interested in the article he was reading.

 

'Ain't you as rich as uncle?' asked Sam, who was gradually leading up to his proposal.

 

'Yes, Sam, I think so,' answered his father, laying down the paper and removing his gold-bowed spectacles.

 

'Then why won't you let me have a servant, too?'

 

'What do you want of a servant? There are servants enough in the house.'

 

'I want a boy to follow me round, and do just what I bid him.'

 

'I don't see any necessity for it.'

 

'He could do errands for you, too, father,' said Sam diplomatically.

 

'We would have to send to the city for a boy, in case I let you have one.'

 

'No, we wouldn't,' answered Sam.

 

'Do you know of any one around here?'

 

'Yes; there is Ben Stanton. He's got to find something to do.'

 

'I thought you didn't like Ben Stanton,' said the major, in some surprise. 'I have heard you say-'

 

'Oh, he's rather uppish-feels too big for a poor boy; but I would soon train him. I'd make him know his place.'

 

'Your remarks are well founded, my son. Only yesterday I met the boy on the village street, and instead of taking off his hat and making a low bow, as he should do to a man of my position, he nodded carelessly, and said. 'How are you, major?' Really, I don't know what the country is coming to, when the rising generation is so deficient⁷ in veneration⁸.'

 

'The fact is, father, Ben thinks himself as good as anybody. You'd think, by the way he speaks to me, that he considered himself my equal.'

 

'That is one of the evils incident to a republican form of government,' said the major pompously⁹. 'For my part, I prefer the English social system, where the gentry¹⁰ are treated with proper deference¹¹.'

 

'Well, father, may I engage Ben as my servant?'

 

'I am afraid you would not find him properly subordinate.'

 

'Just leave that to me,' said Sam confidently. 'If I can't teach him his place, then nobody can. I should enjoy having him to order about.'

 

Sam generally carried his point with his father, and the present instance was no exception.

 

'I don't know that I have any particular objection,' said the major.

 

'How much wages may I offer, father?'

 

'The same that your Cousin Henry's servant gets.'

 

'All right, sir,' said Sam, with satisfaction. 'I guess I'll go round, and see him about it this afternoon. I suppose he can come any time?'

 

'Yes, my son.'

 

As Sam went out of the room his father thought, complacently¹²:

 

'My son has all the pride and instincts of a gentleman. He will do credit to the family.'

 

Few persons in the village would have agreed with the major. Sam Sturgis was decidedly unpopular. No boy who puts on airs is likely to be a favorite with any class of persons, and Sam put on rather more than he was entitled to. From time to time he received a rebuff, but still money will tell. He had his followers¹⁴ and sycophants¹⁵, but we may be sure that Ben was not numbered among them. It was quite useless for Sam to patronize him-he would not be patronized, but persisted in treating the major's son with the most exasperating¹⁶ familiarity. Of course this would be impossible if he became Sam's servant, and this more than anything else was the motive¹⁷ of the young aristocrat¹⁸ in wishing to engage him. As to conferring a favor on Ben, that was the last thing in his thoughts.

 

Sam bent¹⁹ his steps toward the humble²⁰ home of Job Stanton, but he did not have to go the whole distance. He met Ben with a fishing-pole over his shoulder.

 

'How are you, Sam?' was Ben's familiar greeting. 'Want to go fishing with me?'

 

'He's entirely²¹ too familiar,' thought Sam. 'I'll cure him of that when he is under my orders.'

 

At present Sam did not think it politic²² to express his feelings on the subject. Ben was so independent that it might frustrate²³ his plan.

 

'I will walk along with you, Ben,' said Sam condescendingly.

 

'All right. Haven't you got a fishing-pole at home?'

 

'Yes, I have a very handsome one; it cost five dollars.'

 

'Then it's rather ahead of mine,' said Ben.

 

'I should say so,' remarked Sam, surveying Ben's pole with contempt.

 

'But I'll bet you can't catch as many fish with it,' said Ben promptly²⁴. 'I don't think it makes much difference to the fish,' he added, with a laugh, 'whther they are caught with a five-dollar pole or a five-cent one.'

 

'Very likely,' said Sam briefly²⁵, 'but I prefer to use a nice pole.'

 

'Oh, there's no objection,' said Ben, 'if you fancy it. It doesn't make any difference to me.'

 

'When are you going to work?' asked Sam abruptly²⁶.

 

'I am working every day-that is, I am helping²⁷ Uncle Job.'

 

'But I suppose you mean to get regular work somewhere, don't you?'

 

'What's he after, I wonder?' thought Ben. 'Maybe I do,' he said aloud.

 

'Perhaps I can throw something in your way,' said Sam, in a patronizing way.

 

'You are very kind,' said Ben, who supposed Sam had heard of some business position which he could fill. Our hero decided¹³ that perhaps he had misjudged the major's son, and he was prepared to make amends²⁸. 'If you get me a position, I shall be much obliged.'

 

'The fact is,' said Sam, 'I should find it convenient to have a boy go about with me, and be at my orders. My Cousin Henry has one, and father says I may engage you.'

 

Ben faced round, and looked steadily²⁹ at Sam. He felt that he would far rather work for Deacon Pitkin, in spite of his meager³⁰ table, or toil³¹ twelve hours a day in his uncle's shoe-shop, than accept such a place as was now offered him. He penetrated³² Sam's motive, and felt incensed³³ with him, though he did not choose to show it.

 

'What are you willing to pay?' asked Ben, in a businesslike tone.

 

'Five dollars a month and your board,' said Sam. 'You'll live better than you ever did before in your life, and your duties will be easy.'

 

'What would you want me to do?' asked Ben.

 

'Why, I would take you with me whenever I went out rowing or fishing. That would be easy enough. Then, in the morning you would black my shoes and keep my clothes well brushed, and go of any errands I had for you. Oh, well, I can't tell you all you would have to do, but you'd have an easy time.'

 

'Yes, I don't think it would tire me out,' said Ben. 'You'd want me to black your boots?'

 

'Yes.'

 

'Well, I might agree to that on one condition.'

 

'What is that?'

 

'That you would black mine.'

 

'What do you mean?' demanded Sam, his face flushing angrily.

 

'Just what I say.'

 

'Do you mean to insult me?'

 

'Not a bit; any more than you mean to insult me,'

 

'Do you dare to propose that I, a gentleman, should black your low-lived shoes?' exclaimed Sam furiously.

 

'I think you're rather hard on my shoes,' said Ben, laughing. 'I'll come for four dollars a month, if you'll do that.'

 

'I never heard such impudence,' said Sam, in concentrated wrath³⁴. 'I never was so repaid for kindness before.'

 

'Look here, Sam,' said Ben, 'I understand just how kind you are. You want the satisfaction of ordering me round, and you can't have it. I decline your offer. I'd rather beg for bread than accept it.'

 

'You may starve, for all me,' said Sam. 'It's ridiculous for a poor boy to put on such airs. You'll die in the poorhouse yet.'

 

'I won't live there, if I can help it. What! are you going to leave me?'

 

'I won't condescend⁴ to be seen with you.'

 

'Good-by, Sam. I hope you won't have to black your own boots.'

 

Sam did not deign³⁵ a reply.

 

'He looks mad,' thought Ben. 'I'd live on one meal a day rather than let him order me round.'

1 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。

2 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

3 condescended   

屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲

参考例句：

• We had to wait almost an hour before he condescended to see us. 我们等了几乎一小时他才屈尊大驾来见我们。
• The king condescended to take advice from his servants. 国王屈驾向仆人征求意见。

4 condescend   

v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑

参考例句：

• Would you condescend to accompany me?你肯屈尊陪我吗？
• He did not condescend to answer.He turned his back on me.他不愿屈尊回答我的问题。他不理睬我。

5 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

6 grandeur   

n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华

参考例句：

• The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched.长城的壮观是独一无二的。
• These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place.这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。

7 deficient   

adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的

参考例句：

• The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
• I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。

8 veneration   

n.尊敬，崇拜

参考例句：

• I acquired lasting respect for tradition and veneration for the past.我开始对传统和历史产生了持久的敬慕。
• My father venerated General Eisenhower.我父亲十分敬仰艾森豪威尔将军。

9 pompously   

adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样

参考例句：

• He pompously described his achievements. 他很夸耀地描述了自己所取得的成绩。 来自互联网

10 gentry   

n.绅士阶级，上层阶级

参考例句：

• Landed income was the true measure of the gentry.来自土地的收入是衡量是否士绅阶层的真正标准。
• Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry.宁做自由民之首，不居贵族之末。

11 deference   

n.尊重，顺从；敬意

参考例句：

• Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗？
• The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。

12 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

13 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。

14 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

15 sycophants   

n.谄媚者，拍马屁者( sycophant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The office is a menagerie of egotists and sycophants. 该办公室乃是自私者与谄媚者汇集之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They even praise such a disappointing program, they really are sycophants. 这么差劲的节目也有人夸赞，真是捧臭脚！ 来自互联网

16 exasperating   

adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• Our team's failure is very exasperating. 我们队失败了，真是气死人。
• It is really exasperating that he has not turned up when the train is about to leave. 火车快开了， 他还不来，实在急人。

17 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

18 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。

19 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

20 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

21 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。

22 politic   

adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政

参考例句：

• He was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage.他很聪明，不会与这么重要的人争吵。
• The politic man tried not to offend people.那个精明的人尽量不得罪人。

23 frustrate   

v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦

参考例句：

• But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心，他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
• They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。

24 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

25 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

26 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

27 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

28 amends   

n. 赔偿

参考例句：

• He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花，为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
• This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。

29 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。

30 meager   

adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的

参考例句：

• He could not support his family on his meager salary.他靠微薄的工资无法养家。
• The two men and the woman grouped about the fire and began their meager meal.两个男人同一个女人围着火，开始吃起少得可怜的午饭。

31 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

32 penetrated   

adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
• They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。

33 incensed   

盛怒的

参考例句：

• The decision incensed the workforce. 这个决定激怒了劳工大众。
• They were incensed at the decision. 他们被这个决定激怒了。

34 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

35 deign   

v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事)

参考例句：

• He doesn't deign to talk to unimportant people like me. 他不肯屈尊和像我这样不重要的人说话。
• I would not deign to comment on such behaviour. 这种行为不屑我置评。