Chapter 4 A Brilliant Chance

 The week was over, and Ben persisted in his determination to leave Hampton.

 

'I'm sorry you are going, Ben,' said his Cousin Jennie. 'I shall miss you awfully¹.'

 

As Jennie was the prettiest girl in the village, though she did not inherit any good looks from her plain-looking father, Ben was gratified.

 

'You'd forget me soon,' he said.

 

'No, I won't.'

 

'Especially when Sam Sturgis comes round to see you.'

 

'I don't want to see him. He's a stuck-up boy, and thinks himself too good to associate with common people.'

 

'He wanted to have me black his boots,' said Ben.

 

'He isn't fit to black yours,' said Jennie energetically.

 

'Oh, yes, he is,' said Ben, laughing. 'That's where you and I disagree.'

 

'I guess we both mean about the same thing,' said Jennie, who saw the point.

 

Ben's resolve to go to California was modified by an advertisement in a New York daily paper which he saw at the village tavern².

 

It ran thus:

 

'Wanted, six boys, from fifteen to eighteen years of age, to fill positions of trust. Ten dollars per week will be paid; but a deposit of fifty dollars is required as a guarantee of honesty. This sum will be repaid at the close of term of service. Address Fitch & Perguson, No.--Nassau Street.'

 

This advertisement looked quite attractive to Ben. He copied it, and showed it to Uncle Job.

 

'Isn't that a good chance, Uncle Job?' he said. 'Just think! Ten dollars a week!'

 

'You'd have to pay your board out of it,' said his uncle.

 

'I know that, but my board wouldn't cost more than four dollars a week. That would leave me six.'

 

'So it would. I declare it does seem to be a good chance. Maybe they've got all the boys they want.'

 

'Why, you see, uncle, there's a good many boys that couldn't pay the deposit money. That would limit the number of applicants³. Now, I have the money, and I guess I'd better write to New York at once about it.'

 

'Maybe you had, Ben.'

 

Ben immediately procured⁴ a sheet of paper and wrote to the advertisers, stating that he would like the position, and assuring them of his ability to furnish the required sum. The letter went to New York by the afternoon mail.

 

Naturally Ben was a little excited and suffered a little from suspense⁵. He feared that all the places would be filled, and such another chance was hardly to be expected again very soon. However, on Monday morning he was gratified by the receipt of the following letter:

 

'No.--NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK.

 

'MR. BENJAMIN STANTON: Your letter of yesterday is at hand. Fortunately we have one vacancy⁶, the other places being already filled. We have rejected three applicants for it on account of unsatisfactory penmanship. Yours, however, is up to the mark, and we will engage you on the strength of it. It will be necessary for you to report as soon as possible at our office for duty. We require the deposit on account of the sums of money which you will handle. We do not doubt your honesty, but it seems desirable that you should furnish a guarantee, particularly as we pay a much larger salary than is usually given to young clerks.

 

'Yours respectfully,

 

'FITCH & FERGUSON.

 

'P. S. Your engagement will not commence until the fifty dollars are in our hands.'

 

Ben was quite elated by his success.

 

'I must start to-morrow morning,' he said, 'or I shall be in danger of losing the place.'

 

'It seems very sudden,' said his aunt. 'I am afraid I sha'n't have time to get your clothes ready. Some are dirty, and others need mending. If I'd had a little notice-'

 

'It won't make any difference, Aunt Sarah,' said Ben. 'I'll take a few clothes in a carpetbag, and you can send the rest by express when they are ready.'

 

'Yes, Sarah, that will be the best way,' said Uncle Job. 'Ben don't want to run the risk of losing the place by delay.'

 

Mrs. Stanton acquiesced⁷ rather unwillingly⁸, and for the remainder of the day Ben was busy making preparations to leave his country home.

1 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

2 tavern   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店

参考例句：

• There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
• Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。

3 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

4 procured   

v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条

参考例句：

• These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》

5 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

6 vacancy   

n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺

参考例句：

• Her going on maternity leave will create a temporary vacancy.她休产假时将会有一个临时空缺。
• The vacancy of her expression made me doubt if she was listening.她茫然的神情让我怀疑她是否在听。

7 acquiesced   

v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
• After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说，他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 unwillingly   

adv.不情愿地

参考例句：

• He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。
• Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访，他也是很不情愿地接待我。