Chapter 8 A Strange Acquaintance

 Tom Cooper was too familiar with the streets of New York to pay any attention to the moving panorama¹ of which he and Ben formed a part. But everything was new and interesting to Ben, who had passed his life in a quiet country town.

 

'I should think it was the Fourth of July,' he said.

 

'Why?' asked the bootblack.

 

'Because there's such a lot of people and wagons² in the streets.'

 

'There's always as many as this, except Sundays,' said Tom.

 

'Where do they all come from?' said Beu wonderingly.

 

'You've got me there,' answered Tom. 'I never thought about that. Look out!' he exclaimed suddenly, dragging Ben from in front of a team coming up the street. 'Do you want to get run over?'

 

'I was looking the other way,' said Ben, rather confused.

 

'You've got to look all ways to once here,' said Tom.

 

'I guess you're right. Don't people often get run over?'

 

'Once in a while. There's a friend of mine--Patsy Burke--a newsboy, was run over last year and had his leg broke. They took him to Bellevue Hospital, and cut it off.'

 

'Is he alive now?'

 

'Oh, yes, he's alive and to work, the same as ever. He's got a wooden leg.'

 

'Poor boy!' said Ben compassionately³.

 

'Oh, he don't mind it, Patsy don't. He's always jolly.'

 

By this time they reached the office of the California Steamship⁴ Company. There was a large sign up, so that there was no difficulty in finding it.

 

The two boys entered. The room was not a large one. There was a counter, behind which were two young men writing, and there was besides a man of middle age, who was talking to two gentlemen who appeared to be engaging passage. Seated in a chair, apparently⁵ awaiting her turn, was a young lady, whose face was half-concealed by a thick, green veil.

 

When the two gentlemen were disposed of, the agent spoke⁷ to the young lady.

 

'What can I do for you, miss?' he asked.

 

'I am in no hurry, sir,' she answered, in a low voice. 'I will wait for those boys.'

 

'What's your business, boys?' demanded the agent, shrugging his shoulders.

 

'When does the next steamer start, sir?' inquired Ben.

 

'In three days.'

 

'What is the price of passage?'

 

'First-class?'

 

'No, sir, the cheapest.'

 

'One hundred dollars. Do you wish to secure passage?'

 

'Not this morning, sir.'

 

The agent shrugged⁸ his shoulders again, as if to say 'I thought so,' and turned again to the young lady.

 

'Now, miss,' he said.

 

'I beg your pardon, sir,' she said hurriedly. 'I will call again.'

 

As she spoke, she left the office, following the two boys so quickly that they almost went out together.

 

Ben had not taken particular notice of the young lady, and was much surprised when he felt a hand laid on his arm, and, turning, his eyes fell npon her face.

 

'May I speak a few words with you?' she said.

 

'Certainly,' answered Ben politely, though he could not conceal⁶ his astonishment⁹.

 

The young lady looked uneasily at Tom, and hesitated.

 

'Won't you move away a few steps, Tom?' said Ben, understanding the look.

 

'Thank you,' said the young lady, in a low voice. 'Are you intending to sail for California by the next steamer?'

 

'I should like to, miss, but I am poor, and I don't know whether I can afford the expense of a ticket.'

 

'Would you go if your ticket were paid-by a friend?'

 

'You bet I would-I mean I certainly would,' answered Ben, correcting his phraseology, as he remembered that he was addressing a young lady, and not one of his boy friends.

 

'Would you be willing to take care of me--that is, to look after me?'

 

Ben was certainly surprised; but he answered promptly¹⁰ and with native politeness: 'It would be a pleasure to me.'

 

'You were going alone-you had no friends with you?'

 

'None at all, miss.'

 

'That is well,' she said. 'What is your name?'

 

'Ben Stanton.'

 

'Do you live in the city?'

 

'No, miss. I came from the small town of Hampton.'

 

'Where are you staying?'

 

'Nowhere. I only arrived in the city this morning.'

 

'Will you be able to go by the next steamer?'

 

Ben hesitated. It almost took away his breath--it seemed so sudden-but he reflected that there really was no reason why he should not, and he answered in the affirmative.

 

'Then go back with me, and I will engage passage for us both.'

 

The young lady and Ben reentered the office, Tom Cooper looking on with astonishment. She approached the counter, this time with confidence, and the agent came forward.

 

'I have concluded to engage passage for myself and this lad,' she said.

 

The agent regarded her with surprise.

 

'Both first-class?' he asked.

 

'Certainly, sir. I should like the lad to occupy a stateroom near mine.'

 

'Very well. I will show you on the plan those that are unengaged. I cannot give either of you a stateroom to yourselves. I can give you a room with a very agreeable lady, a Mrs. Dunbar, and the boy can occupy part of the adjoining room.'

 

'Very well, sir.'

 

'What name?' continued the agent.

 

'Ida Sinclair,' answered the young lady, with visible hesitation¹¹.

 

'And the boy's name?'

 

Miss Sinclair had forgotten; but Ben promptly answered for himself.

 

The young lady drew out her pocketbook, and produced several large bills, out of which she paid the passage money. Then, turning to Ben, she said: 'Now we will go.'

 

Ben followed her out of the office, feeling completely bewildered. Well he might. The young lady had paid two hundred and fifty dollars for his passage, and for this large outlay¹² only required him to take care of her. No wonder he thought it strange.

 

'You say you are not staying at any hotel?' said the young lady, as they emerged into the street.

 

'No, Miss Sinclair.'

 

'I am staying at the Astor House, and it is important that you should be with me, as I may have some errands on which to employ you.'

 

'Is it an expensive hotel?' asked Ben.

 

'That will not matter to you, as I shall pay the bill.'

 

'Thank you, Miss Sinclair; but you are spending a great deal of money for me.'

 

'I have an object in doing so. Besides, I have no lack of money.'

 

'Shall I go with you to the hotel now?'

 

'Yes.'

 

'May I speak a moment to the boy who was with me?'

 

'Certainly.'

 

'May I tell him where I am going?'

 

'Yes, but ask him to keep it to himself.'

 

'I will, Miss Sinclair,' and Ben was about to walk away.

 

'On the whole, call the boy here,' said Miss Sinclair. 'Tom!' Tom Cooper answered the summons.

 

'I am going to California with this lady,' said Ben. 'She has paid my passage.'

 

'You're in luck!' exclaimed Tom. 'Say, miss, you don't want a boy to go along to black your boots, do you?'

 

Miss Sinclair smiled faintly.

 

'I think not,' she answered.

 

'Tom,' continued Ben, 'you won't say a word about my going, will you?'

 

'Not if you don't want me to. Besides, there ain't nobody to tell.'

 

Miss Sinclair looked relieved. She drew out her pocketbook, and took from it a ten-dollar bill.

 

'What is your name?' she asked.

 

'Tom Cooper, ma'am.'

 

'Then, Tom, allow me to offer you a small present.'

 

'Is it all for me?' exclaimed Tom, in amazement¹³.

 

'Yes.'

 

Tom thrust it into his vest pocket, and immediately executed a somersault, rather to Miss Sinclair's alarm.

 

'Excuse me, ma'am,' said Tom, assuming his natural posture¹⁴; 'I couldn't help it, I felt so excited. I never was so rich before.'

 

'May I tell Tom where we are going to stop?' asked Ben.

 

'Certainly, if he will keep it to himself.'

 

'I shall be at the Astor House, Tom. Come round and see me.'

 

Tom watched the two as they preceded him on their way to Broadway.

 

'I wonder if I'm dreaming,' he said to himself. 'If I am, I hope I won't wake up till I've spent this ten dollars. I guess I'll go to the Old Bowery to-night.'

1 panorama   

n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置]

参考例句：

• A vast panorama of the valley lay before us.山谷的广阔全景展现在我们面前。
• A flourishing and prosperous panorama spread out before our eyes.一派欣欣向荣的景象展现在我们的眼前。

2 wagons   

n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车

参考例句：

• The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
• They drew their wagons into a laager and set up camp. 他们把马车围成一圈扎起营地。

3 compassionately   

adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地

参考例句：

• The man at her feet looked up at Scarlett compassionately. 那个躺在思嘉脚边的人同情地仰望着她。 来自飘（部分）
• Then almost compassionately he said,"You should be greatly rewarded." 接着他几乎带些怜悯似地说：“你是应当得到重重酬报的。” 来自辞典例句

4 steamship   

n.汽船，轮船

参考例句：

• The return may be made on the same steamship.可乘同一艘汽船当天回来。
• It was so foggy that the steamship almost ran down a small boat leaving the port.雾很大，汽艇差点把一只正在离港的小船撞沉。

5 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

6 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

7 spoke   

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。

8 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

10 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。

11 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

12 outlay   

n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费

参考例句：

• There was very little outlay on new machinery.添置新机器的开支微乎其微。
• The outlay seems to bear no relation to the object aimed at.这费用似乎和预期目的完全不相称。

13 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。

14 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。