If Mrs. Bradley had been wiser, she would havefelt less confident of her nephew's producing a favorableimpression upon Mr. Wharton. She resolved toopen the subject at the breakfast table``I didn't know, Mr. Wharton,'' she commenced,``that you intended to engage a reader.''

　　``Nor did I propose to do so until last evening.''

　　``I think--you'll excuse me for saying so--thatyou will find that boy too young to suit you.''

　　``I don't think so. He reads very clearly anddistinctly.''

　　``If I had known you thought of engaging areader, I would have asked you to engage mynephew.''

　　``Indeed, I was not aware that you had a nephewin the city. Is he a boy?''

　　``No; he is a young man. He was twenty yearsold last June.''

　　``Is he unfavorably situated¹?''

　　``He has a place as salesman.''

　　``With what firm?''

　　``Gilbert & Mack.''

　　``Why, that is the same firm that employs myyoung friend. It is a good firm.''

　　``Perhaps it is, but my poor nephew receives avery small salary. He finds it very hard to getalong.''

　　``Your nephew is young. He will be promoted ifhe serves his employers well.''

　　``Thomas would have been glad to read to you inthe evening, sir,'' said Mrs. Bradley, commencingthe attack.

　　``But for my present engagement, I might havetaken him,'' said Mr. Wharton, politely.

　　``Have you engaged that boy for any length oftime?''

　　``No; but it is understood that he will stay whileI need him, and he continues to suit me. I have afavorable opinion of him. Besides, he needs the pay.

　　He receives but three dollars a week as a cash-boy,and has a sister to support as well as himself.''

　　``I am sorry,'' she said in an injured tone. ``Ihope you'll excuse my mentioning it, but I took theliberty, having been for twenty years in your employ.''

　　``To be sure! You were quite right,'' said heremployer, kindly<sup>2</sup>. ``Perhaps I may be able to dosomething for your nephew, though not that. Tellhim to come and see me some time.''

　　``Thank you, sir,'' said the housekeeper³.

　　There was one question she wanted to determine,and that was the amount of compensation receivedby Frank. She did not like to inquire directly fromMr. Wharton, but resolved to gain the informationfrom our hero. Some evenings later she had theopportunity. Mr. Wharton had an engagement, andasked her to tell Frank, when he arrived that hewas released from duty. Instead of this she receivedhim in the library herself.

点击收听单词发音  

1 situated
adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的
参考例句：
The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。 She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

2 kindly
adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
参考例句：
Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。 A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

3 housekeeper
n.管理家务的主妇，女管家
参考例句：
A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。 She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

4 abashed
adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He glanced at Juliet accusingly and she looked suitably abashed. 他怪罪的一瞥，朱丽叶自然显得很窘。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The girl was abashed by the laughter of her classmates. 那小姑娘因同学的哄笑而局促不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 discomfited
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败
参考例句：
He was discomfited by the unexpected questions. 意料不到的问题使得他十分尴尬。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 He will be particularly discomfited by the minister's dismissal of his plan. 部长对他计划的不理会将使他特别尴尬。 来自辞典例句

6 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。

7 chuckling
轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )
参考例句：
I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时，我能听见他的轻声发笑。 He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

8 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。

9 dread
vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧
参考例句：
We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。 Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

10 wring
n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭
参考例句：
My socks were so wet that I had to wring them.我的袜子很湿，我不得不拧干它们。 I'll wring your neck if you don't behave!你要是不规矩，我就拧断你的脖子。

11 utterance
n.用言语表达，话语，言语
参考例句：
This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。 My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。