George Melville looked up in some surprise from his book, and said: “You may show him up.”

“It must be Herbert,” he thought.

But when the door was opened, and the visitor shown in, Mr. Melville found it was an older person than Herbert. Eben, for it was he, distorted his mean features into what he regarded as a pleasant smile, and, without waiting to receive a welcome, came forward with extended hand.

“I believe you are Mr. Melville,” he said, inquiringly.

“Yes, that is my name,” said Melville, looking puzzled; “I don't remember you. Have I met you before?”

“You saw me in father's store, very likely,” said Eben. “I am Eben Graham, son of Ebenezer Graham, the postmaster.”

“Indeed! That accounts for your face looking familiar. You resemble your father very closely.”

“I'm a chip off the old block with modern improvements,” said Eben, smirking¹. “Father's always lived in the country, and he ain't very stylish². I've been employed in Boston for a couple of years past, and got a little city polish.”

“You don't show much of it,” thought Melville, but he refrained from saying so.

“So you have come home to assist your father,” he said, politely.

“Well, no, not exactly,” answered Eben, “I feel that a country store isn't my sphere.”

“Then you propose to go back to the city?”

“Probably I shall do so eventually, but I may stay here in Wayneboro a while if I can make satisfactory arrangements. I assure you that it was not my wish to take Herbert Carr's place.”

“Herbert told me that you had assumed his duties.”

“It is only ad interim³. I assure you, it is only ad interim. I am quite ready to give back the place to Herbert, who is better suited to it than I.”

“I wonder what the fellow is driving at,” thought Melville. Eben did not long leave him in doubt.

“Herbert tells me that he has made an engagement with you,” continued Eben, desiring to come to his business as soon as possible.

“Yes, we have made a mutual

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点击收听单词发音  

1 smirking
v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Major Pendennis, fresh and smirking, came out of his bedroom to his sitting-room. 潘登尼斯少校神采奕奕，笑容可掬地从卧室来到起居室。 来自辞典例句 The big doll, sitting in her new pram smirking, could hear it quite plainly. 大娃娃坐在崭新的童车里，满脸痴笑，能听得一清二楚。 来自辞典例句

2 stylish
adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的
参考例句：
He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。 What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。

3 interim
adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间
参考例句：
The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。 It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

4 mutual
adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的
参考例句：
We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。 Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

5 interfering
adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词
参考例句：
He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事！ I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预，让我自己拿主意。

6 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

7 insinuating
adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入
参考例句：
Are you insinuating that I' m telling a lie ? 你这是意味着我是在说谎吗？ 来自辞典例句 He is extremely insinuating, but it's a vulgar nature. 他好奉承拍马，那是种庸俗的品格。 来自辞典例句

8 sarcasm
n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic）
参考例句：
His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。 She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。

9 temperament
n.气质，性格，性情
参考例句：
The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。 Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

10 countenance
n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同
参考例句：
At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。 I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

11 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

12 mortified
v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等）
参考例句：
She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了，直羞得无地自容。 The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 asperity
n.粗鲁，艰苦
参考例句：
He spoke to the boy with asperity.他严厉地对那男孩讲话。 The asperity of the winter had everybody yearning for spring.严冬之苦让每个人都渴望春天。

14 apprised
v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价
参考例句：
We were fully apprised of the situation. 我们完全获悉当时的情况。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I have apprised him of your arrival. 我已经告诉他你要来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

15 supersede
v.替代；充任
参考例句：
We must supersede old machines by new ones.我们必须以新机器取代旧机器。 The use of robots will someday supersede manual labor.机器人的使用有一天会取代人力。

16 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。

17 interfere
v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰
参考例句：
If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。 When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

18 prospects
n.希望，前途(恒为复数)
参考例句：
There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。 They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

19 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。

20 descended
a.为...后裔的，出身于...的
参考例句：
A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。 The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

21 impudence
n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼
参考例句：
His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。 What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。

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