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Chapter 21 At The Theater

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 After dinner, Ben and Conrad started to walk to the theater. The distance was about a mile, but in the city there is so much always to be seen that one does not think of distance.

 
Conrad, who was very curious to ascertain1 Ben's status in the household, lost no time in making inquiries2.
 
"What does my aunt find for you to do?" he asked.
 
It may be remarked, by the way, that no such relationship ever existed between them, but Mrs. Hill and her son thought politic3 to make the relationship seem as close as possible, as it would, perhaps, increase their apparent claim upon their rich relative.
 
Ben answered the question.
 
"You'll have a stupid time," said Conrad. "All the same, she ought to have given the place to me. How much does she pay you?"
 
Ben hesitated, for he knew that his answer would make his companion discontented.
 
"I am not sure whether I am at liberty to tell," he answered, with hesitation4.
 
"There isn't any secret about it, is there?" said Conrad sharply.
 
No, I suppose not. I am to receive ten dollars a week."
 
"Ten dollars a week!" ejaculated Conrad, stopping short in the street.
 
"Yes."
 
"And I get but four! That's a shame!"
 
"I shall really have no more than you, Conrad. I have a mother to provide for, and I shall send home six dollars a week regularly."
 
"That doesn't make any difference!" exclaimed Conrad, in excitement. "It's awfully5 mean of aunt to treat you so much better than she does me."
 
"You mustn't say that to me," said Ben. "She has been kind to us both, and I don't like to hear anything said against her."
 
"You're not going to tell her?" said Conrad suspiciously.
 
"Certainly not," said Ben indignantly. "What do you take me for?"

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 ascertain WNVyN     
vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清
参考例句：
  • It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
  • We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。
2 inquiries 86a54c7f2b27c02acf9fcb16a31c4b57     
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听
参考例句：
  • He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
  • I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
3 politic L23zX     
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。
4 hesitation tdsz5     
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。
5 awfully MPkym     
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。
6 sordid PrLy9     
adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的
参考例句：
  • He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
  • They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。
7 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地
参考例句：
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
8 unwillingly wjjwC     
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。
9 zest vMizT     
n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣
参考例句：
  • He dived into his new job with great zest.他充满热情地投入了新的工作。
  • He wrote his novel about his trip to Asia with zest.他兴趣浓厚的写了一本关于他亚洲之行的小说。
10 soda cr3ye     
n.苏打水；汽水
参考例句：
  • She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
  • I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。
11 billiards DyBzVP     
n.台球
参考例句：
  • John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
  • Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。
12 sneered 0e3b5b35e54fb2ad006040792a867d9f     
讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
  • It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
13 grumbled ed735a7f7af37489d7db1a9ef3b64f91     
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声
参考例句：
  • He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
  • The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
14 prospect P01zn     
n.前景，前途；景色，视野
参考例句：
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
15 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的
参考例句：
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
16 kindly tpUzhQ     
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。
17 housekeeper 6q2zxl     
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。

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