While Solon Talbot was intent upon making money, his son Edgar was left to spend his time pretty much as he pleased. His father had secured him a place with a firm of
brokers1 in Wall Street, in fact in the office of Crane & Lawton, through whom he intended to dispose of his mining stocks.
Edgar received five dollars a week, and this his father allowed him to keep for himself. But five dollars a week in a city like New York won't go very far when a boy gives up his evenings to playing pool.
One night Edgar made the acquaintance of a showy young man whom he ignorantly supposed belonged to a prominent New York family. It was in fact our old acquaintance, Hamilton Schuyler, with whom Mark had already had some experiences which did not impress him very much in the young man's favor.
Schuyler's attention was
drawn2 to Edgar at a pool-room in the neighborhood of Forty-Second Street, and he made
inquiries3 about him.
Ascertaining4 that Edgar's father was supposed to be rich he cultivated his acquaintance, and flattered him artfully.
"You play a good game of
billiards5, Mr. Talbot," he said.
"Do you mind having a game with me?"
"You probably play a good deal better than I do."
"We can try and see. By the way, let me introduce myself," and he handed Edgar his card.
"Schuyler Hamilton!" read Edgar, "that is an old name, is it not?"
"Yes," answered Schuyler carelessly. "I am related to most of the old Knickerbocker families. I am very particular whom I associate with, but I saw at once that you were a gentleman."
Foolish Edgar was very much flattered.
"My father is a capitalist," he said. "We used to live in Syracuse, but he thinks he can make more money in New York."
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收听单词发音
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1
brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… |
参考例句： |
- The firm in question was Alsbery & Co., whiskey brokers. 那家公司叫阿尔斯伯里公司，经销威士忌。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
- From time to time a telephone would ring in the brokers' offices. 那两排经纪人房间里不时响着叮令的电话。 来自子夜部分
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2
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 |
参考例句： |
- All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
- Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
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3
inquiries
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| 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》
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4
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. 我当时是要弄清楚地下室是朝前还是朝后延伸的。 来自辞典例句
- The design and ascertaining of permanent-magnet-biased magnetic bearing parameter are detailed introduced. 并对永磁偏置磁悬浮轴承参数的设计和确定进行了详细介绍。 来自互联网
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5
billiards
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| 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。
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6
complacently
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| 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
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7
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 |
参考例句： |
- We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
- The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
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8
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 |
参考例句： |
- Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
- I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
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9
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
- "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！
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10
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 |
参考例句： |
- To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是：我的稿件被退了回来。
- The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。
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memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 |
参考例句： |
- The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
- The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。
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12
credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 |
参考例句： |
- You must be credulous if she fooled you with that story.连她那种话都能把你骗倒，你一定是太容易相信别人了。
- Credulous attitude will only make you take anything for granted.轻信的态度只会使你想当然。
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13
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 |
参考例句： |
- He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
- He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着，一直走回了公寓。
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14
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 |
参考例句： |
- Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
- He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 |
参考例句： |
- We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
- This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 |
参考例句： |
- He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
- We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 |
参考例句： |
- His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
- She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。
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18
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 |
参考例句： |
- He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。
- He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。
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hauteur
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| n.傲慢 |
参考例句： |
- Once,she had been put off by his hauteur.她曾经对他的傲慢很反感。
- A deeper shade of hauteur overspread his features,but he said not a word.一阵傲慢的阴影罩上了他的脸，可是他一句话也没有说。
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humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的
vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 |
参考例句： |
- The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
- I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。
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