Rupert's Ambition
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CHAPTER I. RUPERT LOSES HIS PLACE.

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"Rupert, the superintendent1 wishes to see you."
 
Rupert Rollins, a tall boy of sixteen, was engaged in folding some pieces of cloth which had been shown during the day to customers. It was the principal salesroom of Tenney & Rhodes, who conducted a large wholesale2 dry goods house in the lower part of New York city.
 
"Very well, Harry3," he said. "I will go at once. I wonder what he wants to see me about."
 
"I don't know. I hope it is to raise your wages."
 
"That isn't likely in these dull times, though a raise would be very welcome."
 
[Pg 2]
 
When Rupert had finished folding the pieces he was upon he left his place and knocked at the door of a small room occupied by the superintendent.
 
A man of about forty was seated at a desk writing.
 
"Mr. Frost," said Rupert, respectfully, "I hear you wish to speak with me."
 
"Yes; take a seat."
 
Rupert was tired, for he had been on his feet all day, and was glad to sink into a chair near the door.
 
"How long have you been in our employ?" asked the superintendent, in the quick tones habitual4 to him.
 
"Nearly six months."
 
"So I supposed. You are one of the last clerks taken on."
 
"Yes, sir."
 
"I am sorry, I have bad news for you. Mr. Tenney feels, in view of the dullness in business, that it will be advisable to diminish his clerical force. As you are one of the last taken on, he has selected you and a few others for discharge."
 
[Pg 3]
 
Rupert turned pale. What a terrible misfortune this would be to him he well knew. The future seemed to him dark indeed.
 
"I hope, sir," he said, in an unsteady voice, "that the firm is not dissatisfied with me."
 
"Oh, no. No indeed! I have heard only good reports of you. We shall be glad to recommend you to any other firm."

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1 superintendent vsTwV     
n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长
参考例句：
  • He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
  • He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。
2 wholesale Ig9wL     
n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售
参考例句：
  • The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
  • Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。
3 harry heBxS     
vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼
参考例句：
  • Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
  • Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。
4 habitual x5Pyp     
adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的
参考例句：
  • He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。
  • They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。
5 calamity nsizM     
n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件
参考例句：
  • Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。
  • The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。
6 chronic BO9zl     
adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的
参考例句：
  • Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
  • Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。
7 invalid V4Oxh     
n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的
参考例句：
  • He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
  • A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。
8 conjecture 3p8z4     
n./v.推测，猜测
参考例句：
  • She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
  • This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。
9 sanguine dCOzF     
adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的
参考例句：
  • He has a sanguine attitude to life.他对于人生有乐观的看法。
  • He is not very sanguine about our chances of success.他对我们成功的机会不太乐观。
10 disposition GljzO     
n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署
参考例句：
  • He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
  • He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。
11 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
12 retail VWoxC     
v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格
参考例句：
  • In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
  • These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。
13 bent QQ8yD     
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。
14 ascend avnzD     
vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上
参考例句：
  • We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。
  • We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。
15 destitution cf0b90abc1a56e3ce705eb0684c21332     
n.穷困，缺乏，贫穷
参考例句：
  • The people lived in destitution. 民生凋敝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • His drinking led him to a life of destitution. 酗酒导致他生活贫穷。 来自辞典例句
16 instinctive c6jxT     
adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的
参考例句：
  • He tried to conceal his instinctive revulsion at the idea.他试图饰盖自己对这一想法本能的厌恶。
  • Animals have an instinctive fear of fire.动物本能地怕火。
17 craving zvlz3e     
n.渴望,热望
参考例句：
  • a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
  • She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐，以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。
18 scanty ZDPzx     
adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的
参考例句：
  • There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
  • The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。
19 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。
20 extravagant M7zya     
adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的
参考例句：
  • They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
  • He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。
21 candidly YxwzQ1     
adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地
参考例句：
  • He has stopped taking heroin now,but admits candidly that he will always be a drug addict.他眼下已经不再吸食海洛因了,不过他坦言自己永远都是个瘾君子。
  • Candidly,David,I think you're being unreasonable.大卫，说实话我认为你不讲道理。
22 contentedly a0af12176ca79b27d4028fdbaf1b5f64     
adv.心满意足地
参考例句：
  • My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe.父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。
  • "This is brother John's writing,"said Sally,contentedly,as she opened the letter.
23 spoke XryyC     
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。
24 providence 8tdyh     
n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝
参考例句：
  • It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
  • To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。
25 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低
参考例句：
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
26 craved e690825cc0ddd1a25d222b7a89ee7595     
渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求
参考例句：
  • She has always craved excitement. 她总渴望刺激。
  • A spicy, sharp-tasting radish was exactly what her stomach craved. 她正馋着想吃一个香甜可口的红萝卜呢。
27 relish wBkzs     
n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味
参考例句：
  • I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
  • I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。

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