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CHAPTER X. MISS FRAMLEY'S ECONOMY.

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 Three days passed, and nothing more had been seen of Stephen Palmer in his step-mother's humble1 home.
"I hope he'll keep away," said Paul. "His coming can do no good, and gives no pleasure to any of us."
"I agree with you, Paul, though it seems hard to say that of one of the family."
"He has never behaved like one of the family," said Paul.
"He was a wayward boy, and even at an early age gave considerable trouble to his father and myself."
"He hasn't improved as he has grown older, mother."
"I am glad you are not like him, Paul."
"Then I am not altogether a nuisance," said Paul, laughingly.
"You are my main support—the staff on which I lean, my dear son. You have always been a good boy."
[Pg 80]"The staff will be stronger some day, mother," said Paul, cheerfully. "I am not always going to have you spoil your eyes by sewing."
"I feel better to be doing something. That reminds me—I have just finished some work for Miss Framley. Do you think you can carry it after supper?"
This conversation took place at the tea-table.
"Certainly, mother; you know I always go out for a walk, and I can just as well go to Mr. Framley's as anywhere else. How much am I to collect on it?"
"A dollar and a half, I think, won't be too much. It has taken me four days."
"You ought to charge more, mother. Think of a dollar and a half for four days' work! Why, it won't half pay you," said Paul, indignantly.
"I don't dare charge more, Paul, or the Framleys will give me no more work. I was recommended to her by her friend, Miss Cutler, as one who would work cheap, and in the only interview I had with her she impressed this upon me as a matter of great importance."
"Is she poor? Does she need to grind you down to such low prices?"
"No; she lives in an elegant house on Wabash avenue, and she is always dressed in the most costly[Pg 81] style. No doubt she has plenty of money at command."
"Then she can't be a lady," said Paul, decidedly.
"She certainly thinks herself so," said Mrs. Palmer. "Her father is a man once poor, and still uneducated, who made a good deal of money during the war, and is now ambitious to live in style."
"Shoddy!" said Paul, contemptuously. "That explains it."
"Nevertheless I am glad to obtain work from them, Paul."
"Provided they will pay a reasonable price. You had better let me charge two dollars, mother."

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1 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。
2 abodes 9bcfa17ac7c6f4bca1df250af70f2ea6     
住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留
参考例句：
  • Now he begin to dig near the abodes front legs. 目前他开端挖马前腿附近的土了。
  • They built a outstanding bulk of abodes. 她们盖了一大批房屋。
3 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的，安心的，知足的
参考例句：
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
4 elegance QjPzj     
n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙
参考例句：
  • The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
  • John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。
5 ascended ea3eb8c332a31fe6393293199b82c425     
v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
7 grumbling grumbling     
adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的
参考例句：
  • She's always grumbling to me about how badly she's treated at work. 她总是向我抱怨她在工作中如何受亏待。
  • We didn't hear any grumbling about the food. 我们没听到过对食物的抱怨。
8 justifiable a3ExP     
adj.有理由的，无可非议的
参考例句：
  • What he has done is hardly justifiable.他的所作所为说不过去。
  • Justifiable defense is the act being exempted from crimes.正当防卫不属于犯罪行为。
9 descend descend     
vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降
参考例句：
  • I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
  • We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。
10 indifference k8DxO     
n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎
参考例句：
  • I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
  • He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。
11 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
12 exquisitely Btwz1r     
adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地
参考例句：
  • He found her exquisitely beautiful. 他觉得她异常美丽。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He wore an exquisitely tailored gray silk and accessories to match. 他穿的是做工非常考究的灰色绸缎衣服，还有各种配得很协调的装饰。 来自教父部分
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 drawn MuXzIi     
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。
15 descending descending     
n. 下行 adj. 下降的
参考例句：
  • The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。
  • The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。
16 pickpocket 8lfzfN     
n.扒手；v.扒窃
参考例句：
  • The pickpocket pinched her purse and ran away.扒手偷了她的皮夹子跑了。
  • He had his purse stolen by a pickpocket.他的钱包被掏了。

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