"So you have kept your promise, my young friend," he said. "Well, have you come to join us?"

 

"Yes, sir, if your offer holds good."

 

"My offers always hold good; I never go back on my word."

 

Kit was glad to hear this, for he would have been placed in an embarrassing position if, like some men, Mr. Barlow had forgotten an offer made on the impulse of the moment.

 

"Have you any directions to give, sir?"

 

"You may report to my manager, Mr. Bryant. First, however, it may be well for you to see the Vincenti brothers, and arrange for a joint² act."

 

"When do you wish me to appear, sir?"

 

"Whenever you are ready. You may take a week to rehearse, if necessary. Your pay will commence at once."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Barlow; you are very kind and considerate."

 

Mr. Barlow smiled, and, waving his hand, passed on.[Pg 70]

 

He was very popular with all who were in his employ, and had a high reputation for kindness and strict integrity.

 

"I'd like to work for him," said William Morris, who had listened to the conversation between Kit and the circus proprietor³.

 

"I should like to have you along with me," replied Kit, "but from what Mr. Henderson says there is no good opening."

 

It was not till eleven o'clock that Kit met his future partners, the Vincenti brothers.

 

"Good!" said Alonzo, in a tone of satisfaction. "We must get up a joint act. I suppose you haven't got a suit of tights?"

 

"No. I never expected to need one."

 

"I have an extra one which I think will fit you. Though I am ten years older than you we are about the same size."

 

Kit had occasion to remark that circus performers are short as a rule. Many of them do not exceed five feet four inches in height, but generally they are compactly built, with well developed muscles, and possess unusual strength and agility

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点击收听单词发音  

1 kit
n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物
参考例句：
The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。 The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

2 joint
adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合
参考例句：
I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。 We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 proprietor
n.所有人；业主；经营者
参考例句：
The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。 The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。

4 agility
n.敏捷，活泼
参考例句：
The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。 His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。

5 admiration
n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕
参考例句：
He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。 We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

6 adept
adj.老练的，精通的
参考例句：
When it comes to photography,I'm not an adept.要说照相，我不是内行。 He was highly adept at avoiding trouble.他十分善于避开麻烦。

7 arena
n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台
参考例句：
She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。 He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

8 distinguished
adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的
参考例句：
Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。 A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

9 elicited
引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Threats to reinstate the tax elicited jeer from the Opposition. 恢复此项征税的威胁引起了反对党的嘲笑。 The comedian's joke elicited applause and laughter from the audience. 那位滑稽演员的笑话博得观众的掌声和笑声。

10 dispersing
adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式
参考例句：
Whereas gasoline fumes linger close to the ground before dispersing. 而汽油烟气却靠近地面迟迟不散。 Earthworms may be instrumental in dispersing fungi or bacteria. 蚯蚓可能是散布真菌及细菌的工具。

11 shuddered
v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动
参考例句：
He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 conjured
用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现
参考例句：
He conjured them with his dying breath to look after his children. 他临终时恳求他们照顾他的孩子。 His very funny joke soon conjured my anger away. 他讲了个十分有趣的笑话，使得我的怒气顿消。

13 sedate
adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的
参考例句：
After the accident,the doctor gave her some pills to sedate her.事故发生后，医生让她服了些药片使她镇静下来。 We spent a sedate evening at home.我们在家里过了一个恬静的夜晚。

14 grumble
vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声
参考例句：
I don't want to hear another grumble from you.我不愿再听到你的抱怨。 He could do nothing but grumble over the situation.他除了埋怨局势之外别无他法。

15 grotesque
adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物）
参考例句：
His face has a grotesque appearance.他的面部表情十分怪。 Her account of the incident was a grotesque distortion of the truth.她对这件事的陈述是荒诞地歪曲了事实。

16 acrobat
n.特技演员，杂技演员
参考例句：
The acrobat balanced a long pole on his left shoulder.杂技演员让一根长杆在他的左肩上保持平衡。 The acrobat could bend himself into a hoop.这个杂技演员可以把身体蜷曲成圆形。