“I am taking orders for three works—a new and beautifully illustrated¹ set of Cooper’s works, an Illustrated History of the United States, and a new cook-book. Here are some samples,” and the young man brought them forth² from his bag.

 

“They certainly look very fine,” answered Frank, after inspecting the volumes.

 

“Perhaps I can sell you a set of the Cooper.”

 

“Thank you; I can’t afford them.”

 

“Or a cook-book for your wife,” and the book agent laughed. “Get her a cook-book and she won’t kill you off when she cooks for you.”

 

“I’ll have to get the wife first—and means to support her,” and now Frank laughed, too. “May I ask if there is much money in selling books? If I can’t get a steady job I might take it up,” he went on, seriously.

 

“Selling books is a great speculation³, my friend. You might make fifty dollars a week at it, and you might not make a dollar. It all depends on what you have to sell, what territory you cover, and what your abilities as a salesman are.”

 

“Yes, that must be true. But, somehow, I think I could sell books, if I had the right kind.”

 

“Many think they can do the same, but out of a hundred who try, not a dozen succeed. It’s very discouraging at the start. To make a success you’ve got to have lots of ‘stick-to-it’ in you.”

 

“May I ask what firm you represent? Or, perhaps you don’t care to tell?”

 

“Oh, I’m perfectly⁴ willing to tell you, and if you want to try your luck with them go ahead. My name is Oscar Klemner, and I represent the Barry Marden Publishing Company, of Philadelphia—one of the largest publishing houses in the subscription5

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1 illustrated
adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。 The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

2 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

3 speculation
n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机
参考例句：
Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。 There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

4 perfectly
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。 Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

5 subscription
n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方）
参考例句：
We paid a subscription of 5 pounds yearly.我们按年度缴纳5英镑的订阅费。 Subscription selling bloomed splendidly.订阅销售量激增。

6 hardy
adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的
参考例句：
The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。 He is a hardy person.他是一个能吃苦耐劳的人。

7 hop
n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过
参考例句：
The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。 How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

8 insight
n.洞察力，洞悉，深刻的见解
参考例句：
Good teachers have insight into the problems of students.好的教师能洞察学生的问题。 The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。

9 transaction
n.处理，交易，相互作用
参考例句：
He was twenty dollars in pocket by the transaction.他在这笔生意中赚了20美元。 He left the transaction of the matter to his secretary.他把这件事交给秘书办理。

10 dilated
adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Her eyes dilated with fear. 她吓得瞪大了眼睛。 The cat dilated its eyes. 猫瞪大了双眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 eloquently
adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地)
参考例句：
I was toasted by him most eloquently at the dinner. 进餐时他口若悬河地向我祝酒。 The poet eloquently expresses the sense of lost innocence. 诗人动人地表达了失去天真的感觉。

12 commission
n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状
参考例句：
The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。 The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

13 thoroughly
adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地
参考例句：
The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。 The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

14 relish
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。

15 tramp
n.流浪者，步行，跋涉；v.步行，跋涉
参考例句：
She wants to go for a tramp in the country.她想去乡间远足。 A tramp came to the door and asked for food.一个流浪汉来到门前讨饭吃。

16 limbs
肢( limb的名词复数 )； 大树枝； 肢体
参考例句：
For a while, she lost the use of her limbs. 好一会儿她四肢都动弹不得。 The prisoner's limbs flailed violently because of the pain. 那囚犯因为疼痛，四肢剧烈地抖动着。

17 lumber
n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动
参考例句：
The truck was sent to carry lumber.卡车被派出去运木材。 They slapped together a cabin out of old lumber.他们利用旧木料草草地盖起了一间小屋。

18 wagon
n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车
参考例句：
We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。 The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

19 remarkable
adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的
参考例句：
She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。 These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

20 spectacles
n.眼镜
参考例句：
a pair of spectacles 一副眼镜 People wear spectacles so that they can see better. 人们戴眼镜是为了看得更清楚。

21 inspiration
n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气
参考例句：
These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。 What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！

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