Wait and Hope A Plucky Boy's Luck
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Chapter II — Three Situations

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 Before going further it may be as well to explain exactly how the Bradfords were situated1. To begin with, they had no rent to pay. The small house in which they lived belonged to an old bachelor uncle of Mrs. Bradford, living in Montreal, and all they were required to do was to pay the taxes, which amounted to very little, not more than twelve dollars a year. Ben had earned at the factory five dollars a week, and his aunt averaged two. To some readers it may seem remarkable2 that three persons could live and clothe themselves on seven dollars a week; but Mrs. Bradford was a good manager, and had not found the problem a difficult one.
 
Now, however, the question promised to become more difficult. If Ben found nothing to do, the family would be reduced to two dollars a week, and to live comfortably on that small sum might well appal3 the most skilful4 financier.
 
Ben woke up early, and immediately began to consider the situation. His motto was "Wait and Hope"; but he knew very well that he must work while he was waiting and hoping, otherwise he would differ very little from the hopeful Micawber, who was always waiting for something to turn up.
 
"Aunt Jane," he said, after a frugal5 breakfast, over which Mrs. Bradford presided with an uncommonly6 long face, "how much money have you got on hand? I want to know just how we stand."
 
Mrs. Bradford opened her pocketbook with a sigh, and produced two one-dollar bills and thirty-seven cents in change.
 
"There's only that between us and starvation," she said mournfully.
 
"Well, that's something," said Ben cheerfully. "Isn't it, Tony?"
 
"It's a lot of money," said the inexperienced Tony. "I never had so much in all my life."
 
"There, somebody thinks you are rich, Aunt Jane," laughed Ben.
 
"What should the poor child know of household expenses?" said Mrs. Bradford.

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1 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的
参考例句：
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
2 remarkable 8Vbx6     
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。
3 appal kMIyP     
vt.使胆寒，使惊骇
参考例句：
  • I was appalled at the news.我被这消息吓坏了。
  • This "Hamlet" will appal some for being so resolutely unclassical.新版《哈姆雷特 》如此违背经典，确实惊世骇俗。
4 skilful 8i2zDY     
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的
参考例句：
  • The more you practise,the more skilful you'll become.练习的次数越多，熟练的程度越高。
  • He's not very skilful with his chopsticks.他用筷子不大熟练。
5 frugal af0zf     
adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的
参考例句：
  • He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人，但生活俭朴。
  • The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。
6 uncommonly 9ca651a5ba9c3bff93403147b14d37e2     
adv. 稀罕(极，非常)
参考例句：
  • an uncommonly gifted child 一个天赋异禀的儿童
  • My little Mary was feeling uncommonly empty. 我肚子当时正饿得厉害。
7 requisite 2W0xu     
adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品
参考例句：
  • He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。
  • Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。
8 aquiline jNeyk     
adj.钩状的，鹰的
参考例句：
  • He had a thin aquiline nose and deep-set brown eyes.他长着窄长的鹰钩鼻和深陷的褐色眼睛。
  • The man has a strong and aquiline nose.该名男子有强大和鹰鼻子。
9 scent WThzs     
n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉
参考例句：
  • The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
  • The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。
10 shrill EEize     
adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫
参考例句：
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
11 rusty hYlxq     
adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的
参考例句：
  • The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
  • I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。
12 bluff ftZzB     
v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗
参考例句：
  • His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
  • John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。
13 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。
14 apothecary iMcyM     
n.药剂师
参考例句：
  • I am an apothecary of that hospital.我是那家医院的一名药剂师。
  • He was the usual cut and dry apothecary,of no particular age and color.他是那种再普通不过的行医者，说不出多大年纪，相貌也没什么值得一提的。
15 contortion nZjy9     
n.扭弯，扭歪，曲解
参考例句：
  • I had to admire the contortions of the gymnasts.我不得不为这些体操运动员们高难度的扭体动作而赞叹。
  • This sentence was spoken with the bitterness of self-upbraiding,and a contortion of visage absolutely demoniacal.这话是用辛辣的自我谴责的口吻说出来的，说话时他的面孔也歪扭得象个地道的魔鬼。
16 forfeiting bbd60c0c559b29a3540c4f9bf25d9744     
（因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • In his eyes, giving up his job and forfeiting his wages amounted practically to suicide. 辞事，让工钱，在祥子看就差不多等于自杀。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • That would be acknowledging the Railroad's ownership right away-forfeiting their rights for good. 这一来不是就等于干脆承认铁路公司的所有权-永久放弃他们自己的主权吗？
17 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。
18 dealer GyNxT     
n.商人，贩子
参考例句：
  • The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
  • The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

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