Work: A Story of Experience - Chapter 2

A FORTNIGHT later, and Christie was off. Mrs. Flint had briefly ¹ answered that she had a room, and that work was always to be found in the city. So the girl packed her one trunk, folding away splendid hopes among her plain gowns, and filling every corner with happy fancies, utterly ³ impossible plans, and tender little dreams, so lovely at the time, so pathetic to remember, when contact with the hard realities of life has collapsed ⁴ our bright bubbles, and the frost of disappointment nipped all our morning glories in their prime. The old red stage stopped at Enos Devon's door, and his niece crossed the threshold after a cool handshake with the master of the house, and a close embrace with the mistress, who stood pouring out last words with spectacles too dim for seeing. Fat Ben swung up the trunk, slammed the door, mounted his perch ⁵, and the ancient vehicle swayed with premonitory symptoms of departure., ,Then something smote ⁶ Christie's heart. "Stop!" she cried, and springing out ran back into the dismal ⁷ room where the old man sat. Straight up to him she went with outstretched hand, saying steadily ⁸, though her face was full of feeling:, ,"Uncle, I'm not satisfied with that good-bye. I don't mean to be sentimental ⁹, but I do want to say, 'Forgive me!' I see now that I might have made you sorry to part with me, if I had tried to make you love me more. It's too late now, but I'm not too proud to confess when I'm wrong. I want to part kindly ¹⁰; I ask your pardon; I thank you for all you've done for me, and I say good-bye affectionately now.", , ,Conscience had pricked ¹² him more than once that week, and he was glad to own it now; his rough sense of honor was touched by her frank expression, and, as he answered, his hand was offered readily., ,"I like that, Kitty, and think the better of you for't. Let bygones be bygones. I gen'lly got as good as I give, and I guess I deserved some on't. I wish you wal, my girl, I heartily ¹³ wish you wal, and hope you won't forgit that the old house ain't never shet aginst you.", ,He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁 。,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
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