'That Fanny of yours was cut out for a rich man's wife,' insisted Goldenberg's aunt, shaking her pious4 wig5.
'He who marries Fanny is rich,' retorted Elias.
'"Pawn your hide, but get a bride,"' quoted the old lady savagely6.
As for the slighted marriage-broker, he remonstrated7 almost like a relative.
'But I didn't want a negotiated marriage,' Elias protested.
'A love marriage I could also have arranged for you,' replied Sugarman indignantly.
But Elias was quite content with his own arrangement, for Fanny's glance was melting and her touch transporting. To deck that soft warm hand with an engagement-ring, a month's wages had not seemed disproportionate, and Fanny flashed the diamond bewitchingly. It lit up the gloomy workshop with its signal of felicity. Even Belcovitch, bent8 over his [250]press-iron, sometimes omitted to rebuke9 Fanny's badinage10.
The course of true love seemed to run straight to the Canopy—Fanny had already worked the bridegroom's praying shawl—when suddenly a storm broke. At first the cloud was no bigger than a man's hand—in fact, it was a man's hand. Elias espied11 it groping for Fanny's in the dim space between the two machines. As Fanny's fingers fluttered towards it, her other hand still guiding the cloth under the throbbing12 needle, Elias felt the needle stabbing his heart up and down, through and through. The very finger that held his costly13 ring lay in this alien paw gratis14.
The shameless minx! Ah, his relatives were right. He snapped the scissors savagely like a dragon's jaw15.
'Fanny, what dost thou?' he gasped16 in Yiddish.
Fanny's face flamed; her guilty fingers flew back.
'I thought thou wast on the other side,' she breathed.
Elias snorted incredulously.
As soon as Sugarman heard of the breaking of the engagement he flew to Elias, his blue bandanna17 streaming from his coat-tail.
'If you had come to me,' he crowed, 'I should have found you a more reliable article. However, Heaven has given you a second helping18. A well-built wage-earner like you can look as high as a greengrocer's daughter even.'
'I never wish to look upon a woman again,' Elias groaned19.
'Schtuss!' said the great marriage-broker. 'Three days after the Fast of Atonement comes the Feast of Tabernacles. The Almighty20, blessed be He, who created both light and darkness, has made obedient [251]females as well as pleasure-seeking jades21.' And he blew his nose emphatically into his bandanna.
'Yes; but she won't return me my ring,' Elias lamented22.
'What!' Sugarman gasped. 'Then she considers herself still engaged to you.'
'Not at all. She laughs in my face.'
'And she has given you back your promise?'
'My promise—yes. The ring—no.'
'But on what ground?'
'She says I gave it to her.'
Sugarman clucked his tongue. 'Tututu! Better if we had followed our old custom, and the man had worn the engagement-ring, not the woman!'
'In the workshop,' Elias went on miserably23, 'she flashes it in my eyes. Everybody makes mock. Oh, the Jezebel!'
'I should summons her!'
'It would only cost me more. Is it not true I gave her the ring?'
Sugarman mopped his brow. His vast experience was at fault. No maiden24 had ever refused to return his client's ring; rather had she flung it in the wooer's false teeth.
'This comes of your love matches!' he cried sternly. 'Next time there must be a proper contract.'
'Next time!' repeated Elias. 'Why how am I to afford a new ring? Fanny was ruinous in cups of chocolate and the pit of the Pavilion Theatre!'
'I should want my fee down!' said Sugarman sharply.
Elias shrugged25 his shoulders. 'If you bring me the ring.'
[252]'I do not get old rings but new maidens,' Sugarman reminded him haughtily26. 'However, as you are a customer——' and crying 'Five per cent. on the greengrocer's daughter,' he hurried away ere Elias had time to dissent27 from the bargain.
Donning his sealskin vest to overawe the Fershts, Sugarman ploughed his way up the dark staircase to their room. His attire28 was wasted on the family, for Fanny herself opened the door.
'Peace to you,' he cried. 'I have come on behalf of Elias Goldenberg.'
'It is useless. I will not have him.' And she was shutting the door. Her misconception, wilful29 or not, scattered30 all Sugarman's prepared diplomacies. 'He does not want you, he wants the ring,' he cried hastily.
Fanny indecorously put a finger to her nose. The diamond glittered mockingly on it. Then she turned away giggling31. 'But look at this photograph!' panted Sugarman desperately32 through the closing door.
Surprise and curiosity brought her eyes back. She stared at the sheepish features of a frock-coated stranger.
'Four pounds a week all the year round, head cutter at S. Cohn's,' said Sugarman, pursuing this advantage. 'A good old English family; Benjamin Beckenstein is his name, and he is dying to step into Elias's shoes.'
'His feet are too large!' And she flicked33 the photograph floorwards with her bediamonded finger.
'But why waste the engagement-ring?' pleaded Sugarman, stooping to pick up the suitor.
'What an idea! A new man, a new ring!' And Fanny slammed the door.
[253]'Impudence-face! Would you become a jewellery shop?' the baffled Shadchan shrieked34 through the woodwork.
He returned to Elias, brooding darkly.
'Well?' queried35 Elias.
'O, your love matches!' And Sugarman shook them away with shuddersome palms.
'Then she won't——'
'No, she won't. Ah, how blessed you are to escape from that daughter of Satan! The greengrocer's daughter now——'
'Speak me no more matches. I risk no more rings.'
'I will get you one on the hire system.'
'A maiden?'
'Guard your tongue! A ring, of course.'
Elias shook an obdurate36 head. 'No. I must have the old ring back.'
'That is impossible—unless you marry her to get it back. Stay! Why should I not arrange that for you?'
'Leave me in peace! Heaven has opened my eyes.'
'Then see how economical she is!' urged Sugarman. 'A maiden who sticks to a ring like that is not likely to be wasteful37 of your substance.'
'You have not seen her swallow "stuffed monkeys,"' said Elias grimly. 'Make an end! I have done with her.'
'No, you have not! You can still give yourself a counsel.' And Sugarman looked a conscious sphinx. 'You may yet get back the ring.'
'How?'
'Of course, I have the next disposal of it?' said Sugarman.
[254]'Yes, yes. Go on.'
'To-morrow in the workshop pretend to steal loving glances all day long when she's not looking. When she catches you——'
'But she won't be looking!'
'Oh, yes, she will. When she catches you, you must blush.'
'But I can't blush at will,' Elias protested.
'I know it is hard. Well, look foolish. That will be easier for you.'
'But why shall I look foolish?'
'To make her think you are in love with her after all.'
'I should look foolish if I were.'
'Precisely38. That is the idea. When she leaves the workshop in the evening follow her, and as she passes the cake-shop, sigh and ask her if she will not eat a "stuffed monkey" for the sake of peace-be-upon-him times.'
'But she won't.'
'Why not? She is still in love.'
'With stuffed monkeys,' said Elias cynically39.
'With you, too.'
Elias blushed quite easily. 'How do you know?'
'I offered her another man, and she slammed the door in my face!'
'You—you offered——' Elias stuttered angrily.
'Only to test her,' said Sugarman soothingly40. He continued: 'Now, when she has eaten the cake and drunk a cup of chocolate, too (for one must play high with such a ring at stake), you must walk on by her side, and when you come to a dark corner, take her hand and say "My treasure" or "My angel," or whatever nonsense you modern young men babble41 to your [255]maidens—with the results you see!—and while she is drinking it all in like more chocolate, her fingers in yours, give a sudden tug42, and off comes the ring!'
Elias gazed at him in admiration43. 'You are as crafty44 as Jacob, our father.'
'Heaven has not denied everybody brains,' replied Sugarman modestly. 'Be careful to seize the left hand.'
The admiring Elias followed the scheme to the letter.
Even the blush he had boggled at came to his cheeks punctually whenever his sheep's-eyes met Fanny's. He was so surprised to find his face burning that he looked foolish into the bargain.
They dallied45 long in the cake-shop, Elias trying to summon up courage for the final feint. He would get a good grip on the ring finger. The tug-of-war should be brief.
Meantime the couple clinked chocolate cups, and smiled into each other's eyes.
'The good-for-nothing!' thought Elias hotly. 'She will make the same eyes at the next man.'
And he went on gorging46 her, every speculative47 'stuffed monkey' increasing his nervous tension. Her white teeth, biting recklessly into the cake, made him itch1 to slap her rosy48 cheek. Confectionery palled49 at last, and Fanny led the way out. Elias followed, chattering50 with feverish51 gaiety. Gradually he drew up even with her.
They turned down the deserted52 Fishmonger's Alley53, lit by one dull gas-lamp. Elias's limbs began to tremble with the excitement of the critical moment. He felt like a footpad. Hither and thither54 he peered—nobody [256]was about. But—was he on the right side of her? 'The right is the left,' he told himself, trying to smile, but his pulses thumped55, and in the tumult56 of heart and brain he was not sure he knew her right hand from her left. Fortunately he caught the glitter of the diamond in the gloom, and instinctively57 his robber hand closed upon it.
But as he felt the warm responsive clasp of those soft fingers, that ancient delicious thrill pierced every vein58. Fool that he had been to doubt that dear hand! And it was wearing his ring still—she could not part with it! O blundering male ingrate59!
'My treasure! My angel!' he murmured ecstatically.
点击收听单词发音
1 itch | |
n.痒,渴望,疥癣;vi.发痒,渴望 | |
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2 betrothed | |
n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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3 ghetto | |
n.少数民族聚居区,贫民区 | |
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4 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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5 wig | |
n.假发 | |
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6 savagely | |
adv. 野蛮地,残酷地 | |
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7 remonstrated | |
v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 );告诫 | |
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8 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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9 rebuke | |
v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise | |
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10 badinage | |
n.开玩笑,打趣 | |
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11 espied | |
v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12 throbbing | |
a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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13 costly | |
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 | |
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14 gratis | |
adj.免费的 | |
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15 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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16 gasped | |
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 | |
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17 bandanna | |
n.大手帕 | |
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18 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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19 groaned | |
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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20 almighty | |
adj.全能的,万能的;很大的,很强的 | |
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21 jades | |
n.玉,翡翠(jade的复数形式)v.(使)疲(jade的第三人称单数形式) | |
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22 lamented | |
adj.被哀悼的,令人遗憾的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23 miserably | |
adv.痛苦地;悲惨地;糟糕地;极度地 | |
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24 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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25 shrugged | |
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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26 haughtily | |
adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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27 dissent | |
n./v.不同意,持异议 | |
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28 attire | |
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装 | |
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29 wilful | |
adj.任性的,故意的 | |
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30 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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31 giggling | |
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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32 desperately | |
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
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33 flicked | |
(尤指用手指或手快速地)轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 ); (用…)轻挥; (快速地)按开关; 向…笑了一下(或瞥了一眼等) | |
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34 shrieked | |
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35 queried | |
v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 );询问 | |
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36 obdurate | |
adj.固执的,顽固的 | |
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37 wasteful | |
adj.(造成)浪费的,挥霍的 | |
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38 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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39 cynically | |
adv.爱嘲笑地,冷笑地 | |
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40 soothingly | |
adv.抚慰地,安慰地;镇痛地 | |
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41 babble | |
v.含糊不清地说,胡言乱语地说,儿语 | |
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42 tug | |
v.用力拖(或拉);苦干;n.拖;苦干;拖船 | |
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43 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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44 crafty | |
adj.狡猾的,诡诈的 | |
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45 dallied | |
v.随随便便地对待( dally的过去式和过去分词 );不很认真地考虑;浪费时间;调情 | |
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46 gorging | |
v.(用食物把自己)塞饱,填饱( gorge的现在分词 );作呕 | |
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47 speculative | |
adj.思索性的,暝想性的,推理的 | |
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48 rosy | |
adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 | |
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49 palled | |
v.(因过多或过久而)生厌,感到乏味,厌烦( pall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50 chattering | |
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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51 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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52 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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53 alley | |
n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路 | |
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54 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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55 thumped | |
v.重击, (指心脏)急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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57 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
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58 vein | |
n.血管,静脉;叶脉,纹理;情绪;vt.使成脉络 | |
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59 ingrate | |
n.忘恩负义的人 | |
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