Before Joan left Marbridge, they had arrived at an understanding which was not less complete and satisfactory in that it was largely implicit2.
Without receiving any definite explanation of the circumstances complicating3 the production of "Mrs. Mixer," Joan carried away with her a tolerably clear notion thereof, both confirming and supplementing the second-hand4 information of Hattie Morrison.
Mrs. Cardrow owned a heavy interest in the play, Joan had gathered; and there existed, as well, a contract between her and Arlington which would have to be eliminated before it would be possible to go ahead and make the production with another actress in place of the erstwhile star. Some very delicate diplomatic man?uvring was indicated....
Interim5, Joan was to be privately6 drilled by Peter Gloucester for some weeks prior to calling together the full company to rehearse for the September production. Gloucester was just then out of Town, but she would be advised when and where to meet him on his return.
Marbridge was to be absent from New York until the middle of September or longer; but he promised to be back a week or two before the opening performance.
There were other promises exchanged....
With her future thus schemed, the girl was very well content, who had attained7 by easy stages to one of mental development in which those primary moral distinctions upon which she had been reared were no longer perceptible—or, if perceptible, had diminished to purely8 negligible stature9.
It was not in nature for her to disdain10 or reject her bargain on moral grounds: she knew, or recognized, none that applied11.
For over a year during the most impressionable period of her life, Joan Thursday had breathed the atmosphere of the stage. She had become thoroughly12 accustomed to recognize without criticism those irregular unions and regular disunions that characterized the lives of her associates. She had observed many an instance where the most steadfast13 and loyal love existed without bonds of any sort, and as many where it existed in matrimony, and as many again where neither party to a marriage made aught but the barest pretence14 of fidelity15.
She had remarked that material and artistic16 success seemed to depend upon neither the observance nor the disregard of sexual morality. She knew of husbands and wives against whom scandal uttered no whisper and whose talents were considerable, but who had struggled for years and would struggle until the end without winning substantial recognition. And she knew of the reverse. The one unpardonable sin in her world was the sin of drunkenness, and even it was venial17 except when it "held the curtain" or prevented its rising altogether.
As far as concerned her attitude toward herself, she considered Joan Thursday above reproach, seeing that she had withdrawn18 from her marriage long before even as much as contemplating19 any man other than her husband. She held that she was now free, at liberty to do as she liked, untrammelled by opinion whether public or private: that she had outgrown20 criticism.
True, Quard might divorce her. But what of that? If he did, Joan Thursday wouldn't suffer. If he didn't, he himself would be the last to pretend he was leading a life of celibacy21 because of her defection.
Marbridge she really liked; his appeal to her nature was stronger than that of any man she had as yet encountered. He attracted her in every way, and he excited her curiosity as well. He was a new type—but in what respect different from other men? He was famously successful with women: why? He had wealth, cultivation22 of a certain sort (real or spurious, Joan couldn't discriminate) and social position; and this flattered, that such an one should reject the women of his own sphere for Joan Thursday—late of the stocking counter.
And if she could turn this infatuation of his to material profit, while at the same time satisfying the several appetites Marbridge excited in her: why not? Other women by the score did as much without censure23 or obvious cause for regret. Why not she?
How many women of her acquaintance—women whose interests, running in grooves24 parallel to hers, were intelligible25 to Joan—would have refused the chance that was now hers through Marbridge? Not one; none, at least, who was free as Joan was free; not even Hattie Morrison, whose views upon the subject of such arrangements were strong, whom Joan considered straitlaced to the verge26 of absurdity27. Hattie, Joan believed, would have jumped at the opportunity.
But of course, denied, Hattie would be sure to decry28 it, and with the more bitterness since Joan had won it in the wreck29 of Hattie's hopes.
And here was the only shadow upon the fair prospect30 of Joan's contentment. She who had questioned Hattie's right to become a party to the conspiracy31 against Mrs. Cardrow—how could she ever go home and face the girl, with this treachery on her conscience?
True: Hattie didn't know, wouldn't know before morning, might never learn the truth during the term of their association.
None the less, to be with Hattie that night would be to sit with a skeleton at the feast of her felicity....
On impulse Joan turned to the left on leaving the New York Theatre building, and moved slowly, purposelessly, down Broadway.
It was an afternoon of withering32 heat: the pavements burning palpably through the paper-thin soles of her pretty slippers33, and the air close with the smell of hot asphaltum. The rays of the westering sun made nothing of the fabric34 of Joan's white parasol, their heat penetrating35 its sheer shield as though it were glass. Mankind in general sought the shadowed side of the street and moved only reluctantly, with its coat over its arm, a handkerchief tucked in between neck and collar—effectually choking off ventilation and threatening "sun-stroke."
Waiting upon the northeast corner of Forty-second Street for the traffic police to check the cross-town tide, Joan felt half-suffocated and thought longingly36 of the seashore....
Once across the street, she turned directly in beneath the permanent awning37 of the Knickerbocker Hotel, and entered the lobby, making her way round, past the entrance to the bar, to the recess38 dedicated39 to the public telephone booths.
A semi-exhausted and apathetic40 operator looked up reluctantly as Joan approached, with one glance appraising41 her from head to heels. At any other time the dainty perfection of Joan's toilet would have roused antagonism42 in the woman; today she found energy only sufficient for a perfunctory mumble43.
"What numba, please?"
Joan hesitated, feeling herself suddenly upon the verge of dangerous indiscretion, but stung by the operator's look of jaded44 disdain, took her courage in hand and pursued her original intention.
"One Bryant," she said.
The operator jammed a plug into one of the rows of sockets45 before her and iterated the number mechanically.
In another moment she nodded, indicating the rank of booths.
"Numba five—One Bryant," she said.
Joan shut herself in with the sliding door and took up the receiver.
"Hello—Lambs' Club?" she enquired46.... "Is Mr. Fowey in the club?... Will you page him, please.... Miss Thursday.... Yes, I'll hold the wire."
The booth was hermetically sealed. Perspiration47 was starting out all over her body. And somewhere in that airless box, probably at her feet, lurked48 a long unburied cigar. She thrust the door ajar, but only to close it immediately as Fowey's voice saluted49 her.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Hubert," Joan drawled, with a little touch of laughing mockery in her accents.
"Is that you, Joan—really?" the voice demanded excitedly.
"Real-ly!" she affirmed. "What're you doing there, shut up all alone by yourself in that stupid club, Hubert?"
Prefaced by a brief but intelligible pause, the man's response came briskly: "Where are you now, anyway?"
"That doesn't matter," she retorted. She had meant to ask him to meet her at the hotel, but reconsidered, fearing lest Marbridge might chance to see them. "What really matters is that this is my birthday and I'm going to give a party. Have you got anything better to do?"
"No—"
"Then meet me in half an hour on the southbound platform of the Sixth Avenue L at Battery Place."
"Battery Place! What in thunder—"
"Never mind—tell you all about it when we meet. Will you come?"
"Will I! Well, rawther!"
"Half an hour, then—"
"I'll be there, with bells on!"
"Then good-bye for a little—Hubert."
"Good-bye."
Fowey reached the point of assignation only one train later than Joan.
As he hurried down the platform, almost stumbling in his impatience50 to join her, the girl surveyed with sudden dislike and regret his slight, dandified figure fitted with finical precision into clothing so ultra-English in fashion that it might have belonged to his younger brother. And the confident smile that lighted up his pinched, eager countenance51 seemed little short of offensive. She was sorry now that she had yielded to the temptation to make use of him: he was so insignificant52 in every way, so violently the opposite in all things of the man who now filled all her thoughts—Marbridge; and so transparent53 that even she could read his mind: he entertained not the least tangible54 doubt that now, after the manner in which they had last parted, she had at length wakened to appreciation55 of his irresistible56 charms, that her requesting him to meet her was but the preface to surrender.
But she permitted nothing of her thoughts to become legible in her manner. After all, she had only wanted an escort for the evening, an excuse to postpone57 that unavoidable return to the company of the girl she had betrayed; and Fowey had seemed the most convenient and the least dangerous man she could think of. If in the inflation of his insufferable conceit58 he dreamed for an instant another thing.... Well, Joan promised herself, he'd soon find out his mistake!...
Keeping up the fiction of her imaginary birthday, she outlined her plans: they would take one of the Iron Steamboat Company's boats from Pier59 1, North River—a short walk from the station—to Coney Island. When that resort palled60, they would drive to Manhattan Beach and dine, perhaps "take in" Pain's Fireworks; and return to New York by the same route.
Fowey's objections were instant and sincere and well-grounded: the boats would be crowded beyond endurance with an unwashed rabble61 liberally sown with drunks and screaming children. If she would only let him, he'd get a taxicab—or even a touring-car.
Quietly but firmly Joan overruled him. It must be her party or no party, as she proposed or not at all.
He yielded in the end, but the event proved him right in all he had foretold62. Joan was very soon made sorry she hadn't suffered herself to be gainsaid63.
They had half an hour to wait for the boat, and the waiting-room upon the second-storey of the pier was like an oven, packed with a milling, sweating mob exactly fulfilling Fowey's prediction. They were elbowed, shouldered, walked upon, and at one time openly ridiculed64 by a gang of hooligans, any one of whom would have made short work of Fowey had he dared show any resentment65.
Upon the boat, when at length it turned up tardily66 to receive them, conditions were little better, save that the open air was an indescribable relief after the reeking67 atmosphere of the pier. Fowey managed to secure two uncomfortable folding stools, upon which they perched, crowded against the rail of the upper deck; a wretched "orchestra" wrung68 infamous69 parodies70 of popular songs from several tortured instruments; children scuffled and howled; burly ruffians in unclean aprons71 thrust themselves bodily through the throng72, balancing dripping trays laden73 with glasses of lukewarm beer and "soft drinks" and bawling74 in every ear their seductive refrain—"Here's the waiter! Want the waiter? Who wants the waiter?"—and an alcoholic75, planting his chair next to Joan's, promptly76 went to sleep, snoring atrociously, and threatened every instant to topple over and rest his head in her lap.
A single circumstance modified in a way Joan's regret that she hadn't heeded77 Fowey's protests.
As the boat swung away from the pier, a larger steamship78 of one of the coastwise lines, outward bound from its dock farther up the North River, passed with leeway so scant79 that the dress and features of those upon its decks were clearly to be discerned. And at the moment when the two vessels80 were nearest, Joan discovered one who stood just outside an open cabin door, leaning upon the rail with an impressively nonchalant pose, and smoking a heavy cigar. He wore clothing of a conspicuous81 shepherd's-plaid, and his pose was an arrested dramatic gesture.
In a moment a woman emerged from the open door behind him and joined him at the rail, placing an intimate hand on his forearm and saying something which won from him a laugh and a look of tender admiration82: a handsome, able-bodied woman, expensively but loudly dressed, her connection with the stage as unquestionable as was his.
Joan dissembled the odd emotion with which she recognized the man, and turned to Fowey.
"What boat is that, do you know, Hubert?"
Fowey raked her with an indifferent glance, fore1 and aft. "Belongs to the New Bedford Line," he announced—"can't make out her name—connects at New Bedford for the boats to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Ever been up that way?"
"No. What's it like?"
"Pretty islands. Don't know Martha's Vineyard very well, but Nantucket's my old stamping-ground. Go up there in the middle of the summer—about now—and you'll find every actor and actress you ever heard of, and then some. Great place. Wish we were going there."
"Don't be silly...."
The boats were drawing apart. Joan looked back for the last sight she was ever to have of her husband.
Though she couldn't have known this, she sighed a little, in strange depression.
Perplexed83, she tried vainly to analyze84 her emotion: was it regret—or jealousy85?
Of a sudden, in the heart of that immense crowd, with Fowey attentive86 at her elbow, she was conscious of a feeling of intense loneliness.
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1
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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complicating
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| 使复杂化( complicate的现在分词 ) | |
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second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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10
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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venial
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| adj.可宽恕的；轻微的 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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outgrown
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| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
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celibacy
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| n.独身(主义) | |
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cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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grooves
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| n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏 | |
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intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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decry
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| v.危难，谴责 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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apathetic
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| adj.冷漠的，无动于衷的 | |
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appraising
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| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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mumble
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| n./v.喃喃而语，咕哝 | |
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jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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45
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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50
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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51
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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52
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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palled
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| 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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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gainsaid
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| v.否认，反驳( gainsay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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tardily
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| adv.缓慢 | |
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67
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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70
parodies
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| n.拙劣的模仿( parody的名词复数 )；恶搞；滑稽的模仿诗文；表面上模仿得笨拙但充满了机智用来嘲弄别人作品的作品v.滑稽地模仿，拙劣地模仿( parody的第三人称单数 ) | |
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aprons
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| 围裙( apron的名词复数 )； 停机坪，台口（舞台幕前的部份） | |
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72
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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73
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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74
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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75
alcoholic
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| adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者 | |
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76
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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77
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
steamship
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| n.汽船，轮船 | |
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79
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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80
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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81
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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82
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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83
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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84
analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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85
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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86
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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