Once on the pier-head the multitude had more elbow room and spread out, the main body streaming headlong shorewards, keen-set for the delights promised by the two great amusement parks which had grown up in the heart of that frontier settlement of gin-mills, dance-halls, side-shows, eating-houses, and dives unspeakable.
Joan and Fowey followed more at their leisure, constraint7 and silence between them like a wall. The girl was deeply disappointed with the expedition, as far as it had gone, doubting whether anything better would follow, and still labouring under that unaccountable depression which had settled down upon her spirits at sight of Quard on the New Bedford boat. Fowey, no less disgusted, was puzzled by his companion's attitude, at once tolerant and aloof8, keenly watchful9 for an opening through which to pursue his conquest, and wondering how it would end. If she were simply bent10 on tantalizing11 him again, for her own amusement....
He swore angrily but inaudibly.
Near the shore end of the pier they delayed to watch the antics of the hundreds of bathers churning the shallows in front of huge and hideous12 bathing establishments. In countless13 numbers, they dotted the sea like flies and darkened the sun-baked, unclean sands, into which their feet had trodden the wreckage14 of ten thousand lunches.
Fowey said something inexpressively cynical15 about the resemblance of the scene below to a congregation of bacilli crawling upon a slide beneath a microscope.
Joan heard without response, either vocal16 or mental. She resented bitterly the superior attitude adopted by her companion. For her part, she would have asked nothing better than to mingle17 with the throng18 and taste those crude pleasures so dear to its simple heart and, had she but dared admit it, to her own. But she had Fowey to live up to.
Very heartily19 she regretted the impulse which had dictated20 her invitation. She had been far happier alone—though it would have been strange had she been suffered to remain long alone.
By the time they left the pier, the evening was so far advanced that the myriad21 lights of the tawdry town were flashing into being. They debouched into a roaring mob which filled the wide avenue from curb22 to curb, packed so densely23, though in constant motion, that trolley24 cars and automobiles25 forced a way through it only at a snail's pace and with great difficulty. Encouraged by the excessive heat which rendered Town intolerable to all who had the means to escape it, the week-end swarming26 had begun in all sincerity27. In spite of the terrific congestion28 which already obtained in all the streets and avenues and beaches, piers29, amusement parks, catch-penny shows, saloons, and restaurants, scarcely a minute passed without the arrival at some one of the trolley terminals of a car packed to the guards with more visitors.
A good-natured if rowdy mob, for the most part, with only a minimum element of the downright vicious in its composition, it was none the less bent on amusement in its cheapest form, that is to say, at somebody else's expense. It gathered thickest round the places of free entertainment, where acrobats30 performed on open-air stages or crawled upon high, invisible wires, or where slides were supplied gratis31 for public diversion: grinning always, but howling with delight when treated to real misadventure, as when some girl, negotiating a bamboo slide upon a grass mat, her skirts wrapped tight about her, would lose balance and shoot headlong, sprawling32, to the level; the greater the exposure, the greater the diversion....
Nor was Fowey permitted to escape unteased: his conspicuous33 clothing, and the broad black ribbons dangling34 from his horn-rimmed glasses were too tempting3 to be resisted. Once his Panama was smashed down over his eyes; and his glasses were so frequently jerked by their moorings from his nose that he was fain at length to pocket them and poke35 owlishly along at Joan's guidance.
Dazzled to blindness by those ten million glaring bulbs which lifted up tier upon tier against the blank purple skies; deafened36 by an indescribable cacophony37 of bands, organs, bells, horns, human tongues incessantly38 clattering39; suffering acutely from the collective heat of the multitude added to that of the still and muggy40 night; buffeted41 and borne hither and yon at the will of the mass: they contrived42 in the end to engage an open, horse-drawn vehicle, of the type colloquially43 known in those days as "low-neck hack," and ordered themselves driven to the Manhattan Beach Hotel.
When presently they had gained the darkling peace of a long road between marsh-lands, Fowey resumed with his glasses his hateful cynicism.
"That was considerable treat, all right," he said pensively44.
"Glad you liked it," Joan replied with the curtness45 of chagrin46.
"We'll go back and have some more after dinner," he suggested.
"Thanks—I've had plenty."
"No, but really!" he insisted. "We haven't seen half of it—"
"Oh, shut up!"
Her anger was real; and when he would have mollified the girl with soft words and an arm that sought to steal round her waist, she repeated her injunction with added coarseness and struck his hand away with a force that he felt.
In spite of this, he schooled himself to patience.
Dinner, served perfunctorily by a weary waiter and consumed upon the verandah of the hotel at a table, the best they could command, far removed from the comparative coolness and ease of those beside the railing, did little if anything to modify Joan's temper.
She, who had set out, believing herself the happiest of mortals, to spend an evening of real enjoyment47, felt utterly48 wretched and forlorn.
Moment by moment her distaste for Fowey was gaining strength. She was put to it to listen to his bragging49 and to make response civilly. She did not relish50 her food, her company, or her surroundings; and in utter ennui51 tried to stimulate52 herself with her favourite brand of sweet champagne53, insisting on another bottle when they had emptied one between them. It served only to stimulate a fictitious54 gaiety in her, one swift to wane55.
For all this, she was reluctant to contemplate56 going home. Anything were preferable to that—at least until she could feel reasonably sure of finding Hattie abed and asleep.
They finished their meal at an hour too late to make it worth while to patronize one of the open-air entertainments with which she had promised herself diversion; and since she would neither go home nor, at Fowey's mischievous57 suggestion, return to Coney Island, they moved to another table, nearer the railing, and whiled away one more hour listening to the band music over their cigarettes and liqueurs.
Toward eleven o'clock, Joan suddenly announced that she was sick of it all and ready to go. Fowey revived his preference for a motor-car, and got his way against scanty58 opposition59. In a saner60 humour, Joan would have stuck to her original plan. As it was, she accepted the motor ride with neither gratitude61 nor graciousness.
Curiously62 enough, once established in the car, her hat off, the swift rush of night air cooling her moist brows, her head resting back against the cushions, she permitted Fowey to repeat his ardent63 love-making which had made their previous ride together memorable64. Her dislike of him was no less thorough-paced, but had passed from an active to a passive stage; she was at once too indifferent to resist him and so bored that she welcomed anything that promised excitement. She suffered his kisses, confident in her power to control him, and drew a certain satisfaction from reminding him, now and again forcibly, that there were limits to her toleration. But for the most part she lay in his arms in passive languor65, her eyes half closed, and tried to forget him, or rather to believe him someone else, one whose embraces she could have welcomed....
When they came to lighted streets, she bade Fowey "behave," and would not permit him even so slight a lapse66 from decorum as that of "holding hands."
She sat up, rearranging the disorder67 of her hair, adjusted her hat, surreptitiously restored the brilliance68 of her lips with a stick of rouge69.
The man drew back sullenly70 into his corner, fuming71....
At her door, dismissing the car, he followed her up to the stoop.
"Joan—" he began angrily.
She turned back from using her latch-key, with a wondering, child-like stare.
"Yes, Hubert?" she enquired72 with hidden malice73.
"You're not—you're not going to send me off like this?"
"Why not?" she demanded with fine assumption of simplicity74. "It's awful' late."
Fowey seized her wrist.
"Now, listen to me!"
Joan broke his grasp with little or no effort.
"Silly boy!" she said. "Do you really want to come in and visit a while before you say good night?"
Her look was false with a winning softness. Fowey stammered75.
"You—you know—"
"Then come along!" she said, with a laugh; and turning fled lightly before him up the darkened stairway.
She had opened the door to the tiny private hallway of the flat when he overtook her, panting. She paused, with a warning finger to her lips.
"S-sh!" she warned. "Don't wake Hattie!"
He swore viciously, discountenanced; and she laughed and, leaving the door wide, went on into the small sitting-dining-room, meanly exulting76 in the discomfiture77 she had planned, knowing quite well that he had either forgotten Hattie or believed her to be spending this week-end out of Town, as before.
In the act of lighting78 the gas, she heard the door close and saw Fowey come, white and shaken, into the room.
"Hush79!" she said gaily80. "I'll make sure she isn't awake—"
Removing her hat, she passed on into the adjoining bedroom, and stopped short with a sensation of sinking dismay. The room was empty, the bed she shared with Hattie untouched. So much was visible in the faint light entering through windows that opened on a well.
Wondering, Joan struck a light. Its first glimmer81 revealed to her the fact that Hattie's trunk was gone. The flare82 of the gas-jet disclosed greater changes in the aspect of the room, due to the disappearance83 of Hattie's toilet articles and knick-knacks.
Hattie had left, bag and baggage—had gone for good!
But why?
Had she discovered Joan's treachery? Or what had happened?
And in her surprise and perplexity, the girl was conscious anew of that sense of loneliness. She had been afraid to return to the one whom she had betrayed so lightly; but now she was afraid to be without her.
Going back to the adjoining room, she found Fowey standing84 beside the table and with a slight smile examining a sheet of paper.
"I found this lying here," he announced, handing it over—"didn't realize it was anything until I'd read half of it."
His smile was again confident, bright with premature85 pride of conquest. But Joan didn't heed86 it. She was reading rapidly what had been written, swiftly and in a sprawling hand, upon the half sheet of note-paper.
"By rights I ought to stay until you come back, whenever you have the cheek to, and tell you what I think of you—I saw B. E. this evening and he told me all about it—but I want never to see you again—the rent's paid up till next Wednesday—then you can stick or get out—I don't care which—and I wish you joy of your bargain!—H. M."
"You've been scrapping87 with Hattie, eh?" Joan heard Fowey say in an amused voice.
Without answering, she let the sheet of paper fall to the table, and stood with head bowed in thought, suffering acutely the humiliation88 inspired by Hattie's contemptuous dismissal.
"What was the trouble?" Fowey pursued. "Not that I'm sorry—"
"Oh, nothing much," Joan interrupted. "We just had a difference of opinion, and she had to fly off the handle like this. It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me," Fowey announced significantly.
Now Joan looked up, for the first time appreciating her position.
"Oh ..." she said blankly.
Fowey was advancing, with extended arms. She raised a hand to fend89 him off.
"Don't!" she begged. "Please don't. I can't.... You must go, now—of course. I'm sorry. Good night."
He paused, and she saw his face pale and working with passion; his small eyes blazing behind their thick lenses; his hands clenched90 by his sides, but not tightly, the fingers twitching91 nervously92; his whole body trembling and shaken beyond control.
She was conscious of an incongruous, unnatural93, inexplicable94 feeling of pity for him.
"Please be a good boy," she pleaded, "and go away."
"No, I'm damned if I do. You asked me up here—I know now—just to tease me. But that's no good. I won't go!" He advanced another pace, his tone and manner changing. "O Joan, Joan!" he begged—"don't treat me so cruelly! You know I'm mad about you. Doesn't that mean anything to you, more than a chance to torment95 me? My God! what kind of a woman are you? I can't stand this. Flesh and blood couldn't. I'm only human. All this week I've kept away from you simply because I realized what you were—"
"What am I?" Joan cut in quickly.
Fowey choked again, with a gesture of impotent exasperation96.
"You," he almost shouted—"you're the woman I love and who's driving me mad—mad I tell you!"
"Hubert! You mean that? You really love me?"
"You know I do. You know I'm crazy about you. Haven't you seen it from the first?"
Hesitating, Joan experienced a sense of one in deep waters. There was a sound as that of distant surf in her ears. All through her body pulses were throbbing97 madly.
She struggled still a little, instinctively98; but Fowey advantaged himself of that instant of indecision. He held her in his arms, now; her face was stinging beneath his kisses.
Almost unconsciously, she lifted her arms and clasped them round his neck, drawing his face to hers.
"You poor kid!" she murmured fondly, her eyes closed.... "You poor kid...."
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收听单词发音
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1
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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juts
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| v.（使）突出( jut的第三人称单数 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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4
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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7
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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8
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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11
tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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12
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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13
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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14
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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15
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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16
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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17
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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20
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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21
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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22
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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automobiles
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| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
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26
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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27
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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congestion
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| n.阻塞，消化不良 | |
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piers
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| n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩 | |
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30
acrobats
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| n.杂技演员( acrobat的名词复数 )；立场观点善变的人，主张、政见等变化无常的人 | |
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gratis
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| adj.免费的 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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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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34
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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35
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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36
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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cacophony
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| n.刺耳的声音 | |
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38
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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39
clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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40
muggy
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| adj.闷热的；adv.（天气）闷热而潮湿地；n.（天气）闷热而潮湿 | |
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41
buffeted
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| 反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去 | |
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42
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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43
colloquially
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| adv.用白话，用通俗语 | |
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44
pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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45
curtness
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| n.简短；草率；简略 | |
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46
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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47
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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48
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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49
bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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50
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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51
ennui
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| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
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52
stimulate
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| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
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53
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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54
fictitious
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| adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的 | |
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55
wane
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| n.衰微，亏缺，变弱；v.变小，亏缺，呈下弦 | |
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56
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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57
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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58
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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59
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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60
saner
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| adj.心智健全的( sane的比较级 )；神志正常的；明智的；稳健的 | |
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61
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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62
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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63
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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64
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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66
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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67
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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68
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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69
rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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70
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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71
fuming
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| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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72
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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73
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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75
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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77
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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78
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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79
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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81
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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82
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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84
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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86
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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87
scrapping
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| 刮，切除坯体余泥 | |
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88
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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89
fend
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| v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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92
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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93
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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95
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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96
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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97
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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98
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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