The “feature writers” who covered the “Billy” Williams’ meetings had figuratively and literally7 turned themselves loose on the proceedings8 and had written stories with a heart-throb in every sentence and a tear in at least every other line. They had embellished9 and embroidered10 the actual incidents so effectively that even Bartlett himself, case-hardened cynic that he was, found himself growing a bit sentimental11 when he read the story in the first paper to hand. The narratives12 were all adorned13 with photographs of the “Keep-Moving” beauties and the name of that blithesome14 musical comedy figured extensively in all of them. Bartlett particularly liked the headline in the Journal:
“The counter attack was well developed and the ground gained is satisfactory to the higher command,” was the way Bartlett framed his congratulations over the telephone. “You can consolidate15 your present position and rest up for a few days.”
“All right,” Jimmy replied with a chuckle16, “but there’s no tellin’ when I may make another raid on the enemy trenches17. I’ve got ’em goin’. That one was as easy as getting a drink on Broadway since the U.S.A. went dry.”
“In plain, everyday English,” went on Bartlett, “that’s just about the best plant I’ve seen pulled off in the twenty years that I’ve been in the theatrical18 business. I noticed that your little Cedar19 Rapids friend was one of the ring-leaders. How you managed to get them all to play up as well as they did is what I can’t understand. How did you work it?”
Jimmy paused for a moment or two before replying and coughed uneasily.
“I’ve got ’em trained,” he finally replied. “They’ll—they’ll do anything I ask ’em to do—anything.”
It was characteristic of Jimmy to have decided20, after considerable speculation21, that no motive22 other than an unselfish desire to please himself and to assist in adding to the greater glory of the occasion had prompted Lolita and her associates to profess23 conversion24 on the night before. He had tried to reach her on the telephone several times with the idea of thanking her for her unexpected co-operation in furthering the success of his publicity25 scheme, but had been always met with the response that she was not in. He finally decided to defer26 the expression of his gratitude27 until that evening at the theatre. As a slight token of his good-will and heart-felt thankfulness he ordered a bouquet28 of roses delivered to her dressing-room and he personally wrote out a little card to be affixed29 to it.
“To the best little press agent ever,” it ran, “from a cheap piker at the game—Yours with love—Jimmy.”
He tried to preserve a slight semblance30 of becoming modesty31 throughout the day, but the congratulations which poured in upon him from all sides were of such a fulsome32 nature and coincided so perfectly33 with his own opinion of himself that when evening came he was as expansive as the leading man of a small town stock company and just about as reticent34 and self-effacing as an auctioneer. He dined alone with a fine inner glow of self-satisfaction and strolled into the lobby of the Colonial Theatre about half an hour before curtain time at peace with the world.
There was a long line of patrons extending from the box-office window almost out to the sidewalk and he watched the scramble35 for tickets with a feeling of exalted36 serenity37. The sound of voices at the swinging doors leading into the foyer attracted his attention. He turned to see Bartlett and the stage manager coming through. Their mood was one that plainly boded38 developments of a decidedly disagreeable nature. They made for Jimmy and pounced39 upon him simultaneously40.
“Where’s that girl of yours?” inquired Bartlett in a tone that Jimmy felt was a bit menacing.
“Yes, and where’s Natalie Nugent and Hilda Hennessey and Trixie Seville and Yvonne Elaine and Dulcie Dolores and five or six others,” chimed in the stage manager. “What do you know about ’em?”
“What do I know about ’em?” echoed Jimmy helplessly. “I don’t know anything about ’em. What’s the idea?”
“The idea is that they haven’t shown up tonight,” said Bartlett tartly41. “Not a single one of that outfit42 that put your story over last night has put in an appearance back stage, and I have a remote suspicion that you know why they haven’t. Have you got some new stunt43 up your sleeve? If you have I won’t stand for it. Understand me, my dear sir, I won’t stand for it.”
“I don’t know anything about it, Mr. Peters,” said Jimmy with an air of injured innocence44, “not a single little thing. I haven’t seen Lolita all day and I haven’t laid eyes on any of those other queens either. What makes you think I know anything about it?”
“Just general principles, I fancy. You’re a very smart young man and I had, and still have for that matter, an idea that you may be planning a follow-up of some sort on that yarn45 you landed this morning. Let me warn you that if you are, you are monkeyin’ with the well-known buzz-saw. Here are a dozen or more of the best looking de luxe girls in this show missing and the house practically sold out. I’ve got a reputation to live up to and I don’t propose to have it suffer just for a fool press story.”
“But, Mr. Bartlett,” broke in Jimmy.
“Ifs and buts are superfluous46 at this writing,” interrupted the manager angrily. “It’s within fifteen minutes of curtain time, and we’ll have to give a show that’ll look like a Number Three company out in the tall grass. The next time you plan a press story you’ll have to get it passed by the censor47 beforehand and I’m going to be the censor. Do you get me?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Jimmy weakly as Bartlett and the stage manager disappeared into the theatre again.
He leaned against the wall for support and tried to collect his thoughts. Somehow he couldn’t. He felt himself in the clutch of uncertainties48 beyond his understanding at the moment and vague distress49 was written large upon his face. One of the uniformed carriage attendants tapped him on the shoulder and slipped a letter into his hand.
“A young lady left this half an hour ago, Mr. Martin,” he said, “and told me to see as how you got it handed to you personally.”
Jimmy knew the handwriting on the envelope and a queer feeling came over him. He hesitated for a moment before reading it. When Matthews, the house manager, strolled up to him two minutes afterwards vain regret was in his heart and in his eyes there lurked50 a look of blended bewilderment and futile51 rage.
“What’s the matter, old man?” inquired Matthews. “Has Bartlett been making things hard for you?”
Jimmy smiled a sickly smile and handed over the letter.
“I don’t mind so much what he says,” he replied, “but this has got under the little old cuticle52 all right. Read it if you like.”
The manager adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and read the letter, written in the stiff, vertical53 handwriting of a school-girl.
Dear Jimmy:
This is just to say good-bye. You’ve been very nice and very kind to me and I’m thankful for everything and all that, but I’ve just got to get away from the sinful stage and go back home. The other girls are all quitting, too. I knew weeks ago that it was foolish to pretend I’d ever be anything more than just a fifth or sixth rater and now I’m glad that I’ve been brought to see the wickedness of it all. I guess maybe I’ve got the “Cedar Rapids blues” you spoke54 about the other night, too. Mother and dad have been writing me for weeks to come home. Thank you again for your kindness and all that and don’t bother trying to look me up for I’m taking a train tonight. Many thanks again—from your little friend,
LOLITA.
“That’s mighty55 tough,” commented Matthews sympathetically. “Love is a great little gamble.”
“You said something,” replied Jimmy dejectedly. “I held the right cards, but I overplayed my hand.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
impelled
|
|
| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
inventory
|
|
| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
dwarfed
|
|
| vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
volcanic
|
|
| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
eruption
|
|
| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
toll
|
|
| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
embellished
|
|
| v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
narratives
|
|
| 记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
blithesome
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
consolidate
|
|
| v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
chuckle
|
|
| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
trenches
|
|
| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
theatrical
|
|
| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
cedar
|
|
| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
speculation
|
|
| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
profess
|
|
| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
conversion
|
|
| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
publicity
|
|
| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
defer
|
|
| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
bouquet
|
|
| n.花束，酒香 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
affixed
|
|
| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
semblance
|
|
| n.外貌，外表 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
fulsome
|
|
| adj.可恶的，虚伪的，过分恭维的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
reticent
|
|
| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
scramble
|
|
| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
serenity
|
|
| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
boded
|
|
| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
pounced
|
|
| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
tartly
|
|
| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
outfit
|
|
| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
stunt
|
|
| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
innocence
|
|
| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
yarn
|
|
| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
superfluous
|
|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
censor
|
|
| n./vt.审查，审查员；删改 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
uncertainties
|
|
| 无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
lurked
|
|
| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
futile
|
|
| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
cuticle
|
|
| n.表皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
vertical
|
|
| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |