General Strike—Gay Times—The Dance at the Frontón—Initiation Into Love
Jesús’s sister welcomed most enthusiastically the two orphans1 befriended by the compositor on the day before Christmas; La Salvadora and the tiny tot became at once part of the family.
La Salvadora was of a shy, yet despotic disposition2; she was so fond of cleaning, sweeping3, dusting and shaking that she provoked Jesús and Manuel. She loved to arrange and put things in order; she was as energetic as she was thin. She brought their meals to Jesús and to Manuel, because they spent too much at the tavern4; at noon she would be off for the printing-shop with a basket of food that was bulkier than herself. With the savings5 of three months La Fea and La Salvadora purchased a new sewing-machine at an instalment house.
“That girl isn’t going to let us live in peace,” said Jesús.
The typesetter’s life had returned to normal. He no longer got drunk. Yet despite the care lavished6 upon him by his sister and La Salvadora, he became daily more sombre and glum7.
One winter’s evening when he had received his pay and was leaving the shop, Jesús asked Manuel:
[180]
“See here. Aren’t you tired of working?”
“Pse!”
“Aren’t you bored stiff by this routine, monotonous8 existence?”
“Well, what are you going to do about it?”
“Anything rather than keep this up!”
“If you were only alone, as I am!”
“La Fea and La Salvadora are on the way to taking care of themselves,” said Jesús. In the spring, he added, he and Manuel ought to undertake a hike over the road, working a bit here and there and always seeing new faces and new places. He knew that the Department of the Interior helped out such travellers with a sum that consisted of two reales for every town through which they passed. If they could get such aid they ought to be off at once.
They were crossing the Plaza9 del Progreso, engrossed10 in this discussion, when a band of strolling students passed by playing a lilting march. It was beginning to snow; it was very cold.
“Shall we have a good supper tonight? What do you say?” asked Jesús.
“They’ll be waiting for us at home.”
“Let ’em wait! A day is a day. Are we going to stick there all our lives long, skimping11, to save up a few nasty coins? Save! For what?”
They retraced12 their steps, hurrying along through the Calle de Barrionuevo, and on the Calle de la Paz they entered a tavern and ordered supper. As they ate they discussed their projected journey with[181] enthusiasm. They drank several toasts to it. Manuel had never been so merry. They were fully13 agreed, ready to explore the North Pole.
“Now we ought to go to the dance at the Frontón,” mumbled14 Jesús at dessert in a stuttering voice. “We’ll pick up a couple of skirts and whoop15 ’er up for a gay old time! As for the printing-shop,—devil take it.”
“That’s what,” repeated Manuel. “To the dance! And let the lame16 boss go to hell. Get a move on, you!”
They got up, paid their bill, and as they walked through the Calle de Caretas they entered another tavern for a couple of glasses more.
Stumbling against everybody they reached the Calle de Tetuán, where Jesús insisted that they have two more glasses. They entered another tavern and sat down. The compositor was consumed by a raging thirst: he slouched there, a pallid17 wreck18. Manuel, on the other hand, felt that his blood was on fire and his cheeks darted19 flames.
“Come on, let’s be moving,” he said to Jesús. But the typesetter could not stir. Manuel hesitated whether to remain there or leave Jesús sleeping with his head fallen upon the table.
Manuel staggered to the street. The snowflakes, dancing before his eyes, made him dizzy. He reached the Puerta del Sol. At the corner of the Carrera de San Jerónimo he caught sight of a girl who was accosting20 men. At first he confused her with La Rabanitos, but it was not she.
[182]
“Hey, what are you doing?” asked Manuel of her, bruskly.
“Can’t you see? I’m selling Heraldos.”
“And nothing else?”
“And ready for a good time.”
“Haven’t you a sweetheart?” he inquired.
“I don’t want any steadies.”
“Why not?”
“They take away all the money a girl earns and then finish up the job with a good beating. Yes, they do....”
“How much’ll you take for coming along with me?”
“Ha! There’s a joke for you! Why, you haven’t a céntimo!”
“Who said so?”
“I’ll bet you haven’t.”
“I have, too,” muttered Manuel boastfully. “Five duros to blow and you’re no use to me at all.”
“Neither are you to me.”
“Hey, you. Quit that, asaúra!” she cried.
“I don’t feel like it.”
“You’re nobody, you ain’t. And keep your hands where they belong, d’ye hear?”
[183]
The girl hesitated, then gave the newspapers that she held in her hand to an old woman. She tied her kerchief about her neck and went off with Manuel to a bun shop on the Calle de Jacometrezo. A cinnamon-hued puppy ran after them.
“Is that your dog?”
“Yes.”
“What’s his name?”
“Sevino.”
“And why do you call him that?”
“Because he walked right into our house without anybody bringing him.”[3]
They entered the bun shop. It was a spacious27 place, adorned28 with columns, at the rear of which was the kitchen, with its huge caldron for making buns. Two gas-lights, the burners of which were surrounded by white globes, shed a sad illumination upon the walls and the square columns, which were covered by white tiles bearing blue designs. Manuel and the girl sat down at a table near a door that led to a back street.
The girl prattled29 away at a merry clip as she dipped pieces of a bitter coffee-cake into the cup of chocolate. Her name was Petra, but they called her Matilde because that sounded so much better. She was sixteen years old and lived on the Calle del Amparo in an attic30. She got up at two; but by the time she arose her mother had already done the house chores. She did not go out till evening. She sold a handful of Heraldos and ten Correos, and after that ... whatever turned up. All the[184] money she earned she gave to her mother, and when her mother suspected that she was holding any back, she caught it hot and heavy.
Manuel sipped31 his glass of whiskey gravely, listened to what she said yet understood hardly a word.
The lass was ugly, in all truth. Her face was caked with powder. To Manuel, after a long scrutiny32, it occurred that she looked like a fish smothered33 in flour, waiting for the frying-pan. As she spoke34 she made all manner of grimaces35 and moved her white, bulging36 eyelids37, which fell over her darting38 eyes.
The girl babbled39 on about her mother, her brother, an uncle of hers who owned a news-stand and every morning advanced a duro to the kids who sold the Blanco y Negro, requiring the children to bring back the duro plus a peseta at the end of the day,—and about a host of other matters.
As she chattered40 away, Manuel recalled that Jesús had made some mention of a dance, although he could no longer remember just where it was to be held.
“Let’s go to that ball,” he said.
“Which? Over at the Frontón?”
“Yes.”
“Come on.”
They left the bun shop. It was still snowing. Proceeding41 through several deserted42 by-ways they reached the handball court. The two arc lights at the entrance threw a powerful illumination upon the white street. Manuel bought two tickets; he[185] checked his cape43 and she her cloak, and they went in.
The Frontón was a large rectangular area, with one of the longer walls painted a dark blue and marked at regular intervals44 with white lines and numbers. The other long wall supported the tiers and the boxes.
Two large green screens bounded the shorter walls of the court. Above, at the top of the high roof, amidst the iron framework, ten or twelve glowing arc lamps, free of crystal globes, flashed a dazzling light.
A number of night birds of very low flight, bedecked with Manila mantles45 and flowers in their hair, displayed their busts46 in the boxes. It was cold.
When the military band burst into its noisy music the people from the corridors and from the restaurant came dancing out on to the floor, and in a little while the couples were whirling around the hall. There were no more than half a dozen masks. The dance grew more animated47. By the cold, crude light from the arc lamps one could see the couples turning around, all the dancers very solemn, very stiff, as lugubrious48 as if they were attending a burial.
Some of the men rested their lips against the women’s foreheads. But one felt no atmosphere of passionate49 desire or fever. It was the dance of a people in whom life had been extinguished, of puppets with eyes that bespoke50 weariness or repressed anger. At times some wag, as if feeling the necessity[186] of proving that this was a carnival51 ball, would stretch himself out on the floor or let out a piercing yell. There would be a momentary52 confusion, but soon order was restored and the dancing was resumed.
Manuel was filled with an impulse to do something wild. He got up and began to dance with his girl. She, however, vexed53 because he could not keep in time, went back to her seat. Disconsolate54, Manuel did the same. Couples tripped by before them; the women with daubed faces and darkened eyes, with a beastly expression upon their rouged55 lips, and the men with an arrogant56 mien57 and an aggressive glance.
Angrily the men ripped through the streamers that were thrown down from the boxes, entangling58 the dancers.
A drunken negro, seated near Manuel, greeted the passing of some good-looking woman with a shout that mimicked59 a child’s voice:
“Olé there! My gipsy baby!”
“Hello, Manolo,” came a voice to Manuel’s ears. It was Vidal, who was dancing with an elegant mask, tightly clasping her waist.
“Come see me tomorrow,” said Vidal.
“Where?”
“Seven at night, at the Café de Lisboa.”
“Good.”
Vidal was soon lost with his partner in the whirlpool of dancers. The music paused for an intermission.
“Shall we leave?” asked Manuel of the girl.
[187]
“Yes, let’s be going.”
Manuel was all atremble with emotion at thought that the tragic60 moment was approaching. They went to the check-room, got their clothes and left.
It was still snowing. The light from the electric globes over the door of the Frontón illuminated61 the street, which was covered with a white sheet of snow. Manuel and the girl crossed the Puerta del Sol in haste, went up the Calle de Correos, turned into the Calle de la Paz and stopped before an open gate which was lighted by the half confidential62, half mysterious glow that came from a large, very lugubrious lantern.
They pushed aside a glass door and disappeared up the dark staircase.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
orphans
|
|
| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sweeping
|
|
| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
tavern
|
|
| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
savings
|
|
| n.存款，储蓄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
lavished
|
|
| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
glum
|
|
| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
monotonous
|
|
| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
plaza
|
|
| n.广场，市场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
engrossed
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
skimping
|
|
| v.少用( skimp的现在分词 )；少给；克扣；节省 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
retraced
|
|
| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mumbled
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
whoop
|
|
| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
pallid
|
|
| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
accosting
|
|
| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的现在分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
swollen
|
|
| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
throb
|
|
| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
blurted
|
|
| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
jingled
|
|
| 喝醉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
spacious
|
|
| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
prattled
|
|
| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的过去式和过去分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
attic
|
|
| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
sipped
|
|
| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
smothered
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
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： |
|
|
|
|
35
grimaces
|
|
| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
bulging
|
|
| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
eyelids
|
|
| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
darting
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
babbled
|
|
| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
chattered
|
|
| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
cape
|
|
| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
mantles
|
|
| vt.&vi.覆盖（mantle的第三人称单数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
busts
|
|
| 半身雕塑像( bust的名词复数 )； 妇女的胸部； 胸围； 突击搜捕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
animated
|
|
| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
lugubrious
|
|
| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
passionate
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
bespoke
|
|
| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
carnival
|
|
| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
vexed
|
|
| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
disconsolate
|
|
| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
rouged
|
|
| 胭脂，口红( rouge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
arrogant
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
entangling
|
|
| v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
mimicked
|
|
| v.（尤指为了逗乐而）模仿( mimic的过去式和过去分词 )；酷似 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
tragic
|
|
| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
confidential
|
|
| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |