On the following Wednesday evening there was a dinner-dance at the country club. When the guests strolled in Bernice found her place-card with a slight feeling of irritation1. Though at her right sat G. Reece Stoddard, a most desirable and distinguished2 young bachelor, the all-important left held only Charley Paulson. Charley lacked height, beauty, and social shrewdness, and in her new enlightenment Bernice decided3 that his only qualification to be her partner was that he had never been stuck with her. But this feeling of irritation left with the last of the soup-plates, and Marjorie’s specific instruction came to her. Swallowing her pride she turned to Charley Paulson and plunged4.
“Do you think I ought to bob my hair, Mr. Charley Paulson?”
Charley looked up in surprise.
“Why?”
“Because I’m considering it. It’s such a sure and easy way of attracting attention.”
Charley smiled pleasantly. He could not know this had been rehearsed. He replied that he didn’t know much about bobbed hair. But Bernice was there to tell him.
“I want to be a society vampire5, you see,” she announced coolly, and went on to inform him that bobbed hair was the necessary prelude6. She added that she wanted to ask his advice, because she had heard he was so critical about girls.
Charley, who knew as much about the psychology7 of women as he did of the mental states of Buddhist8 contemplatives, felt vaguely9 flattered.
“So I’ve decided,” she continued, her voice rising slightly, “that early next week I’m going down to the Sevier Hotel barber-shop, sit in the first chair, and get my hair bobbed.” She faltered10 noticing that the people near her had paused in their conversation and were listening; but after a confused second Marjorie’s coaching told, and she finished her paragraph to the vicinity at large. “Of course I’m charging admission, but if you’ll all come down and encourage me I’ll issue passes for the inside seats.”
There was a ripple11 of appreciative12 laughter, and under cover of it G. Reece Stoddard leaned over quickly and said close to her ear: “I’ll take a box right now.”
She met his eyes and smiled as if he had said something surprisingly brilliant.
“Do you believe in bobbed hair?” asked G. Reece in the same undertone.
“I think it’s unmoral,” affirmed Bernice gravely. “But, of course, you’ve either got to amuse people or feed ’em or shock ’em.” Marjorie had culled13 this from Oscar Wilde. It was greeted with a ripple of laughter from the men and a series of quick, intent looks from the girls. And then as though she had said nothing of wit or moment Bernice turned again to Charley and spoke14 confidentially15 in his ear.
“I want to ask you your opinion of several people. I imagine you’re a wonderful judge of character.”
Charley thrilled faintly — paid her a subtle compliment by overturning her water.
Two hours later, while Warren McIntyre was standing16 passively in the stag line abstractedly watching the dancers and wondering whither and with whom Marjorie had disappeared, an unrelated perception began to creep slowly upon him — a perception that Bernice, cousin to Marjorie, had been cut in on several times in the past five minutes. He closed his eyes, opened them and looked again. Several minutes back she had been dancing with a visiting boy, a matter easily accounted for; a visiting boy would know no better. But now she was dancing with some one else, and there was Charley Paulson headed for her with enthusiastic determination in his eye. Funny — Charley seldom danced with more than three girls an evening.
Warren was distinctly surprised when — the exchange having been effected — the man relieved proved to be none ether than G. Reece Stoddard himself. And G. Reece seemed not at all jubilant at being relieved. Next time Bernice danced near, Warren regarded her intently. Yes, she was pretty, distinctly pretty; and to-night her face seemed really vivacious17. She had that look that no woman, however histrionically proficient18, can successfully counterfeit19 — she looked as if she were having a good time. He liked the way she had her hair arranged, wondered if it was brilliantine that made it glisten20 so. And that dress was becoming — a dark red that set off her shadowy eyes and high coloring. He remembered that he had thought her pretty when she first came to town, before he had realized that she was dull. Too bad she was dull — dull girls unbearable21 — certainly pretty though.
His thoughts zigzagged22 back to Marjorie. This disappearance23 would be like other disappearances24. When she reappeared he would demand where she had been — would be told emphatically that it was none of his business. What a pity she was so sure of him! She basked25 in the knowledge that no other girl in town interested him; she defied him to fall in love with Genevieve or Roberta.
Warren sighed. The way to Marjorie’s affections was a labyrinth26 indeed. He looked up. Bernice was again dancing with the visiting boy. Half unconsciously he took a step out from the stag line in her direction, and hesitated. Then he said to himself that it was charity. He walked toward her — collided suddenly with G. Reece Stoddard.
“Pardon me,” said Warren.
But G. Reece had not stopped to apologize. He had again cut in on Bernice.
That night at one o’clock Marjorie, with one hand on the electric-light switch in the hall, turned to take a last look at Bernice’s sparkling eyes.
“So it worked?”
“Oh, Marjorie, yes!” cried Bernice.
“I saw you were having a gay time.”
“I did! The only trouble was that about midnight I ran short of talk. I had to repeat myself — with different men of course. I hope they won’t compare notes.”
“Men don’t,” said Marjorie, yawning, “and it wouldn’t matter if they did — they’d think you were even trickier27.”
She snapped out the light, and as they started up the stairs Bernice grasped the banister thankfully. For the first time in her life she had been danced tired.
“You see,” said Marjorie it the top of the stairs, “one man sees another man cut in and he thinks there must be something there. Well, we’ll fix up some new stuff to-morrow. Good night.”
“Good night.”
As Bernice took down her hair she passed the evening before her in review. She had followed instructions exactly. Even when Charley Paulson cut in for the eighth time she had simulated delight and had apparently28 been both interested and flattered. She had not talked about the weather or Eau Claire or automobiles29 or her school, but had confined her conversation to me, you, and us.
But a few minutes before she fell asleep a rebellious30 thought was churning drowsily31 in her brain — after all, it was she who had done it. Marjorie, to be sure, had given her her conversation, but then Marjorie got much of her conversation out of things she read. Bernice had bought the red dress, though she had never valued it highly before Marjorie dug it out of her trunk — and her own voice had said the words, her own lips had smiled, her own feet had danced. Marjorie nice girl — vain, though — nice evening — nice boys — like Warren — Warren — Warren — what’s his name — Warren ——
She fell asleep.
收听单词发音 |
1
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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psychology
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| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
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Buddhist
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| adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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culled
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| v.挑选，剔除( cull的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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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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vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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glisten
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| vi.（光洁或湿润表面等）闪闪发光，闪闪发亮 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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zigzagged
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| adj.呈之字形移动的v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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disappearances
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| n.消失( disappearance的名词复数 )；丢失；失踪；失踪案 | |
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25
basked
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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27
trickier
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| adj.狡猾的( tricky的比较级 )；（形势、工作等）复杂的；机警的；微妙的 | |
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28
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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29
automobiles
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| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
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30
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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31
drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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