Eden Place was a short street running at right angles with Eden Square, a most unattractive and infertile1 triangle of ground in a most unattractive but respectable quarter of a large city. It was called a square, not so much, probably, because it was triangular2 in shape, as because it was hardly large enough to be designated as a park. As to its being called 'Eden,' the origin of that qualifying word is enveloped3 in mystery; but it is likely that the enthusiastic persons who projected it saw visions and dreamed dreams of green benches under umbrageous4 trees, of a green wire fence, ever green, and of plots of blossoming flowers filling the grateful air with unaccustomed fragrance5.
As a matter of fact, the trees had always been stunted6 and stubby, the plants had never been tended, and all the paint had been worn off the benches by successive groups of working-men out of work. As for the wire fence, it had been much used as a means of ingress and egress7 by the children of the neighbourhood, who preferred it to any of the gateways8, which they considered hopelessly unimaginative and commonplace, offering no resistance to the budding man of valour or woman of ambition.
Eden Place was frequented mostly by the children, who found it an admirable spot to squabble, to fight, and to dig up the hapless earth; and after them, by persons out of suits with fortune. These (generally men) adorned9 the shabby benches at all times, sleeping, smoking, reading newspapers, or tracing uncertain patterns in the gravel10 with a stick,--patterns as uncertain and aimless as themselves. There were fewer women, because the unemployed11 woman of this class has an old-fashioned habit, or instinct, of seeking work by direct assault; the method of the male being rather to sit on a bench and discuss the obstacles, the injustices12, and the unendurable insults heaped by a plutocratic13 government in the path of the honest son of toil14.
The corner house of Eden Place was a little larger than its neighbours in the same row. Its side was flanked by a sand-lot, and a bay window, with four central panes15 of blue glass, was the most conspicuous16 feature of its architecture. In the small front yard was a microscopic17 flower-bed; there were no flowers in it, but the stake that held up a stout18 plant in the middle was surmounted19 by a neat wooden sign bearing the inscription20, 'No Smoking on these Premises21.' The warning seemed superfluous22, as no man standing23 in the garden could have put his pipe in his mouth without grazing either the fence or the house, but the owner of the 'premises' possibly wished to warn the visitor at the very threshold.
All the occupied houses in Eden Place were cheerful and hospitable24 in their appearance, and were marked by an air of liveliness and good- fellowship. Bed linen25 hung freely from all the windows, for there was no hard and fast law about making up beds at any special hour, though a remnant of superstition26 still existed that it was a good thing to make up a bed before you slept in it. There were more women on their respective front steps, and fewer in their respective kitchens, in Eden Place than in almost any other locality in the city. That they lived for the most part in close and friendly relations could be seen from the condition of the fences between the front yards, whose upper rails fairly sagged27 with the weight of gossip.
One woman, living in the middle of the row, evidently possessed28 somewhat different views, for she had planted vines on each of her division fences, rented her parlour to a lodger29 who only slept there, kept all her front curtains drawn30, and stayed in the hack31 of her house. Such retribution as could legally be wreaked32 upon this offensive and exclusive person was daily administered by her two neighbours, who stood in their doors on either side and conversed33 across her house and garden with much freedom and exuberance34. They had begged the landlord to induce her to take up her abode35 elsewhere; but as she was the only tenant36 who paid her rent regularly, he refused to part with her.
Any one passing the 'No Smoking' sign and entering the front door of Mrs. Grubb's house, on the corner, would have turned off the narrow uncarpeted hall into the principal room, and, if he were an observing person, would have been somewhat puzzled by its appearance. There were seven or eight long benches on one side, yet it had not the slightest resemblance to a schoolroom. The walls were adorned with a variety of interesting objects. There was a chart showing a mammoth37 human hand, the palm marked with myriads38 of purple lines. There were two others displaying respectively the interior of the human being in the pink-and-white purity of total abstinence, and the same interior after years of intemperance39 had done their fatal work; a most valuable chart this last, and one that had quenched40 the thirst of many a man.
The words 'Poverty Must Go' were wrought41 in evergreen42 letters over the bay window, and various texts were printed in red and black and tacked43 to the wall in prominent places. These were such as -
To be a Flesh-Eater is to be a Shedder of Blood and a Destroyer of God's Innocent Creatures.'
'Now that Man has Begun to Ascend44 in the Scale of Being, let Woman Reach Down a Strong, Tender Hand and Aid him in his Struggle for Moral and Spiritual Elevation45.'
'Let the Pleasure Field be as Large as Possible. Pains and Fears Lessen46 Growth.'
'I Believe that to Burden, to Bond, to Tax, to Tribute, to Impoverish47, to Grind, to Pillage48, to Oppress, to Afflict49, to Plunder50, to Vampire51 the Life Labouring to Create Wealth is the Unpardonable Sin.'
Over the mantel-shelf was a seaweed picture in a frame of shells, bearing the inscription, 'Unity52 Hall, Meeting-Place of the Order of Present Perfection.' On a table, waiting to be hung in place, was an impressive sort of map about four feet square. This, like many of the other ornaments53 in the room, was a trifle puzzling, and seemed at first, from its plenitude of coloured spots, to be some species of moral propaganda in a state of violent eruption54. It proved, however, on closer study, to be an ingenious pictorial55 representation of the fifty largest cities of the world, with the successful establishment of various regenerating56 ideas indicated by coloured discs of paper neatly57 pasted on the surface. The key in the right-hand corner read -
Temperance Blue.
Single Tax Green.
Cremation Orange.
Abolition58 of War Red.
Vegetarianism Purple.
Hypnotism Yellow.
Dress Reform Black.
Social Purity Blush Rose.
Theosophy Silver.
Religious Liberty Magenta59.
Emancipation60 of } Crushed Strawberry.
Woman }
A small gold star, added to the coloured spot, hovering61 over the name of a city, was explained, in the lower left-hand corner, as denoting the fact that the Eldorado face-powder was exclusively used there, and that S. Cora Grubb was the sole agent for the Pacific coast.
Joseph's coat faded into insignificance62 in comparison with the city of Mrs. Grubb's present residence, which appeared to be a perfect hot-bed of world-saving ideas, and was surrounded by such a halo of spots that it would have struck the unregenerate observer as an undesirable63 place in which to live, unless one wished to be broken daily on the rack of social progress.
This front room was Mrs. Grubb's only parlour. The seven benches were rather in the way and seemingly unnecessary, as the lady attended meetings morning, noon, and night in halls hired for that purpose; but they gave her a feeling of security, as, in case one of her less flourishing societies should be ejected from its hall, or in case she should wake up in the middle of the night and want to hold a meeting of any club when all the halls were closed, the benches in the parlour would make it possible without a moment's loss of time.
The room connecting with this was the family banquet-hall and kitchen in one, and as Mrs. Grubb's opinions on diet were extremely advanced, it amply served the purpose.
There were three bedrooms upstairs, and the whole establishment was rather untidy in its aspect; but, though it might have been much cleaner, it is only fair to say that it might also have been much dirtier.
The house was deserted64. The only sound came from the back yard, and it was the echo of children's voices. It was not at all a merry prattle65; it was a steady uproar66 interrupted by occasional shrieks67 and yells, a clatter68 of falling blocks, beatings of a tin pan, a scramble69 of feet, a tussle70, with confusion of blows and thumps71, and then generally a temporary lull72 in the proceedings73, evidently brought about by some sort of outside interference. If you had pushed open the wire door, you would have seen two children of four or five years disporting75 themselves in a sand-heap. One was a boy and one a girl; and though they were not at all alike in feature or complexion76, there was an astonishing resemblance between them in size, in figure, in voice, in expression, and, apparently77, in disposition78.
Sitting on a bench, watching them as a dog watches its master's coat, was a girl of some undeterminable age,--perhaps of ten or twelve years. She wore a shapeless stout gingham garment, her shoes were many sizes too large for her, and the laces were dangling79. Her nerveless hands and long arms sprawled80 in her lap as if they had no volition81 in them. She sat with her head slightly drooping82, her knees apart, and her feet aimlessly turned in. Her lower lip hung a little, but only a little, loosely. She looked neither at earth nor at sky, but straight at the two belligerents83, with whose bloodthirsty play she was obliged to interfere74 at intervals84. She held in her lap a doll made of a roll of brown paper, with a waist and a neck indicated by gingham strings85. Pieces of ravelled rope were pinned on the head part, but there was no other attempt to assist the imagination. She raised her dull eyes; they seemed to hold in their depths a knowledge of aloofness86 from the happier world, and their dumb sorrow pierced your very heart, while it gave you an irresistible87 sense of aversion. She smiled, but the smile only gave you a new thrill; it was vacant and had no joy in it, rather an uncommunicable grief. As she sat there with her battered88 doll, she was to the superficial eye repulsive89, but to the eye that pierces externals she was almost majestic90 in her mysterious loneliness and separation.
The steam-whistle of a factory near by blew a long note for twelve o'clock, and she rose from her bench, took the children by the hand, and dragged them, kindly91 but firmly, up the steps into the kitchen. She laid her doll under a towel, but, with a furtive92 look at the boy, rolled it in a cloth and tucked it under her skirt at the waist-line. She then washed the children's faces, tied on their calico bibs, and pushed them up to the pine table. While they battered the board and each other with spoons and tin mugs, she went automatically to a closet, took a dish of cold porridge and turned it into three bowls, poured milk over it, spread three thick slices of wheat bread with molasses from a cup, and sat down at the table. After the simple repast was over, she led the still reluctant (constitutionally reluctant) twins up the staircase and put them, shrieking93, on a bed; left the room, locking the door behind her in a perfunctory sort of way as if it were an everyday occurrence, crouched94 down on the rug outside, and, leaning her head back against the wall, took her doll from under her skirt, for this was her playtime, her hour of ease.
Poor little 'Marm Lisa,' as the neighbours called her! She had all the sorrows and cares of maternity95 with none of its compensating96 joys.
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infertile
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| adj.不孕的；不肥沃的，贫瘠的 | |
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triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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umbrageous
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| adj.多荫的 | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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gateways
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| n.网关( gateway的名词复数 )；门径；方法；大门口 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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unemployed
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| adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的 | |
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injustices
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| 不公平( injustice的名词复数 )； 非正义； 待…不公正； 冤枉 | |
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plutocratic
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| adj.富豪的，有钱的 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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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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microscopic
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| adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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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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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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sagged
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| 下垂的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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lodger
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| n.寄宿人，房客 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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wreaked
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| 诉诸（武力），施行（暴力），发（脾气）( wreak的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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41
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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tacked
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| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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impoverish
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| vt.使穷困，使贫困 | |
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pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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afflict
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| vt.使身体或精神受痛苦，折磨 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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pictorial
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| adj.绘画的；图片的；n．画报 | |
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regenerating
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| v.新生，再生( regenerate的现在分词 )；正反馈 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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abolition
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| n.废除，取消 | |
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magenta
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| n..紫红色（的染料）；adj.紫红色的 | |
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emancipation
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| n.（从束缚、支配下）解放 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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prattle
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| n.闲谈；v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话；发出连续而无意义的声音 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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tussle
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| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
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thumps
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| n.猪肺病；砰的重击声( thump的名词复数 )v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的第三人称单数 ) | |
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lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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disporting
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| v.嬉戏，玩乐，自娱( disport的现在分词 ) | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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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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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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belligerents
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| n.交战的一方（指国家、集团或个人）( belligerent的名词复数 ) | |
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intervals
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| 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 | |
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85
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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86
aloofness
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| 超然态度 | |
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87
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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88
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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89
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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90
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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91
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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92
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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93
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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94
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
maternity
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| n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的 | |
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96
compensating
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| 补偿，补助，修正 | |
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