Perhaps this unwise antagonizing by her husband, perhaps the idleness with which the well-to-do woman was afflicted1, perhaps a genuine liking2 for Keith, gave Mrs. Morrell just the impulse needed. At any rate, she used the common bond of music to bring him much into her company. This was not a difficult matter. Keith was extravagantly3 fond of just this sort of experimental amateur excursions into lighter4 music, and he liked Mrs. Morrell. She was a good sort, straightforward5 and honest and direct, no nonsense in her, but she knew her way about, and a man could have a sort of pleasing, harmless flirtation6 to which she knew how to play up. There was not, nor could there be--in Keith's mind--any harm in their relations. Nan was the woman for him; but that didn't mean that he was never to see anybody else, or that other women might not--of course in unessential and superficial ways--answer some of his varied7 needs.
Mrs. Morrell was skilful8 at keeping up his interest, and she was equally skilful in gradually excluding Nan. This was not difficult, for Nan was secretly bored by the eternal practising, and repelled9 by Mrs. Morrell's efforts to be fascinating. She saw them plainly enough, but was at first merely amused and faintly disgusted, for she was proud enough to believe absolutely that such crude methods could have no effect on Milton, overlooking the fact that the crudities of women never appear as plainly to a man as they do to another woman. For a woman is in the know. At first she offered one excuse or another, in an attempt to be both polite and plausible11. She much preferred a book at home, or a whole free evening to work at making her house attractive. Later, Keith got into the habit of taking her attitude for granted.
"I promised to run over to the Morrells' this evening," he would say, "More music. Of course you won't care to come. You won't be lonely? I won't be gone late."
"Of course not," she laughed. "I'm thankful for the chance to get through with the blue room."
Nevertheless, after a time she began to experience a faint, unreasonable12 resentment13; and Keith an equally faint, equally unreasonable feeling of guilt14.
Left to itself this situation would, therefore, have righted itself, but Mrs. Morrell was keen enough to give it the required directing touches:
"Too bad we can't tear your wife away from her house and garden."
"If you only had some one to practise with regularly at home! Your voice ought to be systematically15 cultivated. It is wonderful!"
And later:
"You ought not to come here so much, I suppose--" rather doubtfully, "Any sort of practice and accompaniment--even my poor efforts--does you so much good! You or I would understand perfectly16, but it is sometimes so difficult for the inexperienced domestic type to comprehend! An older woman who understands men knows--but come, we must sing that once more."
The effect of these and a thousand similar speeches injected apparently17 at random18 here and there in the tide of other things was at once to intensify19 Keith's vague feeling of guilt, and to put it in the light somehow of an injustice20 to himself. He had an unformulated notion that if Nan would or could only understand the situation and be a good fellow that every one would be happy; but as she was a mere10 woman, with a woman's prejudices, this was impossible. It was absurd to expect him to give up his music just because she wanted to be different! He had really nothing whatever to conceal21; and yet it actually seemed that difficulty and concealment22 would be necessary if this sort of unspoken reproach were kept up. Women were so confoundedly single-minded!
And as the normal, healthy, non-introspective male tends to avoid discomfort23, even of his own making, it thus came about that Keith spent less and less time at home. He did not explain to himself why. It was certainly no lessening24 of his affection for Nan. Only he felt absolutely sure of her, and the mental situation sketched25 above left him more open to the lure26 of downtown, which to any live man was in those days especially great. Every evening the "fellows" got together, jawed27 things over, played pool, had a drink or so, wandered from one place to another, looked with the vivid interest of the young and able-bodied on the seething28, colourful, vital life of the new community. It was all harmless and mighty29 pleasant. Keith argued that he was "establishing connections" and meeting men who could do his profession good, which was more or less true; but it took him from home evenings.
Nan, at first, quite innocently played into his hands. She really preferred to stay at home rather than be bored at the Morrells'. Later, when this tradition had been established, she began to be disturbed, not by any suspicion that Milton's interest was straying, but by a feeling of neglect. She was hurt. And little by little, in spite of herself, a jealousy30 of the woman next door began to tinge31 her solitude32. Her nature was too noble and generous to harbour such a sentiment without a struggle. She blamed herself for unworthy and wretched jealousy, and yet she could not help herself. Often, especially at first, Keith in an impulse would throw over his plans, and ask her to go to the theatre or a concert, of which there were many and excellent. She generally declined, not because she did not want to go, but because of that impelling34 desire, universal in the feminine soul, to be a little wooed to it, to be compelled by gentle persuasion35 that should at once make up for the past and be an earnest for the future. Only Keith took her refusal at its face value. Nan was lonely and hurt.
Her refusals to respond to his rather spasmodic attempts to be nice to her were adopted by Keith's subconscious36 needs for comfort. If she didn't want to see anything of life, she shouldn't expect him to bury himself. His restless mind gradually adopted the fiction persistently37 held before him by Mrs. Morrell that his wife was indeed a domestic little body, fond only of her home and garden. As soon as he had hypnotized himself into the full acceptance of this, he felt much happier, His uneasiness fell from him, and he continued life with zest38. If any one had told him that he was neglecting Nan, he probably would have been surprised. They were busy; they met amicably39; there were no reproaches; they managed to get about and enjoy things together quite a lot.
The basis for the latter illusion rested on the Sunday excursions and picnics. Both the Keiths always attended them. There was invariably the same crowd--the Morrells; Dick Blatchford, the contractor40, and his fat, coarse-grained, good-natured Irish wife; Calhoun Bennett; Ben Sansome: Sally Warner, a dashing grass widow, whose unknown elderly husband seemed to be always away "at the mines"; Teeny McFarlane, small, dainty, precise, blond, exquisite41, cool, with very self-possessed manners and decided42 ways, but with the capacity for occasionally and with deliberation outdoing the worst of them, about whom were whispered furtive43 things the rumour44 of which died before her armoured front; her husband, a fat, jolly, round-faced, somewhat pop-eyed man who adored her and was absolutely ignorant of one side of her. These and a sprinkling of "fast" youths made the party. Sometimes the celebrated45 Sam Brannan went along, loud, coarse, shrewd, bull voiced, kindly46 when not crossed, unscrupulous, dictatorial47, and overbearing, They all got to know each other very well and to be very free in one another's society,
The usual procedure was to drive in buggies, sometimes to the beach, sometimes down the peninsula, starting rather early, and staying out all day. Occasionally rather elaborate lunches were brought, with servants to spread them; but the usual custom was to stop at one of the numerous road houses. No man drove, walked, or talked with his own wife; nevertheless, these affairs though rowdy, noisy, and "fast" enough, were essentially48 harmless. The respectable members of the community were sufficiently49 shocked, however. Gay dresses, gay laughter, gay behaviour, gay scorn of convention, above all, the resort to the mysterious naughty road houses were enough. It must be confessed that at times things seemed to go a bit far; but Nan, who was at first bewildered and shocked, noticed that the women did many things in public and nothing in private. As already her mind and tolerance50 were adapting themselves to new things, she was able to accept it all philosophically51 as part of a new phase of life.
These people had no misgivings52 about themselves, and they passed judgment53 on others with entire assurance. In their slang all with whom they came into contact were either "hearses" or "live Mollies." There was nothing racial, local, or social in this division. A family might be divided, one member being a live Molly, and all the rest the most dismal55 of hearses. Occasionally a stranger might be brought along. He did not know it, but always he was very carefully watched and appraised56: his status discussed and decided at the supper to which the same people--minus all strangers-- gathered later. At one of these discussions a third estate came into being.
Teeny McFarlane had that day brought with her a young man of about twenty- four or twenty-five, well dressed, of pleasant features, agreeable in manner, well spoken, but quiet.
"He isn't a live Molly," stated Sally positively57.
"Well, Sally took a walk with him," observed Sam Brannan dryly; "she ought to know!"
"Don't need to take a walk with him," countered Sally; "just take a talk with him--or try to.".
"I did try to," interpolated Mrs. Morrell.
"May as well make it unanimous, looks like," said Sam. "He goes for a hearse."
But Teeny McFarlane interposed in her positive, precise little way.
"I object," she drawled. "He certainly isn't as bad as all that. He's a nice boy, and he never bored anybody in his life. Did he bore you, Sally?"
"I can't say he did, now you mention it. He's one of those nice doggy people you don't mind having around."
They discussed the matter animatedly58. Teeny McFarlane developed an unexpected obstinacy59. She did not suggest that the young man was to be included in any of the future parties; indeed, she answered the direct question decidedly in the negative; no, there was no use trying to include anybody unless they decidedly "belonged."
"You wouldn't call him a live Molly, now would you, Teeny?" implored60 Cal Bennett.
"No," she answered slowly, "I suppose not. But he is _not_ a hearse."
The men, all but Popsy McFarlane, were inspecting Teeny's cool, unrevealing exterior61 with covert62 curiosity. She was always an enigma63 to them. Each man was asking himself why her interest in the mere labelling of this stranger.
"He isn't a live Molly and she objects to his being a hearse," laughed Sally. "He must be something between them. What," she inquired, with the air of propounding64 a conundrum65, "is between a live Molly and a hearse?"
"Give it up!" they cried unanimously.
Sally looked nonplussed66, then shrieked67: "Why, the pallbearers, of course!"
The silly phrase caught. Thereafter, those who were acknowledged to be all right enough but not of their feather were known as "pallbearers."
The Keiths were live Mollies. He was decidedly one. His appearance alone inspired good nature and high spirits, he looked so clean, vividly68 coloured, enthusiastic, alive to his finger tips. He was always game for anything, no matter how ridiculous it made him, or in what sort of a so- called false position it might place him. When he had reached a certain state of dancing-eyed joyous69 recklessness, Nan was always athrill as to what he might do next. And Nan, spite of her quieter ways and the reserves imposed on her by her breeding, was altogether too pretty and too much of a real person ever to be classed as a hearse. With her ravishing Eastern toilettes, her clear, creamy complexion70, and the clean-cut lines of her throat, chin, and cheeks, she always made the other women look a little too vividly accented. The men all admired her on sight, and at first did their best to interest her. They succeeded, for in general they were of vital stuff, but not in the intimately personal way they desired. Her nature found no thrill in experiment. One by one they gave her up in the favour of less attractive but livelier or more complaisant71 companions; but they continued to like her and to pay her much general attention. She never, in any nuance72 of manner, even tried to make a difference; nevertheless, their attitude toward her was always more deferential73 than to the other women.
Ben Sansome was the one exception to the first part of the above statement. Her gentle but obvious withdrawals74 from his advances piqued75 his conceit76. Ben was a spoiled youth, with plenty of money; and he had always been a spoiled youth, with plenty of money. Why he had come to San Francisco no one knew. Possibly he did not know himself; for as his affairs had always been idle, he had drifted much, and might have drifted here. Whatever the reason, the fact remained that in this busy, new, and ambitious community he was the one example professionally of the gilded77 youth. His waistcoats, gloves, varnished78 boots, jewellery, handkerchiefs were always patterns to the other amateur, gilded youths who had also other things to do. His social tact54 was enormous, and a recognized institution. If there had been cotillons, he would have led them; but as there were no cotillons, he contented79 himself with being an _arbiter elegantiarum_. He rather prided himself on his knowledge of such things as jades80, old prints, and obscure poets of whom nobody else had ever heard. Naturally he had always been a great success with women, both as harmless parlour ornaments81, and in more dangerous ways. In San Francisco he had probably carried farther than he would have carried anywhere else. He had sustained no serious reverses, because difficult game had not heretofore interested him. Entering half interestedly with Nan into what he vaguely82 intended as one of his numerous, harmless, artistic83, perfumed flirtationlets, he had found himself unexpectedly held at arm's length. Just this was needed to fillip his fancy. He went into the game as a game. Sansome made himself useful. By dint84 of being on hand whenever Keith's carelessness had left her in need of an escort, and only then, he managed to establish himself on a recognized footing as a sort of privileged, charming, useful, harmless family friend.
Outside this small, rather lively coterie85 the Keiths had very few friends. It must be confessed that the mothers of the future leaders of San Francisco society, and the bearers of what were to be her proudest names, were mostly "hearses." Their husbands were the forceful, able men of the city, but they themselves were conventional as only conventional women can be when goaded86 into it by a general free-and-easy, unconventional atmosphere. That was their only method of showing disapproval87. The effect was worthy33 but dull. It was a pity, for among them were many intelligent, charming women who needed only a different atmosphere, to expand. The Keiths never saw them, and gained their ideas of them only from the merciless raillery of the "live Mollies."
All this implied more or less entertaining, and entertaining was expensive. The Boyle house was expensive for that matter; and about everything else, save Chinese servants, and, temporarily, whatever the latest clipper ship had glutted88 the market with. Keith had brought with him a fair sum of money with which to make his start; but under this constant drainage, it dwindled89 to what was for those times a comparatively small sum. Clients did not come. There were more men practising law than all the other professions. In spite of wide acquaintance and an attractive popular personality, Keith had not as yet made a start. He did not worry--that was not his nature--but he began to realize that he must do one of two things: either make some money, somehow, or give up his present mode of living. The latter course was unthinkable!
收听单词发音 |
1
afflicted
|
|
| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
liking
|
|
| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
extravagantly
|
|
| adv.挥霍无度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
straightforward
|
|
| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
flirtation
|
|
| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
skilful
|
|
| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
repelled
|
|
| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
plausible
|
|
| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
unreasonable
|
|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
guilt
|
|
| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
systematically
|
|
| adv.有系统地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
random
|
|
| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
intensify
|
|
| vt.加强；变强；加剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
injustice
|
|
| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
concealment
|
|
| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
discomfort
|
|
| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
lessening
|
|
| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
sketched
|
|
| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
lure
|
|
| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
jawed
|
|
| adj.有颌的有颚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
seething
|
|
| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
tinge
|
|
| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
impelling
|
|
| adj.迫使性的，强有力的v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
persuasion
|
|
| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
subconscious
|
|
| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
persistently
|
|
| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
zest
|
|
| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
amicably
|
|
| adv.友善地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
contractor
|
|
| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
furtive
|
|
| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
rumour
|
|
| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
dictatorial
|
|
| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
essentially
|
|
| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
tolerance
|
|
| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
philosophically
|
|
| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
misgivings
|
|
| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
tact
|
|
| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
appraised
|
|
| v.估价( appraise的过去式和过去分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
animatedly
|
|
| adv.栩栩如生地，活跃地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
obstinacy
|
|
| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
implored
|
|
| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
exterior
|
|
| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
covert
|
|
| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
enigma
|
|
| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
propounding
|
|
| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
conundrum
|
|
| n.谜语；难题 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
nonplussed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
vividly
|
|
| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
complaisant
|
|
| adj.顺从的，讨好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
nuance
|
|
| n.(意义、意见、颜色)细微差别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
deferential
|
|
| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
withdrawals
|
|
| n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
piqued
|
|
| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
conceit
|
|
| n.自负，自高自大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
gilded
|
|
| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
varnished
|
|
| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
jades
|
|
| n.玉，翡翠（jade的复数形式）v.（使）疲（jade的第三人称单数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
ornaments
|
|
| 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 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
artistic
|
|
| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
dint
|
|
| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
coterie
|
|
| n.(有共同兴趣的)小团体，小圈子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
goaded
|
|
| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
disapproval
|
|
| n.反对，不赞成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
glutted
|
|
| v.吃得过多( glut的过去式和过去分词 )；（对胃口、欲望等）纵情满足；使厌腻；塞满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
dwindled
|
|
| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |