In this eager, fast-living, nervous, high-strung man's world Keith took to himself a prominent part. He was so fully-occupied in other directions that his practice did not lead him into criminal law, so he missed an influence that must have either ended by blunting or repelling1 him. He corresponded to what nowadays would be called a corporation lawyer. His clients were few, but wealthy, powerful, and remunerative2; his cases were subtle and hard fought, He enjoyed the intricate game for its own sake, and he enjoyed his success in it. In the inevitable3 give and take of a complicated world he knew, of course, of shady doings beneath; but he was not personally involved; he accepted them as part of the make-up of society, human nature, the medium--of work.
But Nan was necessarily left more and more to her own devices. And, further, she was left alone without even the preoccupation furnished her domestic side by such an affair as that with Mrs. Morrell. She knew that Keith was wholly absorbed in his business. She was loyal to his unexpressed idea that in these propitious4 beginnings he must devote all his energies to his career. She was loyal to his preoccupation. It was the only way in which she could help. And yet, without being given cause for grievance5, she was temporarily thrust outside his life, put in cold storage, as it were, until she should be wanted. He bolted immediately after breakfast; often he did not come home to lunch; was quite likely to go out again in the evening.
It followed that Nan had to make her own life out of the materials at hand. This was at first difficult, for all the materials were novel to her. Gradually, however, she fitted herself into the social transformation6 that was taking place.
Heretofore, society had not existed. Now, vaguely7, it was beginning to take coherence8 and form. A transition period was on. The "nobs" were evolving from chaos9. People of the fast Morrell type were losing their influence and ascendency, were being pushed aside to the fringes by the more "solid" elements. Wealth and arrogant10 dignity were coming into their innings. Formal functions, often on an elaborate scale, were taking the place of the harum-scarum informal parties. There came up some questions of social leadership. In short, social life was developing into the usual game. Lacking other interests, Nan found it amused her to play at it, to contend with the leaders, to form alliances, to declare war, to assume by right and talent her place among the best.
This pleased Keith. Social standing11 helped him in business; and he enjoyed the sight of his beautiful young wife queening it serenely12 over the city's best. He was always eager to advance money for new gowns or expensive parties. At first he went out with her, but soon found that three o'clock in the morning meant a next day's brain dulled of its keenest edge. But he would not hear of her staying at home on his account.
"I'm tired, and I'm going to bed right away," he told her. "You go and uphold the splendour of the family. Get Ben to take you."
Ben Sansome was to Keith a tremendous convenience. He was the only idle man in town, always on tap, ready to stay out any and every night until the cocks crowed. Why shouldn't he? He had nothing to do all next day, except, perhaps, to decide which stick he should carry! With a busy man's good- humoured contempt for the mere13 idler, Keith looked upon Sansome as a harmless household-pet sort of person; good natured, accommodating, pleasant to talk to, good looking, foppish14 in dress, but beneath any serious human being's notice. Sansome was on easy terms of intimacy15 with the Keiths. It was mighty16 good of him to look out for Nan. If he did not, Keith would have to.
In this formative period Ben Sansome was, however, a very important figure in the woman's world. Social construction was a ticklish17 matter. There were so many things to be decided18; small items of etiquette19, the "proper thing" --procedure, decorations, good form, larger matters as to whether so-and-so should be received, and if so, how extensively. Ben Sansome was past master of such things. He was the only man in town who knew--or cared--how to "draw lines." He became truly a modern _arbiter elegantiarum_. For San Francisco had begun in real earnest to "draw lines."
They were rather strange lines at times. Of course such people as the Brannans, Montgomerys, Terrys, Bushs, Bakers20, Caldwells, and other "old families" (three or four years old), went without saying. Also were included the greater merchants and their feminine representatives, such as Palmer, Cook, Adams, Wilkins, and the like. Also there seemed to be a solid foundation of those respectable and powerful with plenty of wealth--"but hopeless, my dear, absolutely hopeless!" groaned21 some of the livelier members.
Lightning struck capriciously at those on whom this new society might frown, on those who as lately as last year had ridden the crest22 of the wave. For example, it spared Sally Warner, with her spotted23 veils drawn24 close around her face, her red belts, and her red tufts on her small toques, but it blasted the Morrells. Mrs. Morrell clung tenaciously25 to the outskirts26, but she knew only too well that she did not "belong." In her heart she ascribed this fact to Mrs. Keith. This was unjust, but it added to her bitterness against her neighbours.
Perhaps her suspicions were not unnatural27, for Nan won easily in this game. She was undoubtedly28 the social leader. It seemed eminently29 fitting that, lacking her husband, she should go out much with Ben Sansome. Most women thought her lucky to have acquired so valuable a social acquisition. Some people, like fat, coarse, sensible Mrs. Dick Blatchford, were a little doubtful.
"Shucks!" snorted Sally Warner, slapping her little riding boot dashingly with her latest novelty, an English hunting crop, "Nan Keith impresses me as one who knows her way about. And, anyway, as long as Mr. Keith is satisfied, I'm sure we should be!"
收听单词发音 |
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repelling
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| v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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remunerative
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| adj.有报酬的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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coherence
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| n.紧凑；连贯；一致性 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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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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serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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foppish
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| adj.矫饰的，浮华的 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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ticklish
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| adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理 | |
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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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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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bakers
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| n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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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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tenaciously
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| 坚持地 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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