The party stayed to the end of the interminable opera. They had agreed to wait for Aaron. He was to come around to the vestibule for them, after the show. They trooped slowly down-stairs into the crush of the entrance hall. Chattering1, swirling2 people, red carpet, palms green against cream-and-gilt walls, small whirlpools of life at the open, dark doorways3, men in opera hats steering4 decisively about-it was the old scene. But there were no taxis — absolutely no taxis. And it was raining. Fortunately the women had brought shoes. They slipped these on. Jim rocked through the crowd, in his tall hat, looking for the flautist.
At last Aaron was found — wearing a bowler5 hat. Julia groaned6 in spirit. Josephine’s brow knitted. Not that anybody cared, really. But as one must frown at something, why not at the bowler hat? Acquaintances and elegant young men in uniforms insisted on rushing up and bowing and exchanging a few words, either with Josephine, or Jim, or Julia, or Lilly. They were coldly received. The party veered7 out into the night.
The women hugged their wraps about them, and set off sharply, feeling some repugnance8 for the wet pavements and the crowd. They had not far to go — only to Jim’s rooms in Adelphi. Jim was leading Aaron, holding him by the arm and slightly pinching his muscles. It gave him great satisfaction to have between his fingers the arm-muscles of a working- man, one of the common people, the fons et origo of modern life. Jim was talking rather vaguely9 about Labour and Robert Smillie, and Bolshevism. He was all for revolution and the triumph of labour.
So they arrived, mounted a dark stair, and entered a large, handsome room, one of the Adams rooms. Jim had furnished it from Heale’s with striped hangings, green and white and yellow and dark purple, and with a green-and-black checked carpet, and great stripe-covered chairs and Chesterfield. A big gas-fire was soon glowing in the handsome old fire-place, the panelled room seemed cosy10.
While Jim was handing round drinks and sandwiches, and Josephine was making tea, Robert played Bach on the piano — the pianola, rather. The chairs and lounge were in a half-circle round the fire. The party threw off their wraps and sank deep into this expensive comfort of modern bohemia. They needed the Bach to take away the bad taste that Aida had left in their mouths. They needed the whiskey and curacao to rouse their spirits. They needed the profound comfort in which to sink away from the world. All the men, except Aaron, had been through the war in some way or other. But here they were, in the old setting exactly, the old bohemian routine.
The bell rang, Jim went downstairs. He returned shortly with a frail11, elegant woman — fashionable rather than bohemian. She was cream and auburn, Irish, with a slightly-lifted upper lip that gave her a pathetic look. She dropped her wrap and sat down by Julia, taking her hand delicately.
“How are you, darling?” she asked.
“Yes — I’m happy,” said Julia, giving her odd, screwed-up smile.
The pianola stopped, they all chatted indiscriminately. Jim was watching the new-comer — Mrs. Browning — with a concentrated wolfish grin.
“I like her,” he said at last. “I’ve seen her before, haven’t I?— I like her awfully12.”
“Yes,” said Josephine, with a slight grunt13 of a laugh. “He wants to be loved.”
“Oh,” cried Clariss. “So do I!”
“Then there you are!” cried Tanny.
“Alas, no, there we aren’t,” cried Clariss. She was beautiful too, with her lifted upper-lip. “We both want to be loved, and so we miss each other entirely14. We run on in two parallel lines, that can never meet.” She laughed low and half sad.
“Doesn’t SHE love you?” said Aaron to Jim amused, indicating Josephine. “I thought you were engaged.”
“HER!” leered Jim vindictively15, glancing at Josephine. “She doesn’t love me.”
“Is that true?” asked Robert hastily, of Josephine.
“Why,” she said, “yes. Why should he make me say out here that I don’t love him!”
“Got you my girl,” said Jim.
“Then it’s no engagement?” said Robert.
“Listen to the row fools make, rushing in,” said Jim maliciously16.
“No, the engagement is broken,” said Josephine.
“World coming to pieces bit by bit,” said Lilly. Jim was twisting in his chair, and looking like a Chinese dragon, diabolical17. The room was uneasy.
“What gives you such a belly-ache for love, Jim?” said Lilly, “or for being loved? Why do you want so badly to be loved?”
“Because I like it, damn you,” barked Jim. “Because I’m in need of it.”
None of them quite knew whether they ought to take it as a joke. It was just a bit too real to be quite pleasant.
“Why are you such a baby?” said Lilly. “There you are, six foot in length, have been a cavalry18 officer and fought in two wars, and you spend your time crying for somebody to love you. You’re a comic.”
“Am I though?” said Jim. “I’m losing life. I’m getting thin.”
“You don’t look as if you were losing life,” said Lilly.
“Don’t I? I am, though. I’m dying.”
“What of? Lack of life?”
“That’s about it, my young cock. Life’s leaving me.”
“Better sing Tosti’s Farewell to it.”
Jim who had been sprawling19 full length in his arm-chair, the centre of interest of all the company, suddenly sprang forward and pushed his face, grinning, in the face of Lilly.
“You’re a funny customer, you are,” he said.
Then he turned round in his chair, and saw Clariss sitting at the feet of Julia, with one white arm over her friend’s knee. Jim immediately stuck forward his muzzle20 and gazed at her. Clariss had loosened her masses of thick, auburn hair, so that it hung half free. Her face was creamy pale, her upper lip lifted with odd pathos21! She had rose-rubies in her ears.
“I like HER,” said Jim. “What’s her name?”
“Mrs. Browning. Don’t be so rude,” said Josephine.
“Browning for gravies22. Any relation of Robert?”
“Oh, yes! You ask my husband,” came the slow, plangent23 voice of Clariss.
“You’ve got a husband, have you?”
“Rather! Haven’t I, Juley?”
“Yes,” said Julia, vaguely and wispily. “Yes, dear, you have.”
“And two fine children,” put in Robert.
“No! You don’t mean it!” said Jim. “Who’s your husband? Anybody?”
“Rather!” came the deep voice of Clariss. “He sees to that.”
Jim stared, grinning, showing his pointed24 teeth, reaching nearer and nearer to Clariss who, in her frail scrap25 of an evening dress, amethyst26 and silver, was sitting still in the deep black hearth-rug, her arm over Julia’s knee, taking very little notice of Jim, although he amused her.
“I like you awfully, I say,” he repeated.
“Thanks, I’m sure,” she said.
The others were laughing, sprawling in their chairs, and sipping27 curacao and taking a sandwich or a cigarette. Aaron Sisson alone sat upright, smiling flickeringly. Josephine watched him, and her pointed tongue went from time to time over her lips.
“But I’m sure,” she broke in, “this isn’t very interesting for the others. Awfully boring! Don’t be silly all the time, Jim, or we must go home.”
Jim looked at her with narrowed eyes. He hated her voice. She let her eye rest on his for a moment. Then she put her cigarette to her lips. Robert was watching them both.
Josephine took her cigarette from her lips again.
“Tell us about yourself, Mr. Sisson,” she said. “How do you like being in London?”
“I like London,” said Aaron.
Where did he live? Bloomsbury. Did he know many people? No — nobody except a man in the orchestra. How had he got his job? Through an agent. Etc. Etc.
“What do you make of the miners?” said Jim, suddenly taking a new line.
“Me?” said Sisson. “I don’t make anything of them.”
“Do you think they’ll make a stand against the government?”
“What for?”
“Nationalisation.”
“They might, one day.”
“Think they’d fight?”
“Fight?”
“Yes.”
Aaron sat laughing.
“What have they to fight for?”
“Why, everything! What haven’t they to fight for?” cried Josephine fiercely. “Freedom, liberty, and escape from this vile28 system. Won’t they fight for that?”
Aaron sat smiling, slowly shaking his head.
“Nay,” he said, “you mustn’t ask me what they’ll do — I’ve only just left them, for good. They’ll do a lot of cavilling29.”
“But won’t they ACT?” cried Josephine.
“Act?” said Aaron. “How, act?”
“Why, defy the government, and take things in their own hands,” said Josephine.
“They might, some time,” said Aaron, rather indifferent.
“I wish they would!” cried Josephine. “My, wouldn’t I love it if they’d make a bloody30 revolution!”
They were all looking now at her. Her black brows were twitching31, in her black and silver dress she looked like a symbol of young disaster.
“Must it be bloody, Josephine?” said Robert.
“Why, yes. I don’t believe in revolutions that aren’t bloody,” said Josephine. “Wouldn’t I love it! I’d go in front with a red flag.”
“It would be rather fun,” said Tanny.
“Wouldn’t it!” cried Josephine.
“Oh, Josey, dear!” cried Julia hysterically32. “Isn’t she a red-hot Bolsher! I should be frightened.”
“No!” cried Josephine. “I should love it.”
“So should I,” said Jim, in a luscious34 sort of voice. “What price machine-guns at the end of the Strand35! That’s a day to live for, what?”
“Ha! Ha!” laughed Clariss, with her deep laugh. “We’d all Bolsh together. I’d give the cheers.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting killed. I’d love it, in a real fight,” said Josephine.
“But, Josephine,” said Robert, “don’t you think we’ve had enough of that sort of thing in the war? Don’t you think it all works out rather stupid and unsatisfying?”
“Ah, but a civil war would be different. I’ve no interest in fighting Germans. But a civil war would be different.”
“That’s a fact, it would,” said Jim.
“Only rather worse,” said Robert.
“No, I don’t agree,” cried Josephine. “You’d feel you were doing something, in a civil war.”
“Pulling the house down,” said Lilly.
“Yes,” she cried. “Don’t you hate it, the house we live in — London — England — America! Don’t you hate them?”
“I don’t like them. But I can’t get much fire in my hatred36. They pall37 on me rather,” said Lilly.
“Ay!” said Aaron, suddenly stirring in his chair.
Lilly and he glanced at one another with a look of recognition.
“Still,” said Tanny, “there’s got to be a clearance38 some day or other.”
“Oh,” drawled Clariss. “I’m all for a clearance. I’m all for pulling the house down. Only while it stands I do want central heating and a good cook.”
“May I come to dinner?” said Jim.
“Oh, yes. You’d find it rather domestic.”
“Where do you live?”
“Rather far out now — Amersham.”
“Amersham? Where’s that —?”
“Oh, it’s on the map.”
There was a little lull39. Jim gulped40 down a drink, standing41 at the sideboard. He was a tall, fine, soldierly figure, and his face, with its little sandy moustache and bald forehead, was odd. Aaron Sisson sat watching him, unconsciously.
“Hello you!” said Jim. “Have one?”
Aaron shook his head, and Jim did not press him. It saved the drinks.
“You believe in love, don’t you?” said Jim, sitting down near Aaron, and grinning at him.
“Love!” said Aaron.
“LOVE! he says,” mocked Jim, grinning at the company.
“What about it, then?” asked Aaron.
“It’s life! Love is life,” said Jim fiercely.
“It’s a vice42, like drink,” said Lilly.
“Eh? A vice!” said Jim. “May be for you, old bird.”
“More so still for you,” said Lilly.
“It’s life. It’s life!” reiterated43 Jim. “Don’t you agree?” He turned wolfishly to Clariss.
“Oh, yes — every time —” she drawled, nonchalant.
“Here, let’s write it down,” said Lilly. He found a blue pencil and printed in large letters on the old creamy marble of the mantel-piece panel:— LOVE IS LIFE.
Julia suddenly rose and flung her arms asunder44 wildly.
“Oh, I hate love. I hate it,” she protested.
Jim watched her sardonically45.
“Look at her!” he said. “Look at Lesbia who hates love.”
“No, but perhaps it is a disease. Perhaps we are all wrong, and we can’t love properly,” put in Josephine.
“Have another try,” said Jim,—“I know what love is. I’ve thought about it. Love is the soul’s respiration46.”
“Let’s have that down,” said Lilly.
LOVE IS THE SOUL’S RESPIRATION. He printed it on the old mantel-piece.
Jim eyed the letters.
“It’s right,” he said. “Quite right. When you love, your soul breathes in. If you don’t breathe in, you suffocate47.”
“What about breathing out?” said Robert. “If you don’t breathe out, you asphyxiate48.”
“Right you are, Mock Turtle —” said Jim maliciously.
“Breathing out is a bloody revolution,” said Lilly.
“You’ve hit the nail on the head,” said Jim solemnly.
“Let’s record it then,” said Lilly. And with the blue pencil he printed:
WHEN YOU LOVE, YOUR SOUL BREATHES IN—
WHEN YOUR SOUL BREATHES OUT, IT’S A BLOODY REVOLUTION.
“I say Jim,” he said. “You must be busting49 yourself, trying to breathe in.”
“Don’t you be too clever. I’ve thought about it,” said Jim. “When I’m in love, I get a great inrush of energy. I actually feel it rush in — here!” He poked50 his finger on the pit of his stomach. “It’s the soul’s expansion. And if I can’t get these rushes of energy, I’M DYING, AND I KNOW I AM.”
He spoke51 the last words with sudden ferocity and desperation.
“All I know is,” said Tanny, “you don’t look it.”
“I AM. I am.” Jim protested. “I’m dying. Life’s leaving me.”
“Maybe you’re choking with love,” said Robert. “Perhaps you have breathed in so much, you don’t know how to let it go again. Perhaps your soul’s got a crick in it, with expanding so much.”
“You’re a bloody young sucking pig, you are,” said Jim.
“Even at that age, I’ve learned my manners,” replied Robert.
Jim looked round the party. Then he turned to Aaron Sisson.
“What do you make of ’em, eh?” he said.
Aaron shook his head, and laughed.
“Me?” he said.
But Jim did not wait for an answer.
“I’ve had enough,” said Tanny suddenly rising. “I think you’re all silly. Besides, it’s getting late.”
“She!” said Jim, rising and pointing luridly52 to Clariss. “She’s Love. And HE’s the Working People. The hope is these two —” He jerked a thumb at Aaron Sisson, after having indicated Mrs. Browning.
“Oh, how awfully interesting. It’s quite a long time since I’ve been a personification.— I suppose you’ve never been one before?” said Clariss, turning to Aaron in conclusion.
“No, I don’t think I have,” he answered.
“I hope personification is right.— Ought to be allegory or something else?” This from Clariss to Robert.
“Or a parable53, Clariss,” laughed the young lieutenant54.
“Goodbye,” said Tanny. “I’ve been awfully bored.”
“Have you?” grinned Jim. “Goodbye! Better luck next time.”
We’d better look sharp,” said Robert, “if we want to get the tube.”
The party hurried through the rainy narrow streets down to the Embankment station. Robert and Julia and Clariss were going west, Lilly and his wife were going to Hampstead, Josephine and Aaron Sisson were going both to Bloomsbury.
“I suppose,” said Robert, on the stairs —“Mr. Sisson will see you to your door, Josephine. He lives your way.”
“There’s no need at all,” said Josephine.
The four who were going north went down to the low tube level. It was nearly the last train. The station was half deserted55, half rowdy, several fellows were drunk, shouting and crowing. Down there in the bowels56 of London, after midnight, everything seemed horrible and unnatural57.
“How I hate this London,” said Tanny. She was half Norwegian, and had spent a large part of her life in Norway, before she married Lilly.
“Yes, so do I,” said Josephine. “But if one must earn one’s living one must stay here. I wish I could get back to Paris. But there’s nothing doing for me in France.— When do you go back into the country, both of you?”
“Friday,” said Lilly.
“How lovely for you!— And when will you go to Norway, Tanny?”
“In about a month,” said Tanny.
“You must be awfully pleased.”
“Oh — thankful — THANKFUL to get out of England —”
“I know. That’s how I feel. Everything is so awful — so dismal58 and dreary59, I find it —”
They crowded into the train. Men were still yelling like wild beasts — others were asleep — soldiers were singing.
“Have you really broken your engagement with Jim?” shrilled60 Tanny in a high voice, as the train roared.
“Yes, he’s impossible,” said Josephine. “Perfectly hysterical33 and impossible.”
“And SELFISH—” cried Tanny.
“Oh terribly —” cried Josephine.
“Come up to Hampstead to lunch with us,” said Lilly to Aaron.
“Ay — thank you,” said Aaron.
Lilly scribbled61 directions on a card. The hot, jaded62 midnight underground rattled63 on. Aaron and Josephine got down to change trains.
收听单词发音 |
1
chattering
|
|
| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
swirling
|
|
| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
doorways
|
|
| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
steering
|
|
| n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
bowler
|
|
| n.打保龄球的人，（板球的）投（球）手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
veered
|
|
| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
repugnance
|
|
| n.嫌恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
cosy
|
|
| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
grunt
|
|
| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
vindictively
|
|
| adv.恶毒地；报复地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
maliciously
|
|
| adv.有敌意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
diabolical
|
|
| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
cavalry
|
|
| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
sprawling
|
|
| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
muzzle
|
|
| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
pathos
|
|
| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
gravies
|
|
| n.肉汁( gravy的名词复数 )；肉卤；意外之财；飞来福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
plangent
|
|
| adj.悲哀的，轰鸣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
scrap
|
|
| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
amethyst
|
|
| n.紫水晶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
sipping
|
|
| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
vile
|
|
| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
cavilling
|
|
| n.（矿工的）工作地点抽签法v.挑剔，吹毛求疵( cavil的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
30
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
twitching
|
|
| n.颤搐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
hysterically
|
|
| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hysterical
|
|
| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
luscious
|
|
| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
strand
|
|
| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
pall
|
|
| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
clearance
|
|
| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
lull
|
|
| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gulped
|
|
| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
vice
|
|
| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
reiterated
|
|
| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
asunder
|
|
| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
sardonically
|
|
| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
respiration
|
|
| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
suffocate
|
|
| vt.使窒息，使缺氧，阻碍；vi.窒息，窒息而亡，阻碍发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
asphyxiate
|
|
| v.无法呼吸，窒息而死 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
busting
|
|
| 打破，打碎( bust的现在分词 )； 突击搜查（或搜捕）； （使）降级，降低军阶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
poked
|
|
| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
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： |
|
|
|
|
52
luridly
|
|
| adv. 青灰色的(苍白的, 深浓色的, 火焰等火红的) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
parable
|
|
| n.寓言，比喻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
bowels
|
|
| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
shrilled
|
|
| （声音）尖锐的，刺耳的，高频率的( shrill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
scribbled
|
|
| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
jaded
|
|
| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
rattled
|
|
| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |