The dining-room was very small. Edna’s round mahogany would have almost filled it. As it was there was but a step or two from the little table to the kitchen, to the mantel, the small buffet1, and the side door that opened out on the narrow brick-paved yard.
A certain degree of ceremony settled upon them with the announcement of dinner. There was no return to personalities2. Robert related incidents of his sojourn3 in Mexico, and Edna talked of events likely to interest him, which had occurred during his absence. The dinner was of ordinary quality, except for the few delicacies4 which she had sent out to purchase. Old Celestine, with a bandana tignon twisted about her head, hobbled in and out, taking a personal interest in everything; and she lingered occasionally to talk patois5 with Robert, whom she had known as a boy.
He went out to a neighboring cigar stand to purchase cigarette papers, and when he came back he found that Celestine had served the black coffee in the parlor6.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have come back,” he said. “When you are tired of me, tell me to go.”
“You never tire me. You must have forgotten the hours and hours at Grand Isle7 in which we grew accustomed to each other and used to being together.”
“I have forgotten nothing at Grand Isle,” he said, not looking at her, but rolling a cigarette. His tobacco pouch8, which he laid upon the table, was a fantastic embroidered9 silk affair, evidently the handiwork of a woman.
“You used to carry your tobacco in a rubber pouch,” said Edna, picking up the pouch and examining the needlework.
“Yes; it was lost.”
“Where did you buy this one? In Mexico?”
“It was given to me by a Vera Cruz girl; they are very generous,” he replied, striking a match and lighting11 his cigarette.
“They are very handsome, I suppose, those Mexican women; very picturesque12, with their black eyes and their lace scarfs.”
“Some are; others are hideous13, just as you find women everywhere.”
“What was she like-the one who gave you the pouch? You must have known her very well.”
“She was very ordinary. She wasn’t of the slightest importance. I knew her well enough.”
“Did you visit at her house? Was it interesting? I should like to know and hear about the people you met, and the impressions they made on you.”
“There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting14 as the imprint15 of an oar16 upon the water.”
“Was she such a one?”
“It would be ungenerous for me to admit that she was of that order and kind.” He thrust the pouch back in his pocket, as if to put away the subject with the trifle which had brought it up.
Arobin dropped in with a message from Mrs. Merriman, to say that the card party was postponed17 on account of the illness of one of her children.
“How do you do, Arobin?” said Robert, rising from the obscurity.
“Oh! Lebrun. To be sure! I heard yesterday you were back. How did they treat you down in Mexique?”
“Fairly well.”
“But not well enough to keep you there. Stunning18 girls, though, in Mexico. I thought I should never get away from Vera Cruz when I was down there a couple of years ago.”
“Did they embroider10 slippers19 and tobacco pouches20 and hat-bands and things for you?” asked Edna.
“Oh! my! no! I didn’t get so deep in their regard. I fear they made more impression on me than I made on them.”
“You were less fortunate than Robert, then.”
“I am always less fortunate than Robert. Has he been imparting tender confidences?”
“I’ve been imposing21 myself long enough,” said Robert, rising, and shaking hands with Edna. “Please convey my regards to Mr. Pontellier when you write.”
He shook hands with Arobin and went away.
“Fine fellow, that Lebrun,” said Arobin when Robert had gone. “I never heard you speak of him.”
“I knew him last summer at Grand Isle,” she replied. “Here is that photograph of yours. Don’t you want it?”
“What do I want with it? Throw it away.” She threw it back on the table.
“I’m not going to Mrs. Merriman’s ,” she said. “If you see her, tell her so. But perhaps I had better write. I think I shall write now, and say that I am sorry her child is sick, and tell her not to count on me.”
“It would be a good scheme,” acquiesced22 Arobin. “I don’t blame you; stupid lot!”
Edna opened the blotter, and having procured23 paper and pen, began to write the note. Arobin lit a cigar and read the evening paper, which he had in his pocket.
“What is the date?” she asked. He told her.
“Will you mail this for me when you go out?”
“Certainly.” He read to her little bits out of the newspaper, while she straightened things on the table.
“What do you want to do?” he asked, throwing aside the paper. “Do you want to go out for a walk or a drive or anything? It would be a fine night to drive.”
“No; I don’t want to do anything but just be quiet. You go away and amuse yourself. Don’t stay.”
“I’ll go away if I must; but I shan’t amuse myself. You know that I only live when I am near you.”
He stood up to bid her good night.
“Is that one of the things you always say to women?”
“I have said it before, but I don’t think I ever came so near meaning it,” he answered with a smile. There were no warm lights in her eyes; only a dreamy, absent look.
“Good night. I adore you. Sleep well,” he said, and he kissed her hand and went away.
She stayed alone in a kind of reverie-a sort of stupor24. Step by step she lived over every instant of the time she had been with Robert after he had entered Mademoiselle Reisz’s door. She recalled his words, his looks. How few and meager25 they had been for her hungry heart! A vision-a transcendently seductive vision of a Mexican girl arose before her. She writhed26 with a jealous pang27. She wondered when he would come back. He had not said he would come back. She had been with him, had heard his voice and touched his hand. But some way he had seemed nearer to her off there in Mexico.
收听单词发音 |
1
buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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2
personalities
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| n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 ) | |
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3
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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patois
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| n.方言；混合语 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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8
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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9
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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embroider
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| v.刺绣于(布)上；给…添枝加叶，润饰 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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imprint
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| n.印痕，痕迹；深刻的印象；vt.压印，牢记 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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17
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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18
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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19
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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pouches
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| n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋 | |
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21
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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22
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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24
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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25
meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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26
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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