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首页 » 经典英文小说 » Sister Carrie嘉莉妹妹 » Chapter 6 THE MACHINE AND THE MAIDEN--A KNIGHT OF TO-DAY
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Chapter 6 THE MACHINE AND THE MAIDEN--A KNIGHT OF TO-DAY
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At the flat that evening Carrie felt a new phase of its atmosphere. The fact that it was unchanged, while her feelings were different, increased her knowledge of its character. Minnie, after the good spirits Carrie manifested at first, expected a fair report. Hanson supposed that Carrie would be satisfied.

"Well," he said, as he came in from the hall in his working clothes, and looked at Carrie through the dining-room door, "how did you make out?"

"Oh," said Carrie, "it's pretty hard. I don't like it."

There was an air about her which showed plainer than any words that she was both weary and disappointed.

"What sort of work is it?" he asked, lingering a moment as he turned upon his heel to go into the bathroom.

"Running a machine," answered Carrie.

It was very evident that it did not concern him much, save from the side of the flat's success. He was irritated a shade because it could not have come about in the throw of fortune for Carrie to be pleased.

Minnie worked with less elation1 than she had just before Carrie arrived. The sizzle of the meat frying did not sound quite so pleasing now that Carrie had reported her discontent. To Carrie, the one relief of the whole day would have been a jolly home, a sympathetic reception, a bright supper table, and some one to say: "Oh, well, stand it a little while. You will get something better," but now this was ashes. She began to see that they looked upon her complaint as unwarranted, and that she was supposed to work on and say nothing. She knew that she was to pay four dollars for her board and room, and now she felt that it would be an exceedingly gloomy round, living with these people.

Minnie was no companion for her sister--she was too old. Her thoughts were staid and solemnly adapted to a condition. If Hanson had any pleasant thoughts or happy feelings he concealed2 them. He seemed to do all his mental operations without the aid of physical expression. He was as still as a deserted3 chamber4. Carrie, on the other hand, had the blood of youth and some imagination. Her day of love and the mysteries of courtship were still ahead. She could think of things she would like to do, of clothes she would like to wear, and of places she would like to visit. These were the things upon which her mind ran, and it was like meeting with opposition5 at every turn to find no one here to call forth6 or respond to her feelings.

She had forgotten, in considering and explaining the result of her day, that Drouet might come. Now, when she saw how unreceptive these two people were, she hoped he would not. She did not know exactly what she would do or how she would explain to Drouet, if he came. After supper she changed her clothes. When she was trimly dressed she was rather a sweet little being, with large eyes and a sad mouth. Her face expressed the mingled7 expectancy8, dissatisfaction, and depression she felt. She wandered about after the dishes were put away, talked a little with Minnie, and then decided9 to go down and stand in the door at the foot of the stairs. If Drouet came, she could meet him there. Her face took on the semblance10 of a look of happiness as she put on her hat to go below.

"Carrie doesn't seem to like her place very well," said Minnie to her husband when the latter came out, paper in hand, to sit in the dining-room a few minutes.

"She ought to keep it for a time, anyhow," said Hanson. "Has she gone downstairs?"

"Yes," said Minnie.

"I'd tell her to keep it if I were you. She might be here weeks without getting another one."

Minnie said she would, and Hanson read his paper.

"If I were you," he said a little later, "I wouldn't let her stand in the door down there. It don't look good."

"I'll tell her," said Minnie.

The life of the streets continued for a long time to interest Carrie. She never wearied of wondering where the people in the cars were going or what their enjoyments11 were. Her imagination trod a very narrow round, always winding13 up at points which concerned money, looks, clothes, or enjoyment12. She would have a far-off thought of Columbia City now and then, or an irritating rush of feeling concerning her experiences of the present day, but, on the whole, the little world about her enlisted14 her whole attention.

The first floor of the building, of which Hanson's flat was the third, was occupied by a bakery, and to this, while she was standing15 there, Hanson came down to buy a loaf of bread. She was not aware of his presence until he was quite near her.

"I'm after bread," was all he said as he passed.

The contagion16 of thought here demonstrated itself. While Hanson really came for bread, the thought dwelt with him that now he would see what Carrie was doing. No sooner did he draw near her with that in mind than she felt it. Of course, she had no understanding of what put it into her head, but, nevertheless, it aroused in her the first shade of real antipathy17 to him. She knew now that she did not like him. He was suspicious.

A thought will colour a world for us. The flow of Carrie's meditations18 had been disturbed, and Hanson had not long gone upstairs before she followed. She had realised with the lapse19 of the quarter hours that Drouet was not coming, and somehow she felt a little resentful, a little as if she had been forsaken--was not good enough. She went upstairs, where everything was silent. Minnie was sewing by a lamp at the table. Hanson had already turned in for the night. In her weariness and disappointment Carrie did no more than announce that she was going to bed.

"Yes, you'd better," returned Minnie. "You've got to get up early, you know."

The morning was no better. Hanson was just going out the door as Carrie came from her room. Minnie tried to talk with her during breakfast, but there was not much of interest which they could mutually discuss. As on the previous morning, Carrie walked down town, for she began to realise now that her four-fifty would not even allow her car fare after she paid her board. This seemed a miserable20 arrangement. But the morning light swept away the first misgivings21 of the day, as morning light is ever wont22 to do.

At the shoe factory she put in a long day, scarcely so wearisome as the preceding, but considerably23 less novel. The head foreman, on his round, stopped by her machine.

"Where did you come from?" he inquired.

"Mr. Brown hired me," she replied.

"Oh, he did, eh!" and then, "See that you keep things going."

The machine girls impressed her even less favourably24. They seemed satisfied with their lot, and were in a sense "common." Carrie had more imagination than they. She was not used to slang. Her instinct in the matter of dress was naturally better. She disliked to listen to the girl next to her, who was rather hardened by experience.

"I'm going to quit this," she heard her remark to her neighbour. "What with the stipend25 and being up late, it's too much for me health."

They were free with the fellows, young and old, about the place, and exchanged banter26 in rude phrases, which at first shocked her. She saw that she was taken to be of the same sort and addressed accordingly.

"Hello," remarked one of the stout-wristed sole-workers to her at noon. "You're a daisy." He really expected to hear the common "Aw! go chase yourself!" in return, and was sufficiently27 abashed28, by Carrie's silently moving away, to retreat, awkwardly grinning.

That night at the flat she was even more lonely--the dull situation was becoming harder to endure. She could see that the Hansons seldom or never had any company. Standing at the street door looking out, she ventured to walk out a little way. Her easy gait and idle manner attracted attention of an offensive but common sort. She was slightly taken back at the overtures29 of a well-dressed man of thirty, who in passing looked at her, reduced his pace, turned back, and said:

"Out for a little stroll, are you, this evening?"

Carrie looked at him in amazement30, and then summoned sufficient thought to reply: "Why, I don't know you," backing away as she did so.

"Oh, that don't matter," said the other affably.

She bandied no more words with him, but hurried away, reaching her own door quite out of breath. There was something in the man's look which frightened her.

During the remainder of the week it was very much the same. One or two nights she found herself too tired to walk home, and expended31 car fare. She was not very strong, and sitting all day affected32 her back. She went to bed one night before Hanson.

Transplantation is not always successful in the matter of flowers or maidens33. It requires sometimes a richer soil, a better atmosphere to continue even a natural growth. It would have been better if her acclimatization had been more gradual--less rigid34.

She would have done better if she had not secured a position so quickly, and had seen more of the city which she constantly troubled to know about.

On the first morning it rained she found that she had no umbrella. Minnie loaned her one of hers, which was worn and faded. There was the kind of vanity in Carrie that troubled at this. She went to one of the great department stores and bought herself one, using a dollar and a quarter of her small store to pay for it.

"What did you do that for, Carrie?" asked Minnie when she saw it.

"Oh, I need one," said Carrie.

"You foolish girl."

Carrie resented this, though she did not reply. She was not going to be a common shop-girl, she thought; they need not think it, either.

On the first Saturday night Carrie paid her board, four dollars. Minnie had a quaver of conscience as she took it, but did not know how to explain to Hanson if she took less. That worthy35 gave up just four dollars less toward the household expenses with a smile of satisfaction. He contemplated36 increasing his Building and Loan payments. As for Carrie, she studied over the problem of finding clothes and amusement on fifty cents a week. She brooded over this until she was in a state of mental rebellion.

"I'm going up the street for a walk," she said after supper.

"Not alone, are you?" asked Hanson.

"Yes," returned Carrie.

"I wouldn't," said Minnie.

"I want to see SOMETHING," said Carrie, and by the tone she put into the last word they realised for the first time she was not pleased with them.

"What's the matter with her?" asked Hanson, when she went into the front room to get her hat.

"I don't know," said Minnie.

"Well, she ought to know better than to want to go out alone."

Carrie did not go very far, after all. She returned and stood in the door. The next day they went out to Garfield Park, but it did not please her. She did not look well enough. In the shop next day she heard the highly coloured reports which girls give of their trivial amusements. They had been happy. On several days it rained and she used up car fare. One night she got thoroughly37 soaked, going to catch the car at Van Buren Street. All that evening she sat alone in the front room looking out upon the street, where the lights were reflected on the wet pavements, thinking. She had imagination enough to be moody38.

On Saturday she paid another four dollars and pocketed her fifty cents in despair. The speaking acquaintanceship which she formed with some of the girls at the shop discovered to her the fact that they had more of their earnings39 to use for themselves than she did. They had young men of the kind whom she, since her experience with Drouet, felt above, who took them about. She came to thoroughly dislike the light-headed young fellows of the shop. Not one of them had a show of refinement40. She saw only their workday side.

There came a day when the first premonitory blast of winter swept over the city. It scudded41 the fleecy clouds in the heavens, trailed long, thin streamers of smoke from the tall stacks, and raced about the streets and corners in sharp and sudden puffs43. Carrie now felt the problem of winter clothes. What was she to do? She had no winter jacket, no hat, no shoes. It was difficult to speak to Minnie about this, but at last she summoned the courage.

"I don't know what I'm going to do about clothes," she said one evening when they were together. "I need a hat."

Minnie looked serious.

"Why don't you keep part of your money and buy yourself one?" she suggested, worried over the situation which the withholding44 of Carrie's money would create.

"I'd like to for a week or so, if you don't mind," ventured Carrie.

"Could you pay two dollars?" asked Minnie.

Carrie readily acquiesced45, glad to escape the trying situation, and liberal now that she saw a way out. She was elated and began figuring at once. She needed a hat first of all. How Minnie explained to Hanson she never knew. He said nothing at all, but there were thoughts in the air which left disagreeable impressions.

The new arrangement might have worked if sickness had not intervened. It blew up cold after a rain one afternoon when Carrie was still without a jacket. She came out of the warm shop at six and shivered as the wind struck her. In the morning she was sneezing, and going down town made it worse. That day her bones ached and she felt light-headed. Towards evening she felt very ill, and when she reached home was not hungry. Minnie noticed her drooping46 actions and asked her about herself.

"I don't know," said Carrie. "I feel real bad."

She hung about the stove, suffered a chattering47 chill, and went to bed sick. The next morning she was thoroughly feverish48.

Minnie was truly distressed49 at this, but maintained a kindly50 demeanour. Hanson said perhaps she had better go back home for a while. When she got up after three days, it was taken for granted that her position was lost. The winter was near at hand, she had no clothes, and now she was out of work.

"I don't know," said Carrie; "I'll go down Monday and see if I can't get something."

If anything, her efforts were more poorly rewarded on this trial than the last. Her clothes were nothing suitable for fall wearing. Her last money she had spent for a hat. For three days she wandered about, utterly51 dispirited. The attitude of the flat was fast becoming unbearable52. She hated to think of going back there each evening. Hanson was so cold. She knew it could not last much longer. Shortly she would have to give up and go home.

On the fourth day she was down town all day, having borrowed ten cents for lunch from Minnie. She had applied53 in the cheapest kind of places without success. She even answered for a waitress in a small restaurant where she saw a card in the window, but they wanted an experienced girl. She moved through the thick throng54 of strangers, utterly subdued55 in spirit. Suddenly a hand pulled her arm and turned her about.

"Well, well!" said a voice. In the first glance she beheld56 Drouet. He was not only rosy-cheeked, but radiant. He was the essence of sunshine and good-humour. "Why, how are you, Carrie?" he said. "You're a daisy. Where have you been?"

Carrie smiled under his irresistible57 flood of geniality58.

"I've been out home," she said.

"Well," he said, "I saw you across the street there. I thought it was you. I was just coming out to your place. How are you, anyhow?"

"I'm all right," said Carrie, smiling.

Drouet looked her over and saw something different.

"Well," he said, "I want to talk to you. You're not going anywhere in particular, are you?"

"Not just now," said Carrie.

"Let's go up here and have something to eat. George! but I'm glad to see you again."

She felt so relieved in his radiant presence, so much looked after and cared for, that she assented59 gladly, though with the slightest air of holding back.

"Well," he said, as he took her arm--and there was an exuberance60 of good-fellowship in the word which fairly warmed the cockles of her heart.

They went through Monroe Street to the old Windsor dining-room, which was then a large, comfortable place, with an excellent cuisine61 and substantial service. Drouet selected a table close by the window, where the busy rout62 of the street could be seen. He loved the changing panorama63 of the street--to see and be seen as he dined.

"Now," he said, getting Carrie and himself comfortably settled, "what will you have?"

Carrie looked over the large bill of fare which the waiter handed her without really considering it. She was very hungry, and the things she saw there awakened64 her desires, but the high prices held her attention. "Half broiled65 spring chicken--seventy-five. Sirloin steak with mushrooms--one twenty-five." She had dimly heard of these things, but it seemed strange to be called to order from the list.

"I'll fix this," exclaimed Drouet. "Sst! waiter."

That officer of the board, a full-chested, round-faced negro, approached, and inclined his ear.

"Sirloin with mushrooms," said Drouet. "Stuffed tomatoes."

"Yassah," assented the negro, nodding his head.

"Hashed brown potatoes."

"Yassah."

"Asparagus."

"Yassah."

"And a pot of coffee."

Drouet turned to Carrie. "I haven't had a thing since breakfast. Just got in from Rock Island. I was going off to dine when I saw you."

Carrie smiled and smiled.

"What have you been doing?" he went on. "Tell me all about yourself. How is your sister?"

"She's well," returned Carrie, answering the last query66.

He looked at her hard.

"Say," he said, "you haven't been sick, have you?"

Carrie nodded.

"Well, now, that's a blooming shame, isn't it? You don't look very well. I thought you looked a little pale. What have you been doing?"

"Working," said Carrie.

"You don't say so! At what?"

She told him.

"Rhodes, Morgenthau and Scott--why, I know that house. over here on Fifth Avenue, isn't it? They're a close-fisted concern. What made you go there?"

"I couldn't get anything else," said Carrie frankly67.

"Well, that's an outrage," said Drouet. "You oughtn't to be working for those people. Have the factory right back of the store, don't they?"

"Yes," said Carrie.

"That isn't a good house," said Drouet. "You don't want to work at anything like that, anyhow."

He chatted on at a great rate, asking questions, explaining things about himself, telling her what a good restaurant it was, until the waiter returned with an immense tray, bearing the hot savoury dishes which had been ordered. Drouet fairly shone in the matter of serving. He appeared to great advantage behind the white napery and silver platters of the table and displaying his arms with a knife and fork. As he cut the meat his rings almost spoke68. His new suit creaked as he stretched to reach the plates, break the bread, and pour the coffee. He helped Carrie to a rousing plateful and contributed the warmth of his spirit to her body until she was a new girl. He was a splendid fellow in the true popular understanding of the term, and captivated Carrie completely.

That little soldier of fortune took her good turn in an easy way. She felt a little out of place, but the great room soothed69 her and the view of the well-dressed throng outside seemed a splendid thing. Ah, what was it not to have money! What a thing it was to be able to come in here and dine! Drouet must be fortunate. He rode on trains, dressed in such nice clothes, was so strong, and ate in these fine places. He seemed quite a figure of a man, and she wondered at his friendship and regard for her.

"So you lost your place because you got sick, eh?" he said. "What are you going to do now?"

"Look around," she said, a thought of the need that hung outside this fine restaurant like a hungry dog at her heels passing into her eyes.

"Oh, no," said Drouet, "that won't do. How long have you been looking?"

"Four days," she answered.

"Think of that!" he said, addressing some problematical individual. "You oughtn't to be doing anything like that. These girls," and he waved an inclusion of all shop and factory girls, "don't get anything. Why, you can't live on it, can you?"

He was a brotherly sort of creature in his demeanour. When he had scouted70 the idea of that kind of toil71, he took another tack42. Carrie was really very pretty. Even then, in her commonplace garb72, her figure was evidently not bad, and her eyes were large and gentle. Drouet looked at her and his thoughts reached home. She felt his admiration73. It was powerfully backed by his liberality and good-humour. She felt that she liked him-that she could continue to like him ever so much. There was something even richer than that, running as a hidden strain, in her mind. Every little while her eyes would meet his, and by that means the interchanging current of feeling would be fully74 connected.

"Why don't you stay down town and go to the theatre with me?" he said, hitching75 his chair closer. The table was not very wide.

"Oh, I can't," she said.

"What are you going to do to-night?"

"Nothing," she answered, a little drearily76.

"You don't like out there where you are, do you?"

"Oh, I don't know."

"What are you going to do if you don't get work?"

"Go back home, I guess."

There was the least quaver in her voice as she said this. Somehow, the influence he was exerting was powerful. They came to an understanding of each other without words--he of her situation, she of the fact that he realised it.

"No," he said, "you can't make it!" genuine sympathy filling his mind for the time. "Let me help you. You take some of my money."

"Oh, no!" she said, leaning back.

"What are you going to do?" he said.

She sat meditating77, merely shaking her head.

He looked at her quite tenderly for his kind. There were some loose bills in his vest pocket--greenbacks. They were soft and noiseless, and he got his fingers about them and crumpled78 them up in his hand.

"Come on," he said, "I'll see you through all right. Get yourself some clothes."

It was the first reference he had made to that subject, and now she realised how bad off she was. In his crude way he had struck the key-note. Her lips trembled a little.

She had her hand out on the table before her. They were quite alone in their corner, and he put his larger, warmer hand over it.

"Aw, come, Carrie," he said, "what can you do alone? Let me help you."

He pressed her hand gently and she tried to withdraw it. At this he held it fast, and she no longer protested. Then he slipped the greenbacks he had into her palm, and when she began to protest, he whispered:

"I'll loan it to you--that's all right. I'll loan it to you."

He made her take it. She felt bound to him by a strange tie of affection now. They went out, and he walked with her far out south toward Polk Street, talking.

"You don't want to live with those people?" he said in one place, abstractedly. Carrie heard it, but it made only a slight impression.

"Come down and meet me to morrow," he said, "and we'll go to the matinee. Will you?"

Carrie protested a while, but acquiesced.

"You're not doing anything. Get yourself a nice pair of shoes and a jacket."

She scarcely gave a thought to the complication which would trouble her when he was gone. In his presence, she was of his own hopeful, easy-way-out mood.

"Don't you bother about those people out there," he said at parting. "I'll help you."

Carrie left him, feeling as though a great arm had slipped out before her to draw off trouble. The money she had accepted was two soft, green, handsome ten-dollar bills.


那天晚上回到家时,嘉莉感到公寓里的气氛与往日不同。
其实一切都没变,只是她的情绪变了,这使得她对这个家有了新认识。敏妮受了当初嘉莉找到工作时兴奋情绪影响,现在正等着听好消息,而汉生则认为嘉莉有了工作该知足了。

“怎么样?”当他穿着工作服走进门厅时,他隔着门问嘉莉,她正在隔壁的吃饭间,“今天干得怎么样?”“不好,”嘉莉说道,“这个活太累了,我不喜欢。”她身上流露出的神气比任何话语更明白地表示她又累又失望。

“干的是什么活?”在转身进洗澡间之前他停留了一会儿,问道。

“开一台机器,”嘉莉回答。

显然,他关心的只是嘉莉的工资会增加家庭收入这一点,至于别的他并不关心。他有点恼怒,因为嘉莉那么幸运地找到了工作,却竟然不满意这个活。

敏妮烧饭时已经不像嘉莉回来前那样兴致勃勃了,煎肉的咝咝声也不像刚才那样听上去令人愉快了:嘉莉已经表示她对工作不满。至于嘉莉,在辛劳一天以后唯一渴望得到的安慰是一个欢乐的家,一个满怀同情接待她的家,能够开开心心地吃一顿晚饭,听到有人对她说上句:“这样吧,再坚持一段时间,你会找到个更好一点的工作。”可是如今这一切都成了泡影。她看出他们对她的抱怨不以为然,他们只希望她不出怨言地继续干下去。她知道她要为食宿付4块钱。她感到和这些人住在一起,生活太枯燥无味了。

敏妮实在不是她妹妹的好伴侣--她的年纪太大了。她的思想已经定形,安于一板一眼地顺应现实。至于汉生,如果他有什么愉快的想法或者快乐的情绪,至少从表面上是看不出来的。他的思想感情从来不流露出来,他安静得就像一间没人住的房间。而嘉莉呢,她的身上奔流着青春的血液,脑子里充满着幻想。她还没有恋爱,谈情说爱对她来说还是个神秘的谜。她耽于想象,想象她想做的事,她想穿的衣服,她想逛的地方。她脑子里整天想的就是这些事。可是在这里,没有人提起她感兴趣的事,她的情感也得不到共鸣响应,这使她感到事事不顺心。

她一心只想着白天的遭遇,又要向她姐姐姐夫解释自己的工作,所以把杜洛埃可能来访的事早忘到九霄云外去了。现在看出他们夫妻俩不爱应酬待客的脾气,她希望他还是别来。

她不知道万一杜洛埃来的话她该怎么办,怎么向他解释。吃过晚饭,她换了衣服。她穿戴齐整时,真是个可爱的小姑娘,长着大大的眼睛忧伤的嘴,她脸上流露出期望、不满和郁郁寡欢的复杂表情。碗碟收拾起来以后,她在屋里转悠了一会儿,和敏妮聊了几句,就决定到楼下去,在楼梯脚站一会儿。如果杜洛埃来了,她可以在那里碰到他。她戴上帽子下去,脸上露出了几分高兴的神色。

“嘉莉好像不喜欢她的工作。”汉生手里拿着报纸到吃饭间来坐几分钟,敏妮于是告诉她丈夫。

“无论如何,她应该干一段时间再说,”汉生说道。“她下楼去了吗?”“是啊,”她答道。

“我是你的话,我会劝她做下去。不然的话,也许会好几个星期找不到活干呢。”敏妮答应和嘉莉说说。于是汉生继续看他的报纸。

“我是你的话,”过了一会儿他又开口说,"我不会让她到楼下去站在门口。姑娘家站在外面不成体统。”“我会对她说的,”敏妮说。

街上人来人往,嘉莉感兴趣地久久看着。她不断猜想着那些坐在车上的人要到哪里去,他们有些什么消遣娱乐。她想象的面很窄,不外乎是在跟金钱、打扮、衣服、娱乐有关的事上打转转。她有时也想到遥远的哥伦比亚城,或者懊恼地想到她那天的经历。不过总的来说,她周围马路这小小的世界吸引了她全部的注意力。

汉生家的公寓在三楼,一楼是个面包店。嘉莉正站在那里,汉生下楼来买面包。直到他走到她身旁,她才注意到他。

“我是来买面包的,”走到嘉莉身边时,他这么说了一句。

思想有传染性,这一点现在又显示了出来。尽管汉生确实是下来买面包的,他脑子里却想到,这下他可以瞧瞧嘉莉究竟在干什么了。他怀着这个念头刚走近她,她马上意识到了他的心思。当然她自己也不明白她怎么会想到这一点的,可是她开始打心眼里讨厌他。她明白了她不喜欢他,因为这人疑心病太重。

思想会影响人对周围事物的观感。嘉莉的思绪被打断了,所以汉生上楼不久,她也上了楼。时间已经过去几刻钟了,她明白杜洛埃不会来了。不知为什么她对杜洛埃有些不满,就好像她受人嫌弃不值得眷顾似的。她上了楼。楼上静悄悄,敏妮正坐在桌旁就着灯光缝衣服,汉生已上床睡了。疲劳和失望使她没有心情多说话,她只说了一声她想上床睡了。

“是啊,你最好去睡吧,”敏妮答道。“你明天还要早起。”第二天早上嘉莉的心情并没有好起来。她从自己睡的房间出来时,汉生正要出门。吃早饭时,敏妮想跟她聊聊,可是她们之间共同感兴趣的事情并不多。像前一天一样,嘉莉步行去上班。她已经认识到,她的4块半大洋在付了食宿以后,剩下的钱连车费也不够。这样的安排也许会令人伤心,但是早上的阳光驱走了当天最初的疑云愁雾:朝阳总是这样的。

在鞋厂,她熬过了长长的一天,不像前一天那么累,但是新鲜感也大大地不如前一天。工头在车间巡视时,在她的机器旁停了下来。

“你从哪里来的?”他问道。

“布朗先生雇来的,”她回答。

“哦,是他雇的。”然后他又加了一句,“你要跟上趟,别让人等你。”那些女工给她的印象比昨天还差。她们看来安于命运,只是些庸人之辈。嘉莉比她们多一些想象力,她也不习惯讲粗话。在穿着打扮上,她的眼力和趣味天生高人一筹。她不喜欢听旁边那女工说话,那人可以说是个老油子了。

“我不打算在这里做了,”那人正在对身旁的女工说,“这里的工资这么低,每天还要干到这么晚,我可吃不消。”她们和车间的男工,不管老少,都很随便,用粗野的话互相斗嘴打趣。那些粗话一开始着实吓了她一跳。她看出她们把她当做同类看待,因此和她说话时用的是同一种口气。

“喂,”中午休息时一个胳膊粗壮的做鞋底男工对她说:“你真是个小美人。”他以为她会像别的女工那样回敬他:“去,滚你的!”可是嘉莉一声不响地走开了,他讨了个没趣,尴尬地咧着嘴笑着走掉了。

那天晚上在姐姐家的公寓里,她感到更孤单了--这种枯燥无味的生活越来越难以忍受。她看得出汉生一家很少有客人来访,也许根本就没有客人上门。站在临街的大门口朝外看,她大着胆子往外走了一点儿。她的悠闲的步子和无所事事的神气引起了旁人的注意。这种注意虽然令人生气,其实也平常得很。她正走着,一个30来岁衣冠楚楚的男人走过她身边,看了看她,放慢了脚步,然后又折转回来对她搭腔说:“今晚出来散散步,是吗?”嘉莉对这种主动搭腔微微吃了一惊。她诧异地看着他,惊慌之余回了一句:“喂,我不认识你。”一边说一边往后退却。

“噢,那没关系的,”那人和气地回答。

她不敢再说什么,慌忙退却,逃到自己家门口时已经上气不接下气了。那人的眼神中有一种让她害怕的东西。

那一星期剩下几天的情况大同小异。有一两个晚上下班时,她实在累得走不动了,只好花钱搭车回家。她身体不壮实,整天坐在那里干活使她腰酸背痛。有一天晚上,她甚至比汉生早上床去睡觉。

花儿移栽往往并不成功,少女们换了环境也是如此。移栽要想成活,必须有更肥沃的土壤和更良好的生长环境。如果嘉莉不是那么急剧地改变生活方式,而是逐渐地适应新的水土,事情也许会好些。要是她没有这么快找到工作,而有时间多看看她很想了解的城市,她会感到更适应一些。

第一个下雨天的早上,她发现自己需要一把桑敏妮借了一把给她,是一把褪了颜色的旧桑嘉莉思想上有虚荣心,因此对这旧伞很烦恼。她到一家大百货公司去买了一把新伞,从她小小的积蓄中花掉了1元2角5分。

“你买这个干什么呀,嘉莉?”敏妮看到新伞就说道。

“嗯,我要用,”嘉莉说。

“你呀,真是个傻丫头。”

嘉莉对敏妮的责备很不以为然,可是她什么也没有说。她想,她可不想做一普通的女工,她们别把她看错了。

第一个星期六的晚上,嘉莉付了4块钱的伙食费。敏妮接过钱时,良心很不安。但是她不敢少收钱,因为那样的话,她没法向汉生交代。那位可敬的先生乐孜孜地少拿出4块钱用于家庭开销,心里想着要增加投资买地皮。至于嘉莉,她在考虑如何用剩下的这5角钱解决买衣和娱乐的问题。她左思右想,想不出个办法,最后她烦恼得不愿再想下去了。

“我到街上去走走,”吃过晚饭她说。

“你不是一个人去吧?”汉生问。

“是我一个人去,”嘉莉回答。

“要是我的话,我不会一个人出去,”敏妮说。

“我想去外面看看,”嘉莉答道。她说最后那几个字的口气par使他们第一次意识到她不喜欢他们。

“她怎么啦?”当她到前屋去取帽子时,汉生问道。

“我也不知道,”敏妮说。

“她该懂点事了,不能一个人在外面跑。”不过嘉莉最终并没有走远。她折回来站在门口,第二天他们到加菲尔公园去玩,但是嘉莉玩得并不开心。她看上去气色不好。第二天在车间里,她听到女工们在添油加醋地谈论她们那些微不足道的消遣。她们星期天玩得很开心。接着一连下了几天雨,嘉莉把车钱用完了。有一天晚上下班时,她去凡布伦街坐电车,全身都淋湿了。整个晚上,她一个人坐在前屋看着外面的街道出神,湿漉漉的路面上反映出灯光。她越想心情越感到忧郁。

第二个星期六,她又付了4块钱。当她把剩下的5毛钱揣进口袋时,心里感到绝望。她和车间里的有些女工现在已结识,能一块儿说上几句。从她们的谈话中,她得知她们从工资中留下自己花的钱比她多,她们还有小伙子带她们出去玩。不过那些小伙子都属于嘉莉自认识杜洛埃以后不屑理睬的那类人。她讨厌车间里那些轻浮的青工,他们中没有一个举止文雅。当然她所看到的只是他们平常干活时的这一面。

终于有一天,预示严冬即将来临的第一阵寒流侵袭了城市。寒风使白云在天上疾驰,高烟囱里冒出的烟让风刮得成了一条条薄薄的横幅,一直飘出去很远很远。狂风在街头拐角肆虐,横冲直撞。嘉莉现在面临着冬衣的问题。她该怎么办呢?

她没有冬天穿的外套、帽子、鞋子。这事很难对敏妮开口,但她最后还是鼓起了勇气。

“我不知道我的冬衣怎么办,”一天傍晚她们俩在一起时,她开口说道,“我需要一顶帽子。”敏妮脸色很严肃。

“那你何不留下一点钱买一顶呢?”她提议说,但是心里很发愁,嘉莉少付了钱以后该怎么办。

“如果你不介意的话,这一两个星期我想少付一点钱,”嘉莉试探着说。

“你能付2块钱吗?”

嘉莉赶忙点头答应了。她很高兴,总算摆脱了这个为难的问题。因为冬衣有了着落心里松了一口气,立刻兴致勃勃地开始核计。她首先需要买一顶帽子。至于敏妮是如何向汉生解释的,她从没问过。他没有说什么,不过从屋里的气氛可以看出他很不高兴。

要不是疾病打岔,这新安排本来是可行的。一天下午雨后起了寒风,当时嘉莉还没有外套。6点钟从暖和的车间出来,冷风一吹,她不禁打了一个寒噤。第二天早上她开始打喷嚏,到城里去上班使病情加重了。那一天她骨头疼了起来,人感到头重脚轻的。到了傍晚,她感到病得很重了。回到家时,她一点胃口也没有。敏妮注意到她萎靡不振的样子,就问她怎么了。

“我也不知道,”嘉莉说,“我感到人很难受。”她蜷缩在炉子旁,冷得打颤。上床去的时候,病已不轻了。

第二天早上,她发起了高烧。

敏妮为这事很忧愁,不过态度一直很温和。汉生说,也许她该回去住些日子。三天后她能起床时,她的工作当然已经丢了。冬天已在眼前,她还没有冬衣,现在她又失了业。

“我不知道怎么办,”嘉莉说,“星期一我去看看能不能找个活儿干。”她这次找工作,如果说和上次有什么不同的话,那就是结果更糟。她的衣服根本不适合秋天穿,最后那点钱已经用来买了一顶帽子。整整三天,她在街上转悠,灰溜溜的。敏妮家的气氛很快变得难以忍受,每天傍晚她都怕回到那里去。汉生神情非常冷淡。她知道,目前这局面不能维持多长时间了,很快她就得一切作罢,卷铺盖回家。

第四天,她整天在商业区奔波,从敏妮那里借了一毛钱在街上吃午饭。她到那些最低贱的地方去申请工作,仍然毫无结果。她甚至到一个小饭店应征当女招待,可是人家不要没有经验的姑娘。她在大群陌生人中走着,彻底地心灰意冷了。突然有人拉住了她的胳膊,使她转过身来。

“喂,喂,”有人在叫她。她一眼看到这是杜洛埃。他不仅气色很好,而且容光焕发,简直是阳光和欢乐的化身。“嘿,你怎么样,嘉莉?”他说,“你真是个小美人。你上哪里去了?”他的亲切友好像一股不可抗拒的暖流,嘉莉不禁微笑了。

“我出来走走。”她说。

“你瞧,”他说,“我看到你在马路对面,我就猜是你。我出来正想上你那儿去。不管怎么说,你好吗?”“我还好,”嘉莉微笑着说。

杜洛埃上下打量着她,看出嘉莉有些变化。

“嗯,”他说,“我想和你聊聊。你没有要上哪里去吧?”“眼下没有,”嘉莉说。

“那我们上那里去吃点东西。天哪,见到你真是太高兴了。”和兴致勃勃的杜洛埃在一起,嘉莉感到心里轻松了,感到有人在关心她,照顾她,所以她高高兴兴地同意了他的提议,尽管还稍稍带点矜持的神气。

“来吧,”他说着挽起了她的手臂。他说这话时情意拳拳,使她心里感到很温暖。

他们穿过门罗街,来到老温莎餐馆。那家餐馆当时是家很舒适的大饭店,烹调手艺高超,服务热情周到。杜洛埃选了一个靠窗子的桌子,从那里可以看到街上喧闹的景象。他喜欢不断变化的街景,边吃着饭,边看着行人,同时也让行人看到自己。

“好了,”他等嘉莉和自己舒舒服服坐定以后,开口说道,“你想吃些什么?”嘉莉看着招待递给她的大菜单,并没想去点什么菜。她很饿,菜单上的东西更激起了她的食欲,但是她注意到那上面的价格很昂贵。“嫩烤仔鸡--7角5分;嫩牛排配蘑菇--1美元2角5分。”她曾模模糊糊听人说起过这些东西,可要从菜单上点这些菜,有些不可思议。

“我来点吧,”杜洛埃叫了起来。“喂,招待。”那招待是个胸脯宽阔的圆脸黑人。他走近桌子,侧耳听候吩咐。

“嫩牛排配蘑菇,”杜洛埃说道,“西红柿塞肉。”“是,"黑人点头应道。

“土豆肉酱。”

“是。”

“芦笋。”

“是。”

“再来一壶咖啡。”

杜洛埃转身对嘉莉说:“吃了早饭到现在,我还没有吃过什么东西呢。我刚从洛克岛回来。我正要去吃午饭就看到了你。"嘉莉开心地笑了又笑。

“你这一向在做些什么?”他继续说,“跟我说说你的情况。

你姐姐怎么样?”

“她很好,”嘉莉说。她只回答了他后面那个问题。

他仔细地打量着她。

“我说,”他又问,“你生病了,是吗?”

嘉莉点点头。

“哎呀,这太糟糕了,是不是?你看上去气色不好。我刚才就觉得你脸色有点苍白。你在做些什么?”“在上班,”嘉莉说。

“真的!在哪里?”

她告诉了他。

“罗·摩斯公司--那家商号我知道。在第五大街那里,是不是?那是家很抠门的商号,你干吗上那里干活?”“我找不到别的工作,”嘉莉坦白相告。

“这太不像话了,”杜洛埃说,“你不该给这种人干活的。他们的厂就在高店后面,是吗?”“是的,”嘉莉说。

“那家商号不好,”杜洛埃说。“无论如何,你不应该在那种地方干活。”他滔滔不绝地说着,问问这个,讲讲那个,一会儿谈谈自己的情况,一会儿又告诉她这家饭店有多棒,一直讲到招待托着大托盘回来,里面装着刚才点的美味佳肴,还冒着热气。杜洛埃在布菜招待上很拿手。他坐在铺着白桌布摆着银餐盘的桌子后面,舒展着手臂,举刀拿叉,显得潇洒大方。用餐刀切肉时,他手上好几个戒指熠熠生辉,引人注目。他伸手去拿盘子,撕面包,或者倒咖啡,他身上的新衣服就发出窸窣声。他给嘉莉挟了满满一大盘菜,态度又那么热情,让嘉莉感到温暖,使她完全变了一个人。他确实是人们通常认为的那种漂亮角色,所以把嘉莉完全迷住了。

这个追求幸福的小骑士,毫无愧色地接受了这新的好运。

她稍稍感到有些不自在,但是这大餐厅使她宽心,看看窗外那些服装华丽的人流,也似乎令人振奋。啊,没有钱是多么让人苦恼!能有钱到这里来吃饭多么开心!杜洛埃一定是幸运儿。

他有机会坐火车旅行,穿得起这么漂亮的衣服,又身强力壮,能在这么漂亮的地方吃饭。他看上去真是个堂堂男子汉,这么一个人物竟然向她表示友谊和关怀,使她不胜诧异。

“这么说,你因为生病,所以丢了工作,是吗?”他说,“你现在打算怎么办呢?”“到处找工作啊,”她回答。一想到谋生的必要,像个紧追不舍的饿狗,等在这豪华大餐厅的外面,她的眼中掠过一丝忧愁。

“噢,不!”杜洛埃说,“那怎么行。你找了多久了?”“四天了,”她回答。

“想想看!”他说,讲话的神气像是在对某个有疑问的人演讲,“你不该做这种事情的。这些姑娘们,”他手一挥,把所有的女店员和女工都包括了进去,“是不会有什么出息的。你总不能靠此生活吧,对不对?”他的态度,像个哥哥。当他驳够了做苦工的念头以后,他的思想转到了别的上面。嘉莉真是漂亮,即使眼下穿着简朴的衣服,她仍显得身材不凡,她的眼睛大而温柔。杜洛埃注视着她,眉目传情。她感觉到了他的倾慕。他的倾慕,加上他的慷慨大方,愉快和气,使她认为自己喜欢上了他--她会一直这么喜欢他的。她的心里还有一股比喜欢更深厚的感情暗流。他们的目光不时相接,交流和沟通了他们之间的感情。

“你留在市中心和我一起去看戏,好吗?”他说着,把他的椅子挪近了一些,那桌子本来就不大。

“嗯,我不能,”她说。

“你今晚有什么事吗?”

“没事,”她情绪忧郁地说。

“你不喜欢你现在住的地方,是吗?”

“我也不知道。”

“如果找不到工作,你打算怎么办呢?”“我猜想,得回老家去。”她这么说时,声音几乎没有颤抖。不知怎么,他对她的影响会有这么大。他们不用说话,就互相了解了-—他理解她的处境,而她明白他理解这个事实。

“不,”他说,“你不能回去。”一时间他心里充满了真正的同情。“让我帮助你,我给你钱。”“噢,那不行!”她说着,向后一靠。

“那你怎么办呢?”他问。

她坐在那里沉思,只是摇了一下头。

他非常温柔地看着她,就他天性而言,实在是温柔之极了。在他的西装背心口袋里有些零碎票子--绿颜色的美钞。

它们软绵绵的没有沙沙声。他的手指握住了这些钞票,把它们捏在手心。

“来,”他说,“我来帮你渡过难关。给你自己买些衣服。”这是他第一次提到衣服的问题,这使她想起自己寒酸的衣服。他用自己直来直去的方式一下子说到了点子上。她的嘴唇禁不住微微颤抖。

她的手放在桌子上。他们俩坐的角落里没有旁人。他把自己大而温暖的手放在她的手上。

“来吧,嘉莉,”他说,“你一个人能有什么办法呢?让我来帮助你吧。”他温柔地握着她的手,她想把手抽出来,可是他握得更紧了。于是她不再抗拒,他把手上的钞票塞进她手心里。当她想要推辞时,他在她耳边轻声说:“算我借给你的--那没关系的。算我借给你的。”他强迫她收了下来。她现在感到一种感情的纽带把他们联系在一起。他们从饭馆出来,他一路说着话,陪她一直朝南边的波克街走去。

“你不想和那些人住在一起吧?”走在路上时,他边想心事边问道。嘉莉听见了他的问话,不过没有太注意。

“明天到市中心来见我,好吗?”他说,“我们一起去看下午场的戏。”嘉莉开始推托了一会,但最后还是同意了。

“你什么也别做。给自己买一双漂亮的鞋子和一件外套。”她几乎没去考虑自己的尴尬处境。直到分手以后这个问题才开始困扰她。和他在一起,她和他一样乐观,认为一切都好解决。

“不要为那些人烦恼,”分手时他说,“我会帮你的。”嘉莉离开他时,感到似乎有一个强有力的胳膊向她伸来,帮她把一切麻烦赶跑。她接受的是两张软软的,漂亮的10元绿色钞票。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 elation 0q9x7     
n.兴高采烈,洋洋得意
参考例句:
  • She showed her elation at having finally achieved her ambition.最终实现了抱负,她显得十分高兴。
  • His supporters have reacted to the news with elation.他的支持者听到那条消息后兴高采烈。
2 concealed 0v3zxG     
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
参考例句:
  • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
  • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
3 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
4 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
5 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
6 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
7 mingled fdf34efd22095ed7e00f43ccc823abdf     
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系]
参考例句:
  • The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
  • The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候,这一男一女就开始交往了。
8 expectancy tlMys     
n.期望,预期,(根据概率统计求得)预期数额
参考例句:
  • Japanese people have a very high life expectancy.日本人的平均寿命非常长。
  • The atomosphere of tense expectancy sobered everyone.这种期望的紧张气氛使每个人变得严肃起来。
9 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
10 semblance Szcwt     
n.外貌,外表
参考例句:
  • Her semblance of anger frightened the children.她生气的样子使孩子们感到害怕。
  • Those clouds have the semblance of a large head.那些云的形状像一个巨大的人头。
11 enjoyments 8e942476c02b001997fdec4a72dbed6f     
愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 ); 令人愉快的事物; 享有; 享受
参考例句:
  • He is fond of worldly enjoyments. 他喜爱世俗的享乐。
  • The humanities and amenities of life had no attraction for him--its peaceful enjoyments no charm. 对他来说,生活中的人情和乐趣并没有吸引力——生活中的恬静的享受也没有魅力。
12 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
13 winding Ue7z09     
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈
参考例句:
  • A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
  • The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
14 enlisted 2d04964099d0ec430db1d422c56be9e2     
adj.应募入伍的v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 );获得(帮助或支持)
参考例句:
  • enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
  • He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
15 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
16 contagion 9ZNyl     
n.(通过接触的疾病)传染;蔓延
参考例句:
  • A contagion of fear swept through the crowd.一种恐惧感在人群中迅速蔓延开。
  • The product contagion effect has numerous implications for marketing managers and retailers.产品传染效应对市场营销管理者和零售商都有很多的启示。
17 antipathy vM6yb     
n.憎恶;反感,引起反感的人或事物
参考例句:
  • I feel an antipathy against their behaviour.我对他们的行为很反感。
  • Some people have an antipathy to cats.有的人讨厌猫。
18 meditations f4b300324e129a004479aa8f4c41e44a     
默想( meditation的名词复数 ); 默念; 沉思; 冥想
参考例句:
  • Each sentence seems a quarry of rich meditations. 每一句话似乎都给人以许多冥思默想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditations. 我很抱歉,打断你思考问题了。
19 lapse t2lxL     
n.过失,流逝,失效,抛弃信仰,间隔;vi.堕落,停止,失效,流逝;vt.使失效
参考例句:
  • The incident was being seen as a serious security lapse.这一事故被看作是一次严重的安全疏忽。
  • I had a lapse of memory.我记错了。
20 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
21 misgivings 0nIzyS     
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:
  • I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
  • Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后, 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧! 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
22 wont peXzFP     
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯
参考例句:
  • He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
  • It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。
23 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
24 favourably 14211723ae4152efc3f4ea3567793030     
adv. 善意地,赞成地 =favorably
参考例句:
  • The play has been favourably commented by the audience. 本剧得到了观众的好评。
  • The open approach contrasts favourably with the exclusivity of some universities. 这种开放式的方法与一些大学的封闭排外形成了有利的对比。
25 stipend kuPwO     
n.薪贴;奖学金;养老金
参考例句:
  • The company is going to ajust my stipend from this month onwards.从这一个月开始公司将对我的薪金作调整。
  • This sum was nearly a third of his total stipend.这笔钱几乎是他全部津贴的三分之一。
26 banter muwzE     
n.嘲弄,戏谑;v.取笑,逗弄,开玩笑
参考例句:
  • The actress exchanged banter with reporters.女演员与记者相互开玩笑。
  • She engages in friendly banter with her customers.她常和顾客逗乐。
27 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
28 abashed szJzyQ     
adj.窘迫的,尴尬的v.使羞愧,使局促,使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He glanced at Juliet accusingly and she looked suitably abashed. 他怪罪的一瞥,朱丽叶自然显得很窘。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The girl was abashed by the laughter of her classmates. 那小姑娘因同学的哄笑而局促不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
29 overtures 0ed0d32776ccf6fae49696706f6020ad     
n.主动的表示,提议;(向某人做出的)友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 );(歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的)序曲,前奏曲
参考例句:
  • Their government is making overtures for peace. 他们的政府正在提出和平建议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He had lately begun to make clumsy yet endearing overtures of friendship. 最近他开始主动表示友好,样子笨拙却又招人喜爱。 来自辞典例句
30 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
31 expended 39b2ea06557590ef53e0148a487bc107     
v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽
参考例句:
  • She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。
  • The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》
32 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
33 maidens 85662561d697ae675e1f32743af22a69     
处女( maiden的名词复数 ); 少女; 未婚女子; (板球运动)未得分的一轮投球
参考例句:
  • stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
  • Transplantation is not always successful in the matter of flowers or maidens. 花儿移栽往往并不成功,少女们换了环境也是如此。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
34 rigid jDPyf     
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的
参考例句:
  • She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
  • The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严,几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。
35 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
参考例句:
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
36 contemplated d22c67116b8d5696b30f6705862b0688     
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
  • The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。
37 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
38 moody XEXxG     
adj.心情不稳的,易怒的,喜怒无常的
参考例句:
  • He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。
  • I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。
39 earnings rrWxJ     
n.工资收人;利润,利益,所得
参考例句:
  • That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
  • Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。
40 refinement kinyX     
n.文雅;高尚;精美;精制;精炼
参考例句:
  • Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
  • Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。
41 scudded c462f8ea5bb84e37045ac6f3ce9c5bfc     
v.(尤指船、舰或云彩)笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • White clouds scudded across the sky. 白云在天空疾驰而过。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Clouds scudded across the sky driven by high winds. 劲风吹着飞云掠过天空。 来自辞典例句
42 tack Jq1yb     
n.大头钉;假缝,粗缝
参考例句:
  • He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
  • We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。
43 puffs cb3699ccb6e175dfc305ea6255d392d6     
n.吸( puff的名词复数 );(烟斗或香烟的)一吸;一缕(烟、蒸汽等);(呼吸或风的)呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧
参考例句:
  • We sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his. 我们坐在那里,轮番抽着他那支野里野气的烟斗。 来自辞典例句
  • Puffs of steam and smoke came from the engine. 一股股蒸汽和烟雾从那火车头里冒出来。 来自辞典例句
44 withholding 7eXzD6     
扣缴税款
参考例句:
  • She was accused of withholding information from the police. 她被指控对警方知情不报。
  • The judge suspected the witness was withholding information. 法官怀疑见证人在隐瞒情况。
45 acquiesced 03acb9bc789f7d2955424223e0a45f1b     
v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
  • After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说,他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
46 drooping drooping     
adj. 下垂的,无力的 动词droop的现在分词
参考例句:
  • The drooping willows are waving gently in the morning breeze. 晨风中垂柳袅袅。
  • The branches of the drooping willows were swaying lightly. 垂柳轻飘飘地摆动。
47 chattering 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:
  • The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
  • I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。
48 feverish gzsye     
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的
参考例句:
  • He is too feverish to rest.他兴奋得安静不下来。
  • They worked with feverish haste to finish the job.为了完成此事他们以狂热的速度工作着。
49 distressed du1z3y     
痛苦的
参考例句:
  • He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑,无法回答他们的问题。
  • The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
50 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
51 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地,绝对地
参考例句:
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民,把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
52 unbearable alCwB     
adj.不能容忍的;忍受不住的
参考例句:
  • It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
  • The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。
53 applied Tz2zXA     
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用
参考例句:
  • She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
  • This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
54 throng sGTy4     
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集
参考例句:
  • A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
  • The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。
55 subdued 76419335ce506a486af8913f13b8981d     
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
  • I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
56 beheld beheld     
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟
参考例句:
  • His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
57 irresistible n4CxX     
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的
参考例句:
  • The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前,势不可挡。
  • She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。
58 geniality PgSxm     
n.和蔼,诚恳;愉快
参考例句:
  • They said he is a pitiless,cold-blooded fellow,with no geniality in him.他们说他是个毫无怜悯心、一点也不和蔼的冷血动物。
  • Not a shade was there of anything save geniality and kindness.他的眼神里只显出愉快与和气,看不出一丝邪意。
59 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
60 exuberance 3hxzA     
n.丰富;繁荣
参考例句:
  • Her burst of exuberance and her brightness overwhelmed me.她勃发的热情和阳光的性格征服了我。
  • The sheer exuberance of the sculpture was exhilarating.那尊雕塑表现出的勃勃生机让人振奋。
61 cuisine Yn1yX     
n.烹调,烹饪法
参考例句:
  • This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
  • This restaurant is renowned for its cuisine.这家餐馆以其精美的饭菜而闻名。
62 rout isUye     
n.溃退,溃败;v.击溃,打垮
参考例句:
  • The enemy was put to rout all along the line.敌人已全线崩溃。
  • The people's army put all to rout wherever they went.人民军队所向披靡。
63 panorama D4wzE     
n.全景,全景画,全景摄影,全景照片[装置]
参考例句:
  • A vast panorama of the valley lay before us.山谷的广阔全景展现在我们面前。
  • A flourishing and prosperous panorama spread out before our eyes.一派欣欣向荣的景象展现在我们的眼前。
64 awakened de71059d0b3cd8a1de21151c9166f9f0     
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
参考例句:
  • She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
  • The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》
65 broiled 8xgz4L     
a.烤过的
参考例句:
  • They broiled turkey over a charcoal flame. 他们在木炭上烤火鸡。
  • The desert sun broiled the travelers in the caravan. 沙漠上空灼人的太阳把旅行队成员晒得浑身燥热。
66 query iS4xJ     
n.疑问,问号,质问;vt.询问,表示怀疑
参考例句:
  • I query very much whether it is wise to act so hastily.我真怀疑如此操之过急地行动是否明智。
  • They raised a query on his sincerity.他们对他是否真诚提出质疑。
67 frankly fsXzcf     
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说
参考例句:
  • To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
  • Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
68 spoke XryyC     
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:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
69 soothed 509169542d21da19b0b0bd232848b963     
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦
参考例句:
  • The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
  • The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
70 scouted c2ccb9e441a3696747e3f1fa2d26d0d7     
寻找,侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 ); 物色(优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等)
参考例句:
  • They scouted around for a shop that was open late. 他们四处寻找,看看还有没有夜间营业的商店。
  • They scouted around for a beauty parlour. 他们四处寻找美容院。
71 toil WJezp     
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事
参考例句:
  • The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
  • Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。
72 garb JhYxN     
n.服装,装束
参考例句:
  • He wore the garb of a general.他身着将军的制服。
  • Certain political,social,and legal forms reappear in seemingly different garb.一些政治、社会和法律的形式在表面不同的外衣下重复出现。
73 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
74 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
75 hitching 5bc21594d614739d005fcd1af2f9b984     
搭乘; (免费)搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 ); 搭便车; 攀上; 跃上
参考例句:
  • The farmer yoked the oxen before hitching them to the wagon. 农夫在将牛套上大车之前先给它们套上轭。
  • I saw an old man hitching along on his stick. 我看见一位老人拄着手杖蹒跚而行。
76 drearily a9ac978ac6fcd40e1eeeffcdb1b717a2     
沉寂地,厌倦地,可怕地
参考例句:
  • "Oh, God," thought Scarlett drearily, "that's just the trouble. "啊,上帝!" 思嘉沮丧地想,"难就难在这里呀。
  • His voice was utterly and drearily expressionless. 他的声调,阴沉沉的,干巴巴的,完全没有感情。
77 meditating hoKzDp     
a.沉思的,冥想的
参考例句:
  • They were meditating revenge. 他们在谋划进行报复。
  • The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics. 这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
78 crumpled crumpled     
adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire. 她把那封信揉成一团扔进了火里。
  • She flattened out the crumpled letter on the desk. 她在写字台上把皱巴巴的信展平。


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