He received these answers with an air of astounded2 surprise, his manner became even more earnest and excited, he began to say, “You don’t mean it!” “Well, I’ll be damned!” “Well, what do you know about that?”— as if the most astonishing revelations were being made to him. Eugene looked at him with misgiving4, because he was obviously caught in the full surge of one of his impulses and, sure enough, all at once he said with an air of complete decision: “Damned if I don’t do it! It’s the very place I’ve been looking for all along! Why, look at all you get for the money! Damnedest bargain I ever heard of! I’ve just been throwing my money away up there!”— he had been living at the Yale Club —“Damned if I don’t get me a room and move in right away!”
This sudden prospect5 of having Robert as a neighbour did not attract the other youth: he was working very hard with his classes and trying to complete a play he had begun to write, and he had no intention of becoming the companion or nurse of Robert’s drunkenness or the confessor of his fevered despair and unrest: he told him he would not like the Leopold, that the people were old and stodgy6, and the rules of propriety7 very strict. Further, he made the mistake of emphasizing the difficulty of getting a room there, although there really was no difficulty: he told him the place was a quiet family hotel, that the management wanted regular tenants8 of quiet habits who intended to live there permanently9, that the preference was given to middle-aged10 married couples, and that there were no vacancies11, anyway — that a long list of applicants12 were waiting to get in. All this merely whetted13 Robert’s eagerness: he now said that he fulfilled all the requirements save marriage, and that this deficiency would soon be remedied: he said he had completely reformed his old habits of life, and that a quieter, steadier, more sober and industrious14 man did not exist: he said he was determined15 to live there, and he demanded that Eugene take him to the manager and plead for him without delay.
When Eugene saw that he was really determined, he agreed: they went downstairs to see the manager. He came out of his office with the habitual16 defensive17 look of caution and suspicion on his sour meagre face, and listened with his usual unwilling18 and disparaging19 air, not facing them or directly looking at them, but with his small parsley face averted20 and his eyes turned downward, while Eugene praised Robert up to the skies, said he had known him all his life, that he was the scion21 of an ancient and distinguished22 family in the South, a brilliant young attorney in a New York firm, and one of the steadiest and most proper youths that ever lived. Robert also put in from time to time with his deep voice and impressive manners, and at length Mr. Gibbs began to shake his head dubiously23, to say he didn’t know, to tell how difficult it was to get admitted to the Leopold — until Eugene almost laughed in his face — but that in a case like this, because it was Eugene and he knew if he recommended a man he must be all right, and so on — he would see what he could do: he began to thumb over the pages of a meaningless ledger24, peering at it and squinting25 along his parched26 finger as it moved across the page and chattering27 and mumbling28 like a monkey: at length he straightened with an air of decision, took four or five keys from their boxes and gave them to the negro captain with instructions “to show this gentleman these rooms.” They all got into the elevator and went upstairs again with Robert and the negro: they looked at several rooms and at length, after great indecision, appeals for advice and guidance, and innumerable questions, Robert selected a room in the old annexe — a selection for which the other youth was grateful, since his own room was in the new one.
Robert moved in promptly29 the next day: they had dinner together; he was in a state of jubilant elation3. Then no more was seen or heard of him for a week; when Eugene did get news of him it was neither welcome nor reassuring30. The phone in his room rang one morning as he was dressing31: a voice from the office asked him curtly32 to see Mr. Gibbs when he came down. He went downstairs with a sense of ominous33 misgiving: Mr. Gibbs came toward him with a puckered34 and protesting face as if he had just tasted something sour and unexpected; he began to speak at once in a tone of shocked and astounded indignation: “In heaven’s name!” he rasped; “who is this man Weaver that you brought here? What kind of man is here? YOU brought him here,” he said accusingly. “YOU recommended him. We thought he was all right. We took YOUR word for it? What’s wrong with the man? Is he crazy? Is he out of his head completely?”— his face was soured and wrinkled like a persimmon, his small pinched figure trembled with excitement and indignation, he looked at the boy with an expression of horrified35 reproof36 — he was a comical sight, but the boy was in no temper at the moment to appreciate the humour of his appearance.
“What is it, Mr. Gibbs? What’s the matter? What has he done?”
“Why,” he said, trembling with anger at the very thought of it, “he tried to burn us all up last night. He came in here at three o’clock in the morning, raving37 and carrying on like a crazy man. Then he went upstairs and set his room on fire.”
“On fire!”
“Why, yes!” said Gibbs. “We had to call the fire brigade to put it out. Why, it’s a wonder any of us are left alive — all of these people sleeping in the hotel and this crazy man yelling and screaming at five o’clock this morning that the place is on fire! Why, we can’t have anything like that in this hotel,” he said with the air of one who describes the desecration38 of a temple. “We can’t have a man like that here. Why, he’ll drive the other people out, we’ll lose all our guests: people aren’t going to stay in a place with a crazy man. There’s no telling what a man like that is liable to do. Now!” he said with an air of abrupt39 and pugnacious40 decision, “he’s got to get out: I won’t have him here! I’m not going to have a man like that in my hotel a moment longer”— his small jaw41 hardened meanly, his face shrank, and his eyes narrowed, as he turned away, “and someone’s got to pay for all the damage that was done! Now, I don’t care who pays it”— his face was averted —“but it’s not going to be us! Now you can tell him,” he snapped curtly, and he left.
Eugene went upstairs at once to Robert’s room in a state of choking anger and resentment42: he felt that Robert had tricked him and taken advantage of him, that he was being held accountable for Robert’s misbehaviour, and that now his own standing43 in the hotel had been jeopardized44 and he would be forced to leave this delightful45 and charming establishment at which he had cursed and mocked so bitterly many times, but which now, in his resentful spirit, took on a peaceful and home-like glamour46 it had never had before. He walked into Robert’s room without knocking: the room was a wreck47, a negro maid was mournfully and sullenly49 gathering50 up from the floor the charred51 and blackened remnants of a pile of bed-linen and blankets; the mirror had been smashed by a drinking-glass which Robert had hurled52 at it, he said, when he saw his image reflected in it, the remnants of a chair lay on the floor, the heavy glass plate upon a writing table had been broken, there was a large brownish stain upon one of the walls where he had hurled a whisky bottle, and one end of his bed lay tilted53 on the floor where he had stamped or kicked the slats and boards to splinters. Robert was standing in the midst of all the ruin he had made, with a nervous and rueful expression on his face: when his friend came in he looked at him uneasily and laughed in a feeble and foolish manner, without conviction.
“Now, damn it, don’t stand there laughing about it, Robert,” the other said. “You may think it’s funny as hell, but it’s no joke for me. Of course,” he went on bitterly, “I’m the goat. I’m the one who’s got to suffer for it. I’m the one they hold responsible. Now you’ve just fixed54 it so that I can’t stay here in the hotel any longer: they’re going to put me out!”
“You!” Robert said, in a protesting tone. “Why, it’s not your fault. You didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“You’re damned well right, I didn’t,” he answered. “And you’re going to tell them so. Now, I was a fool once, but you won’t catch me that way again: I begged and pleaded to get you in here and you go and play a dirty trick like this. And you’re going to pay for it, too.”
“I’ll pay, I’ll pay,” Robert said hastily. “I know it was my fault. I’ll pay whatever they ask. Have they said anything to you about it?” he said nervously55. “What do they say?”
“They say you’ve got to pay for all the damage that you’ve done and get out of the hotel at once.”
“Oh, I’ll pay!” he said earnestly, and with a pleading note in his voice. “I don’t want to leave the hotel. . . . I’ll never act like that again. . . . Does Gibbs want to see me?” he said nervously.
“You can just bet your bottom dollar he does! And right now!”
“Come on!” said Robert coaxingly56. “You go with me. . . . He’ll listen to you. . . . Tell him how it was.”
“Tell him how it was! Why, he knows damn well how it was! And so do you! You were lousy and crazy-drunk, that’s how it was. . . . No, I won’t do it: I’ve been your goat long enough. You’ll have to fight it out with him for yourself. . . . And don’t you bring my name into it, either, Robert; this was a hell of a thing to do!” Eugene yelled furiously. “In God’s name, what’s got into you? Have you gone mad?”
“Ah,” he said in a brooding, sullen48 tone, “you know what it is. . . . It’s that woman. . . . It’s Martha! I can’t get her off my mind, I think about her all the time. . . . My God, Eugene, if something doesn’t happen soon, I will go crazy, sure enough.”
“Happen! What do you want to happen?”
He beat himself, suddenly and savagely57, on his breast.
“Christ knows!” he said. “Something’s got to break loose . . . here . . . here . . . here!” His eyes were shot with tears and a madness of desperation: in this baffled and infuriated gesture there was something that was really painful, tortured, and deeply moving: all at once Eugene felt sorry for him; he did not know why Robert wanted to stay at the hotel any longer; he did not know what he found there in that shabby and sterile58 life to attract or interest him, and perhaps it was nothing except a sense in him that he was disgraced, an outcast from the ranks of orderly society: he wanted to stay in order to subdue59 the fear and shame he felt, and to soothe60, in whatever way he could, his lacerated pride. Therefore Eugene resolved to help him.
“Robert,” he said, “if you really want to stay here, why don’t you go and see old Gibbs and talk to him. Tell him you’re sorry for all the trouble you made and the damage you did, and that you’re willing to pay whatever he says is fair. Then let him rave61. He’s a sour old devil and he’ll bawl62 you out, but let him rave. He enjoys it. Then tell him if he’ll let you stay, you’ll never act like this again. And if I can help out any, I’ll do it.”
He agreed to this at once, and Eugene left him and went to his own room: when he went downstairs a few minutes later on his way to his first-class, Robert was standing at the desk, submissively attentive63 to the tongue-lashing Gibbs was giving him. The little man was in a state of trembling denunciation, he squinted64 and peered at Robert’s face, and wagged an indignant finger at him; his shrewd, sour, nasal voice carried to all parts of the room, and Robert listened apologetically and sorrowfully, putting in a word of penitent65 assent66 from time to time, in a deep, respectful voice:
“I quite agree with you. . . . You are absolutely right, sir. . . . It was a terrible thing to do. . . . I’ll never do it again as long as I live . . . I’ll pay you for every bit of damage that I did”— and he took out his cheque-book and opened it upon the counter. Eugene went over and joined them: the old man was beginning to simmer down somewhat into occasional howls and blasts of fury, like a hurricane which has spent its fiercest violence and is in process of abatement67: Robert began to talk smoothly68, entreatingly69, and charmingly — he swore to a complete and abject70 repentance71, spoke72 touchingly73 and mysteriously of great storms and tragedies in his recent life which had driven him to this mad and violent explosion, and gave his solemn oath never to repeat the experience again if he was only allowed to remain in the hotel: Eugene put in a word of agreement here and there when he thought it might help — the upshot of it was that Gibbs finally began to speak to Robert in a tone of almost paternal74 affection, a kind of radiance was given off from his meagre soul, he bent75 towards Robert intimately, he even laughed — and when they departed, to their astonishment76, he even gave the repentant77 sinner a warm squeeze of the hand and a friendly pat upon the shoulder.
Within a period of three furious months Robert made trips to Colorado seven times: he got on trains and was hurled 2000 miles across the continent as casually78 as a man would make the subway trip from Times Square to Brooklyn Heights. Sometimes he would leave New York on Friday night and be back within four or five days, after spending ten hours with Martha Upshaw: sometimes he would be gone a week, and once he did not return for three. On this occasion Eugene received a telegram from him when he had been absent about five days: the message curtly bade Eugene to send all his mail to a hotel in Colorado Springs until further notice, and said he would explain on his return.
Eugene was sitting in the lobby one evening two weeks later when Robert came in. He walked with a limp and his face seemed to have undergone a curious angular distortion: he came toward Eugene with a kind of frozen grin and when he spoke to him he began to mutter something incoherent between set teeth and to point with his finger at his jaw. In a few moments, Eugene was able to decipher his jargon79 sufficiently80 to understand that his jaw and nose were broken, that most of the teeth had been extracted, in order that the jaw-bone might be wired together, and that he could not open his mouth now, either to speak or eat, because of wires that bound the fracture. In addition, his nose, which had been strong and straight, now curved sideways in a wide broken arc.
Robert was shockingly thin and wasted, he said he had bled a great deal, and had been unable to eat any solid food since his injury: it was obvious he had about reached the limit of his strength, the whole contour of his skull81 was visible, his eyes were sunken and burned with a more furious and fatal glow than ever before.
But he laughed at Eugene’s look of stupefaction when he saw him, and laughed again, morosely82 and indifferently, as he told him the cause of his injuries: he said he had been driving with Martha Upshaw the night he got to Colorado Springs, both had been to a roadhouse and were drunk and neither, to use his description of their feeling, “gave a damn.” The girl was driving, the hour was late, they had come round a curve in a mountain road at great speed, the car had left the road, plunged83 down a steep embankment, and turned over three times before it smashed up against a tree. The girl had been badly cut by broken glass and had several stitches taken in wounds on her face and head, but she broke no bones. Robert had been hurled twenty feet from the car, he was unconscious and bleeding horribly, and it had been thought at first his injuries were fatal.
But here he was, at least a vital piece of him, smashed and broken, but still fiercely living. It was obvious, however, that this final catastrophe84 had hardened his spirit in a resolute85 desperation: the suicidal fatalism — that hunger for death which all men have in them and which is perhaps as strong a driving-force in man as the hunger for life — and which had been strongly marked in Robert only when he was drunk — had now become the habit of his soul. He no longer cared whether he lived or died, in his inmost heart he had grown amorous86 of death, and it was evident that living flesh and bone could not much longer endure the cruel beating he had given it. And this fact — this shocking, visible, physical fact — as much as anything — sealed him in fatal desperation, confirmed him in his belief that everything was lost.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
weaver
|
|
| n.织布工；编织者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
astounded
|
|
| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
elation
|
|
| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
misgiving
|
|
| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
stodgy
|
|
| adj.易饱的；笨重的；滞涩的；古板的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
propriety
|
|
| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
tenants
|
|
| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
permanently
|
|
| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
middle-aged
|
|
| adj.中年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
vacancies
|
|
| n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
applicants
|
|
| 申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
whetted
|
|
| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的过去式和过去分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
industrious
|
|
| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
habitual
|
|
| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
defensive
|
|
| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
disparaging
|
|
| adj.轻蔑的，毁谤的v.轻视( disparage的现在分词 )；贬低；批评；非难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
averted
|
|
| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
scion
|
|
| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
dubiously
|
|
| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
ledger
|
|
| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
squinting
|
|
| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
parched
|
|
| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
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： |
|
|
|
|
28
mumbling
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
reassuring
|
|
| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
curtly
|
|
| adv.简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
ominous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
puckered
|
|
| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
horrified
|
|
| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
reproof
|
|
| n.斥责，责备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
raving
|
|
| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
desecration
|
|
| n. 亵渎神圣, 污辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
abrupt
|
|
| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
pugnacious
|
|
| adj.好斗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
jeopardized
|
|
| 危及，损害( jeopardize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
glamour
|
|
| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
sullenly
|
|
| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
charred
|
|
| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
coaxingly
|
|
| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
57
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
sterile
|
|
| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
subdue
|
|
| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
soothe
|
|
| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
rave
|
|
| vi.胡言乱语；热衷谈论；n.热情赞扬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
bawl
|
|
| v.大喊大叫，大声地喊，咆哮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
attentive
|
|
| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
squinted
|
|
| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
penitent
|
|
| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
abatement
|
|
| n.减(免)税，打折扣，冲销 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
smoothly
|
|
| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
entreatingly
|
|
| 哀求地，乞求地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
abject
|
|
| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
repentance
|
|
| n.懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
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： |
|
|
|
|
73
touchingly
|
|
| adv.令人同情地，感人地，动人地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
paternal
|
|
| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
repentant
|
|
| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
casually
|
|
| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
jargon
|
|
| n.术语，行话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
morosely
|
|
| adv.愁眉苦脸地，忧郁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
catastrophe
|
|
| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
resolute
|
|
| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
amorous
|
|
| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |