For days he kept up the search, made occasion to linger about Kanda-bashi, visited the places where they had been together. He even had Ishii make inquiries2, but beyond ascertaining3 that she had left her lodgings4 at Kanda, he could learn nothing. Again he went for council to Karsten. He laughed a little.
"By the gods, but you are the damndest man for losing ladies, for futile5 amours. However," he added more seriously, "it's probably as well that things have turned out as they have. The fact is that you have not the light, care-free touch to make a successful philanderer6. You're a 'one woman' man. You take your affairs of the heart seriously, and for that reason it's the more essential that you make no mistake. As I say, you're a born monogamist. It's an enviable condition; you'll be happy, serene7, content with just one woman, provided you find the right one. These affairs you have had recently count for nothing. You've been lonesome, in a susceptible8 mood. Let it[Pg 226] pass. Some day you'll run into the right one and your problem will be solved for good. And, one thing more, you're not the sort of a fellow who is cut out for a Japanese woman. Run along, go to the dances, play with Kimiko-san and the rest, but don't get involved, for their sake, for they take such matters seriously and you have no right to cause them heartache; and for your own sake as well, for you, too, take such matters seriously. Go to work and forget serious thoughts about women, Sadako-san and the rest. Heavens knows, there ought to be enough going on in Japan just now to keep a newspaperman occupied."
It was true. The atmosphere had become hectic9. The railroad strike had alarmed capitalists and bureaucrats10. The police were frantic11, and strike leaders and Socialists13, any one thought to be harboring the detested14 "dangerous thoughts," were being jailed right and left. Strikes became frequent. Those who incited15 them were put away by the police mercilessly. The method seemed successful, but soon the workers resorted instead to what they called "sabotage," grasping fondly at the foreign word, though the movement involved no violence, but consisted entirely16 in organized effort to do as little as possible; "going slow" was a more descriptive phrase for it. The men went to work as usual, went through the motions of performing their tasks, remained at their posts during the prescribed number of hours, but production fell to a minimum. Machinery17 revolved18 as busily as usual, but raw material was fed to it but sparingly; lathe19 tools moved around, back and forth20, but found no steel to shape, looms21 whirred hummingly but empty of fabric22. It was especially conspicuous23 in the case of the tramcar men, who would run a car a block or so, stop for half an hour while making pretense24 of [Pg 227]searching for some break, then progress a block or two only to halt again. Fights were staged in all the big cities between car crews and irate25 passengers. The police were helpless; there was no way of making men work quickly. The capitalists groaned26; here were the economists27 calling all the time for reduction of production cost in order that Japanese goods might meet the competition of foreign wares28, and yet their output was becoming absurdly expensive. But the workers were in high feather. Capital had closed so many factories and had discharged so many workmen in order to keep the stock of goods in the domestic market so low that prices would remain high—unable to grasp any theory except that high prices meant high profits—and now it was compelled to employ more workers in order to make up for the loss caused by the "go slow" tactics.
Labor29 leaders, Socialists, Communists, Syndicalists, and all the worshipers of half-understood 'isms found fine fishing in troubled waters, certain of responsive audiences wherever they might find places in which to shout their lurid30, variegated31 doctrines32. The police were ubiquitous. By scores, even hundreds, they would attend meetings, breaking them up and jailing leaders whenever occasion offered. The Seiyukai party hired bands of soshi, professional ruffians, to raise disturbances33 at these gatherings34, and free fights and broken heads became commonplace. Still, the various movements gathered force, came together in common interest as streamlets flow together and form a river. The many feeble unions joined hands, formed federations35. Where heretofore strikes had been mainly isolated37, men in this shop or factory striking solely38 in the interests of their own purely39 personal concerns, demanding discharge of unpopular foremen, shorter hours, higher pay, they now amalgamated40 and struck[Pg 228] together, the entire body of workers of one industry, striking in sympathy with other unions. The dockyard workers went out because the employers would not pay a full year's salary to discharged workmen; the seamen41 threatened to follow suit unless the demand were granted, and the employers gave in. Capital became frightened, tried to stave off the evil day by paying ever greater allowances, hoping desperately42 to soothe43 the clamor by doles44 of money; but the situation had gone beyond this. The day of the old feudal45 relation between master and workman, the personal touch of a feeling of common interest, had passed. As if born over-night, class consciousness loomed46 forth, overshadowed the entire situation. Demands for higher pay, shorter hours, became subordinated, fell into the background; now the cry was for a share by the workmen in control of industries, abolition47 of capitalism48.
It became almost impossible to segregate49 fact from fiction. One could not know what might have happened. It was impracticable to depend on the reports of the press; one knew that the most important news was not allowed to see the light of day. Kent tried to get what he could from original sources. What was capital thinking of all this; what was it doing about it? He sought bankers and industrial leaders. They all professed50 that there was no cause for great worry, brought forth sheafs of statistics compiled by various government offices and capital-labor harmony societies, trying to console themselves with patently absurd figures proving that there was no unemployment, that more men were given work than lost employment, that all was serene. Ostrich-like they buried their heads in the convenient mess of figures, insistent51 on not seeing the truth.
"It's only a phase of the depression which we are[Pg 229] passing through just like other countries," they insisted. "Things are no worse here than they were in America and Europe a few decades ago when your workmen were in a similar condition. Remember, we have in a few years almost caught up industrially with the countries which were several centuries ahead of us. Give us a few years more and conditions here will be the same. Anyway, the situation here is not as bad as in the United States and England, for example. Our strikes are insignificant52 in comparison. We have never had business held up for weeks and months by nation-wide strikes. In New York and Chicago you have daylight bank robberies and hold-ups. In Japan a man may walk safely anywhere with a roll of bank notes in his hand, even in the poorest quarters. And the industrial workers are too few in proportion to the total of population to count for much; only they make lots of noise. The bulk of the people is agricultural. There's nothing very much to worry about."
He pointed53 out that danger lay in the fact that the agricultural population also had become infected with resentment54 against capital. Thousands of unions of tenant55 farmers, who constitute half of the agriculturists, had been formed and clamored against the exactions of rapacious56 landlords. Some of them had made united demands for rent reduction, had refused to till the soil when such were not granted, and had proclaimed that if other tenants57 were brought in to cultivate the land, these men would be ostracized58; so the fields now lay idle. What about the formation of the gigantic federation36 of farmers' unions and its great convention in Kobe? What about the report that soldiers who had served their term in the army in Siberia were sowing the seeds of Bolshevism throughout the peasantry? Did not that show that the farmers[Pg 230] were likely to make common cause with the industrial workers?
But they remained stubbornly sanguine59 here also. This, too, was only a phase. A general of the Siberian expedition had said that this Bolshevism was only on the surface, like face powder, which would speedily wash off. So that was that, so to speak. Presently there would be a big rice crop; there were all indications of a bumper60 yield, and then the farmers would be happy again, and quiet. Anyway, capital was doing what it could. A horde61 of scholars and statisticians was studying the situation, and obviously it would be unwise to move in the dark, until these experts had reported. And the Government had appointed a commission for studying the problem of universal suffrage62, which would report some day. It was a grave question whether the masses were ripe for the vote. It would not do to be over-hasty.
The task of obtaining reliable data with respect to the other side of the situation was equally baffling. A woman Socialist12 had sprung into fame through her articles in various magazines advocating the cause of the masses; partly, also, from the fact that her husband, a university professor, had been placed in jail. Kent went to see her in her small house crammed63 from floor to ceiling with books and pamphlets, the inevitable64 Karl Marx tomes looming65 forth with glorious prominence66. She hailed him with joy, chanted a tirade67 of almost unbelievable accusations68; the capitalists were holding the workers—men, women, and even children—in slavery. Many of them were kept far underground in mines and were not allowed to see light of day for months; they tried purposely to kill them by means of unwholesome food and unsanitary quarters in order to prevent them from going back to the country districts and spreading the cause of[Pg 231] Socialism. It was easy to get young men and girls to replace them, owing to the general unemployment. But he wanted something more definite, data, figures. Certainly, he should have them. She would send him such in a few days. She sent him a vast bundle of papers, a mass of laboriously69 contrived70 compilations71 of figures, going back into the early days of Japanese industrialism, showing by minutely detailed72 statistics that one-half of the factory work women died from consumption within two years of employment in the great textile mills. It seemed almost incredible, and as he went into the matter he found that figures had been given for periods before the time when vital statistics of any kind had been kept by the Government or any one else; still closer examination showed that the tables did not check, were wildly contradictory73 in many cases. Evidently the author had drawn74 her data, enthusiastically, from her inner consciousness. He went back to her, told her that her information must be more consistent, more reliable. She tore the bundle from his hands. A few days later one of the vernacular75 papers published a lurid account from her, mentioning him by name as a capitalist spy who had been frustrated76 by the famous lady Socialist.
He called on Ikeda, the head of the federation of labor, a rotund, pleasant-faced man with humorous eyes beaming from behind great round spectacles. "Yes, it is getting worse all the time," said the leader. "Of course, all this helps to bring the unions together, but it is difficult to keep them in hand. We all want abolition of capitalism, but while some of us want it accomplished77 peacefully, by evolution, many of the workers, most of the smaller unions especially, want nothing short of revolution. They are Sovietists, Communists, Syndicalists, Anarchists78, all kinds. They are getting more and more out of hand."
[Pg 232]
"Would universal suffrage content them any?" asked Kent. "I should think if you centered on the suffrage movement, gave them that to think about, you might maintain control. Anyway, it seems to me that labor must remain powerless as long as it is voiceless and has no control in the government. I take it that you people will back up the universal suffrage agitation79 at the next session of the Diet?"
The eyes behind the great lenses became serious. "No, we're going to leave it alone. In fact, we dare not take it up. The workmen look upon that as futile, a mere80 sop81, a process that's altogether too slow to suit them. We're afraid that if we took up suffrage as an organized movement, the unions would get out of hand; it would set them thinking of more revolutionary measures; they would insist on them and would sweep aside us who are trying to lead them along a constructive82 line of action. Anyway, the masses are hardly ripe for suffrage yet. They must be educated first; that's what we are trying to do now, to educate them."
So here, too, was temporizing83. Labor leaders, like capitalist leaders, were trying to play for time, to avoid facing the music, while the steam in the kettle kept becoming denser84 and stronger, with ever more insistent force striving against the walls of repression85. But how much was there really behind all this clamor of labor? He came to wonder to what extent these complaints were justified86. It was true, what the capitalists said, that conditions in Japan were no worse, or not much worse, than they had been in America and Europe not so many decades ago. Of course, the unrest was due to the fact that workers and farmers, heretofore satisfied with feudal conditions not knowing that they could be otherwise, had suddenly been shown by the Socialists, the soldiers coming back from[Pg 233] Siberia, the radical87 press, that workmen in other countries lived in what seemed to frugal88 Japanese eyes the luxury of millionaires, and now they wanted similar privileges, yes, rights. But capital was right in its contention89 that workers who could individually bring forth only one-fifth the result produced by the white workmen could be paid wages only in proportion to their output capacity—otherwise Japanese production cost would rise to the point where Japanese goods would be helpless in world competition and industry must cease. The point seemed to be whether capital was holding down labor to unduly90 harsh conditions.
He took to rambling91 about in the poorer quarters of Tokyo, but could learn but little. The houses were frail92, of thin boards and paper, but so were those of the wealthier classes; it was the form of construction adopted by a hardy93 people. Even if these buildings were dirtier, dingier94, the population showed no sign of abject95 poverty, of misery96. Children played merrily in the streets; men and women moved about or sat chatting in the open stores. A Japanese might have learned something, might have penetrated97 more intimately into their lives, might have entered their dwellings98, have drawn from them their confidential99 thoughts, but as a foreigner he felt himself baffled by an invisible veil of reserve. They were courteous100, friendly, but impenetrable. Only occasionally might he detect a hostile, wondering glance—what might this foreigner be doing in such places—or he might hear childish voices behind his back uplifted in song to the effect that the foreigner's father was a cat. One night a couple of fellows mellowed101 by sake wanted to take him to their bosom102, tried to embrace him, overcome by all-enfolding love of mankind generally, insisted on his joining them in their festive103 circumambulations. It was annoying. They were harder to deal with than[Pg 234] if they had been unpleasant. He was trying to hold them off, irritated at the laughing crowd that had gathered, to escape, in some way. Suddenly the ranks of the onlookers104 parted and a Japanese in foreign clothes strode through, a middle-aged105 man, muscular, authoritative106. "Here, you fellows, run along; can't you see that this foreigner wishes to pass?" The men stood back shamefacedly, murmured some apology. "All right, now run along." He cleared a way through the crowd. "They mean well enough," he explained to Kent, "but probably you had better let me go with you for a moment."
"Oh, I'm all right. Still, I want to thank you for your help." He began to explain why he had come; it was only due this unknown rescuer, and then the man had spoken in English, and evidently held some authority that the people here recognized. Who might he be, anyway?
"So you come to see poverty," the man laughed. "Well, if you really want to see it, the real thing, I think you may find no better man to guide you. That's my specialty108, you see." He went on to explain. He was an official, it appeared, had charge of a government home for unemployed109, where men might sleep for fifteen sen a night and board for forty sen a day. "But there are too few of these places," he complained. "We can take care of less than one tenth of the thousands who need it. There are no free sleeping places, no free food. The Capital-Harmony Society has provided a few reading rooms, playgrounds and all that; every now and then some rich man gives a small park; but they all give a few hundred thousands where they ought to be giving in millions. They can't see that if they don't give now, freely, these people will come some day and take it from them by force. If you care to come along, I'll show you how these people live."
[Pg 235]
He led Kent through a maze110 of narrow alleys111, into the Fukagawa quarter, through dark lanes illumined only by faint light from open doorways112. They must walk warily113 over rotten boards covering the slimy gutters114 which served as sewers115, to avoid the deepest of the universal mud. Presently they came to a collection of buildings more squalid than the rest,—long, barn-like houses of filthy116, rotting wood.
"Here you are," said the guide. "These are the 'Nagaya Tunnels'; they are famous for being the worst place in the city."
They entered. Through the length of the building ran a narrow passage, faced on both sides by cubicles117 of three mats each, spaces of six by nine feet, each housing a family, several adults and swarms118 of children. In the passageway all cooking and washing was done. It was cluttered119 with hibachi, firewood, cooking utensils120, buckets for water brought from a pump outside, heterogeneous121 implements122. Women were busy cooking, and acrid123 smoke ascended124 idly against the roof, escaping through a large hole and numerous cracks and crevices125. As they passed down this corridor they could look into the minute rooms, packed with goods, ragged126 futon, tattered127 clothing, poor belongings128 of every kind, leaving only a scant129 space in the middle where humans sat huddled130 together or lay asleep. Some of the rooms, particularly those where a few men maintained slovenly131 bachelor housekeeping, were ill-kept, with paper hanging in streamers from broken shoji ribs132, and goods scattered133 about haphazardly134. Others formed striking contrast with desperate attempts at cleanliness, where woman hands had tried pathetically to create some kind of home atmosphere in the box-like spaces allotted135 them in this turmoil136 of poverty. Kent caught a glimpse of a family seated about a low Japanese table, father, mother and a couple[Pg 236] of children, sitting decorously, with the same display of graceful137 manners as might be seen in the abodes138 of the rich, daintily picking with their chopsticks fish and vegetables from cheap earthenware139. A tiny glass globe with a couple of goldfish was suspended from the window frame. The little tableau140 was like a ray of light in the mass of grime and poverty all about it, a pitiable insistence141 on maintenance of the spirit of family life, of decency142 despite the squalor hemming143 it in on all sides.
As they fumbled144 on, some of the inhabitants recognized the guide, crowded up to him with tales of their troubles. These were men only; the women eyed them curiously145, dully, but remained apathetic146. From the shadows unkempt wretches147 emerged. An old fellow with only one eye insisted on removing his bandage. He had lost his eye in an accident while working for the municipal electric light works; but they had given him nothing. Now, he had been trying to peddle148 small fish, but they had stopped him because he had no license149. Where could he get money for a license? He had nothing to eat; others could find no employment. They wanted assistance, money, jobs.
But, oddly, try as he might, Kent could not draw even from the all-surrounding evidences of abject poverty an impression of suffering, of heart-rending misery. It was revolting that here several hundreds of humans were forced to find shelter in these miserable150 hovels, collections of rotten wood worth probably less than a thousand yen151 as kindling152 and fit for nothing else. But while presence of Americans or Europeans in such quarters would have caused him indignation, intense sympathy, here these people, inured153 to hardship by generation after generation of Spartan154 frugality155, possessed156 a happy faculty157 of making the best of these wretched circumstances, of accepting them stoically.[Pg 237] Mingled158 with the complaints, the stories of distress159, had been laughter of children, the glimpse of the family at table, triumphantly160 wringing161 content from even such mean material. He was annoyed that he should feel like this, essentially162 unsympathetic, unable to register the distress which the plight163 of these people should produce; but the fact was that there seemed to be no anguish164, no grinding, torturing grief.
He mentioned it to his companion. "It seems strange to me; here is poverty, and squalor and even want, and yet most of these people do not seem to be altogether unhappy; some even seem fairly well satisfied."
"Yes, that's true, but, as a matter of fact, you've come at the wrong time. Yesterday was the first of the month, and those of them who had jobs got their pay, and even those without jobs benefit from that. Those who have money share with the rest. But you ought to have been here last month, during the rains. I was down here trying to help, and the water came up to my armpits, tide and rain water mixed. The whole district was flooded, and the houses. In the single-story ones like the Tunnels the water stood several feet over the floors and the people had to construct makeshift shelves for themselves and their belongings. There they sat for several days, wet, hungry, cold. I've heard the cry of little children for food and their mothers trying to hush165 them, explaining that the father could not work during the flood. And that sort of thing is not unusual; it happens several times a year, as often as half a dozen times, whenever there is a heavy rain. This entire quarter is not fit for human habitation, but the factories have been built here because the location is convenient and the land comparatively cheap; and the workers must live near the factories. The whole district should be filled, but these[Pg 238] people have no voice in the government. Only the rich can vote for city councilmen, and the government funds are spent for the benefit of the rich, in wide avenues in the fine residence districts, by hundreds of thousands for celebrations—but there is no money for rescuing the poor from the floods.
"And do you know that the odd thing is that it's these very same poor people who are carrying the burden of maintaining the city. Tokyo collects less than four million yen a year from land and house taxes, and yet she is the sixth largest city in the world. The revenue is collected by indirect taxation166, by the huge profits of the car system, by the imposts and stamp duties and licenses167 for every conceivable thing. The proportion of business tax paid by the magnates is infinitesimally small when compared with that wrung168 from the peddlers and small shopkeepers. So you see, the poor wretches who must cling to their walls like bats while the flood waters sweep over their floors, are at the same time paying for the boulevards and improving the property whose owners contribute almost nothing. Until a few years ago they did not think of that; they didn't know that things could be different. But now they're being taught, and they're beginning to figure things out. This is the kind of a place that breeds 'dangerous thoughts,' and, I tell you, when I am down here during flood time, I come pretty close to having 'dangerous thoughts' myself."
A few days later Kent was telling of this experience to a group of friends, Japanese and foreign, chance-met at the Imperial Hotel bar. "It's damnable. Of course, in every country we have rich rolling in luxury and poor ones groaning169 in misery, but in no place is the gulf170 between the classes so great, and nowhere else are the plutocrats so utterly171 unfeeling, so heartless; in no place are the poor ground so hard to make[Pg 239] such absurdly high profits, your sixty and seventy per cent. dividends172, your constant subsidies173 to giant companies and industries, your tariffs174 for protection of profiteers. I tell you, when I was mucking about down there in Fukagawa and heard of what it was like during the rains, and what it will continue to be like, I felt that I should like to meet these people, the Watanabes, the Inouyes, the Yamanakas, the Oharas, the lady with the blood-dyed silken shift of the song, you know, and I should like to kick the whole damned outfit175, yes, the lady, too, by the gods."
"Look out, Kent, you're getting 'dangerous thoughts.'" They laughed and dismissed the subject, but one of them, Hata, leaned across the table to Kent.
"You know, Kent-san, I don't think you'd want to kick them at all, if you met them. In fact, you'd like them. I'll bet you a tiffin on it."
"All right, you're on," he replied thoughtlessly. The others had taken up the question of the Chinese demand for the return of the Liaotung peninsula, and he was interested.
A few days later Hata appeared at his office. "I have an invitation for you, you and your friend, Mr. Karsten, to have luncheon176 with Baron177 and Baroness178 Ohara, almost any day that would suit you. Would next Friday do? You know," he had noted179 the surprise on Kent's face, "you said you'd like to meet them."
Could ever such an absurd situation occur outside of Japan? How the devil could he accept the hospitality of people whom he had said he would like to kick, the Baroness at that? And still he was greatly tempted180 to grasp this opportunity to see at first hand, in their intimate home surroundings, these people, these heartless plutocrats who ground down the poor that they might amass181 wealth in a measure far greater[Pg 240] than they could possibly use by even the most extravagant182 luxury. He hesitated.
"Did you by any chance say anything to the Oharas about my desire to kick them, Hata-san? Of course, you see that——"
"No, of course, not," he interrupted eagerly. "You know, I'm fairly close to Baron Ohara, and I really wanted you to meet him and the Baroness. They are charming people; you'll revise your opinion. I've told them of your investigation183 of the conditions of the poor in Tokyo, and they are much interested and really want you to tell them about it all. Anyway, do you think it would be fair for you to see only one side and then condemn184 the other? How about Friday?"
Kent accepted. What an odd proposition. Of course, Hata was right enough; he must seek both sides before passing judgment185; but what the devil interest might Hata have in this? He did not know much about him, a suave186, frock-coated gentleman, highly intelligent, fluent in English and French, ubiquitous in all places where Japanese and foreigners intermingled. He was known to be more or less definitely connected with the big interests—some even claimed that he was obscurely identified with the Foreign Office—but he was clever, an excellent companion, always ready to be of service in giving information or obtaining it for the foreigners. They accepted him as a sort of unofficial liaison187 officer maintained by the Japanese for the purpose of keeping them informed as to what the foreigners thought; also, in some measure, to elucidate188 the Japanese point of view. He was a bit of a mystery, but a pleasant one.
On the appointed day Hata came to escort them in one of the Baron's automobiles190. "Here we are; this is the place," he pointed with almost proprietary191 pride to a long brick wall rising well above the height of a[Pg 241] tall man's head, hiding from view whatever might be enclosed within. "How do you like that gate?" Liveried commissionaires held open the massive iron-grille work, flanked on each side by tower-like buttresses192. "The Baron had it brought from France; it's an exact copy of that of some château somewhere there."
"Frankly193, I'd rather have seen in its place one of those great wooden, brass-studded gates of old Japan," said Karsten. "Wouldn't you, Kent?" But Kent did not answer. He recalled a picture he had seen in the Japanese papers, some months ago, of this very gate, closed, with a score of women clamoring, gesticulating through its ornate bars, workers who had vainly tried to bring their complaints direct to the owner of the factories in which they were employed. Eventually they had been hustled194 away by the police.
The automobile189 swept round a miniature mountain cleverly built up from carefully placed rocks. Trees had been planted amongst them; vines sprang from the interstices; skillful hands had laboriously contrived to reproduce a picture of untouched, untrammeled nature, an atmosphere of the free and restful mountainous country that made it difficult to realize that the grimy tangles195 of the city were but a hundred yards behind.
More liveried servants met them at the door of the mansion196, a large modern thing, but well planned, with the quiet air of great wealth which disdainfully avoided garishness198. The Baron met them in the hall, a young man—Kent judged him to be about thirty-five—slim, seeming tall with his trim athletic199 figure, almost like some young French aristocrat200 as is a type which recent years has brought forth among the wealthy classes of Japan. He was graceful, pleasantly placing them at ease. Harvard, then Cambridge, had[Pg 242] obliterated201 the stamp of race; it did not enter one's thought; one felt exactly as if he might have been a young Frenchman, Italian, Spaniard. He led them into an immense living room, high-ceilinged, with French windows giving on to an Italian garden which had been laid out behind the house. This also was entirely modern, with the same atmosphere of wealth carefully restrained by unfailing taste, excellently chosen furnishings, each thing of value and elegance202, but harmonious203, with an air of comfort, of a delightful204 living place. Possibly a hint of excess, over-crowding, might be conveyed by the superabundance of paintings which covered the walls everywhere. At first glance the display seemed too lavish205, garish197 even, but this soon wore away as one came to look more closely, appreciating the beauty of each individual piece. Here was a gallery of modern art with here and there an almost priceless thing by some old master, and one sensed that this profusion206 was due, not merely to a desire for display, but to a genuine affection for these pictures, a real wish to have them ever before the eye.
Karsten became enthusiastic immediately, could not keep away from the paintings. In a moment he and the Baron had become as if they were old friends, passing from one thing to the other, appraising207, commenting, sharing enthusiasm. Even Kent became absorbed. A discreet clearing of the throat from Hata recalled them. "Baroness Ohara."
In this atmosphere of modern Europe she seemed almost out of place as she came up slowly, with tripping gait in her soft zori, absolutely Japanese in her garb208 of soft, neutral-hued kimono silks and great obi band; only the coiffure showed some concession209 to the modern, the hair, free from the oil of conventional hairdressing, being arranged in its natural softness[Pg 243] into a wavy210 crown hiding part of the forehead and protruding211 over the ears.
The Baron made the introductions and she bowed deeply, gravely, extending her welcome to the guests in the polished refinement212 of Japanese phrase.
"It's a good thing you speak Japanese," commented the Baron to Karsten and Kent. "My wife speaks only Japanese. She has never been abroad." So for a moment the commonplaces were exchanged in Japanese, but soon he and Karsten were back at the pictures again. Two other guests, Japanese, joined them. One of these spoke107 French as his only foreign language. The conversation became polyglot213, as they conversed214 in English or French about the pictures, or in Japanese with the Baroness. Kent was asked to take her in to luncheon.
At table, also, everything was in European style. It was with difficulty that Kent could compel himself to realize that here he was really in Japan; he could succeed only by glancing at the pretty, dainty figure at his side, listening to her soft, melodious215 Japanese. At the beginning the talk concerned itself about the poor quarters. Kent tried to describe what he had seen. They were all interested, receptive; but somehow he felt that he was not speaking well, that he was failing entirely to convey the picture, the sensations which he had felt; he could not drive himself into the vein216 in these surroundings. He tried to conjure217 before his mind the miserable realities of the "Tunnels," to revive the sense of indignation caused by contrast of the misery there and the luxury here, at the unfeelingness of these plutocrats whose most trifling218 bit of ornament219 was worth many times the value of the Tunnel shacks220 and all they contained. But he could not make himself despise these people, or hate them. He caught a glance from Hata. Was he thinking of his expressed[Pg 244] wish to kick them, this graceful, petite incarnation of charm who was sitting right next to him, eyes wide with interest as if he were telling of matters of a distant country, things which were far from her, which had not the least direct concern with her. The thought confused him. He felt with irritation221 that his talk was unconvincing, featureless, lame222. He was glad when the interest of Karsten in the pictures brought the main drift of the conversation to that subject. The talk became general, the Baron and Karsten leading. When they left the table, they returned to examination of the pictures, followed them down along the walls, Karsten and the Japanese, into the hallway beyond. Presently Kent found himself alone with the Baroness.
"Tell me some more about these poor people," she asked. "You know, they came here once, a lot of poor women, and wanted to talk to my husband. But he was not here. I crept outside and hid in the shrubbery so I could watch them. They were standing223 there by the gate and stretching their arms in through the iron grilles. I felt so sorry for them. I wanted to go and talk to them, to have them come in here and talk to me; but I was afraid. I know nothing about business. They might not have liked it, the men in charge of the business. I was afraid of them, these grave, old men who are in charge of the factories and the mines and all that. I was more afraid of them than of my husband. He knows so little of the business, too, you know."
So this was the lady whose silken shift was dyed crimson224 with blood from working girls' fingers. He wondered if she knew the song; probably not; she lived as if she were thousands of miles removed from the grim sordidness225 whence was evolved almost miraculously226 all this wealth of beauty and art. But[Pg 245] as he began to tell her about it, it seemed so futile, so incongruous, like trying to contaminate the frail fairness of a hothouse orchid227 with thought of the grimy coal mines which furnished fuel for the heat which gave it life. He could understand how it was possible for these people, the plutocrats, to be innocent of realization228 of the meanness of the sources of their wealth. Again he wanted to get away from the subject.
"This is a wonderful garden," he stepped up to a window. "I admire the artistry with which it has been fashioned. Here you can see but a bit of Italy. You would never know that Tokyo is right beyond."
"I'm so glad you like it. That is my great interest, the gardens," she was quite radiant. "And beyond that, below the terrace, we have a typical Japanese garden, just like real, old Japan. You must see it some time. I'm often quite lonesome, you know. Some day, when you are not too busy, you must come and have tea with me, and I will show you all the gardens."
She went on, telling of the plans for an artificial waterfall, run by an invisible electric pump, which she was having constructed; about the chrysanthemums229 which she was nurturing230 carefully for exhibition at the great November show at Hibiya. He enjoyed her, just like that, with her natural, ingenuous231 concern with beauty of flowers, the congruous interest of a gentlewoman of Japan. And as she went on, with bright eyes and soft voice, and the picture flashed into his mind of the women, hard-voiced, stridently storming at the gate, the conviction came to him that should this occur while he was here, were they to come this moment, he would do what he could to keep this dainty, pure, flower-like little woman away, removed from the grim realities which must not be suffered to enter disturbingly into the serenity232 of her existence.
"Well, you didn't kick the Baroness while we weren't looking, did you?" chaffed Karsten, as they were on their way home.
"Oh, shut up, Karsten," it irritated gratingly. "I know well enough when I've made a fool of myself. You needn't rub it in." They went on a while in silence. "Still, you know, Karsten, I can't help feeling that I might have made better use of my opportunity to do something for those poor devils out in Fukagawa. I feel sure that had I been able to be more convincing, to make them feel as I felt when I was there, as I feel now, as a matter of fact, I might have contrived to do something to help. These people, the Oharas, are decent enough, kind enough, would surely give gladly from their wealth. Here they spend on a picture more than a hundred of what those poor devils earn in a year. It isn't right. Of course, it's because they don't know; but they should know, at least Ohara should. It's an obligation of wealth; only he doesn't think of it."
"But he does, in a fashion, at least," Karsten interrupted him. "He was talking to me about it, out there in the hall. He wants to do something; he would like to give, but he doesn't know how to go about it. He tells me that he has spoken to his directors, but they tell him that he must not interfere233 with business, that his ill-advised attempts would do more harm than good, and the constant attempts at blackmail234 to which he is exposed, like the rest of the millionaires, do not particularly encourage him to inject himself into the whirl of business. And, you know, if I were in his place, I think I should do exactly as he does, spend my time collecting pictures, building gardens, adding to the beauty of the city, with shooting and golf as side issues. I should be content, as he is, to leave my business in the hands of those who have far better[Pg 247] qualifications to conduct it, technical training and all that. Anyway, Ohara has the satisfaction of knowing that his concerns are leading the way for improvement. You know, some of them are spoken of as 'model' factories."
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1
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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philanderer
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| n.爱和女人调情的男人，玩弄女性的男人 | |
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7
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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8
susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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10
bureaucrats
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| n.官僚( bureaucrat的名词复数 )；官僚主义；官僚主义者；官僚语言 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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socialist
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| n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的 | |
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13
socialists
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| 社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 ) | |
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14
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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lathe
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| n.车床，陶器，镟床 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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looms
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| n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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27
economists
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| n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 ) | |
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wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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30
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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variegated
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| adj.斑驳的，杂色的 | |
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32
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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33
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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35
federations
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| n.联邦( federation的名词复数 )；同盟；联盟；联合会 | |
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federation
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| n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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40
amalgamated
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| v.（使）（金属）汞齐化( amalgamate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）合并；联合；结合 | |
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41
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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42
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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43
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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44
doles
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| 救济物( dole的名词复数 )； 失业救济金 | |
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45
feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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46
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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abolition
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| n.废除，取消 | |
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48
capitalism
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| n.资本主义 | |
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49
segregate
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| adj.分离的，被隔离的；vt.使分离，使隔离 | |
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50
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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51
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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52
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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53
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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54
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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55
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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56
rapacious
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| adj.贪婪的，强夺的 | |
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57
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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58
ostracized
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| v.放逐( ostracize的过去式和过去分词 )；流放；摈弃；排斥 | |
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59
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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60
bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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62
suffrage
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| n.投票，选举权，参政权 | |
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63
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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64
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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65
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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66
prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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67
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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68
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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69
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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70
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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71
compilations
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| n.编辑，编写( compilation的名词复数 )；编辑物 | |
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72
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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73
contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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74
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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75
vernacular
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| adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名 | |
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76
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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77
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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anarchists
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| 无政府主义者( anarchist的名词复数 ) | |
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79
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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80
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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81
sop
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| n.湿透的东西，懦夫；v.浸，泡，浸湿 | |
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82
constructive
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| adj.建设的，建设性的 | |
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83
temporizing
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| v.敷衍( temporize的现在分词 )；拖延；顺应时势；暂时同意 | |
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84
denser
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| adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的 | |
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85
repression
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| n.镇压，抑制，抑压 | |
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86
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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87
radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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88
frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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89
contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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91
rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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92
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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dingier
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| adj.暗淡的，乏味的( dingy的比较级 )；肮脏的 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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97
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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98
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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101
mellowed
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| （使）成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 )； 使色彩更加柔和，使酒更加醇香 | |
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102
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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103
festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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104
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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105
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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106
authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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107
spoke
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| 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 | |
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108
specialty
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| n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长 | |
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109
unemployed
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| adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的 | |
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110
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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111
alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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112
doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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113
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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114
gutters
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| （路边）排水沟( gutter的名词复数 )； 阴沟； （屋顶的）天沟； 贫贱的境地 | |
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115
sewers
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| n.阴沟，污水管，下水道( sewer的名词复数 ) | |
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116
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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117
cubicles
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| n.小卧室，斗室( cubicle的名词复数 ) | |
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118
swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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119
cluttered
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| v.杂物，零乱的东西零乱vt.( clutter的过去式和过去分词 )；乱糟糟地堆满，把…弄得很乱；（以…） 塞满… | |
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120
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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121
heterogeneous
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| adj.庞杂的；异类的 | |
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122
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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123
acrid
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| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
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124
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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126
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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127
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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128
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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129
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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130
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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131
slovenly
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| adj.懒散的，不整齐的，邋遢的 | |
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132
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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133
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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134
haphazardly
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| adv.偶然地，随意地，杂乱地 | |
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135
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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136
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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137
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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138
abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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139
earthenware
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| n.土器，陶器 | |
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140
tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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141
insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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142
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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143
hemming
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| 卷边 | |
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144
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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145
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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146
apathetic
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| adj.冷漠的，无动于衷的 | |
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147
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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148
peddle
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| vt.(沿街)叫卖，兜售；宣传，散播 | |
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149
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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150
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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151
yen
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| n. 日元；热望 | |
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152
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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153
inured
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| adj.坚强的，习惯的 | |
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154
spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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155
frugality
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| n.节约，节俭 | |
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156
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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157
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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158
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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159
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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160
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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161
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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162
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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163
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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164
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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165
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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166
taxation
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| n.征税，税收，税金 | |
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167
licenses
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| n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 ) | |
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168
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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169
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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170
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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171
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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172
dividends
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| 红利( dividend的名词复数 )； 股息； 被除数； （足球彩票的）彩金 | |
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173
subsidies
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| n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 ) | |
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174
tariffs
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| 关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准 | |
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175
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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176
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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177
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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178
baroness
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| n.男爵夫人，女男爵 | |
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179
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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180
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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181
amass
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| vt.积累，积聚 | |
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182
extravagant
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|
| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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183
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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184
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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185
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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186
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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187
liaison
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| n.联系，（未婚男女间的）暖昧关系，私通 | |
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188
elucidate
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| v.阐明，说明 | |
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189
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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190
automobiles
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| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
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191
proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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192
buttresses
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| n.扶壁，扶垛( buttress的名词复数 )v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的第三人称单数 ) | |
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193
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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194
hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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195
tangles
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| （使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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196
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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197
garish
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| adj.华丽而俗气的，华而不实的 | |
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198
garishness
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| n.鲜艳夺目，炫耀 | |
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199
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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200
aristocrat
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| n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物 | |
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201
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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202
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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203
harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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204
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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205
lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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206
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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207
appraising
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| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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208
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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209
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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210
wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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211
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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212
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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213
polyglot
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| adj.通晓数种语言的；n.通晓多种语言的人 | |
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214
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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215
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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216
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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217
conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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218
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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219
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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220
shacks
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| n.窝棚，简陋的小屋( shack的名词复数 ) | |
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221
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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222
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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223
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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224
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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225
sordidness
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| n.肮脏；污秽；卑鄙；可耻 | |
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226
miraculously
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| ad.奇迹般地 | |
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227
orchid
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| n.兰花，淡紫色 | |
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228
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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229
chrysanthemums
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| n.菊花( chrysanthemum的名词复数 ) | |
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230
nurturing
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| 养育( nurture的现在分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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231
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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232
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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233
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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234
blackmail
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| n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓 | |
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235
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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