The effect of this particular conclusion was to cause Clyde to think harder than ever about himself. And theprincipal result of his thinking was that he must do something for himself and soon. Up to this time the best hehad been able to do was to work at such odd jobs as befall all boys between their twelfth and fifteenth years:
assisting a man who had a paper route during the summer months of one year, working in the basement of a fiveand-ten-cent store all one summer long, and on Saturdays, for a period during the winter, opening boxes andunpacking goods, for which he received the munificent1 sum of five dollars a week, a sum which at the timeseemed almost a fortune. He felt himself rich and, in the face of the opposition2 of his parents, who were opposedto the theater and motion pictures also, as being not only worldly, but sinful, he could occasionally go to one oranother of those--in the gallery--a form of diversion which he had to conceal3 from his parents. Yet that did notdeter him. He felt that he had a right to go with his own money; also to take his younger brother Frank, who wasglad enough to go with him and say nothing.
Later in the same year, wishing to get out of school because he already felt himself very much belated in therace, he secured a place as an assistant to a soda4 water clerk in one of the cheaper drug stores of the city, whichadjoined a theater and enjoyed not a little patronage5 of this sort. A sign--"Boy Wanted"--since it was directly onhis way to school, first interested him. Later, in conversation with the young man whose assistant he was to be,and from whom he was to learn the trade, assuming that he was sufficiently6 willing and facile, he gathered that ifhe mastered this art, he might make as much as fifteen and even eighteen dollars a week. It was rumored7 thatStroud's at the corner of 14th and Baltimore streets paid that much to two of their clerks. The particular store towhich he was applying paid only twelve, the standard salary of most places.
But to acquire this art, as he was now informed, required time and the friendly help of an expert. If he wished tocome here and work for five to begin with--well, six, then, since his face fell--he might soon expect to know agreat deal about the art of mixing sweet drinks and decorating a large variety of ice creams with liquid sweets,thus turning them into sundaes. For the time being apprenticeship8 meant washing and polishing all the machineryand implements9 of this particular counter, to say nothing of opening and sweeping10 out the store at so early anhour as seven-thirty, dusting, and delivering such orders as the owner of this drug store chose to send out by him.
At such idle moments as his immediate11 superior--a Mr. Sieberling--twenty, dashing, self-confident, talkative,was too busy to fill all the orders, he might be called upon to mix such minor12 drinks--lemonades, Coca-Colas and the like-- as the trade demanded.
Yet this interesting position, after due consultation13 with his mother, he decided14 to take. For one thing, it wouldprovide him, as he suspected, with all the ice-cream sodas15 he desired, free--an advantage not to be disregarded.
In the next place, as he saw it at the time, it was an open door to a trade--something which he lacked. Further,and not at all disadvantageously as he saw it, this store required his presence at night as late as twelve o'clock,with certain hours off during the day to compensate16 for this. And this took him out of his home at night--out ofthe ten-o'clock-boy class at last. They could not ask him to attend any meetings save on Sunday, and not eventhen, since he was supposed to work Sunday afternoons and evenings.
Next, the clerk who manipulated this particular soda fountain, quite regularly received passes from the managerof the theater next door, and into the lobby of which one door to the drug store gave--a most fascinatingconnection to Clyde. It seemed so interesting to be working for a drug store thus intimately connected with atheater.
And best of all, as Clyde now found to his pleasure, and yet despair at times, the place was visited, just beforeand after the show on matinee days, by bevies17 of girls, single and en suite18, who sat at the counter and giggled19 andchattered and gave their hair and their complexions20 last perfecting touches before the mirror. And Clyde, callowand inexperienced in the ways of the world, and those of the opposite sex, was never weary of observing thebeauty, the daring, the self-sufficiency and the sweetness of these, as he saw them. For the first time in his life,while he busied himself with washing glasses, filling the ice-cream and syrup21 containers, arranging the lemonsand oranges in the trays, he had an almost uninterrupted opportunity of studying these girls at close range. Thewonder of them! For the most part, they were so well-dressed and smart-looking--the rings, pins, furs, delightfulhats, pretty shoes they wore. And so often he overheard them discussing such interesting things--parties, dances,dinners, the shows they had seen, the places in or near Kansas City to which they were soon going, the differencebetween the styles of this year and last, the fascination22 of certain actors and actresses--principally actors--whowere now playing or soon coming to the city. And to this day, in his own home he had heard nothing of all this.
And very often one or another of these young beauties was accompanied by some male in evening suit, dressshirt, high hat, bow tie, white kid gloves and patent leather shoes, a costume which at that time Clyde felt to bethe last word in all true distinction, beauty, gallantry and bliss23. To be able to wear such a suit with such ease andair! To be able to talk to a girl after the manner and with the sang-froid of some of these gallants! what a truemeasure of achievement! No good-looking girl, as it then appeared to him, would have anything to do with himif he did not possess this standard of equipment. It was plainly necessary--the thing. And once he did attain24 it-wasable to wear such clothes as these--well, then was he not well set upon the path that leads to all the blisses?
All the joys of life would then most certainly be spread before him. The friendly smiles! The secret handclasps,maybe--an arm about the waist of some one or another--a kiss--a promise of marriage--and then, and then!
And all this as a revealing flash after all the years of walking through the streets with his father and mother topublic prayer meeting, the sitting in chapel25 and listening to queer and nondescript individuals--depressing anddisconcerting people--telling how Christ had saved them and what God had done for them. You bet he wouldget out of that now. He would work and save his money and be somebody. Decidedly this simple and yet idylliccompound of the commonplace had all the luster26 and wonder of a spiritual transfiguration, the true mirage27 of thelost and thirsting and seeking victim of the desert.
However, the trouble with this particular position, as time speedily proved, was that much as it might teach himof mixing drinks and how to eventually earn twelve dollars a week, it was no immediate solvent28 for theyearnings and ambitions that were already gnawing29 at his vitals. For Albert Sieberling, his immediate superior,was determined30 to keep as much of his knowledge, as well as the most pleasant parts of the tasks, to himself.
And further he was quite at one with the druggist for whom they worked in thinking that Clyde, in addition toassisting him about the fountain, should run such errands as the druggist desired, which kept Clyde industriouslyemployed for nearly all the hours he was on duty.
Consequently there was no immediate result to all this. Clyde could see no way to dressing31 better than he did.
Worse, he was haunted by the fact that he had very little money and very few contacts and connections--so fewthat, outside his own home, he was lonely and not so very much less than lonely there. The flight of Esta hadthrown a chill over the religious work there, and because, as yet, she had not returned--the family, as he nowheard, was thinking of breaking up here and moving, for want of a better idea, to Denver, Colorado. But Clyde,by now, was convinced that he did not wish to accompany them. What was the good of it, he asked himself?
There would be just another mission there, the same as this one.
He had always lived at home--in the rooms at the rear of the mission in Bickel Street, but he hated it. And sincehis eleventh year, during all of which time his family had been residing in Kansas City, he had been ashamed tobring boy friends to or near it. For that reason he had always avoided boy friends, and had walked and playedvery much alone--or with his brother and sisters.
But now that he was sixteen and old enough to make his own way, he ought to be getting out of this. And yet hewas earning almost nothing--not enough to live on, if he were alone--and he had not as yet developed sufficientskill or courage to get anything better.
Nevertheless when his parents began to talk of moving to Denver, and suggested that he might secure work outthere, never assuming for a moment that he would not want to go he began to throw out hints to the effect that itmight he better if he did not. He liked Kansas City. What was the use of changing? He had a job now and hemight get something better. But his parents, bethinking themselves of Esta and the fate that had overtaken her,were not a little dubious32 as to the outcome of such early adventuring on his part alone. Once they were away,where would he live? With whom? What sort of influence would enter his life, who would be at hand to aid andcouncil and guide him in the straight and narrow path, as they had done? It was something to think about.
But spurred by this imminence33 of Denver, which now daily seemed to be drawing nearer, and the fact that notlong after this Mr. Sieberling, owing to his too obvious gallantries in connection with the fair sex, lost his placein the drug store, and Clyde came by a new and bony and chill superior who did not seem to want him as anassistant, he decided to quit--not at once, but rather to see, on such errands as took him out of the store, if hecould not find something else. Incidentally in so doing, looking here and there, he one day thought he wouldspeak to the manager of the fountain which was connected with the leading drug store in the principal hotel ofthe city--the latter a great twelve-story affair, which represented, as he saw it, the quintessence of luxury andease. Its windows were always so heavily curtained; the main entrance (he had never ventured to look beyondthat) was a splendiferous combination of a glass and iron awning34, coupled with a marble corridor lined withpalms. Often he had passed here, wondering with boyish curiosity what the nature of the life of such a place might be. Before its doors, so many taxis and automobiles35 were always in waiting.
To-day, being driven by the necessity of doing something for himself, he entered the drug store which occupiedthe principal corner, facing 14th Street at Baltimore, and finding a girl cashier in a small glass cage near the door,asked of her who was in charge of the soda fountain. Interested by his tentative and uncertain manner, as well ashis deep and rather appealing eyes, and instinctively36 judging that he was looking for something to do, sheobserved: "Why, Mr. Secor, there, the manager of the store." She nodded in the direction of a short, meticulouslydressed man of about thirty-five, who was arranging an especial display of toilet novelties on the top of a glasscase. Clyde approached him, and being still very dubious as to how one went about getting anything in life, andfinding him engrossed37 in what he was doing, stood first on one foot and then on the other, until at last, sensingsome one was hovering38 about for something, the man turned: "Well?" he queried39.
"You don't happen to need a soda fountain helper, do you?" Clyde cast at him a glance that said as plain asanything could, "If you have any such place, I wish you would please give it to me. I need it.""No, no, no," replied this individual, who was blond and vigorous and by nature a little irritable40 and contentious41.
He was about to turn away, but seeing a flicker42 of disappointment and depression pass over Clyde's face, heturned and added, "Ever work in a place like this before?""No place as fine as this. No, sir," replied Clyde, rather fancifully moved by all that was about him. "I'm workingnow down at Mr. Klinkle's store at 7th and Brooklyn, but it isn't anything like this one and I'd like to getsomething better if I could.""Uh," went on his interviewer, rather pleased by the innocent tribute to the superiority of his store. "Well, that'sreasonable enough. But there isn't anything here right now that I could offer you. We don't make many changes.
But if you'd like to be a bell-boy, I can tell you where you might get a place. They're looking for an extra boy inthe hotel inside there right now. The captain of the boys was telling me he was in need of one. I should think thatwould be as good as helping43 about a soda fountain, any day."Then seeing Clyde's face suddenly brighten, he added: "But you mustn't say that I sent you, because I don't knowyou. Just ask for Mr. Squires44 inside there, under the stairs, and he can tell you all about it."At the mere45 mention of work in connection with so imposing46 an institution as the Green-Davidson, and thepossibility of his getting it, Clyde first stared, felt himself tremble the least bit with excitement, then thanking hisadvisor for his kindness, went direct to a green-marbled doorway47 which opened from the rear of this drug-storeinto the lobby of the hotel. Once through it, he beheld48 a lobby, the like of which, for all his years but because ofthe timorous49 poverty that had restrained him from exploring such a world, was more arresting, quite, thananything he had seen before. It was all so lavish50. Under his feet was a checkered51 black-and-white marble floor.
Above him a coppered and stained and gilded52 ceiling. And supporting this, a veritable forest of black marblecolumns as highly polished as the floor--glassy smooth. And between the columns which ranged away towardthree separate entrances, one right, one left and one directly forward toward Dalrymple Avenue--were lamps,statuary, rugs, palms, chairs, divans53, tete-a-tetes--a prodigal54 display. In short it was compact, of all that gaucheluxury of appointment which, as some one once sarcastically55 remarked, was intended to supply "exclusiveness tothe masses." Indeed, for an essential hotel in a great and successful American commercial city, it was almost too luxurious56. Its rooms and hall and lobbies and restaurants were entirely57 too richly furnished, without the savinggrace of either simplicity58 or necessity.
As Clyde stood, gazing about the lobby, he saw a large company of people--some women and children, butprincipally men as he could see--either walking or standing59 about and talking or idling in the chairs, side by sideor alone. And in heavily draped and richly furnished alcoves60 where were writing-tables, newspaper files, atelegraph office, a haberdasher's shop, and a florist's stand, were other groups. There was a convention of dentistsin the city, not a few of whom, with their wives and children, were gathered here; but to Clyde, who was notaware of this nor of the methods and meanings of conventions, this was the ordinary, everyday appearance ofthis hotel.
He gazed about in awe61 and amazement62, then remembering the name of Squires, he began to look for him in hisoffice "under the stairs." To his right was a grand double-winged black-and-white staircase which swung in twoseparate flights and with wide, generous curves from the main floor to the one above. And between these greatflights was evidently the office of the hotel, for there were many clerks there. But behind the nearest flight, andclose to the wall through which he had come, was a tall desk, at which stood a young man of about his own agein a maroon63 uniform bright with many brass64 buttons. And on his head was a small, round, pill-box cap, whichwas cocked jauntily65 over one ear. He was busy making entries with a lead pencil in a book which lay open beforehim. Various other boys about his own age, and uniformed as he was, were seated upon a long bench near him,or were to be seen darting66 here and there, sometimes, returning to this one with a slip of paper or a key or note ofsome kind, and then seating themselves upon the bench to await another call apparently67, which seemed to comeswiftly enough. A telephone upon the small desk at which stood the uniformed youth was almost constantlybuzzing, and after ascertaining68 what was wanted, this youth struck a small bell before him, or called "front," towhich the first boy on the bench, responded. Once called, they went hurrying up one or the other stairs or towardone of the several entrances or elevators, and almost invariably were to be seen escorting individuals whose bagsand suitcases and overcoats and golf sticks they carried. There were others who disappeared and returned,carrying drinks on trays or some package or other, which they were taking to one of the rooms above. Plainlythis was the work that he should be called upon to do, assuming that he would be so fortunate as to connecthimself with such an institution as this.
And it was all so brisk and enlivening that he wished that he might be so fortunate as to secure a position here.
But would he be? And where was Mr. Squires? He approached the youth at the small desk: "Do you know whereI will find Mr. Squires?" he asked.
"Here he comes now," replied the youth, looking up and examining Clyde with keen, gray eyes.
Clyde gazed in the direction indicated, and saw approaching a brisk and dapper and decidedly sophisticated-looking person of perhaps twenty-nine or thirty years of age. He was so very slender, keen, hatchet-faced andwell-dressed that Clyde was not only impressed but overawed at once--a very shrewd and cunning-lookingperson. His nose was so long and thin, his eyes so sharp, his lips thin, and chin pointed69.
"Did you see that tall, gray-haired man with the Scotch70 plaid shawl who went through here just now?" he pausedto say to his assistant at the desk. The assistant nodded. "Well, they tell me that's the Earl of Landreil. He just came in this morning with fourteen trunks and four servants. Can you beat it! He's somebody in Scotland. Thatisn't the name he travels under, though, I hear. He's registered as Mr. Blunt. Can you beat that English stuff?
They can certainly lay on the class, eh?""You said it!" replied his assistant deferentially71.
He turned for the first time, glimpsing Clyde, but paying no attention to him. His assistant came to Clyde's aid.
"That young fella there is waiting to see you," he explained.
"You want to see me?" queried the captain of the bellhops, turning to Clyde, and observing his none-too-goodclothes, at the same time making a comprehensive study of him.
"The gentleman in the drug store," began Clyde, who did not quite like the looks of the man before him, but wasdetermined to present himself as agreeably as possible, "was saying--that is, he said that I might ask you if therewas any chance here for me as a bell-boy. I'm working now at Klinkle's drug store at 7th and Brooklyn, as ahelper, but I'd like to get out of that and he said you might--that is--he thought you had a place open now."Clyde was so flustered72 and disturbed by the cool, examining eyes of the man before him that he could scarcelyget his breath properly, and swallowed hard.
For the first time in his life, it occurred to him that if he wanted to get on he ought to insinuate73 himself into thegood graces of people--do or say something that would make them like him. So now he contrived74 an eager,ingratiating smile, which he bestowed75 on Mr. Squires, and added: "If you'd like to give me a chance, I'd try veryhard and I'd be very willing."The man before him merely looked at him coldly, but being the soul of craft and self-acquisitiveness in a pettyway, and rather liking76 anybody who had the skill and the will to be diplomatic, he now put aside an impulse toshake his head negatively, and observed: "But you haven't had any training in this work.""No, sir, but couldn't I pick it up pretty quick if I tried hard?""Well, let me see," observed the head of the bell-hops, scratching his head dubiously77. "I haven't any time to talkto you now. Come around Monday afternoon. I'll see you then." He turned on his heel and walked away.
Clyde, left alone in this fashion, and not knowing just what it meant, stared, wondering. Was it really true that hehad been invited to come back on Monday? Could it be possible that--He turned and hurried out, thrilling fromhead to toe. The idea! He had asked this man for a place in the very finest hotel in Kansas City and he had askedhim to come back and see him on Monday. Gee78! what would that mean? Could it be possible that he would beadmitted to such a grand world as this--and that so speedily? Could it really be?
克莱德由于作出了上面这个结论，比过去更加棘手地来考虑自己的前途问题。他考虑后的主要结果就是:
他必须给自己出出点子，而且还得越快越好。截至目前为止，他能找到的工作，充其量只是十二到十五岁的男孩子们有时干的一些零活:
每年夏天这几个月里，帮着包送报纸的人派报;整整一个夏季，在小杂货铺地下室里干活;入冬后有过一阵子，每逢星期六，开箱拆包，搬弄商品;就这样，他每个星期可挣到优厚的报酬……五块美元，那时在他看来，这一数目几乎好象是偌大的一宗财产了。他觉得自己有钱了，也就不时去看戏。看电影，坐在票价低廉的剧院最高楼座，根本不管父母的反对(在他们看来，戏和电影不仅是尘世俗物，而且邪恶透顶)，所以，象这样的一种娱乐消遣的方式，他也非得瞒过他们不可。不过，那也阻止不了他。他觉得，这钱是他自己的，他爱怎么花就怎么花，甚至还把小弟弟弗兰克一块儿带去。弗兰克自然乐滋滋跟着他去，而且始终闭口不说。
同年晚些时候，他想退学，因为他早就觉得自己上学太迟，总是赶不上去。
于是，他就在本市一家专售廉价品的小杂货店里觅到一个工作，给卖汽水的店员当助手。这家小杂货店正好毗邻剧院，因而叨光不少。这里是克莱德上学必经之地，因此，挂在那里的一块"招收学徒"的广告牌子，首先引起了他的注意。
后来，克莱德跟那个后来在其手下学生意的年轻人谈了一谈，假装自己不仅十分愿意，而且办事也很能干。他从这次谈话中获悉:
如果说这套本领他学到了家，包管挣大钱，每星期可挣十五块美元，最多甚至高达十八块美元。据说第十四街和巴尔的摩大街的交岔路口的斯特劳德铺子里，有两个伙计就挣这么多的钱。
他上门应聘的那一家商号，只肯给十二块美元，也就是绝大多数店铺的标准薪资。
可是人家当即告诉他:
要学好这一套本领，是需要一定时间，还要得到行家热心点拨才成。他要是乐意上这儿干活，开头就算每星期给五块美元……这时克莱德听后脸一沉……得了吧，干脆就给六块美元。说不定他很快就学会这套本领，能调制各种美味的饮料，并在各式各样的冰淇淋里添上果汁。甜食等等，做成圣代(圣代(译音)，盛在杯里的加水果蜜汁或其他佐料的冰淇淋。)。当学徒嘛，一开头不外乎是洗涤杯盘，把饮料柜台所有的机器设备和工具拭擦干净;更不必说，每天清晨七点半，打开店门，打扫店堂，掸去尘土，还有小杂货铺老板派给他的送货差使。有的时候，他手里没有活儿，而他的顶头上司……一位名叫西伯龄先生的，是个充满自信。闲话又多的年方二十的时髦小青年……生意太忙，实在照顾不了，因此，调制那些一般性的饮料……柠檬水。可口可乐等等，根据营业需要，也就会叫克莱德代劳了。
于是，克莱德跟母亲商量以后，决定把这个有趣的职司接下来。首先，据他暗自估摸，在那里冰淇淋有的是，他想吃多少，就有多少，不必自己掏钱……是一大优点，不容忽视。其次，那时他已经看出，反正这是进门学生意。学本领的第一步……做生意这一套本领，也正是他所短缺的。再说还有一点，在他看来，也不见得对他完全不利的，那就是:
这个铺子里要他一直上班到深夜十二点钟，而白天可以补上几小时作为调休。这么一来，晚上他就不在家……晚上十点钟那个夜班，他终于可以不参加了。除了星期日，他们再也不会叫他一块儿做礼拜去了;甚至星期天也不行，因为听说他星期天下午和晚上也得照常上班去。
再说，这个专管冷饮柜台的店员，经常收到隔壁剧院经理送来的免费入场券。加上小杂货铺有一道边门，与剧院的大厅相通……这种关系，对克莱德来说，真是太富有吸引力了。能在一个与剧院关系如此密切的小杂货铺里忙活，看来是满有意思的。
此外，还有最大的一个优点，使克莱德既高兴，但有时也会失望的，那就是:
赶上演日场的那些日子里，不论开场前和散场后，照例有一群群的年轻姑娘们上这儿来，有独个儿的，也有几个人在一起的，她们坐在柜台跟前，吃吃地笑着闲聊天，有时还对着镜子拢一拢头发，再涂上一点脂粉，描一下黛眉。克莱德虽说是个乳臭未干。涉世不深和不谙异性的毛头小伙子，可是一见到这些年轻姑娘，对她们的姿色，以及她们的泼辣。自负。可爱的模样儿，总是百看不厌的。这可以说是他生平头一遭，一面忙着擦洗杯子，灌满盛放冰淇淋和糖浆的容器，将一杯杯柠檬水和桔子水摆进托盘里，一面几乎不断地有机会从近处仔细端详着这些年轻姑娘们。她们……简直令人不可思议!
她们多半穿得都很漂亮，外貌也很标致，戴着戒指。别针和好看的帽子，披着名裘大衣，脚蹬精美的皮鞋。他还常常偷听到她们正在闲扯的那些有趣的事儿……比方说，茶会啦。舞会啦。宴会啦。她们刚看过的演出啦，还有她们打算不久就去玩儿的地方，有在堪萨斯城里，也有本城近郊，今年和去年的时装款式到底有哪些不同，正在本市演出或者即将来到本市演出的某些男女演员……主要是男演员……的迷人的魅力。直至今日，这些事情……他在自己家里都是从来没有听到过的。
这些年轻的美人儿里，还有不是这一位，就是那一位，时常由某个男士陪伴着，这种男士身穿晚礼服和与之配套的衬衫，头戴高筒礼帽，系上蝴蝶结领饰，手上是白羊皮手套，脚下则是漆皮鞋……这种装束打扮，在当时克莱德心目中，真是最高贵。最漂亮。最豪放。最有福祉也没有了。要是能那么雍容大方地穿上这样衣装服饰，该有多好!
要是能象这么一个时髦小伙子一样，跟一个年轻姑娘喁喁私语，该有多好!
那真可以说是到了至臻至美的境界啊。那时候，他觉得，只要他连这样的行头打扮都还没有，那末，哪一个漂亮姑娘也不会瞅他一眼的。显而易见，这些东西是非备不可的。只要他一旦有了这些东西……能有这样穿戴打扮……嘿，难道说他不就是稳稳当当地踏上了通往幸福之路吗?
人世间的一切欢乐，不消说，赫然展现在他面前。亲昵的微笑!
还有偷偷地握手，也许……一只手臂搂住某个年轻姑娘的腰肢……亲吻……婚约……以后，以后……!
这一切就象在漫长岁月之后突然射来的一道天启的灵光。在这些漫长岁月里，他一向跟着父母穿街走巷，当众传道，露天祈祷，或是坐在小教堂里，净听那些稀奇古怪。莫可形状的人……都是令人泄气和惊惶不安的人……说:
基督怎样拯救了他们，上帝又是怎样帮助了他们。现在，他肯定要从这一层次中脱身出来。他要好好干活，把钱积攒下来，做一个了不起的人。这一套简单而美妙的老生常谈，无疑地具有神灵变形(参见《圣经。新约。马太福音》第十七章:
"耶稣……就在他们面前变了形象，脸面明亮如日头，衣裳洁白如光。")的一切光彩和奇迹，这好象在沙漠迷途。渴求活路的倒楣鬼面前，突然呈现海市蜃楼一样。
可是，过不了多久，克莱德很快就相信，他在这种特殊的岗位上也有一种苦恼，那就是说:
他在这里虽然可以学会调制饮料等许多东西，每个星期准能挣到十二块美元，可是那一直使他五内俱焚的渴望和虚荣心，却不是马上就能如愿以偿的。原因是:
顶头上司亚尔培特。西伯龄已下了决心，务必使他的窍门尽量不外传，同时，最轻松省力的工作，又给他自己留着。而且，他跟小杂货铺老板还有一致看法，就是认为:
克莱德除了帮他照料一下冷饮柜台以外，还应该听从老板吩咐，去干诸如跑腿之类杂活。这么一来，克莱德在他几乎整个工作日里，便忙得不可开交了。
一句话，克莱德不能从这一工作马上得到什么好处。他依然没法使自己比过去穿戴得更好些。最糟糕的是，有一件事总是在他心里萦绕不去:
原来他挣的钱少得很，各种应酬交际也少得很……几乎少到这样程度，就是说，他一离开了家，就感到非常寂寞，而且也不见得比在家里寂寞少一些。爱思达的出走，好象给父母的传道工作泼了凉水;又因为她至今还没有回来……他听说，家里由于想不出更好的办法，正在考虑从这里撤走，迁往科罗拉多州的丹佛。可是此时此刻，克莱德已有打算，决不跟他们一块儿走。他反问自己:
这可有什么好处呢?
到了那儿，也不外乎又一套传道的玩意儿，跟此地还不是一模一样?
克莱德一向住在家里……也就是在比克尔街传道馆后面的那个房子里，不过那个地方他可恨透了。打从十一岁起，他家一直在堪萨斯城，可他始终不愿把他的那些小朋友带到他家里，或是他家附近的地方。为了这个缘故，他总是回避那些小朋友;不论走路也好，玩儿也好，总是孤零零一个人……或者跟弟弟和姐妹他们在一起。
可是转眼之间，他已有十六岁了，完全可以独自谋生，应该跳出这种生活圈子了。只是至今他挣到的钱可以说寥寥无几……还不够他一个人过活呢……何况现在他自己还没有一手本事或者勇气，所以也找不到更好的事由。
不过，后来父母开始谈到迁居丹佛的时候，说过也许他在那里能找到工作，但是没承望他会不愿意去的。他向他们暗示说:
他还是不去的好。他喜欢堪萨斯城。换个城市有什么好处呢?
如今他有了工作，说不定将来会找到更好的机遇。
不过，他的父母一回想起爱思达和她的遭际，对于他这么年纪轻轻就独自一人去闯天下，将来会有什么结果，不免产生怀疑。要是他们都走了，他会住到哪里去呢?
跟谁住在一起呢?
他的生活会受到什么影响，有谁能象父母那样，经常挨在他身边，帮助他，点拨他，引导他沿着那条正道前进呢?
所有这一切，都是值得考虑的。
不过，现在举家迁往丹佛的日子，似乎一天比一天逼近了，对他来说，显得尤为紧迫了。偏巧这时候，那位西伯龄先生由于常常向女性大献殷勤，过于露骨，没有多久就被老板开革了。于是，小杂货铺里来了一个瘦骨嶙峋。冷若冰霜的新上司，不打算要克莱德当他助手。因此，克莱德就决定离开……不过不是马上就走，而是倒要利用跑外勤的机会，看看自己能不能找到别的事由。
有一天，他正在东张西望，设法另谋出路的当儿，忽然想到何不到本市的一家大酒店所管辖的那个首屈一指的大杂货店附设冷饮部去，干脆找那里经理谈一谈。那家大酒店是一幢十二层楼的大厦，在他看来，这就是……奢靡。舒适最完美的样板。它的窗户总是垂挂着厚厚的窗帘;大门口(过去他从来不敢朝门里东张西望)有一顶由十分华丽的玻璃和铁架制成的天篷。还有一道大理石砌成的走廊，两旁都是棕榈树。平时他常常走过那家大酒店，怀着孩子般的好奇心，暗自纳闷，不知道这么一个地方，里面的生活究竟是什么样儿。在那大门口，一天到晚总有那么多的出租汽车和私人汽车停在那儿。
今天，他因为要给自己另觅高枝，迫不得已，这才闯进了那家杂货店。该店坐落在巴尔的摩大街。面向第十四街。地段极佳的拐角处。他看见靠近门口的一座小玻璃亭子里有一个女出纳员，就去问她这里卖汽水的柜台是由谁负责。
他那试探和游移不定的神态，以及他那双深沉的。仿佛在恳求人的眼睛，一下子使她发生了兴趣，随即直觉地揣摸他正在找事由，于是，这个女出纳员便说:
"哦!
西科尔先生，在那儿，他是本店经理。"她朝一个三十五岁上下。个儿矮矮的。
但是穿着很讲究的男人那边点点头。此人正在一只玻璃柜顶上别出心裁地布置新颖化妆品。克莱德走到他身边，心里还在迟疑不定，真不知道人家找事由该怎样启口的，同时又看到此人正在埋头干自己的活儿，所以只好先站在一边，两只脚替换站着。后来，那位经理觉得好象有人不知怎的老是在他身边转悠，这才侧过身来，问:
"有什么事吗?
""请问贵处柜台上要不要添一个卖汽水的助手?
"克莱德向他投去了一个眼色，让自己的迫切心情显露得再清楚也没有了。"要是有这样的职位，请您高抬贵手给了我吧。我正求之不得呢。""没有，没有，没有，"经理回答说。他这个人长着金黄色头发。碧澄的眼睛。
白净的肌肤，精力也很充沛，只是脾性有点儿火爆，喜欢跟人抬扛。他正要走了，可是看到克莱德脸上掠过一阵失望和沮丧的神色，就侧过身来，又问了一句:
"从前在这种地方干过活吗?
""在这么漂亮的地方没有干过活。没有，先生，"克莱德回答说，不由得被他周围的景象所惊倒。"眼下我是在第七街和布鲁克林大街拐角处，克林克尔先生铺子里忙活，那儿跟贵处比，就算不上什么了。要是可能的话，我倒是很希望另找个好地方呢。""嗯，"对谈者听他这么天真地给自己的店铺捧场，心里相当高兴，就继续说，"哦，这倒是完全可以理解的。不过嘛，眼前我这儿没有什么事给你做。我们不是常常换人的。不过，你要是愿意在酒店里当侍应生，我倒可以指点你上哪儿去寻摸。里面的酒店正好要添一个侍应生。那儿的领班向我说过，他正需要找一个伙计。我想，这个好歹也抵得上在卖汽水的柜台上当助手吧。"此人一看克莱德突然喜形于色，就接下去说:
"不过，你千万别说这是我叫你去的，因为我根本不认识你。你到了里头，只要去楼梯底下找斯夸尔斯先生，一切他会告诉你的。"克莱德一听，象格林－戴维逊这么气派宏伟的一家大酒店里，居然他还有可能得到工作的机会，先是目瞪口呆，继而兴奋得有点儿抖抖索索了。接着，他向这位好心人谢了一声，径直向这家杂货店后面通往酒店大厅(按我国宾馆用语，也可叫"大堂"。)的那条绿色大理石过道走去。他一进去，就见这么一个漂亮大厅，他一辈子都没见过;因为自己太穷，又加上胆小，从来不敢窥视一下这种美轮美奂的世界，所以不由得感到这里比他从前所见过的任何地方还要有趣。
四下里都是豪华极了。他脚底下踩的是黑白分明的小方格大理石铺砌的地面。
头上是镶铜。彩绘的鎏金天花板。许多黑色大理石柱子，望过去宛如一座树林子，一个个既象地面那么锃亮，又象玻璃一样光滑。这些大理石柱子一直延伸，通向三个出口处，一个在右边，一个在左边，一个径直对着达尔林普尔大街。
柱子中间有彩灯，有雕像，还有地毯。棕榈树。软椅和长沙发。面对面双人沙发，如此等等，不一而足。一句话，这里就是集一切粗俗的奢靡陈设的大成，正如有人挖苦地说过，旨在使"其孤高傲世推向大众"。其实，在一个繁华的美国大城市里，对一家顶呱呱的大酒店来说，这样的陈设也可以说是太奢侈了……不论客房和过道也好，还是大厅和餐厅也好，全都陈设得太富丽，反而没有简朴。实用的雅趣。
克莱德站在那里，凝神扫视了一下大厅，只见那里人群成堆……有些是女人和小孩，不过，他又细看一下，最多的还是男人……有的在走来走去，有的伫立着，也有的坐在椅子里聊天，或者闲着无事，还有的是两人成对，或则独自一人。一些挂着厚实的帷幔。陈设漂亮的小凹室里，有的摆上了写字台和报架，有一个是电报室，有一个是售货亭，还有一个是鲜花铺……那里也麇集着一群群人。本市牙科医生正在这里开代表大会，其中有不少人偕同妻子儿女也到格林－戴维逊酒店团聚。不过，克莱德既没有察觉到这一点，更不会懂得这些代表大会的开会方式及其重大意义，反正依他看，这家大酒店平日里都是这个样子的。
克莱德怀着敬畏和惊异的神情，直瞪着两眼，扫视了一下，然后想起了斯夸尔斯这个名字，这才到"楼梯底下"写字间去找他。克莱德右边有一座两侧黑白相间。分成两段的宽大楼梯，拐了个大弯，一直通往二楼。在这两段楼梯之间，一望可知就是酒店办公室，因为里面有很多职员。不过，在最近的这段楼梯后面，紧挨他刚才擦身而过的那面墙，有一只高高的写字台，那里站着一个年纪跟他差不离的年轻人……此人身上穿了一件缀着许多黄铜钮扣的茶色制服，头上是一顶丸药盒子似的圆形小帽，贴住耳边歪戴着，显得很帅的样子。这会儿他正拿着铅笔，忙着往一本摊在面前的簿子上登记。此外还有几个同他年龄相仿的小伙子，穿着跟他同样的制服，有的坐在他身旁的一只长条凳上，也有的来来去去，有时候拿着一张纸片。一把钥匙，或是一张什么便条之类，跑回来交给了此人，然后坐到了长条凳上，显而易见在听候下一次吩咐，看样子，用不了多久就要轮到的。那个穿制服的年轻人站在一只小写字台后面，台上有一部电话机，几乎不断在嗡嗡响。他一听清楚来电要求，就按按他面前那只小铃，或者喊一声"上来一个"，于是，长条凳上坐着的头一个侍者马上应声往前走去。
这些侍者一听完吩咐，就急冲冲从这边或那边的楼梯上楼，或者直奔某一个出口处或是某一部电梯。整日价都看得见他们陪送客人，手里提着皮包和手提箱，或者拿着大衣和高尔夫球棒之类东西。还有一些侍者去了不一会儿就回来了，两手托着盛放饮料的盘子，或是拎着小包之类东西，正要送到楼上的某一个房间去。要是他运气好，能被这么一家大酒店录用，赶明儿差遣他去干的，显然，就是这一类活儿吧。
何况这里一切都是那么轻快活泼，生气勃勃，因此，他心里真巴不得自己走运，能在这里找到一个职位。不过，他果真能这样走运吗?
斯夸尔斯先生又在哪儿呢?
他走到小写字台旁那个年轻人跟前，开口问道:
"请问您我该上哪儿，才找得到斯夸尔斯先生?
""这会儿他正好来了，"那个年轻人一面回答说，一面抬起头来，用他那双敏锐的灰眼睛打量着克莱德。
克莱德朝他指点的方向定神一看，见到一个约莫二十九岁，或三十岁的人正在走过来。此人矫健活泼，显然见过不少世面。他身材颀长，思路敏锐，面孔瘦削，衣服穿得齐齐整整，克莱德见了，对他不仅印象很深，而且马上感到畏缩……真是好一个精明鬼啊。他的鼻子又长又细，眼睛很尖锐，还有他的薄嘴唇，尖下巴。
"刚才打这儿走过的那个披着苏格兰格子呢围巾。花白头发的高个儿……你看见了没有?
"他停下来就问写字台跟前那个助手。那个助手点点头。"得了，他们告诉我，说他就是兰德雷尔伯爵。他是今儿早上刚到，随身带着十四只大箱子和四个仆人。好气派!
原来他是苏格兰一个大人物。不过，我听人说，他出外旅行，是不用这个名字的。他在这儿登记的是布伦特先生。你看见过那种英国佬派头吗?
他们当然是顶呱呱，头一流，嗯?
""你说得对!
"他的助手恭顺地回答说。
直到此刻，他才侧过身来，瞥了克莱德一眼，不过依然没有理睬他。倒是他的助手走过来，帮帮克莱德的忙。
"那个年轻小伙子，正在那儿，等着要见您呢，"那助手向他作了说明。
"是你要找我吗?
"领班斯夸尔斯转过身来问克莱德，看了一下他那套蹩脚衣服，同时又把他上下仔细端详。
"是杂货店里那位先生对我说的，"克莱德开始说话了，其实，他不大喜欢他面前那个人的派头，不过，他一定要设法让对方尽可能对他留下好印象。"……这是说，他说我不妨问问您，我能不能在这儿找到一个当侍应生的机会。目前我在第七街和布鲁克林街拐角处的克林克尔先生开的那个杂货店里帮工，不过，我很想离开那儿。他说您也许可以……这就是说……他估摸着您这儿有个空缺，正要添人。"瞧克莱德面前这个人……那双冷冰冰的。一味琢磨他的眼睛，使他窘困极了，甚至连透气都透不过来，只好一个劲儿往喉咙里直咽口水。
他生平头一遭才想到:
如果想要成功，他就得阿谀奉承，博取人家的欢心……不外乎做一点什么事，说一些什么话，叫人家欢喜他呗。于是，他就对斯夸尔斯先生先是装出一心要讨好的笑脸，接下去说:
"要是您乐意给我一个机会，我可一定使劲儿干，并且一定很听话。"克莱德面前这个人，只是冷冰冰地瞅了他一眼，不过，此人心里鬼主意不少，而且又会耍些小手腕，以便达到个人目的。谁圆滑灵活，善于跟人打交道，他就喜欢谁。所以，他本来打算摇摇头，一口回绝了，可现在他只是这么说:
"不过，你对这种工作一点儿经验还没有吧。""是的，先生，不过，我只要拼命学，不是很快就学会了吗?
""哦，让我想一想，"那个侍者领班一面这样说，一面半信半疑地搔搔头。"这会儿我没有工夫跟你多谈。星期一下午，你再来一趟吧。到时候我可以见你。
"他说完一转身就走了。
克莱德就这样独自一人被甩在一边，闹不清这是什么意思，只好两眼直瞪着，心里暗自纳闷。此人是不是真的叫他星期一再来呢?
是不是有可能……他一转过身来，连忙往外走，浑身上下激动极了。事成了!
他要求这个人在堪萨斯城这家最漂亮的酒店里给他一个职位，对方居然叫他星期一再来找他。嘿!
这是什么意思?
难道说人们真的让他跻身于这么一个豪华世界……而且居然能一蹴而就?
真的会这样吗?
收听单词发音 |
1
munificent
|
|
| adj.慷慨的，大方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
opposition
|
|
| n.反对，敌对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
soda
|
|
| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
patronage
|
|
| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
rumored
|
|
| adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
apprenticeship
|
|
| n.学徒身份；学徒期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
implements
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
sweeping
|
|
| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
consultation
|
|
| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
sodas
|
|
| n.苏打( soda的名词复数 )；碱；苏打水；汽水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
compensate
|
|
| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
bevies
|
|
| n.（尤指少女或妇女的）一群( bevy的名词复数 )；（鸟类的）一群 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
18
suite
|
|
| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
giggled
|
|
| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
complexions
|
|
| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
syrup
|
|
| n.糖浆，糖水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
fascination
|
|
| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
bliss
|
|
| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
chapel
|
|
| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
luster
|
|
| n.光辉；光泽，光亮；荣誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
mirage
|
|
| n.海市蜃楼，幻景 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
solvent
|
|
| n.溶剂；adj.有偿付能力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
gnawing
|
|
| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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
dubious
|
|
| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
imminence
|
|
| n.急迫，危急 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
awning
|
|
| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
automobiles
|
|
| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
instinctively
|
|
| adv.本能地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
engrossed
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
hovering
|
|
| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
irritable
|
|
| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
contentious
|
|
| adj.好辩的，善争吵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
flicker
|
|
| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
squires
|
|
| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
imposing
|
|
| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
beheld
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
timorous
|
|
| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
lavish
|
|
| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
checkered
|
|
| adj.有方格图案的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
gilded
|
|
| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
divans
|
|
| n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
54
prodigal
|
|
| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
sarcastically
|
|
| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
luxurious
|
|
| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
simplicity
|
|
| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
alcoves
|
|
| n.凹室( alcove的名词复数 )；（花园）凉亭；僻静处；壁龛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
maroon
|
|
| v.困住，使（人）处于孤独无助之境；n.逃亡黑奴；孤立的人；酱紫色，褐红色；adj.酱紫色的，褐红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
jauntily
|
|
| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
darting
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
ascertaining
|
|
| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
scotch
|
|
| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
deferentially
|
|
| adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
flustered
|
|
| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
insinuate
|
|
| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
contrived
|
|
| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
liking
|
|
| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
dubiously
|
|
| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
gee
|
|
| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |