And as conditions stood, the extraordinary economic and social inexperience of the Griffiths--Asa and Elvira-dovetailedall too neatly1 with his dreams. For neither Asa nor Elvira had the least knowledge of the actualcharacter of the work upon which he was about to enter, scarcely any more than he did, or what it might mean tohim morally, imaginatively, financially, or in any other way. For neither of them had ever stopped in a hotelabove the fourth class in all their days. Neither one had ever eaten in a restaurant of a class that catered2 to otherthan individuals of their own low financial level. That there could be any other forms of work or contact thanthose involved in carrying the bags of guests to and from the door of a hotel to its office, and back again, for aboy of Clyde's years and temperament3, never occurred to them. And it was naively4 assumed by both that the payfor such work must of necessity be very small anywhere, say five or six dollars a week, and so actually belowClyde's deserts and his years.
And in view of this, Mrs. Griffiths, who was more practical than her husband at all times, and who was intenselyinterested in Clyde's economic welfare, as well as that of her other children, was actually wondering why Clydeshould of a sudden become so enthusiastic about changing to this new situation, which, according to his ownstory, involved longer hours and not so very much more pay, if any. To be sure, he had already suggested that itmight lead to some superior position in the hotel, some clerkship or other, but he did not know when that wouldbe, and the other had promised rather definite fulfillment somewhat earlier--as to money, anyhow.
But seeing him rush in on Monday afternoon and announce that he had secured the place and that forthwith hemust change his tie and collar and get his hair cut and go back and report, she felt better about it. For neverbefore had she seen him so enthusiastic about anything, and it was something to have him more content withhimself--not so moody6, as he was at times.
Yet, the hours which he began to maintain now--from six in the morning until midnight--with only an occasional early return on such evenings as he chose to come home when he was not working--and when he troubled toexplain that he had been let off a little early--together with a certain eager and restless manner--a desire to be outand away from his home at nearly all such moments as he was not in bed or dressing7 or undressing, puzzled hismother and Asa, also. The hotel! The hotel! He must always hurry off to the hotel, and all that he had to reportwas that he liked it ever so much, and that he was doing all right, he thought. It was nicer work than workingaround a soda8 fountain, and he might be making more money pretty soon--he couldn't tell--but as for more thanthat he either wouldn't or couldn't say.
And all the time the Griffiths--father and mother--were feeling that because of the affair in connection with Esta,they should really be moving away from Kansas City--should go to Denver. And now more than ever, Clyde wasinsisting that he did not want to leave Kansas City. They might go, but he had a pretty good job now and wantedto stick to it. And if they left, he could get a room somewhere--and would be all right--a thought which did notappeal to them at all.
But in the meantime what an enormous change in Clyde's life. Beginning with that first evening, when at 5:45,he appeared before Mr. Whipple, his immediate9 superior, and was approved--not only because of the fit of hisnew uniform, but for his general appearance--the world for him had changed entirely10. Lined up with seven othersin the servants' hall, immediately behind the general offices in the lobby, and inspected by Mr. Whipple, thesquad of eight marched at the stroke of six through a door that gave into the lobby on the other side of thestaircase from where stood Mr. Whipple's desk, then about and in front of the general registration12 office to thelong bench on the other side. A Mr. Barnes, who alternated with Mr. Whipple, then took charge of the assistantcaptain's desk, and the boys seated themselves--Clyde at the foot--only to be called swiftly and in turn toperform this, that and the other service--while the relieved squad11 of Mr. Whipple was led away into the rearservants' hall as before, where they disbanded.
"Cling!"The bell on the room clerk's desk had sounded and the first boy was going.
"Cling!" It sounded again and a second boy leaped to his feet.
"Front!"--"Center door!" called Mr. Barnes, and a third boy was skidding13 down the long marble floor toward thatentrance to seize the bags of an incoming guest, whose white whiskers and youthful, bright tweed suit werevisible to Clyde's uninitiated eyes a hundred feet away. A mysterious and yet sacred vision--a tip!
"Front!" It was Mr. Barnes calling again. "See what 913 wants-- ice-water, I guess." And a fourth boy was gone.
Clyde, steadily14 moving up along the bench and adjoining Hegglund, who had been detailed15 to instruct him alittle, was all eyes and ears and nerves. He was so tense that he could hardly breathe, and fidgeted and jerkeduntil finally Hegglund exclaimed: "Now, don't get excited. Just hold your horses will yuh? You'll be all right.
You're jist like I was when I begun--all noives. But dat ain't de way. Easy's what you gotta be aroun' here. An'
you wants to look as dough16 you wasn't seein' nobody nowhere--just lookin' to what ya got before ya.""Front!" Mr. Barnes again. Clyde was scarcely able to keep his mind on what Hegglund was saying. "115 wants some writing paper and pens." A fifth boy had gone.
"Where do you get writing paper and pens if they want 'em?" He pleaded of his imtructor, as one who was aboutto die might plead.
"Off'n de key desk, I toldja. He's to de left over dere. He'll give 'em to ya. An' you gits ice-water in de hall welined up in just a minute ago--at dat end over dere, see--you'll see a little door. You gotta give dat guy in dere adime oncet in a while or he'll get sore.""Cling!" The room clerk's bell. A sixth boy had gone without a word to supply some order in that direction.
"And now remember," continued Hegglund, seeing that he himself was next, and cautioning him for the lasttime, "if dey wants drinks of any kind, you get 'em in de grill18 over dere off'n de dining-room. An' be sure and gitde names of de drinks straight or dey'll git sore. An' if it's a room you're showing, pull de shades down to-nightand turn on de lights. An' if it's anyt'ing from de dinin'- room you gotta see de headwaiter--he gets de tip, see.""Front!" He was up and gone.
And Clyde was number one. And number four was already seating himself again by his side--but lookingshrewdly around to see if anybody was wanted anywhere.
"Front!" It was Mr. Barnes. Clyde was up and before him, grateful that it was no one coming in with bags, butworried for fear it might be something that he would not understand or could not do quickly.
"See what 882 wants." Clyde was off toward one of the two elevators marked, "employees," the proper one touse, he thought, because he had been taken to the twelfth floor that way, but another boy stepping out from oneof the fast passenger elevators cautioned him as to his mistake.
"Goin' to a room?" he called. "Use the guest elevators. Them's for the servants or anybody with bundles."Clyde hastened to cover his mistake. "Eight," he called. There being no one else on the elevator with them, theNegro elevator boy in charge of the car saluted19 him at once.
"You'se new, ain't you? I ain't seen you around her befo'.""Yes, I just came on," replied Clyde.
"Well, you won't hate it here," commented this youth in the most friendly way. "No one hates this house, I'll say.
Eight did you say?" He stopped the car and Clyde stepped out. He was too nervous to think to ask the directionand now began looking at room numbers, only to decide after a moment that he was in the wrong corridor. Thesoft brown carpet under his feet; the soft, cream-tinted walls; the snow-white bowl lights in the ceiling--allseemed to him parts of a perfection and a social superiority which was almost unbelievable--so remote from allthat he had ever known.
And finally, finding 882, he knocked timidly and was greeted after a moment by a segment of a very stout20 andvigorous body in a blue and white striped union suit and a related segment of a round and florid head in whichwas set one eye and some wrinkles to one side of it.
"Here's a dollar bill, son," said the eye seemingly--and now a hand appeared holding a paper dollar. It was fatand red. "You go out to a haberdasher's and get me a pair of garters--Boston Garters-- silk--and hurry back.""Yes, sir," replied Clyde, and took the dollar. The door closed and he found himself hustling21 along the halltoward the elevator, wondering what a haberdasher's was. As old as he was--seventeen--the name was new tohim. He had never even heard it before, or noticed it at least. If the man had said a "gents' furnishing store," hewould have understood at once, but now here he was told to go to a haberdasher's and he did not know what itwas. A cold sweat burst out upon his forehead. His knees trembled. The devil! What would he do now? Could heask any one, even Hegglund, and not seem-He pushed the elevator button. The car began to descend22. A haberdasher. A haberdasher. Suddenly a sanethought reached him. Supposing he didn't know what a haberdasher was? After all the man wanted a pair of silkBoston garters. Where did one get silk Boston garters--at a store, of course, a place where they sold things formen. Certainly. A gents' furnishing store. He would run out to a store. And on the way down, noting anotherfriendly Negro in charge, he asked: "Do you know if there's a gents' furnishing store anywhere around here?""One in the building, captain, right outside the south lobby," replied the Negro, and Clyde hurried there, greatlyrelieved. Yet he felt odd and strange in his close-fitting uniform and his peculiar23 hat. All the time he wastroubled by the notion that his small, round, tight-fitting hat might fall off. And he kept pressing it furtively24 andyet firmly down. And bustling25 into the haberdasher's, which was blazing with lights outside, he exclaimed, "Iwant to get a pair of Boston silk garters.""All right, son, here you are," replied a sleek26, short man with bright, bald head, pink face and gold-rimmedglasses. "For some one in the hotel, I presume? Well, we'll make that seventy-five cents, and here's a dime17 foryou," he remarked as he wrapped up the package and dropped the dollar in the cash register. "I always like to dothe right thing by you boys in there because I know you come to me whenever you can."Clyde took the dime and the package, not knowing quite what to think. The garters must be seventy-five cents-hesaid so. Hence only twenty-five cents need to be returned to the man. Then the dime was his. And now,maybe--would the man really give him another tip?
He hurried back into the hotel and up to the elevators. The strains of a string orchestra somewhere were fillingthe lobby with delightful27 sounds. People were moving here and there--so well-dressed, so much at ease, so verydifferent from most of the people in the streets or anywhere, as he saw it.
An elevator door flew open. Various guests entered. Then Clyde and another bell-boy who gave him aninterested glance. At the sixth floor the boy departed. At the eighth Clyde and an old lady stepped forth5. Hehurried to the door of his guest and tapped. The man opened it, somewhat more fully28 dressed than before. He hadon a pair of trousers and was shaving.
"Back, eh," he called.
"Yes, sir," replied Clyde, handing him the package and change. "He said it was seventy-five cents.""He's a damned robber, but you can keep the change, just the same," he replied, handing him the quarter andclosing the door. Clyde stood there, quite spellbound for the fraction of a second. "Thirty-five cents"--hethought--"thirty-five cents." And for one little short errand. Could that really be the way things went here? Itcouldn't be, really. It wasn't possible--not always.
And then, his feet sinking in the soft nap of the carpet, his hand in one pocket clutching the money, he felt as ifhe could squeal29 or laugh out loud. Why, thirty-five cents--and for a little service like that. This man had givenhim a quarter and the other a dime and he hadn't done anything at all.
He hurried from the car at the bottom--the strains of the orchestra once more fascinated him, the wonder of sowell-dressed a throng30 thrilling him--and made his way to the bench from which he had first departed.
And following this he had been called to carry the three bags and two umbrellas of an aged31 farmer-like couple,who had engaged a parlor32, bedroom and bath on the fifth floor. En route they kept looking at him, as he couldsee, but said nothing. Yet once in their room, and after he had promptly33 turned on the lights near the door,lowered the blinds and placed the bags upon the bag racks, the middle-aged34 and rather awkward husband--adecidedly solemn and bewhiskered person--studied him and finally observed: "Young fella, you seem to be anice, brisk sort of boy--rather better than most we've seen so far, I must say.""I certainly don't think that hotels are any place for boys," chirped35 up the wife of his bosom--a large and rotundperson, who by this time was busily employed inspecting an adjoining room. "I certainly wouldn't want any ofmy boys to work in 'em--the way people act.""But here, young man," went on the elder, laying off his overcoat and fishing in his trousers pocket. "You godown and get me three or four evening papers if there are that many and a pitcher36 of ice-water, and I'll give youfifteen cents when you get back.""This hotel's better'n the one in Omaha, Pa," added the wife sententiously. "It's got nicer carpets and curtains."And as green as Clyde was, he could not help smiling secretly. Openly, however, he preserved a masklikesolemnity, seemingly effacing37 all facial evidence of thought, and took the change and went out. And in a fewmoments he was back with the ice-water and all the evening papers and departed smilingly with his fifteen cents.
But this, in itself, was but a beginning in so far as this particular evening was concerned, for he was scarcelyseated upon the bench again, before he was called to room 529, only to be sent to the bar for drinks--two gingerales and two syphons of soda--and this by a group of smartly-dressed young men and girls who were laughingand chattering38 in the room, one of whom opened the door just wide enough to instruct him as to what waswanted. But because of a mirror over the mantel, he could see the party and one pretty girl in a white suit andcap, sitting on the edge of a chair in which reclined a young man who had his arm about her.
Clyde stared, even while pretending not to. And in his state of mind, this sight was like looking through the gatesof Paradise. Here were young fellows and girls in this room, not so much older than himself, laughing andtalking and drinking even--not ice-cream sodas39 and the like, but such drinks no doubt as his mother and fatherwere always speaking against as leading to destruction, and apparently40 nothing was thought of it.
He bustled41 down to the bar, and having secured the drinks and a charge slip, returned--and was paid--a dollar anda half for the drinks and a quarter for himself. And once more he had a glimpse of the appealing scene. Only nowone of the couples was dancing to a tune42 sung and whistled by the other two.
But what interested him as much as the visits to and glimpses of individuals in the different rooms, was themoving panorama43 of the main lobby--the character of the clerks behind the main desk--room clerk, key clerk,mail clerk, cashier and assistant cashier. And the various stands about the place--flower stand, news stand, cigarstand, telegraph office, taxicab office, and all manned by individuals who seemed to him curiously44 filled with theatmosphere of this place. And then around and between all these walking or sitting were such imposing45 men andwomen, young men and girls all so fashionably dressed, all so ruddy and contented46 looking. And the cars orother vehicles in which some of them appeared about dinner time and later. It was possible for him to see them inthe flare47 of the lights outside. The wraps, furs, and other belongings48 in which they appeared, or which were oftencarried by these other boys and himself across the great lobby and into the cars or the dining-room or the severalelevators. And they were always of such gorgeous textures49, as Clyde saw them. Such grandeur50. This, then, mostcertainly was what it meant to be rich, to be a person of consequence in the world--to have money. It meant thatyou did what you pleased. That other people, like himself, waited upon you. That you possessed51 all of theseluxuries. That you went how, where and when you pleased.
当时明摆着:
格里菲思夫妇……阿萨和爱尔薇拉……对经济和社会问题特别缺乏经验，思想根源上也就跟克莱德的种种梦想完全吻合了。无论阿萨也好，还是爱尔薇拉也好，他们一点儿都不知道他要接手的这份工作的真正性质如何……对此他们跟他一样地无知……他们也不知道这份工作在道德。心理。经济或是其他方面，会对他产生哪些影响。因为他们俩一辈子都没有下榻过四等以上的旅馆。他们俩也从来没有去过一家高级饭馆，因为这种高级饭馆原来并不是为他们这些经济水平极差的人开设的。他们俩从来也没有想到过，就克莱德那种年纪和脾性的孩子来说，除了替客人把行李箱包从旅馆门口搬到帐房间，又从帐房间搬到旅馆门口以外，还可能会有别的什么工作，或者别的跟人交际的机遇。他们俩天真地认为:
这一类工作，不论在哪儿，工钱必定是微乎其微，比方说，每个星期给个五。六块美元就得了，也就是说，实际上比克莱德按照他的能耐和年纪应得的报酬还要少一些。
格里菲思太太看问题一向比她的丈夫实际些，对克莱德和其他的孩子们的经济利益非常关注。她心中暗自纳闷，真不知道克莱德换了个新地方，怎么就突然如此兴高采烈起来，根据他自己的说法，到那里上班时间要比过去长，薪水嘛，即使假定说稍微多点，比过去也多不了很多。当然罗，他已经暗示过，这一回他进了旅馆，也许将来有希望提升到较高的职位，比方说，当上一个职员什么的，不过，他可不知道何年何月才能如愿以偿啊，而原来那个地方却肯定能使他较快地实现自己……至少是赚钱的……的愿望。
不过星期一下午，他急冲冲回来，说他找到了这个职位，马上得换上领带和硬领，理完发赶回去报到……这些她都看到了，心里也就觉得宽慰一些了。
因为过去她从来没看见他对什么事表示过这样高兴;这件事让他比较称心了一些……而不是象过去有的时候那样闷闷不乐。
可是现在他上班的时间很长……从早上六点钟起，一直到深更半夜……除了偶尔有几个晚上，他没有工作，而又想要早些回家的时候，他才回来得早些……那时他会费心解释说，他下班早了一点……那神态也是岌岌不安的……只要他不是在睡觉。穿衣或脱衣的时候，可以说他无时无刻都恨不得马上能离开自己的家……这不由得使他母亲和阿萨感到困惑不解。酒店!
酒店!
他老是急冲冲赶去酒店上班，他口口声声地说他非常喜欢这家酒店，还认为自己干得满不错。这种工作比围着汽水柜台转反正好得多了，他不久也许还能多挣一些钱呢……至于有多少，他还说不准……但是除此以外，要么是他不乐意说，要么是他说不出道道来。
格里菲思夫妇……孩子他们的父母……时时刻刻都觉得，由于爱思达出走一事，说实话，他们应该离开堪萨斯城……应该举家迁往丹佛。可是克莱德却比过去更加坚决，说他不愿意离开堪萨斯城。他们要去就去呗;可他现在有了一个肥缺，自然要牢牢守住它。他们要是搬走了，他就不妨上哪儿去找个房间……而且他照样会过得很好……这个想法他们一点儿也不赞成。
可是就在这个时候，克莱德的生活却发生了多么大的变化!
从头一天晚上，五点三刻，他来到惠普尔先生面前，顶头上司对他表示满意……不仅仅因为新制服他很合身，而且还因为他的整个模样儿也不错……打从这时起，他觉得世界就完全变了样。他在大厅里紧挨总帐房间后面侍应生集合的过道里，和另外七个小伙子站成一排，经过惠普尔先生检查后，等到时钟敲了六下，这时，他们这一拨八个人一齐迈开步子，走过通向楼梯另一侧(惠普尔先生的写字台就设在这里)休息室的那道门，然后拐弯从总登记处前面绕了过去，走向对面的那只长条凳。有一位名叫巴恩斯先生的接了惠普尔先生的班，履行副领班的职责。
侍应生们便坐了下来……克莱德坐在末尾……不过他们马上听候传唤，依次去干各式各样差使……与此同时，惠普尔先生率领的那拨歇班人员，照例被带到后面侍应生集合的过道，然后就地解散了。
"丁零零!
"领班写字台上铃声一响，头一个侍应生马上跑了过去。
"丁零零!
"铃声又响了，第二个侍应生也应声一跃而起。
"上来一个!
"……"快去中门!
"巴恩斯先生大声喊道。第三个侍应生顺着长长的大理石地面朝中门溜了过去，接住一位来客的手提包。这个客人白花花的连鬓胡子，和不合年龄。色调鲜明的苏格兰呢行装……克莱德这双即使还不内行的眼睛在一百英尺开外早就看见了。眼前立刻浮现出一个神秘而又神圣的幻象……小费!
"上来一个!
"巴恩斯先生又在大声喊道。"去看看九一三号房间要些什么……我说大概要冰水呗。"第四个侍应生马上就去了。
克莱德在长条凳上一个劲儿往前挪，紧挨着那个曾经奉命前来点拨他的赫格伦，眼睛。耳朵和神经……几乎浑身上下都紧张起来，以致连气也透不过来，而且一个劲儿在抖索。后来，赫格伦终于开了腔，说道:
"喂，别紧张哟。只要沉住气，你懂吗。你准行。你这副得〔德〕行，正象我当初一开始时一样……全身抖索得好厉害。不过拿〔那〕样是药〔要〕不得的。到了这儿，你就得不慌不忙。你该做到好象你不管哪一个人都没看见似的……只是一心注意你眼前该做的事。""上来一个!
"巴恩斯先生又在大声喊道。赫格伦还在说些什么，克莱德几乎没得心思听下去了。"一一五号房间要纸和笔。"第五个侍应生马上就去了。
"要是客人要纸和笔，该上哪儿找去?
"他赶紧恳求赫格伦指点一下，仿佛临终前的人在苦苦哀求似的。
"我跟你说，就在管钥匙的帐房那里。他就在靠左边那儿。他会给你的。要冰水，就上刚才我们站队集合的过道去……在拿〔那〕一头，你懂吗……你会看到有个小门。那个家伙会给你冰水，可你下一回就得给他十个美分，要不然，他就要冒火了。""丁零零!
"领班的铃声又响了。第六个侍应生一言不语地前去听候吩咐了。
"现在还得要记住，"赫格伦因为下一个就要轮到他自己了，这才最后一次地提醒克莱德，"假如大〔他〕们要喝什么，你就上餐厅那边的酒吧间去取。千万要把酒名老〔闹〕清楚，要不然大〔他〕们就要恼火了。今儿晚上你要是引领客人到房间去，就得把窗帘拉下来，把灯一一拧开。你要是上餐厅给客人取什么东事〔西〕，先得问一下那边的领班……小费嘛全归你，你懂吗。""上来一个!
"赫格伦霍地一跃而起，走了。
这下子克莱德便成了头一号。那四号已经又挨在他身边坐下了……目光尖锐地在东张西望着，看哪儿需要人。
"上来一个!
"这是巴恩斯先生的喊叫声。克莱德马上站了起来，走到他跟前，真是谢天谢地，这当儿幸亏没有客人拎着手提包进来，不过，他又很担心叫他去做也许是他不懂的，或是他不能很快就完成的差使。
"去看看八八二号房间要些什么。"克莱德冲那两部电梯中标明"职工专用"的一部直奔了过去。他心里捉摸是应该乘这一部吧，因为刚才他就是搭这部电梯上十二层楼的。可是，从旅客的快速电梯里走出来的另一个侍应生却提醒他，说他走错了。
"上客房去吗?
"他说。"就搭客人的电梯。那两部是给职工或是携带行李的人搭乘的。"克莱德连忙改正自己的错误，赶过去说:
"八楼。"电梯里没有其他的人，开电梯的黑人马上招呼他说:
"你是新来的，是不是?
以浅〔前〕我可没见过你。""是的，我才进店哩，"克莱德回答说。
"嘿，你准不会腻味这个店呗，"那个年轻小伙子和颜悦色地说。"我说，谁都不会腻味这个大酒店。你是说上八楼吧?
"他停了一下，克莱德就走出了电梯。
这时他心里太紧张了，顾不上问清楚该往哪一边走，就连忙去看房间号码，寻摸了一会儿，才断定自己走错过道了。他脚下是柔软的棕色地毯，两旁是柔和的奶油色墙壁，嵌在天花板里的则是雪白的滴溜滚圆电灯……这一切，在他看来，都是达到了至臻至美境界，显示了那么一种高贵的社会地位，几乎令人难以置信……与他从前见过的相比，真有十万八千里远哩。
最后，他找到了八八二号，战战兢兢地敲敲门，隔了一会儿才有一个人从半掩着门里招呼他，此人身穿一套蓝白条子内衣，露出矮胖粗壮的半边身子，以及连在一起的半个圆圆的。红光满面的脑袋，还有一只梢上略带鱼尾细纹的眼睛。
"这是一张一块头美钞，小伙计，"好象是那只眼睛在说话……接着便伸出来一只手，手里拿着一张一块头美钞。那是……一只红盈盈。胖乎乎的手。"你上服饰店去，给我买一副吊袜带……波士顿吊袜带……真丝的……快一点回来。""是，先生，"克莱德回答说，一手把钱接住。门关上了，克莱德急冲冲沿着过道直奔电梯而去，心里暗自纳闷这服饰店是个什么样儿的。虽说他已有那么大的年纪……十七岁了……这样一个店名，对于他却是陌生得很。从前他甚至连听都没有听说过，或者至少是没有注意过这个店名。要是此人说"男子服装用品商店"，那他一听就懂了，可现在此人关照他到男子服饰店去，他真不知道那是怎么回事。他额头上沁出一些冷汗，两个膝盖也在瑟瑟发抖。见鬼!
如今怎么办呢?
他能不能问问别人，哪怕是问问赫格伦，不要显得好象……他摁了一下电梯按纽。电梯开始下来了。服饰店。服饰店。突然，他眉头一皱，灵机一动。假定说他不知道服饰店是怎么回事，那又有什么了不起?
反正此人要的是一副波士顿真丝吊袜带。上哪儿去寻摸波士顿真丝吊袜带呢……当然罗，到百货店去，那里是销售男子用品的地方。那还用说嘛。准是男子服装用品商店。他一溜小跑，奔出去寻摸这么一家商铺。下去的时候，他看见开电梯的另一个和颜悦色的黑人，就开口问道:
"你可知道本店附近哪儿有男子服装用品商店?
""本大楼里就有一家，领班，正好在南大厅外面，"那个黑人回答说。克莱德至此才松了一口气，便急急忙忙赶到了那里。不过，他身穿的这套紧身制服，头戴那顶很怪的帽子，自己觉得总有一点儿希奇百怪的样儿。他仿佛老是在担心他那顶圆圆的。紧扣脑勺的小帽，说不定会掉下来。他不时偷偷地使劲儿把它往下扣一扣，急急乎奔进一家门口灯光通明的服饰店，大声嚷嚷:
"我要一副波士顿真丝吊袜带。""得了，小伙子，这就是呗，"一个油嘴滑舌的矮个儿掌柜说。此人脑门光秃，脸色红润，戴着一副金边眼镜。"是替酒店里客人买的，是吗?
得了，就算它七十五个美分吧，这儿十个美分是给你的，"此人一边这么说，一边包扎，把那一块头美钞扔进钱柜里。"我对你们这些侍应生，一向是特别优待的，因为我知道你们下回还会来作成我的生意。"克莱德手里拿着那十个美分和纸包，真不知道该怎么个想法哩。那副吊袜带的价钱想必是七十五个美分……此人就是这么说的。因此，只要把二十五个美分找头交还那位客人就得了。那末，这十个美分就归他自己了。再说，也许……此人真的还会另外再赏给他一点小费呢。
他急忙忙赶回酒店，直奔电梯而去。一个弦乐队正在演奏一支曲子，悦耳的乐声在大厅里荡漾着。他看见那里人们有的走过来，有的走过去……他们穿着那么精美讲究，神态那么从容自在，跟大街上或是别处的人群简直大异其趣。
电梯门开了。好几位客人走了进去。随后进去的，是克莱德跟另一个好奇地看了他一眼的侍应生。到了六楼，那个侍应生走了出来。克莱德和一位老太太是在八楼才走出了电梯。他急急忙忙赶到他那位客人的房门口，轻轻地敲了两下。此人把门打开，身上比刚才穿得多少齐整一些。这时，他穿上了长裤，正在刮脸。
"回来了，嗯?
"他大声说道。
"是的，先生，"克莱德一面回答说，一面把纸包和找头交给他，"那掌柜的说是七十五个美分。""他简直是个强盗。不过，得了吧，找头你照例拿着，"客人一面回答说，一面把那二十五个美分给了他，顺手把门关上了。克莱德伫立在那里，刹那间简直给愣住了。"三十五个美分，"……他暗自寻思道……"三十五个美分呀。"只不过短短的跑了这么一趟。难道说这里的事儿，真的样样都是这个样吗?
真的，不会这样的。这是不可能的……决不会老是这个样。
随后，他的两只脚踩着地毯上松软的柔毛，他的那只手正把钱紧紧地攥在口袋里，他真的恨不得长啸尖叫，或者放声大笑。真有意思，三十五个美分……仅仅干了这么一丁点儿小事。这个人给了他二十五个美分，那个人也给了十个美分，而他压根儿也没有做多少事啊。
他一到了底层，急冲冲走出了电梯……乐队的曲子又把他给迷住了，那衣香鬓影的人群，也使他飘飘然了……他穿过那些令人惊异的人群，又回到了他刚才离开的长条凳那里。
打这以后，他又被传唤，去替一对上了年纪。仿佛是农场主的夫妇拎三只手提箱包和两把雨伞;他们已在五楼定好了一套房间，包括一个小客厅。一间卧室和一个浴室。他发现，一路上他们两眼直瞅着他，始终一言不语。克莱德一进他们房间，马上打开房门边的电灯，把窗帘拉了下来，把手提箱包搁到行李架上，那个有点儿笨头笨脑。已届中年的丈夫……他蓄着络腮胡子，一望可知，举止十分稳重……把克莱德仔细端详了一番，最后才这么说:
"小伙计，你好象很讨人喜欢，而且灵活得很……我可得要说，比我们过去碰到过的那些人要好。""我当然并不认为，酒店就是孩子们该去的好去处，"他那心爱的妻子叽叽喳喳地说……她不但个儿大，而且胖得圆滚滚的，这时正忙于察看连在一起的那个房间。"当然，我决不会让我们家的孩子到酒店里工作……那些人的所作所为就够你瞧的了。""不过，你听着，年轻小伙子，"那个年纪较大的男人接下去说，一面把外套放好，一面在裤袋里掏钱。"你就下楼去，给我买三。四份晚报，要是买得到这么多的话;此外，还要捎上一瓶冰水;你一回来，我就给你十五个美分。""这家酒店要比奥马哈那家好得多，孩子他爹，"妻子言简意赅地找补着说。
"这里的地毯和窗帘也要漂亮些。"克莱德虽说还是一个新手，这时也禁不住暗自发笑。不过表面上他却装得一本正经，看来他的内心活动一点儿也都没有露出痕迹来，只是拿着一些零钱就走了出去。不一会儿，他拿着冰水和所有能买到的晚报回来了。于是，他就得了那十五个美分，笑眯眯地走了。
不过，就拿这个很不平常的夜晚来说，这才不过是刚开始，因为他回到长条凳上还没有落座，又被传唤到五二九号房间去，仅仅是叫他上酒吧间去取饮料……两瓶姜汁汽水和两瓶汽水……这一次叫他的，是一拨身穿漂亮时装的少男少女。他们正在房间里说说笑笑，吵吵闹闹，里头有一位把门儿稍微打开一条缝，以便吩咐他去干些什么事。不过因为壁炉架上有一面镜子，他不仅看得见这一拨人，而且还看见身穿白色衣帽的一位漂亮姑娘，坐在一张椅子边上，有个年轻人正斜靠在椅子上，一条胳膊搂住她的纤腰。
克莱德两眼直勾勾瞅着，虽然还得竭力装出目不旁视的样子来。不过，拿他这时的心态来说，这种情景仿佛透过天堂的大门往里窥探似的。这个房间里，都是一些少男少女，论年龄，不见得比他大多少，正在有说有笑，甚至他们喝的……并不是冰淇淋汽水这一类东西，而是他的父母一向表示反对。而且据说还诱使人走向毁灭的那类饮料，看来这一拨青年人，对此倒是满不在乎。
他连忙下楼，到酒吧间去，取了饮料和一张发票就回来了……他们把钱给了他……饮料一块美元，小费二十五个美分。那诱人的情景……他又乜了一眼。
不过这会儿只有一对伴侣，踩着其他两对伴侣吹着口哨和哼唱着一支乐曲节拍，正在婆娑起舞。
不过，除了他来到各个房间里对形形色色的客人匆匆投以一瞥以外，同样引起他莫大兴趣的，乃是酒店进门大厅里永不停息的活动全景……总帐房间后面那些职员的种种分工职责……有的管客房的，有的管钥匙的，也有的管函件的，此外还有出纳和助理出纳等等。大厅四周围还有各式各样的摊位……花铺。
报亭。烟铺，以及电报室。出租汽车营业处等等，这些地方的所有经管人员，在他看来，真怪，个个都散发出这个大酒店的特殊气味。而在这些摊位周围和中间，不论是在走动或是坐下来的，净是那些神气活现的男男女女，以及年轻的小伙子和姑娘们，个个穿戴得那么入时，而且个个红光满面，踌躇满志。还有那些汽车和其他车辆，有的都是在晚宴时和夜深时开到的，借着门外令人眩目的灯光，他才能看得到。还有他们搭在身上的披肩。皮毛围脖和其他类似的东西，往往由其他侍应生和他自己拿着，走过进门大厅，送上汽车，或是送至餐厅，或是送上电梯。反正克莱德看得出来，这些东西总是用极为珍贵的料子做成的。该有多么豪华气派啊。由此可见，要想当富翁。当社会上了不起的人物，意味着……要有钱，这不就是一清二楚了吗。那时也就意味着，你爱怎么办，就可以怎么办了。而别人，如同他克莱德这号人，就会殷勤侍候你。所有这些奢侈品，你也通通有了。那时你爱上哪儿，你爱怎么个去法，你又爱在什么时候去……一切一切都随你高兴就得了。
收听单词发音 |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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catered
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| 提供饮食及服务( cater的过去式和过去分词 )； 满足需要，适合 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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naively
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| adv. 天真地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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registration
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| n.登记，注册，挂号 | |
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skidding
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| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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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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dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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dime
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| n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角 | |
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grill
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| n.烤架，铁格子，烤肉；v.烧，烤，严加盘问 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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hustling
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| 催促（hustle的现在分词形式） | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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chirped
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的过去式 ) | |
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pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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effacing
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| 谦逊的 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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sodas
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| n.苏打( soda的名词复数 )；碱；苏打水；汽水 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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panorama
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| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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textures
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| n.手感( texture的名词复数 )；质感；口感；（音乐或文学的）谐和统一感 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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