As Hortense well knew Clyde was pressing more and more hungrily toward that ultimate condescension1 on herpart, which, though she would never have admitted it to him, was the privilege of two others. They were nevertogether any more without his insisting upon the real depth of her regard for him. Why was it, if she cared for him the least bit, that she refused to do this, that or the other--would not let him kiss her as much as he wished,would not let him hold her in his arms as much as he would like. She was always keeping dates with otherfellows and breaking them or refusing to make them with him. What was her exact relationship toward theseothers? Did she really care more for them than she did for him? In fact, they were never together anywhere butwhat this problem of union was uppermost--and but thinly veiled.
And she liked to think that he was suffering from repressed desire for her all of the time that she tortured him,and that the power to allay2 his suffering lay wholly in her--a sadistic3 trait which had for its soil Clyde's ownmasochistic yearning4 for her.
However, in the face of her desire for the coat, his stature5 and interest for her were beginning to increase. In spiteof the fact that only the morning before she had informed Clyde, with quite a flourish, that she could not possiblysee him until the following Monday--that all her intervening nights were taken--nevertheless, the problem of thecoat looming6 up before her, she now most eagerly planned to contrive7 an immediate8 engagement with himwithout appearing too eager. For by then she had definitely decided9 to endeavor to persuade him, if possible, tobuy the coat for her. Only of course, she would have to alter her conduct toward him radically10. She would haveto be much sweeter--more enticing11. Although she did not actually say to herself that now she might even bewilling to yield herself to him, still basically that was what was in her mind.
For quite a little while she was unable to think how to proceed. How was she to see him this day, or the next atthe very latest? How should she go about putting before him the need of this gift, or loan, as she finally worded itto herself? She might hint that he could loan her enough to buy the coat and that later she would pay him back bydegrees (yet once in possession of the coat she well knew that that necessity would never confront her). Or, if hedid not have so much money on hand at one time, she could suggest that she might arrange with Mr. Rubensteinfor a series of time payments which could be met by Clyde. In this connection her mind suddenly turned andbegan to consider how she could flatter and cajole Mr. Rubenstein into letting her have the coat on easy terms.
She recalled that he had said he would be glad to buy the coat for her if he thought she would be nice to him.
Her first scheme in connection with all this was to suggest to Louise Ratterer to invite her brother, Clyde and athird youth by the name of Scull, who was dancing attendance upon Louise, to come to a certain dance hall thatvery evening to which she was already planning to go with the more favored cigar clerk. Only now she intendedto break that engagement and appear alone with Louise and Greta and announce that her proposed partner wasill. That would give her an opportunity to leave early with Clyde and with him walk past the Rubenstein store.
But having the temperament12 of a spider that spins a web for flies, she foresaw that this might involve thepossibility of Louise's explaining to Clyde or Ratterer that it was Hortense who had instigated13 the party. It mighteven bring up some accidental mention of the coat on the part of Clyde to Louise later, which, as she felt, wouldnever do. She did not care to let her friends know how she provided for herself. In consequence, she decided thatit would not do for her to appeal to Louise nor to Greta in this fashion.
And she was actually beginning to worry as to how to bring about this encounter, when Clyde, who chanced tobe in the vicinity on his way home from work, walked into the store where she was working. He was seeking fora date on the following Sunday. And to his intense delight, Hortense greeted him most cordially with a mostengaging smile and a wave of the hand. She was busy at the moment with a customer. She soon finished, however, and drawing near, and keeping one eye on her floor-walker who resented callers, exclaimed: "I was justthinking about you. You wasn't thinking about me, was you? Trade last." Then she added, sotto voce, "Don't actlike you are talking to me. I see our floorwalker over there."Arrested by the unusual sweetness in her voice, to say nothing of the warm smile with which she greeted him,Clyde was enlivened and heartened at once. "Was I thinking of you?" he returned gayly. "Do I ever think of anyone else? Say! Ratterer says I've got you on the brain.""Oh, him," replied Hortense, pouting14 spitefully and scornfully, for Ratterer, strangely enough, was one whom shedid not interest very much, and this she knew. "He thinks he's so smart," she added. "I know a lotta girls don'tlike him.""Oh, Tom's all right," pleaded Clyde, loyally. "That's just his way of talking. He likes you.""Oh, no, he don't, either," replied Hortense. "But I don't want to talk about him. Whatcha doin' around six o'clockto-night?""Oh, gee15!" exclaimed Clyde disappointedly. "You don't mean to say you got to-night free, have you? Well, ain'tthat tough? I thought you were all dated up. I got to work!" He actually sighed, so depressed16 was he by thethought that she might be willing to spend the evening with him and he not able to avail himself of theopportunity, while Hortense, noting his intense disappointment, was pleased.
"Well, I gotta date, but I don't want to keep it," she went on with a contemptuous gathering17 of the lips. "I don'thave to break it. I would though if you was free." Clyde's heart began to beat rapidly with delight.
"Gee, I wish I didn't have to work now," he went on, looking at her. "You're sure you couldn't make it to-morrownight? I'm off then. And I was just coming up here to ask you if you didn't want to go for an automobile18 ride nextSunday afternoon, maybe. A friend of Hegglund's got a car--a Packard--and Sunday we're all off. And he wantedme to get a bunch to run out to Excelsior Springs. He's a nice fellow" (this because Hortense showed signs of notbeing so very much interested). "You don't know him very well, but he is. But say, I can talk to you about thatlater. How about to-morrow night? I'm off then."Hortense, who, because of the hovering19 floor-walker, was pretending to show Clyde some handkerchiefs, wasnow thinking how unfortunate that a whole twenty-four hours must intervene before she could bring him to viewthe coat with her--and so have an opportunity to begin her machinations. At the same time she pretended that theproposed meeting for the next night was a very difficult thing to bring about--more difficult than he couldpossibly appreciate. She even pretended to be somewhat uncertain as to whether she wanted to do it.
"Just pretend you're examining these handkerchiefs here," she continued, fearing the floor-walker mightinterrupt. "I gotta nother date for then," she continued thoughtfully, "and I don't know whether I can break it ornot. Let me see." She feigned20 deep thought. "Well, I guess I can," she said finally. "I'll try, anyhow. Just for thisonce. You be here at Fifteenth and Main at 6.15--no, 6.30's the best you can do, ain't it?--and I'll see if I can't getthere. I won't promise, but I'll see and I think I can make it. Is that all right?" She gave him one of her sweetestsmiles and Clyde was quite beside himself with satisfaction. To think that she would break a date for him, at last.
Her eyes were warm with favor and her mouth wreathed with a smile.
"Surest thing you know," he exclaimed, voicing the slang of the hotel boys. "You bet I'll be there. Will you dome21 a favor?""What is it?" she asked cautiously.
"Wear that little black hat with the red ribbon under your chin, will you? You look so cute in that.""Oh, you," she laughed. It was so easy to kid Clyde. "Yes, I'll wear it," she added. "But you gotta go now. Herecomes that old fish. I know he's going to kick. But I don't care. Six-thirty, eh? So long." She turned to give herattention to a new customer, an old lady who had been patiently waiting to inquire if she could tell her where themuslins were sold. And Clyde, tingling22 with pleasure because of this unexpected delight vouchsafed23 him, madehis way most elatedly to the nearest exit.
He was not made unduly24 curious because of this sudden favor, and the next evening, promptly25 at six-thirty, andin the glow of the overhanging arc-lights showering their glistening26 radiance like rain, she appeared. As henoted, at once, she had worn the hat he liked. Also she was enticingly27 ebullient28 and friendly, more so than at anytime he had known her. Before he had time to say that she looked pretty, or how pleased he was because shewore that hat, she began:
"Some favorite you're gettin' to be, I'LL SAY, when I'LL break an engagement and then wear an old hat I don'tlike just to please you. How do I get that way is what I'd like to know."He beamed as though he had won a great victory. Could it be that at last he might be becoming a favorite withher?
"If you only knew how cute you look in that hat, Hortense, you wouldn't knock it," he urged admiringly. "Youdon't know how sweet you do look.""Oh, ho. In this old thing?" she scoffed29. "You certainly are easily pleased, I'll say.""An' your eyes are just like soft, black velvet30," he persisted eagerly. "They're wonderful." He was thinking of analcove in the Green-Davidson hung with black velvet.
"Gee, you certainly have got 'em to-night," she laughed, teasingly. "I'll have to do something about you." Then,before he could make any reply to this, she went off into an entirely31 fictional32 account of how, having had aprevious engagement with a certain alleged33 young society man--Tom Keary by name--who was dogging hersteps these days in order to get her to dine and dance, she had only this evening decided to "ditch" him,preferring Clyde, of course, for this occasion, anyhow. And she had called Keary up and told him that she couldnot see him to-night--called it all off, as it were. But just the same, on coming out of the employee's entrance,who should she see there waiting for her but this same Tom Keary, dressed to perfection in a bright gray raglanand spats34, and with his closed sedan, too. And he would have taken her to the Green-Davidson, if she hadwanted to go. He was a real sport. But she didn't. Not to-night, anyhow. Yet, if she had not contrived35 to avoid him, he would have delayed her. But she espied36 him first and ran the other way.
"And you should have just seen my little feet twinkle up Sargent and around the corner into Bailey Place," wasthe way she narcissistically37 painted her flight. And so infatuated was Clyde by this picture of herself and thewonderful Keary that he accepted all of her petty fabrications as truth.
And then, as they were walking in the direction of Gaspie's, a restaurant in Wyandotte near Tenth which quitelately he had learned was much better than Frissell's, Hortense took occasion to pause and look in a number ofwindows, saying as she did so that she certainly did wish that she could find a little coat that was becoming toher--that the one she had on was getting worn and that she must have another soon--a predicament which causedClyde to wonder at the time whether she was suggesting to him that he get her one. Also whether it might notadvance his cause with her if he were to buy her a little jacket, since she needed it.
But Rubenstein's coming into view on this same side of the street, its display window properly illuminated38 andthe coat in full view, Hortense paused as she had planned.
"Oh, do look at that darling little coat there," she began, ecstatically, as though freshly arrested by the beauty ofit, her whole manner suggesting a first and unspoiled impression. "Oh, isn't that the dearest, sweetest, cutest littlething you ever did see?" she went on, her histrionic powers growing with her desire for it. "Oh, just look at thecollar, and those sleeves and those pockets. Aren't they the snappiest things you ever saw? Couldn't I just warmmy little hands in those?" She glanced at Clyde out of the tail of her eye to see if he was being properlyimpressed.
And he, aroused by her intense interest, surveyed the coat with not a little curiosity. Unquestionably it was apretty coat--very. But, gee, what would a coat like that cost, anyhow? Could it be that she was trying to interesthim in the merits of a coat like that in order that he might get it for her? Why, it must be a two-hundred-dollarcoat at least. He had no idea as to the value of such things, anyhow. He certainly couldn't afford a coat like that.
And especially at this time when his mother was taking a good portion of his extra cash for Esta. And yetsomething in her manner seemed to bring it to him that that was exactly what she was thinking. It chilled andalmost numbed39 him at first.
And yet, as he now told himself sadly, if Hortense wanted it, she could most certainly find some one who wouldget it for her--that young Tom Keary, for instance, whom she had just been describing. And, worse luck, she wasjust that kind of a girl. And if he could not get it for her, some one else could and she would despise him for notbeing able to do such things for her.
To his intense dismay and dissatisfaction she exclaimed:
"Oh, what wouldn't I give for a coat like that!" She had not intended at the moment to put the matter so bluntly,for she wanted to convey the thought that was deepest in her mind to Clyde tactfully.
And Clyde, inexperienced as he was, and not subtle by any means, was nevertheless quite able to gather themeaning of that. It meant--it meant--for the moment he was not quite willing to formulate40 to himself what it didmean. And now--now--if only he had the price of that coat. He could feel that she was thinking of some one certain way to get the coat. And yet how was he to manage it? How? If he could only arrange to get this coat forher--if he only could promise her that he would get it for her by a certain date, say, if it didn't cost too much, thenwhat? Did he have the courage to suggest to her to-night, or to-morrow, say, after he had learned the price of thecoat, that if she would--why then--why then, well, he would get her the coat or anything else she really wanted.
Only he must be sure that she was not really fooling him as she was always doing in smaller ways. He wouldn'tstand for getting her the coat and then get nothing in return--never!
As he thought of it, he actually thrilled and trembled beside her. And she, standing41 there and looking at the coat,was thinking that unless he had sense enough now to get her this thing and to get what she meant--how sheintended to pay for it--well then, this was the last. He need not think she was going to fool around with any onewho couldn't or wouldn't do that much for her. Never.
They resumed their walk toward Gaspie's. And throughout the dinner, she talked of little else--how attractive thecoat was, how wonderful it would look on her.
"Believe me," she said at one point, defiantly42, feeling that Clyde was perhaps uncertain at the moment about hisability to buy it for her, "I'm going to find some way to get that coat. I think, maybe, that Rubenstein store wouldlet me have it on time if I were to go in there and see him about it, make a big enough payment down. Anothergirl out of our store got a coat that way once," she lied promptly, hoping thus to induce Clyde to assist her withit. But Clyde, disturbed by the fear of some extraordinary cost in connection with it, hesitated to say just what hewould do. He could not even guess the price of such a thing--it might cost two or three hundred even--and hefeared to obligate himself to do something which later he might not be able to do.
"You don't know what they might want for that, do you?" he asked, nervously43, at the same time thinking if hemade any cash gift to her at this time without some guarantee on her part, what right would he have to expectanything more in return than he had ever received? He knew how she cajoled him into getting things for her andthen would not even let him kiss her. He flushed and churned a little internally with resentment44 at the thought ofhow she seemed to feel that she could play fast and loose with him. And yet, as he now recalled, she had just saidshe would do anything for any one who would get that coat for her--or nearly that.
"No-o," she hesitated at first, for the moment troubled as to whether to give the exact price or something higher.
For if she asked for time, Mr. Rubenstein might want more. And yet if she said much more, Clyde might notwant to help her. "But I know it wouldn't be more than a hundred and twenty-five. I wouldn't pay more than thatfor it."Clyde heaved a sigh of relief. After all, it wasn't two or three hundred. He began to think now that if she couldarrange to make any reasonable down payment--say, fifty or sixty dollars--he might manage to bring it togetherwithin the next two or three weeks anyhow. But if the whole hundred and twenty-five were demanded at once,Hortense would have to wait, and besides he would have to know whether he was to be rewarded or not-definitely.
"That's a good idea, Hortense," he exclaimed without, however, indicating in any way why it appealed to him somuch. "Why don't you do that? Why don't you find out first what they want for it, and how much they wantdown? Maybe I could help you with it.""Oh, won't that be just too wonderful!" Hortense clapped her hands. "Oh, will you? Oh, won't that be just dandy?
Now I just know I can get that coat. I just know they'll let me have it, if I talk to them right."She was, as Clyde saw and feared, quite forgetting the fact that he was the one who was making the coatpossible, and now it would be just as he thought. The fact that he was paying for it would be taken for granted.
But a moment later, observing his glum45 face, she added: "Oh, aren't you the sweetest, dearest thing, to help me inthis way. You just bet I won't forget this either. You just wait and see. You won't be sorry. Now you just wait."Her eyes fairly snapped with gayety and even generosity46 toward him.
He might be easy and young, but he wasn't mean, and she would reward him, too, she now decided. Just as soonas she got the coat, which must be in a week or two at the latest, she was going to be very nice to him--dosomething for him. And to emphasize her own thoughts and convey to him what she really meant, she allowedher eyes to grow soft and swimming and to dwell on him promisingly--a bit of romantic acting47 which causedhim to become weak and nervous. The gusto of her favor frightened him even a little, for it suggested, as hefancied, a disturbing vitality48 which he might not be able to match. He felt a little weak before her now--a littlecowardly--in the face of what he assumed her real affection might mean.
Nevertheless, he now announced that if the coat did not cost more than one hundred and twenty-five dollars, thatsum to be broken into one payment of twenty-five dollars down and two additional sums of fifty dollars each, hecould manage it. And she on her part replied that she was going the very next day to see about it. Mr. Rubensteinmight be induced to let her have it at once on the payment of twenty-five dollars down; if not that, then at the endof the second week, when nearly all would be paid.
And then in real gratitude49 to Clyde she whispered to him, coming out of the restaurant and purring like a cat, thatshe would never forget this and that he would see--and that she would wear it for him the very first time. If hewere not working they might go somewhere to dinner. Or, if not that, then she would have it surely in time forthe day of the proposed automobile ride which he, or rather Hegglund, had suggested for the following Sunday,but which might be postponed50.
She suggested that they go to a certain dance hall, and there she clung to him in the dances in a suggestive wayand afterwards hinted of a mood which made Clyde a little quivery and erratic51.
He finally went home, dreaming of the day, satisfied that he would have no trouble in bringing together the firstpayment, if it were so much as fifty, even. For now, under the spur of this promise, he proposed to borrow asmuch as twenty-five from either Ratterer or Hegglund, and to repay it after the coat was paid for.
But, ah, the beautiful Hortense. The charm of her, the enormous, compelling, weakening delight. And to thinkthat at last, and soon, she was to be his. It was, plainly, of such stuff as dreams are made of--the unbelievablebecome real.
霍丹斯心里很明白，克莱德正越来越渴望她最后屈尊俯就，殊不知这是属于另外两个人享受的特殊权利，尽管她永远也不会向他承认这一点。现在每次见面，克莱德总是要求她实实在在地对他表表态。要是她真的有一点儿爱他，那她为什么又拒绝了他这个或那个要求……比方说，不让他痛痛快快地吻她，不让他痛痛快快地搂抱她。她同别人约会，总是守约，可是同克莱德相会，就照例要失约，或者干脆拒绝同他约会。那末，她同别的这些人，究竟是什么关系呢?
她真的喜爱他们胜过喜爱克莱德吗?
事实上，他们每次相遇时常常谈到的，总是他们结合的问题……尽管不免谈得还有点儿含糊不清。
霍丹斯心中暗自高兴地想到:
克莱德由于对她的欲念没法得到宣泄而深感痛苦……她是造成他痛苦的根源，同时又完全掌握了减轻痛苦的权力……这里带有一种施虐淫的特点，而克莱德自我受虐淫式地对她的渴望则是它赖以孳生的土壤。
不过，如今她急欲弄到这件外套，克莱德的重要性，在她看来开始有增无减了。虽说仅仅在前一天早上，她还花言巧语地通知克莱德，说下星期一以前，她大概不能同他见面……因为每天晚上她都有约会……可现在这外套问题已明摆在她面前，她就急急乎想方设法如何安排马上同他会面，可又不能显露出自己太心急的表情来。她早已决定，到时候如果有可能的话，好歹也要说服他给她买这件外套。当然罗，她就得彻底改变自己对待他的态度，也就是说要变得更加亲昵……更加迷人。虽然她真的还没有暗自思忖过甚至现在就准备顺从他的要求，不过，在她心里萦绕不去的，正是这么一种想法。
开头她怎么也想不出该怎么办才好。她怎么能在今天，或者至迟明天见到他呢?
她该怎样向他说明她需要这件礼物，或者象她最后暗自思忖的那样说成需要向他借钱呢?
也许她可以向他暗示，他不妨借钱给她把这件外套买下来，以后她会慢慢归还他。(不过，她心中也明白，只要她把外套拿到手里，那她就根本用不着再归还了。)要不然，如果说他手头一时没有这么多钱，那她不妨说，她可以跟鲁宾斯坦先生讲好分期付款，再由克莱德按期付清。至此，她忽然转念一想，她应该琢磨一下，怎样用甜言蜜语诱惑鲁宾斯坦先生，让她按优厚条件购得这件外套。她回想起他说过，只要他知道她将会待他好，他也会乐意给她买这件外套的。
关于这一切，她心中首先想到的计划，就是建议路易斯。拉特勒出面，在今天晚上邀请她哥哥。克莱德和另一个经常跟路易斯一起伴舞。名叫斯卡尔的年轻人，都到她原先打算同她更为喜欢的一个烟摊伙计一块去的那家舞厅。现在她只好取消原先定好的约会，独自一人跟路易斯和格里达一块去了，推托说她原先说好的舞伴病了。那就会给她一个机会跟克莱德一块儿提前退场，拉着他去鲁宾斯坦铺子。
不过，霍丹斯毕竟具有蜘蛛网罗飞虫的气质。她预见到，事后路易斯很可能会向克莱德或拉特勒解释，说今晚舞会是霍丹斯出的主意。克莱德甚至还可能向路易斯无意中谈起外套的事，她觉得，这是绝对要不得的。她不愿意让她的朋友们了解她是怎样给自己张罗的。因此，她就决定她不能用这样方式求助于路易斯或是格里达。
当她真的为如何邂逅一事发愁的时候，克莱德刚好下班回家路过这里，顺便走进了她工作的商店，打算约她星期日见面。霍丹斯喜出望外，脸上露出非常迷人的微笑，非常亲昵地向他挥手致意。这时她正忙着接待一位顾客。不过，她一下子就完事了，走到他身旁，一只眼睛乜着店里那个讨厌会客。到处巡视的稽查员，一面大声嚷道:
"我心里正惦着你呢。你可没有惦着我，是吧?
交换一下好消息吧。"说完，她又低声说:
"别现出你在同我说话的样子。瞧我们稽查员在那边。"这时，克莱德已被她说话时那种异乎寻常的媚态给迷住了，至于她同他打招呼时的热情微笑，就更不用提了。于是，他一下子心花怒放了。"我没有惦着你吗?
"他乐呵呵地回答说。"难道说我还惦着别人吗?
你听着!
拉特勒说我心心念念在惦着你哩。""哦，他这个人呀，"霍丹斯说，轻鄙地嘴唇一抿，露出怒咻咻的样子。因为，说来也真怪，她本来对拉特勒此人不怎么感兴趣，这一点她自己心里也很清楚。
"他满以为自己准会令人倾倒，"她找补着说。"我知道很多姑娘都不喜欢他呢。""哦，汤姆是顶呱呱的，"克莱德作为忠实的朋友马上申辩说。"只不过他说话时那副德行呗。他可喜欢你哩。""哦，不，他才不是呢，"霍丹斯回答说。"不过，我可不打算谈他。今儿个晚上六点钟，你有事吗?
""哎哟哟!
"克莱德失望地大声说。"你是说你今儿晚上有空，是吗?
哦，真可惜!
我还以为你天天晚上全有约会呢。可我得上班呀!
"他真的叹了一口气，伤心地想:
今天也许她愿意同他一起消磨一个夜晚，他却不能利用这一大好机会。可霍丹斯一发现他很失望的样子，心中暗自高兴。
"哦，我虽然有约会，可我不想去了，"她接下去说，轻蔑地努努嘴。"本来我是用不着失约的。不过，你要是有空，我也就不去得了。"克莱德一听，高兴得心儿怦怦直跳。
"哦，我真是巴不得今晚能不去上班呀，"他接下去说，一面望着她。"你明儿晚上有空吗?
明儿晚上我休息。我这是特地赶来问你，星期日下午也许乘汽车一块兜风去，你去不去?
赫格伦的一个朋友有车……是一辆'
''''帕卡德，……而且星期日我们大伙儿都有空。他要我寻摸一拨人，开车到至善泉去。他是个呱呱叫的小伙子。"(他之所以这样说，原是因为霍丹斯仿佛露出不太感兴趣的神色。)"你不大了解他，说真的，是个呱呱叫的小伙子。好吧，这事下次再跟你谈。明儿晚上，怎么样?
我明儿晚上休息。"霍丹斯因为稽查员又踅来这里，就佯装拿出来一些手绢，让克莱德挑选。
她心里暗想，真可惜，还得捱过整整二十四个小时，才能带他一块去看那件外套……那时她方才有机会使她的预谋得逞。同时，她又佯装好似拟议中的明儿晚上约会很为难……比他想象的还要难得多。她甚至装出自己是不是有空，也都说不准的样子。
"你只管假装在挑选手绢，"她接下去说，心里很怕稽查员也许踅过来，把他们的谈话给掐断了。"明儿晚上我已另有约会，"她显出考虑得很周到的样子说。
"可我还不知道能不能取消。让我想一想，"她假装在深思熟虑之后才说。"哦，我想总可以吧，"后来她又说。"反正我就尽力而为。就是这么一次呗。你到第十五街和大街的拐角处，六点一刻……哦，不，你最早还得六点半到，是吗?
……我也还得尽量争取去。事先我可不能说定，不过，我总得尽力而为。我想我是能去的。这你满意了吗?
"她向他投去一个非常迷人的微笑，克莱德简直开心得不能自主了。只要想一想:
为了他，她终于把另一个约会取消啦。她眼里露出爱抚的闪光，嘴角边含着……微笑。
"再对也没有啦，"他大声嚷嚷说，把格林－戴维逊大酒店里侍应生的俚语也说漏了嘴。"当然罗，到时我一定去。你能不能答应我的一个要求?
""什么要求?
"她小心翼翼地问。
"你来时就头戴这顶小黑帽儿，下巴颏儿结一条红色缎带。好吗?
那样你才显得真俏。""嘿，你真会恭维呀，"她格格笑了起来。要逗弄克莱德可太容易了。"敢情好，我戴就戴吧，"她找补着说。"不过，现在你该走了。瞧那老家伙踅过来了。
我知道，他准会发牢骚的。不过我可不在乎。六点半，嗯?
再见。"她转过身去招呼一位新顾客。那是一个老妇人，她耐心地等了很久，想打听细纱布在哪儿有卖。而克莱德呢，因为突然得到这一意外的赏光，几乎高兴得颤抖起来，就喜孜孜地朝最近的一个出口处走去。
他对这次突然受宠，并不感到特别奇怪。转天傍晚六点半整，在雨点一般光芒四射的。高悬的弧形灯光的照耀下，她翩然而至了。他马上发现，她戴的正是他最喜爱的那顶帽子。而且克莱德从来没有看到她显得那样迷人。活泼。
亲热。他还来不及说她有多美，或是说她戴那顶帽子他有多高兴，她早已抢先说了:
"我说，你真的成了我的心肝宝贝儿啦，所以，我才失约食言，我又戴上这顶我不喜欢的破帽儿，只为了使你高兴。我怎么会那样的，连自个儿都不明白。
"他粲然一笑，好象他已取得了一大胜利。难道说他最后真的会成为她的心肝宝贝儿吗?
"你要是早知道你戴了那顶帽子多俏，霍丹斯，恐怕你就不会小看它了，"他赞赏地鼓励她说。"你可没想象过，戴了它你的模样儿有多美啊。""哦，是吗?
戴了这顶破玩意儿?
"她嘲笑说。"我说，要你心里高兴，当然不难。""还有你的一对眼睛，简直就象软绵绵的黑天鹅绒，"他热乎乎地一个劲儿说。
"真是美极了。"这会儿他正想到格林－戴维逊大酒店挂着黑天鹅绒的一个小凹室。
"哦，今儿晚上你真是够意思，"她格格地笑了起来，想逗弄一下克莱德。"看来我还得为你干点什么。"克莱德还来不及回话，她就开始讲纯属捏造的一段事，说她同某一个据说交际广阔的年轻人，名叫汤姆。基尔里的……原有约会。
这些天来，此人老是一步不离盯住她，请她去吃饭。跳舞。今儿晚上她决定干脆"甩掉"他，当然罗，是因为喜欢克莱德，至少这次是这样。而且，她还打电话给基尔里，对他说今儿晚上不能同他见面了……约会就干脆给取消了。可是，当她走出专供职工上下班的出入口时，她还是看到了有个人在等着她，不用说，就是汤姆。基尔里。此人衣冠楚楚，身穿一件漂亮的灰色拉格伦式大衣和鞋罩，还有他的那辆小轿车。要是她高兴的话，本来他就要带她上格林－戴维逊大酒店去。他真是好一个堂堂正正的男子汉。可是，她并没有去。反正今儿晚上不行。不过再说，她要是没有耍诡计躲过他，他就可能把她缠住不放了。幸好是她先瞥见他的，她就从另一条路跑了。
"说实在的，你真该看看，当时我的一双小腿在萨金特街飞也似的跑，身子一忽闪，拐过弯，溜进了贝利大楼，"她扬扬自得地描述她如何慌张脱逃的情景。
她把她自己和那个了不起的基尔里绘声绘色地说了一通，竟使克莱德迷迷糊糊，对她胡编出来的这一套信以为真了。
随后，他们朝第十街附近，威恩多特街上的加斯比酒家走去。最近克莱德才听说这一家餐馆比弗里塞尔酒家好得多。霍丹斯不时驻步不前，往一些商店橱窗张望，还说她真的巴不得找到一件她穿着合身的外套……现在她穿的一件已经旧了，非得马上另置新的不可……这样一种困境，使克莱德不禁心中纳闷，她是不是示意他给她买一件。他心里还在琢磨，既然她短缺外套，要是他买一件给她，也许还能推动他们俩的关系向前发展。
殊不知鲁宾斯坦时装店已近在咫尺了，陈列橱窗里光亮夺目，把那件裘皮外套照得纤毫毕露。霍丹斯按照预定计划停住了脚步。
"喂，你看那件短外套多可爱，"她开腔说，露出欣喜若狂的样子，仿佛她刚看到它的美就给吸引住了，从她整个神态表明了她第一次鲜灵灵的印象。"哦，这个最可爱。最精美的短外套，不是你从没有见过的吗?
"她继续说下去。她心里越是渴望得到它，她那演剧的才能也越是得到发挥。"哦，你瞧那领子。那衣袖，还有那衣兜。这些最最时髦的东西，不都是你从没有见过的吗?
我的一双小手，只要一伸进去，就觉得挺暖和的。"她用眼角斜乜着克莱德，看看他对它有没有产生如同她希望那样深刻的印象。
果然，克莱德被她浓厚的兴趣所激动，怀着好奇心，正在仔细打量着这件短外套。毫无疑问，这是一件漂亮短外套……漂亮得很。不过，嘿，这样一件外套，要卖多少钱呀?
难道说霍丹斯一个劲儿要他注意这件外套，就为了让他买下来给她吗?
不过，买这外套至少得花两百块美元。反正这一类东西的价钱究竟是多少，他也闹不清。这样一件外套，当然罗，他买不起。特别在最近，他外快中相当大的一部分，已被母亲拿去给了爱思达。不过，听她的口气好象让他心里明白，此刻她寄厚望于他的，正是这么一件东西。开头，他的心冷了半截，几乎连话都说不出来了。
他伤心地暗自寻思，要是霍丹斯真心要的话，当然罗，准能找人……比方说，她刚才提到过的年轻人汤姆。基尔里……给她买的，而糟就糟在她正好就是这一号女郎。要是他不买给她，而别人却给她买了，那她就会瞧不起他，无非是因为他没有钱给她买这个东西。
她大声嚷嚷说:
"只要得了这样一件外套，我还有啥舍不得给的呢!
"让他听了感到非常惊恐和不满。本来她并不打算在此刻这样开门见山地说了出来，因为她原想把她隐藏在心底的想法非常巧妙地说给克莱德听的。
克莱德尽管没有处世经验，人品也说不上精明，不过对她这句话的涵意倒是很能心领神会。这是说……这是说……暂时他还不怎么愿意把这句话的涵意给予正确理解。现在啊……现在啊……只要他能知道那件外套的价格，那多好!
他已觉察到她正在寻摸什么办法，把这件外套弄到手。不过，他有什么办法呢?
怎么办呢?
只要他能够设法给她弄到这件外套……只要他答应她，比方说，过一些日子给她弄到这件外套，只要花费不太多，那时又会怎么样呢?
他有没有这个胆量，就在今儿晚上，或是比方说，在明天，等他得知外套的价格以后，干脆对她说开了，只要她同意……那时……那时，反正不管外套也好，还是她真的想要别的什么东西，他通通都会买给她。只不过他一定要有把握，看准她决不会象前时那样，在一些小事上存心耍弄他。不，他决不愿意给她买了外套，到头来却什么还报都得不到……这可绝对要不得!
他站在她身旁，一想到这里，真的兴奋得浑身颤栗起来了。而她呢，站在那儿，两眼直瞅着外套，心里在想:
除非他放聪明些，给她弄到这件外套，又能领会她真正的意思……她为了这件外套打算怎样付出代价的……否则的话，得了吧，那时同他就算是最后了结啦。他别以为:
连这一点小事都不能，或者是不想给她出力的人，她霍丹斯还会照样同这种人厮混在一起。这可绝对要不得!
他们继续朝加斯比酒家走去。进餐时，她自始至终几乎什么事都不讲，却一个劲儿说……那件外套有多么好看，穿在她身上一定漂亮极了。
"相信我吧，"这时，她有些不服气地说道，因为她已感到克莱德对自己有没有力量给她买外套也许信心还不足，"我一定得寻摸什么办法，把那件外套弄到手。我想，要是我走进店里去，鲁宾斯坦先生讲定分期付款，先付下一笔相当多的钱，那他们店里马上就会给我的。不久前，我们百货商店里有一个女售货员，就是这样把外套买来了，"转眼间她又在撒谎了，希望借此引诱克莱德也助她一臂之力。不过，克莱德生怕这玩意儿价钱太大，犹豫不定，没有说出他究竟打算怎么办。他甚至连这一类东西的价钱也都猜不出来……也许是两百块美元，乃至于高达三百块美元……他生怕现在一口答应下来，往后他也许办不到。
"你不知道这玩意儿要卖多少钱，是不是?
"他紧张不安地说，同时心里在想，要是这次他送她一点现钱，她却没有给他一点保证，那他还有什么权利，指望从她那里得到比过去更多的还报呢?
他心里也明白:
过去她是怎样以甜言蜜语引诱他给她买这买那，到头来甚至还不让他吻一吻她。克莱德一想到往日里她好象觉得可以随意玩弄他，就很气忿，脸上唰地涨红，心中十分恼火。不过，此刻他又想起，她刚才说过，不拘是谁，只要给她弄到那件外套，那她什么事都乐意干……好象她说的就是这么个意思。
"不……不知道，"开头她有点儿犹豫不决，一时很为难，不知道说出真正的价钱好呢，还是索性把价钱说得更高些。因为明摆着，如果她要求分期付款，鲁宾斯坦先生也许就会把价格抬得更高了。不过话又说回来，她要是把价钱说得太大，说不定克莱德也就不愿帮她的忙了。"不过，我可知道当然不会超过一百二十五块美元。要不然，我也就不愿意买了。"克莱德舒了一大口气。毕竟还不是高达两三百块美元。他心里就在琢磨着:
要是她能跟店里讲好，先付相当大的一笔……比方说，五十块，或是六十块美元……在以后两三个星期里，好歹他也能设法凑齐归还。不过，要是整整一百二十五块美元必须一次付清，那霍丹斯还有一段时间要等呢;而且，除这以外，他还得先闹清楚:
他是不是能得到实实在在的报答才成。
"那倒是个好主意，霍丹斯，"他大声嚷嚷说，不过没有说明为什么他很赞同这个办法。"为什么你不那样做呢?
为什么你不先问问清楚价钱，先付多少钱?
也许我能帮你一点忙。""哦，那可太好了!
"霍丹斯禁不住鼓掌起来。"哦，你果真能帮忙?
哦，这不是太棒了吗?
现在我才知道我就会得到那件外套的。我知道，只要我能同他们店里讲好分期付款，他们一定会给我的。"正如克莱德预料和担心的那样，她早已完全忘掉了这样一个事实:
正是由于他，她才能买那件外套。可是现在这一切，就正如他当初预料到的一模一样。
事实上由他来付钱，这在霍丹斯看来是理所当然的了。
可是过了一会儿，她发觉他脸色沉了下来，就找补着说:
"哦，你这样帮我的忙，你是天底下最漂亮。最可爱的人，可不是吗?
你尽管放心，这件事我可怎么也忘不了的。你等着瞧吧。你也用不着后悔的。你只要等着瞧就得了。"她眼里突然向他露出快活。甚至慷慨大方的闪光。
尽管克莱德也许太年轻稚嫩，可他并不是悭吝人，所以，她也要酬谢他，现在她已作出了这样决定。只要她一拿到这件外套，想必这件事在一周以内，最迟也不超过两个星期就能实现，那时她就要对他特别温存……多少让他乐一乐。为了有力说明她的这个想法，让他更好了解她的真心实意，她就凝神注视着他，使他充满了希望，同时，让她眼里甚至迸射出温柔的泪水汪汪的闪光……这么一点儿罗曼蒂克的小动作，竟然使他心神不安，惘然若失。在她面前，他简直受宠若惊，甚至还有一点儿惶悚，因为在他的想象之中，她那目光里暗示着一种令人心慌意乱的旺盛活力，恐怕他也是没法应付的。此刻他在她面前却感到有点儿软弱无力……也有一点儿胆怯……当他想到她那真正的情爱可能意味着什么的时候。
尽管如此，这时他还是说，如果这件外套不超过一百二十五块美元，又可以分期付款，第一次先付二十五块美元，以后各次付五十块美元，那他还是可以设法张罗的。她回答说，她打算明天就去打听一下。也许她会说服鲁宾斯坦先生，只要先付二十五块美元，马上就把外套给她;要不然，就在第二个周末给他，那时节几乎全都付清了。
当她从酒家走出来的时候，她真的对克莱德充满了感激之情，象小猫咪呜呜叫似的向他轻声耳语道，这件事她永远忘不了，他只管等着瞧就得了……她还一定第一次穿着这件外套给他看。那时他要是不上班，也许他们就上什么地方吃饭去。要不然，在下星期日汽车出游以前，她肯定拿到了这件外套。这次汽车出游，与其说是克莱德，还不如说是赫格伦提议的，不过说不定会延期。
她提议不妨到某一家舞厅去。两人起舞后，她猥亵地紧贴着他，后来还暗示出一种心意，竟然让克莱德也感到有点儿颤栗和惊惶。
他后来回到了家里，有如梦幻似的回味着这一天的情景，满意地认为，第一期付款不会有什么困难，哪怕是要五十块美元也行。因为，如今就在霍丹斯这许诺的刺激之下，他打算向拉特勒或是赫格伦移借二十五块美元，等到外套款项付清以后再归还他们。
可是，啊，多么美的霍丹斯!
她那魅力，她那令人倾倒。难以抑制的无限喜悦啊。只要想一想，她终于在顷刻之间就要属于他啦。这分明是恍如置身于梦幻之中……不可置信的事果真变成了事实。
收听单词发音 |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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sadistic
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| adj.虐待狂的 | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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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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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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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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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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radically
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| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
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enticing
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| adj.迷人的；诱人的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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instigated
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| v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pouting
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的现在分词 ) | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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enticingly
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ebullient
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| adj.兴高采烈的，奔放的 | |
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scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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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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fictional
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| adj.小说的，虚构的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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spats
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| n.口角( spat的名词复数 )；小争吵；鞋罩；鞋套v.spit的过去式和过去分词( spat的第三人称单数 )；口角；小争吵；鞋罩 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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narcissistically
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| adv.narcissistic（自我陶醉的；孤芳自赏的）的变形 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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numbed
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| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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formulate
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| v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述 | |
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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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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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