In connection with the automobile1 ride suggested and arranged for the following Sunday by Hegglund throughhis chauffeur2 friend, a change of plan was announced. The car--an expensive Packard, no less--could not be hadfor that day, but must be used by this Thursday or Friday, or not at all. For, as had been previously3 explained toall, but not with the strictest adherence4 to the truth, the car belonged to a certain Mr. Kimbark, an elderly andvery wealthy man who at the time was traveling in Asia. Also, what was not true was that this particular youthwas not Mr. Kimbark's chauffeur at all, but rather the rakish, ne'er-do-well son of Sparser5, the superintendent6 ofone of Mr. Kimbark's stock farms. This son being anxious to pose as something more than the son of asuperintendent of a farm, and as an occasional watchman, having access to the cars, had decided7 to take the veryfinest of them and ride in it.
It was Hegglund who proposed that he and his hotel friends be included on some interesting trip. But since thegeneral invitation had been given, word had come that within the next few weeks Mr. Kimbark was likely toreturn. And because of this, Willard Sparser had decided at once that it might be best not to use the car any more.
He might be taken unawares, perhaps, by Mr. Kimbark's unexpected arrival. Laying this difficulty beforeHegglund, who was eager for the trip, the latter had scouted8 the idea. Why not use it once more anyhow? He hadstirred up the interest of all of his friends in this and now hated to disappoint them. The following Friday,between noon and six o'clock, was fixed9 upon as the day. And since Hortense had changed in her plans she nowdecided to accompany Clyde, who had been invited, of course.
But as Hegglund had explained to Ratterer and Higby since it was being used without the owner's consent, theymust meet rather far out--the men in one of the quiet streets near Seventeenth and West Prospect10, from whichpoint they could proceed to a meeting place more convenient for the girls, namely, Twentieth and Washington.
From thence they would speed via the west Parkway and the Hannibal Bridge north and east to Harlem, NorthKansas City, Minaville and so through Liberty and Moseby to Excelsior Springs. Their chief objective there wasa little inn--the Wigwam--a mile or two this side of Excelsior which was open the year around. It was really acombination of restaurant and dancing parlor11 and hotel. A Victrola and Wurlitzer player-piano furnished thenecessary music. Such groups as this were not infrequent, and Hegglund as well as Higby, who had been thereon several occasions, described it as dandy. The food was good and the road to it excellent. There was a littleriver just below it where in the summer time at least there was rowing and fishing. In winter some people skatedwhen there was ice. To be sure, at this time--January--the road was heavily packed with snow, but easy to get over, and the scenery fine. There was a little lake, not so far from Excelsior, at this time of year also frozen over,and according to Hegglund, who was always unduly12 imaginative and high-spirited, they might go there andskate.
"Will you listen to who's talkin' about skatin' on a trip like this?" commented Ratterer, rather cynically13, for to hisway of thinking this was no occasion for any such side athletics14, but for love-making exclusively.
"Aw, hell, can't a fellow have a funny idea even widout bein' roasted for it?" retorted the author of the idea.
The only one, apart from Sparser, who suffered any qualms15 in connection with all this was Clyde himself. For tohim, from the first, the fact that the car to be used did not belong to Sparser, but to his employer, was disturbing,almost irritatingly so. He did not like the idea of taking anything that belonged to any one else, even fortemporary use. Something might happen. They might be found out.
"Don't you think it's dangerous for us to be going out in this car?" he asked of Ratterer a few days before the tripand when he fully16 understood the nature of the source of the car.
"Oh, I don't know," replied Ratterer, who being accustomed to such ideas and devices as this was not muchdisturbed by them. "I'm not taking the car and you're not, are you? If he wants to take it, that's his lookout17, ain'tit? If he wants me to go, I'll go. Why wouldn't I? All I want is to be brought back here on time. That's the onlything that would ever worry me."And Higby, coming up at the moment, had voiced exactly the same sentiments. Yet Clyde remained troubled. Itmight not work out right; he might lose his job through a thing like this. But so fascinated was he by the thoughtof riding in such a fine car with Hortense and with all these other girls and boys that he could not resist thetemptation to go.
Immediately after noon on the Friday of this particular week the several participants of the outing were gatheredat the points agreed upon. Hegglund, Ratterer, Higby and Clyde at Eighteenth and West Prospect near therailroad yards. Maida Axelrod, Hegglund's girl, Lucille Nickolas, a friend of Ratterer's, and Tina Kogel, a friendof Higby's, also Laura Sipe, another girl who was brought by Tina Kogel to be introduced to Sparser for theoccasion, at Twentieth and Washington. Only since Hortense had sent word at the last moment to Clyde that shehad to go out to her house for something, and that they were to run out to Forty-ninth and Genesee, where shelived, they did so, but not without grumbling18.
The day, a late January one, was inclined to be smoky with lowering clouds, especially within the environs ofKansas City. It even threatened snow at times--a most interesting and picturesque19 prospect to those within. Theyliked it.
"Oh, gee20, I hope it does," Tina Kogel exclaimed when some one commented on the possibility, and LucilleNickolas added: "Oh, I just love to see it snow at times." Along the West Bluff21 Road, Washington and SecondStreets, they finally made their way across the Hannibal Bridge to Harlem, and from thence along the windingand hill-sentineled river road to Randolph Heights and Minaville. And beyond that came Moseby and Liberty, toand through which the road bed was better, with interesting glimpses of small homesteads and the bleak22 snow covered hills of January.
Clyde, who for all his years in Kansas City had never ventured much beyond Kansas City, Kansas, on the west orthe primitive23 and natural woods of Swope Park on the east, nor farther along the Kansas or Missouri Rivers thanArgentine on the one side and Randolph Heights on the other, was quite fascinated by the idea of travel whichappeared to be suggested by all this--distant travel. It was all so different from his ordinary routine. And on thisoccasion Hortense was inclined to be very genial24 and friendly. She snuggled down beside him on the seat, andwhen he, noting that the others had already drawn25 their girls to them in affectionate embraces, put his arm abouther and drew her to him, she made no particular protest. Instead she looked up and said: "I'll have to take my hatoff, I guess." The others laughed. There was something about her quick, crisp way which was amusing at times.
Besides she had done her hair in a new way which made her look decidedly prettier, and she was anxious to havethe others see it.
"Can we dance anywhere out here?" she called to the others, without looking around.
"Surest thing you know," said Higby, who by now had persuaded Tina Kogel to take her hat off and was holdingher close. "They got a player-piano and a Victrola out there. If I'd 'a' thought, I'd 'a' brought my cornet. I can playDixie on that."The car was speeding at breakneck pace over a snowy white road and between white fields. In fact, Sparser,considering himself a master of car manipulation as well as the real owner of it for the moment, was attemptingto see how fast he could go on such a road.
Dark vignettes of wood went by to right and left. Fields away, sentinel hills rose and fell like waves. A wide-armed scarecrow fluttering in the wind, its tall decayed hat awry26, stood near at hand in one place. And from nearit a flock of crows rose and winged direct toward a distant wood lightly penciled against a foreground of snow.
In the front seat sat Sparser, guiding the car beside Laura Sipe with the air of one to whom such a magnificentcar was a commonplace thing. He was really more interested in Hortense, yet felt it incumbent27 on him, for thetime being, anyhow, to show some attention to Laura Sipe. And not to be outdone in gallantry by the others, henow put one arm about Laura Sipe while he guided the car with the other, a feat28 which troubled Clyde, who wasstill dubious29 about the wisdom of taking the car at all. They might all be wrecked30 by such fast driving. Hortensewas only interested by the fact that Sparser had obviously manifested his interest in her; that he had to pay someattention to Laura Sipe whether he wanted to or not. And when she saw him pull her to him and asked hergrandly if she had done much automobiling about Kansas City, she merely smiled to herself.
But Ratterer, noting the move, nudged Lucille Nickolas, and she in turn nudged Higby, in order to attract hisattention to the affectional development ahead.
"Getting comfortable up front there, Willard?" called Ratterer, genially31, in order to make friends with him.
"I'll say I am," replied Sparser, gayly and without turning. "How about you, girlie?""Oh, I'm all right," Laura Sipe replied.
But Clyde was thinking that of all the girls present none was really so pretty as Hortense--not nearly. She hadcome garbed32 in a red and black dress with a very dark red poke33 bonnet34 to match. And on her left cheek, justbelow her small rouged35 mouth, she had pasted a minute square of black court plaster in imitation of some picturebeauty she had seen. In fact, before the outing began, she had been determined36 to outshine all the others present,and distinctly she was now feeling that she was succeeding. And Clyde, for himself, was agreeing with her.
"You're the cutest thing here," whispered Clyde, hugging her fondly.
"Gee, but you can pour on the molasses, kid, when you want to," she called out loud, and the others laughed.
And Clyde flushed slightly.
Beyond Minaville about six miles the car came to a bend in a hollow where there was a country store and hereHegglund, Higby and Ratterer got out to fetch candy, cigarettes and ice cream cones37 and ginger38 ale. And afterthat came Liberty, and then several miles this side of Excelsior Springs, they sighted the Wigwam which wasnothing more than an old two-story farmhouse39 snuggled against a rise of ground behind it. There was, however,adjoining it on one side a newer and larger one-story addition consisting of the dining-room, the dance floor, andconcealed by a partition at one end, a bar. An open fire flickered41 cheerfully here in a large fireplace. Down in ahollow across the road might be seen the Benton River or creek42, now frozen solid.
"There's your river," called Higby cheerfully as he helped Tina Kogel out of the car, for he was already verymuch warmed by several drinks he had taken en route. They all paused for a moment to admire the stream,winding away among the trees. "I wanted dis bunch to bring dere skates and go down dere," sighed Hegglund,"but dey wouldn't. Well, dat's all right."By then Lucille Nickolas, seeing a flicker40 of flame reflected in one of the small windows of the inn, called, "Oh,see, they gotta fire."The car was parked, and they all trooped into the inn, and at once Higby briskly went over and started the large,noisy, clattery, tinny Nickelodeon with a nickel. And to rival him, and for a prank43, Hegglund ran to the Victrolawhich stood in one corner and put on a record of "The Grizzly44 Bear," which he found lying there.
At the first sounds of this strain, which they all knew, Tina Kogel called: "Oh, let's all dance to that, will you?
Can't you stop that other old thing?" she added.
"Sure, after it runs down," explained Ratterer, laughingly. "The only way to stop that thing is not to feed it anynickels."But now a waiter coming in, Higby began to inquire what everybody wanted. And in the meantime, to show offher charms, Hortense had taken the center of the floor and was attempting to imitate a grizzly bear walking on itshind legs, which she could do amusingly enough--quite gracefully45. And Sparser, seeing her alone in the center ofthe floor was anxious to interest her now, followed her and tried to imitate her motions from behind. Finding himclever at it, and anxious to dance, she finally abandoned the imitation and giving him her arms went one-steppingabout the room most vividly46. At once, Clyde, who was by no means as good a dancer, became jealous--painfully so. In his eagerness for her, it seemed unfair to him that he should be deserted47 by her so early--at the verybeginning of things. But she, becoming interested in Sparser, who seemed more worldly-wise, paid no attentionat all to Clyde for the time being, but went dancing with her new conquest, his rhythmic48 skill seemingcharmingly to match her own. And then, not to be out of it, the others at once chose partners, Hegglund dancingwith Maida, Ratterer with Lucille and Higby with Tina Kogel. This left Laura Sipe for Clyde, who did not likeher very much. She was not as perfect as she might be--a plump, pudgy-faced girl with inadequate49 sensual blueeyes--and Clyde, lacking any exceptional skill, they danced nothing but the conventional one-step while theothers were dipping and lurching and spinning.
In a kind of sick fury, Clyde noticed that Sparser, who was still with Hortense, was by now holding her close andlooking straight into her eyes. And she was permitting him. It gave him a feeling of lead at the pit of his stomach.
Was it possible she was beginning to like this young upstart who had this car? And she had promised to like himfor the present. It brought to him a sense of her fickleness--the probability of her real indifference50 to him. Hewanted to do something--stop dancing and get her away from Sparser, but there was no use until this particularrecord ran out.
And then, just at the end of this, the waiter returned with a tray and put down cocktails51, ginger ale andsandwiches upon three small tables which had been joined together. All but Sparser and Hortense quit and cametoward it--a fact which Clyde was quick to note. She was a heartless flirt52! She really did not care for him afterall. And after making him think that she did, so recently--and getting him to help her with that coat. She couldgo to the devil now. He would show her. And he waiting for her! Wasn't that the limit? Yet, finally seeing thatthe others were gathering53 about the tables, which had been placed near the fire, Hortense and Sparser ceaseddancing and approached. Clyde was white and glum54. He stood to one side, seemingly indifferent. And LauraSipe, who had already noted55 his rage and understood the reason now moved away from him to join Tina Kogel,to whom she explained why he was so angry.
And then noting his glumness56, Hortense came over, executing a phase of the "Grizzly" as she did so.
"Gee, wasn't that swell57?" she began. "Gee, how I do love to dance to music like that!""Sure, it's swell for you," returned Clyde, burning with envy and disappointment.
"Why, what's the trouble?" she asked, in a low and almost injured tone, pretending not to guess, yet knowingquite well why he was angry. "You don't mean to say that you're mad because I danced with him first, do you?
Oh, how silly! Why didn't you come over then and dance with me? I couldn't refuse to dance with him when hewas right there, could I?""Oh, no, of course, you couldn't," replied Clyde sarcastically58, and in a low, tense tone, for he, no more thanHortense, wanted the others to hear. "But you didn't have to fall all over him and dream in his eyes, either, didyou?" He was fairly blazing. "You needn't say you didn't, because I saw you."At this she glanced at him oddly, realizing not only the sharpness of his mood, but that this was the first time hehad shown so much daring in connection with her. It must be that he was getting to feel too sure of her. She wasshowing him too much attention. At the same time she realized that this was not the time to show him that she did not care for him as much as she would like to have him believe, since she wanted the coat, already agreedupon.
"Oh, gee, well, ain't that the limit?" she replied angrily, yet more because she was irritated by the fact that whathe said was true than anything else. "If you aren't the grouch59. Well, I can't help it, if you're going to be as jealousas that. I didn't do anything but dance with him just a little. I didn't think you'd be mad." She moved as if to turnaway, but realizing that there was an understanding between them, and that he must be placated60 if things were togo on, she drew him by his coat lapels out of the range of the hearing of the others, who were already lookingand listening, and began.
"Now, see here, you. Don't go acting61 like this. I didn't mean anything by what I did. Honest, I didn't. Anyhow,everybody dances like that now. And nobody means anything by it. Aren't you goin' to let me be nice to you likeI said, or are you?"And now she looked him coaxingly62 and winsomely63 and calculatingly straight in the eye, as though he were theone person among all these present whom she really did like. And deliberately64, and of a purpose, she made apursy, sensuous65 mouth--the kind she could make--and practised a play of the lips that caused them to seem towant to kiss him--a mouth that tempted66 him to distraction67.
"All right," he said, looking at her weakly and yieldingly. "I suppose I am a fool, but I saw what you did, allright. You know I'm crazy about you, Hortense--just wild! I can't help it. I wish I could sometimes. I wish Iwouldn't be such a fool." And he looked at her and was sad. And she, realizing her power over him and how easyit was to bring him around, replied: "Oh, you--you don't, either. I'll kiss you after a while, when the others aren'tlooking if you'll be good." At the same time she was conscious of the fact that Sparser's eyes were upon her. Alsothat he was intensely drawn to her and that she liked him more than any one she had recently encountered.
有关汽车出游的事，原是赫格伦通过他的一个当汽车司机的朋友提出来的，约定在下个星期日，可后来又宣布计划改变了。那辆车子……一辆豪华的大帕卡德，不是随便什么一辆车子……约定那天弄不到手，那末，要使用它就只能到本星期四或星期五，或者根本就不用它。这事当初向大家解释过了的，只不过部分符合实情;原来这辆汽车车主是一个名叫金巴克的先生，此人是个上了年纪的大富翁，这时正在亚洲旅游。有一点不符合事实的，就是:
这个年轻人压根儿不是金巴克先生的司机，只不过是金巴克先生某牧场里一个管理人斯帕塞的那个放荡不羁。游手好闲的儿子。这个儿子一心想把自己说成比牧场管理人儿子来头更大。有时他担任牧场的守卫，所以有机会进入汽车间，就决定挑选一辆最漂亮车子，开出去兜兜风。
是赫格伦出的主意，让他和他酒店里一些朋友一块参加这一次有趣的旅行。
不过，邀请刚向大家发出，就传来了一个消息，说:
金巴克先生一两周内可能要回来了。因此，威拉德。斯帕塞立即决定，最好还是不要再用这辆车子。金巴克先生突然回来，也许使他措手不及了。他把这困难告诉了急急乎筹划这次旅行的赫格伦，后者完全否定了他的这个想法。为什么不再使用一次这辆汽车呢?
他早已把他所有朋友对这次出游的兴致鼓了起来，如今当然不愿叫他们扫兴。
于是出游定在下星期五，从午休起一直玩到下午六点。如今霍丹斯既然有自己的盘算，所以就决定陪同(自然也在被邀请之列的)克莱德一块去了。
不过，正如赫格伦向拉特勒和希格比关照过:
既然使用这辆车未经主人同意，所以务必在远一点的地方集合……男的在第十七街与西望处附近一条僻静的街上会合，再从那里走到便于姑娘们集合的地方，亦即第二十街和华盛顿街的交岔路口。从那里起，他们可以开足马力，经过西花园道。汉尼拔桥，往东北方向奔哈莱姆。北堪萨斯城。米纳维尔，然后经过利伯蒂。莫斯比到至善泉。他们的主要目的地，是那里的一家小旅馆……威格沃姆……位于至善泉这边一两英里处，全年开业的;实际上，它既是一家餐厅，同时也是舞厅和旅馆。有一架维克多牌手摇留声机，一架沃利来牌自动钢琴，可供跳舞时伴奏。那里时常见到类似这样的青年旅游团，来过多次的赫格伦和希格比都把它说成呱呱叫的好地方。不但吃得好，去那里的公路也棒极了。附近有一条小河，至少夏天可以划船和钓鱼。到了冬天，小河一封冻，就有人溜冰了。眼下正是一月份，自然，路上铺满了雪，不过车子不算难开，而且四周风景美极了。离至善泉不远，有一个小湖泊，每年一到这个时节，就完全结冰了，但据想象力一向太丰富。脾性暴烈的赫格伦说，他们还不妨可以上那儿溜冰去。
"是谁说的，白白浪费宝贵时间去溜冰?
你们同意这个主意?
"拉特勒相当挖苦地指摘说，因为按照他的观点来看，去的目的并不在于体育娱乐，而纯粹是谈情说爱罢了。
"真混蛋，这主意就算是挺可笑的，也犯不着马上挖苦嘛!
"出这个主意的人反驳说。
这一拨人里除了斯帕塞以外，只有克莱德一人对这件事表示疑惧不安。因为，他觉得，要使用的这辆汽车并不是斯帕塞的，而是他东家的，首先就令人不安，几乎引起很大反感。他反对随意使用别人的东西，哪怕暂时借用也不行。
说不定会出什么岔子。他们很可能一下子就被揭出来了。
"我们把这辆车子开出城去，难道说你不觉得有危险吗?
"出发前一两天，当他闹明白这辆车子的来龙去脉后，就这么问拉特勒。
子和把戏，他早就习已为常了，所以也并不感到什么不安。"反正寻摸这辆车子的人，不是我，也不是你，是吧?
如果说斯帕塞要寻摸这辆车子，那是他的事，是吧?
如果说他要我去，那我就去。我干吗不去呢?
我觉得最最要紧的，就是要准时把我捎回来。我最担心的，就是仅仅这一件事。"这时走过来的希格比，也说出了完全相同的看法。不过，克莱德心里还是忐忑不安。万一出了什么岔子，也许他仅仅因为类似这样的小事，就把自己的差使给丢了。不过话又说回来，一想到自己同霍丹斯和其他少男少女一起乘坐漂亮的汽车出游，他就给迷住了:
他毕竟抵挡不住这样的诱惑。
本星期五正午刚过，参加郊游的人已在约定的几个地点集合了。赫格伦。
拉特勒。希格比和克莱德，在铁路调车场附近第十八街与西望处拐角处集合。
赫格伦的女友梅达。阿克塞尔罗德，拉特勒的朋友露西尔。尼古拉斯，希格比的朋友蒂娜。科格尔，还有蒂娜。科格尔带来。准备介绍给斯帕塞的另一位女郎劳拉。赛普，在第二十街与华盛顿街拐角处集合。只有霍丹斯临时捎话给克莱德，说她要回家去取东西，请他们劳驾把车子开到第四十九街与詹尼西街交岔口她的住地，他们虽然照办了，但也不是一点儿怨言都没有。
时值一月底的一天，烟雾迷漫，云霭低垂，特别是在堪萨斯城的四郊。有时甚至象要下雪了……对久居市廛的这些人来说，这可是最耐人寻味的美景了。
他们都很喜欢欣赏这种雪景。
"哦，我才巴不得下雪呢，"蒂娜。科格尔听到有人说可能下雪的时候大声嚷嚷说。露西尔。尼古拉斯找补着说:
"哦，有时候，我可真喜欢看雪景。"他们沿着西布卢夫街。华盛顿街。第二街，经过汉尼拔桥，到哈莱姆，再从那儿顺着迂回曲折。两旁层峦叠嶂的沿河公路，到达伦道夫高地和米纳维尔。再往前去，就经过莫斯比和利伯蒂，沿途路面比较好，还可以瞥见一些小小的农家宅地和一月里白雪皑皑的荒凉山冈，真是有趣极了。
克莱德虽然居住在堪萨斯城已有这么多年，却从来没有到过离堪萨斯城更远的堪萨斯州以西的地方;也没有到过斯沃普公园原始森林以东的地方;沿着堪萨斯河或是密苏里河，一头到阿根廷，另一头到伦道夫高地。因此，这次外出旅游……长途旅行……简直使他为之心醉神迷。它同他平日里刻板的生活该有多么不同啊。而且霍丹斯这一回对他简直情深似海。她坐在他身旁，紧偎着他。
克莱德看到别人都把各自的女友拽到身边，亲昵地拥抱着，他就一手搂住她的腰肢，把她拉到身边，她倒也并没有特别表示什么不以为然的样子。与此相反，她抬起头来，说:
"我看我还是把帽子摘下来吧。"大家哈哈笑了起来。她那机灵的活泼劲儿，有时真是惹人喜爱。此外，她头上那个新颖的发型，肯定使她显得更美了，因此，她也急急乎要大伙儿看看。
"我们去那儿有地方跳舞吗?
"她大声问别人，却并不向四处张望。
"当然有罗，"希格比说。这时他已说服蒂娜。科格尔把帽子摘了，正紧紧地搂着她。"那儿有一架自动钢琴，一架维克多牌手摇留声机。真可惜，我没想到把自己的短号也捎来。我能吹狄克西(此处指美国南北战争时南部联邦流行的军歌。)。"汽车正以令人头昏目眩的高速在白雪覆盖的公路和白茫茫的田野里飞也似的驶过。斯帕塞自诩为开车的能手，眼下又是这辆车子的真正主人，正在大显身手，要看看自己在这种路面上到底能开多快。
景色如画的黑苍苍的树林子，从车子左右两侧掠过。田野一片又接一片，两旁哨兵似的山峦，有如波浪一般此起彼伏。一个伸出长长手臂的稻草人，歪戴着一顶高高耸起的破帽儿，伫立在附近的道路旁，在风中好象不断鼓动自己翅膀。离稻草人不远处，有一群乌鸦惊飞了起来，径直朝远处雪地里依稀可辨的一片灰蒙蒙的树林子飞去。
斯帕塞坐在前座，劳拉。赛普紧挨着他。他开着车子，装出好象开这样一辆豪华的汽车对他来说一点儿都不觉得有什么了不起的样子。说实话，他对霍丹斯的兴趣更大，只不过至少眼前不得不向劳拉。赛普献上一点儿殷勤。向女人献殷勤，他是决不落人之后的，所以，此刻他就一只手搂住劳拉。赛普，另一只手开车……这一开车技艺的表演，使克莱德深感困惑不安。随便使用别人车子是不是合适，至今他仍表怀疑。车子开得这样快，说不定大伙儿正面临同归于尽的危险吧。霍丹斯一心只注意的，是斯帕塞显然很喜欢她，虽然不管他愿意不愿意，好歹还得向劳拉。赛普献上一点儿殷勤。所以，当他拥抱劳拉，趾高气扬地问她是不是经常在堪萨斯城周围开车时，霍丹斯暗自发笑。
不过，拉特勒觉察到这一点了，他轻轻地推了一推露西尔。尼古拉斯胳臂，露西尔。尼古拉斯又轻轻地推了一推希格比胳臂，要他留神注意前座爱情场面的新发展。
"喂，怎么样，你在前座倒是挺舒服，是吧?
"拉特勒为了套近乎，和颜悦色地问斯帕塞。
"我说够舒服的了，"斯帕塞头也不回，乐乐呵呵地说。"你怎么样，小妞儿?
""哦，我也好极了，"劳拉。赛普回答说。
可是，克莱德心里却在想，这儿所有的姑娘，说真的，哪一个都比不上霍丹斯那样美……差得还远呢。她身穿一件红底黑花的衣服，还特意配上一顶深红色朝前撑起的宽边的女帽。她在抹口红的小嘴底下，模仿她所见过的一些银幕上美人儿的样子，给自己左颊上贴了一颗美人痣。事实上，在出游之前，她早就决定，要使所有在场的姑娘们都黯然失色，如今她心里非常清楚，她终于成功了。至于克莱德呢，也跟她的想法完全相同。
"你在这里是最俏的姑娘，"克莱德亲昵地搂住她，低声耳语道。
"嘿，你可真的会给人灌糖蜜啊!
小宝贝!
"她大声嚷嚷说，别人也都随着笑了起来。克莱德脸上稍微有点儿涨红。
汽车驶过米纳维尔约莫有六英里光景，来了一个转弯，开到了一片低洼地。
那里有一家乡村小店，赫格伦。希格比和拉特勒就在这儿下了车，买了一些糖果。香烟。蛋卷冰淇淋和姜汁淡色啤酒。随后开过利伯蒂，就在离至善泉几英里处，他们已经可以遥望威格沃姆小旅馆了。它不外乎是一所两层楼的乡村房子，蜷伏在一块高高隆起的土冈上。可是一边接出一长溜平房，样子比较新，开间也比较大，作为餐厅。舞厅，末梢还辟出一部分作酒吧间。偌大的壁炉里，炉火烧得正旺。公路对面低洼地那里，可以望得见本顿河，其实是一条小溪，如今早已严严实实地冰封了。
"那就是你喜欢的那条河啊，"希格比搀扶着蒂娜。科格尔下车的时候，乐乐呵呵地说。他一路上喝过好几回酒，早就兴奋极了。大家都下车歇了一会儿，欣赏那弯弯曲曲。穿过树林子的小溪。"我说我们大伙儿该把溜冰鞋也带上，溜个痛快呗，"赫格伦叹了一口气说，"可他们不听我的话。唉，那就只好算了。"这时，露西尔。尼古拉斯忽然看见旅馆里有一个小窗口映出闪烁不定的火光，就大声喊道:
"喂，快看，他们生火来着。"汽车终于停妥了，他们成群结伙进了旅馆。希格比马上兴冲冲奔了过去，扔入一枚五美分镍币，那架巨大的。震耳欲聋的旧式自动点唱机就开始响了起来。赫格伦一来是不甘落后，二来也是为了逗着玩儿，就走到了屋角里另一架维克多牌手摇留声机跟前，随手把旁边放着的一张名叫《灰熊》的唱片放了上去。
一听到那支熟悉的乐曲的调子，蒂娜。科格尔就大声嚷道:
"喂，大伙儿跟着跳，好吗?
那个破玩意儿别放了，怎么样?
"她又找补着说。
"当然罗，等它自己放完，"拉特勒哈哈大笑着说。"要它停下来，只有一个办法，就是别往里头扔镍币。"这时，有一个侍者进来了，希格比问大家要些什么东西。就在这当儿，霍丹斯为了炫耀自己的魅力，就站到房间中央，竭力模仿灰熊用后腿走路的样子，表演得很有味儿……优美极了。斯帕塞见她一个人在房间中央，急巴巴地想勾起她的注意力，就亦步亦趋跟在她后面，竭力模仿她的动作。霍丹斯见他技艺娴熟，自己也急急乎想跳舞，终于不再模仿狗熊的动作，马上张开两条手臂，和他一块跳一步舞，跳得简直活灵活现透了。这时，怎么也称不上舞星的克莱德，立刻妒火中烧……痛苦极了。他对她是那么热情如炽，而她一开始……欢乐才开始时……就把他撇开一旁，他认为太不公道了。可是，霍丹斯却对看来较有社会经验的斯帕塞很感兴趣了，一时间压根儿没有注意到克莱德，只是一个劲儿同刚刚被她征服的人儿跳呀跳的;他的舞艺技巧，一举手，一投足，看来堪与她相媲美。别人也不甘落后，立刻挑选舞伴，赫格伦同梅达跳，拉特勒同露西尔跳，希格比同蒂娜。科格尔跳。只剩下劳拉。赛普同克莱德配对了，可是克莱德并不很喜欢她。她人长得压根儿不美……身材矮胖，脸儿臃肿，一对富于性感的蓝眼睛总是没精打采似的……克莱德既然舞艺并不高超，当人家正在跳出各种复杂的花样变化的时候，他跟劳拉。赛普只好跳着老一套的一步舞。
眼睁睁地看着那个依然还跟霍丹斯在一块的斯帕塞此刻把她搂得紧紧的，而且直勾勾地瞅着她的眼睛，克莱德简直苦恼得要发狂了。对此，她也完全听任他摆布了。他突然觉得好象一颗枪弹打中了自己的肚子。难道说她跟这个神气活现的开车的小伙子卖弄风骚吗?
她还答应现在就同他克莱德亲热呢。他开始揣度到她这个人反复无常……也许她对他压根儿就冷漠无情。他欲设法使跳舞中断，把她从斯帕塞身旁拽走，不过现在毫无办法可想，只好让这张唱片放完了再说。
这张唱片刚放完，侍者托着一只盘子又回来了，把鸡尾酒。姜汁淡色啤酒和三明治放到临时连成一块的三张小桌子上。大家都停止跳舞，朝这边走了过来，只有斯帕塞和霍丹斯除外……克莱德一下子就看出来了。她真是一个没有心肝的骚货!
她压根儿一点都不爱他。最近她却竭力使他相信她是爱他的，而且还撺掇他给她买了外套。让她见鬼去吧。他要给她一点颜色看看。他在等着她!
这简直叫人忍无可忍了!
?
不过，霍丹斯和斯帕塞到头来看见大家都围在壁炉跟前的小桌子四周，也就停止跳舞，款款走了过来。克莱德脸色煞白，怏怏不乐，站在一边，装出一副满不在乎的样子。劳拉。赛普早已觉察到他在恼火，也知道原因何在，所以就离开他走到蒂娜。科格尔那里，告诉她为什么他会这样动怒。
随后，霍丹斯觉察到他郁郁不乐的神色，就走了过来，依然还在模仿灰熊的步态。
"嘿，这可多开心!
"她开口说道。"哦，跟着那种乐曲跳舞，我可多喜欢哪!
""当然罗，你可开心啦，"克莱德回答说，妒忌和失望的烈火却在心中燃烧。
"怎么啦，出了什么事?
"她压低声音，几乎生气地问，装出猜不透他干吗要发火，其实，她早就心中有数了。"你不是因为我没有先跟你跳就发火了?
是吧?
嘿，多蠢!
那你干吗自己不过来跟我跳呢?
他正好在旁边，我怎能拒绝跟他跳，可不是吗?
""不，当然罗，你不能拒绝，"克莱德讥刺地回答说，声音低沉。紧张，因为他正如霍丹斯一样，不乐意让别人听见他们谈话。"不过，你也用不着同他紧贴在一起，瞅着他的眼睛，有如陶醉在梦境之中，是不是?
"他真的火冒三丈了。"你也不用否认啦，反正一切我都看在眼里。"她听了以后，怪吃惊地瞥了他一眼，不仅因为听了他的生气话而感到万分诧异，而且还因为他这是头一次对她如此大胆放肆。想必是他对她觉得太有把握了。而她自己对他也太过分殷勤了。不过，她也知道，现在还不是时候，不能向他表示她并不怎么爱他，眼下他得到的只是假象。因为那件外套已谈妥了，她很想得到它。
"喂，这不是叫人忍无可忍了吗?
"她忿忿地回答说。因为他的话说对了，使她更加恼火。"刚才你真是好大的脾气。唉，要是你的妒忌心象刚才那样厉害，那我可也没办法啦。我只不过跟他跳了一会儿舞罢了。我真没想到你就会大动肝火呢。"她一转身，好象要走开的样子，但忽然想到他们之间有一项默契，还得先抚慰一下他不可，要不然这事就给吹了，所以，她就扯着他的上衣大翻领，走得远一些，不让那些早已在看他们。听他们讲话的人听见。接着，她就这么说:
"喂，你先听我说。你可千万别这样。刚才我可一点儿都没有别的意思。说实话，我一丁点儿都没有。反正现在谁跳舞都是这样的，所以说也谈不上谁有什么特别的用意。难道说你不要我跟你好吗?
你记得不记得我跟你说过些什么话?
"她故作媚态，脉脉含情地直瞅着他的眼睛，仿佛所有在场的人里头，只有他才是她真心喜欢的。同时，她显然是别有用心的，还故意把她的小嘴令人动心地嘟了起来……这正是她常有的挤眉弄眼的一部分……接着，嘴唇翕动，看起来好象要亲吻他的样子……那一张诱使他心旌摇荡的小嘴啊。
"得了吧，"他软弱无力。俯首贴耳地望着她说。"就算我是个傻瓜，不过，你的一举一动，反正我是看见的。你也知道，我为你都快疯了，霍丹斯……简直疯啦!
我可几乎克制不住自己啊。有时候，我也巴不得自己能克制住，不当傻瓜哩。"他两眼直望着她，露出伤心的样子。而她呢，反正知道自己完全可以左右他，要他回心转意也是易如反掌，就这样回答说:
"哦，你啊……你才不傻呢。
要是你乖乖的，过一会儿别人看不见，我就跟你亲嘴呗。"就在这一时刻，她意识到:
斯帕塞两眼正直勾勾地瞅着他。她心中知道:
他被她强烈地吸引，而她自己也觉得，在她最近碰到的所有人中间，她最喜欢的就是他了。
收听单词发音 |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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adherence
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| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
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sparser
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| adj.稀疏的，稀少的( sparse的比较级 ) | |
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superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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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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scouted
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| 寻找，侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 )； 物色（优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等） | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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athletics
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| n.运动，体育，田径运动 | |
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qualms
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| n.不安；内疚 | |
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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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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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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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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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garbed
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| v.（尤指某类人穿的特定）服装，衣服，制服( garb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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rouged
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| 胭脂，口红( rouge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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cones
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| n.（人眼）圆锥细胞；圆锥体( cone的名词复数 )；球果；圆锥形东西；（盛冰淇淋的）锥形蛋卷筒 | |
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ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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41
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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43
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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44
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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47
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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49
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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51
cocktails
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| n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物 | |
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flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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53
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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glumness
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| n.忧郁 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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grouch
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| n.牢骚，不满；v.抱怨 | |
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placated
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| v.安抚，抚慰，使平静( placate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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winsomely
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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sensuous
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| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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