The climax1 of the afternoon was reached, however, when after several more dances and drinks, the small riverand its possibilities was again brought to the attention of all by Hegglund, who, looking out of one of thewindows, suddenly exclaimed: "What's de matter wit de ice down dere? Look at de swell2 ice. I dare dis crowd togo down dere and slide."They were off pell-mell--Ratterer and Tina Kogel, running hand in hand, Sparser3 and Lucille Nickolas, withwhom he had just been dancing, Higby and Laura Sipe, whom he was finding interesting enough for a change,and Clyde and Hortense. But once on the ice, which was nothing more than a narrow, winding4 stream, blownclean in places by the wind, and curving among thickets5 of leafless trees, the company were more like youngsatyrs and nymphs of an older day. They ran here and there, slipping and sliding--Higby, Lucille and Maidaimmediately falling down, but scrambling7 to their feet with bursts of laughter.
And Hortense, aided by Clyde at first, minced8 here and there. But soon she began to run and slide, squealing9 inpretended fear. And now, not only Sparser but Higby, and this in spite of Clyde, began to show Hortense attention. They joined her in sliding, ran after her and pretended to try to trip her up, but caught her as she fell.
And Sparser, taking her by the hand, dragged her, seemingly in spite of herself and the others, far upstream andabout a curve where they could not be seen. Determined11 not to show further watchfulness12 or jealousy13 Clyderemained behind. But he could not help feeling that Sparser might be taking this occasion to make a date, even tokiss her. She was not incapable14 of letting him, even though she might pretend to him that she did not want himto. It was agonizing15.
In spite of himself, he began to tingle16 with helpless pain--to begin to wish that he could see them. But Hegglund,having called every one to join hands and crack the whip, he took the hand of Lucille Nickolas, who was holdingon to Hegglund's, and gave his other free hand to Maida Axelrod, who in turn gave her free hand to Ratterer.
And Higby and Laura Sipe were about to make up the tail when Sparser and Hortense came gliding17 back--heholding her by the hand. And they now tacked18 on at the foot. Then Hegglund and the others began running anddoubling back and forth19 until all beyond Maida had fallen and let go. And, as Clyde noted20, Hortense and Sparser,in falling, skidded21 and rolled against each other to the edge of the shore where were snow and leaves and twigs22.
And Hortense's skirts, becoming awry23 in some way, moved up to above her knees. But instead of showing anyembarrassment, as Clyde thought and wished she might, she sat there for a few moments without shame and evenlaughing heartily24--and Sparser with her and still holding her hand. And Laura Sipe, having fallen in such a wayas to trip Higby, who had fallen across her, they also lay there laughing and yet in a most suggestive position, asClyde thought. He noted, too, that Laura Sipe's skirts had been worked above her knees. And Sparser, now sittingup, was pointing to her pretty legs and laughing loudly, showing most of his teeth. And all the others wereemitting peals25 and squeals26 of laughter.
"Hang it all!" thought Clyde. "Why the deuce does he always have to be hanging about her? Why didn't he bringa girl of his own if he wanted to have a good time? What right have they got to go where they can't be seen? Andshe thinks I think she means nothing by all this. She never laughs that heartily with me, you bet. What does shethink I am that she can put that stuff over on me, anyhow?" He glowered27 darkly for the moment, but in spite ofhis thoughts the line or whip was soon re-formed and this time with Lucille Nickolas still holding his hand.
Sparser and Hortense at the tail end again. But Hegglund, unconscious of the mood of Clyde and thinking only ofthe sport, called: "Better let some one else take de end dere, hadn'tcha?" And feeling the fairness of this, Rattererand Maida Axelrod and Clyde and Lucille Nickolas now moved down with Higby and Laura Sipe and Hortenseand Sparser above them. Only, as Clyde noted, Hortense still held Sparser by the hand, yet she moved just abovehim and took his hand, he being to the right, with Sparser next above to her left, holding her other hand firmly,which infuriated Clyde. Why couldn't he stick to Laura Sipe, the girl brought out here for him? And Hortensewas encouraging him.
He was very sad, and he felt so angry and bitter that he could scarcely play the game. He wanted to stop andquarrel with Sparser. But so brisk and eager was Hegglund that they were off before he could even think of doingso.
And then, try as he would, to keep his balance in the face of this, he and Lucille and Ratterer and Maida Axelrodwere thrown down and spun28 around on the ice like curling irons. And Hortense, letting go of him at the rightmoment, seemed to prefer deliberately29 to hang on to Sparser. Entangled30 with these others, Clyde and they spunacross forty feet of smooth, green ice and piled against a snow bank. At the finish, as he found, Lucille Nickolaswas lying across his knees face down in such a spanking31 position that he was compelled to laugh. And Maida Axelrod was on her back, next to Ratterer, her legs straight up in the air; on purpose he thought. She was toocoarse and bold for him. And there followed, of course, squeals and guffaws32 of delight--so loud that they couldbe heard for half a mile. Hegglund, intensely susceptible33 to humor at all times, doubled to the knees, slapped histhighs and bawled34. And Sparser opened his big mouth and chortled and grimaced35 until he was scarlet36. Soinfectious was the result that for the time being Clyde forgot his jealousy. He too looked and laughed. ButClyde's mood had not changed really. He still felt that she wasn't playing fair.
At the end of all this playing Lucille Nickolas and Tina Kogel being tired, dropped out. And Hortense, also.
Clyde at once left the group to join her. Ratterer then followed Lucille. Then the others separating, Hegglundpushed Maida Axelrod before him down stream out of sight around a bend. Higby, seemingly taking his cuefrom this, pulled Tina Kogel up stream, and Ratterer and Lucille, seeming to see something of interest, struckinto a thicket6, laughing and talking as they went. Even Sparser and Laura, left to themselves, now wandered off,leaving Clyde and Hortense alone.
And then, as these two wandered toward a fallen log which here paralleled the stream, she sat down. But Clyde,smarting from his fancied wounds, stood silent for the time being, while she, sensing as much, took him by thebelt of his coat and began to pull at him.
"Giddap, horsey," she played. "Giddap. My horsey has to skate me now on the ice."Clyde looked at her glumly37, glowering38 mentally, and not to be diverted so easily from the ills which he felt to behis.
"Whadd'ye wanta let that fellow Sparser always hang around you for?" he demanded. "I saw you going up thecreek there with him a while ago. What did he say to you up there?""He didn't say anything.""Oh, no, of course not," he replied cynically39 and bitterly. "And maybe he didn't kiss you, either.""I should say not," she replied definitely and spitefully, "I'd like to know what you think I am, anyhow. I don't letpeople kiss me the first time they see me, smarty, and I want you to know it. I didn't let you, did I?""Oh, that's all right, too," answered Clyde; "but you didn't like me as well as you do him, either.""Oh, didn't I? Well, maybe I didn't, but what right have you to say I like him, anyhow. I'd like to know if I can'thave a little fun without you watching me all the time. You make me tired, that's what you do." She was quiteangry now because of the proprietary40 air he appeared to be assuming.
And now Clyde, repulsed41 and somewhat shaken by this sudden counter on her part, decided42 on the instant thatperhaps it might be best for him to modify his tone. After all, she had never said that she had really cared forhim, even in the face of the implied promise she had made him.
"Oh, well," he observed glumly after a moment, and not without a little of sadness in his tone, "I know one thing.
If I let on that I cared for any one as much as you say you do for me at times, I wouldn't want to flirt43 around withothers like you are doing out here.""Oh, wouldn't you?""No, I wouldn't.""Well, who's flirting44 anyhow, I'd like to know?""You are.""I'm not either, and I wish you'd just go away and let me alone if you can't do anything but quarrel with me. Justbecause I danced with him up there in the restaurant, is no reason for you to think I'm flirting. Oh, you make metired, that's what you do,""Do I?""Yes, you do.""Well, maybe I better go off and not bother you any more at all then," he returned, a trace of his mother's couragewelling up in him.
"Well, maybe you had, if that's the way you're going to feel about me all the time," she answered, and kickedviciously with her toes at the ice. But Clyde was beginning to feel that he could not possibly go through withthis--that after all he was too eager about her--too much at her feet. He began to weaken and gaze nervously45 ather. And she, thinking of her coat again, decided to be civil.
"You didn't look in his eyes, did you?" he asked weakly, his thoughts going back to her dancing with Sparser.
"When?""When you were dancing with him?""No, I didn't, not that I know of, anyhow. But supposing I did. What of it? I didn't mean anything by it. Gee46,criminy, can't a person look in anybody's eyes if they want to?""In the way you looked in his? Not if you claim to like anybody else, I say." And the skin of Clyde's foreheadlifted and sank, and his eyelids47 narrowed. Hortense merely clicked impatiently and indignantly with her tongue.
"Tst! Tst! Tst! If you ain't the limit!""And a while ago back there on the ice," went on Clyde determinedly48 and yet pathetically. "When you came backfrom up there, instead of coming up to where I was you went to the foot of the line with him. I saw you. And youheld his hand, too, all the way back. And then when you fell down, you had to sit there with him holding your hand. I'd like to know what you call that if it ain't flirting. What else is it? I'll bet he thinks it is, all right.""Well, I wasn't flirting with him just the same and I don't care what you say. But if you want to have it that way,have it that way. I can't stop you. You're so darn jealous you don't want to let anybody else do anything, that's allthe matter with you. How else can you play on the ice if you don't hold hands, I'd like to know? Gee, criminy!
What about you and that Lucille Nickolas? I saw her laying across your lap and you laughing. And I didn't thinkanything of that. What do you want me to do--come out here and sit around like a bump on a log?--follow youaround like a tail? Or you follow me? What-a-yuh think I am anyhow? A nut?"She was being ragged10 by Clyde, as she thought, and she didn't like it. She was thinking of Sparser who wasreally more appealing to her at the time than Clyde. He was more materialistic49, less romantic, more direct.
He turned and, taking off his cap, rubbed his head gloomily while Hortense, looking at him, thought first of himand then of Sparser. Sparser was more manly50, not so much of a crybaby. He wouldn't stand around and complainthis way, you bet. He'd probably leave her for good, have nothing more to do with her. Yet Clyde, after hisfashion, was interesting and useful. Who else would do for her what he had? And at any rate, he was not trying toforce her to go off with him now as these others had gone and as she had feared he might try to do--ahead of herplan and wish. This quarrel was obviating51 that.
"Now, see here," she said after a time, having decided that it was best to assuage52 him and that it was not so hardto manage him after all. "Are we goin' t'fight all the time, Clyde? What's the use, anyhow? Whatja want me tocome out here for if you just want to fight with me all the time? I wouldn't have come if I'd 'a' thought you weregoing to do that all day."She turned and kicked at the ice with the minute toe of her shoes, and Clyde, always taken by her charm again,put his arms about her, and crushed her to him, at the same time fumbling53 at her breasts and putting his lips tohers and endeavoring to hold and fondle her. But now, because of her suddenly developed liking54 for Sparser, andpartially because of her present mood towards Clyde, she broke away, a dissatisfaction with herself and himtroubling her. Why should she let him force her to do anything she did not feel like doing, just now, anyhow, shenow asked herself. She hadn't agreed to be as nice to him to-day as he might wish. Not yet. At any rate just nowshe did not want to be handled in this way by him, and she would not, regardless of what he might do. AndClyde, sensing by now what the true state of her mind in regard to him must be, stepped back and yet continuedto gaze gloomily and hungrily at her. And she in turn merely stared at him.
"I thought you said you liked me," he demanded almost savagely55 now, realizing that his dreams of a happyouting this day were fading into nothing.
"Well, I do when you're nice," she replied, slyly and evasively, seeking some way to avoid complications inconnection with her original promises to him.
"Yes, you do," he grumbled56. "I see how you do. Why, here we are out here now and you won't even let me touchyou. I'd like to know what you meant by all that you said, anyhow.""Well, what did I say?" she countered, merely to gain time.
"As though you didn't know.""Oh, well. But that wasn't to be right away, either, was it? I thought we said"--she paused dubiously57.
"I know what you said," he went on. "But I notice now that you don't like me an' that's all there is to it. Whatdifference would it make if you really cared for me whether you were nice to me now or next week or the weekafter? Gee whiz, you'd think it was something that depended on what I did for you, not whether you cared forme." In his pain he was quite intense and courageous58.
"That's not so!" she snapped, angrily and bitterly, irritated by the truth of what he said. "And I wish you wouldn'tsay that to me, either. I don't care anything about the old coat now, if you want to know it. And you can just haveyour old money back, too, I don't want it. And you can just let me alone from now on, too," she added. "I'll getall the coats I want without any help from you." At this, she turned and walked away.
But Clyde, now anxious to mollify her as usual, ran after her. "Don't go, Hortense," he pleaded. "Wait a minute. Ididn't mean that either, honest I didn't. I'm crazy about you. Honest I am. Can't you see that? Oh, gee, don't gonow. I'm not giving you the money to get something for it. You can have it for nothing if you want it that way.
There ain't anybody else in the world like you to me, and there never has been. You can have the money for all Icare, all of it. I don't want it back. But, gee, I did think you liked me a little. Don't you care for me at all,Hortense?" He looked cowed and frightened, and she, sensing her mastery over him, relented a little.
"Of course I do," she announced. "But just the same, that don't mean that you can treat me any old way, either.
You don't seem to understand that a girl can't do everything you want her to do just when you want her to do it.""Just what do you mean by that?" asked Clyde, not quite sensing just what she did mean. "I don't get you.""Oh, yes, you do, too." She could not believe that he did not know.
"Oh, I guess I know what you're talkin' about. I know what you're going to say now," he went on disappointedly.
"That's that old stuff they all pull. I know."He was reciting almost verbatim the words and intonations59 even of the other boys at the hotel--Higby, Ratterer,Eddie Doyle--who, having narrated60 the nature of such situations to him, and how girls occasionally lied out ofpressing dilemmas61 in this way, had made perfectly62 clear to him what was meant. And Hortense knew now that hedid know.
"Gee, but you're mean," she said in an assumed hurt way. "A person can never tell you anything or expect you tobelieve it. Just the same, it's true, whether you believe it or not.""Oh, I know how you are," he replied, sadly yet a little loftily, as though this were an old situation to him. "Youdon't like me, that's all. I see that now, all right.""Gee, but you're mean," she persisted, affecting an injured air. "It's the God's truth. Believe me or not, I swear it. Honest it is."Clyde stood there. In the face of this small trick there was really nothing much to say as he saw it. He could notforce her to do anything. If she wanted to lie and pretend, he would have to pretend to believe her. And yet agreat sadness settled down upon him. He was not to win her after all--that was plain. He turned, and she, beingconvinced that he felt that she was lying now, felt it incumbent63 upon herself to do something about it--to win himaround to her again.
"Please, Clyde, please," she began now, most artfully, "I mean that. Really, I do. Won't you believe me? But Iwill next week, sure. Honest, I will. Won't you believe that? I meant everything I said when I said it. Honest, Idid. I do like you--a lot. Won't you believe that, too--please?"And Clyde, thrilled from head to toe by this latest phase of her artistry, agreed that he would. And once more hebegan to smile and recover his gayety. And by the time they reached the car, to which they were all called a fewminutes after by Hegglund, because of the time, and he had held her hand and kissed her often, he was quiteconvinced that the dream he had been dreaming was as certain of fulfillment as anything could be. Oh, the gloryof it when it should come true!
这天下午的高潮的来到，正是在跳累了。喝饱了这样的时刻，赫格伦向大伙儿重新提起了这条小河以及河上种种乐趣。赫格伦往窗外一望，突然大声喊道:
"那边的冰凌，你们看怎么样?
看那冰凌有多美啊。我说咱们大伙儿一块溜冰去。"他们一下子就乱哄哄地往外走了……拉特勒和蒂娜。科格尔手拉手奔跑着，斯帕塞和刚在一块跳舞的露西尔。尼古拉斯一对，希格比和他觉得换换花样也还相当有味儿的劳拉。赛普一对，此外还有克莱德和霍丹斯这一对。这不外乎是一条狭长的。弯弯曲曲。从光秃秃的树丛中逶迤而去的小溪，有些地方积雪被风刮得干干净净。这一拨人一到冰凌上就象古代希腊神话里年轻的森林之神和山泽林泉的女神。他们到处奔啊，跑啊，溜啊，滑啊……希格比。露西尔。
梅达一下子摔倒了，但哈哈大笑，又爬了起来。
踩着碎步。不一会儿，她就连跑带溜起来了，还故意佯装惧怕的样子，尖声喊叫起来。这时，不仅斯帕塞，而且希格比也都对霍丹斯大献殷勤，根本不管克莱德在场。他们跟她一块溜冰，一个劲儿在她后面追，还假装想让她绊跤，当她快要倒下去的时候却紧紧地抓住了她。斯帕塞挽着她的手，看来就在众目睽睽之下，不管她乐意不乐意，一直把她拽到了小溪上游转弯处，那儿人们就看不到他们了。克莱德决定再也不露出监视或嫉妒的神色，仍然待在后面不走。
但他还是不由得在暗自寻思，斯帕塞也许正利用这个机会跟她约定幽会的日子，甚至跟她亲吻哩。她是完全有可能让他尽情亲吻的，哪怕她也许会装出很不乐意的样子。这多令人烦恼啊。
克莱德内心深处不由自主地感到一阵阵剧痛，深知自己无能为力……他真巴不得能看到他们就好了。不过后来，赫格伦要求大家手挽手，好象连成一条长鞭子，然后再将它挣断，于是他先带头挽起了露西尔。尼古拉斯的手。克莱德也一手搀着露西尔，一手搀着梅达。阿克塞尔罗德。而梅达的另一只手，又搀着拉特勒。正当希格比和劳拉。赛普快要把尾巴接上的时候，斯帕塞同霍丹斯溜回来了……这时他还拉着她的手不放。他们俩就插在最后面了。随后，赫格伦等人就开始奔跑，加快速度，忽儿前进，忽儿后退，直到最后梅达后面的人一个个都摔倒了，这一条长鞭子终于给挣断了。克莱德发觉，霍丹斯和斯帕塞摔倒时，两人滚撞在一块，一直滚到堆满积雪。败叶与枯枝的小河边。霍丹斯的裙子已经扎破了，一下子给掀到膝盖以上。不过，她并没有象克莱德所想象和希望的那样窘困不安，适得其反，她却在那里坐了一会儿，简直没羞没臊，甚至还放声大笑……这时斯帕塞同她在一起，依然拉着她的手不放。那时，劳拉。赛普猛地摔了一交，把希格比撞倒了，希格比就索性横倒在她身上，他们俩也都哈哈大笑，躺卧在那里，而且还作出了一种依克莱德看很能令人想入非非的姿势来。他又发觉劳拉。赛普的裙子已给掀到膝盖上面。这时，斯帕塞坐了起来，正用手指指点点她那漂亮的大腿，开怀大笑，连牙齿全给露出来了。
四周围的人也都哈哈大笑，发出一阵阵尖声和吼声。
"真该死的，"克莱德心中暗自思忖。"那个魔鬼干吗老是缠着她?
他要是想玩得痛快，干吗自己不带一个姑娘来?
他们有什么权利躲到谁都看不见的地方去?
而她还以为，我会相信她这是没有什么别的用意哩。她跟我在一块，就从来没有那么痛快地笑过。她到底把我当做什么人，难道说我就可以任她牵着鼻子走吗?
"他马上怒咻咻地皱紧了眉头。可是，不管他心里正在这么想，那长长的行列，亦即这一道长鞭子又重新组成了。这一回还是露西尔。尼古拉斯拉着他的手。
斯帕塞和霍丹斯还是在最末尾。不过，赫格伦并没有揣测到克莱德的情绪，一心只是想着这个游戏，就大声喊道:
"最好换一个人排在最末尾，好吗?
"拉特勒和梅达。阿克塞尔罗德。克莱德和露西尔。尼古拉斯都觉得这也很公道，就往后挪了，于是希格比和劳拉。赛普。霍丹斯和斯帕塞都在前头了。只不过克莱德发觉，霍丹斯还是拉住了斯帕塞的手，但她已挪到他前头，一手拉住了他的手。
这时他在她的右面;斯帕塞则是在她左面，紧紧拉住了霍丹斯的另一只手，这使克莱德很恼火。他干吗不紧跟着那个特意为他请到这里来的劳拉。赛普呢?
而霍丹斯居然还在给他鼓劲呢。
他不仅伤心透了，而且还那样恼火，痛苦，几乎连游戏的兴致都没有了。
他恨不得不玩了，跟斯帕塞吵一架。不过，那时赫格伦却是那么起劲，那么热心，克莱德甚至还来不及想，他们又开始玩了。
随后，他虽然竭力设法保待身体平衡，可他和露西尔。拉特勒。梅达。阿克塞尔罗德全都摔倒了，如同烫发钳夹在冰凌上不停地旋转。霍丹斯不早不晚，就在此刻把他的手一放，分明喜欢拉住斯帕塞似的。克莱德跟好几个人纠缠在一起，他们一个劲儿滚过了四十英尺光溜溜。绿莹莹的冰凌子，一个又一个堆叠在积雪的河岸边了。后来，他一发现露西尔。尼古拉斯躺在他膝盖上，脸儿朝下，好象玩得非常痛快似的，他禁不住哈哈大笑起来。还有梅达。阿克塞尔罗德，仰天摔了一交，两脚朝天，也躺在拉特勒身边。克莱德心想，她这是故意的。依他看，她这个人太粗野放肆了。于是，不用说，立即响起了一片尖叫声。呼喊声。欢笑声……声音竟有这么大，半英里之外都能听得见。赫格伦平素最喜欢打打闹闹，这时几乎用加倍力气，在冰凌上匍伏爬行，一边拍打着自己臀部，一个劲儿吼叫。还有斯帕塞张开自己的大嘴巴，格格大笑，扮着种种怪象，直到满脸通红。结果，感染力竟有这么大，克莱德一下子把嫉妒心全给忘了。他看了以后，也格格大笑起来。不过说实话，他的情绪也并没有改变。
他还是觉得霍丹斯表现得不够意思。
这个游戏快要结束的时候，露西尔。尼古拉斯和蒂娜。科格尔觉得累了，就退了出去。霍丹斯也退出了。克莱德马上离队，走到了她身边。随后，拉特勒也跟着露西尔走了。别人也四散走开了，赫格伦把梅达。阿克塞尔罗德推到自己前头，一块溜到了小河下游转弯处谁都看不见的地方去了。希格比显然从中受到暗示，就拽住蒂娜。科格尔一块到小河上游去了。拉特勒和露西尔好象看见什么有趣的东西，一块儿钻进了小树林，他们俩一路走，还一路谈笑哩。
无拘无束的斯帕塞和劳拉，这时也滑脚溜了，最后只剩下克莱德和霍丹斯在一起。
他们两个慢悠悠地向横倒在河边的一棵树桩走去，霍丹斯坐了下来。但是克莱德心中伤口依然未愈合，伫立在那里，一声不吭;她发觉后，就扯他外套的腰带一个劲儿拽他。
"喔……喔，马儿呀，"她闹着玩儿说。"喔……喔，我的马儿呀，现在该带我一块溜冰去啦。"克莱德阴郁地直望着她，心里很恼火，刚才受到了那么大的委屈，可不能一下子全给忘了。
"你干吗让斯帕塞那家伙老是围在你身旁呢?
"他这样质问她说。"刚才我看见你跟他一块到小河转弯处去的。他在那里跟你说了些什么?
""他什么都没有说。""哦，没有，当然罗，没有，"他挖苦地。辛辣地回答说。"也许他也没有吻过你吧。""是的，当然没有啦，"她斩钉截铁而又恶狠狠地回答说，"你把我当做什么人啦，我倒是要弄明白。你这个人真是自作聪明呀，我决不会允许任何人第一次见面就吻我的，这一点我要向你说清楚。当初我也没有允许过你，是吧?
""是的，当然罗，"克莱德回答说。"不过，那时候你对我也不象你现在对他那么喜欢嘛。""哦，怎么啦?
哦，也许是这样，不过，请问你又有什么权利说我喜欢他。我倒是很想知道，我自己能不能也乐一乐，用不着你老是在监视我。我老实告诉你，你可真叫我腻味透了。"霍丹斯这会儿真的恼火了:
她觉得他是在用主人的口吻来跟她说话。
克莱德被她这突然其来的反攻挫败了，不免有点儿惶悚，立时决定，也许最好还是改变一下口气。她毕竟从来没有说过她真的爱他，即使她曾向他许下过含有特定意义的诺言。
"哦，得了吧，"过了一会儿，他阴郁地说，语调里不无一点儿悲哀的味道，"有一件事我是很清楚的:
要是我说过我喜欢什么人，就象你有时说过你喜欢我那样的话，那末，我就决不会象你刚才在这儿同别人卖弄风情。""哦，你真的决不会吗?
""不，我是决不会的。""那敢情好，到底是谁在这儿卖弄风情?
我倒是很想闹明白呢。""就是你。""我可压根儿都没有。你要是只会跟我斗嘴吵架，那还是请你走吧，让我独个儿清静点。我只不过是在旅馆里跟他跳跳舞，你可没有理由认为我在卖弄风情呀。哦，一句话，你可真叫我腻味透了。""是真的腻味透了吗?
""是的，你就是叫人腻味呗。""怎么啦，也许最好我还是走开，从此再也不来打扰你就得了，"他回答说，心中鼓起了类似他母亲的那么一点魄力。
"哦，要是你对我不能改变看法的话，你也许还是这样好，"她回答说，随后用脚尖狠命地踢着冰凌子。不过，克莱德开始感到他可不能就这样离开她的……他毕竟太热衷于她了……几乎完全被她迷住了。他开始心软了，忐忑不安地直瞅着她。而她呢，这时又想到那件外套，就决定对他要客气些。
"你没有直勾勾望着他的眼睛，是吧?
"他有气无力地问;他一转念又想到了她跟斯帕塞跳舞的事了。
"什么时候?
""你跟他一块跳舞的时候，有没有?
""没有，我可没有，反正我自己不知道。不过，就算我两眼望着他，那又怎么啦。我可没有什么特别意思。嘿，你这个家伙，要是有人想看看别人的眼睛，难道说不可以吗?
""就象你那样看他吗?
我说，你要是真的已喜欢某个人，那就要不得，"克莱德的眉头皱了一皱，眼皮也眯成一线了。霍丹斯只是不耐烦地。忿忿地发出砸舌声。
"Ｔｓｔ!
Ｔｓｔ!
Ｔｓｔ!
你可真是忍无可忍了吧!
""还有刚才你同他一块去溜冰，"克莱德态度坚决，而又非常激动地继续说。
"你从那儿一回来，并没有走到我身边来，而是跟他一块到最末尾去了。我看见你的。你一路上回来时，还拉着他的手。后来你们一块摔倒了，你干脆同他坐在一块，还是拉着他的手。我倒是要请教你一下，这不是卖弄风情，又是什么呢?
我敢说这准是斯帕塞的想法。""哦，反正我可没有向他卖弄风情，你爱怎么说就怎么说，我可不在乎。不过，你要是非得这么说，那就随你的便了。我也阻止不了你。这一切全得怪你那该死的妒忌心，依你看，总是这个也不行，那个更不行。如果说不是拉着手，在冰凌上又该怎么个玩法，我倒是很想请教你。嘿，你这个家伙!
你跟那个露西尔。尼古拉斯，又是怎么样呢?
我看见她干脆躺在你膝上，还有你哈哈大笑那副德行。可我一点儿都没有什么想法呀。那末，此刻你究竟要求我怎么样……只是跑到这儿来呆坐着，就象树桩上一个肿块?
……象尾巴一样跟在你背后?
或是你跟在我背后?
你到底把我看成什么玩意儿?
一个傻瓜吗?
"她认为自己给克莱德嘲弄了，老大不高兴。她心里正在想着斯帕塞。此刻，他的确比克莱德更吸引她了。相比之下，他不是那么富于幻想，而是更实际些，更直率些。
他转过身来，摘下帽子，怏怏不乐地搔脑勺，而正在瞅着他的霍丹斯，此刻心里想的先是他，然后才是斯帕塞。斯帕塞更加富有男子汉气概，决不是一个只会哭鼻子的小娃娃。可以肯定，他决不会这样老站着发牢骚。也许他马上撇下她，从此再也不同她来往。不过话又说回来，象克莱德这样的方式也有意思，有用处。有谁象他那样给她出过力呢?
反正不管怎么说，别人都已纷纷走开时，他可并没有逼着她跟他一块走到远处去;原来她很担心……在她计划和愿望还没有想定以前，说不定他也会逼着她这么干的。现在由于这场争吵，那件事总算得以避免了。
"得了吧，听我说，"她过了一会儿说，心想最好还是安慰一下他，反正要对付他也并不那么难。"难道说我们整天价就吵架吗，克莱德?
这到底有什么好处呢?
你要是存心总跟我吵架，那又干吗约我出来玩儿?
我要是早知道，我就不来了。"她侧过身去，用小小的鞋尖踢着冰凌。克莱德如同往常一样，又被她的魅力所倾倒，便伸出一双胳臂搂住她，同自己身子紧贴在一起，与此同时，乱摸她的乳房，还一个劲儿同她亲嘴，很想抱住她，抚弄她。可是这会儿，由于她突然对斯帕塞产生了好感，而对克莱德却又很气忿，她一下子就挣脱出来，心中立时萌生了一种既痛恨自己。也痛恨克莱德来烦恼自己。她扪心自问，为什么现在就得听任他强迫她做自己不愿意做的事呢。她并没有答应如同他所希望的那样就在今天对他亲热。还没有答应呢。不管怎么说，至少此刻，她不希望他是这样对待她的，而且也不管他会怎么干，她是决不会答应的。克莱德此刻已觉察到她心里对他的真正想法，就往后退了一步，但依然怏怏不乐。如饥似渴地直瞅着她。而她呢，仅仅是定神凝视他罢了。
"我想你是说过你喜欢我的，"他几乎恶狠狠地说。他已看到，今天他的这场愉快郊游的幻梦，正要烟消云散了。
"是的，当你乖乖的时候，我是喜欢你的，"她狡诈而又闪烁其词地回答说，心里正在琢磨，用什么办法务使她当初对他所作的许诺不要引起麻烦。
"是啊，你是喜欢我的，"他咕哝着说。"你是怎么喜欢我的，我算是看到了。
得了吧，我们一块上这儿玩，可你连碰都不让我碰一下你。我倒是要请问你，过去你说的话到底是什么意思。""哦，过去我说了些什么?
"她马上反问他，不外乎想赢得一点儿时间罢了。
"好象你自个儿也都不知道似的。""哦，得了吧。不过，现在还不是时候，是不是?
我好象觉得，我们原来是说……"她说到这里，一迟疑就顿住了。
"我记得当时你是说过的，"他接下去说。"不过，我现在发现你并不喜欢我，说穿了，就是这么回事。要是你真的爱我，那末，不论是现在就对我好，还是在下星期。下下星期对我好，又有什么区别呢?
在你看来，一切多少取决于我替你做了什么，而并不是你爱不爱我。真是太圆滑了!
"他在痛苦之中一下子变得相当激烈和勇敢。
"那不是这样的!
"她听了很生气，马上尖声嚷了起来，因为他说对了，她一下子恼火了。"另外，我希望你不要再对我说这样的话。你要是想知道，那就老实告诉你吧，现在我压根儿也不想那件倒楣的外套了。你的那些倒楣的钱，你尽管拿回去吧。我可不要。从今以后，你也别打扰我就得了，"她又找补着说。"我用不着你来帮忙，我要什么样外套，反正照样都能弄到。"说罢，她一转身就走了。
克莱德如同往常一样，急于抚慰她，马上追了上去。"别走啊，霍丹斯，"他恳求说。"等一会儿。说实话，我也不是这个意思呀，真的。说实话我为了你快要疯了。难道你就看不出来吗?
喂，你别走呀。我给你钱，并不是要得到什么回报呀。随你高兴，你白白地拿走就得了。世界上除了你以外，任何人我都不爱，从来也没爱过。你把钱通通拿走吧。我压根儿不要了。只不过我早就以为你还有点儿喜欢我的。现在你到底还爱不爱我，霍丹斯?
"这时他显得胆怯。害怕，而她发现自己居然已能左右他，就不妨稍微宽宏一些。
你刚才那副德行对待我呀。看来你始终不懂得，一个女孩子永远也不会什么都顺从你，不会你要她怎么做她就怎么做。""你这是什么意思?
"克莱德问，没有完全领会她的意思。"你的话我听不懂。
""哦，也许你是听懂的。"她才不相信他听不懂。
"哦，我想，你刚才说些什么我懂了。我好象知道现在你要说些什么来着，"他失望地接下去说。"这是他们大家都讲过的荒唐事。我知道。"这时，他几乎逐字逐句。绘声绘影地把酒店里别的侍应生……希格比。拉特勒。埃迪。多伊尔说过的话照背了一遍。他们对他讲过这类事的关键所在，说到有些女人为了渡过一时难关，有时也这样撒谎的。他们使他完全懂得了那是怎么一回事。现在霍丹斯也知道他是确实懂了。
"嘿，你可一点儿也不害臊，"她装出一副受委屈的样子说。"简直什么都不能跟你说，反正你什么也都不相信。不过，不管怎么说，也不管你信不信，反正这是实话。""哦，现在我知道，你这是怎么一回事，"他虽然伤心，却有些高傲地回答说，仿佛这在他看来早已司空见惯了。"你不喜欢我，反正就是这么回事。现在我可看得清清楚楚了。""唉，你可一点儿也不害臊，"她一口咬定说，依然装出一副受委屈的样子。
"我向你保证，这话千真万确。你信也好，不信也好，但是我可以发誓，确实就是这样。"克莱德站在那里很尴尬。他知道，对于这个小诡计，他实在没有更多的话好说的了。他可不能强迫她做任何事情。她要是想撒谎和装假，他也只好假装相信她。不过，他心里却充满了一种巨大的悲哀。他是怎么也得不到她的爱了……那是一清二楚的。他转身想走了，可她明明知道自己撒谎已被他识破了，所以觉得现在不得不下一点儿功夫……把他再次掌握在她手里。
"得了，克莱德，得了，"她说话时技巧可谓非常纯熟，"我说的是真话。说实在的，是真的。你不相信我吗?
不过，我一定会的，下个星期，你放心好了。
真的，我一定会的。你相信我就得了。我说话是算数的。真的，是这样。我的确喜欢你……非常喜欢你。难道说你还不相信，是吗……是吗?
"这是虚情假意的最后一着，克莱德自头至踵感到浑身颤栗，只好回答说自己相信她。于是，他脸上又露出笑容，一下子乐乐呵呵起来。由于开车时间已到，赫格伦已在招呼大家上车。当大家向汽车走去时，他还抓住她的手，吻了好几回。他深信:
他的美梦，肯定会实现了。啊，美梦一旦实现，该有多么开心!
收听单词发音 |
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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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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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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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minced
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| v.切碎( mince的过去式和过去分词 )；剁碎；绞碎；用绞肉机绞（食物，尤指肉） | |
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squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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agonizing
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| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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tacked
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| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
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forth
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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skidded
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| v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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squeals
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| n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spanking
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| adj.强烈的，疾行的；n.打屁股 | |
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guffaws
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| n.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的名词复数 )v.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的第三人称单数 ) | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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grimaced
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| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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glumly
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| adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地 | |
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glowering
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| v.怒视( glower的现在分词 ) | |
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cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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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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flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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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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eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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materialistic
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| a.唯物主义的，物质享乐主义的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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obviating
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| v.避免，消除（贫困、不方便等）( obviate的现在分词 ) | |
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assuage
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| v.缓和，减轻，镇定 | |
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fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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intonations
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| n.语调，说话的抑扬顿挫( intonation的名词复数 )；（演奏或唱歌中的）音准 | |
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narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dilemmas
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| n.左右为难( dilemma的名词复数 )；窘境，困境 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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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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