The home of Samuel Griffiths in Lycurgus, New York, a city of some twenty-five thousand inhabitants midwaybetween Utica and Albany. Near the dinner hour and by degrees the family assembling for its customary meal.
On this occasion the preparations were of a more elaborate nature than usual, owing to the fact that for the pastfour days Mr. Samuel Griffiths, the husband and father, had been absent attending a conference of shirt andcollar manufacturers in Chicago, price-cutting by upstart rivals in the west having necessitated1 compromise andadjustment by those who manufactured in the east. He was but now returned and had telephoned earlier in theafternoon that he had arrived, and was going to his office in the factory where he would remain until dinner time.
Being long accustomed to the ways of a practical and convinced man who believed in himself and considered hisjudgment and his decision sound--almost final--for the most part, anyhow, Mrs. Griffiths thought nothing of this.
He would appear and greet her in due order.
Knowing that he preferred leg of lamb above many other things, after due word with Mrs. Truesdale, her homelybut useful housekeeper2, she ordered lamb. And the appropriate vegetables and dessert having been decided3 upon,she gave herself over to thoughts of her eldest4 daughter Myra, who, having graduated from Smith Collegeseveral years before, was still unmarried. And the reason for this, as Mrs. Griffiths well understood, though shewas never quite willing to admit it openly, was that Myra was not very good looking. Her nose was too long, hereyes too close-set, her chin not sufficiently5 rounded to give her a girlish and pleasing appearance. For the mostpart she seemed too thoughtful and studious--as a rule not interested in the ordinary social life of that city.
Neither did she possess that savoir faire, let alone that peculiar6 appeal for men, that characterized some girls evenwhen they were not pretty. As her mother saw it, she was really too critical and too intellectual, having a mindthat was rather above the world in which she found herself.
Brought up amid comparative luxury, without having to worry about any of the rough details of making a living,she had been confronted, nevertheless, by the difficulties of making her own way in the matter of social favorand love--two objectives which, without beauty or charm, were about as difficult as the attaining7 to extremewealth by a beggar. And the fact that for twelve years now--ever since she had been fourteen--she had seen thelives of other youths and maidens8 in this small world in which she moved passing gayly enough, while hers wasmore or less confined to reading, music, the business of keeping as neatly9 and attractively arrayed as possible,and of going to visit friends in the hope of possibly encountering somewhere, somehow, the one temperamentwho would be interested in her, had saddened, if not exactly soured her. And that despite the fact that thematerial comfort of her parents and herself was exceptional.
Just now she had gone through her mother's room to her own, looking as though she were not very muchinterested in anything. Her mother had been trying to think of something to suggest that would take her out ofherself, when the younger daughter, Bella, fresh from a passing visit to the home of the Finchleys, wealthyneighbors where she had stopped on her way from the Snedeker School, burst in upon her.
Contrasted with her sister, who was tall and dark and rather sallow, Bella, though shorter, was far moregracefully and vigorously formed. She had thick brown--almost black--hair, a brown and olive complexion11 tintedwith red, and eyes brown and genial12, that blazed with an eager, seeking light. In addition to her sound and lithephysique, she possessed13 vitality14 and animation15. Her arms and legs were graceful10 and active. Plainly she wasgiven to liking16 things as she found them--enjoying life as it was--and hence, unlike her sister, she was unusuallyattractive to men and boys--to men and women, old and young--a fact which her mother and father well knew.
No danger of any lack of marriage offers for her when the time came. As her mother saw it, too many youths andmen were already buzzing around, and so posing the question of a proper husband for her. Already she haddisplayed a tendency to become thick and fast friends, not only with the scions17 of the older and moreconservative families who constituted the ultra-respectable element of the city, but also, and this was more to hermother's distaste, with the sons and daughters of some of those later and hence socially less important families ofthe region--the sons and daughters of manufacturers of bacon, canning jars, vacuum cleaners, wooden andwicker ware18, and typewriters, who constituted a solid enough financial element in the city, but who made up what might be considered the "fast set" in the local life.
In Mrs. Griffiths' opinion, there was too much dancing, cabareting, automobiling to one city and another, withoutdue social supervision19. Yet, as a contrast to her sister, Myra, what a relief. It was only from the point of view ofproper surveillance, or until she was safely and religiously married, that Mrs. Griffiths troubled or even objectedto most of her present contacts and yearnings and gayeties. She desired to protect her.
"Now, where have you been?" she demanded, as her daughter burst into the room, throwing down her books anddrawing near to the open fire that burned there.
"Just think, Mamma," began Bella most unconcernedly and almost irrelevantly20. "The Finchleys are going to giveup their place out at Greenwood Lake this coming summer and go up to Twelfth Lake near Pine Point. They'regoing to build a new bungalow21 up there. And Sondra says that this time it's going to be right down at the water'sedge--not away from it, as it is out here. And they're going to have a great big verandah with a hardwood floor.
And a boathouse big enough for a thirty-foot electric launch that Mr. Finchley is going to buy for Stuart. Won'tthat be wonderful? And she says that if you will let me, that I can come up there for all summer long, or for aslong as I like. And Gil, too, if he will. It's just across the lake from the Emery Lodge22, you know, and the EastGate Hotel. And the Phants' place, you know, the Phants of Utica, is just below theirs near Sharon. Isn't that justwonderful? Won't that be great? I wish you and Dad would make up your minds to build up there now sometime,Mamma. It looks to me now as though nearly everybody that's worth anything down here is moving up there."She talked so fast and swung about so, looking now at the open fire burning in the grate, then out of the two highwindows that commanded the front lawn and a full view of Wykeagy Avenue, lit by the electric lights in thewinter dusk, that her mother had no opportunity to insert any comment until this was over. However, shemanaged to observe: "Yes? Well, what about the Anthonys and the Nicholsons and the Taylors? I haven't heardof their leaving Greenwood yet.""Oh, I know, not the Anthonys or the Nicholsons or the Taylors. Who expects them to move? They're too oldfashioned. They're not the kind that would move anywhere, are they? No one thinks they are. Just the sameGreenwood isn't like Twelfth Lake. You know that yourself. And all the people that are anybody down on theSouth Shore are going up there for sure. The Cranstons next year, Sondra says. And after that, I bet the Harrietswill go, too.""The Cranstons and the Harriets and the Finchleys and Sondra," commented her mother, half amused and halfirritated. "The Cranstons and you and Bertine and Sondra--that's all I hear these days." For the Cranstons, and theFinchleys, despite a certain amount of local success in connection with this newer and faster set, were, muchmore than any of the others, the subject of considerable unfavorable comment. They were the people who,having moved the Cranston Wickwire Company from Albany, and the Finchley Electric Sweeper from Buffalo,and built large factories on the south bank of the Mohawk River, to say nothing of new and grandiose23 houses inWykeagy Avenue and summer cottages at Greenwood, some twenty miles northwest, were setting a rathershowy, and hence disagreeable, pace to all of the wealthy residents of this region. They were given to wearingthe smartest clothes, to the latest novelties in cars and entertainments, and constituted a problem to those whowith less means considered their position and their equipment about as fixed24 and interesting and attractive assuch things might well be. The Cranstons and the Finchleys were in the main a thorn in the flesh of the remainder of the elite25 of Lycurgus--too showy and too aggressive.
"How often have I told you that I don't want you to have so much to do with Bertine or that Letta Harriet or herbrother either? They're too forward. They run around and talk and show off too much. And your father feels thesame as I do in regard to them. As for Sondra Finchley, if she expects to go with Bertine and you, too, thenyou're not going to go with her either much longer. Besides I'm not sure that your father approves of your goinganywhere without some one to accompany you. You're not old enough yet. And as for your going to TwelfthLake to the Finchleys, well, unless we all go together, there'll be no going there, either." And now Mrs. Griffiths,who leaned more to the manner and tactics of the older, if not less affluent26 families, stared complainingly at herdaughter.
Nevertheless Bella was no more abashed27 that she was irritated by this. On the contrary she knew her mother andknew that she was fond of her; also that she was intrigued28 by her physical charm as well as her assured localsocial success as much as was her father, who considered her perfection itself and could be swayed by her least,as well as her much practised, smile.
"Not old enough, not old enough," commented Bella reproachfully. "Will you listen? I'll be eighteen in July. I'dlike to know when you and Papa are going to think I'm old enough to go anywhere without you both. Whereveryou two go, I have to go, and wherever I want to go, you two have to go, too.""Bella," censured29 her mother. Then after a moment's silence, in which her daughter stood there impatiently, sheadded, "Of course, what else would you have us do? When you are twenty-one or two, if you are not married bythen, it will be time enough to think of going off by yourself. But at your age, you shouldn't be thinking of anysuch thing." Bella cocked her pretty head, for at the moment the side door downstairs was thrown open, andGilbert Griffiths, the only son of this family and who very much in face and build, if not in manner or lack offorce, resembled Clyde, his western cousin, entered and ascended31.
He was at this time a vigorous, self-centered and vain youth of twenty-three who, in contrast with his two sisters,seemed much sterner and far more practical. Also, probably much more intelligent and aggressive in a businessway--a field in which neither of the two girls took the slightest interest. He was brisk in manner and impatient.
He considered that his social position was perfectly32 secure, and was utterly33 scornful of anything but commercialsuccess. Yet despite this he was really deeply interested in the movements of the local society, of which heconsidered himself and his family the most important part. Always conscious of the dignity and social standingof his family in this community, he regulated his action and speech accordingly. Ordinarily he struck the passingobserver as rather sharp and arrogant34, neither as youthful or as playful as his years might have warranted. Still hewas young, attractive and interesting. He had a sharp, if not brilliant, tongue in his head--a gift at times formaking crisp and cynical35 remarks. On account of his family and position he was considered also the mostdesirable of all the young eligible36 bachelors in Lycurgus. Nevertheless he was so much interested in himself thathe scarcely found room in his cosmos37 for a keen and really intelligent understanding of anyone else.
Hearing him ascend30 from below and enter his room, which was at the rear of the house next to hers, Bella at onceleft her mother's room, and coming to the door, called: "Oh, Gil, can I come in?""Sure." He was whistling briskly and already, in view of some entertainment somewhere, preparing to change to evening clothes.
"Where are you going?""Nowhere, for dinner. To the Wynants afterwards.""Oh, Constance to be sure.""No, not Constance, to be sure. Where do you get that stuff?""As though I didn't know.""Lay off. Is that what you came in here for?""No, that isn't what I came in here for. What do you think? The Finchleys are going to build a place up atTwelfth Lake next summer, right on the lake, next to the Phants, and Mr. Finchley's going to buy Stuart a thirty-foot launch and build a boathouse with a sun-parlor right over the water to hold it. Won't that be swell38, huh?""Don't say 'swell.' And don't say 'huh.' Can't you learn to cut out the slang? You talk like a factory girl. Is that allthey teach you over at that school?""Listen to who's talking about cutting out slang. How about yourself? You set a fine example around here, Inotice.""Well, I'm five years older than you are. Besides I'm a man. You don't notice Myra using any of that stuff.""Oh, Myra. But don't let's talk about that. Only think of that new house they're going to build and the fine timethey're going to have up there next summer. Don't you wish we could move up there, too? We could if wewanted to--if Papa and Mamma would agree to it.""Oh, I don't know that it would be so wonderful," replied her brother, who was really very much interested justthe same. "There are other places besides Twelfth Lake.""Who said there weren't? But not for the people that we know around here. Where else do the best people fromAlbany and Utica go but there now, I'd like to know. It's going to become a regular center, Sondra says, with allthe finest houses along the west shore. Just the same, the Cranstons, the Lamberts, and the Harriets are going tomove up there pretty soon, too," Bella added most definitely and defiantly39. "That won't leave so many out atGreenwood Lake, nor the very best people, either, even if the Anthonys and Nicholsons do stay here.""Who says the Cranstons are going up there?" asked Gilbert, now very much interested.
"Why, Sondra!""Who told her?""Bertine.""Gee40, they're getting gayer and gayer," commented her brother oddly and a little enviously41. "Pretty soonLycurgus'll be too small to hold 'em." He jerked at a bow tie he was attempting to center and grimaced42 oddly ashis tight neck-band pinched him slightly.
For although Gilbert had recently entered into the collar and shirt industry with his father as general supervisorof manufacturing, and with every prospect43 of managing and controlling the entire business eventually, still hewas jealous of young Grant Cranston, a youth of his own age, very appealing and attractive physically44, who wasreally more daring with and more attractive to the girls of the younger set. Cranston seemed to be satisfied that itwas possible to combine a certain amount of social pleasure with working for his father with which Gilbert didnot agree. In fact, young Griffiths would have preferred, had it been possible, so to charge young Cranston withlooseness, only thus far the latter had managed to keep himself well within the bounds of sobriety. And theCranston Wickwire Company was plainly forging ahead as one of the leading industries of Lycurgus.
"Well," he added, after a moment, "they're spreading out faster than I would if I had their business. They're notthe richest people in the world, either." Just the same he was thinking that, unlike himself and his parents, theCranstons were really more daring if not socially more avid45 of life. He envied them.
"And what's more," added Bella interestedly, "the Finchleys are to have a dance floor over the boathouse. AndSondra says that Stuart was hoping that you would come up there and spend a lot of time this summer.""Oh, did he?" replied Gilbert, a little enviously and sarcastically46. "You mean he said he was hoping you wouldcome up and spend a lot of time. I'll be working this summer.""He didn't say anything of the kind, smarty. Besides it wouldn't hurt us any if we did go up there. There's nothingmuch out at Greenwood any more that I can see. A lot of old hen parties.""Is that so? Mother would like to hear that.""And you'll tell her, of course""Oh, no, I won't either. But I don't think we're going to follow the Finchleys or the Cranstons up to Twelfth Lakejust yet, either. You can go up there if you want, if Dad'll let you."Just then the lower door clicked again, and Bella, forgetting her quarrel with her brother, ran down to greet herfather.
这是纽约州莱柯格斯城塞缪尔。格里菲思的家。莱柯格斯是位于尤蒂卡和奥尔巴尼之间。人口约有两万五千的一个城市。开饭时间快到了，一家人纷纷走拢来，准备共进晚餐。这一顿晚餐准备得比往常更为周到，就是给一家之主塞缪尔。格里菲思先生接风洗尘，因为他离家四天刚才回来。原来他是去参加芝加哥的一个衬衫与领子制造厂商的会议，西部一些突然暴富的劲敌宣告削价，逼使东部一些制造厂商妥协，也进行了调价。午后不久，他就打来电话，说他已经回来了，打算去工厂办事处，一直待到吃晚饭时才回家。
对于讲求实际而又充满自信的丈夫的脾性，格里菲思太太早就摸熟了。此人很自信，认为自己的判断。自己的决定，绝无例外，都是稳健可靠……几乎是不再变动的。因此，这一回她一点儿也不奇怪。到时候他自然会回家，会和她打招呼的。
格里菲思太太知道自己丈夫最喜欢吃羊腿，在同她的那位其貌不扬但办事很能干的女管家特鲁斯黛尔太太闲扯后，就关照她准备羊腿这道菜。等到与之相配的菜蔬。甜食也都选定以后，格里菲思太太这才转念想到了大女儿麦拉:
好几年前她在史密斯学院毕业，至今还待字闺中。至于原因嘛，格里菲思太太虽然从不乐意公开承认，可自己心里却很清楚，不外乎是麦拉长得不挺好看:
鼻子太长，眼睛挨得太近，下巴颏儿尚欠丰满……而丰满对一个女孩子惹人喜爱的模样儿来说，乃是万万不可或缺的。通常她总是显得太喜欢深思。好学……对本城上流社会交际生活照例不感兴趣。眼下有些女孩子，尽管长得并不美，但生来就有一种圆滑手腕，更不用说那种吸引男子的特殊魅力了……这些特点，可惜在麦拉身上也都付之阙如。她母亲心里明白，她实在太爱挑剔，也太颖悟了;论才智，她确实凌驾于她那个小圈子里这些人之上。
她自幼在相当奢华的环境里长大，用不着为谋生这类琐事操心。不过，她想在社交上和爱情上获得成功，确实有她的难处……要达到这两个目标，如果说没有美貌和魅力，那就好比要求叫化子变成巨富一样难啊。迄今已有十二年了……从十四岁起……她亲眼看到，在她那个小圈子里，许多少男少女都是生活得乐乐呵呵，无忧无虑，可她偏偏只知道读书和音乐，尽量让自己穿得整洁。
吸引人，出门访友时希望能够同一个志趣相投，并对她深感兴趣的人邂逅，但有时这也会让她感到悲哀，乃至于乖戾无常了，尽管父母以及她自己的物质生活享受都是那么特别优越。
此刻她正经过母亲的房间往自己的房间走去。瞧她那副神态，好象对世界上一切都是漠不关心似的。她母亲正在想方设法，怎样引导她从她这种心态中走出来。这时，刚从芬奇利家回来的小女儿贝拉，突然飞也似的奔进来了……她是在斯内德克学校放学回家路上，顺便上这个有钱的街坊邻居玩儿去的。
如果说同她那个身材高高。肌肤浅黑。略带病黄色的姐姐相比，贝拉哪怕个儿矮一些，长得却要雅致得多，体格也很结实。她有一头深棕色……几乎是乌黑的……头发，棕黄或是说橄榄色的面孔，双颊透着红晕，一双和蔼可亲的棕色眼睛，迸发出一种急于探索的光芒。除了她那刚中有柔的性格以外，她还虎虎有生气，充满了活力。她的四肢优美而又灵活。她简直对周围一切都喜欢……尽情享受眼前生活乐趣……因此，同姐姐不一样，她在成年男子和小伙子……男女老少看来，都特别具有吸引力，这一点她父母当然也很清楚。到时候没人向她求婚这种危险性是压根儿不会有的。她母亲已经了解到，围着她转的成年男子和男孩子已经够多的了，因此，给她选择夫婿的问题已经摆在面前。
现在，她已表现出一种广交朋友的倾向，不仅跟誉称为本城社会名流的一些比较保守的世家望族后裔交朋友，而且也跟不久前才迁居本区。因而社会地位低微的一些人家的子女交朋友，她母亲对此极为不满。这些人家里头，有熏咸肉的，做罐头的，制造真空吸尘器的，也有做木器。藤器的，制造打字机的……他们虽已成为本城巨贾豪富，但在莱柯格斯也许还被看成"一帮子暴发户"。
格里菲思太太认为，现在贝拉和这一帮子人跳舞。上餐厅。坐汽车到这个。
那个城市去玩，实在太多了，缺少应有的监督。不过，同她姐姐麦拉一对比，贝拉该有多么轻松啊!
正是为了细心照管贝拉，以便日后准能按照宗教礼仪举行婚典，格里菲思太太才对她目前的广交朋友和醉心玩乐不时深感忧虑。她一心只是想要保护她小女儿。
"刚才你上哪儿去了?
"她女儿一奔进房间，随手把书一扔，走到了生着火的壁炉跟前，这时格里菲思太太才开口问。
"想想看，妈，"贝拉满不在乎，简直答非所问地说。"今年夏天芬奇利家要放弃他们在格林伍德湖畔的房子，搬到松木场附近第十二号湖去了。他们要在那儿盖一座新的别墅。桑德拉说，这回就盖在湖边……不象这里老宅离湖那么远。他们还要盖一个铺硬木地板的特大游廊。还有一个船坞，大得很，能停泊一艘三十英尺长的电动汽艇，就是芬奇利先生特意买给斯图尔特的。你说，这美不美?
桑德拉说，要是你同意的话，我可以跟她一块上那儿去住上一个夏天，或者说我乐意住多久，就住多久吧。吉尔要是高兴，也可以去嘛。你知道，就在埃默雷小筑和东门旅馆的湖对面。就在范特别墅那边，你知道，尤蒂卡的范特家……离沙伦家不太远。这真是太美了!
太棒了!
我真巴不得你跟阿爸下个决心，多咱也在那儿盖一所小别墅，妈。我说，眼下这里每一个有点身价的人，差不离都搬那儿去住啦。"她就这样滔滔不绝地说着，来回不停地扭动身子，一会儿望着壁炉里的旺火苗儿，一会儿又走到两个高高的窗子跟前，从这儿望得见屋前的草坪，以及冬日黄昏时分被电灯照得雪亮的威克吉大街全景。因为她一直在嘴上嘀嘀咕咕说个没完，她母亲简直插不上一句话。不过，最后她总算说了一句:
"真的是吗?
那末，安东尼家。尼科尔森家和泰勒家呢?
我还没听说他们要搬走。""哦，我知道，安东尼家。尼科尔森家和泰勒家都没有搬。嘿，休想他们会挪窝!
他们太老古派啦。他们那号人是不会搬的。谁都不指望他们搬。不管怎么说，反正格林伍德湖跟第十二号湖不一样。这你自个儿也明白。凡是在南岸有点身份的人，包管都会搬过去的。桑德拉说，克兰斯顿家明年就搬了。打这以后，当然罗，哈里特家也要搬了。""克兰斯顿家。哈里特家。芬奇利家，还有桑德拉!
"她母亲听后觉得既好笑但又很生气。"这些天来，我耳朵里听到的，净是克兰斯顿家呀，你呀，还有蒂娜呀，桑德拉呀!
"因为克兰斯顿家和芬奇利家，这些不久前才搬来的新的暴发户虽然在莱柯格斯已经相当发迹，可是同别人相比，往往更容易成为人们蜚短流长的话题。他们把克兰斯顿柳藤制品公司从奥尔巴尼迁到这里，把芬奇利真空吸尘器公司从布法罗迁到这里，在莫霍克河南岸盖起了大厂房，更不用说在威克吉大街造了富丽堂皇的新宅第，在莱柯格斯西北二十英里外格林伍德湖滨修建了消暑别墅。一句话，他们分明是在摆阔气嘛，因而也招致莱柯格斯全城有钱人不满。他们喜欢穿最时髦的衣服，坐的汽车和种种娱乐消遣，也都是款式最新的，使那些资财不多的人……原先他们认为自己的地位和生活方式都是固定不变，饶有兴味，引人瞩目……很难同他们争一日之长。可是，克兰斯顿家和芬奇利家……太喜欢出风头，太咄咄逼人了，所以就成为莱柯格斯城里其他上流社会人士的肉中刺。
"我跟你说过多少回了，叫你别跟伯蒂娜，或是那个莱达。哈里特，或是她的哥哥多来往?
他们这些人太傲慢了。他们整日价跑来跑去瞎忙乎，乱弹琴，净给自己摆阔气。你爸对他们的看法，同我一模一样。至于桑德拉。芬奇利，若是她既想同伯蒂娜来往，又想同你来往，那你就只好干脆不同她多来往。再说，我也拿不准你爸是不是一定会允许你没有大人陪伴，就随随便便上哪儿去。你毕竟年纪还轻呢。至于你要到第十二号湖上芬奇利家去的事，得了，要么是我们一块儿都去，要么是我们干脆谁也不去。"格里菲思太太打心眼里喜欢一些世家望族。同时也是殷实人家的生活方式与繁文缛礼，如今气呼呼地两眼直盯着她女儿。
可是，贝拉听了这些话，既不感到羞惭，也不怎么恼火。相反，也知道她母亲的脾性，知道她母亲是疼爱她的，也知道她母亲如同她爸一样，常常因为她长得又俊又俏，在本城交际界大出风头而沾沾自喜。他爸认为贝拉已是十全十美的了，只要她莞尔一笑，就能随意摆布他了。
"年纪还轻呢，年纪还轻呢，"贝拉大为不满地重复说。"你就听着，好不好?
到七月，我就十八岁了。我倒是很想知道:
在你和爸看来，我究竟要长到多大，出门才不用你们两老陪着。难道说你们两老想上哪儿去，我就非得跟着一块去;而我想上哪儿去，你们两老也非得一块跟着不可。""贝拉，"母亲责备她说。沉默了半晌，女儿很不耐烦地伫立在那里。格里菲思太太这才找补着说:
"那末，依你看，我们又该怎么办?
要是你已满二十一二岁，而且还没出嫁，那倒是应该让你一个人到外面去。不过你现在这个年纪，就断断乎不该想这类事。"贝拉刚昂起了她那俏丽的头，这时楼下边门开了，他们家的独生子吉尔伯特。格里菲思进来了……瞧他的脸孔和身材，活象他那个住在西部的堂兄弟克莱德，只不过风度和性格迥然不同，也就是说不象后者那么缺乏毅力……他一进来，就径直上楼去了。
他是一个强壮有力。以自我为中心。虚荣心很强的年轻人，现年二十三岁，同他两个姐妹相比，他似乎严峻得多，讲求实际得多。另外，在做生意方面，他很可能要精明强悍得多;两姐妹则对生意经丝毫不感兴趣。他做事干脆利索，可就是很不耐烦。他认为自己的社会地位已是固若金汤，除了经商发迹以外，他简直对什么都是不屑一顾。不过话又说回来，他对本城上流社会交际动态确实深为关注，而且认为他和他的家庭就是它的最重要的组成部分。他时刻记住:
他这一家在当地已有很高名望和地位，因此他的一言一行，也就特别谨小慎微。
旁观者偶尔一看，无不感到此人相当精明而又傲慢，一点儿没有年轻人爱玩的味道，其实，按他这个年纪，本该是活泼爱玩的。不过，他毕竟还是年轻。漂亮而又吸引人。他还有一条三寸不烂之舌……这是他的一种禀赋，有时也能一下子说出一些挖苦话来，令人耳目为之一新。由于他的家庭和他本人的地位，他在莱柯格斯所有未婚的年轻人中是最最令人艳羡的一个。不过话又说回来，他毕竟太关心自己，在他内心世界里，几乎已无余地对别人进行深刻而又真正颖悟的了解了。
贝拉听见他从楼下上来，走进他自己的房间……它在后楼，跟她房间只是一壁之隔……就马上走出母亲的房间，跑到门口，大声喊道:
"喂，吉尔，我能进来吗?
""当然可以。"这会儿他口哨吹得正欢呢，因为要出门玩去，正打算换一身晚礼服。
"上哪儿?
""哪儿也不去，换衣服吃晚饭呗。饭后上威南特家去。""哦，自然还有康斯坦斯罗。""不，没有康斯坦斯，当然没有罗。你从哪儿知道的?
""好象我就不知道吗。""别扯淡了。你来就是为这个吗?
""不，压根儿不是。你只要想一想:
芬奇利家打算夏天在第十二号湖盖一所别墅，就在湖边，紧挨着范特家。芬奇利先生还打算给斯图尔特买一艘三十英尺长的汽艇，另外盖一座船坞，还有日光浴室呢。那有多棒，嗯?
""不要说'
''''多棒，。不要说'
''''嗯，。难道你不知道要把俚语通通都给剔除掉吗?
你说话时活脱脱象一个女工。学校里教你的就是这一套吗?
""听着，是谁在大谈特谈不要说俚语。那你自己呢?
依我看，你在这儿就树立了一个好榜样。""得了，首先，我比你大五岁。第二，我是个男人。最好你向麦拉也学学，她究竟说过那些话没有?
""哦，麦拉!
够了，我们还是别谈那个吧。只要想一想:
人家在盖新别墅，到了夏天，他们该有多乐呀。你想不想我们也一块去吗?
只要我们心里想去……只要爸爸妈妈也同意，包管去得了。""哦，我并不觉得这有多了不起，"她哥哥这样回答，其实，对此他也同样深为关注。"除了第十二号湖，还有别的地方呢。""谁说没有呢?
不过，都不是我们这儿的老相识。比方说，来自奥尔巴尼和尤蒂卡的著名世家，全都到了那里。桑德拉说，第十二号湖那里，要变成一个上流社会交际中心，沿湖西岸净是最漂亮的别墅小筑。不管怎么说，反正克兰斯顿家。兰伯特家和哈里特家，也很快就要搬过去了，"贝拉斩钉截铁而又不甘屈服地继续说道。"赶明儿格林伍德湖留下来的人就不多了，上流人士也不多了，即使说安东尼家和尼科尔森家还在这里不挪窝。""谁说克兰斯顿家也要搬去?
"吉尔伯特问;此刻他已是饶有兴趣。
"嗯，当然罗，是桑德拉说的!
""谁告诉她的?
""伯蒂娜。""是啊，他们家家都是越来越乐乐和和呀，"她哥哥怪腔怪调。不无眼红地说。
"莱柯格斯天地一下子变得太小，容纳不下他们啦。"蝶形领结他怎么也摆弄不好，最后猛一下子总算把它摆到中间，因为领结太紧，使他皱皱眉头，扮了个怪脸。
最近吉尔伯特虽然以生产制造的总监身份进入他父亲的衬衫与领子行业，而且日后很可能管理整个企业，但他对那个年轻的格兰特。克兰斯顿还是十分嫉妒。此人年纪跟他相仿，长得很漂亮，很惹人喜爱，在妙龄女郎们眼里，他确实更加具有魄力和吸引力。克兰斯顿似乎认为:
协助父亲管好产业同适当地享受交际乐趣是完全可以结合起来的……吉尔伯特对此却不敢苟同。事实上，年轻的格里菲思，要是可能的话，真是恨不得责备克兰斯顿生活放荡，只不过迄至今日，克兰斯顿始终保持清醒头脑，并无越轨之举。而且克兰斯顿柳藤制品公司显然一跃而为莱柯格斯的重要制造业之一了。
"是啊，"过了一会儿，他找补着说，"要是我来管他们的企业，就不会象他们那样把摊子铺得太大了。说到底，他们毕竟也不是全世界首屈一指的大富翁呀。"但不管怎么说，他心底里还是觉得:
克兰斯顿一家跟他本人和他的父母不一样，尽管并没有那么热衷于猎取社会地位，事实上却表现得更加具有魄力，真的令他艳羡不已。
"你知道，"贝拉兴致勃勃地继续说，"芬奇利家还准备在船坞铺上嵌木地板，造一个舞厅呢。桑德拉说，斯图尔特巴望你今年夏天上那儿，多玩一些日子。
""哦，他真的巴望吗?
"吉尔伯特回答说，既有一点儿妒忌，也有一点儿讥刺。
"你是说，他巴望你去多玩一些日子吧。而我可得忙上整整一个夏天。""可他没有说过类似这样的话，你自作聪明。再说，我们要是真去的话，也不会有什么损失。依我看，格林伍德湖上没有什么好看的玩意儿。只有一些娘儿们扎堆闲扯淡。""真的是这样吗?
妈妈听了会高兴的。""当然罗，你会告诉她的。""哦，不，我才不会呢。不过，我可不想我们马上就跟着芬奇利家或是克兰斯顿家上第十二号湖去。你如果想去你就去得了，只要爸答应你去。
"正在这时，听见楼下又有人在叩门，贝拉忘记自己同哥哥正在抬扛，就飞也似的奔下去迎接爸爸了。
收听单词发音 |
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necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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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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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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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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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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scions
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| n.接穗，幼枝( scion的名词复数 )；（尤指富家）子孙 | |
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ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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irrelevantly
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| adv.不恰当地，不合适地；不相关地 | |
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bungalow
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| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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grandiose
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| adj.宏伟的，宏大的，堂皇的，铺张的 | |
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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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elite
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| n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的 | |
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affluent
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| adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的 | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intrigued
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| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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cosmos
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| n.宇宙；秩序，和谐 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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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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enviously
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| adv.满怀嫉妒地 | |
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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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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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avid
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| adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的 | |
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sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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