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Part 2 Chapter 6
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The room which Clyde secured this same day with the aid of Mrs. Braley, was in Thorpe Street, a thoroughfareenormously removed in quality if not in distance from that in which his uncle resided. Indeed the difference wassufficient to decidedly qualify his mounting notions of himself as one who, after all, was connected with him.

  The commonplace brown or gray or tan colored houses, rather smoked or decayed, which fronted it--the leaflessand winter harried2 trees which in spite of smoke and dust seemed to give promise of the newer life so near athand--the leaves and flowers of May. Yet as he walked into it with Mrs. Braley, many drab and commonplacefigures of men and girls, and elderly spinsters resembling Mrs. Braley in kind, were making their way home fromthe several factories beyond the river. And at the door Mrs. Braley and himself were received by a none-toopolishedwoman in a clean gingham apron3 over a dark brown dress, who led the way to a second floor room, nottoo small or uncomfortably furnished--which she assured him he could have for four dollars without board orseven and one-half dollars with--a proposition which, seeing that he was advised by Mrs. Braley that this wassomewhat better than he would get in most places for the same amount, he decided1 to take. And here, afterthanking Mrs. Braley, he decided to remain--later sitting down to dinner with a small group of mill-town storeand factory employees, such as partially4 he had been accustomed to in Paulina Street in Chicago, before movingto the better atmosphere of the union League. And after dinner he made his way out into the principalthoroughfares of Lycurgus, only to observe such a crowd of nondescript mill-workers as, judging these streets byday, he would not have fancied swarmed5 here by night--girls and boys, men and women of various nationalities,and types--Americans, Poles, Hungarians, French, English--and for the most part--if not entirely6 touched with apeculiar something--ignorance or thickness of mind or body, or with a certain lack of taste and alertness ordaring, which seemed to mark them one and all as of the basement world which he had seen only this afternoon.

  Yet in some streets and stores, particularly those nearer Wykeagy Avenue, a better type of girl and young manwho might have been and no doubt were of the various office groups of the different companies over the river-neatand active.

  And Clyde, walking to and fro, from eight until ten, when as though by pre-arrangement, the crowd in the morecongested streets seemed suddenly to fade away, leaving them quite vacant. And throughout this time contrastingit all with Chicago and Kansas City. (What would Ratterer think if he could see him now--his uncle's great houseand factory?) And perhaps because of its smallness, liking8 it--the Lycurgus Hotel, neat and bright and with abrisk local life seeming to center about it. And the post-office and a handsomely spired9 church, together with anold and interesting graveyard10, cheek by jowl with an automobile11 salesroom. And a new moving picture theater just around the corner in a side street. And various boys and girls, men and women, walking here and there, someof them flirting12 as Clyde could see. And with a suggestion somehow hovering13 over it all of hope and zest14 andyouth--the hope and zest and youth that is at the bottom of all the constructive15 energy of the world everywhere.

  And finally returning to his room in Thorpe Street with the conclusion that he did like the place and would like tostay here. That beautiful Wykeagy Avenue! His uncle's great factory! The many pretty and eager girls he hadseen hurrying to and fro!

  In the meantime, in so far as Gilbert Griffiths was concerned, and in the absence of his father, who was in NewYork at the time (a fact which Clyde did not know and of which Gilbert did not trouble to inform him) he hadconveyed to his mother and sisters that he had met Clyde, and if he were not the dullest, certainly he was not themost interesting person in the world, either. Encountering Myra, as he first entered at five-thirty, the same daythat Clyde had appeared, he troubled to observe: "Well, that Chicago cousin of ours blew in to-day.""Yes!" commented Myra. "What's he like?" The fact that her father had described Clyde as gentlemanly andintelligent had interested her, although knowing Lycurgus and the nature of the mill life here and itsopportunities for those who worked in factories such as her father owned, she had wondered why Clyde hadbothered to come.

  "Well, I can't see that he's so much," replied Gilbert. "He's fairly intelligent and not bad-looking, but he admitsthat he's never had any business training of any kind. He's like all those young fellows who work for hotels. Hethinks clothes are the whole thing, I guess. He had on a light brown suit and a brown tie and hat to match andbrown shoes. His tie was too bright and he had on one of those bright pink striped shirts like they used to wearthree or four years ago. Besides his clothes aren't cut right. I didn't want to say anything because he's just comeon, and we don't know whether he'll hold out or not. But if he does, and he's going to pose around as a relative ofours, he'd better tone down, or I'd advise the governor to have a few words with him. Outside of that I guess he'lldo well enough in one of the departments after a while, as foreman or something. He might even be made into asalesman later on, I suppose. But what he sees in all that to make it worth while to come here is more than I canguess. As a matter of fact, I don't think the governor made it clear to him just how few the chances are here forany one who isn't really a wizard or something."He stood with his back to the large open fireplace.

  "Oh, well, you know what Mother was saying the other day about his father. She thinks Daddy feels that he'snever had a chance in some way. He'll probably do something for him whether he wants to keep him in the millor not. She told me that she thought that Dad felt that his father hadn't been treated just right by their father."Myra paused, and Gilbert, who had had this same hint from his mother before now, chose to ignore theimplication of it.

  "Oh, well, it's not my funeral," he went on. "If the governor wants to keep him on here whether he's fitted foranything special or not, that's his look-out. Only he's the one that's always talking about efficiency in everydepartment and cutting and keeping out dead timber."Meeting his mother and Bella later, he volunteered the same news and much the same ideas. Mrs. Griffithssighed; for after all, in a place like Lycurgus and established as they were, any one related to them and havingtheir name ought to be most circumspect16 and have careful manners and taste and judgment17. It was not wise forher husband to bring on any one who was not all of that and more.

  On the other hand, Bella was by no means satisfied with the accuracy of her brother's picture of Clyde. She didnot know Clyde, but she did know Gilbert, and as she knew he could decide very swiftly that this or that personwas lacking in almost every way, when, as a matter of fact, they might not be at all as she saw it.

  "Oh, well," she finally observed, after hearing Gilbert comment on more of Clyde's peculiarities18 at dinner, "ifDaddy wants him, I presume he'll keep him, or do something with him eventually." At which Gilbert wincedinternally for this was a direct slap at his assumed authority in the mill under his father, which authority he waseager to make more and more effective in every direction, as his younger sister well knew.

  In the meanwhile on the following morning, Clyde, returning to the mill, found that the name, or appearance, orboth perhaps--his resemblance to Mr. Gilbert Griffiths--was of some peculiar7 advantage to him which he couldnot quite sufficiently19 estimate at present. For on reaching number one entrance, the doorman on guard therelooked as though startled.

  "Oh, you're Mr. Clyde Griffiths?" he queried20. "You're goin' to work under Mr. Kemerer? Yes, I know. Well, thatman there will have your key," and he pointed22 to a stodgy23, stuffy24 old man whom later Clyde came to know as"Old Jeff," the time-clock guard, who, at a stand farther along this same hall, furnished and reclaimed25 all keysbetween seven-thirty and seven-forty.

  When Clyde approached him and said: "My name's Clyde Griffiths and I'm to work downstairs with Mr.

  Kemerer," he too started and then said: "Sure, that's right. Yes, sir. Here you are, Mr. Griffiths. Mr. Kemererspoke to me about you yesterday. Number seventy-one is to be yours. I'm giving you Mr. Duveny's old key."When Clyde had gone down the stairs into the shrinking department, he turned to the doorman who had drawnnear and exclaimed: "Don't it beat all how much that fellow looks like Mr. Gilbert Griffiths? Why, he's almosthis spittin' image. What is he, do you suppose, a brother or a cousin, or what?""Don't ask me," replied the doorman. "I never saw him before. But he's certainly related to the family all right.

  When I seen him first, I thought it was Mr. Gilbert. I was just about to tip my hat to him when I saw it wasn't."And in the shrinking room when he entered, as on the day before, he found Kemerer as respectful and evasive asever. For, like Whiggam before him, Kemerer had not as yet been able to decide what Clyde's true position withthis company was likely to be. For, as Whiggam had informed Kemerer the day before, Mr. Gilbert had said noleast thing which tended to make Mr. Whiggam believe that things were to be made especially easy for him, noryet hard, either. On the contrary, Mr. Gilbert had said: "He's to be treated like all the other employees as to timeand work. No different." Yet in introducing Clyde he had said: "This is my cousin, and he's going to try to learnthis business," which would indicate that as time went on Clyde was to be transferred from department todepartment until he had surveyed the entire manufacturing end of the business.

  Whiggam, for this reason, after Clyde had gone, whispered to Kemerer as well as to several others, that Clydemight readily prove to be some one who was a protege of the chief--and therefore they determined26 to "watchtheir step," at least until they knew what his standing27 here was to be. And Clyde, noticing this, was quite set upby it, for he could not help but feel that this in itself, and apart from whatever his cousin Gilbert might eitherthink or wish to do, might easily presage28 some favor on the part of his uncle that might lead to some good forhim. So when Kemerer proceeded to explain to him that he was not to think that the work was so very hard orthat there was so very much to do for the present, Clyde took it with a slight air of condescension29. And inconsequence Kemerer was all the more respectful.

  "Just hang up your hat and coat over there in one of those lockers," he proceeded mildly and ingratiatingly even.

  "Then you can take one of those crate30 trucks back there and go up to the next floor and bring down some webs.

  They'll show you where to get them."The days that followed were diverting and yet troublesome enough to Clyde, who to begin with was puzzled anddisturbed at times by the peculiar social and workaday worlds and position in which he found himself. For onething, those by whom now he found himself immediately surrounded at the factory were not such individuals ashe would ordinarily select for companions--far below bell-boys or drivers or clerks anywhere. They were, oneand all, as he could now clearly see, meaty or stodgy mentally and physically31. They wore such clothes as onlythe most common laborers32 would wear--such clothes as are usually worn by those who count their personalappearance among the least of their troubles--their work and their heavy material existence being all. In addition,not knowing just what Clyde was, or what his coming might mean to their separate and individual positions, theywere inclined to be dubious33 and suspicious.

  After a week or two, however, coming to understand that Clyde was a nephew of the president, a cousin of thesecretary of the company, and hence not likely to remain here long in any menial capacity, they grew morefriendly, but inclined in the face of the sense of subserviency34 which this inspired in them, to become jealous andsuspicious of him in another way. For, after all, Clyde was not one of them, and under such circumstances couldnot be. He might smile and be civil enough--yet he would always be in touch with those who were above them,would he not--or so they thought. He was, as they saw it, part of the rich and superior class and every poor manknew what that meant. The poor must stand together everywhere.

  For his part, however, and sitting about for the first few days in this particular room eating his lunch, hewondered how these men could interest themselves in what were to him such dull and uninteresting items--thequality of the cloth that was coming down in the webs--some minute flaws in the matter of weight or weave-- thelast twenty webs hadn't looked so closely shrunk as the preceding sixteen; or the Cranston Wickwire Companywas not carrying as many men as it had the month before--or the Anthony Woodenware Company had posted anotice that the Saturday half- holiday would not begin before June first this year as opposed to the middle of Maylast year. They all appeared to be lost in the humdrum35 and routine of their work.

  In consequence his mind went back to happier scenes. He wished at times he were back in Chicago or KansasCity. He though of Ratterer, Hegglund, Higby, Louise Ratterer, Larry Doyle, Mr. Squires36, Hortense--all of theyoung and thoughtless company of which he had been a part, and wondered what they were doing. What hadbecome of Hortense? She had got that fur coat after all--probably from that cigar clerk and then had gone awaywith him after she had protested so much feeling for him--the little beast. After she had gotten all that money out of him. The mere21 thought of her and all that she might have meant to him if things had not turned as they had,made him a little sick at times. To whom was she being nice now? How had she found things since leavingKansas City? And what would she think if she saw him here now or knew of his present high connections? Gee37!

  That would cool her a little. But she would not think much of his present position. That was true. But she mightrespect him more if she could see his uncle and his cousin and this factory and their big house. It would be likeher then to try to be nice to him. Well, he would show her, if he ever ran into her again--snub her, of course, asno doubt he very well could by then.
克莱德在布雷莉太太帮助下当天就找到的那个房间,是坐落在索普街上。

这条街虽说和他伯父住邸的那条街相隔不算太远,可就社会层次来说差得太远了。这种差异,完全足以抑制他自以为毕竟同伯父有近亲关系那种日益增长的想法。这个房间前面,都是一些棕色。灰色。褐色的普通房子,已被烟熏火燎,破败不堪。一些树木在严冬摧残下早已光秃秃,不过,虽然笼罩在烟尘之中,好象依然透出一线生机,预报五月花繁叶茂的日子不太远了。不过,他和布雷莉太太一走进去时,有一大拨灰不溜丢的普通男女,以及类似布雷莉那样的老处女,正从河对岸一些工厂回家转。在大门口招呼布雷莉太太和他自己的,是一位不算太文雅的女人,身上穿一件深褐色衣服,外面罩着一条很干净的细格子布围裙。这个女人引领他们到二楼一个房间,面积不算太小,室内陈设也不错……她对克莱德说,不供膳食的话,每周房租四块美元,如果供膳食的话,每周七块半美元。据布雷莉太太说,他在其他地方肯定找不到出这更加公道的价钱,所以他就决定租下来。他向布雷莉太太道谢以后,当即决定留下来,随后就跟一些商店和工厂的职工们一起坐下来吃晚饭,这些人就象他进入联谊俱乐部上流社会以前在芝加哥波林那街时面熟能详的那一类人。晚饭后,他款步来到莱柯格斯各主要大街,只看见一大群难以名状的工人,如按这些大街在白昼的光景来看,他决不会想到入夜后这里竟然麇集着这么多的人……少男少女与成年男女……他们国籍不同,类型殊异……有美国人。波兰人。匈牙利人。

法国人,以及英国人。如果说不是指全体……至少大都分人都有一种特征……愚昧无知,或是心灵上。就是形体上的粗鲁作风,或是缺少某一种风雅。机警或胆量,看来所有这一切,都是属于他当天下午在地下室所见到的那个社会底层里的人物标志。不过,在某些大街上,某些商店里,特别是靠近威克吉大街的地方,他看到另外一类青年男女,衣着整洁,举止活泼……他们也许是,而且毫无疑问,一定是河对岸各大公司里的职员。

克莱德就这样在莱柯格斯城里来回徜徉,从八点钟一直到十点钟。仿佛事先约定似的,那些人群杂沓的大街上,这时突然连人影儿都不见了,显得空荡荡的。克莱德每走一步路,总要把这里所见的一切,跟芝加哥和堪萨斯城进行比较。(拉特勒要是现在看见他,看见他伯父的大公馆和大工厂,又会作何感想呢?

)也许因为莱柯格斯这个地方很小,克莱德也就喜欢它了……莱柯格斯大饭店整洁。明亮,看来就是当地活跃的社交生活的中心。一幢邮政局大楼。一座有漂亮的尖顶的教堂,以及一块古老而又耐人寻味的墓地,紧挨着一个汽车样品间。在一条小巷拐角处,有一家新盖的电影院。一些少男少女和成年男女,正在大街拐角处溜达,克莱德看到其中有些人在卖弄风情。荡漾在这一切之上的,是希望。热情和青春,而希望。热情和青春正是全世界所有一切创造性活动的基础。后来,他回到索普街自己房间时,心里已有了谱:

他喜欢这个地方,他愿意在这里待下去,多美的威克吉大街!

他伯父的工厂气派又有多大!

他看到大街上来去匆匆,又有多少美丽。热情的年轻女郎!

现在再说说吉尔伯特。格里菲思吧。这时他父亲正好有事去纽约。(此事克莱德并不知道,吉尔伯特也不想告诉他。)吉尔伯特就对母亲和姐妹们说,他已经跟克莱德晤过面了;还说,克莱德如果不是天底下最无聊的人,当然也决不会是天底下最有意思的人。吉尔伯特是在克莱德到达此地的当天下午五点半回家的,一碰到麦拉,就漫不经心地说:

"喂,我们芝加哥的堂兄弟,不知怎的今儿个给风刮来啦。""怎么啦!

"麦拉说,"他什么模样儿?

"因为听爸爸说过克莱德颇有绅士风度,人也很聪明,这就使她很感兴趣。要说莱柯格斯和厂里生活情况,以及那些替他父亲那样厂主干活的人前途如何,她心中都是一清二楚,但她就是暗自纳闷,不明白克莱德干吗要上这儿来。

"嘿,我可看不出他有什么了不起,"吉尔伯特回答说。"尽管人相当聪明,长得也不难看,可是,说到做生意,他自己承认从没有受过什么专门训练。他压根儿就象在旅馆里做事的那些年轻小伙子。依我看,他认为人生在世,就数穿衣打扮最重要。他穿了一套淡褐色衣服,配上一条褐色领带,一顶褐色圆形帽子,还有一双褐色鞋子。他的领带色彩太鲜绝了,他那件色彩鲜艳的粉红色条子衬衫,就象人们三四年前穿过的那种货色。此外,他的衣服,做工也很差劲。现在我不想再说些什么,因为他毕竟新来乍到,能不能待得很久,我们也还不知道。不过话又说回来,要是他待下去,老是摆出象是我们亲戚的那副样子,那他的高兴劲儿还是收敛点好,要不然,我就得让爸爸数落他一顿。再说,我想过了一阵,他总可以在哪个部门当上一个领班什么的。依我看,赶明儿他甚至还可以当上一个推销员。不过,他为什么要上这儿来,我就闹不明白了。

其实,我想当时爸爸也许没有跟他说清楚,在这儿,不拘是谁,除了真的有杰出才干的人以外,要出人头地的机会本来就很少的。"吉尔伯特背靠着大壁炉,伫立在那里。

"是啊,你知道有一天妈妈提到过他的父亲。她说,爸爸觉得他老是运气不好。也许爸爸总得帮帮他忙,能不能把他安插在厂里。妈还告诉我说,爸爸总觉得祖父在世时多少亏待他的父亲了。"麦拉说到这儿顿住了;吉尔伯特虽然在这以前从他母亲那里也听到过同样暗示,现在却偏偏装得不懂这句话的涵义似的。

"哦,这事可不归我管的,"他接过话题说。"要是爸爸乐意把他留下来,也不看他合适不合适去做什么工作……那是爸爸的事。不过,爸爸自己一向说过,聪明能干的人,每个部门都要,但素质不好的人,通通要开革掉。"后来,吉尔伯特看见母亲和贝拉,就把克莱德到厂的消息和自己对他的看法告诉了他们。格里菲思太太叹了一口气。说来说去,象莱柯格斯这样一个地方,象他们这样有社会地位的人家,凡是跟他们沾亲带故,而且又同族同姓的人,都应该非常谨小慎微,同时还应该具有与之相应的举止。情趣和观点才成。

现在,她丈夫把很不符合这样要求的年轻人带进厂里来,总不是明智之举。

可是,贝拉听了哥哥所描述的克莱德后,压根儿就不以为然。她并不认识克莱德,但她对吉尔伯特是了解的;她知道他一下子就会找出某某人身上所有缺点来,其实,依她看,完全是子虚乌有。

"哦,"吃晚饭时,贝拉听到吉尔伯特又把克莱德的种种怪僻数落了一顿,终于开口说,"如果说爸爸要他,我想,反正总会把他留在厂里,或是早晚还要帮他一点忙的。"吉尔伯特听了心里很不高兴,因为他自以为在父亲厂里拥有权力,贝拉的话对他是一种直接的打击。而他的这种权力,正是他急急乎想要全面扩张的,这一点其实妹妹心里也明白。

转天早上,克莱德回到厂里,发现他的姓,或是他的外貌,也许两者都有关吧……这就是说,他的长相跟吉尔伯特。格里菲思先生十分相似……使他特别有利,不过对此他一时还不能作出正确的估计。当他走到一号门时,那看门的警卫好象大为惊诧。

"哦,您是克莱德。格里菲思先生,是吧?

"他问。"您将到凯默勒手下做事,是吧?

是的,这个我知道。哦,您的号牌,对面那个人会给您的,"说完,他用手指着一个躯体臃肿。自命不凡的老头儿。后来,克莱德才得知老头儿名叫"老杰夫",负责按时给工人考勤卡打孔,每天七点半到七点四十分,在这过道那一头收发号牌。

克莱德走到他跟前,说:

"我叫克莱德。格里菲思,我在楼下跟凯默勒先生一块工作。"老头儿也吓了一跳,说:

"当然,当然。是的,先生。您来啦,格里菲思先生。凯默勒先生昨儿个跟我谈起您啦。第七十一号牌是您的。我给您的是杜维尼先生的老号牌。"克莱德已经下楼,来到了防缩车间,这时,老头儿掉过头来,冲迎面走来的看门的警卫大声喊道:

"嘿,这个家伙干吗会活脱脱象吉尔伯特。格里菲思先生?

怎么啦,简直跟他一个模子里浇出来呀。你说说他是谁?

亲兄弟?

堂兄弟?

还是什么亲戚?

""别问我啦,"看门的警卫回答说。"以前我从没见过他。不过,当然罗,他跟格里菲思一家是亲戚,准没错。我正想向他脱帽行礼呢,后来,定神一看,原来不是他。"克莱德一走进防缩车间,发现凯默勒先生还是如同昨天那样,既是必恭必敬,而又模棱两可。凯默勒如同惠甘一样,对克莱德在这个公司里的真正地位至今还不能加以断定。前天,惠甘曾经告诉凯默勒说,吉尔伯特先生没有说过一句话使惠甘先生认为对克莱德可以特别放宽,但也决不是认为对他就可以特别严格。恰好相反,吉尔伯特先生说过:

"在上班时间和工作性质上,他应该跟所有职工完全一样,绝无例外。"不过,吉尔伯特给他介绍克莱德时,却说:

"这位是我的堂弟,他想要学学我们这一行哩。"言下之意,就是说,克莱德在这儿待不长久的,他将从这一个部门调往另一个部门,直到他对本厂产品制造过程完全了解为止。

因此,克莱德走了以后,惠甘就对凯默勒等职工低声说,也许克莱德是老板的心腹……所以,他们可得"小心防备",至少在目前还没有弄清楚他在厂里的地位以前。克莱德也觉察到这一点,相当得意扬扬。他不由得暗自思忖,先不管他的堂兄吉尔伯特对他态度如何,就凭这一好兆头,也许他伯父就会帮助他,使他得到一点好处。所以,当凯默勒先生向他解释,说他要干的工作并不太艰苦而且暂时也不要他干太多的事情时,克莱德听了,不免就带着一点儿优越感了。因此,凯默勒对他也就更加必恭必敬了。

"您的帽子和衣服,挂在那边柜子里就得了,"他语调温和,甚至于奉承讨好地说。"随后,您可以在那里拉出一辆小车,推到一层楼去,把一些坯布车下来。

上哪儿去车,他们会指给您看的。"随后的那些日子,克莱德觉得既有趣又烦恼不堪。先说这个特别含辛茹苦的社会阶层,以及他自己在这里所处的地位,有时就使他感到困感不安。比方说,在厂里,他周围的那些人,他未必乐意跟他们交朋友……远远地不如任何地方的侍应生,或是汽车司机,或是职员。如今他看得非常清楚,他们在智力上与生理上个个都是笨头笨脑,或是粗手粗脚的人。他们身上所穿的衣服,只有最低贱的苦力才穿……只有把自己的仪表看成是最不重要的人才穿……他们心心念念想的只是干活和艰苦的物质生活条件。此外,他们不知道克莱德何许人也,或者也不知道他的来临将对他们的个人地位有何影响,因此,他们对他都持怀疑态度。

果然,一两个星期以后,他们知道克莱德是本公司总经理的侄子,秘书的堂弟,因此,看来不可能在这儿长期从事低微的工作,他们就对他更加和和气气了。但因这事在他们身上又引起了自卑感,所以对他表示又妒忌,又怀疑。

说到底,克莱德毕竟不是他们里头的一员,而且,在现有条件下,他也决不可能成为他们里头的一员。他尽管可以对他们笑,对他们完全客客气气……但他也经常跟地位比他们高的人接触,可不是吗……至少他们就是这么想的。他在他们心目中是属于富裕。优越阶级的一分子,而每一个穷人都懂得这就意味着什么。穷人不论到哪儿都得站在一块儿啊。

就克莱德来说,开头几天坐在这个怪别扭的房间里吃午饭,心里纳闷,真不知道这些人干吗老是对一些在他看来索然无味。无聊透顶的事情深感兴趣,比方说,运下来的坯布质地如何,在分量和质量上有哪些小毛病,最近一批二十卷坯布,与前一批十六卷坯布相比,紧缩程度还很不够;或是克兰斯顿柳藤制品公司本月份缩减职工名额;或是安东尼木器公司贴出了一道通告,说星期六工作半天,去年始自五月中旬,但今年却要自六月一日起才实行,如此等等,不一而足。看来他们全都醉心于单调琐碎的日常工作之中了。

于是,他心中就常常回想到往昔那些快乐无比的情景。有时,他真巴不得自己又回到芝加哥或是堪萨斯城。他回想到拉特勒。赫格伦。希格比。路易斯。

拉特勒。拉里。多伊尔。斯夸尔斯先生。霍丹斯,这一伙无忧无虑的年轻人,而他正是他们里头的一员。他暗自思忖,此刻他们正在干些什么呢?

霍丹斯现在怎么样了?

反正那件袭皮外套,最后她弄到了……也许就是那个烟铺里伙计给她掏腰包的,随后就跟他一块出走了,可她不久前还对克莱德表示过那么多的感情,好一个小畜生。把他的钱通通都骗走了!

有时候,只要一想到她,要不是他们后来出了事故,真不知道她对他又会怎么样了,克莱德马上心里就感到难过。

如今,她正在向什么人献殷勤呢?

她离开堪萨斯城以后,情况又如何呢?

现在她要是看见他在这儿,或者她得知他有这么一个阔亲戚,她又会作何感想呢?

嘿!

还是让她头脑清醒点吧。不过话又说回来,按他现在的职位,她是不太喜欢的。这是显而易见的。然而,她要是看见他的伯父。他的堂兄,看见这个工厂,以及他们的大公馆,也许就会更加尊敬他吧。她就会跟他重归于好的……这才符合她这个人的脾性。唉,他要是再碰上她,就要给她好看的……叫她碰一鼻子灰,当然的,那时他一定会叫她碰一鼻子灰。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
2 harried 452fc64bfb6cafc37a839622dacd1b8e     
v.使苦恼( harry的过去式和过去分词 );不断烦扰;一再袭击;侵扰
参考例句:
  • She has been harried by the press all week. 整个星期她都受到新闻界的不断烦扰。
  • The soldiers harried the enemy out of the country. 士兵们不断作骚扰性的攻击直至把敌人赶出国境为止。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 apron Lvzzo     
n.围裙;工作裙
参考例句:
  • We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
  • She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。
4 partially yL7xm     
adv.部分地,从某些方面讲
参考例句:
  • The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
  • The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静,宵禁部分解除。
5 swarmed 3f3ff8c8e0f4188f5aa0b8df54637368     
密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去
参考例句:
  • When the bell rang, the children swarmed out of the school. 铃声一响,孩子们蜂拥而出离开了学校。
  • When the rain started the crowd swarmed back into the hotel. 雨一开始下,人群就蜂拥回了旅社。
6 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
7 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
8 liking mpXzQ5     
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢
参考例句:
  • The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
  • I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
9 spired 587f9470154c3c518de6e150060b8c44     
v.(教堂的) 塔尖,尖顶( spire的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
10 graveyard 9rFztV     
n.坟场
参考例句:
  • All the town was drifting toward the graveyard.全镇的人都象流水似地向那坟场涌过去。
  • Living next to a graveyard would give me the creeps.居住在墓地旁边会使我毛骨悚然。
11 automobile rP1yv     
n.汽车,机动车
参考例句:
  • He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
  • The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。
12 flirting 59b9eafa5141c6045fb029234a60fdae     
v.调情,打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Don't take her too seriously; she's only flirting with you. 别把她太当真,她只不过是在和你调情罢了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • 'she's always flirting with that new fellow Tseng!" “她还同新来厂里那个姓曾的吊膀子! 来自子夜部分
13 hovering 99fdb695db3c202536060470c79b067f     
鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫
参考例句:
  • The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
  • I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。
14 zest vMizT     
n.乐趣;滋味,风味;兴趣
参考例句:
  • He dived into his new job with great zest.他充满热情地投入了新的工作。
  • He wrote his novel about his trip to Asia with zest.他兴趣浓厚的写了一本关于他亚洲之行的小说。
15 constructive AZDyr     
adj.建设的,建设性的
参考例句:
  • We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
  • He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。
16 circumspect 0qGzr     
adj.慎重的,谨慎的
参考例句:
  • She is very circumspect when dealing with strangers.她与陌生人打交道时十分谨慎。
  • He was very circumspect in his financial affairs.他对于自己的财务十分细心。
17 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见
参考例句:
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
18 peculiarities 84444218acb57e9321fbad3dc6b368be     
n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪
参考例句:
  • the cultural peculiarities of the English 英国人的文化特点
  • He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another. 他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。
19 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
20 queried 5c2c5662d89da782d75e74125d6f6932     
v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 );询问
参考例句:
  • She queried what he said. 她对他说的话表示怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • \"What does he have to do?\" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事?”琴向觉民问道,她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
21 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
参考例句:
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
22 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
23 stodgy 4rsyU     
adj.易饱的;笨重的;滞涩的;古板的
参考例句:
  • It wasn't easy to lose puppy fat when Mum fed her on stodgy home cooking.母亲给她吃易饱的家常菜,她想减掉婴儿肥可是很难。
  • The gateman was a stodgy fellow of 60.看门人是个六十岁的矮胖子。
24 stuffy BtZw0     
adj.不透气的,闷热的
参考例句:
  • It's really hot and stuffy in here.这里实在太热太闷了。
  • It was so stuffy in the tent that we could sense the air was heavy with moisture.帐篷里很闷热,我们感到空气都是潮的。
25 reclaimed d131e8b354aef51857c9c380c825a4c9     
adj.再生的;翻造的;收复的;回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 );要求收回;从废料中回收(有用的材料);挽救
参考例句:
  • Many sufferers have been reclaimed from a dependence on alcohol. 许多嗜酒成癖的受害者已经被挽救过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They reclaimed him from his evil ways. 他们把他从邪恶中挽救出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
26 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
27 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
28 presage t1qz0     
n.预感,不祥感;v.预示
参考例句:
  • The change could presage serious problems.这变化可能预示着有严重问题将要发生。
  • The lowering clouds presage a storm.暗云低沉是暴风雨的前兆。
29 condescension JYMzw     
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人)
参考例句:
  • His politeness smacks of condescension. 他的客气带有屈尊俯就的意味。
  • Despite its condescension toward the Bennet family, the letter begins to allay Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy. 尽管这封信对班纳特家的态度很高傲,但它开始消除伊丽莎白对达西的偏见。
30 crate 6o1zH     
vt.(up)把…装入箱中;n.板条箱,装货箱
参考例句:
  • We broke open the crate with a blow from the chopper.我们用斧头一敲就打开了板条箱。
  • The workers tightly packed the goods in the crate.工人们把货物严紧地包装在箱子里。
31 physically iNix5     
adj.物质上,体格上,身体上,按自然规律
参考例句:
  • He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服,心绪也很乱。
  • Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。
32 laborers c8c6422086151d6c0ae2a95777108e3c     
n.体力劳动者,工人( laborer的名词复数 );(熟练工人的)辅助工
参考例句:
  • Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言
33 dubious Akqz1     
adj.怀疑的,无把握的;有问题的,靠不住的
参考例句:
  • What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
  • He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。
34 subserviency 09f465af59cbb397bcdcfece52b7ba7e     
n.有用,裨益
参考例句:
35 humdrum ic4xU     
adj.单调的,乏味的
参考例句:
  • Their lives consist of the humdrum activities of everyday existence.他们的生活由日常生存的平凡活动所构成。
  • The accountant said it was the most humdrum day that she had ever passed.会计师说这是她所度过的最无聊的一天。
36 squires e1ac9927c38cb55b9bb45b8ea91f1ef1     
n.地主,乡绅( squire的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The family history was typical of the Catholic squires of England. 这个家族的历史,在英格兰信天主教的乡绅中是很典型的。 来自辞典例句
  • By 1696, with Tory squires and Amsterdam burghers complaining about excessive taxes. 到1696年,托利党的乡绅们和阿姆斯特丹的市民都对苛捐杂税怨声载道。 来自辞典例句
37 gee ZsfzIu     
n.马;int.向右!前进!,惊讶时所发声音;v.向右转
参考例句:
  • Their success last week will gee the team up.上星期的胜利将激励这支队伍继续前进。
  • Gee,We're going to make a lot of money.哇!我们会赚好多钱啦!


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