In so far as his life at Mrs. Cuppy's went, he was not so very happily placed there, either. For that was but acommonplace rooming and boarding house, which drew to it, at best, such conservative mill and business typesas looked on work and their wages, and the notions of the middle class religious world of Lycurgus as mostessential to the order and well being of the world. From the point of view of entertainment or gayety, it was inthe main a very dull place.
At the same time, because of the presence of one Walter Dillard--a brainless sprig who had recently come herefrom Fonda, it was not wholly devoid1 of interest for Clyde. The latter--a youth of about Clyde's own age andequally ambitious socially--but without Clyde's tact2 or discrimination anent the governing facts of life, wasconnected with the men's furnishing department of Stark3 and Company. He was spry, avid4, attractive enoughphysically, with very light hair, a very light and feeble mustache, and the delicate airs and ways of a small townBeau Brummell. Never having had any social standing5 or the use of any means whatsoever--his father havingbeen a small town dry goods merchant before him, who had failed--he was, because of some atavistic spur orfillip in his own blood, most anxious to attain6 some sort of social position.
But failing that so far, he was interested in and envious7 of those who had it--much more so than Clyde, even. Theglory and activity of the leading families of this particular city had enormous weight with him--the Nicholsons,the Starks, the Harriets, Griffiths, Finchleys, et cetera. And learning a few days after Clyde's arrival of hissomewhat left-handed connection with this world, he was most definitely interested. What? A Griffiths! Thenephew of the rich Samuel Griffiths of Lycurgus! And in this boarding house! Beside him at this table! At oncehis interest rose to where he decided8 that he must cultivate this stranger as speedily as possible. Here was a realsocial opportunity knocking at his very door--a connecting link to one of the very best families! And besides washe not young, attractive and probably ambitious like himself--a fellow to play around with if one could? Heproceeded at once to make overtures9 to Clyde. It seemed almost too good to be true.
In consequence he was quick to suggest a walk, the fact that there was a certain movie just on at the Mohawk,which was excellent--very snappy. Didn't Clyde want to go? And because of his neatness, smartness--a touch ofsomething that was far from humdrum10 or the heavy practicality of the mill and the remainder of this boardinghouse world, Clyde was inclined to fall in with him.
But, as he now thought, here were his great relatives and he must watch his step here. Who knew but that hemight be making a great mistake in holding such free and easy contacts as this. The Griffiths--as well as the entire world of which they were a part--as he guessed from the general manner of all those who even contactedhim, must be very removed from the commonalty here. More by instinct than reason, he was inclined to stand offand look very superior--more so since those, including this very youth on whom he practised this seemed torespect him the more. And although upon eager--and even--after its fashion, supplicating11 request, he now wentwith this youth--still he went cautiously. And his aloof12 and condescending13 manner Dillard at once translated as"class" and "connection." And to think he had met him in this dull, dubby14 boarding house here. And on hisarrival--at the very inception15 of his career here.
And so his manner was that of the sycophant--although he had a better position and was earning more moneythan Clyde was at this time, twenty-two dollars a week.
"I suppose you'll be spending a good deal of your time with your relatives and friends here," he volunteered onthe occasion of their first walk together, and after he had extracted as much information as Clyde cared to impart,which was almost nothing, while he volunteered a few, most decidedly furbished bits from his own history. Hisfather owned a dry goods store NOW. He had come over here to study other methods, et cetera. He had an unclehere--connected with Stark and Company. He had met a few--not so many as yet--nice people here, since hehadn't been here so very long himself--four months all told.
But Clyde's relatives!
"Say your uncle must be worth over a million, isn't he? They say he is. Those houses in Wykeagy Avenue arecertainly the cats'. You won't see anything finer in Albany or Utica or Rochester either. Are you SamuelGriffiths' own nephew? You don't say! Well, that'll certainly mean a lot to you here. I wish I had a connectionlike that. You bet I'd make it count."He beamed on Clyde eagerly and hopefully, and through him Clyde sensed even more how really important thisblood relation was. Only think how much it meant to this strange youth.
"Oh, I don't know," replied Clyde dubiously16, and yet very much flattered by this assumption of intimacy17. "I cameon to learn the collar business, you know. Not to play about very much. My uncle wants me to stick to that,pretty much.""Sure, sure. I know how that is," replied Dillard, "that's the way my uncle feels about me, too. He wants me tostick close to the work here and not play about very much. He's the buyer for Stark and Company, you know. Butstill a man can't work all the time, either. He's got to have a little fun.""Yes, that's right," said Clyde--for the first time in his life a little condescendingly.
They walked along in silence for a few moments. Then:
"Do you dance?""Yes," answered Clyde.
"Well, so do I. There are a lot of cheap dance halls around here, but I never go to any of those. You can't do itand keep in with the nice people. This is an awfully18 close town that way, they say. The best people won't haveanything to do with you unless you go with the right crowd. It's the same way up at Fonda. You have to 'belong'
or you can't go out anywhere at all. And that's right, I guess. But still there are a lot of nice girls here that afellow can go with--girls of right nice families--not in society, of course--but still, they're not talked about, see.
And they're not so slow, either. Pretty hot stuff, some of them. And you don't have to marry any of 'em, either."Clyde began to think of him as perhaps a little too lusty for his new life here, maybe. At the same time he likedhim some. "By the way," went on Dillard, "what are you doing next Sunday afternoon?""Well, nothing in particular, that I know of just now," replied Clyde, sensing a new problem here. "I don't knowjust what I may have to do by then, but I don't know of anything now.""Well, how'd you like to come with me, if you're not too busy. I've come to know quite a few girls since I'vebeen here. Nice ones. I can take you out and introduce you to my uncle's family, if you like. They're nice people.
And afterwards--I know two girls we can go and see--peaches. One of 'em did work in the store, but she don'tnow--she's not doing anything now. The other is her pal19. They have a Victrola and they can dance. I know it isn'tthe thing to dance here on Sundays but no one need know anything about that. The girls' parents don't mind.
Afterwards we might take 'em to a movie or something--if you want to--not any of those things down near themill district but one of the better ones--see?"There formulated20 itself in Clyde's mind the question as to what, in regard to just such proposals as this, hiscourse here was to be. In Chicago, and recently--because of what happened in Kansas City--he had sought to beas retiring and cautious as possible. For--after that and while connected with the club, he had been taken withthe fancy of trying to live up to the ideals with which the seemingly stern face of that institution had inspiredhim--conservatism--hard work--saving one's money--looking neat and gentlemanly. It was such an Evelessparadise, that.
In spite of his quiet surroundings here, however, the very air of the city seemed to suggest some such relaxationas this youth was now suggesting--a form of diversion that was probably innocent enough but still connectedwith girls and their entertainment--there were so many of them here, as he could see. These streets, after dinner,here, were so alive with good-looking girls, and young men, too. But what might his new found relatives think ofhim in case he was seen stepping about in the manner and spirit which this youth's suggestions seemed to imply?
Hadn't he just said that this was an awfully close town and that everybody knew nearly everything abouteverybody else? He paused in doubt. He must decide now. And then, being lonely and hungry forcompanionship, he replied:
"Yes,--well--I think that's all right." But he added a little dubiously: "Of course my relatives here--""Oh, sure, that's all right," replied Dillard smartly. "You have to be careful, of course. Well, so do I." If he couldonly go around with a Griffiths, even if he was new around here and didn't know many people--wouldn't it reflecta lot of credit on him? It most certainly would--did already, as he saw it.
And forthwith he offered to buy Clyde some cigarettes--a soda--anything he liked. But Clyde, still feeling verystrange and uncertain, excused himself, after a time, because this youth with his complacent21 worship of society and position, annoyed him a little, and made his way back to his room. He had promised his mother a letter andhe thought he had better go back and write it, and incidentally to think a little on the wisdom of this new contact.
再说克莱德在柯比太太家的生活，也并不是很快活的。那仅仅是一家普通的供膳寄宿舍，至多只能把工厂和商店里一些相当保守的人给吸引过来。这些人都认为，他们的工作。工资，以及莱柯格斯中产阶级的种种宗教观念，就是维持当今世界秩序和幸福的最重要的基础。一般说来，这里是一个沉闷透顶的地方，毫无娱乐消遣或是赏心乐事可言。
由于这里有个名叫沃尔特。迪拉特的人……最近从方达来的一个楞小伙子，因此，克莱德觉得这里也并不能说是索然无味了。这个迪拉特，是克莱德的同龄人，同样也热衷于社会地位，只不过对自己周围生活并没有象克莱德那样具有机智圆通或是善于识别的能力。他在斯塔克公司男用服饰部做事。此人活泼。
热切，长相也还漂亮，浅色头发，一撮淡淡的小胡子，完全是小镇上花花公子那副气派和德行。他既没有什么财产，又没有什么社会地位，父亲原是小镇上的绸布商，后来商店倒闭了……可是他血液里不知怎的却有祖辈那股子冲劲，急急乎想攫取到一个令人瞩目的社会地位。
不过，迄至目前为止，迪拉特一直没有成功，因此，他对那些高门鼎贵的人就特别关注，而又嫉妒……甚至比克莱德还要强烈。莱柯格斯城里那些名门世家……尼科尔森家。斯塔克家。哈里特家。格里菲思家。芬奇利家等等……他们的光荣和他们显赫的活动，给他留下很深印象。克莱德到后几天，迪拉特得知克莱德跟上述这个圈子多少有那么一点不伦不类的关系，不由得使他来了很大劲儿。乖乖!
好一个姓格里菲思的!
莱柯格斯城里大富翁塞缪尔。格里菲思的侄子!
就在这个寄宿舍里!
而且还跟他是在同一餐桌!
他决定务必尽快跟这个陌生人交上朋友。这对他来说真的好比是三生有幸，是敲开巨富鼎贵的大门，使他得以进入莱柯格斯城里最最声名煊赫的人家的一条线索啊!
何况克莱德不是很年轻，长得也漂亮，说不定就象他一样心怀奢望……如果说要玩儿，克莱德还不是—个好伙伴吗?
看来迪拉特几乎觉得自己的运气好得不敢相信，马上就开始向克莱德套近乎了。
首先，迪拉特向克莱德提议，不妨出去逛一逛，还说离莫霍克河不远，正在放映一部什么影片，真是顶呱呱的……简直太迷人了。难道说克莱德不想去吗?
由于迪拉特衣冠楚楚，时髦漂亮……自有一点儿风度，跟工厂和寄宿舍里那种单调沉闷迥然不同，所以，克莱德同他也就一见如故了。
不过，克莱德想到这里有他了不起的亲戚，他的一举一动务必谨慎小心才好。象他这样轻易随便结交新朋友，说不定自己会犯大错误呢。格里菲思这一家……正如他们那个圈子里所有的人一样……根据他接触过那些人的一般作风来看，想必跟这里老百姓相隔很远。更多是出于本能，而不是出于理性，克莱德同样自视甚高，不接近众人……而且，他越是用这样态度对待人家(包括迪拉特这个年轻人在内)，人家也就越是尊敬他，因此，他越要摆出这副高人一等的派头来。虽然在迪拉特的热忱邀请，甚至还可以说是在恳求之下，克莱德终于跟这个年轻人一起出去了，可他的举止言谈还是小心翼翼的。对他那种超尘绝俗。降尊纡贵的态度，迪拉特马上解释为"阶级"和"亲戚"的标记。只要想一想，在这个沉闷无聊的寄宿舍里，他居然碰上了这么一个人。何况还是在他刚刚到这里……正好他在这里的事业才开始。
因此，迪拉特就对克莱德一味溜须拍马……虽然同克莱德相比，现下他的地位要高，赚的钱也多，每星期二十五块美元。
"我想，您大概要花去不少时间，跟您的至亲好友在一块吧，"他们头一次外出散步时，迪拉特斗胆地这么说。当他已经探听到许多克莱德乐意透露。其实几乎毫无内容的事之后，迪拉特只好转换话题，谈起自己的身世来，向他添枝加叶地讲了一些事情。现在他父亲开一家绸布商店。他本人上这儿来，为的是学习这一行业新方法，如此等等。他在这里有个叔叔……在斯塔克公司做事。
他在莱柯格斯已有几个……说真的，目前还为数不多……好朋友，因为他来这儿时间不太长……合起来才不过四个月。
可是克莱德的亲戚，该有多帅!
"您说，您伯父的家私，想必在一百万美元以上，是吧?
人家都是这么说的。
威克吉大街上那些华屋，简直太令人垂涎的了。您在奥尔巴尼。尤蒂卡，甚至在罗彻斯特，都不会见到更阔气的房子了。您是塞缪尔。格里菲思的亲侄子吗?
一定没错!
嘿，那您在这里可就非同小可啦。我真巴不得也有那么一门阔亲戚。
那我包管要尽量利用啊。"他热乎乎地笑着瞅了克莱德一眼。克莱德从而觉察到他这种血亲关系该有多么重要。只要想一想，这个陌生的年轻人对它看得有多重啊。
"哦，我可不知道，"克莱德迟疑地回答说。不过，既然人家推想他跟此地格里菲思家有如此亲密的关系，克莱德心里还是感到挺美滋滋的。"你知道，我上这儿来，就是为了要学会做领子这门手艺。可不是来玩的。伯父就要我认真地把它学好。""哦，当然，当然。这个我也明白，"迪拉特回答说，"我叔叔对我也是这样的意思，他要我在这里好好干，不要光想着玩。您知道，他在斯塔克公司是专管采买的。不过话又说回来，一个人也不能老是干活呀。有时也还得乐一乐呗。
""是啊，是这样，"克莱德破题儿头一遭带有一点儿屈尊俯就的口吻说。
他们默默无言地走了一会儿。
"您跳舞吗?
""跳，"克莱德回答说。
"哦，我也跳。这儿有不少低级舞厅，可我从来都不去的。您千万别去那些地方，如果说您想跟上流社会人士交际应酬的话。据说，在这个域市里，上流社会真是惊人地不与外人相互往来的。要是您不属于他们这个圈子，上流社会人士简直就不会跟您来往。在方达也是这样。您必须'
''''属于，上流社会，不然您就根本哪儿都去不了。我看，恐怕这也是应该的。不过话又说回来，这儿还是有不少好姑娘，可以跟她们跳跳舞，乐一乐。姑娘来自上等家庭……当然罗，并不是来自上流社会……反正人们也还没有说过她们什么坏话，您懂吗。再说，她们可也不都是那么迟钝不灵。恰好相反，她们里头有些人，还真的热火得够呛呢。可您也不见得就必须跟她们里头随便哪个结婚。"克莱德暗自思忖，此人对自己在这里的新生活，也许有点儿太渴求了吧。与此同时，他也有点儿喜欢迪拉特。"再说，"迪拉特继续说道，"这个星期日下午，您打算干什么?
""哦，好象没有什么特别的事，我一时还不知道，"克莱德回答说，感到他面前出现了新情况。"我可不知道到时候会干些什么事，不过，现在我什么也说不上来。""哦，您要是不太忙，就不妨跟我一块去吧。我来这儿以后，认识了好几个姑娘。全是好姑娘。您要是高兴，我包管把您捎去，介绍您跟我叔叔家里的人认识认识。他们个个都是挺不错的人。后来……我认识两个姑娘，我们可以找她们去……真是迷人的小娘儿们。她们里头有一个曾经在一家铺子里做过事，可现在她走了……她什么事儿都不干了。而另一个，是她的知心好友。她们有一台手摇留声机，她们俩一块跳舞哩。我知道，星期日在这里是不让跳舞的，但只要不让人知道就得了。姑娘她们的父母，倒是并不介意。随后，我们不妨带她们去看电影什么的……要是您高兴的话……不去工厂附近电影院，而是要到高级电影院去，您懂吗?
"克莱德暗自思忖，对于迪拉特提出的那些建议，他究竟该怎么办呢。在芝加哥……由于在堪萨斯城出了事故以后……他一向都尽量谨小慎微，很少抛头露面。因为，自从那次事故之后，他到俱乐部任职以来心里就想，务必让自己的生活尽量符合由于那里严肃的氛围使他领悟到的以下理想目标:
举止稳健，工作努力，勤俭节约，仪表整洁，富有绅士风度。那就是一个没有夏娃(《圣经》
上说，亚当偷吃智慧果，被逐出伊甸园，乃是受到夏娃诱惑的缘故。此处指克莱德希望自己只要回避女人，就好比登上天堂。)的天堂。
如今，他在这里的环境虽然很清静，可是，从这个城市的气氛来看，似乎还是令人联想到这个年轻人正在谈论的娱乐消遣……其方式或许最简单也不过，但照样还是有姑娘们，可以跟他们作伴取乐……他亲眼看到这里就有许许多多姑娘。晚饭后，大街上热闹非凡，有漂亮姑娘，也有年轻小伙子。不过，如果按照这个年轻人所暗示的方式去玩儿，万一给人看见，那他新近攀附的亲戚对他会有怎么个想法呢。他刚才自己不是说过，莱柯格斯城里人际关系惊人地狭隘，谁在干什么，几乎大家心里都有数。他沉吟不语，马上犯疑了。但他现在又非得当机立断不可。不过，他委实太寂寞，急急乎想找个伴儿，于是回答说:
"是啊……哦……我想这敢情好。"然而，他又不免有点儿疑虑地找补着说:
"当然罗，你知道，我这里的亲戚……""哦，没问题，这我知道，"迪拉特应答如流地说。"当然罗，您可要小心留神才好。哦，我也得那样。"只要他能跟着一位姓格里菲思的人(哪怕此人还是新来乍到，认识的人也不多)在哪儿露露面，那不就是使他脸上很有光彩吗?
一定会这样，依他看，他自己脸上已经很光彩了。
迪拉特马上就请克莱德抽烟卷，问他喜欢不喜欢喝汽水。可是，克莱德还是感到非常别扭和心里没有底，过了一会儿才跟新朋友告别了。由于这个年轻人如此洋洋自得地崇拜社会地位，克莱德不觉对他感到有点儿腻味，于是径直朝自己住地走去。他早就答应给母亲写一封信，心想最好还是回去写信，顺便还得想一想，结交这样新朋友是否值得。
收听单词发音 |
1
devoid
|
|
| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
tact
|
|
| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
stark
|
|
| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
avid
|
|
| adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
envious
|
|
| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
overtures
|
|
| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
humdrum
|
|
| adj.单调的，乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
supplicating
|
|
| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
aloof
|
|
| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
condescending
|
|
| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
dubby
|
|
| 配音的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
15
inception
|
|
| n.开端，开始，取得学位 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
dubiously
|
|
| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
intimacy
|
|
| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
pal
|
|
| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
formulated
|
|
| v.构想出( formulate的过去式和过去分词 )；规划；确切地阐述；用公式表示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
complacent
|
|
| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |