Nevertheless, the next day being a Saturday and half holiday the year round in this concern, Mr. Whiggam camethrough with the pay envelopes.
"Here you are, Mr. Griffiths," he said, as though he were especially impressed with Clyde's position.
Clyde, taking it, was rather pleased with this mistering, and going back toward his locker1, promptly2 tore it openand pocketed the money. After that, taking his hat and coat, he wandered off in the direction of his room, wherehe had his lunch. But, being very lonely, and Dillard not being present because he had to work, he decided3 upona trolley4 ride to Gloversville, which was a city of some twenty thousand inhabitants and reported to be as active,if not as beautiful, as Lycurgus. And that trip amused and interested him because it took him into a city verydifferent form Lycurgus in its social texture5.
But the next day--Sunday--he spent idly in Lycurgus, wandering about by himself. For, as it turned out, Dillardwas compelled to return to Fonda for some reason and could not fulfill6 the Sunday understanding. EncounteringClyde, however, on Monday evening, he announced that on the following Wednesday evening, in the basementof the Diggby Avenue Congregational Church, there was to be held a social with refreshments8. And according toyoung Dillard, at least this promised to prove worth while.
"We can just go out there," was the way he put it to Clyde, and buzz the girls a little. I want you to meet myuncle and aunt. They're nice people all right. And so are the girls. They're no slouches. Then we can edge outafterwards, about ten, see, and go around to either Zella or Rita's place. Rita has more good records over at herplace, but Zella has the nicest place to dance. By the way, you didn't chance to bring along your dress suit withyou, did you?" he inquired. For having already inspected Clyde's room, which was above his own on the thirdfloor, in Clyde's absence and having discovered that he had only a dress suit case and no trunk, and apparently9 nodress suit anywhere, he had decided that in spite of Clyde's father conducting a hotel and Clyde having worked inthe union League Club in Chicago, he must be very indifferent to social equipment. Or, if not, must beendeavoring to make his own way on some character-building plan without help from any one. This was not tohis liking10, exactly. A man should never neglect these social essentials. Nevertheless, Clyde was a Griffiths andthat was enough to cause him to overlook nearly anything, for the present anyhow.
"No, I didn't," replied Clyde, who was not exactly sure as to the value of this adventure--even yet--in spite of hisown loneliness,--"but I intend to get one." He had already thought since coming here of his lack in this respect,and was thinking of taking at least thirty-five of his more recently hard-earned savings11 and indulging in a suit ofthis kind.
Dillard buzzed on about the fact that while Zella Shuman's family wasn't rich--they owned the house they livedin--still she went with a lot of nice girls here, too. So did Rita Dickerman. Zella's father owned a little cottage upon Eckert Lake, near Fonda. When next summer came--and with it the holidays and pleasant week-ends, heand Clyde, supposing that Clyde liked Rita, might go up there some time for a visit, for Rita and Zella wereinseparable almost. And they were pretty, too. "Zella's dark and Rita's light," he added enthusiastically.
Clyde was interested by the fact that the girls were pretty and that out of a clear sky and in the face of his presentloneliness, he was being made so much of by this Dillard. But, was it wise for him to become very muchinvolved with him? That was the question--for, after all, he really knew nothing of him. And he gathered fromDillard's manner, his flighty enthusiasm for the occasion, that he was far more interested in the girls as girls--acertain freedom or concealed12 looseness that characterized them--than he was in the social phase of the worldwhich they represented. And wasn't that what brought about his downfall in Kansas City? Here in Lycurgus, ofall places, he was least likely to forget it-- aspiring13 to something better as he now did.
None-the-less, at eight-thirty on the following Wednesday evening--they were off, Clyde full of eageranticipation. And by nine o'clock they were in the midst of one of those semi-religious, semi-social and semi-emotional church affairs, the object of which was to raise money for the church--the general service of whichwas to furnish an occasion for gossip among the elders, criticism and a certain amount of enthusiastic, ifdisguised courtship and flirtation14 among the younger members. There were booths for the sale of quiteeverything from pies, cakes and ice cream to laces, dolls and knickknacks of every description, supplied by themembers and parted with for the benefit of the church. The Reverend Peter Isreals, the minister, and his wifewere present. Also Dillard's uncle and aunt, a pair of brisk and yet uninteresting people whom Clyde could sensewere of no importance socially here. They were too genial16 and altogether social in the specific neighborhoodsense, although Grover Wilson, being a buyer for Stark17 and Company, endeavored to assume a serious andimportant air at times.
He was an undersized and stocky man who did not seem to know how to dress very well or could not afford it. Incontrast to his nephew's almost immaculate garb18, his own suit was far from perfect-fitting. It was unpressed andslightly soiled. And his tie the same. He had a habit of rubbing his hands in a clerkly fashion, of wrinkling hisbrows and scratching the back of his head at times, as though something he was about to say had cost him greatthought and was of the utmost importance. Whereas, nothing that he uttered, as even Clyde could see, was of theslightest importance.
And so, too, with the stout19 and large Mrs. Wilson, who stood beside him while he was attempting to rise to theimportance of Clyde. She merely beamed a fatty beam. She was almost ponderous20, and pink, with a tendency toa double chin. She smiled and smiled, largely because she was naturally genial and on her good behavior here,but incidentally because Clyde was who he was. For as Clyde himself could see, Walter Dillard had lost no timein impressing his relatives with the fact that he was a Griffiths. Also that he had encountered and made a friendof him and that he was now chaperoning him locally.
"Walter has been telling us that you have just come on here to work for your uncle. You're at Mrs. Cuppy's now,I understand. I don't know her but I've always heard she keeps such a nice, refined place. Mr. Parsley, who liveshere with her, used to go to school with me. But I don't see much of him any more. Did you meet him yet?""No, I didn't," said Clyde in return.
"Well, you know, we expected you last Sunday to dinner, only Walter had to go home. But you must come soon.
Any time at all. I would love to have you." She beamed and her small grayish brown eyes twinkled.
Clyde could see that because of the fame of his uncle he was looked upon as a social find, really. And so it waswith the remainder of this company, old and young--the Rev15. Peter Isreals and his wife; Mr. Micah Bumpus, alocal vendor21 of printing inks, and his wife and son; Mr. and Mrs. Maximilian Pick, Mr. Pick being a wholesaleand retail22 dealer23 in hay, grain and feed; Mr. Witness, a florist24, and Mrs. Throop, a local real estate dealer. Allknew Samuel Griffiths and his family by reputation and it seemed not a little interesting and strange to all ofthem that Clyde, a real nephew of so rich a man, should be here in their midst. The only trouble with this wasthat Clyde's manner was very soft and not as impressive as it should be--not so aggressive and contemptuous.
And most of them were of that type of mind that respects insolence25 even where it pretends to condemn26 it.
In so far as the young girls were concerned, it was even more noticeable. For Dillard was making this importantrelationship of Clyde's perfectly27 plain to every one. "This is Clyde Griffiths, the nephew of Samuel Griffiths, Mr.
Gilbert Griffiths' cousin, you know. He's just come on here to study the collar business in his uncle's factory."And Clyde, who realized how shallow was this pretense28, was still not a little pleased and impressed by the effectof it all. This Dillard's effrontery29. The brassy way in which, because of Clyde, he presumed to patronize thesepeople. On this occasion, he kept guiding Clyde here and there, refusing for the most part to leave him alone foran instant. In fact he was determined30 that all whom he knew and liked among the girls and young men shouldknow who and what Clyde was and that he was presenting him. Also that those whom he did not like should seeas little of him as possible--not be introduced at all. "She don't amount to anything. Her father only keeps a smallgarage here. I wouldn't bother with her if I were you." Or, "He isn't much around here. Just a clerk in our store."At the same time, in regard to some others, he was all smiles and compliments, or at worst apologetic for theirsocial lacks.
And then he was introduced to Zella Shuman and Rita Dickerman, who, for reasons of their own, not the leastamong which was a desire to appear a little wise and more sophisticated than the others here, came a little late.
And it was true, as Clyde was to find out afterwards, that they were different, too--less simple and restricted thanquite all of the girls whom Dillard had thus far introduced him to. They were not as sound religiously andmorally as were these others. And as even Clyde noted31 on meeting them, they were as keen for as close anapproach to pagan pleasure without admitting it to themselves, as it was possible to be and not be marked forwhat they were. And in consequence, there was something in their manner, the very spirit of the introduction,which struck him as different from the tone of the rest of this church group--not exactly morally or religiouslyunhealthy but rather much freer, less repressed, less reserved than were these others.
"Oh, so you're Mr. Clyde Griffiths," observed Zella Shuman. "My, you look a lot like your cousin, don't you? Isee him driving down Central Avenue ever so often. Walter has been telling us all about you. Do you likeLycurgus?"The way she said "Walter," together with something intimate and possessive in the tone of her voice, causedClyde to feel at once that she must feel rather closer to and freer with Dillard than he himself had indicated. Asmall scarlet32 bow of velvet33 ribbon at her throat, two small garnet earrings34 in her ears, a very trim and tight-fittingblack dress, with a heavily flounced skirt, seemed to indicate that she was not opposed to showing her figure, andprized it, a mood which except for a demure35 and rather retiring poise36 which she affected37, would most certainly have excited comment in such a place as this.
Rita Dickerman, on the other hand, was lush and blonde, with pink cheeks, light chestnut38 hair, and bluish grayeyes. Lacking the aggressive smartness which characterized Zella Shuman, she still radiated a certain somethingwhich to Clyde seemed to harmonize with the liberal if secret mood of her friend. Her manner, as Clyde couldsee, while much less suggestive of masked bravado39 was yielding and to him designedly so, as well as naturallyprovocative. It had been arranged that she was to intrigue40 him. Very much fascinated by Zella Shuman and intow of her, they were inseparable. And when Clyde was introduced to her, she beamed upon him in a meltingand sensuous41 way which troubled him not a little. For here in Lycurgus, as he was telling himself at the time, hemust be very careful with whom he became familiar. And yet, unfortunately, as in the case of Hortense Briggs,she evoked42 thoughts of intimacy43, however unproblematic or distant, which troubled him. But he must be careful.
It was just such a free attitude as this suggested by Dillard as well as these girls' manners that had gotten him intotrouble before.
"Now we'll just have a little ice cream and cake," suggested Dillard, after the few preliminary remarks were over,"and then we can get out of here. You two had better go around together and hand out a few hellos. Then we canmeet at the ice cream booth. After that, if you say so, we'll leave, eh? What do you say?"He looked at Zella Shuman as much as to say: "You know what is the best thing to do," and she smiled andreplied:
"That's right. We can't leave right away. I see my cousin Mary over there. And Mother. And Fred Bruckner. Ritaand I'll just go around by ourselves for a while and then we'll meet you, see." And Rita Dickerman forthwithbestowed upon Clyde an intimate and possessive smile.
After about twenty minutes of drifting and browsing44, Dillard received some signal from Zella, and he and Clydepaused near the ice cream booth with its chairs in the center of the room. In a few moments they were casuallyjoined by Zella and Rita, with whom they had some ice cream and cake. And then, being free of all obligationsand as some of the others were beginning to depart, Dillard observed: "Let's beat it. We can go over to yourplace, can't we?""Sure, sure," whispered Zella, and together they made their way to the coat room. Clyde was still so dubious45 asto the wisdom of all this that he was inclined to be a little silent. He did not know whether he was fascinated byRita or not. But once out in the street out of view of the church and the homing amusement seekers, he and Ritafound themselves together, Zella and Dillard having walked on ahead. And although Clyde had taken her arm, ashe thought fit, she maneuvered46 it free and laid a warm and caressing47 hand on his elbow. And she nudged quiteclose to him, shoulder to shoulder, and half leaning on him, began pattering of the life of Lycurgus.
There was something very furry49 and caressing about her voice now. Clyde liked it. There was something heavyand languorous50 about her body, a kind of ray or electron that intrigued51 and lured52 him in spite of himself. He feltthat he would like to caress48 her arm and might if he wished--that he might even put his arm around her waist, andso soon. Yet here he was, a Griffiths, he was shrewd enough to think--a Lycurgus Griffiths--and that was whatnow made a difference--that made all those girls at this church social seem so much more interested in him andso friendly. Yet in spite of this thought, he did squeeze her arm ever so slightly and without reproach or comment from her.
And once in the Shuman home, which was a large old-fashioned square frame house with a square cupola, veryretired among some trees and a lawn, they made themselves at home in a general living room which was muchmore handsomely furnished than any home with which Clyde had been identified heretofore. Dillard at oncebegan sorting the records, with which he seemed most familiar, and to pull two rather large rugs out of the way,revealing a smooth, hardwood floor.
"There's one thing about this house and these trees and these soft-toned needles," he commented for Clyde'sbenefit, of course, since he was still under the impression that Clyde might be and probably was a very shrewdperson who was watching his every move here. "You can't hear a note of this Victrola out in the street, can you,Zell? Nor upstairs, either, really, not with the soft needles.
We've played it down here and danced to it several times, until three and four in the morning and they didn't evenknow it upstairs, did they, Zell?""That's right. But then Father's a little hard of hearing. And Mother don't hear anything, either, when she gets inher room and gets to reading. But it is hard to hear at that.""Why do people object so to dancing here?" asked Clyde.
"Oh, they don't--not the factory people--not at all," put in Dillard, "but most of the church people do. My uncleand aunt do. And nearly everyone else we met at the church to-night, except Zell and Rita." He gave them a mostapproving and encouraging glance. "And they're too broadminded to let a little thing like that bother them. Ain'tthat right, Zell?"This young girl, who was very much fascinated by him, laughed and nodded, "You bet, that's right. I can't seeany harm in it.""Nor me, either," put in Rita, "nor my father and mother. Only they don't like to say anything about it or makeme feel that they want me to do too much of it."Dillard by then had started a piece entitled "Brown Eyes" and immediately Clyde and Rita and Dillard and Zellabegan to dance, and Clyde found himself insensibly drifting into a kind of intimacy with this girl which boded53 hecould scarcely say what. She danced so warmly and enthusiastically--a kind of weaving and swaying motionwhich suggested all sorts of repressed enthusiasms. And her lips were at once wreathed with a kind of lyric54 smilewhich suggested a kind of hunger for this thing. And she was very pretty, more so dancing and smiling than atany other time.
"She is delicious," thought Clyde, "even if she is a little soft. Any fellow would do almost as well as me, but shelikes me because she thinks I'm somebody." And almost at the same moment she observed: "Isn't it just toogorgeous? And you're such a good dancer, Mr. Griffiths.""Oh, no," he replied, smiling into her eyes, "you're the one that's the dancer. I can dance because you're dancing with me."He could feel now that her arms were large and soft, her bosom55 full for one so young. Exhilarated by dancing,she was quite intoxicating56, her gestures almost provoking.
"Now we'll put on 'The Love Boat,'" called Dillard the moment "Brown Eyes" was ended, "and you and Zellacan dance together and Rita and I will have a spin, eh, Rita?"He was so fascinated by his own skill as a dancer, however, as well as his natural joy in the art, that he couldscarcely wait to begin another, but must take Rita by the arms before putting on another record, gliding57 here andthere, doing steps and executing figures which Clyde could not possibly achieve and which at once establishedDillard as the superior dancer. Then, having done so, he called to Clyde to put on "The Love Boat."But as Clyde could see after dancing with Zella once, this was planned to be a happy companionship of twomutually mated couples who would not interfere58 with each other in any way, but rather would aid each other intheir various schemes to enjoy one another's society. For while Zella danced with Clyde, and danced well andtalked to him much, all the while he could feel that she was interested in Dillard and Dillard only and wouldprefer to be with him. For, after a few dances, and while he and Rita lounged on a settee and talked, Zella andDillard left the room to go to the kitchen for a drink. Only, as Clyde observed, they stayed much longer than anysingle drink would have required.
And similarly, during this interval59, it seemed as though it was intended even, by Rita, that he and she shoulddraw closer to one another. For, finding the conversation on the settee lagging for a moment, she got up andapropos of nothing--no music and no words--motioned him to dance some more with her. She had dancedcertain steps with Dillard which she pretended to show Clyde. But because of their nature, these brought her andClyde into closer contact than before--very much so. And standing7 so close together and showing Clyde byelbow and arm how to do, her face and cheek came very close to him--too much for his own strength of will andpurpose. He pressed his cheek to hers and she turned smiling and encouraging eyes upon him. On the instant, hisself-possession was gone and he kissed her lips. And then again--and again. And instead of withdrawing them, ashe thought she might, she let him-- remained just as she was in order that he might kiss her more.
And suddenly now, as he felt this yielding of her warm body so close to him, and the pressure of her lips inresponse to his own, he realized that he had let himself in for a relationship which might not be so very easy tomodify or escape. Also that it would be a very difficult thing for him to resist, since he now liked her andobviously she liked him.
转天正好是星期六，照例只工作半天(格里菲思厂里全年星期六半日工作)。
惠甘先生拿了薪金袋冲他走过来。
"请您收下，格里菲思先生，"他说，那口吻仿佛克莱德是厂里一位大人物似的。
克莱德收下薪金袋，听到"先生"这个尊称，心里很高兴，就走到自己衣柜跟前，马上拆开口袋，把钱放进口袋。随后，他换好衣服，戴上帽子，走到自己住地吃午饭。但他觉得自己非常寂寞，迪拉特(因为还要上班)也不在，他就决定搭电车游览格洛弗斯维尔。那是一座约有两万人口的城市，据说相当热闹，虽然比不上莱柯格斯。格洛弗斯维尔之行，克莱德觉得兴味盎然，因为他看到了一个社会结构跟莱柯格斯迥然不同的城市。
可是转天……星期日，他真可以说是百无聊赖，独自一人在莱柯格斯闲逛。
这天迪拉特有事，不得不回方达去，星期日也就不能履约了。星期一晚上，他碰到克莱德时说，星期三晚上，在迪格比大街公理会教堂地下室将举行交谊会，另备茶点招待。据年轻的迪拉特说，值得一去。
"我们不妨上那儿去，"他对克莱德说，"就跟姑娘们咬耳朵叨咕叨咕。我还要你跟我叔叔。婶婶见见面。论人品，他们都是顶呱呱的。姑娘们也是顶呱呱的。她们才一点儿都不叫人腻味呢。大约到十点钟光景，您知道吧，我们就不妨溜出来，上泽拉家或丽达家去。丽达家里好唱片多得很，不过要跳舞，就数泽拉家里最宽敞了。再说，您的晚礼服并没有从芝加哥带来，是吧?
"迪拉特问。
因为迪拉特趁克莱德不在家时，早就打量过他的房间(克莱德正好住在他上面，亦即三层楼上)，发现他只有一只手提箱，没见到什么大箱子，看来也不会有什么晚礼服。他就断定虽然克莱德的父亲开一家旅馆，克莱德自己又在芝加哥联谊俱乐部做过事，可他对自己交际时穿着打扮一定满不在乎。要不然，想必他决心独立奋斗，不需要任何人帮助，以便锻炼自己坚强的性格。这一切让迪拉特感到老大不高兴。要知道这些交际必需品，不拘是谁，万万不可掉以轻心啊。
不过，克莱德毕竟来自格里菲思大户人家，这一点就足以使迪拉特几乎对什么都可以眼开眼闭了，至少是目前这一次。
"是的，晚礼服我没带，"克莱德回答说，尽管自己非常寂寞，但对这次佚游到底值得不值得他即便在此刻也还没有完全的把握，"不过我打算买一套。"他早就不止一次地想过自己在莱柯格斯这晚礼服实在是不可缺少的，正打算从最近辛辛苦苦积攒下来的钱里，至少拿出三十五块美元来购置一套。
迪拉特还在絮絮叨叨地说，泽拉。舒曼家里并不富裕……但他们住的是自己的房子……她还跟这里不少漂亮姑娘时有来往。丽达。迪克曼也这样。泽拉的父亲在方达附近埃克特湖边有一所小别墅。克莱德要是喜欢丽达的话，今年夏天……赶上假日和愉快的周末，他跟克莱德两个人就不妨上那儿作客，因为丽达和泽拉几乎如影随形，寸步不离。而且，她们俩也长得都很俏。"您瞧，泽拉肤色黑黑的，丽达白白的，"他兴冲冲找补着说。
克莱德听说姑娘们长得都很俏，心里不消说美滋滋的，这好象正当他感到寂寞之际从天而降的福祉，何况这个迪拉特又缠住不放地在怂恿他。不过，克莱德又想，自己跟他过分接近，是不是明智之举呢?
这的确是个问题……因为说真的，克莱德对他毕竟一点儿都不了解。现在，迪拉特的举止态度，及其对这次约会表现出轻浮而又兴奋那种劲儿，克莱德知道，迪拉特自己对这些姑娘们最感兴趣的……是她们原来已有某种自由自在，无拘无束，乃至于某种深藏不露的放荡不羁的作风，而不是她们所隶属的那个社会阶层。难道说它不就是导致克莱德在堪萨斯城垮台了吗?
现在，特别是在莱柯格斯这个地方，他断断乎不能忘掉它……如今他正为争取更美好的前途而努力呀。
话虽然这么说，星期三晚上一到八点半，他们还是照样出去了，克莱德心里充满了热乎乎的希望。到九点钟，他们早已置身于这么一个集宗教。世俗。
慈善性质之大成的聚会了。此次聚会的目的，就是给教会筹款……实际上是利用这个机会，让年纪大的人碰碰头，聊聊天，年轻人则喜欢吹毛求疵，悄悄地谈情说爱，卖弄风情。这里有好几个售货摊位，从馅儿饼。蛋糕点心。冰淇淋，一直到花边。洋娃娃和各色各样的小小装饰品，都是教友们自动奉献，脱手卖掉的钱通通捐给教会。牧师彼得。伊斯雷尔斯偕同他的太太也都莅会。迪拉特的叔叔。婶婶也在场，他们两口子虽然轻松活泼，但是毫无风趣可言，克莱德揣测他们在这里恐怕不会有什么社会地位。他们几乎一团和气，而且对人也过分熟不拘礼，虽然格罗弗。威尔逊作为斯塔克公司的采买，有时候还要装出一副正经八百和神气活现的派头来。
格罗弗。威尔逊是个矮胖个儿，看来他并不知道怎样给自己穿得体面些，也许是没得钱，买不起。要是跟他侄子身上几乎洁净无瑕的衣服相比，那他的衣服简直就差得远了。既没有熨烫，又有些油渍。他的领带也这样。平时他动不动就象小职员那样来回搓手，有时候皱紧眉头，一个劲儿搔后脑勺，仿佛他要说的话，都是经过深思熟虑，重要到了极点似的。其实，就连克莱德也很清楚，此人所说的，没有一句是重要的。
那位胖墩墩的威尔逊太太也是这样。当她丈夫在贵客克莱德面前竭力摆出神气活现的派头时，她正伫立在他身边。她那胖乎乎的脸上只是一个劲儿笑。
她的身子简直笨重得很，两颊绯红，下巴颏儿差不多变成一双的了。瞧她老是笑个不停，多半是因为她生来一团和气，在这儿好歹也得懂点规矩，附带说一下，还因为克莱德是那样一个人物。反正克莱德自己也看出，沃尔特。迪拉特死乞白赖地要他的亲戚注意到他是格里菲思家族的人，还有他迪拉特早已跟这位新的格里菲思家族成员结成好友，此刻正在当地社交界陪随他。
"沃尔特刚才告诉我们说，您上这儿来，是给令伯父做事的。我听说您住在柯比太太那里。我虽然不认识她，可我老是听人说起她那个地方很好，样样井井有条。住在那里的帕斯利先生过去是我同学。不过现在我再也没见过他了。
您还不认识他吗?
""不，我还不认识，"克莱德回答说。
"您知道吧，我们本来巴望您上星期日来吃饭的，可是沃尔特非要回家不可。
不过，您可得一定要早些来啊。不管什么时候都行。我可非常高兴您来啊，"她笑了，她那褐色小眼珠在闪闪发亮。
克莱德看到，由于他伯父的深孚众望，他真的被威尔逊夫妇看成交际场合中的一大发现了。而所有其他人，不管年龄大小，对待他的态度也都是这样。
彼得。伊斯雷尔斯牧师和他的太太，本地印刷油墨商迈卡。邦珀斯夫妇和儿子，干草。种子。饲料趸卖零售商马克西米利安。皮克夫妇，花铺老板威特尼斯先生，以及本市地产商思鲁普太太……他们个个都知道塞缪尔。格里菲思和他声名煊赫的家族，而这样一个富翁的侄子克莱德，居然出现在他们中间，不由得感到有点儿离奇诧异了。唯一叫他们扫兴的是:
克莱德的态度太随和，而没有摆出应有的派头来……并不是那么颐指气使和傲慢无礼。而他们这些人绝大多数对傲慢却是尊敬的，哪怕是口头上假装指摘它。
这一点，从年轻的姑娘们作风上看，表现得就更明显了。现在，迪拉特到处在讲克莱德那种重要的亲戚关系，好让人人都知道。"这位是克莱德。格里菲思，塞缪尔。格里菲思的侄子，吉尔伯特。格里菲思先生的堂兄弟。知道吧。
他是新来乍到，就在他伯父厂里学做领子这一行。"克莱德分明知道这样吹嘘该有多么肤浅，可对这些话给听众所产生的效果还是很高兴。这个迪拉特，真是厚颜无耻啊。他因为仗着克莱德撑腰，竟然胆敢以屈尊俯就的口吻对所有的人说话，真是无耻之尤。他一刻都离不开克莱德，总是把他一会儿带到这里，一会儿又带到那里。事实上，他显然已经决定，要让他所熟识和相好的青年男女，全都知道克莱德是何许人也，而且，正是他，迪拉特，把克莱德引至本地社交界。还有，凡是他看不顺眼的人，应该尽量跟他少见面……压根儿不给介绍。"她呀，算得了什么。她父亲只不过在这儿开一家小小的汽车修理行。我要是您，就不跟她浪掷光阴啦。"或是说，"他在这里算什么。只不过是我们店里一个小伙计罢了。"与此同时，他对有些人就满面笑容，满口恭维，或者至少也要在克莱德面前为他们低微的社会地位竭力辩解。
随后，他们克莱德介绍给泽拉。舒曼和丽达。迪克曼。她们两人由于自出机杼，故意来得迟些，不外乎表示她们对交际应酬要比别人聪明老练一些。后来克莱德发现她们果真不一样……不象迪拉特刚向他介绍的所有姑娘那么朴实。拘泥。她们在恪守教规和道德上也不象上面那些姑娘稳重。克莱德一见到她们就发觉:
她们简直急巴巴想要马上得到异教徒式的欢乐享受，可自己对此又不愿承认……当然罗，她们竭力做到决不有损于自己名声。因此，她们的举止态度，乃至于介绍时她们的那种神情，使克莱德立时感到跟别的年轻教友迥然不同……她们并不见得都是离经叛道，而是只不过比别人要求更多的自由，同时也不是那么拘泥。节制罢了。
"哦，您就是克莱德。格里菲思先生，"泽拉。舒曼说。"我的老天哪，您可活脱脱象您的堂兄，是吧?
我常常看见他开汽车经过中央大道。您的情况沃尔特全都告诉我们了。您喜欢莱柯格斯这个地方吗?
"她一提到"沃尔待"这个名字时那种口吻，以及在她语调里特有的那股亲热劲儿，让克莱德马上感到:
她跟迪拉特的关系，肯定要比迪拉特自己说过的更加亲密。更加随便。她脖子上系一个猩红色法兰绒小蝴蝶结，两侧挂上一副石榴红小耳环，身上穿一套非常整洁。紧贴身子的黑衣裙，裙子下摆缀有荷叶边饰。
看来这一切都足以说明:
她并不反对显露一下自己的身姿，而且对它还居然非常珍爱。她的这种心态，要不是因为她善于装出一副假正经的羞答答的样子，不消说，一定会在这样一个地方引起人们议论。
丽达。迪克曼是一位体态丰腴的金发女郎，粉红色脸颊，淡褐色头发，一双淡蓝色眼睛。她虽然不象泽拉。舒曼那样富有挑逗性的漂亮，可她身上还是流露出某种在克莱德看来跟她女友表面上节制。实则放荡不羁相一致的神态。
克莱德觉察到，她的态度虽然很少令人想到伪装的虚张声势，可还是表示出那么顺从，对他是故意如此，而且自然富有挑逗性。她们俩早已事前约定，要由丽达来逗引他。丽达对泽拉。舒曼非常倾倒，样样都要模仿她，她们如影随形，寸步不离。当克莱德出现在她面前时，她嗲声嗲气地冲他一笑，让他非常心慌意乱。当时他正在告诫自己，在莱柯格斯这地方，与人交往务必非常小心留神。
但不幸的是，丽达如同霍丹斯。布里格斯一样，激起了他要求有进一步亲密行动的念头，哪怕这种念头是不会引起问题也好，还是缥缈无影也好，反正使他感到困惑不安。可他一定要小心翼翼啊。他之所以在堪萨斯城遭到不幸，正是如同迪拉特眼前这种放荡不羁的态度，以及这一类女郎的举止作风所促成的。
"好吧，我们就先来一点冰淇淋和点心，"迪拉特说了一些开场的话后才说，"随后，我们可以悄悄溜走。你们俩最好到各处先转转，见人就得招呼一下。然后，我们在卖冰淇淋的地方见面。以后，要是你们高兴，我们就从这儿溜了，嗯?
你们看怎么样?
"他两眼望着泽拉。舒曼，好象是在说:
"我们该怎么办最好，反正你心里有谱。
"她却笑着回答说:
"是啊。可我们不能马上就走。我看见玛丽表妹在那边。还有妈妈。还有弗雷德。布鲁克纳。丽达跟我先去那儿转一圈，以后跟你们碰头，明白了吧。"说罢，丽达。迪克曼向克莱德妩媚动人地一笑。
迪拉特和克莱德在大厅里转悠了二十来分钟，泽拉给了迪拉特一个暗号，他就跟克莱德一块走到大厅中央摆上椅子卖冰淇淋的地方。不一会儿，泽拉和丽达好象不约而同地来了，他们就在一块吃了一些冰淇淋和点心。然后，今晚任务全都完成了，而且好多人早已纷纷溜走了，迪拉特就说:
"得了，我们也滑脚吧。就上你那儿去，好吗?
""当然，当然，"泽拉低声说，他们俩就一块上衣帽间去了。该不该跟他们一块去?
克莱德心里还是迟疑不决，因此只好闷声不响。他连自己都闹不清楚:
对丽达是不是一见倾心了。不过，一走到街上，在看不到教堂和那些返家的寻找快乐的人们时，克莱德发现自己却跟丽达在一起，泽拉和迪拉特早已走到前头去了。克莱德挽着丽达的手臂，心想这准没错儿，可她却硬是挣脱出来，用她那一只暖和而温柔的手放在他的肘弯里，紧紧地偎着他，肩并肩地，几乎全靠到他身上，喋喋不休地谈论莱柯格斯的生活。
她的话音里，有一种甜蜜得令人迷醉的味道。这使克莱德很喜欢。她的身子显得有些慵倦无力，仿佛放射出一种光或电子，吸引他，迷住他，因而使他身不由己。他很想抚摸她的胳臂，他觉得只要自己高兴，这是做得到的……甚至还可以搂住她的腰肢，即使认识还不太久。不过，他心里总算还想到，他是格里菲思家族的一员……而且还是莱柯格斯的格里菲思家族的一员……毕竟身价不同，正是这个原因，这次教堂主办的交谊会上所有的姑娘全都对他这样深感兴趣，这样大献殷勤。可是，他尽管有这样想法，到头来还是轻轻地捏了一下她的胳臂，可她也并没有表示不以为然的样子。
舒曼的家，是一幢方方正正的老式木结构大房子，顶上有一个方方正正的小阁楼，屋前有一块草坪，四周有些树木，显得很僻静。他们一进门，就来到了陈设漂亮的大客厅，这儿当然远远胜过克莱德过去见过的那些房子了。迪拉特马上挑选唱片，然后把两块相当大的地毯卷了起来，露出很光滑的硬木地板。
"这幢房子四周围因为有一些树木，再加上这些唱针特别讲究，只发出很轻的声音，"他说这话，自然是说给克莱德听的，因为这时他还有一个印象，觉得克莱德也许是个很精明的人，每走出一步，都是小心留神的。"所以，街上一点儿都听不见留声机的声音，是吧，泽尔?
使用这些唱针，嘿，连楼上都听不见。
我们在这儿玩过。跳过不知道好多次了，都是一直玩到凌晨三四点钟，可楼上的人全都不知道，是吧，泽尔?
""是啊。不过我爸爸耳朵有些背。妈妈只要一进房里看书，就什么都听不见了。不过，一般地说，要听见也很难啊。""怎么啦，难道说这里的人都这么反对跳舞吗?
"克莱德问。
"哦，他们并不反对……厂里的人并不反对……压根儿不反对，"迪拉特插嘴说，"不过信教的人十之八九是反对的。我叔叔。婶婶就反对。今儿晚上我们在教堂里碰上的人，几乎个个都反对，除了泽尔和丽达，"他向她们递去一个非常赞许的眼色。"她们气量可挺大的，不会把这么一点儿小事都记在心上。是吧，泽尔?
"这个年轻姑娘本来早就被他迷住了，这时微微一笑，点点头说:
"哦，当然罗。
我可看不出这有什么不好。""我也看不出这有什么不好，"丽达插嘴说，"爸爸妈妈也这样。只不过他们不愿提这件事，因为他们不希望我对跳舞入了迷。"这时，迪拉特已放了一张唱片，片名《棕色的眼睛》。克莱德跟丽达一对，迪拉特跟泽拉一对，马上翩翩起舞。克莱德发觉自己跟这位姑娘之间不知不觉产生了一种亲密感……它将预兆着什么，几乎连他自己都说不上来。她跳得那么热火，那么有劲儿……从她那迂回曲折。来回摇摆的舞姿里，仿佛宣泄出种种被压抑着的热情。她的唇边马上挂着如痴似醉的微笑，显示出她对罗曼蒂克趣事的无限渴求。瞧她长得美极了，一边跳一边笑，要比以往任何时候都美。
"她太迷人了，"克莱德心想，"虽然有点儿太随和。尽管我跳得并不比别人高明，但看得出她喜欢我，就因为在她心目中，我好象是个了不起的人物。"差不多就在这当儿，她说:
"真痛快，不是吗?
您跳舞可真是内行，格里菲思先生。""哦，我可不内行，"他回答说，直瞅着她的眼睛笑，"您跳舞才是内行呢。
我所以跳得好，多亏是跟着您一块跳啊。"此刻他感到:
她的手臂是丰腴柔软的，她的胸脯，对这么年轻的姑娘说，是很丰满的了。瞧她如痴似醉地跳呀跳的，早已使克莱德入了迷，她那一举手。
一投足的姿态，几乎是在撩拨他似的。
"得了，现在就放《爱之小舟》，"迪拉特在《棕色的眼睛》一曲结束时说。"您就跟泽拉跳一会儿，丽达跟我去跳一圈，好吗，丽达?
"他本来就非常喜欢跳舞，此刻又十分想炫耀一下自己的舞艺，等不到新的一支舞曲放出来，就急急忙忙地挽起丽达的手臂，一下子跳起来，跳着各式各样舞步和各种不同花样的舞姿，简直是满场飞似的。所有这些都叫克莱德望尘莫及，从而很快就证实迪拉特确是跳舞的行家。一曲舞罢，他才点头示意克莱德把唱片《爱之小舟》放上去。
但是克莱德跟泽拉跳了一个曲子以后，才闹明白:
参加今晚舞会原意，就是要使两对伴侣一块玩儿，不但互不干预，相反，大家还应想尽种种方法，让另一对伴侣玩得痛快。当泽拉跟克莱德一块跳，而且跳得很好，跟他说了很多的话时，克莱德心里始终很清楚:
她仅仅对迪拉特一个人感兴趣，特别喜欢跟迪拉特在一块。跳了几个舞曲以后，克莱德跟丽达靠在一张长沙发上聊天，泽拉和迪拉特就离开这儿，上厨房寻摸什么饮料去了。不过，克莱德发现，他们待在厨房里，要比喝一口饮料的时间长得多哩。
就在这时，丽达仿佛故意要让他与她更进一步接近。她觉得他们俩靠在长沙发上闲聊得差不多了，就站了起来，而且这么突兀……既没有乐曲，也没有说话……便向他伸出手来，要他再跟她多跳一会儿。原先她跟迪拉特跳过好几种舞步，现在她就好象想再跳给克莱德看看。不过，由于那些舞步样式规定，他们之间贴得比过去更紧了……非常紧。她跟克莱德贴得那么紧，还用胳膊肘做出各种手势给他看，指点他该怎样跳，她的脸和两颊几乎就贴近他的脸颊了……竟然使他的意志和决心也都没法抗拒了。他按捺不住，把脸颊贴在她脸颊上，她却抬起双眼，脉脉含情地直望着他。他的自我克制能力，一下子消失了，他吻了她的朱唇。接着，他吻了又吻……吻了又吻。他原以为她会推开他，殊不知她并没有这样做，她完全听任他亲吻……她始终保持同一个姿态，好让他继续一个劲儿吻自己。
他感到她那滚热的身子温顺地紧贴着他，她回过来也用自己朱唇吻他的嘴唇。这时，他才猛地明白，他这是明明让自己陷入这样一种关系中去，这种关系也许并不是那么容易就可加以改变，或则加以回避的。他心里也明白:
要自己顶得住，真是难上难啊，因为现在他已经喜欢她了，显然，她也喜欢他。
收听单词发音 |
1
locker
|
|
| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
trolley
|
|
| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
texture
|
|
| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
fulfill
|
|
| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
refreshments
|
|
| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
liking
|
|
| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
savings
|
|
| n.存款，储蓄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
aspiring
|
|
| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
flirtation
|
|
| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
rev
|
|
| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
stark
|
|
| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
vendor
|
|
| n.卖主；小贩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
retail
|
|
| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
dealer
|
|
| n.商人，贩子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
florist
|
|
| n.花商；种花者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
insolence
|
|
| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
condemn
|
|
| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
pretense
|
|
| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
effrontery
|
|
| n.厚颜无耻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
earrings
|
|
| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
demure
|
|
| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
chestnut
|
|
| n.栗树，栗子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
bravado
|
|
| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
intrigue
|
|
| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
sensuous
|
|
| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
evoked
|
|
| [医]诱发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
intimacy
|
|
| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
browsing
|
|
| v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
dubious
|
|
| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
maneuvered
|
|
| v.移动，用策略( maneuver的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
caressing
|
|
| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
caress
|
|
| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
furry
|
|
| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
languorous
|
|
| adj.怠惰的，没精打采的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
intrigued
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
lured
|
|
| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
boded
|
|
| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
lyric
|
|
| n.抒情诗，歌词；adj.抒情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
intoxicating
|
|
| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
gliding
|
|
| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |