The culmination1 of this meeting was but the prelude2, as both Clyde and Roberta realized, to a series of contactsand rejoicings which were to extend over an indefinite period. They had found love. They were deliciously happy, whatever the problems attending its present realization3 might be. But the ways and means of continuingwith it were a different matter. For not only was her connection with the Newtons a bar to any normal procedurein so far as Clyde was concerned, but Grace Marr herself offered a distinct and separate problem. Far more thanRoberta she was chained, not only by the defect of poor looks, but by the narrow teachings and domestic trainingof her early social and religious life. Yet she wanted to be gay and free, too. And in Roberta, who, while gay andboastful at times, was still well within the conventions that chained Grace, she imagined that she saw one whowas not so bound. And so it was that she clung to her closely and as Roberta saw it a little wearisomely. Sheimagined that they could exchange ideas and jests and confidences in regard to the love life and their respectivedreams without injury to each other. And to date this was her one solace4 in an otherwise gray world.
But Roberta, even before the arrival of Clyde in her life, did not want to be so clung to. It was a bore. Andafterwards she developed an inhibition in regard to him where Grace was concerned. For she not only knew thatGrace would resent this sudden desertion, but also that she had no desire to face out within herself the suddenand revolutionary moods which now possessed5 her. Having at once met and loved him, she was afraid to thinkwhat, if anything, she proposed to permit herself to do in regard to him. Were not such contacts between theclasses banned here? She knew they were. Hence she did not care to talk about him at all.
In consequence on Monday evening following the Sunday on the lake when Grace had inquired most gayly andfamiliarly after Clyde, Roberta had as instantly decided6 not to appear nearly as interested in him as Grace mightalready be imagining. Accordingly, she said little other than that he was very pleasant to her and had inquiredafter Grace, a remark which caused the latter to eye her slyly and to wonder if she were really telling what hadhappened since. "He was so very friendly I was beginning to think he was struck on you.""Oh, what nonsense!" Roberta replied shrewdly, and a bit alarmed. "Why, he wouldn't look at me. Besides,there's a rule of the company that doesn't permit him to, as long as I work there."This last, more than anything else, served to allay7 Grace's notions in regard to Clyde and Roberta, for she was ofthat conventional turn of mind which would scarcely permit her to think of any one infringing8 upon a companyrule. Nevertheless Roberta was nervous lest Grace should be associating her and Clyde in her mind in someclandestine way, and she decided to be doubly cautious in regard to Clyde--to feign9 a distance she did not feel.
But all this was preliminary to troubles and strains and fears which had nothing to do with what had gone before,but took their rise from difficulties which sprang up immediately afterwards. For once she had come to thiscomplete emotional understanding with Clyde, she saw no way of meeting him except in this very clandestineway and that so very rarely and uncertainly that she could not say when there was likely to be another meeting.
"You see, it's this way," she explained to Clyde when, a few evenings later, she had managed to steal out for anhour and they walked from the region at the end of Taylor Street down to the Mohawk, where were some openfields and a low bank rising above the pleasant river. "The Newtons never go any place much without invitingme. And even if they didn't, Grace'd never go unless I went along. It's just because we were together so much inTrippetts Mills that she feels that way, as though I were a part of the family. But now it's different, and yet I don'tsee how I am going to get out of it so soon. I don't know where to say I'm going or whom I am going with.""I know that, honey," he replied softly and sweetly. "That's all true enough. But how is that going to help us now? You can't expect me to get along with just looking at you in the factory, either, can you?"He gazed at her so solemnly and yearningly11 that she was moved by her sympathy for him, and in order toassuage his depression added: "No, I don't want you to do that, dear. You know I don't. But what am I to do?"She laid a soft and pleading hand on the back of one of Clyde's thin, long and nervous ones.
"I'll tell you what, though," she went on after a period of reflection, "I have a sister living in Homer, New York.
That's about thirty-five miles north of here. I might say I was going up there some Saturday afternoon or Sunday.
She's been writing me to come up, but I hadn't thought of it before. But I might go--that is--I might--""Oh, why not do that?" exclaimed Clyde eagerly. "That's fine! A good idea!""Let me see," she added, ignoring his exclamation12. "If I remember right you have to go to Fonda first, thenchange cars there. But I could leave here any time on the trolley13 and there are only two trains a day from Fonda,one at two, and one at seven on Saturday. So I might leave here any time before two, you see, and then if I didn'tmake the two o'clock train, it would be all right, wouldn't it? I could go on the seven. And you could be overthere, or meet me on the way, just so no one here saw us. Then I could go on and you could come back. I couldarrange that with Agnes, I'm sure. I would have to write her.""How about all the time between then and now, though?" he queried14 peevishly15. "It's a long time till then, youknow.""Well, I'll have to see what I can think of, but I'm not sure, dear. I'll have to see. And you think too. But I oughtto be going back now," she added nervously16. She at once arose, causing Clyde to rise, too, and consult his watch,thereby discovering that it was already near ten.
"But what about us!" he continued persistently17. "Why couldn't you pretend next Sunday that you're going tosome other church than yours and meet me somewhere instead? Would they have to know?"At once Clyde noted18 Roberta's face darken slightly, for here he was encroaching upon something that was stilltoo closely identified with her early youth and convictions to permit infringement19.
"Hump, uh," she replied quite solemnly. "I wouldn't want to do that. I wouldn't feel right about it. And itwouldn't be right, either."Immediately Clyde sensed that he was treading on dangerous ground and withdrew the suggestion because hedid not care to offend or frighten her in any way. "Oh, well. Just as you say. I only thought since you don't seemto be able to think of any other way.""No, no, dear," she pleaded softly, because she noted that he felt that she might be offended. "It's all right, only Iwouldn't want to do that. I couldn't."Clyde shook his head. A recollection of his own youthful inhibitions caused him to feel that perhaps it was notright for him to have suggested it.
They returned in the direction of Taylor Street without, apart from the proposed trip to Fonda, either having hitupon any definite solution. Instead, after kissing her again and again and just before letting her go, the best hecould suggest was that both were to try and think of some way by which they could meet before, if possible. Andshe, after throwing her arms about his neck for a moment, ran east along Taylor Street, her little figure swayingin the moonlight.
However, apart from another evening meeting which was made possible by Roberta's announcing a secondengagement with Mrs. Braley, there was no other encounter until the following Saturday when Roberta departedfor Fonda. And Clyde, having ascertained20 the exact hour, left by the car ahead, and joined Roberta at the firststation west. From that point on until evening, when she was compelled to take the seven o'clock train, they wereunspeakably happy together, loitering near the little city comparatively strange to both.
For outside of Fonda a few miles they came to a pleasure park called Starlight where, in addition to a few claptrappleasure concessions21 such as a ring of captive aeroplanes, a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, an old mill anda dance floor, was a small lake with boats. It was after its fashion an idyllic22 spot with a little band-stand out on anisland near the center of the lake and on the shore a grave and captive bear in a cage. Since coming to LycurgusRoberta had not ventured to visit any of the rougher resorts near there, which were very much like this, onlymuch more strident. On sight of this both exclaimed: "Oh, look!" And Clyde added at once: "Let's get off here,will you--shall we? What do you say? We're almost to Fonda anyhow. And we can have more fun here."At once they climbed down. And having disposed of her bag for the time being, he led the way first to the standof a man who sold frankfurters. Then, since the merry-go-round was in full blast, nothing would do but thatRoberta should ride with him. And in the gayest of moods, they climbed on, and he placed her on a zebra, andthen stood close in order that he might keep his arm about her, and both try to catch the brass23 ring. And ascommonplace and noisy and gaudy24 as it all was, the fact that at last he had her all to himself unseen, and she him,was sufficient to evoke25 in both a kind of ecstasy26 which was all out of proportion to the fragile, gimcrack scene.
Round and round they spun27 on the noisy, grinding machine, surveying now a few idle pleasure seekers who werein boats upon the lake, now some who were flying round in the gaudy green and white captive aeroplanes orturning upward and then down in the suspended cages of the Ferris wheel.
Both looked at the woods and sky beyond the lake; the idlers and dancers in the dancing pavilion dreaming andthrilling, and then suddenly Clyde asked: "You dance, don't you, Roberta?""Why, no, I don't," she replied, a little sadly, for at the very moment she had been looking at the happy dancersrather ruefully and thinking how unfortunate it was that she had never been allowed to dance. It might not beright or nice, perhaps--her own church said it was not--but still, now that they were here and in love like this-theseothers looked so gay and happy--a pretty medley28 of colors moving round and round in the green and brownframe--it did not seem so bad to her. Why shouldn't people dance, anyway? Girls like herself and boys likeClyde? Her younger brother and sister, in spite of the views of her parents, were already declaring that when theopportunity offered, they were going to learn.
"Oh, isn't that too bad!" he exclaimed, thinking how delightful29 it would be to hold Roberta in his arms. "Wecould have such fun now if you could. I could teach you in a few minutes if you wanted me to.""I don't know about that," she replied quizzically, her eyes showing that his suggestion appealed to her. "I'm notso clever that way. And you know dancing isn't considered so very nice in my part of the country. And mychurch doesn't approve of it, either. And I know my parents wouldn't like me to.""Oh, shucks," replied Clyde foolishly and gayly, "what nonsense, Roberta. Why, everybody dances these days ornearly everybody. How can you think there's anything wrong with it?""Oh, I know," replied Roberta oddly and quaintly30, "maybe they do in your set. I know most of those factory girlsdo, of course. And I suppose where you have money and position, everything's right. But with a girl like me, it'sdifferent. I don't suppose your parents were as strict as mine, either.""Oh, weren't they, though?" laughed Clyde who had not failed to catch the "your set"; also the "where you havemoney and position.""Well, that's all you know about it," he went on. "They were as strict as yours and stricter, I'll bet. But I dancedjust the same. Why, there's no harm in it, Roberta. Come on, let me teach you. It's wonderful, really. Won't you,dearest?"He put his arm around her and looked into her eyes and she half relented, quite weakened by her desire for him.
Just then the merry-go-round stopped and without any plan or suggestion they seemed instinctively31 to drift to theside of the pavilion where the dancers--not many but avid--were moving briskly around. Fox-trots and one-stepswere being supplied by an orchestrelle of considerable size. At a turnstile, all the remaining portions of thepavilion being screened in, a pretty concessionaire was sitting and taking tickets--ten cents per dance per couple.
But the color and the music and the motions of the dancers gliding32 rhythmically33 here and there quite seized uponboth Clyde and Roberta.
The orchestrelle stopped and the dancers were coming out. But no sooner were they out than five-cent admissionchecks were once more sold for the new dance.
"I don't believe I can," pleaded Roberta, as Clyde led her to the ticket-stile. "I'm afraid I'm too awkward, maybe.
I never danced, you know.""You awkward, Roberta," he exclaimed. "Oh, how crazy. Why, you're as graceful34 and pretty as you can be.
You'll see. You'll be a wonderful dancer."Already he had paid the coin and they were inside.
Carried away by a bravado35 which was three-fourths her conception of him as a member of the Lycurgus uppercrust and possessor of means and position, he led the way into a corner and began at once to illustrate36 therespective movements. They were not difficult and for a girl of Roberta's natural grace and zest37, easy. Once themusic started and Clyde drew her to him, she fell into the positions and steps without effort, and they movedrhythmically and instinctively together. It was the delightful sensation of being held by him and guided here and there that so appealed to her--the wonderful rhythm of his body coinciding with hers.
"Oh, you darling," he whispered. "Aren't you the dandy little dancer, though. You've caught on already. If youaren't the wonderful kid. I can hardly believe it."They went about the floor once more, then a third time, before the music stopped and by the time it did, Robertawas lost in a sense of delight such as had never come to her before. To think she had been dancing! And it shouldbe so wonderful! And with Clyde! He was so slim, graceful--quite the handsomest of any of the young men onthe floor, she thought. And he, in turn, was now thinking that never had he known any one as sweet as Roberta.
She was so gay and winsome38 and yielding. She would not try to work him for anything. And as for SondraFinchley, well, she had ignored him and he might as well dismiss her from his mind--and yet even here, and withRoberta, he could not quite forget her.
At five-thirty when the orchestrelle was silenced for lack of customers and a sign reading "Next Concert 7.30"hung up, they were still dancing. After that they went for an ice-cream soda39, then for something to eat, and bythen, so swiftly had sped the time, it was necessary to take the very next car for the depot40 at Fonda.
As they neared this terminal, both Clyde and Roberta were full of schemes as to how they were to arrange for tomorrow.
For Roberta would be coming back then and if she could arrange to leave her sister's a little earlySunday he could come over from Lycurgus to meet her. They could linger around Fonda until eleven at least,when the last train south from Homer was due. And pretending she had arrived on that they could then, assumingthere was no one whom they knew on the Lycurgus car, journey to that city.
And as arranged so they met. And in the dark outlying streets of that city, walked and talked and planned, andRoberta told Clyde something--though not much--of her home life at Biltz.
But the great thing, apart from their love for each other and its immediate10 expression in kisses and embraces, wasthe how and where of further contacts. They must find some way, only, really, as Roberta saw it, she must be theone to find the way, and that soon. For while Clyde was obviously very impatient and eager to be with her asmuch as possible, still he did not appear to be very ready with suggestions--available ones.
But that, as she also saw, was not easy. For the possibility of another visit to her sister in Homer or her parents inBiltz was not even to be considered under a month. And apart from them what other excuses were there? Newfriends at the factory--the post-office--the library--the Y. W. C. A.--all suggestions of Clyde's at the moment.
But these spelled but an hour or two together at best, and Clyde was thinking of other week-ends like this. Andthere were so few remaining summer week-ends.
这次会见的高潮，不论克莱德也好，还是罗伯达也好，他们都认为只不过是永无尽头的将来一系列新的交往和欢乐的序幕罢了。毕竟他们找到了爱情。
他们都感到说不出的幸福，姑且不管眼下要使爱情得以实现，可能还会遇到哪些难题。不过，采取什么样的方式方法，使爱情继续下去，却是另一回事了。
就克莱德来说，罗伯达跟牛顿夫妇的关系，不仅仅是对他们正常交往的一大障碍。而且，格雷斯。玛尔也构成了另一个性质不同的问题。她思想上所受的束缚，要比罗伯达多得多，她不仅长得丑，而且在早年的社会。宗教生活中，还受过狭隘的偏见和家教熏陶。不过，她也希望自己能得到快乐和自由。虽然罗伯达喜欢乐乐呵呵，有时候不免爱好自夸，可是她并没有违反禁锢着格雷斯的传统观念。所以，格雷斯认为，罗伯达就是一个并没有逾越雷池一步的人。也正因为这样，她就紧紧地抓住她，而罗伯达却觉得这就不免有点儿腻味了。格雷斯以为，她们俩可以对恋爱生活和她们各自的梦想交流一下看法，谈一谈。
乐一乐，那也是无伤大雅。迄至今日，这就是她在这个灰溜溜的世界上唯一的慰籍了。
可是罗伯达，哪怕在克莱德闯进她的生活以前，压根儿也不希望格雷斯这样粘附在一起。这是一个累赘。后来，她觉得断断乎不能对格雷斯谈有关克莱德的事。因为，她不但知道格雷斯对自己突如其来甩开她会产生反感，而且也知道，她自己这种突然叛变的心态，虽然现在占了上风，可是说心里话并不想毅然决然付诸实现。如今遇见了他，一下子爱上了他，她却很怕去想:
她跟他的关系，好歹也得保持一定分寸。贫富之间类似这样的交往，在这里不是受到禁止吗?
这一点她是知道的。因此，她压根儿就不愿向格雷斯谈论他了。
正好在星期天湖衅邂逅以后第二天，亦即星期一傍晚，当格雷斯兴冲冲。
热乎乎地问起克莱德时，罗伯达马上就决定佯装出自己对他的兴趣也许并没有格雷斯想象中那么大。所以，她只是说他对她很客气，而且还问到过格雷斯。
格雷斯一听到这句话，偷偷地乜了她一眼，心里纳闷，真不知道她说的是不是实话。"瞧他那股子亲热劲儿，我说莫非是他看中了你不成。""哦，胡扯淡!
"罗伯达很乖觉地回答说，不免也有一点吃惊。"嘿，他才不会看我一眼呢。再说，厂里有厂规，只要我在厂里干活，就不准他跟我接近。
"最末这句话，比什么都灵验，一下子消除了格雷斯对克莱德和罗伯达的种种疑虑，因为她这个人传统观念很深，根本不可能想到有人会违反厂规的。尽管如此，罗伯达心里还是忐忑不安，唯恐格雷斯以为她与克莱德有什么暧昧关系，因此，她暗自决定，凡是一涉及到克莱德，就要加倍小心……佯装她好象对他完全无动于衷似的。
不过话又说回来，这一切只是随之而来的困惑。懊恼和恐惧的引子。这些困惑。懊恼和恐惧跟过去并无关系，而是后来紧接着立刻发生的困难所引起的。
因为她跟克莱德完全情投意合以后，就知道除了幽会以外，再也没有别的办法跟他会面;何况那种幽会，机会又是那么难得，那么没有把握，就连下一次何时能再见面，她也说不上来。
"您知道，事情是这样的，"她向克莱德作了说明。那是在几天以后的一个晚上，她偷偷地溜出来一个钟头的时候跟他说的，他们正从泰勒街的尽头走向莫霍河边，那儿有一些空旷的田野和在令人悦目的河边隆起的一道低堤。"牛顿夫妇不管上哪儿，就非得邀我一块去不可。而且，即便说他们没有邀请我，那末，我不去，格雷斯从来也不肯去。这就是因为过去我们住在特里佩茨米尔斯时相处很好，所以，直到现在，她还是那样，仿佛把我当作他们自己家里人一样。
尽管现在情况不同了，可我就是看不到一下子解决的出路。我真不知道该怎么说……我上哪儿去了，或是我跟什么人一块儿去的。""亲爱的，这个我明白，"他嗲声嗲气地回答说。"这全都是事实。可是现在我们究竟该怎么办呢?
难道说你认为我只要在厂里把你看个饱就得了，是不是?
"他是那么严肃而又充满渴望地凝视着她，使她不由得对他满怀同情。为了抚慰他那沮丧的心情，她就找补着说:
"不，亲爱的，我可不愿意您那样。您也知道，我不会这样的。不过，叫我怎么办呢?
"她把一只温柔。恳求的手按在克莱德瘦长而又紧张不安的手背上。
"得了，我告诉您，"她沉吟一会儿以后说，"我有一个妹妹住在纽约州的霍默，从这里北面去大约三十五英里就到了。我说，也许我说不准在哪个星期六下午或星期天就上那里去。她过去来过信要我去，可我过去一直不想去呢。不过现在，也许我会去……那就是说……也许我会去的……""哦，干吗不去呢?
"克莱德热乎乎地喊道。"那敢情好!
真是个好主意!
""让我想一想，"她接下去说，并没有理会他的大声嚷嚷。"要是我记得不错，您就得先到方达，然后在那里换车。不过我可以随便什么时候搭乘电车离开这里。而星期六方达只有两班车，一班车在两点钟，另一班车是七点钟。这就是说，我可以在两点钟以前随便什么时候离开这里，然后，我要是不搭乘两点那班车，也没有关系，您说，是不是?
反正我可以搭乘七点钟的车。您不妨先到那里，或者在路上跟我碰头，这样就不让这儿的人看见我们俩在一起。到时候，我可以去找妹妹，而您就可以返回莱柯格斯。我相信一切我都可以跟艾格尼斯安排好。那我就得先写封信给她呗。""那末，从眼前起到那天以前，这一大段时间，怎么办?
"他气呼呼地问。"这段时间可长啊，你说是吗?
""哦，那我就得想想办法看，不过，我可说不上有没有把握，亲爱的。我得想想。您也得想想才行。不过，现在我就得往回走了，"她心神不安地说，马上站了起来，于是，克莱德也跟着站了起来，看了一下表，不觉快到十点钟了。
"可是，我们该怎么办呢?
"他坚持说。"干吗你不在星期天找个借口，说是上别的一个教堂去，那你也就可以在某某地方跟我碰头?
难道说他们非得知道不可吗?
"克莱德顿时觉察到罗伯达脸色有点儿阴沉，因为，他这是触犯了她自幼时起即受到熏陶，而且不容违悖的信念了。
"哦，哦，"她极其严肃地回答说。"那个我不能干。我觉得不应该那么做。
而且事实上也是要不得的。"克莱德一觉察到自己踏上了危险道路，马上把他刚才的建议收回了，因为他压根儿不想惹她生气，或是吓唬她。"哦，那末，得了吧。就照你说的办吧。
刚才我只不过因为你好象找不到别的好办法才有这样的想法。""不，不，亲爱的，"她温柔地恳求说，因为她发觉他生怕她会生气。"这可没有什么，只不过我不愿意这样做罢了。我可不能那样做啊。"克莱德摇摇头。他一想起自己年轻时学过的一些规矩，觉得刚才建议也许是很不对头的。
这时，他们又折回泰勒街，除了谈到拟议中的方达之行以外，一路上并没有想出任何具体的解决办法来。相反，在他一次又一次亲吻了她才让她离去以前，他所能提出的，不外乎是他们俩要继续动脑筋，想出办法在这以前尽可能再见一次面。她用双手搂了一会儿他的脖子后，就顺着泰勒街往东走去，克莱德目送着在月光底下忽隐忽现的她那纤小的身影。
不过话又说回来，只有一个晚上，罗伯达推说她跟布雷莉太太有第二次约会，才又跟克莱德相会一次。除此以外，在星期六罗伯达去方达以前，他们俩就一直没能再次见面。到了星期六那天，克莱德先弄清确切的时间，然后提前搭乘电车离城，在西行的第一站跟罗伯达碰头。从这时起，一直到晚上她不得不搭乘七点钟的那班车为止，他们俩始终在一起，就在他们俩几乎都很陌生的那个小城附近闲逛，真有说不尽的快乐。
他们俩来到了离方达一两英里远的一个名叫"星光"的露天游乐场。那里有一些颇有噱头的娱乐设施，比方说，拴在铁环圈上的一些小飞机。一台费里斯大旋车(一种供人游戏的竖立大轮，轮缘设置座位，供游客回旋。１８９３年由费里斯首创而得名。)。一架旋转木马。一座老式磨坊和一座跳舞厅。此外，还有一个可供游人泛舟的小湖。这是一个颇有田园牧歌风味的理想场所，湖心岛上有一个小小的音乐台，岸边一座笼子里，还关进一头垂头丧气的熊。罗伯达到莱柯格斯以后，还没有光临过那里一些粗俗的娱乐场所，那些地方跟这儿差不离，只不过还要俗不可耐。他们一见到"星光"乐园后，禁不住大声嚷了起来:
"喂，看啊!
"克莱德马上接茬说:
"我们就在这儿下车，你看好不好?
反正差不多快到方达了。我们在这儿会玩得更痛快。"他们赶紧下了车。他先把她的手提包寄放好，就在前头领路，来到卖腊肠的摊位跟前。这时，旋转木马正转得起劲，看来罗伯达非得陪他一块儿玩不可。
于是，他们兴高采烈地爬了上去，他让她跨上一匹斑马，自己紧紧地站在旁边，以便搂住她，搀扶她。他们俩都竭力想把铜环抓住。这一切其实都很俗丽。喧闹。平凡乏味，不过，他们俩终于能够在一起尽情地玩儿，而没有被人看见，这一点也就足以使他们俩完全心醉神迷了，这种情绪跟这儿那些低劣。无聊的场面是极不调和的。他们在嘎嘎作响的轮转机上来回不停地旋转，眼前还可以看见泛舟于湖上的三三两两的游客，有些游客坐在俗艳的绿白两色的拴住的小飞机里来回盘旋，或是坐在费里斯大旋车悬空的笼子里一会儿朝上一会儿朝下不停运转。
他们俩抬眼望去，只见湖边小树林和天空，还有舞厅里头许多游客，正在翩翩起舞，沉醉于幻梦之中。克莱德突然开口问道:
"你会跳舞，是不是，罗伯达?
""哦，不，我不会，"她回答说，话里听得出有一点儿伤心味道。因为，这时她也正眼望着那些幸福的舞侣，心里不免有点儿酸溜溜，想到过去一直不准她跳舞，真太可惜。也许跳舞是要不得的，或是不道德的……她信奉的教会就是这么说的……不过，不管怎么说，现在他们都在这里，而且是在相互热恋着……人家是那么快乐，那么幸福……在那褐绿色衬景掩映下，在不停转圈中只见异彩纷呈，目不暇接……这一切，她觉得并不都是那么坏。那末，为什么就不让跳舞呢?
象她这样的姑娘，象克莱德这样的年轻小伙子，为什么就不让他们跳呢?
不管爸爸妈妈怎么规劝，她的弟弟妹妹早就扬言过:
赶明儿只要有机会，他们就是要学跳舞。
"哦，那不是也太可惜了吗?
"他大声嚷了起来，心里琢磨，要是搂着罗伯达跳，该有多美。"你要是会跳，才带劲呢。我几分钟就教会你，要是你让我教你的话。""我可不知道该怎么才好，"她探询地回答说。从她的眼神里可以看出:
他这个主意正说到了她心坎上。"也许学跳舞，我并不是很灵巧的。您知道，在我们家乡，人们压根儿不让跳舞的。我们教会里也不赞成跳舞。我知道，爸爸妈妈也不喜欢我去跳的。""嘿，呸，"克莱德傻乎乎地。乐呵呵地回答说，"胡扯，罗伯达。现在大伙儿都跳舞，也可以说差不多人人都跳舞。怎么你还说跳舞坏话呢?
""哦，我知道，"罗伯达有点儿尴尬地回答说，"你们这个圈子里的人也许可以跳。当然罗，我知道厂里女工们十之八九也跳舞。依我看，只要有钱有势，什么都办得到。可是，象我这样的女孩子，情况就不一样了，我想，您的父母就是没有我的父母那么严格吧。""哦，真的吗?
"克莱德格格大笑起来。他一下子注意到她所说的"你们这个圈子里的人"，以及"只要有钱有势"这些话。
"哦，那就是你对我父母的看法罗，"他接下去说。"我敢说他们跟你的父母一样严格，也许还要严格哩。可我还不是照样跳舞。嘿，这可没有什么害处，罗伯达。来吧，让我来教你，得了。这可美极了，说实在的。你乐意吗，我最亲爱的?
"他一手搂住她的腰，眼巴巴地直瞅着她的眼睛，她被感动了，又因为按捺不住对他的欲念，这时早已浑身无力了。
正在这时，旋转木马戛然而止，他们漫无目的。好象顺其自然地溜达到舞厅那边去……那里，跳舞的人并不很多，但是很起劲，正在舞步轻捷地跳着。
一支有相当规模的乐队，正在演奏狐步舞曲和一步舞曲(也属于狐步舞的一种。)。
一道旋转栅门，已把舞厅另一头隔开，有一个长得很俊的检票员，正坐在那里收入场券……一对舞侣跳一次收十个美分。这儿艳丽的色彩。动人的乐曲，以及舞侣们合着节奏的优美舞姿，早就使克莱德和罗伯达两人入了迷。
乐队演奏停止，舞侣们正在往外走。不过，他们还没有走出舞厅，五个美分跳一个新曲子的入场券又开始出售了。
"我看我跳不了，"克莱德领她向检票处走去时，罗伯达向他这样恳求说。"我怕自己也许跳得很难看。您知道，我从来没有跳过舞。""你难看，罗伯达?
"他大声嚷道。"哦，胡扯淡!
你这个人再漂亮大方也没有啦。回头你就会知道。你跳起舞来一定顶呱呱。"他付了钱，他们就一块进去了。
克莱德故意摆出一副英勇姿态(她认为这多半是他来自莱柯格斯上流社会，有钱有势吧)。他把罗伯达带到舞场一隅，马上把有关的舞步动作做给她看。这些动作根本不难，对罗伯达那样天生娴雅。热心好学的姑娘来说，自然一学就会。乐曲一开始，克莱德就搂住她，她也毫不费劲地踩着步子，于是，他们俩就合着节奏，好象天生在一起地跳起舞来了。她觉得，让他搂抱着，带着她来回驰骋舞场，这是一种愉快的感觉，对她是如此富有吸引力……他们俩早已浑然一体，溶合在美妙的节奏之中了。
"哦，亲爱的，"他低声耳语道。"你不是跳得很漂亮吗?
你一下子全学会了。
真是太了不起。简直叫我难以相信。"他们再跳了一次，接下来又跳第三次，一直到乐曲声停止为止。这时，罗伯达感到自己陶醉在从来没有体会过的一种快感之中。只要想一想:
她这是在跳舞呀!
而且，想不到会有这么美妙!
而且，又是跟克莱德一块跳的!
他那么灵巧，那么潇洒大方……她觉得这儿年轻人里头就数他最漂亮。他呢，也觉得自己从来没有见过象罗伯达那么可爱的人儿了。她是那么快活，那么可爱，那么百依百顺。她决不会平白无故地折磨他的。至于那个桑德拉。芬奇利，得了吧，她既然不睬他，那他就干脆把她全忘掉吧……不过，即使在此时此地，跟罗伯达在一起，他也没法把桑德拉完全忘怀。
到了五点半，乐队因为舞客不多，就停止演奏，挂出了"下一场七点半开始"的牌子，可是他们俩还在跳个不停。后来，他们先去喝汽水冰淇淋，然后去餐厅吃饭。时间飞快地过去，他们又得赶紧上方达火车站去搭乘下一班车了。
他们快到终点站时，克莱德和罗伯达两人对明天活动如何安排，心中都有了谱。因为明天，罗伯达还要回来，要是她星期日从她妹妹那里早一点动身，他就可以从莱柯格斯上这儿来跟她相会。他们在方达至少可以逗留到十一点钟，那时从霍默南行的最后一班车刚好到站。她可以推说是搭乘这一班车回来的;要是回莱柯格斯的车上没有什么熟人的话，他们也可以结伴同行回城。
后来他们就按约又会面了。他们在那个小城镇近郊黑古隆冬的街上一边走，一边谈，一边在商讨计划。罗伯达还讲了她在比尔茨家里生活的一些情况给克莱德听，虽然她讲得并不很多。
抛开他们相亲相爱，及其在亲吻。拥抱上直接表现以外，目前最大的问题，就是:
今后在哪儿会面，以及会面的方式。他们必须寻摸出一个办法来。不过，正如罗伯达所预见，那个办法想必要由她来寻摸……而且很快就能寻摸到。因为，尽管克莱德显然急不可待，心里恨不得马上就跟她在一起，可是，看来他提不出切实可行的办法来。
不过话又说回来，她也知道，切实可行的办法并不易。要是第二次去看望住在霍默的妹妹，或是在比尔茨的父母，那在一个月以内根本是无法考虑的事。
除此以外，还能找到别的借口吗?
工厂里。邮局里。图书馆里。基督教女青年会里新结识的朋友……那时克莱德全都想到过他们。不过，所有这些至多只能给克莱德逍遥自由一两个钟头。而在克莱德心里却巴不得再一次重温如同眼前这样的周末。可惜目下夏日里的周末，早已所剩无几了。
收听单词发音 |
1
culmination
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| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
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prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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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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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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infringing
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| v.违反（规章等）( infringe的现在分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等） | |
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feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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yearningly
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| 怀念地，思慕地，同情地； 渴 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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infringement
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| n.违反；侵权 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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idyllic
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| adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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evoke
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| vt.唤起，引起，使人想起 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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medley
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| n.混合 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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rhythmically
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| adv.有节奏地 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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winsome
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| n.迷人的，漂亮的 | |
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soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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