The effect of this so casual contact was really disrupting in more senses than one. For now in spite of his comfortin and satisfaction with Roberta, once more and in this positive and to him entrancing way, was posed the wholequestion of his social possibilities here. And that strangely enough by the one girl of this upper level who hadmost materialized and magnified for him the meaning of that upper level itself. The beautiful Sondra Finchley!
Her lovely face, smart clothes, gay and superior demeanor1! If only at the time he had first encountered her he hadmanaged to interest her. Or could now.
The fact that his relations with Roberta were what they were now was not of sufficient import or weight to offsetthe temperamental or imaginative pull of such a girl as Sondra and all that she represented. Just to think theWimblinger Finchley Electric Sweeper Company was one of the largest manufacturing concerns here. Its tallwalls and stacks made a part of the striking sky line across the Mohawk. And the Finchley residence in WykeagyAvenue, near that of the Griffiths, was one of the most impressive among that distinguished2 row of houses whichhad come with the latest and most discriminating3 architectural taste here--Italian Renaissance--cream huedmarble and Dutchess County sandstone combined. And the Finchleys were among the most discussed of familieshere.
Ah, to know this perfect girl more intimately! To be looked upon by her with favor,--made, by reason of thatfavor, a part of that fine world to which she belonged. Was he not a Griffiths--as good looking as Gilbert Griffiths any day? And as attractive if he only had as much money--or a part of it even. To be able to dress in theGilbert Griffiths' fashion; to ride around in one of the handsome cars he sported! Then, you bet, a girl like thiswould be delighted to notice him,--mayhap, who knows, even fall in love with him. Analschar and the tray ofglasses. But now, as he gloomily thought, he could only hope, hope, hope.
The devil! He would not go around to Roberta's this evening. He would trump4 up some excuse--tell her in themorning that he had been called upon by his uncle or cousin to do some work. He could not and would not go,feeling as he did just now.
So much for the effect of wealth, beauty, the peculiar5 social state to which he most aspired6, on a temperamentthat was as fluid and unstable7 as water.
On the other hand, later, thinking over her contact with Clyde, Sondra was definitely taken with what may onlybe described as his charm for her, all the more definite in this case since it represented a direct opposite to all thathis cousin offered by way of offense8. His clothes and his manner, as well as a remark he had dropped, to theeffect that he was connected with the company in some official capacity, seemed to indicate that he might bebetter placed than she had imagined. Yet she also recalled that although she had been about with Bella allsummer and had encountered Gilbert, Myra and their parents from time to time, there had never been a wordabout Clyde. Indeed all the information she had gathered concerning him was that originally furnished by Mrs.
Griffiths, who had said that he was a poor nephew whom her husband had brought on from the west in order tohelp in some way. Yet now, as she viewed Clyde on this occasion, he did not seem so utterly9 unimportant orpoverty-stricken by any means--quite interesting and rather smart and very attractive, and obviously anxious tobe taken seriously by a girl like herself, as she could see. And this coming from Gilbert's cousin--a Griffiths--wasflattering.
Arriving at the Trumbull's, a family which centered about one Douglas Trumbull, a prosperous lawyer andwidower and speculator of this region, who, by reason of his children as well as his own good manners and legalsubtlety, had managed to ingratiate himself into the best circles of Lycurgus society, she suddenly confided10 to JillTrumbull, the elder of the lawyer's two daughters: "You know I had a funny experience to-day." And sheproceeded to relate all that had occurred in detail. Afterward11 at dinner, Jill having appeared to find it mostfascinating, she again repeated it to Gertrude and Tracy, the younger daughter and only son of the Trumbullfamily.
"Oh, yes," observed Tracy Trumbull, a law student in his father's office, "I've seen that fellow, I bet, three or fourtimes on Central Avenue. He looks a lot like Gil, doesn't he? Only not so swagger. I've nodded to him two orthree times this summer because I thought he was Gil for the moment.""Oh, I've seen him, too," commented Gertrude Trumbull. "He wears a cap and a belted coat like Gilbert Griffiths,sometimes, doesn't he? Arabella Stark12 pointed13 him out to me once and then Jill and I saw him passing Stark'sonce on a Saturday afternoon. He is better looking than Gil, any day, I think."This confirmed Sondra in her own thoughts in regard to Clyde and now she added: "Bertine Cranston and I methim one evening last spring at the Griffiths'. We thought he was too bashful, then. But I wish you could see himnow--he's positively14 handsome, with the softest eyes and the nicest smile.""Oh, now, Sondra," commented Jill Trumbull, who, apart from Bertine and Bella, was as close to Sondra as anygirl here, having been one of her classmates at the Snedeker School, "I know some one who would be jealous ifhe could hear you say that.""And wouldn't Gil Griffiths like to hear that his cousin's better looking than he is?" chimed in Tracy Trumbull.
"Oh, say--""Oh, he," sniffed15 Sondra irritably16. "He thinks he's so much. I'll bet anything it's because of him that the Griffithswon't have anything to do with their cousin. I'm sure of it, now that I think of it. Bella would, of course, becauseI heard her say last spring that she thought he was good-looking. And Myra wouldn't do anything to hurtanybody. What a lark17 if some of us were to take him up some time and begin inviting18 him here and there--oncein a while, you know--just for fun, to see how he would do. And how the Griffiths would take it. I know wellenough it would be all right with Mr. Griffiths and Myra and Bella, but Gil I'll bet would be as peeved19 asanything. I couldn't do it myself very well, because I'm so close to Bella, but I know who could and they couldn'tsay a thing." She paused, thinking of Bertine Cranston and how she disliked Gil and Mrs. Griffiths. "I wonder ifhe dances or rides or plays tennis or anything like that?" She stopped and meditated20 amusedly, the while theothers studied her. And Jill Trumbull, a restless, eager girl like herself, without so much of her looks or flair,however, observed: "It would be a prank21, wouldn't it? Do you suppose the Griffiths really would dislike it verymuch?""What's the difference if they did?" went on Sondra. "They couldn't do anything more than ignore him, couldthey? And who would care about that, I'd like to know. Not the people who invited him.""Go on, you fellows, stir up a local scrap22, will you?" put in Tracy Trumbull. "I'll bet anything that's what comesof it in the end. Gil Griffiths won't like it, you can gamble on that. I wouldn't if I were in his position. If you wantto stir up a lot of feeling here, go to it, but I'll lay a bet that's what it comes to."Now Sondra Finchley's nature was of just such a turn that a thought of this kind was most appealing to her.
However, as interesting as the idea was to her at the time, nothing definite might have come of it, had it not beenthat subsequent to this conversation and several others held with Bertine Cranston, Jill Trumbull, PatriciaAnthony, and Arabella Stark, the news of this adventure, together with some comments as to himself, finallycame to the ears of Gilbert Griffiths, yet only via Constance Wynant to whom, as local gossips would have it, hewas prospectively23 engaged. And Constance, hoping that Gilbert would marry her eventually, was herself irritatedby the report that Sondra had chosen to interest herself in Clyde, and then, for no sane24 reason, as she saw it,proclaim that he was more attractive than Gilbert. So, as much to relieve herself as to lay some plan of avengingherself upon Sondra, if possible, she conveyed the whole matter in turn to Gilbert, who at once proceeded tomake various cutting references to Clyde and Sondra. And these carried back to Sondra, along with certainembellishments by Constance, had the desired effect. It served to awaken25 in her the keenest desire for retaliation26.
For if she chose she certainly could be nice to Clyde, and have others be nice to him, too. And that would meanperhaps that Gilbert would find himself faced by a social rival of sorts--his own cousin, too, who, even though hewas poor, might come to be liked better. What a lark! At the very same time there came to her a way by whichshe might most easily introduce Clyde, and yet without seeming so to do, and without any great harm to herself,if it did not terminate as she wished.
For in Lycurgus among the younger members of those smarter families whose children had been to the SnedekerSchool, existed a rather illusory and casual dinner and dance club called the "Now and Then." It had no definiteorganization, officers or abode27. Any one, who, because of class and social connections was eligible28 and chose tobelong, could call a meeting of other members to give a dinner or dance or tea in their homes.
And how simple, thought Sondra in browsing29 around for a suitable vehicle by which to introduce Clyde, if someone other than herself who belonged could be induced to get up something and then at her suggestion inviteClyde. How easy, say, for Jill Trumbull to give a dinner and dance to the "Now and Thens," to which Clydemight be invited. And by this ruse30 she would thus be able to see him again and find out just how much he didinterest her and what he was like.
Accordingly a small dinner for this club and its friends was announced for the first Thursday in December, JillTrumbull to be the hostess. To it were to be invited Sondra and her brother, Stuart, Tracy and Gertrude Trumbull,Arabella Stark, Bertine and her brother, and some others from Utica and Gloversville as well. And Clyde. But inorder to safeguard Clyde against any chance of failure or even invidious comment of any kind, not only she butBertine and Jill and Gertrude were to be attentive31 to and considerate of him. They were to see that his danceprogram was complete and that neither at dinner nor on the dance floor was he to be left to himself, but was to bepassed on most artfully from one to the other until evening should be over. For, by reason of that, others mightcome to be interested in him, which would not only take the thorn from the thought that Sondra alone, of all thebetter people of Lycurgus, had been friendly to him, but would sharpen the point of this development for Gilbert,if not for Bella and the other members of the Griffiths family.
And in accordance with this plan, so it was done.
And so it was that Clyde, returning from the factory one early December evening about two weeks after hisencounter with Sondra, was surprised by the sight of a cream-colored note leaning against the mirror of hisdresser. It was addressed in a large, scrawly32 and unfamiliar33 hand. He picked it up and turned it over withoutbeing able in any way to fix upon the source. On the back were the initials B. T. or J. T., he could not decidewhich, so elaborately intertwined was the engraved34 penmanship. He tore it open and drew out a card which read:
The Now and Then Club Will Hold Its First Winter Dinner Dance At the Home of Douglas Trumbull 135Wykeagy Ave On Thursday, December 4 You Are Cordially Invited Will You Kindly35 Reply to Miss JillTrumbull?
On the back of this, though, in the same scrawly hand that graced the envelope was written: "Dear Mr. Griffiths:
Thought you might like to come. It will be quite informal. And I'm sure you'll like it. If so, will you let JillTrumbull know? Sondra Finchley."Quite amazed and thrilled, Clyde stood and stared. For ever since that second contact with her, he had been moredefinitely fascinated than at any time before by the dream that somehow, in some way, he was to be lifted fromthe lowly state in which he now dwelt. He was, as he now saw it, really too good for the Commonplace world bywhich he was environed. And now here was this--a social invitation issued by the "Now and Then Club," ofwhich, even though he had never heard of it, must be something since it was sponsored by such exceptional people. And on the back of it, was there not the writing of Sondra herself? How marvelous, really!
So astonished was he that he could scarcely contain himself for joy, but now on the instant must walk to and fro,looking at himself in the mirror, washing his hands and face, then deciding that his tie was not just right, perhaps,and changing to another-- thinking forward to what he should wear and back upon how Sondra had looked at himon that last occasion. And how she had smiled. At the same time he could not help wondering even at thismoment of what Roberta would think, if now, by some extra optical power of observation she could note hispresent joy in connection with this note. For plainly, and because he was no longer governed by the conventionalnotions of his parents, he had been allowing himself to drift into a position in regard to her which would certainlyspell torture to her in case she should discover the nature of his present mood, a thought which puzzled him not alittle, but did not serve to modify his thoughts in regard to Sondra in the least.
That wonderful girl!
That beauty!
That world of wealth and social position she lived in!
At the same time so innately36 pagan and unconventional were his thoughts in regard to all this that he could nowask himself, and that seriously enough, why should he not be allowed to direct his thoughts toward her and awayfrom Roberta, since at the moment Sondra supplied the keener thought of delight. Roberta could not know aboutthis. She could not see into his mind, could she--become aware of any such extra experience as this unless hetold her. And most assuredly he did not intend to tell her. And what harm, he now asked himself, was there in apoor youth like himself aspiring37 to such heights? Other youths as poor as himself had married girls as rich asSondra.
For in spite of all that had occurred between him and Roberta he had not, as he now clearly recalled, given herhis word that he would marry her except under one condition. And such a condition, especially with theknowledge that he had all too clearly acquired in Kansas City, was not likely to happen as he thought.
And Sondra, now that she had thus suddenly burst upon him again in this way was the same as a fever to hisfancy. This goddess in her shrine38 of gilt39 and tinsel so utterly enticing40 to him, had deigned41 to remember him inthis open and direct way and to suggest that he be invited. And no doubt she, herself, was going to be there, athought which thrilled him beyond measure.
And what would not Gilbert and the Griffiths think if they were to hear of his going to this affair now, as theysurely would? Or meet him later at some other party to which Sondra might invite him? Think of that! Would itirritate or please them? Make them think less or more of him? For, after all, this certainly was not of his doing.
Was he not properly invited by people of their own station here in Lycurgus whom most certainly they werecompelled to respect? And by no device of his, either--sheer accident--the facts concerning which would mostcertainly not reflect on him as pushing. As lacking as he was in some of the finer shades of mentaldiscrimination, a sly and ironic42 pleasure lay in the thought that now Gilbert and the Griffiths might be compelledto countenance43 him whether they would or not--invite him to their home, even. For, if these others did, howcould they avoid it, really? Oh, joy! And that in the face of Gilbert's high contempt for him. He fairly chuckled44 as he thought of it, feeling that however much Gilbert might resent it, neither his uncle nor Myra were likely to, andthat hence he would be fairly safe from any secret desire on the part of Gilbert to revenge himself on him for this.
But how wonderful this invitation! Why that intriguing45 scribble46 of Sondra's unless she was interested in himsome? Why? The thought was so thrilling that Clyde could scarcely eat his dinner that night. He took up the cardand kissed the handwriting. And instead of going to see Roberta as usual, he decided47 as before on firstreencountering her, to walk a bit, then return to his room, and retire early. And on the morrow as before he couldmake some excuse--say that he had been over to the Griffiths' home, or some one of the heads of the factory, inorder to listen to an explanation in regard to something in connection with the work, since there were often suchconferences. For, in the face of this, he did not care to see or talk to Roberta this night. He could not. The otherthought--that of Sondra and her interest in him-- was too enticing.
这次偶然的巧遇，真的意味深长地起了强烈的破坏作用。现在他尽管从罗伯达那里得到了安慰和满足，可是，他在这里究竟能不能达到很高的社会地位，这个令人入迷的问题，又非常具体地摆在他面前了。说来也真怪，这个问题还是跟上流社会里一个姑娘巧遇而引起的;在他看来，她是最能体现和弘扬上流社会本身所包含的全部意义。这个美丽的桑德拉。芬奇利!
她那可爱的脸庞。漂亮的衣服，还有她那快活而又高贵的仪态风度!
要是仅仅在初次见面时就能引起她的注意多好。要不然，哪怕是现在能……也好。
正当桑德拉这样一位姑娘，以她的气质和想象力，以及她所代表的一切吸引他时，现下他跟罗伯达的那种新关系，显然也就无足轻重，微不足道了。试想温布林格。芬奇利电气吸尘器公司，乃是这里最大的制造厂商之一。它那位于莫霍克河畔的高高的围墙和烟囱，直插云霄。再说，芬奇利的住邸，就在威克吉大街上，与格里菲思家毗邻，是那一长溜最新式。最讲究……亦即意大利文艺复兴……建筑风格。奶白色大理石与达切斯县沙石砌成的住宅里头最引人瞩目的一家。而且，芬奇利这一家，又是属于本城人们谈论得最多的人家之一。
啊，要是跟这个十全十美的姑娘有更亲密的交往多好!
要是博得她的欢心，也许就能进入她所隶属于的那个辉煌世界，多好。难道说他不也是格里菲思……外貌上跟吉尔伯特。格里菲思一样漂亮吗?
他要是也有那么多钱……哪怕是只要其中一部分，他岂不是一样地富有吸引力吗?
要是他也象吉尔伯特。格里菲思那样穿着打扮，坐上漂亮的汽车到处兜风，多美!
要是果真这样，当然罗，哪怕是象桑德拉这样的姑娘，包管垂青他……谁知道呢，说不定还会爱上他。简直是《天方夜谭》里的奇迹(原文为"阿拿兹乔尔和一托盘玻璃杯子"，按:
阿拿兹乔尔乃是《天方夜谭》里的一个穷光蛋，整天价想入非非，沉溺于梦幻之中。有一天，他忽然手舞足蹈，竟把他谋生的一托盘玻璃杯子全给打碎了。)啊。可现在呢，他闷闷不乐地在想，他只好盼呀盼，盼呀盼……去它的!
今儿晚上，他不打算上罗伯达那儿去了。他只消胡编一个什么借口……明儿早上对她说，是伯父或是堂兄叫他去办什么事。现在他心里既然这么激动，罗伯达那里他就不想去，也不能去了。
他孜孜以求的财富。姿色与特殊的社会地位，给予他这种有如流水一般浮动不定的性格，就有这么大的影响。
至于桑德拉，她事后回想她跟克莱德的这次巧遇，自己完全被他的魅力所倾倒，特别是因为:
他对她的态度跟他堂兄那种傲慢作风，已形成了鲜明对比。
他的穿着打扮。他的举止谈吐，以及他自己提到在厂内所担任的职务，仿佛是在说明:
他的处境也许比当初她想象的要好些。不过，她也回想到:
尽管整个夏天她都是跟贝拉在一起，不时碰到吉尔伯特。麦拉和他们的父母，可从来没有听他们提到过克莱德一个字。其实，有关他的情况，她所知道的，不外乎是原先格里菲思太太所提供的，说他是他们的穷侄子，是她丈夫把他从西部叫来的，想给他一点帮助。不过，这一回她亲自观察克莱德之后，觉得他好象绝对不是那么微不足道，或是穷困潦倒……而是适得其反，他显得非常有趣，相当漂亮，相当吸引人，而且，她也一眼看出，显然，他恨不得就被象她这样的大家闺秀看中。要知道，他是吉尔伯特的堂弟……同是格里菲思家族里的一员……这也是很有光彩的事。
后来，她来到了特朗布尔家。(这个一家之主是道格拉斯。特朗布尔，是个殷富的律师和鳏夫，在这一带又是一个投机商人。此人得助于他的儿女，以及本人温文尔雅，富有办案才能，因而才能跻身于莱柯格斯上流社会。)她马上就对这位律师两个女儿里头年长的杰尔。特朗布尔说:
"你知不知道，今天我碰上一件怪有趣的事。"说完，就把刚才发生的事原原本本讲给她听。杰尔好象觉得挺有意思，晚饭后，再转述一遍给特朗布尔家的小女儿格特鲁德和独生子特雷西听。
"哦，是啊，"正在他父亲的事务所里熟悉律师业务的特雷西。特朗布尔说，"我敢打赌说，那个家伙我在中央大道上碰到过已有三四次啦。他模样儿长得很象吉尔，是吗?
只不过没有吉尔那样神气活现。今年夏天，我有两三次向他点过头，因为那时我还以为他是吉尔哩。""哦，我也看见过他，"格特鲁德说。"有时，他头戴一顶帽子，身穿一件束腰带的外套，活象吉尔伯特。格里菲思，是吗?
有一次，阿拉贝拉。斯塔克指给我看过。后来，有一次，是在星期六下午，杰尔和我看见他走过斯塔克公司。
依我看，反正他长得要比吉尔漂亮得多。"这无异于肯定了桑德拉对克莱德的想法，于是，她便接下去说:
"今年春天有一个晚上，伯蒂娜。克兰斯顿和我在格里菲思府上见过他。那时候，我们还觉得他这个人太羞羞答答。不过，我希望现在你们再好好看他一眼……他确实漂亮，还有他那温情脉脉的眼眸和微笑。""哦，不过，听我说，桑德拉，"杰尔。特朗布尔大声说。(除了伯蒂娜和贝拉以外，在这里就算她最接近桑德拉，因为在斯内德克学校，她们都是同班同学。)"我知道有一个人要是听到你这么说，心中一定会酸溜溜的。""要知道，吉尔。格里菲思不见得喜欢听人说他堂弟长得比他漂亮?
"特雷西。
特朗布尔附和说。"哦，比方说……""哦，他呀，"桑德拉悻悻然哼了一声。"他以为自己多么了不起。我敢打赌说，就是因为他，格里菲思一家人才不愿意跟他们家堂弟来往。现在，我越是这样想，越是觉得错不了，肯定是这么一回事。贝拉当然是愿意的，因为今年春天我听她说过，她觉得他长得很漂亮。至于麦拉呢，她是从来不得罪人的。
要是我们里头哪一位什么时候把他带来，请他到各位府上作客……当然是偶一为之，对吧……只不过为了闹着玩儿，看看他表现怎么样，那才棒呢。从中也看一看格里菲思一家人态度怎么样。我敢说格里菲思先生。麦拉。贝拉是不会说什么的，可是吉尔准恼火。我自己嘛不便出面，因为我跟贝拉太熟了，但我知道有一个人准可以办到……"这时，她沉吟不语，心里却想到了伯蒂娜。克兰斯顿，也知道她不太喜欢吉尔和格里菲思太太。"我心里纳闷，他到底会不会跳舞。遛马。打网球这一类玩意儿。"说到这里，她停住了，津津有味地陷入沉思之中，而周围的人却在仔细打量着她。杰尔。特朗布尔这个姑娘，虽说跟她一样闲不住，急性子，但是长得远没有她那么漂亮，那么光彩照人，这时却开口说:
"这不是存心恶作剧吗?
依你看，果真不会引起格里菲思一家人反感吗?
""他们反感，那又怎么啦?
"桑德拉接下去说。"除了不睬他以外，他们还能怎么样，是不是?
再说，有谁在乎，我倒是很想知道。邀请他的那些人肯定不会。""你们各位都怎么啦，真的想闹得满城风雨是不是?
"特雷西。特朗布尔插嘴说。"我敢说，最后就是这样告终。老实跟你们说，吉尔。格里菲思决不会高兴的。我要是他，也决不会高兴的。你们要是存心鼓捣什么玩意儿，那就请便吧，不过，我敢打赌说，你们就等着瞧后果。"桑德拉。芬奇利天性使然，特别喜欢这一类奇思异想。不过，当时她虽然觉得挺有趣，要不是因为在这次谈话以后，她又跟伯蒂娜。克兰斯顿。杰尔。
特朗布尔。帕特里夏。安东尼。阿拉贝拉。斯塔克提到此事，本来也不见得就会见诸行动。但后来不知怎的，这次晤面的消息，以及对吉尔伯特。格里菲思的议论，终于传到了他耳朵里(不过只是通过康斯坦斯。威南特才传到他耳朵里)，城里谣传说他就要订婚了。原来康斯坦斯希望日后准跟她结婚，现在听说桑德拉对克莱德很感兴趣，并且觉得桑德拉毫无理由地扬言说，克莱德比吉尔伯特还漂亮，因此就很生气。于是，为了自己出气，同时也为了尽可能设法向桑德拉进行报复，康斯坦斯便把这事向吉尔伯特和盘托出。吉尔伯特也马上就克莱德和桑德拉说了一些尖刻的话。他的这些话，再加上康斯坦斯一渲染，后来又传到了桑德拉耳朵里，果真达到了康斯坦斯预期效果。这便迫使桑德拉恨不得向吉尔伯特进行报复。反正只要她高兴，她当然可以向克莱德表示好感，而且还可以促使别人向他表示好感，这也许就意味着，吉尔伯特将在上流社会交际界遇到类似劲敌的一个人，而且这个人正是……他的那个虽然穷但也许比他更加招人喜欢的堂兄弟。这可多么有趣啊!
这时，她心里忽生一计，不妨将克莱德引入本城上流社会，而且还得让人看不出自己插手其间。结果要是跟她预期相反，反正对她本人也不见得会有多大坏处。
因为莱柯格斯一些比较时髦的人家，都将自己子女送往斯内德克学校读书。
这些子女有一个没有实体。只是偶尔在一起聚餐。跳跳舞的组织，名曰"不定期俱乐部"。这个俱乐部没有一定的组织。办事人员或会址。不拘是什么人，只要他的阶级出身。社会关系合格，本人自愿加入，都可以邀请别的会员们到自己家里聚会。吃饭。跳舞，或是喝茶。
桑德拉心里琢磨怎样才能找到一个合适方式，好把克莱德引见给大家，她想要是鼓捣俱乐部里某某人(但不是她自己)发起，再由她附议，把克莱德也请来，该有多方便。比方说，由杰尔。特朗布尔发起一次聚餐舞会，招待"不定期俱乐部"成员，克莱德也就可以邀请来了，岂不很方便。借此机会，她就可以跟他再次见面，看看他究竟喜爱她到何种程度，他这个人究竟又是什么样的。
于是，十二月头一个星期四便定为这个俱乐部及其朋友们小型聚餐日，杰尔。特朗布尔为女东道主。被邀请的有:
桑德拉。她弟弟斯图尔特。特雷西。特朗布尔。格特鲁德。特朗布尔。阿拉贝拉。斯塔克。伯蒂娜和她的弟弟，以及来自尤蒂卡和格洛弗斯维尔等地的人。此外还有克莱德。不过，为了不让克莱德有闪失，或招人非议，事前她们说好，不仅桑德拉，而且还有伯蒂娜。杰尔。
格特鲁德，都要对他殷勤招待，照顾周到。她们务必要使克莱德跳舞时每次都有伴儿，而且，不管是进晚餐也好，还是跳舞也好，决不让他孤零零一个人，而是很有技巧地挨个儿轮流款待他，直至晚会结束为止。经过这样安排，其他人就可能对他感到兴趣。这样，外界不但不会流言蜚语，说莱柯格斯上流社会里只有桑德拉一人对他相敬如宾，而且还能使吉尔伯特……如果先不说贝拉和格里菲思家里其他人……心里加倍难受。
于是，这事便按计划进行了。
十二月初一个傍晚……即在他跟桑德拉不期而遇过了约莫两个礼拜……克莱德从厂里回来，一看见他柜子上靠着镜子竖着一个乳白色信封，心里大吃一惊。字迹很粗，很潦草，是陌生人写的。他拿了起来，翻过来看看，还是闹不明白是从哪儿寄来的。背面是Ｂ．Ｔ．或Ｊ．Ｔ．的缩写字体……他还是看不清楚:
因为这些花体字母如此令人费解地缠在一起。他撕开信封，抽出来一份请柬，全文如下:
兹定于十二月四日(星期四)不定期俱乐部假座威克吉大街１３５号道格拉斯。特朗布尔寓所举行首次冬季聚餐舞会恭请光临，并祈赐复杰尔。特朗布尔小姐背后字迹，如同信封上一样乱涂，写道:
亲爱的格里菲思先生:
我想也许您会来的。这儿一切都不拘形式的。相信您一定喜欢。如同意，请告知杰尔。特朗布尔!
桑德拉。芬奇利克莱德简直惊喜交集，伫立在那里看信。因为，他第二次跟她见面以后，比过去更加想入非非，梦想将来总有办法摆脱目前自己卑微的地位，跻身于上流社会。是的，眼前这种碌碌无为的环境，依他看，是跟他这个人极不相称的。
如今果然时运来了……"不定期俱乐部"发来了请柬，这个俱乐部尽管他以前从没有听说过，但肯定是有来头的，因为入会的都是这些了不起的人物。而且，在请柬背后，不就是桑德拉的手迹吗?
实在太妙了!
他是那样大吃一惊，委实掩饰不住自己心里的高兴劲儿，马上就在房间里踱来踱去，一会儿对着镜子左顾右盼，一会儿洗手又洗脸，一会儿觉得领带也许不太合意，换上一条……继而想到这次他应该穿什么样的衣服，一会儿又回想起上次桑德拉怎样望着他的一颦一笑。同时，即便在眼前这个时刻，他心里还不禁纳闷，要是罗伯达有特别的视觉能力，目睹他一看到这份请柬就乐成这副样儿，又会作何感想呢。当然罗，因为现在他再也不受他父母的传统观念的束缚，所以对待她的态度也就变化了，她要是知道他现在这种想法，心里肯定非常痛苦。尽管他想到这里，连自己都困惑不解，但怎么也改变不了他对桑德拉的万种思绪。
那个多了不起的姑娘!
那个美人儿!
还有她置身于其中的那个有钱有势的上流社会啊!
他对这一切的想法，都是与生俱有的异端邪说，跟传统格格不入，因此竟然一本正经地反射自问道:
既然一想起桑德拉就能使他心中获得更大快感，那他为什么不能将自己一腔情思从罗伯达转移到桑德拉身上呢。谅想罗伯达也不会知道。她怎么都看不透他的心思。她不会知道这种意外变故，除非他自己告诉她。当然罗，他压根儿不想告诉她。他又反躬自问:
象他这么一个穷小子，一心想往上爬，有什么不好呢?
不是也有跟他一样的穷小子，照样跟桑德拉那样有钱的小姐结婚吗?
尽管他跟罗伯达之间发生了这么多的事情，至今他仍记忆犹新，他从没有说过要娶她，他要娶她，恐怕只是在某种情况之下。可是这种情况，他心里想，特别是因为他在堪萨斯城早已学到了乖巧，现在也就不见得会发生了。
如今桑德拉突然再出现在他面前，却又激活了他那狂热的幻想。这一尊金光闪闪的女神，原是完全使他心旌动摇，此刻却降尊纡贵，以公开直接的方式念叨他，建议把他也请来。毫无疑问，她本人也将到场。他一想到这里，简直就乐不可支了。
既然吉尔伯特和格里菲思一家人肯定会听说他这次赴会的事，那他们又会作何感想呢?
他们要是在桑德拉邀他去别处赴会时碰见他，又会作何感想呢?
哦，只要想一想!
那会使他们恼火呢，还是高兴?
使他们觉得他更好呢，还是更坏?
归根到底，这事当然跟他完全无关。正式邀请他的，正是在莱柯格斯身份地位跟格里菲思一家人相同的人(对于他们，格里菲思一家人显然也不能不表示尊敬)，可不是吗?
而且，那不是由于他耍了花招，而是一切纯属偶然，这些事实当然不能说明他是强求得到的。至于人际关系的细微差异，固然他历来不善于识别，但此刻他心里带点儿挖苦地暗自喜悦:
现在吉尔伯特与格里菲思一家人，不管愿意不愿意，可能不得不看重他了……甚至说不定请他到他们府上作客去。事实上，只要别人邀请了他，他们作为亲戚，怎能把他赶走呢?
哦，这真让人高兴!
而且，也不管吉尔伯特对他是多么瞧不起。他一想到这里，差点儿格格大笑。
他觉得尽管吉尔伯特会有反感，可他伯父与麦拉未必会不高兴吧。因此，他也没有什么可害怕的，即使吉尔伯特暗中为此向他进行报复。
这次邀请该有多妙啊!
桑德拉要不是对他感到有一点儿兴趣，干吗还给他偷偷地乱写一通呢?
为了什么呢?
这个想法使他如此激动不已，连当天晚饭差点儿都没吃好。他拿起请柬，亲吻着桑德拉那些字迹。可他并没有象往日里那样上罗伯达那儿去。他决定要象头一次同她重逢前一样，只是先去溜达一会儿，然后回到自己房间，早点睡觉。明天一早，他照例找个借口……说他上格里菲思家或是厂里某某负责人家去，听取有关工作的汇报，反正这类会议倒是常有的。
因此，今儿晚上他压根儿不想去看罗伯达或是跟她聊聊天了。这些他可办不到。
可是继而一想到桑德拉以及她对他感到兴趣……委实也太诱人了。
收听单词发音 |
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demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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peeved
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| adj.恼怒的，不高兴的v.（使）气恼，（使）焦躁，（使）愤怒( peeve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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prospectively
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| adv.预期； 前瞻性； 潜在； 可能 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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browsing
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| 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 | |
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ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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scrawly
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| 潦草地写 | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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innately
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| adv.天赋地；内在地，固有地 | |
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aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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enticing
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| adj.迷人的；诱人的 | |
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deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ironic
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| adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intriguing
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| adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心 | |
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scribble
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| v.潦草地书写，乱写，滥写；n.潦草的写法，潦草写成的东西，杂文 | |
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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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