But in the interim1, in connection with his relations with Roberta no least reference to Sondra, although, evenwhen near her in the factory or her room, he could not keep his thoughts from wandering away to where Sondrain her imaginary high social world might be. The while Roberta, at moments only sensing a drift and remotenessin his thought and attitude which had nothing to do with her, was wondering what it was that of late wasbeginning to occupy him so completely. And he, in his turn, when she was not looking was thinking-supposing?--supposing--(since she had troubled to recall herself to him), that he could interest a girl like Sondrain him? What then of Roberta? What? And in the face of this intimate relation that had now been establishedbetween them? (Goodness! The deuce!) And that he did care for her (yes, he did), although now--basking in thedirect rays of this newer luminary--he could scarcely see Roberta any longer, so strong were the actinic rays ofthis other. Was he all wrong? Was it evil to be like this? His mother would say so! And his father too--andperhaps everybody who thought right about life--Sondra Finchley, maybe--the Griffiths-- all.
And yet! And yet! It was snowing the first light snow of the year as Clyde, arrayed in a new collapsible silk hatand white silk muffler, both suggested by a friendly haberdasher--Orrin Short, with whom recently he had comein contact here--and a new silk umbrella wherewith to protect himself from the snow, made his way toward thevery interesting, if not so very imposing2 residence of the Trumbulls on Wykeagy Avenue. It was quaint3, low andrambling, and the lights beaming from within upon the many drawn4 blinds gave it a Christmas-card effect. Andbefore it, even at the prompt hour at which he arrived, were ranged a half dozen handsome cars of various buildsand colors. The sight of them, sprinkled on tops, running boards and fenders with the fresh, flaky snow, gave hima keen sense of a deficiency that was not likely soon to be remedied in his case--the want of ample meanswherewith to equip himself with such a necessity as that. And inside as he approached the door he could hearvoices, laughter and conversation commingled5.
A tall, thin servant relieved him of his hat, coat and umbrella and he found himself face to face with JillTrumbull, who apparently6 was on the look-out for him--a smooth, curly-haired blonde girl, not too thrillinglypretty, but brisk and smart, in white satin with arms and shoulders bare and rhinestones7 banded around herforehead.
"No trouble to tell who you are," she said gayly, approaching and giving Clyde her hand. "I'm Jill Trumbull.
Miss Finchley hasn't come yet. But I can do the honors just as well, I guess. Come right in where the rest of usare."She led the way into a series of connecting rooms that seemed to join each other at right angles, adding as shewent, "You do look an awful lot like Gil Griffiths, don't you?""Do I?" smiled Clyde simply and courageously8 and very much flattered by the comparison.
The ceilings were low. Pretty lamps behind painted shades hugged dark walls. Open fires in two connectingrooms cast a rosy9 glow upon cushioned and comfortable furniture. There were pictures, books, objects of art.
"Here, Tracy, you do the announcing, will you?" she called. "My brother, Tracy Trumbull, Mr. Griffiths. Mr.
Clyde Griffiths, everybody," she added, surveying the company in general which in turn fixed10 varying eyes uponhim, while Tracy Trumbull took him by the hand. Clyde, suffering from a sense of being studied, neverthelessachieved a warm smile. At the same time he realized that for the moment at least conversation had stopped.
"Don't all stop talking on my account," he ventured, with a smile, which caused most of those present to conceiveof him as at his ease and resourceful. At the same time Tracy added: "I'm not going to do any man-to-manintroduction stuff. We'll stand right here and point 'em out. That's my sister, Gertrude, over there talking to ScottNicholson." Clyde noted11 that a small, dark girl dressed in pink with a pretty and yet saucy12 and piquant13 face,nodded to him. And beside her a very de rigueur youth of fine physique and pink complexion14 nodded jerkily.
"Howja do." And a few feet from them near a deep window stood a tall and yet graceful15 girl of dark and by nomeans ravishing features talking to a broad-shouldered and deep-chested youth of less than her height, who wereproclaimed to be Arabella Stark16 and Frank Harriet. "They're arguing over a recent Cornell-Syracuse foot-ballgame . . . Burchard Taylor and Miss Phant of Utica," he went on almost too swiftly for Clyde to assemble anymental notes. "Perley Haynes and Miss Vanda Steele . . . well, I guess that's all as yet. Oh, no, here come Grantand Nina Temple." Clyde paused and gazed as a tall and somewhat dandified-looking youth, sharp of face andwith murky-gray eyes, steered17 a trim, young, plump girl in fawn19 gray and with a light chestnut20 braid of hair laidcarefully above her forehead, into the middle of the room.
"Hello, Jill. Hello, Vanda. Hello, Wynette." In the midst of these greetings on his part, Clyde was presented tothese two, neither of whom seemed to pay much attention to him. "Didn't think we'd make it," went on youngCranston speaking to all at once. "Nina didn't want to come, but I promised Bertine and Jill or I wouldn't have,either. We were up at the Bagleys'. Guess who's up there, Scott. Van Peterson and Rhoda Hull21. They're just overfor the day.""You don't say," called Scott Nicholson, a determined22 and self-centered looking individual. Clyde was arrestedby the very definite sense of social security and ease that seemed to reside in everybody. "Why didn't you bring'em along? I'd like to see Rhoda again and Van, too.""Couldn't. They have to go back early, they say. They may stop in later for a minute. Gee23, isn't dinner served yet?
I expected to sit right down.""These lawyers! Don't you know they don't eat often?" commented Frank Harriet, who was a short, but broad chested and smiling youth, very agreeable, very good-looking and with even, white teeth. Clyde liked him.
"Well, whether they do or not, we do, or out I go. Did you hear who is being touted24 for stroke next year over atCornell?" This college chatter25 relating to Cornell and shared by Harriet, Cranston and others, Clyde could notunderstand. He had scarcely heard of the various colleges with which this group was all too familiar. At the sametime he was wise enough to sense the defect and steer18 clear of any questions or conversations which might relateto them. However, because of this, he at once felt out of it. These people were better informed than he was--hadbeen to colleges. Perhaps he had better claim that he had been to some school. In Kansas City he had heard of theState University of Kansas--not so very far from there. Also the University of Missouri. And in Chicago of theUniversity of Chicago. Could he say that he had been to one of those--that Kansas one, for a little while,anyway? On the instant he proposed to claim it, if asked, and then look up afterwards what, if anything, he wassupposed to know about it--what, for instance, he might have studied. He had heard of mathematics somewhere.
Why not that?
But these people, as he could see, were too much interested in themselves to pay much attention to him now. Hemight be a Griffiths and important to some outside, but here not so much--a matter of course, as it were. Andbecause Tracy Trumbull for the moment had turned to say something to Wynette Phant, he felt quite alone,beached and helpless and with no one to talk to. But just then the small, dark girl, Gertrude, came over to him.
"The crowd's a little late in getting together. It always is. If we said eight, they'd come at eight-thirty or nine. Isn'tthat always the way?""It certainly is," replied Clyde gratefully, endeavoring to appear as brisk and as much at ease as possible.
"I'm Gertrude Trumbull," she repeated. "The sister of the good-looking Jill," a cynical26 and yet amused smileplayed about her mouth and eyes. "You nodded to me, but you don't know me. Just the same we've been hearinga lot about you." She teased in an attempt to trouble Clyde a little, if possible. "A mysterious Griffiths here inLycurgus whom no one seems to have met. I saw you once in Central Avenue, though. You were going intoRich's candy store. You didn't know that, though. Do you like candy?""Oh, yes, I like candy. Why?" asked Clyde on the instant feeling teased and disturbed, since the girl for whom hewas buying the candy was Roberta. At the same time he could not help feeling slightly more at ease with this girlthan with some others, for although cynical and not so attractive, her manner was genial27 and she now spelledescape from isolation28 and hence diffidence.
"You're probably just saying that," she laughed, a bantering29 look in her eyes. "More likely you were buying it forsome girl. You have a girl, haven't you?""Why--" Clyde paused for the fraction of a second because as she asked this Roberta came into his mind and thequery, "Had any one ever seen him with Roberta?" flitted through his brain. Also thinking at the same time, whata bold, teasing, intelligent girl this was, different from any that thus far he had known. Yet quite without morepause he added: "No, I haven't. What makes you ask that?"As he said this there came to him the thought of what Roberta would think if she could hear him. "But what a question," he continued a little nervously30 now. "You like to tease, don't you?""Who, me? Oh, no. I wouldn't do anything like that. But I'm sure you have just the same. I like to ask questionssometimes, just to see what people will say when they don't want you to know what they really think." Shebeamed into Clyde's eyes amusedly and defiantly31. "But I know you have a girl just the same. All good-lookingfellows have.""Oh, am I good-looking?" he beamed nervously, amused and yet pleased. "Who said so?""As though you didn't know. Well, different people. I for one. And Sondra Finchley thinks you're good-looking,too. She's only interested in men who are. So does my sister Jill, for that matter. And she only likes men who aregood-looking. I'm different because I'm not so good-looking myself." She blinked cynically32 and teasingly intohis eyes, which caused him to feel oddly out of place, not able to cope with such a girl at all, at the same timevery much flattered and amused. "But don't you think you're better looking than your cousin," she went onsharply and even commandingly. "Some people think you are."Although a little staggered and yet flattered by this question which propounded33 what he might have liked tobelieve, and although intrigued34 by this girl's interest in him, still Clyde would not have dreamed of venturing anysuch assertion even though he had believed it. Too vividly35 it brought the aggressive and determined and even attimes revengeful-looking features of Gilbert before him, who, stirred by such a report as this, would not hesitateto pay him out.
"Why, I don't think anything of the kind," he laughed. "Honest, I don't. Of course I don't.""Oh, well, then maybe you don't, but you are just the same. But that won't help you much either, unless you havemoney--that is, if you want to run with people who have." She looked up at him and added quite blandly36. "Peoplelike money even more than they do looks."What a sharp girl this was, he thought, and what a hard, cold statement. It cut him not a little, even though shehad not intended that it should.
But just then Sondra herself entered with some youth whom Clyde did not know--a tall, gangling37, but verysmartly-dressed individual. And after them, along with others, Bertine and Stuart Finchley.
"Here she is now," added Gertrude a little spitefully, for she resented the fact that Sondra was so much better-looking than either she or her sister, and that she had expressed an interest in Clyde. "She'll be looking to see ifyou notice how pretty she looks, so don't disappoint her."The impact of this remark, a reflection of the exact truth, was not necessary to cause Clyde to gaze attentively,and even eagerly. For apart from her local position and means and taste in dress and manners, Sondra was of theexact order and spirit that most intrigued him--a somewhat refined (and because of means and position showeredupon her) less savage38, although scarcely less self-centered, Hortense Briggs. She was, in her small, intense way,a seeking Aphrodite, eager to prove to any who were sufficiently39 attractive the destroying power of her charm,while at the same time retaining her own personality and individuality free of any entangling40 alliance or compromise. However, for varying reasons which she could not quite explain to herself, Clyde appealed to her.
He might not be anything socially or financially, but he was interesting to her.
Hence she was now keen, first to see if he were present, next to be sure that he gained no hint that she had seenhim first, and lastly to act as grandly as possible for his benefit--a Hortensian procedure and type of thought thatwas exactly the thing best calculated to impress him. He gazed and there she was--tripping here and there in afilmy chiffon dance frock, shaded from palest yellow to deepest orange, which most enhanced her dark eyes andhair. And having exchanged a dozen or more "Oh, Hellos," and references with one and another to this, that andthe other local event, she at last condescended41 to evince awareness42 of his proximity43.
"Oh, here you are. You decided44 to come after all. I wasn't sure whether you would think it worth while. You'vebeen introduced to everybody, of course?" She looked around as much as to say, that if he had not been shewould proceed to serve him in this way. The others, not so very much impressed by Clyde, were still not a littleinterested by the fact that she seemed so interested in him.
"Yes, I met nearly everybody, I think.""Except Freddie Sells. He came in with me just now. Here you are, Freddie," she called to a tall and slenderyouth, smooth of cheek and obviously becurled as to hair, who now came over and in his closely-fitting dresscoat looked down on Clyde about as a spring rooster might look down on a sparrow.
"This is Clyde Griffiths, I was telling you about, Fred," she began briskly. "Doesn't he look a lot like Gilbert?""Why, you do at that," exclaimed this amiable45 person, who seemed to be slightly troubled with weak eyes sincehe bent46 close. "I hear you're a cousin of Gil's. I know him well. We went through Princeton together. I used to beover here before I joined the General Electric over at Schenectady. But I'm around a good bit yet. You'reconnected with the factory, I suppose.""Yes, I am," said Clyde, who, before a youth of obviously so much more training and schooling47 than hepossessed, felt not a little reduced. He began to fear that this individual would try to talk to him about thingswhich he could not understand, things concerning which, having had no consecutive48 training of any kind, he hadnever been technically49 informed.
"In charge of some department, I suppose?""Yes, I am," said Clyde, cautiously and nervously.
"You know," went on Mr. Sells, briskly and interestingly, being of a commercial as well as technical turn, "I'vealways wondered just what, outside of money, there is to the collar business. Gil and I used to argue about thatwhen we were down at college. He used to try to tell me that there was some social importance to making anddistributing collars, giving polish and manner to people who wouldn't otherwise have them, if it weren't forcheap collars. I think he musta read that in a book somewhere. I always laughed at him."Clyde was about to attempt an answer, although already beyond his depth in regard to this. "Social importance."Just what did he mean by that--some deep, scientific information that he had acquired at college. He was saved anon-committal or totally uninformed answer by Sondra who, without thought or knowledge of the difficultywhich was then and there before him, exclaimed: "Oh, no arguments, Freddie. That's not interesting. Besides Iwant him to meet my brother and Bertine. You remember Miss Cranston. She was with me at your uncle's lastspring."Clyde turned, while Fred made the best of the rebuff by merely looking at Sondra, whom he admired so verymuch.
"Yes, of course," Clyde began, for he had been studying these two along with others. To him, apart from Sondra,Bertine seemed exceedingly attractive, though quite beyond his understanding also. Being involved, insincereand sly, she merely evoked50 in him a troubled sense of ineffectiveness, and hence uncertainty51, in so far as herparticular world was concerned--no more.
"Oh, how do you do? It's nice to see you again," she drawled, the while her greenish-gray eyes went over him ina smiling and yet indifferent and quizzical way. She thought him attractive, but not nearly as shrewd and hard asshe would have preferred him to be. "You've been terribly busy with your work, I suppose. But now that you'vecome out once, I suppose we'll see more of you here and there.""Well, I hope so," he replied, showing his even teeth.
Her eyes seemed to be saying that she did not believe what she was saying and that he did not either, but that itwas necessary, possibly amusing, to say something of the sort.
And a related, though somewhat modified, version of this same type of treatment was accorded him by Stuart,Sondra's brother.
"Oh, how do you do. Glad to know you. My sister has just been telling me about you. Going to stay in Lycurguslong? Hope you do. We'll run into one another once in a while then, I suppose."Clyde was by no means so sure, but he admired the easy, shallow way in which Stuart laughed and showed hiseven white teeth--a quick, genial, indifferent laugh. Also the way in which he turned and laid hold of WynettePhant's white arm as she passed. "Wait a minute, Wyn. I want to ask you something." He was gone--into anotherroom--bending close to her and talking fast. And Clyde had noticed that his clothes were perfectly52 cut.
What a gay world, he thought. What a brisk world. And just then Jill Trumbull began calling, "Come on, people.
It's not my fault. The cook's mad about something and you're all late anyhow. We'll get it over with and thendance, eh?""You can sit between me and Miss Trumbull when she gets the rest of us seated," assured Sondra. "Won't that benice? And now you may take me in."She slipped a white arm under Clyde's and he felt as though he were slowly but surely being transported toparadise.
不过，在这过渡时期，他对罗伯达只字不提桑德拉，虽然哪怕是在厂里或是在她房间里，紧挨着她身旁的时候，他心中禁不住会想到桑德拉此刻也许又在跟上流社会人士如何应酬交际。罗伯达有时也感到他的思想和态度有些飘忽。
冷淡，好象一下子把她完全忘掉似的，于是，她就暗自纳闷，真不知道最近他为什么如此心事重重。可他呢，每当罗伯达不在看他的时候，心里就不断琢磨……假定说……假定说……(反正是桑德拉煞费苦心，让他不时回想起她来的)……假定说他真的使象桑德拉这么一个姑娘对他感到兴趣呢?
那时对罗伯达该怎么办?
怎么办?
要知道现在他们俩已是这样亲密无间呢!
(天哪!
真该死!
)说到罗伯达，他是喜欢她的(是的，他是很喜欢她的)，可现在，沐浴在这颗崭新的星辰的直接照耀之下，由于它的光化射线是如此强烈，他几乎再也看不见罗伯达了。难道说是他全错了吗?
这样做就会造孽了吗?
他母亲准定这么说的!
还有他父亲也会这么说的……也许每一个有正确的人生观的人都会这么说的……说不定包括桑德拉。芬奇利……也许还有格里菲思一家人……以及所有一切的人，全都会这么说的。
殊不知这年第一次下着一点小雪，克莱德戴着一顶新圆筒礼帽和一条洁白的丝围脖(这些都是他新结识的。一个名叫奥林。肖特的杂货店老板撺掇他买的，此人对他颇有好感)，手里还撑起一把新绸伞挡雪，径直朝着威克吉大街上特朗布尔家那幢虽然算不上很神气，可还是很有味儿的寓所走去。这幢房子怪矮的，布局又很凌乱，内部灯光照在拉下来的一块块窗帘上，仿佛就象圣诞卡似的。
即使他准时来到，此刻门前早已停了五六辆各种牌子。各种颜色的漂亮小汽车，纷纷扬扬的一片片雪花，都飘落到车顶上。脚踏板上。挡泥板上。他一看见这些汽车，就深感自己财力不足，而且看来一时恐怕还无法加以弥补……他毕竟没有足够的钱去置备类似小汽车这种必需品。他一走近门口，就听见里头一片说话声。欢笑声。
一个身材瘦长的仆人，把他的帽子。外套和绸伞接过去了。克莱德劈面就见到了显然在引颈等候他的杰尔。特朗布尔……她是一个温柔的。长着鬈曲的金发的碧眼姑娘，说不上美得令人黯然销魂，但是活泼。漂亮，穿一身白缎子连衣裙，袒裸着胳臂和肩膀，她前额上还用丝带束着一颗假钻石。
"不必自我介绍了吧，"她走过来跟克莱德握手时，高兴地说。"我叫杰尔。
特朗布尔。芬奇利小姐还没有到。不过，我想，反正我和她一样，也可以做东道主吧。里边请，大家几乎都在里头。"她领着他走过好几个似乎互成直角。连在一起的房间，一面走，一面找补着说:
"你长得活象吉尔。格里菲思，是吧?
""是真的吗?
"克莱德只是淡淡地一笑。这一对比，让他心里觉得怪美滋滋的。
这儿天花板很低。一盏盏漂亮的灯，透过彩绘灯罩将柔和的灯光投射到幽暗的墙壁上。两个连在一起的房间里，壁炉火苗正旺，给配有垫子的舒适的家具蒙上了一层攻瑰色的反光。房间里有画。有书，还有精美的小摆设。
"喂，特雷西，你先通报一声客人已到，好吗?
"她大声喊道。"我的兄弟，特雷西。特朗布尔，格里菲思先生。喂，各位来宾，这就是格里菲思先生，"她找补着说，举目环顾四周所有的人，他们也以不同的眼光直盯着他，这时特雷西。
特朗布尔正握住他的手。克莱德觉察到众人都在打量着他，不免有些别扭，但还得热情地报以一笑。与此同时，他发觉他们至少暂时中断了谈话。"请不要因为我，各位就中断了谈话，"他大胆地笑着说，让所有在场的人几乎都觉得他很是从容自若和随机应变。特雷西接下去说:
"我不给你挨个儿介绍了。我们都站在这儿，指给你看就得了。那边跟斯科特。尼科尔森说话的，就是我妹妹格特鲁德。"克莱德看到一个身材矮小。肌肤黝黑的姑娘，身穿纷红色套裙，长着一张漂亮。莽撞。够泼辣的脸蛋儿，正在向他点头。紧挨在她身旁的，是一个很有分寸的年轻人，身体结实，两颊透红，一个劲儿向克莱德点头。"你好。"离他们一两英尺，有一个深深的窗龛，旁边站着一位细高挑儿。举止娴雅的姑娘，长着一张黝黑而并不怎么太迷人的脸蛋儿，正在跟一位个子比她矮，但是肩膀宽阔。胸脯厚实的年轻人谈天。有人告诉克莱德，他们就是阿拉贝拉。斯塔克和弗兰克。哈里特。"他们正在就最近康奈尔。锡拉丘兹两大学这场足球赛抬杠呢……伯查德。泰勒和来自尤蒂卡的范特小姐。"他继续说道，说得简直太快，克莱德几乎什么都记不住。"珀利。海恩斯。范达。斯蒂尔小姐……得了，我看也都全了。哦，不，还有格兰特和尼娜。坦普尔这会儿刚到。"克莱德迟疑了一下，定神一看，只见一个身材高大。打扮得有点儿象纨子弟的年轻人，削尖的脸儿，灰溜溜的眼睛，挽着一位穿着齐整。体态丰盈的年轻姑娘(她身穿淡黄褐色衣服，额前经心在意地垂下一绺淡栗色的头发)，一块儿走到房间中央。
"你好，杰尔。你好，范达。你好，威南特，"他一面打招呼，一面向克莱德介绍这两位，可他们对克莱德好象都不怎么特别注意。"本来没想过我们也来得了，"年轻的克兰斯顿马上继续向大家说着。"尼娜不想来，可我答应过伯蒂娜和杰尔，要不然我也不来了。刚才我们到过巴格利家里。斯科特，你猜是谁在那里呀。范。彼得森和罗达。赫尔。他们总共只待了一天。""是真的吗?
"斯科特。尼科尔森大声说道，从他的外貌，一望可知，是一个意志坚决。颇有主见的人。这里人人身上显然都有一种无忧无虑的优越感，使克莱德大吃一惊。斯科特说:
"为什么你不把他们一块儿带来。我很想再见到罗达，还有范。""我可办不到。他们说还得早点回去。也许以后他们会上这儿待一会儿。哦，晚饭还没有开吗?
我可巴望一坐下来就吃晚饭。""这些律师啊!
难道说你不知道有时候他们根本吃不上饭的，"弗兰克。哈里特立时加以说明。他是一个身材矮小，可是胸脯很宽。笑容可掬的年轻人，显得很和蔼。很漂亮，而且还长着一口雪白。匀称的牙齿。克莱德挺喜欢他。
"得了，不管他们吃不吃，我们是要吃的，要不我就走了。你们听说过，有人正在秘密打听明年康奈尔划船比赛谁当指挥吗?
"有关康奈尔这种大学里常常絮絮不休的话题，哈里特。克兰斯顿等人都参加了，可是克莱德压根儿听不懂。
许许多多大学，对这拨年轻人来说，都是非常熟悉，可他几乎还很少听见过。
不过，他毕竟还有自知之明，深知自己这一缺点，凡是涉及有关大学的任何问题或是话题，他都尽量回避。但也正因为这一点，他顿时感到自己在这儿确实格格不入。这些年轻人知道得比他要多，而且都上过大学。本来最好他也来讲一讲自己进过哪一个学校呢。在堪萨斯城，他听说过堪萨斯州立大学……离城不很远。还有密苏里大学。在芝加哥，他还听说过芝加哥大学。他能不能说说自己进过其中的哪一所大学……比如说，堪萨斯州立大学，哪怕是就读时间很短，怎么样?
他转念一想，万一有人问起，他干脆这么说就得了。但接下去，怎么办呢?
要是有人突然问他，比方说，问他在那儿学过什么。反正他不知从哪儿听到过数学这个词儿，干吗不就说这一个呢?
幸好他一下子发觉，这些年轻人只是对他们自己太感兴趣了，因此对克莱德并不怎么理会。也许他作为格里菲思家族的一员，在外界某些人看来，说不定很有分量，可是在这儿，就算不上什么了……这看来也是理所当然的。这时正好特雷西。特朗布尔回过头去，跟威南特。范特说几句话，克莱德就觉得很孤零零的，好象被人抛弃了，露出无可奈何的神态，找不到人可以说话了。可是就在这当儿，那个身材矮小。肌肤黝黑的姑娘格特鲁德走到了他身旁。
"这拨人都是有点儿姗姗来迟。总是这样。要是说定八点，他们照例要八点半或是九点才到。还不总是老样子吗?
""是啊，那当然，"克莱德很感激地回答说，尽量显得活泼而一点儿也不拘束。
"我叫格特鲁德。特朗布尔，"她又作自我介绍说。"是漂亮的杰尔的妹妹。"一种讥讽而又逗人的微笑，从她的嘴边。眼里掠过。"你跟我点过头，可你并不认识我。不管怎么说，反正我们听人说起过你许多事情，"她故意嘲弄说，想要让克莱德露出一点儿窘态来。"莱柯格斯那儿出了一个神秘的格里菲思，此人仿佛谁都也没见过。不过，有一回，我在中央大道见过你。那时你正走进里奇糖果店。自然啦，你并不知道。你喜欢吃糖果吗?
""哦，是啊，我喜欢吃糖果。哦，怎么啦?
"克莱德问，他一下子发觉受人嘲弄而感到有点儿尴尬，因为他是给女朋友买糖果的，而这位女朋友就是罗伯达。
同时，他又不禁感到，倘若跟别人相比，跟这个姑娘在一起要来得稍微自然一些，尽管她喜欢嘲弄人，长得也并不很吸引人，可她的举止态度，却是乐乐呵呵，如今毕竟是她使他摆脱了孤单冷落的困境。
"也许你只是随便这么说说罢了，"她莞尔一笑说，眼里露出挑逗的神色。"多半是给哪一位姑娘买的吧。你有个女朋友，可不是吗?
""嗯……"克莱德沉吟了一会儿，因为她一问到这里时，他心里顿时想起了罗伯达，脑海里同时闪过了一个问号:
"莫不是有人见过他跟罗伯达在一起?
"但他同时又觉得眼前这个姑娘好泼辣，爱逗弄人，也挺聪明，跟他过去认识的哪一个姑娘都大不一样。不过，他迟疑并没有多久，就找补着说:
"不，我可没有。干吗你问这个问题?
"他嘴里说这句话，心里却在嘀咕:
罗伯达要是听见了，又会有怎么个想法。"可是这一问，你问得好怪，"他有些紧张不安地继续说。"你就喜欢逗弄人，可不是?
""谁呀?
是我?
哦，不。逗弄人这种事，我才不干呢。不过，反正我相信你还是有的。有时我喜欢提问题，无非是看看人家尽管不愿把真心话说出来，可嘴上又是怎么说一通的，"她直瞅着克莱德的眼睛，既逗笑，而又带一点挑衅地笑吟吟说。"不过，我知道你还是有女朋友的。凡是长得漂亮的小伙子都有。""哦，我长得漂亮吗?
"他不觉激动得笑了起来，感到挺好玩，可又是很得意扬扬。"这是谁说的?
""好象你自个儿还不知道似的。哦，各种各样的人都这么说。比方说，我就是一个。还有，桑德拉。芬奇利也认为你长得可漂亮呢。她只是对漂亮的小伙子才感兴趣。说到这件事，我姐姐杰尔也是这样。只有长得漂亮的小伙子，才叫她喜欢。可我不一样，因为我自个儿长得就不怎么漂亮，"她嘲弄地。逗人地冲他的眼睛直眨眼，一下子使他茫然不知所措。这么一位姑娘，他委实对付不了，同时，在她竭力恭维之下，却又觉得挺好玩。"不过，你是不是也认为自己长得比你堂兄更漂亮些，"她言词犀利，甚而至于武断地接下去说。"有些人觉得就是这样。"格特鲁德这一问，尽管他也巴不得自己相信确是事实，让他心里既感到美滋滋，但又不免有些惊愕。而且，让他更加好奇的是，这个姑娘居然对他也感兴趣。可是，哪怕克莱德对此深信无疑，却怎么也不敢把自己明确的看法说出来。想到这里，他眼前就栩栩如生地浮现出吉尔伯特那种咄咄逼人。坚决泼辣。
有时甚至面露凶色。力图报复的形象。吉尔伯特要是一听到这样的传闻，当然毫不迟疑地就要惩罚克莱德。
"哦，我可从没想过这样的事，"他哈哈大笑说。"说真的，可没想过。当然罗，我可没想过。""嘿，得了吧，就算你没想过吧，反正事实上你长得还是比他要漂亮。但这对你也帮不了什么大忙，除非你有钱……那就是说，如果你想要进入有钱人的上流社会的话，"她抬眼直望着他，语气相当温和地继续说，"人们爱钱，甚至胜过爱俊美的容貌。"好一个利害的姑娘啊，他暗自寻思，她这话该有多么冷酷无情……扎得他心痛如绞，哪怕她并不是存心要这样。
正在这时，桑德拉本人跟一个克莱德不认得的年轻人走了进来……此人是瘦高个儿，穿着打扮却很漂亮。跟在他们后面的，除了别人以外，还有伯蒂娜和斯图尔特。芬奇利。
"她来了，"格特鲁德带着一点轻蔑的口吻说，她之所以产生如此反感，就是因为桑德拉长得远比她姐妹俩漂亮，而且还表示对克莱德感兴趣。"这会儿她要看看你果真发觉了没有她长得很美，因此，你可千万别让她失望啊!
"这句话很有分量，说的固然是事实，但有些多余了，克莱德早就全神贯注，甚至急巴巴地直瞅着她。姑且不谈她在本地的社会地位。财富，以及服饰。举止如何高雅，桑德拉恰好是最能迷住他的这种类型的女人……也许就是霍丹斯。
布里格斯，只不过相比之下，她显得更加优雅(因为她有钱有势)，并不那么粗野，但同样也是以自我为中心。不过，从本质上说，她倒是一个热情奔放的小阿芙勒黛蒂(阿芙勒黛蒂是古希腊神话中爱与美的女神，相当于罗马的维纳斯女神。)，不管怎么样，她竭力要向每一个长得相当漂亮的男人，显示出她那姿色所具有毁灭性的魅力，同时，她还要保住自己的人格与个性，不受任何纠缠不休的婚约，或是姑息妥协的约束。可是，出于各种各样连自己都说不清楚的原因，克莱德倒是使她一见倾心。也许他根本谈不上什么有钱有势，但桑德拉却对他很喜欢。
因此，现在她恨不得马上了解清楚:
首先，他来了没有，其次，千万不能让他感觉到是她先看到他的，最后，还要竭尽全力去迷住他……正是霍丹斯那一套路数和想法，最能打动他的心。他目不转睛地直瞅着，她时不时来回走动，穿一身薄如蝉翼的跳舞衣裙，上面从最浅的淡黄色一直到最深的橘黄色，各种不同色彩，应有尽有，越发衬托出她那黑眼睛和黑头发的美。她跟人相互寒暄，说过十来次"你好"，又跟这人那人谈过这条那条本地要闻，直到最后，她才纡尊降贵地发觉原来克莱德就在旁边。
"哦，你就在这儿。说到底，你还是决定来了。至于你认为自己这次来究竟值得不值得，我可说不准了。当然罗，每个人都给你介绍过了吧?
"她举目环视四周，仿佛在说:
要是还没介绍过的话，她自己可以给他介绍。别人原先对克莱德印象并不怎么深，如今看来桑德拉对他很感兴趣，便使他们产生了莫大兴趣。
"是的，我想，差不多每个人我都见过面了。""除了弗雷迪。塞尔斯。他刚才跟我一块进来的。喂，弗雷迪，"她大声招呼一个身材瘦高的年轻人过来，此人脸颊柔软，头发显然卷曲过，身穿一套很合身的礼服，这时走了过来，低头俯看克莱德，就象一头小公鸡低头望着一只小麻雀。
"这一位是克莱德。格里菲思，刚才我跟你谈起过的，弗雷迪，"她很活泼地开始说道。"他长得是不是很象吉尔伯特?
""哦，长得真象!
"这个态度和蔼的人大声喊道。好象他的眼睛有点儿小毛病，因为他要俯身凑近克莱德，方才看得清楚。"听说你是吉尔伯特的堂弟。我对他很熟悉。我们是在普林斯顿(美国一著名大学。)一块念过书。我去谢内克塔迪的通用电气公司以前，老是上这儿来的。不过，现在我还是常常来。我说，你好象是在厂里工作，是吧?
""是的，我是在厂里工作，"克莱德回答说。在这个论文化教养显然大大超过他的年轻人面前，他觉得自己真是低人一等。他心里害怕此人会跟他谈到正是他一窍不通的事情，也就是由于他没有受过任何连贯教育因此从来没有听说过的那些专门技术问题。
"也许你主管一个部门，是吧?
""是的，我是主管一个部门的，"克莱德谨小慎微，而又紧张不安地说。
"告诉你，"塞尔斯先生对生意和技术问题很感兴趣，因此兴冲冲地继续说道。
"我一直纳闷，领子这个行业，当然罗，姑且先不谈赚钱问题，此外究竟还有什么好处。这个问题在大学里念书的时候，吉尔老是跟我抬杠。他常常要说服我，说制造和销售领子，是具有相当大的社会意义，可以使这样一些人(要不是领子价钱便宜，本来他们也就买不起的)温文尔雅，彬彬有礼。我想这肯定是他从哪一本书上看到的。我可老是笑话他。"克莱德正想不妨一试，给他一个回答，虽然这一切都已越出了他的知识范围。"社会意义"……塞尔斯到底要说明什么意思?
一定是他在大学里学到的什么高深的科学知识。如果说桑德拉不出来解了他的围，恐怕他的回答一定是含糊其词，或者完全是牛头不对马嘴;说实话，桑德拉既没有想到，也不会知道克莱德此时此地早已陷入窘境。桑德拉大声喊道:
"得了，别抬杠啦，弗雷迪。这可一点儿意思都没有。再说，我还要让他跟我的弟弟和伯蒂娜见见面呢。克兰斯顿小姐，你记得吧。今年春天，她跟我一块去过你伯父家的。"克莱德侧转脸来，弗雷迪碰了一鼻子灰，只是默默地瞅着桑德拉，说实话，他是非常爱慕她。
"是的，当然记得，"克莱德开始说话了，刚才他一直在仔细打量着他们这两个人。在他心目中，除了桑德拉以外，就数伯蒂娜显得特别动人，虽然他压根儿也不了解她。她这个人心境不外露，不真诚，而又诡谲，只是让他在她那个小圈子里诚惶诚恐地感到自己微不足道，因而忐忑不安……无非就是这样罢了。
"哦，你好吧?
又跟你见面了，很高兴，"她故意拖长调子说。她的那双灰绿色眼睛冲他全身上下打量着，同时向他投去一种含笑但又淡漠。古怪的目光。
她认为他长得很漂亮，不过，她倒是巴不得能看到他更加精明干练。"我想，你工作一定很多，忙得够呛吧。不过，如今你既然开始出来走动，我想，以后我们一定可以常常见面了。""是的，我也希望这样，"他回答时露出一口整齐匀称的牙齿。
她的那双眼睛似乎在说:
尽管她刚才说的话，连自己都不相信，同样他也不会相信，不过非得这样说不可，也许是逗着玩儿吧。
桑德拉的弟弟斯图尔特敷衍克莱德时所说的那一套，与刚才姐姐也是差不离，只不过词儿稍加改变罢了。
"哦，你好?
见到你，很高兴。刚才姐姐跟我谈起过你。打算长期待在莱柯格斯吧?
希望你长期待下去。我想，我们以后不时会见面吧。"克莱德对此却并不那么相信，不过，他很喜欢斯图尔特格格大笑时露出一口整齐匀称的洁白牙齿那种轻松。浅薄的神态……他笑得豪爽。愉快，但又无动于衷。他也很喜欢威南特。范特走过时斯图尔特一转过身来，就挽住她白净的胳臂那种派头。斯图尔特说:
"等一会儿，威(这是斯图尔特对威南特的昵称。)。
我有事要问你。"他跟她一块儿走进了另一个房间……他俯身紧挨着她，兴高采烈地谈开了。克莱德还发觉他的礼服做工讲究极了。
克莱德心想:
他们日子过得多么快活，多么生动活泼啊!
这时，杰尔。特朗布尔开始大声喊道:
"来吧，请各位就座。这可不能怪我呀。厨师正在发脾气呢，何况你们各位也都迟到了。我们吃完了，再跳跳舞，嗯?
""等特朗布尔小姐安排大家入座停当之后，你就不妨坐在我和特朗布尔小姐中间，"桑德拉郑重其事地说。"这样挺好，对吗?
现在，你就可以领我进餐厅去吧。"她把自己雪白的胳臂插在克莱德的胳膊底下。于是，他觉得自己好象慢慢悠悠地，可是稳稳当当地径直向天上乐园走去。
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interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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commingled
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| v.混合，掺和，合并( commingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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rhinestones
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| n.莱茵石，人造钻石( rhinestone的名词复数 ) | |
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courageously
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| ad.勇敢地，无畏地 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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piquant
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| adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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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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steered
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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fawn
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chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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touted
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| v.兜售( tout的过去式和过去分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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bantering
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| adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intrigued
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| 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 | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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gangling
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| adj.瘦长得难看的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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entangling
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| v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的现在分词 ) | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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awareness
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| n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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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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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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schooling
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| n.教育；正规学校教育 | |
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consecutive
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| adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的 | |
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technically
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| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
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evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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