The ensuing December days brought to Clyde some pleasing and yet complicating1 and disturbing developments.
For Sondra Finchley, having found him so agreeable an admirer of hers, was from the first inclined neither toforget nor neglect him. But, occupying the rather prominent social position which she did, she was at first ratherdubious as to how to proceed. For Clyde was too poor and decidedly too much ignored by the Griffithsthemselves, even, for her to risk any marked manifestation4 of interest in him.
And now, in addition to the primary motivating reason for all this--her desire to irritate Gilbert by being friendswith his cousin--there was another. She liked him. His charm and his reverence5 for her and her station flatteredand intrigued6 her. For hers was a temperament7 which required adulation in about the measure which Clydeprovided it--sincere and romantic adulation. And at the very same time he represented physical as well as mentalattributes which were agreeable to her--amorousness without the courage at the time, anyhow, to annoy her toomuch; reverence which yet included her as a very human being; a mental and physical animation8 which quitematched and companioned her own.
Hence it was decidedly a troublesome thought with Sondra how she was to proceed with Clyde without attractingtoo much attention and unfavorable comment to herself--a thought which kept her sly little brain going at nightsafter she had retired9. However, those who had met him at the Trumbulls' were so much impressed by her interestin him that evening and the fact that he had proved so pleasing and affable, they in turn, the girls particularly,were satisfied that he was eligible10 enough.
And in consequence, two weeks later, Clyde, searching for inexpensive Christmas presents in Stark's for hismother, father, sisters, brother and Roberta, and encountering Jill Trumbull doing a little belated shoppingherself, was invited by her to attend a pre-Christmas dance that was to be given the next night by Vanda Steele ather home in Gloversville. Jill herself was going with Frank Harriet and she was not sure but that Sondra Finchleywould be there. Another engagement of some kind appeared to be in the way, but still she was intending to comeif she could. But her sister Gertrude would be glad to have him escort her--a very polite way of arranging forGertrude. Besides, as she knew, if Sondra heard that Clyde was to be there, this might induce her to desert herother engagement.
"Tracy will be glad to stop for you in time," she went on, "or--" she hesitated--"perhaps you'd like to come overfor dinner with us before we go. It'll be just the family, but we'd be delighted to have you. The dancing doesn'tbegin till eleven."The dance was for Friday night, and on that night Clyde had arranged to be with Roberta because on thefollowing day she was leaving for a three-day-over-Christmas holiday visit to her parents--the longest stretch oftime thus far she had spent away from him. And because, apart from his knowledge she had arranged to presenthim with a new fountain pen and Eversharp pencil, she had been most anxious that he should spend this lastevening with her, a fact which she had impressed upon him. And he, on his part, had intended to make use of thislast evening to surprise her with a white-and-black toilet set.
But now, so thrilled was he at the possibility of a reencounter with Sondra, he decided3 that he would cancel thislast evening engagement with Roberta, although not without some misgivings11 as to the difficulty as well as thedecency of it. For despite the fact that he was now so lured12 by Sondra, nevertheless he was still deeply interestedin Roberta and he did not like to grieve her in this way. She would look so disappointed, as he knew. Yet at thesame time so flattered and enthused was he by this sudden, if tardy13, social development that he could not nowthink of refusing Jill. What? Neglect to visit the Steeles in Gloversville and in company with the Trumbulls andwithout any help from the Griffiths, either? It might be disloyal, cruel, treacherous14 to Roberta, but was he notlikely to meet Sondra?
In consequence he announced that he would go, but immediately afterwards decided that he must go round andexplain to Roberta, make some suitable excuse--that the Griffiths, for instance, had invited him for dinner. Thatwould be sufficiently15 overawing and compelling to her. But upon arriving, and finding her out, he decided toexplain the following morning at the factory--by note, if necessary. To make up for it he decided he mightpromise to accompany her as far as Fonda on Saturday and give her her present then.
But on Friday morning at the factory, instead of explaining to her with the seriousness and even emotionaldissatisfaction which would have governed him before, he now whispered: "I have to break that engagement tonight,honey. Been invited to my uncle's, and I have to go. And I'm not sure that I can get around afterwards. I'lltry if I get through in time. But I'll see you on the Fonda car to-morrow if I don't. I've got something I want togive you, so don't feel too bad. Just got word this morning or I'd have let you know. You're not going to feel bad,are you?" He looked at her as gloomily as possible in order to express his own sorrow over this.
But Roberta, her presents and her happy last evening with him put aside in this casual way, and for the first time,too, in this fashion, shook her head negatively, as if to say "Oh, no," but her spirits were heavily depressed16 andshe fell to wondering what this sudden desertion of her at this time might portend17. For, up to this time, Clyde hadbeen attentiveness18 itself, concealing19 his recent contact with Sondra behind a veil of pretended, unmodifiedaffection which had, as yet, been sufficient to deceive her. It might be true, as he said, that an unescapableinvitation had come up which necessitated20 all this. But, oh, the happy evening she had planned! And now theywould not be together again for three whole days. She grieved dubiously21 at the factory and in her roomafterwards, thinking that Clyde might at least have suggested coming around to her room late, after his uncle'sdinner in order that she might give him the presents. But his eventual22 excuse made this day was that the dinnerwas likely to last too late. He could not be sure. They had talked of going somewhere else afterwards.
But meanwhile Clyde, having gone to the Trumbulls', and later to the Steeles', was flattered and reassured23 by aseries of developments such as a month before he would not have dreamed of anticipating. For at the Steeles' hewas promptly24 introduced to a score of personalities25 there who, finding him chaperoned by the Trumbulls andlearning that he was a Griffiths, as promptly invited him to affairs of their own--or hinted at events that were tocome to which he might be invited, so that at the close he found himself with cordial invitations to attend a NewYear's dance at the Vandams' in Gloversville, as well as a dinner and dance that was to be given Christmas Eveby the Harriets in Lycurgus, an affair to which Gilbert and his sister Bella, as well as Sondra, Bertine and otherswere invited.
And lastly, there was Sondra herself appearing on the scene at about midnight in company with Scott Nicholson,Freddie Sells and Bertine, at first pretending to be wholly unaware26 of his presence, yet deigning27 at last to greethim with an, "Oh, hello, I didn't expect to find you here." She was draped most alluringly29 in a deep red Spanishshawl. But Clyde could sense from the first that she was quite aware of his presence, and at the first availableopportunity he drew near to her and asked yearningly30, "Aren't you going to dance with me at all?""Why, of course, if you want me to. I thought maybe you had forgotten me by now," she said mockingly.
"As though I'd be likely to forget you. The only reason I'm here to-night is because I thought I might see youagain. I haven't thought of any one or anything else since I saw you last."Indeed so infatuated was he with her ways and airs, that instead of being irritated by her pretended indifference,he was all the more attracted. And he now achieved an intensity31 which to her was quite compelling. His eyelidsnarrowed and his eyes lit with a blazing desire which was quite disturbing to see.
"My, but you can say the nicest things in the nicest way when you want to." She was toying with a large Spanishcomb in her hair for the moment and smiling. "And you say them just as though you meant them.""Do you mean to say that you don't believe me, Sondra," he inquired almost feverishly32, this second use of hername thrilling her now as much as it did him. Although inclined to frown on so marked a presumption33 in hiscase, she let it pass because it was pleasing to her.
"Oh, yes, I do. Of course," she said a little dubiously, and for the first time nervously34, where he was concerned.
She was beginning to find it a little hard to decipher her proper line of conduct in connection with him, whetherto repress him more or less. "But you must say now what dance you want. I see some one coming for me." Andshe held her small program up to him archly and intriguingly35. "You may have the eleventh. That's the next afterthis.""Is that all?""Well, and the fourteenth, then, greedy," she laughed into Clyde's eyes, a laughing look which quite enslavedhim.
Subsequently learning from Frank Harriet in the course of a dance that Clyde had been invited to his house forChristmas Eve, as well as that Jessica Phant had invited him to Utica for New Year's Eve, she at once conceivedof him as slated36 for real success and decided that he was likely to prove less of a social burden than she hadfeared. He was charming--there was no doubt of it. And he was so devoted37 to her. In consequence, as she nowdecided, it might be entirely38 possible that some of these other girls, seeing him recognized by some of the bestpeople here and elsewhere, would become sufficiently interested, or drawn39 to him even, to wish to overcome hisdevotion to her. Being of a vain and presumptuous40 disposition41 herself, she decided that that should not be.
Hence, in the course of her second dance with Clyde, she said: "You've been invited to the Harriets' forChristmas Eve, haven't you?""Yes, and I owe it all to you, too," he exclaimed warmly. "Are you going to be there?""Oh, I'm awfully42 sorry. I am invited and I wish now that I was going. But you know I arranged some time ago togo over to Albany and then up to Saratoga for the holidays. I'm going to-morrow, but I'll be back before NewYear's. Some friends of Freddie's are giving a big affair over in Schenectady New Year's Eve, though. And yourcousin Bella and my brother Stuart and Grant and Bertine are going. If you'd like to go, you might go along withus over there."She had been about to say "me," but had changed it to "us." She was thinking that this would certainlydemonstrate her control over him to all those others, seeing that it nullified Miss Phant's invitation. And at onceClyde accepted, and with delight, since it would bring him in contact with her again.
At the same time he was astonished and almost aghast over the fact that in this casual and yet very intimate anddefinite way she was planning for him to reencounter Bella, who would at once carry the news of his going withher and these others to her family. And what would not that spell, seeing that even as yet the Griffiths had notinvited him anywhere--not even for Christmas? For although the fact of Clyde having been picked up by Sondrain her car as well as later, that he had been invited to the Now and Then, had come to their ears, still nothing hadbeen done. Gilbert Griffiths was wroth, his father and mother puzzled as to their proper course but remaininginactive nonetheless.
But the group, according to Sondra, might remain in Schenectady until the following morning, a fact which shedid not trouble to explain to Clyde at first. And by now he had forgotten that Roberta, having returned from herlong stay at Biltz by then, and having been deserted43 by him over Christmas, would most assuredly be expectinghim to spend New Year's Eve with her. That was a complication which was to dawn later. Now he only saw blissin Sandra's thought of him and at once eagerly and enthusiastically agreed.
"But you know," she said cautiously, "you mustn't pay so very much attention to me over there or here oranywhere or think anything of it, if I don't to you. I may not be able to see so very much of you if you do. I'll tellyou about that sometime. You see my father and mother are funny people. And so are some of my friends here.
But if you'll just be nice and sort of indifferent--you know--I may be able to see quite a little of you this winteryet. Do you see?"Thrilled beyond words by this confession44, which came because of his too ardent45 approaches as he well knew, helooked at her eagerly and searchingly.
"But you care for me a little, then, don't you?" he half-demanded, half-pleaded, his eyes lit with that alluring28 lightwhich so fascinated her. And cautious and yet attracted, swayed sensually and emotionally and yet dubious2 as tothe wisdom of her course, Sondra replied: "Well, I'll tell you. I do and I don't. That is, I can't tell yet. I like you alot. Sometimes I think I like you more than others. You see we don't know each other very well yet. But you'llcome with me to Schenectady, though, won't you?""Oh, will I?""I'll write you more about that, or call you up. You have a telephone, haven't you?"He gave her the number.
"And if by any chance there's any change or I have to break the engagement, don't think anything of it. I'll seeyou later--somewhere, sure." She smiled and Clyde felt as though he were choking. The mere46 thought of herbeing so frank with him, and saying that she cared for him a lot, at times, was sufficient to cause him to almostreel with joy. To think that this beautiful girl was so anxious to include him in her life if she could--thiswonderful girl who was surrounded by so many friends and admirers from which she could take her pick.
十二月里还剩下的一些日子，给克莱德带来了一些令人高兴但又烦恼的复杂事态。桑德拉。芬奇利觉得，他作为一个爱慕她的人来说，她是很喜欢他的，一开头就不打算忘掉他，或是冷淡他。可是，由于她所处的社会地位相当显赫，下一步究竟该怎么办，确实让她煞费踌躇。要知道克莱德此人实在太穷，甚至连格里菲思一家人显然都瞧不起他，所以，她也就犯不着过分露骨地给他青睐。
桑德拉一开头喜欢克莱德，其动机主要就是:
她想通过自己同吉尔伯特的堂弟友好往来，好让吉尔伯特动火。除此以外，还有另一个原因。她喜欢他。瞧他长得是那么漂亮，而又崇拜她本人和她的地位，使她感到既得意，又好奇。
按照她的脾性，她需要的正是克莱德这样的奉承……真心诚意而又罗曼蒂克的奉承。同时，克莱德在形体上和智力上的特点，对她来说，正中下怀……他钟情于她，可又不敢过分惹她生气(反正至少目前是这样);他崇拜她，可又把她看做一个活人;他整个身心充满了活力，可以跟她匹配成为俦侣。
因此，今后如何继续跟克莱德交往，而又不太过分引人瞩目有损自己声名，确实使桑德拉伤脑筋。这个问题从她回家以后，每到夜晚，老是在她点子挺多的小脑袋里萦绕不去。不过，那天晚上在特朗布尔家见过克莱德的人，都有很深印象，看到桑德拉对他很感兴趣，同时，他的举止言谈也很招人喜欢，而且对人殷勤周到，因此，他们这些人，特别是姑娘们，也都乐于跟他酬应交往。
两星期以后，克莱德在斯塔克百货公司里给父母。弟妹和罗伯达选购价钱不太贵的圣诞节日礼物时，碰到了也来购物的杰尔。特朗布尔，她便邀请他去参加翌日晚上范达。斯蒂尔在格洛弗斯维尔家里举行的舞会。杰尔本人打算跟弗兰克。哈里特一块去，但是桑德拉。芬奇利去不去，她还说不准。仿佛还有人邀请她去别处赴会，不过只要能去，她还是想去的。杰尔又说，她妹妹格特鲁德要是由克莱德陪她一块去，就会感到很高兴……这是为格特鲁德配备男伴的一种恂恂有礼的方式。此外，她知道，桑德拉只要听说克莱德去，可能就把另一个约会放弃了。
"到时候特雷西乐意把车子拐过去接你的，"她继续说道，"要不然……"她迟疑半晌说，"我们临走以前，你上我们家吃晚饭，好不好?
别客气，全是我们家里人，反正我们是很欢迎你的。范达家舞会要到十一点钟才开始。"舞会定在星期五晚上，这天晚上克莱德事前就约定跟罗伯达在一起，因为转天她就要利用圣诞节三天假期，动身去看望父母……直至今日，她还没有那么长的时间离开过莱柯格斯。他也知道，她打算送给他一支新自来水笔和一支永久牌铅笔。此外，这个最后一晚，她心里真的巴不得能跟他在一起度过，事实上，她也不止一次地关照过他。至于他自己呢，也打算在这最后一晚，送她一套化妆用品，让她大吃一惊。
可是如今，他一想到可以跟桑德拉再次晤面，心中便喜不自胜，因此决定把最后一晚跟罗伯达的约会取消，虽然他对取消约会一事感到十分棘手和很不正当，也不是一点儿都不犯疑的。因为，尽管现在他被桑德拉迷住了，可是他对罗伯达依然一往情深，也不愿就这样使她伤心。他知道，那时她一定会非常失望。不过，与此同时，他对突如其来的(哪怕是姗姗来迟)上流社会的承认，还是扬扬自得，乐不可支，所以脑海里压根儿不会想到谢绝杰尔的邀请。怎么啦?
眼前是压根儿不靠格里菲思家帮助，而是跟特朗布尔兄妹一起去格洛弗斯维尔斯蒂尔家作客的机会，难道说就能熟视无睹吗?
这对罗伯达来说，也许是不免残酷。背叛不忠，但对他来说，岂不是又可以见到桑德拉了吗?
于是，他说他乐意去，不过心里马上就决定非得先到罗伯达那里去说明原委，编造一个合适的托词……比方说，格里菲思家请他去吃饭。这一下子就足以使她怔住了，难以反驳。不过，他到罗伯达住处时，发现她不在家。他便决定转天早上到厂里向她说明原因……必要时写个条子给她。为了事后抚慰她，他想不妨就答应星期六陪她去方达，到时候把礼物送给她。
可是，星期五上午在厂里，他并没有一本正经地向她解释清楚，甚至也没有显出早先那样老大不高兴的样子，仅仅是低声耳语道:
"亲爱的，今晚约会不得不取消了。伯父家请我去，我就非去不可。事后能不能再来，我还说不准。要是时间不算太晚，我就争取来。不过，万一来不了，明天我就在去方达的车上跟你碰面。我有些东西想送给你，因此，请你不要生气。要知道这个口信是今天早上才得到，要不然我早告诉你了。你可不会生气，可不是?
"他露出满脸愁容，两眼直望着她，竭力显示他心里也非常难过。
可是罗伯达不以为然地摇摇头，仿佛在说:
"哦，我可不会的。"她没想到自己本来打算送些小礼物给他，乐乐呵呵地跟他一块度过这最后一晚，结果却被他满不在乎地撇在一旁了，这还只是头一遭呢。她神情沮丧，暗自纳闷:
这时候突然把她抛弃，真不知道是什么前兆。因为直到现在为止，克莱德对她一直是体贴入微的。最近他跟桑德拉交往一事，因被他佯作一如既往的柔情蜜意所掩盖，早就把她蒙骗过去了。依他的说法，盛情难却，因而是万不得已的事，这也许是实话。可是，她那个朝也盼。暮也盼的夜晚呀!
他们将有整整三天再也不能待在一起了。在厂里也好，后来回到自己房间也好，她心里觉得很难过，暗自纳闷:
克莱德至少也得对她说在伯父家吃过晚饭后再来看她，好让她把那些礼物送给他呀。不过，他后来又推托说晚饭结束时可能太晚了，他说不准还有没有时间。他们谈起过晚饭后要到某个地方去的。
这时候，克莱德是先到特朗布尔家，再去斯蒂尔家的，到处受到人们垂青，这在一个月前他是怎么也梦想不到的，使他感到既得意，而又颇具信心。在斯蒂尔家，他一下子结识了许多头面人物。他们见他是由特朗布尔家里人陪来的，又是与格里菲思同姓，便赶紧邀请他上他们家叙一叙……或是暗示说不久如有聚会，也许要请他光临。最后，他不觉发现竭诚邀请他参加的，就有格洛弗斯维尔的范达姆家的新年舞会，以及莱柯格斯的哈里特家将在圣诞前夕举行的宴会和舞会(届时吉尔伯特和他的妹妹贝拉，还有桑德拉。伯蒂娜等人，都将应邀赴会)。
最后，大约到了午夜时分，桑德拉翩然而至，斯科特。尼科尔森。弗雷迪。
塞尔斯。伯蒂娜都是跟她一起来的。开头，她还佯装压根儿不知道他来，直到最后才纡尊降贵地向他寒暄道:
"哦，你好，我可没想到你在这儿呀。"她身披一块深红色西班牙围巾，特别诱人。不过，克莱德一开头就觉得她分明知道他也在这儿，所以只要一有机会，便来到她身边，无比爱慕地问:
"今晚您压根儿不高兴跟我一块跳吗?
""怎么啦，当然跳罗，只要你邀我跳的话。我还以为也许你早就把我给忘了，"她以嘲弄的口吻说道。
"我哪能忘得了您呢!
今天晚上我上这儿来，唯一目的就是巴不得也许又能跟您见面。自从上一次见到您以后，不论什么人，什么事，我都不去想了，就是一个劲儿想您啦。"说实话，他一下子被她的绰约丰姿给迷住了，对她佯装冷淡并不反感，相反却使他更加入迷了。现在，他那烈火似的真挚感情，差点儿把她征服了。他两眼几乎眯成了缝，闪现着一种炽热的欲念，简直使桑德拉心乱如麻。
"我的天哪，你可真会说最漂亮的话，"她整一整头上那一只个儿挺大的西班牙梳子，微笑着说。"而且还会说得跟真的一模一样。""您这是说您不相信我，桑德拉?
"他几乎发狂似的问。他又一次直呼她的名字，一下子让她和他心中都感到无限激动。虽然她本想斥责他太放肆，但她心里毕竟很欣赏，因而也就作罢了。
"哦，是的，我是这个意思，"她跟他说话头一回心里有一点儿犯疑了。现在她开始觉得，要使自己十分明确地对他保持恰当分寸，不免有点儿困难。"不过，你还得说说，哪一个舞你要跳。要知道有人来邀我了，"她俏皮而又迷人地把她那张小小的节目单给他看。"你不妨选第十一个舞曲。快啦，也就是下一个呗。""就这一曲?
""得了吧，那就再跳第十四个舞曲，如果说你还不过瘾的话，"她冲着克莱德的眼睛格格大笑，瞧她这一颦一笑，几乎把他征服了。
后来，她跟弗兰克。哈里特跳舞时听说他邀请克莱德上他家去一同欢度圣诞前夕，又得知杰西卡。范特请他除夕到尤蒂卡去。她马上觉得他注定获得真正成功，并且暗自思忖，他在上流社会应酬周旋时，显然不会象她当初担心那样成为赘疣了。他长得很吸引人……这是毫无疑问的。何况对她又是那么赤胆忠心。因此，她心里暗想，要是有哪个姑娘一看到各地名门世家都垂青于他，就对他温情脉脉，乃至于被他吸引住，恨不得夺去他对她的一片忠心，这是完全有可能的。她生来爱好虚荣，而又很傲慢，便决心不让这样的事情发生。因此，她第二次跟克莱德跳舞时，就开口问他:
"圣诞前夕，哈里特邀你去他家，可不是吗?
""是的，这也是托您的福，"他热乎乎地大声说。"您也去那儿?
""哦，我非常抱歉。他们是邀请我去的，我心里也巴不得去，可是，你知道，我有约在先，要去奥尔巴尼，然后再到萨拉托加去过节。明天我就动身，新年前赶回来。不过，弗雷迪有好几个朋友，打算在谢内克塔迪举行盛大的除夕晚会。你堂妹贝拉和我的弟弟斯图尔特，还有格兰特。伯蒂娜都准备去。你要是高兴，不妨跟我们一块去就得了。"原来她想说"跟我"，可一下子改成了"跟我们"。她心里琢磨，这么一改口，当然就向所有女友显示出自己有足够力量控制他，因为她们将看到克莱德就是为了桑德拉的缘故才拒不接受范特小姐的邀请。于是，克莱德马上一口应允，心里还感到很高兴，因为这样又可以跟她见面了。
不过，让他大吃一惊，几乎被怔住了的，就是说:
经她这么随随便便但又非常亲切。非常坚决地安排，他就又要跟贝拉碰头，而贝拉马上会把他跟桑德拉等女友一起玩儿的消息告知她的家里人。不知道那又会出什么事呢?
直至今日，格里菲思家始终没有请他去串门……甚至过圣诞节都没请过他。桑德拉让克莱德搭车一事，还有后来不定期俱乐部也邀请他的消息，尽管也传到格里菲思一家人耳朵里，可是他们并没有采取什么行动。吉尔伯特。格里菲思火冒三丈，他父母呢，因为不知道该怎么办才好，至今仍避而不谈。
然而，根据桑德拉的意思，他们一行人不妨在谢内克塔迪过一夜，这事她开头并没有详细告知克莱德。如今，他早已忘得一干二净:
罗伯达这时已从比尔茨度假回来了，既然过圣诞节时他让她孤身一人了，当然，她指望他能够跟她在一起欢度除夕。这个难题，他后来才想到，为时已晚了。此刻，他只是因为桑德拉关心他而感到幸福，心中就喜不自胜，马上一口答应了。
"不过你要知道，"她再三叮嘱他说，"不管到了哪个地方，要是我没有向你先作出表示的话，你万万不可对我显得过分殷勤，也不要见怪。要不然，也许我就没法跟你常常见面了。这事改天我再跟你谈。你要知道，我爸爸妈妈都怪得很。我这儿一些朋友，也是这样。可是，你只要表现得恰到好处，甚至不妨冷淡一些……明白吧……也许这一冬我还能跟你多见几次面。你明白了吗?
"这时，克莱德露出热切企求的神色直瞅着她，这些知心话让他欣喜若狂，甚至连言语也都无法形容。他明白，这些知心话是因为他心急如焚，她才说出来的。
"那末，您是有点儿疼我，可不是?
"他用又象是询问。又象是恳求的口吻说，眼里闪烁着诱人的光芒，竟然使她为之心醉神迷。这时，桑德拉一面是谨小慎微，一面又是销魂摄魄;一面是欲火中烧，一面又是吃不准自己该怎样表现才算是理智行事，她就只好回答说:
"得了，我就告诉你吧:
我是疼你的，可我又不是疼你的。这就是说，现在我心里还弄不清楚。我很喜欢你。有时候，我觉得就数你我最喜欢的了。你要明白:
我们彼此不太了解呗。可你毕竟会跟我一块去谢内克塔迪，是吧?
""哦，难道说我会不去吗?
""这件事我会写信详细告诉你，要不然，我打电话给你。你有电话，是吧?
"他把电话号码给了她。
"要是万一发生变化，或是我不得不取消约会，千万不要见怪。以后我会在别处跟你再见面，那是没有问题的，"她粲然一笑。克莱德觉得嗓子眼一下子哽住了似的。只要一想到她对他这么坦率，还说有时她很疼他的话，就足以使他乐得神魂颠倒了。只要想一想吧，这么一位美丽的姑娘……这么一个了不起的姑娘，被那么多的朋友和爱慕者所包围，本来她可以从他们里头随意挑选自己的意中人……如今她却恨不得尽可能把他纳入自己的生活圈子里去。
收听单词发音 |
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complicating
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| 使复杂化( complicate的现在分词 ) | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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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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manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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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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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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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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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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portend
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| v.预兆，预示；给…以警告 | |
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attentiveness
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| [医]注意 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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eventual
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| adj.最后的，结局的，最终的 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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personalities
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| n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 ) | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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deigning
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
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alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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alluringly
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| 诱人地，妩媚地 | |
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yearningly
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| 怀念地，思慕地，同情地； 渴 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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intriguingly
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slated
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| 用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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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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presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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