Nevertheless hours and even days, and finally a week and then ten days, passed without any word from him as tothe whereabouts of a doctor to whom she could go. For although having said so much to her he still did not knowto whom to apply. And each hour and day as great a menace to him as to her. And her looks as well as herinquiries registering how intense and vital and even clamorous1 at moments was her own distress2. Also he washarried almost to the point of nervous collapse3 by his own inability to think of any speedy and sure way by whichshe might be aided. Where did a physician live to whom he might send her with some assurance of relief for her,and how was he to find out about him?
After a time, however, in running over all the names of those he knew, he finally struck upon a forlorn hope inthe guise4 of Orrin Short, the young man conducting the one small "gents' furnishing store" in Lycurgus whichcatered more or less exclusively to the rich youths of the city--a youth of about his own years and proclivities5, asClyde had guessed, who ever since he had been here had been useful to him in the matter of tips as to dress andstyle in general. Indeed, as Clyde had for some time noted6, Short was a brisk, inquiring and tactful person, who,in addition to being quite attractive personally to girls, was also always most courteous7 to his patrons,particularly to those whom he considered above him in the social scale, and among these was Clyde. For havingdiscovered that Clyde was related to the Griffiths, this same Short had sought, as a means for his own generaladvancement in other directions, to scrape as much of a genial8 and intimate relationship with him as possible,only, as Clyde saw it, and in view of the general attitude of his very high relatives, it had not, up to this time atleast, been possible for him to consider any such intimacy9 seriously. And yet, finding Short so very affable andhelpful in general, he was not above reaching at least an easy and genial surface relationship with him, whichShort appeared to accept in good part. Indeed, as at first, his manner remained seeking and not a littlesycophantic at times. And so it was that among all those with whom he could be said to be in either intimate or casual contact, Short was about the only one who offered even a chance for an inquiry10 which might proveproductive of some helpful information.
In consequence, in passing Short's place each evening and morning, once he thought of him in this light, he madeit a point to nod and smile in a most friendly manner, until at least three days had gone by. And then, feeling thathe had paved the way as much as his present predicament would permit, he stopped in, not at all sure that on thisfirst occasion he would be able to broach11 the dangerous subject. The tale he had fixed12 upon to tell Short was thathe had been approached by a young working-man in the factory, newly-married, who, threatened with an heirand not being able to afford one as yet, had appealed to him for information as to where he might now find adoctor to help him. The only interesting additions which Clyde proposed to make to this were that the youngman, being very poor and timid and not so very intelligent, was not able to speak or do much for himself. Alsothat he, Clyde, being better informed, although so new locally as not to be able to direct him to any physician (anafter-thought intended to put the idea into Short's mind that he himself was never helpless and so not likely everto want such advice himself), had already advised the young man of a temporary remedy. But unfortunately, sohis story was to run, this had already failed to work. Hence something more certain--a physician, no less--wasnecessary. And Short, having been here longer, and, as he had heard him explain, hailing previously13 fromGloversville, it was quite certain, as Clyde now argued with himself, that he would know of at least one--orshould. But in order to divert suspicion from himself he was going to add that of course he probably could getnews of some one in his own set, only, the situation being so unusual (any reference to any such thing in his ownworld being likely to set his own group talking), he preferred to ask some one like Short, who as a favor wouldkeep it quiet.
As it chanced on this occasion, Short himself, owing to his having done a very fair day's business, was in anexceedingly jovial14 frame of mind. And Clyde having entered, to buy a pair of socks, perhaps, he began: "Well,it's good to see you again, Mr. Griffiths. How are you? I was just thinking it's about time you stopped in and letme show you some of the things I got in since you were here before. How are things with the Griffiths Companyanyhow?"Short's manner, always brisk, was on this occasion doubly reassuring15, since he liked Clyde, only now the latterwas so intensely keyed up by the daring of his own project that he could scarcely bring himself to carry the thingoff with the air he would have liked to have employed.
Nevertheless, being in the store and so, seemingly, committed to the project, he now began: "Oh, pretty fair.
Can't kick a bit. I always have all I can do, you know." At the same time he began nervously16 fingering some tieshung upon movable nickeled rods. But before he had wasted a moment on these, Mr. Short, turning andspreading some boxes of very special ties from a shelf behind him on the glass case, remarked: "Never mindlooking at those, Mr. Griffiths. Look at these. These are what I want to show you and they won't cost YOU anymore. Just got 'em in from New York this morning." He picked up several bundles of six each, the very latest, ashe explained. "See anything else like this anywhere around here yet? I'll say you haven't." He eyed Clydesmilingly, the while he wished sincerely that such a young man, so well connected, yet not rich like the others,would be friends with him. It would place him here.
Clyde, fingering the offerings and guessing that what Short was saying was true, was now so troubled andconfused in his own mind that he could scarcely think and speak as planned. "Very nice, sure," he said, turning them over, feeling that at another time he would have been pleased to possess at least two. "I think maybe I'lltake this one, anyhow, and this one, too." He drew out two and held them up, while he was thinking how tobroach the so much more important matter that had brought him here. For why should he be troubling to buy ties,dilly-dallying in this way, when all he wanted to ask Short about was this other matter? Yet how hard it wasnow--how very hard. And yet he really must, although perhaps not so abruptly17. He would look around a littlemore at first in order to allay18 suspicion--ask about some socks. Only why should he be doing that, since he didnot need anything, Sondra only recently having presented him with a dozen handkerchiefs, some collars, ties andsocks. Nevertheless every time he decided19 to speak he felt a sort of sinking sensation at the pit of his stomach, afear that he could not or would not carry the thing off with the necessary ease and conviction. It was all soquestionable and treacherous--so likely to lead to exposure and disgrace in some way. He would probably not beable to bring himself to speak to Short to-night. And yet, as he argued with himself, how could the occasion everbe more satisfactory?
Short, in the meantime having gone to the rear of the store and now returning, with a most engaging and evensycophantic smile on his face, began with: "Saw you last Tuesday evening about nine o'clock going into theFinchleys' place, didn't I? Beautiful house and grounds they have there."Clyde saw that Short really was impressed by his social station here. There was a wealth of admiration20 mingledwith a touch of servility. And at once, because of this, he took heart, since he realized that with such an attitudedominating the other, whatever he might say would be colored in part at least by his admirer's awe21 and respect.
And after examining the socks and deciding that one pair at least would soften22 the difficulty of his demand, headded: "Oh, by the way, before I forget it. There's something I've been wanting to ask you about. Maybe you cantell me what I want to know. One of the boys at the factory--a young fellow who hasn't been married very long-aboutfour months now, I guess--is in a little trouble on account of his wife." He paused, because of hisuncertainty as to whether he could succeed with this now or not, seeing that Short's expression changed ever soslightly. And yet, having gone so far, he did not know how to recede23. So now he laughed nervously and thenadded: "I don't know why they always come to me with their troubles, but I guess they think I ought to know allabout these things." (He laughed again.) "Only I'm about as new and green here as anybody and so I'm kindastumped. But you've been here longer than I have, I guess, and so I thought I might ask you."His manner as he said this was as nonchalant as he could make it, the while he decided now that this was amistake--that Short would most certainly think him a fool or queer. Yet Short, taken back by the nature of thequery, which he sensed as odd coming from Clyde to him (he had noted Clyde's sudden restraint and slightnervousness), was still so pleased to think that even in connection with so ticklish24 a thing as this, he should bemade the recipient25 of his confidence, that he instantly recovered his former poise26 and affability, and replied:
"Why, sure, if it's anything I can help you with, Mr. Griffiths, I'll be only too glad to. Go ahead, what is it?""Well, it's this way," began Clyde, not a little revived by the other's hearty27 response, yet lowering his voice inorder to give the dreadful subject its proper medium of obscurity, as it were. "His wife's already two monthsgone and he can't afford a kid yet and he doesn't know how to get rid of it. I told him last month when he firstcame to me to try a certain medicine that usually works"--this to impress Short with his own personal wisdomand resourcefulness in such situations and hence by implication to clear his own skirts, as it were--"But I guesshe didn't handle it right. Anyhow he's all worked up about it now and wants to see some doctor who could dosomething for her, you see. Only I don't know anybody here myself. Haven't been here long enough. If it were Kansas City or Chicago now," he interpolated securely, "I'd know what to do. I know three or four doctors outthere." (To impress Short he attempted a wise smile.) "But down here it's different. And if I started asking aroundin my crowd and it ever got back to my relatives, they wouldn't understand. But I thought if you knew of any oneyou wouldn't mind telling me. I wouldn't really bother myself, only I'm sorry for this fellow."He paused, his face, largely because of the helpful and interested expression on Short's, expressing moreconfidence than when he had begun. And although Short was still surprised he was more than pleased to be ashelpful as he could.
"You say it's been two months now.""Yes.""And the stuff you suggested didn't work, eh?""No.""She's tried it again this month, has she?""Yes.""Well, that is bad, sure enough. I guess she's in bad all right. The trouble with this place is that I haven't beenhere so very long either, Mr. Griffiths. I only bought this place about a year and a half ago. Now, if I were overin Gloversville--" He paused for a moment, as though, like Clyde, he too were dubious28 of the wisdom of enteringupon details of this kind, but after a few seconds continued: "You see a thing like that's not so easy, whereveryou are. Doctors are always afraid of getting in trouble. I did hear once of a case over there, though, where a girlwent to a doctor--a fellow who lived a couple miles out. But she was of pretty good family too, and the fellowwho took her to him was pretty well-known about there. So I don't know whether this doctor would do anythingfor a stranger, although he might at that. But I know that sort of thing is going on all the time, so you might try. Ifyou wanta send this fellow to him, tell him not to mention me or let on who sent him, 'cause I'm pretty well-known around there and I wouldn't want to be mixed up in it in case anything went wrong, you see. You knowhow it is."And Clyde, in turn, replied gratefully: "Oh, sure, he'll understand all right. I'll tell him not to mention anynames." And getting the doctor's name, he extracted a pencil and notebook from his pocket in order to be surethat the important information should not escape him.
Short, sensing his relief, was inclined to wonder whether there was a working-man, or whether it was not Clydehimself who was in this scrape. Why should he be speaking for a young working-man at the factory? Just thesame, he was glad to be of service, though at the same time he was thinking what a bit of local news this wouldbe, assuming that any time in the future he should choose to retail29 it. Also that Clyde, unless he was truly playingabout with some girl here who was in trouble, was foolish to be helping30 anybody else in this way--particularly aworking-man. You bet he wouldn't.
Nevertheless he repeated the name, with the initials, and the exact neighborhood, as near as he could remember,giving the car stop and a description of the house. Clyde, having obtained what he desired, now thanked him, andthen went out while the haberdasher looked after him genially31 and a little suspiciously. These rich young bloods,he thought. That's a funny request for a fellow like that to make of me. You'd think with all the people he knowsand runs with here he'd know some one who would tip him off quicker than I could. Still, maybe, it's just becauseof them that he is afraid to ask around here. You don't know who he might have got in trouble--that youngFinchley girl herself, even. You never can tell. I see him around with her occasionally, and she's gay enough.
But, gee32, wouldn't that be the . . .
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clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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proclivities
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| n.倾向，癖性( proclivity的名词复数 ) | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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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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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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broach
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| v.开瓶，提出(题目) | |
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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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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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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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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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ticklish
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| adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理 | |
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recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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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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retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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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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