Two incidents which occurred at this time tended still more to sharpen the contrary points of view holdingbetween Clyde and Roberta. One of these was no more than a glimpse which Roberta had one evening of Clydepausing at the Central Avenue curb1 in front of the post-office to say a few words to Arabella Stark2, who in alarge and impressive-looking car, was waiting for her father who was still in the Stark Building opposite. AndMiss Stark, fashionably outfitted3 according to the season, her world and her own pretentious4 taste, was affectedlyposed at the wheel, not only for the benefit of Clyde but the public in general. And to Roberta, who by now wasreduced to the verge6 of distraction7 between Clyde's delay and her determination to compel him to act in herbehalf, she appeared to be little less than an epitome8 of all the security, luxury and freedom from responsibilitywhich so enticed9 and hence caused Clyde to delay and be as indifferent as possible to the dire10 state whichconfronted her. For, alas11, apart from this claim of her condition, what had she to offer him comparable to all hewould be giving up in case he acceded12 to her request? Nothing-- a thought which was far from encouraging.
Yet, at this moment contrasting her own wretched and neglected state with that of this Miss Stark, for example,she found herself a prey13 to an even more complaining and antagonistic14 mood than had hitherto characterized her.
It was not right. It was not fair. For during the several weeks that had passed since last they had discussed thismatter, Clyde had scarcely said a word to her at the factory or elsewhere, let alone called upon her at her room,fearing as he did the customary inquiry15 which he could not satisfy. And this caused her to feel that not only washe neglecting but resenting her most sharply.
And yet as she walked home from this trivial and fairly representative scene, her heart was not nearly so angry asit was sad and sore because of the love and comfort that had vanished and was not likely ever to come again . . .
ever . . . ever . . . ever. Oh, how terrible, . . . how terrible!
On the other hand, Clyde, and at approximately this same time, was called upon to witness a scene identifiedwith Roberta, which, as some might think, only an ironic16 and even malicious17 fate could have intended orpermitted to come to pass. For motoring north the following Sunday to Arrow Lake to the lodge18 of the Trumbulls' to take advantage of an early spring week-end planned by Sondra, the party on nearing Biltz, whichwas in the direct line of the trip, was compelled to detour19 east in the direction of Roberta's home. And comingfinally to a north and south road which ran directly from Trippettsville past the Alden farm, they turned northinto that. And a few minutes later, came directly to the corner adjoining the Alden farm, where an east and westroad led to Biltz. Here Tracy Trumbull, driving at the time, requested that some one should get out and inquire atthe adjacent farm-house as to whether this road did lead to Biltz. And Clyde, being nearest to one door, jumpedout. And then, glancing at the name on the mail-box which stood at the junction20 and evidently belonged to theextremely dilapidated old farm-house on the rise above, he was not a little astonished to note that the name wasthat of Titus Alden--Roberta's father. Also, as it instantly came to him, since she had described her parents asbeing near Biltz, this must be her home. It gave him pause, caused him for the moment to hesitate as to whetherto go on or not, for once he had given Roberta a small picture of himself, and she might have shown it up here.
Again the mere21 identification of this lorn, dilapidated realm with Roberta and hence himself, was sufficient tocause him to wish to turn and run.
But Sondra, who was sitting next him in the car and now noting his hesitation22, called: "What's the matter, Clyde?
Afraid of the bow-wow?" And he, realizing instantly that they would comment further on his actions if he didnot proceed at once, started up the path. But the effect of this house, once he contemplated23 it thoroughly24, wassufficient to arouse in his brain the most troubled and miserable25 of thoughts. For what a house, to be sure! Solonely and bare, even in this bright, spring weather! The decayed and sagging26 roof. The broken chimney to thenorth--rough lumps of cemented field stones lying at its base; the sagging and semi-toppling chimney to thesouth, sustained in place by a log chain. The unkempt path from the road below, which slowly he ascended27! Hewas not a little dejected by the broken and displaced stones which served as steps before the front door. And theunpainted dilapidated out-buildings, all the more dreary28 because of these others.
"Gee!" To think that this was Roberta's home. And to think, in the face of all that he now aspired29 to inconnection with Sondra and this social group at Lycurgus, she should be demanding that he marry her! AndSondra in the car with him here to see--if not know. The poverty! The reduced grimness of it all. How far he hadtraveled away from just such a beginning as this!
With a weakening and sickening sensation at the pit of his stomach, as of some blow administered there, he nowapproached the door. And then, as if to further distress30 him, if that were possible, the door was opened by TitusAlden, who, in an old, thread-bare and out-at-elbows coat, as well as baggy31, worn, jean trousers and rough,shineless, ill-fitting country shoes, desired by his look to know what he wanted. And Clyde, being taken abackby the clothes, as well as a marked resemblance to Roberta about the eyes and mouth, now as swiftly as possibleasked if the east and west road below ran through Biltz and joined the main highway north. And although hewould have preferred a quick "yes" so that he might have turned and gone, Titus preferred to step down into theyard and then, with a gesture of the arm, indicate that if they wanted to strike a really good part of the road, theyhad better follow this Trippettsville north and south road for at least two more miles, and then turn west. Clydethanked him briefly32 and turned almost before he had finished and hurried away.
For, as he now recalled, and with an enormous sense of depression, Roberta was thinking and at this very time,that soon now, and in the face of all Lycurgus had to offer him--Sondra--the coming spring and summer--thelove and romance, gayety, position, power--he was going to give all that up and go away with and marry her.
Sneak away to some out-of-the-way place! Oh, how horrible! And with a child at his age! Oh, why had he ever been so foolish and weak as to identify himself with her in this intimate way? Just because of a few lonelyevenings! Oh, why, why couldn't he have waited and then this other world would have opened up to him just thesame? If only he could have waited!
And now unquestionably, unless he could speedily and easily disengage himself from her, all this other splendidrecognition would be destined33 to be withdrawn34 from him, and this other world from which he sprang mightextend its gloomy, poverty-stricken arms to him and envelop35 him once more, just as the poverty of his familyhad enveloped36 and almost strangled him from the first. And it even occurred to him, in a vague way for the firsttime, how strange it was that this girl and he, whose origin had been strikingly similar, should have been sodrawn to each other in the beginning. Why should it have been? How strange life was, anyway? But even moreharrowing than this, was the problem of a way out that was before him. And his mind from now on, on this trip,was once more searching for some solution. A word of complaint from Roberta or her parents to his uncle orGilbert, and assuredly he would be done for.
The thought so troubled him that once in the car, and although previously37 he had been chattering38 along with theothers about what might be in store ahead in the way of divertissement, he now sat silent. And Sondra, who satnext to him and who previously had been whispering at intervals39 of her plans for the summer, now, instead ofresuming the patter, whispered: "What come over de sweet phing?" (When Clyde appeared to be the leastreduced in mind she most affected5 this patter with him, since it had an almost electric, if sweetly tormentingeffect on him. "His baby-talking girl," he sometimes called her.) "Facey all dark now. Little while ago facey allsmiles. Come make facey all nice again. Smile at Sondra. Squeeze Sondra's arm like good boy, Clyde."She turned and looked up into his eyes to see what if any effect this baby-worded cajolery was having, and Clydedid his best to brighten, of course. But even so, and in the face of all this amazingly wonderful love on her partfor him, the specter of Roberta and all that she represented now in connection with all this, was ever before him-herstate, her very recent edict in regard to it, the obvious impossibility of doing anything now but go away withher.
Why--rather than let himself in for a thing like that--would it not be better, and even though he lost Sondra onceand for all, for him to decamp as in the instance of the slain40 child in Kansas City--and be heard of nevermorehere. But then he would lose Sondra, his connections here, and his uncle--this world! The loss! The loss! Themisery of once more drifting about here and there; of being compelled to write his mother once more concerningcertain things about his flight, which some one writing from here might explain to her afterwards--and so muchmore damagingly. And the thoughts concerning him on the part of his relatives! And of late he had been writinghis mother that he was doing so well. What was it about his life that made things like this happen to him? Wasthis what his life was to be like? Running away from one situation and another just to start all over somewhereelse--perhaps only to be compelled to flee from something worse. No, he could not run away again. He must faceit and solve it in some way. He must!
God!
这时偶然发生两件事，使克莱德和罗伯达之间意见分歧不可调和了。有一天晚上，罗伯达偶然瞥见克莱德在邮局前面中央大道边沿停下来，跟正坐在一辆很大很阔气的轿车里等父亲从对面斯塔克大厦里出来的阿拉贝拉。斯塔克说了几句话。斯塔克小姐穿着一套合乎时令节序。合乎她那上流社会口味。合乎她自己矫揉造作的脾性的时髦衣服，撤娇地坐在驾驶座旁边，不仅是给克莱德看，而且也是给众人看。这时，罗伯达一是因为克莱德一再延宕，二是坚决要求他设法帮助自己，几乎快要发疯了。在她心目中，斯塔克简直就是安适。奢华。飘逸。洒脱所有这一切的化身;而正是这些使克莱德入了迷，因而一再延宕，并对她可怕的遭际完全无动于衷。事实上，根据目前状况，她是有权向他提出这种要求的，不过，万一他答应了她的要求，把这一切通通放弃了，那末，倘若与前者相比，她即使倾其所有，能给他报偿的，又是些什么呢?
什么也都没有……想到这里，真让人泄气!
不过，这时她把自己被人歧视的可怜的遭际，跟斯塔克小姐的境遇进行比较后，心里觉得自己从来没有象此刻这样充满痛恨和敌视。这太不合理，太不公平了，自从他们讨论这件事后，一连好几个星期，不论是在厂里或是别处，克莱德压根儿没跟她说过一句话，更不用说到她住处看她了(因为他害怕她又会提起那个他怎么也回答不了的老问题)。这就让她感到，他不仅冷淡她:
而且真的还非常恨她。
她看了这个平平常常但又是极有代表性的场面后走回家去时，心里充满了与其说是愤怒，还不如说是悲哀和痛苦。要知道爱情呀。安慰呀，早已烟消云散，以后恐怕也不会再来……永远……永远……永远也不会再来。啊，多可怕……多可怕呀!
差不多就在这个时候，克莱德有一次碰巧也看到了跟罗伯达直接有关的场面。这件事在有些人看来，也许觉得唯有命运的嘲讽乃至于恶意作弄才会发生的。这个星期天，一群年轻人在桑德拉的建议下，开了汽车向莱柯格斯以北箭湖驶去，打算到特朗布尔家的别墅去度初春的周末。比尔茨是必经之地，车子开到这里附近，必须往东绕道，朝罗伯达家的方向开。随后看到一条南北向的公路(它是从特里佩茨米尔斯直奔而来，经过奥尔登家的农场)，他们的车子朝北掉头，才开上了这条公路。几分钟以后，车子径直开到了临近奥尔登农场的岔路口，那儿有一条东西向的公路通往比尔茨。开车的特雷西。特朗布尔提议说，最好有谁下了车，到附近农家打听一下，这条公路是不是一直通往比尔茨。克莱德坐位离车门最近，便马上跳下了车。他端了一下设置在岔路口的一只信箱上的名字。这只信箱显然是高地上那破烂不堪的农家的。他不由得大吃一惊，看到上面写的是泰特斯。奥尔登……罗伯达的父亲的名字。他立时回想到，过去她说过她父母是住在比尔茨附近，想必这儿就是她的老家了。他一下子茫然不知所措，真不知道自己该不该继续往前走去。因为有一回他把自己一张小照送给了罗伯达，而她很可能拿到这儿传看过。何况眼前这个荒凉破烂的地方是跟罗伯达有关，因而也就跟他有关，仅仅这一点，他恨不得扭头就跑。
可是，车子上坐在他身旁的桑德拉，一看到他迟疑不定的神态，便高声喊道:
"克莱德，怎么回事呀?
怕汪汪汪狗叫声吗?
"他马上一个闪念，要是他不赶紧往前走，他们势必对他议论更多，于是就直奔小路而去了。可是，他把这所房子再仔细打量一遍后，最最困扰，最最痛苦的念头一齐涌上心头。那房子肯定破得够呛!
屋顶都破了，往下塌。北边那个破烟囱底座四周，是乱七八糟一堆嵌过水泥的石块;南边那个往下陷，快要坍下来的烟囱，却是靠几根圆木撑住的。
此刻他正在缓步走去的，就是从路边通往高地的那条坑坑洼洼的小路。他一见到一块块早已开裂。错位的石板就算是正门前的台阶，真是大煞风景。还有那些连白灰都没刷过的披屋，在四周围其它房子的衬托下，越发显得灰不溜丢。
"啊!
"原来这就是罗伯达的家。正当他一心高攀桑德拉和这些莱柯格斯上流社会里的人时，她竟然要求他跟她结婚!
而桑德拉刚才就跟他一块在车上，此刻正在抬眼看着这一切……尽管她还什么都不知道。穷得够呛!
这一切真够骇人啊。
他原来也是从这种穷地方开始起步的，但是现在他已经走得该有多远啊!
他觉得仿佛肚子上挨了一拳，一阵阵恶心要吐，就往正门口走去。好象故意让他难堪似的，开门的恰好是泰特斯。奥尔登。他身上穿一件破烂不堪。肘子弯都露了出来的外套，一条鼓鼓囊囊的旧斜纹布裤子，脚上着一双粗劣。不擦油。不合脚的乡巴佬鞋。他两眼直瞅着克莱德，仿佛在问对方有什么事。克莱德看到他那一身打扮，还有他那眼睛。嘴巴活象罗伯达，就吓了一跳，赶紧开口问高地底下那条东西向的路是否经过比尔茨跟北面那条公路连接起来。这时但愿他说一声"是的"，克莱德便马上掉头就跑了。可是泰特斯偏从台阶上一步步走下来，走到院子里，举起胳臂比划了一下，表示:
如果要想舒舒服服走一程路，最好顺着特里佩茨米尔斯这条从北向南的路，至少走上两英里，然后再往西拐。克莱德匆匆向他道了谢，还没有等泰特斯把话说完，赶紧转身就跑了。
这时，他心里无比沮丧地想:
罗伯达偏偏在这个时候想要他马上把莱柯格斯给予他的一切……桑德拉……即将来临的春夏两季……爱情。罗曼史。欢乐。
地位。权力等等……一古脑儿都抛弃，跟她一块儿上外地结婚去。偷偷地溜到一个人迹罕至的地方去!
唉，多可怕呀!
而且，他这么个年纪，就有了小孩!
唉，他干吗这么傻，这么意志薄弱，跟她发生了私情?
就是因为难捱过这几个孤寂的夜晚!
唉，干吗他就不能等一等，这另一个新世界不是照样向他敞开着吗?
要是当初他能等一等就好了!
可现在呢，毫无疑问，要是他不能马上干脆利索地摆脱掉她，这个珠光宝气的新世界给予他的优遇，一定都会丧失殆尽，而他原来出身的那个世界，穷困便会伸出它令人沮丧的双手，重新把他攫住，如同当初他家的穷困把他攫住，一开头差点儿把他扼杀掉。他甚至生平头一遭朦朦胧胧地想:
说来也真怪，这个姑娘和他，出身何等惊人地相似，两人一开头就那么强烈地吸引住了。为什么会有这样的事呢?
不管怎么说，人生该有多么奇怪啊?
然而，更折磨他的是他目前面临的问题:
怎样才能找到出路。就从此刻起，他一路上所想的，便是再看看有何解决办法。罗伯达或是她的父母要是向他伯父或是吉尔伯特告发一个字，那他肯定全都得毁了。
他一想到这里就心乱如麻，可是一上车，他便默不出声地坐着，尽管刚才他还很起劲地跟大伙儿谈着等一会儿怎么个玩法。桑德拉紧挨着坐在他身边，刚才还不时低声跟他谈到她今年夏天的计划，这时并没有继续谈下去，只是轻声耳语道:
"小宝贝怎么啦?
"(每当克莱德非常不开心的时候，她喜欢就象逗弄小孩那样跟他说话。她这一套嗲声嗲气，如同电流通过似的立时在他身上见效，让他感到既是甜丝丝，又是麻辣辣的。有时，他就管她叫做"他那个咿呀学语的小姑娘"。)"脸儿沉下来了。刚才还是满脸笑眯眯。得了，得了，我的小宝贝脸儿马上乐呵呵吧。对着桑德拉笑一笑。克莱德，要拉着桑德拉的胳臂，做一个乖孩子。"她侧转脸来，抬眼直望着他的眼睛，看看这一套逗孩子的话语有什么效果。
克莱德自然尽量装出眉开眼笑的样子来。然而，即使是这样，在桑德拉现在如此惊人地迷恋他的时候，他眼前始终映现着罗伯达的幽灵，以及与她休戚相关的所有一切……她目前的境况，最近她作出的决定，以及他除了跟她一块出走以外，显然已是无路可走了。
是啊……与其为了这样的事陷入困境……还不如干脆一溜了事(哪怕他从此永远失去桑德拉)，如同当初在堪萨斯城压死那个小孩后一溜了事那样……从此以后，这儿的人再也听不到他的一点音信。不过，这意味着，他就会失掉桑德拉，失掉这儿的所有一切关系，失掉他的伯父以及所有这一切!
多大的损失呀!
多大的损失呀!
又得到处漂泊流浪，受苦受罪;还得写信给他母亲，说明他逃离莱柯格斯的原因，以及要是这儿有人写信去，肯定都会告诉她的……那就更厉害呢。他的那些亲戚对他会有什么想法呀!
最近他还给母亲写过信，说他在这儿很得意。他这个人怎么会老碰上这类事?
难道是他命里注定了吗?
总是从这儿或那儿一次次逃走，到了别处再从头开始……也许更糟……到头来不得不再逃走。不，现在他不能再逃了。他就得面对灾难，怎么也要想法解决它。他非得解决它不可!
老天哪!
收听单词发音 |
1
curb
|
|
| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
stark
|
|
| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
outfitted
|
|
| v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
pretentious
|
|
| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
verge
|
|
| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
distraction
|
|
| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
epitome
|
|
| n.典型，梗概 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
enticed
|
|
| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
dire
|
|
| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
acceded
|
|
| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
antagonistic
|
|
| adj.敌对的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
ironic
|
|
| adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
malicious
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
detour
|
|
| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
junction
|
|
| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
sagging
|
|
| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
aspired
|
|
| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
baggy
|
|
| adj.膨胀如袋的，宽松下垂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
envelop
|
|
| vt.包，封，遮盖；包围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
enveloped
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
chattering
|
|
| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |