And then on his return to Lycurgus early Monday morning, the following letter from Roberta,DEAR CLYDE:
My dear, I have often heard the saying, "it never rains but it pours," but I never knew what it meant until to-day.
About the first person I saw this morning was Mr. Wilcox, a neighbor of ours, who came to say that Mrs. Ansewould not be out today on account of some work she had to do for Mrs. Dinwiddie in Biltz, although when sheleft yesterday everything had been prepared for her so that I could help her a little with the sewing and so hurrythings up a bit. And now she won't be here until tomorrow. Next word came that Mother's sister, Mrs. Nichols, isvery ill and Mother had to go over to her house at Baker1's Pond, which is about twelve miles east of here, Tomdriving her, although he ought to be here to help father with all the work that there is to do about the farm. And Idon't know if Mother will be able to get back before Sunday. If I were better and didn't have all this work of myown on my hands I would have to go too, I suppose, although Mother insists not.
Next, Emily and Tom, thinking all is going so well with me and that I might enjoy it, were having four girls andfour boys come here tonight for a sort of June moon-party, with ice cream and cake to be made by Emily andMother and myself. But now, poor dear, she has to do a lot of telephoning over Mr. Wilcox's phone, which weshare, in order to put it off until some day next week, if possible. And she's just heartsick and gloomy, of course.
As for myself, I'm trying to keep a stiff upper lip, as the saying is. But it's pretty hard, dear, I'll tell you. For so far I have only had three small telephone talks with you, saying that you didn't think you would have thenecessary money before July fifth. And to put the finishing touches on it, as I only learned to-day, Mamma andPapa have about decided2 to go to my Uncle Charlie's in Hamilton for over the fourth (from the fourth to thefifteenth) and take me with them, unless I decide to return to Lycurgus, while Tom and Emily visit with my sisterat Homer. But, dear, I can't do that, as you know. I'm too sick and worried. Last night I vomited3 dreadful andhave been half dead on my feet all day, and I am just about crazy tonight. Dear, what can we do? Can't you comefor me before July third, which will be the time they will be going? You will have to come for me before then,really, because I just can't go up there with them. It's fifty miles from here. I could say I would go up there withthem if only you would be sure to come for me before they start. But I must be absolutely sure that you arecoming--absolutely.
Clyde, I have done nothing but cry since I got here. If you were only here I wouldn't feel so badly. I do try to bebrave, dear, but how can I help thinking at times that you will never come for me when you haven't written meone single note and have only talked to me three times since I've been up here. But then I say to myself youcouldn't be so mean as that, and especially since you have promised. Oh, you will come, won't you? Everythingworries me so now, Clyde, for some reason and I'm so frightened, dear. I think of last summer and then this one,and all my dreams. It won't make any real difference to you about your coming a few days sooner than youintended, will it, dear? Even if we have to get along on a little less. I know that we can. I can be very saving andeconomical. I will try to have my dresses made by then. If not, I will do with what I have and finish them later.
And I will try and be brave, dear, and not annoy you much, if only you will come. You must, you know, Clyde.
It can't be any other way, although for your sake now I wish it could.
Please, please, Clyde, write and tell me that you will be here at the end of the time that you said. I worry so andget so lonesome off here all by myself. I will come straight back to you if you don't come by the time you said. Iknow you will not like me to say this, but, Clyde, I can't stay here and that's all there is to it. And I can't go awaywith Mamma and Papa either, so there is only one way out. I don't believe I will sleep a wink5 to-night, so pleasewrite me and in your letter tell me over and over not to worry about your not coming for me. If you could onlycome to-day, dear, or this week-end, I wouldn't feel so blue. But nearly two weeks more! Every one is in bed andthe house is still, so I will stop.
But please write me, dear, right away, or if you won't do that call me up sure to-morrow, because I just can't restone single minute until I do hear from you.
P. S.: This is a horrid7 letter, but I just can't write a better one. I'm so blue.
But the day this letter arrived in Lycurgus Clyde was not there to answer it at once. And because of that, Robertabeing in the darkest and most hysterical8 mood and thought, sat down on Saturday afternoon and, half-convincedas she was that he might already have departed for some distant point without any word to her, almost shriekedor screamed, if one were to properly characterize the mood that animated9 the following:
Biltz, Saturday, June 14th.
MY DEAR CLYDE:
I am writing to tell you that I am coming back to Lycurgus. I simply can't stay here any longer. Mamma worriesand wonders why I cry so much, and I am just about sick. I know I promised to stay until the 25th or 26th, butthen you said you would write me, but you never have--only an occasional telephone message when I am almostcrazy. I woke up this morning and couldn't help crying right away and this afternoon my headache is dreadful.
I'm so afraid you won't come and I'm so frightened, dear. Please come and take me away some place, anywhere,so I can get out of here and not worry like I do. I'm so afraid in the state that I'm in that Papa and Mamma maymake me tell the whole affair or that they will find it out for themselves.
Oh, Clyde, you will never know. You have said you would come, and sometimes I just know you will. But atother times I get to thinking about other things and I'm just as certain you won't, especially when you don't writeor telephone. I wish you would write and say that you will come just so I can stand to stay here. Just as soon asyou get this, I wish you would write me and tell me the exact day you can come--not later than the first, really,because I know I cannot stand to stay here any longer than then. Clyde, there isn't a girl in the whole world asmiserable as I am, and you have made me so. But I don't mean that, either, dear. You were good to me once, andyou are now, offering to come for me. And if you will come right away I will be so grateful. And when you readthis, if you think I am unreasonable10, please do not mind it, Clyde, but just think I am crazy with grief and worryand that I just don't know what to do. Please write me, Clyde. If you only knew how I need a word.
ROBERTA.
This letter, coupled as it was with a threat to come to Lycurgus, was sufficient to induce in Clyde a state notunlike Roberta's. To think that he had no additional, let alone plausible11, excuse to offer Roberta whereby shecould be induced to delay her final and imperative12 demand. He racked his brains. He must not write her any longand self-incriminating letters. That would be foolish in the face of his determination not to marry her. Besides hismood at the moment, so fresh from the arms and kisses of Sondra, was not for anything like that. He could not,even if he would.
At the same time, something must be done at once, as he could see, in order to allay13 her apparently14 desperatemood. And ten minutes after he had finished reading the last of these two letters, he was attempting to reachRoberta over the telephone. And finally getting her after a troublesome and impatient half-hour, he heard hervoice, thin and rather querulous as it seemed to him at first, but really only because of a poor connection, saying:
"Hello, Clyde, hello. Oh, I'm so glad you called. I've been terribly nervous. Did you get my two letters? I wasjust about to leave here in the morning if I didn't hear from you by then. I just couldn't stand not to hear anything.
Where have you been, dear? Did you read what I said about my parents going away? That's true. Why don't youwrite, Clyde, or call me up anyhow? What about what I said in my letter about the third? Will you be sure andcome then? Or shall I meet you somewhere? I've been so nervous the last three or four days, but now that I hearyou again, maybe I'll be able to quiet down some. But I do wish you would write me a note every few daysanyhow. Why won't you, Clyde? You haven't even written me one since I've been here. I can't tell you what astate I'm in and how hard it is to keep calm now."Plainly Roberta was very nervous and fearsome as she talked. As a matter of fact, except that the home in which she was telephoning was deserted15 at the moment she was talking very indiscreetly, it seemed to Clyde. And itaided but little in his judgment16 for her to explain that she was all alone and that no one could hear her. He did notwant her to use his name or refer to letters written to him.
Without talking too plainly, he now tried to make it clear that he was very busy and that it was hard for him towrite as much as she might think necessary. Had he not said that he was coming on the 28th or thereabouts if hecould? Well, he would if he could, only it looked now as though it might be necessary for him to postpone17 it foranother week or so, until the seventh or eighth of July--long enough for him to get together an extra fifty forwhich he had a plan, and which would be necessary for him to have. But really, which was the thought behindthis other, long enough for him to pay one more visit to Sondra as he was yearning18 to do, over the next weekend.
But this demand of hers, now! Couldn't she go with her parents for a week or so and then let him come forher there or she come to him? It would give him more needed time, and-But at this Roberta, bursting forth19 in a storm of nervous disapproval--saying that most certainly if that were thecase she was going back to her room at the Gilpins', if she could get it, and not waste her time up there gettingready and waiting for him when he was not coming--he suddenly decided that he might as well say that he wascoming on the third, or that if he did not, that at least by then he would have arranged with her where to meethim. For even by now, he had not made up his mind as to how he was to do. He must have a little more time tothink--more time to think.
And so now he altered his tone greatly and said: "But listen, Bert. Please don't be angry with me. You talk asthough I didn't have any troubles in connection with all this, either. You don't know what this may be going tocost me before I'm through with it, and you don't seem to care much. I know you're worried and all that, but whatabout me? I'm doing the very best I can now, Bert, with all I have to think about. And won't you just be patientnow until the third, anyhow? Please do. I promise to write you and if I don't, I'll call you up every other day. Willthat be all right? But I certainly don't want you to be using my name like you did a while ago. That will lead totrouble, sure. Please don't. And when I call again, I'll just say it's Mr. Baker asking, see, and you can say it's anyone you like afterwards. And then, if by any chance anything should come up that would stop our starting exactlyon the third, why you can come back here if you want to, see, or somewhere near here, and then we can start assoon as possible after that."His tone was so pleading and soothing20, infused as it was--but because of his present necessity only with a traceof that old tenderness and seeming helplessness which, at times, had quite captivated Roberta, that even now itserved to win her to a bizarre and groundless gratitude21. So much so that at once she had replied, warmly andemotionally, even: "Oh, no, dear. I don't want to do anything like that. You know I don't. It's just because thingsare so bad as they are with me and I can't help myself now. You know that, Clyde, don't you? I can't help lovingyou. I always will, I suppose. And I don't want to do anything to hurt you, dear, really I don't if I can help it."And Clyde, hearing the ring of genuine affection, and sensing anew his old-time power over her, was disposed toreenact the role of lover again, if only in order to dissuade22 Roberta from being too harsh and driving with himnow. For while he could not like her now, he told himself, and could not think of marrying her, still in view ofthis other dream he could at least be gracious to her--could he not?--Pretend! And so this conversation endedwith a new peace based on this agreement.
The preceding day--a day of somewhat reduced activities on the lakes from which he had just returned--he andSondra and Stuart and Bertine, together with Nina Temple and a youth named Harley Baggott, then visiting theThurstons, had motored first from Twelfth Lake to Three Mile Bay, a small lakeside resort some twenty-fivemiles north, and from thence, between towering walls of pines, to Big Bittern and some other smaller lakes lostin the recesses23 of the tall pines of the region to the north of Trine Lake. And en route, Clyde, as he now recalled,had been most strangely impressed at moments and in spots by the desolate25 and for the most part lonely characterof the region. The narrow and rain-washed and even rutted nature of the dirt roads that wound between tall,silent and darksome trees--forests in the largest sense of the word--that extended for miles and miles apparentlyon either hand. The decadent26 and weird27 nature of some of the bogs28 and tarns29 on either side of the onlycomparatively passable dirt roads which here and there were festooned with funereal30 or viperous31 vines, andstrewn like deserted battlefields with soggy and decayed piles of fallen and crisscrossed logs--in places as manyas four deep--one above the other--in the green slime that an undrained depression in the earth had accumulated.
The eyes and backs of occasional frogs that, upon lichen32 or vine or moss-covered stumps33 and rotting logs in thiswarm June weather, there sunned themselves apparently undisturbed; the spirals of gnats35, the solitary36 flick37 of asnake's tail as disturbed by the sudden approach of the machine, one made off into the muck and the poisonousgrasses and water-plants which were thickly imbedded in it.
And in seeing one of these Clyde, for some reason, had thought of the accident at Pass Lake. He did not realizeit, but at the moment his own subconscious38 need was contemplating39 the loneliness and the usefulness at times ofsuch a lone4 spot as this. And at one point it was that a wier-wier, one of the solitary water-birds of this region,uttered its ouphe and barghest cry, flying from somewhere near into some darker recess24 within the woods. And atthis sound it was that Clyde had stirred nervously40 and then sat up in the car. It was so very different to any bird-cry he had ever heard anywhere.
"What was that?" he asked of Harley Baggott, who sat next him.
"What?""Why, that bird or something that just flew away back there just now?""I didn't hear any bird.""Gee41! That was a queer sound. It makes me feel creepy."As interesting and impressive as anything else to him in this almost tenantless42 region had been the fact that therewere so many lonesome lakes, not one of which he had ever heard of before. The territory through which theywere speeding as fast as the dirt roads would permit, was dotted with them in these deep forests of pine. Andonly occasionally in passing near one, were there any signs indicating a camp or lodge43, and those to be reachedonly by some half-blazed trail or rutty or sandy road disappearing through darker trees. In the main, the shores ofthe more remote lakes passed, were all but untenanted, or so sparsely44 that a cabin or a distant lodge to be seenacross the smooth waters of some pine- encircled gem45 was an object of interest to all.
Why must he think of that other lake in Massachusetts! That boat! The body of that girl found--but not that of theman who accompanied her! How terrible, really!
He recalled afterwards,--here in his room, after the last conversation with Roberta--that the car, after a few moremiles, had finally swung into an open space at the north end of a long narrow lake--the south prospect46 of whichappeared to be divided by a point or an island suggesting a greater length and further windings47 or curves thanwere visible from where the car had stopped. And except for the small lodge and boathouse at this upper end ithad appeared so very lonesome--not a launch or canoe on it at the time their party arrived. And as in the case ofall the other lakes seen this day, the banks to the very shore line were sentineled with those same green pines-tall,spear-shaped-- their arms widespread like one outside his window here in Lycurgus. And beyond them in thedistance, to the south and west, rose the humped and still smooth and green backs of the nearer Adirondacks.
And the water before them, now ruffled48 by a light wind and glowing in the afternoon sun, was of an intensePrussian blue, almost black, which suggested, as was afterwards confirmed by a guide who was lounging uponthe low veranda49 of the small inn--that it was very deep--"all of seventy feet not more than a hundred feet outfrom that boathouse."And at this point Harley Baggott, who was interested to learn more about the fishing possibilities of this lake inbehalf of his father, who contemplated50 coming to this region in a few days, had inquired of the guide whoappeared not to look at the others in the car: "How long is this lake, anyhow?""Oh, about seven miles." "Any fish in it?" "Throw a line in and see. The best place for black bass51 and the like ofthat almost anywhere around here. Off the island down yonder, or just to the south of it round on the other sidethere, there's a little bay that's said to be one of the best fishin' holes in any of the lakes up this way. I've seen acoupla men bring back as many as seventy-five fish in two hours. That oughta satisfy anybody that ain't tryin' toruin the place for the rest of us."The guide, a thinnish, tall and wizened52 type, with a long, narrow head and small, keen, bright blue eyes laugheda yokelish laugh as he studied the group. "Not thinkin' of tryin' your luck to-day?""No, just inquiring for my dad. He's coming up here next week, maybe. I want to see about accommodations.""Well, they ain't what they are down to Racquette, of course, but then the fish down there ain't what they are uphere, either." He visited all with a sly and wry53 and knowing smile.
Clyde had never seen the type before. He was interested by all the anomalies and contrarities of this lonesomeworld as contrasted with cities he had known almost exclusively, as well as the decidedly exotic and material lifeand equipment with which, at the Cranstons' and elsewhere, he was then surrounded. The strange andcomparatively deserted nature of this region as contrasted with the brisk and vigorous life of Lycurgus, less thana hundred miles to the south.
"The country up here kills me," commented Stuart Finchley at this point. "It's so near the Chain and yet it's sodifferent, scarcely any one living up here at all, it seems.""Well, except for the camps in summer and the fellows that come up to hunt moose and deer in the fall, there ain't much of anybody or anything around here after September first," commented the guide. "I've been guidin'
and trappin' for nigh onto seventeen years now around here and 'cept for more and more people around some ofthe lakes below here--the Chain principally in summer--I ain't seen much change. You need to know this countrypurty well if yer goin't strike out anywhere away from the main roads, though o' course about five miles to thewest o' here is the railroad. Gun Lodge is the station. We bring 'em by bus from there in the summer. And fromthe south end down there is a sorta road leadin' down to Greys Lake and Three Mile Bay. You musta come alonga part of it, since it's the only road up into this country as yet. They're talkin' of cuttin' one through to Long Lakesometime, but so far it's mostly talk. But from most of these other lakes around here, there's no road at all, notthat an automobile54 could make. Just trails and there's not even a decent camp on some o' 'em. You have to bringyour own outfit55. But Ellis and me was over to Gun Lake last summer--that's thirty miles west o' here and we hadto walk every inch of the way and carry our packs. But, oh, say, the fishin' and moose and deer come right downto the shore in places to drink. See 'em as plain as that stump34 across the lake."And Clyde remembered that, along with the others, he had carried away the impression that for solitude56 andcharm--or at least mystery--this region could scarcely be matched. And to think it was all so comparatively nearLycurgus--not more than a hundred miles by road; not more than seventy by rail, as he eventually came to know.
But now once more in Lycurgus and back in his room after just explaining to Roberta, as he had, he once moreencountered on his writing desk, the identical paper containing the item concerning the tragedy at Pass Lake.
And in spite of himself, his eye once more followed nervously and yet unwaveringly to the last word all thesuggestive and provocative57 details. The uncomplicated and apparently easy way in which the lost couple had firstarrived at the boathouse; the commonplace and entirely58 unsuspicious way in which they had hired a boat and setforth for a row; the manner in which they had disappeared to the north end; and then the upturned boat, thefloating oars59 and hats near the shore. He stood reading in the still strong evening light. Outside the windows werethe dark boughs60 of the fir tree of which he had thought the preceding day and which now suggested all those firsand pines about the shores of Big Bittern.
But, good God! What was he thinking of anyhow? He, Clyde Griffiths! The nephew of Samuel Griffiths! Whatwas "getting into" him? Murder! That's what it was. This terrible item--this devil's accident or machination thatwas constantly putting it before him! A most horrible crime, and one for which they electrocuted people if theywere caught. Besides, he could not murder anybody--not Roberta, anyhow. Oh, no! Surely not after all that hadbeen between them. And yet--this other world!--Sondra--which he was certain to lose now unless he acted insome way-His hands shook, his eyelids61 twitched--then his hair at the roots tingled62 and over his body ran chill nervoustitillations in waves. Murder! Or upsetting a boat at any rate in deep water, which of course might happenanywhere, and by accident, as at Pass Lake. And Roberta could not swim. He knew that. But she might saveherself at that--scream--cling to the boat--and then--if there were any to hear--and she told afterwards! An icyperspiration now sprang to his forehead; his lips trembled and suddenly his throat felt parched63 and dry. Toprevent a thing like that he would have to--to--but no--he was not like that. He could not do a thing like that--hitany one--a girl--Roberta--and when drowning or struggling. Oh, no, no--no such thing as that! Impossible.
He took his straw hat and went out, almost before any one heard him THINK, as he would have phrased it tohimself, such horrible, terrible thoughts. He could not and would not think them from now on. He was no such person. And yet--and yet--these thoughts. The solution--if he wanted one. The way to stay here--not leave--marrySondra--be rid of Roberta and all--all--for the price of a little courage or daring. But no!
He walked and walked--away from Lycurgus--out on a road to the southeast which passed through a poor anddecidedly unfrequented rural section, and so left him alone to think--or, as he felt, not to be heard in his thinking.
Day was fading into dark. Lamps were beginning to glow in the cottages here and there. Trees in groups in fieldsor along the road were beginning to blur64 or smokily blend. And although it was warm--the air lifeless andlethargic--he walked fast, thinking, and perspiring65 as he did so, as though he were seeking to outwalk andoutthink or divert some inner self that preferred to be still and think.
That gloomy, lonely lake up there!
That island to the south!
Who would see?
Who could hear?
That station at Gun Lodge with a bus running to it at this season of the year. (Ah, he remembered that, did he?
The deuce!) A terrible thing, to remember a thing like that in connection with such a thought as this! But if hewere going to think of such a thing as this at all, he had better think well--he could tell himself that--or stopthinking about it now--once and forever--forever. But Sondra! Roberta! If ever he were caught--electrocuted!
And yet the actual misery66 of his present state. The difficulty! The danger of losing Sondra. And yet, murder-He wiped his hot and wet face, and paused and gazed at a group of trees across a field which somehow remindedhim of the trees of . . . well . . . he didn't like this road. It was getting too dark out here. He had better turn and goback. But that road at the south and leading to Three Mile Bay and Greys Lake--if one chose to go that way--toSharon and the Cranston Lodge--whither he would be going afterwards if he did go that way. God! Big Bittern-thetrees along there after dark would be like that--blurred and gloomy. It would have to be toward evening, ofcourse. No one would think of trying to . . . well . . . in the morning, when there was so much light. Only a foolwould do that. But at night, toward dusk, as it was now, or a little later. But, damn it, he would not listen to suchthoughts. Yet no one would be likely to see him or Roberta either--would they--there? It would be so easy to goto a place like Big Bittern--for an alleged67 wedding trip--would it not--over the Fourth, say--or after the fourth orfifth, when there would be fewer people. And to register as some one else--not himself--so that he could never betraced that way. And then, again, it would be so easy to get back to Sharon and the Cranstons' by midnight, or themorning of the next day, maybe, and then, once there he could pretend also that he had come north on that earlymorning train that arrived about ten o'clock. And then . . .
Confound it--why should his mind keep dwelling68 on this idea? Was he actually planning to do a thing like this?
But he was not! He could not be! He, Clyde Griffiths, could not be serious about a thing like this. That was notpossible. He could not be. Of course! It was all too impossible, too wicked, to imagine that he, Clyde Griffiths,could bring himself to execute a deed like that. And yet . . .
And forthwith an uncanny feeling of wretchedness and insufficiency for so dark a crime insisted on thrustingitself forward. He decided to retrace69 his steps toward Lycurgus, where at least he could be among people.
星期一清晨，他一回到莱柯格斯，便看到罗伯达的这封信，全文如下:
亲爱的克莱德:
我亲爱的，过去我常听人说"祸不单行"这句谚语，但是我一直到今天，才懂得这是什么意思。今天早上，我见到的头一个人，是我们的邻居威尔科克斯先生。他跑来说，安斯太太今天不能来了，因为她非得给比尔茨的丁威迪太太做衣服不可，虽说昨儿晚上她临走时，我们什么都给她准备好了，而且我也可以帮她缝缝，使活儿早点做完。可现在她来不了，要到明儿才来，后来传来了消息，说:
我姨妈尼科尔斯太太病得很重，妈妈就得上贝克塘(在我们家以东大约十二英里左右的地方)她家去，由汤姆用车送她，虽说他应该留在这儿农场，帮爸爸干各种各样的活儿。我还不知道妈妈能不能在星期天以前回来。要是我觉得自己身体好些，同时也用不着我亲手缝制衣服，那末，说不定我也得去，尽管妈妈一个劲儿不让我去。
还有，艾米莉和汤姆以为我一切都很顺顺当当，也许让我乐一乐，今儿晚上就邀了四个姑娘和四个小伙子来到这儿，举行一个类似六月里的月光晚会，由艾米莉。妈妈和我一块做冰淇淋和蛋糕。可是现在，可怜的她非得上威尔科克斯家去，通过我们两家合用的电话通知改期，可能改在下星期某某一天。当然，她有点儿沮丧和伤心。
至于我自己，正如俗话所说的，竭力让自己不害怕。不过，亲爱的，我老实跟您说，确实难受极了。到现在为止，我只给您打过三次很短的电话，当时您只说那笔钱在七月五日以前也许您弄不到。此外，我今天才知道，妈妈。爸爸已决定四日到汉密尔顿的查理叔叔那儿做客去(自四日至十五日)，还要带我一块去，除非我决定回莱柯格斯;而汤姆和艾米莉则到霍默妹妹那儿去。可是，亲爱的，我可不能去，这您也明白。我身体太差劲，真让我操心。昨儿晚上，我呕吐得够呛，今儿个我一整天在忙活，几乎送掉了半条命，到了晚上，我简直快要吓疯了。
亲爱的，我们该怎么办啊?
他们七月三日动身去汉密尔顿，您能不能提前来接我?
说实话，您非得提前来接我不可，因为我说什么也不能跟他们一块走亲戚去。离这儿还有五十英里路啊。只要您准定在他们动身以前来接我，我就不妨跟他们说同意自己去的。不过，我必须绝对有把握您一准来……非得绝对有把握不可。
克莱德，自从我到这儿以后，我只是在暗自哭泣。只要您在这儿，我也就不会那么难过了。我确实也想勇敢起来，亲爱的，可是，自从我到这儿以后，您一封三言两语的短信也没有来过，只是跟我打过三次电话……有时我禁不住暗自纳闷，也许您压根儿不来接我吧。可是，我却安慰自己说，您决不至于那么下流的，特别是因为您亲口答应过的。哦，您一定会来的，是吧?
不知怎的，现在什么事都让我揪心，克莱德，而且，我还是那么害怕，亲爱的。我先是想到去年夏天，随后想到今年夏天，想到了我所有的梦想……亲爱的，您提前几天来，也许对您没有多大区别，是吧?
反正我们就得靠很少的钱过活吧。我知道，我们好歹总能活下去的。我会精打细算，是很能过紧日子的。到时候，我一定设法把我的衣服做好。要是做不好，那我就不妨有啥带啥，那些留在以后再做得了。而且，我一定竭力使自己勇敢起来，亲爱的，决不给您过多的麻烦，只要您来就得了。您知道，您是非来不可，克莱德。此外再也没有别的出路了，虽然为了您，现在我也巴不得能找到别的出路。
请您务必，务必，克莱德，写信来，告诉我。说您按照您所说的那个期限到这儿来。我独自一人在这儿，真心烦，真孤寂。要是到时候您还不来，那我就只好直接回莱柯格斯去找您了。我知道，您不喜欢我说这话，可是，克莱德啊，我在这儿再也待不下去了，我要说的全在这儿了。而且我又没法跟妈妈。
爸爸一块去，因此，出路也就只有一条。今儿晚上，我相信我一刻儿也都睡不着。因此，请您务必给我写信，实实在在地让我能放心，不要为了怕您不来接我而揪心。您只要今天或是本周周末能来这儿，亲爱的，那我也就不会这么忧心忡忡了。不过，差不多还得等上两个星期呢!
我家里人人都睡了，屋子里一点儿声音都没有，所以我也只好搁笔了。
不过，请您务必给我写信，亲爱的，马上就写。要是您不愿写信，那明天务必给我打电话，因为在我没有得到您的回答以前，我一刻也不得安宁啊。
您不幸的罗伯达附言:
这封信写得糟透了，可我怎么写也写不好。我是多么忧心如焚啊。
不料这封信到达莱柯格斯时，克莱德不在那儿，自然没法立即回答她。因此，罗伯达怀着最最忧郁的歇斯底里的情绪，就在星期六下午又给他写了一封信。当时，她半信半疑地以为，也许他连一句话都不对她说就远走高飞了。她写给他的信，如果说得更加恰当些，那她几乎是在大声呐喊:
我亲爱的克莱德:
现在我写信告诉您，我就要动身回莱柯格斯了。我在这儿简直一刻也待不下去了。妈妈很担心，暗自纳闷:
为什么我哭得那么厉害;而我现在觉得自己快要病倒了。我知道当初我答应要住到二十五日或是二十六日。您也说过要写信给我，可是您一直没有写来……只是在我差点儿想疯的时候，偶然打给我一个电话。今儿早上我一醒来，禁不住就哭了。今儿下午，我头痛得真够呛。
我深怕您不乐意来，我简直是吓怕了，亲爱的。求求您快点来吧，把我捎到别地去，到哪儿去都行，只要我能离开这儿，不再象现在这么难受就得了。
我深怕妈妈。爸爸看到现在我这个样子，逼我要把这事的来龙去脉通通说出来，要不然，他们自己猜也都会猜到的。
啊，克莱德，这个中滋味……谅您怎么也不会知道的。您说过您会来的，有时我也知道您会来的。可有时我想到的就完全不一样。我觉得您准定不会来的，特别是在您既不给我来信也不给我打电话的时候。希望您写信来说明您一定会来的，这我才能凑合着在这儿待下去。希望您接信后马上给我回信，告诉我您多咱能来的确切日期……无论如何一天也不能迟了。因为我知道，那时要我再待在这儿，说实话，我是怎么也受不了的。克莱德，天底下再也没有一个姑娘比我更不幸的了，而这全都得怪您。不过，亲爱的，我并不愿意这样说。
过去您曾经对我很好，现在您愿意来接我，您对我也是很好的。要是您马上就来，那我将对您感激不尽了。您见信后要是觉得我有不太妥当的地方，还请您别生气，克莱德，只当我是由于极度痛苦。揪心得快要发疯，简直不知道怎么办才好。求求您写封信给我，克莱德。只要您知道我多么急切地盼望您哪怕是片言只字的来信就好了。
罗伯达六月十四日，星期六写于比尔茨这么一封信，再加上要来莱柯格斯的这一威胁，足以使克莱德的心境变得跟罗伯达毫无二致了。试想，现在他再也找不到什么借口……更不用说是言之成理的借口……来规劝罗伯达推迟她那个最后的。必须无条件服从的要求了。
为此，他绞尽了脑汁。他断断乎不能写任何连累自己的长信给她:
这不免太愚蠢了，因为他决心不娶她。何况刚才他跟桑德拉又是搂抱。又是亲吻，这时依然柔情似水，他是绝对不会给罗伯达写信的，哪怕是他真的愿意，也办不到。
但他也知道，为了抚慰她显然濒于绝望的心境，必须马上想出个对策才行。
他看完最近两封来信后，过了十分钟，便设法跟罗伯达打电话。他焦急不安地等了半个钟头以后，终于听到了她的声音，开头很轻，听起来好象十分恼火似的，实际上因为电话线路不佳。她回话说:
"喂，克莱德，您好。哦，您打来电话，我真高兴。我心里一直乱得够呛。我的两封信您都收到了吗?
要是现在您还不打电话来，明儿一早我就准备动身了。您那边一点儿消息都没有，这实在叫我受不了。最近您上哪儿去了，亲爱的?
我信上说妈妈。爸爸要出门的事，您见到了没有?
这是千真万确的。克莱德，您为什么不写信，也不打电话来呀?
我信里说到三日一事，您觉得怎么样?
到时候，您一准来，是吗?
还是我上哪儿跟您碰头?
这三四天来，我心里真是乱糟糟的，可现在又听到您的声音，也许我可以稍微安心些。不过，不管怎么说，我巴不得您每隔一两天就给我写信。克莱德，您为什么不愿写呀?
自从我到这儿以后，您连一封信也没有写给我!
我简直没法告诉您:
我现在情况怎么样，自己又要保持镇静该有多困难啊。"罗伯达说话时，显然非常激动，非常害怕。事实上，克莱德觉得，她说话实在太不谨慎了，幸好她听电话时，室内暂时然无人。尽管她一再解释说只有她一个人在那儿，别人都听不见，还是一点儿也不能使他宽心。他压根儿不愿她直呼他的名字，或是提到她给他写过信。
他尽管不愿说得过分明确，可又要叫她明白:
现在他忙得不可开交，很难做到象她所说的非得给她写信不可。他不是对她说过，他要是能来的话，那就在二十八日前后来吗?
恐怕他还得再往后推迟个把星期左右，到七月七日或八日……好让他有足够时间另筹五十块美元……对此，他心里作过通盘考虑。而且这些钱，对他来说也是完全必需的。可是实际上，他只是想让自己有充裕时间，能在下一个周末再去跟桑德拉见面，对此他几乎已是望眼欲穿。可现在罗伯达突然提出这一要求!
她能不能上她父母那儿个把星期，然后他再上那儿去接她，或是她索性上他这儿来?
那他就有更多的时间可以……不料，罗伯达回答时马上激烈反对，说:
要是这样，那她现在就得回莱柯格斯，到吉尔平家她原来住的那个房间(如果说她还租得到的话)。既然他来不了，那她就准备动身，不必在这儿浪费时间，白白地等他了……克莱德这时候突然决定，不妨对她说也许三日自己来，要是来不了，到时候至少会找她商量好，她该上哪儿去跟他碰头。因为即使到了此刻，他还没有想定该怎么办才好。还得让他再有一点儿时间好好想一想……再有一点儿时间好好想一想。
于是，他几乎口气大变，说:
"可你得听我说，伯特。请你先别冲我发火。听你讲话的口气，好象我们出走一事，在我是一点儿困难也没有似的。你并不明白，在要走这一着以前，我得付出多大的代价。而要完成这件事，本来不是那么简单，可你好象并不怎么考虑这一点。我知道你对所有这一切很担心，可我呢，又是怎样?
我正在尽自己一切力量去做，伯特，而且有那么多的事情，我都得考虑到。不管怎么说，你就不能耐心等到三日了吗?
请你耐心等着吧。我答应给你写信，要是写不了，那就每隔一天打电话给你。这总可以满意了吧?
不过，当然罗，我决不让你象刚才那样冲我直呼其名。要是这样，肯定会引起麻烦。
以后，请你千万别这样。下次我再去电话，我只说是贝克先生要你听电话，知道了吗。你听过电话后，随你说谁来电话都行。要是万一出了什么事，使我们三日走不了，那随你高兴就不妨回来，知道了吗，或者就到莱柯格斯附近某处，随后，我们尽可能一有机会，便赶紧动身。"他说话时的语调是那么委婉而又令人宽慰(事实上是硬灌进去的)……但因为是被逼出来的，所以仅略带昔日里那种温柔的。好象无可奈何的味道，这在过去确实把罗伯达完全征服了，即使是现在也能激起她对他怀有一种莫名其妙和毫无道理的感激之情。于是，她立时热情甚至是激动地回答他说:
"哦，不，亲爱的。我决不会做那样的事。您知道我决不会那么做。只是因为目前我的处境实在太差劲了，我简直控制不住自己了。这您也明白，克莱德，是吧?
我不能不爱您呀。我看，我将永远爱您呀。再说，我压根儿不愿做任何使您伤心的事，亲爱的，说真的，我快不会那样做的。"克莱德一听到她真心爱他的表白，又一次感到自己昔日里控制她的力量，就打算再扮演一次情人的角色，以劝阻罗伯达不要对他太厉害和太苛刻。他暗自思忖，尽管现在他再也不喜欢她，而且并不想娶她，但是，为了另一个梦想，至少他还得对她和蔼些……可不是吗?
……就佯装一下嘛!
因此，这次谈话，就是在这种谅解的基础上得到新的缓和而结束的。
前一天……这一天，湖上(克莱德刚从那儿回来)沸腾的生活已经略微趋于平静……克莱德。桑德拉。斯图尔特。伯蒂娜，还有尼娜。坦普尔和一个名叫哈利。巴戈特的年轻人一块去瑟斯顿家作客。他们先是坐车子从第十二号湖出发，到三英里湾(位于第十二号湖以北约莫二十五英里。小湖边上)去。然后再从那儿，穿过两旁耸入云霄的松树，驶往大比腾湖和隐没在特赖因湖以北。参天的松林深处的一些小湖泊。此刻克莱德想到，当时一路上有时自己得到一种怪异透顶的印象，而大部分地方，尤其是有些地方，一片荒凉，几乎连人影儿都见不到。
狭窄而又被雨水冲过。辙痕斑斑可见的。污浊不堪的道路，弯弯曲曲地穿过凌虚岑寂。郁郁苍苍的松树林……也可以说是莽莽大森林……不知蜿蜒了多少英里，显然望不到尽头。这些凑合通行的泥泞小路，两侧沼泽与小潭，显得有些衰颓而又奇形怪状。路上到处爬满阴森的。有毒的野藤，又好象是战场废址，到处都是一堆堆潮湿的。腐烂了的圆木，重叠交叉……有些地方层层重叠，竟达四层之多……乱堆在无法排水。早已形成低洼的那片绿色黏土地上。正是暖和的六月天，偶尔有一些青蛙，抬起它们一双双亮晶晶的眼睛和脊背，正在青苔上。藤蔓上。长满藓苔的残茎和腐烂的圆木上，沐浴着阳光，显然一点儿都不怕外人惊扰。还有一群群成螺旋形飞舞的蚊蚋，汽车突然驶近时，一条受惊的蛇，尾巴轻轻一甩，倏然钻进了遍地都是的污物堆。有毒的野草和水草丛里。
克莱德在这儿看到一处沼泽地时，不知怎的一下子便想起了帕斯湖上的惨剧。这连他自己也不太明白，可他立时下意识地非常看重象这里如此荒芜冷僻的地点，以后可能很有用处。蓦然间附近有一头怪鸟……这一带孤僻的一种水鸟……发出一阵鬼嚎似的叫声，从他眼前忽地掠过，最后隐没在黑糊糊的树林子里。克莱德一听到这怪叫声，马上浑身颤栗，身子在车上一跃而起。这一声声怪叫，跟他平日里听到的鸟叫声多么不一样呀。
"这是什么?
"他问坐在自己身边的哈利。巴戈特。
"什么?
""哦，好象是一头鸟，还是什么……刚飞了过去。""我可没听到有什么鸟在叫。""嘿!
这声音多怪呀。吓得我简直毛骨悚然。"在这几乎没有人烟的地方，他感到特别惊讶。印象最深的，就是有那么多冷僻的湖泊，过去他连一个都没听说过。他们在泥泞的道路上尽可能急速朝前驶去，但见小湖泊星罗棋布在这一带茂密的松树林深处。只是偶尔路过一个小湖泊，才看见那儿有人烟的一些迹象(比方说，有一间小屋或是一座茅舍)，而且，只有通过那些隐没在黑糊糊的树林子里路标刻在树皮上的，或是辙痕已成条沟，或是沙土松软的羊肠小径，才能到达那里。他们驶过的那些相当偏僻的湖区，岸边基本上荒无人烟，就算有人家，也是寥若晨星。要是从松树环绕的湖区碧澄如宝石的水面上望过去，能瞧见一间圆木小屋，或是远处一座茅舍，马上就引起了大家的好奇心。
他为什么一定要想到马萨诸塞州那一个湖呢!
那一只小船!
那位女郎的尸体是捞获了……可是作为她的同伴的那个男人的尸体，仍然不知下落!
真的多可怕!
后来，他回忆……在跟罗伯达通过电话以后，在他这间房间里……当时，汽车又开过了好几英里，终于拐到狭长的湖北端一块开阔的地方，从这儿向南方看去，湖面好象被一个尖岬，或是一座小岛所截断，但从停车处望过去，湖面还是弯弯曲曲流向远方，简直看不到尽头。湖的四周显得空荡荡的，只看到远处有一座小茅屋和一座船棚。当他们一行人到达时，湖上连一艘汽艇。一只小划子都没有。这天他们路上所见到的其他湖泊也都相同:
只见沿湖岸边同样松树成行，青翠欲滴……高高的，象长矛一般，桠枝往四下里张开，犹如他在莱柯格斯窗外的那棵松树一样。遥望西南，艾迪隆达克斯山脉，碧翠晶莹的层峦叠嶂，好似驼峰一般耸起。峰峦跟前的湖水，被微风吹起了层层涟漪，在午后骄阳下闪出一道道亮光。湖水是深蓝色，几乎是黑的，说明湖水非常之深。正如后来一个正在一家小旅馆蹩脚游廊上游逛的导游证实时所说:
"从船棚往外一百英尺以内，湖水全都有七十英尺深。"这时，哈利。巴戈特因为他父亲打算在这两天内到这儿来，所以很想了解一下在这儿垂钓，鱼儿多不多。于是，他便开口问那个仿佛对车上的人不屑一看的导游:
"这湖到底有多长。""哦，大约有七英里左右。""有鱼吗?
""抛下钓丝，瞧着看吧。这一带到处都是钓黑鲈鱼和这一类鱼的最理想的地方。那个小岛后面，或是从那一头绕过去，往南有一个小湾，人们都说是最好的鱼窝子，整个湖区全都比不上它。我见过有两个人在两个钟头里带回去的，就达七十五条鱼之多。凡不想把我们这个湖通通掏干净的，总该感到满意了吧。"这个导游是干瘪型瘦高个儿，细长脑袋，一双犀利而又闪闪发亮的蓝色小眼睛。在打量这一拨人时，他活象个乡巴佬似的笑了一笑。"今儿个你就不想碰碰运气吗?
""不，只是替我爹打听一下。说不定他下星期就到。我想看看这儿住处怎么样。""哦，住处嘛，当然比不上拉格特湖那儿，可那儿的鱼却比不上我们这儿，"他狡黠而又意味深长地向众人苦笑着说。
象他那一类型的人，克莱德从没有见过。最能引起他兴趣的是，这个荒凉世界里所有种种反常和矛盾事物，因为跟他迄今几乎唯一熟知的几个城市相比也好，还是跟他在克兰斯顿等府第所见到的。纯属异国情调的豪华生活和物质设施相比，该有多么不同。倘若跟往南不到一百英里的莱柯格斯那种生机盎然的景象相比，这里一切都显得多么光怪陆离和荒无人烟。
"这个地方我简直闷死了，"这时，斯图尔特。芬奇利发表感想说。"这儿尽管离钱恩河那么近，却多么不一样，好象没有人住在这儿似的。""是啊，有还是有的，在夏天有几顶帐篷，入秋以后有人来打麋。鹿，不过，九月一日以后，这儿就一个人都见不到了，"那个导游一下子议论开了。"我在这儿当导游。布陷阱，差不多快有十七个年头了。除了越来越多的人跑到这儿来……主要是夏天在钱恩河附近，此外，我再也看不出有多大变化。你要是离开大路，去东走西闯的话，就得先摸摸清这儿地面才行，虽说这儿往西大约五英里就是铁路了。冈洛奇就是车站。入夏以来，我们就派大汽车上那儿接客人。
再往南去，还有一条凑合的路，通往格雷斯湖和三英里湾。也许你非走这一段路不可，因为这是进入我们这个地方的唯一通道。过去有人说要开凿一条路直通长湖，但直到现在为止，也还只是嘴上说说罢了。要从那边的湖区过来，压根儿就没有能通汽车的路。说有吧，也只有一些羊肠小道，道旁甚至连一顶象样的帐篷也都没有。非得自备旅游装备不可。去年夏天，巴特。埃利斯跟我一块上冈湖……在这儿以西三十英里的地方……这三十英里地，就得一步一个脚印走过去，身上还背着自个儿的行李。可是，哦，听我说，那鱼儿呀，还有麋呀，鹿呀，有些地方简直就跑到湖边来喝水，可以看得清清楚楚，就象看对面湖岸上砍断后的残缺树桠枝一样。"克莱德还记得，他跟其他同行人从那儿带回这么一个印象:
若论孤寂和迷人之处……至少从充满神秘氛围这一点来说……恐怕这个地方几乎可以说是举世无双了。只要想一想，这儿离莱柯格斯相当近……公路长不到一百英里。他后来打听到，铁路还不到七十英里。
可现在又回到了莱柯格斯，他刚向罗伯达解释后返回自己房间。他又看到了桌子上刊载帕斯湖上惨剧的那份报纸。他情不自禁把这一段富有暗示与挑衅性的记载又了一遍。他看时尽管心乱似麻，可还是硬着头皮看完了。那丧生的一对男女，先是来到租船码头，显然司空见惯，从容不迫。他们租了一只游船划了起来，随后他们便隐没在湖的北端，这也很平常，并没有引起人们怀疑。
然后……就是那只底朝天的小船。漂到岸边的船桨和帽子。他伫立在窗前读着，这时天还很亮，虽然已是傍黑时分。窗外是枞树黑糊糊的枝桠……前天他心里就想到了它，这时候它让他想起了大比腾湖畔那些枞树和松树。
但是，老天哪!
他是在想些什么呀?
他，克莱德。格里菲思!
塞缪尔。格里菲思的亲侄子!
是什么"潜入"了他脑际?
要杀人!
就是这么一回事。这一条骇人的新闻报道……这一起该死的惨剧或谋杀案，时时刻刻在他眼前浮现!
最最令人发指的罪行呀，只要被抓到，准得坐电椅。此外，他决不想谋害任何人……反正不会是罗伯达。啊，不会是的!
看在过去他们俩有过这么一段关系面上。可是……眼前这另外一个世界呀!
……桑德拉……如今他肯定会失去她，除非他开始采取什么行动。
他两手发抖了，眼皮抽搐着……接着，连他头发根都感到热辣辣的，而浑身上下却又一阵阵发冷。要杀人!
要不然，反正到了湖水深处把小船翻掉，这类事，当然罗，不管在哪儿都可能发生，而且是意外事故，如同帕斯湖上惨剧一样。而罗伯达偏偏不会游泳。这他很清楚。但是，也许她就会靠别的办法救自己的命……比方说，尖声叫喊……拚命紧抓船舷……那时……要是有人听见……她在事后会通通讲出来!
他额角上沁出冰凉的冷汗，他的嘴唇发抖了，嗓子眼枯焦干涩。为了防止那件事情，他就得……就得……可是不……他不是那号人。他决不能做这样的事……打击一个人……一个姑娘……罗伯达……而且是正当她身子往下沉或是在挣扎的时候。哦，不，不……不做这样的事!
断断乎要不得。
他拿起草帽，走了出去，不让人们听到他在想(照他自己这么说法)这些令人毛骨悚然的念头。从现在起，他再也不能。再也不愿去想这些念头了。他并不是那号人。可是……可是……这些念头呀。解决难题的办法呀……要是他想找到一个的话。要在这里待下去……不走……跟桑德拉结婚……把罗伯达连同所有一切……所有一切……通通都给甩掉，……只要一点儿勇气或是胆量。可就是要不得!
他走啊走的……出了莱柯格斯城……越走越远了……沿着一条通往东南的公路走去，穿过一个贫困的。显然人迹罕至的郊区。这样，他就可以独自一人，便于思考问题……或者说他觉得自己在思考的时候不会被别人听到。
天渐渐黑下来。家家户户开始掌灯了。田野里和道路旁，树木的轮廓开始模糊起来，或是消失在烟雾里了。虽然天很暖和……空气却很沉闷……他走得很快，继续在思考，同时大豆汗出，好象想让自己走得更快，把那个喜欢继续思考的内心深处的自我甩掉。
忧郁。孤寂的湖呀!
湖南面的小岛呀!
谁会看见?
谁会听见?
还有每到夏天公共汽车开往湖滨的冈洛奇火车站呀。(哦，这个他总算记住了，可不是吗?
真见鬼!
)为了这么一个可怕的念头他连带着想起了它，该有多可怕呀!
不过，他要是真的打算琢磨这类事，就得把它琢磨透了才行……这一点他自己也得承认……要不然，马上就不去想它……永远。永远不去想它……永远。
永远。可是桑德拉呀!
罗伯达呀!
万一他被抓住了……坐电椅!
但目前他的处境确实不幸!
这解决不了的难题!
还有失去桑德拉的危险。但是，杀人……他擦了一下自己热辣辣。湿粘粘的脸，顿住了一会儿，两眼凝望着田野里一个树林子，不知怎么使他想起了……的树木……得了……他可不喜欢这条路。
这时天越来越黑了。最好他还是掉头往回走吧。可是，往南去的那条路，可以到达三英里湾和格雷斯湖……要是走那条路……便可以到达沙隆和克兰斯顿的别墅……他要是真的走那条路，最后他就准走到那儿去了。老天哪!
大比腾……天黑以后，那儿湖边的树木，就象眼前这个样子……黑糊糊。阴森森。当然罗，一定得在傍黑时分。谁都不会想到……嗯……在早上……光天化日之下干这类事。只有傻瓜蛋才干呢。而是在夜里，傍黑时分，就象现在那样，或是再晚一些。不过，不，见鬼去吧，他决不会照这样一些想法去做的。但是话又说回来，那时大概谁也见不到他或是罗伯达……在那儿……可不是吗?
要上大比腾湖这么一个地方去，那可容易得很……就推托说是新婚旅行……还不成吗……比方说在四日……或是四。五日以后，那时候游人要少得多。登记时换一个名字……反正不使用自己的真名……这样也就永远不露痕迹了。随后，在午夜，也许在转天大清早再回到沙隆，回到克兰斯顿家，那还不很容易嘛。到了那儿，他不妨佯装说是赶早班火车，大约十点钟到的。然后……见鬼去吧……他心里为什么老是回到这个念头上去呀?
难道说他真的打算干这类事吗?
可他不能!
他断断乎不能这么干!
他，克莱德。格里菲思，断断乎不能把这类事当真呀。这可要不得。他断断乎不能这么干。当然罗!
要是有人以为他，克莱德。格里菲思，是会干那类事的，那简直太要不得，太邪恶了。可是……他心里很怪，觉得自己太可怜，太窝囊，怎能让如此邪恶的犯罪念头总是在头脑里冒出来呢。他便决定照原路回莱柯格斯去……到了那儿，他至少又能跟人们在一起了。
收听单词发音 |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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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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vomited
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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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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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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decadent
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| adj.颓废的，衰落的，堕落的 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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bogs
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| n.沼泽，泥塘( bog的名词复数 )；厕所v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的第三人称单数 )；妨碍，阻碍 | |
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tarns
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| n.冰斗湖，山中小湖( tarn的名词复数 ) | |
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funereal
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| adj.悲哀的；送葬的 | |
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viperous
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| adj.有毒的，阴险的 | |
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lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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gnats
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| n.叮人小虫( gnat的名词复数 ) | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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subconscious
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| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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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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tenantless
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| adj.无人租赁的，无人居住的 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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sparsely
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| adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地 | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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57
provocative
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| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
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58
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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59
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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60
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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61
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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62
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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64
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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65
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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66
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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67
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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68
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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69
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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