And then at noon on Tuesday, July sixth, the station platform of the railroad running from Fonda to Utica, withRoberta stepping down from the train which came south from Biltz to await Clyde, for the train that was to takethem to Utica was not due for another half hour. And fifteen minutes later Clyde himself coming from a sidestreet and approaching the station from the south, from which position Roberta could not see him but fromwhere, after turning the west corner of the depot1 and stationing himself behind a pile of crates2, he could see her.
How thin and pale indeed! By contrast with Sondra, how illy-dressed in the blue traveling suit and small brownhat with which she had equipped herself for this occasion--the promise of a restricted and difficult life ascontrasted with that offered by Sondra. And she was thinking of compelling him to give up Sondra in order tomarry her, and from which union he might never be able to extricate3 himself until such time as would makeSondra and all she represented a mere4 recollection. The difference between the attitudes of these two girls--Sondra with everything offering all--asking nothing of him; Roberta, with nothing, asking all.
A feeling of dark and bitter resentment5 swept over him and he could not help but feel sympathetic toward thatunknown man at Pass Lake and secretly wish that he had been successful. Perhaps he, too, had been confrontedby a situation just like this. And perhaps he had done right, too, after all, and that was why it had not been foundout. His nerves twitched6. His eyes were somber7, resentful and yet nervous. Could it not happen againsuccessfully in this case?
But here he was now upon the same platform with her as the result of her persistent8 and illogical demands, andhe must be thinking how, and boldly, he must carry out the plans which, for four days, or ever since he hadtelephoned her, and in a dimmer way for the ten preceding those, he had been planning. This settled course mustnot be interfered10 with now. He must act! He must not let fear influence him to anything less than he had nowplanned.
And so it was that he now stepped forth11 in order that she might see him, at the same time giving her a wise andseemingly friendly and informative12 look as if to say, "You see I am here." But behind the look! If only she couldhave pierced beneath the surface and sensed that dark and tortured mood, how speedily she would have fled. Butnow seeing him actually present, a heavy shadow that was lurking13 in her eyes lifted, the somewhat down-turnedcorners of her mouth reversed themselves, and without appearing to recognize him, she nevertheless brightenedand at once proceeded to the window to purchase her ticket to Utica, as he had instructed her to do.
And she was now thinking that at last, at last he had come. And he was going to take her away. And hence a kindof gratefulness for this welling up in her. For they were to be together for seven or eight months at the least. Andwhile it might take tact14 and patience to adjust things, still it might and probably could be done. From now on shemust be the very soul of caution--not do or say anything that would irritate him in any way, since naturally hewould not be in the best mood because of this. But he must have changed some--perhaps he was seeing her in amore kindly15 light--sympathizing with her a little, since he now appeared at last to have most gracefully16 andgenially succumbed18 to the unavoidable. And at the same time noting his light gray suit, his new straw hat, hisbrightly polished shoes and the dark tan suitcase and (strange, equivocal, frivolous19 erraticism20 of his in thisinstance) the tripod of a recently purchased camera together with his tennis racquet in its canvas case strapped21 tothe side--more than anything to conceal22 the initials C. G.--she was seized with much of her old-time mood anddesire in regard to his looks and temperament23. He was still, and despite his present indifference24 to her, her Clyde.
Having seen her secure her ticket, he now went to get his own, and then, with another knowing look in herdirection, which said that everything was now all right, he returned to the eastern end of the platform, while shereturned to her position at the forward end.
(Why was that old man in that old brown winter suit and hat and carrying that bird cage in a brown paper lookingat him so? Could he sense anything? Did he know him? Had he ever worked in Lycurgus or seen him before?)He was going to buy a second straw hat in Utica to-day--he must remember that--a straw hat with a Utica label,which he would wear instead of his present one. Then, when she was not looking, he would put the old one in hisbag with his other things. That was why he would have to leave her for a little while after they reached Utica--atthe depot or library or somewhere--perhaps as was his first plan, take her to some small hotel somewhere andregister as Mr. and Mrs. Carl Graham or Clifford Golden or Gehring (there was a girl in the factory by thatname) so if they were ever traced in any way, it would be assumed that she had gone away with some man of that name.
(That whistle of a train afar off. It must be coming now. His watch said twelve-twenty-seven.)And again he must decide what his manner toward her in Utica must be--whether very cordial or the opposite.
For over the telephone, of course, he had talked very soft and genial-like because he had to. Perhaps it would bebest to keep that up, otherwise she might become angry or suspicious or stubborn and that would make it hard.
(Would that train never get here?)At the same time it was going to be very hard on him to be so very pleasant when, after all, she was driving himas she was--expecting him to do all that she was asking him to do and yet be nice to her. Damn! And yet if heweren't?--Supposing she should sense something of his thoughts in connection with this--really refuse to gothrough with it this way and spoil his plans.
(If only his knees and hands wouldn't tremble so at times.)But no, how was she to be able to detect anything of that kind, when he himself had not quite made up his mindas to whether he would be able to go through with it or not? He only knew he was not going away with her, andthat was all there was to that. He might not upset the boat, as he had decided25 on the day before, but just the samehe was not going away with her.
But here now was the train. And there was Roberta lifting her bag. Was it too heavy for her in her present state?
It probably was. Well, too bad. It was very hot to-day, too. At any rate he would help her with it later, when theywere where no one could see them. She was looking toward him to be sure he was getting on--so like her thesedays, in her suspicious, doubtful mood in regard to him. But here was a seat in the rear of the car on the shadyside, too. That was not so bad. He would settle himself comfortably and look out. For just outside Fonda, a mileor two beyond, was that same Mohawk that ran through Lycurgus and past the factory, and along the banks ofwhich the year before, he and Roberta had walked about this time. But the memory of that being far frompleasant now, he turned his eyes to a paper he had bought, and behind which he could shield himself as much aspossible, while he once more began to observe the details of the more inward scene which now so much moreconcerned him--the nature of the lake country around Big Bittern, which ever since that final importantconversation with Roberta over the telephone, had been interesting him more than any other geography of theworld.
For on Friday, after the conversation, he had stopped in at the Lycurgus House and secured three differentfolders relating to hotels, lodges26, inns and other camps in the more remote region beyond Big Bittern and LongLake. (If only there were some way to get to one of those completely deserted28 lakes described by that guide atBig Bittern--only, perhaps, there might not be any row-boats on any of these lakes at all!) And again onSaturday, had he not secured four more circulars from the rack at the depot (they were in his pocket now)? Hadthey not proved how many small lakes and inns there were along this same railroad, which ran north to BigBittern, to which he and Roberta might resort for a day or two if she would--a night, anyhow, before going to BigBittern and Grass Lake--had he not noted29 that in particular--a beautiful lake it had said--near the station, and withat least three attractive lodges or country home inns where two could stay for as low as twenty dollars a week.
That meant that two could stay for one night surely for as little as five dollars. It must be so surely--and so hewas going to say to her, as he had already planned these several days, that she needed a little rest before goingaway to a strange place. That it would not cost very much--about fifteen dollars for fares and all, so the circularssaid--if they went to Grass Lake for a night--this same night after reaching Utica--or on the morrow, anyhow.
And he would have to picture it all to her as a sort of honeymoon30 journey--a little pleasant outing--before gettingmarried. And it would not do to succumb17 to any plan of hers to get married before they did this--that wouldnever do.
(Those five birds winging toward that patch of trees over there-- below that hill.)It certainly would not do to go direct to Big Bittern from Utica for a boat ride--just one day--seventy miles. Thatwould not sound right to her, or to any one. It would make her suspicious, maybe. It might be better, since hewould have to get away from her to buy a hat in Utica, to spend this first night there at some inexpensive,inconspicuous hotel, and once there, suggest going up to Grass Lake. And from there they could go to BigBittern in the morning. He could say that Big Bittern was nicer--or that they would go down to Three Mile Bay-ahamlet really as he knew--where they could be married, but en route stop at Big Bittern as a sort of lark31. Hewould say that he wanted to show her the lake--take some pictures of her and himself. He had brought his camerafor that and for other pictures of Sondra later.
The blackness of this plot of his!
(Those nine black and white cows on that green hillside.)But again, strapping32 that tripod along with his tennis racquet to the side of his suitcase, might not that causepeople to imagine that they were passing tourists from some distant point, maybe, and if they both disappeared,well, then, they were not people from anywhere around here, were they? Didn't the guide say that the water in thelake was all of seventy-five feet deep--like that water at Pass Lake? And as for Roberta's grip--oh, yes, whatabout that? He hadn't even thought about that as yet, really.
(Those three automobiles33 out there running almost as fast as this train.)Well, in coming down from Grass Lake after one night there (he could say that he was going to marry her atThree Mile Bay at the north end of Greys Lake, where a minister lived whom he had met), he would induce herto leave her bag at that Gun Lodge27 station, where they took the bus over to Big Bittern, while he took his withhim. He could just say to some one--the boatman, maybe, or the driver, that he was taking his camera in his bag,and ask where the best views were. Or maybe a lunch. Was that not a better idea--to take a lunch and so deceiveRoberta, too, perhaps? And that would tend to mislead the driver, also, would it not? People did carry cameras inbags when they went out on lakes, at times. At any rate it was most necessary for him to carry his bag in thisinstance. Else why the plan to go south to that island and from thence through the woods?
(Oh, the grimness and the terror of this plan! Could he really execute it?)But that strange cry of that bird at Big Bittern. He had not liked that, or seeing that guide up there who mightremember him now. He had not talked to him at all--had not even gotten out of the car, but had only looked out at him through the window; and in so far as he could recall the guide had not even once looked at him--hadmerely talked to Grant Cranston and Harley Baggott, who had gotten out and had done all the talking. Butsupposing this guide should be there and remember him? But how could that be when he really had not seenhim? This guide would probably not remember him at all--might not even be there. But why should his handsand face be damp all the time now--wet almost, and cold--his knees shaky?
(This train was following the exact curve of this stream--and last summer he and Roberta. But no--)As soon as they reached Utica now this was the way he would do--and must keep it well in mind and not getrattled in any way. He must not--he must not. He must let her walk up the street before him, say a hundred feet orso between them, so that no one would think he was following her, of course. And then when they were quitealone somewhere he would catch up with her and explain all about this--be very nice as though he cared for heras much as ever now--he would have to--if he were to get her to do as he wanted. And then--and then, oh, yes,have her wait while he went for that extra straw hat that he was going to--well, leave on the water, maybe. Andthe oars34, too, of course. And her hat--and--well--(The long, sad sounding whistle of this train. Damn. He was getting nervous already.)But before going to the hotel, he must go back to the depot and put his new hat in the bag, or better yet, carry itwhile he looked for the sort of hotel he wanted, and then, before going to Roberta, take the hat and put it in hisbag. Then he would go and find her and have her come to the entrance of the hotel he had found and wait forhim, while he got the bags. And, of course, if there was no one around or very few, they would enter together,only she could wait in the ladies' parlor35 somewhere, while he went and registered as Charles Golden, maybe, thistime. And then, well, in the morning, if she agreed, or to-night, for that matter, if there were any trains--he wouldhave to find out about that--they could go up to Grass Lake in separate cars until they were past Twelfth Lakeand Sharon, at any rate.
(The beautiful Cranston Lodge there and Sondra.)And then--and then--(That big red barn and that small white house near it. And that wind-mill. So like those houses and barns that hehad seen out there in Illinois and Missouri. And Chicago, too.)And at the same time Roberta in her car forward thinking that Clyde had not appeared so very unfriendly to her.
To be sure, it was hard on him, making him leave Lycurgus in this way, and when he might be enjoying himselfas he wished to. But on the other hand, here was she--and there was no other way for her to be. She must be verygenial and yet not put herself forward too much or in his way. And yet she must not be too receding9 or weak,either, for, after all, Clyde was the one who had placed her in this position. And it was only fair, and little enoughfor him to do. She would have a baby to look after in the future, and all that trouble to go through with from nowon. And later, she would have to explain to her parents this whole mysterious proceeding36, which covered herpresent disappearance37 and marriage, if Clyde really did marry her now. But she must insist upon that--and soon-inUtica, perhaps--certainly at the very next place they went to--and get a copy of her marriage certificate, too,and keep it for her own as well as the baby's sake. He could get a divorce as he pleased after that. She would still be Mrs. Griffiths. And Clyde's baby and hers would be a Griffiths, too. That was something.
(How beautiful the little river was. It reminded her of the Mohawk and the walks she and he had taken lastsummer when they first met. Oh, last summer! And now this!)And they would settle somewhere--in one or two rooms, no doubt. Where, she wondered--in what town or city?
How far away from Lycurgus or Biltz--the farther from Biltz the better, although she would like to see hermother and father again, and soon--as soon as she safely could. But what matter, as long as they were goingaway together and she was to be married?
Had he noticed her blue suit and little brown hat? And had he thought she looked at all attractive compared tothose rich girls with whom he was always running? She must be very tactful--not irritate him in any way. But-oh,the happy life they could have if only--if only he cared for her a little--just a little . . .
And then Utica, and on a quiet street Clyde catching38 up with Roberta, his expression a mixture of innocentgeniality and good- will, tempered by worry and opposition39, which was really a mask for the fear of the deed thathe himself was contemplating--his power to execute it--the consequences in case he failed.
七月六日，星期二中午，在通往尤蒂卡的方达火车站上，罗伯达刚从南面比尔茨开来的火车上下了车，在这儿等候克莱德。因为他们要搭乘的开往尤蒂卡这趟车，要半个钟头后才到。十五分钟以后，克莱德从一条小巷里出来，径直朝火车站南侧走过来。罗伯达在站立的地方看不到他，不过，克莱德打火车站西头拐角处拐个弯，站在一大堆箱子后头就看到了她。真的，她是多么消瘦，多么苍白呀!
倘跟桑德拉相比，她这次特地置备的那件蓝色旅游服和那顶棕色小帽，显得多么寒伧……只预示着一种含辛茹苦的生活，跟桑德拉所提供给他的生活相比，简直不可同日而语。可罗伯达心里却想逼他放弃桑德拉，以便跟她结婚。而且，只有在结婚以后，到了桑德拉和她所代表的一切成为仅供回忆的往事的时候，克莱德这才可以说最后摆脱了困境。这两个姑娘对克莱德的态度，该有多么不同:
桑德拉拥有一切，通通献给他，对他毫无要求;而罗伯达一无所有，却要求他把一切都献给她。
一股阴郁。痛苦的怨愤从他心头掠过，他禁不住对帕斯湖上那个不知名姓的男子深表同情，并暗自希望他成功。说不定，他也会碰上类似这样的遭际吧。
说不定他毕竟就是这样做的，所以他没有被抓住，原因就在这里吧。克莱德全身的神经顿时痉挛起来。他眼里露出阴沉。忿懑，但又惊惶不安的神色。
现在他就跟她在同一个火车站上(这是她坚持自己不合理要求的结果)，必须琢磨一下，如何大胆实现自己那些计划。四天来……从他打电话给她以后，甚至还在这以前的十天里，他就在朦朦胧胧地琢磨这些计划了。如今，他决不让自己的既定方针受到阻挠。他必须行动起来!
他决不让恐惧心理使他现已拟定的计划蒙受任何影响。
于是，他就这样径直往前走去，让她也许一眼就看见他，同时又向她投去了一个意味深长的。似乎是友好的眼色，仿佛在说:
"你看，我在这儿呢。"可是在这眼色背后呀!
要是她能透过表面，觉察到他那阴郁。苦恼的心态，她一定会飞也似的逃跑了。可是现在，她一看见他真的终于来了，她眼里忧郁的阴影顿时消散，略微倒挂的嘴角恢复了原状。她尽管佯装不认得他，可是脸色开朗起来，马上朝窗口走过去，按照他给她的吩咐，买了一张去尤蒂卡的车票。
这时，她暗自思忖:
他终于来了，终于来了。这会儿他是来接她一块走的。
因此，她心里充满了无限感激之情。要知道他们至少有七八个月在一起生活了。
要使一切安排得顺顺当当，也许需要手腕和耐心，但说不定毕竟还是能做到的。
从现在起，她必须成为谨慎小心的化身才好……反正凡是惹他恼火的事，千万说不得，千万做不得。要知道现在他的心境自然不会太好。不过，后来他也一定有了一点儿改变……说不定他对她会比过去好一些……对她有了一点儿同情吧。现在，他好象终于落落大方地向这一不可避免的事态屈服了。同时，她还注意到他的淡灰色套装。他的新草帽。他的那双晶光锃亮的皮鞋。那只黑色手提箱，以及(一提起这件事，他马上露出一副令人惊异。莫名其妙。轻率浅薄的怪相)他新买的照相机上用的三脚架，跟帆布套里的网球拍都捆在一边……其实无非是要遮住克莱德英文名字的缩写字母Ｃ。Ｇ罢了……因此，她一下子又勾起了自己对他的旧日情意，甚至连他的外貌和脾性，她也很喜爱。他毕竟还是她的克莱德呀，尽管眼前他对她却是如此冷淡。
克莱德一见她已经买了票，也就走过去买票。随后，再给她使了个眼色，仿佛在说:
现在一切都很顺利。于是，他回到站台东头，而罗伯达也回到前头她原来的位置上。
(那个老头儿，身穿一套破旧棕色冬装，头戴一顶破帽子，手里提着用棕色纸裹住的一只鸟笼，为什么老是这样看着他呀?
难道说他看出什么破统了吗?
难道说老头儿认识他吗?
也许他在莱柯格斯工作过，要不然他以前见过他吧?
)他打算今天在尤蒂卡再买一顶草帽……他务必记住……一顶贴上尤蒂卡标签的草帽。他要戴上那顶草帽，取代此刻在他头上的这顶草帽。当罗伯达不注意他的时候，他要把那顶旧帽子和其他一些东西一块放进自己手提箱里。因此，他们到达尤蒂卡以后，他就得离开她一会儿……是在火车站，或是在图书馆，或是在其他地方。说不定他头一个计划，就是把她带到一家小旅馆，登记时就写卡尔。格雷厄姆夫妇，或是克利福德。戈尔登夫妇，或是格林夫妇(厂里就有一个姑娘叫这名字的)。这样，万一有人来追查他们，也就认为她早已跟此姓的男人一块跑掉了。
(远处传来火车汽笛声。一定是火车开过来了。他的表上是十二点二十七分。)他还得决定，到达尤蒂卡以后，该对她采取什么态度:
是非常和气呢，还是恰好相反。电话里同她说话时，他当然要非常温柔，非常和气……因为不这样不行。恐怕最好还是保持这样的态度，要不然也许她会发火。疑心，或是脾气一下子犟起来，那就很麻烦了。
(火车会不会不开来呢?
)这时，要他一团和气，确实很难。因为，说到底，是她在驱策着他……还希望他要按照她对他提出的要求去做，同时对她又要和和气气。见鬼去吧!
不过，要是他不这样呢?
……万一他的想法被她猜出来了……真的不肯跟他一块走，从而使他的全盘计划落了空呢?
(只要他的两膝和两手不象现在这样常常发抖就好了。)可是，不，她怎么能一眼就看出破绽来呢?
他这个计划，甚至连他自己也还没有信心能不能得到实现呢。他只知道自己并不打算跟她一块出走，如此而已，岂有他哉。也许他并不会象自己前天决定那样把小船翻掉。但不管怎么说，反正他不打算跟她一块出走。
可是，这会儿火车到了。罗伯达正在拎那手提箱。按她眼下身体情况来说，这不是太沉了吗?
也许是太沉了。哦，这可要不得。何况今天又很热。反正过一会儿，到了谁都看不见他们的地方，他会帮她的忙。她正朝他这边张望了一下，想了解清楚他是不是真的在上车……如同她近来那样，总是对他有怀疑，信不过。但是，这节车厢后头僻静处，正有一个空座，倒也不坏。他惬惬意意地在这儿落了座，便眺望窗外景色。离方达市郊大约一两英里的地方，有一道河……那就是穿过莱柯格斯。绕过工厂的莫霍克河，一年前差不多也在这个时候，他跟罗伯达在河边一块散步过。可是，他觉得在此时此刻，回忆往事，远不是愉快的事。于是，他把目光转向自己刚买的那份报纸，尽可能把它当作盾牌，躲在后面，又开始观察研究在他内心深处展开的一幕幕具体场景。大比腾一带湖区，现在跟他关系最大。自从上次他跟罗伯达在电话里作了最后重要谈话以后，他对这一湖区比对世界上哪一个地方更感兴趣。
星期五通过电话以后，他就去莱柯格斯旅馆，索取三份内容不同的旅游指南，是有关大比腾。长湖周围冷僻地段的旅馆。别墅。小客栈和其他露宿营帐等情况。(只要设法能进入大比腾的导游上次提到过的那些荒无人烟的湖区就好了……只不过可供游人自己划的船也许压根儿没有!
)星期六，他在火车站摊头上不是又寻摸到四份旅游指南(现在还在他口袋里)?
上面不是说得明明白白:
就是这条铁路朝北开往大比腾，沿线都有许许多多小湖和小旅馆，只要罗伯达乐意的话，说不定他和她可以去那儿玩上一两天……反正在到大比腾。草湖以前，不妨先在那儿住一宿。他不是特别注意到……就在火车站附近……据说有一个景色很美的湖……至少还有三幢漂亮的别墅或是乡间家庭旅馆，收费极低，两人住一周，才二十块美元。那就是说，两人住一夜，要不了五块美元。这，当然罗，准错不了……因此，正如他这几天来早已反复考虑过那样，他便对她说:
到一个陌生的地方去以前，她需要稍微休息一下。那花不了多少钱……据那些旅游指南上说，连车钱在内，所有一切费用，大约十五块美元就得了……如果说他们是在到达尤蒂卡后的当天晚上，或是转天早上去草湖住一宿的话。这一切被他绘声绘色地简直说成是一次小小的愉快的郊游……好象她婚前的蜜月旅行。要是她打算在这之前结婚，那他无论如何也不能让步……那是绝对不能同意的。
(这时有五只鸟，正飞向那个小山脚下一大片丛林。)一到尤蒂卡就直接去大比腾划船，那当然是不行的……要知道走七十英里路得整整一天时间。这不管是她也好，还是任何人也好，一听都会觉得不对头。
说不定反而引起她怀疑。既然他在尤蒂卡要避开她，去买一顶草帽，那最好头一夜还是下榻在尤蒂卡哪家收费低廉。不引人注意的旅馆里;而且，一到那里，他便向她提议去草湖一游。翌晨，他们就从那儿出发去大比腾。他还可以说大比腾风景美……或是说他们要到三英里湾去……据他了解，那只是一个小村子……他们可以在那儿结婚，不过一路上不妨在大比腾稍事停留，就算是玩一玩。乐一乐吧。他不妨说，他很想带她去看看湖上景色……给她和他自己拍几张照。当初他买这架照相机，既是为了这一着，也是为了日后给桑德拉照相哩。
他这阴谋多险恶呀!
(绿幽幽的山坡上，有九头黑白相间的母牛。)不过，再说，人们一看到他手提箱一侧还拴上三脚架和他的网球拍，说不定会把他们当作来自远方的游客。要是他们俩都失踪了，那就得了，反正他们不是本地人，可不是?
那个导游不是说过，这儿湖深都是七十五英尺……就象帕斯湖一样深吗?
至于罗伯达的手提包……哦，是啊，管它做啥?
说实话，不知怎的他至今还没想过它呢。
(那边三辆汽车跑得差不多跟这列火车一样快。)得了，他们在草湖过一夜后还要往前赶路(他就不妨说他准备到格雷斯湖北端的三英里湾同她举行婚礼，那儿有一位他熟识的牧师)，他要劝她把手提包放在冈洛奇车站。赶明儿他们就要在那儿搭公共汽车去大比腾的。至于他的手提箱，他就随身带了。他只要关照一些人……也许是管理租船的人，或是司机……说他手提箱里有照相机，再问问他们哪儿风景最美。或是说手提箱里还装着一些午餐点心。要是自己去取午餐点心，说不定把罗伯达和汽车司机也都骗过去了……这个主意岂不是更好吗?
许多人到湖上去，有时倒是把照相机都放在手提箱里的。不管怎么说，这次他最最要紧的就是要把手提箱带在身边。要不然又干吗要这个计划:
先到那个岛上，再从那儿穿过树林子往南去呢?
(哦，这个计划有多么残忍。多么可怕呀!
难道说他真的能实现吗?
)不过，大比腾那头鸟，叫得多怪呀!
听到这怪叫声，他可不喜欢。再见到说不定至今还会记得他的那个导游，他也不喜欢。是的，他压根儿没有跟他说过话……甚至没有下车，只是从车窗里望了他一眼罢了。据他回忆，那个导游甚至连看也没看他一眼……只是一个劲儿跟格兰特。克兰斯顿。哈利。巴戈特闲聊天。后来，他们一下了车就净找他说话。不过，万一这个导游在那儿，而且还记得他呢。可是，这又怎么可能呢……因为说实话，此人压根儿就没见过他。
也许这个导游压根儿不记得他了……也许他甚至还没到过大比腾哩。不过，他的手。他的脸，为什么总是潮粘粘的……几乎湿漉漉的和冷丝丝的……两膝还在直发抖?
(这列火车正沿着河湾往前驶去……去年夏天，他跟罗伯达……可是不……)他们一到尤蒂卡，他就得照这样做去……千万记住，心慌。乱套可要不得。
千万别乱了方寸，千万别乱了方寸……在街上，他就得让她走在他前头，比方说吧，他们俩之间少说也得隔开一百来英尺。这样，当然罗，谁也不会想到他是紧跟在她后头走。到了某个冷僻处，只有他们俩在一块时，他便紧步赶上她，把自己全部计划都详细说给她听……态度必须极其亲昵，仿佛他同从前一样疼爱她，他非得这样不可……如果说要她按着他的意思去做的话。然后……然后，哦，是啊，要她在哪儿略等片刻，好让他去买那顶新草帽……哦，也许就把它扔在湖面上。当然罗，还有那把划桨。还有她的帽子……还有……啊……(列车汽笛发出凄凉的长鸣声。见鬼去吧。现在他已经方寸大乱了。)但是进旅馆前，他必须先回车站，把新草帽放进手提箱里。甚至最好一面手上拿着草帽，一面去找他合意的那种旅馆，然后，他在去罗伯达那儿以前，把草帽放到手提箱里。接着，他便去找她，把她带到他找到的那家旅馆门口等他，而他则去取手提箱。当然罗，要是附近什么人都没有，或是只有很少几个人，那他们就不妨一块走进去，只不过她还得到女宾休息厅等着，他自己去帐房间登记，这次报的也许便是克利福德。戈尔登这个名字。得了，哦，到了转天早上，要是她同意的话，或者就在当天晚上，只要有火车的话……事前他务必弄清楚……他们就可以动身去草湖……两人还是分开坐在两节车厢里，反正至少要过了第十二号湖和沙隆再说。
(瞧，那儿……漂亮的克兰斯顿家别墅……还有桑德拉呀。)然后就……然后就……(附近那座红色大谷仓，还有那幢小小的白房子。还有那架风车。就跟他在伊利诺伊州。密苏里州，还有在芝加哥见过的一模一样。)就在同一个时候，前头一节车厢里的罗伯达正在暗自寻思:
克莱德看来对她并不是完全无情无义啊。当然罗，他心里好不难过，因为现在要他并非出于自愿地离开莱柯格斯，在那儿，他正可以随心所欲，寻欢作乐。不过，另一方面，既然人已经到了这儿，她就再也没有别的出路了。眼前她务必一团和气，但又不能太纠缠不休，或是惹他讨厌。可是，她又千万不能过分迁就，或是过分软弱。因为，说到底，今日里她落到这样的下场，毕竟是克莱德一人造成的。现在要求他这么做，那才是天公地道，其实也并不是过多的奢求。赶明儿有了小孩，她就得自己照顾，而且从此以后，还得忍受更多的痛苦。以后，她还得把这次神秘的经过(包括现在她的突然失踪和结婚)详详细细讲给她父母听，要是现在克莱德真的跟她结婚的话。不过，这事她非得坚持不可……而且时间要快……也许就在尤蒂卡……当然罗，在他们此行要去的头一个地方……务必拿到一张她的结婚证书，而且，还要保存好，就是为了她自己，同时也为了孩子的权益。
在这以后，克莱德要同她离婚也就随他的便了。反正她还是格里菲思太太呗。
而且克莱德和她的孩子，终究也是格里菲思家里的人呀。这可是非同小可的事。
(瞧这小河多美呀。它让她想起了莫霍克河，还有去年夏天她跟他初次相识时散步的情景。哦，去年夏天啊!
可眼下却是这般情景!
)他们将要下榻在何处……也许合住一个房间，或是分居两个房间。她暗自纳闷，到底是在哪儿……在哪个小镇，或是哪个城市?
那儿离莱柯格斯或是比尔茨，又有多远呢……离比尔茨越远越好，虽说她心里真的巴不得再见到她的父母，而且时间要快些……只要这一切太太平平地一过去就好了。不过，那都是无关宏旨的，要知道他们俩是一块离开这儿的，而且她就要做新嫁娘了。
克莱德有没有发觉她那蓝色套装和棕色小帽呢?
他是不是觉得，与那些跟他成天价厮混在一起的大家闺秀相比，罗伯达还是要漂亮得多呢?
她就得非常圆通灵活不可……千万不要惹他恼怒。可是，啊，他们本来可以过上幸福的生活，只要……只要他能稍微疼爱她，哪怕是那么一丁点儿……但是，到了尤蒂卡，在一条冷清的街上，克莱德赶紧追上了罗伯达。他脸上露出的神情中，天真的和蔼。善意与忧心。反感羼杂在一起。事实上，这不外乎是一个假面具，后面隐藏着一种惧怕心理，深恐他自己的意图……他有没有能耐付诸实现……万一失败后将会得到怎样的结局。
收听单词发音 |
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depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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crates
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| n. 板条箱, 篓子, 旧汽车 vt. 装进纸条箱 | |
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extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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informative
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| adj.提供资料的，增进知识的 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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succumb
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| v.屈服，屈从；死 | |
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succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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erraticism
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| n.飘忽不定；无规律 | |
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strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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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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lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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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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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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automobiles
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| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
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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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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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