現(xiàn)代大學(xué)英語(yǔ)（第三版）精讀3 課件 B3U3、B3U4

ContentsUnit3Lead-inWarm-upquestionsDoyoubelievethatmarriageshouldbealifelongcommitment?Arethereanychangesinpeople’sattitudetowardlove,family,andmarriageinrecentdecades?Howdoyoulikethesechanges?Whatqualitiesdoyouthinkamanorawomanshouldbelookingforinapotentialidealspouse?Why?Lead-inMorequestionsaboutthetext:1.Howdoestheauthorbeginthestory?Whydoesn’tshetellthestorychronologically,thatis,intheorderoftime:first,howthetwocharactersmetsixyearsagoandhowtheyfellinloveandthenendedtheirrelationship;then,whathappenedinthefollowingsixyears;andlast,whathappenedsixyearslaterwhentheymetagain?Wouldn’tthatbebetterforreaders?Howdoyoulikethewaythestoryistold?2.Whatcanyouinferfromthewaytheymetagain?WhendoyourealizethatVeraandthemancannotbecasualacquaintances?HowdoyouexplainthefactthatforamomentthemandidnotevenrecognizeVera?Becausehehadasingularlypoormemory?Orbecausehehadmettoomanywomenduringthesixyearsandthereforedidnotknowwhichwaswhich?OrbecauseVerahadchangedbeyondrecognition?Lead-inMorequestionsaboutthetext:3.WhatdoyouthinkanyoldacquaintanceinthatsituationwouldhavesaidtoVeraassoonasherecognizedher?Doyouthinkthemansincerelyfeltthatshehadneverlookedsowellbefore?4.WhatwasthetrickthemanemployedveryoftenwhichexasperatedVera?Whatwastheman’sresponsewhenVerasaidthatshedidn’tfeelwellandthat“theolderonegrows,thecolder”?Doyouthinkthemanrespondedinaproperway?5.Inthestory,themankepttalkingabouthis“haunting”memoriesoftheirpast.Howcomeitwasthemanwhoseemedtocherishthosememories?DoesitmeanVeradidnotsharethosememories?Doyouthinkthememoriesmeantthesametothem?Whichofthetwowasmoreemotionallyinvolved?Howdoyouknow?Text1.Abouttheauthor2.Background

3.Structure4.Style5.GotothetextADillPickleKatherineMansfieldText1.AbouttheauthorKatherineMansfield(1888—1923)wasborninNewZealand.Thoughshewasonlyinher30swhenshedied,shehadalreadywrittensomeofthefinestshortstoriesintheEnglishlanguage,notablefortheircraftsmanship,theircreationofmood,andtheirrevelationofcharacter.CriticspraisedherforcapturingtheessenceofChekhov’sartinstoriesemphasizingatmosphereandactualliferatherthantheexcitingplot,andforherrefreshingoriginalityandsensitivenesstobeauty.MansfieldstudiedatQueen’sCollegeandlivedformanyyearsinLondon.SheachievedsuccesswithBlissandOtherStories(1920)andTheGardenPartyandOtherStories(1922).Mansfieldwroteshortstories,poetry,letters,journalsandreviews,andisregardedasacentralfigureinBritishmodernism.Text2.Background

ThisisastorywrittenbyKatherineMansfield,afamouswomanwriterwhoisoftencomparedtoChekhov,thegreatRussianstoryteller.Itisaboutayoungmanandayoungwomanwhohavebeenloversonceandnowmeetagainaftersixyearsofseparation,andastheysitandreminisce,webegintoknowwhathappenedsixyearsagothatfinallyledtotheendoftheirrelationship.Inthestory,theauthorartfullypointsupVera’ssensitivityandtheman’sinsensitivitytoothers—theirfeelings,attitudesandinnermotivations.Whenhedoesnotevenrecognizeheratfirstonlyaftersixyears,andwhen,aftertheirfirstfewwords,heresortstohisoldhabitofinterruptingher,wegetourfirstglimpseofhisself-involvement.TextThisthemeisrepeatedthroughoutthestory.Forexample,hisegoismpreventshimfromseeinghowgreatlytheirliveshavedivergedinthesixyearssincetheyparted.Duringthoseyears,hehasdone,byhimself,allthethingstheydreamedofdoingtogether—travelingtoSpain,Siberia,Russia,Egypt.Bycontrast,she,inthemeantime,hasexperienceddeteriorationinherfinancialsituation;sheevenhadtosellherpiano,whichshesolovedtoplay.However,heneverpaysanyattentiontoherplightandcontinuestotalkabouthimselfandhistravels.Hisinsensitivitygoessofarastomakelightofthatverycriticalpointinherlifewhenshewrotetohim,breakingofftheirrelationship.(“Ifound[theletter]theotherday,andIcouldn’thelplaughingasIreadit.”)Hetrivializestheletter,andbydoingso,alsotrivializestheirrelationship.TextAttheend,hehastheaudacitytoclaimthattheyarebothegotisticalandself-engrossed.Thisstatementunequivocallyprovestohertheextentofhisegotism,whichblindshimtothefactthatitishealonewhohastheproblemwhereassheissharplyawareofhisfeelings,infactmoresothanhehimselfis.Shenotonlysharesbutactuallyfeelsmorestronglyhispainsandjoys.Sheevenremembersthedetailsofhisboyhoodbetterthanhedoes.Theman’stotalincomprehensionofVera’sthoughtsandfeelingsisonceagainrevealedattheendofthestorywhensheleaves.Theauthordescribeshisreaction:“Hesatthere,thunder-struck,astoundedbeyondwords.”TextThroughoutthestory,althoughVeradoesn’tdomuchtalking,hersensitivitycomesthroughveryclearly.Sheisalsocourageous.Shecouldhavemarriedthemansixyearsagobecausehewasnotwithoutattraction.Hewasyoung,strong,financiallysecure,fondoftravelinglikeshewas,andaboveall,madlyinlovewithher.Butshedecidedtoendthisrelationshipbecausehewastooegotistical.Nowsixyearslater,shestillhastheopportunitytorenewtheirrelationship.Sheisaloneandlonely,andheissuccessfulandfinanciallyabletohelpherrealizeherdreams.Yetsheleaveshimagainbecausesherecognizesthathehasnotchanged.TextLikeafewotherearliergreatwomenwriters,Mansfieldisaheadofhertime.Modernfeminismhasproducedanentireliteraturethatdelvesintosimilarproblemsthatdealwiththerelationsbetweengenders.Whilesomuchofliteratureisbymenandaboutmen,thisstoryisnotonlybyawoman,butalsoaboutwomenandrelationshipsasseenthroughtheireyes.Infact,theauthorhasnotevengiventhemananame.Althoughhedoesmostofthetalking,thestoryreallyfocusesonVeraandhowsheviewsherformerlover.Text3.StructureI.InacaféVerametbychancethemanshehadaromanticrelationshipwithsixyearsago.(paras.1–12)TextII.Theirchancemeetingwasbrief.(paras.13–60)1.

TheyreminiscedabouttheirfirstafternoontheyhadspenttogetheratKewGardens.(paras.13–21)1)Hemadeafoolofhimselfandherbeforeacrowdofpeople.(paras.13–14)2)Heexpressedhisloveforher.(paras.15–21)2.HetoldherabouthistravelsinRussia.(paras.22–44)1)Listeningtohim,shefeltalongingtogothere.(paras.22–31)2)Shewellimaginedtheboatman’slifeandfriendlygesturehedescribed.(paras.32–44)3.Themanmadeitclearthathedidnotintendtopickuptheirrelationship.(paras.45–60)1)Theyoncelovedeachotherandthemansaidshehasbeentheonlypersonhewouldbeconfinedto.(paras.45–51)2)Hetoldherhehadpulledthroughthebreakup.(paras.52–54)3)Heagaintoldherhowhehadlovedherandshewasonthepointofregrettingbreakingupwithhim.(paras.55–60)TextIII.Veraleftafterhetoldhertheirrelationshipcouldn’thavelastedbecausetheywerebothself-engrossed.(paras.61–66)TextSophisticationbyAmericanpainterHarryWatrous(1908)4.Style

“ADillPickle”iswritteninthestyleofstreamofconsciousnesswithemphasisontheexpressionofthoughtsandfeelingsastheypassthroughthemindratherthanwell-designedplots.Trytoreadcarefullybetweenlinesforthehiddenthoughtsandfeelings.ThestoryunfoldssixyearsafterVeraandthemanbrokeoff.Bykeepingusingflashbacks,theauthorthenbeginstoreminisceandindoingsobeginstosupplyreaderswithfactstoreconstructthewholestory.Payattentiontotheshiftingofthetimebetweenthepresentandthepast.TextStriveforabetterunderstandingofthesubtletyofthetwocharacters.Veraislonely,butsheisnotegotistic;sheisphysicallyweak,butspirituallyverymuchaliveandstrong;shedoesnottalkmuch,butsheistheonethatreallycherishesallthememories.Asfortheman,heisnotwithoutattraction;andheobviouslydoesloveVera,orbelievesthathedoes.Itisalsounfairtosaythatheiscompletelyinsensitive,althoughhissensitivityremainsmainlyinwordsandisallbutsuperficial.TextADill

PickleKatherineMansfield1

Andthen,aftersixyears,shesawhimagain.HewasseatedatoneofthoselittlebambootablesdecoratedwithaJapanesevaseofpaperdaffodils.Hewaspeelinganorange.2

Hemusthavefeltthatshockofrecognitioninher,forhelookedupandmethereyes!Hedidn’tknowher.Shesmiled;hefrowned.Shecametowardshim.Heclosedhiseyesaninstant,butopeningthemhisfacelitupasthoughhehadstruckamatchinadarkroom.Helaiddowntheorangeandpushedbackhischair.Text3

“Vera!”heexclaimed.“Howstrange.Really,foramomentIdidn’tknowyou.Won’tyousitdown?Won’tyouhavesomecoffee?”4

“Yes,I’dlikesomecoffee.”Andshesatdownoppositehim.5

“You’vechanged.You’vechangedverymuch,”hesaid,staringatherwiththateager,lightedlook.“Youlooksowell.I’veneverseenyoulooksowellbefore.”6

“Really?”Sheraisedherveilandunbuttonedherhighfurcollar.“Idon’tfeelverywell.Ican’tbearthisweather,youknow.”Text7

“Ah,no.Youhatethecold…”8

“Loatheit.”Sheshuddered.“Andtheworstofitisthattheolderonegrows…”9

Heinterruptedher.“Excuseme,”andtappedonthetableforthewaitress.“Pleasebringsomecoffeeandcream.”Toher:“Youaresureyouwon’teatanything?”10

“No,thanks.Nothing.”11“Thenthat’ssettled.”Andsmilinghetookuptheorangeagain.“Youweresaying—theolderonegrows—”Text12

“Thecolder,”shelaughed.Butshewasthinkinghowwellsherememberedthattrickofhis—thetrickofinterruptingher—andofhowitusedtoexasperatehersixyearsago.13

“Thecolder!”Heechoedherwords,laughingtoo.“Ah,ah.Youstillsaythesamethingsandthereisanotherthingaboutyouthatisnotchangedatall—yourbeautifulvoice.Idon’tknowwhatitis—I’veoftenwondered—thatmakesyourvoicesucha—hauntingmemory…DoyourememberthatfirstafternoonwespenttogetheratKewGardens?YouweresosurprisedbecauseIdidnotknowthenamesofanyflowers.Iamstilljustasignorantforallyourtellingme.Butwheneverit’sveryfineandwarm,andIseesomebrightcolourIhearyourvoicesaying:‘Geranium,marigold,andverbena.’Yourememberthatafternoon?”Text14

“Oh,yes,verywell.”Shedrewalong,softbreath.Yet,whathadremainedinhermindofthatparticularafternoonwasanabsurdscene.AgreatmanypeopletakingteainaChinesepagoda,andhebehavinglikeamaniacaboutthewasps—wavingthemaway,flappingatthemwithhisstrawhat,seriousandinfuriatedoutofallproportiontotheoccasion.Howshehadsuffered.15

Butnow,ashespoke,thatmemoryfaded.Hiswasthetruer.16

Yes,ithadbeenawonderfulafternoon,fullofflowersand—warmsunshine.Herthoughtslingeredoverthelasttwowords.Andinthewarmth,asitwere,anothermemoryunfolded.Shesawherselfsittingonalawn.Helaybesideher,andsuddenly,herolledoverandputhisheadinherlap.Text17

“Iwish,”hesaidinalow,troubledvoice,“IwishthatIhadtakenpoisonandwereabouttodie—herenow!”18

Sheleanedoverhim.19

“Ah,whydoyousaythat?”20

Buthegaveakindofsoftmoan,andtakingherhandheheldittohischeek.21“BecauseIknowIamgoingtoloveyoutoomuch.AndIshallsuffersoterribly,Vera,becauseyounever,neverwillloveme.”Text22

Hewascertainlyfarbetterlookingnowthanhehadbeenthen.Hehadlostallthatdreamyvaguenessandindecision.Nowhehadtheairofamanwhohasfoundhisplaceinlife.Hemusthavemademoney,too.Hisclotheswereadmirable,andatthatmomenthepulledaRussiancigarettecaseoutofhispocket.23

“Won’tyousmoke?”24

“Yes,Iwill,”shehoveredoverthem.“Theylookverygood.”25“IgetthemmadeformebyalittlemaninStJames’sStreet.Idon’tsmokeverymuch,butwhenIdo,theymustbedelicious.Smokingisn’tahabitwithme;it’saluxury—likeperfume.Areyoustillsofondofperfumes?Ah,whenIwasinRussia…”Text26

Shebrokein:“You’vereallybeentoRussia?”27

“Oh,yes.Iwasthereforoverayear.Haveyouforgottenhowweusedtotalkofgoingthere?”28

“No,I’venotforgotten.”29Hegaveastrangehalflaughandleanedbackinhischair.30

“Isn’titcurious?Ihavereallycarriedoutallthosejourneysthatweplanned.Infact,Ihavespentthelastthreeyearsofmylifetravelingallthetime.Spain,Russia,Egypt.TheonlycountryleftisChina,andImeantogothere,too,whenthewarisover.”Text31

Ashespoke,solightly,tappingtheendofhiscigaretteagainsttheashtray,shefeltthestrangebeastthathadslumberedsolongwithinherbosomstir,stretchitself,yawn,prickupitsears,andsuddenlyboundtoitsfeet,andfixitslonging,hungrystareuponthosefarawayplaces.Butallshesaidwas,smilinggently:“HowIenvyyou.”32

“Ithasbeen,”hesaid,“wonderful—especiallyRussia.IevenspentsomedaysonariverboatontheVolga.Doyourememberthatboatman’ssongthatyouusedtoplay?”33

“Yes.”Itbegantoplayasshespoke.34“Doyoueverplayitnow?”Text35

“No,I’venopiano.”36

Hewasamazedatthat.“Butwhathasbecomeofyourbeautifulpiano?”37

Shemadealittlegrimace.“Sold.Agesago.”38

“Butyouweresofondofmusic,”hewondered.39“I’venotimeforitnow,”saidshe.Text40

Heletitgoatthat.“Thatriverlife,”hewenton,“issomethingquitespecial.Afteradayortwoyoucannotrealizethatyouhaveeverknownanother.Anditisnotnecessarytoknowthelanguage—thelifeoftheboatcreatesabondbetweenyouandthepeoplethat’smorethansufficient.Youeatwiththem,passthedaywiththem,andintheeveningthereisthatendlesssinging.”41

Sheshivered,hearingtheboatman’ssongbreakoutagainloudandtragic,andseeingtheboatfloatingonthedarkeningriverwithmelancholytreesoneitherside…Text42

“You’dlikealmosteverythingaboutRussianlife,”hesaidwarmly.“It’ssoinformal,soimpulsive,sofree.Andthenthepeasantsaresosplendid.Theyaresuchhumanbeings—yes,thatisit.Eventhemanwhodrivesyourcarriagehas—hassomerealpartinwhatishappening.IremembertheeveningsomefriendsandIwentforapicnicbytheBlackSea.Wetooksupperandchampagneandateanddrankonthegrass.Andwhilewewereeatingthecoachmancameup.‘Haveadillpickle,’hesaid.Hewantedtosharewithus:Thatseemedtomesoright,so—youknowwhatImean?”Text43

AndsheseemedatthatmomenttobesittingonthegrassbesidethemysteriousBlackSea,blackasvelvet,andripplingagainstthebanksinsilent,velvetwaves.Shesawthelittlegrouponthegrass,theirfacesandhandswhiteinthemoonlight.Apartfromthem,withhissupperinaclothonhisknees,satthecoachman.“Haveadillpickle,”saidhe,andalthoughshewasnotcertainwhatadillpicklewas,shesawthegreenishglassjarwitharedchililikeaparrot’sbeakglimmeringthrough.Shesuckedinhercheeks;thedillpicklewasterriblysour…44

“Yes,Iknowperfectlywhatyoumean,”shesaid.Text45

Inthepausethatfollowedtheylookedateachother.Inthepastwhentheyhadlookedateachotherlikethattheyhadfeltthattheirsoulshad,asitwere,puttheirarmsroundeachotheranddroppedintothesamesea,content,tobedrowned,likemournfullovers.Butnow,hesaid:“Whatamarvelouslisteneryouare.WhenyoulookatmewiththosewildeyesIfeelthatIcouldtellyouthingsthatIwouldneverbreathetoanotherhumanbeing.”46

Wastherejustahintofmockeryinhisvoice?Shecouldnotbesure.Text47

“BeforeImetyou,”hesaid,“Ihadneverspokenofmyselftoanybody.HowwellIrememberonenight,thenightthatIbroughtyouthelittleChristmastree,tellingyouallaboutmychildhood.AndofhowIwassomiserablethatIranawayandlivedunderacartinouryardfortwodayswithoutbeingdiscovered.Andyoulistened,andyoureyesshone,andIfeltthatyouhadevenmadethelittleChristmastreelistentoo,asinafairystory.”Butofthateveningshehadrememberedalittlepotofcaviare.Ithadcostsevenandsixpence.Hecouldnotgetoverit.Thinkofit—atinyjarlikethatcostingsevenandsixpence.Whilesheateithewatchedher,delightedandshocked.48

“ThedogwascalledBosun,”shecried,delightedly.Text49

Buthedidnotfollow.“Whatdog?Hadyouadog?”50

“No,no.Imeanttheyarddogwhenyouwerealittleboy.”51

Helaughedandsnappedthecigarettecaseto.52

“Washe?DoyouknowIhadforgottenthat?Itseemedsuchagesago.Icannotbelievethatitisonlysixyears.AfterIhadrecognizedyoutoday—Ihadtotakesuchaleaptogetbacktothattime.”Hedrummedonthetable.“I’veoftenthoughthowImusthaveboredyou.AndnowIunderstandsoperfectlywhyyouwrotetomeasyoudid—althoughatthetimethatletternearlyfinishedmylife.Ifounditagaintheotherday,andIcouldn’thelplaughingasIreadit.Itwassoclever—suchatruepictureofme.”Heglancedup.“You’renotgoing?”Text53

Shehadbuttonedhercollaragainanddrawndownherveil.54

“Yes,IamafraidImust,”shesaid,andmanagedasmile.55

“Ah,no,please,”hepleaded.“Don’tgojustforamoment,”andhecaughtuponeofherglovesfromthetableandclutchedatitasifthatwouldholdher.“Iseesofewpeopletotalktonowadays,thatIhaveturnedintoasortofbarbarian,”hesaid.“HaveIsaidsomethingtohurtyou?”56“Notabit,”shelied.Butasshewatchedhimdrawherglovethroughhisfingers,gently,gently,herangerreallydiddiedown.Text57

“WhatIreallywantedthen,”hesaidsoftly,“wastobeasortofcarpet—foryoutowalkonsothatyouneednotbehurtbythesharpstonesandthemudthatyouhatedso.Itwasnothingmoreselfishthanthat.OnlyIdiddesire,eventually,toturnintoamagiccarpetandcarryyouawaytoallthoselandsyoulongedtosee.”58

Ashespokesheliftedherheadasthoughshedranksomething;thestrangebeastinherbosombegantopurr…59

“Ifelt,thatyouweremorelonelythananybodyelseintheworld,”hewenton,“andyet,perhaps,thatyouweretheonlypersonintheworldwhowasreally,trulyalive.”Text60

Ah,God!Whathadshedone!Howhadshedaredtothrowawayherhappinesslikethis!Thiswastheonlymanwhohadeverunderstoodher.Wasittoolate?Coulditbetoolate?61

“Andthenthefactthatyouneverhadmadefriendswithpeople.HowIunderstoodthat,forneitherhadI.Isitjustthesamenow?”62

“Yes,”shebreathed.“Justthesame.Iamasaloneasever.”63

“SoamI,”helaughedgently,“justthesame.”Text64

Suddenly,withaquickgesturehehandedherbackthegloveandscrapedhischaironthefloor.“Butwhatseemedtomesomysteriousthenisperfectlyplaintomenow.Itsimplywasthatweweresuchegoists,soself-engrossed,sowrappedupinourselvesthatwehadn’tacornerinourheartsforanybodyelse.Doyouknow,”hecried,na?veandhearty…65

Shehadgone.Hesatthere,thunder-struck,astoundedbeyondwords…Andthenheaskedthewaitressforhisbill.66

“Butthecreamhasnotbeentouched,”hesaid.“Pleasedonotchargemeforit.”(2,110words)Text一塊蒔蘿泡菜凱瑟琳·曼斯菲爾德1

六年以后，她又見(jiàn)到了他。他坐在一張小竹桌旁，桌上擺放了一只插著紙質(zhì)水仙花的日本花瓶。他正在剝橙子。2

他抬起頭，正好與她四目相對(duì)，肯定感受到了她的震驚。他居然沒(méi)認(rèn)出她。她笑了，他卻皺起眉頭。她向他走來(lái)，他則閉上眼睛。片刻之后睜開(kāi)眼，他的臉頓時(shí)亮了起來(lái)，好像他在一間暗室里劃著了一根火柴。他放下橙子，把椅子往后推了推。

Text3

“薇拉！”他大聲喊道?！疤豢伤甲h了。剛那一會(huì)兒，我都沒(méi)有認(rèn)出你來(lái)。快請(qǐng)坐，要喝點(diǎn)咖啡嗎？”4

“好的，我想要點(diǎn)咖啡?！彼趯?duì)面坐了下來(lái)。5

“你變了，變了很多，”他盯著她說(shuō)，眼神迫切而明亮?！翱瓷先ゲ诲e(cuò)，以前從來(lái)沒(méi)見(jiàn)過(guò)你氣色這么好?！?

“真的？”她掀起面紗，解開(kāi)高高的皮毛領(lǐng)子。“我感覺(jué)不大舒服，我受不了這種天氣，這你是知道的。”Text7

“哎呀，是呀，你不喜歡冷天……”8

“我討厭這種天氣。”她打了個(gè)冷顫?！白钤愀獾氖悄挲g越大……”9

他打斷了她?！澳愫茫^(guò)來(lái)一下，”他敲了敲桌子，召女服務(wù)員過(guò)來(lái)，“請(qǐng)上點(diǎn)咖啡和奶油。”然后問(wèn)她，“你真的不想吃點(diǎn)什么嗎？”10

“不要?jiǎng)e的了。謝謝?！?1

“那就這樣吧。”他笑著又拿起了橙子?！澳銊偛耪f(shuō)年齡越大——”Text12

“越怕冷，”她笑了起來(lái)。心里卻在想，她對(duì)他那個(gè)打斷她說(shuō)話(huà)的把戲再熟悉不過(guò)了，這把戲六年前曾經(jīng)讓她多么憤怒啊！13

“越怕冷！”他重復(fù)她的話(huà)，也跟著笑了起來(lái)。“啊，你還是說(shuō)同樣的話(huà)。你美麗的嗓音也一點(diǎn)都沒(méi)變。我不明白究竟是什么——我常常琢磨——使你的嗓音如此難忘……你還記得我們第一次在邱園度過(guò)的那個(gè)下午嗎？我叫不出任何花的名字，你對(duì)此感到非常驚訝。盡管那時(shí)你跟我說(shuō)了很多，但我現(xiàn)在還是什么都不知道。不過(guò)，每當(dāng)天氣晴朗又暖和的時(shí)候，我一看到艷麗的色彩就會(huì)想起你的聲音，‘天竺葵、萬(wàn)壽菊、美人櫻’，你還記得那個(gè)下午嗎？”Text14

“哦，當(dāng)然記得，記得很清楚?！彼従彽厣钗艘豢跉?。不過(guò)，她記憶里那個(gè)不尋常的下午卻是個(gè)滑稽可笑的場(chǎng)面。那時(shí)很多人在一個(gè)中式亭子里喝茶，他卻像個(gè)瘋子一樣對(duì)付黃蜂——揮趕它們，用草帽拍打它們。那種場(chǎng)合下他根本不需要那么認(rèn)真和憤怒。那時(shí)她多么尷尬??！15

可是，現(xiàn)在聽(tīng)他說(shuō)這些事，她的那份記憶倒是模糊了。他說(shuō)的倒是更準(zhǔn)確。16

確實(shí)，那天下午過(guò)得很愉快，到處都是鮮花，還有溫暖的陽(yáng)光。她的思緒停留在“溫暖的陽(yáng)光”這幾個(gè)字上。這股暖流好像開(kāi)啟了她的另一份回憶。她看到自己坐在草坪上，他躺在她身旁。突然，他翻過(guò)身，把腦袋枕在她腿上。Text17

“真希望，”他苦惱地說(shuō)，聲音低沉，“真希望我已經(jīng)服了毒藥，就快死了——就是現(xiàn)在，就在這里！”18

她的頭向他探過(guò)去。19

“哎呀，為什么這么說(shuō)？”20

他輕輕地哼了一聲，握住她的手，貼在他的面頰上。21

“因?yàn)槲抑牢姨珢?ài)你了。薇拉，我會(huì)非常痛苦，因?yàn)槟阌肋h(yuǎn)，永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)愛(ài)我?！盩ext22

很明顯，他現(xiàn)在看起來(lái)比以前好得多，完全不像以前那樣不切實(shí)際、優(yōu)柔寡斷了。他現(xiàn)在看上去像個(gè)成功人士，肯定掙了不少錢(qián)，衣著也很講究。這時(shí)他從衣兜里拿出個(gè)俄羅斯煙盒。23

“抽支煙嗎？”24

“好的，”她的目光停留在煙卷上。“看起來(lái)挺好的。”25

“我讓圣詹姆斯大街上的一個(gè)小個(gè)子男人為我特別制作的。我抽煙不多，不過(guò)要抽就一定要好的。對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，抽煙不是習(xí)慣。煙是一種奢侈品，就像香水一樣。你還是很喜歡香水嗎？對(duì)了，我在俄羅斯的時(shí)候……”Text26

她插了一句，“你真的去過(guò)俄羅斯？”27

“是的，我在那里待了一年。你忘了以前我們說(shuō)過(guò)要去那兒?jiǎn)?？?8

“我沒(méi)有忘記。”29

他發(fā)出了似笑非笑的怪聲，然后靠到椅背上。30

“真不可思議，我們計(jì)劃一起旅游的地方，我都去了。事實(shí)上，我過(guò)去三年一直在旅行。西班牙、俄羅斯、埃及。唯一還沒(méi)有去的就是中國(guó)。我打算戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)結(jié)束后去?！盩ext31

他輕聲說(shuō)著，不時(shí)在煙灰缸上彈彈煙頭。此時(shí)，她感到長(zhǎng)期在她心中沉睡的那頭怪獸蠢蠢欲動(dòng)了，伸懶腰，打哈欠，豎起耳朵，突然一躍而起，瞪著一雙渴望、憧憬的眼睛，看向遠(yuǎn)方。但她只是微笑著說(shuō)，“真羨慕你！”32

“旅行很棒，尤其是在俄羅斯。我還在伏爾加河上的一艘船里過(guò)了幾天。你還記得你以前常彈的那首船夫曲嗎？”33

“記得?！蹦且魳?lè)隨即在她耳邊響起。34

“你現(xiàn)在還彈這首曲子嗎？”Text35

“不彈了，我沒(méi)有鋼琴了?！?6

他對(duì)此感到驚訝?！澳隳羌芷恋匿撉倌娜チ?？”37

她苦笑了一下?！霸缇唾u(mài)了?！?8

“可你很喜歡音樂(lè)呀，”他不明白。39

“現(xiàn)在沒(méi)時(shí)間，顧不上了?！彼f(shuō)。Text40

他沒(méi)有再問(wèn)下去?！按系纳?，”他接著說(shuō)，“很特別。過(guò)了一兩天，你就會(huì)覺(jué)得你的生活一直就是這樣。不需要懂他們的語(yǔ)言——船上生活本身就能讓你和其他人緊密聯(lián)系起來(lái)，這就足夠了。你和他們一起吃飯，從早到晚都在一起，到了晚上還有盡情的歌唱?！?1

她顫抖了一下，仿佛聽(tīng)到那船夫曲再次響起，響亮而凄涼；她看到那艘船漂浮在漸漸昏暗的河上，看到兩岸憂(yōu)郁的樹(shù)木……Text42

“俄羅斯生活的方方面面，你差不多都會(huì)喜歡，”他熱情地說(shuō)著，“隨意，無(wú)拘無(wú)束，自由自在。那里的農(nóng)夫太好了。他們就是那樣的人——沒(méi)錯(cuò)，就是那樣。就連給你開(kāi)馬車(chē)的車(chē)夫，也會(huì)在當(dāng)下發(fā)揮重要作用。記得有一個(gè)晚上我和幾個(gè)朋友一起在黑海邊野餐。我們帶了晚飯和香檳，坐在草地上又吃又喝。正在我們吃喝的時(shí)候，一位車(chē)夫走過(guò)來(lái)說(shuō)，‘嘗一塊蒔蘿泡菜吧?！敢馀c我們分享泡菜，他這么做很自然——你明白我的意思嗎？”Text43

此時(shí)她好像就坐在神秘莫測(cè)的黑海旁的草地上，海面像黑色的天鵝絨，安靜、絲絨般的水波拍打著海岸，海面泛起層層漣漪。她看見(jiàn)草地上的這一小群人，他們的雙手和面頰在月光下顯得白皙。那車(chē)夫坐在離他們不遠(yuǎn)處，膝蓋上放著用布包起來(lái)的晚飯，“嘗一塊蒔蘿泡菜吧，”他說(shuō)。盡管她不敢肯定蒔蘿泡菜是何物，但仿佛看到泛綠的瓶子里有一個(gè)鸚鵡嘴一樣的紅辣椒，閃閃發(fā)光。她微微一吮，蒔蘿泡菜特別地酸。44

“是的，我完全理解你的意思，”她說(shuō)。Text45

隨后是短暫的沉默，他倆相互望著對(duì)方。以前相互對(duì)望的時(shí)候，他們感到靈魂好像擁抱在一起了，就像一對(duì)憂(yōu)傷的戀人，一起跳入大海，心滿(mǎn)意足地殉情而死。可是現(xiàn)在，他只是說(shuō)，“你真是一個(gè)了不起的聽(tīng)眾。每當(dāng)你用迫切的眼神看著我的時(shí)候，我就會(huì)覺(jué)得，我從不向別人透露的事，都能告訴你。”46

他的聲音里有一絲取笑的成分嗎？她不能確定。Text47

“在遇見(jiàn)你之前，”他說(shuō)，“我從未對(duì)任何人聊起過(guò)自己。我清清楚楚地記得，有一天夜里，我給你帶去一棵小圣誕樹(shù)，跟你講了我小時(shí)候所有的事。我不痛快，離家出走，在我們家后院的大車(chē)下面待了兩天，也沒(méi)有被人發(fā)現(xiàn)。你就聽(tīng)我講著，兩眼放光，我覺(jué)得你甚至讓那棵小圣誕樹(shù)也聽(tīng)我講話(huà)，就像童話(huà)里那樣?！钡P(guān)于那一晚，她還記著的是一小罐魚(yú)子醬，值7先令6便士。這一點(diǎn)讓他無(wú)法釋?xiě)眩恢毕胫敲匆恍」蘧突?先令6便士。在她品嘗的時(shí)候，他欣喜又驚訝地看著她。48

“那條狗叫做博蓀，”她高興地大聲說(shuō)道。Text49

可是他卻不明白?！笆裁垂?？你那時(shí)有條狗？”50

“我沒(méi)有狗。我說(shuō)的是你小時(shí)候你家院子里的那條狗?！?1

他笑了起來(lái)，“啪”的一聲關(guān)上煙盒。52

“是嗎？我早就忘了。這好像是很久以前的事了。我無(wú)法相信這才過(guò)去六年。今天認(rèn)出你之后，我費(fèi)了好大勁才回想起以往的時(shí)光?！彼唤?jīng)心地敲著桌面，“我常常想，我那時(shí)候肯定讓你十分厭煩。現(xiàn)在我完全能理解你為什么給我寫(xiě)那么一封信了——盡管當(dāng)時(shí)那封信幾乎要了我的命。前不久，我又找到了它，再讀的時(shí)候忍不住笑了。寫(xiě)得太妙了——把我寫(xiě)得很真實(shí)。”他抬起頭?！澳悴皇且吡税?？”Text53

她已經(jīng)重新扣上皮毛領(lǐng)口，拉下了面紗。54

“對(duì)，我該走了，”她說(shuō)，勉強(qiáng)笑了笑。55

“哎呀，請(qǐng)別走，”他懇求道，“再待一會(huì)兒?！彼闷鹚旁谧雷由系囊恢皇痔祝プ〔环?，好像那樣能留住她似的?！拔椰F(xiàn)在沒(méi)有幾個(gè)能聊天的人，差不多成了野蠻人了。”他接著說(shuō)，“我是不是說(shuō)了什么讓你不高興的話(huà)？”56

“哪會(huì)呢，”她說(shuō)了句謊話(huà)。不過(guò)，當(dāng)她看著他用手指溫柔地捋著她的手套時(shí)，她的惱怒逐漸平息了。Text57

“當(dāng)時(shí)我真想，”他輕聲說(shuō)，“當(dāng)一條毯子，讓你在上面走，這樣你就不會(huì)被尖刻的石子刺痛，也不會(huì)沾上你十分討厭的濕泥。除此以外，沒(méi)有其他任何自私的想法。我真希望最終變成一條魔毯，帶你去所有你渴望去的國(guó)家?！?8

他說(shuō)這些話(huà)時(shí)，她抬起了頭，好像喝下什么，她心里的那頭怪獸開(kāi)始嗚嗚地叫喚起來(lái)……59

“我覺(jué)得你比世上任何人都更孤獨(dú)，”他接著說(shuō)，“不過(guò)，或許你是這世界上唯一真正活著的人?！盩ext60

天哪！她都做了些什么！她怎么敢這么輕易斷送自己的幸福！眼前這人是唯一理解她的人。太晚了嗎？不可挽回了嗎？61

“還有，你從來(lái)沒(méi)有交過(guò)朋友，這我太了解了，因?yàn)槲乙矝](méi)交過(guò)朋友。你現(xiàn)在還是這樣嗎？”62

“是的，”她輕輕地說(shuō)。“和以前一樣，我還是獨(dú)自一人?！?3

“我也是，”他溫柔地笑著，“跟從前一樣。”Text64

突然，他動(dòng)作迅速地把那只手套還給了她，將椅子在地板上蹭了一下。“不過(guò)，當(dāng)時(shí)看似神秘的事，現(xiàn)在我看得十分清楚了。我們倆都是自顧自的人，完全以自我為中心，把自己裹得嚴(yán)嚴(yán)實(shí)實(shí)的，心里沒(méi)有一個(gè)角落能容納別人。你知道嗎，”他天真又熱切地說(shuō)著……65

她走了。他仍然坐在原地，呆若木雞，驚訝得難以形容……然后就叫服務(wù)員結(jié)賬。66

“奶油沒(méi)動(dòng)過(guò)，”他說(shuō)，“這個(gè)別讓我付錢(qián)?！盩ext

Andthen,aftersixyears,shesawhimagain.Fromthisveryfirstsentencewecaninferthat:a)Shehadmethimbefore.Infacttheymusthaveknowneachotherquitewellalthoughtheexactnatureoftheirrelationshipwasnotclearatthispoint.b)Forsomereasons,theyhadnotseeneachotherforsixyears.TextAnalysis

…peelinganorange.takeoffthepeel(thethickskin)ofanorangeAlso:peelpotatoes;husktherice;shellthepeas;weedthegarden;skinananimal;gutthefish;dustthetableTextAnalysis

Hedidn’tknowher.Shesmiled;hefrowned.Shecametowardshim.Heclosedhiseyesaninstant,butopeningthemhisfacelitupasthoughhehadstruckamatchinadarkroom.Shefounditincrediblethathedidn’tknowher.Thisindicatedthattheyhadknowneachotherverywellsixyearsbefore.Shesmiled;hefrowned.:Shesmiledbecauseshewasverygladtoseeheroldfriend.Hefrownedbecausehecouldnotplaceher.Hecouldnotrecallwherehehadmetthiswomanbefore.Thatheclosedhiseyesaninstantimpliedhewassearchinghismemory.TextAnalysis

“You’vechanged.You’vechangedverymuch,”hesaid,staringatherwiththateager,lightedlook.“Youlooksowell.I’veneverseenyoulooksowellbefore.”WhenthemansaidVerahadchangedverymuch,whatdoyouthinkhereallymeanttosay?DidVerareallylookwell?(No,shewasnotfeelingwell.Shecouldnotbearthecoldweather.Sheshudderedoftenfromthecold.Andshewasbeginningtofeeltheeffectofhergrowingage.Quitelikelyshewassickatthattime.)Whydidhesaythisthen?TextAnalysis

“Thenthat’ssettled.”Andsmilinghetookuptheorangeagain.“Youweresaying—theolderonegrows—”settled:decided;properlydealtwithhetookuptheorangeagain:Noticetheauthor’sdescriptionofthisminutedetail.Doyouthinkitasignificant