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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
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