現(xiàn)代大學英語（第三版）精讀3 課件 B3U3

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，肯定感受到了她的震驚。他居然沒認出她。她笑了，他卻皺起眉頭。她向他走來，他則閉上眼睛。片刻之后睜開眼，他的臉頓時亮了起來，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。剛那一會兒，我都沒有認出你來?？煺堊?，要喝點咖啡嗎？”4

“好的，我想要點咖啡?！彼趯γ孀讼聛?。5

“你變了，變了很多，”他盯著她說，眼神迫切而明亮。“看上去不錯，以前從來沒見過你氣色這么好。”6

“真的？”她掀起面紗，解開高高的皮毛領(lǐng)子?！拔腋杏X不大舒服，我受不了這種天氣，這你是知道的?！盩ext7

“哎呀，是呀，你不喜歡冷天……”8

“我討厭這種天氣?！彼蛄藗€冷顫。“最糟糕的是年齡越大……”9

他打斷了她。“你好，過來一下，”他敲了敲桌子，召女服務員過來，“請上點咖啡和奶油。”然后問她，“你真的不想吃點什么嗎？”10

“不要別的了。謝謝?！?1

“那就這樣吧?！彼χ帜闷鹆顺茸印！澳銊偛耪f年齡越大——”Text12

“越怕冷，”她笑了起來。心里卻在想，她對他那個打斷她說話的把戲再熟悉不過了，這把戲六年前曾經(jīng)讓她多么憤怒啊！13

“越怕冷！”他重復她的話，也跟著笑了起來?！鞍。氵€是說同樣的話。你美麗的嗓音也一點都沒變。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的那個下午嗎？我叫不出任何花的名字，你對此感到非常驚訝。盡管那時你跟我說了很多，但我現(xiàn)在還是什么都不知道。不過，每當天氣晴朗又暖和的時候，我一看到艷麗的色彩就會想起你的聲音，‘天竺葵、萬壽菊、美人櫻’，你還記得那個下午嗎？”Text14

“哦，當然記得，記得很清楚?！彼従彽厣钗艘豢跉狻２贿^，她記憶里那個不尋常的下午卻是個滑稽可笑的場面。那時很多人在一個中式亭子里喝茶，他卻像個瘋子一樣對付黃蜂——揮趕它們，用草帽拍打它們。那種場合下他根本不需要那么認真和憤怒。那時她多么尷尬?。?5

可是，現(xiàn)在聽他說這些事，她的那份記憶倒是模糊了。他說的倒是更準確。16

確實，那天下午過得很愉快，到處都是鮮花，還有溫暖的陽光。她的思緒停留在“溫暖的陽光”這幾個字上。這股暖流好像開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，他翻過身，把腦袋枕在她腿上。Text17

“真希望，”他苦惱地說，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

她的頭向他探過去。19

“哎呀，為什么這么說？”20

他輕輕地哼了一聲，握住她的手，貼在他的面頰上。21

“因為我知道我太愛你了。薇拉，我會非常痛苦，因為你永遠，永遠也不會愛我。”Text22

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

“抽支煙嗎？”24

“好的，”她的目光停留在煙卷上?！翱雌饋硗玫摹！?5

“我讓圣詹姆斯大街上的一個小個子男人為我特別制作的。我抽煙不多，不過要抽就一定要好的。對我來說，抽煙不是習慣。煙是一種奢侈品，就像香水一樣。你還是很喜歡香水嗎？對了，我在俄羅斯的時候……”Text26

她插了一句，“你真的去過俄羅斯？”27

“是的，我在那里待了一年。你忘了以前我們說過要去那兒嗎？”28

“我沒有忘記?！?9

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，我們計劃一起旅游的地方，我都去了。事實上，我過去三年一直在旅行。西班牙、俄羅斯、埃及。唯一還沒有去的就是中國。我打算戰(zhàn)爭結(jié)束后去?！盩ext31

他輕聲說著，不時在煙灰缸上彈彈煙頭。此時，她感到長期在她心中沉睡的那頭怪獸蠢蠢欲動了，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，看向遠方。但她只是微笑著說，“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?！蹦且魳冯S即在她耳邊響起。34

“你現(xiàn)在還彈這首曲子嗎？”Text35

“不彈了，我沒有鋼琴了?！?6

他對此感到驚訝。“你那架漂亮的鋼琴哪去了？”37

她苦笑了一下?！霸缇唾u了?！?8

“可你很喜歡音樂呀，”他不明白。39

“現(xiàn)在沒時間，顧不上了。”她說。Text40

他沒有再問下去?！按系纳睿彼又f，“很特別。過了一兩天，你就會覺得你的生活一直就是這樣。不需要懂他們的語言——船上生活本身就能讓你和其他人緊密聯(lián)系起來，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，看到兩岸憂郁的樹木……Text42

“俄羅斯生活的方方面面，你差不多都會喜歡，”他熱情地說著，“隨意，無拘無束，自由自在。那里的農(nóng)夫太好了。他們就是那樣的人——沒錯，就是那樣。就連給你開馬車的車夫，也會在當下發(fā)揮重要作用。記得有一個晚上我和幾個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。正在我們吃喝的時候，一位車夫走過來說，‘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

此時她好像就坐在神秘莫測的黑海旁的草地上，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。那車夫坐在離他們不遠處，膝蓋上放著用布包起來的晚飯，“嘗一塊蒔蘿泡菜吧，”他說。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。Text45

隨后是短暫的沉默，他倆相互望著對方。以前相互對望的時候，他們感到靈魂好像擁抱在一起了，就像一對憂傷的戀人，一起跳入大海，心滿意足地殉情而死?？墒乾F(xiàn)在，他只是說，“你真是一個了不起的聽眾。每當你用迫切的眼神看著我的時候，我就會覺得，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

“在遇見你之前，”他說，“我從未對任何人聊起過自己。我清清楚楚地記得，有一天夜里，我給你帶去一棵小圣誕樹，跟你講了我小時候所有的事。我不痛快，離家出走，在我們家后院的大車下面待了兩天，也沒有被人發(fā)現(xiàn)。你就聽我講著，兩眼放光，我覺得你甚至讓那棵小圣誕樹也聽我講話，就像童話里那樣。”但關(guān)于那一晚，她還記著的是一小罐魚子醬，值7先令6便士。這一點讓他無法釋懷，一直想著那么一小罐就花了7先令6便士。在她品嘗的時候，他欣喜又驚訝地看著她。48

“那條狗叫做博蓀，”她高興地大聲說道。Text49

可是他卻不明白?！笆裁垂?？你那時有條狗？”50

“我沒有狗。我說的是你小時候你家院子里的那條狗。”51

他笑了起來，“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。我無法相信這才過去六年。今天認出你之后，我費了好大勁才回想起以往的時光?！彼唤?jīng)心地敲著桌面，“我常常想，我那時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那么一封信了——盡管當時那封信幾乎要了我的命。前不久，我又找到了它，再讀的時候忍不住笑了。寫得太妙了——把我寫得很真實?！彼痤^?！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，我該走了，”她說，勉強笑了笑。55

“哎呀，請別走，”他懇求道，“再待一會兒?！彼闷鹚旁谧雷由系囊恢皇痔?，抓住不放，好像那樣能留住她似的?！拔椰F(xiàn)在沒有幾個能聊天的人，差不多成了野蠻人了?！彼又f，“我是不是說了什么讓你不高興的話？”56

“哪會呢，”她說了句謊話。不過，當她看著他用手指溫柔地捋著她的手套時，她的惱怒逐漸平息了。Text57

“當時我真想，”他輕聲說，“當一條毯子，讓你在上面走，這樣你就不會被尖刻的石子刺痛，也不會沾上你十分討厭的濕泥。除此以外，沒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家?！?8

他說這些話時，她抬起了頭，好像喝下什么，她心里的那頭怪獸開始嗚嗚地叫喚起來……59

“我覺得你比世上任何人都更孤獨，”他接著說，“不過，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，你從來沒有交過朋友，這我太了解了，因為我也沒交過朋友。你現(xiàn)在還是這樣嗎？”62

“是的，”她輕輕地說?！昂鸵郧耙粯?，我還是獨自一人?！?3

“我也是，”他溫柔地笑著，“跟從前一樣?！盩ext64

突然，他動作迅速地把那只手套還給了她，將椅子在地板上蹭了一下?！安贿^，當時看似神秘的事，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，把自己裹得嚴嚴實實的，心里沒有一個角落能容納別人。你知道嗎，”他天真又熱切地說著……65

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

“奶油沒動過，”他說，“這個別讓我付錢。”Text

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