Chapter 4 Chapter Four

When Miss Ley entered the drawing-room, she found the punctual clergyman dressed for supper, conspicuous in his stockings and buckled shoes.Presently Bella came too, in a beautiful dark dress with black ribbons. "I went to Holywell Street this morning to look at the bookshops over there," said the Vicar, "but Holywell Street is ruined. Polly, London isn't what it used to be. Every time I come here, I always find that some old buildings are missing, and old friends are scattered here and there.” With melancholy, Mr. Langton recalled the happy days of looking for second-hand books in London, as if he could smell the musty smell of books again.The original kosher shopkeepers have moved on, and the new bookshop has no more old, dusty outdated stuff, the shelves are spotless, and loafers are clearly not welcome here.

The servants announced the arrival of Mrs. Barlow Bassett and her son.She was a tall woman, dignified, with beautiful eyes and a confident walk; her gray hair was thick and curly, reminiscent of eighteenth-century styles, and her dress reflected that. What's going on with the times makes her look like Joshua Reynolds' sister.There was a certain obstinacy in her demeanor, but she was not disrespectful in her demeanor, for she had grown up in a time when etiquette was still a part of girls' education.Mrs. Barlow Bassett was very proud of her son: he was a tall young man of twenty-two, strong and healthy, with black hair not much less than his mother's, and exceptionally good-looking.He's big-boned but not overly muscular, dark-skinned, with big brown eyes, a high nose and olive skin, plus full, sensual lips that make him look good wherever he goes Attracts a lot of eyeballs; he himself is not unaware of this.He is a good-natured slacker, looks like an oriental beauty, and is immoral and dishonest.Mrs. Barlow Bassett had devoted herself to the upbringing of her only son in order to make her widowhood worthwhile, and was pleased to think that she had so far succeeded in keeping him safe from all evil.She hopes that her son will regard herself as a confidant, and often brags that her son's every move and even all his thoughts are under her control.

"Mary, I want to speak to Mr. Kent tonight," she said. "He's a barrister, isn't he? We've made up our minds about getting Reggie into the bar." Although Reggie also envied soldiers in beautiful uniforms, he didn't yearn for the restricted life in the army at all. He also had a lot of contempt for the business field where his father earned his wealth, so he was happy to enter A more gentlemanly legal profession.He knew vaguely that his career would involve attending many dinner parties, and he was fine with that; he also knew that he would wear wigs and gowns, talk to jurors, and be the envy of the public.

"Sit next to Basil in a moment," replied Miss Ley. "Frank Herrier will take you down." "I'm sure Reggie is going to make a name for himself in the legal world, and I can get him to stay with me in London. You know, he never worries me, and sometimes I'm even proud that I can keep my son So beautiful and pure. The world is full of temptations, and he is so good-looking." "He's really handsome," replied Miss Ley, pursing her lips. She thought that if Reggie was as virtuous as her mother thought she was, she would be very wrong about people.The traces of lust in his face showed that he was not a man who hated the sins of the flesh, and there was not much innocence in his sly black eyes.

Basil Kent and Dr. Herrier met at the door and walked in together.Even to the demanding Miss Ley, Frank Herrier was the funniest person she knew.He was broad-shouldered and well-built, but not too tall, so he had every reason to be jealous of Reggie Bassett's long legs; and he was not handsome, because his eyebrows were too heavy and his jaw too square, Yet his eyes were sharp, playful, stern, gentle; and his magnetic voice was persuasive, a quality he knew well.A small black beard concealed his well-shaped lips and extremely well-set teeth.He gives the impression of being strong, with a temper that is not very good, but is often well controlled.His reticence in the presence of strangers gave him the impression of aloofness and reluctance, which often made people uneasy.His friends, on the other hand, thought he could always be relied upon and craved his admiration, although some acquaintances often accused him of being supercilious.He did not try to hide his impatience with stupidity in order to be popular with all, so though Miss Ley found his conversation amusing, some others, perhaps for some reason, found him absent-minded and reticent.

Mr. Frank Herrier was a very steady man, and few people knew that behind his thoughtful words lay a very emotional disposition.He knew that this was his weakness, so he had developed the ability to hold an expressionless face early on; but those feelings were still there, chaotic and overwhelming, and he couldn't trust his own judgment, because he was prone to never fully understand. conclusions from the reasons.He kept examining himself, like a dangerous prisoner living in his heart, always thinking of waiting for an opportunity to escape.He felt himself the slave of his vivid imagination, and realized that this was in contrast to the joy of life which his philosophy of life told him was the sole purpose of existence.However, his passion is focused on the mind, not the body, and his spirit always urges his body to the path of disillusionment.His chief interest was in the search for truth, which sometimes elicited ridicule from Miss Ley (for her tendency to dismiss doubts, her attitude towards life was evident in a slight shrug of her shoulders), while Mr. Herrier Instead, the same energies that other men would use to pursue love, fame, or fortune were directed to this unusual place.But all his researches often point to other ends in the end; convinced that the current life is decisive, he begins to try to spend every minute to the fullest; however, this seems absurd, so much effort, So much time and all kinds of events exist at the same time amazingly, and there are worlds and people, but in the end they will all return to nothingness.Therefore, he can only think that somewhere, there must be meaningful existence. In order to conduct this scientific investigation and develop his own philosophical thoughts, he has invested amazing enthusiasm.And his colleagues at St. Luke's Hospital, who paid no attention to anything but glass slides under the microscope, seemed to them—the good doctors—so bizarre that it bordered on madness.

However, at that time, few people could see the clues to the fierce struggle in Mr. Herrier's heart.He was in high spirits, and began chatting with Miss Ley while they all waited together for the visitor who had not yet arrived. "My presence must have enriched the dinner a lot?" he asked. "Not at all," she replied, "on the contrary, for a glutton like you, it's better to come to my place and enjoy a good dinner than to complain at home that your own cooking is not good! " "How ungrateful you are! Anyway, I'm not under any obligation to be a fill-in for my neighbors, and here I am, and may be a lot of fun for everyone."

"Like a friend of mine - people weren't so polite and funny forty years ago - when his neighbor made some really stupid comments, he'd yell at her 'have your soup, ma'am '." "Who else will come?" Frank asked. "And Mrs. Castine Young, but she may come late. She thinks it's a fashion, even in small towns in London, and one should be careful not to look like a countryman. Morrie My wife will come too." "Do you still want me to marry her?" "No," replied Miss Ley, laughing, "I've given up. But it's not kind of you to laugh at a matchmaker who introduces you to a beautiful widow with a five thousand pound annuity, as you would a pickpocket."

"Think of that unbearably boring marriage. God wouldn't let me marry a wise wife. If I had to marry, I'd rather marry my cook." "Frank, I hope you're not kidding me . . . but the fact is, if I'm not mistaken, that Mrs. Murray has made up her mind to marry our friend Basil." "Ah!" cried Frank. Miss Ley noticed that a sad cloud passed between his brows, and she watched his expression carefully. "If she did, don't you think it's appropriate?" "I have no opinion on the matter," Frank replied. "I was wondering what you meant by that. Basil was poor, but handsome and intelligent, and Mrs. Murray always liked people with culture. The worst thing about being married to a cavalryman is, That will make you pay more and more attention to IQ in the future."

"Is Captain Murray a complete fool?" "Dear Frank, people don't usually ask a soldier if he is smart, but if he can play polo. Captain Murray did two very wise things in his life: he made a will and left his wife a large pen fortune; and then, very quickly, to a place where it doesn't hurt to be stupid." Miss Ley, on Bella's rare hint, also invited the most fashionable missionary vicar in London.The Bishop of Collinson Farley, Vicar of Grosvenor Street, was amused by Miss Ley's distaste at Frank Herrier's expression of disgust when the gentleman's arrival was announced.Mr. Farley was of medium height, with a handsome head and iron-gray hair that was clearly well combed; his hands were soft and handsome, well-manicured, and adorned with expensive rings.He is an amateur participant in the good society, and he is very careful in choosing his friends-this is one of his charms; for a person who recognizes the worldly rank and the nothingness of wealth, the crown cannot be shaken. his eyes.And the poverty he could forgive was limited to destitute duchesses whose frowning crowns of strawberry leaves, even withered and faded, still aroused the admiration of the most frivolous. .Even as a country rector, his gentle manners and witty speech had won him many powerful friends, and slowly, through the various influences of these people, he eventually moved to a higher position. , which also makes his social skills more appreciated.The dignity of the Church, like the sin of the father, lasts to the third and fourth generation, so it is evident that a man whose grandfather was a bishop is usually dignified; Be endowed with a courteous temperament.

As expected by the hostess, Mrs. Kastingyang was the last guest to arrive. "Miss Ley, I hope I'm not late," she said, holding out her hands in a gesture of begging forgiveness. "It's not very late," replied the hostess, "and knowing that you consider it important to be late, I informed you that the dinner will begin half an hour earlier than the others." The party then proceeded solemnly to the dining room, and Mr. Farley expressed his satisfaction after taking a rough look at the table. "I've often thought that a well-decorated dining table is the truest artistic spectacle in modern society," he remarked to the man next to him. His eyes scanned the dining room, finding its austerity in its opulence.Mr. Farley had been here when Miss Dorris was alive. This time, he noticed that a portrait of Miss Doris that had been hanging in the room was missing. "Miss Ley, I see that you have removed the wonderful portrait of the previous owner of the house," he said, waving his white, bejeweled hand very gracefully. "I can't bear the fact that she stares at me for three meals a day," replied the hostess, "and I can still remember eating with her: she fed me rice bran and acorns like a profligate child. , and 'treat' me with torments that will haunt me for the rest of my life." The Reverend Algernon smiled darkly.He had always treated Miss Ley with kindness, but with little sympathy with her words or actions; yet though he often condemned some of Miss Ley's reading or the impertinence of her speech, it was always without malice, Miss Ley, of course, knew this very well. "You have no mercy, Polly," he said. "Although Eliza is a difficult person, she doesn't ask of others more than she asks of herself. I have always Appreciate her strong sense of responsibility; which is even more valuable in this era where everyone lives for pleasure." "We may not be as virtuous as our fathers, Algernon," replied Miss Ley, "but we are much easier to live with. In short, forty years ago people's lives were unbearable: they still Had a disgusting habit of telling everything; they were bad tempered and often drank too much. I always thought my father was typical of the time. When he got excited he always called Righteous indignation, and when I did something he objected to, he felt tormented—righteous indignation. You know, he didn’t allow me to taste butter until I was fifteen because he thought it would be bad for my body and mind damage. I just grew up on oil drops and Jeremy Taylor. The world is a dangerous place, surrounded by gin and traps; there are immature volcanoes on every corner that spew out Hellfire with sulphurous smoke." "It was a tyrannical time," said Frank, "where the old gentlemen were haughty and bossy, and the young women were ecstatic about it." "I'm sure people aren't as kind as they used to be," said Mrs. Bassett, casting a glance at her son, who was engrossed in talking to Mrs. Castingyoung. "Certainly not," replied Miss Ley. "The fall of man has disbelieved some," added the presiding priest, in a melodious and heavy voice, "but nature's masterpiece must contain a twist of providence." Meanwhile, Reggie Bassett was enjoying a dinner party beyond his imagination.He sat next to Mrs. Kastingyang and watched her wantonly.After a quick glance, Mrs. Castingyoung found the boy to be handsome, so when she discovered his intentions, she began talking eloquently to another seated neighbor, in order to give him the opportunity to observe his own elegance at his leisure. chatted.Before long, she turned to Reggie. "Are you satisfied now?" she asked. "what?" "Your 'censorship'." She smiled brightly and sent a quick provocative glance into his fine dark eyes. "Quite satisfied," he replied, laughing, without embarrassment in the slightest. "My mother is already thinking that Miss Ley shouldn't let me sit next to you." Mrs. Kastingyang is the kind of passionate person, she is petite and exquisite, like a ceramic shepherd produced in Dresden, Germany, she is easily excited and endless, her voice is loud and shrill; In a fleeting moment of nervousness, she kept leaning back in her chair, laughing wildly at what Reggie had said.Realizing that he could go further without fear of offending Mrs. Casting Young, our "Youth Pacesetter" began to tell Mrs. Casting Young a lewd story in a low, tender voice. , and, like any man who knows how manipulative he is, stares her in the eye with impudence, the alluring gaze of a lady-killer, and that brazenness is part of his charm.She also understood that she didn't need to pretend to be dignified, and she could enjoy the fun that those stupid men brought her without any disguise.Mrs. Castingyoung had a small, thin face with too much foundation, high cheekbones, and messy hair, an unnatural beauty; but it made Reggie I feel very relaxed, because he has rich sexual experience and thinks that such a woman is easier to get.Although his neighbor was fifty-three years old, he felt, he was still very handsome; although the thin fair-haired lady was showing signs of aging, her precious jewelry and rich gown seemed to make up for it. Point flaw - even Bella across the table is simply wondering how on earth this gown with such a low neckline is going to stay on her without falling off. When the men's smoking time came, Reggie refilled his third drink and moved the chair over to Herrier. "I say, Frank," he said aloud, "there's a pretty little lady sitting next to me, isn't there?" "Have you never met Mrs. Castingyoung before?" "No. It's a good thing, isn't it? My God! I've always thought these parties were boring—politics and religion, all that stuff. But my mother always let me come because she thought it was smart dialogue. OMG!" Frank laughed as he remembered Mrs. Barlow Bassett boasting of her son at Miss Ley's table. "But I said, Mrs. Castingyang is really attractive. This woman! Besides, she doesn't mind what you say to her Why, she doesn't look like a lady at all. " "Is that a great advantage?" "Ladies are no fun at all, right? You can talk to them about academics and stuff, and be careful not to swear. It might be nice to marry a lady, but in my opinion, in order to live Happier, I wouldn't make them my first choice." After a while, on the stairs leading to the living room, Reggie stopped Frank. "I said, friend, if my mother comes to thank you for inviting me to dinner on Saturday, please don't say much." "But I made no such invitation. Besides, I don't at all want you to dine with me that day." "Thank God! You don't think I do either, besides talking about bedbugs and beetle dinners all night long. It's no big deal! I'm going to dinner with a little girl I know--she's a typist, my friend, and , I will also have a real loving encounter with her. I can tell you in dizzying detail." "But I don't understand why, just because you want to please a young lady who is a typist, you want me to damage my holy soul?" Reggie smiled. "Don't be silly, Frank; you should have helped me. You don't know how bad it is to have a mother who wants to keep her child within her apron belt. She asked me to tell her every move I made, which of course I Gotta make up some stories. And yet she believed all the goddamn lies I told." "You can lie to her until you're blue," Frank said, "but I don't see why I would." "Frank, don't be so cruel. You just have to help me this once. It wouldn't do you any harm to say you invited me to dinner with you. One night not too long ago, my God! I almost showed My mother was always waiting for me, you know. I told her I was going to study late with my personal tutor, and then I went to the Empire State Building. I met some lads there and got drunk. A little drunk. If she saw that, we would have had an argument, but I tried to pull myself together a little and said I was suffering from a headache. The next day, I heard her tell someone that I was almost a dropper People who don't stick." When they reached the living room, Frank was just beside Mrs. Bassett. "Ah, Mr. Herrier," said Mrs. Bassett, "I want to thank you for inviting Reggie to your dinner party on Saturday. He has been working very hard lately, and I think it would be great for him to have this relaxation." Good thing. His private tutor sometimes keeps him past eleven o'clock, so I'm afraid it's not very good for him, is it? The night before last, he was so tired that he couldn't even climb the stairs when he got home. It became very difficult.” "I'm glad Reggie is willing to come and eat with me once in a while," Frank said coldly. "I am very happy to think that he is with you. It is very important for young people to have trustworthy friends, and I am sure you will be able to bring some good influence to him." Hearing this, Reggie looked at Frank, winked at him meaningfully, and then happily continued chatting with Mrs. Casting Young.