Chapter 5 six, seven, eight

six In the evening of the next day, I went to the appointment alone.Elliot called beforehand to pick me up, but I pushed him away, but he arrived safely at Mrs. Boo's house.Because of a visit, I was delayed and arrived a little later.When I went upstairs, I heard noisy voices in the living room. I thought there must be a lot of guests, but unexpectedly there were no more than twelve people including me.Mrs. Bu is very rich in green satin and a necklace of fine beads.Elliott's evening dress was superbly styled, and he seemed to be the only one to deserve it; and when I shook hands, the scents of various Arabian perfumes rushed into my nostrils.He introduced me to a tall man with a red face and an uncomfortable appearance in evening dress.His name was Dr. Nelson, but I didn't feel anything at the time.The other guests were friends of Isabel's, but I forgot those names as soon as I heard them.Women are young and beautiful, and men are young and handsome.I don't have any impression of those people at all, there is only one boy, because he is so tall.He must have been six feet three or four inches tall, with broad shoulders.Isabelle was beautifully dressed, with a long white silk dress that fell just right on her fat legs; from the pattern of her clothes, she had well-developed breasts; very beautiful.People are elated and their eyes are shining.She is undoubtedly a beautiful and lovely woman, but it can be seen that if one is not careful, one can become overweight.

At dinner, I sat between Mrs. Boo and a shy woman; she looked younger than the rest.When we sat down, in order to facilitate the conversation, Mrs. Boo told me that her grandparents lived in Mafen, and that Isabel and she used to be classmates; her name was from someone else. Heard, her name is Sophie, I don't know what her last name is.Xi asked, everyone laughed and laughed, everyone talked loudly, and there was a lot of laughter.These people seem to be very familiar.When I wasn't dealing with the hostess, I tried to strike up a conversation with the girl next to me, but it didn't go very well.She was more silent than the rest.The person is not beautiful, but the face is very interesting, the tip of the nose is slightly turned up, the mouth is wide, the eyes are blue and green, and the hair is yellowish yellow, and the style is very simple.Thin, with a chest almost as flat as a boy's.When everyone was having fun, she also laughed, but her attitude seemed a bit forced, which made people think that she was not really amused as she appeared on the surface.I guess she's trying to put it off; I don't know if she's a bit stupid or just too shy.I didn't go on talking with her a few times at first, and then I had nothing to say, so I asked her to tell me who these people were during the dinner.

"Oh, you know Dr. Nelson," she said, pointing to the middle-aged man sitting across from Mrs. Boo. "He's Larry's protector. We used to see him in Mafen. He's a smart guy, and invented a lot of airplane parts, but no one cares. He drank when he had nothing to do." There was a gleam in her pale blue eyes as she spoke, and I couldn't help feeling that the baby wasn't as empty as it first appeared.Then she told me the names of those young people one by one, who their parents were, if they were men, what universities they went to, and what they are doing now, they are not outstanding.

"She's cute," or, "He's a good golfer." "Who's that big guy with the bushy eyebrows?" "Which? Oh, that's Gray Maturin. His father had a big house on the Mafen River, and he's a millionaire among us. We're all proud of him, and he's jacked us up. Maturin, Hobbs, Rainer, Smith. He's one of the richest men in Chicago, and Gray's an only son." When she mentioned this series of rich people's names, she deliberately added some funny mean words, so I glanced at her curiously; she saw it and blushed. "Tell me more about Mr. Maturin."

"Nothing to talk about. He's rich, everybody respects him. Built us a church in Mafen, and donated a million to the University of Chicago." "His son is very handsome." "He's not bad. You'd never think his grandfather was an Irish sailor, and his grandmother was a Swedish waitress in a restaurant." Gray Maturin was not handsome, but attractive.The man looked wild and unrefined, with a short, flat nose, fleshy lips, and a red Irish complexion; he had black hair, smooth and soft.A pair of bright blue eyes lined with thick eyebrows.Although he is tall and tall, his limbs and facial features are commensurate.If you take off your clothes, it must be a very fit male body.It seems that the strength must be great, and the valiant appearance is quite impressive.Larry was sitting next to him, and in comparison with him, although he was only three or four inches shorter, Larry looked much weaker.

"There are so many people who like him," said my shy neighbor. "I know that several girls are chasing after him, almost with a knife. But there is no hope for them." "Why not?" "Don't you know anything?" "How would I know." "He loves Isabel like crazy, and Isabel is in love with Larry." "Why doesn't he compete?" "Larry was his best friend." "I dare say it's going to be a mess." "Indeed, if you are as righteous as Gray." I'm not sure whether she meant it seriously or sarcastically.There was nothing rash, direct, or rash in her manner, yet I had the impression that she was neither lacking in humor nor shrewdness.I can't guess what's going on in her stomach as she talks to me like this, but I know I'll never find out.

She obviously doesn't trust herself very much. I think she is probably an only child who has lived a lonely life with people much older than her for too long.She had a demure and chaste air about her that was irritating, but if I guessed that her long solitary life was true, it seemed that she had silently observed the people she lived with, and There are certain opinions about them.We who are old are seldom aware of how ruthless and yet how profoundly young people judge us.I looked again at her greenish blue eyes. "How old are you?" "Seventeen." "Do you read?" I asked her boldly.

But before she answered, Mrs. Bu, in order to fulfill her duties as a hostess, had already talked to me.I haven't dealt with her yet, dinner is over.Those young people disappeared immediately, and the four of us were left to sit in the living room upstairs. I was surprised that I was also invited today, because after they chatted for a while, they talked about something that I am afraid they must be willing to talk behind their backs.I can't decide whether to avoid suspicion and walk away, or to be an outsider and be a useful spectator to them.The debate was about why Larry refused employment, which was so strange, and later centered on Mr. Maturin's promise to give Larry a place in his company. Mr. Maturin was the father of the boy who had been at dinner just now. .This is a great opportunity, and Larry can make a lot of money in a certain period of time, as long as he is diligent.Little Maturin was eager for his acceptance.

I can't remember all their conversations, but they are clearly in my mind.When Larry returned from France, his guardian, Dr. Nelson, advised him to go to college, but he refused.This is also human nature, let's take a break first; he suffered a lot, and was injured twice, although it was not too serious.Dr. Nelson thought that his lingering fear of the war had not been eliminated, and it would be good if he could rest for a few days until he fully returned to normal.However, it has been delayed for several weeks, and it has been more than a year since he was discharged from the army.He seemed to be doing well in the Air Force, and he was very popular in Chicago when he came back, so several business people wanted to recruit him.He thanked them, but declined.He didn't say why, only that he himself hadn't made up his mind about what to do.He is engaged to Isabel.This did not surprise Mrs. Bloom, for they had known each other for many years; Mrs. Bloom knew that Isabel loved him; she liked him herself, and felt that he would make Isabel happy.

"She has a stronger character than Larry, and she can make up for his shortcomings." Although they were so young, Mrs. Booth would have liked them to be married at once, but Larry had to be employed. He had some money of his own, but even with ten times more money, she would insist on it.From what I can gather, what she and Elliott wanted to ask Dr. Nelson was what Larry was going to do.They wanted Dr. Nelson to use his influence to get Larry to accept the position Mr. Maturin offered him. "You know I never got Larry on my hands," he said, "and as a kid he got his own way."

"I know, you've totally indulged him. It's a miracle he's turned out that well." Dr. Nelson had already drunk a lot, so he gave her a displeased look, and his red face turned red again. "I'm very busy, and I have something to ask myself. The reason I took him in was because he had nowhere to go. His father was another friend of mine.This child is not easy to discipline. " "I don't see how you can talk like that," replied Mrs. Booth sharply. "He's very gentle." "This boy never quarrels with you, but he does his own way; when you get very angry, he says sorry and lets you growl. How do you deal with it? If he were my own son, I could beat him. But, like this An unaccompanied child, his father entrusted him to me, thinking that I would treat him well, so I can't beat him?" "It's all wrong," said Elliott, a little terrified. "The thing is, he's been idle for a long time; he's got a job now, and he's going to make a lot of money." money; if he wants to marry Isabel, he has to take it." "He ought to know that in the world now," interposed Mrs. Booth, "one's gotta do something. He's as strong as a good man now. We all know some men come back after the Civil War and never do anything. They're a burden to the family." , and is of no benefit to society." Then I spoke. "But what reason did he give when he refused the job those people offered him?" "No, just say that he doesn't like those things." "But what is he going to do?" "Show no." Dr. Nelson poured himself another glass of lemon whiskey, took a swig, and looked at his two friends. "Would you like to listen to my impressions? I dare not say that I see people right, but I think I know a little bit after practicing medicine for at least thirty years. This war has changed Larry. He When he came back, he was not the person he was when he left. It’s not that he was a little older. He didn’t know what happened to him, even his personality changed.” "What happened?" I asked. "I don't know. He's always been secretive about his war experience." Dr. Nelson turned to Mrs. Booth. "Has he talked to you about his experience, Louisa?" She shook her head. "No. When he first came back, we always tried to get him to tell us a little bit about his life and death, but he always smiled like that and said there was nothing to talk about. He didn't even tell Isabel. She asked him many times, but she didn't get anything out of it." The conversation went on so blandly, and presently Dr. Nelson looked at his watch and said he had to go.I was going to go with him, but Elliot insisted on keeping me.After Dr. Nelson had gone, Mrs. Boo greeted me, saying that I must be tired of bothering me with such personal matters. "But, you know, it's a real thing on my mind," she said at last. "Mr. Maugham is very cautious, Louisa, just tell him if you have anything. I don't think Bob Nelson and Larry are so close, but there are some things that Louisa and I think are best not to talk to him." He mentioned." "Eliott." "You've told him quite a lot, why don't you tell him the rest. I wonder if you noticed Gray Maturin at supper?" "He's so tall, why don't you notice him?" "He was one of Isabel's suitors too. He's been very nice when Larry wasn't around. She likes Gray too. If the war had been longer she'd probably have married Gray. Gray proposed to her. She didn't take it, she didn't say no. Louisa guessed she didn't want to make up her mind until Larry came back." "Why doesn't Gray go to war?" "He's working his heart out from playing football, serious or not, but the Army won't take him. Anyway, when Larry gets back, he's got no chance. Isabel just threw him off." I don't know what to say about this matter, so I don't speak.Elliott went on, with his imposing presence and Oxford accent, he could have been a senior official in the Foreign Office. "Of course, Larry's a good boy, and it's quite a feat that he sneaked away to join the Air Force, but I think he's pretty good at it..." He smiled and said the only thing I heard him hint that he was in the air. If you made a fortune in the antique business, "Otherwise, I would not own a considerable amount of gilt-edged stock[note] now. My opinion is that Larry will never be anything, money, status, nothing to say. Gray Maturin is quite different. Has a good Irish voice. Ancestors who were bishops, a dramatist, and several famous soldiers and scholars." "How do you know this?" I asked. "That's how people know," he replied nonchalantly. "To be honest, I happened to be looking through the American Who's Who that day at the club and came across that name." I thought it was easy enough to tell him what my neighbor at dinner had told me, that Maturin's grandparents were poor Irish sailors and Swedish waitresses.Elliott went on c. "We've all known Henry Maturin for years. A very nice man, and very rich. Gray is stepping into one of the best broker's houses in Chicago. Who doesn't buy him. He I want to marry Isabel; it's a very good marriage for her. I'm all for it myself, and I know Louisa is for it too." "Eliot, you've been away from America for too long," said Mrs. Boo, with a forced smile. "You forget that in this country girls don't marry just because their mother or uncle approves of their marriage." "It's nothing to be proud of, Louisa," said Elliott sharply. "Based on my thirty years of experience, I can tell you that a marriage that considers status, property, and the situation of both parties is ten times better than a marriage of love. After all, France is always the only one in the world. Civilized country. In France, Isabel will marry Gray without hesitation; and in a year or two, if she likes, she can take Larry as her lover, and Gray can set a house. Luxurious apartment, raise a female celebrity, then everyone will be happy." Mrs. Boo was not stupid; she looked at her brother with a smile. "The trouble, Elliott, is that the New York troupe only come here once a year. How long the little girl in Gray's fancy apartment will stay is anyone's guess. It must be inconvenient for everyone, isn't it? " Elliott smiled. "Grey can get a broker's position on the New York Stock Exchange. Speaking of which, I don't see where one can live in America but New York." I left shortly thereafter, but before I left I did not understand why Elliott suddenly asked me if I would like to have lunch with him and meet the Maturins and his sons. "America's business people, Henry is the best example," he said. "I think you ought to see him. He's been running the estate for us for years." I don't particularly want to meet this person, but I have no reason to refuse him, so I say I am willing. seven I was introduced to a club during my stay in Chicago.There was a very good reading-room in the club; and the morning after dinner I went there to look through one or two college publications, as these were not very easy to come across, except by long-term subscriptions.It was still early, and there was only one person in the reading room, sitting in a big leather chair, absorbed in reading.I was surprised to see that it was Larry.In a place like this, he was the last person I expected to run into.When I approached, he looked up, recognized me, and made a gesture to stand up. "Don't get up," I said, and then asked him almost casually, "What are you looking at?" "A book," he said, with a smile, but the smile was so touching that even the contradictory tone of his reply was not offending. He closed the book, looked at me with his special dull eyes, and held it up to show me the title. "Did you have a good time last night?" I asked. "I'm so happy, I didn't get home until five o'clock." "Then it's not easy for you to come here so early and be so energetic." "I come here a lot. I usually have it all to myself at this time." "I won't bother you." "You don't bother me," he said, and smiled again, and only then did I realize that he could smile extremely cutely, not that pretty, lightning-like smile, but that it seemed to have an inner smile. Guanghua illuminated his face.He sat in a corner surrounded by bookshelves, with a chair beside him.He put his hand on the arm of the chair and said, "Would you like to sit down for a while?" "OK." He handed me the book he was holding. "I'll just watch this." I took a look, and it turned out to be "Principles of Psychology" by William James[Note].It is of course a masterpiece, important in the history of psychology, and written with great fluency; but a young man, an aviator, who danced until five o'clock in the morning the day before, would never have imagined that he would have such a copy in his hand. Book. "Why are you watching this?" I asked. "My knowledge is too shallow." "You're still young," I said with a smile. He didn't speak for a while, and I gradually felt embarrassed, and I was about to stand up and look for the magazine I was looking for.However, I felt as if he was about to say something.His eyes turned a blind eye, and his face was serious and tense, as if in deep thought. I waited for him; wondering what was the matter.When he spoke, it was like continuing the conversation just now, without feeling the long silence in the middle. "When I came back from France, they wanted me to go to university. I couldn't. Having been through that, I didn't think I could go back to school. I didn't learn anything in secondary school anyway. I didn't think I was going to be able to take a freshman year. College life. They won't like me, and I don't want to force myself to do things I don't want to do. And I don't trust those teachers to teach me what I want to know." "Of course, I know it's none of my business," I said, "but I don't think you're right. I think I understand what you mean, and I understand that after a man has been in two years of war, after the first year or two It's quite boring to be the kind of ordinary college student who is admired by others. I don't believe they don't like you. I'm not familiar with American universities, but I believe American college students are similar to British college students, maybe a little rougher , a little inclined to mischief, but, on the whole, well-behaved boys; and I daresay, if you don't want to live their life, with a little tact, they'll let you live your own. My brothers all went to Cambridge, but I didn't. I had a chance, but I turned it down. I wanted to go out and hang around. I was always upset after that. I thought how much less wrong I would do by going to college. You can learn much faster with the guidance of an experienced teacher. If you don't have someone to guide you, you will waste a lot of time and go the wrong way." "You may be right. I don't mind being wrong. Maybe in one of those many dead-end alleys I can find something for my purposes." "What is your purpose?" He hesitated. "Exactly, I don't quite know yet." I didn't speak, because there seemed to be no answer to this sentence.I am a person who has had a definite goal in my mind since I was young, and I feel a little impatient; but I blame myself; I have a feeling, which can only be called an intuition, as if the child's soul is vaguely pursuing Whether a thing belongs to a half-blind idea, or a vague emotion, I can't tell, but this pursuit makes his whole being restless and drives him to sleep. He, even he himself didn't know where to look for it.He somehow aroused my sympathy. I have never heard him speak much, and now I realize that he speaks extremely nicely, the voice is very intoxicating, like a elixir.With that in mind, and his charming smile and expressive dark eyes, I could well understand why Isabel loved him.There was something lovable about him.He turned his head and looked at me without shame, but there was an expression in his eyes, as if he was looking at me, but also as if he was amused. "Did you talk about me when we all went off to dance last night? Am I right?" "There was such a time." "I think that's why they forced Uncle Bob to come. He hates going out." "Looks like someone found you a great job." "A very good thing." "Are you going to do it or not?" "not necessarily." "why not?" "I don't want to do it." It's none of my business, I'm a busybody, but I have a feeling that just because I'm an outsider and from a foreign country, Larry doesn't think it's a problem to talk to me. "You know, when a man can't do anything, he's a writer." I chuckled. "I have no talent." "So, what are you going to do?" He flashed me his bright, charming smile. "Shake your arms," ​​he said. I just had to laugh. "I don't think Chicago's the best place to do it," I said. "Never mind, let you read. I'm going to look at the Yale Quarterly." I stand up.When I left the reading room, Larry was still absorbed in William James's book.I ate lunch alone in the club, and since it was quiet in the reading room, I went back there to smoke a cigar, and whiled away an hour or so reading and writing letters.I was surprised to see Larry still absorbed in his book.He looked as if he hadn't moved since I left.When I went away about four o'clock, he was still there.His apparent ability to concentrate was astonishing.He didn't notice me either going or coming.I had various things to do in the afternoon, and I didn't go back to the hotel until it was time to change and go to the dinner party. On the way back, suddenly driven by a moment of curiosity, I went into the club again to look in the reading room.At that time, there were quite a few people in the room, reading newspapers and so on.Larry was still in the same chair, engrossed in the book.Strange! Eight The next day Elliott invited me to lunch at the Parma House to meet old Maturin and his son.Just the four of us.Henry Maturin was also a big man, almost as tall as his son, with a red, fleshy face, a big chin, and the same aggressive snub nose, but his eyes were smaller and less blue than his son's. , extremely cunning.Although he was no more than fifty years old, he looked ten years older, and his hair was already very thin and all white; at first glance, he did not give people a good impression.He seems to have been doing pretty well on his own for years.I got the impression of a cruel, shrewd, capable man, the sort of man without mercy in business; at first he said very little, and I felt he was looking at me.Of course I saw that Elliott was just a ridiculous person in his eyes. Grace was gentle and respectful, hardly saying a word, and if Elliott hadn't been so good at communicating, he was full of gossip, and they would have been frozen with each other.I guess he must have had a lot of experience dealing with those Midwestern dealers who wouldn't pay such an outrageous price for an old master's painting without coaxing them over. Soon, Mr. Maturin gradually became happy and said a few words.This shows that he is not as vulgar as he appears on the surface, and he does have a bit of a cool sense of humor.For a while, the conversation turned to securities stocks.I was not surprised to find Elliott articulate on this point, for I always knew he was anything but a fool, as absurd as he was.Just then Mr. Maturin said: "I had a letter this morning from Larry Darrell, Gray's friend." "Papa, didn't you tell me," Gray said. Mr. Maturin said to me, "You know Larry, don't you?" I nodded. "Grey insisted that I give him a place in the company. They were good friends. Gray admired him so much." "What did he say, father?" "He thanked me and said he knew very well that this was an excellent opportunity for a man like him. He thought about it in detail, and finally decided that he was not enough for my expectations. Instead of that, he might as well not accept it. it is good." "He's such a fool," Elliott said. "Indeed," said Mr. Maturin. "I'm really sorry, Dad," Gray said. "It would be nice if Larry and I could do things together." "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." Mr. Maturin looked at his son after saying this, and his sly eyes softened.It was only then that I discovered that there was another side to this unfeeling businessman; he simply loved the big son.He said to me again, "You know the kid played two handicaps on the court on Sunday and beat me by seven and six. I could really take his brain out with a bat. I figured I'd teach him myself golfer." His face was full of pride, and I gradually liked him. "Dad, I'm so lucky." "It's not luck at all. Is it luck that you hit the ball out of the hole and it lands six inches from the hole? Thirty-five yards no more and no less, that's the one. Next year I'll call him Going to the amateur championship game." "I can't find time for it." "I'm your boss, aren't I?" "Don't I know? You lose your temper a minute late to the office." Mr Maturin chuckled. "He wants to make me a tyrant," he told me. "Don't believe him. I am my industry, and the people I partner with are not good, and I value my industry. I told this kid to start from the lowest level first, and when I expected him to gradually rise to replace me, he I'll be able to handle it. It's a big responsibility. I'm in this business. Some customers have invested in me for thirty years. They trust me. To tell you the truth, I'd rather lose my money. , I don’t want to see them lose money.” Gray smiled. "A few days ago, an old lady came and wanted to invest a thousand dollars in some pheasant business. She said that her pastor advised her, but he refused to do it for her. She insisted on doing it, and he was furious. It made her go out crying. Later, he went to meet with the pastor again, and really dealt with the pastor. " "People always say that we are nothing as a broker. However, there are differences among brokers. I don't want people to lose money, I want people to make money. However, most of them will make you feel that they are the best in the world. One of his purposes is to make himself penniless." Maturin and his son resigned and returned to the office.As we left, Elliott asked me, "What do you think of him?" "I'm always happy to meet new types of characters. I find the bond between father and son quite moving. I'm sure you don't see that often in England." "He likes the boy. He's a monster, and he's telling the truth about his clients. He's got hundreds of old women, ex-soldiers, clergymen, and he's running their savings. If I were He will feel that it is not worth all the trouble, but he is very proud that so many people trust him. But when it comes to big business and huge profits, no one can compare to his cruelty and tolerance. That is a little mercy No. Hardly anything can stop him if he wants a pound of his flesh. You'll blow him up, and he'll not only ruin you, but he'll have a lot of fun afterwards." Back home, Elliot told Mrs. Boo that Larry had rejected Henry Maturin.Isabel stared at her girlfriend for lunch.When she came in, the siblings were still talking about it, so they told her.From Elliott's words, I think he spent a lot of time talking.Although he himself did not do any work for ten years, and although the work he used to amass a fortune was not difficult, he insisted that industry and commerce are necessary conditions for human existence.Larry was a very ordinary youth, without social status, and he had no reason not to conform to the customs common to his own country.To someone as discerning as Eliot, it was clear that America was entering an era of unprecedented prosperity.Larry has a personal opportunity now, as long as he works diligently and diligently, maybe by the time he is forty, he will be worth a few millionaires.At that time, if he wanted to stop and take a flat, or buy an apartment in the Avenue Dubois in Paris, or a mansion in Touraine, he would have nothing to say.However, Mrs. Bu's words were more straightforward, and there was no room for reply. "If he loves you, he should be ready to work for you." I don't know how Isabel will respond to these words, but she is quite sensible, and she can see that her elders have their reasons.None of the young men she'd known were either studying or working in a company, and Larry couldn't count on his Air Force excellence for a lifetime.The war was over, everyone hated it, and wished they could forget it as soon as possible.After everyone discussed it, Isabel agreed to explain this matter to Larry frankly and clearly.Mrs. Brown had an idea to ask Isabel to ask Larry to drive her to Mafen.Mrs. Bu was preparing to order new curtains in the living room, but she threw away a measurement sheet that she had measured, so she asked Isabel to measure again. "Bob Nelson will keep you for lunch," she said. "I have a better calculation here," Elliott said. “You give them a food basket, let them have a picnic on the porch, and after the meal they can talk.” "It's funny," said Isabel. "There's nothing like a picnic in comfort," said Elliot smartly. "Old Duchesse Dizee used to tell me that even the most recalcitrant men become persuasive on such occasions. What do you get them for lunch?" "Egg poached [note], and a chicken sandwich." "Nonsense, you can't have a picnic without foie gras pate. First you have to give them curry shrimp, then chicken breast jelly, lined with lettuce heart salad, which is up to me. After the foie gras pate, as you like Well, if you respect the American custom, have an apple steak." "I'll give them egg omelets and a chicken sandwich, Elliott," said Mrs. Booth, determinedly. "Then, if you remember my words, things will fail, and you can only blame yourself." "Uncle, Larry eats very little," said Isabel, "and he doesn't know what he eats." "I hope you don't think that's his merit, silly boy," replied her uncle. But Mrs. Boo said what to give them to eat, the things they ate that day.When Elliott later told me the result of this excursion, he shrugged his shoulders very Frenchly. "I told them they couldn't succeed. I begged Louisa to put a bottle of Montrasse, which I gave her before the war, and she wouldn't listen to me. A bottle of coffee in a thermos, and nothing else. You What can you hope for?" It seemed that Mrs. B. and Elliott were sitting alone in the drawing room, when the car stopped at the door and Isabel entered the house.It was just dark and the curtains were drawn.Elliott was lying in an armchair, reading a novel by the fire, while Mrs. Bradley made a tattoo for the fire screen.Isabel did not come in, but went upstairs to her bedroom.Elliot looked over his spectacles at his sister. "I think she'll come down with her hat off," she said. However, Isabel did not come down.Several minutes have passed. "Perhaps one is tired, or lying down." "Don't you want Larry to come along?" "Eliot, don't make people angry." "Well, it's your business anyway, not mine." He read again, and Mrs. Bu continued to make flowers.However, half an hour later, she suddenly stood up. "I think it's better to go up and see how she is. If she rests, I won't disturb her." She left the house, but came down after a while. "She cried. Larry's going to Paris for two years. She promised to wait for him." "Why is he going to Paris?" "It's no use asking me, Elliott, I don't know. She won't tell me anything. She says she understands and doesn't want to stop him. I told her, 'If he's going to leave you for two years, what's wrong with you?爱也就有限了。'她说，'我没有办法。事实是我非常之爱他。'我说，'甚至于今天这样之后，还爱他？'她说，'今天使我比往常更加爱他，而且，妈，他的确爱我，我敢肯定。'” 艾略特想了一会。 “那么两年之后怎样呢？” “我告诉你我不知道，艾略特。” “你认不认为这事非常之不如意？” “非常。” “这里只有一件事可以说，就是他们的年纪都还轻。等上两年对谁也没有妨碍。 在这两年里头，什么事都会发生。 " 两人商量之后，都同意最好不要去惊动伊莎贝儿。那天晚上，他们本来要出去吃晚饭。 “我不想叫她难受，”布太太说。“人家如果看见她眼睛完全肿起来，一定会奇怪。” 但是，第二天午饭之后——就只家里三个人用饭——布太太又提起这件事，可是，从伊莎贝儿嘴里一点问不出什么来。 “妈，除掉已经告诉你的之外，实在没有什么可以告诉你的，”她说。 “可是，他要去巴黎做什么呢？” 伊莎贝儿微笑一下，因为她知道自己的回答在她母亲听来一定不通情理之至。 “晃膀子。” “晃膀子？你这话怎么讲？” “就是他告诉我的。” “我真是受不了你。你如果还有点脾气的话，当时当地就会跟他解约。他简直耍你。” 伊莎贝儿看看她左手戴的戒指。 “我有什么办法呢？我爱他。” 后来，艾略特参加进来了。他拿出他有名的权术来谈这问题。“并不摆出我是她的舅舅，老兄，而是象一个世情洞达的人和一个没有经验的女孩谈话。”可是，他的成绩比布太太也好不了多少。我的印象是伊莎贝儿叫他别管闲事。当然话说得很有礼貌，但意思毫不含糊。艾略特是在当天稍晚一点把一切经过告诉我的，就在黑石旅馆我自己的小起坐间里。 “当然路易莎是不错的，”他又说。“这事非常之不痛快，可是，让年轻人自己去找婚姻对象，除了相互爱慕之外，什么也不问，这种事情是必然碰上的。我跟路易莎说不要去愁它；我觉得这事不会变得如她设想的那样糟。拉里不在跟前，小格雷守在这儿——你说，结果不是摆明在那里；否则的话，我就是一点不懂得人情世故了。一个人在十八岁时情感非常热烈；但是不能持久。” “你真是洞悉世情，艾略特，”我微笑说。 “我的拉罗什富科[注]总算没有白读。你知道芝加哥是怎样一个地方；他们天天见面。一个女孩子有一个男孩子这样对她钟情当然高兴；等到她知道她的那些女朋友里面没有一个不心甘情愿要嫁给他时——那么，我问你，从人情上讲，她是不是要把每一个人都挤掉呢？我是说，这就象有人家请你的客，明知道去了一定腻味得受不了，而且唯一的吃喝只是柠檬水和饼干，然而你还是去，因为你知道你顶好的朋友都恨不得爬了去，但是没有一个被请的。” “拉里几时走？” “不知道。我想大约还没有决定。”艾略特从口袋里掏出一个又长又薄的、白金和黄金合镇的烟盒子，掏出一支埃及烟。发第玛，吉士，骆驼，好运道，[注]都不是他抽的。他微笑望着我，一脸的鬼心眼儿。“当然我不想跟路易莎这样说，可是，告诉你倒不碍事；我肚子里却同情这年轻的小伙子。我想他打仗时见识过一下巴黎，这是世界上唯一适合文明人居住的城市，他着了迷，我一点不怪他。他年纪轻，我敢肯定他要在开始家庭生活以前，尽情荒唐一下。很自然，很正当。我要照拂他，把他介绍给那些合适的人。他风度不错，再由我指点一二，就很可以见得人；我敢保带他看看美国人很少有机会看到的法国生活的另一面。老兄，你相信我的话，一般美国人进天国远比他进圣日尔曼大街容易得多。他二十岁，人又风趣。我想我大约能够给他找一个年纪大一点的女人。这会使他成熟。我总觉得，青年男子能做一个上了相当年纪女子的情人，是再好没有的教育。当然，假如这女子是我想象的那种人，一个妇女界名流，你懂吧，这就会使他在巴黎立刻有了地位。” “你把这话告诉了布太太吗？”我微笑着问。 艾略特吃吃笑了。 “我的老哥，我假如有什么地方值得自负的话，那就是我的权术。我没有告诉她。她不会了解的，可怜的女人。我在有些事情上永远不懂得路易莎，这也是一件；她虽则半辈子都在外交界混，而且世界上一半的首都住了过来，可仍旧是个不可救药的美国人。”