Chapter 20 Chapter Thirteen 1

Summer twilight begins to wrap the world in a mysterious embrace.In the far west the sun was setting.The day is fleeting, throwing its last gleams lovingly over sea and shore, over dear old Howth Headland, which still stands as it always did against the water, and the weedy shores of the dunes. on the rocks of the shore; last, but not insignificant, also on the solemn church.From here, sometimes breaking the silence, pour out the voice of praying to the Virgin Mary.She——"Ocean Star"[1], emits pure radiance, always shining like a lighthouse on people's hearts shaken by storms. The three girls sat on the rock together, enjoying the evening scenery and enjoying the fresh and not too cool breeze.They have come many times[2] to this place they love, and talk sweetly and sweetly about women's domestic affairs beside the shining waves.Sissy Caffrey and Edie Boardman put the doll in a pram, along with two curly-haired little boys, Tommy and Jackie Caffrey.They wore sailor uniforms and sailor caps, with the words "HMS [ 3 ] America Island" printed and dyed on the caps and caps.Tommy and Jackie Caffrey were twins under four, sometimes rowdy and spoiled.Despite that, the two lively and happy little faces and cute movements make them still a baby that everyone loves.With shovels and buckets in hand, they covered themselves with sand and built castles like ordinary children, or played with their big colored balls, and happily passed the time.Edie Boardman rocked the chubby doll in the stroller back and forth.The little gentleman giggled with delight.He was only eleven months and nine days old.Although he has just learned to walk staggeringly, he has already begun to babble.Sissy Caffery bent over him and teased his chubby little face and that lovely little dimple on his cheek.

"Here, baby," said Sissy Caffrey, "big—say it out loud: I want a drink." The doll followed her to learn the tongue: "He, He, cough, Sui." Sissy Caffery hugged the little one tightly, for she was very fond of children and patient with little patients.Tommy Caffrey would never take castor oil unless it was Cissy Caffrey who held Tommy Caffrey's nose and promised him a tip of a bun, or brown bread smeared with golden syrup.How persuasive this girl is!Of course, the doll Boardman is also really good, he is a cute little guy in a brand new saliva cloth.Sissy Caffrey was not at all a spoiled beauty like Flora McFlimsey.She is a girl with a pure heart that is rare in the world: a pair of gipsy eyes are always smiling, red lips like ripe cherries[5], and she can say cute things casually, which is really lovely.Edie Boardman couldn't help laughing too at the little brother's quips.

But just at this moment a little dispute arose between brothers Tommy and Jackie.Boys are boys after all, and our twins can't escape this infallible truth.The dispute arose over a sand castle that Mr. Jackie had built, and Mr. Tommy insisted on improving it architecturally, adding a round turret-like front door.But if Mr. Tommy was headstrong, so was Mr. Jackie.As the saying goes: no matter how small the Irishman is, he is also the master of a castle in his own home.So, Mr. Jackie pounced on his sworn enemy.In the end, not only the opponent he attacked was defeated, but (sad to say!) even the castle he coveted was turned into ruins.Needless to say, the cries of the defeated Mr. Tommy alarmed the female companions.

"Come here, Tommy," cried his sister, in urgent tones, "at once! And you, Jackie, are you shy of pushing poor Tommy in the dirty sand! Just wait and see, I've got to give you something to taste." Young Master Tommy had tears in his eyes, and his vision blurred.He came immediately at his command, because the twins always took the elder sister's words as the golden rule.He who was defeated was really miserable.The little sailor cap and trousers were covered with sand.But Sissy Caffery is a young girl and a master at relieving life's little troubles.In a blink of an eye, not even a grain of sand was visible on his beautiful clothes.But there were still tears in those blue eyes.So she wiped away the wound in his heart with a burst of kisses, gestured to the culprit Jackie with her fist, rolled her eyes and admonished him, if she was by her side, she would not be able to spare him lightly.

"Jackie is so unreasonable as a bastard!" she exclaimed. She put her arm around the little sailor, coaxing him flatteringly: "What's your name? Butter and cream?" "Tell us, who's your crush?" Edie Boardman said. "Is Sissy your crush?" "No [yes]," said a teary Tommy. "Is Edie Boardman your sweetheart?" Cissy asked. "No hope [yes]," said Tommy. "I know," said Edie Boardman, with a surreptitious twinkle in his shortsighted eyes, "I know who's Tommy's sweetheart. Gerty's Tommy's sweetheart."

"No hope [yes]," Tommy said, on the verge of tears. Cissy, with all her maternal alertness, noticed it immediately.She whispered to Edie Boardman to lead him behind the pram out of sight of the gentleman, and be careful not to let him wet his brand new tan shoes. But who is Getty? Gerty McDowell sat not far from his partner.She stared into the distance, lost in meditation.She was indeed a rare example of beauty among the charming Irish girls.Everyone who knew her praised her beauty.It was often said that she looked more like the Gil Trapps than her father's McDowells.She was slender and graceful, even frail, but the iron tablets she was taking these days were more nourishing than Widow Welch's women's pills.The leucorrhea that I used to have in the past is less, and the fatigue is also reduced a lot.Her waxy white face, pure as ivory, is really like a fairy.Her rosebud lips, indeed the bow of Cupid, had a shapely Greek beauty.Her hands with tiny blood vessels seemed to be made of cream, and her slender fingers were like candle wicks. Only lemon juice and high-grade ointment could make them so white and tender.But the story that she slept wearing lambskin gloves and soaking her feet in milk is pure fabrication.Once Bertha Sapole was so mad at Gerty that she was on the verge of breaking out with swords (girls who are close to each other are naturally like other mortals, and they will make some small awkwardness from time to time), so she deliberately treated Edie Bo Deman told such a lie.Bertha also told Edie not to tell anyone that she had heard it from her, or she would never speak to Edie again.Of course she didn't say anything.But the honor goes to whoever deserves it.Getty is naturally elegant, with a charming and queen-like extraordinary aura[6].Her beautiful hands and high arched feet proved it beyond doubt.If she had been lucky enough to be born into an upper-class family and be well educated, Gerty MacDowell would have been as good a lady as any in the country.She would wear gemstones on her forehead, dress well, and be surrounded by noble princes competing to show her courteousness.Could it be that she may have tasted the taste of love, her gentle and handsome face sometimes showed a tense expression of self-restraint.Then a shadow of incredible longing flashed across her beautiful eyes.Such a charm is almost no one does not dump.Why are women's eyes so attractive?Gerty's Irish blue eyes could not have been more blue, and they were set off by lustrous lashes and expressive dark brows.Her eyebrows were not as charming as velvet.Mrs. Vera Villetti, who was also the editor in chief of the beauty section of The Princess Novella[7], first persuaded her to try painting her eyebrows.This gave her eyes a seductive look which was very befitting of a society gentleman.She never regretted it.There is also the scientific method to cure blushing, how to use the height boost method to make you tall, and you have a pretty face, but what about the nose?Fits Mrs. Dignam because she has a bulbous nose.But Gerty's greatest boast was her rich head of hair: dark brown and naturally curly.For the auspiciousness of the new moon rising, she had cut her hair that morning, and the thick curls were fluffy around her handsome head.She also trimmed her nails.Cut on Thursday to attract wealth and treasure.At this moment, after Edie said this, the telltale red crept up her cheeks softly like the most delicate rose.Her sweet, girlish shyness made her look so good.Indeed, I have traveled all over Ireland, the beautiful land of God, and I can't find anything comparable to her.

With a little melancholy, she lowered her eyes and was silent for a while.She was about to grab a few words, but she swallowed the words again.According to her temper, she wanted to talk back, but her self-esteem told her that it was better to keep silent.She only pouted her lips, then looked up, and smiled happily, her voice full of the youthful breath of a May morning.She knew better than anyone why Squint-eyed Edie said that.She thought his affection was indifferent, but in fact it was just a quarrel between lovers.Since the boy who owns a bicycle is always[8] riding around in front of her window, Edie thinks it's not a good thing.But right now, during the mid-term exams for scholarship eligibility, his father shut him up at home and made him work hard.After high school he would attend Trinity College to study medicine, like his older brother W. E. Wylie, who raced bikes at Trinity College.From time to time, she felt a dull pain in her heart, stabbing deep into her heart, and he seemed indifferent to it.But he was still young, and in due time he might learn to love her.His family was Protestant, and Gerty, of course, knew who was the most important.Next is the Virgin Mary, then St. Joseph.He was, however, a handsome young man, with a beautiful nose, and a gentleman in every way.She can recognize it from behind without the hat on.Because he's just a little bit different.The way he swung his handlebars at the street lamps to turn, and the nice scent of the good cigarettes he smoked were extraordinary.And he was a good match for her size.Since he wasn't swinging around in front of Getty's small yard, Edie Boardman thought he was smart enough to be on point.

Gerty was plainly dressed, yet possessed the instinctive sensitivity of a fashionable girl to the fashions of society.Because she felt that he might have gone out.A neat electric blue bustier she had dyed herself (because it was the color that was about to be fashionable, according to Mrs. distorted pockets, so she always put a piece of cotton wool in it, sprinkled with her favorite perfume), and a navy blue skirt with a modest cut, which set off her graceful and slender figure even more gracefully.She wore a pretty little hat of rough braided brown-black straw, contrasting with egg-blue chenille under the brim.It's trimmed with a silk bow in the same hue.She spent the whole of last Tuesday afternoon scouting for color-coded chenilles until she found something she liked at Clery's summer sale.It was exactly what she wanted, and although it was a bit worn out, no one would notice it.A total of seven middle fingers long[11] cost two shillings a penny.She mounted it herself.When trying it on, she smiled at her love shadow reflected in the mirror, she was very satisfied!It was only when she put the hat on top of the jug, lest it lose its shape, that she realized that by doing so she would discredit certain acquaintances.Her shoes are the most fashionable at the moment.Edie Boardman prides herself on her small shoe size[12], yet she never had Gerty McDowell's feet, which were only a size five, and never will. [13] The toe is patent leather and the high arched instep has a delicate buckle.Her beautiful ankles, which showed under her dress, were extremely well-proportioned, and her graceful calves, which were just slightly exposed, were covered with almost transparent stockings.The heel area is specially woven, and it is also tied with a wide garter.It was underwear that worried Gerty most.Whoever knows the restless longings and fears of sweet Seventeen (Gerty had said goodbye to Seventeen forever) can bear to blame her, who has four very finely embroidered going-out suits , three pieces of home wear, and a few pajamas.Each outfit for going out was trimmed with ribbons of various colors: rose, baby blue, fuchsia, and pea.Every time she wears it, she always hangs it to dry herself.After sending it back from the laundromat, he bluened and ironed it himself.She also had a brick for the iron, because she was afraid the washerwoman would scald the clothes.I can't believe them!She wears blue as a sign of auspiciousness and good luck.It was her own color, and it would be auspicious for a bride to have a little blue on her body.She was wearing pea-green that day last week, which brought sadness because his father had him locked up at home to work hard for the midterm exams that qualified him for a scholarship.She had wondered if he might go out because she had almost put her old underpants on backwards this morning when she was changing.Unless it's on Friday, you'll be lucky if you wear it the other way around, which is good for a lover's tryst.Or, if the pants come loose, it means he is missing you.

But—but!Look at the nervous look on her face!Always looked so worried.The soul spoke through her eyes, and she longed to be alone in her accustomed room, to have a good cry, to relieve her depression with tears.But don't cry too much.She grasped the measure in front of the mirror and wanted to cry just right.The mirror said: Gerty, you are so beautiful.The pale afterglow of the evening cast its shadow on a face so sad and melancholy.Gerty MacDowell's longing was in vain.She knew it from the beginning, about the fantasy of having a wedding, the happy ringing for Mrs. Reggie Wylie T.C.D. Bells, and Mrs. Gertrude Wylie's luxurious gray dress trimmed with costly blue fox fur, according to the social column, are impossible.He is too young to be sensible.He would not believe in love, which is a woman's birthright.Long ago, at a dinner party at the Stolls' house (he was still in shorts), he quietly put an arm around her waist when it was just the two of them together; .He called her "little one" in a grotesque voice, and kissed her half-kissed (for the first time in his life!), but all he touched was the tip of her nose.Afterwards, he hurried out of the room, muttering about tea.What a reckless boy!Reggie Wylie was never known for his strong character, and it would have to be a remarkable man to propose and win Gertie McDowell's love[14].But she could only wait, always waiting for someone to propose.It's another leap year and it will be over soon.Her ideal person is not a suave prince who puts precious and magical love at her feet, he is rather a resolute man; there is a strong will in his serene face, but he has not yet found the ideal woman.His hair may have been more or less grey, and he would understand her, put out his arms to protect her, hold her close with all the depth and tenderness of his nature, and comfort her with long kisses.It was like heaven.In this fragrant summer evening, she was looking forward to such a person.She desires with all her heart to give herself to him, to be the wife he has sworn to be: rich and poor, in sickness and in health, until death do us part, today and forever. [ 15 ]

So, as Edie Boardman sat in the back of the pram with little Tommy, she wondered if the day would come when she could call herself his baby wife.That way, everyone will talk about her until they turn blue.Bertha Sapole was no exception; and little Edie the Firecracker, for she would be twenty in November.She will also take care of him and make him comfortable in food and clothing.Gerty knew in her womanly wit that any man liked that sort of home atmosphere.Her golden-brown crepes and Queen Anne puddings[16] with a generous amount of delicious cream won everyone acclaim.Because she has a pair of dexterous hands, whether it is lighting a fire, or spreading a layer of white flour with baking powder, stirring in one direction constantly, and then adding milk and white sugar to make cream, or stirring egg whites, she does so so good at.However, she doesn't like to eat in front of people, she's really ashamed.She often wondered why she couldn't eat something as poetic as violets or roses!They would also have an elegantly furnished living room, decorated with paintings, sculptures and photographs of grandfather Jill Trapp's lovely dog, Gary Irving.It was so human, it could almost talk.The chairs were upholstered in smooth chintz, and there was a silver toaster stand from Clary's Summer Bazaar, like rich people owned.He was tall, broad-shouldered (she had always admired tall men, and her husband had to), and his teeth gleamed white under a carefully trimmed mustache.They will go to the Continent for their honeymoon (three wonderful weeks!) and then settle down in a nice, tidy, comfortable and friendly nest.Every morning the two of them had breakfast together, which was simple but carefully prepared.Before he went to govern, he always hugged his dear little wife warmly and tightly, and lowered his head to stare deeply into her eyes for a while.

Edie Boardman asked Tommy Caffrey if he was "ok", and he said "yes".So she buttoned up his little shorts and told him to run and play with Jackie: be good and don't fight.But Tommy said he wanted the ball, and Edie told him, No, the doll is playing with the ball; if he takes it away, there will be another quarrel.But Tommy said it was his ball and he wanted his own.Look, he stomped his feet on the ground.What a temper!Oh, he's grown up, little Tommy Caffrey is grown up, because the bib's gone.Edie said to him, no, no, go away now, and she told Sicah Caffery that she couldn't give in to him. "You're not my sister," said Tommy Naughty, "this is my ball." But Saiki Caffery said to the little boy Boardman, look up high, look at her fingers!Then she snatched the ball up quickly and threw it down the sand, and Tommy won, and ran after him as fast as he could. "For the sake of peace, I can do whatever [18]," Sissy [19] laughed. So she scratched Xiaowazi's cheek lightly, so as to distract him, and coaxed him to play something. The mayor is going out, here are his two horses, and here is his fancy carriage.Look, here he comes in, goo, goo, goo, goo, goo. [20] Edie, however, was very annoyed with him, and blamed everyone for always doting on him and making him so self-willed. "I'd like to beat him up," she said, "and I won't say where." "Fart—butt—bah," Xi Yin said with a cheerful smile. Gerty McDowell lowered his head, just thinking that Xiqiu would say it so loudly, which she could never say in her life, which was not like a lady, made Gerty blush and be superficial. A deep rose color emerges.Edie Boardman reckoned the gentleman opposite must have heard her.However, Xiqi didn't care at all. "Let him listen!" She raised her head provocatively, pointed her nose sharply, and wished she could hit his part too quickly. The reckless West Chief, with his queer black-faced puppet-like curls, will sometimes make you laugh.For example, when she asks you if you want some more Chinese tea and jasper berry wine and drags the jug over, the man's face painted in red ink on her nails will make you laugh out loud; she wants to make it easy If you don't want to, just say something and go to visit Miss White.This is the usual practice of the Western Chiefs.Oh, you'll never forget that evening when she put on her father's coat and hat, painted a mustache with cork, and walked down Tritonville, smoking a cigar.When it comes to having fun, no one can beat her.But she was genuine enough, the bravest and most sincere being created, not the usual duplicity.Sweet talk cannot be sincere. Then the chorus and organ chants resounded through the air.It was a temperance event for adults led by Jesuit missionary John Hughes, where they retreated, said the Rosary, listened to sermons and received the blessing of the Eucharist.People gathered there, without social class boundaries between each other (that was the most touching scene).Kneeling at the feet of the Immaculate Conception in this humble church by the waves, after the wearisome storms of the world, he pronounced the Instinctive Prayer of Our Lady of Loreto.Using the old-fashioned titles of the Virgin Mary, Holy Virgin of Virgins, etc., beseech her to intercede for them.How sad it was for poor Gerty!Had her father been freed by a vow of abstinence, or by taking one of those powders in Pearson's Weekly, she would drive around in a buggy as well as any.Since she hated having two bright lights in the room, she didn't even light the lamp.He was full of worries, staring at the embers of the fire, and said this to himself over and over again.Sometimes she stared at the raindrops on the rusty iron bucket outside the window for hours in a trance, meditating.However, that sinful cup that had destroyed so many families cast a shadow over her childhood.Not only that, she even witnessed the atrocities caused by alcoholism at home, and saw her father drinking crazy, completely out of normalcy.What Getty knows better than anything is that any man who does anything to a woman for anything other than to help her deserves to be branded the basest of men.[24] The chant of supplication to the most powerful virgin, the most merciful virgin continues.Gerty was lost in thought, hardly seeing or hearing the girls, the twins playing childishly, and the gentleman coming from the dune meadow.Sissy Caffery said the gentleman who took the short walk along the beach looked like Sagety's father.But Sissy had never seen him drunk.Anyway, she didn't want such a father.Maybe it's because he's so old, or maybe it's just his face (like Dr. Fair[25]), or his wine-stinging red nose and the silver-streaked sandy moustache beneath it. .Poor dad!Although he has many shortcomings, she still loves him [26].When he sang "Tell Me, Mary, How to Court You"[27] and "My Lover and His Cottage Near Rochelle,"[28] the family ate clams stew and seasoned with Lazenbait's lettuce for dinner. and when he and Dignam (the gentleman died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried, God have mercy on him) sang "The Moon Rises"[29]. That was her mother , Charlie was home on leave, and Tom[30], the Dignams, Patsy and Freddie Dignam[31] would have liked a group photo. No one expected him to be so Will soon die. Now he is in his long sleep. Her mother said to his father, let him learn this for life. Because of gout, he couldn't even go to the funeral. She had to go to the city to his Office to get him letters and samples from Catesby & Co. concerning cork and linoleum: artistic, standard pattern, suitable for stately mansions, extremely durable, and always bright and cheery. At home, Gertie was a really good daughter, a sort of second mother, and a guardian angel[32].Her little heart is as precious as gold.When her mother had a splitting headache, it was Gerty who rubbed peppermint cones on her forehead.She hated her mother's habit of snuffing, though, and the only quarrel between mother and daughter was about snuffing.Everyone thinks that she is a good girl who is considerate of people.It was she who turned the main gas switch every night.She never forgot to sprinkle chlorate in that place[33] every two weeks.She was also the one who put up on that wall the calendar that Mr. Tenney, the grocer, sent at Christmas.It was a painting of the time of Halsion[35]: a young gentleman, dressed in the fashion of the time and wearing a three-cornered hat, presented a bouquet to the girl he admired through the latticed window in the chivalry of the past. flowers.It can be seen that there must be a story in it.The color tone is very beautiful.She was dressed in soft, well-cut white gown, and her demeanor was dignified and poised.The man is dressed in chocolate-colored clothing, showing an out-and-out aristocratic style.Whenever she went to take a rest, she would look at them distractedly, roll up her sleeves, caress her white and tender arms[36], and think about the past of that era.Because she found the meaning of the word Halsion in the "Walker Pronunciation Dictionary"[37] collected by her grandfather Jill Trapp. Now the twins were playing in perfect harmony, and Jackie, who was so reckless, kicked the ball with all his might against the seaweed-covered rocks.Needless to say, poor Tommy immediately cried out in dismay.Fortunately a gentleman in black who was sitting there alone helped and intercepted the ball.Our young players yelled vigorously, demanding that the ball be returned to them.To avoid trouble, Cissy Caffrey called out to the gentleman to throw her the ball.Gentleman took aim with the ball and threw it up the bank to Sissy Caffrey.But the ball rolled down the slope and came to rest just under Gerty's skirt, not far from the little puddle next to the rock.The twins were clamoring for the ball again, and Sissy told Gerty to kick it away and let the two of them fight over it.So Gerty kicked back one foot, thinking: If only this stupid ball hadn't rolled on her.She kicked and missed, making Edie and Sissy laugh out loud. "If it fails, try it again,"[38] Edie Boardman said. Gerty smiled assent, and bit his lip.A faint pink crept up her pretty cheeks, but she made up her mind to let them see.So he lifted his skirt up a little, so as not to get in the way, aimed at the target, and kicked hard.The ball rolled far away, and the twins ran after it to the gravel beach.Of course, Edie said this out of sheer jealousy.This was the only way to attract the attention of the gentleman looking across.She felt a hot blush rising and burning her cheeks.For Gerty McDowell, this was always a red flag.Before that, the two of them had only exchanged glances in the most casual way.Now she dared to glance at him from under the brim of her new hat.The face floating in the twilight that met her gaze was haggard and strangely distorted, as if she had never seen such a sad face. From the open windows of the cathedral wafts sweet fragrances, and at the same time come the names of those fragrances of the Immaculate Conception; for us, divine vessel; for us, admirable vessel; holy Great weapon of love, pray for us; Xuanyi rose.Those souls that are troubled, those who labor for their daily bread, many go astray and wander here and there.Their eyes were wet with tears of remorse, but shone with hope, for the venerable Father Hugh had put the words of the great St. Bernard in his famous prayer to Mary[39] Told them: It is not recorded in any age that those who beseech the prayers of the most devout Virgin Mary, and mightily protect them, were ever abandoned by her. The twins are now playing very merrily again, for childhood troubles are as fleeting as summer showers.Sissy Caffrey plays with doll Boardman.He giggled happily after a while, clapping the doll's hands in the air.She hid behind the canopy of the pram and called "Away," and Edie asked, "Where's Cissy?" and Cissy poked her head out and yelled, "Ah!" How happy it is!Then she taught him to say "Daddy." "Say Daddy, baby. Say it: Daddy Daddy." As far as the doll is exerting the strength of sucking.Because he was only eleven months old, everyone said that he was very smart, and he was bigger than ordinary dolls. He was the embodiment of health and the perfect crystallization of love.Everyone said he was going to be a great man. "Haga, ga, ga, ga, ga." Sissy wiped his little mouth with a bib, told him to sit up straight, and said "Daddy"; but when she undid the belt she yelled, "Oh my god, the doll's wet, it's got to be wet." Turn over the blanket under it and refold it." Of course, His Majesty the Doll is extremely opposed to this convenient arrangement, and everyone knows: "Ha ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha." Then, two lines of crystal clear tears rolled down his cheeks.It's useless to use the set of obedient, dolls, tell him the story of Kaka, and tell him where Pupu is; The little heathen was immediately appeased. Gerty wished with all her heart that they would take the squeaking doll home so it wouldn't irritate her nerves again.It's not a good time to be outside now, and neither is it for the twin rogues.She stared out across the ocean.The scenery was like a painting made by a painter on the road with colored chalk.What a pity that the pictures were all left there waiting to be erased.As the dusk deepened and the clouds filled, the light of the Bailey's Lantern at Howth headed and the music echoed to my ears.There was also the smell of sweet incense burning in the church.As she watched, her heart was pounding.Well, it was her that he was looking at, and his eyes were meaningful.His eyes were like a raging fire, burning into her heart, as if he wanted to search her thoroughly and know her soul like the palm of his hand.Those are a pair of radiant eyes with rich expressions, but can you trust them?People are just that weird.He was a foreigner, by his dark eyes and pale, sensible face, exactly like the photograph she had kept of Martin Harvey, a smash-hit boy.It's just that there are two more mustaches.She preferred a beard, however, because she didn't want to be an actress like Winnie Rippinham, who saw a play[41] and said let's keep wearing the same clothes.But she couldn't tell whether he was sitting there with a hooked nose or an inconspicuous snub nose[42].She could see that he was wearing pure black mourning clothes, and his face was full of sorrow. In order to understand the reason, she did not hesitate to pay any price.He remained motionless, looking up intently.He saw how she tipped her toes down and moved her feet carefully when she played ball, and perhaps he saw the polished steel buckles on her shoes.She was glad to have put on the sheer socks out of some hunch.It had been thought that maybe Reggie Wylie would go out, but that was over.What she has always dreamed of is right in front of her eyes.It was him who mattered, and she beamed because she wanted him; because she felt intuitively that he was different from anyone else.The whole heart of this childish woman turned to him, the husband of her dreams, because she saw at a glance that he was the one for her.If he has suffered, if he has not committed much crime, but has been greatly wronged[43]; no, if he is a sinner himself, a bad person, she doesn't care.Even if he was a Protestant or a Cultist, she would have no difficulty converting him if he really loved her. [44] Some wounds can only be healed with the balm of love.She was a soft woman, not one of the effeminate flirtatious girls he knew, the ones who rode around on their bicycles and showed off qualities they didn't have.She longed for him to tell herself everything, and she could forgive everything; if she could make him fall in love with herself, she could make him forget the past[45].Then he might embrace her tenderly like a real man, hold her limp body close, and love her—the only girl that belonged to him.He only loves her alone. Refuge for the sinner, comfort for the distressed.Pray for me. [46 ]这话说得对：凡是怀着信仰持续不断地向她祷告者，永远不会迷失方向或遭到遗弃。说圣母是受苦受难者的避难港也是贴切的，因为她自己的心脏就被七苦[ 47 ] 刺穿了。格蒂能够想象得出教堂里的一切情景：被灯光照亮的彩色玻璃，蜡烛，鲜花，圣母玛利亚教友会的蓝色旗帜。康罗伊神父在祭坛上协助教堂蒙席奥汉龙，他双目低垂，把一些圣器搬出搬进。他看上去几乎是一位圣徒。他那间忏悔阁子是那么宁静、清洁、幽暗，他那双手白得像蜡一般。倘若有朝一日她当上了多明我会的修女，身着白袍，说不定他会到女修道院来主持圣多明我的九日敬礼[ 48 ]哩。她在忏悔的当儿告诉他那档子事后，生怕他看得见，连头发根儿都羞红了。他却说， 不要苦恼，因为那不过是自然的声音，而我们生在现世，都要服从自然的规律。那不是什么过错， 因为它来自天主所制定的妇女天性。他还说，我们的圣母玛利亚本人就曾对大天使加百列说过："愿你的话应验在我身上。"[ 49 ]他是那样的和蔼、圣洁，她多次想做一只带褶饰的绣花茶壶保温罩送给他。要么就是一只座钟。只是那一天她为了四十小时朝拜[50 ]用的鲜花而去那里时，曾注意到他们的壁炉台上摆着一只白、金两色的座钟， 一只金丝雀从一个小屋里踱出报时。想知道送什么礼物合适可真难哪。干脆送一本都柏林或什么地方的彩色风景画册吧。 令人发急的双生小家伙们又吵起来了。杰基把球朝大海丢去，两个人一道跟在后面追。这样的小猴儿就像沟里的水似的，到处乱蹿。除非什么人把他们双双逮住，狠狠地揍上一顿，他们是不会消停下来的。西茜和伊迪大声喊他们回来，生怕会涨潮，把他们淹死。 "杰基！汤米！" 他们才不回来呢！多么任性的娃娃们呀！西茜说，她再也不带他们出门啦。她跳起来，喊叫他们，从他身边擦过去，跑下了坡，头发披散在背后。头发的颜色倒还过得去，只是不够浓密，尽管她不断地擦着什么药，由于不对路子，总也不见长。所以她对那药的怨气可大啦。她像雄鹅一般迈着大步跑，裙子箍得那么紧，令人惊异的是居然没裂开。西茜·卡弗里颇像个假小子，只要认为有个一显身手的机会，就不放弃。她有双飞毛腿，跑起来她那皮包骨的腿肚子抬得高高的，能够让他看到她的衬裙下摆。为了使身材显得高一些，她特意穿上了弓形的法国式高跟鞋。要是不巧绊倒在什么东西上头，摔了个屁股墩儿，那才活该呢。behold! [ 51 ]满可以让像那样一位绅士赏心悦目的了。 他们向诸天神之王后，诸圣祖之王后，诸先知之王后，诸圣人之王后，至圣玫瑰之王后祷告。然后，康罗伊神父把香炉递给教堂蒙席奥汉龙。他添上香料，把圣心薰香。西茜·卡夫里逮住了双胞胎，她恨不得掴他们几个大耳刮子，但是想到他也许在瞧着，所以她没这么做。然而西茜一辈子也没有过更大的误会，因为格蒂即使不看也能知道，他始终目不转睛地看着的是她。然后，教堂蒙席奥汉龙将香炉递还给康罗伊神父，跪下来瞻仰圣心。唱诗班开始吟唱堂堂圣体。她随着堂堂圣体奥——妙至极[ 52 ]的悠扬乐声，用一只脚一前一后地踩着拍子。她在乔治街的斯帕罗商店花三先令十一便士买下了这双长袜。那是星期二，不——是复活节前的星期一。他定睛望着的正是这双连一根线也没绽的透明袜子，而不是西茜那双毫无可取、一点样儿也没有的袜子（真是丢人现眼！）他有眼光，辨别得出其间的差别。 西茜领着一对双胞胎带着他们的球，沿着沙滩走来了。由于跑了一阵，帽子歪到一边去了，勉强扣在脑袋上。两个星期前才买的便宜衬衫像抹布似的耷拉在背后，还邋里邋遢地拖出一截衬裙下摆，那副样子简直像是拖着两个娃娃的荡妇[53 ] 。为了整理一下头发，格蒂摘了一会儿帽子。还没见过一个少女肩上披散着这么漂亮、优美的一头深栗色鬈发呢。 看上去如此娇艳可爱，说实在的，妖娆得几乎令人发狂。 你得走上多少英里漫长的道路才能遇上这么一头美发。她几乎可以看到他对此蓦地做出的反应： 两眼闪过一丝赞赏的目光，她的每一根神经都为之震颤。她戴上帽子，好从帽檐底下窥伺。 当她瞥见他眼睛里的神情时，不禁紧张起来，就赶快甩开那只有着饰扣的鞋。 他就像是蛇盯住猎物般地盯着她。女人的本能告诉她，她唤醒了他心中的魔鬼。这么一想， 一片火红色就从喉咙刷地掠到眉字间，最后，她那鲜活的面庞变成一朵容光焕发的玫瑰。 伊迪·博德曼也发觉了这一点，因为她一面斜起眼睛望着格蒂，一面像个老处女似的戴着眼镜，半笑不笑的，假装在哄娃娃。她动不动就生气，像一只蚋似的，永远也改不了，因此谁都跟她处不好。与她毫无关系的事，她也会横加干涉。于是，她就对格蒂说： "你呆呆地在想什么呢？" "什么？"格蒂回答说，皓齿使她的微笑格外迷人，"我只是纳闷着天色是不是太晚了。" 因为她巴不得她们早些把这对净流鼻涕的双胞胎和那个娃娃领回家去，省得他们老在这里淘气，所以才委婉地暗示天色已晚的话。当西茜走上来时，伊迪问她几点了。爱耍贫嘴的西茜小姐说，接吻时间已过了半小时，到了再接吻一次的时刻啦[54 ] 。然而伊迪还是想知道时间，因为家里要他们早点儿回去。 "等一等，"西茜说，"我跑去问问那边的我那位彼得伯伯[ 55］，他那只大破表几点钟啦。" 于是，她走过去了。当他瞧见她走过来时，格蒂看到他把手从兜里掏出来，紧张地边抬头望望教堂边摆弄着表链。格蒂看得出，尽管他是个多情的人，自我抑制力却极强。刚才他还被一位情女弄得神魂颠倒，目不转睛地盯着她看；转瞬之间他又成为举止安详、神态端庄的绅士了，堂堂仪表的每个线条都显示出他的自制力。 西茜对他说，劳驾，能不能麻烦他告诉她一下准确的时间？格蒂看见他掏出表，听了听，仰起脸来，清了清喉咙，说他非常抱歉，他的表停了。然而，他估计八点过了，因为太阳已经落下。从他的声音听得出是有教养的，语调虽平稳，圆润的嗓音却带点颤巍。西茜道了谢，走回来伸伸舌头说，那位伯伯说他的水道[ 56 ] 堵塞啦。 接着，他们唱起"跪拜赞颂"第二段。教堂蒙席奥汉龙又站起来，向圣体献香，重新跪下。他告诉康罗伊神父，有一枝蜡几乎把鲜花点着了，康罗伊神父便起身去侍弄好。格蒂瞧见那位绅士正在给表上弦。听到那咔嗒咔嗒声，她越发使劲一前一后地甩腿打着拍子。天色越来越黑下来了，但是他还看得见，而且不论正给表上弦还是摆弄它的当儿，他都一直在看着。随后，他把表塞回去，双手揣在兜里。她感到一股激情涌遍全身，凭着头皮的感觉和触碰胸衣时引起的焦躁感，告诉她那个想必快来了。因为上次她为了新月而铰头发时，就有过这样的感觉。他那双黑黑眸子又盯住她了，陶醉在她的整个轮廓里，扑扑实实地参拜着她的神龛。倘若男人那热情洋溢的注视中含有不加掩饰的爱慕的话，那就在此人脸上表露得再清楚不过了。都是为了你呀，格楚德·麦克道维尔，而且你是知道的。 伊迪开始准备回去，而且也到了该回去的时刻。格蒂留意到，她所给的小小暗示已产生了预期的效果，因为沿着岸滩走上一大段路才能够抵达把婴儿车推上大道的地方。西茜摘掉双胞胎的便帽，替他们拢了拢头发，当然，这是为了使她自己富于魅力。身穿领口打着褶子的祭袍的教堂蒙席奥汉龙站了起来，康罗伊神父递给他一张卡片来读。于是，他诵读起你赐与他们神粮[57 ] 。伊迪和西茜一直在谈论时间，还向格蒂打听。格蒂倒也善于以其人之道还治其身，口气辛辣而彬彬有礼地做了答复。这时伊迪又问格蒂，她莫非是由于遭到男朋友的遗弃而心碎。一阵剧烈的痉挛穿过格蒂的全身。刹那间，她的眼睛里闪出冰冷的火焰，显示出无限轻蔑。她受到了创伤——对，深重的创伤。伊迪活像是一只可恶的小猫，偏偏用一种独特的安详口吻说这类明知道会伤害对方的活。格蒂旋即张开嘴要说什么，但是她竭力抑制住涌到嗓子眼里的哽咽——她喉咙的造型细溜、完美而俊秀，像是艺术家所梦寐以求的。她对那个青年爱得比他所知道的还要强烈。他跟所有其他男性一样，是个轻浮的负心人，见异思迁，永远也不会理解他在她心目中是何等重要。她那双蓝眼睛倏地热泪盈眶。她们两个人的眼睛冷酷无情地盯着她望。但是她却英勇地以同情的目光瞟了她新征服的那个男子一眼，让她们瞧瞧。 "哦，"格蒂闪电般地回应着，傲然扬起头，笑着说，"这是个闰年嘛，我喜欢谁，就追求谁。" 她的话清澈如水晶，比斑尾林鸽咕咕的叫声还要悦耳；然而却像冰块似的划破了寂静。她那年轻的声音宣告说：她可不是能够随随便便地被人摆布的。至于凭着几个钱就那么神气活现的雷吉先生，她蛮可以当作垃圾一样地把他抛掉，再也不会想到他，并把他寄来的那张无聊的明信片撕个粉碎。倘若今后他胆敢放肆，她就会从容冷静地对他投以轻蔑的一瞥，使他当场蜷缩作一团。寒酸小姐小伊迪的神情颇为沮丧。格蒂看到她脸色非常阴沉，便知道这个鲁莽自负的丫头简直气得厉害，尽管她还在掩饰。因为格蒂那句锋利的话刺穿了她那小气的嫉妒心。她们两人都知道，格蒂子然一身，与众不同，属于另一个星球。她不是她们当中的一个，永远也不会是。另外一位先生也晓得这一点，并且亲眼看到了。让她们扪心自问去吧。[ 58 ] 伊迪把娃娃博德曼的衣服整理停当，准备动身了。西茜将皮球、铲子和桶一古脑儿塞进去。而且确实也该回去了，因为睡魔已经来接小少爷博德曼了。西茜也告诉他说，伙伴眨巴眼儿快来了，娃娃该睡啦。娃娃看上去简直太可爱了，他抬起一双喜气洋洋的眼睛笑着。西茜为了逗乐儿戳了一下他那胖胖的小肚皮，娃娃连声对不起也没说，却把他的答谢一古脑儿送到他那崭新的围嘴上了。 "啊唷！布丁和馅饼！"西茜大叫了一声，"他把围嘴儿糟塌啦。" 这一小小事故[ 59 ] 给她添了麻烦，然而转眼她就把这档子小事料理好了。 格蒂将冒到嗓子眼儿的喊叫抑制住了，神经质地咳嗽了一下。伊迪问她怎么啦？她差点儿对伊迪说，谁有工夫回答你这种过了时的问题！然而她是向来不忘记上流妇女的举止的，所以就十分机敏地说了句"正在举行降福仪式呢"，就给敷衍过去了。刚好这当儿，宁静的海滨传来教堂的钟声，教堂蒙席正站在祭坛上（肩上的纱中是康罗伊神父替他披上去的），手捧圣心，举行降福仪式。 暮色苍茫，这片景色是多么地动人啊。爱琳那最后一抹姿容，晚钟[60 ]那扣人心弦的合奏；同时从爬满常春藤的钟楼里飞出一只蝙蝠，穿过黄昏，东飞西飞，发出微弱的哀鸣。她能看见远处灯塔的光，美丽如画。她巴不得自己带着一匣颜料，因为写生比画人物素描要容易。灯夫很快就会沿路点起街灯了。他将走过长老会教堂场地，沿着特里顿维尔大树的树荫下踱来。人们成双成对地在这里漫步。他还点燃她那扇窗户附近的一盏灯，雷吉·怀利常在这里骑车表演空轮[ 61 ]，就像卡明女士那本《点灯夫》中所描述的那样。她也是《梅布尔·沃恩》和其他一些故事的作者[62]。格蒂有着无人知晓的梦想。她喜爱读诗。伯莎·萨波尔送给她一本珊瑚色封面的漂亮忏悔簿，以便她把随感记下来。她就将它放到梳妆台抽屉里了。这张桌子虽不豪华，却整洁干净得纤尘不染。这是姑娘的宝库，收藏着玳瑁梳子、"玛利亚的孩子"[ 63 ] 徽章、白玫瑰香水、描眉膏、雪花石膏香盒、替换着钉在洗衣房刚送回来的衣服上用的丝带等。忏悔薄上记载着她用紫罗兰色墨水（是从戴姆街希利[ 64 ]的店里买来的）写下的一些隽永的思想。因为她感到，只要她能够像如此深深地感染了她的这首诗那样表达自己，她就也能够写诗。那还是一天傍晚，她从包蔬菜的报纸上找到并抄下来的。以《我理想的人儿，你是凡人吗？》 为题的此诗作者是玛赫拉非尔特的路易斯·J。沃尔什。后面还有什么"薄暮中，你会到来吗？"之句[ 65 ]。诗是那样可爱，其中所描绘的无常之美是那样令人悲伤，以致她的眼睛曾多次被沉默的泪水模糊了。因为她感到时光年复一年地逝去，倘非有那唯一的缺陷，她原是不用怕跟任何人竞争的。那次事故是她下多基山时发生的，她总是试图掩盖它。但是她感到，应该了结啦。倘若她看到了他眼中那种着了魔般的诱惑，那就什么力量也阻止不住她了。爱情嘲笑锁匠[66 ]。她会付出巨大的牺牲，尽一切力量和他心心相印。她将会比整个世界对他更为亲密，并使他的生活由于幸福而熠熠生辉。有个最重要的问题：她渴望知道他究竟是个有妇之夫，抑或是个丧偶的鳏夫呢，要么就像那位来自歌之国[67]有着外国名字的贵族，他只好把妻子关进疯人医院——为了仁慈，不得不采取残忍手段。 [68]真是悲剧！然而即便如此——那又怎么样？难道会有多大分别吗？她禀性高尚，对任何稍微有点粗俗的东西，都会本能地回避开。她讨厌那种在多德尔河畔的客栈附近跟大兵以及粗俗的男人鬼混的浪荡女人。她们毫不爱惜少女的贞操，丢尽女人的脸，给抓到警察局去。不，不，那种事我可不干。他们仅仅是好朋友而已，就像是大哥哥和小妹妹，完全没有那方面的事，尽管并不符合一般社交界的惯例[ 69 ]。也许他在哀悼已淡忘了的往昔岁月[70]的情人呢。她认为她是理解的。她要试图理解他，因为男人们是那样地不同。老情人等待着，伸出白皙的小手等待着，还有那双动人的蓝眼睛。我的意中人！她会跟随她梦中之恋，服从她心灵的指挥。它告诉她，他是她一切的一切。整个世界上，他是她唯一的男人，因为爱情才是最有权威的向导。其他都无所谓。不管怎样，她就是要无拘无束，自由奔放。 教堂蒙席奥汉龙将圣体放回圣龛，屈膝跪拜。接着，唱诗班唱起：列国啊，你们要颂赞上主[ 71 ]！然后，他锁上圣龛，因为降福仪式已结束。康罗伊神父递给他帽子让他戴上。刁猫伊迪间格蒂走不走，可是杰基·卡弗里嚷道： "啊，看哪，西茜！" 于是，他们都看了。原以为那是一道闪电，然而汤米也看见了：在教堂旁边的树林上空，起初是蓝的，继而是绿的和紫的。 "放焰火哪！"西茜·卡弗里说。 于是，为了观赏屋舍和教堂上空的焰火，她们全都慌慌张张地沿着岸滩跑去。伊迪推着娃娃博德曼所坐的那辆婴儿车，西茜拉着汤米和杰基的手，免得他们栽跟头。 "来呀，格蒂，"西茜大声叫道，"是义卖会[ 72 ] 的焰火哩。" 然而格蒂态度坚决，无意听任她们摆布。倘若她们能够像荡妇[ 73]那样野跑，她蛮可以这么原地坐着；所以她说，她从自己坐的地方也瞧得见。那双紧盯着她的眼睛，使她的心怦怦直跳。她瞥了他一眼，视线同他相遇。那道光穿透了她全身。那张脸上有着炽热的激情，像坟墓般寂静的激情。她遂成为他的了。终于只剩下他们两个了，再也没有人刺探并叽叽喳喳。而且她晓得他是至死不渝的，坚定不移，牢固可靠，通身刚正不阿。他的双手和五官都在活动，于是，她浑身颤栗起来。她尽量仰着身子，用目光寻觅那焰火，双手抱膝，免得栽倒。除了他和她而外，没有一个人在看着，所以她把她那双俊秀而形态优美、娇嫩柔韧而细溜丰腴的小腿整个儿裸露出来。她似乎听到他那颗心的悸跳，粗声粗气的喘息，因为她也晓得像他那样血气方刚的男人，会有着怎样的情欲。还因为一次伯莎·萨波尔告诉过她一桩绝对的秘密，并要她发誓永远不说出去。她家的一位在人口密集地区调查局[ 74 ]工作的房客，从报纸上剪下那些表演短裙舞和翘腿舞的舞女的照片。她说，他不时地在床上做些不大文雅的勾当，这，你也想象得到吧。不过，眼下这档子事可跟那个大不相同，情况完全两样。她几乎觉得他使她的脸贴近他自己的脸，并用他那俊俏的嘴唇飞快地给了她一个热烈的初吻。再说，只要你在婚前不做那另一档子事，罪行就能得到赦免。应该设个女忏悔师，即便你不说出口，她们也能领会得一清二楚。西茜·卡弗里两眼有时也露出梦幻般的恍惚神情，唷，她准也是那样的。还有温妮·里平哈姆，对一些男演员的照片简直入了迷，而且是由于那个快来了，才会有这种感觉。 这时，杰基·卡弗里大声嚷道："瞧，又来了一个。"格蒂把上半身往后仰，露出的蓝袜带刚好同透明的长袜子般配。他们都瞅见了，并且都嚷着："瞧，瞧，就在那儿。"她一个劲儿地往后仰着看那焰火。这时，有个软软的古怪玩艺儿腾空飞来飞去，黑黑的。她瞧见一只长长的罗马蜡烛[ 75 ]高高地蹿到树木上空，高高地，高高地。大家紧张地沉默着。待它越升越高时，大家兴奋得大气儿不出。为了追踪着瞧，她只好越发往后仰。焰火越升越高。几乎望不到了。由于拼命往后仰，她脸上洋溢出一片神圣而迷人的红晕。他还能看到她旁的什么：抚摩皮肤的印度薄棉布裤衩，因为是白色的，比四先令十一便士的那条绿色佩蒂怀斯牌的看得更清楚。那袒露给他，并意识到了他的视线；焰火升得那么高，刹那间望不到了。她往后仰得太厉害，以致四肢发颤，膝盖以上高高的，整个儿映入他的眼帘。就连打秋千或膛水时，她也不曾让人这么看过。她固然不知羞耻，而他像那样放肆地盯着看，倒也不觉得害臊。他情不自禁地凝望着一半是送上来的这令人惊异的袒露，看啊，看个不停：就像着短裙的舞女们当着绅士们的面那么没羞没臊。她恨不得抽抽嗒嗒地对他喊叫，朝他伸出那双雪白、细溜的双臂，让他过来，并将他的嘴唇触到她那白皙的前额上。这是一个年轻姑娘的爱之呼声，从她的胸脯里绞出来的、被抑制住的小声叫唤，古往今来这叫喊一直响彻着。这当儿一支"火箭"蹿了上去，蹦的一声射向黑暗的夜空。哦，紧接着，"罗马蜡烛"爆开来，恰似哦的一声叹息。每一个人都兴高采烈地哦哦直叫。这当儿，喷出一股金发丝，像雨一般倾泻下来。what!全都是绿色的、露水般的星群，滔滔不绝地散发着金光，哦，多么可爱，哦，多么柔和，甜蜜，柔和！ 然后，一切都宛若露水一般融化到灰色的氛围里。Everything was silent.what!当她敏捷地向前弯过身去的时候，瞥了他一眼。这是感伤的短短一瞥，带有可怜巴巴的抗议和羞怯的嗔怪，弄得他像个少女一般飞红了脸。他正倚着背后的岩石。在那双年轻天真的眼睛面前，利奥波德·布卢姆（因为这正是他）耷拉着脑袋，默默地站着。他是何等地残忍啊！又干了吗？一个纯洁美丽的灵魂向他呼唤，而他这个卑鄙的家伙竟做出了什么样的回应呢？他简直下流透顶！偏偏是他！然而她那双眼睛里却蕴蓄着无穷无尽的慈祥，连对他也有一句宽恕的话，尽管他做错了事，犯了罪，误入歧途。一个姑娘家应该倾吐出来吗？不，一千个不。这是他们的秘密——仅属于他们两个人之间的秘密。他们两个人独自藏身在薄暮中，没有人知晓，他们也不会泄露。除了那只穿过薄暮轻盈地飞来飞去的小蝙蝠，而小蝙蝠们是不会泄露隐情的。 西茜· 弗里学着足球场上的少年们那么吹口哨，以便显示她多么了不起。接着，她喊道： "格蒂！格蒂！我们走啦。来吧。从那边高处也瞧得见。" 格蒂想起了主意——一个小小的爱情策略。她把一只手伸进手绢兜里，掏出那块洒了香水的棉布，挥动几下作为回答。当然不让他知道用意，然后又把它悄俏地放了回去。不晓得他是不是离得太远了。She stood up.分别了吗？她非走不可啦，然而他们还会在那儿见面的。直到那时——直到明天，她都会重温今晚这个好梦的。她站直了身子。他们的灵魂在依依不舍的最后一瞥中相遇。射到她心坎儿上的他那视线，充满了奇异的光辉，如醉如痴地死死盯着她那美丽如花的脸。她对他露出苍白的微笑，表示宽恕的温柔的微笑，热泪盈眶的微笑。接着，两个人就分手了。 她连头都没回，慢慢地沿着坑坑洼洼的岸滩走向西茜、伊迪，走向杰基与汤米·卡弗里，走向小娃娃博德曼。暮色更浓了，岸滩上有着石头、碎木片儿以及容易让人滑倒的海藻。她以特有的安详和威严款款而行，小心翼翼，而且走得非常慢，因为——因为格蒂·麦克道维尔是……