现代大学英语（第三版）精读3 课件 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,naïveandhearty…65

Shehadgone.Hesatthere,thunder-struck,astoundedbeyondwords…Andthenheaskedthewaitressforhisbill.66

“Butthecreamhasnotbeentouched,”hesaid.“Pleasedonotchargemeforit.”(2,110words)Text一块莳萝泡菜凯瑟琳·曼斯菲尔德1

六年以后，她又见到了他。他坐在一张小竹桌旁，桌上摆放了一只插着纸质水仙花的日本花瓶。他正在剥橙子。2

他抬起头，正好与她四目相对，肯定感受到了她的震惊。他居然没认出她。她笑了，他却皱起眉头。她向他走来，他则闭上眼睛。片刻之后睁开眼，他的脸顿时亮了起来，好像他在一间暗室里划着了一根火柴。他放下橙子，把椅子往后推了推。

Text3

“薇拉！”他大声喊道。“太不可思议了。刚那一会儿，我都没有认出你来。快请坐，要喝点咖啡吗？”4

“好的，我想要点咖啡。”她在对面坐了下来。5

“你变了，变了很多，”他盯着她说，眼神迫切而明亮。“看上去不错，以前从来没见过你气色这么好。”6

“真的？”她掀起面纱，解开高高的皮毛领子。“我感觉不大舒服，我受不了这种天气，这你是知道的。”Text7

“哎呀，是呀，你不喜欢冷天……”8

“我讨厌这种天气。”她打了个冷颤。“最糟糕的是年龄越大……”9

他打断了她。“你好，过来一下，”他敲了敲桌子，召女服务员过来，“请上点咖啡和奶油。”然后问她，“你真的不想吃点什么吗？”10

“不要别的了。谢谢。”11

“那就这样吧。”他笑着又拿起了橙子。“你刚才说年龄越大——”Text12

“越怕冷，”她笑了起来。心里却在想，她对他那个打断她说话的把戏再熟悉不过了，这把戏六年前曾经让她多么愤怒啊！13

“越怕冷！”他重复她的话，也跟着笑了起来。“啊，你还是说同样的话。你美丽的嗓音也一点都没变。我不明白究竟是什么——我常常琢磨——使你的嗓音如此难忘……你还记得我们第一次在邱园度过的那个下午吗？我叫不出任何花的名字，你对此感到非常惊讶。尽管那时你跟我说了很多，但我现在还是什么都不知道。不过，每当天气晴朗又暖和的时候，我一看到艳丽的色彩就会想起你的声音，‘天竺葵、万寿菊、美人樱’，你还记得那个下午吗？”Text14

“哦，当然记得，记得很清楚。”她缓缓地深吸了一口气。不过，她记忆里那个不寻常的下午却是个滑稽可笑的场面。那时很多人在一个中式亭子里喝茶，他却像个疯子一样对付黄蜂——挥赶它们，用草帽拍打它们。那种场合下他根本不需要那么认真和愤怒。那时她多么尴尬啊！15

可是，现在听他说这些事，她的那份记忆倒是模糊了。他说的倒是更准确。16

确实，那天下午过得很愉快，到处都是鲜花，还有温暖的阳光。她的思绪停留在“温暖的阳光”这几个字上。这股暖流好像开启了她的另一份回忆。她看到自己坐在草坪上，他躺在她身旁。突然，他翻过身，把脑袋枕在她腿上。Text17

“真希望，”他苦恼地说，声音低沉，“真希望我已经服了毒药，就快死了——就是现在，就在这里！”18

她的头向他探过去。19

“哎呀，为什么这么说？”20

他轻轻地哼了一声，握住她的手，贴在他的面颊上。21

“因为我知道我太爱你了。薇拉，我会非常痛苦，因为你永远，永远也不会爱我。”Text22

很明显，他现在看起来比以前好得多，完全不像以前那样不切实际、优柔寡断了。他现在看上去像个成功人士，肯定挣了不少钱，衣着也很讲究。这时他从衣兜里拿出个俄罗斯烟盒。23

“抽支烟吗？”24

“好的，”她的目光停留在烟卷上。“看起来挺好的。”25

“我让圣詹姆斯大街上的一个小个子男人为我特别制作的。我抽烟不多，不过要抽就一定要好的。对我来说，抽烟不是习惯。烟是一种奢侈品，就像香水一样。你还是很喜欢香水吗？对了，我在俄罗斯的时候……”Text26

她插了一句，“你真的去过俄罗斯？”27

“是的，我在那里待了一年。你忘了以前我们说过要去那儿吗？”28

“我没有忘记。”29

他发出了似笑非笑的怪声，然后靠到椅背上。30

“真不可思议，我们计划一起旅游的地方，我都去了。事实上，我过去三年一直在旅行。西班牙、俄罗斯、埃及。唯一还没有去的就是中国。我打算战争结束后去。”Text31

他轻声说着，不时在烟灰缸上弹弹烟头。此时，她感到长期在她心中沉睡的那头怪兽蠢蠢欲动了，伸懒腰，打哈欠，竖起耳朵，突然一跃而起，瞪着一双渴望、憧憬的眼睛，看向远方。但她只是微笑着说，“真羡慕你！”32

“旅行很棒，尤其是在俄罗斯。我还在伏尔加河上的一艘船里过了几天。你还记得你以前常弹的那首船夫曲吗？”33

“记得。”那音乐随即在她耳边响起。34

“你现在还弹这首曲子吗？”Text35

“不弹了，我没有钢琴了。”36

他对此感到惊讶。“你那架漂亮的钢琴哪去了？”37

她苦笑了一下。“早就卖了。”38

“可你很喜欢音乐呀，”他不明白。39

“现在没时间，顾不上了。”她说。Text40

他没有再问下去。“船上的生活，”他接着说，“很特别。过了一两天，你就会觉得你的生活一直就是这样。不需要懂他们的语言——船上生活本身就能让你和其他人紧密联系起来，这就足够了。你和他们一起吃饭，从早到晚都在一起，到了晚上还有尽情的歌唱。”41

她颤抖了一下，仿佛听到那船夫曲再次响起，响亮而凄凉；她看到那艘船漂浮在渐渐昏暗的河上，看到两岸忧郁的树木……Text42

“俄罗斯生活的方方面面，你差不多都会喜欢，”他热情地说着，“随意，无拘无束，自由自在。那里的农夫太好了。他们就是那样的人——没错，就是那样。就连给你开马车的车夫，也会在当下发挥重要作用。记得有一个晚上我和几个朋友一起在黑海边野餐。我们带了晚饭和香槟，坐在草地上又吃又喝。正在我们吃喝的时候，一位车夫走过来说，‘尝一块莳萝泡菜吧。’他愿意与我们分享泡菜，他这么做很自然——你明白我的意思吗？”Text43

此时她好像就坐在神秘莫测的黑海旁的草地上，海面像黑色的天鹅绒，安静、丝绒般的水波拍打着海岸，海面泛起层层涟漪。她看见草地上的这一小群人，他们的双手和面颊在月光下显得白皙。那车夫坐在离他们不远处，膝盖上放着用布包起来的晚饭，“尝一块莳萝泡菜吧，”他说。尽管她不敢肯定莳萝泡菜是何物，但仿佛看到泛绿的瓶子里有一个鹦鹉嘴一样的红辣椒，闪闪发光。她微微一吮，莳萝泡菜特别地酸。44

“是的，我完全理解你的意思，”她说。Text45

随后是短暂的沉默，他俩相互望着对方。以前相互对望的时候，他们感到灵魂好像拥抱在一起了，就像一对忧伤的恋人，一起跳入大海，心满意足地殉情而死。可是现在，他只是说，“你真是一个了不起的听众。每当你用迫切的眼神看着我的时候，我就会觉得，我从不向别人透露的事，都能告诉你。”46

他的声音里有一丝取笑的成分吗？她不能确定。Text47

“在遇见你之前，”他说，“我从未对任何人聊起过自己。我清清楚楚地记得，有一天夜里，我给你带去一棵小圣诞树，跟你讲了我小时候所有的事。我不痛快，离家出走，在我们家后院的大车下面待了两天，也没有被人发现。你就听我讲着，两眼放光，我觉得你甚至让那棵小圣诞树也听我讲话，就像童话里那样。”但关于那一晚，她还记着的是一小罐鱼子酱，值7先令6便士。这一点让他无法释怀，一直想着那么一小罐就花了7先令6便士。在她品尝的时候，他欣喜又惊讶地看着她。48

“那条狗叫做博荪，”她高兴地大声说道。Text49

可是他却不明白。“什么狗？你那时有条狗？”50

“我没有狗。我说的是你小时候你家院子里的那条狗。”51

他笑了起来，“啪”的一声关上烟盒。52

“是吗？我早就忘了。这好像是很久以前的事了。我无法相信这才过去六年。今天认出你之后，我费了好大劲才回想起以往的时光。”他漫不经心地敲着桌面，“我常常想，我那时候肯定让你十分厌烦。现在我完全能理解你为什么给我写那么一封信了——尽管当时那封信几乎要了我的命。前不久，我又找到了它，再读的时候忍不住笑了。写得太妙了——把我写得很真实。”他抬起头。“你不是要走了吧？”Text53

她已经重新扣上皮毛领口，拉下了面纱。54

“对，我该走了，”她说，勉强笑了笑。55

“哎呀，请别走，”他恳求道，“再待一会儿。”他拿起她放在桌子上的一只手套，抓住不放，好像那样能留住她似的。“我现在没有几个能聊天的人，差不多成了野蛮人了。”他接着说，“我是不是说了什么让你不高兴的话？”56

“哪会呢，”她说了句谎话。不过，当她看着他用手指温柔地捋着她的手套时，她的恼怒逐渐平息了。Text57

“当时我真想，”他轻声说，“当一条毯子，让你在上面走，这样你就不会被尖刻的石子刺痛，也不会沾上你十分讨厌的湿泥。除此以外，没有其他任何自私的想法。我真希望最终变成一条魔毯，带你去所有你渴望去的国家。”58

他说这些话时，她抬起了头，好像喝下什么，她心里的那头怪兽开始呜呜地叫唤起来……59

“我觉得你比世上任何人都更孤独，”他接着说，“不过，或许你是这世界上唯一真正活着的人。”Text60

天哪！她都做了些什么！她怎么敢这么轻易断送自己的幸福！眼前这人是唯一理解她的人。太晚了吗？不可挽回了吗？61

“还有，你从来没有交过朋友，这我太了解了，因为我也没交过朋友。你现在还是这样吗？”62

“是的，”她轻轻地说。“和以前一样，我还是独自一人。”63

“我也是，”他温柔地笑着，“跟从前一样。”Text64

突然，他动作迅速地把那只手套还给了她，将椅子在地板上蹭了一下。“不过，当时看似神秘的事，现在我看得十分清楚了。我们俩都是自顾自的人，完全以自我为中心，把自己裹得严严实实的，心里没有一个角落能容纳别人。你知道吗，”他天真又热切地说着……65

她走了。他仍然坐在原地，呆若木鸡，惊讶得难以形容……然后就叫服务员结账。66

“奶油没动过，”他说，“这个别让我付钱。”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