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Файл:Элис Эдамс. Учебное пособие – книга для чтения на английском языке
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Alice Adams
Thats what I came to tell you, she informed him,
grimly.
Adams lowered his newspaper to his knee and peered
over his spectacles at her
standing, and the great greenish shadow of the small
lamp-shade upon his table revealed her but dubiously.
Isnt everything all right? he asked. Whats the matter?
Dont worry: Im going to tell you, she said, her
grimness not relaxed. Theres matter enough, Virgil Adams.
Matter enough to make me sick of being alive!
With that, the markings on his brows began to emerge
again in all their sharpness; the old pattern reappeared.
Oh, my, my! he lamented. I thought maybe we were all
going to settle down to a little peace for a while. Whats
it about now?
Its about Alice. Did you think it was about ME or
anything for MYSELF?
Like some ready old machine, always in order
irritability responded immediately and automatically to her
emotion. How in thunder could I think what its about, or
who its for? SA
Oh, Ill say it, she promised, ominously. What Ive
come to ask you is, h
to put up with that old man and his doings?
Whose doings? What old man?
She came at him, fiercely accusing. Y
enough what old man, Virgil Adams! That old man who
was here the other night.
Mr. Lamb?
Yes; Mister Lamb! She mocked his voice. What other
old man would I be likely to mean except J. A. Lamb?
Whats he been doing now? her husband inquired,
satirically. Whered you get something new against him
since the last time you
Just this! she cried. The other night when that man
was here, if Id known how he was going to make my
child suffer, Id never have let him set his foot in my
house.
Y it, and get it over!
. She had remained by the door,
, his
ow much longer do you expect me
ou know well
121
Booth Tarkington
Adams leaned back in his chair as though her absurdity
had eased his mind. Oh, I see, he said. Y
plain crazy. Thats the only explanation of such talk, and
it suits the case.
Hasnt that man made us all suffer every day of our
lives? she demanded. Id like to know why it is that my
life and my childrens lives have to be sacrificed to him?
How are they sacrificed to him?
Because you keep on working for him! Because you
keep on letting him hand out whatever miserable little
pittance he chooses to give you; thats why! Its as if he
were some horrible old Juggernaut and I had to see my
childrens own father throwing them under the wheels to
keep him satisfied.
I wont hear any more such stuf
Adams affected to read.
Youd better listen to me, she admonished him. Y
might be sorry you didnt, in case he ever tried to set foot
in my house again! I might tell him to his face what I think
of him.
At this, Adams slapped the newspaper down upon his
knee. Oh, the devil! Whats it matter what you think of
him?
It had better matter to you! she cried. Do you
suppose Im going to submit forever to him and his family
and what theyre doing to my child?
What are he and his family doing to your child?
Mrs. Adams came out with it. That snippy little Henrietta
Lamb has always snubbed Alice every time shes ever had
the chance. Shes followed the lead of the other girls;
theyve always all of
dared to try and be happy, and because she
better-looking than they are, even though you do give her
only about thirty-five cents a year to do it on! Theyve all
done everything on earth they could to drive the young
men away from her and belittle her to
little Henrietta Lamb
to Alice, every time she could see a chance.
em been jealous of Alice because she
s been the worst of the whole crowd
ouve just gone
f! Lifting his paper,
ou
s showier and
em; and this mean
122
Alice Adams
What for?Adams asked, incredulously. Why should
she or anybody else pick on Alice?
Why? What for? his wife repeated with a greater
vehemence. Do YOU ask me such a thing as that? Do you
really want to know?
Yes; Id want to know I would if I believed it.
Then Ill tell you, she said in a cold fury. Its on
account of you, Virgil, and nothing else in the world.
He hooted at her
so they pick on Alice.
Quit your palavering and evading, she said. A crowd
of girls like that, when they get a pretty girl like Alice
among them, they act just like wild beasts. Theyll tear her
to pieces, or else theyll chase her and run her out,
because they know if she had half a chance shed outshine
em. They cant do that to a girl like Mildred Palmer
because shes got money and family to back her
listen to me, Virgil Adams: the way the world is now,
money IS family. Alice would have just as much family as
any of
in the race.
we were starting and this town was smaller
could have gone with any of
enough. Look at the people we knew then that do hold
their heads up alongside of anybody in this town! WHY
can they? Because the men of those families made money
and gave their children everything that makes life worth
living! Why cant we hold our heads up? Because those
men passed you in the race. They went up the ladder
you youre still a clerk down at that old hole!
were going to tell me something Henrietta Lamb had done
to our Alice.
vehemently. But first Im telling WHY she does it. Its
because youve never given Alice any backing nor any
em every single bit if you hadn
How did I
Yes, you did! she cried. T
You leave that out, please, he said. I thought you
Y
ou BET Im going to tell you, she assur
. Oh, yes! These girls dont like ME,
. Now you
t fallen behind
wenty-five years ago when
, you and I
em if wed tried hard
, and
ed him,
123
Booth Tarkington
background, and they all know they can do anything they
like to her with perfect impunity.
If she had the hundredth part of what THEY have to
fall back on shed have made
song long ago!
How would she?
Oh, my heavens, but youre slow! Mrs. Adams moaned.
Look her
boys in this town used to come here a few years ago. Why,
they were all crazy over her; and the girls HAD to be nice
to her then. Look at the difference now! Therell be a whole
month go by and not a young man come to call on her
alone send her candy or flowers, or ever think of T
her any place and yet shes prettier and brighter than she
was when they used to come. It isnt the childs fault she
couldnt hold em, is it? Poor thing, SHE tried hard enough!
I suppose youd say it was her fault, though.
No; I wouldnt.
Then whose fault is it?
Oh, mine, mine, he said, wearily. I drove the young
men away, of course.
You might as well have driven
to just the same thing.
How does it?
Because as they got older a good many of
to think more about money; thats one thing. Moneys at
the bottom of it all, for that matter
clubs and all such things: the other girls families belong
and we dont, and Alice dont; and she cant go unless
somebody takes her
the other girls houses, and then look at our house, so
shabby and old-fashioned shed be pretty near ashamed to
ask anybody to come in and sit down nowadays! Look at
her clothes oh, yes; you think you shelled out a lot for
that little coat of hers and the hat and skirt she got last
March; but its nothing. Some of these girls nowadays
spend more than your whole salary on their clothes. And
what jewellery has she got? A plated watch and two or
e! You remember how practically all the nicest
, and nobody does any mor
em sing a mighty different
, let
AKING
em, V
irgil. It amounts
em began
. Look at these country
e. Look at
124
Alice Adams
three little pins and rings of the kind peoples maids
wouldnt wear now. Good Lord, Virgil Adams, wake up!
Dont sit there and tell me you dont know things like this
mean SUFFERING for the child!
He had begun to rub his hands wretchedly back and
forth over his bony knees, as if in that way he somewhat
alleviated the tedium caused by her racking voice. Oh,
my, my! he muttered. OH, my, my!
Yes, I should think you WOULD say Oh, my, my! she
took him up, loudly. That doesnt help things much! If you
ever wanted to DO anything about it, the poor child might
see some gleam of hope in her life. Y
thats the tr
I dont?
No; you dont. Why, even with your miserable little
salary you could have given her more than you have.
Youre the closest man I ever knew: its like pulling teeth
to get a dollar out of you for her
you hide some away, every month or so, in some wretched
little investment or other
Look here, now, he interrupted, angrily. Y
here! If I didnt put a little by whenever I could, in a bond
or something, where would you be if anything happened
to me? The insurance doctors never passed me; YOU know
that. Havent we got to have SOMETHING to fall back on?
Y
to go on with right now, too, when we need it. Do you
suppose these snippets would treat Alice the way they do
if she could af
their dinners and dances simply because they know she
cant give any dinners and dances to leave them out of!
They know she cant get EVEN, and thats the whole story!
Thats why Henrietta Lambs done this thing to her now.
Adams had gone back to his rubbing of his knees.
Oh, my, my! he said. WHA
She told him. Y
Henrietta has sent out invitations for a large party a
LARGE one. Everybody that is anybody in this town is
ouble; you dont car
. You
es, we have! she cried. We ought to have something
ford to ENTERT
T thing?
our dear, grand, old Mister Lambs
ou dont CARE for her,
e a single thing about her
, now and then, and yet
ou look
AIN? They leave her out of
.
125
Booth Tarkington
asked, you can be sure. Theres a very fine young man, a
Mr. Russell, has just come to town, and hes inter
Alice, and hes asked her to go to this dance with him.
Well, Alice cant accept. She cant go with him, though
shed give anything in the world to do it. Do you understand?
The reason she cant is because Henrietta Lamb hasnt
invited her. Do you want to know why Henrietta hasnt
invited her? Its because she knows Alice cant get even,
and because she thinks Alice ought to be snubbed like
this on account of only being the daughter of one of her
grandfathers clerks. I HOPE you understand!
Oh, my, my! he said. OH, my, my!
Thats your sweet old employer
tauntingly. Thats your dear
Alice has been left out of a good many smaller things, like
big dinners and little dances, but this is just the same as
serving her notice that shes out of everything! And its all
done by your dear
Look here! Adams exclaimed. I dont want to hear
any more of that! Y
everything his grandchildren do, I guess! He probably
doesnt know a thing about it. You dont suppose hes
troubling HIS head over
But she burst out at him passionately. Suppose you
trouble YOUR head about it! Youd better
Youd better
into a miserable old maid!
Shes still young and she has a chance for happiness,
if she had a father that didnt bring a millstone to hang
around her neck, instead of what he ought to give her!
You just wait till you die and God asks you what you had
in your breast instead of a heart!
Oh, my, my! he groaned. Whats my heart got to do
with it?
Nothing! You havent got one or youd give her what
she needed.
Am I asking anything you CANT do? Y
you know Im not!
, unless you want to see your child just dry up
, grand old
, kind, grand old Mister Lamb!
ou cant hold him r
, his wife cried,
esponsible for
, Virgil Adams!
ou know better;
ested in
126
Alice Adams
At this he sat suddenly rigid, his troubled hands
ceasing to rub his knees; and he looked at her fixedly.
Now, tell me, he said, slowly. Just what ARE you
asking?
You know! she sobbed.
You mean youve broken your word never to speak of
THAT to me again?
What do I care for my word? she cried, and, sinking
to the floor at his feet, rocked herself back and forth
there. Do you suppose Ill let my word keep me from
struggling for a little happiness for my children? It wont,
I tell you; it wont! Ill struggle for that till I die! I will, till
I die till I die!
He rubbed his head now instead of his knees, and,
shaking all over, he got up and began with uncertain steps
to pace the floor.
Hell, hell, hell! he said. Ive got to go thr
again!
Yes, you have! she sobbed. T
Yes; thats what you been after all the time I was
getting well.
Yes, I have, and Ill keep on till I die!
A fine wife for a man, he said. Beggin a man to be
a dirty dog!
No! To be a MAN and Ill keep on till I die!
Adams again fell back upon his last solace: he walked,
half staggering, up and down the room, swearing in a
rhythmic repetition.
His wife had repetitions of her own, and she kept at
them in a voice that rose to a higher and higher pitch, like
the sound of an old well-pump. Till I die! Till I die! Till
I DIE!
She ended in a scream; and Alice, coming up the stairs,
thanked heaven that Russell had gone. She ran to her
fathers door and went in.
Adams looked at her
convulsive figur
here?
e on the floor
, and gesticulated shakily at the
ill I die.
. Can you get her out of
ough THAT
127
Booth Tarkington
Alice helped Mrs. Adams to her feet; and the stricken
woman threw her ar
Get her out! Adams said, harshly; then cried, Wait!
Alice, moving toward the door, halted, and looked at
him blankly, over her mothers shoulder. What is it, papa?
He stretched out his arm and pointed at her
she says you have a mean life, Alice.
No, papa.
Mrs. Adams turned in her daughters arms. Do you
hear her lie? Couldnt you be as brave as she is, Virgil?
Are you lying, Alice? he asked. Do you have a mean
time?
No, papa.
He came toward her
like this dance now is that so hard to bear?
Alice tried to say, No, papa, again, but she couldnt.
Suddenly and in spite of herself she began to cry.
Do you hear her? his wife sobbed. Now do you
He waved at them fiercely. Get out of here! he said.
Both of you! Get out of here!
As they went, he dropped in his chair and bent far
forward, so that his haggard face was concealed from
them. Then, as Alice closed the door, he began to rub his
knees again, muttering, Oh, my, my! OH, my, my!
ms passionately about her daughter.
. She says
. Look at me! he said. Things
Chapter XIV
There shone a jovial sun overhead on the appointed
day after tomorrow; a day not cool yet of a temperature
friendly to walkers; and the air
had so much life in it that it seemed to sparkle. T
Russell this was a day like a gay companion who pleased
him well; but the gay companion at his side pleased him
even better
smiled her wistfulest, and delighted him with all together.
You look so happy its easy to see your fathers taken
a good tur
128
. She looked her pr
n, he told her.
, powder
ettiest, chatter
ed with sunshine,
o Arthur
ed her wittiest,
Alice Adams
Yes; he has this afternoon, at least, she said. I might
have other reasons for looking cheerful, though.
For instance?
Exactly! she said, giving him a sweet look just enough
mocked by her laughter
Well, go on, he begged.
Isnt it expected? she asked.
Of you, you mean?
No, she returned. For you, I mean!
In this style, which uses a word for any meaning that
quick look and colourful gesture care to endow it with,
she was an expert; and she carried it merrily on, leaving
him at liberty (one of the great values of the style) to
choose as he would how much or how little she meant.
He was content to supply mere cues, for although he had
little coquetry of his own, he had lately begun to find that
the only interesting moments in his life were those during
which Alice Adams coquetted with him. Happily, these
obliging moments extended themselves to cover all the
time he spent with her. However serious she might seem,
whatever appeared to be her topic, all was thou-and-I.
He planned for more of it, seeing otherwise a dull
evening ahead; and reverted, afterwhile, to a forbidden
subject. About that dance at Miss Lambs since your
fathers so much better
She flushed a little. Now, now! she chided him. We
agreed not to say any more about that.
Yes, but since he IS better
Alice shook her head. He wont be better tomorrow.
He always has a bad day after a good one especially after
such a good one as this is.
But if this time it should be different, Russell persisted;
wouldnt you be willing to come if hes better by tomorrow evening? Why not wait and decide at the last
minute?
She waved her hands airily. What a pother! she cried.
What does it matter whether poor little Alice Adams goes
to a dance or not?
. For instance!
129
Booth Tarkington
Well, I thought Id made it clear that it looks fairly
bleak to me if you dont go.
Oh, yes! she jeered.
Its the simple truth, he insisted. I dont care a great
deal about dances these days; and if you arent going to
be there
You could stay away, she suggested. Y
Unfortunately, I cant. Im afraid Im supposed to be
the excuse. Miss Lamb, in her capacity as a friend of my
relatives
Oh, shes giving it for YOU! I see! On Mildreds
account you mean?
At that his face showed an incr
suppose just on account of my being a cousin of Mildreds
and of
Of course! Y
see that you have somebody to dance with besides Miss
Dowling, poor man!
But what I want somebody to see is that I dance with
you! And perhaps your father
Wait! she said, fr
not to tell him something of import; then, seeming to
decide affirmatively, she asked: W
know the truth about it?
If it isnt too unflattering.
It hasnt anything to do with you at all, she said. Of
course Id like to go with you and to dance with you
though you dont seem to realize that you wouldnt be
permitted much time with me.
Oh, yes, I
Never mind! she laughed. Of course you wouldnt.
But even if papa should be better tomorrow, I doubt if Id
go. In fact, I know I wouldnt. Theres another reason
besides papa.
Is there?
Yes. The truth is, I dont get on with Henrietta Lamb.
As a matter of fact, I dislike her
she dislikes me. I should never think of asking her to
oull have a beautiful time, too. Henriettall
owning as if she debated whether or
ould you r
, and of course that means
ou wouldnt!
ease of colour
eally like to
. I
130
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