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Файл:Элис Эдамс. Учебное пособие – книга для чтения на английском языке
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Alice Adams
you think shed come and tell me? Never a word to
anybody! The little thing was too proud! She was the same
way about school. The teachers had to tell me when she
took a prize; shed bring it home and keep it in her room
without a word about it to her father and mother
Walter was just the other way. W
Mrs. Adams checked herself, though she increased the
volume of her laughter
I expect you know how mothers ARE, though, Mr
Give us a chance and well talk about our children forever!
Alice would feel terribly if she knew how Ive been going
on about her to you.
In this Mrs. Adams was right, though she did not
herself suspect it, and upon an almost inaudible word or
two from him she went on with her topic. Of course my
excuse is that few mothers have a daughter like Alice. I
suppose we all think the same way about our children,
but SOME of us must be right when we feel weve got the
best. Dont you think so?
Yes. Yes, indeed.
Im sure I am! she laughed. Ill let the others speak
for themselves. She paused reflectively. No; I think a
mother knows when shes got a treasure in her family. If
she HASNT got one, shell pretend she has, maybe; but
if she has, she knows it.
always been what people call the joy of the household
always cheerful, no matter what went wrong, and
always ready to smooth things over with some bright,
witty saying. Y
this little chat about her shed just be furious with me
but she IS such a dear child! You wont tell her
you?
No, he said, and again applied the handkerchief to
his forehead for an instant. No, Ill He paused, and
finished lamely: Ill not tell her
Thus reassured, Mrs. Adams set before him some details
of her daughters popularity at sixteen, dwelling upon
Alices impartiality among her young suitors: She never
ou must be sur
. How silly of me! she exclaimed.
I certainly know I have. Shes
alter would But here
e not to TELL weve had
.
. Now,
. Russell.
, will
211
Booth Tarkington
could BEAR to hurt their feelings, and always treated all of
them just alike. About half a dozen of them were just
BOUND to marry her! Naturally, her father and I considered
any such idea ridiculous; she was too young, of course.
Thus the mother went on with her biographical
sketches, while the pale young man sat facing her under
the hard overhead light of a white globe, set to the
ceiling; and listened without interrupting. She was glad
to have the chance to tell him a few things about Alice
he might not have guessed for himself, and, indeed, she
had planned to find such an opportunity, if she could;
but this was getting to be altogether too much of one,
she felt. As time passed, she was like an actor who
must improvise to keep the audience from perceiving
that his fellow-players have missed their cues; but her
anxiety was not betrayed to the still listener; she had a
valiant soul.
Alice, meanwhile, had arranged her little roses on the
table in as many ways, probably, as there were blossoms;
and she was still at it when her father arrived in the
dining-room by way of the back stairs and the kitchen.
Its pulled out again, he said. But I guess theres no
help for it now; its too late, and anyway it lets some air
into me when it bulges. I can sit sos it wont be noticed
much, I expect. Isnt it time you quit bothering about the
looks of the table? Y
about half an hour now, and I had the idea he came on
your account, not hers. Hadnt you better go and
Just a minute. Alice said, piteously. Do YOU think it
looks all right?
The flowers? Fine! Hadnt you better leave
they are, though?
Just a minute, she begged again. Just ONE minute,
papa! And she exchanged a rose in front of Russells plate
for one that seemed to her a little larger.
You better come on, Adams said, moving to the door.
Just ONE more second, papa. She shook her head,
lamenting. Oh, I wish wed rented some silver!
our mothers been talking to him
em the way
212
Alice Adams
Why?
Because so much of the plating has rubbed off a lot
of it. JUST a second, papa. And as she spoke she hastily
went round the table, gathering the knives and forks and
spoons that she thought had their plating best preserved,
and exchanging them for more damaged pieces at Russells
place. There! she sighed, finally.
Now Ill come. But at the door she paused to look
back dubiously, over her shoulder.
Whats the matter now?
The roses. I believe after all I shouldnt have tried that
vine effect; I ought to have kept them in water
vase. Its so hot, they already begin to look a little wilted,
out on the dry tablecloth like that. I believe Ill
Why, look here, Alice! he remonstrated, as she seemed
disposed to turn back. Everythingll burn up on the stove
if you keep on
Oh, well, she said, the vase was terribly ugly; I cant
do any better
door
-knob she paused. No, papa. We mustnt go in by
this door
As if what?
Never mind, she said. Lets go the other way.
I dont see what difference it makes, he grumbled,
but nevertheless followed her through the kitchen, and up
the back stairs then through the upper hallway. At the top
of the front stairs she paused for a moment, drawing a
deep breath; and then, before her fathers puzzled eyes, a
transfor
but now she threw her head back: the shoulders
straightened, and the lashes lifted over sparkling eyes;
vivacity came to her whole body in a flash; and she
tripped down the steps, with her pretty hands rising in
time to the lilting little tune she had begun to hum.
extended itself at full arms length toward Russell, and
continued to be extended until it reached his own hand as
mation came upon her.
Her shoulders, like her eyelids, had been drooping,
At the foot of the stairs, one of those pretty hands
. Well go in. But with her hand on the
. It might look as if
, in the
213
Booth Tarkington
he came to meet her
To be so late coming down!
And papa, too I think you know each other
Her father was advancing toward the young man,
expecting to shake hands with him, but Alice stood between
them, and Russell, a little flushed, bowed to him gravely
over her shoulder, without looking at him; wher
Adams, slightly disconcerted, put his hands in his pockets
and turned to his wife.
I guess dinners moren ready, he said. W
sit down.
But she shook her head at him fier
whispered.
What for? For W
No; he cant be coming, she returned, hurriedly, and
again warned him by a shake of her head. Be quiet!
Oh, well he muttered.
Sit down!
He was thoroughly mystified, but obeyed her gesture
and went to the r
where he sat down, and, with an expression of meek
inquiry, awaited events.
Meanwhile, Alice prattled on: Its really not a fault of
mine, being tardy. The shameful truth is I was trying to
hurry papa. Hes incorrigible: he stays so late at his
terrible old factory terrible new factory, I should say. I
hope you dont HA
such fearful weather! Im nearly dying of the heat, myself,
so you have a fellow-suf
it we always bear things better if we think other people
have to stand them, too? And she added, with an excited
laugh: SILL
Gertrude had just made her entrance from the diningroom, bearing a tray. She came slowly, with an air of
resentment; and her skirt still needed adjusting, while her
lower jaw moved at intervals, though not now upon any
substance, but reminiscently, of habit. She halted before
Adams, facing him.
Y of us, dont you think?
. How terrible of me! she exclaimed.
.
eupon
e better go
cely, W
alter?
ocking-chair in the opposite cor
TE us for making you dine with us in
ferer
, if that pleases you. Why is
ait! she
ner,
214
Alice Adams
He looked plaintive. What you want o me? he asked.
For response, she extended the tray toward him with a
gesture of indifference; but he still appeared to be puzzled.
What in the world ? he began, then caught his wifes eye,
and had presence of mind enough to take a damp and plastic
sandwich from the tray. W
moment later, as he fulfilled this pr
intense dislike came upon his features, and he would have
returned the sandwich to Gertrude. However, as she had
crossed the room to Mrs. Adams he checked the gesture, and
sat helplessly, with the sandwich in his hand. He made
another effort to get rid of it as the waitress passed him, on
her way back to the dining-room, but she appeared not to
observe him, and he continued to be troubled by it.
Alice was a loyal daughter. These are delicious, mama,
she said; and tur
should have taken one. T
you what ought to go with it, of course, but
She was interrupted by the second entrance of Gertrude,
who announced, Dinner serve, and retired from view.
Well, well! Adams said, rising fr
relief. Thats good! Lets go see if we can eat it. And as
the little group moved toward the open door of the diningroom he disposed of his sandwich by dropping it in the
empty fireplace.
Alice, glancing back over her shoulder, was the only
one who saw him, and she shuddered in spite of herself.
Then, seeing that he looked at her entreatingly, as if he
wanted to explain that he was doing the best he could,
she smiled upon him sunnily, and began to chatter to
Russell again.
ning to Russell, Y
ell, Ill TR
oo bad we couldnt have of
Y one, he said, but a
omise, an expr
ou missed it; you
om his chair
ession of
fered
, with
Chapter XXII
Alice kept her sprightly chatter going when they sat
down, though the temperature of the room and the sight
of hot soup might have discouraged a less determined
215
Booth Tarkington
gayety. Mor
the heat: the expiring roses expressed not beauty but
pathos, and what faint odour they exhaled was no rival to
the lusty emanations of the Brussels sprouts; at the head
of the table, Adams, sitting low in his chair
be unable to flatten the uprising wave of his starched
bosom; and Gertrudes manner and expression were of a
recognizable hostility during the long period of vain waiting
for the cups of soup to be emptied. Only Mrs. Adams
made any progress in this direction; the others merely
feinting, now and then lifting their spoons as if they
intended to do something with them.
Alices talk was little more than cheerful sound, but, to
fill a desolate interval, served its purpose; and her mother
supported her with ever-faithful cooings of applausive
laughter
Yesterday it was cool angels had char
day they had an engagement somewhere else, so the devil
saw his chance and started to move the equator to the
North Pole; but by the time he got half-way, he thought of
something else he wanted to do, and went off; and left the
equator here, right on top of US! I wish hed come back
and get it!
Why, Alice dear! her mother cried, fondly. What an
imagination! Not a very pious one, Im afraid Mr. Russell
might think, though! Here she gave Gertrude a hidden
signal to remove the soup; but, as there was no response,
she had to make the signal more conspicuous. Gertrude
was leaning against the wall, her chin moving like a slow
pendulum, her streaked eyes fixed mutinously upon Russell.
Mrs. Adams nodded several times, increasing the emphasis
of her gesture, while Alice talked briskly; but the brooding
waitress continued to brood. A faint snap of the fingers
failed to disturb her; nor was a covert hissing whisper of
avail, and Mrs. Adams was beginning to show signs of
strain when her daughter relieved her.
Imagine our trying to eat anything so hot as soup on
a night like this! Alice laughed. What COULD have been
eover, there wer
. What a funny thing weather is! the girl ran on.
e details as unpropitious as
, appear
ge of it and to-
ed to
216
Alice Adams
in the cooks mind not to give us something iced and
jellied instead? Of course its because shes equatorial,
herself, originally, and only feels at home when Mr
moves it north. She looked round at Gertrude, who stood
behind her
Thus directly addressed, Gertrude yielded her attention,
though unwillingly, and as if she decided only by a hairs
weight not to r
herself in slow motion; but overlooked the supposed head
of the table, seeming to be unaware of the sweltering little
man who sat there. As she disappeared toward the kitchen
with but three of the cups upon her tray he turned to look
plaintively after her
Here! he said, in a low voice. Here, you!
What is it, Virgil? his wife asked.
Whats her name?
Mrs. Adams gave him a glance of sudden panic, and,
seeing that the guest of the evening was not looking at
her, but down at the white cloth before him, she fr
hard, and shook her head.
Unfortunately Alice was not observing her mother
asked, innocently: Whats whose name, papa?
Why, this young darky woman, he explained. She
left mine.
Never mind, Alice laughed. Theres hope for you,
papa. She hasnt gone forever!
I dont know about that, he said, not content with
this impulsive assurance. She LOOKED like she is. And
his remark, considered as a prediction, had begun to seem
warranted before Gertrudes return with china preliminary
to the next stage of the banquet.
Alice proved herself equal to the long gap, and rattled
on through it with a spirit richly justifying her mothers
praise of her as always ready to smooth things over; for
here was mor
smoothed over her father and mother for Russell; and she
smoothed over him for them, though he did not know it,
and remained unawar
. Do take this dr
evolt, instead. However
, and ventur
e than long delay to be smoothed over
e of what he owed her
eadful soup away!
, she finally set
ed an attempt to r
. W
. Satan
ecall her.
owned
, and
. She
ith all this,
217
Booth Tarkington
throughout her prattlings, the girls bright eyes kept seeking
his with an eager gayety, which but little veiled both
interrogation and entreaty as if she asked: Is it too
much for you? Cant you bear it? W
it? I would for you. W
right?
He looked at her but fleetingly, and seemed to suffer
from the heat, in spite of every manly effort not to wipe his
brow too often. His colour
Alice and her father, had departed, leaving him again
moistly pallid; a condition arising from discomfort, no
doubt, but, considered as a decoration, almost poetically
becoming to him. Not less becoming was the faint, kindly
smile, which showed his wish to express amusement and
approval; and yet it was a smile rather strained and plaintive,
as if he, like Adams, could only do the best he could.
He pleased Adams, who thought him a fine young
man, and decidedly the quietest that Alice had ever shown
to her family. In her fathers opinion this was no small
merit; and it was to Russells credit, too, that he showed
embarrassment upon this first intimate presentation; here
was an applicant with both r
he seems to be first rate a mighty fine young man, Adams
thought; and, prompted by no wish to part from Alice but
by reminiscences of apparent candidates less pleasing, he
added, At last!
Alices liveliness never flagged. Her smoothing over of
things was an almost continuous performance, and had to
be. Yet, while she chatter
courses, the questions she asked herself were as continuous
as the performance, and as poignant as what her eyes
seemed to be asking Russell. Why had she not prevailed
over her mothers fear of being skimpy?
indeed, as her mother said she looked, in a trance?
above all: What was the matter with HIM? What had
happened? For she told herself with painful humour that
something even worse than this dinner must be the matter
with him.
ont you give me a sign that its all
, after rising when he greeted
eserve and modesty. So far,
ed through the hot and heavy
ont you PLEASE bear
Had she been,
But
218
Alice Adams
The small room, suffocated with the odour of boiled
sprouts, grew hotter and hotter as more and more food
appeared, slowly borne in, between deathly long waits, by
the resentful, loud-breathing Gertrude. And while Alice
still sought Russells glance, and read the look upon his
face a dozen different ways, fearing all of them; and while
the straggling little flowers died upon the stained cloth,
she felt her heart grow as heavy as the food, and wondered
that it did not die like the roses.
With the arrival of coffee, the host bestirred himself to
make known a hospitable regret, By George! he said. I
meant to buy some cigars. He addressed himself
apologetically to the guest. I dont know what I was
thinking about, to forget to bring some home with me. I
dont use em myself unless somebody hands me one,
you might say. Ive always been a pipe-smoker
simple, but I ought to remembered for kind of an occasion
like this.
Not at all, Russell said. Im not smoking at all lately;
but when I do, Im like you, and smoke a pipe.
Alice started, remembering what she had told him when
he overtook her on her way from the tobacconists; but,
after a moment, looking at him, she decided that he must
have forgotten it. If he had remembered, she thought, he
could not have helped glancing at her. On the contrary, he
seemed more at ease, just then, than he had since they sat
down, for he was favouring her father with a thoughtful
attention as Adams responded to the introduction of a
mans topic into the conversation at last. Well, Mr. Russell,
I guess youre right, at that. I dont say but what cigars may
be all right for a man that can afford em, if he likes em
better than a pipe, but you take a good old pipe now
He continued, and was getting well into the eulogium
customarily provoked by this theme, when there came an
interruption: the door-bell rang, and he paused inquiringly,
rather surprised.
Mrs. Adams spoke to Gertrude in an undertone:
Just say,
Not at home.
, pure and
219
Booth Tarkington
What?
If its callers, just say were not at home.
Gertrude spoke out fr
tend you
She seemed both incredulous and affronted, but Mrs.
Adams persisted, though somewhat appr
Hurry uh please. Just say were not at home if you
please.
Again Gertrude obviously hesitated between compliance
and revolt, and again the meeker course fortunately prevailed
with her
then departed. When she came back she said,
He say he wait.
But I told you to tell anybody we were not at home,
Mrs. Adams returned. Who is it?
Say he name Mr. Law.
We dont know any Mr
Yesm; he know you. Say he anxious to speak Mr.
Adams. Say he wait.
Tell him Mr. Adams is engaged.
Hold on a minute, Adams intervened. Law? No. I
dont know any Mr. Law. You sur
right?
Say he name Law, Gertrude replied, looking at the
ceiling to express her fatigue. Law.
I know.
Adams fr
Law, Gertrude repeated.
know.
Whats he look like?
He aint much, she said.
white moustache, nice eye-glasses.
Its Charley Lohr! Adams exclaimed. Ill go see what
he wants.
But, Virgil, his wife remonstrated, do finish your
coffee; he might stay all evening. Maybe hes come to call.
Adams laughed. He isnt much of a caller
Dont worry: Ill take him up to my room. And turning
front do fer you?
. She gave Mrs. Adams a star
owned. Law, he said. W
eely: You mean you astin me to
ehensively. Y
e, grimly derisive,
. Law.
e you got the name
S all he tell me;
asnt it maybe Lohr?
S all he tell me;
Bout you age; got brustly
, I expect.
es.
s all
s all I
220
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