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书虫3级《小镇传奇》1. 舞会

所属教程:书虫3级 小镇传奇

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2022年07月21日

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1. THE DANCE

Edward Henry Machin first saw daylight on the 27th of May, 1867, in Brougham Street in Bursley, the oldest of the Five Towns. Brougham Street goes down a hill to the canal, and contains a number of potbanks or pottery factories as well as some small houses. The rent for one of these houses was not high – only about twenty-three pence a week.

Edward Henry's mother (his father was dead) lived by making and washing clothes for fine ladies. She did not often laugh, and if you tried to argue with her, you never got very far. She was a woman of few words, and saved time every day by calling her son Denry, instead of Edward Henry.

Denry did not work hard at school, and boys who were lazy and not very clever usually just found jobs in the potbanks. Luckily, at the age of twelve, he won a place at the best school in Bursley. It happened like this. On the second day of the examination, Denry arrived a little early. As he walked around the examination room, he came to the teacher's desk, where he saw a list of names with the marks for the first day of the examination. The highest possible mark was thirty, but next to his name he saw the number 7. The numbers were written in pencil, and the pencil was on the desk. He picked it up, looked around the empty room, and at the door, and then wrote a 2 in front of the 7. Of course, this was not honest, but how many truly honest schoolboys are there? Denry was no worse than most of them.

Denry looked around the empty room, and then wrote a 2 in front of the 7.

Denry did not do well at his new school, but he did not do badly either – and he was usually very pleased with himself. As he grew older, he continued to think well of himself. He knew that he was made for better things than a job in the potbanks, working with his hands.

*  *  *

When Denry was sixteen, his mother made a very fine dress for Mr Duncalf's sister. Mr Duncalf was the most important lawyer in Bursley. His sister was grateful to Mrs Machin, and so Denry got a job in Mr Duncalf's office. For several years Denry was happy. Then he met the Countess.

The Countess of Chell was a very grand lady. Her husband was one of the richest men in the Five Towns and was the new Mayor of Bursley. The mayor and his wife had decided to have a ball and to invite all the most important people in the town. There were thirty-five thousand people in Bursley, and at least two thousand of these thought that they were important. But only two hundred could dance in the Town Hall.

Three weeks and three days before the ball, Denry was sitting, alone, in Mr Duncalf's office when a tall and pretty young woman walked in. Before Denry could hide the newspaper he was reading, she said 'Good morning' in a very friendly way.

Good morning, madam,' answered Denry.

Is Mr Duncalf in?'

No, madam. He's at the Town Hall.'

Well, just tell him I called.'

Of course, madam. Nothing I can do?'

She was already turning away, but she turned back and gave him a smile. 'Could you give him this list? The other lists are coming to him as well. The invitations must go out by Wednesday.'

She was gone. It was the first time Denry had seen the Countess, and she was even more beautiful than her photographs. And so easy to talk to! He started looking at her list of names, and he had a fantastic idea. He could go to the ball himself. The Countess had made a list of people to invite, but she had asked four or five other people for lists as well. She wanted Mr Duncalf to put the lists together and send the invitations. Of course the work was given to Denry, so it was easy to add E. H. Machin to the list. On Wednesday Denry received his invitation, and on Thursday he accepted it.

*  *  *

Denry had never been to a ball. He couldn't dance and he didn't have an evening suit. All the rich young men of Bursley bought their suits at Shillitoe's, so two days later Denry stepped into Shillitoe's shop. 'I want you to make me an evening suit,' he said to young Shillitoe.

Shillitoe knew Denry and he also knew that Denry did not have enough money to pay for a suit. He replied that he was too busy. 'so you're going to the ball, are you?' he asked, surprised.

Yes,' said Denry, 'are you?'

Shillitoe shook his head. 'I've no time for balls.'

Denry looked around the shop, and at the door, and then said, 'I can get you an invitation if you like.'

Denry got his suit, and two years to pay for it.

One of the best dancing teachers in Bursley was Miss Ruth Earp. Denry learned to dance quickly, but he paid nothing for his lessons. Miss Earp also got an invitation to the ball.

Miss Earp was not beautiful, but she was young and a very good dancer, and at his last lesson Denry asked, 'Will you give me the first dance at the ball?'

Ruth Earp thought for a minute, and then said yes.

*  *  *

It took Denry two hours to get ready for the ball, and he arrived a little late. He walked up the beautiful double staircase into the ballroom and looked for Ruth. When he found her, he asked, 'What about that first dance?'

It's nearly finished,' she answered, coldly.

I'm awfully sorry. Can we finish it?'

No!' she said, and walked away.

She was angry with him, and Denry did not know what to say. But she was only at the ball, he thought, because he had got her invitation for her!

He joined a group of young men who were watching the dancing. Harold Etches, who was one of the richest young men in the Five Towns, was there, with two or three of the Swetnam boys, and Shillitoe. At first Denry did not say anything. They all knew, of course, that he was Mr Duncalf's office worker and the son of a washer-woman, but all young men – rich or poor – look the same in evening suits.

The conversation in the group was about the Countess. All the important older men in the town were standing around her, but she was not dancing. Perhaps she didn't want to, but perhaps they were all afraid to ask.

Why doesn't someone ask her to dance?' asked Denry suddenly.

Why doesn't someone ask her to dance?' asked Denry.

Why don't you?' said Shillitoe. 'It's a free country.'

Perhaps I will,' Denry said.

Harold Etches looked at Denry for a moment. 'You won't ask her,' he said. Then he smiled, not very pleasantly. 'I'll give you five pounds if you do.'

All right,' said Denry, and quickly walked away.

She can't eat me! She can't eat me!' he said to himself as he walked towards the Countess. The men were still around her and one of them, Denry saw, was Mr Duncalf. Denry was sorry about this because Mr Duncalf didn't know, of course, that Denry was coming to the ball.

Suddenly he found himself standing in front of the Countess, and immediately he forgot all the fine, polite words that Ruth Earp had taught him.

Could I have this dance with you?' he said quickly, but smiling and showing his teeth. ('I've won that fiver, Mr Etches!' he said to himself.)

The Countess had to accept. She could see that everyone else was afraid to ask – and she did want to dance! So they danced together, and all the men of Bursley watched with open mouths. Denry managed to dance well most of the time, although once they nearly hit two other dancers. When the music stopped, the Countess looked at Denry and saw that he was really just a boy.

You dance well!' she said, smiling almost like an aunt.

Do I?' he smiled back. 'It's the first time I've ever danced, except in a lesson.'

Really? You pick things up easily, I suppose.'

Yes,' he said. 'Do you?'

Something in Denry's question amused the Countess very much. She put her head back and laughed, and everybody in the room could see that Denry had made the Countess laugh. She was still laughing, and so was he, when he thanked her for the dance.

As she turned away, Denry saw that she had dropped her fan. Quickly, he picked it up and put it in his pocket. Then he walked back to the group of young men.

Here you are!' said Harold Etches, giving Denry a five-pound note.

Denry just smiled, and put the note in his pocket. He could see in the faces of the young men around him that he was suddenly famous. He was no longer just the son of a washer-woman; he was the man who had first danced with the Countess.

Just the same as dancing with any other woman,' he said, when Shillitoe asked him what it was like.

What was she laughing at?' someone asked.

Ah!' said Denry. 'I can't tell you that.'

This was not the last time he was asked that question, but he always refused to answer. Many young ladies wanted to dance with him now, after his success with the Countess. Later, he saw Ruth Earp again and danced with her, and with her young friend, Nellie. But he said nothing at all about the Countess's fan in his pocket.

At the end of the ball, just as the Countess was leaving, Denry pushed through the crowd and held out her fan.

I've just picked it up,' he said to the Countess.

Oh! Thank you so much!' she said. Then she smiled. 'You do pick things up easily, don't you?'

You do pick things up easily, don't you?' said the Countess.

And both Denry and the Countess laughed and laughed, but nobody in Bursley knew why.

Denry walked home that night in a dream, thinking about the Countess, Ruth Earp and Nellie, and about the five-pound note in his pocket – more than he got for a month's work in Mr Duncalf's office.

He was a happy man. But trouble was waiting for him.

* * *

canal n. a kind of river, made by people, where boats can travel 运河

contain v. to have something inside, or have something as a part 容纳

pottery n. pots, dishes, plates etc made with clay and baked in a very hot fire 陶瓷

argue v. to disagree with someone in words, often in an angry way 争执,争吵

examination n. a test of what you know or can do 考试

lawyer n. someone whose job is helping people with the law 律师

grateful adj. feeling that you want to thank someone because of something kind that they have done 感谢的

Town Hall a building with offices for the Council and rooms for meetings, dances etc 镇公所,市政厅

fantastic adj. extremely good; attractive, enjoyable etc 极好的

evening suit formal clothes that people wear for formal meals, parties, and social events in the evening 晚礼服

staircase n. a set of stairs inside a building with its supports and the side parts that you hold on to (包括扶手、栏杆等的)楼梯

ballroom n. a very large room used for dancing on formal occasions(正式场合所用的)大舞厅,舞场

awfully adv. very 很

conversation n. an informal talk in which people exchange news, feelings, and thoughts 交谈,会话

manage v. to succeed in doing something difficult, especially after trying very hard 设法完成;努力完成

pick up to learn quickly; take up by hand 迅速学会;捡起,拾起

amuse v. make (somebody) laugh 使发笑

1. 舞会

爱德华·亨利·梅钦第一次看见这个世界是在1867年5月27日,他出生于五镇中最古老的一个镇——伯斯利镇的布鲁厄姆街。布鲁厄姆街依山而下,一直延伸到运河。街上有几家陶瓷厂以及一些小房子。这些房子的租金不高——一周只需23便士左右。

爱德华·亨利的母亲(他的父亲已经去世)靠给时髦贵妇缝制和清洗衣服为生。她不怎么爱笑,即使是想和她争吵,也休想吵得起来。她是个沉默寡言的人,管儿子叫邓瑞,而不是爱德华·亨利,这样每天就节约点时间。

邓瑞在学校不好好念书。那些既懒惰又不算太聪明的男孩们一般会在陶瓷厂找份活儿干。幸运的是,邓瑞在12岁那年进了伯斯利当地最好的一所学校。事情是这样的:考试的第二天,邓瑞到得比较早,就在考场里四处溜达,然后就走到了讲台那儿。讲台上有一份名单,写着学生的名字和第一天的考试成绩。满分是30分,可他名字后的分数只有7分。分数是用铅笔写的,而铅笔就在讲台上。他拿起铅笔,扫了眼空荡荡的考场,又看了看门口,然后在7前面加了一个2。这样做当然不够诚实,但又有几个真正诚实的学生呢?邓瑞也不比他们中的大多数人坏到哪儿去。

到了新学校,邓瑞表现不佳,但也不算太坏——而且大多数时候他对自己相当满意。随着年龄的增长,邓瑞是依旧自我感觉良好。他相信自己生来便是为了干某种更好的事业,而不是在陶瓷厂,用双手干活谋食。

*  *  *

邓瑞16岁时,他母亲为邓卡夫先生的妹妹做了一条非常漂亮的裙子。邓卡夫先生是伯斯利声望最高的律师。他妹妹对梅钦太太十分感谢,于是邓瑞在邓卡夫先生的事务所谋到了一个职位。接下来好几年邓瑞过得都很开心。直到后来他遇见了伯爵夫人。

切尔伯爵夫人是一位名门贵妇。她丈夫不仅富甲五镇,而且还是伯斯利的新任镇长。镇长夫妇打算举办一场舞会,邀请镇上所有的头面人物参加。伯斯利有三万五千人,其中至少两千人都觉得自己是个人物,但只有两百人能获邀到镇公所跳舞。

离舞会还有三周零三天,邓瑞一个人坐在邓卡夫先生的事务所里。这时一位年轻漂亮、身材高挑的女士走了进来。邓瑞还没来得及藏起自己正在看的报纸,那位女士就很友好地跟他道了声“早上好”。

“早上好,夫人。”邓瑞应道。

“邓卡夫先生在吗?”

“不在,夫人。他在镇公所。”

“好吧,就跟他说我来过了。”

“好的,夫人。还有什么能为您效劳的吗?”

她已经转身要走了,但听他这么说又转过头来,冲他一笑,说:“你能把这份名单给他吗?其他的名单也会很快送来。请柬必须在周三前寄出去。”

她走了。这是邓瑞第一次见到伯爵夫人,她本人甚至比照片还要漂亮,而且这么平易近人!他开始看那份名单,脑子里蹦出一个绝妙的想法。他自己也能去参加舞会。伯爵夫人已定好了一份受邀人员名单,但她又要再加上另外四五个人的名单。她要邓卡夫先生把这些名单合并在一起,然后寄出请柬。当然这项工作交给了邓瑞,因此邓瑞毫不费力地就把E. H. 梅钦加在了名单上。周三邓瑞接到请柬,周四就回复说他接受了邀请。

*  *  *

邓瑞从未参加过舞会。他既不会跳舞,也没有晚礼服。伯斯利有钱的年轻人都在希利托家买礼服,因此两天后,邓瑞迈进了希利托的店铺。“我想要你为我做一套晚礼服。”他对年轻的希利托说。

希利托认识邓瑞,也知道他没有足够的钱来买晚礼服,便回答说自己太忙了。“这么说你是要去参加舞会了,是吗?”他惊讶地问。

“是的。”邓瑞说,“你去吗?”

希利托摇摇头。“我可没那闲工夫去参加什么舞会。”

邓瑞扫了一眼店铺,又看了看门口,接着说:“你要是想去,我能帮你搞到一张请柬。”

邓瑞得到了晚礼服,费用两年内付清。

露丝·厄普小姐是伯斯利最好的舞蹈老师之一。邓瑞学跳舞学得很快,但他一分钱学费也没花。厄普小姐也得到了一张舞会的请柬。

厄普小姐不算漂亮,可她人年轻,舞又跳得很好。最后一节课上邓瑞问她:“你能在舞会上陪我跳第一支舞吗?”

露丝·厄普想了一会儿,然后答应了。

*  *  *

邓瑞花了两个小时才为舞会打扮完毕,迟了一些到会场。他沿着华丽的双重楼梯走进大舞厅,寻找露丝。他一找到她,就问:“跟我跳第一支舞怎么样?”

“已经快结束了。”她冷冰冰地回答。

“我很抱歉。我们可以跳完这曲吗?”

“不行!”她说,然后走开了。

她在生邓瑞的气,邓瑞不知道说什么好。可是他心想,她能来到舞会,完全是因为自己给她弄到了请柬啊!

他和一群年轻人一起观舞。哈罗德·埃切斯—五镇最富有的年轻人之一—和两三个斯韦特纳姆家的男孩,以及希利托都在那儿。一开始,邓瑞什么话都没说。他们当然都知道他是邓卡夫先生事务所的职员,一个洗衣妇的儿子。可所有的年轻人——无论贫富——穿上晚礼服后都一个样子。

他们谈的是伯爵夫人。镇上但凡年长些的重要人物都站在伯爵夫人周围,但伯爵夫人却没有跳舞。也许她不想跳舞,又或许没一个人敢邀请她。

“为什么没人请她跳舞呢?”邓瑞突然问。

“你怎么不去?”希利托说,“这是个自由的国家。”

“或许我会的。”邓瑞说。

哈罗德·埃切斯盯着邓瑞看了一会儿。“你不会邀请她。”他说。然后他笑了,那种笑让人不太舒服。“你要是请了,我就给你五英镑。”

“好。”邓瑞说完便快步走开了。

“她不会吃了我!她不会吃了我!”邓瑞一边心中暗想,一边朝伯爵夫人走去。那群人仍然围着伯爵夫人,邓瑞看到邓卡夫先生也在那里。邓瑞有些不好意思,因为邓卡夫先生当然不知道邓瑞会来参加舞会。

突然邓瑞发现自己已站在伯爵夫人面前,露丝·厄普曾教给他的那些文雅礼貌的词儿,他登时全忘了。

“我能跟您跳这支舞吗?”他语速飞快,但没忘记咧嘴微笑。(“那五镑是我的了,埃切斯先生!”邓瑞暗自思量。)

伯爵夫人不得不接受。她看得出没人敢请她跳舞——可她又真的很想跳舞!于是他们就一起跳了一支,伯斯利所有的那些男人都张大嘴巴看着他们。邓瑞大部分时间都跳得不错,只有一次他们差点撞到另一对跳舞的人。音乐停下时,伯爵夫人看着邓瑞,发现他还只不过是个孩子呢。

“你跳得很好!”她说,笑得几乎像姑妈一样。

“真的?”他也笑了,“除了舞蹈课,这是我第一次跳舞。”

“是吗?那我猜你学东西一定很快。”

“是的。”他说,“您呢?”

邓瑞的问题不知哪里让伯爵夫人觉得很有趣。她仰着头哈哈大笑。舞厅里的每个人都看得出邓瑞逗乐了伯爵夫人。邓瑞感谢伯爵夫人能跟他跳舞时,二人一直笑着。

伯爵夫人转身离开时,邓瑞看见她的扇子掉在了地上。他连忙把它捡起来,放进自己口袋里。然后他回到那群年轻人当中。

“给你!”哈罗德·埃切斯说着递给邓瑞一张五英镑的钞票。

邓瑞只是笑了笑,把钱放进口袋。他从周围年轻人的脸上可以看出他现在突然出名了。他不再仅仅是个洗衣妇的儿子,他是第一个跟伯爵夫人跳舞的人。

“其实就跟和其他女人跳舞差不多。”当希利托问他和伯爵夫人跳舞是什么感觉时,他说。

“她在笑什么?”有人问。

“啊!”邓瑞说,“我不能告诉你。”

这不是邓瑞最后一次被问到这个问题,但他总是拒绝问答。在他成功邀请伯爵夫人跳舞之后,很多年轻女士都想和他跳舞。后来,他又看到露丝·厄普,便和她跳了一支,然后又跟她的年轻朋友内莉跳了一支。但他对自己口袋里装着伯爵夫人扇子的事却只字未提。

舞会结束时,伯爵夫人正要离场,邓瑞挤过人群,把扇子递给了她。

“我刚才捡到的。”他对伯爵夫人说。

“哦!太感谢你了!”她说,然后笑了笑,“你确实很擅长捡东西,对吧?”

邓瑞和伯爵夫人笑个不停,但伯斯利谁也不知道他们在笑什么。

那晚邓瑞走回家时仿佛在做梦,他想着伯爵夫人、露丝·厄普、内莉以及口袋里那五英镑——这比他在邓卡夫先生的事务所干一个月挣的还多。

他是个快活的人,但麻烦正在等着他。

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