VOA慢速英语:《保罗事件》第二讲 薇拉·凯瑟著
Today we complete the story "Paul's Case." It was written by Willa Cather. Donna de Sanctis adapted it for VOA Learning English. Here is Kay Gallant with the story.
Paul was a student with a lot of problems. He hatedschool. He didn't like living with his family on CordeliaStreet in the industrial city of Pittsburgh.
Paul wanted to be surrounded by beautiful things. Heloved his part-time job as an usher at the concert hall. He helped people find their seats before the concert.Then he could listen to the music and dream of exciting places.
Paul also spent a lot of time at the local theater. Heknew many of the actors who worked there. He used todo little jobs for them. And they would let him see playsfor free.
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Paul's Case by Willa Cather, Part Two |
Paul had little time left for his studies. So he wasalways in trouble with his teachers. Finally, Paul'steachers complained again to his father. His father tookhim out of school and made him take a job in a largecompany. He would not let Paul go near the concerthall or the theater.
Paul did not like his job as a messenger boy. He beganto plan his escape.
A few weeks later, Paul's boss, Mister Denny, gavePaul a large amount of money to take to the bank. Hetold Paul to hurry because it was Friday afternoon. He said the bank wouldclose soon and would not open again until Monday. At the bank, Paul took themoney out of his pocket. It was five thousand dollars. Paul put the moneyback in his coat pocket. And he walked out of the bank.
He went to the train station and bought a one way ticket for New York City. That afternoon Paul left Pittsburgh forever.
The train traveled slowly through a January snowstorm. The slow movementmade Paul fall asleep. The train whistle blew just as the sun was coming up.Paul awoke, feeling dirty and uncomfortable. He quickly touched his coatpocket. The money was still there. It was not a dream. He really was on hisway to New York City with five thousand dollars in his pocket.
Finally the train pulled into Central Station. Paul walked quickly out of thestation and went immediately to an expensive clothing store for men.
The salesman was very polite when he saw Paul's money. Paul bought twosuits, several white silk shirts, some silk ties of different colors. Then hebought a black tuxedo suit for the theater, a warm winter coat, a red bathrobe, and the finest silk underclothes. He told the salesman he wanted to wear oneof the new suits and the coat immediately. The salesman bowed and smiled.
Paul then took a taxi to another shop where he bought several pairs of leathershoes and boots. Next, he went to the famous jewelry store, Tiffany's, andbought a tie pin and some brushes with silver handles. His last stop was aluggage store where he had all his new clothes put into several expensivesuitcases.
It was a little before one o'clock in the afternoon when Paul arrived at theWaldorf-Astoria hotel. The doorman opened the hotel's glass doors for Pauland the boy entered. The thick carpet under his feet had the colors of athousand jewels. The lights sparkled from crystal chandeliers.
Paul told the hotel clerk he was from Washington, D.C. He said his motherand father were arriving in a few days from Europe. He explained he wasgoing to wait for them at the hotel.
In his dreams Paul had planned this trip to New York a hundred times. Heknew all about the Waldorf-Astoria, one of New York's most expensive hotels. As soon as he entered his rooms, he saw that everything was perfect--exceptfor one thing. He rang the bell and asked for fresh flowers to be sent quickly tohis rooms.
When the flowers came, Paul put them in water and then he took a long, hotbath. He came out the bathroom, wearing the red silk bathrobe. Outside hiswindows, the snow was falling so fast that he could not see across the street. But inside, the air was warm and sweet. He lay down on the sofa in his sittingroom.
It had all been so very simple, he thought. When they had shut him out of thetheater and the concert hall, Paul knew he had to leave. But he was surprisedthat he had not been afraid to go. He could not remember a time when he had not been afraid of something. Even when he was a little boy. But now he feltfree. He wasn't afraid anymore. He watched the snow until he fell asleep.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon when Paul woke up. He spent nearly anhour getting dressed. He looked at himself often in the mirror. His dark bluesuit fit him so well that he did not seem too thin. The white silk shirt and theblue and lilac tie felt cool and smooth under his fingers. He was exactly thekind of boy he had always wanted to be.
Paul put on his new winter coat and went downstairs. He got into a taxi andtold the driver to take him for a ride along Fifth Avenue. Paul stared at theexpensive stores.
As the taxi stopped for a red light Paul noticed a flower shop. Through thewindow, he could see all kinds of flowers. Paul thought the violets, roses, andlilies of the valley looked even more lovely because they were blooming in themiddle of winter.
Paul began to feel hungry so he asked the taxi driver to take him back to thehotel. As he entered the dining room, the music of the hotel orchestra floatedup to greet him. He sat at a table near a window. The fresh flowers, the whitetablecloth, and the colored wine glasses pleased Paul's eyes. The soft music, the low voices of the people around him and the soft popping of champagnecorks whispered into Paul's ears.
This is what everyone wants, he thought. He could not believe he had ever lived in Pittsburgh on CordeliaStreet! That belonged to another time and place. Paullifted the crystal glass of champagne and drank thecold, precious, bubbling wine. He belonged here.
Later that evening, Paul put on his black tuxedo andwent to the opera. He felt perfectly at ease. He had onlyto look at his tuxedo to know he belonged with all theother beautiful people in the opera house. He didn't talkto anyone. But his eyes recorded everything.
Paul's golden days went by without a shadow. Hemade each one as perfect as he could. On the eighthday after his arrival in New York, he found a report in the newspaper about his crime. It said that his fatherhad paid the company the five thousand dollars thatPaul had stolen. It said Paul had been seen in a NewYork hotel. And it said Paul's father was in New York. He was looking for Paul to bring him back to Pittsburgh.
Paul's knees became weak. He sat down in a chair and put his head in hishands. The dream was ended. He had to go back to Cordelia Street. Back to the yellow-papered bedroom, the smell of cooked cabbage, the daily ride towork on the crowded street cars.
Paul poured himself a glass of champagne and drank it quickly. He pouredanother glass and drank that one, too.
Paul had a taxi take him out of the city and into the country. The taxi left himnear some railroad tracks. Paul suddenly remembered all the flowers he hadseen in a shop window his first night in New York. He realized that by nowevery one of those flowers was dead. They had had only one splendidmoment to challenge winter.
A train whistle broke into Paul's thoughts. He watched as the train grew biggerand bigger. As it came closer, Paul's body shook. His lips wore a frightenedsmile. Paul looked nervously around as if someone might be watching him.
When the right moment came, Paul jumped. And as he jumped, he realized hisgreat mistake. The blue of the ocean and the yellow of the desert flashedthrough his brain. He had not seen them yet! There was so much he had notseen!
Paul felt something hit his chest. He felt his body fly through the air far andfast. Then everything turned black and Paul dropped back into the greatdesign of things.
You have just heard the American story "Paul's Case." It was written by WillaCather.
Donna de Sanctis adapted it for VOA Learning English. Your storyteller was Kay Gallant.
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Words in This Story
tuxedo - n. a formal black suit for a man, worn with a white shirt and a blackbow tie
chandelier - n. a large, decorated light that hangs from a ceiling and hasbranches for holding many light bulbs or candles
precious - adj. greatly loved, valued, or important
splendid - adj. very impressive and beautiful
challenge - v. to test the ability, skill, or strength of
Now it's your turn. What do you think of "Paul's Case?" Could this kind oftragedy be prevented? What advice would you give to Paul, or to his fatherand teachers? Write to us in the comments section.
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