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《The Reef《暗礁》》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在学术论文-天天文库。
1、TheReefbyEdithWhartonBOOKII"Unexpectedobstacle.Pleasedon'tcometillthirtieth.Anna."AllthewayfromCharingCrosstoDoverthetrainhadhammeredthewordsofthetelegramintoGeorgeDarrow'sears,ringingeverychangeofironyonitscommonplacesyllables:rattlingthemoutlikeadischargeofmusketry,lettingthem,onebyone
2、,dripslowlyandcoldlyintohisbrain,orshaking,tossing,transposingthemlikethediceinsomegameofthegodsofmalice;andnow,asheemergedfromhiscompartmentatthepier,andstoodfacingthewind-sweptplatformandtheangryseabeyond,theyleaptoutathimasiffromthecrestofthewaves,stungandblindedhimwithafreshfuryofder
3、ision."Unexpectedobstacle.Pleasedon'tcometillthirtieth.Anna."Shehadputhimoffattheverylastmoment,andforthesecondtime:puthimoffwithallhersweetreasonableness,andforoneofherusual"good"reasons--hewascertainthatthisreason,liketheother,(thevisitofherhusband'suncle'swidow)wouldbe"good"!Butitwast
4、hatverycertaintywhichchilledhim.Thefactofherdealingsoreasonablywiththeircaseshedanironiclightontheideathattherehadbeenanyexceptionalwarmthinthegreetingshehadgivenhimaftertheirtwelveyearsapart.Theyhadfoundeachotheragain,inLondon,somethreemonthspreviously,atadinnerattheAmericanEmbassy,andw
5、henshehadcaughtsightofhimhersmilehadbeenlikearedrosepinnedonherwidow'smourning.Hestillfeltthethrobofsurprisewithwhich,amongthestereotypedfacesoftheseason'sdiners,hehadcomeuponherunexpectedface,withthedarkhairbandedabovegraveeyes;eyesinwhichhehadrecognizedeverylittlecurveandshadowashewoul
6、dhaverecognized,afterhalfalife-time,thedetailsofaroomhehadplayedinasachild.Andas,intheplumedstarredcrowd,shehadstoodoutforhim,slender,secludedanddifferent,sohehadfelt,theinstanttheirglancesmet,thatheassharplydetachedhimselfforher.Allthatandmorehersmilehadsaid;hadsaidnotmerely"Iremember,"
7、but"Irememberjustwhatyouremember";almost,indeed,asthoughhermemoryhadaidedhis,herglanceflungbackontheirrecapturedmomentitsmorningbrightness.Certainly,whentheirdistractedAmbassadress--withthecry:"Oh,youknowMrs.Leath?That'sperfect,forGeneralFarnhamhasfailedme"--hadwavedthemt
