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1、THETOUCHSTONETHETOUCHSTONEByEdithWharton1THETOUCHSTONEIProfessorJoslin,who,asourreadersaredoubtlessaware,isengagedinwritingthelifeofMrs.Aubyn,asksustostatethathewillbegreatlyindebtedtoanyofthefamousnovelist'sfriendswhowillfurnishhimwithinformationconcerningtheper
2、iodprevioustohercomingtoEngland.Mrs.Aubynhadsofewintimatefriends,andconsequentlysofewregularcorrespondents,thatletterswillbeofspecialvalue.ProfessorJoslin'saddressis10AugustaGardens,Kensington,andhebegsustosaythathewillpromptlyreturnanydocumentsentrustedtohim."Gl
3、ennarddroppedtheSpectatorandsatlookingintothefire.Theclubwasfillingup,buthestillhadtohimselfthesmallinnerroom,withitsdarkeningoutlookdowntherainstreakedprospectofFifthAvenue.Itwasalldullanddismalenough,yetamomentearlierhisboredomhadbeenperverselytingedbyasenseofr
4、esentmentatthethoughtthat,asthingsweregoing,hemightintimehavetosurrendereventhedespisedprivilegeofboringhimselfwithinthoseparticularfourwalls.Itwasnotthathecaredmuchfortheclub,butthattheremotecontingencyofhavingtogiveitupstoodtohim,justthen,perhapsbyveryreasonofi
5、tsinsignificanceandremoteness,forthesymbolofhisincreasingabnegations;ofthatperpetualparing-offthatwasgraduallyreducingexistencetothenakedbusinessofkeepinghimselfalive.Itwasthefutilityofhismultipliedshiftsandprivationsthatmadethemseemunworthyofahighattitude;thesen
6、sethat,howeverrapidlyheeliminatedthesuperfluous,hisclearedhorizonwaslikelytooffernonearerviewoftheoneprospecttowardwhichhestrained.Togiveupthingsinordertomarrythewomanonelovesiseasierthantogivethemupwithoutbeingbroughtappreciablynearertosuchaconclusion.Throughthe
7、opendoorhesawyoungHollingsworthrisewithayawnfromtheineffectualsolaceofabrandy-and-sodaandtransporthispurposelesspersontothewindow.Glennardmeasuredhiscoursewithacontemptuouseye.ItwassolikeHollingsworthtogetupandlookoutofthewindowjustasitwasgrowingtoodarktoseeanyth
8、ing!Therewasamanrichenoughtodowhathepleased--hadhebeencapableofbeing2THETOUCHSTONEpleased--yetbarredfromallconceivableachievementbyhisownimperviousdulness;whil
