資源描述：
《The Reef《暗礁》》由會員上傳分享，免費在線閱讀，更多相關(guān)內(nèi)容在學(xué)術(shù)論文-天天文庫。
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
