登陆注册
26200100000050

第50章

That was then the way men marked out by women WERE--and also the men by whom the women were doubtless in turn sufficiently distinguished.It affected Strether for thirty seconds as a relevant truth, a truth which, however, the next minute, had fallen into its relation."Can't you imagine there being some questions," Chad asked, "that a fellow--however much impressed by your charming way of stating things--would like to put to you first?""Oh yes--easily.I'm here to answer everything.I think I can even tell you things, of the greatest interest to you, that you won't know enough to ask me.We'll take as many days to it as you like.

But I want," Strether wound up, "to go to bed now.""Really?"

Chad had spoken in such surprise that he was amused."Can't you believe it?--with what you put me through?"The young man seemed to consider."Oh I haven't put you through much--yet.""Do you mean there's so much more to come?" Strether laughed."All the more reason then that I should gird myself." And as if to mark what he felt he could by this time count on he was already on his feet.

Chad, still seated, stayed him, with a hand against him, as he passed between their table and the next."Oh we shall get on!"The tone was, as who should say, everything Strether could have desired; and quite as good the expression of face with which the speaker had looked up at him and kindly held him.All these things lacked was their not showing quite so much as the fruit of experience.Yes, experience was what Chad did play on him, if he didn't play any grossness of defiance.Of course experience was in a manner defiance; but it wasn't, at any rate--rather indeed quite the contrary!--grossness; which was so much gained.He fairly grew older, Strether thought, while he himself so reasoned.Then with his mature pat of his visitor's arm he also got up; and there had been enough of it all by this time to make the visitor feel that something WAS settled.Wasn't it settled that he had at least the testimony of Chad's own belief in a settlement? Strether found himself treating Chad's profession that they would get on as a sufficient basis for going to bed.He hadn't nevertheless after this gone to bed directly; for when they had again passed out together into the mild bright night a check had virtually sprung from nothing more than a small circumstance which might have acted only as confirming quiescence.There were people, expressive sound, projected light, still abroad, and after they had taken in for a moment, through everything, the great clear architectural street, they turned off in tacit union to the quarter of Strether's hotel."Of course," Chad here abruptly began, "of course Mother's ****** things out with you about me has been natural--and of course also you've had a good deal to go upon.

Still, you must have filled out."

He had stopped, leaving his friend to wonder a little what point he wished to make; and this it was that enabled Strether meanwhile to make one."Oh we've never pretended to go into detail.We weren't in the least bound to THAT.It was 'filling out' enough to miss you as we did."But Chad rather oddly insisted, though under the high lamp at their corner, where they paused, he had at first looked as if touched by Strether's allusion to the long sense, at home, of his absence."What I mean is you must have imagined.""Imagined what?"

"Well--horrors."

It affected Strether: horrors were so little--superficially at least--in this robust and reasoning image.But he was none the less there to be veracious."Yes, I dare say we HAVE imagined horrors.But where's the harm if we haven't been wrong?"Chad raised his face to the lamp, and it was one of the moments at which he had, in his extraordinary way, most his air of designedly showing himself.It was as if at these instants he just presented himself, his identity so rounded off, his palpable presence and his massive young manhood, as such a link in the chain as might practically amount to a kind of demonstration.It was as if--and how but anomalously?--he couldn't after all help thinking sufficiently well of these things to let them go for what they were worth.What could there be in this for Strether but the hint of some self-respect, some sense of power, oddly perverted;something latent and beyond access, ominous and perhaps enviable?

The intimation had the next thing, in a flash, taken on a name--a name on which our friend seized as he asked himself if he weren't perhaps really dealing with an irreducible young Pagan.This description--he quite jumped at it--had a sound that gratified his mental ear, so that of a sudden he had already adopted it.Pagan--yes, that was, wasn't it? what Chad WOULD logically be.It was what he must be.It was what he was.The idea was a clue and, instead of darkening the prospect, projected a certain clearness.

Strether made out in this quick ray that a Pagan was perhaps, at the pass they had come to, the thing most wanted at Woollett.

They'd be able to do with one--a good one; he'd find an opening--yes; and Strether's imagination even now prefigured and accompanied the first appearance there of the rousing personage.

He had only the slight discomfort of feeling, as the young man turned away from the lamp, that his thought had in the momentary silence possibly been guessed."Well, I've no doubt," said Chad, "you've come near enough.The details, as you say, don't matter.

It HAS been generally the case that I've let myself go.But I'm coming round--I'm not so bad now." With which they walked on again to Strether's hotel.

"Do you mean," the latter asked as they approached the door, "that there isn't any woman with you now?""But pray what has that to do with it?"

"Why it's the whole question."

同类推荐
  • 晋后略

    晋后略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 伤寒门

    伤寒门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 秘密要术法

    秘密要术法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 小栖霞说稗

    小栖霞说稗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 儿科要略

    儿科要略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 末世之进化时代

    末世之进化时代

    2052年一场绚丽的七彩流行雨改变了整个世界!世界由此进入万物进化时代,这是个伟大的时代,也是人类霸主地位被剁夺的时代。几乎一夜之间所有生物陷入疯狂进化状态,各种新物种如同雨后春伊般涌现……九尾狐……暴雷猩……紫灵虫……万树王……!在世界进化的同时,人类终于找到了独属于自己的进化,基地由此形成!争霸时代由此展开……
  • 道创

    道创

    一个现代大学生穿越到一修真世界一顶级势力中,因为天赋差,被隐藏身份,受尽屈辱,最终开启体内的奥秘,历经千难万险,而后碾压一代人,成就无上创世。
  • 萌学园之谜之大帝

    萌学园之谜之大帝

    作者所希望的萌学园7,里面会出现以前的人物,希望大家喜欢,因为我是第一次写小说,所以大家指导指导我好吗?写的不好的地方跟我说,谢谢。
  • 午后,薰衣草的,爱情Love

    午后,薰衣草的,爱情Love

    为什么?为了你我放弃了十年,你会爱我吗?我傻傻的,才发现空落落的心里早也放下了你。......
  • 胖丫头,不乖

    胖丫头,不乖

    林秀綾生長在一個平凡的家庭裡,父母拜金、弟弟拜金、連最好的朋友也拜金。有幸她真的嫁给了有钱人!可惜原因实在令人沮丧,夫家不过是看中了她“体健可下田”的体态,呜呜呜,这样进入的豪门似乎也不怎么可喜的说……
  • 红按钮拼图

    红按钮拼图

    十二岁的麦丛和六岁的麦豆豆是两兄妹,在一次玩拼图玩具时,不小心被吸进拼图里的奇妙世界。哥哥麦丛掉入满是齿轮的国度,在这个充满科幻色彩的地方,住着一群善于算数和制造的白兔子,妹妹麦豆豆掉在弥漫着浓郁魔幻氛围的齐齐国,那里有一群会施神奇魔法的松鼠。警惕的兔子、友好的松鼠、有趣的科技、神奇的魔法,让我们随两兄妹一道,经历一段充满梦幻的历险吧!
  • 初夏末时

    初夏末时

    女主夏至转学后遇上风流倜傥的男主姜晨,从欢喜冤家变为一对。然而,上了大学后的两人因成绩差异被迫分居两地,又因姜晨同学陆依琳的介入,导致两人矛盾不断,分分合合,再也回不到当年初夏正好的青春年华
  • 仙能不死

    仙能不死

    古往今来,凡求仙者,共图四字,良师益友。古往今来,凡修仙者,共求四字,长生不死!古往今来,凡成仙者,共悟四字,仙能不死?尔虞我诈,争名夺利,修士如此,仙人如此。若想长生,若想不死,仙能不死,如你所愿。
  • 校花姐姐爱上我

    校花姐姐爱上我

    爱,初来的时侯总是让人捉摸不透,爱结束的时侯又让人缠绵悱恻,初恋,大学的初恋,苦涩之味日渐浓郁,他像一杯清茶,需要我们细加品尝。
  • 球可追风

    球可追风

    仅仅只是一次普通的际遇,却成就了一个少年的篮球传奇。这或许只是一个偶然,但这个偶然终将会演绎成为一个必然。