先讀課文﹕
Sister Carrie 嘉莉妹妹
By Theodore Dreiser
Chapter I
THE MAGNET ATTRACTING--A WAIF AMID FORCES
When Caroline Meeber boarded the afternoon train for Chicago, her total
outfit consisted of a small trunk, a cheap imitation alligator-skin satchel,
a small lunch in a paper box, and yellow leather snap purse, containing
her ticket, a scrap of paper with her sister's address in Van Buren Street,
and four dollars in money. It was in August, 1889. She was eighteen years
of age, bright, timid, and full of the illusions of ignorance and youth.
Whatever touch of regret at parting characterised her thoughts, it was certainly
not for advantages now being given up. A gush of tears at her mother's farewell
kiss, a touch in her throat when the cars clacked by the flour mill where
her father worked by the day, a pathetic sigh as the familiar green environs
of the village passed in review, and the threads which bound her so lightly
to girlhood and home were irretrievably broken.
To be sure there was always the next station, where one might descend and
return. There was the great city, bound more closely by these very trains
which came up daily. Columbia City was not so very far away, even once she
was in Chicago. What, pray, is few hours--a few hundred miles? She looked
at the little slip bearing her sister's address and wondered. She gazed at
the green landscape, now passing in swift review, until her swifter thoughts
replaced its impression with vague conjectures of what Chicago might be.
When a girl leaves her home at eighteen, she does one of two things. Either
she falls into saving hands and becomes better, or she rapidly assumes the
cosmopolitan standard of virtue and becomes worse. Of an intermediate balance,
under the circumstances, there is no possibility. The city has its cunning
wiles, no less than the infinitely smaller and more human tempter. There
are large forces which allure with all the soulfulness of expression possible
in the most cultured human.
The gleam of a thousand lights is often as effective as the persuasive light
in a wooing and fascinating eye. Half the undoing of the unsophisticated
and natural mind is accomplished by forces wholly superhuman. A blare of
sound, a roar of life, vast array of human hives, appeal to the astonished
senses in equivocal terms. Without a counsellor at hand to whisper cautious
interpretations, what falsehoods may not these things breathe into the unguarded
ear! Unrecognised for what they are, their beauty, like music, too often
relaxes, then weakens, then perverts the simpler human perceptions.
Caroline, or Sister Carrie, as she had been half affectionately termed by
the family, was possessed of a mind rudimentary in its power of observation
and analysis. Self-interest with her was high, but not strong. It was, nevertheless,
her guiding characteristic. Warm with the fancies of youth, pretty with
the insipid prettiness of the formative period, possessed of a figure promising
eventual shapeliness and an eye alight with certain native intelligence,
she was a fair example of the middle American class--two generations removed
from the emigrant. Books were beyond her interest--knowledge a sealed book.
In the intuitive graces she was still crude. She could scarcely toss her
head gracefully. Her hands were almost ineffectual. The feet, though small,
were set flatly. And yet she was interested in her charms, quick to understand
the keener pleasures of life, ambitious to gain in material things. A half-equipped
little knight she was, venturing to reconnoitre the mysterious city and
dreaming wild dreams of some vague, far-off supremacy, which should make
it prey and subject--the proper penitent, grovelling at a woman's slipper.
"That," said a voice in her ear, "is one of the prettiest little resorts
in Wisconsin." 美國中部北面一個州。伊利諾州在它南面﹐嘉莉妹妹要去的芝加
哥城就在伊利諾州裡。
"Is it?" she answered nervously.
The train was just pulling out of Waukesha. 城名﹐在Wisconsin州裡。估計火
車是由北向南開 For some time she had been conscious of a man behind. She
felt him observing her mass of hair. He had been fidgetting, and with natural
intuition she felt a certain interest growing in that quarter. Her maidenly
reserve, and a certain sense of what was conventional under the circumstances,
called her to forestall and deny this familiarity, but the daring and magnetism
of the individual, born of past experiences and triumphs, prevailed. She
answered.
He leaned forward to put his elbows upon the back of her seat and proceeded
to make himself volubly agreeable. 這詞小說裡經常用﹐意思是討人喜歡
"Yes, that is a great resort for Chicago people. The hotels are swell. You
are not familiar with this part of the country, are you?"
"Oh, yes, I am," answered Carrie. "That is, I live at Columbia City.哥倫
比亞城在印地安那州﹐印州在伊州東面。從印州去芝加哥是不需要經過Wisconsin州
的。不知作者為什麼這樣描述。 I have never been through here, though."
"And so this is your first visit to Chicago," he observed.
All the time she was conscious of certain features out of the side of her
eye. Flush, colourful cheeks, a light moustache, grey fedora hat. She now
turned and looked upon him in full, the instincts of self-protection and
coquetry mingling confusedly in her brain.
"I didn't say that," she said.
"Oh," he answered, in a very pleasing way and with an assumed air of mistake,
"I thought you did."
Here was a type of the travelling canvasser for a manufacturing house--a
class which at that time was first being dubbed by the slang of the day
"drummers." He came within the meaning of still newer term, which had sprung
into general use among Americans in 1880, and which concisely expressed
the thought of one whose dress or manners are calculated to elicit the admiration
of susceptible young women--a "masher." His suit was of a striped and crossed
pattern of brown wool, new at that time, but since become familiar as a
business suit. The low crotch of the vest revealed a stiff shirt bosom of
white and pink stripes. From his coat sleeves protruded a pair of linen
cuffs of the same pattern, fastened with large, gold plate buttons, set with
the common yellow agates known as "cat's-eyes." His fingers bore several
rings--one, the ever-enduring heavy seal--and from his vest dangled a neat
gold watch chain, from which was suspended the secret insignia of the Order
of Elks [1]. The whole suit was rather tight-fitting, and was finished off
with heavy-soled tan shoes, highly polished, and the grey fedora hat. He
was, for the order of intellect represented, attractive, and whatever he
had to recommend him, you may be sure was not lost upon Carrie, in this,
her first glance.
Lest this order of individual should permanently pass, let me put down some
of the most striking characteristics of his most successful manner and method.
Good clothes, of course, were the first essential, the things without which
he was nothing. strong physical nature, actuated by a keen desire for the
feminine, was the next. A mind free of any consideration of the problems
or forces of the world and actuated not by greed, but an insatiable love
of variable pleasure. His method was always simple. Its principal element
was daring, backed, of course, by an intense desire and admiration for the
sex. Let him meet with a young woman once and he would approach her with
an air of kindly familiarity, not unmixed with pleading, which would result
in most cases in a tolerant acceptance. If she showed any tendency to coquetry
he would be apt to straighten her tie, or if she "took up" with him at all,
to call her by her first name. If he visited a department store it was to
lounge familiarly over the counter and ask some leading questions. In more
exclusive circles, on the train or in waiting stations, he went slower.
If some seemingly vulnerable object appeared he was all attention-- to pass
the compliments of the day, to lead the way to the parlor car, carrying
her grip, or, failing that, to take a seat next her with the hope of being
able to court her to her destination. Pillows, books, a footstool, the shade
lowered all these figured in the things which he could do. If, when she reached
her destination he did not alight and attend her baggage for her, it was
because, in his own estimation, he had signally failed.
A woman should some day write the complete philosophy of clothes. No matter
how young, it is one of the things she wholly comprehends. There is an indescribably
faint line in the matter of man's apparel which somehow divides for her
those who are worth glancing at and those who are not. Once an individual
has passed this faint line on the way downward he will get no glance from
her. There is another line at which the dress of a man will cause her to
study her own. This line the individual at her elbow now marked for Carrie.
She became conscious of an inequality. Her own plain blue dress, with its
black cotton tape trimmings, now seemed to her shabby. She felt the worn
state of her shoes.
"Let's see," he went on, "I know quite a number of people in your town.
Morgenroth the clothier and Gibson the dry goods man."
"Oh, do you?" she interrupted, aroused by memories of longings their show
windows had cost her.
At last he had a clew to her interest, and followed it deftly. In a few
minutes he had come about into her seat. He talked of sales of clothing,
his travels, Chicago, and the amusements of that city.
"If you are going there, you will enjoy it immensely. Have you relatives?"
"I am going to visit my sister," she explained.
"You want to see Lincoln Park," he said, "and Michigan Boulevard. They are
putting up great buildings there. It's a second New York--great. So much
to see--theatres, crowds, fine houses--oh, you'll like that."
There was a little ache in her fancy of all he described. Her insignificance
in the presence of so much magnificence faintly affected her. She realised
that hers was not to be a round of pleasure, and yet there was something
promising in all the material prospect he set forth. There was something
satisfactory in the attention of this individual with his good clothes. She
could not help smiling as he told her of some popular actress of whom she
reminded him. She was not silly, and yet attention of this sort had its
weight.
"You will be in Chicago some little time, won't you?" he observed at one
turn of the now easy conversation.
"I don't know," said Carrie vaguely--a flash vision of the possibility of
her not securing employment rising in her mind.
"Several weeks, anyhow," he said, looking steadily into her eyes.
There was much more passing now than the mere words indicated. He recognised
the indescribable thing that made up for fascination and beauty in her.
She realised that she was of interest to him from the one standpoint which
a woman both delights in and fears. Her manner was simple, though for the
very reason that she had not yet learned the many little affectations with
which women conceal their true feelings. Some things she did appeared bold.
A clever companion--had she ever had one-- would have warned her never to
look a man in the eyes so steadily.
"Why do you ask?" she said.
"Well, I'm going to be there several weeks. I'm going to study stock at
our place and get new samples. I might show you 'round."
"I don't know whether you can or not. I mean I don't know whether I can.
I shall be living with my sister, and----"
"Well, if she minds, we'll fix that." He took out his pencil and a little
pocket note-book as if it were all settled. "What is your address there?"
She fumbled her purse which contained the address slip.
He reached down in his hip pocket and took out a fat purse. It was filled
with slips of paper, some mileage books, a roll of greenbacks. It impressed
her deeply. Such a purse had never been carried by any one attentive to
her. Indeed, an experienced traveller, a brisk man of the world, had never
come within such close range before. The purse, the shiny tan shoes, the
smart new suit, and the air with which he did things, built up for her a
dim world of fortune, of which he was the centre. It disposed her pleasantly
toward all he might do.
He took out a neat business card, on which was engraved Bartlett, Caryoe
& Company, and down in the left-hand corner, Chas. H. Drouet.
"That's me," he said, putting the card in her hand and touching his name.
"It's pronounced Drew-eh. Our family was French, on my father's side."
She looked at it while he put up his purse. Then he got out letter from
a bunch in his coat pocket. "This is the house I travel for," he went on,
pointing to a picture on it, "corner of State and Lake." There was pride
in his voice. He felt that it was something to be connected with such a
place, and he made her feel that way.
"What is your address?" he began again, fixing his pencil to write.
She looked at his hand.
"Carrie Meeber," she said slowly. "Three hundred and fifty-four West Van
Buren Street, care S. C. Hanson." [care here means in care of]
He wrote it carefully down and got out the purse again. "You'll be at home
if I come around Monday night?" he said.
"I think so," she answered.
How true it is that words are but the vague shadows of the volumes we mean.
Little audible links, they are, chaining together great inaudible feelings
and purposes. Here were these two, bandying little phrases, drawing purses,
looking at cards, and both unconscious of how inarticulate all their real
feelings were. Neither was wise enough to be sure of the working of the
mind of the other. He could not tell how his luring succeeded. She could
not realise that she was drifting, until he secured her address. Now she
felt that she had yielded something--he, that he had gained a victory. Already
they felt that they were somehow associated. Already he took control in
directing the conversation. His words were easy. Her manner was relaxed.
They were nearing Chicago. Signs were everywhere numerous. Trains flashed
by them. Across wide stretches of flat, open prairie they could see lines
of telegraph poles stalking across the fields toward the great city. Far
away were indications of suburban towns, some big smokestacks towering high
in the air.
Frequently there were two-story frame houses standing out in the open fields,
without fence or trees, lone outposts of the approaching army of homes.
To the child, the genius with imagination, or the wholly untravelled, the
approach to a great city for the first time is wonderful thing. Particularly
if it be evening--that mystic period between the glare and gloom of the
world when life is changing from one sphere or condition to another. Ah,
the promise of the night. What does it not hold for the weary! What old
illusion of hope is not here forever repeated! Says the soul of the toiler
to itself, "I shall soon be free. I shall be in the ways and the hosts of
the merry. The streets, the lamps, the lighted chamber set for dining, are
for me. The theatre, the halls, the parties, the ways of rest and the paths
of song--these are mine in the night." Though all humanity be still enclosed
in the shops, the thrill runs abroad. It is in the air. The dullest feel
something which they may not always express or describe. It is the lifting
of the burden of toil.
Sister Carrie gazed out of the window. Her companion, affected by her wonder,
so contagious are all things, felt anew some interest in the city and pointed
out its marvels.
"This is Northwest Chicago," said Drouet. "This is the Chicago River," and
he pointed to a little muddy creek, crowded with the huge masted wanderers
from far-off waters nosing the black-posted banks. With a puff, a clang,
and a clatter of rails it was gone. "Chicago is getting to be a great town,"
he went on. "It's wonder. You'll find lots to see here."
She did not hear this very well. Her heart was troubled by kind of terror.
The fact that she was alone, away from home, rushing into a great sea of
life and endeavour, began to tell. She could not help but feel a little
choked for breath--a little sick as her heart beat so fast. She half closed
her eyes and tried to think it was nothing, that Columbia City was only
little way off.
"Chicago! Chicago!" called the brakeman, slamming open the door. They were
rushing into a more crowded yard, alive with the clatter and clang of life.
She began to gather up her poor little grip and closed her hand firmly upon
her purse. Drouet arose, kicked his legs to straighten his trousers, and
seized his clean yellow grip.
"I suppose your people will be here to meet you?" he said. "Let me carry
your grip."
"Oh, no," she said. "I'd rather you wouldn't. I'd rather you wouldn't be
with me when I meet my sister."
"All right," he said in all kindness. "I'll be near, though, in case she
isn't here, and take you out there safely."
"You're so kind," said Carrie, feeling the goodness of such attention in
her strange situation.
"Chicago!" called the brakeman, drawing the word out long. They were under
a great shadowy train shed, where the lamps were already beginning to shine
out, with passenger cars all about and the train moving at a snail's pace.
The people in the car were all up and crowding about the door.
"Well, here we are," said Drouet, leading the way to the door. "Good-bye,
till I see you Monday."
"Good-bye," she answered, taking his proffered hand.
"Remember, I'll be looking till you find your sister."
She smiled into his eyes.
They filed out, and he affected to take no notice of her. lean-faced, rather
commonplace woman recognised Carrie on the platform and hurried forward.
"Why, Sister Carrie!" she began, and there was embrace of welcome.
Carrie realised the change of affectional atmosphere at once. Amid all the
maze, uproar, and novelty she felt cold reality taking her by the hand.
No world of light and merriment. No round of amusement. Her sister carried
with her most of the grimness of shift and toil.
"Why, how are all the folks at home?" she began "how is father, and mother?"
Carrie answered, but was looking away. Down the aisle, toward the gate leading
into the waiting-room and the street, stood Drouet. He was looking back.
When he saw that she saw him and was safe with her sister he turned to go,
sending back the shadow of a smile. Only Carrie saw it. She felt something
lost to her when he moved away. When he disappeared she felt his absence
thoroughly. With her sister she was much alone, a lone figure in a tossing,
thoughtless sea.
1) 生詞自查。
2) 作者介紹﹕Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser (August 27, 1871 -- December
28, 1945) was an American novelist and journalist of the naturalist school.
His novels often featured main characters who succeeded at their objectives
despite a lack of a firm moral code, and literary situations that more closely
resemble studies of nature than tales of choice and agency. Dreiser's best
known novels include Sister Carrie (1900) and An American Tragedy (1925).
3) 內容簡介﹕Sister Carrie (1900) is a novel by Theodore Dreiser about a
young country girl who moves to the big city where she starts realizing
her own American Dream by first becoming a mistress to men that she perceives
as superior and later as a famous actress. It has been called the "greatest
of all American urban novels."
4) 註解﹕ [1] Order of Elks 是指 The Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks) is an
American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868. It is one of the
leading fraternal orders in the U.S., claiming nearly one million members.
5) 美國作家德萊賽的“嘉莉妹妹”也屬世界名著。大家看看美國作家的文筆與英國
作家的文筆有什麼不同。據本人一位師執前輩說﹐要作家寫好英文﹐要找一本自己
喜歡的世界名著﹐作精讀本﹐把自己的寫作文筆儘量向之靠攏﹐再讀些其他作家﹐
參考別家的文筆﹐最後形成自己的。
选择“Disable on www.wenxuecity.com”
选择“don't run on pages on this domain”
