american tragedy

Chapter 69 (2)
Chapter 231 (2)
"Well, I've seen that too, but it's not true. If you say they are there, I haven't seen them. Not everything in the newspapers is correct."

Although he seemed a little annoyed and disgusted at being caught, his demeanor was convincing, and he was beginning to feel a little disgusted at the fact that she was questioning him like this, even he knew it.Why did she question him like this? Doesn't he have his own identity and should be able to move around in this new world without her holding him back?

She didn't further refute him or blame him, but just looked at him with an expression of thinking silently after being wronged.She neither trusts him completely nor distrusts him completely now.Some of what he said may be true. The most important thing is that he should take her to heart and not lie to her or treat her harshly.However, if he doesn't want to treat her kindly, treat her honestly.How could this be done? She stepped back a few steps before him, and then said helplessly, "Oh, Clyde, you don't have to make up words for me. You understand! Where are you going?" Go, I don't mind, if you tell me beforehand, don't make it happen, and leave me alone on Christmas night. That's what hurts the most."

"But I didn't make it up, Roberta," he said gruffly. "It's in the papers and it's twisting the truth. What can I do? Sister Griffiths was there, and I can present evidence. Today, I tried my best to come here. Why are you so angry? I have already told you the whole story. Here, I can't do whatever I want. It was someone who informed me shortly and asked me to go. And I really can't get away. What's the use of being so angry?"

He stared at her stubbornly.Roberta didn't know what to do after hitting this snag.She clearly thought of the news about New Year's Eve, but she felt that it might not be appropriate to mention anything now.At this moment, more than ever, she realized that he was inseparable from a life of pleasure, and that it was he, not her, who was in excess.Even now, she was very anxious to let him know how much she was suffering from the jealousy that was tormenting her.He is so happy in that beautiful world, but she is so lonely with him and those people he is familiar with.Besides, he is always talking about Sandra Finchley and Bettina Cranston now, or else, the papers are talking about them, which of these two people is he most heartfelt? ?

"You like Miss Finchley very much, don't you?" she asked him suddenly, looking up at him in the darkness.Wanting to know some truths, wanting to understand some of the reasons why she was distressed, this idea is still gnawing at her heart.

Clyde immediately sensed the importance of this question. Compared with her look, her tone revealed more clearly the jealousy and helplessness that she couldn't help herself.Her voice is soft, seductive, and melancholic at times, especially when she's down.On the one hand, she seemed to have caught on to Sandra all at once, and he was a little surprised at her intelligence, a kind of telepathy, so to speak.He immediately made up his mind that she should not let her know about it, otherwise she would be angry.On the one hand, his position here was apparently becoming more stable day by day, and his pride led him to say the following:

"Oh, I do like her a little bit. She's beautiful, and she dances beautifully. And, besides, she's rich and well dressed." He had meant to add that he didn't think Sandra was anything other than that. but Roberta, sensing that he might really be interested in the girl, and thinking of the gulf between her own world and his world, exclaimed suddenly; "Yes, with all her Money, who wouldn't like her? If I have so much money, I can do it too."

To his surprise and even surprise, her voice suddenly trembled, then became hoarse, as if she were whimpering.He also clearly saw and felt that she was indeed sad, almost heartbroken, sad, and jealous.He wanted to get angry, wanted to be stubborn again, but suddenly he became gentle.Because, until recently, he had been so dear to him, and now it hurt so much to be jealous of someone for his sake, and it was hard for him to think about it.He himself, for Hortense's sake, knew well what the pangs of jealousy were.For some reason he could almost put himself in Roberta's situation.For no other reason than that alone, he said very tenderly: "Oh, well, well, Roberta, it's almost as if I mentioned her or anyone to you, you It's like being angry! I'm not saying that I have any special interest in her. You just asked me if I like her, so I told you what I thought you wanted to know, that's all. Well."

"Oh, yes, I know," replied Roberta, standing before him tensely, and very pale.She clenched her hands suddenly, raised her head and looked at him hesitantly and pleadingly. "But they have everything, and you know they have everything, but I really have nothing. It's so difficult for me to make a living, and I have to deal with them all, and they have everything." Her voice trembled. She stopped, her eyes filled with tears, her lips trembling.Immediately she covered her face with her hands and turned away, her shoulders twitching.She trembled from the desperate sobs.The strong emotions that had been suppressed all the time suddenly burst out.Clyde was really flustered, surprised and very moved, and then he was suddenly moved too, because it was obviously not a trick or a deliberate posturing to impress his heart.She felt, then suddenly and painfully realized herself, that she was just a lonely girl with no friends and no future, not as good as those who moved him so much now, who were far better off, It can be said that there are people who have everything.Behind this realization lay the years of loneliness and solitude that ruined her youth, and this experience has become even more vivid recently when she returned home.She was very distressed, extremely distressed, and there was nothing she could do.

She cried out from the bottom of her heart: "If only I had a chance like these girls, if only I had been somewhere and seen the world! But I only grew up in the country, and I don't have any Money, no clothes, nothing, and no one to teach me. Ah, ah ah!"

As soon as these words came out of her mouth, she immediately felt that she was so weak, how shameful she was to curse herself, because it was precisely these things that he was dissatisfied with her, for sure.

"Oh, Roberta, dear," he said softly at once, putting his arm around her waist.He also really regretted his absurdity, "Don't you cry like this, dearest, please don't do this. I didn't mean to make you sad, I really didn't, my dear. I know you are very sad during this time, dear." I know what's in your heart and how you've been through it. Of course I know, Roberta, you mustn't cry, dearest. I don't love you as much as I did. Really, I always love You. If I wronged you, I'm very sorry. It's true. I didn't come tonight. And last Friday. I really can't help it. Oh, I really can't help it. But as long as I have a way, I will never It's so nasty. I never will, you're the sweetest, dearest girl. Besides your hair, your eyes are so pretty, and your little figure is so pretty. You really are, Roberta. , you can dance as well as anyone. You are so beautiful, you are, dear. Now don't cry, dear? Don't cry. If I wrong you in any way, I will I'm so sorry, dear."

Clyde is also tender at times, the result of encounters, setbacks, and hardships in his own life.Others, whoever they are, are bound to do the same in such encounters.At this time, his voice was very gentle and soft, and his attitude was as gentle as a mother treats a child.This fascinated Roberta.On the other hand, although his emotions were very agitated, they disappeared in an instant, just like a summer storm sweeping mountains and seas, coming and going quickly.On this occasion, however, Roberta felt that he understood her perfectly, sympathized with her, and perhaps loved her the more for it.All in all, things aren't too bad, at least for now.In short, she had him, and his love, and his sympathy, for which she felt extraordinarily comforted, and with his comforting words, she wiped away her tears.He also said that he hoped he would forgive her.Because, when she cried like this, her tears stained his clean white shirt, and said that as long as Clyde forgives her this time, it will definitely not be like this again in the future. He didn't expect her to be so affectionate in her heart , so very moved, kissed her hand, kissed her face, and finally kissed her mouth.

While caressing her, coaxing her, and kissing her like this, he assured her that it was a boring and false assurance (because he really had Sandra in his heart, although the circumstances were different. , but regard this as very important, perhaps even more important).He said that she was the first and last dearest person in his heart, forever, forever.This made her think that he was wronged, and that her own status was much higher than that of the girls who might see him in society, but could not win his beautiful love.

(End of this chapter)