american tragedy

Chapter 70

Chapter 232
Today, Clyde has become virtually an integral part of the city's winter social scene.Since the Griffiths had introduced him to their friends and relatives, most of them would entertain him.However, in such a narrow world, as long as a person with a certain status can know all the details of other people, and the situation of that person's pocket is compared with his social status. It is equally important, sometimes even more important.Of course these wealthy families believed that for any union to be happy and secure in terms of social status, it required not only good family background but also money.On the one hand, therefore, they thought that Clyde was unquestionably qualified in society, but because it was whispered that his means were very limited, they did not regard him as capable of marrying any of their girls.In this way, they are willing to invite him, but when it comes to their own children and relatives, they also hint that they should be on guard against it, and it is not advisable to associate too closely.

However, Sandra and those with her were very kind to him, and before their friends and parents had formed a firm opinion of his observations and comments, Clyde continued to receive invitations to his The most interesting parties start with dancing and end with dancing.Although he didn't have a lot of money, he could manage it, and it wasn't long after Sandra became interested in him.Knowing his financial situation, he tried to make him spend as little money as possible when entertaining her.Because of her attitude, it also affected Bettina Cranston, Grant Cranston and others.Therefore, it cost Clyde nothing at all to attend the meetings everywhere, especially the local ones.Even if the meeting place was not in Lycurgus, someone would definitely send a car to take him with him.

The trip to Schnackdart on New Year's Eve was arguably the most important outing for Clyde and Sandra, because on this trip she was more affectionate to him than before. , often Sandra herself took him to her car.He had in fact won her favor.And on the one hand, it is enough to greatly satisfy her vanity, and on the other hand, it is enough to impress one of the biggest characteristics of her character, which is that she earnestly hopes that there will be a young man like Clyde, who is beautiful, born and well-born, and she will be alone. Support up.She also knew that because Clyde was poor, her parents would not approve of her having any love with him.She didn't have such thoughts in the past, but now she found that she wished to have such things.

However, there was no further opportunity to get closer until that night, two weeks after the New Year's Eve party.They were going home from a party of a similar nature in Amsterdam, Bella Griffiths, Grant Cranston, Bettina Cranston were already on their way home, Stuart Finchley Cried: "Come on, let's take you home, Griffiths." Sandra was happy after being with Clyde, and didn't want to break up immediately, so she immediately went on to say: "If you would like to come to our house , I can get you some hot Coke before you go home, yes?"

"Oh, of course, of course." Clyde said vigorously.

"Let's go, then," said Stuart, turning the car around and driving toward Finchley's, "but me, I'm going to bed. It's almost past three o'clock now."

"That's the good boy, that's what you always say, people sleep in the first half of the night, don't they," Sandra replied.

After the car was put into the garage, the three of them walked through the door to the kitchen.Her brother left first, and Sandra asked Clyde to sit down at the servants' table and serve drinks herself.But for him, this kind of kitchen has never been used before, and he has never seen it before, so he can't help admiring it, so he looks around and wonders how much it will cost to maintain such a kitchen.

"Oh, it's a big kitchen, isn't it?" he said. "You must have a lot to cook, don't you?"

When he said this, she knew he had never seen such equipment before coming to Lycurgus, and she was especially prone to admiration, so she replied, "Oh, I don't know. Aren't all kitchens so big?"

Thinking of the poverty with which he was most familiar, Clyde thought from her words that she did not know that there was a worse life in the world, so he felt all the more admiration for this world of luxury.How rich! Just think, as long as you can marry such a girl, then all these things can become commonplace.In this way, you can have a cook, a few servants, a big house, a car, and you don't have to work to support anyone, just open your mouth and give orders all day long.These thoughts touched his heart.He also finds her all kinds of intentionally contrived postures and appearances particularly charming.She also noticed how much Clyde valued these things, so she deliberately boasted how she was inseparable from happiness, prosperity and wealth for a moment.She was aware that he liked her above all else, shining like a star, the epitome of luxury and social supremacy.

She adjusted the cocoa first in an ordinary aluminum saucer, and then, to show him off, went to another room to find a particularly finely carved silver saucer.She poured the cocoa into a beautifully decorated jug and put it on the table in front of him.Then he walked up to him lightly and said, "Oh, is this okay? I like to do this in the kitchen, but I can only do it when the cook is not around. When he is around, no one is allowed to stand." Beside."

"Oh, really?" Clyde asked.He was not familiar with the situation of the cooks in the mansion, so asking, Sandra was sure that the environment he was born in had no money.However, he has such a deep relationship with her, she has no intention of backing down.So when he exclaimed afterward, "How beautiful it is to be together, Sandra? You think I haven't had a chance to have a single word with you all evening." What disgusted, just replied: "Do you think so? I am also very happy that you think so." Then he smiled a little proudly and softly.

He saw her wearing a shiny white satin evening gown, her feet in dancing shoes dangling beside him, and a burst of fragrance wafted into his nostrils, so his heart moved.In fact, his admiration for her did indeed kindle.Such youth, beauty, and wealth, are there any shortcomings? She also sensed the intensity of his admiration, and at least partly felt it, thinking that he was someone worthy of her heart, The person who holds tightly to the heart.Aren't his eyes so bright and passionate? And his hair! How charming it was, hanging low on his fair forehead.She wanted to touch his hair now, smooth it out with her hands, and touch his cheeks.And his hands, so thin, so sensitive, so beautiful.Like Roberta, Hortense, and Rita before him, she noticed this in him too.

But at this moment, he suppressed his silence, not daring to speak out his thoughts.He was thinking: "Oh, if only I could tell her how beautiful I really think she is; if only I could put my arms around her waist and kiss her, kiss her, kiss her, and she kisses me like that, how beautiful it would be." ” Strange to say, compared with his psychology when he first approached Roberta, his psychology at this time did not contain any carnal elements.Just a desire to cling to the most perfect thing, to caress and caress it.Really, his eyes also showed such a desire, and it seemed very strong.She noticed this too, and was a little puzzled by it.Because this was what she was most afraid of about Clyde, and yet she was fascinated by it.Curious to know what that means further.

So she teased him and said, "Do you have something important to say?"

"I don't know how much I would like to tell you, Sandra, if you will let me," he replied warmly, "but you told me not to."

"Oh, I said it. Well, and I mean it. I'm glad you remember it well." A provocative smile played on her lips, and she looked at him as if to say, "You don't really believe that either. I totally mean it, don't I?"

Confused by her wink, Clyde stood up, took her both hands, looked her in the eyes, and said: "So you don't really mean it, do you? Sandra? Not all of it anyway. Oh, I want to tell you all I'm thinking right now." His eyes said all he was about to say, and she felt it particularly well.It was so easy to win his heart.But she was anxious to get him to say what he wanted, and leaning back a little in front of him, she said, "Oh, yes, all of it, of course. You take everything too seriously, don't you?" However, at this moment, even she couldn't help her expression soften, and she smiled again.

"I can't help it, Sandra, I can't help it, I can't help it!" he began, enthusiastically, even a little passionately. "You don't know what magic you have over me. You're so beautiful, oh, really, and you know how beautiful you are. I think about you all the time, it's true, Sandra, you make me I'm going crazy. I can't sleep because of you. Oh, I'm so crazy! No matter where I go, no matter where I meet you. I think about you all the time, even tonight Well, I can't help it when I see you dancing with this gang, I just want you to never dance with anyone but me. Your eyes are so beautiful, Sandra, and so cute mouth, chin, and such a charming smile."

He raised his hand, as if he wanted to caress her gently, but he retracted it. At the same time, he looked into her eyes bewilderedly, like a devout believer looking into the eyes of a saint, and suddenly put his hands around her waist. , pulling her into his arms.She was mesmerized by his words.And the lust is also a little excited, and she would definitely resist it normally, but staring at him at this time, she was completely fascinated by his enthusiasm.His desire for her had seduced her, fascinated her so much that it seemed to her, too, that she might love him as much as he wished, very much, if she dared.He looked so beautiful to her too, so charming, so lovely, and poor as he was, he was far warmer than any young man she had known here.Wouldn't it be wonderful if her parents allowed her and her position allowed her to join him in such a passion without scruples? At the same time, she thought that if her parents knew, maybe she wouldn't be able to take This relationship, in any way to maintain it, let alone take it a step further, or still enjoy this relationship in the future.The thought made her restrain for a moment, but even so, she was still infatuated with him.Her eyes were warm and gentle, and there was a kind smile on her lips.

"I really shouldn't let you talk to me like this. I know, I really shouldn't." She feebly expressed disapproval, but still looked at him tenderly. "It shouldn't be like this, I know, but..."

"Why not? Why shouldn't it be like this, Sandra? If I love you so much, why can't I?" His eyes clouded.Noticing this, she exclaimed, "Ah, um," and then hesitated, "I...I..." She was about to say, "Don't think they'll let us go on like this." Say: "I see, I don't know you well enough."

"Oh, Sandra, I love you so much that I'm going crazy for you, and you still say that about me! I think of you so much, and you don't think of me at all?"

Because of her indecision, his eyes expressed entreaty, fear, and sorrow.These mixed expressions made her very excited.She looked at him hesitantly, thinking to herself, I don't know if such a passionate love will have a result.He noticed the vacant look in her eyes, so he pulled her closer to him, and then kissed her. Not only did she not feel disgusted, but she lay more willingly and happily in his arms for a while.Then, she stood up suddenly, thinking of her letting him go and kissing her like this, and thinking of what he would definitely think, she immediately returned her calm mind. "I think you'd better go now," she said firmly, "OK?"

Clyde was surprised at his own boldness, and then a little frightened, so he softened and begged her humbly, "Are you mad?"

She also noticed that his submissive attitude was exactly the same as a slave's attitude towards his master, so she liked it and resented it at the same time.For, like Roberta and Hortense, it is better to be governed than to govern.She just shook her head to express that he didn't think so, feeling a little sad in her heart.

"It's very late." That's all she said, and smiled tenderly.

Clyde also knew that for some reason, he shouldn't say anything more.He didn't have that kind of courage or persistence, nor did he have the kind of conditions to take another step towards her at this time.He got up to look for his coat, looked back at her sadly and resignedly, and went away.

(End of this chapter)