一双长丝袜-凯特-肖邦

一双长丝袜-凯特-肖邦

VOA慢速:短篇故事:一双长丝袜-凯特-肖邦

ShortStory:'APairofSilkStockings'byKateChopin

Now,theVOASpecialEnglishprogram,AMERICANSTORIES.

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Ourstorytodayiscalled"APairofSilkStockings."ItwaswrittenbyKateChopin.HereisBarbaraKleinwiththestory.

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STORYTELLER:

LittleMissusSommersonedayfoundherselftheunexpectedowneroffifteendollars.Itseemedtoheraverylargeamountofmoney.Thewayitfilledupherwornmoneyholdergaveherafeelingofimportancethatshehadnotenjoyedforyears.

Thequestionofinvestmentwasonesheconsideredcarefully.Foradayortwoshewalkedaroundinadreamystateasshethoughtaboutherchoices.Shedidnotwishtoactquicklyanddoanythingshemightregret.Duringthequiethoursofthenightshelayawakeconsideringideas.

AdollarortwocouldbeaddedtothepricesheusuallypaidforherdaughterJanie'sshoes.Thiswouldguaranteetheywouldlastagreatdeallongerthanusual.Shewouldbuyclothfornewshirtsfortheboys.HerdaughterMagshouldhaveanotherdress.Andstilltherewouldbeenoughleftfornewstockings—twopairsperchild.Whattimethatwouldsaveherinalwaysrepairingoldstockings!Theideaofherlittlefamilylookingfreshandnewforonceintheirlivesmadeherrestlesswithexcitement.

Theneighborssometimestalkedofthe"betterdays"thatlittleMissusSommershadknownbeforeshehadeverthoughtofbeingMissusSommers.Sheherselfneverlookedbacktoheryoungerdays.Shehadnotimetothinkaboutthepast.Theneedsofthepresenttookallherenergy.(MUSIC)

MissusSommersknewthevalueoffindingthingsforsaleatreducedprices.Shecouldstandforhoursmakingherwaylittlebylittletowardthedesiredobjectthatwassellingbelowcost.Shecouldpushherwayifneedbe.

Butthatdayshewastiredandalittlebitweak.Shehadeatenalightmeal—no!Shethoughtaboutherday.Betweengettingthechildrenfedandthehousecleaned,andpreparingherselftogoshopping,shehadforgottentoeatatall!

一双长丝袜-凯特-肖邦

Whenshearrivedatthelargedepartmentstore,shesatinfrontofanemptycounter.Shewastryingtogatherstrengthandcouragetopushthroughamassofbusyshoppers.Sherestedherhanduponthecounter.

Sheworenogloves.Sheslowlygrewawarethatherhandhadfeltsomethingverypleasanttotouch.Shelookeddowntoseethatherhandlayuponapileofsilkstockings.Asignnearbyannouncedthattheyhadbeenreducedinprice.Ayounggirlwhostoodbehindthecounteraskedherifshewishedtoexaminethesilkylegcoverings.

Shesmiledasifshehadbeenaskedtoinspectdiamondjewelrywiththeaimofpurchasingit.Butshewentonfeelingthesoft,costlyitems.Nowsheusedbothhands,holdingthestockingsuptoseethelightshinethroughthem.

Tworedmarkssuddenlyshowedonherpaleface.Shelookedupattheshopgirl.

"Doyouthinkthereareanysizeeights-and-a-halfamongthese?"

Therewereagreatnumberofstockingsinhersize.MissusSommerschoseablackpairandlookedatthemclosely.

"Adollarandninety-eightcents,"shesaidaloud."Well,Iwillbuythispair."

Shehandedthegirlafivedollarbillandwaitedforherchangeandthewrappedboxwiththestockings.Whataverysmallboxitwas!Itseemedlostinherwornoldshoppingbag.

MissusSommersthentooktheelevatorwhichcarriedhertoanupperfloorintotheladies'restarea.Inanemptycorner,shereplacedhercottonstockingsforthenewsilkones.

Forthefirsttimesheseemedtobetakingarestfromthetiringactofthought.Shehadletherselfbecontrolledbysomemachine-likeforcethatdirectedheractionsandfreedherofresponsibility.

Howgoodwasthetouchofthesilkonherskin!Shefeltlikelyingbackinthesoftchairandenjoyingtherichnessofit.Shedidforalittlewhile.Thensheputhershoesbackonandputheroldstockingsintoherbag.Next,shewenttotheshoedepartment,satdownandwaitedtobefitted.Theyoungshoesalesmanwasunabletoguessaboutherbackground.Hecouldnotresolveherworn,oldshoeswithherbeautiful,newstockings.Shetriedonapairofnewboots.

Sheheldbackherskirtsandturnedherfeetonewayandherheadanotherwayasshelookeddownattheshiny,pointedboots.Herfootandanklelookedverylovely.Shecouldnotbelievethattheywereapartofherself.Shetoldtheyoungsalesmanthatshewantedanexcellentandstylishfit.Shesaidshedidnotmindpayingextraaslongasshegotwhatshedesired.

一双长丝袜-凯特-肖邦

Afterbuyingthenewboots,shewenttotheglovedepartment.ItwasalongtimesinceMissusSommershadbeenfittedwithgloves.Whenshehadboughtapairtheywerealways"bargains,"socheapthatitwouldhavebeenunreasonabletohaveexpectedthemtobefittedtoherhand.

Nowsherestedherarmonthecounterwheregloveswereforsale.Ayoungshopgirldrewasoft,leathergloveoverMissusSommers'shand.Shesmootheditdownoverthewristandbuttoneditneatly.Bothwomenlostthemselvesforasecondortwoastheyquietlypraisedthelittleglovedhand.

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Therewereotherplaceswheremoneymightbespent.Astoredownthestreetsoldbooksandmagazines.MissusSommersboughttwocostlymagazinesthatsheusedtoreadbackwhenshehadbeenabletoenjoyotherpleasantthings.

Sheliftedherskirtsasshecrossedthestreet.Hernewstockingsandbootsandgloveshadworkedwondersforherappearance.Theyhadgivenherafeelingofsatisfaction,asenseofbelongingtothewell-dressedcrowds.

Shewasveryhungry.Anothertimeshewouldhaveignoredthedesireforfooduntilreachingherownhome.Buttheforcethatwasguidingherwouldnotpermithertoactonsuchathought.

Therewasarestaurantatthecorner.Shehadneverentereditsdoors.Shehadsometimeslookedthroughthewindows.Shehadnotedthewhitetablecloths,shiningglassesandwaitersservingwealthypeople.

Whensheentered,herappearancecreatednosurpriseorconcern,asshehadhalffeareditmight.Sheseatedherselfatasmalltable.Awaitercameatoncetotakeherorder.Sheorderedsixoysters,achop,somethingsweet,aglassofwineandacupofcoffee.Whilewaitingtobeservedsheremovedherglovesveryslowlyandsetthembesideher.Thenshepickeduphermagazineandlookedthroughit.

Itwasallveryagreeable.Thetableclothswereevenmorecleanandwhitethantheyhadseemedthroughthewindow.Andthecrystaldrinkingglassesshinedevenmorebrightly.Therewereladiesandgentlemen,whodidnotnoticeher,lunchingatthesmalltableslikeherown.

Apleasingpieceofmusiccouldbeheard,andagentlewindwasblowingthroughthewindow.Shetastedabite,andshereadawor …… 此处隐藏：5050字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……