登陆注册
15465600000023

第23章 CHAPTER IX THE DINNER(1)

The dinner at the Casserols' was given to those of the bride's friends who had been conspicuous in the day's festivities. Shelton found himself between Miss Casserol and a lady undressed to much the same degree. Opposite sat a man with a single diamond stud, a white waistcoat, black moustache, and hawk-like face. This was, in fact, one of those interesting houses occupied by people of the upper middle class who have imbibed a taste for smart society. Its inhabitants, by nature acquisitive and cautious, economical, tenacious, had learnt to worship the word "smart." The result was a kind of heavy froth, an air of thoroughly domestic vice. In addition to the conventionally fast, Shelton had met there one or two ladies, who, having been divorced, or having yet to be, still maintained their position in "society." Divorced ladies who did not so maintain their place were never to be found, for the Casserols had a great respect for marriage. He had also met there American ladies who were "too amusing"--never, of course, American men, Mesopotamians of the financial or the racing type, and several of those gentlemen who had been, or were about to be, engaged in a transaction which might or again might not, "come off," and in conduct of an order which might, or again might not be spotted. The line he knew, was always drawn at those in any category who were actually found out, for the value of these ladies and these gentlemen was not their claim to pity--nothing so sentimental--but their "smartness," clothes, jokes, racing tips, their "bridge parties," and their motors.

In sum, the house was one whose fundamental domesticity attracted and sheltered those who were too "smart" to keep their heads for long above the water.

His host, a grey, clean-shaven city man, with a long upper lip, was trying to understand a lady the audacity of whose speech came ringing down the table. Shelton himself had given up the effort with his neighbours, and made love to his dinner, which, surviving the incoherence of the atmosphere, emerged as a work of art. It was with surprise that he found Miss Casserol addressing him.

"I always say that the great thing is to be jolly. If you can't find anything to make you laugh, pretend you do; it's so much 'smarter to be amusin'. Now don't you agree?"The philosophy seemed excellent.

"We can't all be geniuses, but we can all look jolly."Shelton hastened to look jolly.

"I tell the governor, when he 's glum, that I shall put up the shutters and leave him. What's the good of mopin' and lookin' miserable? Are you going to the Four-in-Hand Meet? We're making a party. Such fun; all the smart people!"The splendour of her shoulders, her frizzy hair (clearly not two hours out of the barber's hands), might have made him doubtful; but the frank shrewdness in her eyes, and her carefully clipped tone of voice, were guarantees that she was part of the element at the table which was really quite respectable. He had never realised before how "smart" she was, and with an effort abandoned himself to a sort of gaiety that would have killed a Frenchman.

And when she left him, he reflected upon the expression of her eyes when they rested on a lady opposite, who was a true bird-of-prey.

同类推荐
  • MAGGIE

    MAGGIE

    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。
  • 古音王传

    古音王传

    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。
  • 憨休禅师语录

    憨休禅师语录

    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。
  • H069

    H069

    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。
  • 大蕃沙洲释门教法和尚洪辩修功德记

    大蕃沙洲释门教法和尚洪辩修功德记

    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
  • 星球改造计划

    星球改造计划

    地面太拥挤?没关系!拥有反重力技术,我们可以在空中造城!污染太严重?没问题!再生循环系统,足以实现全球自我净化!至于看病难,这更是小儿科了!纳米修复仓加上基因药剂,绝症不再是威胁,甚至于寿命的长短,也不能桎梏我们的发展!粮食不缺!能源充足!军事先进!我们现在面临的最大问题,就是人口不足!这么大一个星球,仅仅不到300亿人口!这严重制约了我们星际殖民计划的进行!所以诸位,我恳请你们努力造.人吧!----------------------------------------------自从杨哲捡了只肥兔儿回家,整个世界的画风都开始变了!PS:这是骚年在一只二逼肥兔儿引领下制霸宇宙的欢乐故事!
  • 爱的乒乓变奏曲

    爱的乒乓变奏曲

    从一开始,我们就注定相遇、相恋,只是说不清、道不明。一句告白,打破了水面的平静,从此漾起波澜。隐隐约约的爱,在不知不觉中,慢慢生了根。直到分离,才后知后觉。在经历了那么多坎坷的我们,还能无所畏惧、无所牵挂的相恋吗?无论我爱的是谁,爱我的是谁,我都要谢谢那群“笨蛋”,在我的生命中出现过,让我曾经看到过天堂的模样……
  • 曼珠沙华∶深宫美人泪

    曼珠沙华∶深宫美人泪

    她;几经苦楚却始终不能与之相守、她两朝为妃、却始终不是他们的最爱、而她和他就只是他争夺皇位的棋子、而这一切都是他的阴谋、在她以为她可以和心爱之人在一起之时、却又再一次不得不奉旨入宫、她和他能否在这深宫再续前缘、宫妃斗争她能否置身事外、他跟她又该何去何从、后宫一个女人不想作战却别无选择的战场……上官鑫儿为你讲述一个古代宫庭最悲情的故事……
  • What Diantha Did

    What Diantha Did

    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。
  • 谁可倾国之乱世小花

    谁可倾国之乱世小花

    她有两个倾城绝色的姐姐一个母仪天下,美艳绝伦,却被人横刀夺爱,芳魂恨归一个聪慧无双,妩媚天下,却难逃家国飘零,折辱落泥她还有一个英姿飒爽的童年好友,身踏铁骑,指点江山,风云变色,横扫天下,论色、论才、论情、论义,千古风流,终被雨打风吹去,只道是这男人的天下,却为女子倾国。等待、寻觅、创造、掌控,我的幸福谁可独断,只看这倾城小花,于乱世中找寻属于自己的人生和幸福。
  • 混沌异域

    混沌异域

    三个从地球意外穿越到异域的三兄弟,一个成为魔族新主,一个成为了人族新主,还有一个啊,他是:卖个关子,异域之旅,与您共享,反正就是脑洞之作。
  • 十方星空

    十方星空

    天地之始!东来紫气!耀眼星空!血染衣襟!在诸强争霸的武道中,少年披荆斩棘,踏破星空,触摸混沌!一切的一切是冥冥之中的定数,还是有幕后操纵的主谋?这所有的一切都将颠覆甚至超出人们的认知.
  • 巫山传

    巫山传

    五百年前巫神离世,巫洲大陆分为四大巫国。此后每百年巫神遗骨现世一次。前四百年四大巫国各得一骨,这第五百年各国大巫师预测巫神遗骨将现世于中立之地----巫神谷。立志于周游大陆的毫无巫术的宋小坟,不小心被灵媒鬼婆子所擒并与一美貌女尸结为“夫妻”,无奈跟随鬼婆子踏上了通往巫神谷的道路,一段传奇也就此展开!
  • 乱道争天传

    乱道争天传

    八个平凡的小青年碰上一个人畜无害的鬼意味着什么?没错,意味着见鬼!也意味着科学和怪力乱神的争斗从未停歇。为什么?是因为道不全,这天,是残天!需打乱重建!人类的起源,妖魔鬼怪的流传,地球的局面…一切的一切,且看马长风和八个好朋友如何乱道争天,破解渊源!
  • 火澜

    火澜

    当一个现代杀手之王穿越到这个世界。是隐匿,还是崛起。一场血雨腥风的传奇被她改写。一条无上的强者之路被她踏破。修斗气,炼元丹,收兽宠,化神器,大闹皇宫,炸毁学院,打死院长,秒杀狗男女,震惊大陆。无止尽的契约能力,上古神兽,千年魔兽,纷纷前来抱大腿,惊傻世人。她说:在我眼里没有好坏之分,只有强弱之分,只要你能打败我,这世间所有都是你的,打不败我,就从这世间永远消失。她狂,她傲,她的目标只有一个,就是凌驾这世间一切之上。三国皇帝,魔界妖王,冥界之主,仙界至尊。到底谁才是陪着她走到最后的那个?他说:上天入地,我会陪着你,你活着,有我,你死,也一定有我。本文一对一,男强女强,强强联手,不喜勿入。