The End of the Party Graham greene Peter Morton woke with a start to face the first light. Rain tapped against the glass. It january the fifth He looked across a table on which a night-light had guttered into a pool of water, at the other bed. Francis Morton was still asleep, and Peter lay down again with his eyes on his brother It amused him to imagine it was himself whom he watched, the same hair, the same eyes, the same lips and line of cheek. But the thought palled, and the mind went back to the fact which lent the day importance. It was the fifth of January. He could hardly believe a year had passed since Mrs Henne-Falcon had given her last children,s party Francis turned suddenly upon his back and threw an arm across his face, blocking his mouth Peter's heart began to beat fast, not with pleasure now but with uneasiness. He sat up and called across the table, "Wake up. " Francis's shoulders shook and he waved a clenched fist in the air, but his eyes remained closed. To Peter Morton the whole room seemed to darken, and he had the impression of a great bird swooping. He cried again, "Wake up, "and once more there was silver light and the touch of rain on the windows Francis rubbed his eyes. "Did you call out? "he asked You are having a bad dream, Peter said. Already experience had taught him how far their minds reflected each other. But he was the elder, by a matter of minutes, and that brief extra interval of light, while his brother still struggled in pain and darkness, had given him self-reliance and an instinct of protection towards the other who was afraid of so many things I dreamed that i was dead francis said What was it like? Peter asked I cant remember "Francis said You dreamed of a big bird The two lay silent in bed facing each other, the same green eyes, the same nose tilting at the ip, the same firm lips, and the same premature modelling of the chin. The fifth of January, Pete thought again, his mind drifting idly from the image of cakes to the prizes which might be won Egg-and-spoon races, spearing apples in basins of water, blind mans buff I don' t want to go, "Francis said suddenly. "I suppose Joyce will be there.. Mabel Warren Hateful to him, the thought of a party shared with those two. They were older than he. Joyce was eleven and Mabel Warren thirteen. The long pigtails swung superciliously to a masculine stride Their sex humiliated him, as they watched him fumble with his egg, from under lowered scornful lids. And last year... he turned his face away from Peter, his cheeks scarlet night-lght:夜间照明灯(或烛光):夜灯 2 Swooping:鸟或飞机向下俯冲,尤指为了袭击 3 Already experience had taught him how far their minds reflected each other:意指根据从前两人心灵感应的经 验, Peter很清楚弟弟 francis做了噩梦 4 a matter of minutes:仅仅几分钟。 an instinct of protection:保护人的本能 6 Egg-and- spoon races, spearing apples in basins of water, blind man's buff:汤匙盛蛋赛跑,水中刺苹果,捉迷 藏等游戏 7 The long pigtails swung superciliously to a masculine stride:她们的长马尾辫颇有男子气概地倨傲甩动 8 fumble with:笨手笨脚地摆弄
1 The End of the Party By Graham Greene Peter Morton woke with a start to face the first light. Rain tapped against the glass. It was January the fifth. He looked across a table on which a night-light1 had guttered into a pool of water, at the other bed. Francis Morton was still asleep, and Peter lay down again with his eyes on his brother. It amused him to imagine it was himself whom he watched, the same hair, the same eyes, the same lips and line of cheek. But the thought palled, and the mind went back to the fact which lent the day importance. It was the fifth of January. He could hardly believe a year had passed since Mrs Henne-Falcon had given her last children's party. Francis turned suddenly upon his back and threw an arm across his face, blocking his mouth. Peter's heart began to beat fast, not with pleasure now but with uneasiness. He sat up and called across the table, "Wake up." Francis's shoulders shook and he waved a clenched fist in the air, but his eyes remained closed. To Peter Morton the whole room seemed to darken, and he had the impression of a great bird swooping2 . He cried again, "Wake up," and once more there was silver light and the touch of rain on the windows. Francis rubbed his eyes. "Did you call out?"' he asked. "You are having a bad dream," Peter said. Already experience had taught him how far their minds reflected each other3 . But he was the elder, by a matter of minutes4 , and that brief extra interval of light, while his brother still struggled in pain and darkness, had given him self-reliance and an instinct of protection5 towards the other who was afraid of so many things. "I dreamed that I was dead," Francis said. "What was it like?"' Peter asked. "I can't remember," Francis said. "You dreamed of a big bird." "Did I?" The two lay silent in bed facing each other, the same green eyes, the same nose tilting at the tip, the same firm lips, and the same premature modelling of the chin. The fifth of January, Peter thought again, his mind drifting idly from the image of cakes to the prizes which might be won. Egg-and-spoon races, spearing apples in basins of water, blind man's buff6 . "I don't want to go," Francis said suddenly. "I suppose Joyce will be there ... Mabel Warren." Hateful to him, the thought of a party shared with those two. They were older than he. Joyce was eleven and Mabel Warren thirteen. The long pigtails swung superciliously to a masculine stride.7 Their sex humiliated him, as they watched him fumble with8 his egg, from under lowered scornful lids. And last year ... he turned his face away from Peter, his cheeks scarlet. 1 night-light: 夜间照明灯(或烛光)；夜灯。 2 Swooping: 鸟或飞机向下俯冲，尤指为了袭击。 3 Already experience had taught him how far their minds reflected each other: 意指根据从前两人心灵感应的经 验，Peter 很清楚弟弟 Francis 做了噩梦。 4 a matter of minutes: 仅仅几分钟。 5 an instinct of protection: 保护人的本能。 6 Egg-and-spoon races, spearing apples in basins of water, blind man's buff: 汤匙盛蛋赛跑，水中刺苹果，捉迷 藏等游戏。 7 The long pigtails swung superciliously to a masculine stride: 她们的长马尾辫颇有男子气概地倨傲甩动。 8 fumble with: 笨手笨脚地摆弄
What's the matter? Peter asked "Oh, nothing. I dont think I'm well. I've got a cold. I oughtn't to go to the party Peter was puzzled "But Francis, is it a bad cold? Then you mustn't go, Peter said, prepared to solve all difficulties with one plain sentence and Francis let his nerves relax, ready to leave everything to Peter. But though he was grateful he did not turn his face towards his brother. His cheeks still bore the badge of a shameful memory, of the game of hide and seek last year in the darkened house, and of how he had screamed when Mabel Warren put her hand suddenly upon his arm. He had not heard her coming. Girls were like that. Their shoes never squeaked. no boards whined under the tread. they slunk like cats ol When the nurse came in with hot water Francis lay tranquil leaving everything to Peter. Pete aid, " Nurse, Francis has got a cold The tall starched woman laid the towels across the cans and said without turning " The washing won't be back till tomorrow. You must lend him some of your handkerchiefs But, Nurse, " Peter asked, "hadn,'t he better stay in bed? Well take him for a good walk this morning, "the nurse said. " Wind'll blow away the germs. Get up now, both of you, and she closed the door behind her I'm sorry, Peter said. "Why dont you just stay in bed? I'll tell mother you felt too ill to get up But rebellion against destiny was not in Francis's power. If he stayed in bed they would come up d tap his chest and put a thermomete discover he was malingering. It was true he felt ill, a sick empty sensation in his stomach and a apidly beating heart, but he knew the cause was only fear, fear of the party, fear of being made to hide by himself in the dark, uncompanioned by Peter and with no night-light to make a blessed No, I'll get up, "he said, and then with sudden desperation, "But I won't go to Mrs Henne-Falcon's party. I swear on the bible I wont. Now surely all would be well, he thought. God would not allow him to break so solemn an oath. He would show him a way. There was all the morning before him and all the afternoon until four o'clock. No need to worry when the grass was still crisp with the early frost. Anything might happen. He might cut himself or break his leg or really catch bad cold. God would manage somehow He had such confidence in God that when at breakfast his mother said, "I hear you have a cold, Francis, " he made light of it. "We should have heard more about it " his mother said with irony, " if there was not a party this evening, and Francis smiled, amazed and daunted by her orance of him His happiness would have lasted longer if, out for a walk that morning, he had not met Joyce He was alone with his nurse. for Peter had leave to finish a rabbit-hutch'2 in the woodshed. If Peter had been there he would have cared less the nurse was peter's nurse al so but now it was as though she were employed only for his sake, because he could not be trusted to go for a walk alone. Joyce was only two years older and she was by herself. She came striding towards them, pigtails flapping. She glanced scornfully at Francis and ° padded claws:有着肉垫的脚爪 malingering:装病,尤指为逃避工作,这里指逃避参加生日派对 make light of:对某事满不在乎。 12 rabbit-hutch:兔笼,兔棚
2 "What's the matter?"' Peter asked. "Oh, nothing. I don't think I'm well. I've got a cold. I oughtn't to go to the party." Peter was puzzled. "But Francis, is it a bad cold?" "It will be a bad cold if I go to the party. Perhaps I shall die." "Then you mustn't go," Peter said, prepared to solve all difficulties with one plain sentence, and Francis let his nerves relax, ready to leave everything to Peter. But though he was grateful he did not turn his face towards his brother. His cheeks still bore the badge of a shameful memory, of the game of hide and seek last year in the darkened house, and of how he had screamed when Mabel Warren put her hand suddenly upon his arm. He had not heard her coming. Girls were like that. Their shoes never squeaked. No boards whined under the tread. They slunk like cats on padded claws9 . When the nurse came in with hot water Francis lay tranquil leaving everything to Peter. Peter said, "Nurse, Francis has got a cold." The tall starched woman laid the towels across the cans and said, without turning, "The washing won't be back till tomorrow. You must lend him some of your handkerchiefs." "But, Nurse," Peter asked, "hadn't he better stay in bed?" "We'll take him for a good walk this morning," the nurse said. "Wind'll blow away the germs. Get up now, both of you," and she closed the door behind her. "I'm sorry," Peter said. "Why don't you just stay in bed? I'll tell mother you felt too ill to get up." But rebellion against destiny was not in Francis's power. If he stayed in bed they would come up and tap his chest and put a thermometer in his mouth and look at his tongue, and they would discover he was malingering10. It was true he felt ill, a sick empty sensation in his stomach and a rapidly beating heart, but he knew the cause was only fear, fear of the party, fear of being made to hide by himself in the dark, uncompanioned by Peter and with no night-light to make a blessed breach. "No, I'll get up," he said, and then with sudden desperation, "But I won't go to Mrs Henne-Falcon's party. I swear on the Bible I won't." Now surely all would be well, he thought. God would not allow him to break so solemn an oath. He would show him a way. There was all the morning before him and all the afternoon until four o'clock. No need to worry when the grass was still crisp with the early frost. Anything might happen. He might cut himself or break his leg or really catch a bad cold. God would manage somehow. He had such confidence in God that when at breakfast his mother said, "I hear you have a cold, Francis," he made light of11it. "We should have heard more about it," his mother said with irony, "if there was not a party this evening," and Francis smiled, amazed and daunted by her ignorance of him. His happiness would have lasted longer if, out for a walk that morning, he had not met Joyce. He was alone with his nurse, for Peter had leave to finish a rabbit-hutch12 in the woodshed. If Peter had been there he would have cared less; the nurse was Peter's nurse also, but now it was as though she were employed only for his sake, because he could not be trusted to go for a walk alone. Joyce was only two years older and she was by herself. She came striding towards them, pigtails flapping. She glanced scornfully at Francis and 9 padded claws: 有着肉垫的脚爪。 10 malingering: 装病，尤指为逃避工作，这里指逃避参加生日派对。 11 make light of: 对某事满不在乎。 12 rabbit-hutch: 兔笼，兔棚
spoke with ostentation to the nurse. "Hello, Nurse. Are you bringing Francis to the party this evening? Mabel and I are coming. " And she was off again down the street in the direction of Mabel Warrens home, consciously alone and self-sufficient 3 in the long empty road Such a nice girl, "the nurse said. But Francis was silent, feeling again the jump-jump of his eart, realizing how soon the hour of the party would arrive. God had done nothing for him, and the minutes flew They flew too quickly to plan any evasion, or even to prepare his heart for the coming ordeal Panic nearly overcame him when, all unready, he found himself standing on the doorstep, with coat-collar turned up against a cold wind, and the nurse's electric torch making a short trail through the darkness. Behind him were the lights of the hall and the sound of a servant laying the table for dinner, which his mother and father would eat alone. He was nearly overcome by the desire to run back into the house and call out to his mother that he would not go to the party, that he dared not go. They could not make him go. He could almost hear himself saying those final words, breaking down for ever the barrier of ignorance which saved his mind from his parents knowledge. "Im afraid of going. I won't go I daren't go. They'll make me hide in the dark, and I'm afraid of the dark. I'll scream and scream and scream He could see the expression of amazement on his mother's face, and then the cold confidence of a grown-ups retort. "Dont be silly. You must go. We've accepted Mrs Henne-Falcon's But they couldn,'t make him go, hesitating on the doorstep while the nurse's feet crunched across the frost-covered grass to the gate, he knew that. He would answer: "You can say I'm ill. I wont go. I'm afraid of the dark And his mother: " Don't be silly. You know there's nothing to be afraid of in the dark, But he knew the falsity of that reasoning, he knew how they taught also that there was nothing to fear in death, and how fearfully they avoided the idea of it. But they couldnt make him go to the party. "I'll scream. I'll scream Francis, come along "He heard the nurse's voice across the dimly phosphorescent lawn and saw the yellow circle of her torch wheel from tree to shrub. " I'm coming "he called with despair he couldn't bring himself to lay barel6 his last secrets and end reserve between his mother and himself, for there was still in the last resort! a further appeal possible to Mrs Henne -Falcon. He comforted himself with that, as he advanced steadily across the hall, very small, towards her enormous bulk. His heart beat unevenly, but he had control now over his voice, as he said with meticulous accent, "Good evening, Mrs Henne- Falcon. It was very good of you to ask me to your party. With his strained face lifted towards the curve of her breasts, and his polite set speech, he was like an old withered man. As a twin he was in many ways an only child. To address Peter was to speak to his own image in a mirror, an image a little altered by a flaw in the glass, so as to throw back less a likeness of what he was than of what he wished to be. what he would be without his unreasoning fear of darkness, footsteps of strangers, the flight of bats in dusk -filled gardens Sweet child, said Mrs Henne-Falcon absent-mindedly, before, with a wave of her arms, as though the children were a flock of chickens, she whirled them into her set programme of 13 self-sufficient:妄自尊大的 14 for ever:.英式用法,同 forever 15 the barrier of ignorance which saved his mind from his parents' knowledge:父母的无知使得他们对弗朗西斯 的想法一无所知。 lay bare:暴露、揭露 17 in the last resort作为最后的一招
3 spoke with ostentation to the nurse. "Hello, Nurse. Are you bringing Francis to the party this evening? Mabel and I are coming." And she was off again down the street in the direction of Mabel Warren's home, consciously alone and self-sufficient13 in the long empty road. "Such a nice girl," the nurse said. But Francis was silent, feeling again the jump-jump of his heart, realizing how soon the hour of the party would arrive. God had done nothing for him, and the minutes flew. They flew too quickly to plan any evasion, or even to prepare his heart for the coming ordeal. Panic nearly overcame him when, all unready, he found himself standing on the doorstep, with coat- collar turned up against a cold wind, and the nurse's electric torch making a short trail through the darkness. Behind him were the lights of the hall and the sound of a servant laying the table for dinner, which his mother and father would eat alone. He was nearly overcome by the desire to run back into the house and call out to his mother that he would not go to the party, that he dared not go. They could not make him go. He could almost hear himself saying those final words, breaking down for ever14 the barrier of ignorance which saved his mind from his parents' knowledge.15 "I'm afraid of going. I won't go. I daren't go. They'll make me hide in the dark, and I'm afraid of the dark. I'll scream and scream and scream." He could see the expression of amazement on his mother's face, and then the cold confidence of a grown- up's retort. "Don't be silly. You must go. We've accepted Mrs Henne-Falcon's invitation." But they couldn't make him go; hesitating on the doorstep while the nurse's feet crunched across the frost-covered grass to the gate, he knew that. He would answer: "You can say I'm ill. I won't go. I'm afraid of the dark." And his mother: "Don't be silly. You know there's nothing to be afraid of in the dark." But he knew the falsity of that reasoning; he knew how they taught also that there was nothing to fear in death, and how fearfully they avoided the idea of it. But they couldn't make him go to the party. "I'll scream. I'll scream." "Francis, come along." He heard the nurse's voice across the dimly phosphorescent lawn and saw the yellow circle of her torch wheel from tree to shrub. "I'm coming," he called with despair; he couldn't bring himself to lay bare16 his last secrets and end reserve between his mother and himself, for there was still in the last resort17 a further appeal possible to Mrs Henne- Falcon. He comforted himself with that, as he advanced steadily across the hall, very small, towards her enormous bulk. His heart beat unevenly, but he had control now over his voice, as he said with meticulous accent, "Good evening, Mrs Henne-Falcon. It was very good of you to ask me to your party." With his strained face lifted towards the curve of her breasts, and his polite set speech, he was like an old withered man. As a twin he was in many ways an only child. To address Peter was to speak to his own image in a mirror, an image a little altered by a flaw in the glass, so as to throw back less a likeness of what he was than of what he wished to be, what he would be without his unreasoning fear of darkness, footsteps of strangers, the flight of bats in dusk-filled gardens. "Sweet child," said Mrs Henne-Falcon absent-mindedly, before, with a wave of her arms, as though the children were a flock of chickens, she whirled them into her set programme of 13 self-sufficient: 妄自尊大的。 14 for ever: 英式用法，同 forever。 15 the barrier of ignorance which saved his mind from his parents' knowledge: 父母的无知使得他们对弗朗西斯 的想法一无所知。 16 lay bare: 暴露、揭露。 17 in the last resort: 作为最后的一招
entertainments: egg-and-spoon races, three-legged races, the spearing of apples, games which held for Francis nothing worse than humiliation. And in the frequent intervals when nothing was equired of him and he could stand alone in corners as far removed as possible from Mabel Warrens scornful gaze, he was able to plan how he might avoid the approaching terror of the dark He knew there was nothing to fear until after tea, and not until he was sitting down in a pool of yellow radiance cast by the ten candles on Colin Henne- Falcon's birthday cake did he become fully conscious of the imminence of what he feared. He heard Joyces high voice down the table, 'After tea we are going to play hide and seek in the dark Oh, no, "Peter said, watching Franciss troubled face, "dont let's. We play that every year But it's in the programme, "cried Mabel Warren. "I saw it myself. I looked over Mrs Henne-Falcon's shoulder. Five o'clock tea a quarter to six to half past, hide and seek in the dark It's all written down in the programme Peter did not argue, for if hide and seek had been inserted in Mrs Henne- Falcons programme, nothing which he could say would avert it He asked for another piece of birthday cake and sipped his tea slowly. Perhaps it might be possible to delay the game for a quarter of an hour, allow Francis at least a few extra minutes to form a plan, but even in that Peter failed, for children were already leaving the table in twos and threes. It was his third failure, and again he saw a great bird darken his brother,s face with its wings. But he upbraided himself silently for his folly, and finished his cake encouraged by the memory of that adult refrain, "Theres nothing to fear in the dark. " The last to leave the table. the brothers came together to the hall to meet the mustering and impatient eyes of Mrs Henne- Falcon And now, "she said, "we will play hide and seek in the dark Peter watched his brother and saw the lips tighten, Francis, he knew, had feared this moment from the beginning of the party, had tried to meet it with courage and had abandoned the attempt He must have prayed for cunning to evade the game, which was now welcomed with cries of excitement by all the other children. Oh, do let's ""We must pick sides. ""Is any of the house out of bounds? t"Where shall home be? I think, "said Francis Morton, approaching Mrs Henne-Falcon, his eyes focused unwaveringly on her exuberant breasts, "it will be no use my playing My nurse will be calling for me very soon. Oh, but your nurse can wait Francis, " said Mrs Henne-Falcon, while she clapped her hands together to summon to her side a few children who were already straying up the wide staircase to upper floors. Your mother will never mind That had been the limit of francis's cunning %. He had refused to believe that so well prepared an excuse could fail. All that he could say now, still in the precise tone which other children hated, thinking it a symbol of conceit, was, "I think I had better not play. "He stood motionless, retaining, though afraid unmoved features. but the knowledge of his terror, or the reflection of the terror itself, reached his brother's brain For the moment peter Morton could have cried aloud with the fear of bright lights going out, leaving him alone in an island of dark surrounded by the gentle lapping of strange footsteps. Then he remembered that the fear was not is own, but his brother's. He said impulsively20 to Mrs Henne-Falcon, "Please, I don't think 18 Imminence:迫近的危险。 ng:狡黠、诡诈 20 impulsively 冲动地
4 entertainments: egg-and-spoon races, three-legged races, the spearing of apples, games which held for Francis nothing worse than humiliation. And in the frequent intervals when nothing was required of him and he could stand alone in corners as far removed as possible from Mabel Warren's scornful gaze, he was able to plan how he might avoid the approaching terror of the dark. He knew there was nothing to fear until after tea, and not until he was sitting down in a pool of yellow radiance cast by the ten candles on Colin Henne- Falcon's birthday cake did he become fully conscious of the imminence18 of what he feared. He heard Joyce's high voice down the table, "After tea we are going to play hide and seek in the dark." "Oh, no," Peter said, watching Francis's troubled face, "don't let's. We play that every year." "But it's in the programme," cried Mabel Warren. "I saw it myself. I looked over Mrs Henne-Falcon's shoulder. Five o'clock tea. A quarter to six to half past, hide and seek in the dark. It's all written down in the programme." Peter did not argue, for if hide and seek had been inserted in Mrs Henne- Falcon's programme, nothing which he could say would avert it. He asked for another piece of birthday cake and sipped his tea slowly. Perhaps it might be possible to delay the game for a quarter of an hour, allow Francis at least a few extra minutes to form a plan, but even in that Peter failed, for children were already leaving the table in twos and threes. It was his third failure, and again he saw a great bird darken his brother's face with its wings. But he upbraided himself silently for his folly, and finished his cake encouraged by the memory of that adult refrain, "There's nothing to fear in the dark." The last to leave the table, the brothers came together to the hall to meet the mustering and impatient eyes of Mrs Henne- Falcon. "And now," she said, "we will play hide and seek in the dark." Peter watched his brother and saw the lips tighten. Francis, he knew, had feared this moment from the beginning of the party, had tried to meet it with courage and had abandoned the attempt. He must have prayed for cunning to evade the game, which was now welcomed with cries of excitement by all the other children. "Oh, do let's." "We must pick sides." "Is any of the house out of bounds?"' "Where shall home be?"' "I think," said Francis Morton, approaching Mrs Henne-Falcon, his eyes focused unwaveringly on her exuberant breasts, "it will be no use my playing. My nurse will be calling for me very soon." "Oh, but your nurse can wait, Francis," said Mrs Henne-Falcon, while she clapped her hands together to summon to her side a few children who were already straying up the wide staircase to upper floors. "Your mother will never mind." That had been the limit of Francis's cunning19. He had refused to believe that so wellprepared an excuse could fail. All that he could say now, still in the precise tone which other children hated, thinking it a symbol of conceit, was, "I think I had better not play." He stood motionless, retaining, though afraid, unmoved features. But the knowledge of his terror, or the reflection of the terror itself, reached his brother's brain. For the moment, Peter Morton could have cried aloud with the fear of bright lights going out, leaving him alone in an island of dark surrounded by the gentle lappings of strange footsteps. Then he remembered that the fear was not his own, but his brother's. He said impulsively20 to Mrs Henne-Falcon, "Please, I don't think 18 imminence: 迫近的危险。 19 cunning: 狡黠、诡诈。 20 impulsively: 冲动地
Francis should play. The dark makes him jump so. "They were the wrong words. Six children began to sing, "Cowardycowardy custard i, "turning torturing faces with the vacancy of wide sunflowers towards Francis morton Without looking at his brother, Francis said, "Of course I'll play. I'm not afraid, I only thought .. "But he was already forgotten by his human tormentors. The children scrambled round Mrs Henne- Falcon, their shrill voices pecking at her with questions and suggestions cupboards. You must stay hidden as long as you can. There will be no home,ou Yes, anywhere in the house. We will turn out all the lights. Yes, you can hide in the Peter stood apart, ashamed of the clumsy manner in which he had tried to help his brother Now he could feel, creeping in2 at the corners of his brain all Francis's resentment of h championing. Several children ran upstairs, and the lights on the top floor went out Darkness came down like the wings of a bat and settled on the landing. Others began to put out the lights at the edge of the hall, till the children were all gathered in the central radiance of the chandelier2 while the bats squatted round on hooded wings and waited for that, too, to be extinguished You and Francis are on the hiding side, " a tall girl said, and then the light was gone, and the carpet wavered under his feet with the sibilance of footfalls, like small cold draughts, creeping away into corners Where's Francis? "he wondered. "If I join him he'll be less frightened of all these sounds These sounds"were the casing of silence: the squeak of a loose board, the cautious closing of a cupboard door, the whine of a finger drawn along polished wood Peter stood in the centre of the dark deserted floor, not listening but waiting for the idea of his brother's whereabouts to enter his brain. But Francis crouched with fingers on his ears,eyes uselessly closed, mind numbed against impressions, and only a sense of strain could cross the gap of dark. Then a voice called"Coming", and as though his brother's self- possession had been shattered by the sudden cry, Peter Morton jumped with his fear. But it was not his own fear. What in his brother was a burning panic was in him an altruistic25 emotion that left the reason unimpaired. Where, if I were Francis, should I hide? "And because he was, if not Francis himself, at least a mirror to him, the answer was immediate. "Between the oak bookcase on the left of the tudy door, and the leather settee. " Between the twins there could be no jargon of telepathy. They ad been together in the womb, and they could not be parted Peter Morton tiptoed towards Francis's hiding-place Occasionally a board rattled, and because he feared to be caught by one of the soft questers through the dark, he bent and untied his laces. A tag struck the floor and the metallic sound set a host of cautious feet moving in his direction. But by that time he was in his stockings and would have laughed inwardly at the pursuit had not the noise of someone stumbling on his abandoned shoes made his heart trip. No more boards revealed Peter Morton's progre On stockinged feet he moved silently and unerringly towards his object Instinct told him he was near the wall, and, extending a hand, he laid the fingers across his brother's face Francis did not cry out, but the leap of his own heart revealed to Peter a proportion of 2 Cowardy cowardy custard:胆小鬼 2 creeping in:抑或 creep into,意旨开始发生或者开始影响 23 chandelier:枝型吊灯 24 draughts:穿堂风 25 altruistic:(指行为或动机)利他的,无私的 26 in his stockings:吃穿袜不穿鞋
5 Francis should play. The dark makes him jump so." They were the wrong words. Six children began to sing, "Cowardy cowardy custard21," turning torturing faces with the vacancy of wide sunflowers towards Francis Morton. Without looking at his brother, Francis said, "Of course I'll play. I'm not afraid, I only thought ..." But he was already forgotten by his human tormentors. The children scrambled round Mrs Henne- Falcon, their shrill voices pecking at her with questions and suggestions. "Yes, anywhere in the house. We will turn out all the lights. Yes, you can hide in the cupboards. You must stay hidden as long as you can. There will be no home." Peter stood apart, ashamed of the clumsy manner in which he had tried to help his brother. Now he could feel, creeping in22 at the corners of his brain, all Francis's resentment of his championing. Several children ran upstairs, and the lights on the top floor went out. Darkness came down like the wings of a bat and settled on the landing. Others began to put out the lights at the edge of the hall, till the children were all gathered in the central radiance of the chandelier23 , while the bats squatted round on hooded wings and waited for that, too, to be extinguished. "You and Francis are on the hiding side," a tall girl said, and then the light was gone, and the carpet wavered under his feet with the sibilance of footfalls, like small cold draughts24, creeping away into corners. "Where's Francis?"' he wondered. "If I join him he'll be less frightened of all these sounds." "These sounds" were the casing of silence: the squeak of a loose board, the cautious closing of a cupboard door, the whine of a finger drawn along polished wood. Peter stood in the centre of the dark deserted floor, not listening but waiting for the idea of his brother's whereabouts to enter his brain. But Francis crouched with fingers on his ears, eyes uselessly closed, mind numbed against impressions, and only a sense of strain could cross the gap of dark. Then a voice called "Coming", and as though his brother's self- possession had been shattered by the sudden cry, Peter Morton jumped with his fear. But it was not his own fear. What in his brother was a burning panic was in him an altruistic25 emotion that left the reason unimpaired. "Where, if I were Francis, should I hide?"' And because he was, if not Francis himself, at least a mirror to him, the answer was immediate. "Between the oak bookcase on the left of the study door, and the leather settee." Between the twins there could be no jargon of telepathy. They had been together in the womb, and they could not be parted. Peter Morton tiptoed towards Francis's hiding-place. Occasionally a board rattled, and because he feared to be caught by one of the soft questers through the dark, he bent and untied his laces. A tag struck the floor and the metallic sound set a host of cautious feet moving in his direction. But by that time he was in his stockings26 and would have laughed inwardly at the pursuit had not the noise of someone stumbling on his abandoned shoes made his heart trip. No more boards revealed Peter Morton's progress. On stockinged feet he moved silently and unerringly towards his object. Instinct told him he was near the wall, and, extending a hand, he laid the fingers across his brother's face. Francis did not cry out, but the leap of his own heart revealed to Peter a proportion of 21 Cowardy cowardy custard: 胆小鬼。 22 creeping in: 抑或 creep into,意旨开始发生或者开始影响。 23 chandelier: 枝型吊灯。 24 draughts: 穿堂风。 25 altruistic: (指行为或动机)利他的，无私的。 26 in his stockings: 吃穿袜不穿鞋
Franciss terror. "It's all right, " he whispered, feeling down the squatting figure until he captured a clenched hand. "It's only me. I'll stay with you. And grasping the other tightly, he listened to the le of whispers his utterance had caused to fall27. A hand touched the book-case close to head and he was aware of how Francis's fear continued in spite of his presence. It was less tense, more bearable, he hoped, but it remained. He knew that it was his brother's fear and not his own that he experienced. The dark to him was only an absence of light; the groping hand that of a familiar child. Patiently he waited to be found He did not speak again, for between Francis and himself was the most intimate communion By way of joined hands thought could flow more swiftly than lips could shape themselves round words. He could experience the whole progress of his brother's emotion, from the leap of panic at the unexpected contact to the steady pulse of fear, which now went on and on with the regularity of a heart-beat. Peter Morton thought with intensity, "I am here. You needn,'t be afraid. The lights will go on again soon. That rustle, that movement is nothing to fear. Only Joyce, only Mabel Warren. He bombarded the drooping form with thoughts of safety, but he was conscious that the fear continued. They are beginning to whisper together. They are tired of looking for us. The lights will go on soon. We shall have won. Don't be afraid. That was someone on the stairs. I believe it's Mrs Henne- Falcon. Listen. They are feeling for the lights. Feet moving on a carpet, hands brushing a wall, a curtain pulled apart, a clicking handle, the opening of a cupboard door. In the case above their heads a loose book shifted under a touch. "Only Joyce, only Mabel Warren, only Mrs Henne- Falcon, a crescendo 2of reassuring thought before the chandelier burst, like a fruit-tree into bloom The voice of the children rose shrilly into the radiance. "Wheres Peter? " Have you looked upstairs? Where's Francis? but they were silenced again by Mrs Henne-Falcon's scream. But she was not the first to notice Francis Morton's stillness, where he had collapsed against the wall at the touch of his brother's hand peter continued to hold the clenched fingers in an arid and izzled grief. It was not merely that his brother was dead His brain, too young to realize the full paradox, wondered with an obscure self- pity 0 why it was that the pulse of his brother's fear went on and on, when Francis was now where he had always been told there was no more terror and no more--darkness 赏析 《派对的终结》讲述了一对双胞胎兄弟 Peter和 Francis去参加 Henne- Falcon夫人为她儿子 Colin举办的生日派对,最终却以 Francis的死亡为 终结的悲剧。文中,弟弟 Francis对黑暗有着一种难以名状的极大恐惧,加之 年前留下的梦魇般的记忆,他从一开始便试图用各种理由作推脱来逃避晚上的派 对。然而除了与他心灵相通的双胞胎哥哥 Peter以外,他的母亲、保姆和 Henne- Falcon夫人等都没有察觉到这种致命的恐惧,尽管哥哥 Peter一直试图 27 the cascade of whispers his utterance had caused to fal: peter对 francis说的话充满了轻柔安抚 28 bombarded the drooping form with thoughts of safety: peter用安全感压抑驱散自己沮丧的心情 29 crescendo.渐强、高潮。 0 self- pity:自哀自怜。 6
6 Francis's terror. "It's all right," he whispered, feeling down the squatting figure until he captured a clenched hand. "It's only me. I'll stay with you." And grasping the other tightly, he listened to the cascade of whispers his utterance had caused to fall27 . A hand touched the book-case close to Peter's head and he was aware of how Francis's fear continued in spite of his presence. It was less intense, more bearable, he hoped, but it remained. He knew that it was his brother's fear and not his own that he experienced. The dark to him was only an absence of light; the groping hand that of a familiar child. Patiently he waited to be found. He did not speak again, for between Francis and himself was the most intimate communion. By way of joined hands thought could flow more swiftly than lips could shape themselves round words. He could experience the whole progress of his brother's emotion, from the leap of panic at the unexpected contact to the steady pulse of fear, which now went on and on with the regularity of a heart- beat. Peter Morton thought with intensity, "I am here. You needn't be afraid. The lights will go on again soon. That rustle, that movement is nothing to fear. Only Joyce, only Mabel Warren." He bombarded the drooping form with thoughts of safety28, but he was conscious that the fear continued. "They are beginning to whisper together. They are tired of looking for us. The lights will go on soon. We shall have won. Don't be afraid. That was someone on the stairs. I believe it's Mrs Henne- Falcon. Listen. They are feeling for the lights." Feet moving on a carpet, hands brushing a wall, a curtain pulled apart, a clicking handle, the opening of a cupboard door. In the case above their heads a loose book shifted under a touch. "Only Joyce, only Mabel Warren, only Mrs Henne- Falcon," a crescendo 29of reassuring thought before the chandelier burst, like a fruit-tree, into bloom. The voice of the children rose shrilly into the radiance. "Where's Peter?"' "Have you looked upstairs?"' "Where's Francis?"' but they were silenced again by Mrs Henne-Falcon's scream. But she was not the first to notice Francis Morton's stillness, where he had collapsed against the wall at the touch of his brother's hand. Peter continued to hold the clenched fingers in an arid and puzzled grief. It was not merely that his brother was dead. His brain, too young to realize the full paradox, wondered with an obscure self- pity30 why it was that the pulse of his brother's fear went on and on, when Francis was now where he had always been told there was no more terror and no more--darkness. 赏析 《派对的终结》讲述了一对双胞胎兄弟 Peter 和 Francis 去参加 Henne-Falcon 夫人为她儿子 Colin 举办的生日派对,最终却以 Francis 的死亡为 终结的悲剧。文中，弟弟 Francis 对黑暗有着一种难以名状的极大恐惧，加之一 年前留下的梦魇般的记忆，他从一开始便试图用各种理由作推脱来逃避晚上的派 对。然而除了与他心灵相通的双胞胎哥哥 Peter 以外，他的母亲、保姆和 Henne-Falcon 夫人等都没有察觉到这种致命的恐惧，尽管哥哥 Peter 一直试图 27 the cascade of whispers his utterance had caused to fall: peter 对 francis 说的话充满了轻柔安抚。 28 bombarded the drooping form with thoughts of safety: peter 用安全感压抑驱散自己沮丧的心情。 29 crescendo: 渐强、高潮。 30 self- pity: 自哀自怜
帮助弟弟,但他最终无力阻止 Francis被迫参加派对,更无法阻止他被迫参加自 己最为抵触和畏惧的躲猫猫游戏。在游戏过程中,由于黑暗带来的强大压力, Francis的精神已经临界崩溃;而后因为 Peter出于好意的突然触碰, Francis 的恐惧最终超过了他的承受能力,他的生命就此终结。 Graham greene《派对的终结》这一短篇在叙事角度上采取的是全知视角 作者作为一个与文中人物无关的未知者,以一种通晓始末的口吻讲述了发生在 Morton兄弟身上的悲剧故事。而也正是因为这种摆脱了有限视角束缚的方式, 使得读者可以洞悉书中每个人物的内心,从而通过对人物外在形象和内在心理的 分析对比理解故事的走向和结局。短篇中贯穿全文的线索是 francis对黑暗的恐 惧,通过对围绕这种恐惧所展开的故事和人物内心活动的描写,作者向我们展示 了一个隔阂在儿童和成年两个阶段的沟壑 可以说,恐惧是天然存在的。尤其是在儿童阶段,由于儿童对未知世界的懵 懂和对陌生坏境的不安全感,他们会对诸如黑暗、坟墓一类的事物产生巨大的恐 惧。文中 francis对黑暗的无比恐惧就是如此,它部分地就源自于对陌生坏境的 不安和抵触,对他而言只有光亮与哥哥 Peter的陪伴才意味着安全和松弛。然而 这种儿童时期的恐惧会随着年龄的增长、阅历的提升而渐渐淡去,取而代之的是 另一种恐惧。虽然在本质上成年时期的恐惧与儿童时期的那些并无太大差异,同 样是对一种超越自身控制事物的慌乱,成年人更愿意嘉许自己的恐惧更为成熟而 儿童的恐惧荒诞幼稚。文中 francis在向母亲表达自己的恐惧时遭到了母亲的讥 讽,但作者随之通过他的内心活动向我们展示了母亲作为一个成年人的恐惧:她 讥讽孩子惧怕实则无须害怕的黑暗,同时对被屡屡告知无须忧心的死亡惴惴不 安。这种对比突出了文章的讽刺意味,也向我们揭示:儿童时期的恐惧和成年时 期的恐惧是一样的,甚至更加无助,因为他们必须依靠成年人来获得安全感;然 而一个人在由童年向成年过度的过程中往往会抹杀这种联系,否认童年时期的恐 惧。这种矛盾不仅仅存在于孩童和成人之前,也是一个人在其两中人生阶段间的 矛盾 除此以外,文章还向我们展示了美好的兄弟之爱,在绝望中给出了一线希望。 从始至终 Peter就尽全力理解并帮助自己的弟弟,充分表现了一个双胞胎兄长对 于弟弟无限的体谅和关怀。而在文章结尾高潮处, Peter看似意外地造成了弟弟 的死亡,然而反观之却正是他结束了周遭环境对 francis内心的暴戾折磨。另外 这虽然是一篇恐怖小说,然而通篇没有出现过一点实质暴力的色彩,文章在一种 冷暴力中将故事推到了髙潮,使得恐怖在读者内心缓慢累积,给文章平添了一种 诡异而悚栗的效果
7 帮助弟弟，但他最终无力阻止 Francis 被迫参加派对，更无法阻止他被迫参加自 己最为抵触和畏惧的躲猫猫游戏。在游戏过程中，由于黑暗带来的强大压力， Francis 的精神已经临界崩溃；而后因为 Peter 出于好意的突然触碰，Francis 的恐惧最终超过了他的承受能力，他的生命就此终结。 Graham Greene《派对的终结》这一短篇在叙事角度上采取的是全知视角， 作者作为一个与文中人物无关的未知者，以一种通晓始末的口吻讲述了发生在 Morton 兄弟身上的悲剧故事。而也正是因为这种摆脱了有限视角束缚的方式， 使得读者可以洞悉书中每个人物的内心，从而通过对人物外在形象和内在心理的 分析对比理解故事的走向和结局。短篇中贯穿全文的线索是 Francis 对黑暗的恐 惧，通过对围绕这种恐惧所展开的故事和人物内心活动的描写，作者向我们展示 了一个隔阂在儿童和成年两个阶段的沟壑。 可以说，恐惧是天然存在的。尤其是在儿童阶段，由于儿童对未知世界的懵 懂和对陌生坏境的不安全感，他们会对诸如黑暗、坟墓一类的事物产生巨大的恐 惧。文中 Francis 对黑暗的无比恐惧就是如此，它部分地就源自于对陌生坏境的 不安和抵触，对他而言只有光亮与哥哥 Peter 的陪伴才意味着安全和松弛。然而 这种儿童时期的恐惧会随着年龄的增长、阅历的提升而渐渐淡去，取而代之的是 另一种恐惧。虽然在本质上成年时期的恐惧与儿童时期的那些并无太大差异，同 样是对一种超越自身控制事物的慌乱，成年人更愿意嘉许自己的恐惧更为成熟而 儿童的恐惧荒诞幼稚。文中 Francis 在向母亲表达自己的恐惧时遭到了母亲的讥 讽，但作者随之通过他的内心活动向我们展示了母亲作为一个成年人的恐惧:她 讥讽孩子惧怕实则无须害怕的黑暗，同时对被屡屡告知无须忧心的死亡惴惴不 安。这种对比突出了文章的讽刺意味，也向我们揭示:儿童时期的恐惧和成年时 期的恐惧是一样的，甚至更加无助，因为他们必须依靠成年人来获得安全感；然 而一个人在由童年向成年过度的过程中往往会抹杀这种联系，否认童年时期的恐 惧。这种矛盾不仅仅存在于孩童和成人之前，也是一个人在其两中人生阶段间的 矛盾。 除此以外，文章还向我们展示了美好的兄弟之爱，在绝望中给出了一线希望。 从始至终 Peter 就尽全力理解并帮助自己的弟弟，充分表现了一个双胞胎兄长对 于弟弟无限的体谅和关怀。而在文章结尾高潮处，Peter 看似意外地造成了弟弟 的死亡，然而反观之却正是他结束了周遭环境对 Francis 内心的暴戾折磨。另外， 这虽然是一篇恐怖小说，然而通篇没有出现过一点实质暴力的色彩，文章在一种 冷暴力中将故事推到了高潮，使得恐怖在读者内心缓慢累积，给文章平添了一种 诡异而悚栗的效果
8
8
