Early Autumn

 　　When Bill was very young, they had been in love. Many nights they had spent walking, talking together. Then something not very important had come between them, and they didn’t speak. Impulsively¹, she had married a man she thought she loved. Bill went away, bitter about women.

　　Yesterday, walking across Washington Square, she saw him for the first time in years.

　　“Bill Walker,” she said.

　　He stopped. At first he did not recognize her, to him she looked so old.

　　“Mary! Where did you come from?”

　　Unconsciously, she lifted her face as though wanting a kiss, but he held out his hand. She took it.

　　“I live in New York now,” she said.

　　“Oh” — smiling politely. Then a little frown came quickly between his eyes.

　　“Always wondered what happened to you, Bill.”

　　“I’m a lawyer. Nice firm, way downtown.”

　　“Married yet?”

　　“Sure. Two kids.”

　　“Oh,” she said.

　　A great many people went past them through the park. People they didn’t know. It was late afternoon. Nearly sunset. Cold.

　　“And your husband?” he asked her.

　　“We have three children. I work in the bursar’s office at Columbia.”

　　“You’re looking very . . .” (he wanted to say old) “. . . well,” he said.

　　She understood. Under the trees in Washington Square, she found herself desperately² reaching back into the past. She had been older than he then in Ohio. Now she was not young at all. Bill was still young.

　　“We live on Central Park West,” she said. “Come and see us sometime.”

　　“Sure,” he replied. “You and your husband must have dinner with my family some night. Any night. Lucille and I’d love to have you.”

　　The leaves fell slowly from the trees in the Square. Fell without wind. Autumn dusk. She felt a little sick.

　　“We’d love it,” she answered.

　　“You ought to see my kids.” He grinned.

　　Suddenly the lights came on up the whole length of Fifth Avenue, chains of misty³ brilliance⁴ in the blue air.

　　“There’s my bus,” she said.

　　He held out his hand. “Good-bye.”

　　“When . . .” she wanted to say, but the bus was ready to pull off. The lights on the avenue blurred⁵, twinkled, blurred. And she was afraid to open her mouth as she entered the bus. Afraid it would be impossible to utter a word.

　　Suddenly she shrieked⁶ very loudly. “Good-bye!” But the bus door had closed.

　　The bus started. People came between them outside, people crossing the street, people they didn’t know. Space and people. She lost sight of Bill. Then she remembered she had forgotten to give him her address — or to ask him for his — or tell him that her youngest boy was named Bill too.

1 impulsively   

adv.冲动地

参考例句：

• She leant forward and kissed him impulsively. 她倾身向前，感情冲动地吻了他。
• Every good, true, vigorous feeling I had gathered came impulsively round him. 我的一切良好、真诚而又强烈的感情都紧紧围绕着他涌现出来。

2 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

3 misty   

adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的

参考例句：

• He crossed over to the window to see if it was still misty.他走到窗户那儿，看看是不是还有雾霭。
• The misty scene had a dreamy quality about it.雾景给人以梦幻般的感觉。

4 brilliance   

n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智

参考例句：

• I was totally amazed by the brilliance of her paintings.她的绘画才能令我惊歎不已。
• The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。

5 blurred   

v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离

参考例句：

• She suffered from dizziness and blurred vision. 她饱受头晕目眩之苦。
• Their lazy, blurred voices fell pleasantly on his ears. 他们那种慢吞吞、含糊不清的声音在他听起来却很悦耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 shrieked   

v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
• Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫，陆子潇尖声叫：“告诉什么？ 来自汉英文学 - 围城