《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter I》第16节
“This idea is that we’re Nordics. I am, and you are, and you are, and—” After an infinitesimal hesitation he included Daisy with a slight nod, and she winked at me again. “—And we’ve produced all the things that go to make civilization—oh, science and art, and all that. Do you see?” There was something pathetic in his concentration, as if his complacency, more acute than of old, was not enough to him any more. When, almost immediately, the telephone rang inside and the butler left the porch Daisy seized upon the momentary interruption and leaned towards me. “I’ll tell you a family secret,” she whispered enthusiastically. “It’s about the butler’s nose. Do you want to hear about the butler’s nose?” “That’s why I came over tonight.” “Well, he wasn’t always a butler; he used to be the silver polisher for some people in New York that had a silver service for two hundred people. He had to polish it from morning till night, until finally it began to affect his nose—” “Things went from bad to worse,” suggested Miss Baker. “Yes. Things went from bad to worse, until finally he had to give up his position.” For a moment the last sunshine fell with romantic affection upon her glowing face; her voice compelled me forward breathlessly as I listened—then the glow faded, each light deserting her with lingering regret, like children leaving a pleasant street at dusk.
注释摘要
这一小段戏，由三件事紧凑地衔接而成：汤姆的种族主义演讲、电话铃声打断、黛西关于管家鼻子的“家庭秘密”。三件事表面互不相干，放在一起却构成了一场精妙的戏剧。 先看汤姆那段话。他刚才已经情绪激动地宣称“文明正在崩溃”，并提到了戈达德那本《有色帝国的崛起》。此刻他进一步阐明那本书的“科学观点”：我们是北欧人种。他说“I am, and you are, and …