第二篇 A Desert Between Paul and Clara
) o' f' g% d+ ~* l7 d3 i Paul had long promised to marry Clara.But at thirty•thee he met and married Alice.Clara was driven mad.5 S, y& \3 n4 l T* i" x( K
Paul was taken to court.The judge ordered him to pay Clara$600 because of the broken promise.Paul had to borrow the money from a moneylender.He agreed to pay back$5 a month—for twenty years.His wages at the time were$16 a month.7 w' {" s2 ~9 O
Paul and Alice were poor but not unhappy.They had little enough food,certainly,even before the children began to arrive.Each month Paul paid$5 to the moneylender.He worked hard, never taking a holiday.In time,there were seven mouths to feed.7 ?4 a/ r' D9 m' G% ]
Illness was always with them.It grew serious when the oldest child was eight.The years of hunger weakened the family, because each month Paul paid$5.The details of the sickness were ugly, but the result was this:after twelve years of family life,Paul was alone in the world.- g7 R7 P0 g0 p9 G
He lived alone.except for memories.Work was not now a god for him:it was a pain-killer.Each month he paid,and in time the twenty years ended.From that moment his wages were his own.1 O! w& b2 X2 r
One day, It was a holiday went to the seaside.He sat down on a seat by the sea.A middle.aged woman came and sat down near him.They recognized each other at once.
" A; T+ t8 V% G% U The woman said.“The$600 has been in the bank since the day it was paid to me.It is now $6,000,and I have kept it for you.Will you let me share it with you?”
! @& i+ G1 W& }: u+ z “No,”said Paul,gently.“Each thousand is a lost life in a desert between us. It can never bring any happiness.”% r. w2 m/ s6 }, A7 T6 L. ]
36 Paul was ordered to pay Clara$600 because
b5 g8 q0 I+ \+ j4 N6 e A he had borrowed $600 from her." S3 ^0 n2 E& x7 e
B he had broken his word to marry her.+ c [- ]4 N" D
C he had promised to give her$600.; G: d+ g7 @, S* l3 c8 Y
D he had spent a lot of her money.' I5 B4 [3 V0 b, h C- f
37 How many children did Paul and Alice have?' ]# Y0 m6 b# H' _* l1 i, w3 _
A Two.6 p+ q: E2 B) G+ U- O
B Four.
' [; q/ o# d q: r) O* C. j, S C Five.
$ x: r1 X. f9 N5 T. W9 C D Eight.
& b# f- f: X0 \& |3 k. Z8 Z! r38 Twelve years after his marriage,Paul was( `0 c7 \7 @3 _
A poor but not sad.
$ h, H3 n* c0 q! Y# [& |- y% D! A( n B very sick.
3 K5 c6 I5 q" }* ]+ d! R C free from debt.
9 K6 @% [9 k- p) z D lonely and unhappy.6 q+ M% q. ~9 ?, i8 R
39 After his wife and children died,Paul turned to his work to
$ |! o9 g5 ^, U9 S. _" N A ease his pain.
& T# k0 c8 m/ p9 S1 X" [+ m0 ` B forget his debt.- m0 \" c( T" L8 }9 a; a
C get pleasure.
$ T1 H6 J6 Z- a& }# r# eD seek friendship.
7 J( d: M1 R" k3 b: P40 When Paul met Clara again 20 years later, he decided6 P5 s' @& W3 ~* S# b. x
A to share the$600 with her.
( p+ r, N& G# x, | B not to marry her.
: l/ g$ ^0 Q$ l* o" x' B C to ask back the$600." L3 L0 E# t( p- ^1 N
D not to refuse her offer |