第二篇 A Desert Between Paul and Clara$ x% }4 m& Y" K
Paul had long promised to marry Clara.But at thirty•thee he met and married Alice.Clara was driven mad.; R- i. |4 I4 C( n
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.1 Q7 \# d7 s' W" }9 ^
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.
4 K& p' S* z9 X* y* p7 F- ~ 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./ H' M% b! N% z+ o( d4 }3 t
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.
" k3 c! x' B/ f7 q 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.3 N3 g0 \3 J5 A
The woman said.“The$600 has been in the bank since the day it was paid to me.It is now $6,000,and I have kept it for you.Will you let me share it with you?”3 ~7 _& ~; B6 K, ^9 q" \, F- T
“No,”said Paul,gently.“Each thousand is a lost life in a desert between us. It can never bring any happiness.”% J! @$ ?, ~! o+ y
36 Paul was ordered to pay Clara$600 because) J" V" t7 M3 z) D: `
A he had borrowed $600 from her.
; i+ X/ p8 y/ A0 l, y8 E B he had broken his word to marry her., i8 i2 E" X' I" y% F) O1 x; V
C he had promised to give her$600.
9 V1 j. C+ r7 S- X7 g D he had spent a lot of her money.
$ z+ N( h/ g& v* j: i" c# U37 How many children did Paul and Alice have?0 a1 G+ o% F- T2 @
A Two.) S# i2 t' A5 b1 n
B Four.
$ ~8 U4 r4 T3 n C Five.
4 D% T7 o$ Q2 @8 ~8 U- ?! a D Eight.
6 a" {* D9 G- V9 K/ V. z% j# g5 O/ B38 Twelve years after his marriage,Paul was
* a9 Y7 l! F7 p8 D0 ]" e) W A poor but not sad.
, }5 y$ h, @( _3 n+ | B very sick.
" s x9 x( w) ]; t! U4 X" p C free from debt.
& E9 I( D: _9 z2 ^- b, P D lonely and unhappy.
, O( D8 y K+ E1 u; q" [39 After his wife and children died,Paul turned to his work to
% L$ F5 G: l1 W7 c9 j8 W0 \% _ A ease his pain.
( P; z) B7 F/ w& Q3 h8 y3 ]- I B forget his debt.
1 C o, E( n w% D, ]C get pleasure.
9 h( ]/ |* W. Q; m! u* l, e& b: hD seek friendship.! J5 ~( ?; P; A) b# D4 T" w/ C, k
40 When Paul met Clara again 20 years later, he decided
! @0 s: `7 n& n% Q4 D) p5 X A to share the$600 with her.
$ H8 b) T* w) ?0 C. [ B not to marry her.
2 T! y( V! ?* a) T$ r3 u l: S; I C to ask back the$600.
" W/ K2 B1 P) t2 O( f& ?; u& Z D not to refuse her offer |