泛读第1册-U2-1-The-Winter’s-Snow

TheWinter’sSnow（BackgroundKnowledge:Dresscodesvaryfromculturetoculture.Oneofthesignsofawell-dressedmaninEuropeanandAmericancultureiscleanandpolishedshoes.Polishedshoescommunicateself-respectandanawarenessofproperdresscodes.Peoplenoticehowyoudressandevaluateyourplaceinsocietybysuchthingsashowyoucareforyourshoesdirtyorscuffedshoescommunicateacarelessattitudeandpoortraining.DresscodesaresoimportantinWesternculturethattherearepopularbooksforsalewhichrelatescientificstudiesoftheeffectofcolors,andclothingstylesuponotherpeople.Onewellknownbookisentitleddressforsuccess.Snowmakeseverythingwhite.SnowbringsawhiteChristmas.But,aswewillsee,snowcanalsocausetroubletothosewhohavetogotowork.）ForseveraldayssnowfellheavilyinthesouthofEngland.Itlaymanyinchesthickontheground.Theroofsofhouseswerewhite;walkingthroughthestreetswasdifficult;runningwasdangerous.ButthestreetsofLondonwerewarmerthanthoseinthecountry,andtherewasnosnowinLondon.ThomasCarringtonworkedinaLondonoffice,buthishomewasfortymilesawaytothesouth,atHillParkinSussex.EverymorningCarringtonwalkedtoHillParkStationandcaughttheeighto’clocktrain.HereachedLondonataboutnine,andwasinhisofficehalfanhourlater.EveryeveninghereturnedtoHillParkbytrainandwalkedhomefromthestation.Carringtonwasalwayscarefulofhisappearance.Hedressedwell.HisdarkLondonsuitandgreyhatwerealwaysspotless;histhinblackshoeswerealwaysbrightandclean.TherailwaymenatHillParkStationwerealwaysgladtoseeCarrington,andheclean.TherailwaymenatHillParkStationwerealwaysgladtoseeCarrington,andhehadasmileforeach.Oneofthem,Fred,sometimessaidaboutCarrington,“He’sapropergentleman:oneofthebest.”Thefirstfallofsnowcamesuddenly,andwasveryheavy.OnthatdayCarringtonhadtowalktothestationthroughdeepsnow,andhisshoesgotdirtyandwet.WhenhereachedLondon,therewasnosnowinthestreets,andtheshoesofthepeoplewholivedtherewereascleanasusual.SomeofthemnoticedCarrington’sdirtyshoes,andhefeltslightlyashamedofthem.NosnowfellduringthedayinLondon;butmorewasfallinginHillParkwhenhereachedhomethatnight.Thestreetsnearhishouseweredeepinsnowonthefollowingmorning,andCarringtondecidedthathemustdosomethingtoimprovehisappearance.Healwayscarriedabagtoandfromtheoffice.Itcontainedbusinesspapersandbookswhichhesometimeshadtoreadathome.Thebagwasnotoftenfull,anditwasquitepossibletoputsomethingelseinit;soonthatmorningCarringtonplacedhisbeautifulcleanblackshoesinit.Thenheputonsomeheavyoldshoesthathesometimesworeinthegarden;andinthoseheavyshoeshewalkedthroughthesnowtoHillParkStation.Atthestationhewentstraighttothewaiting-roomwithhisbagandsatdown.Hetookhiscleanshoesoutofthebagandtookoffthedirtygardenshoes.ThenheputhiscleanshoesonandcalledFred.HelefttheoldshoeswithFred,andexplainedwhathehaddone.“I’llwantthoseheavyshoeswhenIcomebackthisevening,please,Fred,”hesaid.“I’llchangeagain,andwalkhomeinthosethroughthesnow.”Fredthoughttheideaanexcellentone,andadmiredCarringtonmorethanever.“That’llbeallright,sir,”hesaid.“They’llbereadyforyou.”HelookeddownwithasmileatCarrington’sshiningblackshoes.InthetrainthatmorningmanysurprisedeyeswereturnedtowardsCarrington’sbeautifulshoes;othershoesinthecarriagewerewetanddirty.Carrington’sdayinLondonpassedpleasantly,andhisheartwaslight.WhenhegotbacktoHillParkagainthatevening,hecollectedthedirtyoldshoesfromFredandputthemoninthewaiting-room.HethenwalkedhomethroughthesnowcarryingthecleanLondonshoesinhisbag.Thatevening,ashesatbythefiresmokingapipe,heconsideredhisnewplanwithsatisfaction.Itwassnowingagainoutside,buthedidnotcarenow.Hesleptbetterthanusualthatnight.Onthenextdayhefollowedthesameplan.FredkepttheoldshoesuntilCarringtonreturned,andtheLondonshoeswerebrightandcleanallday.Carringtonhadaninvitationtodinnerthatevening,andhespentseveralpleasanthourswithhisoldfriends.Hewenttobedlate.Inthemorningheawokelate,andhadtodressinahurry;butheputonhisheavyoldshoesagain,andateaquickbreakfast.Asherushedofftothestationwithhisbag,henoticedthatthesnowwasevendeeperthanbefore.Itwasdifficulttohurry,buthehadtocatchthetrain.Hehearditcomingjustashereachedthetopofthestationsteps.Heranquicklydownthesteps.Whenhereachedthebottom,thetrainwasalreadyinthestation,andheopenedacarriagedoorandjumpedin.Therewasnotimetogotothewaiting-room;buthecouldnotpossiblywalkaboutLondon,orsitathisofficedesk,inhisheavyoldgardenshoes.HelookedoutofthewindowandwasdelightedtoseethefaithfulFredstandingbythedoorofthecarriage.“Theshoes,Mr.Carrington!”Fredcalled.“Theshoes,sir!Bequick!”Carringtonactedatonce.Hesatdownandpulledoffoneshoeasthetrainstarted.HethrewitouttoFred,whocaughtitcleverly.ThenCarringtongottheotheroff,anddroppeditoutofthewindow.Thetrainwasmovingquitequicklynow,butCarringtonsawFredrunningtowardstheshoe.ThenFredpickeditup,andtookitawaywithhim,wavingonehandatthemovingtrain.“Thankheaven!”Carringtonsaidaloud.“GoodoldFred!”Carringtonsatdownontheseatandopenedhisbag.HisLondonshoeswerenotinit.Inhishurryhehadforgottentoputthemin.注：Thankheaven!:Also“Thankgoodness!”谢天谢地!Sussex:acountyinsoutheastEnglandHe’sapropergentleman:He’sagentlemanwhodresseswellandbehavesbusinesspapers:businesswritings公事文件Inwintert