the fortune hunter(闯世界的人)-第4章
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walk。 They pushed their way through and with the throngs up into
Tompkins Squarethe center of one of the several vast districts； little
known because little written about； that contain the real New York and the
real New Yorkers。 In the Square several thousand young people were
promenading； many of the girls walking in pairs； almost all the young men
paired off； each with a young woman。 It was warm； and the stars beamed
down upon the hearts of young lovers； blotting out for them electric lights
and surrounding crowds。 It caused no comment there for a young
couple to walk hand in hand； looking each at the other with the expression
that makes commonplace eyes wonderful。 And when the sound of a kiss
came from a somewhat secluded bench； the only glances east in the
direction whence it had come were glances of approval or envy。
‘‘There's Otto Heilig dogging us；'' said Hilda to Sophie； as they walked
up and down。 ‘‘Do you wonder I hate him？'' They talked in American；
as did all the young people； except with those of their elders who could
speak only German。
Sophie was silent。 If Hilda had been noting her face she would have
seen a look of satisfaction。
‘‘I can't bear him；'' went on Hilda。 ‘‘No girl could。 He's so stupid
andand common！'' Never before had she used that last word in such a
sense。 Mr。 Feuerstein had begun to educate her。
Sophie's unobserved look changed to resentment。 ‘‘Of course he's
not equal to Mr。 Feuerstein；'' she said。 ‘‘But he's a very nice fellowat
least for an ordinary girl。'' Sophie's father was an upholsterer； and not a
good one。 He owned no tenements was barely able to pay the rent for a
small corner of one。 Thus her sole dower was her pretty face and her
cunning。 She had an industrious； scheming； not overscrupulous brain
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andher hopes and plans。 Nor had she time to waste。 For she was
nearer twenty…three than twenty…two； at the outer edge of the marriageable
age of Avenue A； which believes in an early start at what it regards as the
main business of lifethe family。
‘‘You surely couldn't marry such a man as Otto！'' said Hilda absently。
Her eyes were searching the crowd； near and far。
Sophie laughed。 ‘‘Beggars can't be choosers；'' she answered。 ‘‘I
think he's all rightas men go。 It wouldn't do for me to expect too
much。''
Just then Hilda caught sight of Mr。 Feuersteinthe godlike head； the
glorious hair； the graceful hat。 Her manner changedher eyes brightened；
her cheeks reddened； and she talked fast and laughed a great deal。 As
they passed near him she laughed loudly and called out to Sophie as if she
were not at her elbowshe feared he would not see。 Mr。 Feuerstein
turned his picturesque head； slowly lifted his hat and joined them。 At
once Hilda became silent； listening with rapt attention to the
commonplaces he delivered in sonorous； oracular tones。
As he deigned to talk only to Hilda； who was walking between Sophie
and him； Sophie was free to gaze round。 She spied Otto Heilig drooping
dejectedly along。 She adroitly steered her party so that it crossed his path。
He looked up to find himself staring at Hilda。 She frowned at this
disagreeable apparition into her happiness； and quickened her step。 But
Sophie； without letting go of Hilda's hand； paused and spoke to Otto。
Thus Hilda was forced to stop and to say ungraciously： ‘‘Mr。 Feuerstein；
Mr。 Heilig。''
Then she and Mr。 Feuerstein went on； and Sophie drew the reluctant
Otto in behind them。 She gradually slackened her pace； so that she and
Heilig dropped back until several couples separated them from Hilda and
Mr。 Feuerstein。 A few minutes and Hilda and Mr。 Feuerstein were seated
on a bench in the deep shadow of a tree； Sophie and Heilig walking slowly
to and fro a short distance away。
Heilig was miserable with despondent jealousy。 He longed to inquire
about this remarkable…looking new friend of Hilda's。 For Mr。 Feuerstein
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
seemed to be of that class of strangers whom Avenue A condemns on
their very appearance。 It associates respectability with work only； and it
therefore suspects those who look as if they did not work and did not
know how。 Sophie was soon answering of her own accord the questions
Heilig as a gentleman could not ask。 ‘‘You must have heard of Mr。
Feuerstein？ He's an actor at the German Theater。 I don't think he's
much of an actorhe's one of the kind that do all their acting off the stage。''
Heilig laughed unnaturally。 He did not feel like laughing； but wished
to show his gratitude to Sophie for this shrewd blow at his enemy。 ‘‘He's
rigged out like a lunatic； isn't he？'' Otto was thinking of the long hair； the
low…rolling shirt collar and the velvet collar on his coat；light gray； to
match his hat and suit。
‘‘I don't see what Hilda finds in him；'' continued Sophie。 ‘‘It makes
me laugh to look at him； and when he talks I can hardly keep from
screaming in his face。 But Hilda's crazy over him； as you see。 He tells
all sorts of romances about himself； and she believes every word。 I think
she'll marry himyou know； her father lets her do as she pleases。 Isn't it
funny that a sensible girl like Hilda can be so foolish？''
Heilig did not answer this； nor did he heed the talk on love and
marriage which the over…eager Sophie proceeded to give。 And it was talk
worth listening to； as it presented love and marriage in the interesting；
romantic…sensible Avenue A light。 Otto was staring gloomily at the
shadow of the tree。 He would have been gloomier could he have
witnessed the scene to which the unmoral old elm was lending its
impartial shade。
Mr。 Feuerstein was holding Hilda's hand while he looked soulfully
down into her eyes。 She was returning his gaze； her eyes expressing all
the Schwarmerei of which their dark depths were capable at nineteen。
He was telling her what a high profession the actor's was； how great he
was as an actor； how commonplace her life there； how beautiful he could
make it if only he had money。 It was an experience to hear Mr。
Feuerstein say the word ‘‘money。'' Elocution could go no further in
surcharging five letters with contempt。 His was one of those lofty
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natures that scorn all such matters of intimate concern to the humble； hard…
pressed little human animal as food； clothing and shelter。 He so loathed
money that he wou
