Part One (para. 1 --- 12): The greeting of the two former lovers.

Q1: What do you think of the beginning?

A: Arousing the reader’s curiosity: What is their relationship? How do you think the story would go on in your imagination?

Q2: Don’t you know your former boyfriend/girlfriend only six years later?

A: No. He/She should be the person at the bottom of my heart, should never be forgotten.

Q3: What do you think of the trick of interrupting?

A: His habit of interrupting her, disrespectful, self-involved, showing little interest in bearing what she wants to say or how she feels perhaps is one of the reasons for her to leave him --- selfish.

Para.1

1. And then, after six years, she saw him again.

From this very first sentence, we can infer that:

a) She had met him before. In fact they must have known each other quite well although the exact nature of their relationship was not clear at this point.

b) For some reasons, they had not seen each other for six years.

2. decorate sth. with sth.: to make sth. more beautiful by adding ornaments to it

e.g.   Bright posters decorate the street.  鲜艳的广告招贴画点缀着街道。

3. Daffodil: n. a bulbous plant with showy, usually yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central crown. 黄水仙(一种球茎状的植物，开有艳丽的，通常为黄色的花和喇叭状的花冠)。

The ancient Greeks believed the narcissus plant originated from the vain youth, Narcissus. He died after becoming so obsessed with his reflection in a pool he could not leave. The Greeks say that the gods turned his remains into the Narcissus flower. This also led to the daffodil's being a symbol of unrequited love.

4. To peel an orange: to take off the peel ( the thick skin) of an orange.

Also：to peel potatoes; to husk剥去 ...的皮[壳] the rice; to shell the peas去壳除去…的壳；剥…外皮；shell oysters.剥牡蛎; to weed the garden给花园除杂草; to gut取出内脏the fish; to dust掸掉...上的灰尘the tables.

Para. 2

1. “She smiled, he frowned.” Why?

She smiled because she was very glad to see her old friend. He frowned because he could not place her. He could not recall where he had met this women before.

2.  He closed his eyes an instant, why?

It implied he was searching his memory.

1. light up:

1). to become or cause to become animated or cheerful. （使）变得容光焕发或振奋
e.g. The sun lights up the sky and the earth.

          You light up my life.

2). to start smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. 点香烟，开始吸香烟或雪茄、烟斗。

      He lit up a cigarette.

Para. 3

1. Really for a moment I didn't know you.

Why do you think the man didn’t recognize Vera? What possible reasons are there?

How the reader judges it:

What a hurtful thing to say: He couldn't recognize her after only 6 years.

2. Won’t you sit down?

An invitation: Won’t you come in? Won’t you have some coffee?

3. Exclaim: vi. to cry out suddenly or vehemently, as from surprise or emotion. 喊叫，由于惊奇或激动而突然或强烈地喊叫：

e.g. The children exclaimed with excitement. 孩子们激动地喊了起来。

Para. 5

1. “ You’ve changed. You’ve changed very much,” he said, staring at her with that eager, lighted look. “ You look so well. I’ve never seen you look so well before.”

When the man said Vera had changed very much, what do you think he really meant to say?

Did Vera really look well? ( No, she was not feeling well. She could not bear the cold weather. She shuddered often from the cold. And she was beginning to feel the effect of her growing age. Quite likely she was sick at that time.) Why did he say this then?

Para. 8

1. Loathe: v. to hate very much; to dislike (someone or something) greatly; abhor. 厌恶，很不喜欢（某人或某事）；憎恶。

1. [+v-ing] I loathe the smell of burning rubber.
She loathes watching television.

It will be useful to know the synonyms of a word which are stronger in meaning, e.g.

Dislike (loathe); like ( adore); small (tiny); sure ( positive); angry ( furious); tired ( exhausted); fine (excellent);old (ancient); many ( numerous)

2. shudder/shake/tremble/quake/shiver

1) Shake is the most general:

The child's small body shook with weeping.  孩子的小身躯因抽泣而抖动。

The floor shook when she walked across the room.  当她穿过房间时地板晃动。

2) Tremble implies quick, rather slight movement, as from excitement, weakness, or anger:

I could feel the youngster's hand tremble in mine. 我能感到那个年轻人的手在我的手中颤抖。

The apple blossoms trembled in the wind.

3) Quake refers to more violent movement, as that caused by shock or upheaval:

Quake  指更强烈的运动，如由于冲击或巨变引起发抖：

I was so terrified that my legs began to quake. 我被吓坏了，连腿都开始发抖。

4) Shiver involves rapid, rather slight trembling, as of a person experiencing chill:

Shiver  意指受寒后快速、相当轻微的颤抖：

“as I in hoary winter night stood shivering in the snow”  (Robert Southwell).

  “我站在古老的冬日雪夜中颤抖” （罗伯特·索恩韦尔）。

5) Shudder  applies chiefly to convulsive shaking caused by fear, horror, or revulsion:

Shudder  主要指由于恐惧、恐怖或心情的突变引起的骤发性震动：

“She starts like one that spies an adder / . . . The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder” (Shakespeare).

“她象看到蝮蛇一般突然跳起来/…这种恐惧使他震颤” （莎士比亚）

Para. 9

He interrupted her, "Excuse me," and tapped on the table for the waitress. "Please bring some coffee and cream."

He was self-centered, not interested in what Vera said, nor encouraged her to talk about herself.

Para. 11

1. settled: decided; properly dealt with

2. You were saying: an expression used to encourage someone you just interrupted to continue to speak. Why did he interrupted her in the first place? ( He did not want to hear Vera talk about herself. He wanted to turn the subject back to himself.)

Para. 12

1. To exasperate:

1) to annoy or irritate greatly

She was exasperated to find nobody at home.
It exasperated me that they never kept their promises.
I was exasperated by/at his stupidity.

2) to increase the gravity or intensity of. 使加剧，增加严重性或紧张程度。

 a scene . . . that exasperates his rose fever and makes him sneeze" 

2. that trick of his: more emphatic than “ his trick”

e.g.  I like that car of yours. It looks so beautiful.  我喜欢你那辆车，真漂亮。

This is perhaps the first clue to the fact that the man and Vera had been lovers six years before, but the author is in no hurry to tell the readers the truth. She continues to keep them in suspense.

Part 2

Para. 13 &14

His memory: Sunshine flower, her beautiful voice vs. Her memory: his absurdness, chasing wasps among those elegant people, her embarrassment.

1. “ The colder!” He echoed her words, laughing too.

Do you think it a natural response from someone who was supposed to have been mad in love with her as we would find out later?

2. Haunting: adj. continually recurring to the mind; unforgettable. 萦绕心头的，经常出现在脑中的；不能够忘怀的：a haunting melody. 萦绕心头的旋律。

Haunt: To inhabit, visit, or appear to in the form of a ghost or other supernatural being.

To visit often; frequent:

To come to mind continually; obsess

I'm haunted with gloomy thoughts and sad memories.  我常为悲观的思想和悲痛的追念所困扰。

3. For all: in spite of ; despite

e.g.  For all our efforts, we still couldn’t save his life.

For all his power, he is still the most despised person.

4. out of all proportion to the occasion: completely unnecessary under the circumstances

out of proportion: 与。。。不成比例/相称

in proportion to / with: 与。。。成比例/相称

e.g. The size of the furniture should be in proportion to the size of the room.

Para. 16  

Para. 16 --- 21: The second episode in their memory:

 the man: madly in love, having a sweet tongue, yet still immature and impractical, a kind of mother and children relation with Vera.

“warm sunshine” use of stream of consciousness

1. As it were: seemingly; as if . It is used to say that a statement is true or accurate in a certain way even if it is not literally or completely true.

e.g. I understood the words, but I didn’t, as it were, understand the question.

2. lean over: 弯下身子；俯身于...之上。

3. Moan: 

1）n. a low, sustained, mournful cry, usually indicative of sorrow or pain. 呜咽，一种很低，痛苦的悲伤的哭，通常表现悲伤或痛苦 呻吟声;呜咽声[C]
Each time she moved her head she let out a moan.

2）Vi.

a. The sick man moaned all night. 病人通夜呻吟。

b. 发出萧萧声
The wind came moaning through the trees. 风发着呼啸声穿过树林。  

c.【口】悲叹;抱怨[(+about)]
He is always moaning about how tired he is. 他总是抱怨如何如何累。

Para. 22

Para. 22: Her present judgment of the man: the sharp comparison --- lost all that dreamy vagueness and indecision.

1. He had lost all that dreamy vagueness and indecision. Now he had the air of a man who has found his place in life.

Vera was secretly comparing the man with what he had been six years before. Her conclusion was the man had changed for the better. He became better-looking, much richer, and more mature.

At that time, the man was much younger, full of dreams, very unpractical, very unclear about what he should do with his life. But now he looked like a man who has found a successful career.

Her present judgment of the man: the sharp comparison --- lost all that dreamy vagueness and indecision.

Q: “the air of a man who has found his place in life. He must have made money, too. His clothes were admirable….” What is the further meaning of the sentence?

A: He is successful and financially able to help her realize her dreams. Yet she leaves him again because she recognizes that he has not changed --- he was too egotistical.

air: n. personal bearing, appearance, or manner; mien. 气质，风度，个人的举止、外表或行为方式；态度。

样子,神态[C]
He came into the room with an air of importance. 他带着一副了不起的神情走进室内

had the air of a man: to look like a man

find one’s place in life: to find a successful career

Para. 25

1. I get them made for me by a little man in St James’s Street.

I get these cigarettes specially made for me…

St James’s Street: a street in London where there are fashionable stores

From the man’s lifestyle we can see that he must have made money.

Para. 26

1. She broke in: "You've really been to Russia?"

Vera was very eager to know about his life in the past six years. It showed she was considerate, and cared about him.

Her question showed that the man or the two of them had talked about going to Russia.

Para. 29

1. He gave a strange half laugh and leaned back in his chair.

To show him superior to her, indicating that he was quite contented, a little showing off, and proud.

Later he pursued his topic further, not caring about Vera at all. That hurt her very much, but he enjoyed it.

Para. 31

1. As he spoke, so lightly, tapping the end of his cigarette against the ashtray,…

Without any consideration of Vera, he was very content: It was no big deal.

2. she felt the strange beast…

She'd burst with her desire for those were the very places that she had long wanted to go to.

Q: What is “a strange beast”?

A: “a strange beast” uses implied metaphor. Para. 31 is a vivid description of Vera’s inner desire that is compared to the strange beast. What Vera’s wanted from life had been suppressed for some time, but that it was something that could not be controlled for good.

“ The strange beast” probably refers to her long-cherished wish to travel to all those distant and mysterious places. It had been hidden deep in her heart for quite a long time because it was impossible for her to realize it given her financial and health conditions. But now this old wish seemed to be suddenly awakened.

It may not be far-fetched if we regard this “ strange beast” as symbolic of her buried affections for the man.

Para. 32 --- 44: The man’s Russian traveling experience.

Q1: Why does author remark their traveling plan?

A: Traveling is a form of freedom, a way of expanding one’s horizon. The obstacles for Vera no traveling are her being a woman, her deteriorating financial status and her health condition.

Q2: Why does the man “let it go at that (para. 40)”?

A: The third evidence (para. 34 --- 40) that he is not interested in knowing her life. Maybe his lack of interest in knowing her present life comes partly from his intention to snub冷落her for revenge.

Q3: What is the literary technique of Para. 32, 41 and 43?

A: Author describes Vera’s great power of imagination --- able to visualize things and her sensitivity to natural beauty, to music and art. Also notice her great imagination to fantasize or daydream --- to indulge herself in some idealistic, romantic, aesthetic, yet impractical imagination.

Para. 36

1. But what has become of your beautiful piano?

But what has happened to your beautiful piano?

She must have played music ( including the boatman’s song) for the man. And music was then another interest they shared.

become of: to be the fate of; happen to

What has become of the rainforest?

No scientists yet could explain what had become of the Yellow Stone.

Para. 37

1. She made a little grimace. “ Sold. Ages ago.”

Why do you think she sold the piano? There seem to be only three possible reasons: first, she lost interest because there was no one to appreciate her music; second, she had to go from place to place chasing after warm sunshine, and therefore found it impossible to carry the piano with her; third, she was financially hard up and needed money. Can you think of any other reasons? Which of the three reasons above is most likely?

Grimace: n. a sharp contortion of the face expressive of pain, contempt, or disgust. 鬼脸，怪相，脸的极端扭曲以表示痛苦、轻蔑或厌恶。Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.
vi. 作怪相,扮鬼脸[(+at/with)]
The acrobat grimaced at the children during the circus performance.
那杂技艺人在马戏表演时对孩子们做鬼脸。

Para. 40

1. He let it go at that. ( Para. 40)

He did not pursue the matter.

It shows once again how self-centered he was. Under normal circumstances, a man would be dying to know what had happened to the woman that made her part with her beloved piano.

2. let go:

1) to cease to employ; dismiss. 解开,释放；不再雇用，解雇：

    I had to let 20 workers go.

     必须解雇二十名工人。

2) let sb/sth go; let go of sb/sth: release one’s hold of

     let the rope go/ let go of the rope

3). let go at that: say or do no more about sth

   e.g. I don’t agree with all you say, but I’ll let it go at that.

      I thought she was hinting at sth, but I let it go.

Para. 41

1. She shivered, hearing the boatman's song break out again loud and tragic, and seeing…

Notice how sensitive she was to natural beauty as well as to music and art.

She was very sensitive to art and music and she felt excited as the man was describing the beautiful picture.

Para. 42

1. It is so informal, so impulsive, so free

It is casual and natural rather than formal and affected.

a picnic by the Black Sea in the evening;  champagne; eating and drinking on the grass; a coachman; a dill pickle so right for him; so free, so impulsive

2. impulsive: adj. Inclined to act on impulse rather than thought

有推动力的; 冲动的; 刺激的; 任性的(不考虑行为的适合性和后果)

a man of impulse易冲动的人

act on impulse凭冲动行事

Para. 43 &44

 1. I know perfectly what you mean…

Vera could imagine even more than the man described. she was more emotionally involved in painting and therefore enjoyed more than the man

.

Apart from:（here）some distance away from.

It is a bit colder in winter, but apart from (except) that, it’s quite a pleasant city to live in.

Apart from （Besides）these reasons, there is yet another factor.

2. A cloth: cloth is usually uncountable unless it refers to a piece of this material for special purpose such as a table cloth or a dish cloth.

Para. 45 --- 46: The contrast between now and then: there used to be a deep bond between them but now he has apparently withdrawal from this emotional involvement. That is why Vera is not sure if he is just mocking her when he says she is a marvelous listener.

Para. 45

1. In the past when they had looked at each other like that they ……

Q: What is meant by the phrase “ had looked at each other like that”? Like what? How did they feel when they looked at each other like that in the past? How about now?

2. put arms round each other: 

3. Content: adj.

1) desiring no more than what one has; satisfied. 满意的，不再有所求的。

2) ready to accept or acquiesce; willing. 情愿的，愿意接受或默认的；甘愿的：

e.g. She was content to step down after four years as chief executive. 她在担任了四年主管之后甘愿让位。

4.  … like mournful lovers.

They love each other but feel sad for some reason. The greatest wish for them is to die together, like Romeo and Juliet.

5. But now, he said: “ what a marvelous listener… another human being.”

Notice the use of “ but” here. The man obviously has changed. He does not seem to remember how he used to feel on such occasions.

6. Marvelous: adj. of the highest or best kind or quality; first-rate.

最佳的，在性质或品质上最好的或绝妙的；一流的：

has a marvelous collection of rare books. 拥有一流珍本书籍的收藏。

7. breathe

To be manifested or suggested, as an idea or feeling: 显露：思想、感情吐露出来：

e.g. A sense of calm breathed from the landscape. 那景色中透着平静

Para. 46

1. Was there just a hint of mockery in his voice? She could not be sure.

Question : How came she had such a feeling that he mocked her by saying "what a marvelous listener you are"?

By saying so, the man did mock her. She only kept listening and said nothing. In his mind, she should be full of regret for deciding the end of their love.

Vera was not quite sure whether he was seriously showing his appreciation or mocking at her interest in what he was saying. But on her part, she was obviously touched by such memories of their intimacy in the past.

2. Mockery: n. scornfully contemptuous ridicule; derision. 嘲讽，责备地鄙视可笑之事；嘲笑。

1) Their mockery of John hurt his feeling.

2) laughing stock, butt 嘲笑的对象,笑柄[C]
Through his foolishness he became a mockery in the village.  The queer boy was the butt of their jokes.

3) 拙劣可笑的模仿;假冒[S]
His trial was a mockery of justice.
对他的审判是对正义的践踏。

4) 徒劳无功[C] All our efforts were mockeries.
我们的一切努力都徒劳无功。

Para. 47 --- 52: Once again he seems to be playing with her --- a sentimental episode: to arouse her loving response and then humiliating her by saying how he has forgotten he past, how he has moved on in his own life.

Para. 47

1. and of how: 以及如何

2. Miserable: adj. very uncomfortable or unhappy; wretched. 痛苦的，非常不舒适或不快乐的；可怜的。

Para. 49

1. But he did not follow. “What dog? Have you a dog?”

But he did not understand what Vera meant.

How come the man has forgotten his own dog? What does this reveal?

Para. 51

1. He laughed and snapped the cigarette case to.

What did this little gesture indicate?

It seemed to indicate that as far as the man was concerned, the talk was over.

snap sth to: Into a shut or closed position:处于关上的状态：pushed the door to.把门关上

to: adv. in a nearly closed position, e.g.

The wind blew the door to.

snap the cigarette case to: to quickly shut the cigarette case with a sharp noise.

Para. 52

1. It seems such ages ago.

that particular night

Implication: Although it was only 6 years, it appeared that he had practically forgotten everything about their past love. But to Vera, she could even remember the details clearly.

2. … I had to take such a leap back to that time.

Implication:

1) I had ceased to cherish that memory.

2) I had forgotten you long ago.

3. … although at the time that letter nearly finished my life. I found… and I couldn't help laughing as I read it.

Implication: To write such a break-up letter was very difficult for Vera. The letter reminded them of the heart-broken feeling and it finished both the man and the woman. But he trivialized the letter, and even mocked the letter, which hurt Vera deeply.

Question: What was Vera's response to the man's painful hurt?

4. picture: n. a person or an object bearing a marked resemblance to another.

酷似，化身，与另一人或物具有极明显相似性的人或物：

e.g. She's the picture of her mother. 她酷似她的妈妈。

Para. 53 --- 56: Vera still has preserved a tender spot for his man, however, the man perhaps truly insensitive and unaware that he has hurt her or perhaps purposefully mocking her.

Para. 53

1. She had buttoned her collar again and drawn down her veil.

Mentioning of the letter hurt her very much, but he was not aware of the hurt. She tried to control herself.

“You are not going?” (para 53)

Q1: Why did Vera suddenly begin to unbutton her collar again and draw down her veil?

A1: It indicates that Vera was going to leave.

Q2: What had the man said to hurt her feelings?

A2: The ma said “It seems such ages ago” whereas it was only 6 years, showing that he had practically forgotten everything about their past love; The man also said that he had to take such a leap to that time, showing again that he had ceased to cherish that memory. What hurt her most however, was the way he described how he couldn't help laughing the other day when he read her last latter again, the letter she must have found it very difficult to write six years ago. He practically treated the whole thing as a joke.

Question: What made her anger die away?

Para. 55—58

1. He expressed his desire to hold her back.

2. He was still attractive and sometimes could say beautiful and sweet words.

Para. 55

1. clutch at: v. to seize with or as with the hands or claws; snatch抓住。

A drowning man will clutch at a straw . 溺水之人不放过一根救命稻草。

2. Barbarian: n.

1). a member of a people considered by those of another nation or group to have a primitive civilization. 原始人，未开化的人，被其他民族或群体视为拥有原始文化的人。

2). a fierce, brutal, or cruel person. 凶暴、粗野或残酷的人。

3). an insensitive, uncultured person; a boor.

粗鲁不文，感觉不灵敏，没有文化的人；乡巴佬。

Para. 56

1. die down: to lose strength; subside. 渐弱，消退，没劲了；平静了：

The winds died down. 风渐渐平息了。

Para. 57 --- 64: The last dramatic turn of their relationship.

Para. 57: His honeyed tongue.

Para. 58: Her awakening love for him.

Para. 59: His paradoxical insights.

Para. 60: She regrets to pop up.

Para. 61 --- 63: The possibility for the two to understand each other and renew their relationship.

Para. 57

1. “What I really wanted then,” he said softly,….. “ you longed to see.”

magic carpet: it alludes to the story in the Arabian Nights天方夜谭which describes how a magic carpet can carry people wherever they wish to go.

Once again we see the other side of the man. He can sometimes say beautiful things.

Para. 58

1.  … as though she drank something; the strange beast in her bosom…

sth. needed to enjoy what he said

her long love and desire for the man

as though she drank something :She had just heard something which was so comforting and refreshing that she felt good.

the strange beast in her bosom…:Her long buried love for the man seemed to wake up again.

2. purr

1) v. intr.（不及物动词）

to make or utter a soft, vibrant sound:  产生或发出一种轻柔且颤动的声音：

e.g. The cat purred. The sewing machine purred. 猫发出呜呜声。缝纫机呜呜地响着

2) v.tr.（及物动词）

to express by a soft, vibrant sound. 用轻柔振颤的声音表达

Para. 59

1. “ I felt, that you were more lonely than…truly alive.”

It is amazing how the man could have such a penetrating view of Vera. By saying "truly alive", he meant that Vera was different from other common women whose marriage was driven by material life. To some extent, the man understood Vera more than anyone else. He was probably the only man who really understood her.

Para. 60

1. Ah, God! What had she done!... Could it be too late?

For Vera, after hearing his sweet words, she seemed to regret having rejected the man's marriage proposal and doubted the possibility to change her decision and renew their relationship.

2. throw away: to get rid of as useless. 抛弃，扔掉，作为无用而除去：

e.g. throw away yesterday's newspaper. 扔掉昨天的报纸。

Para. 62

1. “ Yes,” she breathed. “ Just the same. I am as alone as ever.”

This would have been the moment for them to decide to renew their relationship if the man had felt the same way.

Paras. 64—65

Apparently he understood himself and Vera as well, both of whom were single and lonely. But Vera was not like him:

She was more lonely than others because what she pursued was a spiritual life and a true lover who could really understand her. Vera kept a lot of space in her heart for the man. She loved him and was fully occupied by him, which he could not understand.

He was lonely because he was too self-centered and egoistic (fatal weakness), and he did not care about her.  He really had no corner in his heart for anybody else, even for Vera.

Para. 64

1. “It simply was that we were such egoists, so self-engrossed, so wrapped up in ourselves that we had not a corner in our hearts for anybody else.” Is this a pretty accurate description of the man himself? Do you think Vera is just like the man?

It is just a pretty accurate description of the man himself. He is making an important confession: he really has not  a corner in his heart for anyone else. Therefore Vera was right to leave him 6 years ago and she is also right to leave him now.

2. scrape: vt. 1. to rub (a surface) with considerable pressure, as with an edged instrument or a hard object. 摩擦，使劲用带梭或坚硬的物体磨（表面）。

3. wrapped up in: completely immersed or absorbed in. 全神贯注于，完全沉浸于或专注于：

e.g. She is wrapped up in her studies. 她埋头苦读。

4. naive: adj. simple and credulous as a child; ingenuous. 天真的，如同孩子般简单和易轻信的；天真的。

5.  hearty: adj. expressed warmly, exuberantly, and unrestrainedly.

热心的，热烈地、奔放地和毫无拘束地表达的

e.g. a hearty welcome. 热烈的欢迎。

Para. 65: The unexpected final.

1. thunderstruck: adj. affected with sudden astonishment or amazement.

大吃一惊的，吓坏了的，被突然的吃惊或诧异所震动的。

2. beyond: past or outside the limits, reach为…所不能及；多于；超出

It's quite beyond me why she married such a heavy smoker.

beyond description无法形容

Many questions left here:

1. If he were playing out his little revenge, then why is he astonished beyond words after Vera leaves?

2. Has he ever thought that Vera would want to renew the relationship after his honeyed tongue? 3. And why does Vera leave?

“thunder-struck, astounded beyond words” shows his total incomprehension of Vera’s thoughts and feelings.