"Parkenstacker," breathed the young man. "Indeed, you cannot know how much I appreciate your confidences."
The girl contemplated him with the calm, impersonal regard that befitted the difference in their stations.
"What is your line of business, Mr. Parkenstacker?" she asked.
"A very humble one. But I hope to rise in the world. Were you really in earnest when you said that you could love a man of lowly position?"
"Indeed I was. But I said 'might.' There is the Grand Duke and the Marquis, you know. Yes; no
calling could be too humble were the man what I would wish him to be."
"I work," declared Mr. Parkenstacker, "in a restaurant."
The girl shrank slightly.
"Not as a waiter?" she said, a little imploringly. "Labor is noble, but personal attendance, you know -- valets and -- "
"I am not a waiter. I am cashier in" -- on the street they faced that bounded the opposite side of the park was the brilliant electric sign "RESTAURANT" -- "I am cashier in that restaurant you am there."
The girl consulted a tiny watch set in a bracelet of rich design upon her left wrist, and rose, hurriedly. She thrust her book into a glittering reticule suspended from her waist, for which, however, the book was too large.
"Why are you not at work?" she asked.
"I am on the night turn," said the young man; it is yet an hour before my period begins. May I not hope to see you again?"
"I do not know. Perhaps - but the whim may not seize me again. I must go quickly now. There is a dinner, and a box at the play -- and, oh! The same old round. Perhaps you noticed an automobile at the upper corner of the park as you came. One with a white body
"And red running gear?" asked the young man, knitting his brows reflectively.
"Yes. I always come in that. Pierre waits for me there. He supposes me to be shopping in the department store across the square. Conceive of the bondage of the life wherein we must deceive even our chauffeurs. Good-night."
"But it is dark now," said Mr. Parkenstacker, "and the park is full of rude men. May I not walk -- "
"If you have the slightest regard for my wishes," said the girl, firmly, "you will remain at this bench for ten minutes after I have left. I do not mean to accuse you, but you are probably aware that autos generally bear the monogram of their owner. Again, good-night"
Swift and stately she moved away through the dusk. The young man watched her graceful form
as she reached the pavement at the park's edge, and turned up along it toward the corner where stood the automobile. Then he treacherously and unhesitatingly began to dodge and skim among the park trees and shrubbery in a course parallel to her route, keeping her well in sight.
When she reached the corner she turned her head to glance at the motor car, and then passed it, con turning on across the street. Sheltered behind a convenient standing cab, the young man followed her movements closely with his eyes. Passing down the sidewalk of the street opposite the park, she entered the restaurant with the blazing sign. The place was one of those frankly glaring establishments, all white, paint and glass, where one may dine cheaply and
conspicuously. The girl penetrated the restaurant to some retreat at its rear, whence she quickly emerged without her bat and veil.
The cashier's desk was well to the front. A red-head girl an the stool climbed down, glancing pointedly at the clock as she did so. The girl in gray mounted in her place.
The young man thrust his hands into his pockets and walked slowly back along the sidewalk. At the corner his foot struck a small, paper-covered volume lying there, sending it sliding to the edge of the turf. By its picturesque cover he recognized it as the book the girl had been reading. He picked it up carelessly, and saw that its title was "New Arabian Nights," the author being of the name of Stevenson. He dropped it again upon the grass, and lounged, irresolute, for a minute. Then he stepped into the automobile, reclined upon the cushions, and said two words to the chauffeur:
"Club, Henri.
夜幕初降，这位身穿灰色衣服的女子又来到那宁静的小公园里的那个宁静的角落。坐在长椅上看书。她的衣服灰色朴素，她的脸蛋非常漂亮。前一天和再前一天，她都在同一时间来到这里。有一个年轻人知道这件事。
这个年轻人走近前来。就在这一刹那间，她的书滑出了她的手指，落在地上。那年轻人捡起来，有礼貌地将书还给那女孩子，说了几句关于天气的话，然后就站在那里等着。
那女孩子看看他朴素的衣服和平凡的脸。
“如果你愿意的话，可以坐下，”她用女低音说，“光线太差了，不宜看书。 我倒愿意谈谈。 ”
“你知不知道，”他说，“你是我见到过的最漂亮的女孩子。 我昨天就看见你了。”
“不管你是谁，”那女孩子用一种冷冰冰的语气说，“你必须记住我是一个有身份的女人。”
“请原谅，”这个年轻人说，“这是我的不是，你知道———我的意思是说在公园里有些女孩子，你知道———当然你不会知道，但是……”
“好啦，别说啦，我当然明白。现在来谈谈这条路上的人吧。他们都去向何方？ 他们为什么如此匆忙？ 他们快活吗？ ”年轻人没有回答，那年轻人不明白他应该扮演个什么样的角色。
“我跑来坐在这儿，是因为只有在这里我才可以接近普通群众。我跟人说话是因为我要跟一个未受金钱玷污的人说话。哦，你不知道我多么讨厌它———钱，钱，钱！还有那些包围我的男人。我讨厌享受，讨厌珠宝，讨厌旅行。”
“我一直认为，”年轻人说，“金钱一定是一样很好的东西。”
“当你拥有几百万几千万的时候，兜风、宴会、戏院、舞会、晚餐！ 我讨厌这一切。 ”这位年轻姑娘说。
小伙子颇有兴趣地看着她。 “我一直喜欢，”他说，“读到或是听到有关富人生活的情况。而且我一向认为香槟酒是连瓶冰镇，而不是把冰搁杯里的。 ”
“哦……，是的，我们闲着无聊有时就靠标新立异来找消遣。目前流行的花样是把冰块搁在香槟酒里。”女孩子岔开话题，“有时候，我想，如果我有朝一日爱上一个人，我要爱一个普通的人。———你的职业是什么？ ” “很低微，但是我希望出人头地。 当你说你能够爱一个普通人，是真的吗？”
“当然。”她说。
“我在一家餐厅工作。 ”他说。 女孩子缩了回来。
“不是当跑堂吧？ ”女子略微带着央求的口气说。
“我在那家餐厅里当出纳员，也就是那家你现在看得到的有着耀眼的电灯招牌的餐厅。”
女子看看表，站了起来，“你怎么不上班呢？”她问。
“我上夜班，”小伙子说，“我得一个钟头之后才开始工作，我还有希望再见到你吗？”
“我不知道，也许。 我必须快走。 哦，今晚还有一个宴会和一个音乐会呢。 也许你来的时候注意到一辆停在公园拐角上的白色汽车吧？ ”
“红色轮子的那辆吗？”年轻人说。
“哦？……对，我总是坐那辆车来。司机在那里等我，晚安。”
“现在天色挺暗了，”年轻人说，“公园里人杂。 我能陪你走到汽车那边吗？”
“假如你尊重我的愿望，你得在我起身后再在这条凳子上坐１０分钟。”她去了。
年轻人看着她那优雅的身姿，然后站起来，悄悄跟着她。
当她走到公园门口时，她转过头来看看那辆汽车，在它边上走过，穿过喧闹的大街，走进那有着耀眼的电灯招牌的餐厅。一位红发女郎离开出纳员的桌子，这位穿灰色衣服的女子接替了她。
年轻人把手插进口袋里，慢慢地沿大街走去。迟疑地逗留了片刻，然后他跨进那辆等着的汽车，舒舒服服地往座垫上一靠，吩咐司机说：“亨利，俱乐部。”
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