1、1Early Autumn-By Langston HughesWhen Bill was very young, they had been in love. Many nights they had spent walking, talking together. Then something not very important had come between them, and they didnt speak. Impulsively, she had married a man she thought she loved. Bill went away, bitter about
2、 women. Yesterday, walking across Washington Square, she saw him for the first time in years. “Bill Walker,” she said. He stopped. At first he did not recognize her; to him she looked so old. “Mary! Where did you come from?” Unconsciously, she lifted her face as though wanting a kiss, but he held ou
3、t his hand. She took it. “I live in New York now,” she said. “Oh.” Smiling politely, then a little frown came quickly between his eyes. “Always wondered what happened to you, Bill.” “Im a lawyer. Nice firm, way downtown.” “Married yet?” “Sure. Two kids.” “Oh,” she said. A great many people went past
4、 them through the park. People they didnt know. It was late afternoon. Nearly sunset. Cold. “And your husband?” he asked her. “We have three children. I work in the bursars office(大学财务处) at Columbia.” “You are looking very” (he wanted to say old) “well,” he said. 2She understood. Under the trees in
5、Washington Square, she found herself desperately reaching back into the past. She had been older than he then in Ohio. Now she was not young at all. Bill was still young. “We live on Central Park West,” she said. “Come and see us sometime.” “Sure,” he replied. “You and your husband must have dinner
6、with my family some night. Any night. Lucille and Id love to have you.” The leaves fell slowly from the tree in the Square. Fell without wind. Autumn dusk. She felt a little sick. “Wed love it,” she answered. “You ought to see my kids.” He grinned. Suddenly the lights came on up the whole length of
7、Fifth Avenue, chains of misty brilliance in the blue air. “Theres my bus,” she said. He held out his hand. “Goodbye.” “When”, she wanted to say, but the bus was ready to pull off. The lights on the avenue blurred, twinkled, blurred. And she was afraid to open her mouth as she entered the bus. Afraid
8、 it would be impossible to utter a word. Suddenly she shrieked very loudly, “Good-bye!” But the bus door had closed. The bus started. People came between them outside, people crossing the street, people they didnt know. Space and people. She lost sight of Bill. Then she remembered she had forgotten to give him her addressor to ask him for hisor tell him that her youngest boy was named Bill, too.
