新编大学英语第一册课文.docx

新编大学英语第一册课文.docx

《新编大学英语第一册课文.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《新编大学英语第一册课文.docx（52页珍藏版）》请在冰豆网上搜索。

新编大学英语第一册课文

Unit1Love

AKissforKate

EveryafternoonwhenIcameondutyastheeveningnurse,Iwouldwalkthehallsofthenursinghome,pausingateachdoortochatandobserve.Often,KateandChris,theirbigscrapbooksintheirlaps,wouldbereminiscingoverthephotos.Proudly,Kateshowedmepicturesofbygoneyears:

Chris—tall,blond,handsome;Katepretty,dark-haired,laughing.Twoyoungloverssmilingthroughthepassingseasons.Howlovelytheylookednow,sittingthere,thelightshiningontheirwhiteheads,theirtime-wrinkledfacessmilingatthememoriesoftheyears,caughtandheldforeverinthescrapbooks.

Howlittletheyoungknowofloving,I'dthink.Howfoolishtothinktheyhaveamonopolyonsuchapreciouscommodity.Theoldknowwhatlovingtrulymeans;theyoungcanonlyguess.

KateandChriswerealwaystogether—inthediningroom,thelounge,strollingaroundthebigporchesandlawns,alwaysholdinghands.Aswestaffmembersateoureveningmeal,sometimesKateandChriswouldwalkslowlybythedining-roomdoors.Thenconversationwouldturntoadiscussionofthecouple'sloveanddevotion,andwhatwouldhappenwhenoneofthemdied.WeknewChriswasthestrongone,andKatewasdependentuponhim.

HowwouldKatefunctionifChrisweretodiefirst?

Weoftenwondered.

Bedtimefollowedaritual.WhenIbroughttheeveningmedication,Katewouldbesittinginherchair,innightgownandslippers,awaitingmyarrival.UnderthewatchfuleyesofChrisandmyself,Katewouldtakeherpill,thencarefullyChriswouldhelpherfromthechairtothebedandtuckthecoversinaroundherfrailbody.

Observingthisactoflove,Iwouldthinkforthethousandthtime,goodheavens,whydon'tnursinghomeshavedoublebedsformarriedcouples?

Alltheirlivestheyhaveslepttogether,butinanursinghome,they'reexpectedtosleepinsinglebeds.Overnightthey'redeprivedofacomfortofalifetime.

Howveryfoolishsuchpoliciesare,IwouldthinkasIwatchedChrisreachupandturnoffthelightaboveKate'sbed.Thentenderlyhewouldbend,andtheywouldkissgently.Chriswouldpathercheek,andbothwouldsmile.Hewouldpullupthesiderailonherbed,andonlythenwouldheturnandaccepthisownmedication.AsIwalkedintothehall,IcouldhearChrissay,"Goodnight,Kate,"andherreturningvoice,"Good-night,Chris,"whilethespaceofanentireroomseparatedtheirtwobeds.

IhadbeenoffdutytwodaysandwhenIreturned,thefirstnewsIheardwas,"Chrisdiedyesterdaymorning."

"How?

"

"Aheartattack.Ithappenedquickly."

"How'sKate?

"

"Bad."

IwentintoKate'sroom.Shesatinherchair,motionless,handsinherlap,staring.Takingherhandsinmine,Isaid,"Kate,it'sPhyllis."

Hereyesnevershifted;sheonlystared.Iplacedmyhandunderherchinandslowlyturnedherheadsoshehadtolookatme.

"Kate,IjustfoundoutaboutChris.I'msosorry.

Attheword"Chris",hereyescamebacktolife.Shelookedatme,puzzled,asthoughwonderinghowIhadsuddenlyappeared."Kate,it'sme,Phyllis.I'msosorryaboutChris."

Recognitionandsadnessfloodedherface.Tearswelledupandsliddownhercheeks."Chrisisgone,"shewhispered.

"Iknow,"Isaid."Iknow."

WepamperedKateforawhile,lettinghereatinherroom,surroundingherwithspecialattention.Thengraduallythestaffworkedherbackintotheoldschedule.Often,asIwentpastherroom,IwouldobserveKatesittinginherchair,scrapbooksonherlap,gazingsadlyatpicturesofChris.

BedtimewastheworstpartofthedayforKate.AlthoughshewasallowedtomovefromherbedtoChris'sbed,andalthoughthestaffchattedandlaughedwithherastheytuckedherinforthenight,stillKateremainedsilentandsadlywithdrawn.Passingherroomanhouraftershehadbeentuckedin,I'dfindherwideawake,staringattheceiling.

Theweekspassed,andbedtimewasn'tanybetter.Sheseemedsorestless,soinsecure.Why?

Iwondered.Whythistimeofdaymorethantheotherhours?

ThenonenightasIwalkedintoherroom,onlytofindthesamewide-awakeKate,Isaidimpulsively,"Kate,coulditbeyoumissyourgood-nightkiss?

"Bendingdown,Ikissedherwrinkledcheek.

ItwasasthoughIhadopenedthefloodgates.Tearsrandownherface;herhandsgrippedmine."Chrisalwayskissedmegood-night,"shecried.

"Iknow,"Iwhispered.

"Imisshimso,allthoseyearshekissedmegood-night."ShepausedwhileIwipedthetears."Ijustcan'tseemtogotosleepwithouthiskiss."

Shelookedupatme,hereyesfulloftears."Oh,thankyouforgivingmeakiss."

Asmallsmileturnedupthecornersofhermouth."Youknow,"shesaidconfidentially,"Chrisusedtosingmeasong.

"Hedid?

"

"Yes,"—herwhiteheadnodded—"andIliehereatnightandthinkaboutit."

"Howdiditgo?

"

Katesmiled,heldmyhandandclearedhe