第3部分(第1/5 页)

I　confessed　that　I　was　bewildered。　He　smiled。　“You　may；”　he　said；　“have　heard　of　the　Anglo…American　Social　Bureau？”　I　had　not。　He　explained　to　me　that　of　the　thousands　of　Americans　who　annually　pass　through　England　there　are　many　hundreds　who　have　no　English　friends。　In　the　old　days　they　used　to　bring　letters　of　introduction。　But　the　English　are　so　inhospitable　that　these　letters　are　hardly　worth　the　paper　they　are　written　on。　“Thus；”　said　Le　Ros；　“the　；　and　most　of　them　have　plenty　of　money　to　spend。　The　；　alas！　A　director。　If　I　were；　I　should　be　a　very　rich　man　indeed。　I　am　only　an　employee。　But　even　so　I　do　very　well。　I　am　one　of　the　seers…off。”txt电子书分享平台

送　行（6）

Again　I　asked　for　enlightenment。　“Many　Americans；”　he　said；　“cannot　afford　to　keep　friends　in　England。　But　they　can　all　afford　to　be　seen　off。　The　fee　is　only　five　pounds　（twenty…five　dollars）　for　a　single　traveller；　and　eight　pounds　（forty　dollars）　for　a　party　of　two　or　more。　They　send　that　in　to　the　Bureau；　giving　the　date　of　their　departure；　and　a　description　by　which　the　seer…off　can　identify　them　on　the　platform。　And　then—well；　then　they　are　seen　off。”

“But　is　it　worth？”　I　exclaimed。　“Of　course　it　is　worth　it；”　said　Le　Ros。　“It　prevents　them　from　feeling　‘out　of　it。’　It　earns　them　the　respect　of　the　guard。　It　saves　them　from　being　despised　by　their　fellow…passengers—the　people　who　are　going　to　be　on　the　boat。　It　gives　them　a　footing　for　the　whole　voyage。　Besides；　it　is　a　great　pleasure　in　itself。　You　saw　me　seeing　that　young　lady　off。　Didn’t　you　think　I　did　it　beautifully？”“Beautifully；”　I　admitted。　“I　envied　you。　There　was　I—”　“Yes；　I　can　imagine。　There　were　you；　shuffling　from　head　to　foot；　staring　blankly　at　your　friend；　trying　to　make　conversation。　I　know。　That’s　how　I　used　t