beauty and money

Appearing in front of Editor-in-Chief John was a medium-sized, very thin young man with sallow skin and an easy-going outline. There was not a trace of hair on his chin, like a court eunuch.He wore a snow-white scarf around his neck, his clothes were made of wool, and he wore a pair of black leather boots. He was well-dressed. If it wasn't for the thin and fleshless figure in front of him, John almost thought it was a woman, because of his outline It's really not as clear as that of men. It's not because of his good looks, but his years of experience in knowing people made him a little suspicious.

The man greeted politely and sat down casually. When he spoke, John's suspicion reached its peak. This was a deliberately lowered voice that gave people a neutral voice. At first glance, it sounded like a voice change period. A young boy, but if you distinguish carefully, you can be sure that it is a female.

Thinking of this, John couldn't help frowning. He knew very well that some female writers pretended to be men to publish their works. If he was not in front of him but those conservative and traditional people, then they would probably reprimand this woman for being rude and vulgar, but he just It is those people who are open-minded, just like the 19th century that has just entered, he believes that this will be an era of change, he can see a glimmer of light through the crack of the door, if he still treats Henry in a normal way before, At this moment, he couldn't help admiring this woman, who had the courage and guts not inferior to a man.

So he tapped his fingers habitually, thought about his words and said, "You, don't hide from me, because I have already seen your truth."

Apparently his words aroused the surprise and alertness of the person on the other side, but he then said: "But don't worry, I don't need to do something that will endanger you. There are many female writers in this industry who are pretending to be men. It is very clear to the industry that they favor the works of these writers, but disdain their identities. No article is published under the name of a woman, but I believe you have such potential." John put the prepared If the paperwork was taken out, other people would probably reduce the manuscript fee because of this or simply leave to avoid trouble, but John decided to conceal this situation and still pay the normal manuscript fee.

Mary was completely at a loss. Her so-called clever disguise was useless in front of this middle-aged gentleman. He had a pair of observant eyes. He also gave Mary advice. Any medical or art student who is a little more careful You can see her real gender.

Mary apologized deeply to the man who should have scolded her for hiding him for so long, but she was surprised to know that many female writers would conceal their true gender to publish articles, and John told her so. "Don't be so surprised, miss, you are not the only one who is unique. You know, I think Shakespeare may also be a female writer." After speaking, he smiled and handed the paperwork to Mary.

After Mary took the document, she just looked at it briefly and signed it. Of course, it was Henry who signed it. She couldn't guarantee it with her name, but she could guarantee it with her personality.

"Forgive my abruptness, can I pay a part of the manuscript fee first, this is my address, I promise to deliver the manuscript on time, and there will be no delay." Mary is really a bit stretched now, and only when she lives alone does she realize the lack of money and many other things. inconvenient.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Henry, but our newspaper has no patrons at all, so we are very short of funds. From the profits of each publication of the newspaper, we can only make enough money for the next publication. The balance is very limited. If you really have Difficulties, I am personally more than happy to help you."

"Oh, I'm sorry for making such a request, and thank you very much for your sincerity, but you really don't have to worry too much. I'm just a little tight on money, and I don't have money to spend." Mary declined the help of Editor John, and she I feel that the other party is very grateful for not revealing myself and refusing the visa.

Back at the apartment she rented, Mary deeply felt the madness of her thoughts. For the first time, she felt regret and fear. If she was exposed, she would face so much trouble.The momentary excitement and high enthusiasm seemed to be extinguished by a basin of cold water. Mary sat on the chair in the apartment and was upset, with new articles scattered on the table. A heavy burden weighs on her. Women envy men's freedom, but they bear the burden of life. A woman can embroider without doing anything, but a man must struggle for survival. These ironic humors written by her seem to be Without any strength, it is impossible to write about the reality of society, because that is something she does not understand.

When she was worrying, there was a sudden knock on the door, which made her suddenly alert. She opened the door with anxiety, only to find that standing at the door was a young man wearing a gray felt hat. This person was Mary. Elliot who helped that day.

He seemed a little hesitant, standing at the door not knowing what to do, when he saw Mary open the door, he climbed up the steps and lowered his head slightly, looking tall, thin and weird at dusk.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, and I didn't intend to offend you. I only found out your address through many inquiries. I took the liberty to visit the door. It was really because of my guilt that I didn't thank you properly."

"You don't have to thank me, and you don't have to feel guilty. I helped you because I couldn't bear this kind of bullying." Mary blocked the door, not intending to invite him in at all.

The pleasantries between the two at the door seemed to have aroused the look of the female neighbor next door. She opened the window and stretched out her slender neck to look at the two, with suspicion in her cold gray eyes.Realizing that the current situation seemed too suspicious, Mary took her hat and cane from the coat rack at the door, and went out in civilian clothes.Mary felt a little uncomfortable with Elliott's always looking into the house.Before she left, she wiped the door light at the door so that she would not be able to see the keyhole when it was dark when she came back. This showed her intention that she would not stay outside for too long.Elliot was a little disappointed by this, but he had nothing to say. He just pulled his felt hat and followed the young gentleman.

Mary invited this strange classmate to sit in a small coffee shop at a nearby intersection. Against the dark background of the setting sun, the stone pavement was wet with dirty water.The two of them didn't say anything along the way. When they arrived at the cafe, Mary ordered a cup of the cheapest coffee, while Elliot ordered nothing.In fact, there is no need for Eliot to have the courage to inquire about Mary's residence. Mary herself may be frightened by this sudden gratitude, but somehow Eliot can't sleep. He is eager to meet Mary again and is grateful to her. , talk to him.

The expected conversation did not happen, and the man opposite was very silent. Just like in the car that day, the countless words of gratitude that had been prepared all disappeared, and the atmosphere between the two was very strange.Seeming to have made up his mind, Elliott tried to talk about the weather.

"Today is a nice day." He said dryly.

"Well, indeed."

"If I didn't know that you are an auditor, I really couldn't find you. We chatted in the car that day."

"yes, I remember."

"I study literature, what do you study?"

"Philosophy." Mary's reluctance to talk made Elliot even more nervous. He didn't know if the man in front of him could become friends with him. They were not together.

He inquired that Mr. Edward was always a loner, had few friends, rarely interacted with his classmates, and only had contacts with a few professors, as if he came to Oxford only to study rather than to establish social connections.His life experience and family are very mysterious, without a hint of disclosure, but he is well dressed, at least middle class.

He didn’t hang out in bars or dance halls like everyone else, and he didn’t watch operas and flirt with actresses, and he didn’t get addicted to drugs. He was so clean that he seemed to be studying in a seminary. Nothing compares to him.

"Wow, it's very profound." The topic couldn't go on at all, and Elliott was a little frustrated.

"Well, if there is nothing else, I have received your gratitude, I think I need to go home and review my homework." Mary has no interest in talking to this Elliot, her heart is very confused, and she feels that she should be more cautious. Use caution in what you say and do to reduce the possibility of exposure.

"Oh, then if there is a chance, I will treat you to dinner as a thank you." Elliott made the last effort, he clearly felt the impatience of the young man opposite him.

Mary is indeed very impatient, she wants to yell at Elliot very much now, I don't want to have dinner with you, thank you, let's go, your arrival has interrupted my precious time.If it was normal, Mary would probably socialize with him, but now she just wants to go home and lie on the bed, she feels like vomiting, probably because of being blown by the wind by the river or being frightened, her head bursts It hurts, and my mind is full of the words of John the editor-in-chief.Faces that sometimes enlarge and sometimes shrink, voices that are near and far away.

Seeing the pale face of the young man opposite, Elliot hurriedly left. He was terrified in his heart and guessed that this gentleman had noticed something unusual in it. He was always difficult to like because of his funny appearance and poverty.On the way back, he watched Edward's figure disappear into the fading sun, leaving only the last blush of twilight scattered on the horizon.

Before Mary returned to her small apartment, she really vomited. She leaned against the wall and vomited into the gutter. Her head ached, and she even picked on the pungent smell in the air. At this time, several college students dressed like this The young people sang and drank the wine in their hands. They shouted to Mary drunkenly: "Hey, girl, come and drink with us." This was originally a joke, but Mary turned pale and stumbled. Run to the apartment.

"Hey, these students are really sons of a bitch, another drunk." The night watchman was bumped by Mary when he was just about to go to work, and then cursed in the direction she left.

Back at her apartment, Mary took out her key and opened the door tremblingly. It was already dark at some point. Under the dim light of the door light, she dropped the key on the steps. The key hit the steps and fell down onto the street. Mary Just as I was about to pick it up, I found a person picked up the key.

"Sir, do you need any service?" It was a plump woman. She was wearing a headscarf and couldn't see her face clearly under the night, but a hand holding a key reached out to the light of the door lamp. It was very bright, and the night watchmen in the distance were lighting the oil lamps on the street one by one, and they would come here soon. She looked at her, and suddenly understood her identity.