外刊毫无疑问是学英文的绝佳材料。但各种新闻层出不穷，五花八门的热点稍纵即逝，如果平时只看新闻（无论中文还是英文），整个人难免会变得越来越浮躁。

因此，阅读一些经典文学作品，和读者朋友们一起搭建一块安静的“小型避难所”。

长篇小说的篇幅往往比较长，基础不太好的同学不容易坚持，也很难享受到阅读的快感。于是我决定带大家从短小精悍的短篇小说读起。

第一部作品，我选择了毛姆先生的《患难之交》(A friend in Need)。毛姆是我最钟爱的作者之一，这也是一篇我很喜欢的小说，后劲很大，以至于在看完这篇小说后的好几年，我都经常想起它。

今天我就带大家一起读一读这篇小说。希望大家能找到一块完整的时间，安静地阅读下面这个故事。

A friend in need 

患难之交

By William Somerset Maugham

study v. If you study something, you consider it or observe it carefully in order to be able to understand it fully. 研究；调查；仔细观察

engage sb  v.to employ sb to do a particular jobfor the most part  雇佣，聘用

draw conclusions from sth   从...得出结论

for the most part  used to say that something is generally true but not completely true 就绝大部分而言；基本上，大体上

contour  [ˈkːntʊr] n.[C]the outer edges of sth; the outline of its shape or form 外形；轮廓

all of a piece  一致，协调；相符合

cannot afford to do sth  承担不起做某事

self-contradictory  adj. containing ten ideas or statements that cannot both be true 自相矛盾的

incomprehensible  [ɪnˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪbl] adj. impossible to understand 无法理解的；难懂的

haphazard  [ˌhæpˈhæzəd] adj.with no particular order or plan; not organized well无秩序的；无计划的；组织混乱的

tubular [ˈtjuːbjʊlər] adj. shaped like a tube 管状的

incongruity  [ˌɪn.kəŋˈgruː.əti] n. the fact that something is strange, unusual, or unsuitable in a particular situation 不和谐；不合适；不相称

incongruous  adj.不合适的; 不相称的; 不协调的;

eg. Such traditional methods seem  incongruous  in our technical  age.  此类传统方法似乎同我们今天的科技时代格格不入。

cart  n.马车

shrug one's shoulders  耸耸肩

vanity [ˈvæn.ɪ.ti] n. [U] too much pride in your own appearance, abilities or achievements 自负；自大；虚荣；虚荣心：

for my / her / their part  speaking for myself, etc. 就我(或她、他们等)而言

puzzle  v.to make sb feel confused because they do not understand sth 迷惑；使困惑

occur to sb  to come into your mind 被想到；出现在头脑中

slender  adj. thin in an attractive or elegant way 苗条的；纤细的

wrinkled [ˈrɪŋ.kl ̩d]  adj. having wrinkles 有皱纹的

in accordance with sth  according to a rule, system etc 按照某事物

dry hunour  冷幽默，十分微妙的幽默

It happened that... 碰巧...

sentimental  [ˌsentɪˈmentəl]  adj.Someone or something that is sentimental feels or shows pity or love, sometimes to an extent that is considered exaggerated and foolish. 感伤的；多情的；多愁善感的

something of a  在某种程度上是

frail  [freɪl] adj.physically weak and thin 瘦弱的

lounge  [laʊndʒ] n.a public room in a hotel, club, etc. for waiting or relaxing in 休息室

restful  [ˈrestfəl]  adj.that makes you feel relaxed and peaceful 闲适宁静的；使人感到悠闲的

presently  adv. in a short time 马上，一会儿，不久，很快

catch sight of sb / sth  to suddenly see someone or something that you have been looking for or have been hoping to see 忽然看到某人/某物

seat  v.向…提供座位；(使)就座；坐；落座

seat oneself  某人坐下，某人落座

What do you say to a little drink? 

“我们来点小酒怎么样?

nod a greeting   点头问候 

remittance  [rɪˈmɪtəns] n.[U]the act of sending money to sb in order to pay for sth 汇付；汇款

sb's namesake  同名的人

uncanny  adj. strange and difficult to explain 异常的；难以解释的 

sip  v.to drink sth, taking a very small amount each time 小口喝；抿

think a lot of sb  have a very good opinion of sb/sth 对…感兴趣；敬慕…；对…高度评价

credit  n.[U] an arrangement that you make, with a shop / store for example, to pay later for sth you buy 赊购；赊欠

down and out without money, a home or a job, and living on the streets  穷愁潦倒；一无所有

give credit  允许赊购

on the account of sth   because of sb / sth 由于；因为：

current  n.[C] the movement of water in the sea or a river; the movement of air in a particular direction 水流，潮流；气流：

be taken aback (by sb / sth)   to be shocked or surprised by sb / sth （被…）吓了一跳；大吃一惊；震惊

                                                                       - The End -

思考题：

1. 你认为这篇文章的结尾有什么样的特点，能说出它的风格和另外哪位作家比较接近吗？

2.你如何理解这篇小说的标题：A Friend in Need

3.文中的Edward Burton的“表象”是什么？“本性”是什么？