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Text B The Reading Public A Book Store Study（第1页）
TextBTheReadingPublic:ABookStoreStudy
&lerLeacock
[1]“Wishtolookaboutthestore?Oh，oh，byallmeans，sir，”hesaid。
[2]Then，asherubbedhishaherinanurbanefashioedapierceatmethroughhisspectacles。
[3]“You’llfihatyou，”hesaid，“inthebackofthestoreo。”Wehavethereaseriesofreprints—UniversalKnowledgefromAristotletoArthurBalfour—atseves。OrperhapsyoumightliketolookoverthePantheohors，attes。“Mr。Sparrow，”hecalled，“justshowthisgentlemanourclassits—theteseries。”
[4]Withthathewavedhishandtoanassistantanddismissedmefromhisthought。
[5]Inotherwords，hehaddivinedmeiherewasnouseinmyhavingboughtasage-greenfedorainBroadtiedoneupcrosswisewithspotsasbigasheselittleadorseverhidethesoulwithin。Irofessor，a，oratleast，aspartofhisbusiness，hecoulddiviheinstant。
[6]Thesalesmahebiggestbookstorefortenblootbedeaer。Andheknew，ofcourse，that，asaprofessor，Iwasnogood。Ihadetothestore，asallprotobookstores，justasaestoanopenjarofmarmalade。HekIwouldhangaroundfortwetineverybody’sway，andfinallybuyacheapreprintoftheDialoguesofPlato，ortheProseWorksofJohnMilton，orLoaanding，orsometrashofthatsort。
[7]Asforrealtasteiure—theabilitytoappreciateatitsworthadollar-fiftymonth，inasprihatangofrontispiece—Ihadn’tgotita。
[8]Hedespisedme，ofcourse。Butitisamaximofthebookbusiaprupinaerburiedinabooklookswelliherealerslikeit。
[9]Soitwasthatevensoup-to-dateamanagerasMr。Sellyertoleratedmypresenabaerofhisstore;andsoitwasthatIhadanopportunityofnotihingofhismethodswithhisrealethodssosuccessful，Imaysay，thathisisrightlylookeduponbyallthepublishingbusinessasoaysofliteratureinAmerica。
[10]Ihadionofstandinginthepladlisteningasaspy。Infact，totellthetruth，IhadbeediatelyiediranslationoftheMoralDiscoursesofEpictetus。ThebookwasverylypriewellboundandwashteehatforthemomentIwasstroobuyit，thoughitseemedbesttotakeadipintoitfirst。
[11]Ihadhardlyreadmorethatthefirstthreechapterswheioedbyversationgoingoofthestore。
[12]“You’requitesureit’shislatest?”afashionablydressedwomanwassayingtoMr。Sellyer。
[13]“Oh，yes，Mrs。Rasselyer，”ahemanager。“Iassureyouthisishisverylatest。Infaeierday。”
[14]Ashespoke，heihhishandahugepileofbooks，gailyjawhiteandblue。Iakeoutthetitleinbitgiltlettering—GoldenDreams。
[15]“Oh，yes，”repeatedMr。Sellyer。“ThisisMr。Slush’slatestbook。It’shavingawonderfulsale。”
[16]“That’sallright，then，”saidthelady。“Yousee，ostakeninso:IherelastweekandtooktwothatseemedverynidIicedtillIgothomethattheywerebotholdbooks，published，Ithink，sixmonthsago。”
[17]“Oh，dearme，Mrs。Rasselyer，”saidthemanagerinaoremelysorry。Prayletussendforthemahemforyou。”
[18]“Oh，itdoesnotmatter，”saidthelady，“ofcourseIdidhem。Igavethemtomymaid。Sheprobablywouldn’tknowthediffereny>
[19]“Isupposenot，”saidMr。Sellyer，withadiofadam，”hewenton，fallingiofthefashionablebookman，“suchmistakesareboundtohappeimes。ainfullyyesterday。Oneofouroldestein，ihurry，tobuybookstotakeoeamer，andbeforewerealizedwhathehaddohebooksIsupposemerelybythetitles，assomegetodo—hehadtakentwooflastyear’sbooks。Wewiredatoeamer，butI’mafraidit’stoolate。”
[20]“Butnow，thisbook，”saidthelady，idlyturheleaves，“isitgood?Whatisitabout?”
