犯罪率上升,尤其是在年轻人中;对邻居的简单、共同的信任正在减弱;这个小镇从来没有像现在这样充满谣言、丑闻和恶毒的流言蜚语。在恐惧和怀疑的阴影下,这里的生活逐渐失去了欢乐和简单,似乎没有人知道为什么或如何。
(Crime was up, especially among the youth; simple, common trust in one's neighbor was diminishing; never had the town been so full of rumors, scandals, and malicious gossip. In the shadow of fear and suspicion, life here was gradually losing its joy and simplicity, and no one seemed to know why or how.)