"But he had received a strong emotional shock, and his perturbation required a violent and immediate outlet.
..."See in text(Part I)
“Perturbation” refers to the state of being perturbed or troubled by something to the point of agitation. Dexter does not want to take orders from spoiled, snobbish Judy Jones, who is Mortimer Jones’s daughter. The unexpected prospect of acting as her caddy has delivered an “emotional shock” that necessitated “a violent and immediate outlet”—abruptly quitting his job. Dexter has been humiliated by Judy’s attitude and behavior toward him, calling him “boy,” and by the caddy master who calls him a “dummy” in front of her. His pride dictates that he quit on the spot. Adding to his agitation is that he unexpectedly finds Judy very attractive, despite her behavior.
"It did not take him many hours to decide that he had wanted Judy Jones ever since he was a proud, desirous little boy.
..."See in text(Part III)
The passage reflects Dexter’s longing for class ascension, even as a boy. It also suggests that at their first meeting, Judy represented the wealthy upper class for Dexter. When he met Judy years later in the romantic atmosphere on the lake, she had become the embodiment of all his romantic dreams of wealth, beauty, glamour, and excitement; it is what Judy represents to Dexter, rather than Judy herself, that he has wanted all his life.
"My career is largely a matter of futures...."See in text(Part III)
The noun “futures” may refer to Dexter’s expectation of his career advancing in the future. He may also be referring to the stock market term “futures,” or “futures market,” which is a financial transaction wherein people contract to purchase a specific quantity of commodities or assets for a predetermined price at a specified date in the future. He explains to Judy that although he is “‘nobody,’” he has future prospects.
"Dexter peopled the soft deep summer room..."See in text(Part III)
The verb “to people” means to inhabit or to supply a place with inhabitants. Though Dexter enters “the soft deep summer room” as one person, he in effect joins the men who came before him in the room. He joins the group of adoring, frustrated suitors who had loved Judy Jones in the past.
"The thing was deep in him. He was too strong and alive for it to die lightly...."See in text(Part IV)
Dexter’s memories of Judy and his desire for her prevail, as his emotions overrule reason and rational thinking. The “thing” that “was deep in him” is his continuing romantic illusion about Judy and what she represents to him.
"He knew that Irene would be no more than a curtain spread behind him..."See in text(Part IV)
The life Dexter imagines having with Irene is described with a series of images that suggest a quiet domestic existence of home and family and his absence of passion for her.
"That old penny's worth of happiness he had spent for this bushel of content...."See in text(Part IV)
The passage contrasts Dexter’s relationship with Judy with his new relationship with Irene; he had given up moments of intense happiness with Judy in exchange for a sense of contentment with Irene.
"he had a rather priggish notion that he--the young and already fabulously successful Dexter Green--should know more about such things...."See in text(Part IV)
The adjective “priggish” describes a person who insists on adhering to social norms and expectations, especially in a self-righteous or arrogant way. Dexter’s perception of himself as a “young and already fabulously successful” man manifests in a belief that he should acquire more knowledge about literature and music; it also indicates Dexter is still remaking himself into the person he has longed to become.
"There was nothing sufficiently pictorial about Irene's grief to stamp itself on his mind...."See in text(Part V)
“Pictorial” describes something that is expressed in pictures. The passage suggests that Dexter paid little notice to Irene’s grief or possibly that Irene, bound by social conventions, did not make a scene or express her grief to him in ways that would live as pictures in his mind.
"The dream was gone. Something had been taken from him...."See in text(Part VI)
Dexter’s initial dreams of the future have now been replaced by dreams of the past and his romance with Judy. Knowing what has become of Judy, he can no longer live in his dreams of her.
"I can't understand how a man like Lud Simms could fall madly in love with her, but he did...."See in text(Part VI)
Devlin’s comment further shatters Dexter’s memories and illusions regarding Judy, who had been irresistible and all-consuming for Dexter. “Most of the women like her” indicates that Judy is no longer the beautiful woman whom other women would perhaps resent or find threatening to their marriages or relationships.
