第十五章（第8/10页）

"Don't make it difficult for me," she pleaded.

“不要让我为难。”她央求着。

"Make what difficult?" "For me to go to Venice and arrange things." A little smile, half a grin, flickered on his face.

“为难什么？”“前往威尼斯，安排好以后的一切。”一丝苦笑在他的脸上闪过。

"I don't make it difficult," he said. "I only want to find out just what you are after. But you don't really know yourself. You want to take time: get away and look at it. I don't blame you. I think you're wise. You may prefer to stay mistress of Wragby. I don't blame you. I've no Wragbys to offer. In fact, you know what you'll get out of me. No, no, I think you're right! I really do! And I'm not keen on coming to live on you, being kept by you. There's that too.” She felt somehow as if he were giving her tit for tat.

“我不会让你为难。”他说。“我只想弄清楚你真正的目的。可连你自己都不知道答案。你只是想争取时间，逃离此地，重新审视整件事。我不会责怪你。我觉得这样做很明智。你尽可以做回拉格比的女主人。我不会责怪你。我可没有拉格比来提供给你。其实，你明白能从我这里得到什么。不，不，我认为你是对的！我的确这样想！而且，我并不愿靠你养活，让你维系。这也是需要深思的问题。”她觉得他似乎是故意跟自己作对。

"But you want me, don't you?” She asked.

“可你要我，不是吗？”她追问道。

"Do you want me?" "You know I do. That's evident.” "Quite! And WHEN do you want me?" "You know we can arrange it all when I come back. Now I'm out of breath with you. I must get calm and clear.” "Quite! Get calm and clear!"

“你想要我吗？”“你知道我想。这显而易见。”“很好！那你打算什么时候要我？”“你清楚，我从威尼斯回来以后，咱俩便可安排一切。现在我被你逼得喘不过气。我必须冷静下来，理清头绪。”“很好！冷静下来，理清头绪！”

She was a little offended.

她有些恼火。

"But you trust me, don't you?” She said.

“可你信任我，对吗？”她问。

"Oh, absolutely!" She heard the mockery in his tone.

“哦，那是当然！”她听得出，他的腔调中含有讥讽。

"Tell me then," she said flatly; "do you think it would be better if I don't go to Venice?” "I'm sure it's better if you do go to Venice," he replied in the cool, slightly mocking voice.

“那么告诉我，”她直截了当地说，“你认为我不去威尼斯更好些吗？”“我敢打包票，你还是去为好。”他冷漠的声音里，依然带有讽刺的意味。

"You know it's next Thursday?” She said.

“你知道我下周四动身？”她问。

"Yes!" She now began to muse. At last she said: "And we shall know better where we are when I come back, shan't we?” "Oh surely!" The curious gulf of silence between them!

“是的！”她陷入沉思。最后，她说：“等我回来，咱俩会更加明晰彼此的想法，是吗？”“噢，那当然！”沉默的深渊将两人莫名地远远隔开！

"I've been to the lawyer about my divorce," he said, a little constrainedly.

“关于离婚的事，我已经咨询过律师。”他说，表情显得有些不自然。

She gave a slight shudder.

她微微战栗了一下。

"Have you!" she said. "And what did he say?" "He said I ought to have done it before; that may be a difficulty. But since I was in the army, he thinks it will go through all right. If only it doesn't bring her down on my head!” "Will she have to know?" "Yes! She is served with a notice: so is the man she lives with, the co-respondent.” "Isn't it hateful, all the performances! I suppose I'd have to go through it with Clifford.” There was a silence.

“是吗！”她说。“律师怎么说？”“他说我该早先就着手，现在办理起来有些困难。但由于我当过兵，他觉得最终应该可以办妥。只希望别因为离婚的事，她又跑来纠缠不清！”“不能瞒着她吗？”“是的！她会接到传票，与她同居的家伙也一样，他是共同被告。”“这些繁文缛节还真是讨厌！我和克利福德恐怕也要照章办事。”沉默再度降临。

"And of course," he said, "I have to live an exemplary life for the next six or eight months. So if you go to Venice, there's temptation removed for a week or two, at least.” "Am I temptation! "She said, stroking his face. "I'm so glad I'm temptation to you! Don't let's think about it! You frighten me when you start thinking: you roll me out flat. Don't let's think about it. We can think so much when we are apart. That's the whole point! I've been thinking, I must come to you for another night before I go. I MUST come once more to the cottage. Shall I come on Thursday night?” "Isn't that when your sister will be there?” "Yes! But she said we would start at tea-time. So we could start at tea-time. But she could sleep somewhere else and I could sleep with you.

“当然，”他说，“未来的六到八个月，我必须过规矩的生活。因此，你去威尼斯，至少能保证我在一两周时间内远离诱惑。”“我是诱惑呀！”她边说，边抚摸着他的脸。“你会这样想，我真开心！别再思前想后了。每当你开始思考，我就会感到害怕，生怕那汹涌的思绪会把我碾平。别再想了。分别之后，我们有足够的时间考虑。这才是关键所在！我曾想过，动身之前，无论如何也要再与你共度一晚。无论如何，也要再去一次你家。周四晚上怎么样？”“那天你姐姐不是要来吗？”“没错！可她说，我们会在下午茶的时间启程。我们应该会准时出发。可她可以去别处过夜，而我要来陪你。”

"But then she'd have to know.” "Oh, I shall tell her. I've more or less told her already. I must talk it all over with Hilda. She's a great help, so sensible.” He was thinking of her plan.

“但这样一来，她就会知道事情的原委。”“哦，我没打算瞒她。之前也已经多少透露过。我得原原本本地跟希尔达谈谈这事。她很有主意，能帮上大忙。”他掂量着她的计划。

"So you'd start off from Wragby at tea-time, as if you were going to London? Which way were you going?” "By Nottingham and Grantham." "And then your sister would drop you somewhere and you'd walk or drive back here? Sounds very risky, to me.” "Does it? Well, then, Hilda could bring me back. She could sleep at Mansfield, and bring me back here in the evening, and fetch me again in the morning. It's quite easy.” "And the people who see you?" "I'll wear goggles and a veil.” He pondered for some time.