第十六章（第10/14页）

The three ate in silence. Hilda looked to see what his table-manners were like. She could not help realizing that he was instinctively much more delicate and well-bred than herself. She had a certain Scottish clumsiness. And moreover, he had all the quiet self-contained assurance of the English, no loose edges. It would be very difficult to get the better of him.

三个人默不作声地吃着。希尔达观察着梅勒斯席间的举止是否得体。她只能承认，与自己相比，他表现出更加优雅的仪态，以及良好的教养，这显然是他内在的品质。她像苏格兰人那样古板，有失圆滑。而他却拥有英格兰人安静沉默、从容不迫的优点，几乎无懈可击。想要他自愿认栽，绝非易事。

But neither would he get the better of her.

但他也别想在希尔达那里讨到便宜。

"And do you really think," she said, a little more humanly, "it's worth the risk.” "Is what worth what risk?" "This escapade with my sister." He flickered his irritating grin.

“你当真认为，”她说，语气不再那样咄咄逼人，“这值得冒风险吗？”“什么事值得冒风险？”“和我妹妹偷情的事。”他那招人恨的笑容再次浮现。

"Yo'maun ax 'er!” Then he looked at Connie.

“恁得问她！”说完，他看着康妮。

"Tha comes o'thine own accord, lass, doesn't ter? It's non me as forces thee?” Connie looked at Hilda.

“恁是心甘情愿的，对吧，亲爱的？俺可没有对恁用强。”康妮望着希尔达。

"I wish you wouldn't cavil, Hilda.” "Naturally I don't want to. But someone has to think about things. You've got to have some sort of continuity in your life. You can't just go making a mess.” There was a moment's pause.

“你最好不要鸡蛋里面挑骨头，希尔达。”“我才懒得那样做呢。可总要有人思前想后。生活总该有些延续性。不能任它乱成一团糟。”又是片刻的沉默。

"Eh, continuity!" He said. "An'what by that? What continuity ave yer got I'your life? I thought you was gettin'divorced. What continuity's that? Continuity o'yer own stubbornness. I can see that much. An'what good's it goin'to do yer? You'll be sick o'yer continuity afore yer a fat sight older. A stubborn woman an er own self-will: ay, they make a fast continuity, they do. Thank heaven, it isn't me as 'as got th'andlin'of yer!” "What right have you to speak like that to me?" Said Hilda.

“哦，延续性！”他说。“那又怎么着？恁自己的生活又有怎样的延续性呢？俺晓得恁正在闹离婚。这件事的延续性又在哪里？得以延续的不过是恁不撞南墙不回头的固执。俺早就看透了这一点。所谓的延续性对恁而言有啥好处呢？不用多久，恁就会对它深恶痛绝了。固执己见的女人总喜欢钻牛角尖，这样的性格恰好是对延续性的完美诠释，真是再恰当不过。谢天谢地，幸好俺不用跟恁打交道！”“你有何权利这样对我说话？”希尔达质问道。

"Right! What right ha'yo'ter start harnessin'other folks i'your continuity? Leave folks to their own continuities.” "My dear man, do you think I am concerned with you?" Said Hilda softly.

“权利！那恁有有啥权利，随便拿恁的延续性来约束别人？管好恁自己就行了。”“我亲爱的先生，你认为咱俩有什么牵连吗？”希尔达轻声问。

"Ay," he said. "Yo'are. For it's a force-put. Yo'more or less my sister-in-law.” "Still far from it, I assure you.

“唉。”他说。“当然有。因为这是好赖你都得管。但恁好歹也是我的大姨子。”“还差得远呢，我老实跟你讲。”

"Not a'that far, I assure you. I've got my own sort o'continuity, back your life! Good as yours, any day. An' if your sister there comes ter me for a bit o'cunt an'tenderness, she knows what she's after. She's been in my bed afore: which you 'aven't, thank the Lord, with your continuity.” There was a dead pause, before he added: “—Eh, I don't wear me breeches arse-forrards. An'if I get a windfall, I thank my stars. A man gets a lot of enjoyment out o'that lass theer, which is more than anybody gets out o'th'likes o'you. Which is a pity, for you might appen a'bin a good apple, 'stead of a handsome crab. Women like you needs proper graftin’.” He was looking at her with an odd, flickering smile, faintly sensual and appreciative.

“没有那么遥不可及，俺也实在跟恁说。不管怎么说，俺自己也讲求延续性。认真程度绝不逊于恁，任何情况下都是如此。要是恁妹妹来俺这儿，为的是寻求性爱和柔情，她应该明晰自己的目的。她和俺上过床，这是单凭恁的延续性所无法得到的，天地为证。”他稍作停顿，又接着说：“——呃，我可不是会反穿马裤的呆瓜。要是天鹅肉落到嘴里，我会感激神灵眷顾。坐拥如此貌美如花的娇娘，男人自然是逞心如意，乐得尽情享受；那个家伙要是遇到恁，那可就没有这等艳福了。真是可惜，恁本来能生就成一颗味道香甜的上等苹果，谁料想，却变成中看不中用的烂货。恁这号女人真需要造物主帮忙嫁接一下。”他面带怪笑，盯着她看，眼神中露出挑逗和品评的意味。

"And men like you," she said, "ought to be segregated: justifying their own vulgarity and selfish lust.” "Ay, ma'am! It's a mercy there's a few men left like me. But you deserve what you get: to be left severely alone.” Hilda had risen and gone to the door. He rose and took his coat from the peg.

“像你这样的男人，”她反唇相讥，“就应该被隔离开来，这是你们因下流无耻、自私自利的性格而应得的惩罚。”“是呀，夫人！世上还存留着我这样的好男人，实在是件幸事。可你如今独守空闺，也算是自作自受。”希尔达愤而离席，径直往门口走去。他也站起身来，从衣钩上取下自己的外套。

"I can find my way quite well alone," she said.

“我自己完全可以找到路。”她说。

"I doubt you can't," he replied easily.

“恐怕你做不到。”他轻描淡写地回应道。

They tramped in ridiculous file down the lane again, in silence. An owl still hooted. He knew he ought to shoot it.

一行三人依旧滑稽地鱼贯而行，顺着林间小径原路返回，仍然没人做声。猫头鹰还没闭嘴。他恨不得将它射杀。

The car stood untouched, a little dewy. Hilda got in and started the engine. The other two waited.

汽车好端端地停在那里，只不过沾了点露水。希尔达上了车，发动起引擎。康妮和梅勒斯则等在一旁。