第十六章（第19/20页）

He locked up, and they set off, but through the wood, not down the lane. He was being wary.

他锁好门，两人出发了，走的却不是昨晚那条小路，而是从树林穿过。他十分机警。

"Don't you think one lives for times like last night?" she said to him.

“人活一世，昨晚那样激情的夜能有几回呀？”她对他说。

"Ay! But there's the rest o'times to think on," he replied, rather short.

“是呀！可剩下的时间只能回味。”他的回答异常简短。

They plodded on down the overgrown path, he in front, in silence.

两人顺着荒草丛生的小径艰难前行，他默默地在前面引路。

"And we will live together and make a life together, won't we?” She pleaded.

“我们很快就可以长相厮守，对吗？”她恳切地问。

"Ay!" He replied, striding on without looking round. "When t'time comes! Just now you're off to Venice or somewhere.” She followed him dumbly, with sinking heart. Oh, now she was WAE to go!

“是呀！”他答道，但却没有回头，仍旧大踏步前进着。“等到时机成熟的时候！眼下你就要离开，到威尼斯或者别的什么地方去了。”她不再说话，只是跟在他后面，心沉到谷底。噢，此刻，她依依不舍！

At last he stopped.

他停下脚步。

"I'll just strike across here," he said, pointing to the right.

“我要从这里穿过去。”他指着右边说。

But she flung her arms round his neck, and clung to him.

可她上前搂住他的脖项，紧紧依偎着他。

"But you'll keep the tenderness for me, won't you?” She whispered. "I loved last night. But you'll keep the tenderness for me, won't you?” He kissed her and held her close for a moment. Then he sighed, and kissed her again.

“你对我的情意不会改变，对吗？”她低声说。“我爱昨晚。可你不会忘却对我的情意，是吗？”他亲吻她，紧紧拥抱了她一会儿。然后，他叹口气，再度吻她。

"I must go an'look if th'car's there.” He strode over the low brambles and bracken, leaving a trail through the fern. For a minute or two he was gone. Then he came striding back.

“我得去看看车子到了没有。”他踏过低矮的荆棘和欧洲蕨，在草丛中踩出一条路来。他去了片刻。然后大踏步赶回来。

"Car's not there yet," he said. "But there's the baker's cart on t"road.” He seemed anxious and troubled.

“车子还没来。”他说。“但面包房的手推车停在公路上。”他显得忧心忡忡。

"Hark!" They heard a car softly hoot as it came nearer. It slowed up on the bridge.

“听！”他们听到轿车低低的喇叭声由远及近。过桥时，它放慢了速度。

She plunged with utter mournfulness in his track through the fern, and came to a huge holly hedge. He was just behind her.

她怀着满腔离愁，沿着他踩出的道路前进，来到一排高大的冬青树旁。而他紧跟在她身后。

"Here! Go through there!" He said, pointing to a gap. "I shan't come out.”

“这边！从那儿过去！”他指着树木间的缝隙说。“我就不露面了。”

She looked at him in despair. But he kissed her and made her go. She crept in sheer misery through the holly and through the wooden fence, stumbled down the little ditch and up into the lane, where Hilda was just getting out of the car in vexation.

她绝望地看着他。但他只是再度亲吻她，催促她赶紧离去。她悲痛欲绝，穿过冬青丛，翻过木栅栏，摇晃着迈过小沟，走上通往公路的小径。希尔达见不到人，正气冲冲地走下车来。

"Why you're there!” Said Hilda. "Where's he?” "He's not coming.” Connie's face was running with tears as she got into the car with her little bag. Hilda snatched up the motoring helmet with the disfiguring goggles.

“哦，你来了！”希尔达说。“他去哪了？”“他没过来。”康妮握着布袋，坐进车里时，已是泪流满面。希尔达抓起那带有风镜的车用帽盔。

"Put it on!" She said. And Connie pulled on the disguise, then the long motoring coat, and she sat down, a goggling inhuman, unrecognizable creature. Hilda started the car with a businesslike motion. They heaved out of the lane, and were away down the road. Connie had looked round, but there was no sight of him. Away! Away! She sat in bitter tears. The parting had come so suddenly, so unexpectedly. It was like death.

“戴上它！”她说。康妮戴上这伪装，穿上长大的车用外套，在车里坐好，变成某种不成人形、难以辨认的生物。希尔达有条不紊地发动了汽车。她们驶离小径，顺着公路向前进发。康妮回头张望，却不见他的踪影。他已经离去！消失不见！她坐在车上，以泪洗面。分别来得如此突然，如此不曾预想。似乎永远无法再见。