【经典名著阅读】《德伯家的苔丝》第十一章(下)
'Never mind that,' she coaxed. 'Put me down, I beg you. I don't mind where it is; only let me get down, sir, please!'“不要你管我走不走得出去,”她哄着他说。“把我放下来,我求你了。我不管在什么地方;只请你让我下去,先生!”
'Very well, then, I will - on one condition. Having brought you here to this out-of-the-way place, I feel myself responsible for your safe-conduct home, whatever you may yourself feel about it. As to your getting to Trantridge without assistance, it is quite impossible; for, to tell the truth, dear, owing to this fog, which so disguises everything, I don't quite know where we are myself. Now, if you will promise to wait beside the horse while I walk through the bushes till I come to some road or house, and ascertain exactly our whereabouts, I'll deposit you here willingly. When I come back I'll give you full directions, and if you insist upon walking you may; or you may ride - at your pleasure.'“那好吧,我放你下去——但有一个条件。既然是我把你带到这个偏僻地方的,我不管你自己怎么想,我觉得我有责任把你平平安安地送回家去。至于说你不要帮助就想回到特兰里奇,那是完全不可能的;实话告诉你吧,因为生了这场雾,所有的一切都变了样子了,连我也完全不知道自己在哪儿啦。好吧,如果你答应在马的旁边等着,我就从这片灌木林里穿过去,一直走到有道路或者有房子的地方,等我真正弄清楚了我们在什么地方再回来,我愿意把你留在这儿。等我回来的时候,我就会仔仔细细地告诉你怎么走,要是你坚持走回去,你也可以走回去;你也可以骑马回去——随你的便。”
She accepted these terms, and slid off on the near side, though not till he had stolen a cursory kiss. He sprang down on the other side.她接受了这些条件,就从马上溜了下来,不过还是让他偷偷地吻了一下。他也从另一边跳下马。
'I suppose I must hold the horse?' said she.“我想我要牵着马吧?”她说。
'Oh no; it's not necessary,' replied Alec, patting the panting creature. 'He's had enough of it for to-night.'“哦,不;用不着牵着马,”阿历克回答说,用手拍了拍那匹马。“今天晚上它可是受够了。”
He turned the horse's head into the bushes, hitched him on to a bough, and made a sort of couch or nest for her in the deep mass of dead leaves.他把马牵到灌木丛那边,把它拴在一根树枝上,又在一大堆厚厚的枯树叶中间,给她弄了一个床或是窝什么的。
'Now, you sit there,' he said. 'The leaves have not got damp as yet. Just give an eye to the horse - it will be quite sufficient.'“好啦,你坐在这儿吧,”他说。“这些树叶还没有给雾气弄湿。稍微注意一下马——稍微注意一下就足够了。”
He took a few steps away from her, but, returning, said, 'By the bye, Tess, your father has a new cob to-day. Somebody gave it to him.'他往前走了几步,但是他又转过身来说,“顺便告诉你,苔丝,今天你父亲得了一匹新马。有个人送给他的。”
'Somebody? You!'“有人?是你!”
D'Urberville nodded.德贝维尔点点头。
'O how very good of you that is!' she exclaimed, with a painful sense of the awkwardness of having to thank him just then.“啊,那你真是太好了!”她嚷着说,但是又因为正好要在这个时候感谢他,心里觉得难过。
'And the children have some toys.'“孩子们也得了一些玩具。”
'I didn't know - you ever sent them anything!' she murmured, much moved. 'I almost wish you had not - yes, I almost wish it!'“我不知道——你给他们送了东西!”她低声说,心里很感动。“我真希望你没有送东西——是的,我一直是这样希望的!”
'Why, dear?'“为什么,亲爱的?”
'It - hampers me so.'“这——使我太为难了。”
'Tessy - don't you love me ever so little now?'“苔丝——到现在你还是一点儿不爱我吗?”
'I'm grateful,' she reluctantly admitted. 'But I fear I do not--' The sudden vision of his passion for herself as a factor in this result so distressed her that, beginning with one slow tear, and then following with another, she wept outright.“我是很感激的,”她勉强地承认说。“但是我恐怕不能——”她突然明白过来,他是因为对她的一片热情才给她家送东西的,想到这儿心中不由得难过,一颗泪珠慢慢地滚落下来,接着又是一颗,她索性放声哭了起来。
'Don't cry, dear, dear one! Now sit down here, and wait till I come.' She passively sat down amid the leaves he had heaped, and shivered slightly. 'Are you cold?' he asked.“别哭,亲爱的,亲爱的姑娘!在这儿坐下来吧,等着我回来。”她只好顺从他,坐在他为她堆起来的一堆树叶中间,微微地颤抖着。“你冷吗?”他问她。
'Not very - a little.'“不是很冷——有一点儿。”
He touched her with his fingers, which sank into her as into down. 'You have only that puffy muslin dress on - how's that?'他用手指去摸她,手指头按进内里,感到像绒毛一样柔软。“你只穿了一件薄薄的棉布衣服——这怎么办呢?”
'It's my best summer one. 'Twas very warm when I started, and I didn't know I was going to ride, and that it would be night.'“这是我夏天穿的最好一件衣服。我出门时穿着它很暖和,我哪儿知道要骑着马走路,哪儿知道要走到深夜呢。”
'Nights grow chilly in September. Let me see.' He pulled off a light overcoat that he had worn, and put it round her tenderly. 'That's it - now you'll feel warmer,' he continued. 'Now, my pretty, rest there; I shall soon be back again.'“九月的夜晚变得清冷了。让我想想办法。”他把身上穿的一件薄薄的外衣脱下来,轻轻地披在她的身上。“这就好了——现在你会觉得暖和些了,”他接着说:“喂,我的漂亮姑娘,就在这儿休息;我很快就会回来的。”
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