第八章（第7/11页）

"Do you think there is a second key to that little hut not far from John's Well, where the pheasants are reared?" she said.

“约翰井附近那个养野鸡的小屋，有没有备用钥匙？”她问。

"There may be. Why?" "I happened to find it today—and I'd never seen it before. I think it's a darling place. I could sit there sometimes, couldn't I?” "Was Mellors there?" "Yes! That's how I found it: his hammering. He didn't seem to like my intruding at all. In fact he was almost rude when I asked about a second key.” "What did he say?" "Oh, nothing: just his manner; and he said he knew nothing about keys.” "There may be one in Father's study. Betts knows them all, they're all there. I'll get him to look.” "Oh do!" she said.

“或许有。怎么？”“我今天无意间发现的——之前从来没留意。我觉得那儿挺招人爱的。我想时常过去坐坐，可以吗？”“梅勒斯在那儿吗？”“在！把我引到那里的，正是他的锤击声。他似乎很反感我贸然闯入。我问起有没有备用钥匙时，他的反应简直有些粗鲁。”“他说了什么？”“哦，没什么，只是态度不太礼貌，他说钥匙的事他半点不知。”“父亲书房里好像有一把。贝茨认得，所有钥匙都在那儿。我让他去找找看。”“噢，拜托你！”她说。

"So Mellors was almost rude?" "Oh, nothing, really! But I don't think he wanted me to have the freedom of the castle, quite.” "I don't suppose he did.” "Still, I don't see why he should mind. It's not his home, after all! It's not his private abode. I don't see why I shouldn't sit there if I want to.” "Quite!" said Clifford. "He thinks too much of himself, that man." "Do you think he does?" "Oh, decidedly! He thinks he's something exceptional. You know he had a wife he didn't get on with, so he joined up in 1915 and was sent to India, I believe. Anyhow he was blacksmith to the cavalry in Egypt for a time; always was connected with horses, a clever fellow that way. Then some Indian colonel took a fancy to him, and he was made a lieutenant. Yes, they gave him a commission. I believe he went back to India with his colonel, and up to the north-west frontier. He was ill; he was a pension. He didn't come out of the army till last year, I believe, and then, naturally, it isn't easy for a man like that to get back to his own level. He's bound to flounder. But he does his duty all right, as far as I'm concerned. Only I'm not having any of the Lieutenant Mellors touch.” "How could they make him an officer when he speaks broad Derbyshire?" "He doesn't...except by fits and starts. He can speak perfectly well, for him. I suppose he has an idea if he's come down to the ranks again, he'd better speak as the ranks speak.” "Why didn't you tell me about him before?” "Oh, I've no patience with these romances. They're the ruin of all order. It's a thousand pities they ever happened.” Connie was inclined to agree. What was the good of discontented people who fitted in nowhere? In the spell of fine weather Clifford, too, decided to go to the wood. The wind was cold, but not so tiresome, and the sunshine was like life itself, warm and full.

“你刚才说梅勒斯对你无礼？”“啊，没什么，真的！不过，他似乎不愿见我在他的地盘自由出入。”“我想也是。”“可我就不明白，他为什么那样介怀。那又不是他的家！也不是他的私人领地。真搞不明白，只要我喜欢，为何不能去那儿坐坐。”“的确如此！”克利福德说。“那家伙太自以为是。”“你这么认为？”“嗯，这很明显！他觉得自己与众不同。他因为和妻子闹别扭，1915年参军，被派往印度。在埃及，他曾给骑兵营做过铁匠活，总是跟马匹打交道，在那方面倒也有两把刷子。后来，他被某位驻印度的上校相中，晋升为中尉。是的，他们授予他军衔。他追随长官回到印度，前往西北边陲。他疾病缠身，因而得到一份抚恤金。他去年才退伍，当然，这种清高的家伙，被打回原形，自然有些难以接受。内心肯定会挣扎不已。但据我所知，他还算尽职尽责。只是我可不想看到他摆出梅勒斯中尉的神气。”“他满口浓重的德比郡土话，怎么还能被提拔成军官呢？”“他并不常说土话……只是时而说说。他的英语说得相当地道。据我猜测，他准是这样考虑的，既然重新沦为平头百姓，那么最好还是说老百姓说的话。”“你以前为何没跟我提过这些事？”“哦，我可没耐性扯这些传奇故事。这些事对维护社会秩序没啥好处。它们根本就不该发生。”康尼觉得克利福德说得有理。这种家伙与现实格格不入，却又心怀不满，他们有什么好呢？好天气的持续，让克利福德也打算去树林走走。风依然寒冷，但却已经可以承受，阳光则是生机勃勃，温暖而又饱满。