第十章（第21/34页）

两人来到花园门口。

"Which way were you going?" asked Mrs. Flint.

“您来时走得哪条路？”弗林特太太问。

"By the Warren." "Let me see! Oh yes, the cows are in the gin close. But they're not up yet. But the gate's locked, you'll have to climb.” "I can climb," said Connie.

“畜牧场旁边那条。”“让我先看看！哦，对了，奶牛都还在圈里。可它们都还没起来呢。门也上着锁，您必须要翻墙而过。”“我做得到。”康妮说。

"Perhaps I can just go down the close with you." They went down the poor, rabbit-bitten pasture. Birds were whistling in wild evening triumph in the wood. A man was calling up the last cows, which trailed slowly over the path-worn pasture.

“我可以陪您到篱笆墙边。”她俩走过从草场走过，那里早被啃青的兔子糟蹋得不成样子。林中的鸟儿啾唧着，唱出夜晚的胜利之歌。有人呼喝着迟归的牛群，顺着经年累月踩出的小径，慢吞吞地踱过草场。

"They're late, milking, tonight," said Mrs. Flint severely. "They know Luke won't be back till after dark.” They came to the fence, beyond which the young fir-wood bristled dense. There was a little gate, but it was locked. In the grass on the inside stood a bottle, empty.

“他们今天挤奶挤晚了，”弗林特太太严肃地说，“他们知道卢克天黑后才能回来。”她俩来到栅栏边，杉树丛矗立在远处，棵棵枝繁叶茂。篱笆间的小门上着锁。草丛中放着个空瓶子。

"There's the keeper's empty bottle for his milk," explained Mrs. Flint. "We bring it as far as here for him, and then he fetches it himself" "When?" said Connie.

“那是守林人的空奶瓶。”弗林特太太解释说。“我们给他搁在这里，他自己会过来取。”“什么时候？”康妮问。

"Oh, any time he's around. Often in the morning. Well, goodbye Lady Chatterley! And do come again. It was so lovely having you.” Connie climbed the fence into the narrow path between the dense, bristling young firs. Mrs. Flint went running back across the pasture, in a sun-bonnet, because she was really a schoolteacher. Constance didn't like this dense new part of the wood; it seemed gruesome and choking. She hurried on with her head down, thinking of the Flints' baby. It was a dear little thing, but it would be a bit bow-legged like its father. It showed already, but perhaps it would grow out of it. How warm and fulfilling somehow to have a baby, and how Mrs. Flint had showed it off! She had something anyhow that Connie hadn't got, and apparently couldn't have. Yes, Mrs. Flint had flaunted her motherhood. And Connie had been just a bit, just a little bit jealous. She couldn't help it.

“噢，顺路过来的时候。通常是早晨。哦，再见，查泰莱夫人！请务必再来做客。能招待您让我倍感荣幸。”康妮翻过篱笆，踏上那条茂密的杉树丛掩映的窄径。弗林特太太穿过草场，直奔自家的方向跑去，头上的遮阳帽证明她是如假包换的老师。康妮对这片新植的茂密树林没什么好感，这里让人感到毛骨悚然，几乎透不过气。她低着头，加紧脚步往回赶，心里惦念着弗林特家的女孩。真是个惹人爱的小家伙，只是像父亲一样，有点罗圈腿。现在就已有些征兆，但或许长大了会好些。有个孩子多么贴心，多么有成就感，瞧弗林特太太那副志得意满的样子！她拥有康妮所没有的东西，显然也无法企及。没错，弗林特太太之所以神气活现，正因为身为人母。康妮心里感到有点妒忌，稍稍觉得有些醋意。但又无可奈何。

She started out of her muse, and gave a little cry of fear. A man was there.

她从冥想状态惊醒，惊叫出声。前面居然有人。

It was the keeper. He stood in the path like Balaam's ass, barring her way.

碰到的竟然是守林人。他站在路当央，像是巴兰的驴子（注：巴兰是《圣经》中的一位先知，受命诅咒以色列人，但遭到所骑驴子的谴责，转而祝福以色列人。），挡住康妮的归途。

"How's this?" he said in surprise.

“你怎么会在这儿？”他惊讶地问。

"How did you come?" she panted.

“你怎么来了？”她喘着粗气。

"How did you? Have you been to the hut?" "No! No! I went to Marehay." He looked at her curiously, searchingly, and she hung her head a little guiltily.

“你呢？到小屋去过吗？”“不！没有！我去了趟马勒哈伊。”他紧紧盯着她，锐利的目光中充满疑问，她微微垂下头，似乎感到有些愧疚。