第十一章（第4/17页）

"Well, my dear boy, Marshall from Fillingwood asked me, that's all I can say about a rumour. Of course I wouldn't repeat it for the world, if there were no foundation.” "Well, Sir," said Clifford uneasily, but with strange bright eyes. "There is a hope. There is a hope." Winter came across the room and wrung Clifford's hand.

“哦，亲爱的孩子，菲林伍德的马绍尔向我打听过此事，我听到的仅此而已。当然，如果这只是捕风捉影，我绝不会向外透露半字。”“哦，温特先生，”克利福德不安地说，两眼闪烁着奇异的光芒。“的确有希望。的确有希望。”温特从房间那边走上前来，紧紧握住克利福德的手。

"My dear boy, my dear lad, can you believe what it means to me, to hear that! And to hear you are working in the hopes of a son: and that you may again employ every man at Tevershall. Ah, my boy! to keep up the level of the race, and to have work waiting for any man who cares to work!—”

“我亲爱的孩子，我亲爱的小伙子，你能想象得知这个消息，我有多么开心！得知你心怀得子的希望努力工作，得知你将召回特沃沙弗所有的工人。啊，我的孩子！能够在竞争中处于领先，能够给所有愿意工作的人们提供岗位……”

The old man was really moved.

老人感动得无可不可。

Next day Connie was arranging tall yellow tulips in a glass vase.

翌日，康妮捧着一大束黄色郁金香，正往玻璃花瓶里插。

"Connie," said Clifford, "did you know there was a rumour that you are going to supply Wragby with a son and heir?" Connie felt dim with terror, yet she stood quite still, touching the flowers.

“康妮，”克利福德说，“有传言你要给格拉比生个儿子和继承人，你晓得此事吗？”康妮隐约感到有些担忧，但她依然镇定自若，摆弄着瓶中的花。

"No!" she said.

“没听说！”她说。

"Is it a joke? Or malice?" He paused before he answered: "Neither, I hope. I hope it may be a prophecy." Connie went on with her flowers.

“是玩笑？还是恶意中伤？”他沉默半晌，然后答道：“我希望两者都不是。我希望这是种预兆。”康妮仍在理顺着她的花。

"I had a letter from Father this morning," she said. "He wants to know if I am aware he has accepted Sir Alexander Cooper's Invitation for me for July and August, to the Villa Esmeralda in Venice.” "July AND August?" said Clifford.

“今天早上，我接到父亲的来信。”她岔开话题。“他提醒我，他已经替我接受了亚历山大·库伯爵士的邀请，七八月份到威尼斯的埃斯梅拉达别墅度假。”“七八月份？”克利福德说。

"Oh, I wouldn't stay all that time. Are you sure you wouldn't come?” "I won't travel abroad," said Clifford promptly. She took her flowers to the window.

“噢，我不会待那么久。你真的不跟我一起去吗？”“我不想离开英格兰。”克利福德不假思索地说。她把花瓶拿到窗边。

"Do you mind if I go?" she said. You know it was promised, for this summer.

“你不介意我去吧？”她问。“你晓得，今年夏天的事是早就约好的。”

"For how long would you go?" "Perhaps three weeks." There was silence for a time.

“你打算逗留多长时间？”“或许三周吧。”两人一时陷入沉默。

"Well," said Clifford slowly, and a little gloomily. "I suppose I could stand it for three weeks: if I were absolutely sure you'd want to come back.” "I should want to come back," she said, with a quiet simplicity, heavy with conviction. She was thinking of the other man.

“呃，”克利福德缓缓地说，表情颇为阴郁。“三星期的话，我还可以忍受，前提是确定你还想回来。”“我愿意回来。”她轻声说，言简意赅，言之凿凿。她正想着另一个男人。

Clifford felt her conviction, and somehow he believed her, he believed it was for him. He felt immensely relieved, joyful at once.

克利福德感受到她的坚定，也相信她说的话，相信她这样做全是为了他。他放下心头大石，立刻笑逐颜开。

"In that case," he said, "I think it would be all right, don't you?” "I think so," she said.

“那样的话，”他说，“我觉得没问题，是吧？”“我也这样想。”她回答。

"You'd enjoy the change?” She looked up at him with strange blue eyes.

“你想换换心情？”她抬头望着他，蓝色的双眸闪耀着异样的光彩。

"I should like to see Venice again," she said, "and to bathe from one of the shingle islands across the lagoon. But you know I loathe the Lido! And I don't fancy I shall like Sir Alexander Cooper and Lady Cooper. But if Hilda is there, and we have a gondola of our own: yes, it will be rather lovely. I do wish you'd come.” She said it sincerely. She would so love to make him happy, in these ways.