第十六章（第11/20页）

康妮乔装改扮，戴好风镜和无檐帽，静静地坐在姐姐旁边。正因为希尔达的反对，她更加坚定地站在梅勒斯一边，即使前路布满荆棘，她也会与他共度。

They had their head-lights on, by the time they passed Crosshill, and the small lit-up train that chuffed past in the cutting made it seem like real night. Hilda had calculated the turn into the lane at the bridge-end. She slowed up rather suddenly and swerved off the road, the lights glaring white into the grassy, overgrown lane. Connie looked out. She saw a shadowy figure, and she opened the door.

路过克罗斯希尔的时候，她们打开车灯，路堑中噗噗驶过的小火车灯火通明，让人感觉真的已经置身深夜。来时的路上，希尔达已经盘算好，要在桥梁尽头转上小路。她突然放慢车速，转向驶离公路，车灯将绿草丛生的小径照得通明。康妮向车外张望。她看到一条黑影，便推开车门。

"Here we are!" She said softly.

“我们到了！”她低声说。

But Hilda had switched off the lights, and was absorbed backing, making the turn.

但希尔达已经熄灭车灯，正全神贯注地倒着车，然后调转车头。

"Nothing on the bridge?" she asked shortly. "You're all right," said the man's voice. She backed on to the bridge, reversed, let the car run forwards a few yards along the road, then backed into the lane, under a wych-elm tree, crushing the grass and bracken. Then all the lights went out. Connie stepped down. The man stood under the trees.

“桥上没什么吧？”她简短地问道。“没有，倒吧。”那男人说。她把车倒至桥上，调转方向，沿路向前行驶数码，然后再倒进小路，将车停在榆树下，碾碎了草丛和欧洲蕨。然后，她关上所有车灯。康妮走下车来。那男人站在树下。

"Did you wait long?" Connie asked.

“等很久了吧？”康妮问。

"Not so very," he replied.

“没多久。”他答道。

They both waited for Hilda to get out. But Hilda shut the door of the car and sat tight.

他俩都等着希尔达下车。没想到，希尔达却关紧车门，坐着没动。

"This is my sister Hilda. Won't you come and speak to her? Hilda! This is Mr. Mellors.” The keeper lifted his hat, but went no nearer.

“这是我姐姐希尔达。你不过来跟她打个招呼吗？希尔达！这是梅勒斯先生。”守林人脱帽致意，但却没有上前。

"Do walk down to the cottage with us, Hilda," Connie pleaded. "It's not far.” "What about the car?" "People do leave them on the lanes. You have the key." Hilda was silent, deliberating. Then she looked backwards down the lane.

“跟我们去农舍坐会儿吧，希尔达。”康妮央求着。“离得不远。”“车子怎么办？”“人们通常都把车停在小路上。只要锁好就行。”希尔达没搭话，犹豫不决。她回头看了看身后的小路。

"Can I back round the bush?" She said.

“能倒车绕过树丛吗？”她问。

"Oh yes!" Said the keeper.

“噢，可以！”守林人答道。

She backed slowly round the curve, out of sight of the road, locked the car, and got down. It was night, but luminous dark. The hedges rose high and wild, by the unused lane, and very dark seeming. There was a fresh sweet scent on the air. The keeper went ahead, then came Connie, then Hilda, and in silence. He lit up the difficult places with a flash-light torch, and they went on again, while an owl softly hooted over the oaks, and Flossie padded silently around. Nobody could speak. There was nothing to say.

她小心翼翼地绕过树丛，停在从公路上看不到的地方，把车锁好，走下车来。已经是深夜，但却并非一团漆黑。人迹罕至的小路旁，茂密的灌木长得高而茂盛，看上去黑乎乎的。空气中漂浮着新鲜的甜味。守林人在前面引路，接着是康妮，希尔达跟在最后，三个人都没说话。他用手电筒照亮崎岖难行的地方，然后继续前进。一只猫头鹰飞过橡树丛，低声枭叫着。弗洛西悄无声息地跑来跑去。没人做声。因为没什么好说的。

At length Connie saw the yellow light of the house, and her heart beat fast. She was a little frightened. They trailed on, still in Indian file.

终于，农舍昏黄的灯光映入康妮的眼帘，她的心跳不由加快。她有些害怕。他们继续前进，仍按照一前一后的队列。

He unlocked the door and preceded them into the warm but bare little room. The fire burned low and red in the grate. The table was set with two plates and two glasses on a proper white table-cloth for Once. Hilda shook her hair and looked round the bare, cheerless room. Then she summoned her courage and looked at the man.

他打开门，将姐妹俩引入这间温暖但却空荡荡的小屋。低低的炉火烧得通红。桌上摆着两份餐盘和玻璃杯，还前所未有地铺着洁白的桌布。希尔达甩开头发，环顾着这间简陋阴郁的小屋。然后，她鼓足勇气，直视那陌生的男人。