第十六章（第14/20页）

“哦，延续性！”他说。“那又怎么着？恁自己的生活又有怎样的延续性呢？俺晓得恁正在闹离婚。这件事的延续性又在哪里？得以延续的不过是恁不撞南墙不回头的固执。俺早就看透了这一点。所谓的延续性对恁而言有啥好处呢？不用多久，恁就会对它深恶痛绝了。固执己见的女人总喜欢钻牛角尖，这样的性格恰好是对延续性的完美诠释，真是再恰当不过。谢天谢地，幸好俺不用跟恁打交道！”“你有何权利这样对我说话？”希尔达质问道。

"Right! What right ha'yo'ter start harnessin'other folks i'your continuity? Leave folks to their own continuities.” "My dear man, do you think I am concerned with you?" Said Hilda softly.

“权利！那恁有有啥权利，随便拿恁的延续性来约束别人？管好恁自己就行了。”“我亲爱的先生，你认为咱俩有什么牵连吗？”希尔达轻声问。

"Ay," he said. "Yo'are. For it's a force-put. Yo'more or less my sister-in-law.” "Still far from it, I assure you.

“唉。”他说。“当然有。因为这是好赖你都得管。但恁好歹也是我的大姨子。”“还差得远呢，我老实跟你讲。”

"Not a'that far, I assure you. I've got my own sort o'continuity, back your life! Good as yours, any day. An' if your sister there comes ter me for a bit o'cunt an'tenderness, she knows what she's after. She's been in my bed afore: which you 'aven't, thank the Lord, with your continuity.” There was a dead pause, before he added: “—Eh, I don't wear me breeches arse-forrards. An'if I get a windfall, I thank my stars. A man gets a lot of enjoyment out o'that lass theer, which is more than anybody gets out o'th'likes o'you. Which is a pity, for you might appen a'bin a good apple, 'stead of a handsome crab. Women like you needs proper graftin’.” He was looking at her with an odd, flickering smile, faintly sensual and appreciative.

“没有那么遥不可及，俺也实在跟恁说。不管怎么说，俺自己也讲求延续性。认真程度绝不逊于恁，任何情况下都是如此。要是恁妹妹来俺这儿，为的是寻求性爱和柔情，她应该明晰自己的目的。她和俺上过床，这是单凭恁的延续性所无法得到的，天地为证。”他稍作停顿，又接着说：“——呃，我可不是会反穿马裤的呆瓜。要是天鹅肉落到嘴里，我会感激神灵眷顾。坐拥如此貌美如花的娇娘，男人自然是逞心如意，乐得尽情享受；那个家伙要是遇到恁，那可就没有这等艳福了。真是可惜，恁本来能生就成一颗味道香甜的上等苹果，谁料想，却变成中看不中用的烂货。恁这号女人真需要造物主帮忙嫁接一下。”他面带怪笑，盯着她看，眼神中露出挑逗和品评的意味。

"And men like you," she said, "ought to be segregated: justifying their own vulgarity and selfish lust.” "Ay, ma'am! It's a mercy there's a few men left like me. But you deserve what you get: to be left severely alone.” Hilda had risen and gone to the door. He rose and took his coat from the peg.

“像你这样的男人，”她反唇相讥，“就应该被隔离开来，这是你们因下流无耻、自私自利的性格而应得的惩罚。”“是呀，夫人！世上还存留着我这样的好男人，实在是件幸事。可你如今独守空闺，也算是自作自受。”希尔达愤而离席，径直往门口走去。他也站起身来，从衣钩上取下自己的外套。

"I can find my way quite well alone," she said.

“我自己完全可以找到路。”她说。

"I doubt you can't," he replied easily.

“恐怕你做不到。”他轻描淡写地回应道。

They tramped in ridiculous file down the lane again, in silence. An owl still hooted. He knew he ought to shoot it.

一行三人依旧滑稽地鱼贯而行，顺着林间小径原路返回，仍然没人做声。猫头鹰还没闭嘴。他恨不得将它射杀。

The car stood untouched, a little dewy. Hilda got in and started the engine. The other two waited.

汽车好端端地停在那里，只不过沾了点露水。希尔达上了车，发动起引擎。康妮和梅勒斯则等在一旁。

"All I mean," she said from her entrenchment, "is that I doubt if you'll find it's been worth it, either of you!” "One man's meat is another man's poison," he said, out of the darkness. "But it's meat an'drink to me.

“我要留下的忠告是，”希尔达坐在车里说，“你们俩恐怕都将悔之晚矣！”“萝卜青菜，各有所爱。”他站在阴影中反驳道。“对我而言，这是件两全其美的好事。”

The lights flared out.

车灯亮起。