第十八章（第11/14页）

"And look here, my boy, if ever I can do anything for you, you can rely on me. Game-keeper! Christ, but it's rich! I like it! Oh, I like it! Shows the girl's got spunk. What? After all, you know, she has her own income, moderate, moderate, but above starvation. And I'll leave her what I've got. By God, I will. She deserves it for showing spunk, in a world of old women. I've been struggling to get myself clear of the skirts of old women for seventy years, and haven't managed it yet. But you're the man, I can see that.” "I'm glad you think so. They usually tell me, in a sideways fashion, that I'm the monkey.” "Oh, they would! My dear fellow, what could you be but a monkey, to all the old women?" They parted most genially, and Mellors laughed inwardly all the time for the rest of the day.

“听我说，小伙子，需要我帮忙的地方，尽管开口。守林人！上帝呀，真是有趣！我喜欢这差事！噢，我喜欢这行当！这说明我女儿够胆识。没错吧？你知道，她毕竟有独立的经济来源，虽然不多，但至少不会饿肚子。将来我也会把自己的财产留给她。上帝作证，我会这样做。但凭这勇气，敢于向这个充斥着老婆娘的世界宣战，她就理应得到我的馈赠。70多年来，我始终想要摆脱老娘们的石榴裙，但至今没能成功。但你准做得到，我看好你。”“很高兴你这么认为。可人们私下里总说我像只猴子。”“噢，他们会那么说的！我亲爱的伙计，对于那些老女人来说，你不是只猴崽子，还会是什么？”他俩愉快地分了手，为此梅勒斯整整乐了一天。

The following day he had lunch with Connie and Hilda, at some discreet place.

第二天，他跟康妮和希尔达共进午餐，他们选了个不起眼的饭馆。

"It's a very great pity it's such an ugly situation all round," said Hilda.

“现在事情变得一团糟，的确非常棘手。”希尔达说。

"I had a lot o' fun out of it," said he.

“我倒觉得其乐无穷。”他说。

"I think you might have avoided putting children into the world until you were both free to marry and have children." "The Lord blew a bit too soon on the spark," said he.

“要我看，等你俩都恢复自由身，可以结婚生子时，再要孩子也不晚。”“上帝让火着得有点快。”他说。

"I think the Lord had nothing to do with it. Of course, Connie has enough money to keep you both, but the situation is unbearable." "But then you don't have to bear more than a small corner of it, do you?" said he.

“我可不认为应该归罪于上帝。当然，康妮的收入足够你俩过活，但目前的情况实在糟糕。”“可你不必体验这种身临险境的窘迫，不是吗？”他说。

"If you'd been in her own class.” "Or if I'd been in a cage at the Zoo.” There was silence.

“要是你俩门第相当就好了。”“或者我被关在动物园的笼子里。”三个人都不再作声。

"I think," said Hilda, "it will be best if she names quite another man as co-respondent and you stay out of it altogether.” "But I thought I'd put my foot right in.” "I mean in the divorce proceedings." He gazed at her in wonder. Connie had not dared mention the Duncan scheme to him.

“依我看，”希尔达说，“最好让康妮另找个男人做替罪羊，而你可以完全置身事外。”“可我愿意承担任何后果。”“我是说在离婚诉讼期间。”他诧异地看着她。找邓肯帮忙的事，康妮没敢跟他说起。

"I don't follow," he said.

“我不明白你的意思。”他说。

"We have a friend who would probably agree to be named as co-respondent, so that your name need not appear," said Hilda.

“我们有个朋友，他很可能愿意扮演奸夫的角色，这样一来，你的名字就可以不被提及。”希尔达说。

"You mean a man?" "Of course!" "But she's got no other?” He looked in wonder at Connie.

“你说的朋友是个男人吧？”“那当然！”“可她并没脚踩两只船呀？”他错愕地看着康妮。

"No, no!" she said hastily. "Only that old friendship, quite simple, no love." "Then why should the fellow take the blame? If he's had nothing out of you?” "Some men are chivalrous and don't only count what they get out of a woman," said Hilda.

“不，不！”她赶紧解释。“他只是个老朋友，我们的关系相当单纯，并没有男女之爱。”“那么他干嘛要背负这罪名呢？要是他从你那儿得不到任何回报？”“有些男人侠肝义胆，并不指望从女人身上捞到好处。”希尔达说。

"One for me, eh? But who's the johnny?” "A friend whom we've known since we were children in Scotland, an artist.” "Duncan Forbes!" he said at once, for Connie had talked to him.