通译双语文库:永别了，武器第34章

1

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我穿上平民服装，觉得好像是个参加化装跳舞会的人。军装穿久了，现在身子不再裹得紧紧的，仿佛若有所失。特别是那条裤子，穿在身上，觉得松松垮垮。我在米兰买了一张到施特雷沙去的车票。我还买了一顶新帽子。西姆的帽子我不能戴，他的衣服倒是挺不错的。

1

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In civilian clothes I felt a masquerader. I had been in uniform a long time and I missed the feeling of being held by your clothes. The trousers felt very floppy. I had bought a ticket at Milan for Stresa. I had also bought a new hat. I could not wear Sim’s hat but his clothes were fine.

2

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衣服带有烟草味，当我坐在车厢里望着窗外时，我觉得帽子崭新，衣服很旧。我觉得自己很忧郁，正像车窗外伦巴第区那片濡湿的乡野。车厢里有几个飞行员，他们不大瞧得起我。

2

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They smelled of tobacco and as I sat in the compartment and looked out the window the new hat felt very new and the clothes very old. I myself felt as sad as the wet Lombard country that was outside through the window. There were some aviators in the compartment who did not think much of me.

3

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他们目光避开，不来看我，很藐视我这种年纪的人还在当平民。我倒不觉得受了侮辱。要是在从前，我准会侮辱他们一下，挑动他们干一架。他们在加拉剌蒂下了车，剩下我一个人，也乐得安静。

3

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They avoided looking at me and were very scornful of a civilian my age. I did not feel insulted. In the old days I would have insulted them and picked a fight. They got off at Gallarate and I was glad to be alone.

4

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我身边有报纸，但我不看，因为我不想知道战事。我要忘掉战争。我单独媾和了。我觉得异常寂寞，所以车子到施特雷沙时，心中很高兴。

4

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I had the paper but I did not read it because I did not want to read about the war. I was going to forget the war. I had made a separate peace. I felt damned lonely and was glad when the train got to Stresa.

5

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到车站时，我等待旅馆兜揽生意的伙计，但是一个都没有出现。旅游季节早已过了，没人来接火车。我提着小提包下了火车，这小提包是西姆的，提起来很轻，因为里边没有什么东西，只有两件衬衫。我在车站屋檐下躲雨，看着火车开走了。

5

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At the station I had expected to see the porters from the hotels but there was no one. The season had been over a long time and no one met the train. I got down from the train with my bag, it was Sim’s bag, and very light to carry, being empty except for two shirts, and stood under the roof of the station in the rain while the train went on.

6

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我在站上找到一个人，问他什么旅馆还在开业。巴罗美群岛①大旅馆还开着，还有几家小旅馆是一年四季都营业的。我提着小提包冒雨上那大旅馆去。

① 巴罗美群岛是马焦莱湖上的一名胜地的名字。

6

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I found a man in the station and asked him if he knew what hotels were open. The Grand-Hotel & des Isles Borromes was open and several small hotels that stayed open all the year. I started in the rain for the Isles Borromes carrying my bag.

7

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我看见有一部马车从街上驶过来，便向车夫打招呼。乘着马车上旅馆，比较有派头。车子赶到大旅馆停车处的入口，门房连忙打着伞出来迎接，非常有礼貌。

7

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I saw a carriage coming down the street and signalled to the driver. It was better to arrive in a carriage. We drove up to the carriage entrance of the big hotel and the concierge came out with an umbrella and was very polite.

8

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我开了一个好房间。房间又大又亮，面临着湖上①。湖上现在罩着云，不过阳光一出来，一定很美丽。我对旅馆的人说，我在等待我的太太。房间里摆有一张双人大床，那种燕尔新婚的大床，上面铺着缎子床罩。

① 指瑞士与意大利两国边境上的马焦莱湖。施特雷沙就在湖西。

8

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I took a good room. It was very big and light and looked out on the lake. The clouds were down over the lake but it would be beautiful with the sunlight. I was expecting my wife, I said. There was a big double bed, a _letto matrimoniale_ with a satin coverlet.

9

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旅馆十分奢华。我走下长廊和宽阔的楼梯，穿过几个房间，到了酒吧间。那酒保我本来就认得，我坐在一只高凳上，吃吃咸杏仁和炸马铃薯片。马丁尼鸡尾酒又凉爽又纯净。

9

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The hotel was very luxurious. I went down the long halls, down the wide stairs, through the rooms to the bar. I knew the barman and sat on a high stool and ate salted almonds and potato chips. The martini felt cool and clean.

10

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“你穿着平民服装在这儿做什么？”酒保给我调好了第二杯马丁尼后，问道。

10

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"What are you doing here in _borghese?_" the barman asked after he had mixed a second martini.

11

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“休假。疗养休假。”

11

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"I am on leave. Convalescing-leave."

12

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“这儿一个人都没有。我就不懂旅馆为什么还开着。”

12

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"There is no one here. I don’t know why they keep the hotel open."

13

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“近来钓鱼吗？”

13

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"Have you been fishing?"

14

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“钓到了一些很好的鱼。每年这个季节，垂钩钓鱼都可以钓到一些很好的。”

14

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"I’ve caught some beautiful pieces. Trolling this time of year you catch some beautiful pieces."

15

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“我送给你的烟草收到没有？”

15

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"Did you ever get the tobacco I sent?"

16

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“收到了。你可曾收到我的明信片？”

16

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"Yes. Didn’t you get my card?"

17

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我笑起来。烟草我根本弄不到。他要的是美国板烟丝，但是不晓得是我亲戚不再寄来呢，还是在什么地方给扣留了。无论如何，我没收到，更没法子转寄给他。

17

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I laughed. I had not been able to get the tobacco. It was American pipe-tobacco that he wanted, but my relatives had stopped sending it or it was being held up. Anyway it never came.

18

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“我在什么地方总还能弄到一点的，”我说。“告诉我，你可曾见到过城里来了两位英国姑娘？她们是前天才到的。”

18

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"I’ll get some somewhere," I said. "Tell me have you seen two English girls in the town? They came here day before yesterday."

19

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“她们不住这旅馆。”

19

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"They are not at the hotel."

20

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“两人都是护士。”

20

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"They are nurses."

21

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“我倒见过两位护士。等一等，我给你打听去。”

21

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"I have seen two nurses. Wait a minute, I will find out where they are."

22

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“其中有一位是我的妻子，”我说。“我特为上这儿来会她。”

22

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"One of them is my wife," I said. "I have come here to meet her."

23

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“另外一位是我的妻子。”

23

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"The other is my wife."

24

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“我并不是在说笑话。”

24

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"I am not joking."

25

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“请原谅我的胡闹，”他说。“我把你的话听错了。”他去了好一会。

25

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"Pardon my stupid joke," he said. "I did not understand." He went away and was gone quite a little while.

26

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我吃吃橄榄、咸杏仁和炸马铃薯片，对着酒吧后边的镜子，照照穿着平民服装的我。酒保踅回来了。“她们住在车站附近的小旅馆里，”他说。

26

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I ate olives, salted almonds and potato chips and looked at myself in civilian clothes in the mirror behind the bar. The batender came back. "They are at the little hotel near the station," he said.

27

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“来点三明治吧？”

27

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"How about some sandwiches?"

28

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“我按铃叫他们拿点来。你知道，这里什么东西都没有，因为连客人也没有。”

28

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"I’ll ring for some. You understand there is nothing here, now there are no people."

29

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“真的连一个都没有吗？”

29

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"Isn’t there really any one at all?"

30

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“有。只有几位。”

30

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"Yes. There are a few people."

31

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三明治送来了，我吃了三块，再喝了两杯马丁尼。我从来没有喝过这样凉爽纯净的酒。喝了以后，叫我觉得人都变文明了。我过去吃喝红葡萄酒、面包、干酪、劣质咖啡和格拉巴酒，吃喝得太多了。

31

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The sandwiches came and I ate three and drank a couple more martinis. I had never tasted anything so cool and clean. They made me feel civilized. I had had too much red wine, bread, cheese, bad coffee and grappa.

32

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我坐在高凳上，面对着那悦目的桃花心木的柜台、黄铜装饰和镜子等等，心中全不思想。酒保问了我几个问题。

32

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I sat on the high stool before the pleasant mahogany, the brass and the mirrors and did not think at all. The barman asked me some question.

33

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“不谈战争，”我说。战争离我已很遥远。也许根本并没有战争。这儿并没有战争。随后我发觉，战争对我个人来说，已经结束了。

33

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"Don’t talk about the war," I said. The war was a long way away. Maybe there wasn’t any war. There was no war here. Then I realized it was over for me.

34

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但是我又并不觉得有真正结束了的感觉。我的心情就好比一个逃学的学生，正在思量学校里在某一钟点在搞什么活动。

34

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But I did not have the feeling that it was really over. I had the feeling of a boy who thinks of what is happening at a certain hour at the schoolhouse from which he has played truant.

35

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我到那小旅馆时，凯瑟琳和海伦·弗格逊正在吃晚饭。我站在门廊上，看见她们坐在饭桌边。凯瑟琳的脸背着我，我看得见她头发的轮廓、她的面颊、她那可爱的脖子和肩膀。弗格逊正在说话。她一看见我进来就停了嘴。

35

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Catherine and Helen Ferguson were at supper when I came to their hotel. Standing in the hallway I saw them at table. Catherine’s face was away from me and I saw the line of her hair and her cheek and her lovely neck and shoulders. Ferguson was talking. She stopped when I came in.

36

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“我的上帝啊，”她说。

36

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"My God," she said.

37

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“你好，”我说。

37

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"Hello," I said.

38

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“原来是你啊！”凯瑟琳说。她的脸孔光亮起来。她快乐得好像不敢相信这是真的。我亲亲她。凯瑟琳红了脸，我就在桌边坐下。

38

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"Why it’s you!" Catherine said. Her face lighted up. She looked too happy to believe it. I kissed her. Catherine blushed and I sat down at the table.

39

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“你这一团槽的，”弗格逊说。 “你来这儿做什么？吃了饭没有？”

39

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"You’re a fine mess," Ferguson said. "What are you doing here? Have you eaten?"

40

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“没有。”伺候开饭的姑娘进来了，我吩咐她多开一客。凯瑟琳目不转睛地看着我，快乐幸福。

40

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"No." The girl who was serving the meal came in and I told her to bring a plate for me. Catherine looked at me all the time, her eyes happy.

41

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“你为什么穿便服？”弗格逊问。

41

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Please sign in to unlock the rest

42

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“我现在入内阁了。”

42

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Please sign in to unlock the rest

43

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“你一定出事了。”

43

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Please sign in to unlock the rest

44

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“高兴起来吧，弗基。稍微高兴一点。”

44

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"Cheer up, Fergy. Cheer up just a little."

45

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“我看见你可不觉得高兴。我知道你给这姑娘找的麻烦。见到你这人可没法子叫我愉快。”

45

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"I’m not cheered by seeing you. I know the mess you’ve gotten this girl into. You’re no cheerful sight to me."

46

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“没有人给我找什么麻烦，弗基。是我自己找的。”凯瑟琳对我笑笑，在桌下用脚踢了我一下。

46

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47

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“他叫我受不了，”弗格逊说。“他对你一无好处，只是用他那套鬼鬼祟祟的意大利伎俩毁了你。美国人比意大利人更坏。”

47

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48

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“倒是苏格兰人才讲道德呢，”凯瑟琳说。

48

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49

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“我不是这个意思。我是说他那意大利式的鬼鬼祟祟。”

49

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50

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“我鬼鬼祟祟吗，弗基？”

50

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51

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“你鬼鬼祟祟。你比鬼鬼祟祟还要坏。你就像条蛇。披着意军军装的蛇，脖子上披着一件披肩。”

51

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52

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“我现在可没穿意军军装啊。”

52

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53

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“这正是你那鬼鬼祟祟的又一例证。整个夏天你闹恋爱，叫这姑娘怀了孕，现在大概你想溜走啦。”

53

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54

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我对凯瑟琳笑笑，她也对我笑笑。

54

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55

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“我们一块儿溜走，”她说。

55

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56

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“你们俩本是一路货，”弗格逊说。“凯瑟琳·巴克莱，我真替你害臊。你不怕难为情，不顾名誉，而且你就像他一样的鬼鬼祟祟。”

56

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57

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“别这样讲，弗基，”凯瑟琳说，轻轻地拍拍她的手。“别责难我。你知道你我是好朋友。”

57

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58

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“挪开你的手，”弗格逊说。她脸孔涨红了。“要是你知道难为情，还有话说。但是天知道你怀了几个月的孩子，还当做儿戏，还是满脸笑容，无非因为勾引你的汉子回来了。你不知耻，也没有情感。”

58

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59

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她开始哭起来。凯瑟琳走过去，用臂膀搂住她。她站着安慰弗格逊的时候，我看不出她身体外形有什么变化。

59

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60

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“我不管，”弗格逊呜咽地说。“我以为这太可怕了。”

60

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61

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“好啦，好啦，弗基，”凯瑟琳安慰她说。“我知耻就是了。别哭，弗基。别哭，好弗基。”

61

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62

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“我不在哭，”弗格逊呜咽地说。“我不在哭。只是因为你闹出了这可怕的乱子。”她看着我。“我恨你，”她说。“她没法叫我不恨你。你这卑鄙鬼祟的美国意大利佬。”她的眼睛和鼻子都哭红了。

62

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63

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凯瑟琳对我笑笑。

63

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64

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“不许你一边抱着我，一边对他笑。”

64

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65

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“你太不讲理了，弗基。”

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66

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“我知道，”弗格逊呜咽着说。“你们俩都不要理我。我心里太烦了。我不讲理。这我知道。我要你们俩都快乐幸福。”

66

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67

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“我们现在就快乐嘛，”凯瑟琳说。“你这甜蜜可爱的弗基。”

67

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68

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弗格逊又哭起来。“我要的不是你们这一种快乐。你们为什么不结婚？难道你另有妻子吗？”

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69

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“没有，”我说。凯瑟琳大笑。

69

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70

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“这不是可笑的事，”弗格逊说。“有许多人都另有老婆的。”

70

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71

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“我们就结婚好啦，弗基，”凯瑟琳说。“如果这样能叫你喜欢的话。”

71

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72

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“不是为了叫我喜欢。你们本人应该有结婚的要求。”

72

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73

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“我们太忙了。”

73

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74

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“是的。我知道。忙于制造小孩。”我以为她又要哭起来了，想不到她只是改用了一种辛辣的语调。“我看，你今天夜里就会跟他去吧？”

74

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75

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“是的，”凯瑟琳说。“倘若他要我去的话。”

75

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76

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“我怎么办呢？”

76

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77

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“你害怕单独住在这里吗？”

77

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78

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“是，我怕。”

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79

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“那么我就陪你好了。”

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80

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“不，你还是跟他去。立即跟他去。你们俩都叫我看得厌烦透了。”

80

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81

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“还是先把饭吃完吧。”

81

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82

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“不。立刻就去。”

82

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83

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“弗基，讲点儿道理吧。”

83

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84

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“我说立刻就去。你们俩都走。”

84

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85

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“那就走吧，”我说。弗基叫我讨厌。

85

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86

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“你们真要走啦。你们看，你们甚至想撇下我，让我一个人吃饭。我一直想看看意大利的湖，现在倒落得这个样子。噢，噢，”她呜呜咽咽，随后望一望凯瑟琳，又哽咽起来了。

86

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87

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“我们呆到饭后再说吧，”凯瑟琳说。“倘若你要我陪你，我就不走，我不会丢下你一个人的，弗基。”

87

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88

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“不。不。我要你走。我要你走。”她擦擦眼睛。“我太不讲理了。请不要见怪。”

88

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89

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伺候开饭的姑娘给方才一顿哭弄得怪不舒服。现在她把下一道菜端进来，看来因为情况好转了而心安一点。

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90

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那天夜晚在旅馆里，房间外边是一条又长又空的走廊，门外边放着我们的鞋子，房间里铺着厚厚的地毯，窗外下着雨，房间里则灯光明亮，快乐愉快，后来灯灭了，床单平滑，床铺舒服，一片兴奋，那时的心情，好比我们回了家，不再感觉孤独，夜间醒来，爱人仍在，并没有发觉梦醒人去；除了这以外，一切事物都是不真实的。

90

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91

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我们疲乏的时候就睡觉，一个醒来，另一个也就醒来，所以不会感觉孤独寂寞。一个男人，或是一个女郎，虽然相爱，却时常想要单独安静一下，而一分开，必然招惹对方妒忌，但是我可以实实在在地说，我们两人从来没有这种感觉。

91

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92

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我们在一起的时候，也有孤独的感觉，那是与世人格格不相入的孤独。这种经验我一生中只有过一次。我和好些女人在一起的时候，总感觉孤独寂寞，而且你最寂寞就是在这种时候。但是我和凯瑟琳在一起，从来不寂寞，从来不害怕。

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93

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我知道夜里和白天是不同的：一切事物都不相同，夜里的事在白天没法子说明，因为那些事在白天根本就不存在，而对于寂寞的人来说，黑夜是极可怕的时间，只要他们的寂寞一开始。

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但是我和凯瑟琳的生活在夜间和白天几乎没有分别，而夜间只有更美妙些。倘若有人带着这么多的勇气到世界上来，世界为要打垮他们，必然加以杀害，到末了也自然就把他们杀死了。世界打垮了每一个人，于是有许多人事后在被打垮之余显得很坚强。

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但是世界对打垮不了的人就加以杀害。世界杀害最善良的人，最温和的人，最勇敢的人，不偏不倚，一律看待。倘若你不是这三类人，你迟早当然也得一死，不过世界并不特别着急要你的命。

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我记得第二天早晨醒来的情形。凯瑟琳还睡着，阳光从窗口照进房来。雨已停了，我下床走到窗口。

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窗下有一片花园，虽然现在草木凋零，仍旧整齐美丽，有沙砾小径、树木、湖边的石墙和阳光下的湖，湖的另一边层峦叠嶂。我站在窗边望了一会，当我掉转头来时，凯瑟琳已经醒了，正在看我。

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“你好啊，亲爱的？”她说。“天气不是好得可爱吗？”

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“你觉得怎么样？”

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“很好。我们过了一个可爱的夜晚。”

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“你想吃早饭吗？”

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她想吃。我也想吃，我们就在床上吃，十一月的阳光从窗外射进来，早饭的托盘搁在我的膝上。

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“你要看报吗？你在医院时老是要报看。”

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“不，”我说。“现在我不看了。”

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“战事果真糟到你连看都不想看吗？”

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“我不想看报上登载的消息。”

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“我倒希望当初和你在一起，能够多少知道一点消息呢。”

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“等我脑子里搞清楚以后再告诉你吧。”

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“人家发觉你不穿军装，不会逮捕你吗？”

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“大概要枪毙我。”

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“那么我们就不要呆在这里。我们出国去。”

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“这我也多少考虑过。”

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“我们还是出国吧。亲爱的，你不该这样胡乱冒险。告诉我，你怎样从美斯特列到米兰的？”

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“乘火车。那时候我还穿军装。”

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“那时你没危险吗？”

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“没多大危险。我本有张旧的调动证。我在美斯特列把日期改了一改。”

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“亲爱的，你在这儿随时都有被捕的危险。我不能让你这样。这么做太傻了。倘若人家把你抓了去，我们怎么办呢？”

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“这事别去想吧。我已经想得厌倦了。”

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“要是人家来逮捕你，你怎么办呢？”

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“我开枪。”

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“你瞧你多么傻，除非我们真的要走，我不让你走出这旅馆一步。”

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“那么我们到哪儿去呢？”

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“请你别这样子，亲爱的。你说什么地方，我们就上什么地方去。请你立刻找个可以去的地方。”

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“湖的北边是瑞士，我们就上那儿去吧。”

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“那好极了。”

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外面阴云密布，湖上阴暗下来。

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“我希望我们不至于老是过着逃犯的生活，”我说。

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“亲爱的，别这样。你过逃犯的生活还没有多久。况且我们不会永远像逃犯般生活的。我们将过快活的日子。”

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“我觉得像是个逃犯。我从军队里逃了出来。”

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“亲爱的，请你不要乱讲。那不算逃兵。那只是意大利军队。”

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我笑了起来。“你是个好姑娘。我们回到床上去吧。我在床上就好过。”

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过了一会儿，凯瑟琳说，“你不觉得像逃犯了吧？”

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“对，”我说。“同你在一起就不觉得了。”

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“你真是个傻孩子，”她说。“但是我会照料你的。亲爱的，我早上并不想吐，这岂不是好消息吗？”

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“好极了。”

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“你还不晓得你的妻子多好哩。我也无所谓。我要给你找个地方，人家没法逮捕你，然后我们可以快活幸福地过日子。”

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“我们立刻就去吧。”

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“我们要去的，亲爱的。随便什么地方，随便什么时候，你要去我就去。”

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“我们现在别想任何事吧。”

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“好的。”

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第34章|Chapter 34

In civilian clothes I felt a masquerader. I had been in uniform a long time and I missed the feeling of being held by your clothes. The trousers felt very floppy. I had bought a ticket at Milan for Stresa. I had also bought a new hat. I could not wear Sim’s hat but his clothes were fine.

衣服带有烟草味，当我坐在车厢里望着窗外时，我觉得帽子崭新，衣服很旧。我觉得自己很忧郁，正像车窗外伦巴第区那片濡湿的乡野。车厢里有几个飞行员，他们不大瞧得起我。

They smelled of tobacco and as I sat in the compartment and looked out the window the new hat felt very new and the clothes very old. I myself felt as sad as the wet Lombard country that was outside through the window. There were some aviators in the compartment who did not think much of me.

他们目光避开，不来看我，很藐视我这种年纪的人还在当平民。我倒不觉得受了侮辱。要是在从前，我准会侮辱他们一下，挑动他们干一架。他们在加拉剌蒂下了车，剩下我一个人，也乐得安静。

They avoided looking at me and were very scornful of a civilian my age. I did not feel insulted. In the old days I would have insulted them and picked a fight. They got off at Gallarate and I was glad to be alone.

我身边有报纸，但我不看，因为我不想知道战事。我要忘掉战争。我单独媾和了。我觉得异常寂寞，所以车子到施特雷沙时，心中很高兴。

I had the paper but I did not read it because I did not want to read about the war. I was going to forget the war. I had made a separate peace. I felt damned lonely and was glad when the train got to Stresa.

我在站上找到一个人，问他什么旅馆还在开业。巴罗美群岛①大旅馆还开着，还有几家小旅馆是一年四季都营业的。我提着小提包冒雨上那大旅馆去。

I found a man in the station and asked him if he knew what hotels were open. The Grand-Hotel & des Isles Borromes was open and several small hotels that stayed open all the year. I started in the rain for the Isles Borromes carrying my bag.

我看见有一部马车从街上驶过来，便向车夫打招呼。乘着马车上旅馆，比较有派头。车子赶到大旅馆停车处的入口，门房连忙打着伞出来迎接，非常有礼貌。

I saw a carriage coming down the street and signalled to the driver. It was better to arrive in a carriage. We drove up to the carriage entrance of the big hotel and the concierge came out with an umbrella and was very polite.

我开了一个好房间。房间又大又亮，面临着湖上①。湖上现在罩着云，不过阳光一出来，一定很美丽。我对旅馆的人说，我在等待我的太太。房间里摆有一张双人大床，那种燕尔新婚的大床，上面铺着缎子床罩。

I took a good room. It was very big and light and looked out on the lake. The clouds were down over the lake but it would be beautiful with the sunlight. I was expecting my wife, I said. There was a big double bed, a _letto matrimoniale_ with a satin coverlet.

旅馆十分奢华。我走下长廊和宽阔的楼梯，穿过几个房间，到了酒吧间。那酒保我本来就认得，我坐在一只高凳上，吃吃咸杏仁和炸马铃薯片。马丁尼鸡尾酒又凉爽又纯净。

The hotel was very luxurious. I went down the long halls, down the wide stairs, through the rooms to the bar. I knew the barman and sat on a high stool and ate salted almonds and potato chips. The martini felt cool and clean.

“你穿着平民服装在这儿做什么？”酒保给我调好了第二杯马丁尼后，问道。

"What are you doing here in _borghese?_" the barman asked after he had mixed a second martini.

“休假。疗养休假。”

"I am on leave. Convalescing-leave."

“这儿一个人都没有。我就不懂旅馆为什么还开着。”

"There is no one here. I don’t know why they keep the hotel open."

“近来钓鱼吗？”

"Have you been fishing?"

“钓到了一些很好的鱼。每年这个季节，垂钩钓鱼都可以钓到一些很好的。”

"I’ve caught some beautiful pieces. Trolling this time of year you catch some beautiful pieces."

“我送给你的烟草收到没有？”

"Did you ever get the tobacco I sent?"

“收到了。你可曾收到我的明信片？”

"Yes. Didn’t you get my card?"

我笑起来。烟草我根本弄不到。他要的是美国板烟丝，但是不晓得是我亲戚不再寄来呢，还是在什么地方给扣留了。无论如何，我没收到，更没法子转寄给他。

I laughed. I had not been able to get the tobacco. It was American pipe-tobacco that he wanted, but my relatives had stopped sending it or it was being held up. Anyway it never came.

“我在什么地方总还能弄到一点的，”我说。“告诉我，你可曾见到过城里来了两位英国姑娘？她们是前天才到的。”

"I’ll get some somewhere," I said. "Tell me have you seen two English girls in the town? They came here day before yesterday."

“她们不住这旅馆。”

"They are not at the hotel."

“两人都是护士。”

"They are nurses."

“我倒见过两位护士。等一等，我给你打听去。”

"I have seen two nurses. Wait a minute, I will find out where they are."

“其中有一位是我的妻子，”我说。“我特为上这儿来会她。”

"One of them is my wife," I said. "I have come here to meet her."

“另外一位是我的妻子。”

"The other is my wife."

“我并不是在说笑话。”

"I am not joking."

“请原谅我的胡闹，”他说。“我把你的话听错了。”他去了好一会。

"Pardon my stupid joke," he said. "I did not understand." He went away and was gone quite a little while.

我吃吃橄榄、咸杏仁和炸马铃薯片，对着酒吧后边的镜子，照照穿着平民服装的我。酒保踅回来了。“她们住在车站附近的小旅馆里，”他说。

I ate olives, salted almonds and potato chips and looked at myself in civilian clothes in the mirror behind the bar. The batender came back. "They are at the little hotel near the station," he said.

“来点三明治吧？”

"How about some sandwiches?"

“我按铃叫他们拿点来。你知道，这里什么东西都没有，因为连客人也没有。”

"I’ll ring for some. You understand there is nothing here, now there are no people."

“真的连一个都没有吗？”

"Isn’t there really any one at all?"

“有。只有几位。”

"Yes. There are a few people."

三明治送来了，我吃了三块，再喝了两杯马丁尼。我从来没有喝过这样凉爽纯净的酒。喝了以后，叫我觉得人都变文明了。我过去吃喝红葡萄酒、面包、干酪、劣质咖啡和格拉巴酒，吃喝得太多了。

The sandwiches came and I ate three and drank a couple more martinis. I had never tasted anything so cool and clean. They made me feel civilized. I had had too much red wine, bread, cheese, bad coffee and grappa.

我坐在高凳上，面对着那悦目的桃花心木的柜台、黄铜装饰和镜子等等，心中全不思想。酒保问了我几个问题。

I sat on the high stool before the pleasant mahogany, the brass and the mirrors and did not think at all. The barman asked me some question.

“不谈战争，”我说。战争离我已很遥远。也许根本并没有战争。这儿并没有战争。随后我发觉，战争对我个人来说，已经结束了。

"Don’t talk about the war," I said. The war was a long way away. Maybe there wasn’t any war. There was no war here. Then I realized it was over for me.

但是我又并不觉得有真正结束了的感觉。我的心情就好比一个逃学的学生，正在思量学校里在某一钟点在搞什么活动。

But I did not have the feeling that it was really over. I had the feeling of a boy who thinks of what is happening at a certain hour at the schoolhouse from which he has played truant.

我到那小旅馆时，凯瑟琳和海伦·弗格逊正在吃晚饭。我站在门廊上，看见她们坐在饭桌边。凯瑟琳的脸背着我，我看得见她头发的轮廓、她的面颊、她那可爱的脖子和肩膀。弗格逊正在说话。她一看见我进来就停了嘴。

Catherine and Helen Ferguson were at supper when I came to their hotel. Standing in the hallway I saw them at table. Catherine’s face was away from me and I saw the line of her hair and her cheek and her lovely neck and shoulders. Ferguson was talking. She stopped when I came in.

“我的上帝啊，”她说。

"My God," she said.

“你好，”我说。

"Hello," I said.

“原来是你啊！”凯瑟琳说。她的脸孔光亮起来。她快乐得好像不敢相信这是真的。我亲亲她。凯瑟琳红了脸，我就在桌边坐下。

"Why it’s you!" Catherine said. Her face lighted up. She looked too happy to believe it. I kissed her. Catherine blushed and I sat down at the table.

“你这一团槽的，”弗格逊说。 “你来这儿做什么？吃了饭没有？”

"You’re a fine mess," Ferguson said. "What are you doing here? Have you eaten?"

“没有。”伺候开饭的姑娘进来了，我吩咐她多开一客。凯瑟琳目不转睛地看着我，快乐幸福。

"No." The girl who was serving the meal came in and I told her to bring a plate for me. Catherine looked at me all the time, her eyes happy.

“你为什么穿便服？”弗格逊问。

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