第十章（第31/42页）

"I saw you go across the park to the iron gate, my Lady," said Mrs. Bolton; "so I thought perhaps you'd called at the Rectory.” "I nearly did, then I turned towards Marehay instead." The eyes of the two women met: Mrs. Bolton's grey and bright and searching; Connie's blue and veiled and strangely beautiful. Mrs. Bolton was almost sure she had a lover, yet how could it be, and who could it be? Where was there a man? "Oh, it's so good for you, if you go out and see a bit of company sometimes," said Mrs. Bolton. "I was saying to Sir Clifford, it would do her ladyship a world of good if she'd go out among people more.” "Yes, I'm glad I went, and such a quaint dear cheeky baby, Clifford," said Connie. "It's got hair just like spider-webs, and bright orange, and the oddest, cheekiest, pale-blue china eyes. Of course it's a girl, or it wouldn't be so bold, bolder than any little Sir Francis Drake.” "You're right, my Lady—a regular little Flint. They were always a forward sandy-headed family," said Mrs. Bolton.

“我看到您从花园的铁门出去了，夫人，”博尔顿太太说，“还以为您大概去拜谒神父了呢。”“我差点就去了，不过中途改道，去了马勒哈伊。”两个女人目光交汇，博尔顿太太明亮的灰色眼睛有心刺探，而康妮的蓝色眸子则稍显朦胧，有着异样的光彩。博尔顿太太几乎可以断定，女主人有了情人，但事情的始末究竟怎样？偷欢的对象又是谁呢？哪里来的男人呢？“噢，经常出去散散心，访访朋友，对您可是大有裨益。”博尔顿太太说。“我刚才还跟克利福德爵士说来着，夫人要是能多出去串串门，实在是益处多多。”“是啊，出去逛了逛让我深感愉快，那小家伙如此漂亮可爱，机灵调皮，克利福德。”康妮说，“头发就像蜘蛛网，是鲜亮的橘红色，最奇妙、最顽皮的地方就是那对淡蓝色的眼睛，好似两颗瓷珠。当然，那小家伙是个女孩，不然也算不得胆大，简直赛过年轻时候的弗朗西斯·德雷克爵士（注：1540-1596，英国航海家，军事家）。”“你说得没错，夫人，像极了她老爸。他们全家都是沙色头发，冒冒失失的。”博尔顿太太评价道。

"Wouldn't you like to see it, Clifford? I've asked them to tea for you to see it.” "Who?" he asked, looking at Connie in great uneasiness. "Mrs. Flint and the baby, next Monday." "You can have them to tea up in your room," he said.

“你想看看她么，克利福德？我已经邀请她们来喝茶，这样你就有机会看到那小可爱。”“谁？”他看着康妮问，目光显得极不自然。“弗林特太太和她的孩子，下周一。”“你可以在自己房间款待她们用茶。”他说。

"Why, don't you want to see the baby?" she cried.

“为什么，难道你不想看看那孩子吗？”她嚷道。

"Oh, I'll see it, but I don't want to sit through a tea-time with them.” "Oh," cried Connie, looking at him with wide veiled eyes.

“哦，我会看看她，不过，我可不想整个下午茶的光景都跟她们共度。”“噢，”康妮叫道，两只大眼睛迷惘地盯着他。

She did not really see him, he was somebody else.

她看到的其实并非克利福德，而是另一个人。

"You can have a nice cosy tea up in your room, my Lady, and Mrs. Flint will be more comfortable than if Sir Clifford was there," said Mrs. Bolton.

“夫人，在您的房间，您和客人可以舒坦地用茶，克利福德爵士不在场，弗林特太太也不用那么拘束。”博尔顿太太打着圆场。