第十一章（第5/20页）

The old man was really moved.

老人感动得无可不可。

Next day Connie was arranging tall yellow tulips in a glass vase.

翌日，康妮捧着一大束黄色郁金香，正往玻璃花瓶里插。

"Connie," said Clifford, "did you know there was a rumour that you are going to supply Wragby with a son and heir?" Connie felt dim with terror, yet she stood quite still, touching the flowers.

“康妮，”克利福德说，“有传言你要给格拉比生个儿子和继承人，你晓得此事吗？”康妮隐约感到有些担忧，但她依然镇定自若，摆弄着瓶中的花。

"No!" she said.

“没听说！”她说。

"Is it a joke? Or malice?" He paused before he answered: "Neither, I hope. I hope it may be a prophecy." Connie went on with her flowers.

“是玩笑？还是恶意中伤？”他沉默半晌，然后答道：“我希望两者都不是。我希望这是种预兆。”康妮仍在理顺着她的花。

"I had a letter from Father this morning," she said. "He wants to know if I am aware he has accepted Sir Alexander Cooper's Invitation for me for July and August, to the Villa Esmeralda in Venice.” "July AND August?" said Clifford.

“今天早上，我接到父亲的来信。”她岔开话题。“他提醒我，他已经替我接受了亚历山大·库伯爵士的邀请，七八月份到威尼斯的埃斯梅拉达别墅度假。”“七八月份？”克利福德说。

"Oh, I wouldn't stay all that time. Are you sure you wouldn't come?” "I won't travel abroad," said Clifford promptly. She took her flowers to the window.

“噢，我不会待那么久。你真的不跟我一起去吗？”“我不想离开英格兰。”克利福德不假思索地说。她把花瓶拿到窗边。

"Do you mind if I go?" she said. You know it was promised, for this summer.

“你不介意我去吧？”她问。“你晓得，今年夏天的事是早就约好的。”

"For how long would you go?" "Perhaps three weeks." There was silence for a time.

“你打算逗留多长时间？”“或许三周吧。”两人一时陷入沉默。

"Well," said Clifford slowly, and a little gloomily. "I suppose I could stand it for three weeks: if I were absolutely sure you'd want to come back.” "I should want to come back," she said, with a quiet simplicity, heavy with conviction. She was thinking of the other man.

“呃，”克利福德缓缓地说，表情颇为阴郁。“三星期的话，我还可以忍受，前提是确定你还想回来。”“我愿意回来。”她轻声说，言简意赅，言之凿凿。她正想着另一个男人。

Clifford felt her conviction, and somehow he believed her, he believed it was for him. He felt immensely relieved, joyful at once.

克利福德感受到她的坚定，也相信她说的话，相信她这样做全是为了他。他放下心头大石，立刻笑逐颜开。

"In that case," he said, "I think it would be all right, don't you?” "I think so," she said.

“那样的话，”他说，“我觉得没问题，是吧？”“我也这样想。”她回答。

"You'd enjoy the change?” She looked up at him with strange blue eyes.

“你想换换心情？”她抬头望着他，蓝色的双眸闪耀着异样的光彩。

"I should like to see Venice again," she said, "and to bathe from one of the shingle islands across the lagoon. But you know I loathe the Lido! And I don't fancy I shall like Sir Alexander Cooper and Lady Cooper. But if Hilda is there, and we have a gondola of our own: yes, it will be rather lovely. I do wish you'd come.” She said it sincerely. She would so love to make him happy, in these ways.

“我想重游威尼斯，”她说，“到泻湖对面的砂石海滩上畅泳。但你知道的，我讨厌利多岛（注：威尼斯附近一小岛，旅游胜地）！我恐怕也很难与亚历山大·库伯夫妇交好。如果希尔达能一起去，再有条凤尾船，没错，那肯定会有意思得多。我真的希望你也能去。”她真诚地说。她希望出去散散心能让他快活起来。