第十四章（第4/19页）

He did look indeed very clean-shaven and very clean altogether, one of the clean young men of twenty years ago. But even in the photograph his eyes were alert and dauntless. And the woman was not altogether a bully, though her jowl was heavy. There was a touch of appeal in her.

20年前的他确实未曾蓄须，干净利落，是位体态匀称的小伙子。但即便是在照片上，他的双眸依然显得机智敏锐，勇敢无畏。而那女人尽管下颚宽厚，但却并无悍妇模样。反倒有种特殊的魅力。

"One never should keep these things," said Connie. "That one shouldn't! One should never have them made!” He broke the cardboard photograph and mount over his knee, and when it was small enough, put it on the fire.

“没必要留着这种东西。”康妮说。“确实不该留！照都不该照！”他撕扯着硬纸板做成的照片，堆在膝盖上，直到彻底变成碎片，就将其投入炉火中。

"It'll spoil the fire though," he said.

“简直是对火焰的糟蹋。”他说。

The glass and the backboard he carefully took upstairs.

他小心翼翼地把玻璃和后挡板拿到楼上去收好。

The frame he knocked asunder with a few blows of the hammer, making the stucco fly. Then he took the pieces into the scullery.

相框被他几锤砸得粉碎，灰泥扬起，到处乱飞。接着，他将碎片丢到洗涤间。

"We'll burn that tomorrow," he said. "There's too much plaster-moulding on it.” Having cleared away, he sat down.

“那些明天再烧。”他说。“上面抹了太多灰泥。”清理干净后，他重新坐了下来。

"Did you love your wife?" she asked him.

“你爱你的妻子吗？”她问他。

"Love?" He said. "Did you love Sir Clifford?" But she was not going to be put off.

“爱？”他反问道。“那你爱克利福德爵士吗？”但她不想被搪塞过去。

"But you cared for her?" She insisted.

“可你还挂念她吧？”她追问道。

"Cared?" He grinned.

“挂念？”他苦笑着。

"Perhaps you care for her now," she said.

“或许你现在还挂念着她。”她说。

"Me!" His eyes widened. "Ah no, I can't think of her," he said quietly.

“我？”他瞪大眼睛。“噢，不，我从不会想起她。”他轻声说。

"Why?" But he shook his head.

“为什么？”但他摇头不愿作答。

"Then why don't you get a divorce? She'll come back to you one day," said Connie.

“既然这样，你干嘛不离婚？她终有一天会回到你身边。”康妮说。

He looked up at her sharply.

他抬头望着她，目光锐利。

"She wouldn't come within a mile of me. She hates me a lot worse than I hate her.” "You'll see she'll come back to you.” "That she never will. That's done! It would make me sick to see her.” "You will see her. And you're not even legally separated, are you?” "No." "Ah well, then she'll come back, and you'll have to take her in.” He gazed at Connie fixedly. Then he gave the queer toss of his head.

“她根本就不会想回来。她对我的恨甚至更深。”“等着瞧吧，她终归会回来找你的。”“她绝对不会。毫无疑问！看到她我就觉得恶心。”“你还是会见到她。你们并没有依法办理离婚手续，对吗？”“没有。”“那么，如果她回心转意，你就必须收留她。”他目不转睛地盯着康妮。然后，他点点头，动作有些怪异。

"You might be right. I was a fool ever to come back here. But I felt stranded and had to go somewhere. A man's a poor bit of a wastrel blown about. But you're right. I'll get a divorce and get clear. I hate those things like death, officials and courts and judges. But I've got to get through with it. I'll get a divorce.” And she saw his jaw set. Inwardly she exulted. "I think I will have a cup of tea now," she said. He rose to make it. But his face was set. As they sat at table she asked him: "Why did you marry her? She was commoner than yourself. Mrs. Bolton told me about her. She could never understand why you married her." He looked at her fixedly.