第十五章（第13/18页）

“是吗？”他沉思片刻。“那你打算什么时候再度离开，永诀拉格比？告诉我确切的时间。”“噢，我不知道。我从威尼斯回来。我们便可着手准备。”“怎么准备？”“哦，我得告诉克利福德。我得跟克利福德摊牌。”“真的吗？”他不再说话。她伸开双臂，搂住他的脖子。

"Don't make it difficult for me," she pleaded.

“不要让我为难。”她央求着。

"Make what difficult?" "For me to go to Venice and arrange things." A little smile, half a grin, flickered on his face.

“为难什么？”“前往威尼斯，安排好以后的一切。”一丝苦笑在他的脸上闪过。

"I don't make it difficult," he said. "I only want to find out just what you are after. But you don't really know yourself. You want to take time: get away and look at it. I don't blame you. I think you're wise. You may prefer to stay mistress of Wragby. I don't blame you. I've no Wragbys to offer. In fact, you know what you'll get out of me. No, no, I think you're right! I really do! And I'm not keen on coming to live on you, being kept by you. There's that too.” She felt somehow as if he were giving her tit for tat.

“我不会让你为难。”他说。“我只想弄清楚你真正的目的。可连你自己都不知道答案。你只是想争取时间，逃离此地，重新审视整件事。我不会责怪你。我觉得这样做很明智。你尽可以做回拉格比的女主人。我不会责怪你。我可没有拉格比来提供给你。其实，你明白能从我这里得到什么。不，不，我认为你是对的！我的确这样想！而且，我并不愿靠你养活，让你维系。这也是需要深思的问题。”她觉得他似乎是故意跟自己作对。

"But you want me, don't you?” She asked.

“可你要我，不是吗？”她追问道。

"Do you want me?" "You know I do. That's evident.” "Quite! And WHEN do you want me?" "You know we can arrange it all when I come back. Now I'm out of breath with you. I must get calm and clear.” "Quite! Get calm and clear!"

“你想要我吗？”“你知道我想。这显而易见。”“很好！那你打算什么时候要我？”“你清楚，我从威尼斯回来以后，咱俩便可安排一切。现在我被你逼得喘不过气。我必须冷静下来，理清头绪。”“很好！冷静下来，理清头绪！”

She was a little offended.

她有些恼火。

"But you trust me, don't you?” She said.

“可你信任我，对吗？”她问。

"Oh, absolutely!" She heard the mockery in his tone.

“哦，那是当然！”她听得出，他的腔调中含有讥讽。

"Tell me then," she said flatly; "do you think it would be better if I don't go to Venice?” "I'm sure it's better if you do go to Venice," he replied in the cool, slightly mocking voice.

“那么告诉我，”她直截了当地说，“你认为我不去威尼斯更好些吗？”“我敢打包票，你还是去为好。”他冷漠的声音里，依然带有讽刺的意味。

"You know it's next Thursday?” She said.

“你知道我下周四动身？”她问。

"Yes!" She now began to muse. At last she said: "And we shall know better where we are when I come back, shan't we?” "Oh surely!" The curious gulf of silence between them!

“是的！”她陷入沉思。最后，她说：“等我回来，咱俩会更加明晰彼此的想法，是吗？”“噢，那当然！”沉默的深渊将两人莫名地远远隔开！

"I've been to the lawyer about my divorce," he said, a little constrainedly.

“关于离婚的事，我已经咨询过律师。”他说，表情显得有些不自然。

She gave a slight shudder.