第十六章（第17/24页）

“没有那么遥不可及，俺也实在跟恁说。不管怎么说，俺自己也讲求延续性。认真程度绝不逊于恁，任何情况下都是如此。要是恁妹妹来俺这儿，为的是寻求性爱和柔情，她应该明晰自己的目的。她和俺上过床，这是单凭恁的延续性所无法得到的，天地为证。”他稍作停顿，又接着说：“——呃，我可不是会反穿马裤的呆瓜。要是天鹅肉落到嘴里，我会感激神灵眷顾。坐拥如此貌美如花的娇娘，男人自然是逞心如意，乐得尽情享受；那个家伙要是遇到恁，那可就没有这等艳福了。真是可惜，恁本来能生就成一颗味道香甜的上等苹果，谁料想，却变成中看不中用的烂货。恁这号女人真需要造物主帮忙嫁接一下。”他面带怪笑，盯着她看，眼神中露出挑逗和品评的意味。

"And men like you," she said, "ought to be segregated: justifying their own vulgarity and selfish lust.” "Ay, ma'am! It's a mercy there's a few men left like me. But you deserve what you get: to be left severely alone.” Hilda had risen and gone to the door. He rose and took his coat from the peg.

“像你这样的男人，”她反唇相讥，“就应该被隔离开来，这是你们因下流无耻、自私自利的性格而应得的惩罚。”“是呀，夫人！世上还存留着我这样的好男人，实在是件幸事。可你如今独守空闺，也算是自作自受。”希尔达愤而离席，径直往门口走去。他也站起身来，从衣钩上取下自己的外套。

"I can find my way quite well alone," she said.

“我自己完全可以找到路。”她说。

"I doubt you can't," he replied easily.

“恐怕你做不到。”他轻描淡写地回应道。

They tramped in ridiculous file down the lane again, in silence. An owl still hooted. He knew he ought to shoot it.

一行三人依旧滑稽地鱼贯而行，顺着林间小径原路返回，仍然没人做声。猫头鹰还没闭嘴。他恨不得将它射杀。

The car stood untouched, a little dewy. Hilda got in and started the engine. The other two waited.

汽车好端端地停在那里，只不过沾了点露水。希尔达上了车，发动起引擎。康妮和梅勒斯则等在一旁。

"All I mean," she said from her entrenchment, "is that I doubt if you'll find it's been worth it, either of you!” "One man's meat is another man's poison," he said, out of the darkness. "But it's meat an'drink to me.

“我要留下的忠告是，”希尔达坐在车里说，“你们俩恐怕都将悔之晚矣！”“萝卜青菜，各有所爱。”他站在阴影中反驳道。“对我而言，这是件两全其美的好事。”

The lights flared out.

车灯亮起。

"Don't make me wait in the morning,” "No, I won't. Goodnight!” The car rose slowly on to the highroad, then slid swiftly away, leaving the night silent.

“明早别让我等你。”“知道，我不会让你等的。晚安！”车子缓缓爬上公路，接着飞驰而去，只留下寂静无声的夜。

Connie timidly took his arm, and they went down the lane. He did not speak. At length she drew him to a standstill.

康妮娇羞地挽起他的手臂，踏上回程的道路。他依旧不愿做声。最后，她伸手拉住他。

"Kiss me!" She murmured.

“吻我！”她低声说。

"Nay, wait a bit! Let me simmer down," he said.

“别介，等会再说！让我冷静一下。”他说。

That amused her. She still kept hold of his arm, and they went quickly down the lane, in silence. She was so glad to be with him, just now. She shivered, knowing that Hilda might have snatched her away. He was inscrutably silent.

这话让她觉得很好笑。她仍然挎着他的胳膊，两人默默无言，疾步往回赶。此时此刻，能与他共处，便让她感到无比快乐。想起希尔达差点将他俩拆散，她不禁心有余悸。沉默不语的他显得高深莫测。