第十八章（第14/17页）

"I had a lot o' fun out of it," said he.

“我倒觉得其乐无穷。”他说。

"I think you might have avoided putting children into the world until you were both free to marry and have children." "The Lord blew a bit too soon on the spark," said he.

“要我看，等你俩都恢复自由身，可以结婚生子时，再要孩子也不晚。”“上帝让火着得有点快。”他说。

"I think the Lord had nothing to do with it. Of course, Connie has enough money to keep you both, but the situation is unbearable." "But then you don't have to bear more than a small corner of it, do you?" said he.

“我可不认为应该归罪于上帝。当然，康妮的收入足够你俩过活，但目前的情况实在糟糕。”“可你不必体验这种身临险境的窘迫，不是吗？”他说。

"If you'd been in her own class.” "Or if I'd been in a cage at the Zoo.” There was silence.

“要是你俩门第相当就好了。”“或者我被关在动物园的笼子里。”三个人都不再作声。

"I think," said Hilda, "it will be best if she names quite another man as co-respondent and you stay out of it altogether.” "But I thought I'd put my foot right in.” "I mean in the divorce proceedings." He gazed at her in wonder. Connie had not dared mention the Duncan scheme to him.

“依我看，”希尔达说，“最好让康妮另找个男人做替罪羊，而你可以完全置身事外。”“可我愿意承担任何后果。”“我是说在离婚诉讼期间。”他诧异地看着她。找邓肯帮忙的事，康妮没敢跟他说起。

"I don't follow," he said.

“我不明白你的意思。”他说。

"We have a friend who would probably agree to be named as co-respondent, so that your name need not appear," said Hilda.

“我们有个朋友，他很可能愿意扮演奸夫的角色，这样一来，你的名字就可以不被提及。”希尔达说。

"You mean a man?" "Of course!" "But she's got no other?” He looked in wonder at Connie.

“你说的朋友是个男人吧？”“那当然！”“可她并没脚踩两只船呀？”他错愕地看着康妮。

"No, no!" she said hastily. "Only that old friendship, quite simple, no love." "Then why should the fellow take the blame? If he's had nothing out of you?” "Some men are chivalrous and don't only count what they get out of a woman," said Hilda.

“不，不！”她赶紧解释。“他只是个老朋友，我们的关系相当单纯，并没有男女之爱。”“那么他干嘛要背负这罪名呢？要是他从你那儿得不到任何回报？”“有些男人侠肝义胆，并不指望从女人身上捞到好处。”希尔达说。

"One for me, eh? But who's the johnny?” "A friend whom we've known since we were children in Scotland, an artist.” "Duncan Forbes!" he said at once, for Connie had talked to him.

“甘愿替我出头，是吗？可那位仁兄究竟姓甚名谁？”“我们儿时在苏格兰结识的朋友，是位画家。”“邓肯·福布斯！”他立即说出他的名字，因为康妮曾经跟他提起过。

"And how would you shift the blame on to him?" "They could stay together in some hotel, or she could even stay in his apartment." "Seems to me like a lot of fuss for nothing," he said.

“你们怎么能将罪名转嫁到他身上？”“他们可以住在同家旅馆，甚至在他的公寓过夜也没问题。”“依我看，这样做实在有些小题大做。”他说。

"What else do you suggest?" said Hilda. "If your name appears, you will get no divorce from your wife, who is apparently quite an impossible person to be mixed up with." "All that!" he said grimly.