And after all the weather was ideal. They could not have had a more perfect day for a garden-party if they had ordered it. Windless, warm, the sky without a cloud. Only the blue was veiled with a haze of light gold, as it is sometimes in early summer. The gardener had been up since dawn, mowing the lawns and sweeping them, until the grass and the dark flat rosettes where the daisy plants had been seemed to shine. As for the roses, you could not help feeling they understood that roses are the only flowers that impress people at garden- parties; the only flowers that everybody is certain of knowing. Hundreds, yes, literally hundreds, had come out in a single night; the green bushes bowed down as though they had been visited by archangels.

這真是個理想的天氣。要是他們決定開花園茶會，那就不可能有比今天更完美的天氣了。無風(fēng)，溫暖，天空無云。只有藍(lán)天被朦朧的淺金色煙靄籠罩，就像偶爾在夏初的時候。園丁們黎明之時就已起身，修剪打理草坪，直到草地和種著雛菊的深色平坦的玫瑰形花壇看起來都熠熠生輝。至于玫瑰，你會情不自禁地覺得他們理解玫瑰是唯一引人注目的花；唯一人人皆知的花。數(shù)百株的，確實是數(shù)百株玫瑰，一夜之間破土而出；綠色的灌木叢被壓得彎下了腰，仿佛是接受過天使的拜訪。

Breakfast was not yet over before the men came to put up the marquee.

在工人搭起帳篷前，早餐還沒有結(jié)束。

"Where do you want the marquee put, mother?"

“媽媽，您想把帳篷搭在哪兒?”

"My dear child, it's no use asking me. I'm determined to leave everything to you children this year. Forget I am your mother. Treat me as an honoured guest."

“親愛的，問我也沒用。我打算今年把一切都放手給你們孩子做。忘掉我是你們的媽媽。把我當(dāng)成一位貴賓招待吧?！?/p>

But Meg could not possibly go and supervise the men. She had washed her hair before breakfast, and she sat drinking her coffee in a green turban, with a dark wet curl stamped on each cheek. Jose, the butterfly, always came down in a silk petticoat and a kimono jacket.

但是瑪格麗特恐怕不可能過去監(jiān)督工人干活。她在早餐前洗了頭發(fā)，包著綠頭巾坐著享受她的咖啡，頭巾在臉頰兩邊垂下暗濕的大卷。喬斯，這只“蝴蝶”，總是穿著絲綢襯裙和和服式的晨衣外套下來。

"You'll have to go, Laura; you're the artistic one."

“看來只有你去了，勞拉；你是個有藝術(shù)天賦的人?！?/p>

Away Laura flew, still holding her piece of bread-and-butter. It's so delicious to have an excuse for eating out of doors, and besides, she loved having to arrange things; she always felt she could do it so much better than anybody else.

勞拉輕盈地離去，手里還拿著她那片抹了黃油的面包。能有個理由外出吃東西實在太棒了，并且，她喜歡去安排事情；她總覺得自己能比其他任何人做的好得多。

Four men in their shirt-sleeves stood grouped together on the garden path. They carried staves covered with rolls of canvas, and they had big tool-bags slung on their backs. They looked impressive. Laura wished now that she had not got the bread-and-butter, but there was nowhere to put it, and she couldn't possibly throw it away. She blushed and tried to look severe and even a little bit short-sighted as she came up to them.

四個穿襯衫的男人站在一起，在花園小徑上。他們搬著包裹了幾卷帆布的板子，背后還掛著個大工具袋。他們看起來很有能力。勞拉希望自己沒拿黃油面包，但是現(xiàn)在沒地方放它，她又不可能把它給扔了。在走向他們的時候她尷尬地臉紅了，并且試圖讓自己顯得很嚴(yán)肅甚至有點兒跟近視眼兒似的。

"Good morning," she said, copying her mother's voice. But that sounded so fearfully affected that she was ashamed, and stammered like a little girl, "Oh - er - have you come - is it about the marquee?"

“早上好?！彼f道，模仿著自己媽媽的聲音。但是聽起來非常做作，連她自己都不好意思了，而且還像個小女孩一樣結(jié)巴。"哦——呃——你們來啦——是因為帳篷的事嗎?"

"That's right, miss," said the tallest of the men, a lanky, freckled fellow, and he shifted his tool-bag, knocked back his straw hat and smiled down at her. "That's about it."

“是的，小姐。”最高的男人，一個長看雀斑的小伙子，回答道。他挪了下自己的工具袋，把草帽敲正，對勞拉微笑。“是為了帳篷的事。”

His smile was so easy, so friendly that Laura recovered. What nice eyes he had, small, but such a dark blue! And now she looked at the others, they were smiling too. "Cheer up, we won't bite," their smile seemed to say. How very nice workmen were! And what a beautiful morning! She mustn't mention the morning; she must be business-like. The marquee.

"Well, what about the lily-lawn? Would that do?"

他的笑容如此愜意、友好，以至于勞拉恢復(fù)了常態(tài)。他有一雙多么迷人的眼睛，小但是是那么深邃的藍(lán)色。她又看看別人，他們也都在微笑?！案吲d點兒，我們又不會咬你?！彼麄兊男θ莺孟裨谡f。多好的工人啊!而且是多么美麗的清晨!她一定不能談及清晨；她必須認(rèn)真辦事。帳篷。“那么，百合坪地怎么樣呢?用它行嗎?”

And she pointed to the lily-lawn with the hand that didn't hold the bread-and- butter. They turned, they stared in the direction. A little fat chap thrust out his under-lip, and the tall fellow frowned.

她用沒拿黃油面包的手指著百合坪地。他們轉(zhuǎn)過身，盯著那個方向。一個胖小伙撇了下嘴，另一個高小伙的皺了下眉。

"I don't fancy it," said he. "Not conspicuous enough. You see, with a thing like a marquee," and he turned to Laura in his easy way, "you want to put it somewhere where it'll give you a bang slap in the eye, if you follow me."

“我不喜歡它”，他說，“不夠引人注意。你明白，對于帳篷這樣的事來說行不通，”他以自己閑適的姿態(tài)轉(zhuǎn)向勞拉，“要是你跟我來的話，你會想把它放在一個一眼就能看見的地方?！?/p>

Laura's upbringing made her wonder for a moment whether it was quite respectful of a workman to talk to her of bangs slap in the eye. But she did quite follow him.

勞拉接受的教養(yǎng)使她琢磨了一會兒一個工人跟她說怎么引人注意是否合乎禮儀。但她還是跟著他走了。

"A corner of the tennis-court," she suggested. "But the band's going to be in one corner."

“網(wǎng)球場的一角?”她建議道，“但是有個樂隊要在一個角落演奏?！?/p>

"H'm, going to have a band, are you?" said another of the workmen. He was pale. He had a haggard look as his dark eyes scanned the tennis-court. What was he thinking?

"嗯，要有個樂隊，是嗎?”另一個工人說到。他臉色蒼白。當(dāng)他深色的眼睛端詳著這個棒球場時，他看起來那么憔悴疲憊。他到底在想什么?

"Only a very small band," said Laura gently. Perhaps he wouldn't mind so much if the band was quite small. But the tall fellow interrupted.

“只是一個挺小的樂隊?！眲诶瓬厝岬卣f。如果樂隊確實很小，也許他不會介意。但是那個高小伙打斷了她。

"Look here, miss, that's the place. Against those trees. Over there. That'll do fine."

“看這兒，小姐，就是這兒。在樹的對面，那里，那正合適。”

Against the karakas. Then the karaka-trees would be hidden. And they were so lovely, with their broad, gleaming leaves, and their clusters of yellow fruit. They were like trees you imagined growing on a desert island, proud, solitary, lifting their leaves and fruits to the sun in a kind of silent splendour. Must they be hidden by a marquee?

在卡羅卡樹對面。那樣的話，卡羅卡樹就會被擋住。他們是那么可愛，有寬大的、閃閃發(fā)光的葉子，一簇簇的金黃色果實。他們就像你幻想著生長在荒島上，驕傲、孤獨，以種靜默的絢麗姿態(tài)向太陽高舉著自己的枝葉和果實的那種樹。他們非得被一個帳篷遮住么?

They must. Already the men had shouldered their staves and were making for the place. Only the tall fellow was left. He bent down, pinched a sprig of lavender, put his thumb and forefinger to his nose and snuffed up the smell. When Laura saw that gesture she forgot all about the karakas in her wonder at him caring for things like that - caring for the smell of lavender. How many men that she knew would have done such a thing? Oh, how extraordinarily nice workmen were, she thought. Why couldn't she have workmen for her friends rather than the silly boys she danced with and who came to Sunday night supper? She would get on much better with men like these.

他們不得不被遮住。工人們已經(jīng)扛過來他們的板子并且正在清理場地了。只有那個高小伙被落下了。他彎下腰，捏起一小株薰衣草，把拇指和食指放在鼻子前嗅了下香味。當(dāng)勞拉看到這個姿勢，她忘了自己關(guān)于卡羅拉樹的所有想法，腦海里只有他對事物那份關(guān)注——就像對薰衣草的香味的。有多少她認(rèn)識的人會做這樣的事呢?天吶，這是個多么出色的好工人，她想。為什么她不能和這樣的工人交朋友，而是要和那些陪她跳跳舞，周末來用晚餐的傻小伙子們交往呢?她會和前者交往得更好呀。

It's all the fault, she decided, as the tall fellow drew something on the back of an envelope, something that was to be looped up or left to hang, of these absurd class distinctions. Well, for her part, she didn't feel them. Not a bit, not an atom ... And now there came the chock-chock of wooden hammers. Some one whistled, some one sang out, "Are you right there, matey?" "Matey!" The friendliness of it, the - the - Just to prove how happy she was, just to show the tall fellow how at home she felt, and how she despised stupid conventions, Laura took a big bite of her bread-and-butter as she stared at the little drawing. She felt just like a work-girl.

這都是錯誤的，她暗自覺得，當(dāng)高個兒在一個信封的背面拽什么東西，那個東西被向上或向左系住用以固定，通過這樣來顯示荒謬的階級差別。好吧，對于勞拉來說，她并不在意。一點兒也不，哪怕一丁點兒……現(xiàn)在傳來了木槌“哐哐”的敲擊聲。有人吹口哨，有人唱到:“你在那兒嗎，伙計?”“好伙伴!"歌聲的友善正好映襯了勞拉的歡樂，并且表明給高個兒她有多放松，還有她有多么鄙視愚蠢的習(xí)俗。勞拉盯著那個小小的圖案，咬了一大口自己的黃油面包。她覺得自己就像個女工一樣。

"Laura, Laura, where are you? Telephone, Laura!" a voice cried from the house.

“勞拉、勞拉，你在哪兒?電話，勞拉!”一個聲音從房子里傳來。

"Coming!" Away she skimmed, over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda, and into the porch. In the hall her father and Laurie were brushing their hats ready to go to the office.

“來啦!”她輕輕地掠過，越過草坪，踏上小徑，步上臺階，穿過陽臺，跑進(jìn)門廊。在門廳里，她的爸爸和勞里正在刷帽子，準(zhǔn)備去辦公室。

"I say, Laura," said Laurie very fast, "you might just give a squiz at my coat before this afternoon. See if it wants pressing."

"我說，勞拉，”勞里快速地說，“也許你愿意在下午之前看一眼我的外套，看看是不是還需要熨燙?！?/p>

"I will," said she. Suddenly she couldn't stop herself. She ran at Laurie and gave him a small, quick squeeze. "Oh, I do love parties, don't you?" gasped Laura.

“我會的?！彼f。突然間，她情不自禁。她跑向勞里并且輕輕地、迅速地?fù)Я怂幌?。“噢，我真是喜歡派對，你呢?”勞拉氣喘吁吁地說。

"Rather," said Laurie's warm, boyish voice, and he squeezed his sister too, and gave her a gentle push. "Dash off to the telephone, old girl."

“相當(dāng)喜歡。”勞里用熱情的、孩子般的聲音回應(yīng)她，他也摟了下自己的妹妹并且輕輕地推了她一下?！翱烊ソ与娫挵桑瞎媚?。”

The telephone. "Yes, yes; oh yes. Kitty? Good morning, dear. Come to lunch? Do, dear. Delighted of course. It will only be a very scratch meal - just the sandwich crusts and broken meringue-shells and what's left over. Yes, isn't it a perfect morning? Your white? Oh, I certainly should. One moment - hold the line. Mother's calling." And Laura sat back. "What, mother? Can't hear."

電話。“是的，是的，哦，是的。凱蒂嗎?早上好，親愛的。來吃午餐嗎?來吧，親愛的。我們當(dāng)然會開心了。只不過是個小小的便飯——一些三明治酥皮、碎的糖餅殼兒和些多剩下的食物而已。是呀，這難道不是個完美的早晨嗎?你穿白色的?哦，我當(dāng)然也應(yīng)該這么辦。稍等下——別掛。媽媽在叫我，”勞拉向后坐了下，“您說什么，媽媽?聽不見?！?/p>

Mrs. Sheridan's voice floated down the stairs. "Tell her to wear that sweet hat she had on last Sunday."

謝爾登太太的聲音從樓上飄了下來：“告訴她戴上她上星期戴的那頂可愛的帽子?！?/p>

"Mother says you're to wear that sweet hat you had on last Sunday. Good. One o'clock. Bye-bye."

“媽媽說記得戴上上星期你戴的那頂可愛的帽子。好的。一點見。再見。”

Laura put back the receiver, flung her arms over her head, took a deep breath, stretched and let them fall. "Huh," she sighed, and the moment after the sigh she sat up quickly. She was still, listening. All the doors in the house seemed to be open. The house was alive with soft, quick steps and running voices. The green baize door that led to the kitchen regions swung open and shut with a muffled thud. And now there came a long, chuckling absurd sound. It was the heavy piano being moved on its stiff castors. But the air! If you stopped to notice, was the air always like this? Little faint winds were playing chase, in at the tops of the windows, out at the doors. And there were two tiny spots of sun, one on the inkpot, one on a silver photograph frame, playing too. Darling little spots. Especially the one on the inkpot lid. It was quite warm. A warm little silver star. She could have kissed it.

勞拉把聽筒放回去，猛地把胳膊甩在頭上，深吸了口氣，伸了伸懶腰又把胳膊放下?！肮?。”她嘆了口氣，然后迅速坐起來。她靜靜地聽著。房子里所有的門好像都被打開了。房子因為輕柔、迅速的腳步和流動的聲音而充滿了生命力。通往廚房那邊的綠色臺面呢門隨著隱約可聞的砰砰聲打開又關(guān)上。現(xiàn)在出現(xiàn)了一個悠長的咯咯的好笑的聲音。是由一架被用自己僵硬的腳輪移動的厚重鋼琴所發(fā)出的。但是空氣!如果你停下來去感覺，空氣一直都是這樣嗎?輕輕的微風(fēng)追逐嬉戲，從窗戶的頂部進(jìn)來，又從門那里出去。太陽的兩個小斑點，一個照射在墨水壺上，一個在銀色相框上，也在互相玩鬧。多可愛的小斑點呀。特別是那個照射在墨水壺蓋上的?？雌饋矸浅嘏?，像個溫暖的小銀星。她真想去親吻它。

The front door bell pealed, and there sounded the rustle of Sadie's print skirt on the stairs. A man's voice murmured; Sadie answered, careless, "I'm sure I don't know. Wait. I'll ask Mrs Sheridan."

前門鈴隆隆作響，并且從樓梯上傳來薩迪印花長裙的沙沙聲。一個男人嘀咕著，薩迪漫不經(jīng)心地回應(yīng)：“我確定我不知道。等下。我問問謝爾登太太?！?/p>

"What is it, Sadie?" Laura came into the hall.

“怎么了，薩迪?”勞拉來到大廳。

"It's the florist, Miss Laura."

“是花商，勞拉小姐?！?/p>

It was, indeed. There, just inside the door, stood a wide, shallow tray full of pots of pink lilies. No other kind. Nothing but lilies - canna lilies, big pink flowers, wide open, radiant, almost frighteningly alive on bright crimson stems.

是花商，確實是。就在門那里，放著擺滿粉百合花盆的寬、淺貨盤。沒有別的品種，除了百合——美人蕉百合，大朵粉色的花，盛開著，燦爛著，幾乎讓人驚異地在明亮鮮紅的莖上鮮活著。

"O-oh, Sadie!" said Laura, and the sound was like a little moan. She crouched down as if to warm herself at that blaze of lilies; she felt they were in her fingers, on her lips, growing in her breast.

“哦，天吶，薩迪!”勞拉說，聽起來像一聲小小的呻吟。她屈膝蹲下，就像要用百合花的火焰去溫暖自己。她覺得，他們在她的指尖、唇邊、胸口生長著。

"It's some mistake," she said faintly. "Nobody ever ordered so many. Sadie, go and find mother."

“一定是出了些錯，”她虛弱地說，“不會有人訂了這么多。薩迪，去找媽媽來?！?/p>

But at that moment Mrs. Sheridan joined them.

但是就在這時，謝爾登太太加入了他們的對話。

"It's quite right," she said calmly. "Yes, I ordered them. Aren't they lovely?" She pressed Laura's arm. "I was passing the shop yesterday, and I saw them in the window. And I suddenly thought for once in my life I shall have enough canna lilies. The garden-party will be a good excuse."

“沒錯，”她平靜地說，“我訂的。難道他們不可愛嗎?”她拍了拍勞拉的胳膊?！拔易蛱旖?jīng)過那家店，在櫥窗里看見這些花。然后我突然覺得我這一輩子要有那么一次擁有足夠多的美人蕉百合。這次花園茶會會是個很好的契機(jī)?！?/p>

"But I thought you said you didn't mean to interfere," said Laura. Sadie had gone. The florist's man was still outside at his van. She put her arm round her mother's neck and gently, very gently, she bit her mother's ear.

“但是我還以為你說你不打算插手呢?！眲诶f。薩迪已經(jīng)離開了?；ㄉ踢€站在他的貨車外。她用自己的胳膊環(huán)住媽媽的脖子，輕輕地、輕輕地咬著媽媽的耳朵。

"My darling child, you wouldn't like a logical mother, would you? Don't do that. Here's the man."

“我親愛的孩子，你不會喜歡一個古板的母親，是嗎?別這樣，那還有人呢?！?/p>

He carried more lilies still, another whole tray.

他還在搬更多的百合花，又滿滿的一盤。

"Bank them up, just inside the door, on both sides of the porch, please," said Mrs. Sheridan. "Don't you agree, Laura?"

“把他們堆好，請就堆在門內(nèi)，門廊的兩邊就好，”謝爾登太太說，“你也覺得不錯吧，勞拉?"

"Oh, I do, mother."

“哦，當(dāng)然了，媽媽?！?/p>

In the drawing-room Meg, Jose and good little Hans had at last succeeded in moving the piano.

在客廳，瑪格麗特、喬斯、和小漢斯終于成功地把鋼琴挪開了。

"Now, if we put this chesterfield against the wall and move everything out of the room except the chairs, don't you think?"

“現(xiàn)在，如果我們把這個長沙發(fā)靠墻放，把除了椅子以外的所有東西都挪出房間，你們覺得怎么樣?”

"Quite."

“挺好的?！?/p>

"Hans, move these tables into the smoking-room, and bring a sweeper to take these marks off the carpet and - one moment, Hans - " Jose loved giving orders to the servants, and they loved obeying her. She always made them feel they were taking part in some drama. "Tell mother and Miss Laura to come here at once.

“漢斯，把這些桌子挪進(jìn)吸煙室，再帶個拖把來把地毯上的污跡弄干凈——等一下，漢斯——”喬斯喜歡對傭人發(fā)號施令，他們也愿意聽她的。她總讓他們覺得自己在參演什么戲劇?！案嬖V媽媽和勞拉小姐馬上來這兒。”

"Very good, Miss Jose."

“好的，喬斯小姐?！?/p>

She turned to Meg. "I want to hear what the piano sounds like, just in case I'm asked to sing this afternoon. Let's try over 'This life is Weary.'"

她轉(zhuǎn)向瑪格麗特。“我想聽聽鋼琴音質(zhì)如何，只是以防我下午受邀演唱。我們練一遍《生活使人疲倦》這首曲子吧?！?/p>

Pom! Ta-ta-ta Tee-ta! The piano burst out so passionately that Jose's face changed. She clasped her hands. She looked mournfully and enigmatically at her mother and Laura as they came in.

砰砰、噠噠、嘀嗒。鋼琴聲突然激昂地迸發(fā)出來，嚇得喬斯臉色都變了。她攥緊自己的手，悲慟地、高深莫測地看著正走進(jìn)來的媽媽和勞拉。

"This Life is Wee-ary, A Tear - a Sigh. A Love that Chan-ges, This Life is Wee-ary, A Tear - a Sigh. A Love that Chan-ges, And then ... Good-bye!"

“生活使人疲倦，流淚，嘆息。愛已改變。生活使人疲倦，流淚，嘆息。愛已改變。那么……再見!”

But at the word "Good-bye," and although the piano sounded more desperate than ever, her face broke into a brilliant, dreadfully unsympathetic smile.

但是唱到“再見”那個詞時，盡管鋼琴聽起來比以往都絕望，但是喬斯的臉上卻洋溢著明亮的、極其沒心沒肺的笑容。

"Aren't I in good voice, mummy?" she beamed.

“我有一副好嗓子，不是嗎，媽媽?”喬斯笑容滿面地說。

"This Life is Wee-ary, Hope comes to Die. A Dream - a Wa-kening."

“生活使人疲倦。希望破滅。美夢易醒?！?/p>

But now Sadie interrupted them. "What is it, Sadie?"

但是薩迪打斷了他們?！霸趺戳耍_迪。”

"If you please, m'm, cook says have you got the flags for the sandwiches?"

“如果您方便的話，太太，廚娘問您搞到做三明治用的鳶尾了嗎?”

"The flags for the sandwiches, Sadie?" echoed Mrs. Sheridan dreamily. And the children knew by her face that she hadn't got them. "Let me see." And she said to Sadie firmly, "Tell cook I'll let her have them in ten minutes.

“做三明治用的鳶尾，薩迪?”謝爾登太太迷迷糊糊地回答道。孩子們從她的臉上就猜出來她沒搞到?！白屛铱纯?。”她對薩迪堅定地說，“告訴廚娘十分鐘之內(nèi)我就把這事辦妥?！?/p>

Sadie went.

薩迪離開了。

"Now, Laura," said her mother quickly, "come with me into the smoking-room. I've got the names somewhere on the back of an envelope. You'll have to write them out for me. Meg, go upstairs this minute and take that wet thing off your head. Jose, run and finish dressing this instant. Do you hear me, children, or shall I have to tell your father when he comes home to-night? And - and, Jose, pacify cook if you do go into the kitchen, will you? I'm terrified of her this morning."

“現(xiàn)在，勞拉，”她媽媽快速地說，“和我一起去吸煙室。我已經(jīng)在一個信封的背面找到了那些名字。你幫我把他們寫出來?，敻覃愄噩F(xiàn)在馬上上樓，把你頭上濕的東西弄下來。喬斯馬上把自己穿戴整齊。都聽見了嗎，孩子們?還是要我等你們爸爸晚上回來跟他匯報?還有——還有，喬斯，要是你去廚房的話就安撫下廚子，好嗎?我早晨被她嚇壞了。

The envelope was found at last behind the dining-room clock, though how it had got there Mrs. Sheridan could not imagine.

信封最終在餐廳鐘表的后面被找到了，盡管謝爾登太太想不到它是怎么到了那兒的。

"One of you children must have stolen it out of my bag, because I remember vividly - cream cheese and lemon-curd. Have you done that?"

“肯定是你們這群孩子中的一個把它從我的包里偷出去的，因為我記得很清楚——奶油干酪、香檸凝乳。你做的嗎?"

"Yes."

“是的?！?/p>

"Egg and--" Mrs. Sheridan held the envelope away from her. "It looks like mice. It can't be mice, can it?"

“雞蛋和——”謝爾登太太舉著信封遠(yuǎn)離她，“看起來像老鼠。不可能是老鼠，對吧?"

"Olive, pet," said Laura, looking over her shoulder.

"橄欖，寶貝?！眲诶呎f著邊從她肩上看過去。

"Yes, of course, olive. What a horrible combination it sounds. Egg and olive."

“是的，當(dāng)然了，橄欖。聽起來多么可怕的組合呀!雞蛋和橄欖?！?/p>

They were finished at last, and Laura took them off to the kitchen. She found Jose there pacifying the cook, who did not look at all terrifying.

他們最后終于做完了，然后勞拉把他們帶到廚房去。她發(fā)現(xiàn)喬斯正在安撫著那個看起來一兒也不可怕的廚娘。

"I have never seen such exquisite sandwiches," said Jose's rapturous voice. "How many kinds did you say there were, cook? Fifteen?"

“我從來沒見過這么精美的三明治!"喬斯用狂喜的聲音說著，”你說，一共有多少種來著，廚娘?十五種?"

"Fifteen, Miss Jose."

“十五種，喬斯小姐?！?/p>

"Well, cook, I congratulate you."

“好哇，廚娘，我恭喜你。”

Cook swept up crusts with the long sandwich knife, and smiled broadly.

廚娘用長長的三明治刀掃掉面包硬殼，笑容滿面。

"Godber's has come," announced Sadie, issuing out of the pantry. She had seen the man pass the window.

“戈德伯蛋糕房的人來了。”薩迪的宣布道，聲音從食品儲藏室中傳出。她已經(jīng)看見那個人從窗前走過。

That meant the cream puffs had come. Godber's were famous for their cream puffs. Nobody ever thought of making them at home.

那也就意味著奶油泡芙到了。戈德伯蛋糕房以奶油泡芙聞名。沒有人會想過在家里做泡芙。

"Bring them in and put them on the table, my girl," ordered cook.

“把他們拿進(jìn)來放在桌子上，姑娘們?！睆N娘下令了。

Sadie brought them in and went back to the door. Of course Laura and Jose were far too grown-up to really care about such things. All the same, they couldn't help agreeing that the puffs looked very attractive. Very. Cook began arranging them, shaking off the extra icing sugar.

薩迪把他們拿了進(jìn)來又走回門那里。當(dāng)然啦勞拉和喬斯還太小，還沒到真正操心這些事的時候。盡管如此，他們也情不自禁地贊同泡芙看起來很有吸引力。恰好廚娘開始布置他們，搖晃掉多余的糖霜。

"Don't they carry one back to all one's parties?" said Laura.

“難道他們不會使一個人由一個派對回想起所有的派對嗎?"勞拉說。

"I suppose they do," said practical Jose, who never liked to be carried back. "They look beautifully light and feathery, I must say."

“我猜他們肯定會的，”理智的喬斯說，她是從來不愿意被回想起來的，“它們看起來那么漂亮、輕柔，我不得不說。”

"Have one each, my dears," said cook in her comfortable voice. "Yer ma won't know."

“每個人都嘗一個吧，親愛的們?！睆N娘溫和的聲音適時響起，“你們的媽媽不會知道的?！?/p>

Oh, impossible. Fancy cream puffs so soon after breakfast. The very idea made one shudder. All the same, two minutes later Jose and Laura were licking their fingers with that absorbed inward look that only comes from whipped cream.

哦，不可能的。剛用完早餐就吃美味的泡芙。這個好主意有點讓人顫抖了。盡管如此，兩分鐘后，喬斯和勞拉就一臉沉醉其中的表情舔著手指上殘留的奶油了。

"Let's go into the garden, out by the back way," suggested Laura. "I want to see how the men are getting on with the marquee. They're such awfully nice men."

“我們一起去花園吧，從后門出去，”勞拉建議道，“我想看看那些人把帳篷弄得怎么樣了。他們是那么優(yōu)秀的工人。”

But the back door was blocked by cook, Sadie, Godber's man and Hans.

Something had happened.

但是后門那里擠著廚娘、薩迪、戈德伯蛋糕房的人和漢斯。一定是出了什么事了。

"Tuk-tuk-tuk," clucked cook like an agitated hen. Sadie had her hand clapped to her cheek as though she had toothache. Hans's face was screwed up in the effort to understand. Only Godber's man seemed to be enjoying himself; it was his story.

“篤篤篤，”廚娘叫得像只激動的母雞一樣。薩迪拍著自己的臉頰就好像牙痛一樣。漢斯的臉扭曲著試圖理解發(fā)生的一切。只有戈德伯蛋糕房的人看起來挺高興；這可是他能在飯后茶余閑談的話題呀。

"What's the matter? What's happened?"

“怎么了?發(fā)生了什么事?”

"There's been a horrible accident," said Cook. "A man killed."

“出大事了，”廚娘說，“有人死掉了?！?/p>

"A man killed! Where? How? When?"

“有人死掉了?在哪?怎么回事?什么時候?"

But Godber's man wasn't going to have his story snatched from under his very nose.

但是戈德伯蛋糕房的男人可不打算讓這個故事在他眼皮子底下被搶走。

"Know those little cottages just below here, miss?" Know them? Of course, she knew them. "Well, there's a young chap living there, name of Scott, a carter. His horse shied at a traction-engine, corner of Hawke Street this morning, and he was thrown out on the back of his head. Killed."

“知道下面那些小屋嗎，小姐?”知道?當(dāng)然了，她知道那些小屋。“好吧，那兒住著一個年輕伙計，叫斯科特，是個貨運馬車夫。今天早晨在霍克街，他的馬受了拖拉車的驚嚇，他甩了出去，后腦勺著地。死掉了?！?/p>

"Dead!" Laura stared at Godber's man.

“死了!”勞拉盯著戈德伯蛋糕房的男人。

"Dead when they picked him up," said Godber's man with relish. "They were taking the body home as I come up here." And he said to the cook, "He's left a wife and five little ones."

“他們架起他的時候就已經(jīng)斷氣了，”蛋糕房的男人津津有味地說，“我來這兒的時候，他們正把尸體運回家?！彼嬖V廚娘：“他身后留下了老婆和五個小孩子?！?/p>

"Jose, come here." Laura caught hold of her sister's sleeve and dragged her through the kitchen to the other side of the green baize door. There she paused and leaned against it. "Jose!" she said, horrified, "however are we going to stop everything?"

“喬斯，來一下這邊?！眲诶ё∶妹玫男渥?，把她拽過廚房，拽到綠門的另一邊。在那她停了下來，倚著門?！皢趟?”她用嚇壞了的聲音說，“不管怎么說，我們要停下手頭的一切嗎?"

"Stop everything, Laura!" cried Jose in astonishment. "What do you mean?"

“停下一切?勞拉”喬斯驚奇地尖叫著，“你什么意思?”

"Stop the garden-party, of course." Why did Jose pretend?

“當(dāng)然是停止花園茶會啦?！睘槭裁磫趟寡b糊涂呢?

But Jose was still more amazed. "Stop the garden-party? My dear Laura, don't be so absurd. Of course we can't do anything of the kind. Nobody expects us to. Don't be so extravagant."

但是喬斯甚至更驚訝了?！巴Ｖ够▓@茶會?我親愛的勞拉，別太荒謬。我們當(dāng)然不會為此做任何事，沒有人期待我們?nèi)プ觯瑒e那么不切實際?！?/p>

"But we can't possibly have a garden-party with a man dead just outside the front gate."

“但是我們不可能在一個人就死在前門外的時候還舉辦花園茶會呀?”

That really was extravagant, for the little cottages were in a lane to themselves at the very bottom of a steep rise that led up to the house. A broad road ran between. True, they were far too near. They were the greatest possible eyesore, and they had no right to be in that neighbourhood at all. They were little mean dwellings painted a chocolate brown. In the garden patches there was nothing but cabbage stalks, sick hens and tomato cans. The very smoke coming out of their chimneys was poverty-stricken. Little rags and shreds of smoke, so unlike the great silvery plumes that uncurled from the Sheridans' chimneys. Washerwomen lived in the lane and sweeps and a cobbler, and a man whose house-front was studded all over with minute bird-cages. Children swarmed. When the Sheridans were little they were forbidden to set foot there because of the revolting language and of what they might catch. But since they were grown up, Laura and Laurie on their prowls sometimes walked through. It was disgusting and sordid. They came out with a shudder. But still one must go everywhere; one must see everything. So through they went.

那確實太不切實際了。因為那些小屋坐落在自己的小巷子里，位于通往大房子的陡坡的最底部。一條寬闊的馬路貫穿其中。的確，他們離得太近了。他們實在是太礙眼以至于沒有任何合理理由出現(xiàn)在謝爾登大宅子的附近。他們是些被刷成巧克力棕色的又小又簡陋的破房子。在花園的小片土地.上不是白菜莖，就是病快快的老母雞，要不就是西紅柿罐頭。連他們煙囪里冒的煙都昭示著貧困。孱弱的幾縷煙絲一點兒也不像謝爾登家的煙囪里舒展出來的銀色輕煙。在這個小巷子里住著洗衣婦、清潔工、修鞋匠和一個用小鳥籠堆滿前門的男人。孩子成群結(jié)隊。當(dāng)謝爾登家的孩子還小的時候，他們是禁止涉足那里的，因為那里臟話連篇怕把他們熏染壞了。但他們長大后，勞拉和勞里有時候偷偷地在那里經(jīng)過。那種感覺又惡心、又齷齪。他們都不寒而栗了。但是人總得到處走走、看看。所以他們穿過了那條小巷。

"And just think of what the band would sound like to that poor woman," said Laura.

“就稍稍想一下在那個窮婦人耳朵里樂隊會聽起來怎么樣?！眲诶f。

"Oh, Laura!" Jose began to be seriously annoyed. "If you're going to stop a band playing every time some one has an accident, you'll lead a very strenuous life. I'm every bit as sorry about it as you. I feel just as sympathetic." Her eyes hardened. She looked at her sister just as she used to when they were little and fighting together. "You won't bring a drunken workman back to life by being sentimental," she said softly.

“哦，勞拉!”喬斯開始真生氣了?！耙敲看斡腥顺鍪拢憔妥寴逢犕Ｖ寡葑?，那生活得讓你弄得多無趣呀!我和你一樣為這事感到難過和同情。”她的眼神變得冷酷無情。她用小時候他們打架時的眼神盯著她姐姐。喬斯輕柔地說：“但你不會因為感傷就使一個喝醉的工人起死回生?！?/p>

"Drunk! Who said he was drunk?" Laura turned furiously on Jose. She said, just as they had used to say on those occasions, "I'm going straight up to tell mother."

”喝醉?誰說他喝醉了?“勞拉暴怒地轉(zhuǎn)向喬斯。然后她說，就按平常遇到這種情況時的做法，“我要上去告訴媽媽?！?/p>

"Do, dear," cooed Jose.

“去吧，親愛的。”喬斯溫柔地說。

"Mother, can I come into your room?" Laura turned the big glass door-knob.

“媽媽，我能進(jìn)你房間嗎?”勞拉轉(zhuǎn)動了大玻璃門門把。

"Of course, child. Why, what's the matter? What's given you such a colour?" And Mrs. Sheridan turned round from her dressing-table. She was trying on a new hat.

“當(dāng)然了，孩子。怎么了?發(fā)生什么事了?誰惹你生氣了?”謝爾登太太從她的梳妝桌前轉(zhuǎn)過身。她正在試戴一頂新帽子。

"Mother, a man's been killed," began Laura.

“媽媽，有人死了?！眲诶_始說。

"Not in the garden?" interrupted her mother.

“不是在花園里吧?”她媽媽插話。

"No, no!"

“不，不是。”

"Oh, what a fright you gave me!" Mrs. Sheridan sighed with relief, and took off the big hat and held it on her knees.

“哦，你嚇我一跳!”謝爾登太太舒了口氣，摘下了那頂大帽子，把它放在膝蓋上。

"But listen, mother," said Laura. Breathless, half-choking, she told the dreadful story. "Of course, we can't have our party, can we?" she pleaded. "The band and everybody arriving. They'd hear us, mother; they're nearly neighbours!"

“但是，聽著，媽媽，”勞拉說，幾乎喘不上氣，半哽咽著，她講了那個可怕的故事?！拔覀儺?dāng)然不能再舉行茶會了，不是嗎?”她懇求地說。樂隊和客人的到場都會被他們聽到的，媽媽；他們是我們的近鄰呀?！?/p>

To Laura's astonishment her mother behaved just like Jose; it was harder to bear because she seemed amused. She refused to take Laura seriously.

令勞拉意外的是，她的媽媽和喬斯的表現(xiàn)一樣，這更難讓人忍受，因為她看起來甚至是愉快的。謝爾登太太并不把勞拉的話當(dāng)回事。

"But, my dear child, use your common sense. It's only by accident we've heard of it. If some one had died there normally - and I can't understand how they keep alive in those poky little holes - we should still be having our party, shouldn't we?"

“但是，我親愛的孩子，用下你的常識。咱們也只是偶然才聽見這事。要是有人死在那兒正常死亡——我都不能理解他們在那些小窄屋里是怎么活下來的——我們應(yīng)該繼續(xù)茶會，不是嗎?”

Laura had to say "yes" to that, but she felt it was all wrong. She sat down on her mother's sofa and pinched the cushion frill.

勞拉對此只能說“是”，但她覺得這一切都錯了。她坐在媽媽的沙發(fā)上把靠墊都給捏皺了。

"Mother, isn't it terribly heartless of us?" she asked.

“媽媽，這樣不會顯得我們太無情了嗎?”勞拉問。

"Darling!" Mrs. Sheridan got up and came over to her, carrying the hat. Before Laura could stop her she had popped it on. "My child!" said her mother, "the hat is yours. It's made for you. It's much too young for me. I have never seen you look such a picture. Look at yourself!" And she held up her hand- mirror.

“親愛的!”謝爾登太太拿著那頂帽子站起身，走向勞拉。在勞拉能阻止她之前，一下子把帽子扣在勞拉頭上?！拔业暮⒆樱彼龐寢屨f，“這頂帽子歸你了。它是為你量身定做的。我戴太年輕了。我還從來沒見過你像畫一樣美。自己照照?！闭f著就遞過來一面手鏡。

"But, mother," Laura began again. She couldn't look at herself; she turned aside.

“但是，媽媽，”勞拉又開始了。她無法看自己；她把身體轉(zhuǎn)到一旁。

This time Mrs. Sheridan lost patience just as Jose had done.

這時謝爾登太太失去了耐心，就像喬斯一樣。

"You are being very absurd, Laura," she said coldly. "People like that don't expect sacrifices from us. And it's not very sympathetic to spoil everybody's enjoyment as you're doing now."

“你太荒謬了，勞拉，”她冷酷地說，“那種人不配得到我們的犧牲。并且像你現(xiàn)在這樣破壞大家的興致也不是很招人同情的?！?/p>

"I don't understand," said Laura, and she walked quickly out of the room into her own bedroom. There, quite by chance, the first thing she saw was this charming girl in the mirror, in her black hat trimmed with gold daisies, and a long black velvet ribbon. Never had she imagined she could look like that. Is mother right? she thought. And now she hoped her mother was right. Am I being extravagant? Perhaps it was extravagant. Just for a moment she had another glimpse of that poor woman and those little children, and the body being carried into the house. But it all seemed blurred, unreal, like a picture in the newspaper. I'll remember it again after the party's over, she decided. And somehow that seemed quite the best plan.

“我不明白，”勞拉說，她迅速地走出去回到自己的臥室。湊巧的是，她看見的第一眼就是鏡子里的迷人的自己，戴著那頂用金色雛菊和黑長緞帶裝飾的黑帽子。她從來沒想過自己會看起來是這個樣子。媽媽對嗎? 她想。現(xiàn)在她希望媽媽是對的。我太不切實際了嗎?也許是這樣的。只有那么一刻她仿佛瞥見那個窮婦人，那群孩子，和那具正被運回家的尸體。但那看起來就像報紙上的照片一樣模糊而又不真實。茶會結(jié)束后，我會再把這事想起來的。她下定決心。不知為何，那看起來確實是最好的方案了。

Lunch was over by half-past one. By half-past two they were all ready for the fray. The green-coated band had arrived and was established in a corner of the tennis-court.

午餐在一點半的時候結(jié)束了。兩點半的時候，他們已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好要熱鬧起來了。穿綠衣服的樂隊已經(jīng)抵達(dá)并且在網(wǎng)球場的一角安置好了。

"My dear!" trilled Kitty Maitland, "aren't they too like frogs for words? You ought to have arranged them round the pond with the conductor in the middle on a leaf."

“我的天吶!”凱蒂梅特蘭帶著顫音說，“難道他們看起來不像一群會說話的青蛙嗎?你應(yīng)該把他們安排在湖周圍，中間葉子上再站個指揮?！?/p>

Laurie arrived and hailed them on his way to dress. At the sight of him Laura remembered the accident again. She wanted to tell him. If Laurie agreed with the others, then it was bound to be all right. And she followed him into the hall.

勞里到了，一路上向他們歡呼著去換衣服。一看見他，勞拉就又想起來車夫之死。她想告訴他。如果勞里和別人意見-樣，那他們就應(yīng)該是對的。她一路跟隨勞里進(jìn)了大廳。

"Laurie!"

“勞里!”

"Hallo!" He was half-way upstairs, but when he turned round and saw Laura he suddenly puffed out his cheeks and goggled his eyes at her. "My word, Laura! You do look stunning," said Laurie. "What an absolutely topping hat!"

“你好啊!”他已經(jīng)上了一半樓梯，但當(dāng)他轉(zhuǎn)過身來看到勞拉時，他突然鼓起腮幫、瞪大眼睛看著她?！拔业奶靺?，勞拉!你看起來太迷人了，”勞里說?！敖^對是頂一流的帽子!”

Laura said faintly "Is it?" and smiled up at Laurie, and didn't tell him after all.

勞拉輕微地說了聲“是嗎?”，對勞里笑了笑，最終還是沒告訴他自己想說的話。

Soon after that people began coming in streams. The band struck up; the hired waiters ran from the house to the marquee. Wherever you looked there were couples strolling, bending to the flowers, greeting, moving on over the lawn. They were like bright birds that had alighted in the Sheridans' garden for this one afternoon, on their way to - where? Ah, what happiness it is to be with people who all are happy, to press hands, press cheeks, smile into eyes.

不久，人潮開始涌動。樂隊開始演奏，受雇傭的服務(wù)生從大宅子跑向帳篷。無論你看向哪里都是散步的夫婦，時而彎腰賞花，時而揮手致意，在草坪上閑適地漫步。他們就像為了今天下午而飛落到謝爾登花園的幸福的鳥兒，飛向——哪兒呢?啊，幸福就是和幸福的人在一起，拍拍手，拍拍臉頰，滿眼微笑。

"Darling Laura， how well you look!"

“親愛的勞拉，你看起來好棒呀!”

"What a becoming hat， child!"

“多好看的帽子呀，孩子!”

"Laura， you look quite Spanish. I've never seen you look so striking."

“勞拉，你看起來特別像西班牙女郎。我從來沒見過你如此動人!”

And Laura, glowing, answered softly, "Have you had tea? Won't you have an ice? The passion-fruit ices really are rather special." She ran to her father and begged him. "Daddy darling, can't the band have something to drink?"

勞拉臉紅著，溫柔地回應(yīng)：“您用過茶了嗎?需要加冰嗎?百香果冰激凌很特別哦。”她跑到爸爸那兒懇求他?！坝H愛的爸爸，樂隊就不能喝點兒什么嗎?”

And the perfect afternoon slowly ripened, slowly faded, slowly its petals closed.

這完美的下午慢慢盛開，慢慢褪色，開到荼靡。

"Never a more delightful garden-party ... " "The greatest success ... " "Quite the most ... "

“沒有比今天更讓人開心的茶會了……”“最成功的……”“確實是最……”

Laura helped her mother with the good-byes. They stood side by side in the porch till it was all over.

勞拉幫著媽媽和客人們揮手告別。他們肩并肩地站在門廊內(nèi)側(cè)直到茶會徹底結(jié)束。

"All over, all over, thank heaven," said Mrs. Sheridan. "Round up the others, Laura. Let's go and have some fresh coffee. I'm exhausted. Yes, it's been very successful. But oh, these parties, these parties! Why will you children insist on giving parties!" And they all of them sat down in the deserted marquee.

“都結(jié)束了，都結(jié)束了，謝天謝地，”謝爾登太太說，“去把其他人召集過來，勞拉。我們?nèi)ズ赛c兒新鮮咖啡。我太累了。是的，茶會確實很成功。但是天吶，這些派對，這些派對!為什么你們這些孩子堅持舉行派對呢?”他們都坐在了冷清的帳篷里。

"Have a sandwich, daddy dear. I wrote the flag."

“吃個三明治吧，親愛的爸爸，我寫的標(biāo)語?！?/p>

"Thanks." Mr. Sheridan took a bite and the sandwich was gone. He took another. "I suppose you didn't hear of a beastly accident that happened to-day?" he said.

“謝謝?！敝x爾登先生一口吃掉了整個三明治。他又拿起另一個?！拔也履銈冞€沒聽到今天早晨發(fā)生的悲慘的事故吧?”他說。

"My dear," said Mrs. Sheridan, holding up her hand, "we did. It nearly ruined the party. Laura insisted we should put it off."

“親愛的，”謝爾登太太說著舉起自己的手，“我們聽說了。還差點兒毀了茶會。勞拉堅持要把茶會推后?！?/p>

"Oh， mother!" Laura didn't want to be teased about it.

“哦，媽媽!”勞拉不想因此被嘲笑。

"It was a horrible affair all the same," said Mr. Sheridan. "The chap was married too. Lived just below in the lane, and leaves a wife and half a dozen kiddies, so they say."

“盡管如此，這確實是個可怕地事故。”謝爾登先生說，“那個小伙子也結(jié)婚了。就住在下面的村舍。留下了個遺孀和五六個小孩，他們是這樣說的?！?/p>

An awkward little silence fell. Mrs. Sheridan fidgeted with her cup. Really, it was very tactless of father.

一陣尷尬的沉默。謝爾登太太拿著杯子坐立不安。確實，爸爸也太不替別人著想了。

Suddenly she looked up. There on the table were all those sandwiches, cakes, puffs, all uneaten, all going to be wasted. She had one of her brilliant ideas.

突然她抬起頭來。桌子上擺滿了三明治、蛋糕、泡芙，都還沒吃，都會被浪費掉。她突然想出一個好主意。

"I know," she said. "Let's make up a basket. Let's send that poor creature some of this perfectly good food. At any rate, it will be the greatest treat for the children. Don't you agree? And she's sure to have neighbours calling in and so on. What a point to have it all ready prepared. Laura!" She jumped up. "Get me the big basket out of the stairs cupboard."

“我知道了，”她說。“我們來把食物裝滿籃子吧。我們給那些窮人送些美味的食物。不管怎么說，這將是孩子們受到的最好的待遇。你們難道不同意嗎?她肯定會有鄰居們拜訪之類的?，F(xiàn)在最重要的是把一切準(zhǔn)備就緒。勞拉!”她跳了起來“把樓梯柜那里的大籃子拿出來?！?/p>

"But, mother, do you really think it's a good idea?" said Laura.

“但是，媽媽，你真的覺得這是個好主意嗎?”勞拉說。

Again, how curious, she seemed to be different from them all. To take scraps from their party. Would the poor woman really like that?

又來了，多稀奇呀，她似乎跟他們剩下的人都不一樣。 接受他們茶會的殘羹冷炙。那個窮婦人真的愿意這樣嗎?

"Of course! What's the matter with you to-day? An hour or two ago you were insisting on us being sympathetic, and now--"

“當(dāng)然了。你今天怎么了?一兩個小時前，你堅持說要我們要有同情心，現(xiàn)在又——”

Oh well! Laura ran for the basket. It was filled, it was heaped by her mother.

好吧!勞拉跑去拿那只籃子。籃子被她媽媽塞得滿滿的。

"Take it yourself, darling," said she. "Run down just as you are. No, wait, take the arum lilies too. People of that class are so impressed by arum lilies."

“自己拿著，親愛的，”她說。“就像往常一樣跑下去。不，等一下，也拿上這些海芋百合。海芋百合會給那個階層的人留下深刻印象的?！?/p>

"The stems will ruin her lace frock," said practical Jose.

“但是這些花莖會毀了她的蕾絲連衣裙的?！泵髦堑膯趟拐f。

So they would. Just in time. "Only the basket, then. And, Laura!" - her mother followed her out of the marquee - "don't on any account--"

確實是。遲早會毀了的?！澳侵荒没@子吧，然后，勞拉?！薄龐寢尭S她到了帳篷外——“什么都別解釋——”

"What mother?"

“什么，媽媽?”

No, better not put such ideas into the child's head! "Nothing! Run along."

不，還是別給孩子灌輸這樣的思想了?！皼]什么!去吧。”

It was just growing dusky as Laura shut their garden gates. A big dog ran by like a shadow. The road gleamed white, and down below in the hollow the little cottages were in deep shade. How quiet it seemed after the afternoon. Here she was going down the hill to somewhere where a man lay dead, and she couldn't realize it. Why couldn't she? She stopped a minute. And it seemed to her that kisses, voices, tinkling spoons, laughter, the smell of crushed grass were somehow inside her. She had no room for anything else. How strange! She looked up at the pale sky, and all she thought was, "Yes, it was the most successful party."

勞拉關(guān)上他們花園的門的時候，天已經(jīng)灰暗了。一條大狗像影子-樣從旁邊跑過去。路閃爍著白色，并且位于凹地下面的村舍隱藏在濃濃的陰影中。下午過后它看起來多么安寧?，F(xiàn)在她要下山去那個死去的男人躺著的地方，她覺得自己辦不到。為什么呢?她停了一會兒。并且她覺得那些親吻、聲音、叮當(dāng)響的勺子、歡笑和青草的氣息都還在她的體內(nèi)存在著。她的心里已經(jīng)裝不下別的任何東西了。太奇怪了1她抬頭看看蒼白的天空，想的全都是：“是的，這是最成功的茶會?！?/p>

Now the broad road was crossed. The lane began, smoky and dark. Women in shawls and men's tweed caps hurried by. Men hung over the palings; the children played in the doorways. A low hum came from the mean little cottages. In some of them there was a flicker of light, and a shadow, crab-like, moved across the window. Laura bent her head and hurried on. She wished now she had put on a coat. How her frock shone! And the big hat with the velvet streamer - if only it was another hat! Were the people looking at her? They must be. It was a mistake to have come; she knew all along it was a mistake. Should she go back even now?

No, too late. This was the house. It must be. A dark knot of people stood outside. Beside the gate an old, old woman with a crutch sat in a chair, watching. She had her feet on a newspaper. The voices stopped as Laura drew near. The group parted. It was as though she was expected, as though they had known she was coming here.

現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)走過了寬闊的路。小徑開始了，煙霧彌漫并且陰暗。穿著披肩的女人和戴著花呢帽子的男人匆匆走過。男人宿醉不醒靠在籬笆上；孩子們在門口玩兒。低聲的哼唱從又小又破的屋舍中傳來。一些屋舍中閃爍著微弱的光，螃蟹一樣的影子在窗上移動。勞拉低下頭，匆匆前行。她希望現(xiàn)在是穿了外套出來的。她的連衣裙太耀眼了!還有這頂帶著天鵝絨緞帶的帽子——要是別的帽子就好了!人們在看她嗎?肯定是的。她一直都知道來這兒就是個錯誤。她現(xiàn)在是不是應(yīng)該回去?不，太晚了。已經(jīng)到那家了?？隙ㄊ?。一小群穿黑衣服的人站在外面。門邊的一個帶拐杖老女人坐在椅子上，看著這一切。她的腳踩在報紙上。當(dāng)勞拉走近時，聲音停下了。人群分開了。就好像她被期望到來，好像他們已經(jīng)知道她要來。

Laura was terribly nervous. Tossing the velvet ribbon over her shoulder, she said to a woman standing by, "Is this Mrs. Scott's house?" and the woman, smiling queerly, said, "It is, my lass."

勞拉非常緊張。她肩頭的天鵝絨緞帶搖晃著，她對旁邊站著的一個女人說：“這是斯科特夫人的家嗎?”而那個女人奇怪地笑著說：“是的，姑娘?！?/p>

Oh, to be away from this! She actually said, "Help me, God," as she walked up the tiny path and knocked. To be away from those staring eyes, or to be covered up in anything, one of those women's shawls even. I'll just leave the basket and go, she decided. I shan't even wait for it to be emptied.

天吶，遠(yuǎn)離這一切吧!在她步上狹窄的小徑敲門時，她實際上說了“幫幫我吧，上帝?！边h(yuǎn)離那些盯人的目光，或者用什么東西遮住自己，甚至那些女人的披肩也行。我把籃子留下就走，她暗自決定。我甚至不等它空了就走。

Then the door opened. A little woman in black showed in the gloom.

然后門開了。一個穿黑衣服的瘦小的女人出現(xiàn)在昏暗中。

Laura said, "Are you Mrs. Scott?" But to her horror the woman answered, "Walk in please, miss," and she was shut in the passage.

勞拉說:“請問您是斯科特夫人嗎?”令她嚇了一跳的是，那個女人回答說:“請進(jìn)來吧，小姐?！苯又?，勞拉就被關(guān)在了過道里。

"No," said Laura, "I don't want to come in. I only want to leave this basket. Mother sent--"

“不，”勞拉說，“我不想進(jìn)去。我只想把籃子留下。媽媽送了些——”

The little woman in the gloomy passage seemed not to have heard her. "Step this way, please, miss," she said in an oily voice, and Laura followed her.

那個昏暗過道里的瘦小女人似乎并沒聽見她說的話?！罢堊哌@邊，小姐。”她用一種諂媚的聲音說，勞拉只好跟著她。

She found herself in a wretched little low kitchen, lighted by a smoky lamp. There was a woman sitting before the fire.

她發(fā)現(xiàn)自己來到了一個歪扭的低矮小廚房，被一盞有煙的燈照亮。有個女人坐在火爐前。

"Em," said the little creature who had let her in. "Em! It's a young lady." She turned to Laura. She said meaningly, "I'm 'er sister, miss. You'll excuse 'er, won't you?"

“艾瑪，”那個帶她進(jìn)來的瘦小生物開口了，“艾瑪!是位年輕小姐。”她轉(zhuǎn)向勞拉，意味深長地說：“我是她的姐姐，小姐。您會寬恕她的，不是嗎?"

"Oh, but of course!" said Laura. "Please, please don't disturb her. I - I only want to leave--"

“哦，當(dāng)然!”勞拉說，“請不要打擾她，我——我只是想留下——

But at that moment the woman at the fire turned round. Her face, puffed up, red, with swollen eyes and swollen lips, looked terrible. She seemed as though she couldn't understand why Laura was there. What did it mean? Why was this stranger standing in the kitchen with a basket? What was it all about? And the poor face puckered up again.

但是那一刻，火爐旁的女人轉(zhuǎn)過身來。她的臉是紅腫的，眼睛和嘴唇也都腫著，看起來可怕。她似乎好像不能理解為什么勞拉在那里。這意味著什么?為什么這個陌生人帶著個籃子站在廚房里?這一切是怎么回事?那張貧窮的臉又皺了起來。

"All right, my dear," said the other. "I'll thenk the young lady."

“好啦，親愛的，”另一個女人說，“我要謝謝這位年輕小姐?！?/p>

And again she began, "You'll excuse her, miss, I'm sure," and her face, swollen too, tried an oily smile.

她又開始了說：“你會原諒她的，小姐，我確定?！彼哪樢材[著，試圖擠出一個諂媚的笑容。

Laura only wanted to get out, to get away. She was back in the passage. The door opened. She walked straight through into the bedroom, where the dead man was lying.

勞拉只想離開這兒。她回到通道。門開著。她直接走進(jìn)了臥房，那個死人躺著的

地方。

"You'd like a look at 'im, wouldn't you?" said Em's sister, and she brushed past Laura over to the bed. "Don't be afraid, my lass," - and now her voice sounded fond and sly, and fondly she drew down the sheet--"'e looks a picture. There's nothing to show. Come along, my dear."

“你愿意看看他，是嗎?”艾瑪?shù)慕憬阏f，她掠過勞拉來到床邊。“別害怕，小姐。”——現(xiàn)在她的聲音聽起來歡喜又狡猾，而且她歡喜地拉下被單——“他看起來像一幅畫。沒啥好看的。過來，親愛的?！?/p>

Laura came.

勞拉走了過來。

There lay a young man, fast asleep - sleeping so soundly, so deeply, that he was far, far away from them both. Oh, so remote, so peaceful. He was dreaming. Never wake him up again. His head was sunk in the pillow, his eyes were closed; they were blind under the closed eyelids. He was given up to his dream. What did garden-parties and baskets and lace frocks matter to him? He was far from all those things. He was wonderful, beautiful. While they were laughing and while the band was playing, this marvel had come to the lane. Happy ... happy ... All is well, said that sleeping face. This is just as it should be. I am content.

那兒躺著那個年輕男人，快睡著了——睡得那么香甜，那么深，看起來離他們都那么遙遠(yuǎn)。哦，那么遠(yuǎn)，那么平靜。他在做夢。永遠(yuǎn)不要再叫醒他。他的頭陷在枕頭里，眼睛緊閉，在緊閉的眼皮底下永遠(yuǎn)的沉睡了。他放棄了自己的夢想。花園茶會、籃子、蕾絲連衣裙跟他又有什么關(guān)系呢?他離那些東西太遠(yuǎn)了。他是那么奇妙與美好。當(dāng)他們歡笑和樂隊演奏時，這個奇跡已經(jīng)來到了小巷。幸?！腋！磺卸己芎?，那張沉睡的臉仿佛在說。本該如此。我是滿足的。

But all the same you had to cry, and she couldn't go out of the room without saying something to him. Laura gave a loud childish sob.

但還是一樣，你會流下眼淚，她不可能什么都不說就離開房間。勞拉孩子般地響亮地哭了出來。

"Forgive my hat，" she said.

“請原諒我的帽子?！彼f。

And this time she didn't wait for Em's sister. She found her way out of the door, down the path, past all those dark people. At the corner of the lane she met Laurie.

這次她沒再等艾瑪?shù)慕憬?。她找到了出去的路，穿過小徑，經(jīng)過所有穿黑衣服的人。在小徑的拐角處，她遇上了勞里。

He stepped out of the shadow. "Is that you， Laura?"

他從陰影處走出來?！笆悄銌?，勞拉?”

"Yes."

“是的?！?/p>

"Mother was getting anxious. Was it all right?"

“媽媽等得都焦慮了。你沒事吧?”

"Yes, quite. Oh, Laurie!" She took his arm, she pressed up against him.

“是的，挺好的。哦，勞里!”她挽住他的胳膊，靠在他身上。

"I say, you're not crying, are you?" asked her brother.

“我說，你沒哭吧?”她哥哥問。

Laura shook her head. She was.

勞拉搖了搖頭。其實她在哭。

Laurie put his arm round her shoulder. "Don't cry," he said in his warm, loving voice. "Was it awful?"

勞里的胳膊環(huán)過勞拉的肩膀?！皠e哭了，”他用溫暖、充滿愛意的聲音說，“很可怕嗎?”

"No," sobbed Laura. "It was simply marvellous. But Laurie--" She stopped, she looked at her brother. "Isn't life," she stammered, "isn't life--" But what life was she couldn't explain. No matter. He quite understood.

“不是，”勞拉啜泣著，“只是太不可思議了。但是勞里——”她停了下來，看著她的哥哥。“人生難道不是，”她結(jié)結(jié)巴巴地說，“人生難道不是——”但人生是什么她也解釋不了。不過沒關(guān)系。勞里完全理解。

“Isn't it, darling?" said Laurie.

“不是嗎，親愛的?”勞里說。