"Flowers stops out of doors all weathers," he said. "They have no houses." "Not even a hut!" She murmured.

“无论刮风下雨，花儿都呆在屋外。”他说。“它们都无家可归。”“甚至连这样的栖身之处都没有！”她喃喃地说。

With quiet fingers he threaded a few forget-me-not flowers in the fine brown fleece of the mound of Venus.

他静静地拿过几朵勿忘我，塞进她私处褐色的毛丛里。

"There!" He said. "There's forget-me-nots in the right place!” She looked down at the milky odd little flowers among the brown maiden-hair at the lower tip of her body.

“看！”他说。“这儿是勿忘我盛放的理想所在！”她低头看着自己下身的褐色毛丛，还有点缀其间的乳白色小花。

"Doesn't it look pretty!” She said.

“多么美丽呀！”她赞叹道。

"Pretty as life," he replied.

“美丽且充满生机。”他回应道。

And he stuck a pink campion-bud among the hair.

他摘下一朵剪秋萝，放在那丛毛里。

"There! That's me where you won't forget me! That's Moses in the bull-rushes.” "You don't mind, do you, that I'm going away?” She asked wistfully, looking up into his face.

“那儿！那是我让你铭记的地方！那好似旷野中呼号的摩西。”“我要离开这里，你不会介意，对吗？”她仰头望着他的脸庞，忧郁地问。

But his face was inscrutable, under the heavy brows. He kept it quite blank.

但他眉头紧锁，面容让人无法琢磨。他的脸上看不到半点表情。

"You do as you wish," he said.

“你想的话，就去吧。”他说。

And he spoke in good English.

他换上纯正的英语。

"But I won't go if you don't wish it," she said, clinging to him.

“如果你不想我走，我就留下来。”她说，紧紧偎在他的怀里。

There was silence. He leaned and put another piece of wood on the fire. The flame glowed on his silent, abstracted face. She waited, but he said nothing.

沉默降临。他俯身往炉火中添柴。火光照耀着他静默沉思的面庞。她等待着，但他闭口不言。

"Only I thought it would be a good way to begin a break with Clifford. I do want a child. And it would give me a chance to, to—," she resumed.

“我之所以要这样做，只是想找机会与克利福德分道扬镳。我真的想要个孩子。这次出行对我来说是个契机，让……”她继续说道。

"To let them think a few lies," he said.

“让他们相信编造的谎言。”他说。

"Yes, that among other things. Do you want them to think the truth?" "I don't care what they think.” "I do! I don't want them handling me with their unpleasant cold minds, not while I'm still at Wragby. They can think what they like when I'm finally gone.” He was silent.

“是的，这也是理由之一。难道你想让他们知道真相？”“我不在乎他们怎么想。”“我在乎！我不愿面对他们的冰冷心肠，尤其是我还留在拉格比的时候。我远走高飞之后，他们爱怎么想都无所谓。”他并未搭话。

"But Sir Clifford expects you to come back to him?" "Oh, I must come back," she said: and there was silence.

“可克利福德爵士还满怀希望，盼着你能回到他身边？”“哦，我肯定会回来。”她说，他再度沉默不语。

"And would you have a child in Wragby?" He asked.

“你想在拉格比生孩子吗？”他问。

She closed her arm round his neck.

她揽住他的脖项。

"If you wouldn't take me away, I should have to," she said.

“要是你不愿带我远遁他乡，我只好如此。”她说。

"Take you where to?" "Anywhere! Away! But right away from Wragby." "When?" "Why, when I come back." "But what's the good of coming back, doing the thing twice, if you're once gone?” He said.

“带你去哪里？”“哪里都行！离开这里！只要离开拉格比。”“什么时候？”“哦，等我回来的时候。”“可回来有什么好处呢？既然你已经离开，何苦重蹈覆辙？”他问。

"Oh, I must come back. I've promised! I've promised so faithfully. Besides, I come back to you, really.” "To your husband's game-keeper?” "I don't see that that matters," she said.

“噢，我必须回来。因为我已许下诺言！那样真诚地许下诺言。而且，我回来其实是为了你。”“为了你丈夫的守林人？”“依我看，这没什么可大惊小怪的。”她说。

"No?" He mused a while. "And when would you think of going away again, then; finally? When exactly?" "Oh, I don't know. I'd come back from Venice. And then we'd prepare everything.” "How prepare?" "Oh, I'd tell Clifford. I'd have to tell him.” "Would you!" He remained silent. She put her arms round his neck.

“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.

她微微战栗了一下。

"Have you!" she said. "And what did he say?" "He said I ought to have done it before; that may be a difficulty. But since I was in the army, he thinks it will go through all right. If only it doesn't bring her down on my head!” "Will she have to know?" "Yes! She is served with a notice: so is the man she lives with, the co-respondent.” "Isn't it hateful, all the performances! I suppose I'd have to go through it with Clifford.” There was a silence.

“是吗！”她说。“律师怎么说？”“他说我该早先就着手，现在办理起来有些困难。但由于我当过兵，他觉得最终应该可以办妥。只希望别因为离婚的事，她又跑来纠缠不清！”“不能瞒着她吗？”“是的！她会接到传票，与她同居的家伙也一样，他是共同被告。”“这些繁文缛节还真是讨厌！我和克利福德恐怕也要照章办事。”沉默再度降临。

"And of course," he said, "I have to live an exemplary life for the next six or eight months. So if you go to Venice, there's temptation removed for a week or two, at least.” "Am I temptation! "She said, stroking his face. "I'm so glad I'm temptation to you! Don't let's think about it! You frighten me when you start thinking: you roll me out flat. Don't let's think about it. We can think so much when we are apart. That's the whole point! I've been thinking, I must come to you for another night before I go. I MUST come once more to the cottage. Shall I come on Thursday night?” "Isn't that when your sister will be there?” "Yes! But she said we would start at tea-time. So we could start at tea-time. But she could sleep somewhere else and I could sleep with you.

“当然，”他说，“未来的六到八个月，我必须过规矩的生活。因此，你去威尼斯，至少能保证我在一两周时间内远离诱惑。”“我是诱惑呀！”她边说，边抚摸着他的脸。“你会这样想，我真开心！别再思前想后了。每当你开始思考，我就会感到害怕，生怕那汹涌的思绪会把我碾平。别再想了。分别之后，我们有足够的时间考虑。这才是关键所在！我曾想过，动身之前，无论如何也要再与你共度一晚。无论如何，也要再去一次你家。周四晚上怎么样？”“那天你姐姐不是要来吗？”“没错！可她说，我们会在下午茶的时间启程。我们应该会准时出发。可她可以去别处过夜，而我要来陪你。”

"But then she'd have to know.” "Oh, I shall tell her. I've more or less told her already. I must talk it all over with Hilda. She's a great help, so sensible.” He was thinking of her plan.

“但这样一来，她就会知道事情的原委。”“哦，我没打算瞒她。之前也已经多少透露过。我得原原本本地跟希尔达谈谈这事。她很有主意，能帮上大忙。”他掂量着她的计划。

"So you'd start off from Wragby at tea-time, as if you were going to London? Which way were you going?” "By Nottingham and Grantham." "And then your sister would drop you somewhere and you'd walk or drive back here? Sounds very risky, to me.” "Does it? Well, then, Hilda could bring me back. She could sleep at Mansfield, and bring me back here in the evening, and fetch me again in the morning. It's quite easy.” "And the people who see you?" "I'll wear goggles and a veil.” He pondered for some time.

“这么说，你们下午茶的时候从拉格比动身，样子是要去伦敦？走哪条路？”“经过诺丁汉和格兰瑟姆。”“你从半道跟姐姐分别，再走路或者坐车回到这里？我认为这样过于冒险。”“是吗？哦，那么，希尔达可以送我回来。她去曼斯菲尔德过夜，傍晚时分送我来这儿，清晨再过来接我。这样没什么问题。”“可万一被别人发现？”“我会戴上风镜，罩着面纱。”他又沉思半晌。

"Well," he said. "You please yourself as usual." "But wouldn't it please you?” "Oh yes! It'd please me all right," he said a little grimly. "I might as well smite while the iron's hot.” "Do you know what I thought?" she said suddenly. "It suddenly came to me. You are the 'Knight of the Burning Pestle'!” "Ay! And you? Are you the Lady of the Red-Hot Mortar?” "Yes! "She said. "Yes! You're Sir Pestle and I'm Lady Mortar.” "All right, then I'm knighted. John Thomas is Sir John, to your Lady Jane.” "Yes! John Thomas is knighted! I'm my-lady-maiden-hair, and you must have flowers too. Yes!” She threaded two pink campions in the bush of red-gold hair above his penis.

“好吧。”他说。“就依你吧，跟往常一样。”“可难道你不喜欢这计划吗？”“噢，当然喜欢。我很喜欢这样的安排。”他的语调有些低落。“或许我也应该趁热打铁。”“你知道我在想什么？”她突然问道。“是我突然想到的。你是位‘火杵骑士’！”“呵！你呢？你不就是‘热臼夫人’”“恰如其分！”她说。“太贴切了！你是杵骑士，我是臼夫人。”“那好，我也拥有爵位了。约翰·托马斯荣升约翰爵士，正好与简夫人相配。”“对呀！约翰·托马斯获得爵位！我自封阴毛夫人，你也该在那儿插上几朵花。就这样！”她拿过两朵粉色的剪秋萝，穿进他金红色的阴毛丛中。

"There!" She said. "Charming! Charming! Sir John!" And she pushed a bit of forget-me-not in the dark hair of his breast.

“看呢！”她感叹道。“多么迷人！多么美丽！约翰爵士！”她又在他黑色的胸毛里塞了朵勿忘我。

"And you won't forget me there, will you?” She kissed him on the breast, and made two bits of forget-me-not lodge one over each nipple, kissing him again.

“你不会忘记我，对吗？”她亲吻着他的胸膛，将两朵勿忘我按压在乳头上，然后再度吻他。

"Make a calendar of me!" He said. He laughed, and the flowers shook from his breast.

“把我当成日历吧！”他说。他笑出声来，胸前的花颤落下来。

"Wait a bit!" He said.

“稍等一会儿！”他说。

He rose, and opened the door of the hut. Flossie, lying in the porch, got up and looked at him.

他站起身，打开屋门。弗洛西原本趴在门廊上，闻声立起身子，望着自己的主人。

"Ay, it's me!” He said.

“嘿，是我！”他说。

The rain had ceased. There was a wet, heavy, perfumed stillness. Evening was approaching.

雨已经停了。雨后的空气变得湿润沉滞，静谧芬芳。眼看就要傍晚。

He went out and down the little path in the opposite direction from the riding. Connie watched his thin, white figure, and it looked to her like a ghost, an apparition moving away from her.

他踏出屋门，沿着那条与马道反向的小径往下走去。康妮凝望着他纤瘦白皙的背影，感觉眼中出现的是个幽灵，渐渐离她远去的幻影。

When she could see it no more, her heart sank. She stood in the door of the hut, with a blanket round her, looking into the drenched, motionless silence.

当他的身影彻底从视线中消失，她的心沉到谷底。她独自站在小屋门口，裹着毯子，注视着被雨水滋润过后的树林，它是那样安详寂静。

But he was coming back, trotting strangely, and carrying flowers. She was a little afraid of him, as if he were not quite human. And when he came near, his eyes looked into hers, but she could not understand the meaning.

可他再度出现，一反常态地小跑着，手里捧着鲜花。她感觉有些慌张，似乎他真的是飘荡的孤魂。他来到切近，两人的目光交汇，但她却读不懂他的眼神。

He had brought columbines and campions, and new-mown hay, and oak-tufts and honeysuckle in small bud. He fastened fluffy young oak-sprays round her breasts, sticking in tufts of bluebells and campion: and in her navel he poised a pink campion flower, and in her maiden-hair were forget-me-nots and woodruff.

他捧回的是耧斗菜，剪秋萝，新割的牧草，橡树的嫩枝，以及含苞待放的金银花。他将生满绒毛的橡树嫩枝系在她的乳房上，点缀以风铃草和剪秋萝；肚脐处搁着一朵粉色的剪秋萝花，阴毛丛里则是勿忘我和车叶草的领地。

"That's you in all your glory!” He said. "Lady Jane, at her wedding with John Thomas." And he stuck flowers in the hair of his own body, and wound a bit of creeping-jenny round his penis, and stuck a single bell of a hyacinth in his navel. She watched him with amusement, his odd intentness. And she pushed a campion flower in his moustache, where it stuck, dangling under his nose.

“如今你身披花衣！”他赞叹道。“简夫人与约翰·托马斯缔结连理。”接着，他在自己几处毛发里放满鲜花，用一束铜钱珍珠菜缠绕住阴茎，肚脐里则塞着朵风信子。她饶有兴趣地望着他，端详着那种专心致志的古怪神态。她将一朵剪秋萝按在他的胡须间，耷拉在鼻子下方。

"This is John Thomas marryin' Lady Jane," he said. "An' we mun let Constance an' Oliver go their ways. Maybe—” He spread out his hand with a gesture, and then he sneezed, sneezing away the flowers from his nose and his navel. He sneezed again.

“约翰·托马斯迎娶简夫人。”他说。“让我们跟康斯坦斯和奥利弗分道扬镳。或许……”他伸手摆出某种姿势，但没料想却突然打个喷嚏，鼻子下面和肚脐处的花全被震落。他又打个喷嚏。

"Maybe what?" she said, waiting for him to go on.

“或许什么？”她问，等待着他继续刚才的话。

He looked at her a little bewildered.

他却有些茫然地望着她。

"Eh?" He said.

“哦？”他说。

"Maybe what? Go on with what you were going to say," she insisted.

“或许什么？继续把刚才的话讲完。”她坚持着。

"Ay, what WAS I going to say?" He had forgotten. And it was one of the disappointments of her life, that he never finished.

“唉，我刚才要说什么来着？”他居然已经忘记。他说话总是有头没尾，这也算她人生一大憾事。

A yellow ray of sun shone over the trees.

金色的阳光洒满树林。

"Sun!" He said. "And time you went. Time, my Lady, time! What's that as flies without wings, your Ladyship? Time! Time!” He reached for his shirt.

“太阳！”他说。“你该回去了。光阴，夫人，光阴！什么东西无翼而飞，夫人？答案是光阴！光阴！”他拿过衬衫。

"Say goodnight! to John Thomas," he said, looking down at his penis.

“道晚安吧！跟约翰·托马斯道晚安。”他说着，垂头看着自己的阴茎。

"He's safe in the arms of creeping Jenny! Not much burning pestle about him just now.” And he put his flannel shirt over his head.

“被铜钱珍珠菜拥在怀中，他远离危险！现在的他似乎跟火杵不太着边。”他将法兰绒衬衫套在头上。

"A man's most dangerous moment," he said, when his head had emerged, "is when he's getting into his shirt. Then he puts his head in a bag. That's why I prefer those American shirts, that you put on like a jacket." she still stood watching him. He stepped into his short drawers, and buttoned them round the waist.

“男人最疏于防范的时刻，”再度露出头时，他说，“就是穿衬衣的时候。那时，他的头几乎是伸进袋子里。正因为此，我才偏好美式衬衣，穿的方式跟穿夹克一样。”她仍站在原地望着他。他穿好短裤，系上腰扣。

"Look at Jane!" He said. "In all her blossoms! Who'll put blossoms on you next year, Jinny? Me, or somebody else? Good-bye, my bluebell, farewell to you! "I hate that song, it's early war days." he then sat down, and was pulling on his stockings. She still stood unmoving. He laid his hand on the slope of her buttocks. "Pretty little Lady Jane!" He said. "Perhaps in Venice you'll find a man who'll put jasmine in your maiden-hair, and a pomegranate flower in your navel. Poor little lady Jane!” "Don't say those things!” She said. "You only say them to hurt me." He dropped his head. Then he said, in dialect: "Ay, maybe I do, maybe I do! Well then, I'll say nowt, an'ha'done wi't. But tha mun dress thysen, all'go back to thy stately homes of England, how beautiful they stand. Time's up! Time's up for Sir John, an'for little Lady Jane! Put thy shimmy on, Lady Chatterley! Tha might be anybody, standin'there be-out even a shimmy, an'a few rags o'flowers. There then, there then, I'll undress thee, tha bob-tailed young throstle.” And he took the leaves from her hair, kissing her damp hair, and the flowers from her breasts, and kissed her breasts, and kissed her navel, and kissed her maiden-hair, where he left the flowers threaded. "They mun stop while they will," he said. "So! There tha'rt bare again, nowt but a bare-arsed lass an'a bit of a Lady Jane! Now put thy shimmy on, for tha mun go, or else Lady Chatterley's goin'to be late for dinner, an'where 'ave yer been to my pretty maid!” She never knew how to answer him when he was in this condition of the vernacular. So she dressed herself and prepared to go a little ignominiously home to Wragby. Or so she felt it: a little ignominiously home.

“瞧瞧简！”他说。“简直是花团锦簇！明年此时，为你披上花衣的，又会是谁，珍妮？是我，还是别的什么人？‘再见吧，我的风铃草，一路平安！’我讨厌这首歌谣，它让我想起战争初期的时光。”说完，他坐下开始穿袜子。她仍站着没动。他的手抚上她饱满的臀部。“美丽的小简夫人！”他说。“或许在威尼斯，你会遇到倾心的男子，他会将芬芳的茉莉放进你的阴毛，把石榴花塞入你的肚脐。可爱的小简夫人！”“别说这种话！”她说。“你这么说，只会让我伤心。”他低下头。再次开口时，已经换成方言。“是呀，或许吧，可能吧！那好，那俺就闭上嘴，不说话。可恁可得穿好衣裙，回到那富丽堂皇、蔚为壮观的英式豪宅。时间已到！约翰爵士和小简夫人该分手了！穿好恁的内衣吧，查泰莱夫人！恁若是光着身子站在那儿，只靠几朵花儿遮体，可显不出那高贵的身份。那好吧，那好吧，让俺来为恁宽衣，短尾巴的小画眉。”他将她头上的叶片除去，亲吻着那淋湿的发丝；将她胸前的鲜花除去，亲吻着那酥软的乳房；但却将肚脐和阴毛处的花朵留在那里，只是一一吻过。“它们必须呆在原处。”他说。“好了！恁再次变得赤裸，成为光屁股的少妇，就像我的简夫人！现在穿好恁的内衣，赶紧回去，不然，查泰莱夫人会错过晚餐。恁去往何方，我美丽的少女！”每当他操着土语，喋喋不休，她就会无所适从，不知如何作答。于是，她穿好衣服，准备回转那略显可鄙的拉格比。这就是她此刻的感觉：那让人略感不齿的拉格比。

He would accompany her to the broad riding. His young pheasants were all right under the shelter.

他会陪她走过宽阔的马道。那些活蹦乱跳的小鸡已经好端端地回到笼里。

When he and she came out on to the riding, there was Mrs. Bolton faltering palely towards them.

他俩刚刚踏上马道，迎面正碰上博尔顿太太，她步履蹒跚，脸色惨白。

"Oh, my Lady, we wondered if anything had happened!" "No! Nothing has happened." Mrs. Bolton looked into the man's face, that was smooth and new-looking with love. She met his half-laughing, half-mocking eyes. He always laughed at mischance. But he looked at her kindly.

“噢，夫人，大家都以为您出事了！”“没事！我安然无恙。”博尔顿太太望着梅勒斯的脸，爱情的滋润让他安详自得，容光焕发。她对上他那半带笑意，半带嘲讽的眼神。这家伙总是幸灾乐祸。可他望着她的眼神却充满善意。

"Evening, Mrs. Bolton! Your Ladyship will be all right now, so I can leave you. Good-night to your Ladyship! Good-night, Mrs. Bolton!” He saluted and turned away.

“晚上好，博尔顿太太！夫人毫发无伤，我可以放心地把她交给你。晚安，夫人！晚安，博尔顿太太！”他行过礼，转身离去。