Connie arrived home to an ordeal of cross-questioning. Clifford had been out at tea-time, had come in just before the storm, and where was her ladyship? Nobody knew, only Mrs. Bolton suggested she had gone for a walk into the wood. Into the wood, in such a storm! Clifford for once let himself get into a state of nervous frenzy. He started at every flash of lightning, and blenched at every roll of thunder. He looked at the icy thunder-rain as if it dare the end of the world. He got more and more worked up.
康妮回到家，迎接她的将是被盘问的煎熬。下午茶时分出门的克利福德，正好赶在暴风雨到来前赶回家，可夫人去了哪里？没人知道，只有博尔顿太太猜她大概是去树林散步了。冒着暴风骤雨，去树林散步！这一次，克利福德陷入生平未有的狂躁状态。每道闪电都让他心惊，每声炸雷都使他胆颤。他望着屋外冰冷的雷雨，似乎世界末日就要降临。他的情绪变得更加躁动。
Mrs. Bolton tried to soothe him.
博尔顿太太试着安慰他。
"She'll be sheltering in the hut, till it's over. Don't worry, her Ladyship is all right.” "I don't like her being in the wood in a storm like this! I don't like her being in the wood at all! She's been gone now more than two hours. When did she go out?” "A little while before you came in." "I didn't see her in the park. God knows where she is and what has happened to her.” "Oh, nothing's happened to her. You'll see, she'll be home directly after the rain stops. It's just the rain that's keeping her.” But her ladyship did not come home directly the rain stopped. In fact time went by, the sun came out for his last yellow glimpse, and there still was no sign of her. The sun was set, it was growing dark, and the first dinner-gong had rung.
“她会躲进小屋里直到雨停的。别担心，夫人管保安然无恙。”“下这么大的雨，我可不想她跑去树林！我压根就不愿她去那里！她已经出去两个多小时了。她什么时候离开家的？”“她前脚刚走，您就回来了。”“我没在花园里碰到她。天知道她身在何处，天晓得她出了什么事。”“噢，她不会出事的。您等着看，雨一停，她立马就会回家来。要不是下雨，她不会耽搁这么久。”可雨已经停了，夫人却没有立马回到家中。事实上，时间分秒流逝，昏黄的夕阳洒落最后的余晖，依然不见夫人的影子。太阳已经西沉，暮色笼罩大地，连头遍晚餐铃都已响过。
"It's no good!" said Clifford in a frenzy. "I'm going to send out Field and Betts to find her.” "Oh don't do that!" cried Mrs. Bolton.
“等着根本没用！”克利福德陷入癫狂。“我要派菲尔德和贝茨去找她。”“噢，别那么做！”博尔顿太太喊道。
"They'll think there's a suicide or something. Oh don't start a lot of talk going. Let me slip over to the hut and see if she's not there. I'll find her all right.” So, after some persuasion, Clifford allowed her to go.
“他们会以为夫人寻了短见或什么的呢。那样会招来很多闲言闲语。让我去趟林中小屋，看看她是否在那儿。我准会找她回来。”博尔顿太太好说歹说，克利福德总算答应她去。
And so Connie had come upon her in the drive, alone and palely loitering.
就这样，康妮在车道上遇到她。她形单影只，面色苍白，心惊肉跳，不敢前进。
"You mustn't mind me coming to look for you, my Lady! But Sir Clifford worked himself up into such a state. He made sure you were struck by lightning, or killed by a falling tree. And he was determined to send Field and Betts to the wood to find the body. So I thought I'd better come, rather than set all the servants agog.
“我出来找您，您可别见怪，夫人！克利福德爵士简直急疯了。他断定您不是被雷劈了，就是被树砸死了。打算派菲尔德和贝茨去树林寻找尸体呢。所以，我觉得最好还是我出马，免得让仆人们都寝食难安。”
She spoke nervously. She could still see on Connie's face the smoothness and the half-dream of passion, and she could feel the irritation against herself.
她说话时，流露出不安的情绪。激情过后的光泽和梦幻仍挂在康妮脸上，这瞒不过博尔顿太太的眼睛，她也感觉得到夫人对她深怀不满。
"Quite!" said Connie.
“很好！”康妮说。
And she could say no more.
她再也说不出别的话。
The two women plodded on through the wet world, in silence, while great drops splashed like explosions in the wood. When they came to the park, Connie strode ahead, and Mrs. Bolton panted a little. She was getting plumper.
雨后泥泞的世界里，两个女人沉默不语，缓步前行。硕大的雨滴不时溅落，像是林中发生了爆炸一般。进入园林后，康妮阔步向前，博尔顿太太则落在后面，气喘吁吁。她的身形日渐肥胖。
"How foolish of Clifford to make a fuss!" said Connie at length, angrily, really speaking to herself.
“克利福德真蠢，根本不值得大惊小怪！”康妮气冲冲地抱怨着，其实是在自言自语。
"Oh, you know what men are!
“噢，您晓得，男人就是这副德行！
They like working themselves up. But he'll be all right as soon as he sees your Ladyship.” Connie was very angry that Mrs. Bolton knew her secret: for certainly she knew it.
他们总是神经兮兮的。可只要您一露面，他保证恢复常态。”秘密被博尔顿太太看破，康妮又气又恼，这种事根本逃不过她的眼睛。
Suddenly Constance stood still on the path.
突然，康妮停住脚步，站着一动不动。
"It's monstrous that I should have to be followed!” She said, her eyes flashing.
“简直难以置信，竟然派人跟踪我！”她说着，两眼冒火。
"Oh! Your Ladyship, don't say that! He'd certainly have sent the two men, and they'd have come straight to the hut. I didn't know where it was, really.” Connie flushed darker with rage, at the suggestion. Yet, while her passion was on her, she could not lie. She could not even pretend there was nothing between herself and the keeper. She looked at the other woman, who stood so sly, with her head dropped: yet somehow, in her femaleness, an ally.
“噢！夫人，您千万别这么说！他本打算派那两个男人来的，而他们会直奔小屋而去。而我根本就不知道小屋的具体位置。”康妮听出博尔顿太太话里有话，脸气得更红了。可是，此刻她的心里满怀柔情，根本无法说谎。她甚至不愿惺惺作态，装出与守林人毫无干系的样子。她望着对面的女人，她怯生生地站在那里，头都不敢抬。可无论如何，她也是女人，与自己站在同条战线上。
"Oh well!" She said. "I fit is so it is so. I don't mind!” "Why, you're all right, my Lady! You've only been sheltering in the hut. It's absolutely nothing.” They went on to the house. Connie marched in to Clifford's room, furious with him, furious with his pale, over-wrought face and prominent eyes.
“噢，好吧！”她说。“既然如此，我也不再追究！”“哦，夫人，幸亏您平安归来！您只是在小屋避避雨而已。这没什么大不了的。”她俩回到拉格比。康妮稳步走进克利福德的房间，心怀愤怒，尤其是看到那苍白紧张的面孔以及外凸的眼睛。
"I must say, I don't think you need send the servants after me," she burst out.
“我不得不说，你没必要派仆人来跟踪我。”她大发雷霆。
"My God!" He exploded. "Where have you been, woman, you've been gone hours, hours, and in a storm like this! What the hell do you go to that-bloody wood for? What have you been up to? It's hours even since the rain stopped, hours! Do you know what time it is? You're enough to drive anybody mad. Where have you been? What in the name of hell have you been doing?” "And what if I don't choose to tell you?” She pulled her hat from her head and shook her hair.
“天呢！”他同样抑制不住愤怒的情绪。“你这婆娘，到底去了哪里，你出去好几个钟头了，好几个钟头，外面下着瓢泼大雨！你去那该死的树林，究竟干了什么勾当？你暗地里到底在谋划什么？雨已经停了好几个钟头，好几个钟头！你知道现在几点了吗？你会把任何人都逼疯的。你到底去了哪里？你究竟干什么去了？”“如果我不想说，你能拿我怎样？”她摘掉帽子，拨弄着头发。
It was very bad for him to get into these rages: Mrs. Bolton had a weary time with him, for days after.
如此的暴怒对他的身体影响极坏，之后的几天，博尔顿太太一直忙着照顾他，累得够呛。
Connie felt a sudden qualm.
康妮突然感到有些内疚。
"But really!" She said, milder. "Anyone would think I'd been I don't know where! I just sat in the hut during all the storm, and made myself a little fire, and was happy.” She spoke now easily. After all, why work him up any more!
“这倒也是！”她的语气温和许多。“谁都会以为我迷了路！我自始自终都坐在小屋里避雨，自己生着炉火，很是逍遥自在。”她开始轻描淡写起来。何苦再去刺激他呢！
He looked at her suspiciously.
他看着妻子，满脸狐疑。
And look at your hair!” He said; "look at yourself!" "Yes!" She replied calmly. "I ran out in the rain with no clothes on." He stared at her speechless.
“看看你的头发！”他说，“看看你这副德行！”“是的！”她答道，镇定自若。“我在雨中裸奔来着。”他盯着她，目瞪口呆。
"You must be mad!" He said.
“你准是疯了！”他说。
"Why? To like a shower bath from the rain?" "And how did you dry yourself?" "On an old towel and at the fire." He still stared at her in a dumbfounded way.
“为什么？就因为喜欢洗雨水浴？”“可你怎么擦干身体呢？”“用条旧毛巾，就着炉火烤了烤。”他仍是那副瞠目结舌的神情，愣愣地望着她。
"And supposing anybody came," he said.
“要是遇到人怎么办？”他问。
"Who would come?" "Who? Why, anybody! And Mellors. Does he come? He must come in the evenings." "Yes, he came later, when it had cleared up, to feed the pheasants with corn." She spoke with amazing nonchalance. Mrs. Bolton, who was listening in the next room, heard in sheer admiration. To think a woman could carry it off so naturally!
“遇到谁？”“谁？无论是谁！梅勒斯。遇到他了吗？他傍晚总会去树林。”“遇到了，雨停之后，他才来的，带着谷粒去喂野鸡。”她若无其事地说着，出人意料地镇定。博尔顿太太正在隔壁偷听，不禁由衷地佩服女主人。试想一下，身为女人的她，竟能如此从容不迫！
"And suppose he'd come while you were running about in the rain with nothing on, like a maniac?” "I suppose he'd have had the fright of his life, and cleared out as fast as he could.” Clifford still stared at her transfixed. What he thought in his under-consciousness he would never know. And he was too much taken aback to form one clear thought in his upper consciousness. He just simply accepted what she said, in a sort of blank. And he admired her. He could not help admiring her. She looked so flushed and handsome and smooth: love smooth.
“要是你在雨中疯狂裸奔的时候，与他碰个正着怎么办？”“我猜他会吓得灵魂出窍，落荒而逃。”克利福德依然怔怔地瞪着她。自己的潜意识里到底在想些什么，连他本人都不知道。他受惊过度，大脑根本无法形成清晰的想法。他只是全盘接受了她的解释，脑袋里空空如也。他对她充满仰慕。他抑制不住自己钦佩的心情。她面色红润，皮肤光滑，美艳不可方物，这都是因为爱情的滋润。
"At least," he said, subsiding, "you'll be lucky if you've got off without a severe cold.” "Oh, I haven't got a cold," she replied. She was thinking to herself of the other man's words: Tha's got the nicest woman's arse of anybody! She wished, she dearly wished she could tell Clifford that this had been said her, during the famous thunderstorm. However! She bore herself rather like an offended queen, and went upstairs to change.
“至少，”他说，情绪渐渐平复下来，“如果你不会因此患上重感冒，那就算是万幸了。”“噢，我没感冒。”她回应道。她心里想着另一个男人的话：恁拥有世间最美的女人的屁股！她希望，由衷地希望能够告诉克利福德，在那场倾盆暴雨中，有人这样赞美她。但话到嘴边又咽下。她端起架子，活像位被冒犯的女王，上楼换衣服去了。
That evening, Clifford wanted to be nice to her. He was reading one of the latest scientific-religious books: he had a streak of a spurious sort of religion in him, and was egocentrically concerned with the future of his own ego. It was like his habit to make conversation to Connie about some book, since the conversation between them had to be made, almost chemically. They had almost chemically to concoct it in their heads.
那天晚上，克利福德极力想要讨好她。他正在读最新出版的一本有关科学的宗教书籍，他对宗教的笃信只不过是惺惺作态，心里真正关心的只不过是自己的前途。自从他俩间的谈话变成没话找话，几乎有些要去制造化学反应的意味，克利福德总习惯跟康妮谈论书籍。他们在脑海里炮制着谈话的内容，很像是在进行化学实验。
"What do you think of this, by the way?" He said, reaching for his book. "You'd have no need to cool your ardent body by running out in the rain, if only we have a few more aeons of evolution behind us.” Ah, here it is!—— "The universe shows us two aspects: on one side it is physically wasting, on the other it is spiritually ascending.” Connie listened, expecting more. But Clifford was waiting. She looked at him in surprise.
“我说，你觉得这种说法如何？”他说着，伸手拿过书。“如果人类再经过更多个纪元的进化，你就不需要去雨中奔跑，以求冷却自己炽热的身躯。呵，就是这句话！——‘宇宙向我们展现出两种趋势，物质被损耗，精神在上升。’”康妮听着，期待着他继续说下去。但克利福德却在等待。她诧异地看着他。
"And if it spiritually ascends," she said, "what does it leave down below, in the place where its tail used to be?" "Ah!" He said. "Take the man for what he means. ASCENDING is the opposite of his WASTING, I presume." "Spiritually blown out, so to speak!" "No, but seriously, without joking: do you think there is anything in it?” She looked at him again.
“如果说精神在上升，”她反驳道，“从前尾巴存在的位置，又剩下什么东西呢？”“啊！”他说。“细细领会作者的意思。我猜，对他而言，上升恰好与损耗相对立。”“也就是说，精神完全崩溃！”“不，说正经的，不开玩笑，你觉得这种观点如何？”她再度将目光转向他。
"Physically wasting?" She said. "I see you getting fatter, and I'm not wasting myself. Do you think the sun is smaller than he used to be? He's not to me. And I suppose the apple Adam offered Eve wasn't really much bigger, if any, than one of our orange pippins. Do you think it was?” Well, hear how he goes on: "It is thus slowly passing, with a slowness inconceivable in our measures of time, to new creative conditions, amid which the physical world, as we at present know it, will he represented by a ripple barely to be distinguished from nonentity." She listened with a glisten of amusement. All sorts of improper things suggested themselves. But she only said: "What silly hocus-pocus! As if his little conceited consciousness could know what was happening as slowly as all that! It only means he's a physical failure on the earth, so he wants to make the whole universe a physical failure. Priggish little impertinence!” "Oh, but listen! Don't interrupt the great man's solemn words!— The present type of order in the world has risen from an unimaginable past, and will find its grave in an unimaginable future. There remains the inexhaustive realm of abstract forms, and creativity with its shifting character ever determined afresh by its own creatures, and God, upon whose wisdom all forms of order depend.— There, that's how he winds up!” Connie sat listening contemptuously.
“物质被消耗？”她质疑着。“我只发现你变得膘肥体壮，而我也没消耗些什么。你认为太阳变得比以前小些了吗？我觉得没有。依我看，即使是亚当献给夏娃的苹果，与现在的橘苹相比，也大不到哪里去。你认为呢？”好吧，听听他接下来这么说：“宇宙就这样缓慢地进化，速度慢到根据我们的方式，无法计算其时间，最终达到全新的境界。而到那时候，我们现在所知的物质世界将会用某种波纹来代表，而这种波纹跟虚无并没什么分别。”她听着，不禁暗觉可笑。心里涌动着不便说出的种种言语。但她只是说：“多么愚蠢的鬼话！似乎他那自以为是的小小思维，就能预见漫长久远的时间里能够发生的一切！这只能说明他在身体层面是个地道的失败者，因此，他希望整个宇宙也重蹈自己的覆辙。简直是胡说八道！”“噢，接着听下去！别打断这位伟大作家的庄严论调！——世界现行的秩序来源自难以想象的过去，并将在难以想象的未来中被埋进坟墓。只剩下无穷无尽的抽象王国，自新不息变幻无穷的创造力，以及主宰大千世界的睿智上帝。——这就是他最终的结论！”康妮坐在那里听着，面露鄙夷之色。
"He's spiritually blown out," she said. "What a lot of stuff! Unnimaginables, and types of order in graves, and realms of abstract forms, and creativity with a shifty character, and God mixed up with forms of order! Why, it's idiotic!” "I must say, it is a little vaguely conglomerate, a mixture of gases, so to speak," said Clifford. "Still, I think there is something in the idea that the universe is physically wasting and spiritually ascending." "Do you? Then let it ascend, so long as it leaves me safely and solidly physically here below." "Do you like your physique?" He asked.
“他准是精神失常了。”她说。“简直废话连篇。什么‘难以想象’，什么‘秩序的坟墓’，还有‘变化无穷的创造力’，甚至连上帝都跟秩序扯在一起！呵，简直是痴人说梦！”“我必须承认，其结论的确有些模糊，也就是所谓的云山雾罩。”克利福德说。“不过，宇宙在物质层面被损耗，而精神层面却在上升，这一观点确实有些道理。”“是吗？那就任它上升去吧，只要它把我的肉身安全完整地留在下面就好。”“你满意自己的体形吗？”他问。
"I love it!" And through her mind went the words: It's the nicest, nicest woman's arse as is!
“当然！”她的脑海中再度浮现出那句话：这是世间最美丽的女人的屁股！
"But that is really rather extraordinary, because there's no denying it's an encumbrance. But then I suppose a woman doesn't take a supreme pleasure in the life of the mind.” "Supreme pleasure?" she said, looking up at him. "Is that sort of idiocy the supreme pleasure of the life of the mind? No thank you! Give me the body. I believe the life of the body is a greater reality than the life of the mind: when the body is really wakened to life. But so many people, like your famous wind-machine, have only got minds tacked on to their physical corpses.” He looked at her in wonder.
“可这样的回答确实出乎我的意料，因为肉体不过是种累赘，这点毫无疑问。但我想女人根本体验不到精神生活的极致快乐。”“极致快乐？”她说着，抬起头看着他。“那种白痴的理论就代表着精神生活的极致快乐吗？不，谢谢！我还是选择肉体好了。我相信肉体的生活比精神的生活更真实，特别是当肉体被彻底唤醒时。但有太多人，只是将精神寄托在行尸走肉般的躯壳上，跟你那些卷扬机没什么两样。”他惊讶地看着她。
"The life of the body," he said, "is just the life of the animals." "And that's better than the life of professional corpses. But it's not true! The human body is only just coming to real life. With the Greeks it gave a lovely flicker, then Plato and Aristotle killed it, and Jesus finished it off. But now the body is coming really to life, it is really rising from the tomb. And it will be a lovely, lovely life in the lovely universe, the life of the human body.” "My dear, you speak as if you were ushering it all in! True, you am going away on a holiday: but don't please be quite so indecently elated about it. Believe me, whatever God there is is slowly eliminating the guts and alimentary system from the human being, to evolve a higher, more spiritual being.” "Why should I believe you, Clifford, when I feel that whatever God there is has at last wakened up in my guts, as you call them, and is rippling so happily there, like dawn. Why should I believe you, when I feel so very much the contrary?" "Oh, exactly! And what has caused this extraordinary change in you? Running out stark naked in the rain, and playing Bacchante? desire for sensation, or the anticipation of going to Venice?"
“肉体的生命，”他说，“不过是禽兽的生命。”“那也比行尸走肉的生命强百倍。可你的论调根本就是错的！人类的肉体刚刚开始复活。在古希腊时期，它曾经辉煌一时，但被柏拉图与亚里士多德之流扼杀，而耶稣则彻底将它毁灭。但时至今日，肉体再度恢复生机，真正从坟墓中走出。人类肉体的生命是灿烂宇宙间最美丽的生命。”“亲爱的，听你这么说，大有要亲自引领其复苏之路的意思！当然，你是要去度假没错，但也不用如此不体面地得意忘形。相信我，如果上帝真的存在，无论他到底是怎样，都会将人类内脏之类的消化系统渐渐摒弃，让他们进化成更高级，更精神化的生命。”“我为何要相信你的话，克利福德？我反而觉得若上帝真的存在，他最终会在你所谓的内脏里觉醒，如同迎来新的黎明，幸福地荡起涟漪。我的想法与你背道而驰，又为何要相信你的话？”“噢，说得没错！到底是什么让你发生如此大的变化？在雨中裸奔，扮演酒神的女祭司？对情欲的渴望，或者是对威尼斯的向往？”
"Both! Do you think it is horrid of me to be so thrilled at going off?" She said.
“都有！我因为要离开感到如此激动，你觉得这有些可怕是吧？”她问。
"Rather horrid to show it so plainly." "Then I'll hide it.” "Oh, don't trouble! You almost communicate a thrill to me. I almost feel that it is I who am going off.” "Well, why don't you come?” "We've gone over all that. And as a matter of fact, I suppose your greatest thrill comes from being able to say a temporary farewell to all this. Nothing so thrilling, for the moment, as Good-bye-to-all! But every parting means a meeting elsewhere. And every meeting is a new bondage.” "I'm not going to enter any new bondages.” "Don't boast, while the gods are listening," he said.
“更可怕的是你居然这样不加掩饰地表现出来。”“那我会注意掩饰自己的情绪。”“噢，没那个必要！我几乎也被你的兴奋所感染。我几乎觉得要出门的是自己。”“哦，那你为什么不来呢”“我们早已探讨过原因。事实上，我猜最令你兴奋的，莫过于能够暂时和这里的一切说再见。此时此刻，没什么更能令你激动，只有告别这一切！但是，现在的离别为的正是将来的相聚。而相聚则意味着新的束缚。”“我不想再要新的束缚。”“不要大言不惭，举头三尺有神明。”他说。
She pulled up short.
她沉默片刻。
"No! I won't boast!” She said.
“不！我可没说大话！”她说。
But she was thrilled, none the less, to be going off: to feel bonds snap. She couldn't help it.
但她兴奋的情绪丝毫不减，因能够告别拉格比而兴奋，因能够挣脱束缚而激动。她有些情不自禁。
Clifford, who couldn't sleep, gambled all night with Mrs. Bolton, till she was too sleepy almost to live.
克利福德郁闷得无法入眠，整夜跟博尔顿太太赌牌，直到她困得无法坚持下去。
And the day came round for Hilda to arrive. Connie had arranged with Mellors that if everything promised well for their night together, she would hang a green shawl out of the window. If there were frustration, a red one.
眼见希尔达到来的日子迫在眉睫。康妮与梅勒斯约好，如果能够依计而行，共度良宵，她就在窗外挂条绿围巾。如果事情有变，就挂条红的。
Mrs. Bolton helped Connie to pack.
博尔顿太太帮助康妮收拾行囊。
"It will be so good for your Ladyship to have a change." "I think it will. You don't mind having Sir Clifford on your hands alone for a time, do you?” "Oh no! I can manage him quite all right. I mean, I can do all he needs me to do. Don't you think he's better than he used to be?” "Oh much! You do wonders with him." "Do I though! But men are all alike: just babies, and you have to flatter them and wheedle them and let them think they're having their own way. Don't you find it so, my Lady?” "I'm afraid I haven't much experience.” Connie paused in her occupation.
“换换环境，对夫人您很有好处。”“我想是这样。这段日子，克利福德爵士得由你单独照料，你不会介意吧？”“噢，不会！我会把他照顾得妥妥帖帖。我是说，我会做好他吩咐的一切。您没觉得，他的情况比以前好得多吗？”“噢，的确如此！这全是你的功劳。”“哪里的话！男人们都大同小异，脾气好似婴儿，你得奉承他们，哄着他们，让他们以为自己可以为所欲为。难道您没发现这秘诀吗，夫人？”“恐怕我在这方面没什么经验。”康妮停下手中的活计。
"Even your husband, did you have to manage him, and wheedle him like a baby?" She asked, looking at the other woman.
“甚至对自己的丈夫，你也得像哄孩子般哄他吗？”她盯着博尔顿太太，问道。
Mrs. Bolton paused too.
博尔顿太太也停了手。
"Well!" She said. "I had to do a good bit of coaxing, with him too. But he always knew what I was after, I must say that. But he generally gave in to me." "He was never the lord and master thing?" "No! At least there'd be a look in his eyes sometimes, and then I knew I'd got to give in. But usually he gave in to me. No, he was never lord and master. But neither was I. I knew when I could go no further with him, and then I gave in: though it cost me a good bit, sometimes.” "And what if you had held out against him?" "Oh, I don't know, I never did. Even when he was in the wrong, if he was fixed, I gave in. You see, I never wanted to break what was between us. And if you really set your will against a man, that finishes it. If you care for a man, you have to give in to him once he's really determined; whether you're in the right or not, you have to give in. Else you break something. But I must say, Ted 'ud give in to me sometimes, when I was set on a thing, and in the wrong. So I suppose it cuts both ways.” "And that's how you are with all your patients?” Asked Connie.
“嗯！”她说。“我也总得哄他。但他总能明白我的意图，这点我必须承认。但一般说来，他总会让着我。”“他从来不摆老爷架子吗？”“从不！至少，他有时会流露出某种眼神，我就会明白，该顺着他的意思了。但通常他会向我妥协。不，他从不会颐指气使。我也不会。我知道何时不该跟他计较，该主动让步，虽然有时这会让我觉得很不舒服。”“如果你一直跟他对着干，会怎么样呢？”“噢，我不知道，我从没试过。甚至明知他是错的，只要他坚持，我也会做出让步。要知道，我不想破坏彼此的感情。如果你总是跟一个男人对着干，那你们肯定难以长久。要是你在乎一个男人，若他当真下定决心，那你就得做出让步，不管谁对谁错。否则，就会破坏彼此的感情。但我必须承认，当我固执己见，即使我是错的，泰德也常会让着我。所以我想这道理对双方都适用。”“你对待病人也是如此吗？”康妮问。
"Oh, that's different. I don't care at all, in the same way. I know what's good for them, or I try to, and then I just contrive to manage them for their own good. It's not like anybody as you're really fond of. It's quite different. Once you've been really fond of a man, you can be affectionate to almost any man, if he needs you at all. But it's not the same thing. You don't really care. I doubt, once you've really cared, if you can ever really care again.” These words frightened Connie.
“哦，那不同。我并不爱他们。我知道怎样做对他们有益，或者说我会尽力去了解，然后努力帮助他们恢复健康。这跟对待你心爱的男人完全不同。完全是两码事。只要你真正爱过一个男人，就可以对几乎所有男人充满温情，只要他真心真意地需要你。但二者不可混为一谈。你不会再度陷入爱里。我怀疑，一旦你真的爱过，是否还能够再去爱其他人。”这句话让康妮有些害怕。
"Do you think one can only care once?" She asked.
“你认为人一生只能爱一次吗？”她问。
"Or never. Most women never care, never begin to. They don't know what it means. Nor men either. But when I see a woman as cares, my heart stands still for her.” "And do you think men easily take offence?" "Yes! If you wound them on their pride. But aren't women the same? Only our two prides are a bit different.” Connie pondered this. She began again to have some misgiving about her gag away. After all, was she not giving her man the go-by, if only for a short time? And he knew it. That's why he was so queer and sarcastic.
“或者从未爱过。大多数女人从未经历过爱情，从未尝过爱情的滋味。她们不知道爱情意味着什么。男人也一样。但当目睹一个女人付出真情，我的心也会为之停止跳动。”“你认为男人容易生气吗？”“没错！要是你挫伤了他们的自尊。可女人不也一样吗？只不过二者的自尊稍有差异而已。”康妮思索着她的话。她再度担忧起来，对远赴威尼斯的事情心生疑虑。这样做难道不是把自己的男人晾在一边吗？虽说时间并不长。而且他心里有数。所以他才总是怪里怪气，冷嘲热讽。
Still! The human existence is a good deal controlled by the machine of external circumstance. She was in the power of this machine. She couldn't extricate herself all in five minutes. She didn't even want to.
话虽如此！人活于世，多数事情都要受制于外部坏境这台机械。她此刻便被这台机器牢牢掌控。她没办法在五分钟之内摆脱这一切。她甚至没有过这样的想法。
Hilda arrived in good time on Thursday morning, in a nimble two-seater car, with her suit-case strapped firmly behind. She looked as demure and maidenly as ever, but she had the same will of her own. She had the very hell of a will of her own, as her husband had found out. But the husband was now divorcing her.
周四上午，希尔达如期而至，驾驶着她那部便捷的双座汽车，行李箱牢牢绑在车后面。她依然端庄羞涩，一如往昔，但却很有主见。她往往过于坚持己见，这自然瞒不过丈夫的眼睛。但如今，两人正在办理离婚。
Yes, she even made it easy for him to do that, though she had no lover. For the time being, she was "off" men. She was very well content to be quite her own mistress: and mistress of her two children, whom she was going to bring up 'properly', whatever that may mean.
是的，她甚至大开方便之门，助丈夫快些办妥离婚手续，虽然她并没有红杏出墙。如今，她已经“远离”男人。对于这种当家做主的感觉，她感到非常满足，她是两个孩子的依靠，她打算“妥当”地将孩子培养成人，不管未来的路如何艰辛。
Connie was only allowed a suit-case, also. But she had sent on a trunk to her father, who was going by train. No use taking a car to Venice. And Italy much too hot to motor in, in July. He was going comfortably by train. He had just come down from Scotland.
由于空间有限，康妮只能带一只行李箱。但她早已将较大的衣箱托运给父亲，他将乘火车前往。没必要开车去威尼斯。七月的意大利太过炎热，自己开车无异于遭罪。他乐得舒舒服服地乘火车去。他刚从苏格兰赶来伦敦。
So, like a demure arcadian field-marshal, Hilda arranged the material part of the journey. She and Connie sat in the upstairs room, chatting.
娴静的希尔达俨然成为阿卡迪亚（注：古希腊一地区，位于伯罗奔尼撒半岛，其居民与外部世界相对隔绝，过着简朴的田园式生活）陆军元帅，将旅行所需的事项准备得井井有条。她和康妮坐在楼上的房间里聊天。
"But Hilda!" Said Connie, a little frightened. "I want to stay near here tonight. Not here: near here!” Hilda fixed her sister with grey, inscrutable eyes. She seemed so calm: and she was so often furious.
“可是，希尔达！”康妮说，心里有些不安。“我今晚想在附近过夜。不是在拉格比，而是在附近某处。”希尔达盯着自己的妹妹，灰色的双眼让人捉摸不透。她看上去沉着冷静，但暴跳如雷也是常有的事。
"Where, near here?" She asked softly.
“在哪儿？这附近？”她轻声问。
"Well, you know I love somebody, don't you?” "I gathered there was something." "Well he lives near here, and I want to spend this last night with him must! I've promised.” Connie became insistent.
“呃，你知道的，我爱上某个人。”“我猜到有这种事。”“呃，他就住在附近，我出发前，必须跟他共度一晚！我答应过他。”康妮迫切地恳求着姐姐。
Hilda bent her Minerva-like head in silence. Then she looked up.
希尔达没有做声，如同密涅瓦（注：罗马神话中掌管智慧、发明、艺术和武艺的女神）的头颅低垂着。接着，她抬起头。
"Do you want to tell me who he is?" She said.
“你愿意告诉我他是谁吗？”她问。
"He's our game-keeper," faltered Connie, and she flushed vividly, like a shamed child.
“他是我们的守林人。”康妮支吾着，脸羞得通红，活像个做错事的孩子。
"Connie!" Said Hilda, lifting her nose slightly with disgust: a she had from her mother.
“康妮！”希尔达说着，轻轻扬起鼻子以表示鄙视，这是从她们母亲那里学来的动作。
"I know: but he's lovely really. He really understands tenderness," said Connie, trying to apologize for him.
“我知道有些不妥，但他确实是个好人。又总是深情款款。”康妮说，试图为他申辩。
Hilda, like a ruddy, rich-coloured Athena, bowed her head and pondered She was really violently angry. But she dared not show it, because Connie, taking after her father, would straight away become obstreperous and unmanageable.
希尔达如同雅典娜般面露红润，光彩照人，低头沉思着，她其实正强压着心头的怒火。但她不敢流露出来，因为康妮的个性随父亲，任意妄为，难以掌控。
It was true, Hilda did not like Clifford: his cool assurance that he was somebody! She thought he made use of Connie shamefully and impudently. She had hoped her sister would leave him. But, being solid Scotch middle class, she loathed any "lowering" of oneself or the family. She looked up at last.
的确，希尔达讨厌克利福德，讨厌他的冷漠孤傲，自以为是！她鄙视他对康妮的利用，鄙视这种卑劣下流的无耻行径。她曾希望妹妹能弃他而去。但身为苏格兰中产阶级，家资殷实的她难以容忍“贬低”身份或者辱没门楣的举动。她终于抬起头来。
"You'll regret it," she said, "I shan't," cried Connie, flushed red. "He's quite the exception. I really love him. He's lovely as a lover.” Hilda still pondered.
“你会后悔的。”她得出结论。“我不会。”康妮喊道，脸涨得通红。“他绝对是个特例。我深爱着她。他是位美妙的情郎。”希尔达仍在沉思。
"You'll get over him quite soon," she said, "and live to be ashamed of yourself because of him." "I shan't! I hope I'm going to have a child of his.” "Connie!” Said Hilda, hard as a hammer-stroke, and pale with anger.
“很快，你就会跟他分道扬镳，”她说，“并因为与他的关系，而抱羞后半生。”“我不会！我希望能为他生孩子！”“康妮！”希尔达吼道，刺耳的声音好像铁锤的重击，俏脸气得煞白。
"I shall if I possibly can. I should be fearfully proud if I had a child by him." It was no use talking to her. Hilda pondered.
“如果可能的话，我便会为他生孩子。要是能成为他孩子的母亲，我会感到无比骄傲。”再跟她说什么也都徒劳无益。希尔达暗想。
"And doesn't Clifford suspect?" she said.
“克利福德就没起疑心？”她问。
"Oh no! Why should he?" "I've no doubt you've given him plenty of occasion for suspicion," said Hilda.
“噢，没有！他怎么会想得到？”“我确信，你肯定留给他不少起疑的机会。”希尔达说。
"Not it all." "And tonight's business seems quite gratuitous folly. Where does the man live?” "In the cottage at the other end of the wood." "Is he a bachelor?" "No! His wife left him." "How old?" "I don't know. Older than me.” Hilda became more angry at every reply, angry as her mother used to be, in a kind of paroxysm. But still she hid it.
“根本就没有。”“今晚的勾当真是蠢透了，根本没有必要。那男人住在哪儿？”“住在树林那端的农舍里。”“他是个单身汉？”“不是！他的妻子离开了他。”“多大年纪？”“我不清楚。比我年长。”康妮每句回答，都让希尔达的怒火烧得更旺，就像她们的母亲当年一般怒气攻心。但她还是努力掩饰着。
"I would give up tonight's escapade if I were you," she advised calmly.
“如果我是你，今晚就不会去冒险。”她语调平静地劝慰道。
"I can't! I must stay with him tonight, or I can't go to Venice at all. I just can't.” Hilda heard her father over again, and she gave way, out of mere diplomacy. And she consented to drive to Mansfield, both of them, to dinner, to bring Connie back to the lane-end after dark, and to fetch her from the lane-end the next morning, herself sleeping in Mansfield, only half an hour away, good going.
“我做不到！今晚我必须跟他共度，不然我就连威尼斯都不去了。我就是做不到。”希尔达再次从康妮的话里听到父亲的口气，她做出让步，但仅是作为权宜之计。她同意开车载她去曼斯菲尔德，晚餐过后，趁着夜幕送她回到车道尽头，次日清晨再去接她，而自己则在曼斯菲尔德过夜。如果开得快些，两地仅有半小时车程。
But she was furious. She stored it up against her sister, this balk in her plans.
但她依然恼火不已。妹妹打乱了自己设定好的计划，这笔账她已暗暗记下。
Connie flung an emerald-green shawl over her window-sill.
康妮在窗台上系了条翠绿色围巾。
On the strength of her anger, Hilda warmed toward Clifford.
由于她的震怒，希尔达对克利福德的看法不禁有些缓和。
After all, he had a mind. And if he had no sex, functionally, all the better: so much the less to quarrel about! Hilda wanted no more of that sex business, where men became nasty, selfish little horrors. Connie really had less to put up with than many women if she did but know it.
他毕竟颇有才智。如果说他没有性能力，这反倒是件好事，夫妻间不会为此而争吵不休。希尔达打算与性事永诀，男人总会因此变成下流龌龊、自私自利的讨厌鬼。因为远离性事，康妮其实比许多女人都安闲得多，只不过她并不清楚这一点。
And Clifford decided that Hilda, after all, was a decidedly intelligent woman, and would make a man a first-rate helpmate, if he were going in for politics for example. Yes, she had none of Connie's silliness, Connie was more a child: you had to make excuses for her, because she was not altogether dependable.
而克利福德也断定，希尔达虽不讨人喜欢，但毫无疑问是个睿智的女子，若男人想在政坛有所作为，她绝对是个出色的助手。她不像康妮那样傻兮兮的，康妮跟孩子没什么分别：你总得找理由为她辩护，因为她根本无法依靠。
There was an early cup of tea in the hall, where doors were open to let in the sun. Everybody seemed to be panting a little.
大家早早来到饭厅用下午茶，阳光从敞开的门投射进来。彼此似乎各怀心事。
"Good-bye, Connie girl! Come back to me safely.” "Good-bye, Clifford! Yes, I shan't be long." Connie was almost tender.
“再见，康妮丫头！平安归来。”“再见，克利福德！嗯，我不会离开太久的。”康妮几乎是饱含着柔情。
"Good-bye, Hilda! You will keep an eye on her, won't you?” "I'll even keep two!” Said Hilda. "She shan't go very far astray.” "It's a promise!” "Good-bye, Mrs. Bolton! I know you'll look after Sir Clifford nobly.” "I'll do what I can, your Ladyship.” "And write to me if there is any news, and tell me about Sir Clifford, how he is." "Very good, your Ladyship, I will. And have a good time, and come back and cheer us up." Everybody waved. The car went off Connie looked back and saw Clifford, sitting at the top of the steps in his house-chair. After all, he was her husband: Wragby was her home: circumstance had done it.
“再见，希尔达！你会好好照顾她，对吗？”“我会对她倍加关照！”希尔达说。“不会让她太过放纵。”“一言为定！”“再见，博尔顿太太！我知道，你准会无微不至地照看克利福德爵士。”“我会竭尽全力，夫人。”“有事就给我写信，告诉我克利福德爵士的近况。”“好的，夫人，我会照办。希望您旅途愉快，衷心期盼您早日归来，和我们欢聚。”大家挥手作别。希尔达发动了汽车，康妮回首张望，看到台阶顶端的克利福德，他正坐在自己的家用轮椅中。他毕竟是她的丈夫，拉格比是她的家，这是环境决定的事实。
Mrs. Chambers held the gate and wished her ladyship a happy holiday. The car slipped out of the dark spinney that masked the park, on to the highroad where the colliers were trailing home. Hilda turned to the Crosshill Road, that was not a main road, but ran to Mansfield. Connie put on goggles. They ran beside the railway, which was in a cutting below them. Then they crossed the cutting on a bridge.
钱伯斯太太为她们敞开大门，并祝愿夫人度假愉快。汽车驶出遍布着葱郁的灌木丛的园林，开上宽敞的公路，遇上放工的矿工，正拖着沉重的脚步回家去。希尔达调转车头，驶上克罗斯希尔路，这并非是条主要道路，但却通往曼斯菲尔德。康妮戴上风镜。她们沿着铁路线向前进发，铁道位于一旁的路堑里。她们驶过横穿铁路的桥梁。
"That's the lane to the cottage!" said Connie.
“那便是通往农舍的小路。”康妮说。
Hilda glanced at it impatiently.
希尔达瞥了一眼，显得很不耐烦。
"It's a frightful pity we can't go straight off!”
“真可惜，我们没法径直往前开！”
She said. We could have been in Pall Mall by nine o'clock.” "I'm sorry for your sake," said Connie, from behind her goggles.
她抱怨着。“不然，我们九点就能抵达帕尔玛尔。”“真的很抱歉。”康妮在风镜后说。
They were soon at Mansfield, that once-romantic, now utterly disheartening colliery town. Hilda stopped at the hotel named in the motor-car book, and took a room. The whole thing was utterly uninteresting, and she was almost too angry to talk. However, Connie had to tell her something of the man's history.
没用多久，她们就来到曼斯菲尔德。这个昔日充溢着浪漫色彩的城市，如今已经彻底沦为令人沮丧的矿工聚居地。希尔达依照旅行指南，停在某家旅店前面，开了个房间。沿途的一切都无法让她提起兴趣，她气得几乎说不出话。尽管如此，康妮还是忍不住跟姐姐唠叨着自己情郎的过往。
"He! He! What name do you call him by? You only say HE," said Hilda.
“他！他！你平时都怎么称呼他？总是说‘他’。”希尔达说。
"I've never called him by any name: nor he me: which is curious, when you come to think of it. Unless we say Lady Jane and John Thomas. But his name is Oliver Mellors.” "And how would you like to be Mrs. Oliver Mellors, instead of Lady Chatterley?" "I'd love it.” There was nothing to be done with Connie. And anyhow, if the man had been a lieutenant in the army in India for four or five years, he must be more or less presentable. Apparently he had character. Hilda began to relent a little.
“我俩之间从不用姓名相称，想想就会觉得这真的很奇妙。有时候，我们会称呼彼此简夫人和约翰·托马斯。但他的真名叫奥利弗·梅勒斯。”“难道你想放弃查泰莱夫人的头衔，转做奥利弗·梅勒斯太太吗？”“我期盼已久。”康妮真是迷途深陷。不管怎么说，那男人毕竟曾在印度做过四五年中尉，好歹还算摆得上台面。他似乎还有些身份。希尔达的态度缓和许多。
"But you'll be through with him in awhile," she said, "and then you'll be ashamed of having been connected with him. One can't mix up with the working people.” "But you are such a socialist! You're always on the side of the working classes.” "I may be on their side in a political crisis, but being on their side makes me know how impossible it is to mix one's life with theirs. Not out of snobbery, but just because the whole rhythm is different.” Hilda had lived among the real political intellectuals, so she was disastrously unanswerable.
“你们很快就会各奔东西，”她说，“然后，你就会对这段感情懊悔不已。我们没法跟工人阶级混在一起。”“但你本身就是热忱的社会主义者！总是跟工人阶级站在同一阵线。”“每当政局动荡的时节，我或许会跟他们合作，但正是这种经历让我深知，跟他们共同生活简直难以想象。并非瞧不起劳苦大众，但我们跟他们确实不合拍。”希尔达曾经在地道的政治圈里生活过，因此，康妮无从辩驳她的话。
The nondescript evening in the hotel dragged out, and at last they had a nondescript dinner. Then Connie slipped a few things into a little silk bag, and combed her hair once more.
两人就这样僵持着，在旅店中迎来傍晚，又尴尬地共进晚餐。然后，康妮收拾了几样东西，放进绸布小包里，重新梳理着自己的头发。
"After all, Hilda," she said, "love can be wonderful: when you feel you live, and are in the very middle of creation.” It was almost like bragging on her part.
“无论怎样，希尔达，”她说，“爱情总是那样美妙，让你切实地感觉到自己活着，感觉到自己身处宇宙的中心。”她的语气简直有几分卖弄的意味。
"I suppose every mosquito feels the same," said Hilda. "Do you think it does? How nice for it!" The evening was wonderfully clear and long-lingering, even in the small town. It would be half-light all night. With a face like a mask, from resentment, Hilda started her car again, and the two sped back on their traces, taking the other road, through Bolsover.
“恐怕每只蚊子也有同感。”希尔达说。“你这样认为吗？那蚊子们该多么幸福呀！”那天傍晚格外地晴朗，即使在这个破败的小城市，黄昏也驻足停留，不愿离去。星月之光会将整个夜晚都照亮。由于愤怒未消，希尔达板着的脸孔好像戴着面具，她再度发动汽车，开足马力，开上返程的道路。与来时不同，这次走得是博尔索弗。
Connie wore her goggles and disguising cap, and she sat in silence. Because of Hilda's Opposition, she was fiercely on the side of the man, she would stand by him through thick and thin.
康妮乔装改扮，戴好风镜和无檐帽，静静地坐在姐姐旁边。正因为希尔达的反对，她更加坚定地站在梅勒斯一边，即使前路布满荆棘，她也会与他共度。
They had their head-lights on, by the time they passed Crosshill, and the small lit-up train that chuffed past in the cutting made it seem like real night. Hilda had calculated the turn into the lane at the bridge-end. She slowed up rather suddenly and swerved off the road, the lights glaring white into the grassy, overgrown lane. Connie looked out. She saw a shadowy figure, and she opened the door.
路过克罗斯希尔的时候，她们打开车灯，路堑中噗噗驶过的小火车灯火通明，让人感觉真的已经置身深夜。来时的路上，希尔达已经盘算好，要在桥梁尽头转上小路。她突然放慢车速，转向驶离公路，车灯将绿草丛生的小径照得通明。康妮向车外张望。她看到一条黑影，便推开车门。
"Here we are!" She said softly.
“我们到了！”她低声说。
But Hilda had switched off the lights, and was absorbed backing, making the turn.
但希尔达已经熄灭车灯，正全神贯注地倒着车，然后调转车头。
"Nothing on the bridge?" she asked shortly. "You're all right," said the man's voice. She backed on to the bridge, reversed, let the car run forwards a few yards along the road, then backed into the lane, under a wych-elm tree, crushing the grass and bracken. Then all the lights went out. Connie stepped down. The man stood under the trees.
“桥上没什么吧？”她简短地问道。“没有，倒吧。”那男人说。她把车倒至桥上，调转方向，沿路向前行驶数码，然后再倒进小路，将车停在榆树下，碾碎了草丛和欧洲蕨。然后，她关上所有车灯。康妮走下车来。那男人站在树下。
"Did you wait long?" Connie asked.
“等很久了吧？”康妮问。
"Not so very," he replied.
“没多久。”他答道。
They both waited for Hilda to get out. But Hilda shut the door of the car and sat tight.
他俩都等着希尔达下车。没想到，希尔达却关紧车门，坐着没动。
"This is my sister Hilda. Won't you come and speak to her? Hilda! This is Mr. Mellors.” The keeper lifted his hat, but went no nearer.
“这是我姐姐希尔达。你不过来跟她打个招呼吗？希尔达！这是梅勒斯先生。”守林人脱帽致意，但却没有上前。
"Do walk down to the cottage with us, Hilda," Connie pleaded. "It's not far.” "What about the car?" "People do leave them on the lanes. You have the key." Hilda was silent, deliberating. Then she looked backwards down the lane.
“跟我们去农舍坐会儿吧，希尔达。”康妮央求着。“离得不远。”“车子怎么办？”“人们通常都把车停在小路上。只要锁好就行。”希尔达没搭话，犹豫不决。她回头看了看身后的小路。
"Can I back round the bush?" She said.
“能倒车绕过树丛吗？”她问。
"Oh yes!" Said the keeper.
“噢，可以！”守林人答道。
She backed slowly round the curve, out of sight of the road, locked the car, and got down. It was night, but luminous dark. The hedges rose high and wild, by the unused lane, and very dark seeming. There was a fresh sweet scent on the air. The keeper went ahead, then came Connie, then Hilda, and in silence. He lit up the difficult places with a flash-light torch, and they went on again, while an owl softly hooted over the oaks, and Flossie padded silently around. Nobody could speak. There was nothing to say.
她小心翼翼地绕过树丛，停在从公路上看不到的地方，把车锁好，走下车来。已经是深夜，但却并非一团漆黑。人迹罕至的小路旁，茂密的灌木长得高而茂盛，看上去黑乎乎的。空气中漂浮着新鲜的甜味。守林人在前面引路，接着是康妮，希尔达跟在最后，三个人都没说话。他用手电筒照亮崎岖难行的地方，然后继续前进。一只猫头鹰飞过橡树丛，低声枭叫着。弗洛西悄无声息地跑来跑去。没人做声。因为没什么好说的。