5.A meeting in the dark
5.暗夜中的相遇
While Geoffrey lay there, thinking about his life, he suddenly heard a sound that was not the rain. Something was in the shed, moving towards him. For a second, terror filled him, then he jumped up, and caught the thing with his great hands.
当杰弗里躺在那里思索自己的人生时，突然听到一阵并非雨声的响动。棚屋里有什么东西正朝他靠近。一瞬间，恐惧攫住了他，随即他猛地跳起来，用那双大手抓住了那个东西。
It did not fight, just gave a small, unhappy cry.
它没有挣扎，只是发出一声微弱而凄楚的呜咽。
Let me go,’ said a woman’s voice.
“放开我，”一个女人的声音说道。
What do you want?’ he asked, angrily.
“你想干什么？”他愤怒地问道。
I thought he was here.’ She began to weep, quietly.
“我以为他在这里。”她开始低声哭泣。
Who? Who did you think was here?’ he said.
“谁？你以为谁在这里？”他说。
My husband. He was here at dinner-time. You saw him.’ She tried to pull away from his hands. ‘Let me go.’
“我丈夫。晚饭时间他还在这儿。你见过他的。”她试图挣脱他的手。“放开我。”
It’s you!’ said Geoffrey, in surprise. ‘Are you looking for that dirty little tramp that was here at dinner?’ He still held her with both hands, but more gently now. ‘Where did he leave you?’
“原来是你！”杰弗里惊讶地说，“你在找晚饭时来过的那个肮脏的小流浪汉吗？”他依然双手抓着她，但力道轻柔了许多。“他把你丢在哪儿了？”
I left him – here,’ she said. ‘I’ve seen nothing of him since.’
“是我把他留在这儿的，”她说，“从那以后我就再也没见过他了。”
Geoffrey gave a short laugh. ‘That’s a good thing, isn’t it? Why would you want to see him again?’
杰弗里短促地笑了一声。“那不是好事吗？你为什么还想再见他？”
He’s my husband – and he’s not going to run away if I can stop him.’
“他是我丈夫——只要我能拦住，他就别想跑掉。”
Geoffrey was silent, not knowing what to say.
杰弗里沉默了，不知该说什么好。
Your clothes are wet,’ he said at last.
“你的衣服都湿了，”他终于开口说。
That’s not surprising, is it, in this rain? But he’s not here, so I’ll go.’
“下着这么大的雨，这也不奇怪，是吧？既然他不在这里，那我就走了。”
You’re cold, aren’t you?’ said Geoffrey. ‘I can feel it. You’re shaking with cold.’
“你很冷，对吧？”杰弗里说，“我能感觉到。你冻得直发抖。”
She did not answer. He did not know what to say.
她没有回答。他也不知道该说什么。
Wait a minute.’ He found his bicycle lamp, lit it, and shone the light on her. He saw a white, tired face. Her old sailor hat and her brown coat were black with rain. Drops of water fell from her wet skirt onto her shoes.
“等一下。”他摸到自行车灯，点亮后照向她。只见一张苍白疲惫的脸庞。她那顶旧水手帽和棕色外套被雨水浸成了黑色。水珠顺着湿透的裙摆滴落在鞋子上。
Geoffrey shone the light on her.
杰弗里把灯光照在她身上。
He looked worried. ‘You’re wet right through,’ he said. ‘Why don’t you stay in here until the rain stops?’
他面露忧色。“你浑身都湿透了，”他说，“不如待在这里等雨停吧？”
No answer.
没有回应。
You can take your wet things off, and put a blanket round you. There’s a horse-blanket in the box here.’
“你可以把湿衣服脱下来，裹条毯子。这箱子里有条马毯。”
He waited, but there was still no answer.
他等了一会儿，但她依然没有作声。
He put the lamp down, opened the wooden box, and took out a big grey blanket. ‘Come on,’ he said, kindly. ‘Take your hat and coat off, and put this round you.’
他放下灯，打开木箱，取出一条灰色的大毯子。“来吧，”他和善地说，“把帽子和外套脱了，把这个裹上。”
Slowly, she took off her hat and coat and put the blanket round her. She was shaking all over with cold.
她慢慢地脱下帽子和外套，将毯子裹在身上。她全身都在因寒冷而颤抖。
Is something the matter with you?’ he said, worried.
“你是不是哪里不舒服？”他担忧地问。
I’ve walked to Bulwell and back,’ she said tiredly, ‘looking for him. I’ve eaten nothing since this morning.’ She did not weep – she was too tired, too miserable.
“我走到布尔韦尔又折返回来，”她疲倦地说，“一直在找他。从早上到现在我什么都没吃。”她没有哭——她太累了，也太痛苦了。
You’ve had nothing to eat?’ he said. He went back to the box. There was food in there – bread and cheese. He cut some bread and put a big piece of cheese on it.
“你一点东西都没吃？”他说。他又回到箱子旁。里面有食物——面包和奶酪。他切了些面包，在上面放了一大块奶酪。
She sat down on the end of the bed of hay, and slowly began to eat. Then he gave her a drink of water, and saw that she was still shaking.
她在干草铺的一头坐下，慢慢吃了起来。随后他递给她一些水喝，发现她仍在发抖。
Can’t you get warm?’ he asked.
“暖和不过来吗？”他问。
I will in a minute. Don’t you worry. I’ll go soon. I’m taking your seat – are you staying here all night?’
“过一会儿就好了。别担心。我很快就走。占了你的位子——你要在这儿过夜吗？”
Yes. But you must stay, and get warm. I’ve got to go and see that the haystacks are all right. Take your wet things off, and get warm with that blanket round you.’
“是的。但你必须留下来暖暖身子。我得去看看干草堆有没有问题。把湿衣服脱了，裹着毯子暖和一下吧。”
I’ll go in ten minutes. This is your place, and I’m not going to push you out. It’s not right.’
“我十分钟后就走。这是你的地方，我不能把你挤出去。这不合适。”
You’re not pushing me out,’ he said. ‘I’ll come back when I’ve looked at the stacks.’
“你没有挤我出去，”他说，“我去看完草堆就回来。”
He went. A minute later, she put the lamp out. He stood between the stacks, listening. There was only the soft rain and the dark night all around him. Everything was still, silent, black – like death, he thought.
他离开了。一分钟后，她吹灭了灯。他站在草堆之间倾听着。四周只有淅沥的小雨和漆黑的夜色。万籁俱寂，无声无息，一片漆黑——简直像死亡一般，他想道。
He found his way back to the shed and went in. ‘Are you all right?’ he said. He lit the lamp again. Her small face looked up at him, out of the grey blanket.
他摸索着回到棚屋，走了进去。“你还好吗？”他说。他重新点亮了灯。她从灰色毯子里探出小脸，抬头望着他。
You don’t need a lamp,’ she said. ‘Lie down and get your night’s rest. I can sit at this end, out of your way.’
“你不需要点灯，”她说，“躺下休息吧。我可以坐在这头，不碍你的事。”
I can sit at this end, out of your way,’ she said.
“我可以坐在这头，不碍你的事，”她说。（注：原文此处有重复）
He put the lamp out, and sat down on the hay, at the other end. Then he asked, ‘Is he really your husband?’
他熄灭了灯，在另一头的干草上坐下。然后问道：“他真的是你丈夫吗？”
He is!’ she answered, in a hard little voice.
“确实是！”她用生硬而细小的声音回答道。
Do you follow him because you like him?’ He was afraid to ask, but he wanted to know.
“你跟着他是因为喜欢他吗？”他虽怕冒犯，但还是想知道。
I don’t – I wish he was dead.’ Her voice was coldly angry. Then, ‘But he’s my husband.’
“我不喜欢——我倒希望他死了。”她的声音透着冰冷的怒意。接着又说，“但他毕竟是我丈夫。”
He gave a short laugh. ‘Not much of one,’ he said. ‘Have you been married long?’
他短促地笑了一声。“算不上什么好丈夫，”他说，“你们结婚很久了吗？”
Four years. Since I was eighteen.’
“四年了。从我十八岁起。”
And do you just move about, all the time?’ he asked.
“难道你们就一直这样四处漂泊？”他问。
He says he’s looking for a job. But he doesn’t like work. He was a wagon-driver when I married him. He left that job when the baby was only two months old, and I’ve not had a kind word or a day’s rest since then.’
“他说他在找工作。但他根本不喜欢干活。我们结婚时他是个马车夫。孩子才两个月大时他就辞了工，从那以后我就没听过一句体贴话，也没歇过一天。”
And where’s the baby?’
“那孩子呢？”
It died when it was ten months old.’
“十个月大的时候夭折了。”
After that they were silent. At last Geoffrey said slowly, ‘You’ve had a hard life.’ He looked at her, but saw nothing in the dark. ‘What will you do now?’
此后两人都陷入了沉默。最终杰弗里缓缓说道：“你的日子过得真苦。”他望向她，但在黑暗中什么也看不见。“你现在打算怎么办？”
I’ll find him. He’s not going to get away.’
“我要找到他。他休想逃脱。”
But why don’t you leave him?’
“可你为什么不离开他呢？”
Because he’s not going to win.’
“因为我不能让他得逞。”
He listened to her hard voice, and felt miserable for her. He could not see her; they were just two voices in the black night.
听着她生硬的声音，他为她感到难过。他看不见她；他们只是漆黑夜色中的两个声音。
Are you warm now?’ he asked, half afraid.
“现在暖和些了吗？”他带着几分怯意问道。
A bit warmer – but my feet are still terribly cold.’
“稍微暖和点了——但脚还是冰凉刺骨。”
I can warm them with my hands. Shall I?’
“我可以用手帮你捂暖。可以吗？”
No, thank you,’ she said, coldly. Then she felt sorry. He was kind, he was trying to help. ‘But they do hurt.’
“不用了，谢谢，”她冷冷地说。随即她又心生歉意。他是善良的，真心想帮她。“不过确实疼得厉害。”
Put them in my hands, then.’
“那就把脚放到我手里吧。”
His large, strong hands closed round her icy feet and held them. She felt his warm breath on her toes.
他那双宽大有力的大手紧紧包裹住她冰冷的双脚。她感受到他呼出的热气拂过脚趾。
Do they feel any better yet?’ he asked, after a while.
“感觉好点了吗？”过了一会儿他问道。
She did not answer. She put out her hand and touched his hair. His hand came up to find hers, but found her face, which was wet with tears. Gently, his fingers followed the tears down her cheeks.
她没有回答。她伸出手抚摸着他的头发。他抬起手去寻找她的手，却触到了她被泪水打湿的脸庞。他的手指温柔地顺着泪痕滑过她的脸颊。
What’s the matter?’ he said, in his slow, deep voice.
“怎么了？”他用低沉缓慢的声音问道。
She put out both her arms and pulled his head to her. Four lonely, miserable years were suddenly behind her; she was no longer old before her time. Suddenly, it was possible to hope again, to be young, to be happy. She wept long and silently, holding Geoffrey’s head close to her, with her wild tears falling on his hair.
她伸出双臂将他的头拉向自己。四年来孤独凄苦的岁月骤然远去；她不再未老先衰。突然间，希望重燃，青春与幸福再次变得触手可及。她久久地无声啜泣，紧紧抱着杰弗里的头，滚烫的泪水洒落在他的发间。
She wept long and silently, holding Geoffrey’s head close to her, with her wild tears falling on his hair.
她久久地无声啜泣，紧紧抱着杰弗里的头，滚烫的泪水洒落在他的发间。（注：原文此处有重复）
Geoffrey sat still, full of wonder, full of love. When at last she stopped weeping, he put his arms around her, gently. And in a while, they kissed, his first love kiss.
杰弗里静静地坐着，心中充满了惊奇与爱意。当她终于停止哭泣时，他轻轻地揽住了她。片刻之后，他们吻在了一起，那是他生命中的初吻。
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