【翻译】The garden party By Katherine Mansfield（花园茶会 凯瑟琳·曼斯菲尔德）

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.

这真是个理想的天气。要是他们决定开花园茶会，那就不可能有比今天更完美的天气了。无风，温暖，天空无云。只有蓝天被朦胧的浅金色烟霭笼罩，就像偶尔在夏初的时候。园丁们黎明之时就已起身，修剪打理草坪，直到草地和种着雏菊的深色平坦的玫瑰形花坛看起来都熠熠生辉。至于玫瑰，你会情不自禁地觉得他们理解玫瑰是唯一引人注目的花；唯一人人皆知的花。数百株的，确实是数百株玫瑰，一夜之间破土而出；绿色的灌木丛被压得弯下了腰，仿佛是接受过天使的拜访。

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

在工人搭起帐篷前，早餐还没有结束。

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

“妈妈，您想把帐篷搭在哪儿?”

"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."

“亲爱的，问我也没用。我打算今年把一切都放手给你们孩子做。忘掉我是你们的妈妈。把我当成一位贵宾招待吧。”

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.

但是玛格丽特恐怕不可能过去监督工人干活。她在早餐前洗了头发，包着绿头巾坐着享受她的咖啡，头巾在脸颊两边垂下暗湿的大卷。乔斯，这只“蝴蝶”，总是穿着丝绸衬裙和和服式的晨衣外套下来。

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

“看来只有你去了，劳拉；你是个有艺术天赋的人。”

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.

劳拉轻盈地离去，手里还拿着她那片抹了黄油的面包。能有个理由外出吃东西实在太棒了，并且，她喜欢去安排事情；她总觉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.

四个穿衬衫的男人站在一起，在花园小径上。他们搬着包裹了几卷帆布的板子，背后还挂着个大工具袋。他们看起来很有能力。劳拉希望自己没拿黄油面包，但是现在没地方放它，她又不可能把它给扔了。在走向他们的时候她尴尬地脸红了，并且试图让自己显得很严肃甚至有点儿跟近视眼儿似的。

"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。”她说道，模仿着自己妈妈的声音。但是听起来非常做作，连她自己都不好意思了，而且还像个小女孩一样结巴。"哦——呃——你们来啦——是因为帐篷的事吗?"

"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，一个长看雀斑的小伙子，回答道。他挪了下自己的工具袋，把草帽敲正，对劳拉微笑。“是为了帐篷的事。”

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?"

他的笑容如此惬意、友好，以至于劳拉恢复了常态。他有一双多么迷人的眼睛，小但是是那么深邃的蓝色。她又看看别人，他们也都在微笑。“高兴点儿，我们又不会咬你。”他们的笑容好像在说。多好的工人啊!而且是多么美丽的清晨!她一定不能谈及清晨；她必须认真办事。帐篷。“那么，百合坪地怎么样呢?用它行吗?”

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.

她用没拿黄油面包的手指着百合坪地。他们转过身，盯着那个方向。一个胖小伙撇了下嘴，另一个高小伙的皱了下眉。

"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."

“我不喜欢它”，他说，“不够引人注意。你明白，对于帐篷这样的事来说行不通，”他以自己闲适的姿态转向劳拉，“要是你跟我来的话，你会想把它放在一个一眼就能看见的地方。”

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.

劳拉接受的教养使她琢磨了一会儿一个工人跟她说怎么引人注意是否合乎礼仪。但她还是跟着他走了。

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

“网球场的一角?”她建议道，“但是有个乐队要在一个角落演奏。”

"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，要有个乐队，是吗?”另一个工人说到。他脸色苍白。当他深色的眼睛端详着这个棒球场时，他看起来那么憔悴疲惫。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.

“只是一个挺小的乐队。”劳拉温柔地说。如果乐队确实很小，也许他不会介意。但是那个高小伙打断了她。

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

“看这儿，小姐，就是这儿。在树的对面，那里，那正合适。”

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?

在卡罗卡树对面。那样的话，卡罗卡树就会被挡住。他们是那么可爱，有宽大的、闪闪发光的叶子，一簇簇的金黄色果实。他们就像你幻想着生长在荒岛上，骄傲、孤独，以种静默的绚丽姿态向太阳高举着自己的枝叶和果实的那种树。他们非得被一个帐篷遮住么?

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.

他们不得不被遮住。工人们已经扛过来他们的板子并且正在清理场地了。只有那个高小伙被落下了。他弯下腰，捏起一小株薰衣草，把拇指和食指放在鼻子前嗅了下香味。当劳拉看到这个姿势，她忘了自己关于卡罗拉树的所有想法，脑海里只有他对事物那份关注——就像对薰衣草的香味的。有多少她认识的人会做这样的事呢?天呐，这是个多么出色的好工人，她想。为什么她不能和这样的工人交朋友，而是要和那些陪她跳跳舞，周末来用晚餐的傻小伙子们交往呢?她会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.

这都是错误的，她暗自觉得，当高个儿在一个信封的背面拽什么东西，那个东西被向上或向左系住用以固定，通过这样来显示荒谬的阶级差别。好吧，对于劳拉来说，她并不在意。一点儿也不，哪怕一丁点儿……现在传来了木槌“哐哐”的敲击声。有人吹口哨，有人唱到:“你在那儿吗，伙计?”“好伙伴!"歌声的友善正好映衬了劳拉的欢乐，并且表明给高个儿她有多放松，还有她有多么鄙视愚蠢的习俗。劳拉盯着那个小小的图案，咬了一大口自己的黄油面包。她觉得自己就像个女工一样。

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

“劳拉、劳拉，你在哪儿?电话，劳拉!”一个声音从房子里传来。

"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.

“来啦!”她轻轻地掠过，越过草坪，踏上小径，步上台阶，穿过阳台，跑进门廊。在门厅里，她的爸爸和劳里正在刷帽子，准备去办公室。

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

"我说，劳拉，”劳里快速地说，“也许你愿意在下午之前看一眼我的外套，看看是不是还需要熨烫。”

"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.

“我会的。”她说。突然间，她情不自禁。她跑向劳里并且轻轻地、迅速地搂了他一下。“噢，我真是喜欢派对，你呢?”劳拉气喘吁吁地说。

"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."

“相当喜欢。”劳里用热情的、孩子般的声音回应她，他也搂了下自己的妹妹并且轻轻地推了她一下。“快去接电话吧，老姑娘。”

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."

电话。“是的，是的，哦，是的。凯蒂吗?早上好，亲爱的。来吃午餐吗?来吧，亲爱的。我们当然会开心了。只不过是个小小的便饭——一些三明治酥皮、碎的糖饼壳儿和些多剩下的食物而已。是呀，这难道不是个完美的早晨吗?你穿白色的?哦，我当然也应该这么办。稍等下——别挂。妈妈在叫我，”劳拉向后坐了下，“您说什么，妈妈?听不见。”

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

谢尔登太太的声音从楼上飘了下来：“告诉她戴上她上星期戴的那顶可爱的帽子。”

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

“妈妈说记得戴上上星期你戴的那顶可爱的帽子。好的。一点见。再见。”

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.

劳拉把听筒放回去，猛地把胳膊甩在头上，深吸了口气，伸了伸懒腰又把胳膊放下。“哈。”她叹了口气，然后迅速坐起来。她静静地听着。房子里所有的门好像都被打开了。房子因为轻柔、迅速的脚步和流动的声音而充满了生命力。通往厨房那边的绿色台面呢门随着隐约可闻的砰砰声打开又关上。现在出现了一个悠长的咯咯的好笑的声音。是由一架被用自己僵硬的脚轮移动的厚重钢琴所发出的。但是空气!如果你停下来去感觉，空气一直都是这样吗?轻轻的微风追逐嬉戏，从窗户的顶部进来，又从门那里出去。太阳的两个小斑点，一个照射在墨水壶上，一个在银色相框上，也在互相玩闹。多可爱的小斑点呀。特别是那个照射在墨水壶盖上的。看起来非常温暖，像个温暖的小银星。她真想去亲吻它。

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."

前门铃隆隆作响，并且从楼梯上传来萨迪印花长裙的沙沙声。一个男人嘀咕着，萨迪漫不经心地回应：“我确定我不知道。等下。我问问谢尔登太太。”

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

“怎么了，萨迪?”劳拉来到大厅。

"It's the florist, Miss Laura."

“是花商，劳拉小姐。”

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，确实是。就在门那里，放着摆满粉百合花盆的宽、浅货盘。没有别的品种，除了百合——美人蕉百合，大朵粉色的花，盛开着，灿烂着，几乎让人惊异地在明亮鲜红的茎上鲜活着。

"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，天呐，萨迪!”劳拉说，听起来像一声小小的呻吟。她屈膝蹲下，就像要用百合花的火焰去温暖自己。她觉得，他们在她的指尖、唇边、胸口生长着。

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

“一定是出了些错，”她虚弱地说，“不会有人订了这么多。萨迪，去找妈妈来。”

But at that moment Mrs. Sheridan joined them.

但是就在这时，谢尔登太太加入了他们的对话。

"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."

“没错，”她平静地说，“我订的。难道他们不可爱吗?”她拍了拍劳拉的胳膊。“我昨天经过那家店，在橱窗里看见这些花。然后我突然觉得我这一辈子要有那么一次拥有足够多的美人蕉百合。这次花园茶会会是个很好的契机。”

"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.

“但是我还以为你说你不打算插手呢。”劳拉说。萨迪已经离开了。花商还站在他的货车外。她用自己的胳膊环住妈妈的脖子，轻轻地、轻轻地咬着妈妈的耳朵。

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

“我亲爱的孩子，你不会喜欢一个古板的母亲，是吗?别这样，那还有人呢。”

He carried more lilies still, another whole tray.

他还在搬更多的百合花，又满满的一盘。

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

“把他们堆好，请就堆在门内，门廊的两边就好，”谢尔登太太说，“你也觉得不错吧，劳拉?"

"Oh, I do, mother."

“哦，当然了，妈妈。”

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

在客厅，玛格丽特、乔斯、和小汉斯终于成功地把钢琴挪开了。

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

“现在，如果我们把这个长沙发靠墙放，把除了椅子以外的所有东西都挪出房间，你们觉得怎么样?”

"Quite."

“挺好的。”

"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.

“汉斯，把这些桌子挪进吸烟室，再带个拖把来把地毯上的污迹弄干净——等一下，汉斯——”乔斯喜欢对佣人发号施令，他们也愿意听她的。她总让他们觉得自己在参演什么戏剧。“告诉妈妈和劳拉小姐马上来这儿。”

"Very good, Miss Jose."

“好的，乔斯小姐。”

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.'"

她转向玛格丽特。“我想听听钢琴音质如何，只是以防我下午受邀演唱。我们练一遍《生活使人疲倦》这首曲子吧。”

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、哒哒、嘀嗒。钢琴声突然激昂地迸发出来，吓得乔斯脸色都变了。她攥紧自己的手，悲恸地、高深莫测地看着正走进来的妈妈和劳拉。

"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，流泪，叹息。爱已改变。生活使人疲倦，流泪，叹息。爱已改变。那么……再见!”

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“再见”那个词时，尽管钢琴听起来比以往都绝望，但是乔斯的脸上却洋溢着明亮的、极其没心没肺的笑容。

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

“我有一副好嗓子，不是吗，妈妈?”乔斯笑容满面地说。

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

“生活使人疲倦。希望破灭。美梦易醒。”

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

但是萨迪打断了他们。“怎么了，萨迪。”

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

“如果您方便的话，太太，厨娘问您搞到做三明治用的鸢尾了吗?”

"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.

“做三明治用的鸢尾，萨迪?”谢尔登太太迷迷糊糊地回答道。孩子们从她的脸上就猜出来她没搞到。“让我看看。”她对萨迪坚定地说，“告诉厨娘十分钟之内我就把这事办妥。”

Sadie went.

萨迪离开了。

"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."

“现在，劳拉，”她妈妈快速地说，“和我一起去吸烟室。我已经在一个信封的背面找到了那些名字。你帮我把他们写出来。玛格丽特现在马上上楼，把你头上湿的东西弄下来。乔斯马上把自己穿戴整齐。都听见了吗，孩子们?还是要我等你们爸爸晚上回来跟他汇报?还有——还有，乔斯，要是你去厨房的话就安抚下厨子，好吗?我早晨被她吓坏了。

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

信封最终在餐厅钟表的后面被找到了，尽管谢尔登太太想不到它是怎么到了那儿的。

"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?"

“肯定是你们这群孩子中的一个把它从我的包里偷出去的，因为我记得很清楚——奶油干酪、香柠凝乳。你做的吗?"

"Yes."

“是的。”

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

“鸡蛋和——”谢尔登太太举着信封远离她，“看起来像老鼠。不可能是老鼠，对吧?"

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

"橄榄，宝贝。”劳拉边说着边从她肩上看过去。

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

“是的，当然了，橄榄。听起来多么可怕的组合呀!鸡蛋和橄榄。”

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.

他们最后终于做完了，然后劳拉把他们带到厨房去。她发现乔斯正在安抚着那个看起来一儿也不可怕的厨娘。

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

“我从来没见过这么精美的三明治!"乔斯用狂喜的声音说着，”你说，一共有多少种来着，厨娘?十五种?"

"Fifteen, Miss Jose."

“十五种，乔斯小姐。”

"Well, cook, I congratulate you."

“好哇，厨娘，我恭喜你。”

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

厨娘用长长的三明治刀扫掉面包硬壳，笑容满面。

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

“戈德伯蛋糕房的人来了。”萨迪的宣布道，声音从食品储藏室中传出。她已经看见那个人从窗前走过。

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

那也就意味着奶油泡芙到了。戈德伯蛋糕房以奶油泡芙闻名。没有人会想过在家里做泡芙。

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

“把他们拿进来放在桌子上，姑娘们。”厨娘下令了。

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.

萨迪把他们拿了进来又走回门那里。当然啦劳拉和乔斯还太小，还没到真正操心这些事的时候。尽管如此，他们也情不自禁地赞同泡芙看起来很有吸引力。恰好厨娘开始布置他们，摇晃掉多余的糖霜。

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

“难道他们不会使一个人由一个派对回想起所有的派对吗?"劳拉说。

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

“我猜他们肯定会的，”理智的乔斯说，她是从来不愿意被回想起来的，“它们看起来那么漂亮、轻柔，我不得不说。”

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

“每个人都尝一个吧，亲爱的们。”厨娘温和的声音适时响起，“你们的妈妈不会知道的。”

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。刚用完早餐就吃美味的泡芙。这个好主意有点让人颤抖了。尽管如此，两分钟后，乔斯和劳拉就一脸沉醉其中的表情舔着手指上残留的奶油了。

"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."

“我们一起去花园吧，从后门出去，”劳拉建议道，“我想看看那些人把帐篷弄得怎么样了。他们是那么优秀的工人。”

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

Something had happened.

但是后门那里挤着厨娘、萨迪、戈德伯蛋糕房的人和汉斯。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.

“笃笃笃，”厨娘叫得像只激动的母鸡一样。萨迪拍着自己的脸颊就好像牙痛一样。汉斯的脸扭曲着试图理解发生的一切。只有戈德伯蛋糕房的人看起来挺高兴；这可是他能在饭后茶余闲谈的话题呀。

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

“怎么了?发生了什么事?”

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

“出大事了，”厨娘说，“有人死掉了。”

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

“有人死掉了?在哪?怎么回事?什么时候?"

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让这个故事在他眼皮子底下被抢走。

"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."

“知道下面那些小屋吗，小姐?”知道?当然了，她知道那些小屋。“好吧，那儿住着一个年轻伙计，叫斯科特，是个货运马车夫。今天早晨在霍克街，他的马受了拖拉车的惊吓，他甩了出去，后脑勺着地。死掉了。”

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

“死了!”劳拉盯着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."

“他们架起他的时候就已经断气了，”蛋糕房的男人津津有味地说，“我来这儿的时候，他们正把尸体运回家。”他告诉厨娘：“他身后留下了老婆和五个小孩子。”

"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?"

“乔斯，来一下这边。”劳拉拽住妹妹的袖子，把她拽过厨房，拽到绿门的另一边。在那她停了下来，倚着门。“乔斯!”她用吓坏了的声音说，“不管怎么说，我们要停下手头的一切吗?"

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

“停下一切?劳拉”乔斯惊奇地尖叫着，“你什么意思?”

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

“当然是停止花园茶会啦。”为什么乔斯装糊涂呢?

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."

但是乔斯甚至更惊讶了。“停止花园茶会?我亲爱的劳拉，别太荒谬。我们当然不会为此做任何事，没有人期待我们去做，别那么不切实际。’

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

“但是我们不可能在一个人就死在前门外的时候还举办花园茶会呀?”

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.

那确实太不切实际了。因为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。一条宽阔的马路贯穿其中。的确，他们离得太近了。他们实在是太碍眼以至于没有任何合理理由出现在谢尔登大宅子的附近。他们是些被刷成巧克力棕色的又小又简陋的破房子。在花园的小片土地.上不是白菜茎，就是病快快的老母鸡，要不就是西红柿罐头。连他们烟囱里冒的烟都昭示着贫困。孱弱的几缕烟丝一点儿也不像谢尔登家的烟囱里舒展出来的银色轻烟。在这个小巷子里住着洗衣妇、清洁工、修鞋匠和一个用小鸟笼堆满前门的男人。孩子成群结队。当谢尔登家的孩子还小的时候，他们是禁止涉足那里的，因为那里脏话连篇怕把他们熏染坏了。但他们长大后，劳拉和劳里有时候偷偷地在那里经过。那种感觉又恶心、又龌龊。他们都不寒而栗了。但是人总得到处走走、看看。所以他们穿过了那条小巷。

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

“就稍稍想一下在那个穷妇人耳朵里乐队会听起来怎么样。”劳拉说。

"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，劳拉!”乔斯开始真生气了。“要是每次有人出事，你就让乐队停止演奏，那生活得让你弄得多无趣呀!我和你一样为这事感到难过和同情。”她的眼神变得冷酷无情。她用小时候他们打架时的眼神盯着她姐姐。乔斯轻柔地说：“但你不会因为感伤就使一个喝醉的工人起死回生。”

"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?谁说他喝醉了?“劳拉暴怒地转向乔斯。然后她说，就按平常遇到这种情况时的做法，“我要上去告诉妈妈。”

"Do, dear," cooed Jose.

“去吧，亲爱的。”乔斯温柔地说。

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

“妈妈，我能进你房间吗?”劳拉转动了大玻璃门门把。

"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.

“当然了，孩子。怎么了?发生什么事了?谁惹你生气了?”谢尔登太太从她的梳妆桌前转过身。她正在试戴一顶新帽子。

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

“妈妈，有人死了。”劳拉开始说。

"Not in the garden?" interrupted her mother.

“不是在花园里吧?”她妈妈插话。

"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，你吓我一跳!”谢尔登太太舒了口气，摘下了那顶大帽子，把它放在膝盖上。

"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，听着，妈妈，”劳拉说，几乎喘不上气，半哽咽着，她讲了那个可怕的故事。“我们当然不能再举行茶会了，不是吗?”她恳求地说。乐队和客人的到场都会被他们听到的，妈妈；他们是我们的近邻呀。”

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.

令劳拉意外的是，她的妈妈和乔斯的表现一样，这更难让人忍受，因为她看起来甚至是愉快的。谢尔登太太并不把劳拉的话当回事。

"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，我亲爱的孩子，用下你的常识。咱们也只是偶然才听见这事。要是有人死在那儿正常死亡——我都不能理解他们在那些小窄屋里是怎么活下来的——我们应该继续茶会，不是吗?”

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.

劳拉对此只能说“是”，但她觉得这一切都错了。她坐在妈妈的沙发上把靠垫都给捏皱了。

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

“妈妈，这样不会显得我们太无情了吗?”劳拉问。

"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.

“亲爱的!”谢尔登太太拿着那顶帽子站起身，走向劳拉。在劳拉能阻止她之前，一下子把帽子扣在劳拉头上。“我的孩子，”她妈妈说，“这顶帽子归你了。它是为你量身定做的。我戴太年轻了。我还从来没见过你像画一样美。自己照照。”说着就递过来一面手镜。

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

“但是，妈妈，”劳拉又开始了。她无法看自己；她把身体转到一旁。

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

这时谢尔登太太失去了耐心，就像乔斯一样。

"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."

“你太荒谬了，劳拉，”她冷酷地说，“那种人不配得到我们的牺牲。并且像你现在这样破坏大家的兴致也不是很招人同情的。”

"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，”劳拉说，她迅速地走出去回到自己的卧室。凑巧的是，她看见的第一眼就是镜子里的迷人的自己，戴着那顶用金色雏菊和黑长缎带装饰的黑帽子。她从来没想过自己会看起来是这个样子。妈妈对吗? 她想。现在她希望妈妈是对的。我太不切实际了吗?也许是这样的。只有那么一刻她仿佛瞥见那个穷妇人，那群孩子，和那具正被运回家的尸体。但那看起来就像报纸上的照片一样模糊而又不真实。茶会结束后，我会再把这事想起来的。她下定决心。不知为何，那看起来确实是最好的方案了。

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.

午餐在一点半的时候结束了。两点半的时候，他们已经准备好要热闹起来了。穿绿衣服的乐队已经抵达并且在网球场的一角安置好了。

"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."

“我的天呐!”凯蒂梅特兰带着颤音说，“难道他们看起来不像一群会说话的青蛙吗?你应该把他们安排在湖周围，中间叶子上再站个指挥。”

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.

劳里到了，一路上向他们欢呼着去换衣服。一看见他，劳拉就又想起来车夫之死。她想告诉他。如果劳里和别人意见-样，那他们就应该是对的。她一路跟随劳里进了大厅。

"Laurie!"

“劳里!”

"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!”他已经上了一半楼梯，但当他转过身来看到劳拉时，他突然鼓起腮帮、瞪大眼睛看着她。“我的天呐，劳拉!你看起来太迷人了，”劳里说。“绝对是顶一流的帽子!”

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

劳拉轻微地说了声“是吗?”，对劳里笑了笑，最终还是没告诉他自己想说的话。

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，人潮开始涌动。乐队开始演奏，受雇佣的服务生从大宅子跑向帐篷。无论你看向哪里都是散步的夫妇，时而弯腰赏花，时而挥手致意，在草坪上闲适地漫步。他们就像为了今天下午而飞落到谢尔登花园的幸福的鸟儿，飞向——哪儿呢?啊，幸福就是和幸福的人在一起，拍拍手，拍拍脸颊，满眼微笑。

"Darling Laura， how well you look!"

“亲爱的劳拉，你看起来好棒呀!”

"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."

“劳拉，你看起来特别像西班牙女郎。我从来没见过你如此动人!”

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?"

劳拉脸红着，温柔地回应：“您用过茶了吗?需要加冰吗?百香果冰激凌很特别哦。”她跑到爸爸那儿恳求他。“亲爱的爸爸，乐队就不能喝点儿什么吗?”

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

这完美的下午慢慢盛开，慢慢褪色，开到荼靡。

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

“没有比今天更让人开心的茶会了……”“最成功的……”“确实是最……”

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

劳拉帮着妈妈和客人们挥手告别。他们肩并肩地站在门廊内侧直到茶会彻底结束。

"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.

“都结束了，都结束了，谢天谢地，”谢尔登太太说，“去把其他人召集过来，劳拉。我们去喝点儿新鲜咖啡。我太累了。是的，茶会确实很成功。但是天呐，这些派对，这些派对!为什么你们这些孩子坚持举行派对呢?”他们都坐在了冷清的帐篷里。

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

“吃个三明治吧，亲爱的爸爸，我写的标语。”

"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.

“谢谢。”谢尔登先生一口吃掉了整个三明治。他又拿起另一个。“我猜你们还没听到今天早晨发生的悲惨的事故吧?”他说。

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

“亲爱的，”谢尔登太太说着举起自己的手，“我们听说了。还差点儿毁了茶会。劳拉坚持要把茶会推后。”

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

“哦，妈妈!”劳拉不想因此被嘲笑。

"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."

“尽管如此，这确实是个可怕地事故。”谢尔登先生说，“那个小伙子也结婚了。就住在下面的村舍。留下了个遗孀和五六个小孩，他们是这样说的。”

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

一阵尴尬的沉默。谢尔登太太拿着杯子坐立不安。确实，爸爸也太不替别人着想了。

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.

突然她抬起头来。桌子上摆满了三明治、蛋糕、泡芙，都还没吃，都会被浪费掉。她突然想出一个好主意。

"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，”她说。“我们来把食物装满篮子吧。我们给那些穷人送些美味的食物。不管怎么说，这将是孩子们受到的最好的待遇。你们难道不同意吗?她肯定会有邻居们拜访之类的。现在最重要的是把一切准备就绪。劳拉!”她跳了起来“把楼梯柜那里的大篮子拿出来。”

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

“但是，妈妈，你真的觉得这是个好主意吗?”劳拉说。

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

又来了，多稀奇呀，她似乎跟他们剩下的人都不一样。 接受他们茶会的残羹冷炙。那个穷妇人真的愿意这样吗?

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

“当然了。你今天怎么了?一两个小时前，你坚持说要我们要有同情心，现在又——”

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

好吧!劳拉跑去拿那只篮子。篮子被她妈妈塞得满满的。

"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."

“自己拿着，亲爱的，”她说。“就像往常一样跑下去。不，等一下，也拿上这些海芋百合。海芋百合会给那个阶层的人留下深刻印象的。”

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

“但是这些花茎会毁了她的蕾丝连衣裙的。”明智的乔斯说。

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--"

确实是。迟早会毁了的。“那只拿篮子吧，然后，劳拉。”——她妈妈跟随她到了帐篷外——“什么都别解释——”

"What mother?"

“什么，妈妈?”

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

不，还是别给孩子灌输这样的思想了。“没什么!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."

劳拉关上他们花园的门的时候，天已经灰暗了。一条大狗像影子-样从旁边跑过去。路闪烁着白色，并且位于凹地下面的村舍隐藏在浓浓的阴影中。下午过后它看起来多么安宁。现在她要下山去那个死去的男人躺着的地方，她觉得自己办不到。为什么呢?她停了一会儿。并且她觉得那些亲吻、声音、叮当响的勺子、欢笑和青草的气息都还在她的体内存在着。她的心里已经装不下别的任何东西了。太奇怪了1她抬头看看苍白的天空，想的全都是：“是的，这是最成功的茶会。”

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.

现在已经走过了宽阔的路。小径开始了，烟雾弥漫并且阴暗。穿着披肩的女人和戴着花呢帽子的男人匆匆走过。男人宿醉不醒靠在篱笆上；孩子们在门口玩儿。低声的哼唱从又小又破的屋舍中传来。一些屋舍中闪烁着微弱的光，螃蟹一样的影子在窗上移动。劳拉低下头，匆匆前行。她希望现在是穿了外套出来的。她的连衣裙太耀眼了!还有这顶带着天鹅绒缎带的帽子——要是别的帽子就好了!人们在看她吗?肯定是的。她一直都知道来这儿就是个错误。她现在是不是应该回去?不，太晚了。已经到那家了。肯定是。一小群穿黑衣服的人站在外面。门边的一个带拐杖老女人坐在椅子上，看着这一切。她的脚踩在报纸上。当劳拉走近时，声音停下了。人群分开了。就好像她被期望到来，好像他们已经知道她要来。

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."

劳拉非常紧张。她肩头的天鹅绒缎带摇晃着，她对旁边站着的一个女人说：“这是斯科特夫人的家吗?”而那个女人奇怪地笑着说：“是的，姑娘。”

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.

天呐，远离这一切吧!在她步上狭窄的小径敲门时，她实际上说了“帮帮我吧，上帝。”远离那些盯人的目光，或者用什么东西遮住自己，甚至那些女人的披肩也行。我把篮子留下就走，她暗自决定。我甚至不等它空了就走。

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

然后门开了。一个穿黑衣服的瘦小的女人出现在昏暗中。

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

劳拉说:“请问您是斯科特夫人吗?”令她吓了一跳的是，那个女人回答说:“请进来吧，小姐。”接着，劳拉就被关在了过道里。

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

“不，”劳拉说，“我不想进去。我只想把篮子留下。妈妈送了些——”

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.

那个昏暗过道里的瘦小女人似乎并没听见她说的话。“请走这边，小姐。”她用一种谄媚的声音说，劳拉只好跟着她。

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

她发现自己来到了一个歪扭的低矮小厨房，被一盏有烟的灯照亮。有个女人坐在火炉前。

"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?"

“艾玛，”那个带她进来的瘦小生物开口了，“艾玛!是位年轻小姐。”她转向劳拉，意味深长地说：“我是她的姐姐，小姐。您会宽恕她的，不是吗?"

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

“哦，当然!”劳拉说，“请不要打扰她，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，火炉旁的女人转过身来。她的脸是红肿的，眼睛和嘴唇也都肿着，看起来可怕。她似乎好像不能理解为什么劳拉在那里。这意味着什么?为什么这个陌生人带着个篮子站在厨房里?这一切是怎么回事?那张贫穷的脸又皱了起来。

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

“好啦，亲爱的，”另一个女人说，“我要谢谢这位年轻小姐。”

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

她又开始了说：“你会原谅她的，小姐，我确定。”她的脸也肿着，试图挤出一个谄媚的笑容。

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.

劳拉只想离开这儿。她回到通道。门开着。她直接走进了卧房，那个死人躺着的

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，是吗?”艾玛的姐姐说，她掠过劳拉来到床边。“别害怕，小姐。”——现在她的声音听起来欢喜又狡猾，而且她欢喜地拉下被单——“他看起来像一幅画。没啥好看的。过来，亲爱的。”

Laura came.

劳拉走了过来。

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.

那儿躺着那个年轻男人，快睡着了——睡得那么香甜，那么深，看起来离他们都那么遥远。哦，那么远，那么平静。他在做梦。永远不要再叫醒他。他的头陷在枕头里，眼睛紧闭，在紧闭的眼皮底下永远的沉睡了。他放弃了自己的梦想。花园茶会、篮子、蕾丝连衣裙跟他又有什么关系呢?他离那些东西太远了。他是那么奇妙与美好。当他们欢笑和乐队演奏时，这个奇迹已经来到了小巷。幸福……幸福……一切都很好，那张沉睡的脸仿佛在说。本该如此。我是满足的。

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.

但还是一样，你会流下眼泪，她不可能什么都不说就离开房间。劳拉孩子般地响亮地哭了出来。

"Forgive my hat，" she said.

“请原谅我的帽子。”她说。

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.

这次她没再等艾玛的姐姐。她找到了出去的路，穿过小径，经过所有穿黑衣服的人。在小径的拐角处，她遇上了劳里。

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

他从阴影处走出来。“是你吗，劳拉?”

"Yes."

“是的。”

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

“妈妈等得都焦虑了。你没事吧?”

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

“是的，挺好的。哦，劳里!”她挽住他的胳膊，靠在他身上。

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

“我说，你没哭吧?”她哥哥问。

Laura shook her head. She was.

劳拉摇了摇头。其实她在哭。

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

劳里的胳膊环过劳拉的肩膀。“别哭了，”他用温暖、充满爱意的声音说，“很可怕吗?”

"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，”劳拉啜泣着，“只是太不可思议了。但是劳里——”她停了下来，看着她的哥哥。“人生难道不是，”她结结巴巴地说，“人生难道不是——”但人生是什么她也解释不了。不过没关系。劳里完全理解。

“Isn't it, darling?" said Laurie.

“不是吗，亲爱的?”劳里说。