下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
One night, two or three weeks after the bridal return, when the boy was gone to bed, Rhoda sat a long time over the turf ashes that she had raked out in front of her to extinguish them. She contemplated so intently the new wife, as presented to her in her minds eye over the embers, that she forgot the lapse of time. At last, wearied with her days work, she too retired.
这对新人回来两三个星期后的一天晚上，男孩已经睡了，罗达在自己耙出来的泥炭灰前坐了许久，好让它们熄灭。她面对着那些余烬，按照她想象的模样，寻思着那位新妻子。她思索得那么专注，都忘记了时间过去了多久。最后，白天的工作让她感到疲惫，于是她也去睡了。
But the figure which had occupied her so much during this and the previous days was not to be banished at night. For the first time Gertrude Lodge visited the supplanted woman in her dreams. Rhoda Brook dreamed—since her assertion that she really saw, before falling asleep, was not to be believed—that the young wife, in the pale silk dress and white bonnet, but with features shockingly distorted, and wrinkled as by age, was sitting upon her chest as she lay. The pressure of Mrs. Lodges person grew heavier; the blue eyes peered cruelly into her face; and then the figure thrust forward its left hand mockingly, so as to make the wedding—ring it wore glitter in Rhodas eyes. Maddened mentally, and nearly suffocated by pressure, the sleeper struggled; the incubus, still regarding her, withdrew to the foot of the bed, only, however, to come forward by degrees, resume her seat, and flash her left hand as before.
这些日子以来一直萦绕在她心头的那个形象却无法在夜晚被驱走。格特鲁德·洛奇第一次进入了这个被取代的女人的梦境。罗达·布鲁克坚信自己在睡着之前看见了那位年轻的妻子，而这不足为信。她梦见年轻的妻子穿着浅色的丝绸裙子，戴着一顶白色的无边帽，面容骇人地扭曲着，长满了岁月侵蚀出的皱纹。罗达躺着，年轻的妻子就坐在她的胸口上。洛奇太太的身体压得越来越重。她用蓝眼睛冷漠地盯着罗达的脸，然后她嘲讽地向前伸出自己的左手，好让上面戴着的婚戒在罗达眼前闪闪发光。睡梦中的罗达发了疯，几乎要在这重压之下窒息，这熟睡的人挣扎着。而这梦魇仍然紧盯着她，才刚刚退到床脚，却又一步步移上前来，重新坐上她的胸口，像刚才那样炫耀着自己的左手。
Gasping for breath, Rhoda, in a last desperate effort, swung out her right hand, seized the confronting spectre by its obtrusive left arm, and whirled it backward to the floor, starting up herself as she did so with a low cry.
罗达艰难地喘息着，她孤注一掷，伸出右手抓住眼前这个幽灵伸出的左臂，猛地把它向后甩向地板，同时她发出一声低沉的叫喊，一下子坐了起来。
O, merciful heaven! she cried, sitting on the edge of the bed in a cold sweat; that was not a dream—she was here!
“噢，仁慈的上帝啊！” 她坐在床边，浑身冷汗，她喊道， “那不是梦——她刚才就在这儿！”
She could feel her antagonists arm within her grasp even now—the very flesh and bone of it, as it seemed. She looked on the floor whither she had whirled the spectre, but there was nothing to be seen.
她现在依然能感觉到自己手里攥着对手的胳膊——似乎能真切地感觉到上面的骨头和肉。她看着地面，自己刚才就把幽灵甩在那儿了，可是地上却什么也没有。
Rhoda Brook slept no more that night, and when she went milking at the next dawn they noticed how pale and haggard she looked. The milk that she drew quivered into the pail; her hand had not calmed even yet, and still retained the feel of the arm. She came home to breakfast as wearily as if it had been suppertime.
那晚，罗达·布鲁克就再也没有睡着了。第二天破晓的时候她去挤奶，奶场的人都注意到她看上去面色苍白、面容憔悴。她颤颤巍巍地把挤好的奶倒进桶里。她的手到现在依然没镇定下来，还是能感觉到那只胳膊的存在。她回到家吃早饭，疲惫得像是现在已经到了吃晚饭的时间一样。
What was that noise in your chimmer, mother, last night? said her son. You fell off the bed, surely?
“妈妈，昨晚你屋里是什么动静？” 她儿子问， “你肯定从床上掉下来了吧？”
Did you hear anything fall? At what time?
“你听见有东西摔下来的声音了吗？什么时候？”
Just when the clock struck two.
“就在钟敲两点的时候。”
She could not explain, and when the meal was done went silently about her household work, the boy assisting her, for he hated going afield on the farms, and she indulged his reluctance. Between eleven and twelve the garden—gate clicked, and she lifted her eyes to the window. At the bottom of the garden, within the gate, stood the woman of her vision. Rhoda seemed transfixed.
她没法解释。吃完饭后，她一声不吭地做着家务。男孩帮着她干家务，因为他不想大老远地跑到农场里去干活。她也迁就了男孩的不情愿。过了十一点，还没到十二点的时候，园子门咔嗒作响，她抬眼看向窗户。她幻象中的女人正站在园子尽头的院门口处。罗达好像呆住了。
Ah, she said she would come! exclaimed the boy, also observing her.
“啊，她说她会来的！” 男孩大声说，他也看见了她。
Said so—when? How does she know us?
“她这么说过？什么时候？她怎么知道我们的？”
I have seen and spoken to her. I talked to her yesterday.
“我跟她见过面，也跟她说过话。我昨天还跟她聊了几句。”
I told you, said the mother, flushing indignantly, never to speak to anybody in that house, or go near the place.
“我告诉过你，” 母亲说道，她的脸由于愤怒变得通红， “不要跟那房子里的任何人说话，也不要靠近那个地方。”
I did not speak to her till she spoke to me. And I did not go near the place. I met her in the road.
“她先跟我说话，我才跟她说话的。而且我也没有走近那个地方。我在路上遇见了她。”
What did you tell her?
“你跟她说了什么？”
Nothing. She said, "Are you the poor boy who had to bring the heavy load from market? " And she looked at my boots, and said they would not keep my feet dry if it came on wet, because they were so cracked. I told her I lived with my mother, and we had enough to do to keep ourselves, and thats how it was; and she said then, "Ill come and bring you some better boots, and see your mother. " She gives away things to other folks in the meads besides us.
“没说什么。她说： ‘你是那个得从集市往回背大包的可怜男孩吗？’ 她看着我的靴子，又说如果路上湿，我的脚就会湿，因为靴子裂了很多口子。我告诉她我跟我妈妈住在一起，我们有活干，能维持自己的生活，就是这样。然后她又说： ‘我会去你家，给你带双好点的靴子，顺便看看你的妈妈。’ 她不止送东西给我们，也给草场上的其他人送。”
Mrs. Lodge was by this time close to the door—not in her silk, as Rhoda had seen her in the bed—chamber, but in a morning hat, and gown of common light material, which became her better than silk. On her arm she carried a basket.
洛奇太太这时已经来到房门前——她并不像罗达在卧室里看到的那样穿着丝绸衣裳，而是戴着一顶晨帽，穿着一袭普通轻薄面料的长服，这身装扮比丝绸更合身。她的胳膊上挎着一个篮子。
The impression remaining from the nights experience was still strong. Brook had almost expected to see the wrinkles, the scorn, and the cruelty on her visitors face.
那天夜里的经历留下的印象依旧深刻，布鲁克几乎料定能在这位访客的脸上看到皱纹、轻蔑和残酷。
She would have escaped an interview, had escape been possible. There was, however, no backdoor to the cottage, and in an instant the boy had lifted the latch to Mrs. Lodges gentle knock.
如果有可能逃避的话，她就会逃开这次会面。然而，这屋子没有后门，而且洛奇太太刚轻轻地敲了敲门，男孩就马上拉开了门闩。
I see I have come to the right house, said she, glancing at the lad, and smiling. But I was not sure till you opened the door.
“我想我找对房子了。” 她微笑着看了男孩一眼，说道， “但是在你开门之前我还不敢确定。”
The figure and action were those of the phantom; but her voice was so indescribably sweet, her glance so winning, her smile so tender, so unlike that of Rhodas midnight visitant, that the latter could hardly believe the evidence of her senses. She was truly glad that she had not hidden away in sheer aversion, as she had been inclined to do. In her basket Mrs. Lodge brought the pair of boots that she had promised to the boy, and other useful articles.
她的身形和动作都跟那个幽灵一样，但她的声音却是无法言喻的甜美，目光魅力十足，微笑又是如此温柔，跟罗达那个午夜的幽魂截然不同。这让罗达很难相信自己的所感所观。罗达很高兴自己没像原本所想的那样，出于反感而躲起来。洛奇太太的篮子里装着她许诺要给男孩的那双靴子，还有其他一些有用的物件。
At these proofs of a kindly feeling towards her and hers Rhodas heart reproached her bitterly. This innocent young thing should have her blessing and not her curse. When she left them a light seemed gone from the dwelling. Two days later she came again to know if the boots fitted; and less than a fortnight after that paid Rhoda another call. On this occasion the boy was absent.
这些都证明了洛奇太太对罗达和罗达家人非常友善，这让罗达在心里狠狠地责备自己。这位纯真的年轻人应当得到祝福，而不是诅咒。她离开时，仿佛有一束光从屋里消失了。两天后她又来了，想知道靴子是不是合脚。在这之后不出两个星期，她又来拜访了一次。这一次男孩不在家。
I walk a good deal, said Mrs. Lodge, and your house is the nearest outside our own parish. I hope you are well. You dont look quite well.
“我常常出来散步。” 洛奇太太说， “出了我们教区，数你的房子最近了。希望你一切都好。你看起来不大舒服。”
Rhoda said she was well enough; and, indeed, though the paler of the two, there was more of the strength that endures in her well—defined features and large frame, than in the soft—cheeked young woman before her. The conversation became quite confidential as regarded their powers and weaknesses; and when Mrs. Lodge was leaving, Rhoda said, I hope you will find this air agree with you, maam, and not suffer from the damp of the water—meads.
罗达说她很好，确实，尽管两人中罗达更显苍白，可是比起她面前这个脸蛋娇嫩的年轻女子，罗达清晰可辨的容颜和高大的身架中拥有更强大的力量。她们谈到了各自的强处和弱点，对话变得非常亲密起来。洛奇太太走时，罗达说： “希望您适应这里的空气，夫人，也希望您不会因为浸水草地的潮气而受苦。”
The younger one replied that there was not much doubt of it, her general health being usually good. Though, now you remind me, she added, I have one little ailment which puzzles me. It is nothing serious, but I cannot make it out.
更年轻的那位回答说一定不会有问题，因为她的身体总是很好。 “不过，你现在倒是提醒了我，” 她又说， “我有个小毛病，叫我挺伤脑筋的。也不是什么大问题，可是我弄不清是怎么回事。”
She uncovered her left hand and arm; and their outline confronted Rhodas gaze as the exact original of the limb she had beheld and seized in her dream. Upon the pink round surface of the arm were faint marks of an unhealthy colour, as if produced by a rough grasp. Rhodas eyes became riveted on the discolorations; she fancied that she discerned in them the shape of her own four fingers.
她露出左手和左臂，罗达看到，这正是她在梦中看见并且抓住的那只胳膊。胳臂粉红圆润的皮肤上有几道淡淡的印迹，呈现着不健康的颜色，像是粗暴的抓握所留下的。罗达的眼睛紧盯着那些变了颜色的地方，想象着能从中辨认出自己四根手指的形状。
How did it happen? she said mechanically.
“这是怎么弄的？” 她呆呆地问道。
I cannot tell, replied Mrs. Lodge, shaking her head. One night when I was sound asleep, dreaming I was away in some strange place, a pain suddenly shot into my arm there, and was so keen as to awaken me. I must have struck it in the daytime, I suppose, though I dont remember doing so. She added, laughing, I tell my dear husband that it looks just as if he had flown into a rage and struck me there. o, i daresay it will soon disappear.
“我也说不上来。” 洛奇太太边摇头边说， “有天晚上我睡得正香，梦到自己在某个陌生的地方。突然我的胳膊一阵刺痛，很疼，都把我疼醒了。我想我肯定是在白天撞了它一下，可是我不记得撞过啊。” 她笑着继续说道， “我跟我亲爱的丈夫说，那痕迹就像是他突然发了脾气，打了那儿一样。噢，我肯定痕迹很快就会消失的。”
Ha, ha! Yes... On what night did it come?
“哈，哈！是的……是哪天夜里出现的？”
Mrs. Lodge considered, and said it would be a fortnight ago on the morrow. When I awoke I could not remember where I was, she added, till the clock striking two reminded me.
洛奇太太想了想，说到明天就整整两个星期了。 “我醒来的时候记不起梦见自己去了哪里了。” 她接着说道， “直到钟敲了两点钟，我才回过神儿来。”
She had named the night and the hour of Rhodas spectral encounter, and Brook felt like a guilty thing. The artless disclosure startled her; she did not reason on the freaks of coincidence; and all the scenery of that ghastly night returned with double vividness to her mind.
她说出了罗达遇见幻影的那一夜以及钟点，这让罗达觉得自己有罪似的。洛奇太太不加矫饰地透露实情，这让罗达感到震惊。罗达并没有去思考这一蹊跷的巧合，那个可怕夜晚的一幕幕又倍加生动地出现在她脑海里。
O, can it be, she said to herself, when her visitor had departed, that I exercise a malignant power over people against my own will? She knew that she had been slily called a witch since her fall; but never having understood why that particular stigma had been attached to her, it had passed disregarded. Could this be the explanation, and had such things as this ever happened before?
“噢，难道说，” 客人走后她自言自语道， “我能按自己的意愿，对别人施加恶毒的力量吗？” 她知道自她失身之后，人们就偷偷地叫她女巫，尽管她从不明白为什么人们要把这个污名加在她身上，她也没去管它，随它去了。这就是原因吗？类似的事情以前也发生过吗？
CHAPTER 4 A suggestion