第五章（第4/10页）

“完全没有必要，我最好被蒙在鼓里……不过，你确实跟我持同样的观点，认为较之天长地久的夫妻情感，昙花一现的鱼水之欢实在不值一提？难道你不赞同性爱应该以长期生活的需要为前提？只是对其加以利用，因为我们只是不得已而为之？话说回来，片刻的欢愉怎谈得上重要？生命的全部课题不就是经过岁月的磨砺，潜移默化出完整的人格么？不就是过完备的生活么？不完备的生活根本毫无意义。如果性欲得不到满足，让你觉得有缺憾，那么大可去外面寻找新的恋情。如果没有子嗣，让你感到不够完美，那么只要你愿意，跟其他男人生个也无妨。可做所有这些都是以拥有完备的生活为根本目标，只有这样，一切才会变得持久而又和谐。你我可以携手去实现这一目标……难道你不是这样想么？……只要我们适应这种需要，并将它与我们按部就班的生活融为一体。难道你不这样认为么？”这席话让康妮感到有些不知所措。她清楚，从理论上讲，丈夫的话无可指摘。但想到自己真的要和眼前的男人过按部就班的生活……她就不禁踌躇起来。难道自己的余生真的注定和他纠缠在一起？再无别的出路？仅此而已么？她只能满足于和他安安稳稳地过日子，像块平常的布料，或许偶尔能够编织出几朵冒险之花。但她如何能知道明年的想法呢？人怎样能够知道呢？谁能够轻而易举地点头称是？并保证此承诺长期有效呢？简简单单的一个“是”字，脱口便可说出！人为何会被这个轻如蝴蝶的字眼缚住手脚？它准会振翅飞远，消失不见，被其他的“是”与“不是”所取代！就像是零乱的蝶群。“我想你是对的，克利福德。在可以预见的范围内，我赞同你的想法。只不过，生活难免不会有沧海桑田的变化。”“但在此种剧变发生之前，你确实同意我的观点？”“没错！我想我同意，绝无虚言。”她看到一只褐色西班牙猎犬从岔路冲出来，扬起头盯着他们，低声吼叫着。紧随其后的是个陌生男人，他手持猎枪，脚步轻快地走上前来，似乎作势要向他们开火；然而却停住脚步，弯腰行礼，转身向山下走去。原来只是那个新来的守林人，但他着实把康妮吓得够呛，他陡然现身，犹如凶神恶煞。在康妮眼中，这家伙简直就是从天而降的混世魔王。

He was a man in dark green velveteens and gaiters...the old style, with a red face and red moustache and distant eyes. He was going quickly downhill.

他身穿深绿色棉绒长裤，系着绑腿……打扮老派，面色红润，生着红色的髭须，目光冷峻。此刻他正快步向山下奔去。

"Mellors!" called Clifford.

“梅勒斯！”克利福德喊道。

The man faced lightly round, and saluted with a quick little gesture, a soldier! "Will you turn the chair round and get it started? That makes it easier," said Clifford. The man at once slung his gun over his shoulder, and came forward with the same curious swift, yet soft movements, as if keeping invisible. He was moderately tall and lean, and was silent. He did not look at Connie at all, only at the chair.

那男子稍稍扭过头来，动作利落地敬了个礼，他显然当过兵。“你把我的轮椅掉过来，然后推它一把。这样驱动起来会更容易些。”克利福德说。那男人立刻把枪扛到肩头，以先前那种迅捷的速度走上前来，他的步伐如此之轻，好像不愿让人发觉似的。他中等身高，没有半点赘肉，沉默寡言。他看都不看康妮，目光全部集中在轮椅上。

"Connie, this is the new game-keeper, Mellors. You haven't spoken to her ladyship yet, Mellors?” "No, Sir!" came the ready, neutral words.

“康妮，这就是新来的守林人，梅勒斯。你还没跟夫人说过话吧，梅勒斯？”“没有，爵爷！”他的回答脱口而出，不带有任何感情。

The man lifted his hat as he stood, showing his thick, almost fair hair. He stared straight into Connie's eyes, with a perfect, fearless, impersonal look, as if he wanted to see what she was like. He made her feel shy. She bent her head to him shyly, and he changed his hat to his left hand and made her a slight bow, like a gentleman; but he said nothing at all. He remained for a moment still, with his hat in his hand.

那男人站在那里举举帽子，露出一头浓密的近乎金色的头发。他毫不避讳地直视着康妮的眼睛，炯炯的目光异常平静，毫无惧意，好像要将康妮看穿似的。康妮觉得脸上有些发烧。她羞怯地向他点点头，他把帽子交到左手，绅士般地轻鞠一躬，但却只字不言。他手拿帽子，站在原地动也不动。

"But you've been here some time, haven't you?" Connie said to him.

“你来这里有段日子了吧？”康妮问他。

"Eight months, Madam...your Ladyship!" he corrected himself calmly.

“八个月了，女士……夫人！”他纠正了自己的错误，没有半点慌乱。

"And do you like it?" She looked him in the eyes. His eyes narrowed a little, with irony, perhaps with impudence.

“喜欢这儿么？”她凝视着他的眼睛。他的双目微微眯起，眼神中满是嘲讽，又或是傲慢。

"Why, yes, thank you, your Ladyship! I was reared here..." He gave another slight bow, turned, put his hat on, and strode to take hold of the chair. His voice on the last words had fallen into the heavy broad drag of the dialect...perhaps also in mockery, because there had been no trace of dialect before. He might almost be a gentleman. Anyhow, he was a curious, quick, separate fellow, alone, but sure of himself.

“哦，喜欢，谢谢您的关心，夫人！我在这儿长大……”他再次轻鞠一躬，转过身，戴上帽子，跨步向前抓住轮椅。他的话最后几个字带有明显的拖腔，本地的方言就是如此……但或许又是有意取笑，因为他之前说话时根本不带口音。他几乎称得上是位绅士。然而，也是个身手敏捷、独来独往的怪家伙，孑然一身，但却自信满满。

Clifford started the little engine, the man carefully turned the chair, and set it nose-forwards to the incline that curved gently to the dark hazel thicket.

克利福德发动微型引擎，梅勒斯小心翼翼地调转轮椅，前端对着弯弯曲曲的下坡路，通向幽暗的榛丛。

"Is that all then, Sir Clifford?" asked the man.

“还有什么吩咐，克利福德爵士？”他问。

"No, you'd better come along in case she sticks. The engine isn't really strong enough for the uphill work.” The man glanced round for his dog...a thoughtful glance. The spaniel looked at him and faintly moved its tail. A little smile, mocking or teasing her, yet gentle, came into his eyes for a moment, then faded away, and his face was expressionless. They went fairly quickly down the slope, the man with his hand on the rail of the chair, steadying it. He looked like a free soldier rather than a servant. And something about him reminded Connie of Tommy Dukes.