开着的窗户

开着的窗户

The Open Window

“我姑妈马上就会下楼来的，纳特尔先生，”一位十五岁、神态非常沉着冷静的年轻姑娘说，“在此期间，您必须试着忍受一下我了。”

“My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel,” said a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen; “in the meantime you must try and put up with me.”

弗兰姆顿·纳特尔努力想说一些得体的话，既能恰如其分地讨好眼前的这位侄女，又不至于过分怠慢即将到来的姑妈。

Framton Nuttel endeavoured to say the correct something which should duly flatter the niece of the moment without unduly discounting the aunt that was to come.

私下里，他比以往任何时候都更加怀疑，对接二连三的完全陌生的人进行这种正式拜访，对于他理应正在接受的神经疗养是否会有太大帮助。

Privately he doubted more than ever whether these formal visits on a succession of total strangers would do much towards helping the nerve cure which he was supposed to be undergoing.

“我知道会是什么样子的，”当他准备搬到这个乡村休养所时，他的姐姐曾这样说；“你会把自己埋在那个地方，不和任何一个活人说话，而你的神经会因为闷闷不乐而比以往任何时候都更糟糕。

“I know how it will be,” his sister had said when he was preparing to migrate to this rural retreat; “you will bury yourself down there and not speak to a living soul, and your nerves will be worse than ever from moping.

我干脆给你写些介绍信，介绍给我认识的那里的所有人。就我记忆所及，他们中的一些人还是相当友好的。”

I shall just give you letters of introduction to all the people I know there. Some of them, as far as I can remember, were quite nice.”

弗兰姆顿不知道萨普尔顿夫人——他要把其中一封介绍信递交的那位女士——是否属于友好的那一类人。

Framton wondered whether Mrs. Sappleton, the lady to whom he was presenting one of the letters of introduction, came into the nice division.

“这周围的人您认识很多吗？”侄女在断定他们已经进行了足够的无声交流后问道。

“Do you know many of the people round here?” asked the niece, when she judged that they had had sufficient silent communion.

“几乎一个人都不认识，”弗兰姆顿说，“大约四年前，我姐姐曾住在这里，在牧师公馆里，您知道的，她给了我几封介绍信，介绍给这里的几个人。”

“Hardly a soul,” said Framton. “My sister was staying here, at the rectory, you know, some four years ago, and she gave me letters of introduction to some of the people here.”

他说出最后那句话时，带着一种明显的懊恼语气。

He made the last statement in a tone of distinct regret.

“那么您对我姑妈几乎一无所知了？”这位沉着的年轻姑娘紧接着追问道。

“Then you know practically nothing about my aunt?” pursued the self-possessed young lady.

“只知道她的姓名和地址，”来客承认道。他正琢磨着萨普尔顿夫人究竟是已婚还是寡居的状态。房间里某种难以言喻的东西似乎暗示着有男士居住的痕迹。

“Only her name and address,” admitted the caller. He was wondering whether Mrs. Sappleton was in the married or widowed state. An undefinable something about the room seemed to suggest masculine habitation.

“她的大悲剧就发生在整整三年前，”这个小女孩说，“那应该是在您姐姐离开之后的事了。”

“Her great tragedy happened just three years ago,” said the child; “that would be since your sister’s time.”

“她的悲剧？”弗兰姆顿问道；不知怎么的，在这个宁静祥和的乡村地方，悲剧显得格格不入。

“Her tragedy?” asked Framton; somehow in this restful country spot tragedies seemed out of place.