名著·娜娜 - 第19章


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  太太没有听见她的话。她俯视脚下的这片产业:占地有七八阿尔邦①,四面有围墙。这时,菜园的景色把她完全吸引住了,她连忙向楼下奔去,在楼梯上与女仆撞了个满怀,她结结巴巴地说道:"园子里长满了白菜!……啊!白菜有这么大!……还有生菜,酸模,葱雨下大了。她打开她的白绸太阳伞,跑到菜园中的小径上。头,应有尽有!快快来吧。" "太太这样会生病的!"佐爱静静地停留在石阶的遮檐下,大声叫道。但是,娜娜什么都想看看。她每发现一样新鲜东西,都惊喜地叫喊起来。"佐爱!这里有菠菜!快来看呀!……这里有朝鲜蓟!它们的样子真古怪。这些朝鲜蓟会开花吗?……瞧!这是什么?我不认识……来吧,佐爱,也许你知道。"女仆听了一动也不动。太太大概看得着迷了。现在,下起滂沱大雨,那把白绸小阳伞已经完全变黑了;它遮盖不住娜娜,她的裙子上流着水。可是,这一切丝毫不影响她的兴致。她在滂沱大雨下观看菜园和果园,在每棵树前面都要停下来看看,在每一棵蔬菜前都要弯下腰来观察一下。接着,她跑到每口井边,望望井底,她又掀起一个木头架子,看看下面有什么东西,只见一只硕大无朋的南瓜,她出神地看了一会儿。她真想走遍每条小径,马上拥有这一切,而这一切正是她过去拖着破旧的女工鞋走在巴黎街道上时所梦寐以求的。雨下得越来越大了,但是她并没有感觉到,她遗憾的仅仅是天快黑下来了。现在她看不清楚了,就用手去摸,一定要弄清楚是什么东西。突然,在黄昏中,她辨认出草莓来,于是,她像孩子一样大声叫道:

   "Strawberries! Strawberries! There are some here; I can feel them. A plate, Zoe! Come and pick strawberries.""

  草莓!草莓!这里有草莓,我感觉到了!……佐爱,拿一只碟子来!来摘草莓。"

   And dropping her sunshade, Nana crouched down in the mire under the full force of the downpour. With drenched hands she began gathering the fruit among the leaves. But Zoe in the meantime brought no plate, and when the young woman rose to her feet again she was frightened. She thought she had seen a shadow close to her.

  娜娜蹲在泥泞里,扔掉了阳伞,任凭暴雨打在身上。她采摘草莓,两只手在叶丛中,手上淌着水。然而,佐爱并没有拿盘子来。娜娜站起来时,吓了一跳。似乎有一个影子在她面前闪过。

   "It's some beast!" she screamed."

  一头牲口!"她喊道。

   But she stood rooted to the path in utter amazement. It was a man, and she recognized him.

  她惊愕得木立在小路中间。那个影子是个男人,她认出他来了。

  怎么!是宝宝!……你到这儿来干什么,宝宝?"

   "'Gad, I've come--that's all!" replied Georges."

  是我,没错!"乔治回答道,"我来了。"

   Her head swam.

  她惊讶得目瞪口呆。

   "You knew I'd come through the gardener telling you? Oh, that poor child! Why, he's soaking!""

  你是从园丁那儿知道我来的吧?……啊!这个孩子!他全身湿透了!"

   "Oh, I'll explain that to you! The rain caught me on my way here, and then, as I didn't wish to go upstream as far as Gumieres, I crossed the Choue and fell into a blessed hole.""

  啊!我告诉你吧。我在路上遇了雨。后来,我不想沿河而上去居米埃尔过桥,就涉水过了舒河,我掉进一个该死的深潭里。"

  顿时娜娜把草莓忘记了。她浑身打着哆嗦,心里对乔治满怀怜悯。可怜的治治掉进了深潭里!她把他拉向屋子里,说要给他生一炉旺火让他烤烤。

   "You know," he murmured, stopping her among the shadows, "I was in hiding because I was afraid of being scolded, like in Paris, when I come and see you and you're not expecting me.""

  你知道,"在昏暗中,乔治截住她的话,喃喃说道,"我到了这里后,就躲起来了,因为我怕像在巴黎那样,没有约好就来看你,会挨你骂。"

   She made no reply but burst out laughing and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Up till today she had always treated him like a naughty urchin, never taking his declarations seriously and amusing herself at his expense as though he were a little man of no consequence whatever. There was much ado to install him in the house. She absolutely insisted on the fire being lit in her bedroom, as being the most comfortable place for his reception. Georges had not surprised Zoe, who was used to all kinds of encounters, but the gardener, who brought the wood upstairs, was greatly nonplused at sight of this dripping gentleman to whom he was certain he had not opened the front door. He was, however, dismissed, as he was no longer wanted.A lamp lit up the room, and the fire burned with a great bright flame

  她没有回答就笑起来,接着在他的额头上吻了一下。直到这一天,她一直把他当成一个孩子,从来不把他的求爱的话当成真的,只是把他看成一个无足轻重的孩子,只是逗弄逗弄他而已。怎样把乔治安顿下来,现在成了麻烦事。她真想把火生在自己的卧室里,这样呆在里面舒服些。佐爱看见乔治并不感到惊讶,因为她遇见过各种各样的人,这一切她已习以为常了。可是,园丁送柴禾上楼时,见到这位浑身湿漉漉的先生,便愣在那儿,他没有给这位先生开过门,这是肯定无疑的。女主人这时用不着园丁,便把他打发走了。一盏灯照亮着卧室,炉子里发出熊熊的火苗。.

   "He'll never get dry, and he'll catch cold," said Nana, seeing Georges beginning to shiver."

  他身上的衣服烤不干,他会感冒的。"娜娜见乔治打了一个哆嗦,说道。

   She was on the point of calling the gardener back when an idea struck her. Zoe, who was unpacking the trunks in the dressing room, brought her mistress a change of underwear, consisting of a shift and some petticoats with a dressing jacket.

  可是连一条男人的裤子也没有!她正要叫园丁时,突然想出了一个主意,叫佐爱把她的衣服拿来。佐爱到梳妆室里打开箱子,给太太送来更换的内衣,有睡衣,裙子和一件晨衣。

  太好了!"娜娜叫道,"这些衣服治治全能穿。嗯?你不嫌我吧……等你的衣服烤干了,再换上你的衣服,然后你赶快回家,免得你妈妈骂你……赶紧换衣服吧,我也要到梳妆室里去换衣服了。"

   Ten minutes afterward, when she reappeared in a tea gown, she clasped her hands in a perfect ecstasy.

  十分钟后,她穿着睡衣走出来,高兴得拍起手来,叫道:

   "Oh, the darling! How sweet he looks dressed like a little woman!""

  啊!这个小宝贝,扮成小娘儿们,真逗人!"

   He had simply slipped on a long nightgown with an insertion front, a pair of worked drawers and the dressing jacket, which was a long cambric garment trimmed with lace. Thus attiredmade for him, And there and with his delicate young arms showing and his bright damp hair falling almost to his shoulders, he looked just like a girl.

  他只穿了一件宽大的镶边睡衣,一条绣花长裤,外面罩了一件长长的带衣边细麻布晨衣。他穿着这一身衣服,加上他这个金发青年的裸露着的肩膀,浅黄色的还没干的长发披散在肩上,活像一个女孩。

   "Why, he's as slim as I am!" said Nana, putting her arm round his waist. "Zoe, just come here and see how it suits him. It's were no men's trousers in her house!eh? All except the bodice part, which is too large. He hasn't got as much as I have, poor, dear Zizi!""

  他和我一样苗条!"娜娜搂着他的腰部说道,"佐爱,来看看吧!这一身衣服他穿得多合身……嗯!这真好极了,除了胸部太宽大外……他的胸围还比不上我的胸围大呢,这个可怜的治治。"

  啊!当然啦,我这儿瘪了一点。"乔治莞尔一笑,低声说道。

   All three grew very merry about it. Nana had set to work buttoning the dressing jacket from top to bottom so as to make him quite decent. Then she turned him round as though he were a doll, gave him little thumps, made the skirt stand well out behind. After which she asked him questions. Was he comfortable? Did he feel warm? Zounds, yes, he was comfortable! Nothing fitted more closely and warmly than a woman's shift; had he been able, he would always have worn one. He moved round and about therein, delighted with the fine linen and the soft touch of that unmanly garment, in the folds of which he thought he discovered some of Nana's own warm life.

  他们三个人都乐开了怀。娜娜替他把晨衣的扣子从上到下都扣上,让他看上去显得端庄整齐。她把他当作洋娃娃转过来,转过去,在他身上拍拍打打,让裙子的后部鼓起来。接着,她又问他这样,问他那样,问他穿上这身衣服舒服不舒服,暖不暖和。当然罗,他觉得很舒服。穿什么也比不上穿女人的睡衣暖和,如果可能的话,他要永远穿着这身衣服。穿着这身衣服,他感到高兴的是,料子很细软,衣服很宽松,而且有一股香味,他似乎从衣服里找到了娜娜一点温暖的生命似的。

   Meanwhile Zoe had taken the soaked clothes down to the kitchen in order to dry them as quickly as possible in front of a vine-branch fire. Then Georges, as he lounged in an easy chair, ventured to make a confession.

  这时候,佐爱已经把湿衣服拿到楼下厨房里去了,放在用葡萄藤生起的火前,以便尽快烤干。这时,乔治往沙发里一躺,壮着胆子说老实话了。

   "I say, are you going to feed this evening? I'm dying of hunger. I haven't dined.""

  喂,你今天晚上不吃饭了吗?……我呢,我可饿得要命。我还没有吃饭哩。"

   Nana was vexed. The great silly thing to go sloping off from Mamma's with an empty stomach, just to chuck himself into a hole full of water! But she was as hungry as a hunter too. They certainly must feed! Only they would have to eat what they could get. Whereupon a round table was rolled up in front of the fire, and the queerest of dinners was improvised thereon. Zoe ran down to the gardener's, he having cooked a mess of cabbage soup in case Madame should not dine at Orleans before her arrival. Madame, indeed, had forgotten to tell him what he was to get ready in the letter she had sent him. Fortunately the cellar was well furnished. Accordingly they had cabbage soup, followed by a piece of bacon. Then Nana rummaged in her handbag and found quite a heap of provisions which she had taken the precaution of stuffing into it. There was a Strasbourg pate, for instance, and a bag of sweet-meats and some oranges. So they both ate away like ogres and, while they satisfied their healthy young appetites, treated one another with easy good fellowship. Nana kept calling Georges "dear old girl," a form of address which struck her as at once tender and familiar. At dessert, in order not to give Zoe any more trouble, they used the same spoon turn and turn about while demolishing a pot of preserves they had discovered at the top of a cupboard.

  娜娜听了生气了。真是个蠢孩子,空着肚子从妈妈家里溜出来,还掉在一个水潭里!可是她自己也饿得慌。当然应该吃饭!不过,只能有什么就吃什么。于是,他们把独脚小圆桌推到了火炉前面,临时凑合了一顿古怪可笑的晚饭。佐爱跑到园丁那里,园丁已经做好了白菜汤,准备给太太吃,如果她来这里之前,在奥尔良没有吃晚饭的话。太太在信里忘记告诉他应该准备些什么东西。幸亏地窖里有不少东西。他们有了白菜汤,加上一块肥肉。接着,娜娜又在她的包里找出了不少东西,那是她在临行前,考虑周全而塞进去的食品:一小听鹅肝酱,一袋糖果,几个橙子。他们两人狼吞虎咽地吃起来,胃口好得像是二十岁的年轻人,像朋友那样,无拘无束。娜娜叫乔治:"亲爱的小妞儿。"她觉得这样叫更亲昵,更温情。吃餐后点心时,为了不打扰佐爱,两人用同一把汤匙,轮流着吃,把在衣柜上找到的一罐果酱吃得精光。

  啊!我亲爱的小妞儿,"娜娜把独脚小圆桌推开,"我已有十年没有这样的好胃口了。"

   Yet it was growing late, and she wanted to send her boy off for fear he should be suspected of all sorts of things. But he kept declaring that he had plenty of time to spare. For the matter of that, his clothes were not drying well, and Zoe averred that it would take an hour longer at least, and as she was dropping with sleep after the fatigues of the journey, they sent her off to bed. After which they were alone in the silent house.

  然而已经很晚了,她想让孩子回去,免得她遭受别人的非难。乔治呢,连连说他有的是时间。另外,衣服还没有干透。佐爱说至少还要一个小时衣服才会干。因为旅途的劳累,佐爱站在那里打盹,他们便打发她去睡觉。于是,在这寂静的屋子里,只剩下他们两个人了。

   It was a very charming evening. The fire was dying out amid glowing embers, and in the great blue room, where Zoe had made up the bed before going upstairs, the air felt a little oppressive. Nana, overcome by the heavy warmth, got up to open the window for a few minutes, and as she did so she uttered a little cry.

  这是一个暖烘烘的夜晚。炉火已经化成火炭。在这间蓝色的大房间内,热得有点叫人透不过气来,佐爱上楼前,就把床铺好了。娜娜热得受不了,她站起来,去把窗子打开一会儿。她轻轻地叫了一声:

   "Great heavens, how beautiful it is! Look, dear old girl!""

  天哪!多美啊!……来看吧,我亲爱的小妞儿。"

   Georges had come up, and as though the window bar had not been sufficiently wide, he put his arm round Nana's waist and rested his head against her shoulder. The weather had undergone a brisk change: the skies were clearing, and a full moon lit up the country with its golden disk of light. A sovereign quiet reigned over the valley. It seemed wider and larger as it opened on the immense distances of the plain, where the trees loomed like little shadowy islands amid a shining and waveless lake. And Nana grew tenderhearted, felt herself a child again. Most surely she had dreamed of nights like this at an epoch which she could not recall. Since leaving the train every object of sensation--the wide countryside, the green things with their pungent scents, the house, the vegetables--had stirred her to such a degree that now it seemed to her as if she had left Paris twenty years ago. Yesterday's existence was far, far away, and she was full of sensations of which she had no previous experience. Georges, meanwhile, was giving her neck little coaxing kisses, and this again added to her sweet unrest. With hesitating hand she pushed him from her, as though he were a child whose affectionate advances were fatiguing, and once more she told him that he ought to take his departure. He did not gainsay her. All in good time--he would go all in good time!

  乔治走过来。他似乎嫌窗栏太窄,他搂住娜娜的腰,把头倚在她的肩膀上。天气已经突然起了一番变化,深邃的夜空十分晴朗,一轮明月向原野洒下一大片金辉。大地上万籁无声,山谷渐渐开阔,一直延伸向广袤无垠的平原。平原上的一丛丛树木宛如月光照射下那平静湖上昏暗的小岛。这时娜娜触景生情,觉得自己又回到了童年时代。可以肯定,她曾经梦想过这样的月夜,但究竟是在她的一生中的哪个时期,她已回忆不起来了。她下火车后,所看到的一切,这片广袤无垠的原野,这些芬芳馥郁的野草,这座房屋,这些蔬菜,所有这一切都令她神魂颠倒,她简直以为自己离开巴黎已有二十年了,仿佛昨天的事也变得遥远了。她感受到一些她过去不曾知道的事物。这时候,乔治在她的脖子上轻轻地亲了几个温柔的吻,这使她更加精神恍惚了。她迟疑地用手推开他,好像推开一个亲热劲儿使她厌腻的孩子,她一再催他走。他也不说不走,只说等一会儿,等一会儿就走。

  一只鸟儿鸣了几声后又停止了。那是一只知更鸟,栖息在窗户下的一株接骨木上。

   "Wait one moment," whispered Georges; "the lamp's frightening him. I'll put it out.""

  再等一会儿,"乔治喃喃说道,"灯光使鸟儿受惊了,我去把灯熄了。"

   And when he came back and took her waist again he added:

  接着,他走回来,搂着娜娜的腰,说道:

   "We'll relight it in a minute.""

  等一会儿我们再点灯。"

   Then as she listened to the robin and the boy pressed against her side, Nana remembered. Ah yes, it was in novels that she had got to know all this! In other days she would have given her heart to have a full moon and robins and a lad dying of love for her. Great God, she could have cried, so good and charming did it all seem to her! Beyond a doubt she had been born to live honestly! So she pushed Georges away again, and he grew yet bolder.

  乔治紧紧贴在娜娜的身前。她一边听知更鸟的啼鸣,一边回忆起往事。是的,眼前的情景,她在一些抒情歌曲里领略过。过去,倘若有这样的皎洁的月光,有这样啼鸣的知更鸟,有这样满腔爱情的小伙子,她早就恋爱上了。天哪!这一切对她来说是多么美好,多么可爱!她几乎流下了眼泪。毫无疑问,她天生是个正经女人,乔治越来越大胆,她们他推开了。

  不,放开我,我不喜欢这样子……在你这样的年龄,这个样子太坏了……听我说,我永远是你的妈妈。"

   A sudden feeling of shame overcame her. She was blushing exceedingly, and yet not a soul could see her. The room behind them was full of black night while the country stretched before them in silence and lifeless solitude. Never had she known such a sense of shame before. Little by little she felt her power of resistance ebbing away, and that despite her embarrassed efforts to the contrary. That disguise of his, that woman's shift and that dressing jacket set her laughing again. It was as though a girl friend were teasing her.

  她害羞了,脸涨得通红,尽管这时候谁也看不见她,在他们背后,房间里黑洞洞的,前面原野上没有一点声音,一派寂静。她从未感到过这么害臊,尽管她很难为情,并竭尽全力挣扎,她仍然渐渐地感到浑身酥软下来。乔治穿着这身衣服,这件女式衬衫,这件晨衣,还在引她发笑,就像一个女朋友在逗弄她似的。

   "Oh, it's not right; it's not right!" she stammered after a last effort."

  啊!这样不好,这样不好。"她作了最后的挣扎,喃喃说道。

   And with that, in face of the lovely night, she sank like a young virgin into the arms of this mere child. The house slept.

  于是,在月色美好的夜晚,她像处女一样投进这个男童的怀抱。整座房子沉睡了。

   Next morning at Les Fondettes, when the bell rang for lunch, the dining-room table was no longer too big for the company. Fauchery and Daguenet had been driven up together in one carriage, and after them another had arrived with the Count de Vandeuvres, who had followed by the next train. Georges was the last to come downstairs. He was looking a little pale, and his eyes were sunken, but in answer to questions he said that he was much better, though he was still somewhat shaken by the violence of the attack. Mme Hugon looked into his eyes with an anxious smile and adjusted his hair which had been carelessly combed that morning, but he drew back as though embarrassed by this tender little action. During the meal she chaffed Vandeuvres very pleasantly and declared that she had expected him for five years past.

  第二天,在丰岱特庄园里,午饭的钟声敲响后,餐厅里的饭桌再也不嫌太大了。第一辆马车把福什利和达盖内两人一起带来了,紧接在他们后面的,是乘下一班火车的德·旺德夫尔伯爵。乔治最后一个从楼上下来,脸色有些苍白,眼睛下面带着黑圈。他回答别人的问候时说,他的病好多了,但是由于这次病势来得猛,现在还感到头晕。于贡夫人带着不安的微笑看着他的眼睛,替他理了一下头发,他的头发今天早上没有理好。这时候,他往后退了一下,好像对这样的爱抚有些难为情。席间,于贡太太亲切地同旺德夫尔开玩笑,说她等他来丰岱特,已经等了五年了。

  你终于来了……你是怎么来的?"

   Vandeuvres took her remarks with equal pleasantry. He told her that he had lost a fabulous sum of money at the club yesterday and thereupon had come away with the intention of ending up in the country.

  旺德夫尔用开玩笑的口气回答。他说他昨天在俱乐部输了一大笔钱。于是,他就离开了巴黎,想到外省来安排归宿。

   "'Pon my word, yes, if only you can find me an heiress in these rustic parts! There must be delightful women hereabouts.""

  说真的,我同意你的想法,如果你在此地为我找一个女继承人……这儿大概有的是美女吧。"

   The old lady rendered equal thanks to Daguenet and Fauchery for having been so good as to accept her son's invitation, and then to her great and joyful surprise she saw the Marquis de Chouard enter the room. A third carriage had brought him.

  老太太也向达盖内和福什利道了谢,感谢他们乐意接受他儿子的邀请。这时候,她看见德·舒阿尔侯爵乘第三辆马车来了,感到又惊又喜。

   "Dear me, you've made this your trysting place today!" she cried. "You've passed word round! But what's happening? For years I've never succeeded in bringing you all together, and now you all drop in at once. Oh, I certainly don't complain.""

  哎哟!"她嚷道,"看来你们今天早上是约好的吧?你们互相约好来这儿……发生了什么事情呀?有好几年我都没有让你们来这里聚一聚,今天你们一起来了……哦!我不再责怪你们了。"

  饭桌上增添了一副餐具。福什利坐在萨比娜伯爵夫人旁边,使他惊讶的是,她今天特别高兴,而她过去在米罗梅斯尼尔街的严肃的客厅里时,他看见她是那样无精打采。达盖内坐在爱丝泰勒的左边,他对身旁的这个高个子姑娘的沉默寡言,感到局促不安,她的胳膊肘尖尖的,他看了很不舒服。缪法和舒阿尔互相使了一下阴阳怪气的眼色。这时候,旺德夫尔仍然在说笑话,说他不久就要结婚。

   "Talking of ladies," Mme Hugon ended by saying, "I have a new neighbor whom you probably know.""

  谈到女人,"于贡夫人终于对他说道,"我有一位新来的女邻居,你也许认识她。"

   And she mentioned Nana. Vandeuvres affected the liveliest astonishment.

  随后,她提到娜娜的名字。旺德夫尔装出一副惊讶不已的神态。

   "Well, that is strange! Nana's property near here!""

  怎么!娜娜的别墅就在附近!"

   Fauchery and Daguenet indulged in a similar demonstration while the Marquis de Chouard discussed the breast of a chicken without appearing to comprehend their meaning. Not one of the men had smiled.

  福什利和达盖内也跟着惊讶地叫道。德·舒阿尔侯爵正在吃一块鸡胸脯肉,丝毫没有露出听懂的样子,没有一个男人脸上露出笑容。

  是的,"老太太又说道,"而且这个女人昨天晚上到了'藏娇楼',这事我已经说过了。这些我是从园丁那里知道的。"

   At these words the gentlemen could not conceal their very real surprise. They all looked up. Eh? What? Nana had come down! But they were only expecting her next day; they were privately under the impression that they would arrive before her! Georges alone sat looking at his glass with drooped eyelids and a tired expression. Ever since the beginning of lunch he had seemed to be sleeping with open eyes and a vague smile on his lips.

  这下子这些先生确实感到很惊讶了,他们再也掩饰不住了,个个抬起头来。什么!娜娜已经来了!他们以为她第二天才到呢,他们还以为自己比她到得早呢!只有乔治满面疲乏的样子,低着头,对着杯子出神。从午饭一开始,他似乎在睁着眼睛打盹儿,脸上似笑非笑。

   "Are you still in pain, my Zizi?" asked his mother, who had been gazing at him throughout the meal."

  你还感到不舒服吗,我的治治?"她的母亲问他,目光一直盯着他。

   He started and blushed as he said that he was very well now, but the worn-out insatiate expression of a girl who has danced too much did not fade from his face.

  乔治身上战栗了一下,红着脸回答说,他现在完全好了,随即脸上又恢复了苍白色,像一个跳舞过多的姑娘,脸上露出还没有满足的神色。

   "What's the matter with your neck?" resumed Mme Hugon in an alarmed tone. "It's all red.""

  你的脖子怎么啦?"于贡夫人惊骇地说道,"脖子上全红啦。"

  乔治有点惶惶不安,说起话来结结巴巴。他不知道,脖子上什么也没有嘛。然后,他把衬衫领子往上提了一下,说道:

   "Ah yes, some insect stung me there!""

  哦!对了,被虫子叮了一下。"

   The Marquis de Chouard had cast a sidelong glance at the little red place. Muffat, too, looked at Georges. The company was finishing lunch and planning various excursions. Fauchery was growing increasingly excited with the Countess Sabine's laughter. As he was passing her a dish of fruit their hands touched, and for one second she looked at him with eyes so full of dark meaning that he once more thought of the secret which had been communicated to him one evening after an uproarious dinner. Then, too, she was no longer the same woman. Something was more pronounced than of old, and her gray foulard gown which fitted loosely over her shoulders added a touch of license to her delicate, high-strung elegance.

  德·舒阿尔侯爵对着小红块瞟了一眼。缪法也瞧瞧乔治。午饭吃完了,大家就商量安排远足的事。福什利越来越被萨比娜伯爵夫人的笑声所打动。当他递一只水果盘子给她时,他们的手接触了一下,于是她用乌黑的眼睛打量他一会,使他又回忆起了那天晚上醉酒以后听到上尉那段吐露真情的话。从那以后,她不再是原来的她了,在她身上,某种东西变得越来越明显了,她的灰色薄绸裙子,软软地贴在肩上,给她纤弱而敏感的优雅风度,增添了几分放任的色彩。

   When they rose from the table Daguenet remained behind with Fauchery in order to impart to him the following crude witticism about Estelle: "A nice broomstick that to shove into a man's hands!" Nevertheless, he grew serious when the journalist told him the amount she was worth in the way of dowry.

  散席时,达盖内与福什利走在后边,以便直截了当地拿爱斯泰勒开玩笑,他们称她是一个粘在男人怀里的漂亮扫帚!然而,当新闻记者告诉达盖内,爱斯泰勒的嫁妆要求达到四十万法郎时,他又变得严肃起来了。

   "Four hundred thousand francs.""And the mother?" queried Fauchery. "She's all right, eh?""

  还有她的母亲呢?"福什利问道,"嗯!也颇有风韵的嘛!"

  啊!她妈,只要她愿意!……但是动她的脑筋,办不到,我的朋友!"

   "Bah! How are we to know? We must wait and see.""

  嘿,谁知道呢!……走着瞧吧。"

   It was impossible to go out that day, for the rain was still falling in heavy showers. Georges had made haste to disappear from the scene and had double-locked his door. These gentlemen avoided mutual explanations, though they were none of them deceived as to the reasons which had brought them together. Vandeuvres, who had had a very bad time at play, had really conceived the notion of lying fallow for a season, and he was counting on Nana's presence in the neighborhood as a safeguard against excessive boredom. Fauchery had taken advantage of the holidays granted him by Rose, who just then was extremely busy. He was thinking of discussing a second notice with Nana, in case country air should render them reciprocally affectionate. Daguenet, who had been just a little sulky with her since Steiner had come upon the scene, was dreaming of resuming the old connection or at least of snatching some delightful opportunities if occasion offered. As to the Marquis de Chouard, he was watching for times and seasons. But among all those men who were busy following in the tracks of Venus--a Venus with the rouge scarce washed from her cheeks--Muffat was at once the most ardent and the most tortured by the novel sensations of desire and fear and anger warring in his anguished members. A formal promise had been made him; Nana was awaiting him. Why then had she taken her departure two days sooner than was expected?

  这一天,大家无法出门游玩,还在下着滂沱大雨。乔治匆匆忙忙走了,回到卧室把门反锁上了。这几位先生虽然明白他们为什么聚会在一起,但互相之间都避免吐露出来。旺德夫尔赌运不佳,真想到乡间来休养一段时间,他指望有一个女友做邻居,这样不至于太寂寞。这时罗丝很忙,福什利利用她给他的假期,准备与娜娜商量,写出第二篇专栏文章,如果乡间生活使他们两人都有所感受的话。达盖内自从娜娜和斯泰内相好之后,一直生她的气,现在他想与她言归于好,重新获得一些温情,如果有机会的话。至于德·舒阿尔侯爵,他正在等待时机。在追求粉脂还没洗净的爱神的男人当中,缪法热情最高,但他痛苦不堪,欲望、恐惧和愤怒等新的感觉在他的内心交织着,使他终日惶惶不安。他是得到娜娜的正式诺言的,娜娜在等着他。那么,她为什么要提早两天动身来这儿呢?他决心当天晚上吃过晚饭后,到"藏娇楼"别墅走一趟。

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名著·娜娜 - 第19章