The Fox1

狐狸

The two girls were usually known by their surnames, Banford and March. They had taken the farm together, intending to work it all by themselves: that is, they were going to rear chickens, make a living by poultry, and add to this by keeping a cow, and raising one or two young beasts. Unfortunately, things did not turn out well.

有这样两个女孩子，人们只知道她们一个姓班福德，一个姓马奇。她们一起租了个农场，打算自己来打理所有的事情。就是说，她们要养鸡，靠着这些家禽维持生计。除此之外，还要养一头奶牛和一两头小牛。不幸的是，事情进展得并不顺利。

Banford was a small, thin, delicate thing with spectacles. She, however, was the principal investor, for March had little or no money. Banford's father, who was a tradesman in Islington, gave his daughter the start, for her health's sake, and because he loved her, and because it did not look as if she would marry. March was more robust. She had learned carpentry and joinery at the evening classes in Islington. She would be the man about the place. They had, moreover, Banford's old grandfather living with them at the start. He had been a farmer. But unfortunately the old man died after he had been at Bailey Farm for a year. Then the two girls were left alone.

班福德戴着一副眼镜，身材娇小，弱不禁风。不过她却是农场的主要投资人，因为马奇几乎没什么钱。班福德的父亲是伊斯灵顿镇的一个商人。他之所以帮助女儿开创事业，是为了她的健康着想，也是因为他疼爱自己的女儿，还有就是他觉得女儿看起来是不会结婚的。相比之下，马奇则要健壮一些。她曾在伊斯灵顿镇的夜校学习过粗细木工手艺。她在农场里充当着男人的角色。一开始时，还有班福德年老的祖父跟她们一起生活。他以前是个农场主。但不幸的是，老人在贝利农场生活了一年后便去世了。这样，就只剩下两个姑娘了。

They were neither of them young: that is, they were near thirty. But they certainly were not old. They set out quite gallantly with their enterprise. They had numbers of chickens, black Leghorns and white Leghorns, Plymouths and Wyandottes; also some ducks; also two heifers in the fields. One heifer, unfortunately, refused absolutely to stay in the Bailey Farm closes. No matter how March made up the fences, the heifer was out, wild in the woods, or trespassing on the neighbouring pasture, and March and Banford were away, flying after her, with more haste than success. So this heifer they sold in despair. Then, just before the other beast was expecting her first calf, the old man died, and the girls, afraid of the coming event, sold her in a panic, and limited their attentions to fowls and ducks.

她们都已不再年轻。事实上，两个人都快三十岁了。但当然也不算老。她们大胆地开始了自己的事业。她俩养了许多种鸡，其中有黑来航鸡、白来航鸡、普利茅斯鸡和怀恩多特鸡，还养了一些鸭子，在牧场里还养了两头小母牛。然而不幸的是，一头小母牛坚决拒绝呆在贝利农场的地界里。不管马奇怎样修补栅栏，那头小母牛还是会闯出去，在林子里逍遥自在地玩耍，或者私自闯进邻居的牧场。马奇和班福德只好追着它飞跑，但结果往往是白费力气。所以，她们只好绝望地卖掉了这头小母牛。后来，就在另一头小母牛初次产犊之前，老爷爷过世了。两位姑娘害怕为它接生，便匆忙把那头小母牛也给卖了，从此专注于照顾那些鸡和鸭。

In spite of a little chagrin, it was a relief to have no more cattle on hand. Life was not made merely to be slaved away. Both girls agreed in this. The fowls were quite enough trouble. March had set up her carpenter's bench at the end of the open shed. Here she worked, making coops and doors and other appurtenances. The fowls were housed in the bigger building, which had served as barn and cow-shed in old days. They had a beautiful home, and should have been perfectly content. Indeed, they looked well enough. But the girls were disgusted at their tendency to strange illnesses, at their exacting way of life, and at their refusal, obstinate refusal to lay eggs.

尽管她们有些懊悔，但再也不用照顾母牛了，所以还是松了口气。日子可不能一直都在辛苦劳作中度过。两个姑娘对于这点都很赞同。那些鸡鸭已经给她们带来了足够多的麻烦。马奇在敞棚的尽头搭建起了她的木工工作台。她在这里干活，动手制作笼子、门以及其他小物件。所有的鸡鸭都养在一间更大的屋子里，过去那里曾被用作谷仓和牛棚。它们有一个这么美丽的家，应该感到十分满意了。确实，它们看上去非常好。不过，让两位姑娘感到头疼的是，那些鸡鸭时不时会染上怪病，而且它们对生活的要求也十分苛刻，甚至还固执地拒绝产蛋。

March did most of the outdoor work. When she was out and about, in her puttees and breeches, her belted coat and her loose cap, she looked almost like some graceful, loose-balanced young man, for her shoulders were straight, and her movements easy and confident, even tinged with a little indifference or irony. But her face was not a man's face, ever. The wisps of her crisp dark hair blew about her as she stooped, her eyes were big and wide and dark, when she looked up again, strange, startled, shy and sardonic at once. Her mouth, too, was almost pinched as if in pain and irony. There was something odd and unexplained about her. She would stand balanced on one hip, looking at the fowls pattering about in the obnoxious fine mud of the sloping yard, and calling to her favourite white hen, which came in answer to her name. But there was an almost satirical flicker in March's big, dark eyes as she looked at her three-toed flock pattering about under her gaze, and the same slight dangerous satire in her voice as she spoke to the favoured Patty, who pecked at March's boot by way of friendly demonstration.

马奇负责绝大部分的户外工作。她在户外干活时，总是打着绑腿，穿着马裤和束了腰带的外套，头戴一顶宽松的帽子。她看起来几乎就像一位气质优雅、个性随意的年轻男子：肩膀挺得直直的，举止从容且自信满满，甚至还带着些许漠然或嘲讽的味道。但是她的脸却一点都不像男人的脸。她弯腰时，那缕缕深色卷发便在眼前飞舞起来。她的眼睛又大又黑。当她直起身子再次抬起头往上望时，眼睛里立刻又充满不安、惊异、羞涩和嘲讽。她的嘴唇似乎也总是因为痛苦和嘲讽而紧紧抿着。她的身上有种古怪而又难以解释的气质。她常常以一只脚为重心支撑站着，看着农场的鸡鸭在倾斜的院子里那让人讨厌的烂泥地中啪嗒啪嗒地四处乱走；她还会大声喊她最喜欢的那只白母鸡，而那母鸡听到有人喊自己的名字也会应声跑来。但是当马奇看着这群三趾鸡鸭在她的注视下摇摇摆摆跑来跑去的时候，她那又大又黑的眼睛里便会闪过一丝几乎是嘲讽的神色。她与最喜欢的母鸡帕蒂说话时，语气里也同样带着这种略带危险的嘲讽，而这时帕蒂会轻啄玛奇的靴子，以示友好。

Fowls did not flourish at Bailey Farm, in spite of all that March did for them. When she provided hot food for them in the morning, according to the rule, she noticed that it made them heavy and dozy for hours. She expected to see them lean against the pillars of the shed in their languid processes of digestion. And she knew quite well that they ought to be busily scratching and foraging about, if they were to come to any good. So she decided to give them their hot food at night, and let them sleep on it. Which she did. But it made no difference.

贝利农场的鸡鸭并没有茁壮成长，尽管马奇在它们身上费尽了心思。按照惯例，马奇清晨给它们喂热饲料，她注意到那些鸡鸭在吃完饲料后的几个小时里行动笨拙，昏昏欲睡。她已预料到会看见它们全都倚着屋棚的柱子，懒洋洋地消化食物。而她很清楚地知道，那些鸡应该正忙着四处又挖又扒地觅食的，这样才有助于它们的健康。所以她决定晚上给它们喂热饲料，好让它们吃完后就去睡觉。她这么做了。但是却没有任何改变。

War conditions, again, were very unfavourable to poultry-keeping. Food was scarce and bad. And when the Daylight Saving Bill was passed, the fowls obstinately refused to go to bed as usual, about nine o'clockin the summer-time. That was late enough, indeed, for there was no peace till they were shut up and asleep. Now they cheerfully walked around, without so much as glancing at the barn, until ten o'clockor later. Both Banford and March disbelieved in living for work alone. They wanted to read or take a cycle-ride in the evening, or perhaps March wished to paint curvilinear swans on porcelain, with green background, or else make a marvellous fire-screen by processes of elaborate cabinet work. For she was a creature of odd whims and unsatisfied tendencies. But from all these things she was prevented by the stupid fowls.

战乱时局是不利于饲养家禽的。饲料稀缺，质量又不好。《夏令时法案》通过后，到了夏日晚上九点，那些鸡鸭都顽固地拒绝像往常一样回窝睡觉。九点钟确实已经够晚的了，除非把它们关进窝里睡觉，不然休想有一丝安宁。现在它们兴高采烈地逛来逛去，根本看都不看一眼谷仓，一直逛到十点钟甚至更晚。班福德和马奇都不认为活着纯粹是为了工作。她们想在晚上读读书，或者骑车四处逛逛。也许马奇还想在以绿色为背景的瓷器上用曲线勾画出几只天鹅，又或者是精心地干点细木工活，做一个精美的炉栏。她头脑里充满了稀奇古怪的主意和未及实现的意向。但是所有这些事，她一件也做不成，都怪那些呆笨的鸡鸭。

One evil there was greater than any other. Bailey Farm was a little homestead, with ancient wooden barn and low-gabled farm-house, lying just one field removed from the edge of the wood. Since the war the fox was a demon. He carried off the hens under the very noses of March and Banford. Banford would startle and stare through her big spectacles with all her eyes, as another squawk and flutter took place at her heels. Too late! Another white Leghorn gone. It was disheartening.

而且还有件倒霉事比别的事情更让人头疼。贝利农场是个小农庄，有古老的木式谷仓和围有低矮山墙的农宅，离林子边缘只隔了一块田地。自从战争爆发以来，狐狸就成了祸害。它居然就在马奇和班福德的眼皮底下把母鸡给抓走了。每当又有母鸡咯咯叫着扑棱翅膀时，班福德都会惊跳起来，大眼镜后的眼睛瞪得大大的，盯着眼前的惨状。太迟了！又一只白来航鸡没了。这真让人沮丧。

They did what they could to remedy it. When it became permitted to shoot foxes, they stood sentinel with their guns, the two of them, at the favoured hours. But it was no good. The fox was too quick for them. So another year passed, and another, and they were living on their losses, as Banford said. They let their farm-house one summer, and retired to live in a railway carriage that was deposited as a sort of outhouse in a corner of the field. This amused them, and helped their finances. Nonetheless, things looked dark.

她们想尽了办法补救。在准许射杀狐狸之后，她们两个人就带着枪，在狐狸经常出没的时间守卫着鸡棚。但是一点用都没有。狐狸的动作实在是太快了。就这样，又一年过去了，接着又是一年。正如班福德说的那样，她们是靠亏损过活的。一年夏天，她们把农宅租了出去，自己转而住进了一间用废弃的火车车厢做成的屋子，就坐落在田野的一处角落。这让她们感到愉快，同时也能帮助她们度过经济难关。但情况还是不好。

Although they were usually the best of friends, because Banford, though nervous and delicate, was a warm, generous soul, and March, though so odd and absent in herself, had a strange magnanimity, yet, in the long solitude, they were apt to become a little irritable with one another, tired of one another. March had four-fifths of the work to do, and though she did not mind, there seemed no relief, and it made her eyes flash curiously sometimes. Then Banford, feeling more nerve-worn than ever, would become despondent, and March would speak sharply to her. They seemed to be losing ground, somehow, losing hope as the months went by. There alone in the fields by the wood, with the wide country stretching hollow and dim to the round hills of the White Horse, in the far distance, they seemed to have to live too much off themselves. There was nothing to keep them up-and no hope.

班福德尽管有点神经质而且娇弱，但也是个热心大方的姑娘，而马奇虽然性格古怪又常常心不在焉，但她有某种奇特的宽宏气度，所以两人通常还是非常要好的朋友。但是在漫长的孤寂生活中，她们也渐渐开始闹点小矛盾，开始对彼此感到有点厌倦了。马奇承担了五分之四的工作，尽管她自己并不在意，然而日子总是这样，都没有喘口气的时候，她的眼里有时就会闪过奇怪的眼神。这时班福德会感到更加紧张，因而变得垂头丧气的，马奇跟她讲话的口气也变得尖锐了。时间一个月一个月地过去，不知怎的，她们似乎一直在损失，而且逐渐失去希望。她们孤独地生活在林子边缘的田野上。广袤的原野一直延伸到远处白马山圆形的山岭下，一派空旷迷茫。她们似乎只能过着只有两个人的日子。没有什么事情能让她们振奋起来--没有一丝希望。

The fox really exasperated them both. As soon as they had let the fowls out, in the early summer mornings, they had to take their guns and keep guard: and then again as soon as evening began to mellow, they must go once more. And he was so sly. He slid along in the deep grass; he was difficult as a serpent to see. And he seemed to circumvent the girls deliberately. Once or twice March had caught sight of the white tip of his brush, or the ruddy shadow of him in the deep grass, and she had let fire at him. But he made no account of this.

那只狐狸确实让她俩都非常恼火。夏日清晨，她们只要把鸡鸭放出笼去，就得马上拿起枪守卫着；暮色渐浓时，同样的事情还得再做一遍。这狐狸实在是太狡猾了。它在幽深的草丛中潜行，就如同蛇一样难以被人发现。而且它好像故意跟两位姑娘捉迷藏。有那么一两次，马奇已经瞥到了它那白色的尾巴尖，或是幽深草丛中它那红色的身影，她还朝它开了一枪。但是它根本不在乎这个。

One evening March was standing with her back to the sunset, her gun under her arm, her hair pushed under her cap. She was half watching, half musing. It was her constant state. Her eyes were keen and observant, but her inner mind took no notice of what she saw. She was always lapsing into this odd, rapt state, her mouth rather screwed up. It was a question whether she was there, actually conscious present, or not.

一天傍晚，马奇背对夕阳站着，胳膊下夹着枪，头发紧压在帽子底下。她一边看守着，一边陷入沉思。她经常处于这种状态中。她的眼神专注敏锐，然而内心根本没有注意到眼前所见。她总是陷入这种奇怪的着迷状态，同时嘴巴紧拧着。她是否身在那里，或者她的意识到底在不在那里，都还是一个问题。

The trees on the wood-edge were a darkish, brownish green in the full light-for it was the end of August. Beyond, the naked, copper-like shafts and limbs of the pine trees shone in the air. Nearer the rough grass, with its long, brownish stalks all agleam, was full of light. The fowls were round about-the ducks were still swimming on the pond under the pine trees. March looked at it all, saw it all, and did not see it. She heard Banford speaking to the fowls in the distance-and she did not hear. What was she thinking about? Heaven knows. Her consciousness was, as it were, held back.

林子边缘的树木在充沛的阳光照射下呈现出微带黑棕色的青翠--因为那时已经是八月底了。远处，松树上那黄铜色的光滑树干和枝条在空中闪烁着光芒。近处，茂盛的草丛也沐浴在阳光里，那长长的褐色叶柄微微发亮。鸡鸭都在附近--鸭子仍在松树下的池塘里戏水。马奇看着这一切，也看到了这一切，却又什么也没看到。她听到班福德在远处正在跟鸡鸭们说着话，却又什么都没有听见。她到底在想什么呢？只有上帝才知道。她的意识似乎被控制了。

She lowered her eyes, and suddenly saw the fox. He was looking up at her. His chin was pressed down, and his eyes were looking up. They met her eyes. And he knew her. She was spellbound-she knew he knew her. So he looked into her eyes, and her soul failed her. He knew her, he was not daunted.

她垂下眼帘，突然间，她看到了那只狐狸。它正抬起头来注视着她。它压低了下巴，双眼往上望。它的目光正好与马奇的相遇。它认识她。她仿佛中了魔咒一般怔住了--她知道它认识她。所以它才会深深地望进她的眼里，她的灵魂被吸引过去了。它认识她，它一点都不害怕。

She struggled, confusedly she came to herself, and saw him making off, with slow leaps over some fallen boughs, slow, impudent jumps. Then he glanced over his shoulder, and ran smoothly away. She saw his brush held smooth like a feather, she saw his white buttocks twinkle. And he was gone, softly, soft as the wind.

她挣扎着，困惑迷糊中，她还是清醒过来了，然后便看见它缓缓地跃过几根掉落在地上的树枝，从容而放肆地跳跃而去。然后，它又转过头来看了她一眼，便轻快地跑掉了。她看见它的尾巴直直地竖着，像一根羽毛那样光滑，白色的臀闪闪发光。然后它消失了，轻轻地，轻柔如风。

She put her gun to her shoulder, but even then pursed her mouth, knowing it was nonsense to pretend to fire. So she began to walk slowly after him, in the direction he had gone, slowly, pertinaciously. She expected to find him. In her heart she was determined to find him. What she would do when she saw him again she did not consider. But she was determined to find him. So she walked abstractedly about on the edge of the wood, with wide, vivid dark eyes, and a faint flush in her cheeks. She did not think. In strange mindlessness she walked hither and thither.

她把枪举到肩膀上，但马上又撅起了嘴，心里明白这个时候做出开枪的样子已经无济于事了。于是，她循着它消失的方向，开始慢慢地跟在后面走，慢慢地而又不失坚定地走着。她希望能找到它。她下定决心要找到它。她并没考虑如果再次看到它，自己会怎样做。但不管怎样，她都下定决心要找到它。因此，她便在林子边上心不在焉地走着，黑眼睛睁得大大的，而且炯炯有神，脸上泛着淡淡的红晕。她什么也没想。她在一种奇怪的、无知觉的状态中四处走动着。

At last she became aware that Banford was calling her. She made an effort of attention, turned, and gave some sort of screaming call in answer. Then again she was striding off towards the homestead. The red sun was setting, the fowls were retiring towards their roost. She watched them, white creatures, black creatures, gathering to the barn. She watched them spellbound, without seeing them. But her automatic intelligence told her when it was time to shut the door.

最后，她终于意识到班福德在呼唤她。她努力集中注意力，转过身答应着，声音几乎像在尖叫。然后她就大步流星地往农庄走去。此时，一轮红日正在徐徐落下，鸡鸭也都开始回窝了。她望着它们，白色的、黑色的小家伙们，都纷纷往谷仓走去。她着了魔似地盯着它们，却又没有真正看到它们。但她还是本能地在该关门的时候把门关上了。

She went indoors to supper, which Banford had set on the table. Banford chatted easily. March seemed to listen, in her distant, manly way. She answered a brief word now and then. But all the time she was as if spellbound. And as soon as supper was over, she rose again to go out, without saying why.

她回到室内吃晚饭，班福德已经把饭桌摆好了。班福德轻松地聊着天。马奇似乎在听着，表情一如继往地冷漠、刚硬。她时不时会简单地回应几句。但从头至尾，她整个人像中了魔咒一般。吃完晚饭，她立刻起身走了出去，连句解释的话也没有。

She took her gun again and went to look for the fox. For he had lifted his eyes upon her, and his knowing look seemed to have entered her brain. She did not so much think of him: she was possessed by him. She saw his dark, shrewd, unabashed eye looking into her, knowing her. She felt him invisibly master her spirit. She knew the way he lowered his chin as he looked up, she knew his muzzle, the golden brown, and the greyish white. And again she saw him glance over his shoulder at her, half inviting, half contemptuous and cunning. So she went, with her great startled eyes glowing, her gun under her arm, along the wood edge. Meanwhile the night fell, and a great moon rose above the pine trees. And again Banford was calling.

她再次拿起枪，出去找那只狐狸。因为它抬起眼睛看了她，那洞悉一切的眼神似乎读透了她的心思。她并不是总在想这只狐狸，实际上她已经完全被它迷住了。她看到它那乌黑、狡黠、从容不迫的眼睛深深望进她的心里，一眼就看透了她。她觉得它无形中已经掌控了她的灵魂。她知道它抬头看时会低下下巴，她还熟悉它那棕黄和灰白色的鼻子。又一次，她看见它转过头来注视着她，带着些许邀请的意味，又带着些许的轻蔑和狡黠。于是，她沿着林子边缘走着，惊恐的大眼睛闪着光，枪就紧夹在胳膊底下。此时，夜幕降临，一轮硕大的明月爬上了松树梢头。班福德又在叫她了。

So she went indoors. She was silent and busy. She examined her gun, and cleaned it, musing abstractedly by the lamplight. Then she went out again, under the great moon, to see if everything was right. When she saw the dark crests of the pine trees against the blood-red sky, again her heart beat to the fox, the fox. She wanted to follow him, with her gun.

于是她便回屋了。她沉默地忙活着。她一边检查枪支，把它擦干净，一边在灯光下心不在焉地想着什么。然后她又走出去，站在硕大的月亮下面，看看是否一切正常。当她看见松树那深色的树冠映衬着血红色的天空时，又一次，她的心跳被那只狐狸拨乱了。她很想带着枪紧跟着它。

It was some days before she mentioned the affair to Banford. Then suddenly one evening she said: "The fox was right at my feet on Saturday night. "

好几天之后，她才跟班福德提起这件事情。那是在一天晚上，她突然说道： “周六晚上，那只狐狸就在我脚边。”

"Where? " said Banford, her eyes opening behind her spectacles.

“哪里？” 班福德问，镜片后的眼睛瞪大了。

"When I stood just above the pond. "

“我就站在池塘边上的时候。”

"Did you fire? " cried Banford.

“那你开枪了吗？” 班福德喊道。

"No, I didn't. "

“没有，我没开枪。”

"Why not? "

“为什么不开枪？”

"Why, I was too much surprised, I suppose. "

“哎呀，我当时太吃惊了吧，我想。”

It was the same old, slow, laconic way of speech March always had. Banford stared at her friend for a few moments.

这是马奇惯常用的那种慢吞吞又简短的说话方式。班福德盯着她的朋友看了好一会儿。

"You saw him? " she cried.

“你看见它了？” 她喊道。

"Oh yes! He was looking up at me, cool as anything. "

“噢，是的！它当时正抬头望着我，非常镇定呢。”

"I tell you, " cried Banford-'t he cheek! They're not afraid of us, Nellie. "

“我跟你说，太放肆了！” 班福德大叫道， “它们根本不怕我们，内利。”

"Oh, no, " said March.

“噢，是的。” 马奇答道。

"Pity you didn't get a shot at him, " said Banford.

“可惜你一枪都没有开。” 班福德说道。

"Isn't it a pity! I 'vebeen looking for him ever since. But I don't suppose he'll come so near again. "

“太可惜了！从那以后我就一直在找它。但是我想它不会再走得这么近了。”

"I don't suppose he will, " said Banford.

“我想它是不会了。” 班福德答道。

And she proceeded to forget about it, except that she was more indignant than ever at the impudence of the beggar. March also was not conscious that she thought of the fox. But whenever she fell into her half-musing, when she was half rapt and half intelligently aware of what passed under her vision, then it was the fox which somehow dominated her unconsciousness, possessed the blank half of her musing. And so it was for weeks, and months. No matter whether she had been climbing the trees for the apples, or beating down the last of the damsons, or whether she had been digging out the ditch from the duck-pond, or clearing out the barn, when she had finished, or when she straightened herself, and pushed the wisps of her hair away again from her forehead, and pursed up her mouth again in an odd, screwed fashion, much too old for her years, there was sure to come over her mind the old spell of the fox, as it came when he was looking at her. It was as if she could smell him at these times. And it always recurred, at unexpected moments, just as she was going to sleep at night, or just as she was pouring the water into the tea-pot to make tea-it was the fox, it came over her like a spell.

然后她便忘记这事了。只是她比从前更恼怒了，因为那坏狐狸实在太放肆了。马奇也没有意识到自己会想起那只狐狸。但不管什么时候，无论是她陷入沉思时，又或是当她对于眼前所发生的事情半是入迷半是清醒时，不知怎的，那只狐狸都会主宰她的潜意识，占领她的另一半思绪。这样的情形持续了一周又一周，一月又一月。不管她是在爬树摘苹果，还是在打落剩下的李子；不管她是在鸭池挖沟，还是在清扫谷仓，当她干完这些活，或者站直身子，把前额上的几缕头发拨开，再古怪地撅起嘴--这动作对于她的年龄来说显得过于老气了--每当这时候，那狐狸身上的古老魔咒又开始对她的思绪施展魔力，如同当初它注视着她的时候一样。这时候，她好像总能闻见它的气味。而这种情况总在意想不到的时候一再出现。比如她晚上准备睡觉时，或者把水注入茶壶泡茶时，那狐狸的影象就又来了，就如一道魔符。

So the months passed. She still looked for him unconsciously when she went towards the wood. He had become a settled effect in her spirit, a state permanently established, not continuous, but always recurring. She did not know what she felt or thought: only the state came over her, as when he looked at her.

就这样，几个月又过去了。每次走向林子，她总会下意识地寻找它的身影。它已经驻扎在她心里，深深地影响她，并成为永久性的固定状态，这种状态虽然并非连续不断，却总是反复出现。她并不清楚自己到底有怎样的感受或想法，她只知道这种状态俘虏了她，正如当初它注视着她时那样。

The months passed, the dark evenings came, heavy, dark November, when March went about in high boots, ankle deep in mud, when the night began to fall at four o'clock, and the day never properly dawned. Both girls dreaded these times. They dreaded the almost continuous darkness that enveloped them on their desolate little farm near the wood. Banford was physically afraid. She was afraid of tramps, afraid lest someone should come prowling around. March was not so much afraid as uncomfortable, and disturbed. She felt discomfort and gloom in all her physique.

又过了好几个月，到了沉闷阴暗的十一月了。夜晚变得阴沉。马奇穿着高高的靴子出去时，淤泥都没到脚踝了。夜幕在下午四点钟就降临了，白天也从来没有过明朗的清晨。两个姑娘都害怕这样的季节。她们害怕那延绵不绝的黑暗把她们严严实实地包裹在林子边上荒凉的小农场里。班福德感到身体上的恐惧。她害怕流浪汉，或者其他什么人偷偷地在附近游荡。马奇与其说是害怕，不如说是不自在、不安心。她浑身都感到不舒服，成天郁郁寡欢。

Usually the two girls had tea in the sitting-room. March lighted a fire at dusk, and put on the wood she had chopped and sawed during the day. Then the long evening was in front, dark, sodden, black outside, lonely and rather oppressive inside, a little dismal. March was content not to talk, but Banford could not keep still. Merely listening to the wind in the pines outside or the drip of water, was too much for her.

两位姑娘通常在起居室喝茶。黄昏时，马奇点燃火炉，把白天劈开锯好的木柴填进去。然后，漫长的夜晚便来临了。屋外漆黑潮湿，屋里是寂寥且异常压抑的，还有一丝凄凉。马奇不说话也感到很满足，然而班福德却无法保持安静。只能听着外面的风呼呼地穿过松林，或者是水珠滴落在地上，这让她难以忍受。

One evening the girls had washed up the tea-cups in the kitchen, and March had put on her house-shoes, and taken up a roll of crochet-work, which she worked at slowly from time to time. So she lapsed into silence. Banford stared at the red fire, which, being of wood, needed constant attention. She was afraid to begin to read too early, because her eyes would not bear any strain. So she sat staring at the fire, listening to the distant sounds, sound of cattle lowing, of a dull, heavy moist wind, of the rattle of the evening train on the little railway not far off. She was almost fascinated by the red glow of the fire.

一天晚上，姑娘们在厨房把茶杯洗干净后，马奇便换上拖鞋，拿出钩针活儿来做。这是她偶尔拿出来慢慢做的活儿。她又陷入了沉默中。班福德盯着红红的炉火，因为得不时添木柴，需要时时照看着。她不敢太早开始阅读，因为眼睛受不了过度的疲劳。于是她就坐在那里，注视着炉火，倾听远处传来的声响：牛哞哞的叫声，沉闷且带着湿气的风声，以及不远处小铁路上晚班列车的轰隆轰隆声。她几乎沉浸在炉火发出的红光里。

Suddenly both girls started, and lifted their heads. They heard a footstep-distinctly a footstep. Banford recoiled in fear. March stood listening. Then rapidly she approached the door that led into the kitchen. At the same time they heard the footsteps approach the back door. They waited a second. The back door opened softly. Banford gave a loud cry. A man's voice said softly: "Hello! "

突然，两个姑娘都吃了一惊，把头抬了起来。她们听到了脚步声--清晰的脚步声。班福德害怕地往后缩。马奇则站了起来，仔细倾听着。然后她迅速走向通往厨房的门。与此同时，她们听见脚步声正在逼近后门。她们等了一会儿。后门轻轻地开了。班福德大叫了一声。一个男人温柔地说道： “你好！”

March recoiled, and took a gun from a corner.

马奇退后，从角落里拿起枪。

"What do you want? " she cried, in a sharp voice.

“你想干什么？” 她尖声喊道。

Again the soft, softly-vibrating man's voice said: "Hello! What's wrong! "

轻柔的、微微颤动的男人声音再次响起： “你好！发生什么事情了？”

"I shall shoot! " cried March. "What do you want? "

“我要开枪了！” 马奇大喊道， “你想干什么？”

"Why, what's wrong? What's wrong? " came the soft, wondering, rather scared voice: and a young soldier, with his heavy kit on his back, advanced into the dim light.

“嘿，到底怎么了？怎么了？” 伴随着带有疑惑又有些惊恐的温柔声音，一位年轻的士兵背着沉重的行囊走进昏暗的灯光中。

"Why, " he said, "who lives here then? "

“嘿，” 他说道， “有人住在这儿吗？”

"We live here, " said March. "What do you want? "

“我们住在这里。” 马奇回答道， “你想干什么？”

"Oh! " came the long, melodious, wonder-note from the young soldier. "Doesn't William Grenfel live here then? "

“噢！” 年轻的士兵发出一道长长的、悦耳的惊叹声， “威廉·格伦费尔不是住在这里的吗？”

"No-you know he doesn't. "

“不--你知道他不住这里。”

"Do I? Do I? I don't, you see. He did live here, because he was my grandfather, and I lived here myself five years ago. What's become of him then? "

“我知道？我知道吗？可你看，我并不知道啊。他的确曾经住在这里，因为他是我爷爷，五年前我自己也在这里住。他现在怎么样了？”

The young man-or youth, for he would not be more than twenty-now advanced and stood in the inner doorway. March, already under the influence of his strange, soft, modulated voice, stared at him spellbound. He had a ruddy, roundish face, with fairish hair, rather long, flattened to his forehead with sweat. His eyes were blue, and very bright and sharp. On his cheeks, on the fresh ruddy skin were fine, fair hairs, like a down, but sharper. It gave him a slightly glistening look. Having his heavy sack on his shoulders, he stooped, thrusting his head forward. His hat was loose in one hand. He stared brightly, very keenly from girl to girl, particularly at March, who stood pale, with great dilated eyes, in her belted coat and puttees, her hair knotted in a big crisp knot behind. She still had the gun in her hand. Behind her, Banford, clinging to the sofa-arm, was shrinking away, with half-averted head.

这位年轻男人--或者说小伙子，因为他看上去还不到二十岁--现在又往前走了几步，站到了里屋的门道上。马奇早已被他那奇妙、轻柔、带着磁性的声音吸引住了，她像中了魔咒一般怔怔地盯着他。他长着一张红润的圆脸，浅色的长头发被汗水浸湿，紧贴在前额上。他那蓝色的双眼非常明亮、敏锐。他的脸颊上，在那洁净红润的皮肤上，长着一层纤细金黄的绒毛，有点像汗毛，不过比汗毛显得更清晰。这让他的脸看起来有些许闪光。由于肩膀上扛着沉重的背囊，他的腰有点弯，头略向前倾。他一只手里随意地拿着顶帽子。他机灵而敏锐地看看这个姑娘，又看看另一个姑娘，特别是马奇--她站在那儿，脸色发白，双眼瞪得大大的，穿着束腰外套，打着绑腿，头发清清爽爽地在脑后绾成一个大发髻。她手里仍然握着枪。在她身后，班福德正紧偎着沙发的扶手，头侧着，身子直往后缩。

"I thought my grandfather still lived here? I wonder if he's dead. "

“我以为我爷爷还住在这里呢。我在想他是不是已经去世了。”

"We 'vebeen here for three years, " said Banford, who was beginning to recover her wits, seeing something boyish in the round head with its rather long, sweaty hair.

“我们在这里已经住了三年了。” 班福德说道。她开始平静下来，而且从小伙子的圆脑袋和那长长的、汗淋淋的头发上，她看到了一股孩子气。

"Three years! You don't say so! And you don't know who was here before you? "

“三年了！不可能吧！你不知道之前谁住在这里吗？”

"I know it was an old man, who lived by himself. "

“我知道之前有位老人，独自生活在这里。”

"Ay! Yes, that's him! And what became of him then? "

“哎！是啊，就是他啊！那他后来怎么了？”

"He died. I know he died. "

“他去世了。我知道他去世了。”

"Ay! He's dead then! "

“哎！那他是去世了！”

The youth stared at them without changing colour or expression. If he had any expression, besides a slight baffled look of wonder, it was one of sharp curiosity concerning the two girls; sharp, impersonal curiosity, the curiosity of that round young head.

年轻人面不改色地盯着她们。如果说他还有点表情的话，除了那微微困惑的讶异，便是对两位姑娘强烈的好奇感--强烈的、不带个人感情的好奇感，从那圆圆的、年轻的脑袋里生出的好奇感。

But to March he was the fox. Whether it was the thrusting forward of his head, or the glisten of fine whitish hairs on the ruddy cheek-bones, or the bright, keen eyes, that can never be said: but the boy was to her the fox, and she could not see him otherwise.

但对马奇而言，他就是那只狐狸。或许是因为他的头往前伸着，也或许是因为他那红润的颧骨上闪着微光的白色绒毛，又或许是那双明亮敏锐的眼睛，很难说清楚究竟是什么原因。但对她来说，小伙子就是那只狐狸，她怎么也看不出他是别的什么东西。

"How is it you didn't know if your grandfather was alive or dead? " asked Banford, recovering her natural sharpness.

“你怎么会不知道自己爷爷是生是死啊？” 班福德问道，语气又恢复了平日的尖锐。

"Ay, that's it, " replied the softly-breathing youth. "You see, I joined up in Canada, and I hadn't heard for three or four years. I ran away to Canada. "

“唉，就是这样啊。” 小伙子轻轻地呼吸着回答道， “你看，我是在加拿大参军的，有三四年时间没有爷爷的任何消息了。我是逃到加拿大的。”