迟到的情书(6)

　　As I grew older I found, rather to my surprise, that I had become genuinely fond of my aloof 1 old great-aunt. But to this day I do not know what strange impulse made me take George to see her and to tell her, before I had confided 2 in another living soul, of our engagement. To my astonishment 3, she was delighted.

　　让我感到吃惊的是，随着我逐渐长大，我发现打心眼里喜欢起我那位孤伶伶的老姑姑来。至今我仍不知道那是一种什么样的奇异动力，使我在还没有透露给别人之前就把乔治领去看望姑姑，告诉她我们已经订婚的消息。不成想，听到这个消息以后，她竟非常高兴。 　　"An Englishman,"she exclaimed."But that is splendid, splendid. And you,"she turned to George,"you are making your home in this country? You do not intend to return to England just yet?"

　　"是英国人！"她惊讶地大声说道，"好极了。你，"她转向乔治，"你要在南非安家吗？你现在不打算回国吧？"

　　She seemed relieved when she heard that George had bought a farm near our own farm and intended to settle in South Africa. She became quite animated 4, and chattered 5 away to him.

　　当她听说乔治已经在我们农场附近购置了一片农场并打算定居下来时，好像松了一口气。她兴致勃勃地和乔治攀谈起来。

　　After that I would often slip away to the little cottage by the mealie lands. Once she was somewhat disappointed on hearing that we had decided 6 to wait for two years before getting married, but when she learned that my father and mother were both pleased with the match she seemed reassured 7.

　　从那以后，我常常到那所位于玉米地边的小屋。有一次，当斯蒂菲娜老姑听说我们决定再过两年结婚时，露出了失望的神色，但一听说我的父母亲都对这门亲事满意时，她又放宽了心。

　　Still, she often appeared anxious about my love affair, and would ask questions that seemed to me strange, almost as though she feared that something would happen to destroy my romance. But I was quite unprepared for her outburst when I mentioned that George thought of paying a lightning visit to England before we were married."He must not do it,"she cried."Ina, you must not let him go. Promise me you will prevent him."she was trembling all over. I did what I could to console her, but she looked so tired and pale that I persuaded her to go to her room and rest, promising 8 to return the next day.

　　但她对我的婚姻大事还是经常挂在嘴边。她常常问一些怪怪的问题，几乎像担心我的婚事会告吹一样。当我提到乔治打算在婚前匆匆回一趟国时，她竟激动了起来。只见她浑身哆嗦着大声嚷道："他不能回去！爱娜！你不能放他走，你得答应我不放他走！"我尽力安慰她，但她还是显得萎靡不振。我只得劝她回屋休息，并答应第二天再去看她。

　　When I arrived I found her sitting on the stoep. She looked lonely and pathetic, and for the first time I wondered why no man had ever taken her and looked after her and loved her. Mother had told me that Great-aunt Stephina had been lovely as a young girl, and although no trace of that beauty remained, except perhaps in her brown eyes, yet she looked so small and appealing that any man, one felt, would have wanted to protect her.

　　我第二天去看她时，她正坐在屋前的门廊上，流露出抑郁孤寂的神情。我第一次感到纳闷：以前怎么没有人娶她、照料和爱抚她呢？记得母亲曾经说过，斯蒂菲娜老姑以前曾是一个楚楚可爱的小姑娘。尽管除了她那褐色的眼睛尚能保留一点昔日的风韵之外，她的美貌早已荡然无存。但她看上去还是那样小巧玲珑、惹人爱怜，引起男人们的惜香怜玉之情。