【荆棘鸟】第五章 07

one of those strange people who even in the midst of titanic 1 rake still can think. And he lasted the distance, in spite of the punishment those expert fists had meted 2 out; his eye was swelling 3, his brow and lip cut. But he had won twenty pounds, and the respect of every man present. Meggie wriggled 4 from Father Ralph's slackened clasp and bolted from the tent before he could catch hold of her. When he found her outside she had been sick, and was trying to clean her splattered shoes with a tiny handkerchief. Silently he gave her his own, stroking her bright, sobbing 5 head. The atmosphere inside had not agreed with his gorge 6 either, and he wished the dignity of his calling permitted him the relief of releasing it in public.
"Do you want to wait for Frank, or would you rather we went now?" "I'll wait for Frank," she whispered, leaning against his side, so grateful for his calmness and sympathy.
"I wonder why you tug 7 so at my nonexistent heart?" he mused 8, deeming her too sick and miserable 9 to listen but needing to voice his thoughts aloud, as do so many people who lead a solitary 10 life. "You don't remind me of my mother and I never had a sister, and I wish I knew what it was about you and your wretched family . . . . Have you had a. hard life, my little Meggie?" Frank came out of the tent, a piece of sticking plaster over his eye, dabbing 11 at his torn lip. For the first time since Father Ralph had met him, he looked happy; the way most men did after what one knew was a good night in bed with a woman, thought the priest.
 
"What's Meggie doing here?" he snarled 12, not quite down from the exaltation of the ring.
"Short of binding 13 her hand and foot, not to mention gagging her, there was no way I could keep her out," said Father Ralph tartly 14, not pleased at having to justify 15 himself, but not sure Frank wouldn't have a go at him, too. He wasn't in the least afraid of Frank, but he was afraid of creating a scene in public. "She was frightened for you, Frank; she wanted to be near enough to you to see for herself that you were all right. Don't be angry with her; she's upset enough already."
"Don't you dare let Daddy know you were within a mile of this place," Frank said to Meggie.
"Do you mind if we cut the rest of our tour short?" the priest asked. "I think we could all do with a rest and a cup of tea at the presbytery." He pinched the tip of Meggie's nose. "And you, young lady, could do with a good wash."
Paddy had had a tormenting 16 day with his sister, at her beck and call in a way Fee never demanded, 
 

（他从每一次扭打和拳来拳去中摸熟了）这个即使是在盛怒之下仍能思考的陌生的对手。尽管他饱尝了对手打出的拳头，他到底还是占了上风，他一只眼睛肿了，眉毛和嘴唇也破了。但是，他赢到了20镑，也博得了在场的每一个男人和尊敬
　　梅吉从拉尔夫神父已经放松的怀抱中挣了出来，他还没来得及抓住她，她就冲出了帐篷。当他在外面找到她的时候，她已经吐了一阵，正打算用小手绢擦她那双溅脏了的鞋子。他一言不发地把自己的手绢递给了她，轻轻地抚摸着她那光亮的头发，她正在啜泣着。刚才帐篷里的气氛也不合他的胃口，使他感到难受，他希望，他职业的尊严能歙了当众流露出这一点，从而减轻这种痛苦。
 
　　"你是要等弗兰克呢，还是愿意我们现在就走？"
　　"我要等弗兰克，"她依在他的身边喃喃地说道，对他的镇定和同情充满了感激。
　　"我不明白你为什么如此牵动我那心如止水的感情？"他若有所思地说道，尽管他相信她吐得很厉害，伤心得无心去听他说话，但他却需要像许多生活孤独的人那样，大声的说出了自己的思想。"你别让我想起我的母亲。我从来没有过妹妹，但愿我能了解你和你那不幸的家……你的日子难过吗，我的小梅吉？"
 
　　弗兰克从帐篷里走出来，一只眼睛上贴着膏药，破了的嘴唇上涂着药。自从拉尔夫神父认识他以来，他头一次显得喜气洋洋，教士觉得，这神态就和大家知道的多数男人与一个女人在床上度过了一个良宵以后的样子是一样的。
　　"梅吉在这儿干嘛呢？"他粗声大气在说道，拳击场上的兴奋劲儿还没有完全过去呢。
　　"就差绑住她的胳膊腿儿啦，更甭提想哄住她；我可没法让她呆在外边。"拉尔夫神父尖刻地说道，虽然不得不为自己辩解使他感到不快，但他对弗兰克会不会冲着他来也毫无把握。他一点也不怕弗兰克，但他却怕在大庭广众之下闹得不可开交。"她是因为你才受了惊吓的，弗兰克，她想尽量离你近一些，好亲眼看见你没事儿。别生她的气，她已经够难受的了。"
　　"难道你不怕让爸知道你到这种地方来过吗？"弗兰克冲着梅吉说道。
　　"把咱们的观光缩短一下怎么样？"神父问道。"我想，咱们大家可以到我的宅邸去休息一下，喝杯茶。"他拧了一下梅吉的鼻尖。"至于你，小姐，可以好好地洗一洗。"
　　帕迪跟他姐姐遭了一天罪，对她唯命是从，菲还从来没这么支使过他呢。