Chapter 552.docx
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Chapter552
Chapter55
Ateleveno'clockthatnight,havingsecuredabedatoneofthehotelsandtelegraphedhisaddresstohisfatherimmediatelyonhisarrival,hewalkedoutintothestreetsofSandbourne.Itwastoolatetocallonorinquireforanyone,andhereluctantlypostponedhispurposetillthemorning.Buthecouldnotretiretorestjustyet.
Thisfashionablewatering-place,withitseasternanditswesternstations,itspiers,itsgrovesofpines,itspromenades,anditscoveredgardens,was,toAngelClare,likeafairyplacesuddenlycreatedbythestrokeofawand,andallowedtogetalittledusty.AnoutlyingeasterntractoftheenormousEgdonWastewascloseathand,yetontheveryvergeofthattawnypieceofantiquitysuchaglitteringnoveltyasthispleasurecityhadchosentospringup.Withinthespaceofamilefromitsoutskirtseveryirregularityofthesoilwasprehistoric,everychannelanundisturbedBritishtrackway;notasodhavingbeenturnedtheresincethedaysoftheCzars.Yettheexotichadgrownhere,suddenlyastheprophet'sgourd;andhaddrawnhitherTess.
Bythemidnightlampshewentupanddownthewindingwaysofthisnewworldinanoldone,andcoulddiscernbetweenthetreesandagainstthestarstheloftyroofs,chimneys,gazebos,andtowersofthenumerousfancifulresidencesofwhichtheplacewascomposed.Itwasacityofdetachedmansions;aMediterraneanlounging-placeontheEnglishChannel;andasseennowbynightitseemedevenmoreimposingthanitwas.
Theseawasnearathand,butnotintrusive;itmurmured,andhethoughtitwasthepines;thepinesmurmuredinpreciselythesametones,andhethoughttheywerethesea.
WherecouldTesspossiblybe,acottage-girl,hisyoungwife,amidstallthiswealthandfashion?
Themoreheponderedthemorewashepuzzled.Werethereanycowstomilkhere?
Therecertainlywerenofieldstotill.Shewasmostprobablyengagedtodosomethinginoneoftheselargehouses;andhesaunteredalong,lookingatthechamber-windowsandtheirlightsgoingoutonebyone;andwonderedwhichofthemmightbehers.
Conjecturewasuseless,andjustaftertwelveo'clockheenteredandwenttobed.Beforeputtingouthislighthere-readTess'simpassionedletter.Sleep,however,hecouldnot,-sonearher,yetsofarfromher-andhecontinuallyliftedthewindow-blindandregardedthebacksoftheoppositehouses,andwonderedbehindwhichofthesashesshereposedatthatmoment.
Hemightalmostaswellhavesatupallnight.Inthemorninghearoseatseven,andshortlyafterwentout,takingthedirectionofthechiefpost-office.Atthedoorhemetanintelligentpostmancomingoutwithlettersforthemorningdelivery.
`DoyouknowtheaddressofaMrsClare?
'askedAngel.
Thepostmanshookhishead.
Then,rememberingthatshewouldhavebeenlikelytocontinuetheuseofhermaidenname,Claresaid--
`OraMissDurbeyfield?
`Durbeyfield?
'
Thisalsowasstrangetothepostmanaddressed.
`There'svisitorscomingandgoingeveryday,asyouknow,sir,'hesaid;`andwithoutthenameofthehouse'tisimpossibletofind'em.'
Oneofhiscomradeshasteningoutatthatmoment,thenamewasrepeatedtohim.
`IknownonameofDurbeyfield;butthereisthenameofd'UrbervilleatTheHerons,'saidthesecond.
`That'sit!
'criedClare,pleasedtothinkthatshehadrevertedtotherealpronunciation.`WhatplaceisTheHerons?
'
`Astylishlodging-house.'Tisalllodging-houseshere,bless'ee.'
Clarereceiveddirectionshowtofindthehouse,andhastenedthither,arrivingwiththemilkman.TheHerons,thoughanordinaryvilla,stoodinitsowngrounds,andwascertainlythelastplaceinwhichonewouldhaveexpectedtofindlodgings,soprivatewasitsappearance.IfpoorTesswasaservanthere,ashefeared,shewouldgototheback-doortothatmilkman,andhewasinclinedtogothitheralso.However,inhisdoubtsheturnedtothefront,andrang.
Thehourbeingearlythelandladyherselfopenedthedoor.
ClareinquiredforTeresad'UrbervilleorDurbeyfield.
`Mrsd'Urberville?
'
`Yes.'
Tess,then,passedasamarriedwoman,andhefeltglad,eventhoughshehadnotadoptedhisname.
`Willyoukindlytellherthatarelativeisanxioustoseeher?
'
`Itisratherearly.WhatnameshallIgive,sir?
'
`Angel.'
`MrAngel?
'
`No;Angel.ItismyChristianname.She'llunderstand.'
`I'llseeifsheisawake.'
Hewasshownintothefrontroom-thedining-room-andlookedoutthroughthespringcurtainsatthelittlelawn,andtherhododendronsandothershrubsuponit.Obviouslyherpositionwasbynomeanssobadashehadfeared,anditcrossedhismindthatshemustsomehowhaveclaimedandsoldthejewelstoattainit.Hedidnotblameherforonemoment.Soonhissharpenedeardetectedfootstepsuponthestairs,atwhichhisheartthumpedsopainfullythathecouldhardlystandfirm.`Dearme!
whatwillshethinkofme,soalteredasIam!
'hesaidtohimself;andthedooropened.
Tessappearedonthethreshold-notatallashehadexpectedtoseeher-bewilderinglyotherwise,indeed.Hergreatnaturalbeautywas,ifnotheightened,renderedmoreobviousbyherattire.Shewaslooselywrappedinacashmeredressing-gownofgray-white,embroideredinhalf-mourningtints,andsheworeslippersofthesamehue.Herneckroseoutofafrillofdown,andherwell-rememberedcableofdark-brownhairwaspartiallycoiledupinamassatthebackofherheadandpartlyhangingonhershoulder-theevidentresultofhaste.
Hehadheldouthisarms,buttheyhadfallenagaintohisside;forshehadnotcomeforward,remainingstillintheopeningofthedoorway.Mereyellowskeletonthathewasnowhefeltthecontrastbetweenthem,andthoughthisappearancedistastefultoher.
`Tess!
'hesaidhuskily,`canyouforgivemeforgoingaway?
Can'tyou-cometome?
Howdoyougettobe-likethis?
'
`Itistoolate,'saidshe,hervoicesoundinghardthroughtheroom,hereyesshiningunnaturally.
`Ididnotthinkrightlyofyou-Ididnotseeyouasyouwere!
'hecontinuedtoplead.`Ihavelearnttosince,dearestTessymine!
'
`Toolate,toolate!
'shesaid,wavingherhandintheimpatienceofapersonwhosetorturescauseeveryinstanttoseemanhour.`Don'tcomeclosetome,Angel!
No-youmustnot.Keepaway.'
`Butdon'tyouloveme,mydearwife,becauseIhavebeensopulleddownbyillness?
Youarenotsofickle-Iamcomeonpurposeforyou-mymotherandfatherwillwelcomeyounow!
'
`Yes-O,yes,yes!
ButIsay,Isayitistoolate.'Sheseemedtofeellikeafugitiveinadream,whotriestomoveaway,butcannot.`Don'tyouknowall-don'tyouknowit?
Yethowdoyoucomehereifyoudonotknow?
'
`Iinquiredhereandthere,andIfoundtheway.'
`Iwaitedandwaitedforyou,'shewenton,hertonessuddenlyresumingtheiroldflutypathos.`Butyoudidnotcome!
AndIwrotetoyou,andyoudidnotcome!
Hekeptonsayingyouwouldnevercomeanymore,andthatIwasafoolishwoman.Hewasverykindtome,andtomother,andtoallofusafterfather'sdeath.He--'
`Idon'tunderstand.'
`Hehaswonmebacktohim.'
Clarelookedatherkeenly,then,gatheringhermeaning,flaggedlikeoneplague-stricken,andhisglancesank;itfellonherhands,which,oncerosy,werenowwhiteandmoredelicate.
Shecontinued--
`Heisupstairs.Ihatehimnow,becausehetoldmealie-thatyouwouldnotcomeagain;andyouhavecome!
Theseclothesarewhathe'sputuponme:
Ididn'tcarewhathedidwi'me!
But-willyougoaway,Angel,please,andnevercomeanymore?
'
Theystoodfixed,theirbaffledheartslookingoutoftheireyeswithajoylessnesspitifultosee.Bothseemedtoimploresomethingtoshelterthemfromreality.
`Ah-itismyfault!
'saidClare.
Buthecouldnotgeton.Speechwasasinexpressiveassilence.Buthehadavagueconsciousnessofonething,thoughitwasnotcleartohimtilllater;thathisoriginalTesshadspirituallyceasedtorecognizethebodybeforehimashers-allowingittodrift,likeacorpseuponthecurrent,inadirectiondissociatedfromitslivingwill.
Afewinstantspassed,andhefoundthatTesswasgone.Hisfacegrewcolderandmoreshrunkenashestoodconcentratedonthemoment,andaminuteortwoafterhefoundhimselfinthestreet,walkingalonghedidnotknowwhither.
当晚十一点钟,克莱尔一到桑德波恩,就立即找了一家旅馆,安排好睡觉的地方,打电报把自己的地址告诉了父亲,然后出门走到街上。
这时候拜访什么人或打听什么人已经太晚了,他只好无可奈何地把寻找苔丝的事推迟到明天早晨。
不过他仍然不肯回去休息。
这是一个东西两头都有火车站的时髦人物常去的海滨胜地,它的突堤、成片的松林、散步的场所、带棚架的花园,在安琪尔·克莱尔眼里,就像是用魔杖一挥突然创造出来的神话世界,不过地面上有一层薄薄的沙土。
在附近,是广大的一爱一敦荒原东部向外突出的地带,一爱一敦荒原是古老的,然而就在黄褐色的那一部分的边缘,一个辉煌新颖的娱乐城市突然出现了。
在它的郊外一英里的范围内,起伏不平的土壤保持着洪荒以来的特点,每一条道路仍然是当年不列颠人踩出来的;自从凯撒时代以来①,那儿的土地一寸也没有翻一动过。
然而这种外来的风物就像先知的蓖麻一样②,已经在这儿生长起来了,并且还把苔丝吸引到了这儿。
①公元前五十五和五十四两年,罗马大将凯撒曾率领部队两次入侵不列颠。
②参见《圣经·约拿书》第四章第六节;上帝安排一棵蓖麻,使蓖麻在一日之内长得高过先知约拿,拿影儿遮住他的头,救他脱离苦楚。
这个新世界是从旧世界中诞生出来的,克莱尔借着半夜的街灯,在它蜿蜒曲折的道路上来回走着;他能够在星光里看见掩映在树木中的高一耸的屋顶、烟囱、凉亭和塔楼,因为这个地方是由无数新奇的建筑物组成的。
它是一座由独立式大厦构成的城市;是坐落在英吉利海峡上的一处地中海休闲胜地;现在从黑夜里看上去,比平时更加显得雄伟壮观。
大海就在附近,但是没有不谐调的感觉:
大海传来阵阵涛声,他听了以为是松林发出的涛声;松林发出的涛声和海涛完全一样,他以为听见的是海涛。
在这座富丽时髦的城市里,他年轻的妻子苔丝、一个乡下姑一娘一,会在什么地方呢?
他越是思考,越是疑惑,这儿是不是有一奶一牛需要挤一奶一呢?
这儿肯定没有需要耕种的土地。
她最大的可能是被某个大户人家雇去干活。
他往前走着,瞧着一个个房间的窗户,窗户里的灯光也一个接一个地熄灭了,但是他不知道苔丝究竟在哪一个房间里。
猜想是毫无用处的,十二点刚过,他就回到旅馆,上一床一睡觉了。
他在熄灯之前,又把苔丝那封感情热烈的信重新读了一遍。
但是,他一点睡意也没有,——他离她是这么近,可是又离她那么远——他不停地把百叶窗打开,向对面那些房子的背后打量,想知道这时候苔丝睡在哪一个窗户的后面。
整整一个夜晚,他差不多都是坐着度过的。
他在第二天早上七点钟就起了一床一,不一会儿就走出旅馆,向邮政总局走去。
他在邮政总局门口碰见一个伶俐的邮差,拿着信从邮局走出来,去送早班信。
“你知道一个叫克莱尔夫人的人的地址吗?
”安琪尔问。
那个邮差摇了摇头。
克莱尔接着想到她可能还在继续使用没有结婚以前的姓,又问——
“或者一个叫德北菲尔德小一姐的人?
”
“德北菲尔德?
”
这个邮差还是不知道。
“先生,你知道,观光的人每天有来的也有走的,”他说;“要是不知道他们的住址,你是不可能找到他们的。
”
就在那个时候,又有一个邮差急急忙忙从邮局里走出来,克莱尔又向他问了一遍。
“我不知道姓德北菲尔德的;但是有一个姓德贝维尔的,住在苍鹭。
”第二个邮差说。
“不错!
”克莱尔心想苔丝用了她本来的姓了,心里一喜,大声喊着说。
“苍鹭在什么地方?
”
“苍鹭是一家时髦的公寓。
上帝啊,这儿可遍地都