Philipwasrestlessanddissatisfied.Hayward’spoeticallusionstroubledhisimagination,andhissoulyearnedforromance.Atleastthatwashowheputittohimself.
菲利普坐卧不安，身心得不到满足。海沃德富有诗意的旁征博引，使他想入非非，他的心灵渴望着浪漫艳遇，至少，他对自己就是这么说的。
AndithappenedthatanincidentwastakingplaceinFrauErlin’shousewhichincreasedPhilip’spreoccupationwiththematterofsex.TwoorthreetimesonhiswalksamongthehillshehadmetFrauleinCaciliewanderingbyherself.Hehadpassedherwithabow,andafewyardsfurtheronhadseentheChinaman.Hethoughtnothingofit;butoneeveningonhiswayhome,whennighthadalreadyfallen,hepassedtwopeoplewalkingveryclosetogether.Hearinghisfootstep,theyseparatedquickly,andthoughhecouldnotseewellinthedarknesshewasalmostcertaintheywereCacilieandHerrSung.Theirrapidmovementapartsuggestedthattheyhadbeenwalkingarminarm.Philipwaspuzzledandsurprised.HehadneverpaidmuchattentiontoFrauleinCacilie.Shewasaplaingirl,withasquarefaceandbluntfeatures.Shecouldnothavebeenmorethansixteen,sinceshestillworeherlongfairhairinaplait.Thateveningatsupperhelookedathercuriously;and,thoughoflateshehadtalkedlittleatmeals,sheaddressedhim.
正好这时候欧林太太的公寓里发生了一桩事儿，使菲利普越发专注于有关两性的问题。有两三回菲利普在山间散步，遇到凯西莉小姐一个人在那里溜达。菲利普走过她身边，朝她一躬身，继续往前；没走多远，又看到了那个中国人。当时也不觉得有什么；可是有一天傍晚，夜幕已经低垂，他在回家的路上打两个行人身旁经过。那两人原是紧靠在一起的，可他们一听到菲利普的脚步声，赶紧向两旁闪开。夜色朦胧，菲利普看不真切，但几乎可以肯定那是凯西莉和宋先生。他俩如此忙不迭分开，说明他们刚才是手勾着手走的。菲利普惊讶之余又有点困惑。他对凯西莉从未多加注意。这个姑娘平常得很，方方的脸，五官并不怎么清秀。既然她把一头金发编成长辫子，说明她还没超过十六岁。那天晚上用餐时，菲利普好奇地打量她，尽管她近来在桌上很少言语，这会儿倒主动跟菲利普攀谈起来了。
‘Wheredidyougoforyourwalktoday,HerrCarey?’sheasked.
"您今天去哪儿散步来着，凯里先生？"她问。
‘Oh,IwalkeduptowardstheKonigstuhl.’
"哦，我朝御座山那儿走了一程。"
‘Ididn’tgoout,’shevolunteered. ‘Ihadaheadache.’
"我呆在屋里没出去，"她主动表白说，"头有点疼。"
TheChinaman,whosatnexttoher,turnedround.
坐在她身边的那个中国人，这时转脸对她说：
‘I’msosorry,’hesaid. ‘Ihopeit’sbetternow.’
"真遗憾"他说："希望您这会儿好点了吧。
FrauleinCaciliewasevidentlyuneasy,forshespokeagaintoPhilip.
凯西莉小姐显然放心不下，因为她又问了菲利普这么一句：
‘Didyoumeetmanypeopleontheway?’
"路上您遇到不少人吧？"
Philipcouldnothelpreddeningwhenhetoldadownrightlie.
菲利普当面扯了个弥大大谎，脸儿禁不住红了起来。
‘No.Idon’tthinkIsawalivingsoul.’
"没啊，我想连个人影儿也没见着。"
Hefanciedthatalookofreliefpassedacrosshereyes.
菲利普觉得她的眼睛里闪过宽慰的神情。
Soon,however,therecouldbenodoubtthattherewassomethingbetweenthepair,andotherpeopleintheFrauProfessor’shousesawthemlurkingindarkplaces.Theelderlyladieswhosatattheheadofthetablebegantodiscusswhatwasnowascandal.TheFrauProfessorwasangryandharassed.Shehaddoneherbesttoseenothing.Thewinterwasathand,anditwasnotaseasyamatterthenasinthesummertokeepherhousefull.HerrSungwasagoodcustomer:hehadtworoomsonthegroundfloor,andhedrankabottleofMoselleateachmeal.TheFrauProfessorchargedhimthreemarksabottleandmadeagoodprofit.Noneofherotherguestsdrankwine,andsomeofthemdidnotevendrinkbeer.NeitherdidshewishtoloseFrauleinCacilie,whoseparentswereinbusinessinSouthAmericaandpaidwellfortheFrauProfessor’smotherlycare;andsheknewthatifshewrotetothegirl’suncle,wholivedinBerlin,hewouldimmediatelytakeheraway.TheFrauProfessorcontentedherselfwithgivingthembothseverelooksattableand,thoughshedarednotberudetotheChinaman,gotacertainsatisfactionoutofincivilitytoCacilie.Butthethreeelderlyladieswerenotcontent.Twowerewidows,andone,aDutchwoman,wasaspinsterofmasculineappearance;theypaidthesmallestpossiblesumfortheirpension,andgaveagooddealoftrouble,buttheywerepermanentandthereforehadtobeputupwith.TheywenttotheFrauProfessorandsaidthatsomethingmustbedone;itwasdisgraceful,andthehousewasceasingtoberespectable.TheFrauProfessortriedobstinacy,anger,tears,butthethreeoldladiesroutedher,andwithasuddenassumptionofvirtuousindignationshesaidthatshewouldputastoptothewholething.
然而不久，关于他俩关系暧昧这一点，不可能再有什么好怀疑的了。教授太太公寓里的其他人，也看到过他俩躲在幽暗处不知鬼鬼祟祟干啥。坐在上席的那几位老太太，现在开始把这件事当作丑闻来谈论。教授太太义气又恼，但她尽力装作什么也没察觉。此时已近隆冬，不比夏天了，要让公寓住满房客可不那么容易。宋先生是位不。不可多得的好主顾：他在底楼租了两个房间，每餐都要喝一瓶摩泽尔葡萄酒，教授太太每瓶收他二个马克，赚头挺不错。可是，她的其他房客都不喝酒，有的甚至连啤酒也点滴不沾。她也不想失掉凯西莉小姐这样的房客。她的父母在南美洲经商，为了酬谢教授太太慈母般的悉心照顾，他们付的费用相当可观。教授太太心里明白，假如她写信给那位住在柏林的凯西莉小姐的伯父，他会马上把她带走的。于是，教授太太满足于在餐桌上朝他俩狠狠地瞪上几眼；她不敢得罪那位中国人，不过尽可以对凯西莉小姐恶声恶气，以发泄自己的心头之恨。但是那三位老太太却不肯就此罢休。她们三个，两个是寡妇，一个是长相颇似男子的荷兰老处女。她们付的膳宿费已经少得不能再少，而且还经常给人添麻烦，但她们毕竟是永久性的房客，所以对她们也只得将就些。她们跑到教授太太跟前说，一定得果断处置才是，这太不成体统，整个公寓的名声都要给败坏了。教授太太施出浑身解数招架，时而正面顶牛，时而勃然大怒，时而痛哭流涕，但还是敌不过那三位老太太。最后，她突然摆出一副疾恶如仇的架势，愤然表示要了结这桩公案。
AfterluncheonshetookCacilieintoherbed-roomandbegantotalkveryseriouslytoher;buttoheramazementthegirladoptedabrazenattitude;sheproposedtogoaboutassheliked;andifshechosetowalkwiththeChinamanshecouldnotseeitwasanybody’sbusinessbutherown.TheFrauProfessorthreatenedtowritetoheruncle.
吃完午饭，教授太太把凯西莉带到自己的卧房里，开始正言厉色地同她谈话。使教授太太吃惊的是，凯西莉的态度竟那么厚颜无耻，公然提出得任她自行其是，如果她高兴同那位中国先生一起散步，她看不出这同旁人有何相于，这本是她自己的事嘛。教授太太威胁说要给她伯父写信。
‘ThenOnkelHeinrichwillputmeinafamilyinBerlinforthewinter,andthatwillbemuchnicerforme.AndHerrSungwillcometoBerlintoo.’
"那亨利希伯父就会送我到柏林的某户人家去过冬，这对我来说岂非更好！宋先生也会去柏林的嘛。"
TheFrauProfessorbegantocry.Thetearsrolleddownhercoarse,red,fatcheeks;andCacilielaughedather.
教授太太开始号啕起来，眼泪沿着红通通的、又粗又肥的腮帮子扑籁扑簌往下掉，凯西莉却还在一个劲儿取笑她。
‘Thatwillmeanthreeroomsemptyallthroughthewinter,’shesaid.
"那就是说，整个冬天要有三间屋子空着罗，"她说。
ThentheFrauProfessortriedanotherplan.SheappealedtoFrauleinCacilie’sbetternature:shewaskind,sensible,tolerant;shetreatedhernolongerasachild,butasagrownwoman.Shesaidthatitwouldn’tbesodreadful,butaChinaman,withhisyellowskinandflatnose,andhislittlepig’seyes!That’swhatmadeitsohorrible.Itfilledonewithdisgusttothinkofit.
接着，教授太太变换对策，想用软功来打动凯西莉的柔肠：说她善良，理智，忍让；不该再拿她当女孩子看待，她已经是个大人啦。教授太太说，要不是姓宋的，事情本不会这么糟嘛，黄皮肤，塌鼻梁，一对小小的猪眼睛，这才是使人惶恐不安的症结所在。想到那副尊容，就叫人恶心。
‘Bitte,bitte,’saidCacilie,witharapidintakeofthebreath. ‘Iwon’tlistentoanythingagainsthim.’
"Bitte，Bitte！"凯西莉说，一面喘着粗气，"别人讲他讲话，我一句也不要听。"
‘Butit’snotserious?’gaspedFrauErlin.
"这话你只是说说的吧？"欧林太太倒抽着凉气。
‘Ilovehim.Ilovehim.Ilovehim.’
"我爱他！我爱他！我爱他！"
‘GottimHimmel!’
"GottinHimmel！"
TheFrauProfessorstaredatherwithhorrifiedsurprise;shehadthoughtitwasnomorethannaughtinessonthechild’spart,andinnocent,folly.butthepassioninhervoicerevealedeverything.Cacilielookedatherforamomentwithflamingeyes,andthenwithashrugofhershoulderswentoutoftheroom.
教授太太神色惊恐地冲着凯西莉小姐发愣。她原以为这一切无非是女孩子的淘气，一场无知的胡闹罢了。然而，她话音里情感之热切，泄露了全部真情。凯西莉用那双灼热的眼睛，端详了教授太太一番，然后肩膀一耸，扬长而去。
FrauErlinkeptthedetailsoftheinterviewtoherself,andadayortwolateralteredthearrangementofthetable.SheaskedHerrSungifhewouldnotcomeandsitatherend,andhewithhisunfailingpolitenessacceptedwithalacrity.Cacilietookthechangeindifferently.Butasifthediscoverythattherelationsbetweenthemwereknowntothewholehouseholdmadethemmoreshameless,theymadenosecretnowoftheirwalkstogether,andeveryafternoonquiteopenlysetouttowanderaboutthehills.Itwasplainthattheydidnotcarewhatwassaidofthem.AtlasteventheplacidityofProfessorErlinwasmoved,andheinsistedthathiswifeshouldspeaktotheChinaman.Shetookhimasideinhisturnandexpostulated;hewasruiningthegirl’sreputation,hewasdoingharmtothehouse,hemustseehowwrongandwickedhisconductwas;butshewasmetwithsmilingdenials;HerrSungdidnotknowwhatshewastalkingabout,hewasnotpayinganyattentiontoFrauleinCacilie,heneverwalkedwithher;itwasalluntrue,everywordofit.
欧林太太绝口不提这次谈话的经过。过了一两天，她把餐席的座次变换了一下。她问宋先生是否愿意坐到她这一头来，始终那么温文尔雅的宋先生欣然从命。凯西莉对这一改变满不在乎。似乎是因为他俩的关系反正在这幢公寓里已是尽人皆知，他们也就越发肆无忌惮。现在，他们不再瞒着人偷偷地一起出外散步，而是每天下午都大大咧咧地到小山同那儿溜达。显然，他们已不在乎旁人的说三道四。闹到最后，甚至连秉性温和的欧林教授也沉不住气了，他坚持要妻子同那个姓宋的谈一次。教授太太这回把宋先生拉到一边，对他好言规劝：他不该败坏那姑娘的名誉；他正危及整个公寓的名声；他必须明白他的所作所为有多荒唐，有多邪恶。但是，她得到的却是面带微笑的矢口否认；宋先生不知道她说的是什么，他对凯西莉小姐不感兴趣，他从来没同她一起散过步。所有这一切纯属子虚乌有，全是捕风捉影。
‘Ach,HerrSung,howcanyousaysuchthings?You’vebeenseenagainandagain.’
"啊，宋先生，您怎能这么说呢？人家不止一次看到你们俩在一起。"
‘No,you’remistaken.It’suntrue.’
"不，您搞错了。哪有这种事呢。"
Helookedatherwithanunceasingsmile,whichshowedhiseven,littlewhiteteeth.Hewasquitecalm.Hedeniedeverything.Hedeniedwithblandeffrontery.AtlasttheFrauProfessorlosthertemperandsaidthegirlhadconfessedshelovedhim.Hewasnotmoved.Hecontinuedtosmile.
他始终笑眯眯地望着教授太太，露出一口整齐、洁白的细牙。他泰然自若，什么也不认帐。他厚脸而又文雅地百般抵赖。最后，教授太太冒火了，说那姑娘自己也承认爱上他了。但是宋先生还是不动声色，脸上仍旧挂着微笑。
‘Nonsense!Nonsense!It’salluntrue.’
"扯淡！扯淡！根本没这种事。"
Shecouldgetnothingoutofhim.Theweathergrewverybad;therewassnowandfrost,andthenathawwithalongsuccessionofcheerlessdays,onwhichwalkingwasapooramusement.OneeveningwhenPhiliphadjustfinishedhisGermanlessonwiththeHerrProfessorandwasstandingforamomentinthedrawing-room,talkingtoFrauErlin,Annacamequicklyin.
教授太太从他嘴里掏不出一句实话来。天气渐渐变得十分恶劣，又是下雪，又是降霜。然后，冰融雪化，一连好几天，让人感到没精打采，出外散步也变得索然无味。一天晚上，菲利普刚上完教授先生的德语课，站在客厅里同欧林太太说话，还没说上几句，只见安娜急匆匆地跑了进来。
‘Mamma,whereisCacilie?’shesaid.
"妈妈，凯西莉在哪儿？"她说。
‘Isupposeshe’sinherroom.’
"大概在她自己房间里吧。"
‘There’snolightinit.’
"她房间里没有灯光。"
TheFrauProfessorgaveanexclamation,andshelookedatherdaughterindismay.ThethoughtwhichwasinAnna’sheadhadflashedacrosshers.
教授大大惊叫一声，神情沮丧地望着女儿。安娜脑袋里的念头也在她脑际闪过。
‘RingforEmil,’shesaidhoarsely.
"打铃叫埃米尔上这儿来，"她嗓音嘶哑地说。
Thiswasthestupidloutwhowaitedattableanddidmostofthehousework.Hecamein.
埃米尔是个笨头笨脑的愣小子，吃饭时，他在桌旁伺候，平时屋里的大部分活计都丢给他一个人干。他应声走了进来。
‘Emil,godowntoHerrSung’sroomandenterwithoutknocking.Ifanyoneistheresayyoucameintoseeaboutthestove.’
"埃米尔，到楼下宋先生的房间去，进去时别敲门。要是里面有人，你就说是来照看火炉的。"
NosignofastonishmentappearedonEmil’sphlegmaticface.
在埃米尔呆板的脸上，不见有半点惊讶的表示。
Hewentslowlydownstairs.TheFrauProfessorandAnnaleftthedooropenandlistened.PresentlytheyheardEmilcomeupagain,andtheycalledhim.
他慢腾腾地走下楼去。教授太太母女俩任房门开着，留神楼下的动静。不一会儿，他们听见埃米尔又上楼来了，他们忙招呼他。
‘Wasanyonethere?’askedtheFrauProfessor.
"屋里有人吗？"教授太太问。
‘Yes,HerrSungwasthere.’
"宋先生在那儿。"
‘Washealone?’
"就他一个人吗？"
Thebeginningofacunningsmilenarrowedhismouth.
他抿起嘴，脸上绽出一丝狡黠的微笑。
‘No,FrauleinCaciliewasthere.’
"不，凯西莉小姐也在那儿。"
‘Oh,it’sdisgraceful,’criedtheFrauProfessor.
"哟，真丢人，"教授太太叫了起来。
Nowhesmiledbroadly.
这会儿，埃米尔咧嘴笑了。
‘FrauleinCacilieisthereeveryevening.Shespendshoursatatimethere.’
"凯西莉小姐每天晚上都在那儿。一呆就是几个小时。"
FrauProfessorbegantowringherhands.
教授太太开始绞扭双手。
‘Oh,howabominable!Butwhydidn’tyoutellme?’
"哟，真可恶！你为什么不早点告诉我？"
‘Itwasnobusinessofmine,’heanswered,slowlyshrugginghisshoulders.
"这。可不关我的事，"他回答，同时慢腾腾地耸了耸肩。
‘Isupposetheypaidyouwell.Goaway.Go.’
"我看他们一定赏了你不少钱吧，走开！走吧！"
Helurchedclumsilytothedoor.
他脚步蹒跚地向门口走去。
‘Theymustgoaway,mamma,’saidAnna.
"一定得把他们撵走，妈妈，"安娜说。
‘Andwhoisgoingtopaytherent?Andthetaxesarefallingdue.It’sallverywellforyoutosaytheymustgoaway.IftheygoawayIcan’tpaythebills.’SheturnedtoPhilip,withtearsstreamingdownherface. ‘Ach,HerrCarey,youwillnotsaywhatyouhaveheard.IfFrauleinForster—’thiswastheDutchspinster—‘ifFrauleinForsterknewshewouldleaveatonce.Andiftheyallgowemustclosethehouse.Icannotaffordtokeepit.’
"那让谁来付房租呢？税单就要到期了。得把他们撵走，说得多轻巧！可是他们一走，我拿什么来付帐。"她转身面朝菲利普，脸上挂着两串热泪。"哎，凯里先生，您不会把听到的话声张出去吧。假如让福斯特小姐知道了，"--就是那位荷兰老处女--"假如让福斯特小姐知道了，她会立刻离开这儿的。假如大家都跑了，咱们就只好关门大吉。我实在无力维持下去。"
‘OfcourseIwon’tsayanything.’
"我当然什么也不会说的。"
‘Ifshestays,Iwillnotspeaktoher,’saidAnna.
"如果让她再在这儿呆下去，我可不愿再理睬她了，"安娜说。
ThateveningatsupperFrauleinCacilie,redderthanusual,withalookofobstinacyonherface,tookherplacepunctually;butHerrSungdidnotappear,andforawhilePhilipthoughthewasgoingtoshirktheordeal.Atlasthecame,verysmiling,hislittleeyesdancingwiththeapologieshemadeforhislatearrival.HeinsistedasusualonpouringouttheFrauProfessoraglassofhisMoselle,andheofferedaglasstoFrauleinForster.Theroomwasveryhot,forthestovehadbeenalightalldayandthewindowswereseldomopened.Emilblunderedabout,butsucceededsomehowinservingeveryonequicklyandwithorder.Thethreeoldladiessatinsilence,visiblydisapproving:theFrauProfessorhadscarcelyrecoveredfromhertears;herhusbandwassilentandoppressed.Conversationlanguished.ItseemedtoPhilipthattherewassomethingdreadfulinthatgatheringwhichhehadsatwithsooften;theylookeddifferentunderthelightofthetwohanginglampsfromwhattheyhadeverlookedbefore;hewasvaguelyuneasy.OncehecaughtCacilie’seye,andhethoughtshelookedathimwithhatredandcontempt.Theroomwasstifling.Itwasasthoughthebeastlypassionofthatpairtroubledthemall;therewasafeelingofOrientaldepravity;afaintsavourofjoss-sticks,amysteryofhiddenvices,seemedtomaketheirbreathheavy.Philipcouldfeelthebeatingofthearteriesinhisforehead.Hecouldnotunderstandwhatstrangeemotiondistractedhim;heseemedtofeelsomethinginfinitelyattractive,andyethewasrepelledandhorrified.
那天晚上吃饭时，凯西莉小姐准时人席就座。她脸色比平日红此，带着一股执拗的神情。但是宋先生没有露面，菲利普暗自思忖，他今天是有意要躲开这个难堪的局面吧。不料最后宋先生还是来了，满脸堆笑，一双眼睛忽溜忽溜转着，为自己的概栅来迟不住连声道歉。他还是像往常一样，硬要给教授太太斟一杯他订的摩泽尔葡萄酒，另外还给福斯特小姐斟了一杯。屋子里很热，因为炉子整天烧着，窗户又难得打开。埃米尔慌慌张张地奔来跑去，不过手脚倒还算麻利，好歹把席上的人挨个儿应付了过去。三位老太太坐在那儿不吭声，一脸不以为然的神气；教授太太哭了一场，似乎还没恢复过来；她丈夫不言不语，闷闷不乐。大家都懒得启口。菲利普恍惚觉得，在这伙一日三餐与他共坐一席的人身上，似乎有着某种令人胆寒的东西，在
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