書蟲三級《三個陌生人》：6、牧羊人所見之 第三夜
3.Third night
3．第三夜
The next night Bill Mills was left alone again to take care of the sheep. He tried bravely not to think of what lay behind the Devil's Door, but without much success. So he was almost pleased as well as surprised when the Duke and Duchess appeared near the hut at about eleven o'clock. He watched and listened through the little window in his hut.
接下來的那天晚上，比爾·米爾斯又被獨自留下照看羊群。他勇敢地試圖不去想“魔鬼之門”后面躺著什么東西，但不太管用。因此，當公爵和公爵夫人在11點左右出現在小屋附近時，他既高興又驚訝。他在小屋里向小窗外望去，同時側耳細聽。
I tell you, he did not think it was worth coming again!' the Duke said, reluctant to walk further. 'He is not here, so turn round and come home.'
“我告訴你，他一定是認為不值得再來了！”公爵說著，不愿再往前走了，“他不在這兒，咱們掉頭回家吧?！?
He doesn't seem to be here, it's true. Perhaps something has happened to him? Oh poor Fred! I do hope he is all right!'
“看樣子他的確不在這兒，難道他出什么事了？哦，可憐的弗雷德！我真希望他沒事！”
The Duke said quickly, 'Oh, he probably has some other meeting to go to.'
公爵趕緊說：“哦，也許他赴別的約去了?！?
I don't think so.'
“我想不會?！?
Or perhaps he has found it too far to come.'
“那或許他覺得上這兒來太遠了?！?
Nor is that probable.'
“那也不太可能?！?
Then perhaps he thought it was better not to come.'
“那就是他認為不來更好?！?
Yes, perhaps. Or he may be here all the time, hiding behind the Devil's Door. Let's go and see — and surprise him!'
“嗯，也許是吧。也有可能他一直都在這兒，就藏在'魔鬼之門’后面。咱們過去瞧瞧吧——嚇他一跳！”
Oh, he's not there.'
“哦，他不會在那兒的?！?
Perhaps he's lying very quietly in the grass there, because of you,' she said, smiling.
“說不定他正悄悄躺在那邊的草叢里呢，就因為看見了你?！彼⑿χf。
Oh, no — not because of me!'
“哦，不——不是因為我！”
Come, then. Dearest, you're as reluctant as a schoolboy tonight! I know you're jealous of poor Fred, but you have no reason to be!'
“那就走吧。親愛的，你今天晚上就像個小學生一樣勉強！我知道你嫉妒可憐的弗雷德，不過你沒理由嫉妒他呀！”
I'll come! I'll come! Say no more, Harriet!' And together they crossed the grass towards the stones.
“我去！我去！別再說了，哈麗雅特！”他們一起穿過草叢朝石門走去。
The boy came out of the hut to see what happened next, but the Duchess saw him moving in the darkness.
男孩走出小屋，想看看接下來會發(fā)生什么事，卻被公爵夫人看到他在黑暗中走動。
Ah, I see him at last!' she said.
“啊，我終于看見他了！”她說。
See him!' cried the Duke. 'Where?'
“看見他了！”公爵大叫道，“在哪兒？”
By the Devil's Door. Don't you see him?' She laughed. 'Ah, my poor lover-cousin, you'll be in trouble now!'
“就在'魔鬼之門’旁邊！你沒看到他嗎？”她笑道，“啊，我可憐的求愛者表哥，你現在有麻煩啦！”
It's not him!' said the Duke in horror. 'It can't be him!'
“那不是他！”公爵驚恐地說，“不可能是他！”
No, it isn't. It's too small for him. It's a boy.'
“嗯，不是他。那身形太小了，是個男孩?！?
Ah, I thought so! Boy, come here.'
“啊，我想也是！孩子，過來?！?
Fearfully, young Bill came closer.
小比爾膽怯地走上前去。
What are you doing here?' asked the Duke.
“你在這兒干什么？”公爵問。
Taking care of the sheep, your Grace.'
“放羊，公爵閣下?！?
Ah, you know me! Do you keep sheep here every night?'
“哦，你認識我！你每天晚上都在這兒放羊嗎？”
Most nights in winter, your Grace.'
“冬天里大多數晚上都在，公爵閣下?！?
And what have you seen here tonight or last night?' asked the Duchess. 'Anyone waiting or walking about?'
“你今晚或是昨晚看到什么了嗎？”公爵夫人間，“有沒有人在這里等或者在這附近走動？”
The boy was silent.
男孩默不作聲。
He has seen nothing,' said her husband quickly, staring angrily at the boy. 'Come, let us go. The air is cold.'
“他什么都沒看到?！彼煞蜈s緊說道，惱怒地瞪著男孩，“來，咱們走吧。天太冷了?！?
When they had gone, young Bill went back to the sheep. But he was not alone for long. Half an hour later the Duke's heavy steps were heard again. His wife was not with him.
他們走后，小比爾回到了羊群中。但他獨自待著的情況并沒持續(xù)多久。半小時后，他聽見了公爵沉重的腳步聲，這回他妻子沒跟他在一起。
Listen, boy,' he said. 'The Duchess asked you a question, and I want you to answer it. Have you seen anything strange these nights, when you've been watching your sheep?'
“聽著，孩子，”他說，“公爵夫人剛才問了你一個問題，我希望你回答。這幾天晚上放羊的時候，你有沒有看到什么奇怪的事？”
Your Grace, I'm just a poor, stupid boy, and what I see, I don't remember.'
“公爵閣下，我只是個又窮又笨的孩子，見過什么也都不記得了。”
I ask you again,' said the Duke, holding the boy's shoulder with a strong hand and staring down into his frightened face. 'Did you see anything strange here last night?'
“我再問你一次，”公爵用強壯有力的手抓住男孩的肩膀，低頭盯著他驚恐的臉說，“你昨晚看到這里發(fā)生什么怪事了嗎？”
Oh, your Grace, don't kill me!' cried the boy, falling to the ground. 'I've never seen you walking here, or riding here, or waiting for a man, or pulling a dead body along!'
“哦，公爵閣下，別殺我！”男孩哭喊著跌倒在地，“我從沒見過您在附近走動、騎馬、等人或是拖走一具死尸！”
Ah!' said the Duke coldly. 'It is good to know that you have never seen those things. Now, which do you prefer — to see me do those things now, or to keep a secret all your life?'
“??！”公爵冷冰冰地說，“我知道你沒看到這些事，很好。好了，你想怎么樣——是想看我現在做這些事呢，還是你終身保守這個秘密？”
Keep a secret, your Grace!'
“保守秘密，公爵閣下！”
You are sure you can do it?'
“你確信能做到嗎？”
Oh, try me, your Grace!'
“哦，您可以考驗我，公爵閣下！”
Very well. And now, do you like being a shepherd?'
“很好。好了，你喜歡當牧羊人嗎？”
Not at all. 'Tis lonely work for a boy like me, who sees ghosts everywhere. And my master sometimes beats me.'
“一點都不喜歡。這份工作對我來說太寂寞了，因為我走到哪兒都能看見鬼。而且我的主人有時還打我?！?
I'll give you new clothes, and send you to school, and make a man of you. But you must never say you've been a shepherd boy. The moment that you forget yourself, and speak of what you've seen on the hills — this year, next year, or twenty years from now — I will stop helping you, and you'll come down to being a poor shepherd again.'
“我會給你新衣服穿、送你去學校，讓你成為一個體面人。但你永遠也不能說自己曾是個牧羊人。你一旦忘乎所以，說出在山上看到的情景——不管是今年、明年、還是二十年后——我都將不再資助你，任你重新淪落為窮苦的牧羊人?！?
I'll never speak of it, your Grace!'
“我永遠都不會說出去的，公爵閣下！”
Come here.' The Duke took the boy to the Devil's Door. 'Now make a promise in front of these ancient stones. The ghosts that live in this place will find you and punish you if you ever speak of your life as a shepherd boy or what you saw then. Promise to keep this secret!'
“過來。”公爵把男孩帶到“魔鬼之門”跟前，“你現在對著這些古老的石頭發(fā)誓。假如你提及自己曾經是牧羊人或者說出那晚看到的事，這里的鬼魂就會找到你、懲罰你?？彀l(fā)誓，說你會保守秘密！”
His face as white as a sheet, the boy promised.
男孩的臉像床單一樣慘白。他發(fā)了誓。
Then they went down into the valley, the Duke holding the boy's hand. That night the boy slept at Shakeforest Towers, and the next day he was sent away to school.
然后，公爵抓著男孩的手走進了山谷。男孩當晚就睡在了舍克弗洛斯特城堡，第二天又被送進了學校。
