血字的研究 56犹他之花(6)（在线收听）

He called on John Ferrier that night, and many times again, until his face was a familiar one at the farmhouse.

当天晚上，他就去拜访了约翰·费瑞厄；以后，他又去了许多趟，终于混得彼此非常熟悉起来。

John, cooped up in the valley, and absorbed in his work, had had little chance of learning the news of the outside world during the last twelve years.

约翰·费瑞厄深居山谷之中，十二年来，他专心一意地从事他的田庄工作，几乎与外界隔绝。

All this Jefferson Hope was able to tell him, and in a style which interested Lucy as well as her father.

侯波对于这些年来的事情非常熟悉，因此他能把他所见所闻，一样样地讲给他听。他讲得有声有色，不但使这位父亲听得津津有味，就连露茜也感到非常有趣。

He had been a pioneer in California, and could narrate many a strange tale of fortunes made and fortunes lost in those wild, halcyon days.

侯波也是当年最早到达加利福尼亚的一个，因此，他能够说出，在那些遍地黄金，充满暴力的日子里，多少人发财致富，多少人倾家荡产。

He had been a scout too, and a trapper, a silver explorer, and a ranchman.

他做过斥候，捕捉过野兽，也曾寻找过银矿，并且在收场里当过工人。

Wherever stirring adventures were to be had, Jefferson Hope had been there in search of them.

只要哪里传出有冒险的事业，他就要前去探求一番。

He soon became a favourite with the old farmer, who spoke eloquently of his virtues.

很快地他就获得了老农的欢心，他不断地夸奖着侯波。

On such occasions, Lucy was silent, but her blushing cheek and her bright, happy eyes showed only too clearly that her young heart was no longer her own.

在这当儿，露茜总是默默无言。但是，她那红晕的双颊、明亮而幸福的眼睛，都非常清楚地说明，她的那颗年轻的心，已经不再属于她自己了。

Her honest father may not have observed these symptoms, but they were assuredly not thrown away upon the man who had won her affections.

她那诚实的老父也许还没有看出这些征兆，但无疑地，这些征兆并没有逃过这个赢得她芳心的小伙子的那双眼睛。

One summer evening he came galloping down the road and pulled up at the gate.

一个夏天的傍晚，侯波骑着马从大道上疾驰而过，向着费瑞厄家门口跑来。

She was at the doorway, and came down to meet him. He threw the bridle over the fence and strode up the pathway.

露茜正在门口，她走向前去迎接他。他把缰绳抛在篱垣上，大踏步沿着门前小径走了过来。

"I am off, Lucy," he said, taking her two hands in his, and gazing tenderly down into her face: "I won't ask you to come with me now, but will you be ready to come when I am here again?"

"我要走了，露茜，"他说着，一面握住她的两只手，温柔地瞧着她的脸，"现在我不要求你马上跟我一块儿走，但是当我回来的时候，你能不能决定和我走呢？"

"And when will that be?" she asked, blushing and laughing.

"可是，你什么时候回来呢？"她含羞带笑地问道。

"A couple of months at the outside. I will come and claim you then, my darling. There's no one who can stand between us."

"顶多两个月，亲爱的。那个时候，你就要属于我了，谁也阻挡不了咱们。"

"And how about father?" she asked.

她问道："可是，父亲的意见怎么样？"

"He has given his consent, provided we get these mines working all right. I have no fear on that head."

"他已经同意了，只要我们的银矿进行得顺利就行。我倒并不担心这个问题。"

"Oh, well; of course, if you and father have arranged it all, there's no more to be said," she whispered, with her cheek against his broad breast.

"哦，那就行了。只要你和父亲把一切都安排好了，那就用不着多说了。"她轻轻地说着，一面把她的面颊偎依在他那宽阔的胸膛上。

"Thank God!" he said, hoarsely, stooping and kissing her. "It is settled, then. The longer I stay, the harder it will be to go.

"感谢上帝！"他声音粗哑地说，一面弯下身去吻着她，"那么，事情就这样决定了。我愈呆得久，就会愈加难舍难分。

They are waiting for me at the canon. Good-bye, my own darling–good-bye. In two months you shall see me."

他们还在峡谷里等着我呢。再见吧，我的亲爱的，再见了！不到两个月，你一定就会见到我了。"

He tore himself from her as he spoke, and, flinging himself upon his horse, galloped furiously away, never even looking round, as though afraid that his resolution might fail him if he took one glance at what he was leaving.

他一边说，一边从她的怀里挣脱出来，翻身上马，头也不回地奔驰而去，好象只要他稍一回顾他所离别的人儿，他的决心就要动摇了。

She stood at the gate, gazing after him until he vanished from her sight.

她站在门旁，久久地望着他，一直到他的身影消逝不见。

Then she walked back into the house, the happiest girl in all Utah.

然后她才走进屋去，她真是整个犹他地方最幸福的一个姑娘了。