血字的研究 63逃命（2）（在线收听）

During this dialogue John Ferrier had stood fuming in the doorway, hardly able to keep his riding-whip from the backs of his two visitors.

在这场对话进行的时候，约翰·费瑞厄一直站在门边，肺都要气炸了；他几乎忍不住要用他的马鞭子抽上这两个客人的脊背。

"Look here," he said at last, striding up to them, "when my daughter summons you, you can come, but until then I don't want to see your faces again."

最后，他大踏步走到他们面前喝道："听着，我的女儿叫你们来，你们才能到这儿来。但是，没有叫你们的时候，我不愿再看见你们这副嘴脸。"

The two young Mormons stared at him in amazement.

两个年轻的摩门教徒感到十分惊讶，他们睁大了眼睛瞧着费瑞厄。

In their eyes this competition between them for the maiden's hand was the highest of honours both to her and her father.

在他们看来，他们这样竞争着向他的女儿求婚，不论对他的女儿，或者对他来说，都是一种至高无上的光荣。

"There are two ways out of the room," cried Ferrier; "there is the door, and there is the window. Which do you care to use?"

费瑞厄喝道："要想出这间屋，有两条路可走。一条是门，一条是窗户。你们愿意走哪一条？"

His brown face looked so savage, and his gaunt hands so threatening, that his visitors sprang to their feet and beat a hurried retreat.

他的棕色的脸显得非常凶狠可怕，一双青筋暴露的手那样吓人。他的两位客人一见情况不妙，跳起身来，拔腿就跑。

The old farmer followed them to the door. "Let me know when you have settled which it is to be," he said, sardonically.

这个老农一直跟到门口。他挖苦地说："你们两位商量定了究竟那一位合适，请通知一声就够了。"

"You shall smart for this!" Stangerson cried, white with rage.

"你这样子，是自讨苦吃！"斯坦节逊大声叫道，脸都气白了，

"You have defied the Prophet and the Council of Four. You shall rue it to the end of your days."

"你竟敢公然违抗先知，违抗四圣会议。你要后悔一辈子的！"

"The hand of the Lord shall be heavy upon you," cried young Drebber; "He will arise and smite you!"

小锥伯也叫道："上帝的手要重重地惩罚你。他既然能够让你生，也就能够要你死！"

"Then I'll start the smiting," exclaimed Ferrier, furiously, and would have rushed upstairs for his gun had not Lucy seized him by the arm and restrained him.

"好吧，我就要你先死给我看看，"费瑞厄愤怒地叫道。要不是露茜一把拉住他的胳臂，把他拦住，他早就冲上楼去，拿出他的枪来了。

Before he could escape from her, the clatter of horses' hoofs told him that they were beyond his reach.

他还没有来得及从露茜的手中挣脱出来，便听见一阵马蹄声，他知道他们走远了，已经追不上了。

"The young canting rascals!" he exclaimed, wiping the perspiration from his forehead;

他一面擦着额头上的汗，一面大声说道："这两个胡说八道的小流氓！

"I would sooner see you in your grave, my girl, than the wife of either of them."

与其把你嫁给他们之中的任何一个，我的孩子，你倒不如死了的干净。"

"And so should I, father," she answered, with spirit; "but Jefferson will soon be here."

她兴奋地回答说："爸爸，我也一定会这样办的。不过，杰弗逊马上就要回来了。"

"Yes. It will not be long before he comes. The sooner the better, for we do not know what their next move may be."

"是的，他不久就要回来了。回来的愈快愈好，咱们还不知道他们下一步要怎么样呢。"

It was, indeed, high time that someone capable of giving advice and help should come to the aid of the sturdy old farmer and his adopted daughter.

的确，现在正是这个坚强的老农和他的义女最危急的时候，他们非常需要一个能够为他们策划的人来帮助他们。

In the whole history of the settlement there had never been such a case of rank disobedience to the authority of the Elders.

在这个移民地区的整个历史中，从来还没有发生过这样公然违抗四圣权力的事情。

If minor errors were punished so sternly, what would be the fate of this arch rebel?

如果说一些细小的过错都要受到严厉的惩罚的话，那么，干出这种大逆不道的事来，结果又该怎样呢。

Ferrier knew that his wealth and position would be of no avail to him.

费瑞厄知道，他的财富，他的地位对于他都是毫无帮助的。

Others as well known and as rich as himself had been spirited away before now, and their goods given over to the Church.

在此以前，一些和他一样有名又有钱的人都被偷偷干掉了，他们的财产也全部归了教会。

He was a brave man, but he trembled at the vague, shadowy terrors which hung over him.

他是个勇敢的人，但是，对于降临在他头上的这种隐约不可捉摸的恐怖，他想起来就要不寒而栗。

Any known danger he could face with a firm lip, but this suspense was unnerving.

任何摆在明处的危险，他都可以咬着牙，勇敢地承当下来；但是，这种令人惶惶不可终日的情况，却使人难于忍受。

He concealed his fears from his daughter, however, and affected to make light of the whole matter, though she, with the keen eye of love, saw plainly that he was ill at ease.

虽然如此，他还是把他的恐惧心情隐藏起来，不让他的女儿知道，并且装出一副若无其事的样子。可是，他女儿那双聪明的眼，却早已看出，他是在提心吊胆、忐忑不安呢。