1. Eve Hendrie sat up in bed. For two hours she had been trying to get to sleep, but without success. There were two reasons for this: her mind was disturbed, and she was very hungry. As the paid companion of Mrs. Rastall-Retford, she had to follow the same Spartan diet as Mrs. Rastall-Retford had to follow due to her size and therefore, failing health. Mrs. Rastall-Retford was a massive lady, with a prominent forehead, some half-dozen chins, and a very bad temper. And since the beginning of her diet she had been at her worst.
伊芙·亨德利起身坐在床上。已经两个小时了，她一直努力着入睡，但没有成功。这有两个原因：她有些心神不宁，还有她饿坏了。作为拉斯多尔-雷特福德太太的有偿伴侣，她不得不遵循与拉斯多尔-雷特福德太太一样的斯巴达式的饮食习惯——至于拉斯多尔-雷特福德太太为什么要遵循这样的饮食习惯，是因为她的体重以及由此导致的不佳的健康状况，使她不得不这样做。拉斯多尔-雷特福德太太身材庞大，前额突出，长着五六层双下巴，而且脾气很坏。并且，自从她控制饮食开始，她的情况变得更糟了。
2. What was agitating Eve so extremely tonight though, was the unexpected arrival of Peter Rayner. Eve could still see the look on Peter's face as, having shaken hands with his hostess earlier that evening, he turned to her. It said that this was no accidental meeting; they were passionate lovers not long ago.
不过，让伊芙今晚如此不安的是彼得·雷纳的意外到来。伊芙眼前仍然可以浮现出当天傍晚，彼得跟她的女主人握手并转向她时，脸上的那副表情——“这不是偶然的见面”。他们不久前还是热恋中的情人。
3. Eve sat in her bed thinking for five minutes; and then it suddenly struck her that she was hungrier than ever. She was quite faint with hunger. A cuckoo clock struck one. Eve remembered that on the sideboard in the dining-room there were biscuits. A moment later she was creeping softly down the stairs. She pushed open the door of the dining room, and uttered a cry. "You! What are you doing here, Mr. Rayner?" On the table were half a chicken, a loaf, some cold potatoes, and a bottle of beer. "I'm eating, thank goodness!" said Peter, helping himself to a cold potato. "Eating?!" Eve gasped. “I was hungry. May I cut you a slice of chicken?", Peter said calmly.
伊芙坐在床上沉思了五分钟，然后她突然意识到自己比之前更饿了。她因饥饿身体非常虚弱。布谷鸟钟敲响了1点的钟声。伊芙记得餐厅的餐具柜里还有些饼干。过了一会儿，她蹑手蹑脚地走下楼梯，推开餐厅的门，然后突然大叫了起来：“是你！你在这做什么，雷纳先生？”桌子上摆着半只鸡、一条面包、一些冷土豆和一瓶啤酒。“我在吃东西，谢天谢地，这里有吃的！”彼得边说，边自顾自地吃着冷土豆。 “吃东西？！”伊芙气喘吁吁地说。“我饿了。我给你切一块鸡肉，怎么样？“彼得平静地说。
4. "No," she snapped. "You're sure? What made you come down? I suppose you heard a noise and thought it was burglars?" he said. "Yes," said Eve, thankfully accepting the idea. " Won't you sit down?" "No, I'm going back to bed. Good night, Mr. Rayner." "Sit down. You've given me a great deal of trouble. It took ages to find you. You must come with me at once. We'll be married after Christmas, and in the meantime you can go and live with my sister----"
“不，”她厉声说道。 “你确定吗？你因为什么到楼下来的？我想你是听到了一些嘈杂声，并认为是有盗贼潜入吧？”他说。“是的，”伊芙说，欣然接受了这个想法。“你不坐下吗？” “不，我要回去睡觉了。晚安，雷纳先生。” “坐下吧。你给我带来了很多麻烦。我找你找得花儿都谢了。你必须马上跟我一起走。我们圣诞节后就结婚，然后，你可以和我姐姐住在一起……”
5. Eve got up with a short laugh. "Good night, Mr. Rayner," she said. "You have been very amusing." "I'm glad it's all settled," said Peter. "Good night." Eve stopped. "Do you imagine," she said, "that I intend to marry you? Do you suppose, for one moment----" "You shall have a splendid time from now on. I'm going to be awfully good to you, Eve. You shan’t ever have any more worries." He looked at her affectionately.
伊芙微微笑了一下，然后站起身来。 “晚安，雷纳先生，”她说。“你一直很有趣。”彼得说：“我很高兴一切都安顿好了。” “晚安。”伊芙顿了一下。“你想过，”她说，“我真的打算嫁给你吗？你花过时间考虑这个问题吗？”“从现在起，你将度过一段美好的时光。我会对你非常好的，伊芙。你不该再有什么担心的了。“他深情地看着她。
6. "You are a great, big, greedy pig!" burst out Eve, "who thinks about nothing but eating and drinking." "I wasn't going to have put it quite like that," said Peter, thoughtfully. "I hate a greedy man," said Eve, between her teeth. "I have a healthy appetite," protested Peter. "Nothing more. It runs in the family." Eve reached the door and turned. "I despise you," she said. "Good night," said Peter, tenderly. "Tomorrow morning we'll go for a walk."
“ 你是一头贪婪的大蠢猪！”伊芙突然大喊起来，“除了吃喝以外什么都不想。” “我不会像你这样说话的，”彼得若有所思地说。“我讨厌贪婪的男人，”伊芙从牙缝里蹦出了这句话。“但，我胃口很好，”彼得抗议道。“也就这个优点了，还是家族遗传的。”伊芙走到门口，转过身来。 “我鄙视你，”她说。“晚安，”彼得温柔地说道。 “明天早晨我们会去散步。”
7. His prediction proved absolutely correct. Eve came to him in the morning. There was a gleam in her eye. It was not till they were nearing home on their return journey that she spoke. "Mr. Rayner," she said. "Yes?" said Peter. " I told Mrs. Rastall-Retford you were a vegetarian," she added, carelessly.
他的预言证明是完全正确的。第二天早晨，伊芙来找他了。她眼中泛着微光。直到他们即将回到家时，她才开口说话。 “雷纳先生，”她说。“怎么了？”彼得说。“我告诉拉斯多尔-雷特福德太太你是素食主义者，”她淡淡地补充道。

8. There was a long silence. Then Peter spoke three words, straight from the heart. "You little devil!" "You see!" she said. "Now perhaps you will go." "Without you?" said Peter, stoutly. "Never!" " But in London you will be able to eat all day--anything you like. But if you stay here…," said Eve.
一段很长的沉默后，彼得直言不讳地说出了五个字——“你个小恶魔！”“你看！”她说。 “这下你该走人了。” “你不跟我一起走？”彼得坚决地说，“那我绝不离开！” “但在伦敦，你可以整天吃个不停——你喜欢吃什么就吃什么。但如果你留在这里......，”伊芙说。
9. " I shall stay here and look after you. After all, what is food?" "Oh, and I forgot," interrupted Eve. "I told her you were a teetotaller as well." There was another silence, longer than the first. "The best train," said Eve, at last, "is the ten-fifty." He looked at her inquiringly. "The best train?" "For London." "What makes you think that I am interested in trains to London?" Eve bit her lip.
“ 我会留下来照顾你的。毕竟，吃的算什么呢？” “哦，忘了，”伊芙打断道，“我还告诉她你是一个绝对的戒酒主义者。”又是一段沉默，而且这次比上次持续的时间更长。“最好的一班列车，”伊芙最后说到，“是明早10点50的。”他满脸疑惑地看着她。“最好的一班列车？” “去伦敦的。” “你为什么觉得我对去伦敦的火车感兴趣？”伊芙咬着嘴唇，没有回答。
10. "Oh I remember too! I made another stupid mistake” said Eve again. “I told the cook you were devoted to parsnips. I'm sorry." Peter looked at her gravely. "I'm putting up with a lot for your sake," he said. "You needn't. Why don't you go away?" "I've got to take you away from this place. Honestly, it's killing you. I was watching you last night. You're scared. I'm going to stay on here till you say you'll marry me, or till they throw me out."
“哦，我又记想起一件事情！我还犯了另一个愚蠢的错误”，伊芙再次开口了，“我告诉厨师你只喜欢吃欧洲防风草。非常抱歉。”彼得严肃地看着她。 “我受够你了，”他说。 “你不必这样的。你为什么不直接离开？” “我必须带你离开这个地方。老实说，这鬼地方会杀了你的。我昨晚发现，你很害怕。我会留在这里直到你说你会嫁给我，或者直到他们把我扔出去。”
11. “There are parsnips for dinner tonight," said Eve, softly. "Then I shall get to like them. They are an acquired taste, I expect. Perhaps I am, too. Perhaps I am the human parsnip, and you will have to learn to love me. So tomorrow, see you by the first train. I wonder how soon we can get married. Do you know anything about special licenses?"
“今天晚餐有欧洲防风草，”伊芙温柔地说。“然后，我会喜欢上这东西的。我很期待那种后天养成的口味。也许我也是如此。也许我就是人类中的欧洲防风草，然后你必须学会去爱我。所以明天，我们一起乘第一班火车离开。我很想知道我们最快多久能结婚。你对特别许可了解吗？”
12. She looked at him curiously. "You're very obstinate," she said. "Firm," he corrected. "Firm. Could you be ready for that ten-fifty tomorrow morning?" "I can't imagine why you are fond of me!" she said. "I've been very horrid to you." "Nonsense. You've been all that's sweet and womanly." "And I want to tell you why," she went on. "Your--your sister----"
她好奇地看着他。 “你个顽固的家伙，”她说。“坚定，”他纠正道， “请坚定地回答我，你做好准备乘坐明天上午10点50分的火车了吗？” “我无法想象你为什么喜欢我！” 她说，“我一直对你非常糟糕。” “别胡说，你一直都很甜，很有女人味。” “我想告诉你为什么，”她继续说道。“是因为你，你姐姐……”
13. "Ah, I thought as much!" "She--she saw that you seemed to be getting fond of me, and she----" "She would!" "Said some rather horrid things that--hurt," said Eve, in a low voice. Peter crossed over to where she sat and took her hand. "Don't you worry about her," he said. "She's not bad really, but about once every six months she needs a brotherly talking-to, or she gets above herself. I will have one with her in a few days." He stroke her hand. "Fasting," he said, thoughtfully, "clears and stimulates the brain. I fancy I shall be able to think out some rather special things to say to her this time."

“啊，果然不出所料！” “她……她发现你似乎很喜欢我，但她……”“的确如此！” “总是说一些相当可怕的话……我受到伤害了，”伊芙低声说道。彼得走到她坐的位置，握住她的手。“你不必担心她，”他说，“她真的不坏，但大约每半年，她需要一次兄弟般的交谈，否则她就会变得自以为是。我会和她单独呆几天。” 他轻轻抚摸着她的手。 “禁食，”他若有所思地说，“会刺激到你的大脑，并让它变得一片空白。我想我这次可以对她说点儿特别的。”