road, locked the car, and got down. It was night, but luminous dark. The hedges rose high and wild, by the unused lane, and very dark seeming. There was a fresh sweet scent on the air. The keeper went ahead, then came Connie, then Hilda, and in silence. He lit up the difficult places with a flash-light torch, and they went on again, while an owl softly hooted over the oaks, and Flossie padded silently around. Nobody could speak. There was nothing to say.

她小心翼翼地绕过树丛，停在从公路上看不到的地方，把车锁好，走下车来。已经是深夜，但却并非一团漆黑。人迹罕至的小路旁，茂密的灌木长得高而茂盛，看上去黑乎乎的。空气中漂浮着新鲜的甜味。守林人在前面引路，接着是康妮，希尔达跟在最后，三个人都没说话。他用手电筒照亮崎岖难行的地方，然后继续前进。一只猫头鹰飞过橡树丛，低声枭叫着。弗洛西悄无声息地跑来跑去。没人做声。因为没什么好说的。

At length Connie saw the yellow light of the house, and her heart beat fast. She was a little frightened. They trailed on, still in Indian file.

终于，农舍昏黄的灯光映入康妮的眼帘，她的心跳不由加快。她有些害怕。他们继续前进，仍按照一前一后的队列。

He unlocked the door and preceded them into the warm but bare little room. The fire burned low and red in the grate. The table was set with two plates and two glasses on a proper white table-cloth for Once. Hilda shook her hair and looked round the bare, cheerless room. Then she summoned her courage and looked at the man.

他打开门，将姐妹俩引入这间温暖但却空荡荡的小屋。低低的炉火烧得通红。桌上摆着两份餐盘和玻璃杯，还前所未有地铺着洁白的桌布。希尔达甩开头发，环顾着这间简陋阴郁的小屋。然后，她鼓足勇气，直视那陌生的男人。

He was moderately tall, and thin, and she thought him good-looking. He kept a quiet distance of his own, and seemed absolutely unwilling to speak.

他中等个儿，身材偏瘦，在希尔达看来，样貌还算英俊。他面无表情，仿佛拒人于千里之外，似乎决不愿开口讲话。

"Do sit down, Hilda," said Connie.

“快来坐，希尔达。”康妮招呼着。

"Do!" he said.

“坐吧！”他说。

"Can I make you tea or anything, or will you drink a glass of beer? It's moderately cool.” "Beer!" Said Connie.

“你俩喝茶还是别的，不然来杯啤酒？啤酒还挺清凉。”“啤酒！”康妮说。

"Beer for me, please! " said Hilda, with a mock sort of shyness. He looked at her and blinked.

“请也给我来杯啤酒！”希尔达说，故作着打趣似的娇羞的神态。他熟视无睹。

He took a blue jug and tramped to the scullery. When he came back with the beer, his face had changed again.

他拿着一只蓝色罐子，慢悠悠地走去洗涤间。端着啤酒回来时，他脸上的表情已非先前的模样。

Connie sat down by th