39;t have him touch me, not for anything. But if he thinks he can do anything with his owlish arty staring, let him stare. He can make as many empty tubes and corrugations out of me as he likes. It's his funeral. He hated you for what you said: that his tubified art is sentimental and self-important. But of course it's true.”

“嗯，他今天确实有些讨人嫌。”“你会去给他做模特吗？”“噢，我已经无所谓了。他绝不会碰我。只要我们最终能走到一起，其他的都无所谓。”“但他会在画布上对你胡涂乱抹。”“我不在乎。他只会画出对我的感觉，那样的话，我就不会介意。我不会让他碰我分毫。可若是他认为仅用那对画家的直眼睛盯着我看，就能得到满足，那不妨让他看好了。他尽可以把我画成许多空管子还有螺纹。那是他的自由。他之所以讨厌你，就是因为你的那番言论：他画的管子只不过是无病呻吟，妄自尊大。不过当然这评价确实一针见血。”

第十九章

Dear Clifford, I am afraid what you foresaw has happened. I am really in love with another man, and do hope you will divorce me. I am staying at present with Duncan in his flat. I told you he was at Venice with us. I'm awfully unhappy for your sake: but do try to take it quietly. You don't really need me any more, and I can't bear to come back to Wragby. I'm awfully sorry. But do try to forgive me, and divorce me and find someone better. I'm not really the right person for you, I am too impatient and selfish, I suppose. But I can't ever come back to live with you again. And I feel so frightfully sorry about it all, for your sake. But if you don't let yourself get worked up, you'll see you won't mind so frightfully. You didn't really care about me personally. So do forgive me and get rid of me.

亲爱的克利福德，恐怕你的预言确已成真。我真的爱上另一个男人，并希望你能跟我离婚。目前，我在邓肯家暂住。我告诉过你，他跟我们共游威尼斯。我很替你难过，可请务必心平气和地接受此事。你实际上已经不再需要我，而我也无法容忍重返拉格比。我真的充满歉意。可请你宽恕我，跟我离婚，找个比我更好的女人。我想我真的不适合你，性格过于急躁自私。可我再也无法回到你的身边。对于你，我真的感觉非常抱歉。但如果平心静气地考虑这件事，你就会发觉没有什么了不得的。你其实并不真的在乎我。既然如此，就请原谅我，抛弃我吧。

Clifford was not INWARDLY surprised to get this letter. Inwardly, he had known for a long time she was leaving him. But he had absolutely refused any outward admission of it. Therefore, outwardly, it came as the most terrible blow and shock to him. He had kept the surface of his confidence in her quite serene. And that is how we a