I've not heard a thing about Bertha. I've no idea why she didn't show up at the divorce, nor where she is nor what she's up to. But if I keep quiet till March I suppose I shall be free. And don't you bother about Sir Clifford. He'll want to get rid of you one of these days. If he leaves you alone, it's a lot.

格兰奇农场，奥尔德希诺，9月29日经过努力，我总算在这里安定下来，这得益于老战友理查兹，目前他在这家公司做工程师。这座农场并非个人拥有，而是属于巴特勒和史密斯煤矿公司，用于种植牧草及燕麦，以饲养矿场里劳作的小马。除此之外，这里还养着猪、牛等其他家畜，我在这里做工人，每周的工资是30先令。农场经理罗利派给我尽可能多的工作，这样一来，我就能利用复活节前的时间，学到尽可能多的东西。至于贝莎的消息，我从未听闻。我不晓得，她为何不在离婚案中露面，更不晓得她躲在哪里，在搞什么鬼把戏。但只要我能清静到三月份，就能重获自由了。而你也不必为克利福德的事烦恼。终有一天，他会主动跟你分手。如果他不再纠缠不休，就已经谢天谢地。

I've got lodging in a bit of an old cottage in Engine Row very decent. The man is enginedriver at High Park, tall, with a beard, and very chapel. The woman is a birdy bit of a thing who loves anything superior. King's English and allow me! all the time. But they lost their only son in the war, and it's sort of knocked a hole in them. There's a long gawky lass of a daughter training for a schoolteacher, and I help her with her lessons sometimes, so we're quite the family. But they're very decent people, and only too kind to me. I expect I'm more coddled than you are.

我寄宿在一座不赖的老式农舍，位于机车路。房东是海帕克的火车司机，身材高大，蓄须，是位虔诚的教徒。其妻如鸟儿般活泼好动，热衷于所有高品位的东西。满嘴说的都是标准英语，口头禅是请允许我！但两人唯一的儿子在战争中殒命，这简直像剜去他们的心肝。好在他们还有个女儿，身材细高，个性腼腆，正在参加培训，希望成为教员。我有时会帮她补习功课，跟他们处得好像一家人。他们都是正派人，对我更是无微不至。我猜此刻的自己确实比你幸运得多。

I like farming all right. It's not inspiring, but then I don't ask to be inspired. I'm used to horses, and cows, though they are very female, have a soothing effect on me. When I sit with my head in her side, milking, I feel very solaced. They have six rather fine Herefords. Oatharvest is just over and I enjoyed it, in spite of sore hands and a lot of rain. I don't take much notice of people, but get on with them all right. Most things one just ignores.

农场的活计还算不错。虽说有些提不起兴趣，但我也不寄望这些。我过去习惯跟马匹打交道，而奶牛虽然是雌性动物，但仍能给我带来慰藉。坐在乳牛身旁挤奶的时