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What struggle there was in him between Nature and Grace in this interval, I cannot tell:
在这间隙，天性与情理之间究竟如何搏斗着，我说不上来，
only singular gleams scintillated in his eyes, and strange shadows passed over his face.
他的眼睛闪着奇异的光芒，奇怪的阴影掠过他的面孔。
He spoke at last.
他终于开口了。
"I before proved to you the absurdity of a single woman of your age proposing to accompany abroad a single man of mine.
“我以前曾向你证明，像你这般年纪的单身女人，陪伴像我这样的男人是荒唐的。
I proved it to you in such terms as, I should have thought, would have prevented your ever again alluding to the plan.
我已把话说到这样的地步，我想你不会再提起这个打算了。
That you have done so, I regret -- for your sake."
很遗憾你居然还是提了——为你感到遗憾。”
I interrupted him.
我打断了他。
Anything like a tangible reproach gave me courage at once.
类似这种具体的责备反而立刻给了我勇气。
"Keep to common sense, St. John: you are verging on nonsense.
“你要通情理，圣·约翰！你近乎胡言乱语了。
You pretend to be shocked by what I have said.
你假装对我所说的感到震惊，
You are not really shocked: for, with your superior mind,
其实你并没有，因为像你这样出色的脑袋，
you cannot be either so dull or so conceited as to misunderstand my meaning.
不可能那么迟钝，或者自负，以致于误解我的意思。
I say again, I will be your curate, if you like, but never your wife."
我再说一次，要是你高兴，我可以当你的副牧师，而不是你妻子。”
Again he turned lividly pale; but, as before, controlled his passion perfectly.
他再次脸色刷白，但像以前一样还是完全控制住了自己的感情。
He answered emphatically but calmly --
他的回答很有力却也很镇静：
"A female curate, who is not my wife, would never suit me.
“一个不做我妻子的女副牧师，对我绝不合适。
With me, then, it seems, you cannot go: but if you are sincere in your offer,
那么看来，你是不能同我去了。但要是你的建议很诚心，
I will, while in town, speak to a married missionary, whose wife needs a coadjutor.
那我去镇上的时候可以同一个已婚的教士说说，他的妻子需要一个助手。
Your own fortune will make you independent of the Society's aid;
你有自己的财产，不必依赖教会的赞助，
and thus you may still be spared the dishonour of breaking your promise and deserting the band you engaged to join."
这样，你就不会因为失信和毁约而感到耻辱。”
