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。”