第 30 节
作者:津夏      更新:2021-02-21 14:27      字数:5857
  When Charlie went out she said that everything was ready; and presently
  our peasant driver cracked his whip; and away we went。
  Charlie was a little grave; and could only reply to Tita's fun with an
  effort。 Franziska was mostly anxious about the fishing; and hoped that we
  might not go so far to find nothing。
  We found few fish anyhow。 The water was as still as glass; and as clear;
  the pike that would have taken our spinning bits of metal must have been
  very dull…eyed pike indeed。 Tita sat at the bow of the long punt reading;
  while our boatman steadily and slowly plied his single oar。 Franziska was
  for a time eagerly engaged in watching the progress of our fishing; until
  even   she   got   tired   of   the   excitement   of   rolling   in   an   immense   length   of
  cord; only to find that our spinning bait had hooked a bit of floating wood
  or weed。 At length Charlie proposed that he should go ashore and look out
  for   a   picturesque   site   for   our   picnic;   and   he   hinted   that   perhaps   Miss
  Franziska   might   also   like   a   short   walk   to   relieve   the   monotony   of   the
  sailing。 Miss Franziska said she would be very pleased to do that。 We ran
  them   in   among   the   rushes;   and   put   them   ashore;   and   then   once   more
  started on our laborious career。
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  Tita   laid   down   her   book。   She   was   a   little   anxious。   Sometimes   you
  could   see   Charlie   and   Franziska   on   the   path   by   the   side   of   the   lake;   at
  other times the thick trees by the water's side hid them。
  The solitary oar dipped in the lake; the boat glided along the shores。
  Tita took up her book again。 The space of time that passed may be inferred
  from the fact that; merely as an incident to it; we managed to catch a chub
  of four pounds。 When the excitement over this event had passed; Tita said:
  〃We must go back to them。 What do they mean by not coming on and
  telling us? It is most silly of them。〃
  We     went    back    by  the   same    side   of   the  lake;   and   we    found    both
  Franziska and her companion seated on the bank at the precise spot where
  we   had   left   them。   They   said   it   was   the   best   place   for   the   picnic。   They
  asked   for   the   hamper   in   a   businesslike   way。   They   pretended   they   had
  searched the shores of the lake for miles。
  And while Tita and Franziska are unpacking the things; and laying the
  white cloth smoothly on the grass; and pulling out the bottles for Charlie
  to   cool   in   the   lake;   I   observe   that   the   younger   of   the   two   ladies   rather
  endeavours   to   keep   her   left   hand   out   of   sight。   It   is   a   paltry   piece   of
  deception。       Are    we   moles;     and    blinder    than    moles;    that   we    should
  continually be made the dupes of these women? I say to her:
  〃Franziska; what is the matter with your left hand?〃
  〃Leave Franziska's left hand alone;〃 says Tita; severely。
  〃My   dear;〃   I   reply;   humbly;   〃I   am   afraid   Franziska   has   hurt   her   left
  hand。〃
  At   this   moment   Charlie;   having   stuck   the   bottles   among   the   reeds;
  comes back; and; hearing our talk; he says; in a loud and audacious way:
  〃Oh; do you mean the ring? It's a pretty little thing I had about me; and
  Franziska   has   been   good   enough   to   accept   it。 You   can   show   it   to   them;
  Franziska。
  Of course he had it about him。 Young men always do carry a stock of
  ruby rings with them when they go fishing; to put in the noses of the fish。 I
  have observed it frequently。
  Franziska   looks   timidly   at   Tita;   and   then   she   raises   her   hand;   that
  trembles a little。 She is about to take the ring off to show it to us   when
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  Charlie interposes:
  〃You needn't take it off; Franziska。〃
  And with that; somehow; the girl slips away from among us; and Tita
  is with her; and we don't get a glimpse of either of them until the solitude
  resounds with our cries for luncheon。
  In due time Charlie returned to London; and to Surrey with us in very
  good spirits。 He used to come down very often to see us; and one evening
  at dinner he disclosed the fact that he was going over to the Black Forest
  in the following week; although the November nights were chill just then。
  〃And how long do you remain?〃
  〃A month;〃 he says。
  〃Madam;〃   I   say   to   the   small   lady   at   the   other   end   of   the   table;〃   a
  month from now will bring us to the 4th of December。 You have lost the
  bet you   made last   Christmas   morning;   when will it please   you to   resign
  your authority?〃
  〃Oh; bother the bet;〃 says this unscrupulous person。
  〃But what do you mean?〃 says Charlie。
  〃Why;〃   I   say   to   him;   〃she   laid   a   wager   last   Christmas   Day  that   you
  would not be married within a year。 And now you say you mean to bring
  Franziska over on the 4th of December next。 Isn't it so?〃
  〃Oh; no!〃 he says; 〃we don't get married till the spring。〃
  You should have heard the burst of low; delightful laughter with which
  Queen Tita welcomed this announcement。 She had won her wager。
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