白衣女人 - 书虫·牛津英汉双语读物

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白衣女人 = The Woman in White／（英）柯林斯（Collins, W.）著；（英）刘易斯（Lewis, R. G. ）改写；王世庆译．—北京：外语教学与研究出版社，2006.4（2014.11 重印）

（书虫·牛津英汉双语读物）

ISBN 978-7-5600-5458-2

Ⅰ．白…　Ⅱ．①柯…②刘…③王…　Ⅲ．①英语—汉语—对照读物②长篇小说—英国—现代　Ⅳ．H319.4：I

中国版本图书馆CIP数据核字（2006）第024274号

出版人：　蔡剑峰

责任编辑：周　晶

封面设计：孙莉明

出版发行：外语教学与研究出版社

社　　址：北京市西三环北路19号（100089）

网　　址：http://www.fltrp.com

版　　次：2008年6月第2版

书　　号：ISBN 978-7-5600-5458-2

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内容简介

一个突然出现的白衣女人孤独地伫立在月下的荒野中。沃尔特·哈特里特一开始被她吓了一跳，但后来发现她非常害怕，头脑也不清楚，需要他的帮助。他温和有礼地同她交谈，陪她走了一段路，指给她前面应该怎么走。很快，她就又消失在了夜色里。

这次偶遇拉开了一连串事件的序幕，也把沃尔特、玛丽安以及她同母异父的妹妹劳拉、珀西瓦尔爵士和他的意大利朋友福斯科伯爵扯进一个似是而非的谜团之中。而谜团的核心就是那个悲伤孤独的白衣女人——她的生活、她的过去，还有她急于在死前揭开的秘密。

这是一个有关贪婪与邪恶、无辜与背叛、身份混淆与无情欺骗的故事。这也是一个爱情故事——爱情的开始是伤心和痛苦，好像没有任何出路，更没有任何希望和将来。但是，爱情不会轻易灭亡；它能够战胜离别与绝望，甚至死亡……

THE WOMAN IN WHITE

She appears out of nowhere, a woman dressed all in white, standing in the moonlight on the lonely heath. Walter Hartright is at first alarmed, but then sees that she is frightened and confused, and needs his help. He speaks kindly to her, walks with her to show her the right road, and soon she disappears into the night again.

This strange meeting begins a chain of events that bring together Walter, Marian and her half-sister Laura, Sir Percival and his Italian friend Count Fosco in a mystery in which nothing is as it seems. And at the heart of the mystery is the sad, lonely figure of the woman in white — her life, her history, and the secret that she is desperate to reveal before she dies.

It is a story of greed and evil, innocence and betrayal, confused identities and cruel deceptions. And also love — a love that begins with heartbreak and misery, where there seems no way forward, no hope for the future. But love does not die easily; it can survive separation, and despair, and even death itself...

PART ONE—THE STORY TOLD BY WALTER HARTRIGHT　第一部分　沃尔特·哈特里特的讲述

PART ONE
THE STORY TOLD BY WALTER HARTRIGHT
第一部分　沃尔特·哈特里特的讲述

1
A meeting by moonlight

It was the last day of July. The long hot summer was coming to an end, and I was feeling ill and depressed. I was also short of money, so I had little chance of escaping from the dusty London streets, and would have to spend the autumn economically between my rooms in the city and my mother's house.

My mother and my sister, Sarah, lived in a cottage in Hampstead, in the northern suburbs, and I usually went to see them twice a week. This evening I arrived at the gate of the cottage just as it was starting to get dark. I had hardly rung the bell before the door was opened violently, and my Italian friend, Professor Pesca, rushed out to greet me.

Pesca was a language teacher who had left Italy for political reasons and had made his home in England. He was a strange, excitable little man, who was always trying to be more English than the English. I had met him from time to time when he was teaching in the same houses as I was, and then one day I met him by chance in Brighton. We agreed to go for a swim together in the sea. He was very enthusiastic and it never for a moment occurred to me that he did not know how to swim! Fortunately, when he suddenly sank to the bottom, I was able to dive down and save him. From that day on he was my grateful friend, and that evening he showed his gratitude to me in a way that changed my whole life.

'Now, my good friends,' he said, when we were all in my mother's sitting-room. 'I have some wonderful news for you. I have been asked by my employer to recommend a drawing teacher for a post with a rich family in the north of England. And who do you think I have recommended? The best drawing teacher in the world — Mr Walter Hartright!'

'My dear Pesca! How good you are to Walter!' exclaimed my mother. 'How kind, how generous you are!'

As for myself, although I was certainly grateful for his kindness, I still felt strangely depressed. I thanked him warmly, however, and asked to see the conditions. The note he gave me said that a qualified drawing teacher was wanted by Mr Frederick Fairlie of Limmeridge House, Cumberland, to teach his two young nieces for a period of at least four months. The teacher was to live at Limmeridge House as a gentleman and receive four pounds a week. Letters to show he was of good character would be required.

The position was certainly an attractive one, and I could not understand why I felt so little enthusiasm for it. However, since my mother and sister thought it was a great opportunity, and I had no wish to hurt Pesca's feelings, I agreed to apply for the job.

The next morning I sent my letters of recommendation to the Professor's employer, and four days later I heard that Mr Fairlie accepted my services and requested me to start for Cumberland immediately. I arranged to leave the next day, and in the evening I walked to Hampstead to say goodbye to my mother and Sarah.

When I left them at midnight, a full moon was shining in a dark blue, starless sky, and the air was soft and warm. I decided to take the long route home, and walk across Hampstead Heath before joining the road into the centre of the city. After a while I came to a crossroads and turned onto the London road. I was lost in my own thoughts, wondering about the two young ladies in Cumberland, when suddenly, my heart seemed to stop beating. A hand had touched my shoulder from behind.

I turned at once, my hand tightening on my walking stick.

There, as if it had dropped from the sky, stood the figure of a woman, dressed from head to foot in white clothes. I was too surprised to speak.

'Is that the road into London?' she said.

I looked at her carefully. It was then nearly one o'clock. All I could see in the moonlight was a young colourless face, large sad eyes, and light brown hair. Her manner was quiet and self-controlled. What sort of woman she was, and why she was out so late alone, I could not guess. But there was nothing evil about her — indeed, a kind of sad innocence seemed to come from her.

'Did you hear me?' she said, quietly and rapidly.

'Yes,' I replied, 'that's the road. Please excuse me — I was rather surprised by your sudden appearance.'

'You don't suspect me of doing anything wrong, do you?'

'No, no, seeing you so suddenly gave me a shock, that's all.'

'I heard you coming,' she said, 'and hid behind those trees to see what sort of man you were, before I risked speaking. May I trust you?' Her eyes searched my face, anxiously.

Her loneliness and helplessness were so obvious that I felt great sympathy for her. 'Tell me how I can help you,' I said, 'and if I can, I will.'

'Oh, thank you, thank you. You are very kind.' Her voice trembled a little as she spoke. 'I don't know London at all. Can I get a cab or a carriage at this time of night? Could you show me where to get one, and will you promise not to interfere with me? I have a friend in London who will be glad to receive me. I want nothing else — will you promise?'

She looked nervously up and down the road, then back at me.

How could I refuse? Her fear and confusion were painful to see.

'Will you promise?' she repeated.

'Yes.'

We set off together towards the centre of London. It was like a dream — walking along that familiar road, with so strange and so mysterious a companion at my side.

'Do you know any men of the rank of Baronet in London?' she asked suddenly.

There was a note of suspicion in the strange question, and when I said I knew no Baronets, she seemed relieved. I questioned her further, and she murmured that she had been cruelly used by a Baronet she would not name. She told me she came from Hampshire and asked if I lived in London. I explained that I did, but that I was leaving for Cumberland the next day.

'Cumberland!' she repeated softly. 'Ah! I wish I was going there too. I was once happy in Cumberland, in Limmeridge village. I'd like to see Limmeridge House again.'

Limmeridge House! I stopped, amazed.

'What's wrong?' she asked anxiously. 'Did you hear anybody calling after us?'

'No, no. It's just that I heard the name of Limmeridge House very recently. Do you know somebody there?'

'I did once,' she said. 'But Mrs Fairlie is dead; and her husband is dead; and their little girl may be married and gone away...'

Perhaps she would have told me more, but just at that moment we saw a cab. I stopped it, and she quickly got in.

'Please,' I said, 'let me see you safely to your friend's house.'

'No, no,' she cried. 'I'm quite safe, and you must let me go. Remember your promise! But thank you — oh! thank you.'

She caught my hand in hers, kissed it, and pushed it away. The cab disappeared into the black shadows on the road — and the woman in white had gone.

Ten minutes later I was still on the same road, thinking uneasily about the whole adventure, when I heard wheels behind me. An open carriage with two men in it passed me, then stopped when they saw a policeman walking further down the street.

'Officer!' cried one of the men. 'Have you seen a woman pass this way? A woman in white clothes?'

'No, sir. Why? What has she done?'

'Done! She has escaped from my asylum.'

An asylum! But the woman had not seemed mad to me. Nervous, and a little strange, perhaps, but not mad. What had I done? Had I helped a woman wrongly imprisoned to escape? Or had I failed to protect a sick person who might come to harm? These disturbing thoughts kept me awake all night after I had got back to my rooms, until at last it was time to leave London and set out for Cumberland.

*　　*　　*

My travelling instructions directed me to Carlisle and then to change trains for Limmeridge. However, because of a long delay I missed my connection and did not get to Limmeridge till past ten. A servant in rather a bad temper was waiting for me at the station with a carriage and when I arrived at Limmeridge House everyone had gone to bed. I was shown to my room and when I at last put out the candle, I thought to myself, 'What shall I see in my dreams tonight? The woman in white? Or the unknown inhabitants of this Cumberland house?'

depressed adj. dispirited or miserable 无精打采的

economically adv. sparing in the use of resources 节俭地

violently adv. using aggressive physical force 用力地

gratitude n. a feeling of being grateful to someone because they have given you something or done something for you 感激之情；知恩图报之心

recommend v. suggest as fit for some purpose or use 推荐

exclaim v. cry out suddenly esp. in anger, surprise, pain etc. （出于气愤、惊讶、痛苦等）大喊；惊叫

character n. the collective qualities that distinguish a person or thing 特点；品行

apply for make a formal request for something to be done, given etc. 申请

be lost in be engrossed in 全神贯注于……

tighten v. make or become tight or tighter 握紧；攥紧

colourless adj. without colour 没有颜色的

suspect v. be inclined to accuse mentally 怀疑

shock n. a sudden disturbing effect 震惊；吃惊

companion n. a person who accompanies another 伙伴

baronet n. member of lowest British hereditary titled order 准男爵

relieved adj. freed from anxiety or distress 松了一口气

murmur v. utter in a low voice 低声说

adventure n. an unusual and exciting experience 不同寻常又令人兴奋的经历

asylum n. institution offering shelter and support to the mentally ill 精神病院

imprison v. put into prison 囚禁

inhabitant n. one who lives in a place 居住者

1．月下邂逅

那是7月的最后一天。漫长、炎热的夏季已经接近尾声，但我觉得身体不太舒服，心情也有些压抑。我没什么钱，不大可能离开尘土飞扬的伦敦，只得在伦敦的住处和母亲的家中将就这个秋天了。

母亲和妹妹萨拉住在伦敦北郊汉普斯特德的一所小房子里，我每星期会去看她们两次。今天我到那里的时候，天已经快黑了。刚一按门铃，我的意大利朋友，佩斯卡教授就用力打开了门，箭步冲出来迎接我。

佩斯卡由于政治原因从意大利来到英国，在这里做语言教师，安顿了下来。他个头不高，性格古怪而天真，极力表现出比英国人还地道的英国做派。我曾经和他在几个家庭里同为家庭教师，所以经常见面。有一天，我在布赖顿碰到他，两人说好一同到海滨游泳。他当时非常兴奋，我根本没想到他竟然不会游泳！幸好他突然沉下去的时候，我潜进水里把他救了上来。从那以后，他对我感激不尽，我们成了朋友，而这天晚上他的感恩之举改变了我的一生。

大家齐聚客厅时，他说：“嘿，朋友们，我有一个好消息要告诉你们。我的东家让我为英格兰北部一个富有的人家推荐一名绘画教师。你们猜我推荐了谁？我推荐的是世界上最好的绘画教师——沃尔特·哈特里特先生！”

“亲爱的佩斯卡，你对沃尔特真是太好了！”母亲说道。“你真是好心又慷慨！”

我本人也很感激他的好意，但是总觉得有一种莫名的不安。不过我还是热情地跟他道谢，向他打听一些具体情况。他给我的条子上说坎伯兰郡利默里奇庄园的弗雷德里克·费尔利先生要聘请一位优秀的绘画教师，教他的两个侄女画画，聘期至少四个月。受聘教师将住在利默里奇庄园，薪水是一星期4英镑。应聘教师必须出具品行良好的证明信。

这的确是一份令人心动的工作，但不知为什么我就是兴奋不起来。不管怎样，既然母亲和妹妹都认为这是个好机会，我也不愿伤害佩斯卡的感情，于是我答应应聘。

转天早晨，我把推荐信寄给佩斯卡的雇主，四天之后传来消息说，费尔利先生接受了我的应聘，要我立即动身前往坎伯兰郡。我做好了第二天动身的准备，晚上步行到汉普斯特德向母亲和妹妹道别。

离开她们已是子夜时分，深蓝的天空满月高悬，看不见一颗星星，空气温暖宜人。我决定走那条稍远一点儿的路回家，先穿过汉普斯特德荒地，再走通往市中心的那条路。不一会儿，我来到十字路口，踏上了通向伦敦的大路。我满脑子在想着坎伯兰郡两位小姐的事，突然一只手从后面拍了拍我的肩膀，吓得我心跳都快停止了。

我猛地转过身，攥紧了手杖。

我眼前站着一个白衣女人，仿佛从天而降。我惊得一句话也说不出来。

“那条路是去伦敦的吗？”那女人开口问道。

我仔细打量着她。这时已将近凌晨1点了。借着月光我只能看出一张年轻却没有血色的脸，一对哀伤的大眼睛和淡棕色的头发。她看上去镇定自若。我猜不出她是个什么样的女人，这么晚了为什么孤身一人在外面。可是她看上去没有恶意，实际上还流露出一丝哀伤和纯真。

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“你听见我说话了吗？”她很快地轻声说。

“是的，”我赶忙回答，“是那条路。请原谅，你出现得太突然，吓了我一跳。”

“你不会怀疑我在做什么坏事吧？”

“不，不是。只不过突然看到你，吓了一跳。”

“我听到你走过来，”她说，“就先躲在树后看你是什么样的人，然后才敢同你说话的。我能信赖你吗？”她不安地看着我的脸。

她看起来实在是非常孤独和无助，这大大地激起了我的同情。“说吧，我能为你做什么，”我说，“只要我能做的，一定帮忙。”

“哦，谢谢，谢谢。你真是个好人。”她的声音有些颤抖，“我对伦敦一无所知，这时候还有出租马车吗？你能告诉我哪里能找辆车吗？你能保证不要多问吗？我在伦敦有朋友，她会帮我的，就是这样——你能保证吗？”

她神色紧张地朝大路张望，然后又回头看我。

我怎么能够拒绝呢？她紧张而慌乱的样子令人不安。

“你能保证吗？”她再一次问。

“我保证。”

我们一起朝伦敦市中心走去。这真像是一场梦——走在熟悉的路上，身旁多了一位陌生、神秘的同路人。

“你认识伦敦有准男爵爵位的人吗？”她突然问我。

从这个奇怪的问题可以看出她对我还是有所怀疑，当我告诉她我一个准男爵也不认识时，她似乎才松了一口气。我进一步追问，她低声告诉我一个准男爵害过她，她不愿说出他的名字。她说她从汉普郡来，问我是否住在伦敦。我告诉她我是住在伦敦，但天一亮就要去坎伯兰郡了。

“坎伯兰郡！”她轻声重复着，“啊，我要是也能去那儿就好了。我曾在坎伯兰郡的利默里奇村度过一段快乐的时光，真想再看一看利默里奇庄园。”

利默里奇庄园！我停住脚步，感到很惊讶。

“怎么啦？”她急切地问，“你听到我们后面有人在喊吗？”

“不，不是。因为我最近听说过利默里奇庄园，你认识那里的什么人吗？”

“以前认识，”她回答，“不过费尔利夫人已经死了，她丈夫也死了，他们的小女儿可能已经结婚离开了那里。”

若不是看见一辆出租马车，她也许会告诉我更多的事情。我叫住马车，她很快上了车。

我说：“还是让我把你平平安安地送到朋友家吧。”

“不，不，”她大声说，“我现在很安全，你就让我自己走吧。你答应过我的！谢谢你，谢谢。”

她抓住我的手，吻了一下，然后推开。马车的影子消失在夜幕中的大路上——白衣女人也不见了。

十分钟后，我还走在同一条路上，回想着刚才发生的怪事，忽然身后传来车轮的声音。两个人坐着敞篷马车从我身边经过，他们看见路上有个警察在巡逻，就停下车来。

“警官！”一个人说，“你看没看见一个女人从这条路上走过，一个穿白衣服的女人？”

“没有，先生。怎么啦？她做了什么？”

“做了什么！她从精神病院跑出来了。”

精神病院！可是我不觉得那个女人是疯子。她神色紧张，有点儿怪，但并不疯。我究竟做了什么？是帮助一个被无端关进精神病院的女人逃跑了？还是没有看管好一个可能伤害别人的病人？这些问题让我回到家后心神不定，难以入睡，直到该起床动身前往坎伯兰郡了，还是没有睡着。

*　　*　　*

我的行程安排是先到卡莱尔，然后换乘开往利默里奇的火车，可是由于去卡莱尔的车晚点了许多，我没有赶上转乘的车，直到10点多才到利默里奇。一个脾气很差的仆人赶了一辆马车在车站等我，到利默里奇庄园的时候，那儿的人都已经睡了。我被带到了房间，最后吹熄蜡烛睡觉的时候，我想：“今晚我会梦见谁呢？那个白衣女人？还是坎伯兰郡这个庄园里的陌生人？”

2
Life at Limmeridge House

When I got up the next morning, I was greeted by bright sunlight and a view of blue sea through the window. The future suddenly seemed full of promise. I found my way down to the breakfast-room and there, looking out of a window with her back turned to me, was a young woman with a perfect figure. But when she turned and walked towards me, I saw to my surprise that her face was ugly. Hair grew on her upper lip, and her mouth was large and firm. It was almost a man's face, but the friendly smile she gave me softened it and made her look more womanly. She welcomed me in a pleasant, educated voice and introduced herself as Marian Halcombe, Miss Fairlie's half-sister.

'My mother was twice married,' she explained, in her easy, friendly manner. 'The first time to Mr Halcombe, my father, and the second time to Mr Fairlie, my half-sister's father. My father was a poor man, and Miss Fairlie's father was a rich man. I've got nothing, and she has a fortune. I'm dark and ugly, and she's fair and pretty.' She said all this quite happily. 'My sister and I are very fond of each other, so you must please both of us, Mr Hartright, or please neither of us.'

She then told me that Miss Fairlie had a headache that morning and was being looked after by Mrs Vesey, an elderly lady who had once been Miss Fairlie's governess.

'So we shall be alone at breakfast, Mr Hartright,' she said. 'As for Mr Fairlie, your employer, you will doubtless meet him later. He is Miss Fairlie's uncle, a single man, who became Miss Fairlie's guardian when her parents died. He suffers from some mysterious illness of the nerves, and never leaves his rooms.'

While we ate breakfast, she described the quiet, regular life that she and her sister led. 'Do you think you will get used to it?' she said. 'Or will you be restless, and wish for some adventure?'

Hearing the word 'adventure' reminded me of my meeting with the woman in white, and her reference to Mrs Fairlie. I told Miss Halcombe all about my adventure, and she showed an eager interest, especially in the mention of her mother.

'But you didn't find out the woman's name?' she said.

'I'm afraid not. Only that she came from Hampshire.'

'Well, I shall spend the morning,' said Miss Halcombe, 'looking through my mother's letters. I'm sure I will find some clues there to explain this mystery. Lunch is at two o'clock, Mr Hartright, and I shall introduce you to my sister then.'

After breakfast Mr Fairlie's personal servant, Louis, came to tell me that Mr Fairlie would like to see me. I followed the servant upstairs and was shown into a large room full of art treasures. There, in an armchair, sat a small, pale, delicate-looking man of about fifty. Despite his fine clothes and the valuable rings on his soft white fingers, there was something very unattractive about him.

'So glad to have you here, Mr Hartright,' he said in a high, complaining voice. 'Please sit down, but don't move the chair. In my state of nerves any movement is painful to me. May I ask if you have found everything satisfactory here at Limmeridge?'

When I began to reply, he at once raised his hand to stop me.

'Please excuse me. But could you speak more softly? I simply cannot bear loud voices, or indeed, any kind of loud sound.'

The interview did not last long as Mr Fairlie quickly lost interest in it. He informed me that the ladies would make all the arrangements for their drawing lessons.

'I suffer so much from my nerves, Mr Hartright,' he said. 'Do you mind ringing the bell for Louis? Thank you. Good morning!'

With great relief I left the room, and spent the rest of the morning looking forward to lunchtime, when I would be introduced to Miss Fairlie.

*　　*　　*

At two o'clock I entered the dining room and found Miss Halcombe seated at the table with a rather fat lady who smiled all the time. This, I discovered, was Mrs Vesey. We started eating and before long we had finished lunch, with still no sign of Miss Fairlie. Miss Halcombe noticed my frequent glances at the door.

'I understand you, Mr Hartright,' she said. 'You are wondering about your other student. Well, she has got over her headache, but did not want any lunch. If you will follow me, I think I can find her somewhere in the garden.'

We walked out together along a path through the garden, until we came to a pretty summer-house. Inside I could see a young lady standing near a table, looking out at the view and turning the pages of a little drawing book. This was Miss Laura Fairlie.

How can I describe her? How can I separate this moment from all that has happened since then? In a drawing I later made of her she appears as a light, youthful figure wearing a simple white and blue striped dress and a summer hat. Her hair is light brown, almost gold, and she has eyes that are clear and blue, with a look of truth in them. They give her whole face such a charm that it is difficult to notice each individual feature: the delicate, though not perfectly straight, nose; the sweet, sensitive mouth. The life and beauty of her face lies in her eyes.

Such was my impression, but at the same time I felt there was something about her that I could not explain — something that I ought to remember, but could not. In fact, I was thinking about this so much that I could hardly answer when she greeted me.

Miss Halcombe, believing I was shy, quickly said, 'Look at your perfect student,' and she pointed at the sketches. 'She has already started work before your lessons have begun. You must show them to Mr Hartright, Laura, when we go for a drive.'

Miss Fairlie laughed with bright good humour.

'I hope he will give his true opinion of them and not just say something to please me,' she said.

'May I enquire why you say that?' I asked.

'Because I shall believe all that you tell me,' she answered simply.

In those few words she gave me the key to her own trusting, truthful character.

Later we went for our promised drive, but I must confess that I was far more interested in Miss Fairlie's conversation than her sketches. I soon realized I was behaving more like a guest than a drawing teacher and when I was on my own again I felt uneasy and dissatisfied with myself.

At dinner that evening these feelings soon disappeared, and when the meal was over, we went into a large sitting room with glass doors leading into the garden. Mrs Vesey fell asleep in an armchair and Miss Halcombe sat near a window to look through her mother's letters. At my request Miss Fairlie played the piano.

How will I ever forget that peaceful picture? The flowers outside, the music of Mozart, Miss Halcombe reading the letters in the half-light, the delicate outline of Miss Fairlie's face against the dark wall. It was an evening of sights and sounds to remember for ever.

Later, when Miss Fairlie had finished playing and had wandered out into the moonlit garden, Miss Halcombe called me.

'Mr Hartright, will you come here for a minute?'

I went over and she showed me a letter.

'It's from my mother to her second husband twelve years ago. She mentions a lady from Hampshire called Mrs Catherick, who had come to look after her sick sister living in the village. It seems she brought her only child with her, a little girl called Anne, who was about a year older than Laura. I was at a school in Paris at the time. My mother, who took a great interest in the village school, says the little girl was slow in learning so she gave her lessons here at the house. She also gave her some of Laura's white dresses and white hats, saying she looked better in white than any other colour. She says that little Anne Catherick was so grateful, and loved her so much, that one day she kissed her hand and said, "I'll always wear white as long as I live. It will help me to remember you."'

Miss Halcombe stopped and looked at me.

'Did the woman you met that night seem young enough to be twenty-two or twenty-three?'

'Yes, Miss Halcombe, as young as that.'

'And was she dressed from head to foot, all in white?'

'All in white.'

From where I sat, I could see Miss Fairlie walking in the garden, and the whiteness of her dress in the moonlight suddenly made my heart beat faster.

'Now listen to what my mother says at the end of the letter,' Miss Halcombe continued. 'It will surprise you. She says that perhaps the real reason for her liking little Anne Catherick so much was that she looked exactly like —'

Before she could finish, I jumped up. Outside stood Miss Fairlie, a white figure alone in the moonlight. And suddenly I realized what it was that I had been unable to remember — it was the extraordinary likeness between Miss Laura Fairlie and the runaway from the asylum, the woman in white.

'You see it!' said Miss Halcombe. 'Just as my mother saw the likeness between them years ago.'

'Yes,' I replied. 'But very unwillingly. To connect that lonely, friendless woman, even by an accidental likeness, to Miss Fairlie disturbs me very much. I don't like to think of it. Please call her in from that horrible moonlight!'

'We won't say anything about this likeness to Laura,' she said. 'It will be a secret between you and me.' Then she called Miss Fairlie in, asking her to play the piano again; and so my first, eventful day at Limmeridge House came to an end.

*　　*　　*

The days passed, the weeks passed, and summer changed into a golden autumn. A peaceful, happy time, but at last, I had to confess to myself my real feelings for Miss Fairlie.

I loved her.

Every day I was near her in that dangerous closeness which exists between teacher and student. Often, as we bent over her sketch-book, our hands and faces almost touched. I breathed the perfume of her hair. I should have put a professional distance between myself and her, as I had always done with my students in the past. But I did not, and it was soon too late.

By the third month of my stay in Cumberland, I was lost in dreams of love and blind to the dangers ahead of me. Then the first warning finally came — from her. In the space of one night, she changed towards me. There was a sudden nervous distance, and a kind of sadness, in her attitude. The pain I felt at that moment is beyond description. But I knew then that she had changed because she had suddenly discovered not only my feelings, but her own as well. This change was also reflected in Miss Halcombe, who said nothing unusual to me, but who had developed a new habit of always watching me. This new and awful situation continued for some time until, on a Thursday, near the end of the third month, I was at last rescued by the sensible and courageous Miss Halcombe.

'Have you got a moment for me?' she asked after breakfast. 'Shall we go into the garden?'

We walked to the summer-house and went inside. Miss Halcombe turned to me. 'Mr Hartright, what I have to say to you I can say here. Now, I know that you are a good man who always acts correctly. Your story about that unhappy woman in London proves that. As your friend, I must tell you that I have discovered your feelings for my sister, Laura. Although you have done nothing wrong, except show weakness, I must tell you to leave Limmeridge House before any harm is done. And there is something else I must tell you, which will also give you pain. Will you shake hands with your friend, Marian Halcombe, first?'

She spoke with such kindness that I shook her hand.

'You must leave because Laura Fairlie is to be married.'

The last word went like a bullet to my heart. I turned white, I felt cold. With one word all my hopes disappeared.

'You must put an end to your feelings, here, where you first met her. I will hide nothing from you. She is not marrying for love, but because of a promise she made to her father just before he died. The man she is to marry arrives here next Monday.'

'Let me go today,' I said bitterly. 'The sooner the better.'

'No, not today. That would look strange. Wait till tomorrow, after the post has arrived. Say to Mr Fairlie that you have received bad news and must return to London.'

'I will follow your advice, Miss Halcombe,' I said sadly. 'But may I ask who the gentleman engaged to Miss Fairlie is?'

'A rich man from Hampshire.'

Hampshire! Again a connection with Anne Catherick!

'And his name?' I asked, as calmly as I could.

'Sir Percival Glyde.'

Sir! I remembered Anne Catherick's suspicious question about Baronets, and my voice shook a little as I asked, 'Is he a Baronet?'

She paused for a moment, then answered, 'Yes, a Baronet.'

figure n. bodily shape 身材

womanly adj. having or showing qualities associated with women 具有或表现出女子气质的

fortune n. great wealth; a large sum of money 大笔财富

guardian n. a person having legal custody of another person when that person is incapable of managing his or her own affairs 监护人

reference n. the act of referring to a person etc. for information 提及；提到

delicate adj. easily made ill 娇弱的

bear v. tolerate; put up with 忍受

good morning courteous farewell 早上（上午）礼貌的告别方式

get over recover from an illness 恢复；痊愈

youthful adj. having freshness or vigour of youth 年轻的

enquire v. ask a question 问

confess v. admit 承认

uneasy adj. disturbed or uncomfortable in mind or body 不自在的；不舒服的

peaceful adj. characterized by peace, tranquil 平静的

extraordinary adj. unusual or remarkable 不同寻常的

runaway n. a person who flees from enemy, danger or a master 逃跑者

eventful adj. marked by noteworthy events 发生事情比较多的

professional adj. connected with a profession 职业的

blind adj. without foresight, intellectual perception or adequate information 不知道的；不了解的

sensible adj. reasonable, judicious 明智的；理智的

engaged adj. under a promise to marry 订婚

pause v. to cease or suspend an action temporarily 停顿

2．在利默里奇庄园的日子

第二天起床，迎接我的是灿烂的阳光和窗外湛蓝的大海。未来突然好像一片光明。我下楼来到早餐室，一位身材优美的年轻女士正背对我望着窗外。当她转身向我走来时，我吃惊地发现她长得很丑。她的上唇上长着胡须，嘴唇又大又厚。尽管脸长得像个男人，但是友好的微笑使她看上去有了一些女人味儿。她同我打招呼，声音悦耳，听起来很有教养。她告诉我她叫玛丽安·哈尔库姆，费尔利小姐同母异父的姐姐。

“我母亲结过两次婚，”她以一种平和友善的语调对我说，“第一次嫁给哈尔库姆先生，我父亲，第二次嫁给费尔利先生，费尔利小姐的父亲。我父亲一贫如洗，费尔利小姐的父亲却是个有钱人。我本人一无所有，但她很富有。我长得又黑又丑，她又白又漂亮。”她兴致勃勃地说着这一切，“我们姐妹俩非常要好，先生，所以你必须要讨好我们俩，要不就谁也别讨好。”

她又告诉我费尔利小姐早上头疼，维西夫人正在照顾她，维西夫人原来是费尔利小姐的家庭教师。

“今天早饭就我们两个了，哈特里特先生，”她说，“至于费尔利先生，你的雇主，你肯定得过些时候才能见到他了，他是费尔利小姐的叔叔，单身一人，费尔利小姐父母死后，他就成了她的监护人。他患有一种古怪的神经疾病，从不离开他的房间半步。”

吃早饭的时候，她对我讲了她们姐妹俩平静而规律的生活。“你觉得你能适应这样的生活吗？”她问，“你是否会烦躁不安，希望有些新奇的事情发生？”

“新奇”这个词让我想起遇到白衣女人的事，她曾经提到过费尔利夫人。当我把我的奇异经历告诉哈尔库姆小姐时，她对这件事表现出浓厚的兴趣，特别对提到她的母亲这个细节。

“你不知道那女人叫什么名字吗？”

“不知道。只知道她从汉普郡来。”

“那好吧，我今天早上，”哈尔库姆小姐说，“就翻一翻母亲的信件。我想一定会从中找出点线索解开这个谜。午饭时间是两点，哈特里特先生，到时我会把你介绍给我妹妹。”

早饭后，费尔利先生的贴身仆人路易斯过来告诉我费尔利先生要见我。我跟他上了楼，被带到一个很大的房间，里面有许多艺术珍品。扶手椅上坐着一个苍白羸弱的小个子男人，大概五十岁上下。尽管他穿着考究，白皙柔软的手指上带着贵重的戒指，但是他身上有一种让人非常不喜欢的东西。

“非常高兴你能来这里工作，哈特里特先生，”他的声音尖锐刺耳，还带着一丝怨气，“请坐，但请不要动椅子。任何动静都会刺激我的神经，让我难受。你在利默里奇感到还满意吗？”

我刚要说话，他又马上举手示意我先别说。

“请原谅，你能说话声音轻点吗？我受不了大声说话，任何太响的声音我都受不了。”

我们的面谈没有持续很长时间，因为费尔利先生很快就没了兴趣。他告诉我小姐们会安排所有关于绘画课的事宜。

“我的神经很差，哈特里特先生，你能帮我摇铃叫一下路易斯吗？谢谢。再见。”

离开他的房间，我长出了一口气。上午剩下的时间我一直在等着吃午饭，到时就可以见到费尔利小姐了。

*　　*　　*

两点钟，我来到餐厅，看到哈尔库姆小姐同一位体态丰满的女士坐在桌旁，那位女士一直面带微笑。她就是维西夫人。我们开始一起吃饭，不一会儿就吃完了，但一直没见到费尔利小姐的影子。哈尔库姆小姐注意到我不断地朝门口张望。

“我知道你在想什么，哈特里特先生，”她说，“你一定在想你的另一个学生。她头痛已经好了，但不想吃东西。如果你跟我来，我可以在花园里找到她。”

我们一起沿着花园的小路来到一个漂亮的凉亭前。我看到里面有一位小姐站在一张桌子旁，望着外面的风景，手中翻动着一本小画册。这就是劳拉·费尔利小姐。

我该怎样描述她呢？我怎样才能把此时此刻同后来发生的一切分开呢？在我后来画的一张她的肖像里，她年轻活泼，身穿式样简单的蓝白条纹连衣裙，头戴遮阳帽。她的头发是淡棕色，接近金色。她有一双清澈诚实的蓝眼睛，使她魅力四射，让你不再注意她脸上的其他细节：小巧但不很直的鼻子，还有甜美动人的双唇。她脸部的活力和美丽都源自那双眼睛。

这就是她给我的印象，但同时她身上有一些我无法解释的东西——一些我应该记得，却想不起来的东西。我完全沉浸在自己的思绪里，甚至她向我打招呼时，我几乎都说不出话来。

哈尔库姆小姐可能觉得我是个腼腆的人，马上说：“看看你的学生多好，”然后又指了指那些画，“你的课还没开始，她已经开始自己画了。劳拉，我们一会儿坐马车出去的时候，把你的画给哈特里特先生看看。”

费尔利小姐开心地笑起来。

“我希望先生把真实的评价告诉我，不要光说好话哄我。”她说。

“请问你为什么这么说呢？”我问她。

“因为你的任何评价我都会相信。”她回答得很爽快。

从这些话里我看出她天性真诚，会毫无保留地相信他人。

过了一会儿，我们按计划坐马车出去，然而我必须承认比起费尔利小姐的画，我对她的言谈更感兴趣。我很快意识到自己的表现与其说像绘画教师不如说更像客人。自己一个人的时候，我感到有些不自在，对自己不满意。

晚饭的时候，这些感觉很快消失了。吃罢晚饭，我们来到一间大客厅，这里装有通往花园的玻璃门。维西夫人在扶手椅上睡着了，哈尔库姆小姐在翻阅她母亲的信件。在我的请求下，费尔利小姐弹起了钢琴。

这样安逸的情景我怎能忘记呢？屋外的鲜花，莫扎特的音乐，哈尔库姆小姐在微暗的光线下读信的样子，费尔利小姐映在昏暗的墙壁上的美丽侧脸，今晚这一切声音和情景都令人难以忘怀。

过了一会儿，费尔利小姐弹完了琴，走进月光下的花园。哈尔库姆小姐叫我。

“哈特里特先生，你能过来一下吗？”

我走过去，她递给我一封信。

“这是妈妈12年前写给她第二个丈夫的信。信中提到从汉普郡来的凯瑟里克太太，她是来照料住在村子里生病的妹妹的。她好像把她的独生女儿小安妮带来了，安妮比劳拉大1岁左右。当时我在巴黎读书，妈妈那时对村子里的学校非常感兴趣，她觉得小安妮学习比较吃力，就在家里辅导她。妈妈还把劳拉的一些白连衣裙和帽子送给她，说安妮穿白色衣服最好看。她说安妮·凯瑟里克很感激，也很喜欢她。一天，她吻过妈妈的手，说：‘我一辈子都会穿白色衣服，因为白色让我永远记着你。’”

哈尔库姆小姐停下来看着我，问道：

“你那天晚上碰到的那个女人，是不是只有二十二三岁的样子？”

“没错，哈尔库姆小姐，差不多那么大。”

“她是不是从头到脚都穿白色？”

“的确都是白色的。”

从我坐的地方可以看到费尔利小姐在花园中散步，月光下她的白色连衣裙突然间使我的心跳加快了。

“听听妈妈在信的末尾是怎么说的，”哈尔库姆小姐说，“你一定会感到吃惊的。她说她之所以那么喜欢小安妮·凯瑟里克，可能是因为她长得特别像——”

没等她说完，我一下子跳了起来。外面站着费尔利小姐，月光下一个孤零零的白色身影，猛然间我明白了我没有想起来的是什么了——就是劳拉·费尔利小姐同从精神病院跑出来的白衣女人惊人地相似。

“你看出来了！”哈尔库姆小姐说，“和妈妈一样，她多年前也看出了她们之间惊人的相似。”

“是的，”我说，“但是我非常不愿意把那个孤独无依的女人同费尔利小姐联系起来，即使这全是出于偶然，也让我内心不安。我不想再想这件事。还是叫她进来吧，那月光太可怕了！”

“我们不要对劳拉讲任何有关相貌相似的事，”她说，“这是我们之间的秘密。”说完，她招呼费尔利小姐进屋来，让她再弹一首曲子。就这样，我在利默里奇不平凡的第一天结束了。

*　　*　　*

日子一天天、一个星期又一个星期地过去了，夏季已被金秋取代。这是宁静而快乐的季节，然而，我最终还是必须向自己承认对费尔利小姐的感觉。

我爱上了她。

作为师生，每天我都和她那么接近，这很危险。很多次，在低头翻看写生簿的时候，我们的手和脸几乎要碰到，我可以闻到她头发的香味。我本应与她保持教师与学生应有的距离，我和过去教过的学生都是这样。但是我现在没有，而且已经来不及了。

来坎伯兰郡的第三个月，我已经完全沉浸在爱的幻想中，对将要到来的危险一无所知。第一个危险的信号终于来了——而且就来自于她。一夜之间，她对我的态度发生了变化，她对我有一种拘束的疏离感，还有一种莫名的哀伤。我当时的痛苦无法言表。不过后来我才知道她是因为发现了我的感受，也发现了她自己的感受才有这样的变化。这种变化还反映在哈尔库姆小姐身上，她虽然没跟我说什么，但是开始经常注视着我。这种可怕的新状况一直持续到将近第三个月末的一个星期四。最后，理智、勇敢的哈尔库姆小姐帮我得到了解脱。

“能占用你一点儿时间吗？”早饭后她这样问我，“我们去花园走走好吗？”

我们来到凉亭，走了进去。哈尔库姆小姐转向我；“哈特里特先生，我要向你说的话在这儿可以说了。我知道你是一位举止得体的好人，你跟我讲的关于伦敦那个不幸女人的事证明了这一点。但是，作为你的朋友，我必须告诉你，我发现了你对我妹妹劳拉的感情。除了表现得有些软弱，你没做错什么，不过我还是必须劝你在造成伤害之前离开利默里奇庄园。我还有些事要告诉你，可能会让你痛苦。你能不能先和你的朋友玛丽安·哈尔库姆握握手？”

她说得非常诚恳，我握了握她的手。

“你必须离开这里，因为劳拉·费尔利就要结婚了。”

最后那个词就像一颗子弹一样穿过我的胸膛。我的脸色苍白，全身冰冷。就因为这一个词，我所有的希望都消失了。

“你必须在这里结束这段感情，就在你们初次相识的地方。我不会对你有任何隐瞒，她不是为了爱才结婚，而是因为她在她父亲临终时做的承诺。她要嫁的人下星期一到这里。”

“我今天就走，”我难过地说，“越快越好。”

“不，不要今天走。那样会让别人觉得奇怪。等到明天邮差来了再走。你就跟费尔利先生说收到了坏消息，必须马上回伦敦去。”

“我按你说的做，哈尔库姆小姐，”我伤心地说，“不过，你能告诉我同费尔利小姐订婚的先生是谁吗？”

“是汉普郡的一个有钱人。”

汉普郡！又一个和安妮·凯瑟里克有关的线索！

“他叫什么？”我尽量平静地问。

“珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士。”

爵士！我想起安妮·凯瑟里克问过的有关准男爵的问题。“他是准男爵吗？”我的声音有些颤抖。

她停了一停，说道：“对，他是准男爵。”

3
The unsigned letter

As I sat alone in my room later that morning, my thoughts crowded in on me. There was no reason at all for me to connect Sir Percival Glyde with the man who had made Anne Catherick so afraid — but I did. My suffering was great, but even greater was my feeling that some terrible, invisible danger lay ahead of us. Then I heard a knock at my door. It was Miss Halcombe.

'Mr Hartright, I am sorry to disturb you, but you are the only person who can advise me. A letter has just arrived for Miss Fairlie — a horrible, unsigned letter, warning her not to marry Sir Percival Glyde. It has upset my sister very much. Should I try to find out who wrote it or wait to speak to Mr Gilmore, Mr Fairlie's legal adviser, who arrives tomorrow?'

She gave me the letter. There was no greeting, no signature.

Do you believe in dreams, Miss Fairlie? Last night I dreamt I saw you in your white wedding dress in a church, so pretty, so innocent. By your side stood a man with the scar of an old wound on his right hand — a handsome man, but with a black, evil heart; a man who has brought misery to many, and who will bring misery to you. And in my dream I cried for you. Find out the past life of this man, Miss Fairlie, before you marry him. I send you this warning, because your mother was my first, my best, my only friend.

These last words suggested an idea to me, which I was afraid to mention. Was I in danger of losing my balance of mind? Why should everything lead back to the woman in white?

'I think a woman wrote this letter,' said Miss Halcombe. 'It certainly refers to Sir Percival — I remember that scar. What should I do, Mr Hartright? This mystery must be solved. Mr Gilmore is coming to discuss the financial details of Miss Fairlie's marriage, and Sir Percival arrives on Monday to fix the date of the marriage — though Miss Fairlie does not know this yet.'

The date of the marriage! Those words filled me with jealous despair. Perhaps there was some truth in this letter. If I could find the writer, perhaps I would find a way to prove that Sir Percival Glyde was not the honest man he seemed.

'I think we should begin enquiries at once,' I said. 'The longer we delay, the harder it will be to find out anything.'

We questioned the servants and learnt that the letter had been delivered by an elderly woman, who had then disappeared in the direction of the village. People in Limmeridge remembered seeing the woman, but no one could tell us who she was or where she had come from. Finally, I suggested asking the school teacher. As we approached the school door, we could hear the teacher shouting at one of the boys, saying angrily that there were no such things as ghosts. It was an awkward moment, but we went in anyway and asked our question. The teacher could tell us nothing. However, as we turned to leave, Miss Halcombe spoke to the boy standing in the corner:

'Are you the foolish boy who was talking about ghosts?'

'Yes, Miss. But I saw one! I saw it yesterday, in the churchyard. I did! It was — it was the ghost of Mrs Fairlie!'

His answer visibly shocked Miss Halcombe, and the teacher quickly stepped in to explain that the silly boy had said he had seen (or probably imagined) a woman in white standing next to Mrs Fairlie's grave as he passed the churchyard yesterday evening. There was nothing more to it than that.

'What is your opinion of this?' Miss Halcombe asked me as we went out of the school.

'The boy may have seen someone,' I said, 'but not a ghost. I think we should examine the grave. I have this suspicion, Miss Halcombe, that the writer of the letter and the imagined ghost in the churchyard might be the same person.'

She stopped, turned pale, and looked at me. 'What person?'

'Anne Catherick,' I replied. 'The woman in white.'

'I don't know why, but your suspicion frightens me,' she said slowly. 'I will show you the grave, and then I must go back to Laura. We'll meet again at the house later.'

In the churchyard I examined Mrs Fairlie's grave carefully, and noticed that the gravestone had been partly cleaned. Perhaps the person who had done the cleaning would return to finish the job. I decided to come back that evening and watch. Back at the house I explained my plan to Miss Halcombe, who seemed uneasy but made no objection. So, as the sun began to go down, I walked to the churchyard, chose my position, and waited.

After about half an hour I heard footsteps. Then two women passed in front of me and walked to the grave. One wore a long cloak with a hood over her head, hiding her face. Below the cloak a little of her dress was visible — a white dress. The other woman said something to her companion, and then walked away round the corner of the church, leaving the woman in the cloak next to the grave. After looking all around her, she took out a cloth, kissed the white cross and started to clean it.

I approached her slowly and carefully, but when she saw me, she jumped up and looked at me in terror.

There, in front of me, was the face of the woman in white.

'Don't be frightened,' I said. 'Surely you remember me?' Her eyes searched my face. 'I helped you to find the way to London,' I went on. 'Surely you have not forgotten that?'

Her face relaxed as she recognized me, and she sighed in relief. Before this, I had seen her likeness in Miss Fairlie. Now I saw Miss Fairlie's likeness in her. Except that Miss Fairlie's delicate beauty was missing from this tired face, and I could not help thinking that if ever sorrow and suffering fell on Miss Fairlie, then, and only then, they would be the living reflections of one another. It was a horrible thought.

Gently, I began to question her. I told her that I knew she had escaped from an asylum, and that I was glad I had helped her. But had she found her friend in London that night?

'Oh yes. That was Mrs Clements, who is here with me now. She was our neighbour in Hampshire, and took care of me when I was a little girl. She has always been my friend.'

'Have you no father or mother to take care of you?'

'I never saw my father — I never heard mother speak of him. And I don't get on well with her. I'd rather be with Mrs Clements, who is kind, like you.'

I learnt that she was staying with relations of Mrs Clements at a farm, three miles from the village, but there were other, harder questions I wanted to ask. Who had shut her away in an asylum? Her 'unkind' mother, perhaps? What was her motive in writing the letter to Miss Fairlie, accusing Sir Percival Glyde? Was it revenge? What wrong had Sir Percival done her?

She was easily frightened, easily confused, and could only hold one idea in her mind at a time. I tried not to alarm her. Had she ever, I asked, been wronged by a man and then abandoned? Her innocent, puzzled face told me that was not the answer.

All the time we were talking she was cleaning the gravestone with her cloth.

'Mrs Fairlie was my best friend,' she murmured. 'And her daughter...' She looked up at me, then away again, as though hiding her face in guilt. 'Is Miss Fairlie well and happy?' she whispered anxiously.

I decided to try and surprise a confession from her. 'She was not well or happy this morning, after receiving your letter. You wrote it, didn't you? It was wrong to send such a letter.'

Her face went deathly pale. Then she bent down and kissed the gravestone. 'Oh, Mrs Fairlie! Mrs Fairlie! Tell me how to save your daughter. Tell me what to do.'

'You mention no names in the letter, but Miss Fairlie knows that the person you describe is Sir Percival Glyde —'

The moment I said his name she gave such a scream of terror that my blood ran cold. Her face, now full of fear and hatred, told me everything. Without doubt the person who had shut her away in the asylum was Sir Percival Glyde.

At the sound of her scream, Mrs Clements came running and, looking angrily at me, said, 'What is it, my dear? What has this man done to you?'

'Nothing,' the poor girl said. 'He was good to me once. He helped me...' She whispered the rest in her friend's ear.

Then Mrs Clements put her arm round Anne Catherick and led her away. I watched them go, feeling great pity for that poor, pale, frightened face.

Half an hour later I was back at the house, and the story I told Miss Halcombe made her very worried.

'I am certain Sir Percival Glyde put Anne Catherick in the asylum,' I said. 'But why? What is the connection between them?'

'We must find out,' said Miss Halcombe. 'We will go to the farm tomorrow, and I will speak to Anne Catherick myself.'

*　　*　　*

The first thing I had to do the next morning was to ask Mr Fairlie if I could leave my job a month early. As his nerves were particularly bad, I could not speak to him directly but had to write a note, explaining that some unexpected news forced me to return to London. In reply I received a most unpleasant letter, informing me that I could go. Once, such a letter would have upset me greatly; now, I no longer cared.

Later Miss Halcombe and I walked to the farm, and Miss Halcombe went in while I waited nearby. To my surprise, she returned after only a few minutes.

'Does Anne Catherick refuse to see you?' I asked.

'Anne Catherick has gone,' replied Miss Halcombe. 'She left this morning, with Mrs Clements. The farmer's wife, Mrs Todd, has no idea why they left or where they went. She just said that Anne Catherick had been disturbed after reading something in the local newspaper a couple of days ago. I looked at the paper and saw that it mentioned Laura's future wedding. Then Mrs Todd said that Anne Catherick fainted last night, apparently in shock at something mentioned by one of the servant girls from our house, who was visiting the farm on her evening off.'

We hurried back to the house to question the servant girl. Miss Halcombe asked her if she had mentioned Sir Percival Glyde's name while at the farm. 'Oh yes,' the girl replied. 'I said he was coming on Monday.'

At that moment a cab arrived and Mr Gilmore, the family friend and legal adviser, got out. He was an elderly man, pleasant-looking and neatly dressed. Miss Halcombe introduced me, and then went away to discuss family matters with him. I wandered out into the garden. My time at Limmeridge House was nearly at an end, and I wanted to say a last goodbye to the places where I had so often walked with Miss Fairlie, in the dream-time of my happiness and my love. But the autumn day was grey and damp, and those golden memories were already fading.

As I returned to the house, I met Mr Gilmore.

'Ah, Mr Hartright,' he said. 'Miss Halcombe has told me how helpful you have been about this strange letter received by Miss Fairlie. I want you to know that the investigation is now in my safe hands. I have written to Sir Percival Glyde's lawyer in London and I'm sure we will receive a satisfactory explanation.'

'I'm afraid I am not so sure as you,' was my reply.

'Well, well,' said Mr Gilmore. 'We will wait for events.'

At dinner that evening — my last dinner at Limmeridge House — it was a hard battle to keep my self-control. I saw that it was not easy for Miss Fairlie, either. She gave me her hand as she had done in happier days, but her fingers trembled and her face was pale. Mr Gilmore kept the conversation going, and afterwards we went into the sitting room as usual. Miss Fairlie sat at the piano.

'Shall I play some of those pieces by Mozart that you like? Will you sit in your old chair near me?' she asked nervously.

'As it is my last night, I will,' I answered.

'I am very sorry you are going,' she said, almost in a whisper.

'I shall remember those kind words, Miss Fairlie, long after tomorrow has gone,' I replied.

'Don't speak about tomorrow.'

Then she played, and at last it was time to say goodnight.

The next morning I found Miss Halcombe and Miss Fairlie waiting for me downstairs. When I began to speak, Miss Fairlie turned and hurried from the room. I tried to control my voice, but could only say, 'Will you write to me, Miss Halcombe?'

She took both my hands in hers, and her face grew beautiful with the force of her generosity and pity. 'Of course I will, Walter. Goodbye — and God bless you!'

She left, and a few seconds later Miss Fairlie returned, holding something. It was her own sketch of the summer-house where we had first met. With tears in her eyes, she offered it to me,' to remind you', she whispered. My own tears fell as I kissed her hand, then I turned to go. She sank into a chair, her head dropped on her arms. At that moment I knew that Laura Fairlie loved me too. But it was over. We were separated.

crowd v. come together in a crowd 聚集；集中

invisible adj. not visible to the eye 看不见的

jealous adj. afraid, suspicious or resentful of rivalry in love or affection 嫉妒的

deliver v. distribute letters to the addressee 送

approach v. come near or nearer to a place 接近；靠近

examine v. look closely at 仔细地看

objection n. an expression or feeling of opposition or disapproval 反对；不同意

terror n. extreme fear 恐惧；恐怖

relax v. become less rigid or tense 放松

recognize v. identify a person an already known 认出来

relation n. a member of one's family 亲戚；亲属

motive n. factor or circumstance that induces a person to act on a particular way 动机

revenge n. retaliation for an offence or injury 复仇

abandon v. forsake or desert 抛弃

scream n. a loud high-pitched cry expressing fear, pain etc. 惊叫；尖叫

faint v. lose consciousness 失去知觉；晕倒

fade v. diminish 减退

sink v. settle down 坐下

3．匿名信件

那天上午，我一个人坐在房间里，思绪异常纷乱。我本来没有任何理由把珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士和那个让安妮·凯瑟里克害怕的人联系起来——但我的确把他们连在了一起。我很痛苦，但也强烈地感到将有看不见的可怕危险到来。这时，我听到有人敲门，来的是哈尔库姆小姐。

“哈特里特先生，很抱歉打扰你，可是只有你能给我出个主意了。刚收到一封给费尔利小姐的信——一封可怕的匿名信，警告她不要和珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士结婚。这封信让妹妹非常不安。我是应该查一下谁写的信，还是等明天费尔利先生的法律顾问吉尔摩先生来了问问他？”

她把信递给我，上面没有问候语，也没有签名。

你相信梦吗，费尔利小姐？昨天夜里我梦见你穿着白色婚纱站在教堂里，你是那么漂亮，那么纯洁。你身边站着一个右手有旧伤疤的男人，他面容英俊，但内心邪恶，他曾让许多人痛苦，也会让你痛苦。在梦里我为你哭泣。费尔利小姐，弄清这个人的过去再同他结婚。我之所以给你如此的忠告是因为你的母亲是我第一个朋友，也是最好的、唯一的朋友。

信的最后几个字让我想到了一件事，但我不敢说出来。是不是我脑子出了问题？为什么所有的事情都指向那个白衣女人？

“我认为这封信是一个女人写的，”哈尔库姆小姐说，“信里说的肯定是珀西瓦尔爵士，我记得他的那条疤。我该怎么办，哈特里特先生？这个谜一定得解开。吉尔摩先生要来谈费尔利小姐婚事的财务细节，珀西瓦尔爵士星期一来确定结婚的日期——不过费尔利小姐还不知道。”

结婚的日期！这些字眼使我又嫉妒又绝望。也许这封信里有些话是真的。如果我能找到写信人，也许会有办法证明珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士并不像他外表看起来那样正直。

“我觉得我们应该马上开始调查，”我说，“耽误的时间越长，越难找到线索。”

我们问了仆人，得知信是一个上了年纪的女人送来的，那女人朝村子的方向走去，很快就消失了。利默里奇庄园的人说记得见过那个女人，但没人知道她是谁，从哪里来。最后我建议去问一问学校的老师。快到学校门口的时候，我们听见老师正大声训斥一个学生说根本就没有什么鬼。这是个尴尬的时刻，但我们还是进去向老师提出了我们的问题。老师没能告诉我们任何信息。然而，在我们转身离开时，哈尔库姆小姐对站在角落的男孩说：

“你就是说有鬼的那个傻孩子？”

“是的，小姐。可我真的看到了！昨天在教堂的墓地里看见的。我真的看见了！那鬼是……是费尔利夫人！”

孩子的话显然令哈尔库姆小姐非常吃惊。老师马上走过来解释说这傻孩子说他昨天晚上路过教堂墓地的时候，看见（或是想象）一个穿白衣服的女人站在费尔利夫人的墓旁。我们得到的消息就是这些。

“你怎么看这件事？”走出学校，哈尔库姆小姐问我。

“那男孩可能看见了什么人，”我说，“但不是鬼。我想我们应该去看看那墓地。我怀疑，哈尔库姆小姐，写信的人和那个教堂墓地里假想出来的鬼可能是同一个人。”

她停住了脚步，脸色煞白，两只眼睛紧盯着我，“那人是谁？”

“安妮·凯瑟里克，”我回答，“那个白衣女人。”

“我不知道为什么，但是你的怀疑让我很害怕，”她缓慢地说，“我带你去墓地，然后我得回去看看劳拉。我们庄园再见。”

在教堂墓地里，我仔细察看了费尔利夫人的坟墓，发现墓碑有一部分被人擦洗过。也许那人会回来继续擦洗。我决定晚上再回来看看。回到庄园，我把想法告诉了哈尔库姆小姐，她看上去有些不安，但没有表示反对。于是，太阳刚开始落山，我就走路到了教堂墓地，找了个地方，开始等待。

大约半小时后，我听到了脚步声。接着，两个女人从我前面走过，向坟墓走去。其中一个穿着斗篷，兜帽遮住了她的脸。斗篷下面可以看到一点儿她的裙角——白色的裙子。另一个女人跟她说了些什么，然后转过墙角走了。穿斗篷的女人来到坟墓旁，向周围仔细看了看，然后掏出一块布，吻了一下白色的十字架，开始擦洗墓碑。

我小心翼翼地慢慢走近那女人，她看见我后，一下子跳起来，惊恐地望着我。

出现在我眼前的正是那白衣女人的脸。

“别害怕，”我说，“你肯定记得我吧？”她打量着我的脸。“是我指给你通往伦敦的路，你肯定没忘吧？”我接着说。

她认出我以后，长出了一口气，脸上的表情也放松了。在此之前，我曾看出她和费尔利小姐的相像之处，现在我看出费尔利小姐和她的相像之处。只不过费尔利小姐的精致美丽在这张疲惫的脸上看不出来。我不禁想到，假如不幸和痛苦降临到费尔利小姐头上，她们俩就真的一模一样了。这是个可怕的想法。

我开始和缓地向她提问。我告诉她我知道她是从精神病院逃出来的，也很高兴帮助了她。不过，那天晚上她找到伦敦的朋友了吗？

“噢，找到了。就是克莱门茨太太。她现在跟我在一起。她是我们在汉普郡的邻居，我小的时候就是她照顾我。她一直是我的朋友。”

“你没有父母照顾你吗？”

“我从没见过父亲——也从没听母亲说起过他。我同母亲关系不好。我宁愿同克莱门茨太太在一起。她心地善良，就像你一样。”

我了解到她和克莱门茨太太的亲戚住在离村子3英里远的农场里，但是我还想问一些更尖锐的问题。是谁把她关进了精神病院？是对她“不好”的母亲吗？她为什么要给费尔利小姐写信指责珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士？是复仇吗？珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士做了什么对不起她的事呢？

她特别容易受惊吓，容易思绪紊乱，只能一次考虑一个问题。我尽量不惊吓她。我问她是不是有个男人做了对不起她的事，而后抛弃了她？她单纯、疑惑的表情告诉我答案是否定的。

我们交谈的过程中，她一直在用布擦拭墓碑。

“费尔利夫人是我最好的朋友，”她小声说，“她女儿……”她抬头看看我，然后又转过头去，像是由于羞愧而不愿见人，“费尔利小姐好吗？快乐吗？”她急切地轻声问。

我决定给她一个突然袭击，看是否可以让她说出真相。“她今天早上收到你的信以后很不好，很不快乐。是你写的信，对吗？你不该写那样的信。”

她的脸变得像死人一般苍白。她低下头，吻了吻墓碑，“噢，费尔利夫人！费尔利夫人！告诉我怎么才能救你的女儿。告诉我该怎么做。”

“你在信里没有提到任何人的名字，但是费尔利小姐明白你说的那个人是珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士——”

我说出这个名字的时候，她害怕得惊叫起来，那叫声让我全身发冷。她的脸上充满了恐惧和仇恨，这表情说明了一切。毫无疑问，把她关进精神病院的人就是珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士。

听到惊叫声，克莱门茨太太跑过来，气愤地看了看我，说：“怎么啦，亲爱的？他对你怎么啦？”

“没事，”可怜的姑娘说，“他以前帮过我，他帮我……”下面的话她跟克莱门茨太太耳语着。

然后，克莱门茨太太挽着安妮·凯瑟里克，带她走了。我望着她们远去的背影，心中充满了对那可怜姑娘的同情，她的脸色是那样苍白，那样惊恐。

半小时后，我回到了庄园。我把事情经过告诉哈尔库姆小姐后，她显得非常担心。

“我敢肯定是珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士把安妮·凯瑟里克关进精神病院的，”我说，“可是他为什么这样做呢？他们之间是什么关系呢？”

“我们必须搞清楚，”哈尔库姆小姐说，“明天我们去农场，我要亲自同安妮·凯瑟里克谈谈。”

*　　*　　*

第二天我要做的第一件事是请求费尔利先生允许我提前一个月结束在这里的工作。因为他的精神非常不好，我不能同他直接谈，只能写一封短信，说明我收到一些意外的消息，必须回伦敦去。很快我收到一封很不客气的回信，通知我可以离开。要是过去，这样的信会让我非常沮丧，可是现在我不在乎了。

随后，哈尔库姆小姐和我步行到农场去。她进去的时候我在附近等她。令我吃惊的是没几分钟她就出来了。

“是不是安妮·凯瑟里克拒绝见你？”我问。

“安妮·凯瑟里克已经走了，”哈尔库姆小姐说，“今天早上，她同克莱门茨太太一起走的。农场主的妻子托德太太不清楚她们为什么要走，也不知道她们到哪里去了。她只告诉我几天前安妮·凯瑟里克看了当地报纸上的什么消息后，就一直心神不安。我看了那份报纸，上面提到了劳拉将要举行的婚礼。托德太太说安妮·凯瑟里克昨晚晕倒了，原因很明显，我们庄园一个女仆带来的消息吓到了她，那个女仆昨晚放假来农场做客。”

我们马上回到庄园向那个女仆了解情况。哈尔库姆小姐问她，在农场的时候是不是提到了珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士的名字。“对，提到了，”女仆回答，“我说他星期一要来庄园。”

这个时候，一辆马车停在了门口，这家的老朋友和法律顾问吉尔摩先生从车里走下来。他是一位慈眉善目、穿着考究的老人。哈尔库姆小姐为我做了引见，然后就和吉尔摩先生去谈有关家里的事务了。我走进了外面的花园。我在利默里奇庄园的日子很快就要结束了，我想同这里的一切道个别。在这个花园里，我多少次和费尔利小姐散步，这是我享受幸福，享受爱情的地方。秋日的天灰蒙蒙的，空气很潮湿，那些甜美的记忆已经开始褪色。

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我回到屋里以后，见到了吉尔摩先生。

“呵，哈特里特先生，”他对我说，“哈尔库姆小姐已经跟我说了费尔利小姐收到那封奇怪来信的事，你帮了很大的忙。我想告诉你，对这件事的调查我很有把握，我已经给珀西瓦尔·格莱德爵士在伦敦的律师写了信，我相信我们会得到一个满意的答复的。”

“我倒不像你那么有把握。”我说。

“好吧，好吧，”吉尔摩先生说，“那我们就等等结果吧。”

那天吃晚饭的时候——我在利默里奇庄园的最后一次晚饭——我努力控制自己的情感。我看得出费尔利小姐也非常不自在。像以前快乐的日子里一样，她把手伸给我，但她的手指在颤抖，脸上没有一点血色。只有吉尔摩先生滔滔不绝地说这说那，之后大家像往常一样来到客厅。费尔利小姐坐到了钢琴旁。

“我弹几首你喜欢的莫扎特的曲子好吗？你还坐我旁边的椅子，好吗？”她神色不安地问我。

“这是我在这里的最后一个晚上了，我照你说的做。”我对她说。

“你要走了，我很难过。”她的声音低得几乎听不到。

“我会记住你的话，费尔利小姐，明天以后我会一直记着的。”我说。

“不要提明天。”

接下来她开始弹钢琴，最后到说晚安的时候了。

转天早晨，我看到哈尔库姆小姐和费尔利小姐在楼下等我。我刚要开口说话，费尔利小姐转身跑出了房间。我尽量控制着自己的声音，但只说了一句：“给我写信好吗，哈尔库姆小姐？”

她紧紧握住我的双手，她的慷慨和同情让她显得漂亮起来。“我当然会的，沃尔特。再见——愿上帝保佑你！”

她离开片刻后，费尔利小姐回来了，手里还拿着什么东西。那是她自己画的我们初次相见的凉亭。她眼里噙着泪水，把画递给我。“留个纪念吧。”她轻声说。我吻着她的手，眼泪禁不住流了下来。我转身离去。她一下子跌坐到椅子上，头垂到了手臂上。那一刻，我明白劳拉·费尔利也在爱着我。但是，一切都结束了，我们被分开了。

1．A meeting by moonlight