處女的恐怖 The Maiden's Terror

處女的恐怖A Virgin's Fear

处女的恐怖

深沈院落，靜到極地；The courtyard was deep and hushed, still to the utmost degree;雖然我底脚步走在細草之上，還能驚動那伏在綠叢裏底though my footsteps fell upon the fine grass, they could still startle the one lurking in the green thicket—

深沈院落，静到极地；虽然我底脚步走在细草之上，还能惊动那伏在绿丛里底

蜻蜓．我每次來到庭前．不是聽見投壺底音響，便是聞得四絃樂底顫動；a dragonfly. Every time I came before the courtyard, I would either hear the sound of pitch-pot being played, or catch the quivering notes of a four-stringed instrument;今天，連窗上鐵today, even the iron

蜻蜓．我每次来到庭前．不是听见投壶底音响，便是闻得四弦乐底颤动；今天，连窗上铁

馬底輕撞聲也沒有了！wind-chimes' faint tinkling at the window was gone!

马底轻撞声也没有了！

我心裏想着這時候小坡必定在裏頭和人下圍棋；In my heart I thought that at this hour Xiaopo must surely be inside playing Go with someone;於是輕輕走着，也不聲張，就so I walked softly, without making a sound, and

我心里想着这时候小坡必定在里头和人下围棋；于是轻轻走着，也不声张，就

進入屋裏．出乎主人底意想，跑去站在他後頭，等他驀然發覺豈不是很有趣？went into the room. To catch my host unawares, I crept up to stand behind him—wouldn't it be great fun to wait until he suddenly noticed me?但我輕But as I gently

进入屋里．出乎主人底意想，跑去站在他后头，等他蓦然发觉岂不是很有趣？但我轻

揭簾子進去時，並不見小坡只見他底妹子伏在書案上假寐．我更不好聲張，還從原lifted the curtain and went in, I did not find Xiaopo at all, but only saw his younger sister lying face-down on the desk, pretending to nap. Now I could even less make a sound, and so from where I had come

揭帘子进去时，并不见小坡只见他底妹子伏在书案上假寐．我更不好声张，还从原

處躡出來．I crept back out again.

处蹑出来．

走不遠，方才被驚底蜻蜓就用那碧玉琢成底一千隻眼瞧着我．一見我來，他又I had not gone far when the dragonfly I had startled earlier looked at me with its thousand eyes carved as if of jade-green stone. The moment it saw me coming, it

走不远，方才被惊底蜻蜓就用那碧玉琢成底一千只眼瞧着我．一见我来，他又

鼓起雲母的翅膀飛得颯颯作響．可是破岑寂底，還是屋裏大踏大步底聲音．我心知spread its mica-thin wings and flew off with a rustling whir. But what broke the deep stillness was rather the sound of heavy footsteps striding within the room. In my heart I knew

鼓起云母的翅膀飞得飒飒作响．可是破岑寂底，还是屋里大踏大步底声音．我心知

道小坡底妹子醒了，看見院裏有客，緊緊要迴避，所以不敢囘頭觀望，讓她安然走入內衙．that Xiaopo's sister had woken, and seeing there was a guest in the courtyard, was hurrying to withdraw—so I dared not turn to look back, but let her walk safely into the inner quarters.

道小坡底妹子醒了，看见院里有客，紧紧要回避，所以不敢囘头观望，让她安然走入内衙．

『四爺，四爺，我們太爺請你進來坐．』我聽得是玉笙底聲音，囘頭便說．『我己'Fourth Master, Fourth Master, our old master invites you to come in and sit.' I recognized this as Yusheng's voice, and turning around I said, 'I've already—

『四爷，四爷，我们太爷请你进来坐．』我听得是玉笙底声音，囘头便说．『我己

經進去了；already gone in;太爺不在屋裏．』the old master isn't in the room.'

经进去了；太爷不在屋里．』

『太爺隨卽出來，請到屋裏一候．』她揭開簾子讓我進去．果然他底妹子不在'The old master will be out shortly—please go into the room and wait a while.' She lifted the curtain and let me in. Sure enough, his sister was no longer

『太爷随即出来，请到屋里一候．』她揭开帘子让我进去．果然他底妹子不在

了！there!丫頭剛走到衙內院子底光景，便有一股柔和而帶笑的聲音送到我耳邊說，『外The maid had just reached the inner courtyard when a soft, smiling voice reached my ears, saying, 'Out—

了！丫头刚走到衙内院子底光景，便有一股柔和而带笑的声音送到我耳边说，『外

面伺候底人一個也沒有；there's not a single servant in attendance;好在是西衙底四爺，若是生客，敎人怎樣進退？』it's fortunate it's the Fourth Master from the West Yamen—if it had been a stranger, how would one know how to receive him properly?'

面伺候底人一个也没有；好在是西衙底四爷，若是生客，教人怎样进退？』

『來底無論生熟，都是朋友，又怕什麽？』我認得這是玉笙囘答她小姐底話語．'Whoever comes, whether stranger or acquaintance, is a friend—what is there to fear?' I recognized this as Yusheng answering her young mistress.

『来底无论生熟，都是朋友，又怕什么？』我认得这是玉笙囘答她小姐底话语．

『女子怎能不怕男人，敢獨自一人和他們應酬麽？』'How could a woman not fear men—daring to receive them all alone?'

『女子怎能不怕男人，敢独自一人和他们应酬么？』

『我又何嘗不是女子？'And am I not a woman too?你不怕，也就沒有什麽．』If you aren't afraid, then there's nothing to it.'

『我又何尝不是女子？你不怕，也就没有什么．』

我才知道她並不曾睡去，不過迴避不及，裝成那樣底．我走近案邊，看見一把畫Only then did I realize she had never really been asleep—she simply hadn't managed to withdraw in time, and had feigned it. I walked up to the desk and saw a painted

我才知道她并不曾睡去，不过回避不及，装成那样底．我走近案边，看见一把画

未成底紈扇擱在上頭．正要坐下，小坡便進來了．round silk fan, not yet finished, lying there. Just as I was about to sit down, Xiaopo came in.

未成底纨扇搁在上头．正要坐下，小坡便进来了．

『老四，失迎了．舍妹跑進去，才知道你來．』'Old Four, forgive me for not greeting you properly. It was only when my younger sister ran inside that I learned you had come.'

『老四，失迎了．舍妹跑进去，才知道你来．』

『豈敢，豈敢．請原諒我底莽撞．』我拿起紈扇問道，『這是令妹寫底？』'I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Please forgive my rashness.' I picked up the round fan and asked, 'Did your sister paint this?'

『岂敢，岂敢．请原谅我底莽撞．』我拿起纨扇问道，『这是令妹写底？』

『是．她方才就在這里寫畫．筆法有什麽缺點，還求指敎』'Yes. She was just now painting it here. If there is any flaw in the brushwork, I beg you to point it out.'

『是．她方才就在这里写画．笔法有什么缺点，还求指教』

『指敎倒不敢；'To presume to instruct her, I wouldn't dare;總之，這把扇是我檢得底，是沒有主底，我要帶他囘去．』我搖着in any case, this fan is one I picked up, it has no owner, and I intend to take it home with me.' So saying, I waved the

『指教倒不敢；总之，这把扇是我检得底，是没有主底，我要带他囘去．』我摇着

扇子這樣說．fan about.

扇子这样说．

『這不是我底東西，不干我事．我叫她出來與你當面交涉．』小坡笑着向簾子'This isn't my property, it's none of my affair. I'll call her out so you can settle it with her directly.' Xiaopo said with a laugh, calling toward the curtain

『这不是我底东西，不干我事．我叫她出来与你当面交涉．』小坡笑着向帘子

那邊叫，『九妹，老四要把你底扇子拿去了！』on the other side, 'Ninth Sister, Old Four wants to take your fan away!'

那边叫，『九妹，老四要把你底扇子拿去了！』

他妹子從裏面出來；His sister came out from within;我忙趨前幾步——陪笑，行禮．我說：『請饒恕我方才底唐I hurried forward a few steps—smiling apologetically, I bowed. I said, 'Please forgive my presumption just now—

他妹子从里面出来；我忙趋前几步——陪笑，行礼．我说：『请饶恕我方才底唐

突．』她沒做聲，儘管笑着．我接着說，『令兄應許把這扇送給我了．』my rudeness.' She said nothing, only kept on smiling. I went on, 'Your brother has promised to give this fan to me.'

突．』她没做声，尽管笑着．我接着说，『令兄应许把这扇送给我了．』

小坡搶着說，『不！Xiaopo cut in quickly, 'No!我只說你們可以直接交涉．』I only said the two of you could settle it directly between yourselves.'

小坡抢着说，『不！我只说你们可以直接交涉．』

她還是笑着，沒有做聲．She was still smiling, and said nothing.

她还是笑着，没有做声．

我說：『請九姑娘就案一揮，把這畫完成了，我好立刻帶走．』I said, 'Might Miss Ninth just take up the brush at the desk and finish the painting, so that I may carry it off at once?'

我说：『请九姑娘就案一挥，把这画完成了，我好立刻带走．』

但她仍不做聲．她哥哥不耐煩，促她說，『到底是允許人家是不允許，儘管說，害什麽怕？』妹子捋了他一眼，說，『人家就是這麽害怕嚜．』她對我說，『這是不成東But she still said nothing. Her brother, growing impatient, urged her on, 'Well, are you going to allow him or not—just say so, what is there to be afraid of?' His sister shot him a glance and said, 'I'm just that afraid, that's all.' Then she said to me, 'This isn't anything finished—

但她仍不做声．她哥哥不耐烦，促她说，『到底是允许人家是不允许，尽管说，害什么怕？』妹子捋了他一眼，说，『人家就是这么害怕嚜．』她对我说，『这是不成东

西底，若是要，我改天再奉上．』if you really want it, I'll present you with a proper one some other day.'

我速速說，『夠了，我不要更好的了．你旣然應許，就將這一把賜給我罷．』於是I said quickly, 'That's more than enough—I don't want a better one. Since you've already promised, just grant me this one.' And so

我速速说，『够了，我不要更好的了．你既然应许，就将这一把赐给我罢．』于是

她仍舊坐在案邊，用丹青來染那紈扇．我們都在一邊看她運筆．小坡笑着對妹子說，she sat back down at the desk and, with colors and ink, went on tinting the round fan. We all stood to one side watching her wield the brush. Xiaopo said to his sister with a laugh,

她仍旧坐在案边，用丹青来染那纨扇．我们都在一边看她运笔．小坡笑着对妹子说，

『現在可不怕人了．』'Not afraid of people now, are you?'

『现在可不怕人了．』

『當然．』她含笑對着哥哥．自這聲音發出以後，屋裏，庭外，都非常沈寂；'Of course not.' She smiled at her brother. After that voice had sounded, both the room within and the courtyard without fell into deep silence;窗前before the window

『当然．』她含笑对着哥哥．自这声音发出以后，屋里，庭外，都非常沈寂；窗前

也沒有鐵馬底輕撞聲．所能聽見底只有畫筆在筆洗裏撥水底微響．和顏色在扇上底there was not even the faint tinkling of the wind-chimes. All that could be heard was the faint sound of the brush stirring water in the washbowl, and the sound of

也没有铁马底轻撞声．所能听见底只有画笔在笔洗里拨水底微响．和颜色在扇上底

運行聲．the colors moving across the fan.

运行声．