自译 契诃夫短篇小说 黑夜(3)

这份寂静还是被高太太打破了。正望着窗外的院子，她突然发出一声尖叫。由花坛旁的白杨树后恍惚冒出一个黑影往房子这儿凑。刚开始她以为是头牲口，可揉揉眼睛仔细一瞧，那明明白白是个人。
Then she fancied the dark figure approached the window of the kitchen and, standing still a moment, apparently undecided, put one foot on the window ledge and disappeared into the darkness of the window.
那个黑影似乎来到了厨房窗前，先原地犹豫了一会儿，然后把一条腿迈进窗台，消失在阴影之中。
“A burglar!” flashed into her mind and a deathly pallor overspread her face.
“有贼！”高太太猛然惊觉，脸唰一下白了。
And in one instant her imagination had drawn the picture so dreaded by lady visitors in country places — a burglar creeps into the kitchen, from the kitchen into the dining-room . . . the silver in the cupboard . . . next into the bedroom . . . an axe . . . the face of a brigand . . . jewelry. . . . Her knees gave way under her and a shiver ran down her back.