自译 契诃夫短篇小说 变故(12)

“我的天！”他长出了一口气，说道，“可累死我了。我这几天四处叫人使唤，都没个工夫坐下歇歇。好家伙，我忙得连家都没回。两家欠债的叫我跟债主说情，这两宗事我忙得昏天黑地的。我整天在老臧那儿忙活……连口饭也没得吃，连口水也没得喝，就睡在大椅子上，差点没把我冻死……一刻钟也闲不得，哪儿有工夫回家。媳妇，就是这么回事，所以你找我的时候我才不在的……”说罢，顺子扭了扭身，装作背疼的样子，实际上偷偷察看着媳妇和婆婆的反应，想看看自己的谎，或者用他的话，自己的理由，圆不圆满/成不成功。只见二人惊喜地对视了一下，仿佛突然间找回了什么丢失的宝贝似的……二人满脸放光，眼睛一闪一闪的……
“My dear man,” cried the old lady, jumping up, “why am I sitting here? Tea! Tea at once! Perhaps you are hungry?”
“好姑爷！”老太太高喊一声，站了起来，“人都死哪儿去了？上茶！快上茶！看把你累的，肯定饿了吧？”
“Of course he is hungry,” cried his wife, pulling off her head a bandage soaked in vinegar. “Mamma, bring the wine, and the savouries. Natalya, lay the table! Oh, my goodness, nothing is ready!”