自译 契诃夫短篇小说 变故(4)

“说的是啊。他都出去五天了。五月那会儿顶多就两三天，现在可好，五天！别说你做媳妇的了，连我都想他。昨天听说要好天了，我还特意叫他们给他杀了只鸡，炖了条鱼呢。顺子就好这口。你爹倒是也爱吃鱼，就是他那个身子消受不了。他回回吃鱼都吃得喷香。”
“My heart aches for him,” said the daughter. “We are dull, but it is duller still for him, you know, mamma.”
“我挺挂念顺子的。”冯氏说道，“咱们在家都闲得发闷，他在城里还不得憋坏了。”
“I should think so! In the law-courts day in and day out, and in the empty flat at night alone like an owl.”
“那可不！黑天白日往法院跑，夜里到家连个说话的也没有，那不得寂寞死。”
“And what is so awful, mamma, he is alone there without servants; there is no one to set the samovar or bring him water. Why didn’t he engage a valet for the summer months? And what use is the summer villa at all if he does not care for it? I told him there was no need to have it, but no, ‘It is for the sake of your health,’ he said, and what is wrong with my health? It makes me ill that he should have to put up with so much on my account.”