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At that time there was no rigid sequestration on the islands, and lepers, if they chose, were allowed to go free.
當時在這些島上還沒有實行嚴格的隔離制度。害麻風病的人如果自己愿意，是可以留在家里的。
"I shall go up into the mountain," said Strickland.
“我要到山里去。”思特里克蘭德說。
Then Ata stood up and faced him.
這時候愛塔站起身，看著他的臉說：
"Let the others go if they choose, but I will not leave thee. Thou art my man and I am thy woman. If thou leavest me I shall hang myself on the tree that is behind the house. I swear it by God."
“別人誰愿意走誰就走吧。我不離開你。你是我的男人，我是你的女人。要是你離開了我，我就在房子后面這棵樹上上吊。我在上帝面前發誓。”
There was something immensely forcible in the way she spoke. She was no longer the meek, soft native girl, but a determined woman. She was extraordinarily transformed.
她說這番話時，神情非常堅決。她不再是一個溫柔、馴順的土人女孩子，而是一個意志堅定的婦人。她一下子變得誰也認不出來了。
"Why shouldst thou stay with me? Thou canst go back to Papeete, and thou wilt soon find another white man. The old woman can take care of thy children, and Tiare will be glad to have thee back."
“你為什么要同我在一起呢？你可以回到帕皮提去，而且很快地你還會找到另一個白人。這個老婆子可以給你看孩子，蒂阿瑞會很高興地再讓你重新給她干活兒的。”
"Thou art my man and I am thy woman. Whither thou goest I will go, too."
“你是我的男人，我是你的女人。你到哪兒去我也到哪兒去。”
For a moment Strickland's fortitude was shaken, and a tear filled each of his eyes and trickled slowly down his cheeks. Then he gave the sardonic smile which was usual with him.
有那么一瞬間，思特里克蘭德的鐵石心腸似乎被打動了，淚水涌上他的眼睛，一邊一滴，慢慢地從臉頰上流下來。但是他的臉馬上又重新浮現出平日慣有的那種譏嘲的笑容。
"Women are strange little beasts," he said to Dr. Coutras. "You can treat them like dogs, you can beat them till your arm aches, and still they love you." He shrugged his shoulders. "Of course, it is one of the most absurd illusions of Christianity that they have souls."
“女人真是奇怪的動物，”他對庫特拉斯醫生說，“你可以象狗一樣地對待她們，你可以揍她們揍得你兩臂酸痛，可是到頭來她們還是愛你。”他聳了聳肩膀。“當然了，基督教認為女人也有靈魂，這實在是個最荒謬的幻覺。”
"What is it that thou art saying to the doctor?" asked Ata suspiciously. "Thou wilt not go?"
“你在同醫生說什么？”愛塔有些懷疑地問他，“你不走吧？”
"If it please thee I will stay, poor child."
“如果你愿意的話，我就不走，可憐的孩子。”
