Margaret agreed, and they pursued their way against the wind, resisting it with laughing delight for about twenty minutes longer, when suddenly the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain set full in their face. -- Chagrined and surprised, they were obliged, though unwillingly, to turn back, for no shelter was nearer than their own house. One consolation however remained for them, to which the exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety; it was that of running with all possible speed down the steep side of the hill which led immediately to their garden gate.
瑪格麗特欣然同意。兩人頂風前進,嘻嘻哈哈地又走了大約二十分鐘。驟然間,頭上烏云密布,傾盆大雨劈頭蓋臉地潑灑下來。兩人又惱又驚,只好無可奈何地往回轉(zhuǎn),因為附近沒有比她們家更近的避雨處。不過,她們還有個聊以自慰的地方:在這緊急關頭,也是顯得異常得當?shù)?,她們可以用最快的速度跑下陡峭的山坡,徑直沖到她們的花園門口。
They set off. Marianne had at first the advantage, but a false step brought her suddenly to the ground; and Margaret, unable to stop herself to assist her, was involuntarily hurried along, and reached the bottom in safety.
兩人起跑了?,旣惏财鹣扰茉谇邦^,誰想冷不防給絆倒了。瑪格麗特想停下來去扶她,卻怎么也煞不住腳,身不由己地沖了下去,平安地到達山底。
A gentleman carrying a gun, with two pointers playing round him, was passing up the hill and within a few yards of Marianne, when her accident happened. He put down his gun and ran to her assistance. She had raised herself from the ground, but her foot had been twisted in her fall, and she was scarcely able to stand. The gentleman offered his services; and perceiving that her modesty declined what her situation rendered necessary, took her up in his arms without farther delay, and carried her down the hill. Then passing through the garden, the gate of which had been left open by Margaret, he bore her directly into the house, whither Margaret was just arrived, and quitted not his hold till he had seated her in a chair in the parlour.
就在瑪麗安出事的當兒,湊巧有個男子端著一支搶,領著兩只獵犬,朝山上爬去,離瑪麗安不過幾碼遠。他放下?lián)?,跑過去扶她。瑪麗安從地上爬起來,不料腳給摔扭了,根本站不起來。那男子上來攙她,發(fā)現(xiàn)她出于羞怯,不肯讓他幫忙,但事不宜遲,他還是把她抱起來,送下了山,然后穿過花園(瑪格麗特進來時沒有關門),將她徑直抱進屋里。這時,瑪格麗特也剛剛進來。那男子把瑪麗安放在客廳的一張椅子上坐穩(wěn),然后才松開手。