萨默斯太太随后搭乘电梯来到位于稍高楼层的女士休息区。在一个没有人的角落,她脱下棉袜子,换上新买的丝袜。
For the first time she seemed to be taking a rest from the tiring act of thought. She had let herself be controlled by some machine-like force that directed her actions and freed her of responsibility.
这似乎是她平生第一次因为厌倦了思考而停歇下来。她让自己受控于某种机械力量,这股力量让她做出这一系列举动,将她从日常责任中释放出来。
How good was the touch of the silk on her skin! She felt like lying back in the soft chair and enjoying the richness of it. She put her shoes back on and put her old stockings into her bag. Next, she went to the shoe department, sat down and waited to be fitted.
丝绸贴在皮肤上的感觉真好!她真想就这样躺在柔软的椅子上,尽情享受那种浓厚的细腻感。她穿上鞋子,把旧袜子装进袋子里。接着,她走到皮鞋部,坐下来等待试穿。
She tried on a pair of new boots.
她试穿了一双新靴子。
She held back her skirts and turned her feet one way and her head another way as she looked down at the shiny, pointed boots. Her foot and ankle looked very lovely. She could not believe that they were a part of herself.
她把裙子捋到身后,将双脚转到一边,头则转到另一边,低头看着这对闪闪发光的尖头靴子。她的小脚和脚踝看起来非常漂亮,她简直不敢相信它们是自己身体的一部分。
After buying the new boots, she went to the glove department. It was a long time since Mrs. Sommers had been fitted with gloves. When she had bought a pair they were always “bargains,”so cheap that it would have been unreasonable to have expected them to be fitted to her hands.
买了新靴子之后,她来到了手套部。萨默斯太太已经很久没有戴过尺寸刚好的手套了。她以前买的手套全都是“便宜货”,廉价得根本不必指望它们的尺码能适合她的双手。
A young shop girl drew a soft, leather glove over Mrs. Sommers’hand. She smoothed it down over the wrist and buttoned it neatly. Both women lost themselves for a second or two as they quietly praised the little gloved hand.
一位年轻的女售货员把一只柔软的皮手套戴在萨默斯太太的手上,然后往手腕位置将其理顺,并整齐地扣上纽扣。有那么一两秒钟,这两位女士都全神贯注地静静赞叹着这只戴着手套的纤纤玉手。
She lifted her skirts as she crossed the street. Her new stockings and boots and gloves had worked wonders for her appearance. They had given her a feeling of satisfaction, a sense of belonging to the well-dressed crowds.
穿过街道时,她轻轻地提起裙摆。她的新袜子、新靴子和新手套让她的装扮产生了神奇的效果。它们带给她一种满足感,她觉得自己也成了衣着光鲜一族。
She was very hungry. Another time she would have ignored the desire for food until reaching her own home. But the force that was guiding her would not permit her to act on such a thought.
她感到饥肠辘辘。以前,她准会忽略掉进食的欲望,忍着饥饿直到回家。但是那股引导着她的力量是绝不会允许她这么做的。
There was a restaurant at the corner. She had noted the white table cloths, shining glasses and waiters serving wealthy people.
街道转角处有一家餐厅。她注意到里面的白色桌布和闪亮光洁的玻璃杯,侍应正为富人们提供服务。