Stroeve stopped, gasping,and I thought he was going to faint. This was not at all the story I hadexpected him to tell me.

"She was very pale, butshe brought the paper and the string. He didn't say anything. He made theparcel and he whistled a tune. He took no notice of either of us. His eyes hadan ironic smile in them. My heart was like lead. I was afraid something wasgoing to happen, and I wished I hadn't spoken. He looked round for his hat.Then she spoke:

"`I'm going withStrickland, Dirk, ' she said. `I can't live with you any more. '

"I tried to speak, butthe words wouldn't come. Strickland didn't say anything. He went on whistlingas though it had nothing to do with him. "

Stroeve stopped again andmopped his face. I kept quite still. I believed him now, and I was astounded.But all the same I could not understand.

Then he told me, in atrembling voice, with the tears pouring down his cheeks, how he had gone up toher, trying to take her in his arms, but she had drawn away and begged him notto touch her. He implored her not to leave him. He told her how passionately heloved her, and reminded her of all the devotion he had lavished upon her. Hespoke to her of the happiness of their life. He was not angry with her. He didnot reproach her.

"Please let me goquietly, Dirk, " she said at last. "Don't you understand that I loveStrickland? Where he goes I shall go. "

施特略夫停住了，喘着气，我以为他要晕倒了。这根本不是我要他讲给我听的故事。

“她的脸色煞白，但还是把纸同绳子取来了。思特里克兰德一句话也不说，他一面包东西，一面吹着口哨，根本不理会我们两个人。他的眼角里含着讥诮的笑意。我的心沉重得象一块铅块。我担心一定要发生点什么事，非常懊悔刚才提出叫他走的事。他四处望了望，找自己的帽子。这时候勃朗什开口了：

“我同思特里克兰德一起走，戴尔克，”她说。“我不能同你生活下去了。”

“我想说什么，可是一个字也说不出来。思特里克兰德也一句话不说。他继续吹着口哨，仿佛这一切同他都毫不相干似的。”

施特略夫又停了下来，开始揩汗。我默不作声。我现在相信他了，我感到很吃惊。但是我仍然不能理解。

这时候他满面泪痕、声音抖抖索索地对我讲，他如何走到她跟前，想把她搂在怀里，她又如何把身体躲开，不叫他碰到自己。他求她不要离开，告诉她自己是多么爱她，叫她想一想自己对她的一片真情。他谈到他们的幸福生活。他一点也不生她的气。他丝毫也不责怪她。

“请你让我安安静静地走开吧，戴尔克，”最后她说，“你不知道我爱思特里克兰德吗？他到什么地方，我就跟他到什么地方去。”