"It wasthen he told me of his wife in England. 'My poor Strickland, ' I said to him,'they've all got a wife somewhere; that is generally why they come to theislands. Ata is a sensible girl, and she doesn't expect any ceremony before theMayor. She's a Protestant, and you know they don't look upon these things likethe Catholics. '"Then hesaid: `But what does Ata say to it?' `It appears that she has a beguin for you,' I said. `She's willing if you are. Shall I call her?' He chuckled in a funny,dry way he had, and I called her. She knew what I was talking about, the hussy,and I saw her out of the corner of my eyes listening with all her ears, whileshe pretended to iron a blouse that she had been washing for me. She came. Shewas laughing, but I could see that she was a little shy, and Strickland lookedat her without speaking. ""Was shepretty?" I asked."Not bad.But you must have seen pictures of her. He painted her over and over again,sometimes with a pareo on and sometimes with nothing at all. Yes, she waspretty enough. And she knew how to cook. I taught her myself. I saw Stricklandwas thinking of it, so I said to him: 'I've given her good wages and she'ssaved them, and the captains and the first mates she's known have given her alittle something now and then. She's saved several hundred francs. '"He pulledhis great red beard and smiled."`Well,Ata, ' he said, 'do you fancy me for a husband. '"She didnot say anything, but just giggled."`But Itell you, my poor Strickland, the girl has a beguin for you, ' I said."I shallbeat you, ' he said, looking at her."`How elseshould I know you loved me, ' she answered. "Tiare broke offher narrative and addressed herself to me reflectively.“就在这个时候，他告诉我他在英国是有老婆的。‘我可怜的思特里克兰德，’我对他说，‘他们在别的地方都有个外家；一般说来，这也是为什么他们到我们这些岛上来的原故。爱塔是个通情达理的姑娘，她不要求当着市长的面举行什么仪式。她是个耶稣教徒，你知道，信耶稣教的对待这种事不象信天主教的人那么古板。’”“这时候他说道：‘那么爱塔对这件事有什么意见呢？’‘看起来，她对你很有情意②，’我说，‘如果你愿意，她也会同意的。要不要我叫她来一下？’思特里克兰德咯咯地笑起来，象他平常那样，笑声干干巴巴，样子非常滑稽。于是我就把爱塔叫过来。爱塔知道刚才我在同思特里克兰德谈什么，这个骚丫头；我一直用眼角盯着她，她假装在给我熨一件刚刚洗过的罩衫，耳朵却一个字不漏地听着我们俩讲话。她走到我面前，咯咯地笑着，但是我看得出来，她有一些害羞。思特里克兰德打量了她一阵，没有说什么。”②原文为法语。“她长得好看吗？”我问。“挺漂亮。但是你过去一定看到过她的画儿了。他给她画了一幅又一幅，有时候围着一件帕利欧①，有时候什么都不穿。不错，她长得蛮漂亮。她会做饭。是我亲自教会她的。我看到思特里克兰德正在琢磨这件事，我就对他说：‘我给她的工资很多，她都攒起来了。她认识的那些船长和大副有时候也送给她一点儿东西。她已经攒了好几百法郎了。’”①当地人的服装，一种用土布做的束腰。思特里克兰德一边揪着大红胡子，一边笑起来。“‘喂，爱塔，’他说，‘你喜欢不喜欢叫我当你丈夫？’”她什么话也没说，只是叽叽咯咯地笑着。“‘我不是告诉你了吗，思特里克兰德，这个女孩子对你挺有情意②吗？’”我说。②原文为法语。“‘我可是要揍你的。’”他望着她说。“‘你要是不打我，我怎么知道你爱我呢？’”她回答说。蒂阿瑞把这个故事打断，回溯起自己的往事来。