At about five o'clock they came back to Mr Williams' rooms for tea. When they entered the room, they were surprised to find Mr Filcher, the servant, sitting in Mr Williams' armchair and staring in horror at the picture on the table. Mr Filcher had worked in the college for many years and had never before behaved in so unusual a way. He seemed to feel this himself, and tried to jump to his feet when the three men came in.
大约5点钟,他们回到威廉斯先生的房间喝茶,一进屋便惊讶地发现仆人菲尔彻先生正坐在威廉斯先生的扶手椅里,恐惧地盯着桌子上的画看。菲尔彻先生在这所学院里干了多年,还从未如此失态过。他自己似乎也感觉到了这一点,所以3个人进屋时他试图一跃而起。
'I'm sorry, sir, 'he said. 'I didn't mean to sit down.'
“对不起,先生,”他说,“我本没想坐下的。”
'That's all right, Robert, 'said Mr Williams. 'I was going to ask you some time what you thought of that picture.'
“没关系,罗伯特,”威廉斯先生说,“我还想什么时候问问你觉得这幅画怎么样呢。”
'Well, sir, 'replied the servant, 'of course, I don't really understand pictures, but I wouldn't like my little girl to see it. I'm sure it would give her bad dreams. It doesn't seem the right kind of picture to leave lying around. It could frighten anybody—seeing that awful thing carrying off the poor baby. That's what I think, sir. Will you need me any more today, sir?Thank you, sir.'
“哎,先生,”仆人回答道,“当然我不懂什么绘画作品,可我不会让我的小女孩看这幅画的,这画肯定会使她做恶梦。这似乎不是那种可以随便放的画,它会吓坏人的,假如看到这可怕的东西抱走那可怜的小孩子。先生,我是这么想的。今天还有什么事吗?谢谢您了,先生。”
Filcher left the room and the three men went at once to look at the picture. There was the house as before, under the moon and the clouds. But the window that had been open was now shut, and the figure was once more on the lawn;but not crawling this time. Now it was walking, with long steps, to- wards the front of the picture. The moon was behind it and the black material of its garment nearly covered its face.
菲尔彻离开了房间,3个人立即上前看那幅画。还是那座笼罩在月光和云雾下的房子,只是以前开着的窗户现在关上了,那人影又出现在草地上,可现在它不是在爬,而是在大步朝着画面的前方走。月亮在它身后,它的黑色外衣几乎把脸都盖上了。