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"Do they know?" he asked at last, pointing to the persons on the verandah, now sitting in unusual, unaccountable silence.
“他们知道吗？”最后，思特里克兰德指着外面的人说；这些人这时静悄悄地坐在露台上，同往日的情景大不相同。
"These natives know the signs so well," said the doctor. "They were afraid to tell you."
“这些本地人对这种病的征象是非常清楚的，”医生说，“只是他们不敢告诉你罢了。”
Strickland stepped to the door and looked out. There must have been something terrible in his face, for suddenly they all burst out into loud cries and lamentation. They lifted up their voices and they wept. Strickland did not speak. After looking at them for a moment, he came back into the room.
思特里克兰德走到门口，向外面张望了一下。他的脸相一定非常可怕，因为外面的人一下子都哭叫、哀号起来，而且哭声越来越大。思特里克兰德一句话也没说。他愣愣地看了他们一会儿，便转身走回屋子。
"How long do you think I can last?"
“你认为我还能活多久？”
"Who knows? Sometimes the disease continues for twenty years. It is a mercy when it runs its course quickly."
“谁说得准？有时候染上这种病的人能活二十年，如果早一些死倒是上帝发慈悲呢。”
Strickland went to his easel and looked reflectively at the picture that stood on it.
思特里克兰德走到画架前面，沉思地看着放在上面的画。
"You have had a long journey. It is fitting that the bearer of important tidings should be rewarded. Take this. It means nothing to you now, but it may be that one day you will be glad to have it."
“你到这里来走了很长一段路。带来重要消息的人理应得到报酬。把这幅画拿去吧。现在它对你不算什么，但是将来有一天可能你会高兴有这样一幅画的。”
Dr. Coutras protested that he needed no payment for his journey; he had already given back to Ata the hundred-franc note, but Strickland insisted that he should take the picture. Then together they went out on the verandah. The natives were sobbing violently.
库特拉斯医生谢绝说，他到这儿来不需要报酬，就是那一百法郎他也还给了爱塔。但是思特里克兰德却坚持要他把这幅画拿走。这以后他们俩一起走到外面阳台上。几个本地人仍然在非常哀痛地呜咽着。
"Be quiet, woman. Dry thy tears," said Strickland, addressing Ata. "There is no great harm. I shall leave thee very soon."
“别哭了，女人。把眼泪擦干吧，”思特里克兰德对爱塔说。“没有什么大了不起的。我不久就要离开你了。”
"They are not going to take thee away?" she cried.
“他们不会把你弄走吧？”她哭着说。
