5. 你去見 kap 我訂婚 ê 查埔

5. Lí khì kìⁿ kap góa tēng-hun ê cha-po͘

Ansley Tt khin-khin chhiò chi̍t-ē. "Oh, góa ū heh tio̍h lí? Góa m̄ siong-sìn lí ū hiah hó heh."

"Góa chin chió hông heh tio̍h; m̄-koh hit-kái góa ū. Góa ē hiah hó heh, sī in-ūi góa kòe-thâu hoaⁿ-hí. Lí chai góa ê ì-sù bô?"

"Góa... chai lah." Ansley Tt ti-ti tū-tū kóng.

"Hmh, tō sī án-ne, lín hit-ê koài ko͘-pô ê kò͘-sū chiah ē hō͘ góa hiah-nī chhim ê ìn-siōng. Āu-lâi góa siūⁿ, 'taⁿ í-keng bô Roma-jia̍t ah, m̄-koh ji̍t-lo̍h liáu-āu, Kóng-tiûⁿ ē léng kah boeh sí -- iû-kî sī tī ji̍t-sî chin joa̍h liáu-āu. Nā án-ne, Pí-bú-tiûⁿ tō koh-khah léng koh tâm.'"

"Pí-bú-tiûⁿ...?"

"Tio̍h. Àm-sî só-mn̂g liáu-āu, hia chin pháiⁿ ji̍p-khì. Hui-siông hui-siông khùn-lân. M̄-koh, tī hit-ê nî-tāi, iáu-sī ū mn̂g-lō͘; chhiâng-chāi ū-lâng chhōe hit-ê mn̂g-lō͘. Bē-sái tī pa̍t-ūi sio-kìⁿ ê ài-jîn-á tō khì hia iok-hōe. Che lí chai bô?"

"Góa... ē-sái án-ne kóng. M̄-koh, góa bē-kì-tit ah."

"Lí bē-kì-tit? Lí bē-kì-tit, ū chi̍t-àm, thiⁿ tú àm, li cháu khì hùi-hi a̍h siáⁿ só͘-chāi, soah tit-tio̍h tāng kám-mō͘! Ta̍k-ê siūⁿ-kóng lí sī khì khòaⁿ goe̍h-chhut. Lâng-lâng lóng kóng lí chhut-khì siuⁿ hn̄g chiah ē kôaⁿ tio̍h."

Ū chi̍t-khùn tiām-tiām; āu-lâi Ansley Tt kóng, "In án-ne kóng hioh? He í-keng sī chiâⁿ kú í-chêng ê tāi-chì ah."

"Sī ah. Lo̍h-bóe lí mā bô tāi-chì -- só͘-í bô iàu-kín. M̄-koh, lí ê pêng-iú chóng-sī bē liáu-kái -- m̄-chai lí phòa-pēⁿ ê in-toaⁿ. Góa sī kóng... in-ūi ta̍k-ê lóng chai, ūi-tio̍h nâ-âu ê iân-kò͘, lí it-hiòng chin chù-ì sin-thé, lín lāu-bú iū hiah-nī chiàu-kò͘ lí... Hit-àm lí chhut-khì se̍h kaù chin àm, kám m̄-sī?"

"Hoān-sè góa ū. Kín-sīn ê châ-gín-á mā bô it-tēng lóng chin kín-sīn. Taⁿ lí án-nóa ē teh siūⁿ chiah-ê?"

Slade Tt soah m̄-chai boeh án-chóaⁿ ìn. M̄-koh, thêng chi̍t-khùn liáu, yi koh kóng: "In-ūi góa í-keng jím bē-tiâu ah-lah..."

Ansley Tt hiông-hiông gia̍h-thâu. Yi ê ba̍k-chiu tián-tōa, bīn-sek hoán pe̍h. "Jím bē-tiâu siáⁿ-mih?"

"Tō sī... lí m̄-chai, góa it-ti̍t lóng chai sī án-chóaⁿ lí chhut-khì."

"Sī án-chóaⁿ góa chhut-khì...?"

"Tio̍h. Lí siūⁿ kóng góa pûn-ke-kui, kám m̄-sī? Hmh, lí khì kìⁿ kap góa tēng-hun ê cha-po͘ -- góa ē-tàng liām chhut ín lí chhut-khì ê hit-tiuⁿ phe ê ta̍k kù ōe."

 Slade Tt tng-teh kóng-ōe ê sî, Ansley Tt khiā khí-lâi, kha ta̍h bē-chāi. Yi ê handbag, chiam-sòaⁿ kap chhiú-thò, hi-hi hōa-hōa lak kah chi̍t sì-kè. Yi khòaⁿ Slade Tt, bē-su sī khòaⁿ tio̍h kúi.

"Mài, mài... mài koh kóng," yi i-i ū-ū kóng.

"Sī án-nóa mài? Thiaⁿ hō͘ hó, lí nā m̄-sìn. 'Chhin-ài ê, tāi-chì bē-ēng-tit kè-sio̍k án-ne. Góa tio̍h tan-to̍k kìⁿ lí. Bîn-á-chài thiⁿ-àm liáu-āu, chhiáⁿ sûi lâi Pí-bú-tiûⁿ. Hia ē ū lâng pàng lí ji̍p-khì. Lí m̄-bián kiaⁿ ū siáⁿ-lâng ē khòaⁿ tio̍h' -- m̄-koh, khióng-kiaⁿ lí í-keng bē-kì-tit phe lāi-té kóng siáⁿ?"

Ansley bīn-tùi chit-ê thiau-chiàn chin tìn-chēng. Yi chē tiāⁿ tī í-á, kim-kim khòaⁿ yin pêng-iú, án-ne kā ìn: "M̄-tio̍h; góa mā kì kah tiâu-tiâu-tiâu."

"Iáu koh hit-ê chhiam-miâ? 'Lí ûi-it ê D.S.' Sī án-ne bô? Góa bô m̄-tio̍h, sī bô? Kám m̄-sī in-ūi chit-tiuⁿ phe, hit-àm lí chiah ē chhut-khì?" 

Ansley Tt iáu-sī kim-kim khòaⁿ yi. Chāi Slade Tt khòaⁿ, tī yi he kek kah ná bīn-khak ê an-chēng bīn-iông āu-piah ū bān-bān ê thiu-chhoah. "Góa siūⁿ bē-kàu, yi ka-tī khòng-chè kah chiah hó." Slade Tt sim-lāi án-ne siūⁿ, móa pak ê oàn-hūn. M̄-koh, chit-sî, Ansley Tt kóng: "Góa m̄-chai, lí ná ē chai. Phe, góa khòaⁿ liáu tō kā sio-tiāu ah."

"Sī ah; lí tong-jiân ē kā sio-tiāu -- lí chiâⁿ kín-sīn!" Chit-chióng léng-chhiò chin bêng-hián. "Kì-jiân lí kā phe sio-tiāu, lí tiāⁿ-tio̍h kî-koài, góa ná ē chai-iáⁿ phe ê lāi-iông. Kám m̄-sī án-ne?"

Slade Tt tán yi ìn, m̄-koh Ansley Tt bô chhut-siaⁿ.

"Hmh, chhin-ài ê, góa ē chai phe ê lāi-iông, in-ūi he phe sī góa siá ê!"

"Sī lí siá ê?"

"Tio̍h."

Nn̄g-ê cha-bó͘ khiā tī chòe-āu ê kim-sek ji̍t-kng nih sio tùi-siòng chi̍t tōa khùn. Lo̍h-bóe, Ansley Tt koh nńg-nńg chē lo̍h yi ê í-á. "Oh," yi nauh chi̍t-siaⁿ, kō͘ siang-chhiú am bīn.

Slade Tt kui-sin peⁿ-ân tán yi koh chhut-siaⁿ a̍h sī chhòng siáⁿ. Bô, bô hoán-èng, kú-kú liáu-āu, yi chiah kóng: "Góa kā lí heh-kiaⁿ tio̍h ah."

Ansley Tt kā chhiú pàng lo̍h tī kha-thâu-u, kui-bīn ba̍k-sái sì-lâm-sûi. "Góa m̄-sī teh siūⁿ lí. Góa teh siūⁿ ê sī... he sī góa ùi i hia tit-tio̍h ê ûi-it ê phe!"

"He sī góa siá ê. Tio̍h; sī góa siá ê! M̄-koh kap i tēng-hun ê sī góa. Lí hit-sî kám ē-kì-tit che?"

Ansley Tt ê thâu koh tìm lo̍h-khì. "Góa bô siáⁿ-mih chioh-kháu... Góa chai-iáⁿ he..."

"Án-ne, lí iáu-koh khì?"

"Góa iáu-sī khì."

- -

5. 你去見 kap 我訂婚 ê 查埔

Ansley Tt 輕輕笑一下. "Oh, 我有嚇著你? 我毋相信你有 hiah 好嚇."

"我真少 hông 嚇著; m̄-koh 彼改我有. 我會 hiah 好嚇, 是因為我過頭歡喜. 你知我 ê 意思無?"

"我... 知 lah." Ansley Tt ti-ti tū-tū 講.

"Hmh, tō 是 án-ne, 恁彼个怪姑婆 ê 故事才會予我 hiah-nī 深 ê 印象. 後來我想, '今已經無 Roma 熱 ah, m̄-koh 日落了後, 廣場會冷 kah 欲死 -- 尤其是 tī 日時真熱了後. 若 án-ne, 比武場 tō koh 較冷 koh 澹.'"

"比武場...?"

"著. 暗時鎖門了後, hia 真歹入去. 非常非常困難. M̄-koh, tī 彼个年代, 猶是有門路; 常在有人揣彼个門路. 袂使 tī 別位相見 ê 愛人仔 tō 去 hia 約會. 這你知無?"

"我... 會使 án-ne 講. M̄-koh, 我袂記得 ah."

"你袂記得? 你袂記得, 有一暗, 天拄暗, 你走去廢虛 a̍h 啥所在, 煞得著重感冒! 逐个想講你是去看月出. 人人 lóng 講你出去 siuⁿ 遠才會寒著."

有一睏恬恬; 後來 Ansley Tt 講, "In án-ne 講 hioh? 彼已經是誠久以前 ê 代誌 ah."

"是 ah. 落尾你 mā 無代誌 -- 所以無要緊. M̄-koh, 你 ê 朋友總是袂了解 -- 毋知你破病 ê 因端. 我是講... 因為逐个 lóng 知, 為著嚨喉 ê 緣故, 你一向真注意身體, 恁老母又 hiah-nī 照顧你... 彼暗你出去踅到真暗, 敢毋是?"

"凡勢我有. 謹慎 ê cha̋ 囡仔 mā 無一定 lóng 真謹慎. 今你 án-nóa 會 teh 想 chiah-ê?"

Slade Tt 煞毋知欲按怎應. M̄-koh, 停一睏了, 她 koh 講: "因為我已經忍袂牢 ah-lah..."

Ansley Tt 雄雄攑頭. 她 ê 目睭展大, 面色反白. "忍袂牢啥物?"

"Tō 是... 你毋知, 我一直 lóng 知是按怎你出去."

"是按怎我出去...?"

"著. 你想講我歕雞胿, 敢毋是? Hmh, 你去見 kap 我訂婚 ê 查埔 -- 我會當念出引你出去 ê 彼張批 ê 逐句話."

 Slade Tt tng-teh 講話 ê 時, Ansley Tt 徛起來, 跤踏袂在. 她 ê handbag, 針線 kap 手套, hi-hi hōa-hōa lak kah 一四界. 她看 Slade Tt, 袂輸是看著鬼.

"莫, 莫... 莫 koh 講," 她 i-i ū-ū 講.

"是 án-nóa 莫? 聽予好, 你若毋信. '親愛 ê, 代誌袂用得繼續 án-ne. 我著單獨見你. 明仔載天暗了後, 請隨來比武場. Hia 會有人放你入去. 你毋免驚有啥人會看著' -- m̄-koh, 恐驚你已經袂記得批內底講啥?"

Ansley 面對這个挑戰真鎮靜. 她坐定 tī 椅仔, 金金看姻朋友, án-ne kā 應: "M̄-tio̍h; 我 mā 記 kah 牢牢牢."

"猶 koh 彼个簽名? '你唯一 ê D.S.' 是 án-ne 無? 我無毋著, 是無? 敢毋是因為這張批, 彼暗你才會出去?" 

Ansley Tt 猶是金金看她. 在 Slade Tt 看, tī 她 he 激 kah ná 面殼 ê 安靜面容後壁有慢慢 ê 抽 chhoah. "我想袂到, 她 ka-tī 控制 kah chiah 好." Slade Tt 心內 án-ne 想, 滿腹 ê 怨恨. M̄-koh, 這時, Ansley Tt 講: "我毋知, 你那會知. 批, 我看了 tō kā 燒掉 ah."

"是 ah; 你當然會 kā 燒掉 -- 你誠謹慎!" 這種冷笑真明顯. "既然你 kā 批燒掉, 你定著奇怪, 我那會知影批 ê 內容. 敢毋是 án-ne?"

Slade Tt 等她應, m̄-koh Ansley Tt 無出聲.

"Hmh, 親愛 ê, 我會知批 ê 內容, 因為 he 批是我寫 ê!"

"是你寫 ê?"

"著."

兩个查某徛 tī 最後 ê 金色日光 nih sio 對相一大睏. 落尾, Ansley Tt koh 軟軟坐落她 ê 椅仔. "Oh," 她 nauh一聲, kō͘ 雙手掩面.

Slade Tt 規身繃絚 tán 她 koh 出聲 a̍h 是創啥. 無, 無反應, 久久了後, 她才講: "我 kā 你嚇驚著 ah."

Ansley Tt kā 手放落 tī 跤頭趺, 規面目屎四淋垂. "我毋是 teh 想你. 我 teh 想 ê 是... 彼是我 ùi 伊 hia 得著 ê 唯一 ê 批!"

"彼是我寫 ê. 著; 是我寫 ê! M̄-koh kap 伊訂婚 ê 是我. 你彼時敢會記得 che?"

Ansley Tt ê 頭 koh tìm 落去. "我無啥物借口... 我知影 he..."

"Án-ne, 你猶 koh 去?"

"我猶是去."

- -

5.

Mrs. Ansley gave a faint laugh. "Oh, did I! Really frightened you? I don't believe you're easily frightened."

"Not often; but I was then. I was easily frightened because I was too happy. I wonder if you know what that means?"

"I--yes... " Mrs. Ansley faltered.

"Well, I suppose that was why the story of your wicked aunt made such an impression on me. And I thought: 'There's no more Roman fever, but the Forum is deathly cold after sunset--especially after a hot day. And the Colosseum's even colder and damper.'"

"The Colosseum--?"

"Yes. It wasn't easy to get in, after the gates were locked for the night. Far from easy. Still, in those days it could be managed; it was managed, often. Lovers met there who couldn't meet elsewhere. You knew that?"

"I--I daresay. I don't remember."

"You don't remember? You don't remember going to visit some ruins or other one evening, just after dark, and catching a bad chill! You were supposed to have gone to see the moonrise. People always said that expedition was what caused your illness."

There was a moment's silence; then Mrs. Ansley rejoined: "Did they? It was all so long ago."

"Yes. And you got well again--so it didn't matter. But I suppose it struck your friends--the reason given for your illness. I mean--because everybody knew you were so prudent on account of your throat, and your mother took such care of you.... You had been out late sightseeing, hadn't you, that night"

"Perhaps I had. The most prudent girls aren't always prudent. What made you think of it now?"

Mrs. Slade seemed to have no answer ready. But after a moment she broke out: "Because I simply can't bear it any longer--"

Mrs. Ansley lifted her head quickly. Her eyes were wide and very pale. "Can't bear what?"

"Why--your not knowing that I've always known why you went."

"Why I went--?"

"Yes. You think I'm bluffing, don't you? Well, you went to meet the man I was engaged to--and I can repeat every word of the letter that took you there."

While Mrs. Slade spoke Mrs. Ansley had risen unsteadily to her feet. Her bag, her knitting and gloves, slid in a panic-stricken heap to the ground. She looked at Mrs. Slade as though she were looking at a ghost.

"No, no--don't," she faltered out.

"Why not? Listen, if you don't believe me. 'My one darling, things can't go on like this. I must see you alone. Come to the Colosseum immediately after dark tomorrow. There will be somebody to let you in. No one whom you need fear will suspect'--but perhaps you've forgotten what the letter said?"

Mrs. Ansley met the challenge with an unexpected composure. Steadying herself against the chair she looked at her friend, and replied: "No; I know it by heart too."

"And the signature? 'Only your D.S.' Was that it? I'm right, am I? That was the letter that took you out that evening after dark?"

Mrs. Ansley was still looking at her. It seemed to Mrs. Slade that a slow struggle was going on behind the voluntarily controlled mask of her small quiet face. "I shouldn't have thought she had herself so well in hand," Mrs. Slade reflected, almost resentfully. But at this moment Mrs. Ansley spoke. "I don't know how you knew. I burned that letter at once."

"Yes; you would, naturally--you're so prudent!" The sneer was open now. "And if you burned the letter you're wondering how on earth I know what was in it. That's it, isn't it?"

Mrs. Slade waited, but Mrs. Ansley did not speak.

"Well, my dear, I know what was in that letter because I wrote it!"

"You wrote it?"

"Yes."

The two women stood for a minute staring at each other in the last golden light. Then Mrs. Ansley dropped back into her chair. "Oh," she murmured, and covered her face with her hands.

Mrs. Slade waited nervously for another word or movement. None came, and at length she broke out: "I horrify you."

Mrs. Ansley's hands dropped to her knees. The face they uncovered was streaked with tears. "I wasn't thinking of you. I was thinking--it was the only letter I ever had from him!"

"And I wrote it. Yes; I wrote it! But I was the girl he was engaged to. Did you happen to remember that?"

Mrs. Ansley's head drooped again. "I'm not trying to excuse myself... I remembered... "

"And still you went?"

"Still I went."

- -