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I did consider; and still my sense, such as it was, directed me only to the fact that we did not love each other as man and wife should:
我的确考虑了。我的理智虽然平庸，却替我指出了这样的事实：我们并没有象夫妻那么彼此相爱，
and therefore it inferred we ought not to marry.
因而断言我们不应当结婚。
I said so.
于是我这么说。
"St. John," I returned,
“圣，约翰，”我回答，
"I regard you as a brother -- you, me as a sister: so let us continue."
“我把你当作哥哥——你把我当作妹妹，就让我们这么继续下去吧。”
"We cannot -- we cannot," he answered, with short, sharp determination: "it would not do.
“我们不能——我们不能，”他毅然决然地回答，“这不行。
You have said you will go with me to India: remember -- you have said that."
你已经说过要同我一起去印度。记转—你说过这话。”
"Conditionally."
“有条件的。”
"Well -- well.
“行呵——行呵。
To the main point -- the departure with me from England, the co-operation with me in my future labours -- you do not object.
在关键的问题上——同我一起离开英国，在未来的工作中同我合作——你没有反对。
You have already as good as put your hand to the plough: you are too consistent to withdraw it.
你已经等于把你的手放在犁轭下了，你说话算数，不会缩回去。
You have but one end to keep in view -- how the work you have undertaken can best be done.
你面前只有一个目标——如何把你做的工作出色地做好，
Simplify your complicated interests, feelings, thoughts, wishes, aims;
把你复杂的兴趣、情感、想法、愿望、目标弄得更单纯一点吧，
merge all considerations in one purpose: that of fulfilling with effect -- with power -- the mission of your great Master.
把一切考虑汇成一个目的：全力以赴，有效地完成伟大的主的使命。
To do so, you must have a coadjutor: not a brother -- that is a loose tie -- but a husband.
要这么做，你得有个帮手——不是一个兄长，那样的关系太松散，而是一个丈夫。
I, too, do not want a sister: a sister might any day be taken from me.
我也不需要一个妹妹。妹妹任何时候都可以从我身边带走。
I want a wife: the sole helpmeet I can influence efficiently in life, and retain absolutely till death."
我要的是妻子，我生活中能施予有效影响的唯一伴侣，一直维持到死亡。”
