7 Christine and Simon 
　  
　　Mary talked to Mr Wilson too，but it was no good． She came out looking tired and very sad． 
　　For many months she argued with David Wilson about the danger of the waste products， but he would not listen to her．And so， eighteen months after John's report， Mary decided to move to another company．she was pleased， because it was a more important job，but that wasn't the reason she was going．She knew that the cleaning machines would never be built． 
　　John was sad to see her go． He had enjoyed working with her， and she had come to his house several times over the last year and a half． His children liked her now．They had never been so friendly with any woman， since their mother had died． 
　　On her last day，Mary and John had lunch in the factory restaurant together． 
　　'You don't have to go， you know， Mary，'John said．'This company is very successful， and it's growing all the time．Your new paint has meant four hundred new jobs—all because of your discovery！ This isn't a poor town any more—it's becoming successful，rich！ People will want to move here from other places．' 
　　He talked about the new sports centre at Andrew's school，which was built with money from the paint company．There were two big，new shops in the town as well，and a new the－atre，and a lot of new houses．'And it's all because of you，'he said．'It's wonderful， Mary，don't you think？'He smiled at her across the table，and took her hand in his． 
　　She looked at him quietly．He had changed a lot since he had first started working at the factory．For the first six months after he had got the job，he had been really happy and lively．She had always known where he was in the factory，because he was always laughing，or singing to himself． 
　　But for the last eighteen months he had been much quieter．He was always busy，but he didn't sing or laugh，and he didn't often look Mary in the eyes．And when he was alone，he looked tired and sad． 
　　She took her hand away from his，gently．'You know why I'm going，John，'she said．'I know what's going into the river，and I don't like to think about it．You should leave，too，and get a job in another company．' 
　　'I'm too old．'John stared at her angrily．'It isn't easy for me to get a new job．And Mary，the company has been mak-ing the paint for more than two years now，and no one's been hurt，have they？' 
　　Mary didn't answer for a moment．Then she said，'Only you．' 
　　'What do you mean，only me？' 
　　She looked at him sadly．His head was bald now， and he was beginning to look like an old man．Once，she had wanted to marry him．Now，she was pleased that he hadn't asked her． 
　　'Oh，I just meant your leg，of course．'John still had a painful red place on his leg，and sometimes he walked badly because of it．But that wasn't what Mary meant． 
　　John smiled．'My leg's nearly better．I'd almost forgotten about it．But Mary，before you go…I wonder if you could help me．It's a family matter．' 
　　'I see．Well，how can I help？I don't know your children very well，you know．' 
　　'No，of course not．But you're a woman，and…well，it's sometimes difficult for me，as a father on my own．Christine's a young woman now，and she hasn't got a mother to discuss things with．I don't always know what to say．' 
　　'No．'mary looked at him sadly．She often wondered why he didn't ask her to his house more often．She liked him and his children，and she thought he liked her．'How old is Chris-tine now？' 
　　'Eighteem．And she wants to get married．' 
　　'Already？She's rather young，isn't she？' 
　　John looked unhappy．'Well，that's what I say．But she gets so angry with me，Mary，really angry．' 
　　'Who's the young man？' 
　　'He's called Simon MacDonald．He's a journalist—he works for the local newspaper．He's a nice young man，I sup-pose．But every time I speak to him，we argue．And then Christine always agrees with him，and I get angry with her，too．I don't want to，Mary，but I do．I feel I'm losing her，you see．' 
　　'What do you argue about？' 
　　'Oh，I don't know．Stupid things，really．He belongs to one of these environmental groups—Greenworld，I think—and he's always talking about it．He thinks only young people are right，and everyone over twenty-five is always wrong！' 
　　Mary looked at John thoughtfully． 
　　'Well，what do you want me to do，John？I'm not a moth-er and I've never been married．' 
　　'No，but…you could talk to Christine，perhaps？If you came to our house for Sunday lunch…？' 
　　So Mary went to John's house．Simon was there too．They had a meal and talked about horses and sailing．Everyone was polite，and there were no arguments．Later，Mary went with Christine to look at her horse，and Simon stayed with John．In the field，Mary began to talk about Simon． 
　　'He's fine young man，Christine．He's very clever and kind．He makes me think of your father．' 
　　'My father！He's nothing like my father！And Dad hates him！' 
　　'I'm sure he doesn't．' 
　　'He does！He says he's too old for me，and I mustn't see him！He thinks I'm still a little girl，Mary！But I'm eighteen！I want to get married！' 
　　'Tell me more about Simon…' 
　　And so for a long time Mary stood in the quiet，lonely field．She helped Christine give food to her horse，and listened to her talk about Simon．Simon，Christine said，was kind，intelli-gent，very hard-working．He liked sailing and riding，and he wanted to make the world a cleaner，better place．He made her feel important，like an adult，not a child any more．She had met his parents，and they liked her a lot．It was only her father… 
　　'So what should I do，Mary？'Christineasked． 
　　Mary put her hand on the horse's neck．'I'm not sure，'she said．'I think you should marry him，but you don't want to make your father angry，do you？That's not the best way to start your life with Simon．' 
　　'No，but I will if I have to！' 
　　'Would you liKe me to talk to him？Perhaps he'll listen to me．It's difficult for him—you're his only daughter，and he's probably very worried about it．' 
　　'Oh，would you，Mary？Please．I want Dad to like Simon，really，but he's always nasty to him．' 
　　'I'll do my best，my dear，but I don't know if it'll work．' 
　　Mary did try，very hard，before she moved to Scotland for her new job．She spoke to John on the phone，and sometimes they had a cup of coffee together in town．She was surprised how carefully John listened to her，and how grateful he seemed write a full-page article every week on the environment．And this is the first one．Look here！' 
　　He pulled a page of newspaper out of his pocket，and held it up in front of them．There were pictures of water，sandbanks，and some seals．The headline read： 
SEALS AT RIVER MOUTH 
HAVE STRANGE DISEASE 
Four baby seals found dead  
　 
7 克里斯汀和西蒙 
　  
　　玛丽也跟威尔逊先生谈了，但是没有用。她走出来，看上去疲惫忧伤。 
　　她跟大卫·威尔逊争论废料的危险性好几个月，但他就是不听她的。所以，在约翰提出报告一年半后，玛丽决定调到其他公司。她很高兴，因为那是一份更重要的工作，但这并不是她走的原因。她知道净化机器永远不会被建造。 
　　约翰看到她走很忧伤。他喜欢跟她一起工作，在过去的一年半中她多次去过他家。他的孩子们现在喜欢她。他们自从母亲死后，还没跟任何女人这么友好过。 
　　在她走的前一天，玛丽和约翰在工厂的餐厅共进午餐。 
　　约翰说：“玛丽，你知道你不是非走不可。这家公司非常成功，它在不断扩大。你的新油漆已经意味着400份新工作——全是由于你的发现！这里不再是贫穷的小镇——它正变得成功、富有！人们将愿意从别处迁到这里。” 
　　他谈到安德鲁学校里新的体育中心，那是用油漆公司的钱修建的。镇上还有两座新的大商店、一座新的剧院和许多新房子。“这一切都得归功于你，”他说。“太棒了，玛丽，你不这样认为吗？”他朝着桌子对面的她微笑着，将她的手放在他的手中。 
　　她静静地看着他。他自从开始在工厂工作变了许多。刚得到工作的头半年他确实很愉快有生气。她总是知道他在厂里的哪个地方，因为他总是笑或者自己唱歌。 
　　但是在后来的一年半里他沉默了许多。他总是忙碌，但他不唱也不笑，也不常正视玛丽的眼睛。当他独自待着时，他看上去疲倦又忧郁。 
　　她轻轻地将手抽回去。“你知道我为什么走，约翰，”她说。“我知道河里倒入了什么，我不愿去想它。你也应该离开，到另一家公司找工作。” 
　　“我太老了。”约翰气愤地瞪着她。“我另找工作不容易。玛丽，公司制造这种油漆到现在已经两年多了，还没有一个人遭到伤害，不是吗？”玛丽沉默了一会，然后她说，“只有你。” 
　　“你这是什么意思，只有我？” 
　　她忧虑地望着他。他的头现在已秃了，49他开始看上去像个老头。她曾经想跟他结婚。现在她庆幸他没有向她提出。 
　　“哦，我当然是指你的腿。”约翰腿上仍有一块疼痛红肿的地方，有时他由于它走路都困难。但这不是玛丽所指的。 
　　约翰笑了笑。“我的腿几乎渐好，我都快忘了。但是，玛丽，你走以前……我想你是否能够帮助我。这是一件家事。” 
　　“我明白。那么，我怎么帮你？我不十分了解你的孩子们，这你知道。” 
　　“是的，你当然不太了解。但你是一个女人，并且……唉，有时候作为一个父亲单靠我是困难的。克里斯汀现在已长大了，她有事没有母亲可以商谈。我不总是知道该怎么说。” 
　　“是的。”玛丽悲伤地看着他。她经常想为什么他没更常请她去他家。她喜欢他及他的孩子们，并且她想他也喜欢她。“克里斯汀现在多大了？” 
　　“18岁，并且她打算结婚。” 
　　“已经想结婚啦？她还很年轻啊？” 
　　约翰看上去不高兴的样子。“是呀，我也这么说。但她很生我的气，玛丽，真的很生气。” 
　　“那男孩是谁？” 
　　“他叫西蒙·麦克唐纳。他是一个记者——他替当地报纸工作。我想，他是一个好青年。但是每次我跟他交谈，我们都争论。克里斯汀总是赞同他，于是我也生她的气。我不想如此，玛丽，但我真生气。你瞧，我感到我正在失去她。” 
　　“你们争论些什么？” 
　　“哦，我不知道。都是一些无聊的事情，真的。他属于那些环境组织之中的一个——我想叫绿色世界——他经常谈论它。他认为只有年青人是对的，每个过了25岁的人总是错的！” 
　　玛丽带着思考的神情望着他。 
　　“那你想让我做什么，约翰？我不是一个母亲，也从没结过婚。” 
　　“是的，但是……你也许可以跟克里斯汀谈谈？如果你星期日可以来我家吃午饭……？” 
　　就这样玛丽去了约翰的家。西蒙也在那儿。他们吃了饭并且谈论了马匹和划船。每个人都很客气，没有争论。随后，玛丽跟克里斯汀去看她的马，而西蒙则跟约翰待在一起。在田野里玛丽开始谈论西蒙。 
　　“他是一个好青年，克里斯汀，他非常聪明善良。他使我想起你的父亲。” 
　　“我父亲！他一点也不像我父亲！并且爸爸恨他。” 
　　“我相信你爸爸不恨他。” 
　　“他恨！他说西蒙年龄比我大得多，我不应该再见他！他认为我还是个小女孩，玛丽！但我已18岁了！我想要结婚！” 
　　“跟我多谈谈西蒙……” 
　　就这样玛丽在寂静空旷的田野里站了很久。她帮助克里斯汀喂马，听她讲西蒙。克里斯汀说西蒙善良、聪慧、非常刻苦。他喜欢划船和骑马，并且他想使世界变成一个更清洁更美好的地方。他使她感到重要，如同成人，不再是孩子。她已见过他的父母，他们非常喜欢她。只有她的父亲…… 
　　“所以，我该怎么办？玛丽？”克里斯汀问道。 
　　玛丽把手放在马脖子上。“我也不太清楚，”她说。“我想你应该嫁给他，但你不想使你父亲生气，是吧？那不是你与西蒙开始生活的最好方法。” 
　　“对，但如果不得已，我也许会的。” 
　　“你想让我跟他谈谈吗？也许他会听我的。这对他来讲很困难——你是他唯一的女儿，他也许对此非常焦虑。” 
　　“哦，你肯帮我吗？玛丽？求你了。我想让爸爸喜欢西蒙，真的，但他总是对他发火。” 
　　“亲爱的，我一定尽力，但我不知道是否有效。” 
　　玛丽在去苏格兰就任新工作之前确实努力试过。她给约翰打电话，有时他们在镇上一起喝咖啡。她惊奇地发现约翰非常细心地听她讲，并且好像十分感激她的帮助。她想他的确是一个非常孤独的人，带着两个孩子，没有妻子，生活对他来说一定很艰难。他曾经经常跟他的孩子们交谈，但是现在不是这样了。 
　　最后约翰同意了婚事。由于这个好消息，玛丽被邀请参加了一个特殊的晚餐。克里斯汀非常高兴。当玛丽到达时，她亲吻了玛丽并给了她一件小巧秘密的礼物以表示感谢。它是一对漂亮的耳环。用餐时，约翰有点儿不自然，但也很高兴。他努力使自己笑出来，并感谢玛丽，虽然他没想到送她一件礼物。整个晚餐他都在观察克里斯汀。他好像害怕他再也见不到她了，当她冲他笑时，他感到很幸福。 
　　然后西蒙站起来讲话。 
　　“邓肯先生，”他说，“我将永远记住这个夜晚。我知道你是多么爱你女儿，请相信我，先生，我也爱她。你一直担心我，是因为你想让她尽可能嫁一个最好的丈夫，而我——当然我无法许诺什么，但我将努力去成为那样一个人。你是一个富有的人，邓肯先生。当然克里斯汀和我一开始不会有很多钱，但我希望我们能应付。”他对克里斯汀笑了笑。“邓肯先生，昨天，我跟我的老板谈了，他将付给我比以前多一点的工资！” 
　　约翰看上去很惊讶。“噢，真的吗？为什么？” 
　　“因为他给了我一项新任务。他让我替我们的报纸写关于环境的文章。每周我得写一整版关于环境的文章。这是第一篇，请看。” 
　　他从口袋里抽出一页报纸，举在他们面前，上面有江河、沙滩和一些海豹的图片，标题是： 
河口的海豹已染上怪病 
发现4只幼豹死亡 
　　　    


 