名著·呼啸山庄 - 第75节


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  “我觉得他说的是实话;我觉得我必须原谅他,而且,虽然过一会他又要吵,我还是一定又要原谅他。我们和解了;可是我们两个人都哭了,把我在那儿的整个时间都哭掉了:不完全是为悲哀;但我的确很难过,因为林惇有那样乖僻的天性。他永远不会让他的朋友们舒服,他自己也永远不会舒服,自从那天夜晚,我总是去他的小客厅;因为他的父亲第二天回来了。

   'About three times, I think, we have been merry and hopeful, as we were the first evening; the rest of my visits were dreary and troubled: now with his selfishness and spite, and now with his sufferings: but I've learned to endure the former with nearly as little resentment as the latter. Mr. Heathcliff purposely avoids me: I have hardly seen him at all. Last Sunday, indeed, coming earlier than usual, I heard him abusing poor Linton cruelly for his conduct of the night before. I can't tell how he knew of it, unless he listened. Linton had certainly behaved provokingly: however, it was the business of nobody but me, and I interrupted Mr. Heathcliff's lecture by entering and telling him so. He burst into a laugh, and went away, saying he was glad I took that view of the matter. Since then, I've told Linton he must whisper his bitter things. Now, Ellen, you have heard all. I can't be prevented from going to Wuthering Heights, except by inflicting misery on two people; whereas, if you'll only not tell papa, my going need disturb the tranquillity of none. You'll not tell, will you? It will be very heartless, if you do.'

  “大概有三次吧,我想,我们过得很快乐,很有希望,就和我们第一天晚上那样;以后的拜访都是凄惨又烦恼的:要么是因为他的自私和怨恨,要么是因为他的病痛;可是我已经学着以极小的反感来忍受他的自私和怨恨,就像我得忍受他的病痛一样。希刺克厉夫故意避开我:我简直难得见到他。上个礼拜天,的确,我去得比平常早些,我听见他残酷地骂可怜的林惇,只为了头天晚上他的行为。我不知道他怎么知道的,除非他偷听。林惇的举止当然是惹人生气的;可是,那不是别人的事,却与我有关,我就进去打断了希刺克厉夫先生的话,而且就这样告诉他。他大笑起来,走开了,说他很喜欢我对这事采取那样的看法,自从那时候起,我就告诉林惇他必须小声诉说他的苦楚。现在,艾伦,你听见所有的事了。我不能不去呼啸山庄,只不过是使两个人受苦;可是,你只要不告诉爸爸,那我去,也碍不着任何人的平静。你不会告诉吧,会吗?要是你告诉他的话,那就太残酷无情了。”

   'I'll make up my mind on that point by to-morrow, Miss Catherine,' I replied. 'It requires some study; and so I'll leave you to your rest, and go think it over.'

  “这一点我明天才决定,凯瑟琳小姐,”我回答。“这需要研究研究;所以我要你休息去,这事我要考虑一番。”

   I thought it over aloud, in my master's presence; walking straight from her room to his, and relating the whole story: with the exception of her conversations with her cousin, and any mention of Hareton. Mr. Linton was alarmed and distressed, more than he would acknowledge to me. In the morning, Catherine learnt my betrayal of her confidence, and she learnt also that her secret visits were to end. In vain she wept and writhed against the interdict, and implored her father to have pity on Linton: all she got to comfort her was a promise that he would write and give him leave to come to the Grange when he pleased; but explaining that he must no longer expect to see Catherine at Wuthering Heights. Perhaps, had he been aware of his nephew's disposition and state of health, he would have seen fit to withhold even that slight consolation.

  我所谓的考虑,是到我主人面前说出来;从她屋子里出来径直走到他屋子里,把这事和盘托出:只除了她跟她表弟的对话,以及任何提及哈里顿的内容。林惇很惊惶难过,比他愿对我承认的还要多些。早晨,凯瑟琳知道我辜负了她的信赖,也知道了她那秘密的拜访是结束了。她又哭又闹,反抗这道禁令,并且求她父亲可怜可怜林惇,他答应会写信通知林惇,允许他在高兴来的时候可以到田庄来;这是凯瑟琳所得到的唯一的安慰了。不过信上还要说明他不必再希望会在呼啸山庄看见凯瑟琳了。要是他知道他外甥的脾气和健康状况,说不定他会认为就连这点微小的慰藉也不宜给与了。

   'THESE things happened last winter, sir,' said Mrs. Dean; 'hardly more than a year ago. Last winter, I did not think, at another twelve months' end, I should be amusing a stranger to the family with relating them! Yet, who knows how long you'll be a stranger? You're too young to rest always contented, living by yourself; and I some way fancy no one could see Catherine Linton and not love her. You smile; but why do you look so lively and interested when I talk about her? and why have you asked me to hang her picture over your fireplace? and why - ?'

  “这些事是在去年冬天发生的,先生,”丁太太说,“也不过一年以前。去年冬天,我还没有想到,过了十二个月以后,我会把这些事讲给这家的一位生客解闷!可是,谁晓得你作客还要作多久呢?你太年轻了,不会总是心满意足地待下去,孤零零一个人;我总是想不论什么人见了凯瑟琳·林惇都不会不爱她。你笑啦。可是我一谈到她的时候,你干吗显得这样快活而很感兴趣呢?你干吗要我把她的画像挂在你的壁炉上面?干吗--?”

  “别说啦,我的好朋友!”我叫道。“讲到我爱上她,这倒也许是很可能的;可是她肯爱我么?我对于这点太怀疑了,因此我可不敢动心拿我的平静来冒险,再说我的家也不是在这里。我是来自那个熙熙攘攘的世界,我得回到它的怀抱中去。 接着往下说吧。凯瑟琳服从她父亲的命令吗?”

   'She was,' continued the housekeeper. 'Her affection for him was still the chief sentiment in her heart; and he spoke without anger: he spoke in the deep tenderness of one about to leave his treasure amid perils and foes, where his remembered words would be the only aid that he could bequeath to guide her. He said to me, a few days afterwards, "I wish my nephew would write, Ellen, or call. Tell me, sincerely, what you think of him: is he changed for the better, or is there a prospect of improvement, as he grows a man?"

  “她服从了,”管家继续说。“她对他的爱仍然主宰着她的感情;而且他讲话也不带火气:他是以一个当他所珍爱的人将陷入危境和敌人手中时,所怀有的那种深沉的柔情来跟她讲话的,只要她记住他的赠言,那便是指引她的唯一帮助了。过了几天,他对我说:我愿我的外甥写信来,或是来拜访,艾伦。对我说实话,你认为他如何:他是不是变得好一点,或者在他长成人的时候,会不会有变好的希望?”

   '"He's very delicate, sir," I replied; "and scarcely likely to reach manhood: but this I can say, he does not resemble his father; and if Miss Catherine had the misfortune to marry him, he would not be beyond her control: unless she were extremely and foolishly indulgent. However, master, you'll have plenty of time to get acquainted with him and see whether he would suit her: it wants four years and more to his being of age."'

  “他很娇,先生,”我回答,“而且不像可以长大成人:可是有一点我可以说,他不像他的父亲;如果凯瑟琳小姐不幸嫁给他,他不会不听她的指挥的:除非她极端愚蠢地纵容他。可是,主人,你将有很多时间和他熟识起来,看看他配不配得上她:要四年多他才成年呢?”

   Edgar sighed; and, walking to the window, looked out towards Gimmerton Kirk. It was a misty afternoon, but the February sun shone dimly, and we could just distinguish the two fir-trees in the yard, and the sparely-scattered gravestones.

  埃德加叹息着;走到窗前,向外望着吉默吞教堂。那是一个有雾的下午,但是二月的太阳还在淡淡地照着,我们还可以分辨出墓园里的两棵枞树,和那些零零落落的墓碑。

   'I've prayed often,' he half soliloquised, 'for the approach of what is coming; and now I begin to shrink, and fear it. I thought the memory of the hour I came down that glen a bridegroom would be less sweet than the anticipation that I was soon, in a few months, or, possibly, weeks, to be carried up, and laid in its lonely hollow! Ellen, I've been very happy with my little Cathy: through winter nights and summer days she was a living hope at my side. But I've been as happy musing by myself among those stones, under that old church: lying, through the long June evenings, on the green mound of her mother's grave, and wishing - yearning for the time when I might lie beneath it. What can I do for Cathy? How must I quit her? I'd not care one moment for Linton being Heathcliff's son; nor for his taking her from me, if he could console her for my loss. I'd not care that Heathcliff gained his ends, and triumphed in robbing me of my last blessing! But should Linton be unworthy - only a feeble tool to his father - I cannot abandon her to him! And, hard though it be to crush her buoyant spirit, I must persevere in making her sad while I live, and leaving her solitary when I die. Darling! I'd rather resign her to God, and lay her in the earth before me.'

  “我常常祈求,”他一半是自言自语地说,“祈求要来的就快来吧;现在我开始畏缩了,而且害怕了。我曾经这样想,与其回忆那时我走下山谷作新郎的情景,还不如预想要不了几个月,或者,很可能几个星期之后我被人抬起来,放进那荒凉的土坑,将更为甜蜜!艾伦,我和我的小凯蒂在一起曾经非常快乐,我们一起度过了多少个冬夜和夏日,她是我身边的一个活生生的希望。可是我也曾同样的快乐,在那些墓碑中间,在那古老的教堂下面,我自己冥想着:在那些漫长的六月的晚上,躺在她母亲绿茵的青冢上,愿望着--渴求着那个时候我也能躺在下面。我能为凯蒂作什么呢?我必须怎样才能对她尽了义务呢?我一点也不在乎林惇是希刺克厉夫的儿子;也不在乎他要把她从我身边拿走,只要他能为她失去了我而能安慰她。我不在乎希刺克厉夫达到了他的目的,因夺去了我最后的幸福而洋洋得意!但是如果林惇没出息--只是他父亲的一个软弱工具--我就不能把她丢在他手里,虽然扑灭她的热情是残忍的,可我却一定不让步,在我活着的时候就让她难过,在我死后让她孤独好了。亲爱的,我宁可在我死以前把她交给上帝,把她埋葬在土里。”

  “就像现在这样,把她交给上帝好了,先生。”我回答,“如果这是天意我们不得不失去你--但愿上帝禁止这事--我要终生作她的朋友和顾问。凯瑟琳小姐是一个好姑娘:我并不担心她会有意作错事:凡是尽责任的人最后总是有好报的。”

   Spring advanced; yet my master gathered no real strength, though he resumed his walks in the grounds with his daughter. To her inexperienced notions, this itself was a sign of convalescence; and then his cheek was often flushed, and his eyes were bright; she felt sure of his recovering. On her seventeenth birthday, he did not visit the churchyard: it was raining, and I observed - 'You'll surely not go out to-night, sir?'

  接近春天了;但是我的主人并没有康复,虽然他又开始恢复同他女儿在田地里的散步。以她那没有经验的眼光来看,能出外散步就是痊愈的象征;而且他的面颊常常发红,眼睛发亮;她完全相信他是复元了。 在她十七岁生日那天,他没有去墓园,那天下着雨,我就说: “今天晚上你一定不出去了吧,先生?”

   He answered, - 'No, I'll defer it this year a little longer.' He wrote again to Linton, expressing his great desire to see him; and, had the invalid been presentable, I've no doubt his father would have permitted him to come. As it was, being instructed, he returned an answer, intimating that Mr. Heathcliff objected to his calling at the Grange; but his uncle's kind remembrance delighted him, and he hoped to meet him sometimes in his rambles, and personally to petition that his cousin and he might not remain long so utterly divided.

  他回答:“不出去了,今年我要推迟一下了。” 他又再次写信给林惇,向他表示很愿意见他;如果那个病人能见人的话,我毫不怀疑他父亲一定会允许他来的。但在当时的情况下,他是不能来的,便遵嘱回了一封信,暗示着希刺克厉夫先生不许他到田庄来;但他舅舅的亲切的关怀使他愉快,他希望他有时在散步时会遇到他,以便当面请求他不要让他的表姐和他如此长期地断绝来往。

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名著·呼啸山庄 - 第75节