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先前支撑伊娃的那股虚飘劲已经过去，走廊里再也听不到她轻盈的脚步声了。家里人经常看见她斜倚在临窗的竹榻上，深邃的眼睛出神地凝望着窗外波光荡漾的湖面。 It was towards the middle of the afternoon, as she was so reclining,--her Bible half open, her little transparent fingers lying listlessly between the leaves,--suddenly she heard her mother's voice, in sharp tones, in the verandah. 一天下午，快三点钟的时候，伊娃也正这么躺着，她面前摊着一本半开的《圣经》，她的手指就漫不经心地夹在书中问。突然，她听到她母亲在走廊上失声叫嚷： "What now, you baggage!--what new piece of mischief! You've been picking the flowers, hey?" and Eva heard the sound of a smart slap." 你在做什么，你这个小妖精，又捣什么鬼？唷，你竟敢摘花？"接着传来一个响亮清脆的耳光声。 "Law, Missis! they 's for Miss Eva," she heard a voice say, which she knew belonged to Topsy." 上帝保佑，太太，这可是给伊娃小姐摘的。"是托普西的声音。 "Miss Eva! A pretty excuse!--you suppose she wants _your_ flowers, you good-for-nothing nigger! Get along off with you!"" 给伊娃小姐？你倒是振振有词，嗯？你以为她会要你的花？呸，你这小黑鬼！拿着花给我滚蛋！" 
伊娃赶紧翻身下了竹榻，跑到走廊里。 "O, don't, mother! I should like the flowers; do give them to me; I want them!"" 噢，妈妈，请别这样，我要这些花。托普西，把花给我，我要它们。" "Why, Eva, your room is full now."" 孩子，你的房间里到处都是花咧！" "I can't have too many," said Eva. "Topsy, do bring them here."" 越多越好，"伊娃说，"托普西，快把花拿过来。" Topsy, who had stood sullenly, holding down her head, now came up and offered her flowers. She did it with a look of hesitation and bashfulness, quite unlike the eldrich boldness and brightness which was usual with her. 托普西原本丧气地耷拉着头，闷闷不乐地站着，听到这话，便向伊娃走过去，把花递给她。这孩子的神色有些迟疑不决，腼腆羞涩，和往常的那种怪诞、骄横和狡黠大不相同。 
这束花美极了！"伊娃看着花说。 It was rather a singular one,--a brilliant scarlet geranium, and one single white japonica, with its glossy leaves. It was tied up with an evident eye to the contrast of color, and the arrangement of every leaf had carefully been studied. 这束花的确非常漂亮，浓翠欲滴的叶子托着娇艳无比的山茶花，再配上一支鲜红逼人的天竺葵。采花人显然对颜色的搭配具有独到的眼光，就连每一片叶子的排列都颇费心思。 Topsy looked pleased, as Eva said,--"Topsy, you arrange flowers very prettily. Here," she said, "is this vase I haven't any flowers for. I wish you'd arrange something every day for it."" 托普西，你配的花漂亮极了，"伊娃说，"喏，这个花瓶我还从没见过呢，以后你就每天帮我插束花吧。"听到这些，托普西不由高兴起来。 "Well, that's odd!" said Marie. "What in the world do you want that for?"" 哎，真搞不懂，"玛丽说，"你让她插什么花呀？" "Never mind, mamma; you'd as lief as not Topsy should do it,--had you not?"" 您别管了，妈妈，您只要答应让托普西帮我插花就行了，您同意吗？" 
那没问题，只要你愿意，我的宝贝。托普西，听见小姐吩咐了吗？" Topsy made a short courtesy, and looked down; and, as she turned away, Eva saw a tear roll down her dark cheek. 托普西鞠了个躬，垂下了眼睑。当她转身离开时，伊娃瞟到她脸颊上一颗泪珠正滚落下来。 "You see, mamma, I knew poor Topsy wanted to do something for me," said Eva to her mother." 噢，妈妈，您瞧，这可怜的小姑娘真想为我做点什么呢！"伊娃对她妈妈说。 "O, nonsense! it's only because she likes to do mischief. She knows she mustn't pick flowers,--so she does it; that's all there is to it. But, if you fancy to have her pluck them, so be it."" 吓！怎么可能呢？这孩子只会捣蛋。惟一的解释是，不让她摘，她就偏去摘。不过，你要高兴她帮你摘，那就摘吧！" "Mamma, I think Topsy is different from what she used to be; she's trying to be a good girl."" 妈妈，我觉得托普西和过去不一样了，她在努力做个好女孩呢！" 
她要能学好，可不那么容易呢！"玛丽不以为然地笑笑。 "Well, you know, mamma, poor Topsy! everything has always been against her."" 妈妈，您不知道，托普西真是事事不顺心呢！" "Not since she's been here, I'm sure. If she hasn't been talked to, and preached to, and every earthly thing done that anybody could do;--and she's just so ugly, and always will be; you can't make anything of the creature!"" 不过，我敢肯定，她到我们家后，情况就大不一样了。我们跟她讲道理，好好教育她，什么法子都用到了，可她还那么讨人厌，永远是那样，真是成不了器！" "But, mamma, it's so different to be brought up as I've been, with so many friends, so many things to make me good and happy; and to be brought up as she's been, all the time, till she came here!"" 可是妈妈，她从小生长的环境跟我们不同啊！我们有朋友，可以学到许多受之有益的东西，可是她呢，她一无所有，直到进了我们家才好一点。" "Most likely," said Marie, yawning,--"dear me, how hot it is!"" 嗯，很有可能，"玛丽打着哈欠说，"唉，天气真热啊！" 
妈妈，您说，如果托普西是个基督徒的话，她也会和我们大家一样变为天使的，对吧？" "Topsy! what a ridiculous idea! Nobody but you would ever think of it. I suppose she could, though."" 托普西？真滑稽！只有你这个傻孩子才这么想……不过，也没准咧！" "But, mamma, isn't God her father, as much as ours? Isn't Jesus her Saviour?"" 可是，妈妈，基督是我们的天父，不也是她的天父吗？耶稣难道不拯救她吗？" "Well, that may be. I suppose God made everybody," said Marie. "Where is my smelling-bottle?"" 嗯，或许是吧。我想，上帝创造我们每个人！"玛丽说，"咦，我的香瓶呢？" "It's such a pity,--oh! _such_ a pity!" said Eva, looking out on the distant lake, and speaking half to herself." 唉，可惜啊，真可惜。"伊娃眺望着湖面，喃喃自语。 
可惜什么？"玛丽问道。 "Why, that any one, who could be a bright angel, and live with angels, should go all down, down down, and nobody help them!--oh dear!"" 我可惜的是人们眼睁睁地看着那些本来可以上天堂和天使们生活在一起的人不停地堕落下去，竟然没人伸手拉他们一把。哎，怎么不可惜呢？" "Well, we can't help it; it's no use worrying, Eva! I don't know what's to be done; we ought to be thankful for our own advantages."" 唉，我们也是力不从心呀。发愁也不管用，伊娃。我不知道该怎么办，不过，我们有先天的优势，这就够值得庆幸了。" "I hardly can be," said Eva, "I'm so sorry to think of poor folks that haven't any."" 我实在庆幸不起来，妈妈，"伊娃说，"一想到那些可怜的人一无所有，我就难受。" That's odd enough," said Marie;-- "I'm sure my religion makes me thankful for my advantages."" 那就太奇怪了，"玛丽说，"信仰上帝只是让我感到对自己的优越环境知足而已。" 
妈妈，我想把头发剪掉一些--大部分。" "What for?" said Marie." 为什么呀，宝贝？"玛丽问。 "Mamma, I want to give some away to my friends, while I am able to give it to them myself. Won't you ask aunty to come and cut it for me?"" 妈妈，我想趁自己还能动的时候，把头发剪下来送给伙伴们，您叫姑妈过来帮我剪好吗？" Marie raised her voice, and called Miss Ophelia, from the other room. 玛丽抬高嗓子，叫在另一间屋子的奥菲利亚小姐。
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