目 录 上一节 下一节 
然而，到了午夜时分--一个奇妙而神秘的时刻，脆弱的现在和永恒的未来就悬于这个时刻--报信的天使却来了！ There was a sound in that chamber, first of one who stepped quickly. It was Miss Ophelia, who had resolved to sit up all night with her little charge, and who, at the turn of the night, had discerned what experienced nurses significantly call "a change." The outer door was quickly opened, and Tom, who was watching outside, was on the alert, in a moment. 伊娃的房间里响动起来，传来一阵急促的脚步声，这是奥菲利亚小姐。与汤姆谈话后，她就决定通宵守护伊娃。半夜时分，她注意到一种"变化"--这是富有经验的护士含蓄委婉的说法。外面套间的门打开了，睡在外面的汤姆立刻惊醒了。 "Go for the doctor, Tom! lose not a moment," said Miss Ophelia; and, stepping across the room, she rapped at St. Clare's door 。"快，汤姆，快去找医生，耽误不得啦！"奥菲利亚小姐急切地说，然后她穿过房间，在圣克莱尔的房间上重重敲了几下。 "Cousin," she said, "I wish you would come."" 弟弟，"她说道，"快过来一下。" Those words fell on his heart like clods upon a coffin. Why did they? He was up and in the room in an instant, and bending over Eva, who still slept. 这句话落在圣克莱尔的心头，就像泥土砸在棺材上。怎么会这样呢？他立刻跑到女儿的房间里，俯下身看还在睡梦中的伊娃。 
到底他看到了什么，使他立刻面如死灰，使姐弟二人沉默无言呢？凡是从亲人脸上看到过同样难以言喻的绝望表情的人都会明白：他深爱着的人不再属于他了。 On the face of the child, however, there was no ghastly imprint,--only a high and almost sublime expression,--the overshadowing presence of spiritual natures, the dawning of immortal life in that childish soul. 那孩子的脸上没有丝毫可怕的神情，有的只是一种让人肃然起敬的表情，那预示着神圣的天堂的大门即将敞开，这个幼小的灵魂将由此走向永恒的生命。 They stood there so still, gazing upon her, that even the ticking of the watch seemed too loud. In a few moments, Tom returned, with the doctor. He entered, gave one look, and stood silent as the rest. 姐弟二人呆呆地凝望着伊娃，屋里死寂一般，连手表的滴答声都嫌刺耳。过了会儿，汤姆带着医生回来了，医生走进未，看了伊娃一眼，也同样一言不发了。 "When did this change take place?" said he, in a low whisper, to Miss Ophelia." 这种变化是什么时候开始的？"他轻声地问奥菲利亚小姐。 "About the turn of the night," was the reply." 大概是午夜时分。"奥菲利亚小姐答道。 
医生进来时惊动了玛丽，她立刻从隔壁房间出来了。 "Augustine! Cousin!--O!--what!" she hurriedly began." 这是怎么啦，奥古斯丁？姐姐，发生了什么事？"她急忙问道。 "Hush!" said St. Clare, hoarsely; _"she is dying!"_ Mammy heard the words, and flew to awaken the servants. The house was soon roused,--lights were seen, footsteps heard, anxious faces thronged the verandah, and looked tearfully through the glass doors; but St. Clare heard and said nothing,--he saw only _that look_ on the face of the little sleeper." 嘘！轻点！"圣克莱尔用嘶哑的声音说，"她快不行了！"妈咪听见这话，飞奔出去叫醒了仆人们。整栋屋子都惊动起来，灯全亮了，杂乱的脚步声也响起来。走廊上挤满了一张张焦灼的面孔，大家泪水满眶，竭力从玻璃门外向里张望。可是，圣克莱尔什么都没听见，什么都没看到，他的眼睛只是停驻在那可爱的昏睡者的脸上。 "O, if she would only wake, and speak once more!" he said; and, stooping over her, he spoke in her ear,--"Eva, darling!"" 噢，但愿她能醒一醒，说几句话！"圣克莱尔说着就俯下身去对着伊娃的耳朵说，"醒醒，宝贝！" 
那双湛蓝的大眼睛睁开了，一丝微笑浮上了她的脸庞，她想抬起头说话。 "Do you know me, Eva?"" 还认识我吗，伊娃？" "Dear papa," said the child, with a last effort, throwing her arms about his neck. In a moment they dropped again; and, as St. Clare raised his head, he saw a spasm of mortal agony pass over the face,--she struggled for breath, and threw up her little hands." 亲爱的爸爸。"那孩子喊着，用尽仅存之力伸出胳膊来抱住了父亲，但随即就垂了下来。圣克莱尔抬起头，看见伊娃的脸因死亡的痛苦而抽搐起来，她挣扎得喘不过气来，痛苦地举起了小手。 "O, God, this is dreadful!" he said, turning away in agony, and wringing Tom's hand, scarce conscious what he was doing. "O, Tom, my boy, it is killing me!"" 噢，老天，这太残酷了！"圣克莱尔不忍目睹，痛苦地转过脸去。他使劲地拧着汤姆的手，可自己却一点也不知道。"噢，汤姆，我的仆人，这简直是要我的命啊！" Tom had his master's hands between his own; and, with tears streaming down his dark cheeks, looked up for help where he had always been used to look. 汤姆握住主人的手，黑黑的脸颊上双泪长流。他抬起头来，像他平常仰视上苍一样，祈求上帝的帮助。 
主啊！求你别再让她受罪了！"圣克莱尔说，"我真是万箭穿心啊！" "O, bless the Lord! it's over,--it's over, dear Master!" said Tom; "look at her."" 噢，上帝啊！快结束这一切吧！"汤姆说，"亲爱的老爷，您看她。" The child lay panting on her pillows, as one exhausted,--the large clear eyes rolled up and fixed. Ah, what said those eyes, that spoke so much of heaven! Earth was past,--and earthly pain; but so solemn, so mysterious, was the triumphant brightness of that face, that it checked even the sobs of sorrow. They pressed around her, in breathless stillness. 伊娃靠在枕头上精疲力竭地喘着气，她纯净的大眼睛朝上一翻就不动了。哦，那双从前述说天国故事的眼睛在说些什么呢？超度了尘世间的苦难，那张脸上带着胜利的光辉，多么静穆，又多么神秘啊！人们不禁被它所折服了，默默地围拢过来。 "Eva," said St. Clare, gently." 伊娃。"圣克莱尔柔声说。 She did not hear. 可是，她听不见了。 
噢，伊娃，告诉我们，你看见了什么？"她父亲问。 A bright, a glorious smile passed over her face, and she said, brokenly,--"O! love,--joy,--peace!" gave one sigh and passed from death unto life! 一束圣洁灿烂的光辉笼罩在她脸上。她断断续续地说："我看见了……爱--欢乐--平安！"接着，她叹息一声，终于抛却尘世，升入天国了！ "Farewell, beloved child! the bright, eternal doors have closed after thee; we shall see thy sweet face no more. O, woe for them who watched thy entrance into heaven, when they shall wake and find only the cold gray sky of daily life, and thou gone forever!"" 永别了，我亲爱的孩子。辉煌的天国之门在你身后紧闭了，我们再也看不到你纯美的面容了。噢！看着你进入天堂的人是多么痛苦啊，他们醒来后只看见尘世灰暗阴冷的天空，却再也看不到你了，你已经一去不复返了！" CHAPTER XXVII 第二十七章 "This Is the Last of Earth" 世界末日来临了 
伊娃房间里的塑像和油画都用一层白布罩住了。屋里只传来屏住的呼吸声和沉滞的脚步声。半明半暗的窗户透过来几缕清晨庄严的阳光。 The bed was draped in white; and there, beneath the drooping angel-figure, lay a little sleeping form,--sleeping never to waken! 伊娃的床上铺了一层被单，在那俯视人间的天使像旁边，静静地躺着一个熟睡的小天使，可她却永远沉睡不醒了！ There she lay, robed in one of the simple white dresses she had been wont to wear when living; the rose-colored light through the curtains cast over the icy coldness of death a warm glow. The heavy eyelashes drooped softly on the pure cheek; the head was turned a little to one side, as if in natural steep, but there was diffused over every lineament of the face that high celestial expression, that mingling of rapture and repose, which showed it was no earthly or temporary sleep, but the long, sacred rest which "He giveth to his beloved." 伊娃躺在那儿，穿的是那身平常最爱穿的素色衣裳。玫瑰色的阳光透过窗帘洒在屋里，给笼罩着死亡气息的冰冷阴沉的小屋抹上了一层暖红色。伊娃那不再眨动的眼睫毛在她白皙的面庞上投下一排柔和的阴影。她的脑袋稍稍歪向一边，这是她平常酣睡的模样。但是，那脸庞上呈现出来的圣洁、崇高和掺杂着愉快、安息的表情，让人一望而知，这并不是她平素在人间短暂的休憩，而是上帝所赐予的永恒的长眠。 There is no death to such as thou, dear Eva! neither darkness nor shadow of death; only such a bright fading as when the morning star fades in the golden dawn. Thine is the victory without the battle,--the crown without the conflict. 亲爱的伊娃，对你这样的孩子来说，根本就不存在什么死亡，更不存在死亡的阴影和黑暗，你只是光的逐渐消失，正像在黎明前默默隐退的一颗晨星。你赢得了一场胜利，却不费一兵一卒，你摘取了一顶王冠，却不用血腥争夺。
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