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雷切尔取下一只雪白的模具，系上了围裙，招呼说："玛丽，叫约翰准备只鸡。"玛丽照她的话去做了，而雷切尔自己则开始做起饼干来。 "And how is Abigail Peters?" said Rachel, as she went on with her biscuits." 阿比盖尔·彼特斯最近怎么样啦？"雷切尔一边做饼干，一边问道。 "O, she's better," said Ruth; "I was in, this morning; made the bed, tidied up the house. Leah Hills went in, this afternoon, and baked bread and pies enough to last some days; and I engaged to go back to get her up, this evening." 露丝答道："好多了。今天早上，我帮她收拾了床铺和屋子。莉娅·希尔斯下午帮她做了些面包和馅饼，足够她吃几天的了，我还答应今天晚上扶她上床。" "I will go in tomorrow, and do any cleaning there may be, and look over the mending," said Rachel." 明天我去帮她洗洗衣服。再看看有没有什么需要缝补的。" "Ah! that is well," said Ruth. "I've heard," she added, "that Hannah Stanwood is sick. John was up there, last night,--I must go there tomorrow."" 那太好了！我听说汉娜·斯特伍德也生病了。约翰昨晚去了一次，明天我得去她那儿。" 
如果你明天要在那儿呆一天，那就叫约翰来我这儿吃饭吧。"雷切尔建议道。 "Thank thee, Rachel; will see, tomorrow; but, here comes Simeon."" 谢谢，雷切尔。明天再说吧，西米恩回来了。" Simeon Halliday, a tall, straight, muscular man, in drab coat and pantaloons, and broad-brimmed hat, now entered. 说话间，西米恩·哈里迪走进了屋子。他有着高大的身材，壮实的肌肉。他穿着浅褐色的衣裤，头戴一顶大沿帽。 "How is thee, Ruth?" he said, warmly, as he spread his broad open hand for her little fat palm; "and how is John?"" 您好，露丝。"他热情地问候道，同时伸出他那宽大的手掌握住露丝那胖胖的小手，"约翰还好吗？" "O! John is well, and all the rest of our folks," said Ruth, cheerily." 很好，我们一家都好。"露丝快活地回答。 
有什么消息要告诉我们吗，西米恩？"雷切尔一面将饼干放到烤箱里，一面问道。 "Peter Stebbins told me that they should be along tonight, with _friends_," said Simeon, significantly, as he was washing his hands at a neat sink, in a little back porch." 彼特·斯特宾斯告诉我今晚他们和朋友一起过来。"西米恩站在窄窄的后走廊里，一边说，一边在一个干净的水槽里洗着手。 "Indeed!" said Rachel, looking thoughtfully, and glancing at Eliza." 是吗？"雷切尔应声道，同时把目光投向艾莉查，看了她一眼。 "Did thee say thy name was Harris?" said Simeon to Eliza, as he reentered." 你是姓哈里斯，对吗？"西米恩回到屋里，问艾莉查。 Rachel glanced quickly at her husband, as Eliza tremulously answered "yes;" her fears, ever uppermost, suggesting that possibly there might be advertisements out for her. 雷切尔迅速地瞟了一眼丈夫，听见艾莉查用发颤的声音回答道"是的"。艾莉查以为她最担心害怕的事情发生了--难道外面贴出了捉拿她的悬赏告示？ 
孩子她妈！"西米恩跑到后走廊，大声招呼雷切尔。 "What does thee want, father?" said Rachel, rubbing her floury hands, as she went into the porch." 干什么呀？"雷切尔朝着后走廊走去，边走边搓着自己那双沾满面粉的手。 "This child's husband is in the settlement, and will be here tonight," said Simeon." 这女孩的丈夫现在就在咱们村子里，他今天晚上就到这儿来。"西米恩说。 "Now, thee doesn't say that, father?" said Rachel, all her face radiant with joy." 真的吗？孩子他爸？"雷切尔欣喜地说。 "It's really true. Peter was down yesterday, with the wagon, to the other stand, and there he found an old woman and two men; and one said his name was George Harris; and from what he told of his history, I am certain who he is. He is a bright, likely fellow, too.""Shall we tell her now?" said Simeon." 这还能假得了？彼特昨天赶车到车站时，碰上了一个老太太和两个男人。其中有个男的说他叫乔治·哈里斯，我从他说的经历判断，准是他。这小伙子既聪明又体面。你看我们现在需不需要告诉艾莉查呢？" 
先告诉露丝吧。露丝，到这儿来一下，好吗？" Ruth laid down her knitting-work, and was in the back porch in a moment. 露丝放下手里的毛线活，来到后走廊里。 "Ruth, what does thee think?" said Rachel. "Father says Eliza's husband is in the last company, and will be here tonight." 雷切尔说道："你猜怎么着，露丝？西米恩说艾莉查的丈夫就在刚到的那群人中间，并且今晚就要来这儿了。" A burst of joy from the little Quakeress interrupted the speech. She gave such a bound from the floor, as she clapped her little hands, that two stray curls fell from under her Quaker cap, and lay brightly on her white neckerchief. 露丝听完，惊喜地失声叫了一声，把雷切尔的说话打断了。她高兴得使劲蹦了一下，又拍了一下巴掌，弄得两缕头发从教友会帽里跑了出来，衬在她那雪白的围脖上，黑白分明。 "Hush thee, dear!" said Rachel, gently; "hush, Ruth! Tell us, shall we tell her now?" 雷切尔温柔地说："轻点儿声，亲爱的！你看我们现在就告诉艾莉查吗？" 
当然啦--马上就告诉她。您想，如果换作是我们家约翰，你说我会是什么感觉？当然应该告诉她，现在就去。" "Thee uses thyself only to learn how to love thy neighbor, Ruth," said Simeon, looking, with a beaming face, on Ruth." 您倒真是事事为别人着想，露丝！"西米恩面带笑容地看着她说。 "To be sure. Isn't it what we are made for? If I didn't love John and the baby, I should not know how to feel for her. Come, now do tell her,--do!" and she laid her hands persuasively on Rachel's arm. "Take her into thy bed-room, there, and let me fry the chicken while thee does it."" 这是当然啦。我们生来不就是为了这么做吗？如果我没有约翰和孩子，我又怎么能理解艾莉查现在的心情呢？现在就去告诉她吧，就现在！"她拉起雷切尔的胳膊，"您把她带到睡房去说，我去替您炸鸡块。" Rachel came out into the kitchen, where Eliza was sewing, and opening the door of a small bed-room, said, gently, "Come in here with me, my daughter; I have news to tell thee." 雷切尔走进厨房，看见艾莉查还坐在那儿做针线活。她打开一间小卧室的门，亲切地对艾莉查说："跟我来，闺女，我有话要告诉你。" The blood flushed in Eliza's pale face; she rose, trembling with nervous anxiety, and looked towards her boy. 艾莉查原本苍白的脸庞立刻变得通红。她浑身颤抖地站起身来，惊恐不安地瞅着她的孩子。 
露丝赶紧跑过来抓住她的手，说道："别怕，是好消息，艾莉查，快去吧，去吧！"说着，她把艾莉查轻轻推进门去，随手把房门关上，然后转过身来，抱起小哈里，不停地亲他。 "Thee'll see thy father, little one. Does thee know it? Thy father is coming," she said, over and over again, as the boy looked wonderingly at her." 你马上就能见到爸爸啦，小家伙，知道吗？你爸爸就要来这儿了。"她一遍又一遍地说着，弄得孩子用奇怪的眼神望着她。 Meanwhile, within the door, another scene was going on. Rachel Halliday drew Eliza toward her, and said, "The Lord hath had mercy on thee, daughter; thy husband hath escaped from the house of bondage." 这时，卧室里却发生着另外的故事。雷切尔把艾莉查拉到自己身边，对她说："上帝同情你，你丈夫已经逃了出来。" The blood flushed to Eliza's cheek in a sudden glow, and went back to her heart with as sudden a rush. She sat down, pale and faint. 艾莉查感觉刹那间血液好像一下子涌上脸庞，一瞬间又流回心脏。她浑身没劲地坐了下来，脸色变得十分苍白。 "Have courage, child," said Rachel, laying her hand on her head. "He is among friends, who will bring him here tonight."" 坚强些，孩子，"雷切尔一边说着，一边用手轻轻抚摸着她的头发，"他就在朋友们中间，他们今晚就带他到这儿来。" 
今晚！今晚！"艾莉查一遍遍地重复着。她已经完全弄不清楚"今晚"的意义了，因为这时她的脑子里如同做梦一般，昏昏沉沉。周围的一切陡然迷茫起来。
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