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唔，有这么严重？那我就注意吧！不过别忘了，我也像托普西常说的，实在太调皮，太坏了。" In very much this way Topsy's training proceeded, for a year or two,--Miss Ophelia worrying herself, from day to day, with her, as a kind of chronic plague, to whose inflictions she became, in time, as accustomed, as persons sometimes do to the neuralgia or sick headache. 奥菲利亚对托普西的教育就是在这种状态下进行了一两年。托普西就像一种慢性病，天天折磨着奥菲利亚小姐。渐渐地，奥菲利亚对这种折磨也习以为常了，就像病人对神经痛或偏头痛慢慢安之若素了。 St. Clare took the same kind of amusement in the child that a man might in the tricks of a parrot or a pointer. Topsy, whenever her sins brought her into disgrace in other quarters, always took refuge behind his chair; and St. Clare, in one way or other, would make peace for her. From him she got many a stray picayune, which she laid out in nuts and candies, and distributed, with careless generosity, to all the children in the family; for Topsy, to do her justice, was good-natured and liberal, and only spiteful in self-defence. She is fairly introduced into our _corps be ballet_, and will figure, from time to time, in her turn, with other performers. 圣克莱尔对托普西这个捣蛋鬼很感兴趣，正如一个人喜欢一只鹦鹉或一条猎犬。托普西只要闯了祸，碰了壁，总会跑到圣克莱尔的椅背后避难；圣克莱尔呢，也总是极力为她圆谎、辩白。托普西还时不时从圣克莱尔那儿得到个把硬币的赏赐，她就用来买坚果和糖块，慷慨大方地分给别的孩子。说句公道话，托普西本性不坏，也很大方，除非为了自卫，她也不怀恨、伤害别人。现在，她进入了我们的"芭蕾舞团"，轮到她时，她将和别的演员一道同台献技。 Our readers may not be unwilling to glance back, for a brief interval, at Uncle Tom's Cabin, on the Kentucky farm, and see what has been transpiring among those whom he had left behind. 我们的读者也许并不介意停顿一小会儿去回顾一下肯塔基庄园里汤姆叔叔的小屋，看看自他走后那儿发生了什么事儿。 It was late in the summer afternoon, and the doors and windows of the large parlor all stood open, to invite any stray breeze, that might feel in a good humor, to enter. Mr. Shelby sat in a large hall opening into the room, and running through the whole length of the house, to a balcony on either end. Leisurely tipped back on one chair, with his heels in another, he was enjoying his after-dinner cigar. Mrs. Shelby sat in the door, busy about some fine sewing; she seemed like one who had something on her mind, which she was seeking an opportunity to introduce. 一个夏日的黄昏，大客厅里的门窗大开着，迎来了凉爽的清风。希尔比先生正坐在门廊上，这个门廊与房间相通，从整个屋子一直贯穿到两头的阳台。他悠闲地斜躺在一只椅子上，两只脚搁在另一只椅子上。希尔比太太正忙着做针线，她脑子里似乎正盘算着什么，想找个机会说出来。 
你知道吗，"她说，"克鲁伊收到了汤姆的一封信。" "Ah! has she? Tom 's got some friend there, it seems. How is the old boy?"" 哈，是吗？看起来他在那边交上好运了。老伙计过得怎么样？" "He has been bought by a very fine family, I should think," said Mrs. Shelby,--"is kindly treated, and has not much to do."" 我想他的确是被一户好人家买走了，"希尔比太太说，"他们待他不错，活儿也不多。" "Ah! well, I'm glad of it,--very glad," said Mr. Shelby, heartily. "Tom, I suppose, will get reconciled to a Southern residence;--hardly want to come up here again."" 噢，那就好，我很高兴，真的非常高兴，"希尔比先生发自内心地说，"我猜汤姆挺适应南方的生活，没准就不想再回来了。" "On the contrary he inquires very anxiously," said Mrs. Shelby, "when the money for his redemption is to be raised."" 恰恰相反，他非常急切地问赎他的款子什么时候能凑齐呢。" 
这我可不知道啊，"希尔比先生说，"要是生意上有个闪失，麻烦就会接二连三地来，好比人陷在沼泽里，刚爬出来又掉进另一个泥坑里；借了甲的钱还乙的，再借丙的钱还甲的，你还来不及歇下来抽根烟，转个身，嘿，讨厌的借据又来了。讨债信纷纷而来，让你防不胜防啊。" "It does seem to me, my dear, that something might be done to straighten matters. Suppose we sell off all the horses, and sell one of your farms, and pay up square?"" 亲爱的，依我看，我们还是得想办法把问题解决掉。我们可以把马匹全卖了，再搭一个农庄，好还清欠款。你看这个办法行吗？" "O, ridiculous, Emily! You are the finest woman in Kentucky; but still you haven't sense to know that you don't understand business;--women never do, and never can." 哼，这多可笑，埃米莉。你算得上是肯塔基最出色的妇女了，可你也不明白，你根本不懂生意。女人总是不懂，以后也懂不了。" "But, at least," said Mrs. Shelby, "could not you give me some little insight into yours; a list of all your debts, at least, and of all that is owed to you, and let me try and see if I can't help you to economize."" 可是，"希尔比太太说，"最起码你得让我知道你的处境呀，至少你可以开一张清单给我，上面写明别人欠你的和你欠别人的债务数额，这样，我就可以想想办法，看能不能帮你节省一点开支。" "O, bother! don't plague me, Emily!--I can't tell exactly. I know somewhere about what things are likely to be; but there's no trimming and squaring my affairs, as Chloe trims crust off her pies. You don't know anything about business, I tell you."" 哎，别再烦我了，埃米莉。我实在说不清，我只知道生意大概发展到哪一步，这些事可不像克鲁伊做馅饼，把周边都修得干净利索。我不是说了吗，你不懂生意上的事。" 
希尔比先生无法说服妻子，只好大声嚷嚷了，这是先生们在和妻子谈论生意时惯用的伎俩，既方便又让人无可辩驳。希尔比太太叹了口气，不再吭声。尽管她丈夫说她只是个妇道人家，诸事不懂，可实际上她却有一副思维活跃且讲究实效的头脑，她的意志力甚至比她丈夫要强得多，说她有经营生意的才能并不像希尔比先生所认为的那样荒谬。此刻，她的全副心思都放在如何履行对汤姆和克鲁伊大婶的诺言上，眼看希望越来越渺茫，她不禁叹起气来。 "Don't you think we might in some way contrive to raise that money? Poor Aunt Chloe! her heart is so set on it!"" 亲爱的，难道你不认为我们该设法把钱凑齐吗？可怜的克鲁伊大婶一门心思指望着这个呢。" "I'm sorry, if it is. I think I was premature in promising. I'm not sure, now, but it's the best way to tell Chloe, and let her make up her mind to it. Tom'll have another wife, in a year or two; and she had better take up with somebody else."" 真是抱歉，看来当初我答应得太仓促了。我看你还是如实告诉克鲁伊吧，让她死了这条心。一两年之后汤姆会另娶别的女人的，克鲁伊也干脆再找个人跟了得了。" "Mr. Shelby, I have taught my people that their marriages are as sacred as ours. I never could think of giving Chloe such advice."" 希尔比先生，我向来教育下人们说，他们的婚姻与我们的婚姻一样神圣。我决不劝克鲁伊干那种事。" "It's a pity, wife, that you have burdened them with a morality above their condition and prospects. I always thought so."" 真遗憾，夫人。你这套说教超越他们的身份地位，只会白白地给他们添烦恼。" 
这可是《圣经》上的道德观呀，希尔比先生。" "Well, well, Emily, I don't pretend to interfere with your religious notions; only they seem extremely unfitted for people in that condition."" 好了，好了，埃米莉，我可没打算干涉你的宗教信仰，我只是说，这些对下人们并不合适。" "They are, indeed," said Mrs. Shelby, "and that is why, from my soul, I hate the whole thing. I tell you, my dear, _I_ cannot absolve myself from the promises I make to these helpless creatures. If I can get the money no other way I will take music-scholars;--I could get enough, I know, and earn the money myself."" 确实不合适，"希尔比太太说，"这就是为什么我打心眼里憎恨奴隶制度。亲爱的，我告诉你，我决不会对那些无依无靠的黑人们食言的。万一别无他法，我就去教音乐课--我一定会筹足这笔钱的，我亲自去挣。" "You wouldn't degrade yourself that way, Emily? I never could consent to it."" 你该不会去干有损身份的事吧？埃米莉，我决不同意你那么干。" "Degrade! would it degrade me as much as to break my faith with the helpless? No, indeed!"" 有损身份？！比起失去那些可怜人的信任，哪个更有损身份？不，绝对比不上。" 
好啦，你总是英勇无畏又超脱凡俗。不过，我认为你在采取这种唐吉诃德式的行动之前，最好考虑清楚。" Here the conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Aunt Chloe, at the end of the verandah. 这时，克鲁伊大婶出现在门廊尽头，谈话就此中断了。 "If you please, Missis," said she." 对不起，太太。"她说。 "Well, Chloe, what is it?" said her mistress, rising, and going to the end of the balcony." 有事吗，克鲁伊？"希尔比太太一边说着，一边站起身，向门廊尽头走去。 Mrs. Shelby smiled as she saw a prostrate lot of chickens and ducks, over which Chloe stood, with a very grave face of consideration. 地上趴着一群鸡鸭，克鲁伊站在一旁，脸色庄重，若有所思。看见这情景，希尔比太太不由笑了。
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