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我再次来到惠特克劳斯，这时骄阳高照。我选了一条背阳的路，我已无心根据其他请况来作出选择了。我走了很久，以为自己差不多走得够了，可以心安理得地向几乎把我压垮的疲劳屈服--可以放松一下这种强迫的活动了，于是在我附近看到的一块石头上坐了下来，听任心脏和四肢感到麻木。就在这时我听见钟声响了-一教堂的钟声。 I turned in the direction of the sound, and there, amongst theromantic hills, whose changes and aspect I had ceased to note anhour ago, I saw a hamlet and a spire. All the valley at my righthand was full of pasture-fields, and cornfields, and wood; and aglittering stream ran zig-zag through the varied shades of green,the mellowing grain, the sombre woodland, the clear and sunny lea.Recalled by the rumbling of wheels to the road before me, I saw aheavily-laden waggon labouring up the hill, and not far beyond weretwo cows and their drover. Human life and human labour were near.I must struggle on: strive to live and bend to toil like the rest. 我转向声音传来的方向。在那里，我一小时之前就已不去注意其变幻和外观富有浪漫色彩的山峦之间，我看到了一个村庄和尖顶。我左侧的山谷满眼都是牧地、玉米地和树林。一条闪光的小溪弯弯曲曲地流过深浅各异的绿荫，流过正在成熟的稻谷，暗淡的树林，明净而充满阳光的草地。前面路上传来了隆隆的车轮声，我回过神来，看见一辆重载的大车，吃力地爬上了小山。不远的地方有两头牛和一个牧人。附近就有人在生活和劳作，我得挣扎下去，像别人那样努力去生活和操劳。 About two o'clock p.m. I entered the village. At the bottom of itsone street there was a little shop with some cakes of bread in thewindow. I coveted a cake of bread. With that refreshment I couldperhaps regain a degree of energy: without it, it would bedifficult to proceed. The wish to have some strength and somevigour returned to me as soon as I was amongst my fellow-beings. Ifelt it would be degrading to faint with hunger on the causeway of ahamlet. Had I nothing about me I could offer in exchange for one ofthese rolls? I considered. I had a small silk handkerchief tiedround my throat; I had my gloves. I could hardly tell how men andwomen in extremities of destitution proceeded. I did not knowwhether either of these articles would be accepted: probably theywould not; but I must try. 约摸下午两点，我进了村庄。一条街的尽头开着一个小店，窗里放着一些面包。我对一块面包很眼馋。有那样一块点心，我也许还能恢复一点力气，要是没有，再往前走就困难了。一回到我的同类之间，心头便又升起了要恢复精力的愿望。我觉得昏倒在一个小村的大路上很丢脸。难道我身上就连换取几块面包的东西都没有了吗？我想了一想。我有一小块丝绸围巾围在脖子上，还有一双手套。我难以表达贫困潦倒中的男女是怎么度日的。我不知道这两件东西是否会被人接受。可能他们不会要，但我得试一试。 I entered the shop: a woman was there. Seeing a respectably-dressed person, a lady as she supposed, she came forward withcivility. How could she serve me? I was seized with shame: mytongue would not utter the request I had prepared. I dared notoffer her the half-worn gloves, the creased handkerchief: besides,I felt it would be absurd. I only begged permission to sit down amoment, as I was tired. Disappointed in the expectation of acustomer, she coolly acceded to my request. She pointed to a seat;I sank into it. I felt sorely urged to weep; but conscious howunseasonable such a manifestation would be, I restrained it. Soon Iasked her "if there were any dressmaker or plain-workwoman in thevillage?" 我走进了店里，里面有一个女人。她见是一位穿著体面的人，猜想是位贵妇，于是便很有礼貌地走上前来。她怎么来照应我呢？我羞愧难当。我的舌头不愿吐出早已想好的要求。我不敢拿出旧了的手套，皱巴巴的围巾。另外，我还觉得这很荒唐。我只求她让我坐一会儿，因为我累了。她没有盼到一位雇客，很是失望，冷冷地答应了我的要求。她指了指一个座位，我一屁股坐了下来。我很想哭，但意识到那种表现会不合情理，便忍住了。我立刻问她"村子里有没有裁缝或者做做一般针线活的女人？" "Yes; two or three. Quite as many as there was employment for."" 有，有两三个。按活计算也就够多的了。" 
我沉思了一下。现在我不得不直说了。我己经面临困境，落到了没有食物，没有朋友，没有一文钱的地步。我得想点办法。什么办法呢？我得上什么地方去求助。上哪个地方呢？ "Did she know of any place in the neighbourhood where a servant waswanted?"" 你知道附近有谁需要佣人吗？" "Nay; she couldn't say."" 不，我说不上来。" "What was the chief trade in this place? What did most of thepeople do?"" 这个地方的主要行业是什么？大多数人是干什么活儿的？" "Some were farm labourers; a good deal worked at Mr. Oliver'sneedle-factory, and at the foundry."" 有些是农场工，很多人在奥利弗先生的缝纫厂和翻砂厂工作。" 
奥利弗先生雇用女人吗？" "Nay; it was men's work."" 不，那是男人的工作。" "And what do the women do?"" 那么女人干什么呢，" "I knawn't," was the answer. "Some does one thing, and someanother. Poor folk mun get on as they can."" 我说不上来，"对方回答，"有的干这，有的干那，穷人总得想方设法把日子过下去呀。" She seemed to be tired of my questions: and, indeed, what claim hadI to importune her? A neighbour or two came in; my chair wasevidently wanted. I took leave. 她似乎对我的回话不耐烦了，其实我又何必强人所难呢？这时进来了一两位邻居，很明显看中了我的椅子，我起身告辞了。 
我沿街走去，一面走一面左顾右盼，打量着所有的房子，但找不到进门的借口或动机。我这么漫无目的地绕着村庄走了一个来小时，有时走远了一些，又折回来。因为没有东西下肚，我筋疲力尽难受极了，于是折进一条小巷，在树篱下坐了下来。可是没过几分钟我又站起来，再去找些什么--食物，或者至少打听到一点消息。小巷的高处有一间漂亮的小房子，房子前有一个精致整洁、繁花盛开的花园，我在花园旁边停了下来，我有什么理由走近白色的门，去敲响闪光的门环呢？房主人又怎么会有兴趣来照应我呢？但我还是走近去敲了门。一位和颜悦色穿著干净的年轻女子开了门。我用一个内心绝望，身怀虚弱的人那种可怜低沉、吞吞吐吐的音调--问她是不是要一个佣人？ "No," said she; "we do not keep a servant."" 不要，"她说"我们不雇佣人。" "Can you tell me where I could get employment of any kind?" Icontinued. "I am a stranger, without acquaintance in this place. Iwant some work: no matter what."" 你能不能告诉我，哪儿能找到工作吗？"我继续问。"这个地方我很陌生，没有熟人，想找个工作，什么样的都行。" But it was not her business to think for me, or to seek a place forme: besides, in her eyes, how doubtful must have appeared mycharacter, position, tale. She shook her head, she "was sorry shecould give me no information," and the white door closed, quitegently and civilly: but it shut me out. If she had held it open alittle longer, I believe I should have begged a piece of bread; forI was now brought low. 但为我想一个，或者找一个工作不是她的事儿，更何况在她看来，我的为人、我的状况和我说的原委一定显得很可疑，她摇了摇头，"很遗憾我没法给你提供消息，"白色的门尽管轻轻地、很有礼貌地合上了，但毕竟把我关出了门外。要是她让门再开一会儿，我相信准会向她讨点面包，因为现在我已落到十分下贱的地步了。 I could not bear to return to the sordid village, where, besides, noprospect of aid was visible. I should have longed rather to deviateto a wood I saw not far off, which appeared in its thick shade tooffer inviting shelter; but I was so sick, so weak, so gnawed withnature's cravings, instinct kept me roaming round abodes where therewas a chance of food. Solitude would be no solitude--rest no rest--while the vulture, hunger, thus sank beak and talons in my side. 我不忍再返回龌龊的庄子，况且那儿也没有希望得到帮助。我本想绕道去一个看得见的不远的林子。那里浓荫盖地，似乎有可能提供诱人的落脚地方。但是我那么病弱，那么为天性的渴求所折磨、本能使我只绕着有机会得到食品的住处转。当饥饿像猛禽-样嘴爪俱下抓住我时、孤独也不成其孤独，歇息也谈不上歇息了。 
我走近了住家，走开了又回来，回来了又走开。总有被一种意识所击退，觉得没有理由提出要求，没有权利期望别人对我孤独的命运发生兴趣。我像一条迷路的饿狗那么转来转去，一直到了下午，我穿过田野的时候，看到前面的教堂尖顶，便急步朝它走去。靠近教堂院子和一个花园的中间，有一所虽然不大但建造得很好的房子，我确信那是牧师的住所，我想起来，陌生人到了一个无亲无故的地方，想找个工作，有时会去找牧师引荐和帮助。给那些希望自立的人帮忙一-至少是出主意是牧师份内的事儿。我似乎有某种权利上那儿去听主意。于是我鼓起勇气，集中起一点点残留的力气，奋力往前走去。我到了房子跟前，敲了敲厨房的门。一位老妇开了门，我问她这是不是牧师的住所。
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