目 录 上一节 下一节 
我打住了。我不能相信自己会产生这样的想法，更说不上加以表达。但是这想法闯入了我脑海--它开始具体化--顷刻之间，变成了确确实实可能的事情。种种情况凑合起来了，各就各位，变成了一个有条有理的整体，一根链条。以前一直是一堆没有形状的链环，现在被一节节拉直了--每一个链都完好无缺，链与链之间的联结也很完整。圣.约翰还没有再开口，我凭直觉就已经知道是怎么回事了。不过我不能期望读者也有同样的直觉，因此我得重复一下他的说明。 "My mother's name was Eyre; she had two brothers; one a clergyman,who married Miss Jane Reed, of Gateshead; the other, John Eyre,Esq., merchant, late of Funchal, Madeira. Mr. Briggs, being Mr.Eyre's solicitor, wrote to us last August to inform us of ouruncle's death, and to say that he had left his property to hisbrother the clergyman's orphan daughter, overlooking us, inconsequence of a quarrel, never forgiven, between him and my father.He wrote again a few weeks since, to intimate that the heiress waslost, and asking if we knew anything of her. A name casuallywritten on a slip of paper has enabled me to find her out. You knowthe rest." Again he was going, but I set my back against the door." 我母亲的名字叫爱，她有两个兄弟，一个是位牧师，他娶了盖茨黑德的简.里德小姐；另一个叫约翰.爱先生，生前在马德拉群岛的沙韦尔经商。布里格斯先生是爱先生的律师，去年八月写信通知我们舅父已经去世，说是已把他的财产留给那个当牧师的兄弟的孤女。由于我父亲同他之间一次永远无法宽恕的争吵，他忽视了我们。几周前，布里格斯又写信来，说是那位女继承人失踪了，问我是否知道她的情况。一个随意写在纸条上的名字使我把她找到了。其余的你都知道了。"他又要走，我将背顶住门。 "Do let me speak," I said; "let me have one moment to draw breathand reflect." I paused--he stood before me, hat in hand, lookingcomposed enough. I resumed -" 请务必让我也说一说，"我说，"让我喘口气，好好想一想。"我停住了--他站在我面前，手里拿着帽子，看上去够镇静的。我接着说： "Your mother was my father's sister?"" 你的母亲是我父亲的姐妹？" "Yes."" 是的。" 
那么是我的姑妈了？" He bowed. 他点了点头。 "My uncle John was your uncle John? You, Diana, and Mary are hissister's children, as I am his brother's child?"" 我的约翰叔父是你的约翰舅舅了？你，黛安娜和玛丽是他姐妹的孩子，而我是他兄弟的孩子了？" "Undeniably."" 没有错。" "You three, then, are my cousins; half our blood on each side flowsfrom the same source?"" 你们三位是我的表兄表姐了。我们身上一半的血都流自同一个源泉？" 
我们是表兄妹，不错。" I surveyed him. It seemed I had found a brother: one I could beproud of,--one I could love; and two sisters, whose qualities weresuch, that, when I knew them but as mere strangers, they hadinspired me with genuine affection and admiration. The two girls,on whom, kneeling down on the wet ground, and looking through thelow, latticed window of Moor House kitchen, I had gazed with sobitter a mixture of interest and despair, were my near kinswomen;and the young and stately gentleman who had found me almost dying athis threshold was my blood relation. Glorious discovery to a lonelywretch! This was wealth indeed!--wealth to the heart!--a mine ofpure, genial affections. This was a blessing, bright, vivid, andexhilarating;--not like the ponderous gift of gold: rich andwelcome enough in its way, but sobering from its weight. I nowclapped my hands in sudden joy--my pulse bounded, my veins thrilled. 我细细打量着他。我似乎发现了一个哥哥，一个值得我骄傲的人，一个我可以爱的人。还有两个姐姐，她们的品质在即使同我是陌路人的时候，也激起了我的真情和羡慕。那天我跪在湿淋淋的地上，透过沼泽居低矮的格子窗，带着既感兴趣而又绝望的痛苦复杂的心情，凝视着这两位姑娘，原来她们竟是我的近亲。而这位发现我险些死在他门槛边的年轻庄重的绅士，就是我的血肉之亲。对孤苦伶丁的可怜人儿来说，这是个何等重大的发现！其实这就是财富！--心灵的财富！--一个纯洁温暖的感情矿藏。这是一种幸福，光辉灿烂，生气勃勃，令人振奋！--不像沉重的金礼物：其本身值钱而受人欢迎，但它的份量又让人感到压抑。这会儿我突然兴奋得拍起手来一-我的脉搏跳动着，我的血管震颤了。 "Oh, I am glad!--I am glad!" I exclaimed." 呵，我真高兴--我真高兴！"我叫道。 St. John smiled. "Did I not say you neglected essential points topursue trifles?" he asked. "You were serious when I told you youhad got a fortune; and now, for a matter of no moment, you areexcited." 圣.约翰笑了笑。"我不是说过你拣了芝麻丢了西瓜吗？"他问。"我告诉你有一笔财产时，你非常严肃，而现在，为了一件不重要的事，你却那么兴奋。" "What can you mean? It may be of no moment to you; you have sistersand don't care for a cousin; but I had nobody; and now threerelations,--or two, if you don't choose to be counted,--are borninto my world full-grown. I say again, I am glad!"" 你这话究竟什么意思呢？对你可能无足轻重，你己经有妹妹，不在乎一个表妹。但我没有亲人，而这会儿三个亲戚--如果你不愿算在内，那就是两个--降生到我的世界来，已完全长大成人。我再说一遍，我很高兴！" 
我快步穿过房间，又停了下来，被接二连三涌进脑子，快得我无法接受、理解和梳理的想法，弄得差点喘不过气来--那就是我可以做什么，能够做什么，会做什么和应当做什么，以及要赶快做。我瞧着空空的墙，它仿佛是天空，密布着冉冉升起的星星--每一颗都照耀着我奔向一个目标或者一种欢乐。那些救了我性命的人，直到如今我还毫无表示地爱着，现在我可以报答了。身披枷锁的，我可以使他们获得自由；东分西散的，我可以让他们欢聚一堂。我的独立和富裕也可以变成是他们的，我们不是一共四个吗？二万英镑平分，每人可得五千--不但足够，而且还有余。公平对待，彼此的幸福也就有了保障。此刻财富已不再是我的一种负担，不再只是钱币的遗赠--而是生命、希望和欢乐的遗产了。 How I looked while these ideas were taking my spirit by storm, Icannot tell; but I perceived soon that Mr. Rivers had placed a chairbehind me, and was gently attempting to make me sit down on it. Healso advised me to be composed; I scorned the insinuation ofhelplessness and distraction, shook off his hand, and began to walkabout again. 这些想法突然向我的灵魂袭来时，我的神态加何，我无从知道。但我很快觉察到里弗斯先生已在我背后放了一把椅子，和和气气地要我坐在上面。他还建议我要镇静。我对暗示我束手无策、神经错乱的做法嗤之以鼻，把他的手推开，又开始走动起来， "Write to Diana and Mary to-morrow," I said, "and tell them to comehome directly. Diana said they would both consider themselves richwith a thousand pounds, so with five thousand they will do verywell."" 明天就写信给黛安娜和玛丽，"我说，"叫她们马上回家来，黛安娜说要是有一千英镑，她们俩就会认为自己有钱了，那么有了五千英镑，就很有钱了。" "Tell me where I can get you a glass of water," said St. John; "youmust really make an effort to tranquillise your feelings."" 告诉我哪儿可以给你弄杯水来，"圣.约翰说，"你真的得努力一下，使你的感情平静下来。" "Nonsense! and what sort of an effect will the bequest have on you?Will it keep you in England, induce you to marry Miss Oliver, andsettle down like an ordinary mortal?"" 胡说！这笔遗赠对你会有什么影响呢？会使你留在英国，诱使你娶奥利弗小姐，像一个普通人那样安顿下来吗？" 
你神经错乱，头脑胡涂了。我把这个消息告诉得太突然，让你兴奋得失去了自制。" "Mr. Rivers! you quite put me out of patience: I am rationalenough; it is you who misunderstand, or rather who affect tomisunderstand."" 里弗斯先生！你弄得我很有些不耐烦了。我十分清醒。而正是你误解了我的意思，或者不如说假装误解我的意思。" "Perhaps, if you explained yourself a little more fully, I shouldcomprehend better."" 也许要是你解释得再详细一点，我就更明白了。" "Explain! What is there to explain? You cannot fail to see thattwenty thousand pounds, the sum in question, divided equally betweenthe nephew and three nieces of our uncle, will give five thousand toeach? What I want is, that you should write to your sisters andtell them of the fortune that has accrued to them."" 解释！有什么需要解释？你不会不知道，二万英镑，也就是提到的这笔钱，在一个外甥，三个外甥女和侄女之间平分，各得五千？我所要求的是，你应当写信给你的妹妹们，告诉她们所得的财产。" "To you, you mean."" 你的意思是你所得的财产。" 
我已经谈了我对这件事的想法，我不可能有别的想法。我不是一个极端自私、盲目不公和完全忘恩负义的人。此外，我决心有一个家，有亲戚。我喜欢沼泽居，想住在沼泽居，我喜欢黛安娜和玛丽，要与她们相依为命。五千英镑对我有用，也使我高兴；二万英镑会折磨我，压抑我。何况尽管在法律上属于我，在道义上不该属于我。那么我就把完全多余的东西留给你们。不要再反对，再讨论了，让我们彼此同意，立刻把它决定下来吧。"
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