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我可以上去同她说话吗？" "Oh no, child! It is not likely; and now it is time for you to comein; you'll catch the fever if you stop out when the dew is falling."" 啊，孩子！那不行。现在你该进来了，要是降了露水还呆在外面，你也会得热病的。" The nurse closed the front door; I went in by the side entrancewhich led to the schoolroom: I was just in time; it was nineo'clock, and Miss Miller was calling the pupils to go to bed. 护士关了前门，我从通往教室的边门溜了进去。我恰好准时，九点刚敲，米勒小姐正吩咐学生上床。 It might be two hours later, probably near eleven, when I--nothaving been able to fall asleep, and deeming, from the perfectsilence of the dormitory, that my companions were all wrapt inprofound repose--rose softly, put on my frock over my night-dress,and, without shoes, crept from the apartment, and set off in questof Miss Temple's room. It was quite at the other end of the house;but I knew my way; and the light of the unclouded summer moon,entering here and there at passage windows, enabled me to find itwithout difficulty. An odour of camphor and burnt vinegar warned mewhen I came near the fever room: and I passed its door quickly,fearful lest the nurse who sat up all night should hear me. Idreaded being discovered and sent back; for I MUST see Helen,--Imust embrace her before she died,--I must give her one last kiss,exchange with her one last word. 也许过了两小时，可能是将近十一点了，我难以入睡，而且从宿舍里一片沉寂推断，我的同伴们都已蒙头大睡。于是我便轻手轻脚地爬起来，在睡衣外面穿了件外衣，赤着脚从屋里溜了出来，去寻找坦普尔小姐的房间。它远靠房子的另外一头，不过我认得路。夏夜的皎洁月光，零零落落地洒进过道的窗户，使我毫不费力地找到了她的房间。一股樟脑味和烧焦的醋味，提醒我己走近了热病病房。我快步走过门前，深怕通宵值班的护士会听到我。我担心被人发现被赶回房去。我必须看到海伦--在她死去之前必须拥抱她一下--我必须最后亲吻她一下，同她交换最后一句话。 Having descended a staircase, traversed a portion of the housebelow, and succeeded in opening and shutting, without noise, twodoors, I reached another flight of steps; these I mounted, and thenjust opposite to me was Miss Temple's room. A light shone throughthe keyhole and from under the door; a profound stillness pervadedthe vicinity. Coming near, I found the door slightly ajar; probablyto admit some fresh air into the close abode of sickness.Indisposed to hesitate, and full of impatient impulses--soul andsenses quivering with keen throes--I put it back and looked in. Myeye sought Helen, and feared to find death. 我下了楼梯，走过了楼底下的一段路，终于毫无声响地开了和关了两道门，到了另一排楼梯，拾级而上，正对面便是坦普尔小姐的房间，一星灯光从锁孔里和门底下透出来，四周万籁俱寂。我走近一看，只见门虚掩着，也许是要让闷人的病室进去一点新鲜空气。我生性讨厌犹犹豫豫，而且当时急不可耐，十分冲动--我全身心都因极度痛苦而震颤起来，我推开门，探进头去，目光搜索着海伦，担心遇见死亡。 
紧靠坦普尔小姐的床铺，被白色的帷帐遮去了一半的是一只小床。我看到了被子底下身子的轮廓，但脸部被帷幔遮住了。那位在花园里同我讲过话的护士坐在一把安乐椅上，睡着了。一支灯芯未剪的蜡烛幽幽地在桌子上燃着。没有看到坦普尔小姐。我后来知道，她已被叫到热病病室，看望一个昏迷不醒的病人。我往前走去，随后在小床旁边停了下来，我的手伸向帷幔，但我宁愿在拉动之前开口说一下，我们人仍然畏缩不前，唯恐看到一具尸体。 "Helen!" I whispered softly, "are you awake?"" 海伦！"我轻声耳语道，"你醒着吗？" She stirred herself, put back the curtain, and I saw her face, pale,wasted, but quite composed: she looked so little changed that myfear was instantly dissipated. 她动弹了一下，自己拉开帷幔，我后到了她的脸，苍白、憔悴，却十分镇静，她看上去没有什么变化，于是我的恐惧心理顿时消失了。 "Can it be you, Jane?" she asked, in her own gentle voice." 真是你吗，简？"她以独特的柔和语调问。 "Oh!" I thought, "she is not going to die; they are mistaken: shecould not speak and look so calmly if she were."" 啊！"我想，"她不会死，她们搞错了，要是她活不了啦，她的言语和神色不会那么镇定自若。" 
我上了她的小床，吻了她一下。她的额头冰冷，两颊也冰冷，而且还很消瘦，她的手和手腕也都冰冷，只有她那微笑依旧。 "Why are you come here, Jane? It is past eleven o'clock: I heardit strike some minutes since."" 你为什么到这儿来，简？已经过了十一点啦，几分钟前我听见敲的。" "I came to see you, Helen: I heard you were very ill, and I couldnot sleep till I had spoken to you."" 我来看你，海伦。我听说你病得很重，我不同你说句话就睡不着。" "You came to bid me good-bye, then: you are just in time probably."" 那你是来同我告别的了，也许许来得正是时候。" "Are you going somewhere, Helen? Are you going home?"" 你上哪儿去吗，海伦？你要回家是不是？" 
是的，回到我永久的--我最后的家。" "No, no, Helen!" I stopped, distressed. While I tried to devour mytears, a fit of coughing seized Helen; it did not, however, wake thenurse; when it was over, she lay some minutes exhausted; then shewhispered -" 不，不，海伦，"我顿住了，心里很难过。我竭力咽下眼泪，这时海伦一阵咳嗽，不过没有吵醒护士。咳完以后，她精疲力尽地躺了几分钟，随后轻声说： "Jane, your little feet are bare; lie down and cover yourself withmy quilt."" 简，你都光着你的小脚呢，躺下来吧，盖上我的被子。" I did so: she put her arm over me, and I nestled close to her.After a long silence, she resumed, still whispering - 我照她的话做了。她用胳膊楼住我，我紧偎着她，在沉默了很久之后，她继续低声耳语着说： "I am very happy, Jane; and when you hear that I am dead, you mustbe sure and not grieve: there is nothing to grieve about. We allmust die one day, and the illness which is removing me is notpainful; it is gentle and gradual: my mind is at rest. I leave noone to regret me much: I have only a father; and he is latelymarried, and will not miss me. By dying young, I shall escape greatsufferings. I had not qualities or talents to make my way very wellin the world: I should have been continually at fault."" 我很愉快，简，你听到我已经死了的时候，你可千万别悲伤。没有什么可以感到悲伤的。总有一天我们大家都得死去。现在正夺去我生命的疾病并不痛苦。既温和而又缓慢，我的心灵已经安息。我不会让任何人感到太悲痛，我只有一个父亲，他新近刚结婚，不会思念我。我那么年纪轻轻就死去，可以逃脱大苦大难。我没有会使自己在世上发迹的气质和才能。要是我活，我会一直错下去的。" 
可是你到哪儿去呢，海伦？你能看得见吗？你知道吗？" "I believe; I have faith: I am going to God."" 我相信，我有信仰，我去上帝那儿。" "Where is God? What is God?"" 上帝在哪儿？上帝是什么？" "My Maker and yours, who will never destroy what He created. I relyimplicitly on His power, and confide wholly in His goodness: Icount the hours till that eventful one arrives which shall restoreme to Him, reveal Him to me."" 我的创造者，也是你的。他不会永远毁坏他所创造的东西。我毫无保留地依赖他的力量，完全信任他的仁慈，我数着钟点，直至那个重要时刻到来，那时我又被送还给他，他又再次显现在我面前。" "You are sure, then, Helen, that there is such a place as heaven,and that our souls can get to it when we die?"" 海伦，那你肯定认为有天堂这个地方，而且我们死后灵魂都到那儿去吗？" 
我敢肯定有一个未来的国度。我相信上帝是慈悲的。我可以毫无忧虑地把我不朽的部分托付给他，上帝是我的父亲，上帝是我的朋友，我爱他，我相信他也爱我。" "And shall I see you again, Helen, when I die?"" 海伦，我死掉后，还能再见到你吗？" "You will come to the same region of happiness: be received by thesame mighty, universal Parent, no doubt, dear Jane."" 你会来到同一个幸福的地域，被同一个伟大的、普天下共有的父亲所接纳，毫无疑问，亲爱的简。" Again I questioned, but this time only in thought. "Where is thatregion? Does it exist?" And I clasped my arms closer round Helen;she seemed dearer to me than ever; I felt as if I could not let hergo; I lay with my face hidden on her neck. Presently she said, inthe sweetest tone - 我又再次发问，不过这回只是想想而已。"这个地域在哪儿？它存在不存在？"我用胳膊把海伦楼得更紧了。她对我似乎比以往任何时候都要宝贵了，我仿佛觉得我不能让她走，我躺着把脸埋在她的颈窝里。她立刻用最甜蜜的嗓音说： "How comfortable I am! That last fit of coughing has tired me alittle; I feel as if I could sleep: but don't leave me, Jane; Ilike to have you near me."" 我多么舒服啊！刚才那一阵子咳嗽弄得我有点儿累了，我好像是能睡着了，可是别离开我，简，我喜欢你在我身边。" 
我会同你呆在一起的，亲爱的海伦。谁也不能把我撵走。"
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