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那么，约翰.里德怎么样了？" "Oh, he is not doing so well as his mama could wish. He went tocollege, and he got--plucked, I think they call it: and then hisuncles wanted him to be a barrister, and study the law: but he issuch a dissipated young man, they will never make much of him, Ithink."" 啊，他辜负了他妈妈的希望，表现并不好。他上了大学，而考试不及格，我想他们是这么说的。后来他的叔叔们要他将来当律师，去学习法律，但他是个年轻浪荡子，我想他们甭想使他有出息。" "What does he look like?"" 他长成什么模样了？" "He is very tall: some people call him a fine-looking young man;but he has such thick lips."" 他很高，有人叫他俊小伙子，不过他的嘴唇很厚。" "And Mrs. Reed?"" 里德太太怎么样？" 
太太显得有些发胖，外表看看倒不错，但我想她心里很不安。约翰先生的行为使她不高兴-一约翰用掉了很多钱。" "Did she send you here, Bessie?"" 是她派你到这里来的吗，贝茜？" "No, indeed: but I have long wanted to see you, and when I heardthat there had been a letter from you, and that you were going toanother part of the country, I thought I'd just set of, and get alook at you before you were quite out of my reach."" 说真的，不是。我倒早就想见你了。我听说你写了信来，说是要去远地方，我想我还是乘你还没有远走高飞的时候，动身来见你一面。" "I am afraid you are disappointed in me, Bessie." I said thislaughing: I perceived that Bessie's glance, though it expressedregard, did in no shape denote admiration." 恐怕你对我失望了吧，贝茜。"说完我笑了起来。我发觉贝茜的目光虽然流露出关切，却丝毫没有赞赏之意。 "No, Miss Jane, not exactly: you are genteel enough; you look likea lady, and it is as much as ever I expected of you: you were nobeauty as a child."" 不，简小姐，不完全这样。你够文雅的了，你看上去像个贵妇人。当然你还是我所预料的那样，还是孩子的时候你就长得不漂亮。" 
我对贝茵坦率的回答报之以微笑。我想她说得对，不过我承认，我对这话的含义并没有无动于衷。在十八岁的年纪上，大多数人都希望能讨人喜欢，而她们相信，自己并不具备有助于实现这种愿望的外表时，心里是绝不会高兴的。 "I dare say you are clever, though," continued Bessie, by way ofsolace. "What can you do? Can you play on the piano?"" 不过我想你很聪明，"贝茜继续说，以表示安慰。"你会什么？能弹钢琴吗？" "A little."" 会一点儿。" There was one in the room; Bessie went and opened it, and then askedme to sit down and give her a tune: I played a waltz or two, andshe was charmed. 房内有一架钢琴。贝茜走过去把它打开，随后要我坐下来给她弹个曲子。我弹了一两曲华尔兹，她听得着了迷。 "The Miss Reeds could not play as well!" said she exultingly. "Ialways said you would surpass them in learning: and can you draw?"" 两位里德小姐弹不了这么好！"她欣喜地说，"我总是说你在学问上一定会超过她们的，你能画吗？" 
壁炉架上的那幅画就是我画的。"这是一幅水彩风景画，我把它作为礼物送给了校长，以感谢她代表我在委员会中所作的善意斡旋。她把这幅画加了框，还上了光。 "Well, that is beautiful, Miss Jane! It is as fine a picture as anyMiss Reed's drawing-master could paint, let alone the young ladiesthemselves, who could not come near it: and have you learntFrench?"" 嗬，好漂亮，简小姐！它同里德小姐的绘画老师作的画一样好，更不要说年轻小姐她们自己了，她们同你天差地远。你学法语了吗？" "Yes, Bessie, I can both read it and speak it."" 学了，贝茵，我能读还能讲。" "And you can work on muslin and canvas?"" 你会做细布和粗布上的刺绣活吗？" "I can."" 我会。" 
啊，你是个大家闺秀啦，简小姐！我早知道你会的。不管你的亲戚理不理你，照样会有长进。我有件事儿要问你，你父亲的亲属，有没有写过信给你，就是那些姓爱的人？" "Never in my life."" 这辈子还没有。" "Well, you know Missis always said they were poor and quitedespicable: and they may be poor; but I believe they are as muchgentry as the Reeds are; for one day, nearly seven years ago, a Mr.Eyre came to Gateshead and wanted to see you; Missis said you wereit school fifty miles off; he seemed so much disappointed, for hecould not stay: he was going on a voyage to a foreign country, andthe ship was to sail from London in a day or two. He looked quite agentleman, and I believe he was your father's brother."" 啊，你知道太太常说，他们又穷又让人瞧不起。穷倒是可能的，但我相信他们像里德家的人一样有绅士派头。大约七年前的一天，一位爱先生来到盖茨黑德，而且要见见你。太太说你在五十英里外的学校里，他好像很失望，因为他不能多呆。他要乘船到外国去，一两天后从伦敦开航。他看上去完全像个绅士，我想他是你父亲的兄弟。" "What foreign country was he going to, Bessie?"" 他上国外哪个国家，贝茜？" "An island thousands of miles off, where they make wine--the butlerdid tell me--"" 几千英里外的一个岛，那儿出产酒--管家告诉我的。" 
马德拉岛？"我提醒了一下。 "Yes, that is it--that is the very word."" 对，就是这地方--就是这几个字。" "So he went?"" 那他走了？" "Yes; he did not stay many minutes in the house: Missis was veryhigh with him; she called him afterwards a 'sneaking tradesman.' MyRobert believes he was a wine-merchant."" 是的，他在屋里没有呆上几分钟。太太对他很傲慢，后来她把他叫作一个'狡猾的生意人'，我那位罗伯特估计他是个酒商。" "Very likely," I returned; "or perhaps clerk or agent to a wine-merchant."" 很可能，"我回答，"或者酒商的职员或代理人。" 
贝茜和我又谈了一个钟头的往事，后来，她不得不告辞了。第二天在洛顿侯车时又见了她五分钟。最后我们在布洛克赫斯特纹章旅店的门边分手，各走各的路，她动身去罗沃德山岗搭车回盖茨黑德；而我登上了车子，让它把我带往米尔科特那个陌生的郊区，从事新的使命，开始新的生活。 A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play;and when I draw up the curtain this time, reader, you must fancy yousee a room in the George Inn at Millcote, with such large figuredpapering on the walls as inn rooms have; such a carpet, suchfurniture, such ornaments on the mantelpiece, such prints, includinga portrait of George the Third, and another of the Prince of Wales,and a representation of the death of Wolfe. All this is visible toyou by the light of an oil lamp hanging from the ceiling, and bythat of an excellent fire, near which I sit in my cloak and bonnet;my muff and umbrella lie on the table, and I am warming away thenumbness and chill contracted by sixteen hours' exposure to therawness of an October day: I left Lowton at four o'clock a.m., andthe Millcote town clock is now just striking eight. 一部小说中新的一章，有些像一出戏中的新的一场。这回我拉开幕布的时候，读者，你一定会想象，你看到的是米尔科特乔治旅店中的一个房间。这里同其他旅店的陈设相同，一样的大图案墙纸，一样的地毯，一样的家具，一样的壁炉摆设，一样的图片，其中一幅是乔治三世的肖像，另一幅是威尔士亲王的肖像还有一幅画的是沃尔夫之死。借着悬挂在天花板上的油灯和壁炉的熊熊火光，你可以看得见这一切。我把皮手筒和伞放在桌上，披着斗篷戴着帽子坐在火炉旁，让自己在十月阴冷的天气里暴露了十六个小时、冻得了僵的身子暖和过来。我昨天下午四点离开洛顿，而这时米尔科特镇的时钟正敲响八点。
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