目 录 上一节 下一节 
“你的前程十分辉煌，”露丝坚定地回答，“一切荣誉，凡是凭着卓越的才干和有势力的亲戚能够在社会上取得的荣华富贵都在等着你。但那些亲戚是很高傲的，我既不愿意和可能瞧不起我的生身母亲的人周旋，也不愿意为代替我母亲位置的那个人的儿子带来屈辱或挫折，一句话，”少女说着，转过脸去，她一时的坚定已经开始动摇，“我的名字上有一个污点，而世人却要用来殃及无辜。我绝不会让别人代我受过，责难统统由我一个人来承担。” 'One word more, Rose. Dearest Rose! one more!' cried Harry, throwing himself before her. 'If I had been less--less fortunate, the world would call it--if some obscure and peaceful life had been my destiny--if I had been poor, sick, helpless--would you have turned from me then? Or has my probable advancement to riches and honour, given this scruple birth?' “还有一句话，露丝，可亲可爱的露丝啊！还有一句！”哈利高声嚷着，冲到她的面前，“要是我不那么--不那么走运，世人就是这样说的--要是我命中注定要过一种淡泊宁静的生活--要是我很穷，又有病，又无依无靠的话--你也会拒绝我吗？还是因为我将来有可能享尽荣华富贵就一定会对出生斤斤计较？” 'Do not press me to reply,' answered Rose. 'The question does not arise, and never will. It is unfair, almost unkind, to urge it.' “别逼我回答，”露丝答道，“这个问题现在不存在，永远也不存在。强人所难是不公平的，就更别提善意了。” 'If your answer be what I almost dare to hope it is,' retorted Harry, 'it will shed a gleam of happiness upon my lonely way, and light the path before me. It is not an idle thing to do so much, by the utterance of a few brief words, for one who loves you beyond all else. Oh, Rose: in the name of my ardent and enduring attachment; in the name of all I have suffered for you, and all you doom me to undergo; answer me this one question!' “如果你的答复和我几乎敢于期望的回答相符，”哈利反驳道，“它就将在我孤独的行程上撒下一道幸福的光彩，照亮我面前的道路。你简简单单说几句，对于一个爱你超过一切的人来说却是至关重要的，这不是一件可有可无的事。哦，露丝！看在我灼热而持久的爱慕分上，看在我已经为你承受的以及你一定要我承受的一切痛苦的分上，答复我这一个问题吧！” 'Then, if your lot had been differently cast,' rejoined Rose; 'if you had been even a little, but not so far, above me; if I could have been a help and comfort to you in any humble scene of peace and retirement, and not a blot and drawback in ambitious and distinguished crowds; I should have been spared this trial. I have every reason to be happy, very happy, now; but then, Harry, I own I should have been happier.' “那么，假如你的命运另有安排，”露丝答道，“假如你的地位只是略微高出我一点，而不是远远超过我--如果在任何悠闲淡泊的贫贱生活中，我都能帮助你，安慰你，而不是在一帮雄心勃勃的名流当中成为你的一个污点，一块绊脚石--我也无须经受这一磨难。我现在就完全有理由感到幸福，极大的幸福。可另一方面，哈利，我承认，我本来应该得到更大的幸福。” 
露丝倾吐着这一番衷情，很久以前，当她还是一个小姑娘的时候就把昔日的一些心愿珍藏在心底，此刻，这些夙愿随着记忆纷纷涌上心头，如同重温凋零的愿望不免会引出泪水一样，眼泪也为她带来了宽慰。 'I cannot help this weakness, and it makes my purpose stronger,' said Rose, extending her hand. 'I must leave you now, indeed.' “这种软弱我没法克制，但它总是使我的心意变得更加坚定，”露丝伸出手来，说道，“现在我必须离开你了，真的。” 'I ask one promise,' said Harry. 'Once, and only once more,--say within a year, but it may be much sooner,--I may speak to you again on this subject, for the last time.' “我求你答应一件事，”哈利说，“再谈一次，仅仅再谈一次--不超过一年，但也可能大大提前--请允许我还可以就这个主题和你最后谈一次。” 'Not to press me to alter my right determination,' replied Rose, with a melancholy smile; 'it will be useless.' “不要强迫我改变我的正确决定，”露丝带着一丝忧郁的笑意，回答道，“这没有什么好处。” 'No,' said Harry; 'to hear you repeat it, if you will--finally repeat it! I will lay at your feet, whatever of station of fortune I may possess; and if you still adhere to your present resolution, will not seek, by word or act, to change it.' “不，”哈利说道，“我要听你重新说一遍，如果你愿意--最后重复一遍。不管我今后取得何种地位或者财富，我要把它们统统放在你的脚下。要是你仍然坚持你现在的决定，我决不试图用言语或行动去加以改变。” 
“就这样吧，”露丝回答，“那只会多一次痛苦，到那个时候，我或许更能够经受得起了。” She extended her hand again. But the young man caught her to his bosom; and imprinting one kiss on her beautiful forehead, hurried from the room. 她再一次伸出手去，可小伙子却把她搂进怀里，在她那清秀的额头上吻了一下，匆匆走出了房间。 'And so you are resolved to be my travelling companion this morning; eh?' said the doctor, as Harry Maylie joined him and Oliver at the breakfast-table. 'Why, you are not in the same mind or intention two half-hours together!' “这么说，你决定今天早上跟我一块儿走了，嗯？”大夫问道，哈利·梅莱这时走到餐桌前，跟他和奥立弗一起吃早点。“怎么，你的心情或者说打算，前半个小时和后半个小时都不一样。” 'You will tell me a different tale one of these days,' said Harry, colouring without any perceptible reason. “好歹有一天，你会改变看法的。”哈利无缘无故地红了脸，说道。 'I hope I may have good cause to do so,' replied Mr. Losberne; 'though I confess I don't think I shall. But yesterday morning you had made up your mind, in a great hurry, to stay here, and to accompany your mother, like a dutiful son, to the sea-side. Before noon, you announce that you are going to do me the honour of accompanying me as far as I go, on your road to London. And at night, you urge me, with great mystery, to start before the ladies are stirring; the consequence of which is, that young Oliver here is pinned down to his breakfast when he ought to be ranging the meadows after botanical phenomena of all kinds. Too bad, isn't it, Oliver?' “但愿我会，”罗斯伯力先生答道，“不过我承认，我恐怕做不到。可昨天早晨，你还匆匆忙忙决定留下来，像一个孝顺儿子，陪你妈妈到海边去。还没到中午，你又宣布，你要顺道陪我去伦敦，给我这么大面子。晚上，你又神秘兮兮地鼓动我在女士们起床之前就动身。结果呢，小奥立弗到现在还给钉在这儿吃早点，他本来早该去牧场寻找各样奇花异草了。太糟糕了，不是吗，奥立弗？” 
“要是你跟梅莱先生上路的时候我不在家，我会非常难过的，先生。”奥立弗答道。 'That's a fine fellow,' said the doctor; 'you shall come and see me when you return. But, to speak seriously, Harry; has any communication from the great nobs produced this sudden anxiety on your part to be gone?' “那才够交情，”大夫说道，“你回来的时候可得来找我。不过，说正经的，哈利，你这么急着要走，是不是大人物那边有什么消息？” 'The great nobs,' replied Harry, 'under which designation, I presume, you include my most stately uncle, have not communicated with me at all, since I have been here; nor, at this time of the year, is it likely that anything would occur to render necessary my immediate attendance among them.' “大人物，”哈利回答，“在这个称谓下边，你恐怕把我那位非常体面的老前辈也包括进去了。自从我来到这里，大人物根本就没和我联系过，一年中的这个时候好像不大可能有什么事，要我务必赶到他们那儿去。” 'Well,' said the doctor, 'you are a queer fellow. But of course they will get you into parliament at the election before Christmas, and these sudden shiftings and changes are no bad preparation for political life. There's something in that. Good training is always desirable, whether the race be for place, cup, or sweepstakes.' “好啊，”大夫说道，“你这家伙真怪。可话说回来，他们可能在圣诞节前的选举中把你送进议会，你这套一会儿一个花样的作风对于准备从政倒没有什么坏处。这其中自有一定道理。不管是为了角逐地位，锦标，还是赌赛马，训练有素总是需要的。” Harry Maylie looked as if he could have followed up this short dialogue by one or two remarks that would have staggered the doctor not a little; but he contented himself with saying, 'We shall see,' and pursued the subject no farther. The post-chaise drove up to the door shortly afterwards; and Giles coming in for the luggage, the good doctor bustled out, to see it packed. 哈利·梅莱的样子似乎无意将这一番简短的对话继续下去，否则他只消用一两句话就能把大夫给噎住，他只说了一句“我们走着瞧”，没有继续发挥下去。不一会儿，驿车驶到了门口，凯尔司进来取行李，好心的大夫奔到外边，看行李捆扎得是否牢靠。 
“奥立弗，”哈利压低声音说道，“我跟你说句话。” Oliver walked into the window-recess to which Mr. Maylie beckoned him; much surprised at the mixture of sadness and boisterous spirits, which his whole behaviour displayed. 奥立弗走到站在窗前向自己打招呼的梅莱先生面前，见他整个神态显示出悲哀与激动交织在一起的心情，不由得大吃一惊。 'You can write well now?' said Harry, laying his hand upon his arm. “你现在学会写字了，是吗？”哈利把一只手搭在他的肩膀上。 'I hope so, sir,' replied Oliver. “恐怕是这样，先生。”奥立弗回答。 'I shall not be at home again, perhaps for some time; I wish you would write to me--say once a fort-night: every alternate Monday: to the General Post Office in London. Will you?' “我又要出门了，也许要走一段时间。我希望你给我写信--就算半个月一次吧。每隔一个礼拜的礼拜一，交伦敦邮政总局。可以吗？” 
“噢。那还用说，先生，我很高兴做这件事。”奥立弗大声说道，对这项使命非常满意。 'I should like to know how--how my mother and Miss Maylie are,' said the young man; 'and you can fill up a sheet by telling me what walks you take, and what you talk about, and whether she--they, I mean--seem happy and quite well. You understand me?' “我想要知道--知道我母亲和露丝小姐身体好不好，”青年绅士说，“你可以写上满满的一张纸，告诉我，你们怎样散步，你们谈了些什么--她是不是--我说的是她们--看上去是不是非常快乐，非常健康。你懂我的意思？”
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