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“I’m very far from jesting, Miss Catherine,” I replied. “You love Mr. Edgar because he is handsome, and young, and cheerful, and rich, and loves you. The last, however, goes for nothing: you would love him without that, probably; and with it you wouldn’t, unless he possessed the four former attractions.” “No, to be sure not: I should only pity him—hate him, perhaps, if he were ugly, and a clown.” “But there are several other handsome, rich young men in the world: handsomer, possibly, and richer than he is. What should hinder you from loving them?” “If there be any, they are out of my way: I’ve seen none like Edgar.” “You may see some; and he won’t always be handsome, and young, and may not always be rich.” “He is now; and I have only to do with the present. I wish you would speak rationally.” “Well, that settles it: if you have only to do with the present, marry Mr. Linton.” |
“我這絕不是在開玩笑，闞思睿小姐！”我答道。“你愛愛德嘉先生是因為他帥氣、年輕、活潑、有錢，而且他愛你。不管怎樣，最後這條沒什麽用——沒有這條，你也許還會愛他；而有了這條，你倒不一定會愛他，除非他具備前麵四個優點。” “是啊，當然，如果他長相醜陋，而且粗魯愚蠢，也許我隻能可憐他——恨他。” “可是世界上還有好多帥氣、有錢的年輕人呀——可能比他還帥氣，還有錢。你怎麽不去愛他們呢？” “如果真有的話，他們不會妨礙我！我還沒見過能比得上愛德嘉的人。” “你也許會看見一些，而且愛德嘉不會總是帥氣、總是年輕，也不會總有錢。” “他現在是，而我現在隻能圖眼前，我希望你說話要講理。” “好的，問題解決了，如果你隻圖眼前，那就嫁給林騰少爺好啦。”
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“I don’t want your permission for that—I shall marry him: and yet you have not told me whether I’m right.” “Perfectly right; if people be right to marry only for the present. And now, let us hear what you are unhappy about. Your brother will be pleased; the old lady and gentleman will not object, I think; you will escape from a disorderly, comfortless home into a wealthy, respectable one; and you love Edgar, and Edgar loves you. All seems smooth and easy: where is the obstacle?” “Here! and here!” replied Catherine, striking one hand on her forehead, and the other on her breast: “in whichever place the soul lives. In my soul and in my heart, I’m convinced I’m wrong!” “That’s very strange! I cannot make it out.” “It’s my secret. But if you will not mock at me, I’ll explain it: I can’t do it distinctly; but I’ll give you a feeling of how I feel.” She seated herself by me again: her countenance grew sadder and graver, and her clasped hands trembled. “Nelly, do you never dream queer dreams?” she said, suddenly, after some minutes’ reflection. “Yes, now and then,” I answered. |
“我並不是要得到你的許可——我會嫁給他。可是你還沒告訴我，我這樣做到底對不對。” “如果人們隻顧眼前而結婚是正確的話，那你這個做法就完全正確。現在讓我們聽聽你為啥而難過。你哥哥會高興，我想那位老太太和老先生不會反對。你將從一個亂七八糟、不舒不適的家庭逃脫，嫁到一個富裕體麵的人家。而且你愛愛德嘉，愛德嘉也愛你。一切看來都是水到渠成、輕而易舉——障礙又在哪兒呢？” “在這兒，在這兒！”闞思睿回答道，一隻手捶著她的額頭，另一隻手捶著胸口：“在靈魂所住的地方——在我的靈魂裏，在我的心坎裏，我敢肯定我做錯了！” “這就怪了！我都被你搞糊塗啦。” “這是我的秘密。我給你解釋，但你不許笑我。我無法說得一清二楚——可是我要讓你感覺一下我的感受。” 她又坐回我身邊，神情變得越發憂傷、越發凝重，她緊握著的雙手在顫抖。 “耐莉，你從未做過怪夢嗎？”她想了幾分鍾後，忽然說道。 “是的，偶爾會。”我回答道。 |
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“And so do I. I’ve dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas: they’ve gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind. And this is one: I’m going to tell it—but take care not to smile at any part of it.” “Oh! don’t, Miss Catherine!” I cried. “We’re dismal enough without conjuring up ghosts and visions to perplex us. Come, come, be merry and like yourself! Look at little Hareton! he’s dreaming nothing dreary. How sweetly he smiles in his sleep!” “Yes; and how sweetly his father curses in his solitude! You remember him, I daresay, when he was just such another as that chubby thing: nearly as young and innocent. However, Nelly, I shall oblige you to listen: it’s not long; and I’ve no power to be merry to-night.” “I won’t hear it, I won’t hear it!” I repeated, hastily. I was superstitious about dreams then, and am still; and Catherine had an unusual gloom in her aspect, that made me dread something from which I might shape a prophecy, and foresee a fearful catastrophe. She was vexed, but she did not proceed. Apparently taking up another subject, she recommenced in a short time. |
“我也是。這輩子我做過的有些夢，以後會一直陪著我，而且改變了我的觀念。這些夢在我的身心來回穿梭，就像酒融入水中一樣，改變了我思想的顏色。就是這兒——我要講了——你可不許隨便拿我所講的話來取笑。” “啊，快別說啦，闞思睿小姐！”我叫著，“甭在這招魂引鬼來煩我們，我們已夠慘啦。過來，過來，笑一個，像你本來的樣子！看看小海瑞騰——他不會夢到傷心事。他睡著時笑得有多甜啊！” “是的，他父親在寂寞無聊時也罵得很甜啊！我敢說，你還記得他和這個胖呼呼的東西一樣大的時候——差不多一樣的幼小，一樣的天真。可是，耐莉，我要你聽著——這個夢並不長；今晚我是高興不起來了。” “我不聽，我不聽！”我趕緊反複說著。 那時候我對夢很迷信，現在仍是如此。闞思睿臉上泛起一種異乎尋常的愁容，這使我感到害怕，從她的表情中我也許可以勾勒出一種先兆，預料一件可怕的禍事即將臨頭。她很苦惱，可是她沒有接著講她的夢。停了一會兒她又開始說話了，很明顯她轉到了另一個話題。 |
