双语小说连载:《董贝父子》第8章 Part 15
Why, he's not ugly when he's awake,' observed Berry. “唔,他醒着的时候也不难 看,”贝里评论道。 'No, Ma'am. Oh, no. No more was my Uncle's Betsey Jane,' said Mrs Wickam. “是的,夫人。啊,是的,我舅舅的女儿贝特西•简也这样,”威肯姆说道。 Berry looked as if she would like to trace the connexion of ideas between Paul Dombey and Mrs Wickam's Uncle's Betsey Jane'My Uncle's wife,' Mrs Wickam went on to say, 'died just like his Mama. My Uncle's child took on just as Master Paul do.''Took on! You don't think he grieves for his Mama, sure?' argued Berry, sitting down on the side of the bed. 'He can't remember anything about her, you know, Mrs Wickam. It's not possible.''No, Ma'am,' said Mrs Wickam 'No more did my Uncle's child. But my Uncle's child said very strange things sometimes, and looked very strange, and went on very strange, and was very strange altogether. My Uncle's child made people's blood run cold, some times, she did!' 贝里脸上露出的表情看上去仿佛是她想探根究源地了解一下保罗•董贝与威肯姆大嫂舅舅的女儿贝特西•简之间的关系。 “我舅舅的妻子,”威肯姆接下去说道,“就像她的妈妈一样死掉。我舅舅的女儿就像保罗少爷一样悲伤,我舅舅的女儿有时使人心惊胆寒,她常常是这样的。” 'How?' asked Berry. “怎么样的呢?”贝里问道。 'I wouldn't have sat up all night alone with Betsey Jane!' said Mrs Wickam, 'not if you'd have put Wickam into business next morning for himself. I couldn't have done it, Miss Berry. “我不愿意跟贝特西•简两个人在一起坐一整夜!”威肯姆大嫂说道,“哪怕明天早上您让威肯姆去料理他自己的事情我也不干,我做不到,贝里小姐。” Miss Berry naturally asked why not? But Mrs Wickam, agreeably to the usage of some ladies in her condition, pursued her own branch of the subject, without any compunction. 贝里小姐自然问为什么做不到?可是威肯姆大嫂按照她那种身份的一些人的习惯,无动于衷地沿着自己的思路说下去。 'Betsey Jane,' said Mrs Wickam, 'was as sweet a child as I could wish to see. I couldn't wish to see a sweeter. Everything that a child could have in the way of illnesses, Betsey Jane had come through. The cramps was as common to her,' said Mrs Wickam, 'as biles is to yourself, Miss Berry.' Miss Berry involuntarily wrinkled her nose. “贝特西•简是个我能希望见到的可爱的孩子,”威肯姆大嫂说道,“我不能希望见到比她更可爱的孩子了。一个孩子所能生的各种病,贝特西•简全都生过了。痉挛对她来说是习以为常的事情,”威肯姆大嫂说道,“就像疖子对您一样,贝里小姐。”贝里小姐不由自主地皱了皱鼻子。 'But Betsey Jane,' said Mrs Wickam, lowering her voice, and looking round the room, and towards Paul in bed, 'had been minded, in her cradle, by her departed mother. I couldn't say how, nor I couldn't say when, nor I couldn't say whether the dear child knew it or not, but Betsey Jane had been watched by her mother, Miss Berry!' and Mrs Wickam, with a very white face, and with watery eyes, and with a tremulous voice, again looked fearfully round the room, and towards Paul in bed.'Nonsense!' cried Miss Berry - somewhat resentful of the idea.'You may say nonsense! I ain't offended, Miss. I hope you may be able to think in your own conscience that it is nonsense; you'll find your spirits all the better for it in this - you'll excuse my being so free - in this burying-ground of a place; which is wearing of me down. Master Paul's a little restless in his sleep. Pat his back, if you please.' “可是贝特西•简,”威肯姆大嫂压低了嗓子,向房间四处环视了一下,面向着床上的保罗, 说道,“在摇篮里的时候曾经由她已经去世的母亲照料过。我说不出是怎么照料的,我也说不出是什么时候照料的,我也 说不出这孩子是不是知道这件事,但是贝特西•简曾经由她的母亲照料过,贝里小姐!您可能会说这是废话!我不会生气见怪,小姐,我希望您能不昧良心地认为,这•是废话,那样您就会觉得您待在这个地方的心情要好得多;这是个像坟场一样的地方——请您原谅我这么放肆——,它使我腻烦透顶了。保罗少爷睡得有点不安静,劳驾您拍拍他的背。” 'Of course you think,' said Berry, gently doing what she was asked, 'that he has been nursed by his mother, too?' “当然,您认为,”贝里按照她的请求,轻轻地拍着,同时说道,“他也被他的母亲养育过吗?” 'Betsey Jane,' returned Mrs Wickam in her most solemn tones, 'was put upon as that child has been put upon, and changed as that child has changed. I have seen her sit, often and often, think, think, thinking, like him. I have seen her look, often and often, old, old, old, like him. I have heard her, many a time, talk just like him. I consider that child and Betsey Jane on the same footing entirely, Miss Berry.' “贝特西•简,”威肯姆大嫂用她最严肃的语气说道,“就像那个孩子一样没交好运,就像那个孩子一样改变了。我不时看到她坐在那里,想呀,想呀,一直在想着,就像他一样。我不时看到她看去很老气,很老气,很老气,就像他一样。我好多次听到她讲起话来就像他一样。我觉得那个孩子的情况跟贝特西•简完全一样,贝里小姐。” |