书虫二级《新森林的孩子们》：5、国王的士兵
5．Soldier of the King
5．国王的士兵
Edward had many adventures. He made new friends, and the King was very pleased to learn that the children of Colonel Beverley were alive and well. But the time was not yet right for King Charles II. Cromwell's army was still very strong, and by autumn 1651 the King's soldiers were either dead, or running away, back to Scotland. The King himself escaped alone — no one knew where.
爱德华经历了很多冒险，结交了新朋友，国王很高兴得知贝弗利上校的孩子们都还活着，而且过得都很好。但是时机对于国王查理二世来说还不恰当。克伦威尔的军队仍然很强大，到1651年秋天，国王的士兵不是死了，就是逃回苏格兰了。国王独自逃走了——没人知道去了哪儿。
Edward returned secretly to the New Forest, wearing the uniform of a dead Roundhead soldier. He arrived at the cottage late at night and frightened his family and Pablo very much. Then they heard his voice, and in a minute Edward was in the arms of his brother and sisters.
爱德华穿着一个死去的圆颅党士兵的军服，秘密回到了新森林。他深夜到达农舍，把他的家人和帕布洛都吓坏了。然后他们听到了他的声音，立刻爱德华就被包围在弟弟和妹妹们的怀抱中了。
Early the next morning Edward rode across the forest to see Mr Hetherstone, who was very pleased to see him. He listened to Edward's news, then said:
第二天一大早，爱德华骑马穿过森林去见赫瑟斯顿先生。他很高兴见到爱德华，听了爱德华带来的消息，他说道：
So,we must wait a while longer before we see a new King, and we must still pretend to be Cromwell's friends. We'll say that you went to fight for Cromwell. It was clever of you to come back in a Roundhead's uniform — that will help to keep both of us out of danger.'
“所以，我们必须再多等一段时间，才能看到新的国王，而且我们必须仍然装作是支持克伦威尔的。我们会说你是去为克伦威尔而战的。你很聪明，知道穿着圆颅党士兵的军服回来——这会帮我们俩远离危险。”
For some days Cromwell's men searched the forest for the King. Then came news that the King was now in France, and at last the soldiers left the forest.
有好几天的时间，克伦威尔的人都在森林里搜查国王。然后传来消息说国王现在在法国，于是最后士兵们都离开了森林。
Edward returned to his job of secretary to Mr Hetherstone. Patience was very pleased to see him again, but Edward felt uncomfortable. He now wanted to tell Patience that he loved her, and he wanted to tell her father the secret of his name. But he was still a young man, and he did not know how to do either of these things.
爱德华重新当起了赫瑟斯顿先生的秘书。佩兴斯非常高兴又见到他，但是爱德华却感到不自在。现在他想告诉佩兴斯他爱她，还想告诉她父亲自己的姓氏的秘密。但是他还年轻，这两件事中哪一件他都不知道该怎么处理。
One evening he found himself alone in the garden with Patience. For a while they talked of his adventures with the King, then Edward said:
一天晚上，他单独和佩兴斯待在花园里。他们聊了一会儿他和国王一起的冒险经历，接着爱德华说：
While I was away, I was always thinking of you. And now I have seen you again, I know that I must speak. I love you, Patience, and want to be with you always.'
“我离开的这段日子总是想起你。现在我又见到你了，我知道我必须说出来。我爱你，佩兴斯，我想永远和你在一起。”
Patience looked away. 'You saved my life, and I can never forget that, Edward,' she said quietly. 'I know that you're my friend, and I thank you for your kind words. But I'm young and I must talk to my father.'
佩兴斯转过脸去。“你救了我的命，我永远也不会忘记，爱德华，”她轻轻地说，“我知道你是我的朋友，我谢谢你这些好心的话。但是现在我还年轻，我必须跟我父亲说。”
Edward did not understand her answer. What did she mean? Did she love him, or didn't she?
爱德华不明白她的回答。她是什么意思？她到底是爱他，还是不爱他？
Do you think that your father will say no because I'm only a poor forester?' he began.
“你觉得你父亲会因为我只是个穷护林人而反对吗？”他开口问道。
Just then Mr Hetherstone came out into the garden and called to them. 'Edward, I was looking for you. A letter has just arrived from Parliament. Look.'
就在这时，赫瑟斯顿先生来到花园叫他们。“爱德华，我正在找你呢。议会刚刚寄来一封信，看。”
The letter said that Parliament was giving Arnwood and its land to Mr Hetherstone. Edward's face turned white and for a minute he could not speak.
信中说议会要把安伍德及其附属的土地分给赫瑟斯顿先生。爱德华的脸变得苍白，一时间说不出话来。
We'll ride across tomorrow and look at Arnwood. I want to rebuild the house,' said Mr Hetherstone.
“我们明天骑马过去看看安伍德，我想重建那座房子。”赫瑟斯顿先生说。
But Arnwood belongs to the Beverley family,' Edward said carefully. 'Perhaps not all the children died in the fire. And if some of them are still alive...'
“但是安伍德属于贝弗利家，”爱德华小心地说，“或许不是所有的孩子都在火中丧生了，如果他们中有些还活着……”
I'll give Arnwood back, of course. But for now Arnwood belongs to me, and when Patience marries, it will belong to her husband.'
“那我当然会把安伍德还给他们。但是目前安伍德属于我，佩兴斯嫁人以后，它就属于她丈夫了。”
Edward was silent. He could not tell Mr Hetherstone his secret now, or that he wanted to marry his daughter.
爱德华沉默了。他现在不能告诉赫瑟斯顿先生他的秘密了，也不能说他想娶他的女儿了。
That night he went to bed early, but could not sleep. 'Patience is rich now,' he thought, 'and many men will want to marry her. And I don't think that she loves me. And if I say I am Edward Beverley, I'm sure that Parliament will take Arnwood back, and I'll still be a poor forester. I can't stay here any more. I shall leave England, and go to the King in France.'
那天夜里他很早就上床了，但却睡不着。“佩兴斯现在有钱了，”他想，“很多男人都会想娶她。而且我认为她不爱我。如果我说我是爱德华·贝弗利，我敢肯定议会会收回安伍德，而我将仍旧是一个穷护林人。我不能再待在这儿了，我要离开英国，去法国找国王。”
Very early the next morning, while everyone else was still asleep, Edward left the house and rode across the forest to the cottage. There he made plans with Humphrey and his sisters. They were very sorry to see him so unhappy.
第二天清早，当其他所有人都还在睡觉的时候，爱德华离开了那所房子，骑马穿过森林回到了农舍。在那里他和汉弗莱还有妹妹们一起商量今后的计划。他们看到他这么不开心都很难过。
It's time for Alice and Edith to leave the forest too,' Edward told Humphrey. 'While I was in the north with the King, I met the Conynghame family, who knew our father very well. They will be happy to take the girls and look after them. Our sisters will have a better life there. And you, Humphrey — why don't you come with me?'
“现在也是艾丽斯和伊迪丝离开森林的时候了，”爱德华对汉弗莱说，“我和国王在北方的时候遇到了科宁厄姆一家，他们和爸爸很熟。他们会很乐意收留妹妹们并照顾她们的，她们在那里会过得好一些。而你，汉弗莱——不如和我一起走吧？”
No,' said Humphrey. 'It will be good for the girls to get away, but it's better that I stay here. Pablo and I can look after the farm together. Also, I can watch and see what happens to Arnwood. One day you'll come back, and who knows what will happen then?'
“不，”汉弗莱说，“女孩们离开这儿会好一些，但是我留下来更好。帕布洛和我可以一起照看农场，而且，我也可以关注着安伍德发生的一切。总有一天你会回来的，谁知道那时候会发生什么呢？”
Edward left that night, and Alice and Edith cried very much. It was an unhappy time for them all — the end of their life together in the forest. Edward left a letter for Mr Hetherstone. 'You have been very kind to me, and I thank you,' he wrote. But he wrote nothing to Patience.
爱德华那天晚上就离开了，艾丽斯和伊迪丝哭得很伤心。那对他们每一个人来说都是个悲伤的时刻——是他们一起在森林中生活的结束。爱德华留给赫瑟斯顿先生一封信。“您对我一直很好，我很感谢您。”他写道。但是他没给佩兴斯留下只言片语。
When Mr Hetherstone got Edward's letter, he rode over at once to see Humphrey. He, too, was very unhappy.
赫瑟斯顿先生收到爱德华的信后，立刻骑马过来找汉弗莱，他也很难过。
All my plans have gone wrong,' he told Humphrey. 'Edward has gone, and my daughter is very unhappy. I've known for a long time that you were the Beverley children. I wanted Patience to marry Edward. She loves him, but she wanted to talk to me first, because she thought that Edward was a poor man. And I asked Parliament for Arnwood because I wanted to rebuild the house and then give it to Edward. Will you help me, Humphrey, to rebuild the house? One day the King will come back to England, and Edward will come back too. I want Arnwood to be ready for him.'
“我所有的计划都出错了，”他告诉汉弗莱，“爱德华走了，我女儿很不开心。我知道你们是贝弗利家的孩子已经很久了。我想把佩兴斯嫁给爱德华。她爱他，但是她想先和我谈谈，因为她以为爱德华是个穷人。而我向议会要安伍德是因为我想重建那座房子，然后把它交给爱德华。你愿意帮我重建那座房子吗，汉弗莱？总有一天国王会回到英国，爱德华也会回来的。我想把安伍德给他准备好。”
* * *
* * *
Edward was away for nearly nine years, fighting with the French army in France and Holland and Spain. But in May 1660, after Cromwell died, Charles Ⅱ came back to be King of England, and Edward Beverley was with him when he rode into London.
爱德华离开了将近九年，在法国、荷兰和西班牙与法国军队一起作战。但是克伦威尔死后，1660年5月，查理二世回来成了英国的国王，当他骑马进入伦敦的时候，爱德华·贝弗利便随侍在他身边。
Those were happy times in London. But the happiest day of all was the day when the Beverley childern of the New Forest were together again at last.
在伦敦城里的时光是快乐的。但是最高兴的时刻是新森林里的贝弗利家的孩子们终于又重新团聚了。
The farm at our cottage is now very large,' Humphrey told Edward. 'Mr Hetherstone rebuilt Arnwood and says that it belongs to you. He'll be happy to see you again.'
“我们农舍的农场现在很大了，”汉弗莱告诉爱德华，“赫瑟斯顿先生重建了安伍德，他说它是属于你的。他会很高兴再次见到你的。”
And what about Patience?' Alice asked. 'Do you still love her, Edward? She's here in London, you know.'
“那佩兴斯怎么样了？”艾丽斯问，“你还爱她吗，爱德华？你知道，她现在就在伦敦。”
Yes, I saw her one day in the crowds at the King's house,' said Edward. 'She's more beautiful than ever. I still love her, but I'm sure that she has forgotten me.'
“是的，有一天我在国王家的人群中看到她了，”爱德华说，“她比以前更漂亮了。我仍然爱她，但是我肯定她已经忘记我了。”
You were very unkind to her,' Edith said. 'She was very unhappy when you went away. But she hasn't married anyone in these nine years, and lots of men have asked her. So I think that she still loves you.'
“你对她太不好了，”伊迪丝说，“你离开的时候她很不开心。但是她在这九年里谁也没嫁，很多男人都向她求过婚。所以我认为她还爱你。”
Edith was right, and about a year later Edward married Patience and they lived happily together at Arnwood. Oswald Partridge came to work for Edward there. Humphrey married the daughter of a friend, bought a bigger farm, and gave Jacob Armitage's cottage to Pablo. And Alice and Edith, now beautiful young women, married soldiers of the King. And there we will say goodbye to the Beverleys.
伊迪丝是对的。大约一年以后爱德华娶了佩兴斯，他们一起幸福地生活在安伍德。奥斯瓦尔德·帕特里奇去安伍德为爱德华工作。汉弗莱娶了一位朋友的女儿，买了一个更大的农场，把雅各布·阿米蒂奇的农舍给了帕布洛。艾丽斯和伊迪丝现在已经是漂亮姑娘了，她们嫁给了国王的士兵。到这里，我们就要和贝弗利一家说再见了。
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