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书虫四级《克兰福德》:8.真正的朋友

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2019年12月09日

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8.True friends

8.真正的朋友

While Miss Matty went downstairs to tell Martha, I quietly picked up my letter and went to Signor Brunoni's lodgings. The signor was now well enough to leave Cranford and, before he disappeared, I needed an exact address for the Aga Jenkyns in Chunderabaddad.

马蒂小姐下楼去跟马莎讲话的时候,我静静地拿起我的信,去布鲁诺尼先生住的地方。这位先生现在已经康复,可以离开克兰福德了,在他消失之前,我需要知道昌德拉巴达那位阿加·詹金斯的确切地址。

I then posted my letter to India, and hurried back home. Martha, in tears now herself, pulled me into the kitchen.

然后我就把这封信寄往印度,并匆匆忙忙地回到家中。眼泪汪汪的马莎把我拽进了厨房。

I'll never leave her! I won't. "You may not know when you've got a good servant," I told her, "but I know when I've got a good mistress!" I've money in the Savings Bank, and I'm not going to leave Miss Matty.'

“我永远也不离开她!我不。‘你雇了一个好仆人,可你也许并没有意识到,’我告诉她,‘但我知道我有个好主人!’我在储蓄银行里有钱,我不会离开马蒂小姐的。”

What should I say? Miss Matty needed this kind woman. 'But, Martha, I don't think Miss Matty will even have enough money to buy your food.'

我能说什么?马蒂小姐需要这个善良的女人。“可是,马莎,我想马蒂小姐甚至连给你买食物的钱都不够。”

Not enough for food?!' Martha sat down on the nearest chair and cried aloud.

“买食物的钱都不够?!”马莎坐在最近的椅子上放声大哭。

Upstairs, Miss Matty was very quiet and sad. We decided to ask my father to come and advise her. So I wrote another letter, and then we tried to make plans.

楼上,马蒂小姐很安静,也很难过。我们决定让我父亲来给她出出主意。所以我又写了一封信,接下来我们试着制订些计划。

Miss Matty just wanted to sell most of her things, rent a single room somewhere and live quietly on the money that remained.

马蒂小姐只想把她大部分的东西变卖,在什么地方租一个单间的房屋,然后靠剩下的那点儿钱安静地生活。

I wanted something better for her. She needed money and I wondered how she, a lady, could earn some. By teaching? She loved children, but she could not sing or draw or sew. Perhaps she could teach reading? No. When she read aloud, she had to cough before each long word. Writing? Her spelling was terrible! No. There was nothing she could teach the children of Cranford, I decided, except quiet goodness.

我想给她出点儿更好的主意。她需要钱,我想知道她这样一位女士怎么样才能挣钱。教书吗?她爱孩子,可是她不会唱歌,不会画画,也不会缝纫。也许她可以教孩子们读书?不。她大声朗读的时候,读到每个长词之前都要咳嗽。教写作?她的拼写糟糕极了!不。除了安静善良的品行,她什么也教不了克兰福德的孩子,我想。

Dinner was announced by Martha, still crying. Dear, rough Martha! She now spoke to 58-year-old Miss Matty as kindly as to a child, and she had gone out and bought eggs and butter with her own money to cook her something special.

马莎宣布午餐开饭的时候仍然在哭。可爱而粗鲁的马莎!她现在跟58岁的马蒂小姐说话时的口气和善得就像是跟小孩子讲话一样,而且她还出去用自己的钱买了鸡蛋和黄油,想为她做一些特别的东西吃。

We did not talk much that afternoon, but when Martha brought our tea, I had an idea. Miss Matty could sell tea! Tea was not dirty, or heavy. And no shop-window would be necessary, only a small sign. The one thing against my plan was the buying and selling involved. Miss Matty would be in trade. Would she ever agree to that?

那天下午我们没怎么说话,不过马莎把茶点端进来的时候,我有了个主意。马蒂小姐可以卖茶叶!茶叶既不脏,也不重,也不需要橱窗,一块小招牌就够了。有一件事情会成为我这个计划的障碍,那就是买卖活动。马蒂小姐要做生意了,她会同意吗?

Suddenly, we heard a noise on the stairs and some whispering. Then Martha came in, pulling a great tall young man who was red with shyness.

突然,我们听到楼梯上传来一阵嘈杂声和低声说话的声音。接着马莎进来了,拽着一个羞得满脸通红的高个子年轻人。

Please, madam, he's only Jem Hearn,' said Martha, breathing hard. 'And please, madam, he wants to marry me immediately. And we want to rent a house and have just one quiet lodger, to help us with the money. And, dear Miss Matty, will you be that lodger and stay with us? Jem wants it as much as I do.' She turned to him. 'You stupid great thing! Why don't you speak?... He wants the same as I do, but he's shy in front of ladies,' she explained.

“对不起,小姐,他就是杰姆·赫恩。”马莎气喘吁吁地说,“求求您,小姐,他想立刻和我结婚。我们想租个房子,而且只想找一个安静的房客,来帮衬点儿钱。嗯,亲爱的马蒂小姐,您愿意做那个房客和我们生活在一起吗?杰姆和我一样希望您能同意。”她转向他,“你这个大傻瓜!为什么不说话?……他跟我的想法一样,不过他在女士面前会害羞。”她解释道。

It's not that,' said Jem. 'It's just that, well, I didn't expect to marry so soon. Martha moves so fast when she has an idea in her head...'

“不是这样的,”杰姆说,“只不过,哦,我还不想这么快就结婚。马莎一有什么想法就会立刻行动……”

Martha pushed him with her elbow. 'Please, madam, don't listen to him. He asked me only last night to marry him, but I said I couldn't yet, so now he's just surprised at the suddenness of it. But you know, Jem, you want a lodger as much as I do.' Another great push.

马莎用胳膊肘捅了他一下。“对不起,小姐,别听他的。他昨晚才向我求过婚,不过我说我还不能结婚,所以他现在对于这个突然的决定有些吃惊。不过你知道,杰姆,你像我一样想有一个房客。”她又使劲捅了杰姆一下。

Yes!' he said. 'And I don't mind marrying Martha, madam.'

“是啊!”他说,“而且我也不介意和马莎结婚,小姐。”

You've never stopped asking me,' cried Martha, 'and now you're making me look silly in front of my mistress!'

“你一直不停地求我,”马莎哭道,“现在你却让我在女主人面前出丑!”

Now, now, Martha,' said Jem, trying to hold her hand. 'It's just that a man needs time!' He turned to Miss Matty. 'I always expected Martha to be my wife—one day,' he said. 'I've great respect for everyone who's been kind to her, madam, and she's often said you're the kindest lady in the world. If you'd lodge with us, we'd try to make you comfortable...'

“得了,得了,马莎,”杰姆说道,想要握住她的手,“只不过男人需要时间!”他转向马蒂小姐,“我一直盼望有一天马莎能做我的妻子,”他说,“谁对她好,我就特别尊敬谁,小姐,她经常说您是世上最好的女士。如果您能和我们一起住,我们会尽量让您住得舒适的……”

Miss Matty had been very busy with taking off her glasses, wiping them, and putting them on again. All she could say was, 'You mustn't hurry into marriage just because of me. Marriage is a very serious thing...'

马蒂小姐一直忙着把眼镜摘下来,擦镜片,又戴上去。她所能说的就是:“你们不要因为我而草草结婚。婚姻是很严肃的事情……”

But Miss Matty will think about your plan,' I said quickly, 'and she can never forget your kindness.'

“不过马蒂小姐会考虑你们的计划的,”我立刻说,“她永远也不会忘记你们的好意。”

I'm very willing, madam, though I don't explain myself well,' Jem replied. 'So, Martha, my girl,' he whispered, 'why do you go on crying and pushing me?'

“我很愿意,小姐,虽然我自己说不清楚。”杰姆回答道,“那么,马莎,我的姑娘,”他低声说道,“你为什么还在哭还要捅我呢?”

Martha, annoyed, ran out of the room and was followed by her lover. Miss Matty then sat down and cried. The idea of Martha marrying so soon was such a surprise, she said. She would never forgive herself if the poor girl hurried into marriage because of her. I think I was more sorry for Jem of the two...

马莎生气了,跑出了房间,她的恋人也跟着她跑了出去。马蒂小姐坐下来哭了。马莎这么快就结婚真是出人意料,她说。如果这个可怜的女孩儿因为她而草草结婚,她永远也不会原谅自己。我想在这两个人中,我更替杰姆感到难过……

The next morning, very early, I received a mysterious note from Miss Pole, commanding me to come secretly to her house at eleven o'clock.

第二天一大早,我就收到了波尔小姐写来的神秘纸条,要我在11点钟的时候秘密地到她家去。

I went. The door was opened by Miss Pole's little maid in her Sunday clothes. Upstairs in the drawing-room, the table was covered with the best green card-cloth, and there were writing materials on it. Miss Pole was dressed for visitors. Mrs Forrester was already there, and then Mrs Fitz-Adam appeared, red with walking and excitement.

我去了。波尔小姐的小女仆穿着最好的衣服前来开门。在楼上的休息室里,桌上铺着最好的绿色牌布,上面还放着一些纸笔。波尔小姐穿着会客的服装。福里斯特夫人已经到了,后来菲茨-亚当夫人也来了,她的脸色由于走路和激动而有些发红。

Miss Pole coughed. She arranged all of us at the table, with me opposite her. Then she asked me if it was true that Miss Matty had lost all her money.

波尔小姐咳嗽了几声。她安排我们大家坐在桌边,我正对着她。然后她问我马蒂小姐损失了所有钱财的事是否属实。

Yes, it's true,' I said, and I never saw sadder faces than the three around me.

“是的,是真的。”我说,我再也没见过谁的脸色比坐在我身边的这三位更忧愁的了。

I wish Mrs Jamieson was here!' said Mrs Forrester.

“我希望贾米森夫人在这里!”福里斯特夫人说。

Mrs Fitz-Adam clearly did not agree, and Miss Pole was not pleased. 'Even without Mrs Jamieson,' she said, 'we, the ladies of Cranford, can do something.'

菲茨-亚当夫人显然不同意,波尔小姐也不高兴。“就算没有贾米森夫人,”她说,“我们这些克兰福德的女士也能做些事情。”

She turned to me. 'Miss Smith,' she continued (I was usually known as Mary), 'I talked privately yesterday afternoon to these ladies about what has happened to our friend. None of us is vulgarly rich, but we shall all be pleased—truly pleased, Mary!—to give what we can to help Miss Matilda Jenkyns.' Here Miss Pole had to wipe her glasses.

她转向我。“史密斯小姐,”她继续说道(大家一般都叫我玛丽),“昨天下午我和这些女士私下谈了谈发生在我们朋友身上的事。我们都不是土财主,不过我们大家都会高兴地——真的是高兴地,玛丽!——尽力帮助马蒂尔达·詹金斯小姐。”说到这儿,波尔小姐不得不擦了擦眼镜。

We wish, however, to give our little bits of money secretly, in order not to hurt any feelings. This is why we asked you to meet us. Your father, we believe, is Miss Jenkyns's adviser. We would like him to arrange for her to receive the money without knowing that it comes from us.' Miss Pole looked round at the little assembly. 'And now, ladies, while Miss Smith considers how to reply, allow me to offer you some bread-and-butter.'

“不过,我们希望能秘密地把我们这些为数不多的钱给她,以免伤害她的感情。所以我们才让你来和我们见面。我们相信你父亲是詹金斯小姐的顾问。我们想让他为她安排接收这笔钱,但又不让她知道这钱是我们给的。”波尔小姐环顾了一下参加聚会的这几个人,“现在,女士们,趁史密斯小姐考虑如何回答的时候,请允许我给大家上一些抹了黄油的面包。”

I did not reply very grandly. I just said that I would tell my father, and began to cry. The ladies cried too. Even Miss Pole.

我并没有说什么豪言壮语。我只是说我会告诉父亲,然后就哭了。女士们也哭了,连波尔小姐都掉下了眼泪。

Mrs Forrester was the first to speak again. 'I'11 write down what money I can give. I wish it was more, my dear Mary. Indeed I do!'

福里斯特夫人是接下来第一个说话的人。“我会把我能给的钱数写下来。我希望我能给得更多些,亲爱的玛丽。真的!”

Now I saw why paper and pens had been put on the table. Every lady privately wrote down what she could give each year, signed her paper and passed it to me. If the plan was accepted, my father would open the papers. If not, he would return them to their writers.

现在我明白为什么桌上摆好了纸和笔。每一位女士都秘密地写下了自己每年能给的钱数,签上名,然后交给我。如果这个计划被采纳,我父亲就会打开这些纸。如果不能,他会把它们还给书写者本人。

I got up to leave, but each lady wanted to speak to me by herself. Miss Pole kept me in the drawing-room, to say she had heard that Mrs Jamieson was coming home—very displeased with her sister-in-law, who was returning to Edinburgh that same afternoon. Of course, she could not say this in front of Mrs Fitz-Adam, who, as Mr Hoggins's sister, would not like to hear of anybody being angry about her brother's marriage.

我起身要走,但每一位女士都想亲自和我说话。波尔小姐让我留在休息室,告诉我她听说贾米森夫人就要回家了——她对她嫂子很不满,而她嫂子也要在当天下午回爱丁堡去。当然,她不能当着菲茨-亚当夫人的面说这些,她是霍金斯先生的妹妹,不会允许任何人对她哥哥的婚姻说三道四。

Downstairs, Mrs Forrester was waiting. The poor old lady was trembling. She herself had less than £100 a year, she whispered, so she had only been able to promise Miss Matty £5 on her paper. She wished she was rich. She wished she could help dear Miss Matty more...

楼下,福里斯特夫人正在等待着。这位可怜的老夫人浑身发抖。她本人一年只有不到100英镑,她低声说,她只能在纸上写下答应给马蒂小姐五英镑。她希望自己有钱,她希望自己能给亲爱的马蒂更多的帮助……

And then Mrs Fitz-Adam stopped me outside the house—to say almost the opposite. She had not liked to write down all she could afford and was ready to give.

后来,菲茨-亚当夫人在房子外面拦住了我——她说的话几乎正好相反。她不想把自己能给的钱数都写下来,而且她现在就准备给一些钱。

Miss Matty was such a fine young lady,' she explained, 'when I was just a country girl coming to Cranford market. One day, I remember, I met her just outside the town. She was walking, and a gentleman rode beside her and was talking to her. She was looking down at some flowers she had picked, and I think she was crying. But she turned and ran after me to ask—oh, so kindly—about my poor mother, who was dying. Miss Matty was the rector's daughter, and it was such an honour that she spoke to me in that pretty way.

“马蒂小姐是一位多好的年轻女士啊,”她解释道,“那时我还是个初到克兰福德集市的乡下女孩儿。有一天,我记得,我就是在镇子外面遇到她的。她当时正在散步,身边有位先生骑着马正在跟她说话。她低着头看自己摘的花朵,我觉得她是在哭。可是她转过身,跑着追上我问——哦,好亲切啊——问起我那可怜的将死的母亲。马蒂小姐是教区长的女儿,我很荣幸她能用这么温柔的方式和我说话。

So do please think how I can give her a little more without anyone knowing, my dear. And my brother will be her doctor for nothing. He and her ladyship are ready to do anything for her. We all are.'

“所以一定请你想想我怎么样才能多帮她一点儿,又不让别人知道,亲爱的。而且我哥哥会无偿地为她看病。他和尊敬的夫人乐于为她做任何事情,我们大家都是这样。”

I was so anxious to get home to Miss Matty that I made all kinds of promises. But Miss Matty had not missed me. She was busy preparing to leave her house, and I think she was pleased to be doing something. Whenever she thought about Mr Dobson with his five-pound note, she said, she felt so dishonest! She was sure the bankers themselves must feel terrible...

我很着急回马蒂小姐那里去,所以满口应承下来。不过马蒂小姐并不想念我。她正忙着准备离开她的房子,我想,做些事情会让她感到高兴的。她一想到多布森先生和他的五英镑纸币,她说,她就觉得好像撒了大谎似的!她确信银行家们一定感觉非常糟糕……

My father arrived next morning, and when we were alone, I told him about Martha's plan and my meeting with the Cranford ladies.

我父亲第二天早晨就到了,我们单独在一起的时候,我告诉他马莎的计划以及我和克兰福德的女士们会面的事情。

My father brushed his hand across his eyes. 'See, Mary,' he said, 'how a good life makes friends all round. I could write a sermon about it if I was the rector!'

我父亲用手揉揉眼睛。“看,玛丽,”他说,“为人多积善,朋友遍天下。如果我是教区长,我都可以写一篇布道文了!”

He and I decided that, if everyone agreed, Martha and Jem would marry as soon as possible and rent Miss Matty's house with the money given by the Cranford ladies. Then Martha could use whatever Miss Matty paid for her lodgings to make her comfortable.

他和我决定,如果大家都同意,马莎和杰姆可以尽快结婚,用克兰福德的女士们给的钱租下马蒂小姐的房子。然后马莎可以用马蒂小姐付给她的住宿费让她生活得舒舒服服。

I told my father my idea that Miss Matty could sell tea, and he liked it. One of the rooms downstairs could become a shop, he said enthusiastically. It could have a glass door and Miss Matty could sit behind a table...

我告诉父亲我认为马蒂小姐可以卖茶叶,他觉得这主意不错。楼下的一个房间可以开一间店面,他热心地说。店门可以是玻璃的,马蒂小姐可以坐在桌子后面……

Miss Matty patiently accepted all we arranged. She even agreed to sell tea. 'Though I doubt that I'll do it very well,' she said. 'I'd so much rather sell sweets to children!'

马蒂小姐耐心地接受了我们的一切安排,她甚至同意卖茶叶。“虽然我怀疑我能不能做得好,”她说,“我倒更愿意卖糖果给孩子们!”

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