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书虫四级《华盛顿广场》:3.莫里斯·汤森是谁?

所属教程:书虫4级 华盛顿广场

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2020年01月19日

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3.Who is Morris Townsend?

3.莫里斯·汤森是谁?

Half an hour after the two young men had left, Doctor Sloper came into the parlour.

两个年轻人走后半个小时,斯洛珀医生进了客厅。

Mr Morris Townsend has just been here, Austin,' Mrs Penniman told her brother. 'What a pity you missed him.'

“莫里斯·汤森先生刚来过,奥斯汀,”彭尼曼夫人对弟弟说,“可惜你没见到。”

Who in the world is Mr Morris Townsend?'

“莫里斯·汤森先生到底是谁?”

The gentleman at Elizabeth's party who liked Catherine so much,' said Mrs Penniman.

“伊丽莎白晚会上的那个年轻人,他很喜欢凯瑟琳。”彭尼曼夫人说。

Oh, his name is Morris Townsend, is it?' the Doctor said. He looked at Catherine. 'And did he come here to ask you to marry him?'

“哦,他叫莫里斯·汤森,对吧?”医生说。他看着凯瑟琳,“他来这里是向你求婚吗?”

Oh, father!' murmured Catherine, turning away.

“哦,爸爸!”凯瑟琳低声埋怨着,转身走开了。

I hope he won't do that without your permission,' said Mrs Penniman.

“我希望没有你的同意他不会那么做。”彭尼曼夫人说。

My dear, he seems to have yours,' her brother answered. 'The next time he comes, you should call me. He might like to see me.'

“亲爱的,他好像已经得到你的同意了。”她弟弟回答道,“下次他来的时候,你应该叫上我。他也许乐意见我。”

Morris Townsend came again five days later, but Doctor Sloper was not at home at the time. Catherine was with her aunt when a servant announced the young man's name. Mrs Penniman sent her niece into the parlour alone.

五天后莫里斯·汤森再次来访,不过当时斯洛珀医生刚好不在家。仆人通报来客姓名的时候,凯瑟琳正和她姑姑在一起。彭尼曼夫人让侄女独自到客厅里去。

This time it's for you—for you only,' she said.

“这次是为你而来——只为你一个人。”她说。

So Catherine saw Mr Townsend alone, sitting with him in the front parlour, for more than an hour. He seemed more at home this time—making himself very comfortable and looking around with interest at the room and the furniture. His talk was light, easy and friendly. 'Tell me about yourself,' he said to her, with his charming smile.

所以凯瑟琳独自一人和汤森先生相见,他们在前厅坐了一个多小时。他这次似乎更随意——他很放松,饶有兴致地打量着房间和家具。他的谈话也轻松、随意而且友好。“跟我说说你自己吧。”他对她说,露出了迷人的笑容。

Catherine had very little to tell, but she told him of her love of music and the theatre, and how she did not really enjoy reading. Morris Townsend agreed with her that books were boring—he had been to places that people had written about, and they were not at all as they had been described. He had also seen all the famous actors in London and Paris, but the actors were always like the writers they were never true to real life. He liked everything to be natural. Suddenly he stopped, looking at Catherine with his smile.

凯瑟琳没多少可说的,不过她还是告诉他自己对音乐和戏剧的热爱,以及她不那么喜欢读书。莫里斯·汤森同意她的看法,认为书很枯燥——他去过书里提到的那些地方,跟书中描写的一点儿都不一样。伦敦和巴黎所有的著名演员他也都见过,这些演员和那些作家都一个样——都不忠实于真实的生活。他喜欢一切自然的东西。突然,他停了下来,面带微笑地看着凯瑟琳。

That's what I like you for; you are so natural,' he said. 'You see I am natural myself.'

“这就是我喜欢你的地方;你这么淳朴。”他说,“你看,我本人并不矫揉造作。”

He went on to talk about his great love of music and singing. 'I sing a little myself,' he added; 'some day I will show you. Not today, but some other time.'

他继续讲他有多么喜爱音乐和歌唱。“我自己也唱唱歌,”他加了一句,“改天我唱给你听。今天不行了,改天。”

And then he got up to go. He had perhaps talked more about himself than about Catherine, but the truth was that Catherine had not noticed. She was thinking only that 'some other time' had a delightful sound. It seemed to suggest many more meetings in the future.

然后他就站起来走了。也许他谈论自己比谈论凯瑟琳还多,不过实际上凯瑟琳根本没注意到。她只是在想“改天”会听到令人愉快的歌声。这似乎意味着以后他们还会见很多次。

Catherine felt it was her duty to tell her father that Mr Morris Townsend had called again—though it made her feel ashamed and uncomfortable. She announced the fact very suddenly, as soon as the Doctor came into the house, and then immediately tried to leave the room. Her father stopped her just as she reached the door.

凯瑟琳觉得自己有责任把莫里斯·汤森先生再次造访的事情告诉父亲——尽管这使她感到害臊和不安。医生一进屋,她就突然宣布了这件事,然后就想立刻离开房间。她刚走到门口就被她父亲拦住了。

Well, my dear, did he ask you to marry him today?' the Doctor said.

“嗯,亲爱的,他今天向你求婚了吗?”医生说。

Catherine had no answer ready. She wanted to be amused, as her father was amused, but she also wanted to be a little sharp, so that he would not ask the question again. She did not like it—it made her unhappy.

凯瑟琳对这个问题毫无准备。她想愉快点儿,像她父亲那样,但她还想尖刻点儿,这样他就不会再问这个问题了。她不喜欢这个问题——这令她不愉快。

Perhaps he will do it next time,' she said, with a little laugh; and she quickly got out of the room.

“也许下次他会这么做。”她轻轻一笑,说道;然后迅速离开了房间。

The Doctor stood staring. He wondered whether his daughter was serious, and decided to find out more about this handsome young man. The next time he saw his sister Elizabeth, he asked her about Morris Townsend.

医生站在那里愣了半天。他不知道女儿是不是认真的,后来他决定去了解更多有关这个英俊青年的情况。他再次看到妹妹伊丽莎白的时候,就向她问起了莫里斯·汤森。

Lavinia has already been to ask me about him,' Mrs Almond said.

“拉维尼娅已经向我问过他的情况了。”阿尔蒙德夫人说道。

What did you tell her?' the Doctor asked.

“你告诉她什么了?”医生问。

What I tell you—that I know very little of him.'

“就是我跟你说的——我对他不太了解。”

How disappointing for Lavinia,' said the Doctor. 'She would like him to have some romantic secret in his past. I hear that he is a distant cousin of Arthur Townsend.'

“拉维尼娅该有多失望啊,”医生说,“她希望他过去的人生经历中会有一些浪漫的秘密。我听说他是阿瑟·汤森的远房表兄。”

Yes, though it seems that there are Townsends and Townsends—some rather better than others. Arthur's mother knows very little about him; only some story that he has been 'wild' in the past. I know his sister a little. Her name is Mrs Montgomery; she is a widow, with five children and not much money.'

“是啊,不过好像到处都是姓汤森的人——有一些比另一些要好多了。阿瑟的母亲对他也不太了解;只有一些传闻说他以前曾经‘野’过一阵。他姐姐的情况我也知道一点儿。她叫蒙哥马利夫人;是个寡妇,带着五个孩子,没什么钱。”

What is his profession?' asked the Doctor.

“他是干什么的?”医生问道。

He hasn't got any; he is looking for something. I believe he was once in the Navy.'

“他没工作;正在找事做。我想他以前在海军服过役。”

Once? What is his age?'

“以前?他多大了?”

More than thirty, I think. Arthur told me that he inherited a little money—which is perhaps why he left the Navy—and that he spent it all in a few years. He travelled all over the world, lived in foreign countries, amused himself. He has recently come back to America, and he told Arthur that he now wants to start his life seriously.'

“30多岁吧,我想。阿瑟告诉我他继承了一点儿钱——也许就是因为这个他才离开海军的——没出几年他就把这笔钱花光了。他周游世界,住在国外,活得挺快活。他最近才回美国,他告诉阿瑟现在他想认认真真地过日子了。”

Is he serious about Catherine, then?'

“那么他对凯瑟琳是认真的喽?”

I don't see why you are surprised,' said Mrs Almond. 'It seems to me that you have never been fair to Catherine. You must remember that she will one day have thirty thousand dollars a year.'

“我不明白你为什么感到惊讶,”阿尔蒙德夫人说,“我觉得你从来没有公平地对待过凯瑟琳。你应该记住将来有一天凯瑟琳会有一年3万美元的进项。”

The Doctor looked at his sister for a moment. 'I see that you remember it.'

医生看了他妹妹一会儿:“我知道你是记得的。”

Mrs Almond blushed. 'I don't mean that is the only good thing about her; I simply mean that it is important. You seem to think that nobody will ever want to marry her.'

阿尔蒙德夫人的脸一下子红了:“我不是说她只有那一样好处;我只是想说那很重要。你好像觉得没人愿意娶她似的。”

Why should I think differently, Elizabeth?' the Doctor said. 'How many young men have come courting Catherine, even with her expected fortune? None—which is why Lavinia is so charmed that there is now a lover in the house. It is the first time.'

“为什么我会和你想的不同呢,伊丽莎白?”医生说,“就算凯瑟琳将来会有这么一笔财富,又有多少年轻人来追求她呢?一个也没有——所以拉维尼娅才会这么热衷,家里现在来了个情人。这可是头一次。”

I think young men are rather afraid of Catherine,' said the Doctor's wiser sister. 'She seems older than they are—she is so large, and she dresses so richly. An older, more experienced man would recognize all the good things in her character, and would find her delightful.'

“我觉得小伙子们都很害怕凯瑟琳,”医生的这位更聪明的妹妹说,“她看起来比他们大——她个头这么大,穿得又华丽。只有年龄大一点儿、经验更丰富的男人才会发现她性格中所有那些美好的东西,也才会发现她是个惹人喜爱的姑娘。”

And Mr Townsend? What are his reasons for courting Catherine? Is he sincere in liking her?'

“那么汤森先生呢?他为什么会追求凯瑟琳?他真的喜欢她吗?”

It is very possible that he is sincere. Lavinia is sure of it.'

“他很有可能是认真的。拉维尼娅确信是这样的。”

Doctor Sloper thought for a moment. 'If he does not work, what are his means?'

斯洛珀医生想了一会儿:“他要是不工作,靠什么生活?”

I have no idea. He lives with his sister and her children on Second Avenue.'

“我不知道。他和他姐姐还有她的孩子们一起住在第二大道。”

A widow, with five children? Do you mean he lives upon her?'

“一个寡妇,带着五个孩子?你的意思是他靠她养活?”

Mrs Almond looked at her brother a little impatiently. 'Why not ask Mrs Montgomery yourself?' she said.

阿尔蒙德夫人有点儿不耐烦地看着她哥哥。“你为什么不自己去问问蒙哥马利夫人呢?”她说。

Perhaps I will,' said the Doctor.

“也许我会去的。”医生说。

Doctor Sloper was more amused than annoyed by the idea of Mr Townsend courting his daughter. He was quite willing to believe the best of the young man. And if he was a sincere, honest man, it did not matter if he was poor, since Catherine had no need of a rich husband.

想到汤森先生追求他的女儿,斯洛珀医生与其说是生气倒不如说是感到有趣。他很愿意往最好的地方去想这个年轻人。如果他真心实意,为人又诚实,那么他穷点儿也没关系,反正凯瑟琳并不需要一个有钱的丈夫。

The next time he comes,' he told Mrs Penniman, 'you must invite him to dinner.'

“下次他来,”他告诉彭尼曼夫人,“你一定要请他来吃晚饭。”

Mrs Penniman was happy to pass on her brother's invitation, which Morris Townsend accepted, and the dinner was arranged. Two or three other people were invited as well, and although Doctor Sloper talked very little to the young man during the meal, he watched him carefully. At the end of the meal, when the ladies had gone up to the parlour, leaving the men to their drinking, the Doctor gave him some wine and asked him several questions. Morris Townsend was happy to talk, and the Doctor sat quietly, watching his bright, handsome face.

彭尼曼夫人很高兴地转达了弟弟的邀请,莫里斯·汤森接受了邀请,晚宴也安排下了。还邀请了两三个其他的人,虽然斯洛珀医生在进餐时没跟这个年轻人说什么话,他还是仔细地观察了他。晚餐到了最后,女士们都到客厅里去了,留下男人们继续喝酒,医生给他倒了一些葡萄酒,又问了他几个问题。莫里斯·汤森喜欢说话,医生静静地坐在那里,看着他那快乐英俊的脸。

He is clever, a good talker, and very self-confident,' Catherine's father thought. 'And he dresses very well. But I don't think I like him.'

“他是个聪明人,会说话,也很自信。”凯瑟琳的父亲想,“他穿得也很好。可是我想我不喜欢他。”

The Doctor, however, kept his thoughts to himself.

不过,医生只是心里这么想而已。

Later, when the men joined the ladies in the parlour, Morris Townsend went over to Catherine, who was standing before the fire in her red evening dress.

后来,当男人们加入到客厅的女士们中时,莫里斯·汤森走到身穿红色晚装、站在壁炉前的凯瑟琳那里。

Your father doesn't like me,' said the young man.

“你父亲不喜欢我。”年轻人说。

I don't see how you know,' said Catherine, blushing.

“我不明白你是怎么知道的。”凯瑟琳涨红了脸说。

I can feel these things. You ask him and you will see.'

“我可以感觉到。你问问他就知道了。”

I would rather not ask him, if there is any danger of his saying what you think.'

“要是他说的真的和你想的一样,我宁愿不去问他。”

Morris gave her a sad little smile. 'So you will allow him to say things against me, and not tell him he is wrong?'

莫里斯有些悲伤地朝她笑了笑:“那你就听凭他说不利于我的话,而不指出他的错误吗?”

I never argue with him,' said Catherine. 'And he won't say anything against you. He doesn't know you enough.'

“我从不和他争论,”凯瑟琳说,“他不会说不利于你的话。他对你还不够了解。”

Morris Townsend gave a loud laugh, and Catherine began to blush again.

莫里斯·汤森大笑了起来,凯瑟琳的脸又红了。

I shall never talk about you,' she said.

“我不会谈论你的。”她说。

That is very well; but I would prefer you to say that it doesn't matter what your father thinks.'

“那很好,不过我更愿意你说你父亲怎么想都没关系。”

But it would matter! I couldn't say that!' the girl cried.

“当然有关系!我不能那么说!”女孩儿叫道。

He stared at her, smiling a little, and just for a moment there was an impatient look in those fine eyes. But he spoke softly and sadly. 'Then I must try to make him like me.'

他凝视着她,微微一笑,那双好看的眼睛里闪过一丝不耐烦的神情。不过他说话时声音温柔而悲伤:“那我只好想法让他喜欢我了。”

The next time the Doctor visited Mrs Almond, he told her that he had now met Morris Townsend.

医生再次拜访阿尔蒙德夫人的时候,他告诉她说他已经见过莫里斯·汤森了。

He is certainly a fine-looking young man,' he said.

“他的确是个相貌堂堂的年轻人。”他说。

But what do you think of him, as a father?' Mrs Almond asked. 'Lavinia tells me that Catherine is in love.'

“但作为父亲,你觉得他怎么样?”阿尔蒙德夫人问道,“拉维尼娅告诉我凯瑟琳坠入情网了。”

Well, she must stop being in love. He is not a gentleman. He is extremely charming, and completely insincere.'

“嗯,她必须结束这场恋爱。他不是个绅士。他很有吸引力,但一点儿也不真诚。”

You have decided very quickly,' said Mrs Almond.

“你的决定作得太快了。”阿尔蒙德夫人说。

Not at all. I have been studying people for a lifetime, and am now quite able to make a judgement in a single evening.'

“一点儿也不快。我一生都在研究人,现在只要一个晚上我就能作出判断。”

Very possibly you are right. But the thing is for Catherine to see it.'

“很有可能你是正确的。但这样的事情得由凯瑟琳自己去看明白。”

I will give her a pair of glasses!' said the Doctor.

“我会给她一副眼镜的!”医生说。

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