书虫四级《华盛顿广场》：8.最后的离别

8.The last parting

8．最后的离别

Catherine did not 'go off' with Morris Townsend when she arrived in New York, but she did hear news of him from her aunt during her first evening home. In fact, while she had been away, Morris had been a frequent visitor in Washington Square, taking tea with Mrs Penniman and sitting in Doctor Sloper's study to smoke cigars. Mrs Almond had told her sister that she was behaving foolishly.

凯瑟琳回到纽约后并没有和莫里斯·汤森“私奔”，不过到家的第一个晚上她的确从姑姑那里听到了他的消息。实际上，在她离开的那段时间里，莫里斯经常到华盛顿广场来拜访，和彭尼曼夫人一起喝茶，坐在斯洛珀医生的书房里抽雪茄。阿尔蒙德夫人告诉过她姐姐这么做很愚蠢。

You should not be so friendly with him, Lavinia,' she said. 'He will make Catherine a bad husband. If he marries her and she doesn't get Austin's money, he will hate her for his disappointment, and will be cruel to her. The poor girl will have a miserable life.'

“你不应该对他这么好，拉维尼娅，”她说，“他不会是凯瑟琳的好丈夫。如果他和她结婚，而她得不到奥斯汀的钱，他就会因为失望而讨厌她，还会虐待她。这个可怜的女孩儿会生活得很凄惨。”

But Mrs Penniman did not listen to her sister, and on Catherine's return she told her niece that she had taken good care of her lover while she had been away.

但彭尼曼夫人听不进妹妹的话，凯瑟琳一回来她就告诉她侄女，在她离开的那段时间里她把她的恋人照顾得很好。

And how is your father?' she asked. 'Has he changed his mind about disinheriting you?'

“你父亲怎么样？”她问道，“他有没有改变剥夺你继承权的想法？”

No. In Europe I saw that I shall never change him,' said poor Catherine. 'I expect nothing from him now.'

“没有。在欧洲的时候我明白我永远没法改变他，”可怜的凯瑟琳说，“我现在对他不抱任何期望了。”

You have become very brave,' said Mrs Penniman, with a short laugh. 'I didn't advise you to give up your property.'

“你变得很勇敢了，”彭尼曼夫人笑了一声，说道，“我可不主张你放弃自己的财产。”

Yes, I am braver than I was. I have changed in that way—I have changed very much. And it isn't my property. If Morris doesn't care about it, then I don't care either.'

“是的，我比以前勇敢了。我已经朝那个方向转变——我改变了很多。而且，那不是我的财产。如果莫里斯不在乎，我也不在乎。”

Mrs Penniman hesitated. 'Perhaps he does care about it.'

彭尼曼夫人犹豫了：“也许他在乎呢。”

He cares about it because he doesn't want to injure me, but he knows that I am not afraid of that. Besides, I have my own money; we shall have enough to live well.'

“他在乎是因为他不想伤害我，不过他知道我不怕。而且，我有自己的钱；可以让我们过得不错。”

The next day Morris Townsend came to visit Catherine.

第二天莫里斯·汤森来看望凯瑟琳。

I am very glad you have come back,' he said. 'It makes me very happy to see you again.' He looked at her, smiling, from head to foot.

“我真高兴你回来了，”他说，“再次见到你真高兴。”他微笑着，从头到脚把她打量了一番。

When Catherine saw his handsome face again, she found it hard to believe that this beautiful young man was hers. She was very happy, and without waiting for him to ask, she told Morris about her father.

凯瑟琳再次看到他那英俊的脸庞时，觉得很难相信这个俊朗的年轻人是她的。她很高兴，没等他问，她就跟莫里斯讲了父亲的事。

We must not expect his money now,' she said, 'and we must live without it.'

“我们现在不要指望他的钱了，”她说，“而且我们必须不靠它来生活。”

Morris sat looking and smiling. 'My poor, dear girl!' he cried.

莫里斯坐在那儿，望着她微笑。“我可怜的宝贝儿！”他叫道。

You must not be sad for me,' said Catherine.

“你不必为我难过。”凯瑟琳说。

Morris continued to smile, and then he got up and walked around the room. 'Let me talk to him,' he said. 'I want to prove to your father that he is wrong about me.'

莫里斯依然微笑着，然后站起来在屋中踱步。“让我跟他谈谈，”他说，“我想向你父亲证明他对我的看法是错的。”

Please don't, Morris,' said Catherine sadly. 'We must ask nothing from him. I know he will never change.'

“请不要这样，莫里斯，”凯瑟琳悲伤地说，“我们不要向他祈求任何东西。我知道他永远也不会改变的。”

Why not?'

“为什么不会？”

She hesitated for a moment. 'He is not very fond of me,' she said slowly. 'And I think he despises me. I saw it, I felt it, in England, just before we left. It is because he is so fond of my mother, who died so many years ago. She was beautiful and very, very clever—he is always thinking of her. I am not at all like her; Aunt Penniman has told me that. Of course it isn't my fault, but neither is it his fault.'

她迟疑了片刻。“他不太喜欢我，”她慢慢地说道，“我想他瞧不起我。我明白这一点，我们离开英国之前我就感觉到了。因为他太喜欢我母亲，可惜她许多年前就过世了。她美丽而且非常、非常聪明——他一直怀念着她。我和她一点儿也不像；彭尼曼姑姑跟我说过。这当然不是我的错，但也不是他的错。”

You are a strange family,' said Morris.

“你们一家人可真怪。”莫里斯说。

Don't say that—don't say anything unkind,' Catherine said. 'You must be very kind to me now, because, Morris,' —here she hesitated— 'because I have done a lot for you.'

“别那么说——别说刻薄话。”凯瑟琳说，“你现在一定要好好待我，因为，莫里斯，”——说到这儿她迟疑了一下——“因为我已经为你做了那么多。”

Oh, I know that, my dear.'

“噢，我知道，亲爱的。”

It has been terrible for me to feel so distant from my father—to feel that he despises me. I would be so miserable if I didn't love you. We must be very happy together! And, Morris, Morris, you must never despise me!'

“感觉和父亲那么疏远真让我难受——我觉得他瞧不起我。如果我不爱你，我会很痛苦。我们在一起一定要快快乐乐的！还有，莫里斯，莫里斯，你千万不要瞧不起我！”

This was an easy promise to make, and Morris made it. But for the moment he made no further promises.

作这样的承诺很容易，所以莫里斯答应了。但他暂时没有作进一步的承诺。

Doctor Sloper spoke to both his sisters soon after his return. He told Mrs Penniman that he would never accept Morris Townsend as a son-in-law, and he told Mrs Almond that he was now no longer amused by Catherine, only annoyed.

斯洛珀医生回来之后不久就分别找他的两位姐妹谈话。他告诉彭尼曼夫人他决不会接受莫里斯·汤森做他的女婿，他又告诉阿尔蒙德夫人他现在已经不再喜欢凯瑟琳了，只是很生她的气。

She will never give Mr Townsend up.' said Mrs Almond.

“她决不会放弃汤森先生的。”阿尔蒙德夫人说。

Then she will be very unhappy, and I can't prevent it.'

“那么她会很不幸，可我却无法阻止。”

Poor Catherine!' said Mrs Almond. 'We must be as kind to her as we can.'

“可怜的凯瑟琳！”阿尔蒙德夫人说，“我们应该尽量对她好些。”

Mrs Penniman arranged another secret meeting with Morris. They went for a long walk together, and she told him what the Doctor had said.

彭尼曼夫人和莫里斯又安排了另外一次秘密会面。他们一起散步，走了很长时间，她把医生的话告诉了他。

He will never give us a penny,' said Morris angrily. After a pause, he added, 'I must give her up!'

“他决不会给我们一分钱。”莫里斯生气地说。停了一下，他又继续说：“我必须放弃她！”

Mrs Penniman was silent for a moment. Though she thought of Morris as a son, she was also a little afraid of him. 'I think I understand you,' she said, gently. 'But my poor Morris, do you know how much she loves you?'

彭尼曼夫人沉默了一会儿。虽然她把莫里斯看作儿子一般，她也有些怕他。“我想我理解你，”她轻声说道，“不过，可怜的莫里斯，你知道她有多爱你吗？”

No, I don't. I don't want to know.'

“不，我不知道。也不想知道。”

It will be very hard for Catherine,' said Mrs Penniman.

“这对凯瑟琳来说太难了。”彭尼曼夫人说。

You must help her. The Doctor will help you; he will be delighted with the news.'

“你必须帮她。医生会帮你；他听到这个消息会高兴的。”

He will say, "I always told you so!"'

“他会说：‘我早就告诉过你！’”

Morris blushed bright red. 'I find this all very unpleasant,' he said. 'A true friend would try and make it easier for me.'

莫里斯的脸涨得通红。“我觉得这一切太讨厌了，”他说，“真正的朋友会设法让情况变得对我容易些。”

Would you like me to tell her?' Mrs Penniman asked.

“要我告诉她吗？”彭尼曼夫人问道。

You mustn't tell her, but you can—' He hesitated, trying to think what Mrs Penniman could do. 'You can explain that I don't want to come between her and her father.'

“千万别告诉她，不过你可以——”他犹豫了一下，拿不定主意彭尼曼夫人能做什么，“你可以跟她解释，说我不想影响他们父女的关系。”

Are you not going to come and see her again?'

“你不再来见她了吗？”

Oh no, I shall come again, but I want this business to end soon. I have been four times since she came back, and it's very hard work.'

“哦，不，我还会再来，不过我想早点儿把这件事了结了。她回来后我已经来过四次了，这很不容易。”

But you must have your last parting!' his companion cried. For Mrs Penniman the last parting between lovers was almost as romantic as the first meeting.

“但你一定要最后道别一下！”他的同伴大声说道。对于彭尼曼夫人来说，恋人之间最后的离别几乎和初会一样浪漫。

Morris came to Washington Square again, without managing the last parting; and again and again. Catherine did not suspect anything was wrong, and Mrs Penniman was too frightened to say anything to her. During each visit the poor girl waited for Morris to name the day of their wedding. But he never stayed more than a few minutes, and seemed so uncomfortable that at last she became worried.

莫里斯又来到了华盛顿广场，不过并没有做到最后分手，而是一再光顾。凯瑟琳还没有觉察出任何异样，而彭尼曼夫人太担心了，什么也没跟她说。每次会面，可怜的女孩儿都等着莫里斯定下他们婚礼的日子。可是他总是待不上几分钟就走，而且显得心神不宁，最后她开始担心了。

Are you sick?' she asked him.

“你病了吗？”她问他。

I am not at all well,' he said. 'And I have to go away.'

“我不太舒服，”他说，“我要走了。”

Go away? Where are you going, Morris?'

“走？去哪里，莫里斯？”

He looked at her, and for a second or two she was afraid of him. 'Will you promise not to be angry?' he said.

他看着她，有那么一两秒种她觉得有些怕他。“答应我不要生气好吗？”他说。

Angry! —do I get angry?'

“生气！——我生气了吗？”

I have to go away on business—to New Orleans.'

“我要离开去办点儿事——去新奥尔良。”

What is your business? Your business is to be with me.'

“办什么事？你要办的事就是和我在一起。”

He told her a long story about a chance he had to make a lot of money buying cotton, but Catherine took his arm in her two hands and spoke more violently than he had ever heard her speak before.

他给她讲了一个很长的故事，说有个好机会可以买棉花挣很多钱，可是凯瑟琳两手拉住他的胳膊，他从未听她说话那么激烈过。

You can go to New Orleans some other time. This isn't the moment to choose. We have waited too long already.'

“你可以改天再去新奥尔良，不该挑这个时候去。我们已经等得够久了。”

You said you would not be angry!' cried Morris. He got up to leave. 'Very well; we won't talk about it any more. I will do the business by letter.'

“你说过不会生气的！”莫里斯大声说道。他起身要走，“好吧；我们别再谈这个了。我写信来做这笔生意。”

You won't go?' said Catherine, looking at him.

“你不会走了？”凯瑟琳看着他说道。

Morris wanted to argue with her; it would make it easier for him to break away. 'You mustn't tell me what to do,' he said. 'Try and be calmer the next time I come.'

莫里斯想和她吵上一架，这样分手就会容易些。“你别对我指手画脚，”他说，“下次我来的时候你冷静一点儿。”

When will you come again?'

“你什么时候再来？”

I will come next Saturday,' said Morris.

“下周六我会再来。”莫里斯说。

Come tomorrow,' Catherine begged; 'I want you to come tomorrow. I will be very quiet.' Suddenly she felt very frightened, and did not want him to leave the room.

“明天就来吧，”凯瑟琳恳求道，“我想让你明天来。我会很安静的。”突然她感到很害怕，不想让他离开这个房间。

Morris kissed the top of her head. Catherine felt her heart beat very fast. 'Will you promise to come tomorrow?'

莫里斯吻了一下她的额头。凯瑟琳觉得心跳得很快。“答应我明天就来好吗？”

I said Saturday!' Morris answered, smiling. He tried to be angry at one moment, and smile at the next; it was all very difficult and unpleasant.

“我说了星期六！”莫里斯微笑着答道。他想要发火，但脸上立刻又挂满了笑容；这样做实在困难而且不舒服。

Yes, Saturday, too,' she answered, trying to smile. 'But tomorrow first.' He was going to the door, and she went with him quickly.

“是的，星期六也来，”她答道，挤出一丝笑容，“但明天先来。”他朝门口走去，她赶紧跟上他。

I am a busy man!' cried Morris.

“我很忙！”莫里斯大声说道。

His voice was so hard and unnatural that she turned away. He quickly put his hand on the door. But in a moment she was close to him again, murmuring, 'Morris, you are going to leave me.'

他的声音是那么刺耳而且做作，她转过头去。他迅速把手放在了门上。可是她立刻又靠近他，低声说道：“莫里斯，你要离开我了。”

Yes, for a little while. Until you are reasonable again.'

“是的，离开一阵。直到你恢复理智。”

I shall never be reasonable, in that way.' She tried to keep him longer. 'Think of what I have done!' she cried. 'Morris, I have given up everything.'

“那样的话我永远也不会理智的。”她努力想让他多待一会儿，“想一想我所做的一切！”她哭道，“莫里斯，我放弃了一切。”

You shall have everything back.'

“你会重新得到那一切的。”

You wouldn't say that if you didn't mean something. What is it? What has happened? What have I done? What has changed you?'

“要不是你有什么想法，你不会这么说的。怎么了？发生什么事了？我做了什么？是什么改变了你？”

I will write to you—that is better.'

“我会给你写信的——那样更好。”

You won't come back!' she cried, tears running down her face.

“你不会回来了！”她哭道，泪水从脸庞上滑落。

Dear Catherine,' he said, 'don't believe that. I promise you that you shall see me again.' And he managed to get away, and to close the door behind him.

“亲爱的凯瑟琳，”他说，“别那么想。我保证我们还会再见面的。”他挣脱了她，随手关上了门。

For many hours Catherine lay crying on the sofa. He had said he would return, but she had seen an expression on his face that she had never seen before. He had wanted to get away from her; he had been angry and cruel, and said strange things, with strange looks. She tried to believe that he would come back; she listened, hoping to hear his ring at the door, but he did not return, nor did he call or write the next day. On Saturday Catherine sent him a note. 'I don't understand,' she wrote. 'Morris, you are killing me!'

凯瑟琳躺在沙发上哭了好几个小时。他说过他会回来，可是她在他脸上看到了一种从未见过的表情。他已经想好了要离开她；他冲她发火，粗暴地对待她，还说一些奇怪的话，脸上的表情很陌生。她试着相信他会回来；她侧耳倾听，希望能听到他按门铃的声音，可是他却没回头，第二天他既没来看她也没写信。星期六，凯瑟琳给他写了一张便条。“我不明白，”她写道，“莫里斯，你伤透了我的心！”

The pain in Catherine's heart was terrible, but she was desperate to hide from her father what had happened, so she tried very hard to be brave. She ate her meals, went on with her daily life as usual, and said nothing to anybody.

凯瑟琳内心痛苦极了，可是她却竭力不让父亲看出有什么异样，所以她努力地坚强起来。她照常吃饭，每天的生活也一如既往，对别人只字不提这件事。

I am afraid you are in trouble, my dear,' Mrs Penniman said to her. 'Can I do anything to help you?'

“我担心你有麻烦，亲爱的，”彭尼曼夫人对她说，“我能为你做什么吗？”

I am not in any trouble, and do not need any help,' said Catherine.

“我什么麻烦都没有，也不需要任何帮助。”凯瑟琳说。

After a few days the Doctor, who had been watching in silence, spoke to his sister Lavinia.

几天之后，一直在默默关注这件事的医生对姐姐拉维尼娅说：

The thing has happened—he has left her!'

“事情发生了——他甩了她！”

It seems to make you happy to see your daughter upset!'

“好像你见到自己女儿难受倒挺开心的！”

It does,' said the Doctor; 'because it shows I was right.'

“的确，”医生说，“这说明我猜得没错。”

The following afternoon Catherine went for a walk, and returned to find Mrs Penniman waiting for her.

第二天下午凯瑟琳出去散步，回来的时候发现彭尼曼夫人正在等她。

Dear Catherine, you cannot pretend with me,' said her aunt. 'I know everything. And it is better that you should separate.'

“亲爱的凯瑟琳，别瞒着我了，”她姑姑说道，“我都知道了。你们分手更好。”

Separate? Who said we were going to separate?'

“分手？谁说我们要分手？”

Isn't it broken off?' asked Mrs Penniman.

“不是已经解除婚约了吗？”彭尼曼夫人问道。

My engagement? Not at all!'

“我的婚约？根本没有！”

I am sorry then. I have spoken too soon! But what has happened between you?' said Mrs Penniman; 'because something has certainly happened.'

“那真抱歉。我这话说得太早了！可是你们俩之间发生了什么事？”彭尼曼夫人说，“因为一定有事情发生。”

Nothing has happened. I love him more and more!'

“什么也没发生。我越来越爱他了！”

Mrs Penniman was silent. 'I suppose that's why you went to see him this afternoon.'

彭尼曼夫人沉默了：“我猜你今天下午去见他就是为了这个。”

Catherine blushed. 'Yes, I did go to see him!' she cried. 'But that's my own business!'

凯瑟琳脸红了。“是的，我确实去见他了！”她大声说，“可那是我自己的事！”

Then we won't talk about it.' Mrs Penniman moved towards the door, but stopped when Catherine cried out:

“那我们就别谈这个了。”彭尼曼夫人向门口走去，可听到凯瑟琳的喊声，她又止住了脚步。

Aunt Lavinia, where has he gone? At his house they said he had left town. I asked no more questions; I was ashamed. Has he gone to New Orleans?'

“拉维尼娅姑姑，他去哪里了？他家里人说他已经走了。我不好意思再追问下去了。他去新奥尔良了吗？”

Mrs Penniman had not heard of the New Orleans plan, but she did not tell Catherine this. 'If you have agreed to separate,' she said, 'the further he goes away, the better.'

彭尼曼夫人没听说过什么新奥尔良计划，不过她没告诉凯瑟琳这个。“如果你们同意分手，”她说，“那他走得越远越好。”

Catherine stared. 'Agreed? Has he agreed it with you?'

凯瑟琳盯着她：“同意？你们都同意这件事了？”

He has sometimes asked for my advice.'

“他征求过我的意见。”

Is it you, then, that has changed him?' Catherine cried. 'Is it you that has taken him from me? How could you be so cruel? What have I ever done to you?'

“那么是您改变了他的想法了？”凯瑟琳大声说道，“是您把他从我身边夺走的吗？您怎么能这么无情？我对您做过什么？”

You are a most ungrateful girl,' said Mrs Penniman. 'It was me who helped bring you together.'

“你真太没良心了，”彭尼曼夫人说，“是我撮合你们俩的。”

I wish he had never come to the house! That's better than this,' said poor Catherine. She was silent for a few minutes, then got up and walked around the room.

“我希望他从没来过家里！那样也比现在这样好。”可怜的凯瑟琳说。她沉默了几分钟，然后站起身在屋里来回踱步。

Will you please tell me where he is?'

“能告诉我他在哪儿吗？”

I have no idea,' said Mrs Penniman.

“我不知道。”彭尼曼夫人说。

Will he stay away for ever?'

“他永远也不来见我了吗？”

Oh, for ever is a long time. Your father, perhaps, won't live for ever.'

“噢，永远可是很长的时间。你父亲也许不会永远活着。”

Catherine stared at her aunt. 'He has planned it, then. He has broken it off, and given me up.'

凯瑟琳盯着她姑姑：“那么他早有打算了。他已经结束这段感情，放弃我了。”

Only for the present, dear Catherine.'

“只是权宜之计，亲爱的凯瑟琳。”

He has left me alone,' said Catherine, shaking her head slowly. 'I don't believe it!'

“他撇下我一个人，”凯瑟琳说道，又慢慢地摇了摇头，“我不相信！”

Two days later Catherine received a long letter from Morris. It explained that he was in Philadelphia, and that he would be away on business for a long time. He said he would find it impossible to forget her, but he did not want to come between her and her rightful fortune. It was his dearest wish that she should have a happy and peaceful life, and he hoped that they would one day meet as friends.

两天后凯瑟琳收到了莫里斯的一封长信。信中说他在费城，因为有事要走很长一段时间。他还说自己对她难以忘情，可是不愿意她因为他的缘故而失去应得的财产。他最大的心愿就是她能过上幸福平静的生活，希望他们以后能像朋友一样相见。

The pain that this letter gave Catherine lasted for a long time, but she was too proud to say anything about it to her aunt or her father. Doctor Sloper waited a week, before coming one morning into the back parlour, where he found his daughter alone. She was sitting with some sewing work, and he came and stood in front of her. He was going out, and had his hat on.

这封信让凯瑟琳痛苦了很长一段时间，但她很爱面子，从未向姑姑或父亲提起过此事。斯洛珀医生等了一个星期，才在一天早晨来到后厅，他发现女儿独自待在那里。她坐在那里做着针线，他走过去站到她面前。他戴着帽子，正打算出门。

I would be grateful if you would tell me when you plan to leave my house,' he said.

“要是你告诉我你打算什么时候离开我的家我会很感激的。”他说。

Catherine looked at him, with a long silent stare. 'I shall not go away!' she said.

凯瑟琳默默地盯了他很久。“我不会离开的！”她说。

The Doctor looked surprised. 'Has he left you?'

医生显得很惊讶：“他已经离开你了？”

I have broken off my engagement.'

“我已经退婚了。”

Broken it off?'

“退婚？”

I have asked him to leave New York, and he has gone away for a long time.'

“我让他离开纽约，他已经走了很长一段时间了。”

The Doctor did not believe this, and he was disappointed at losing the chance to say that he had been right.

医生不相信这话，因为没有机会表明自己的远见卓识，他觉得有些失望。

How does he like your sending him away?' he asked.

“你让他走，他怎么想？”他问道。

I don't know!' said Catherine.

“我不知道！”凯瑟琳说。

You mean you don't care? You are rather cruel, after playing with him for so long.'

“你是说你不在乎吗？你可真无情，跟他玩了这么久。”

The Doctor had his revenge, after all.

医生总算尝到了报复的滋味。