书虫四级《华盛顿广场》：9.莫里斯归来

9.Morris returns

9．莫里斯归来

No one ever learnt the truth about the end of Catherine's engagement. Catherine never spoke about it, keeping her secret even from Mrs Almond, who was very kind to her after Morris Townsend had left New York.

没有人知道凯瑟琳解除婚约的真相。凯瑟琳对此讳莫如深，连阿尔蒙德夫人都不知道她的秘密，莫里斯·汤森离开纽约后阿尔蒙德夫人对她特别好。

I am delighted that Catherine did not marry him,' Mrs Almond said to her brother, 'but I wish you would be more gentle with her, Austin. Surely you feel sorry for her?'

“我很高兴凯瑟琳没有嫁给他，”阿尔蒙德夫人对哥哥说，“不过我希望你对她更和善一些，奥斯汀。你一定为她感到难过吧？”

Why should I feel sorry for her? She has had a lucky escape. And I suspect that she has not really given him up at all. I think it is quite possible that they have made an arrangement to wait; and when I am dead, he will come back, and then she will marry him.'

“我为什么要为她感到难过呢？她运气好才没有陷进去。我怀疑她根本没有真的放弃他。我觉得很有可能他们做好了等待的安排；等我死了，他就会回来，然后她就会嫁给他。”

Outwardly, Catherine seemed unchanged, but the fact was that she had been deeply hurt. Nothing could ever take away the pain that Morris had caused her, and nothing could ever make her feel towards her father as she had felt when she was younger.

表面上看，凯瑟琳似乎没有什么变化，可实际上她受到了很深的伤害。没有什么能消除莫里斯带给她的痛苦，也没有什么能让她再像从前那样敬爱她的父亲。

Many years passed; years in which Catherine received more than a few offers of marriage. She refused them all, and though the name Morris Townsend was never mentioned in Washington Square, Doctor Sloper still suspected that his daughter was secretly waiting for him. 'If she is not, why doesn't she marry?' he asked himself. This idea grew stronger as he got older, and one day the Doctor said something to his daughter that surprised her very much.

许多年过去了；期间凯瑟琳收到过不少求婚。她统统拒绝了，虽然在华盛顿广场莫里斯·汤森的名字再也没有被提起过，斯洛珀医生仍然怀疑他的女儿在秘密地等待着他。“如果她没在等，那她为什么不结婚呢？”他问自己。他越上年纪，这种想法就越强烈，结果有一天医生对女儿说了一些令她十分吃惊的话。

I would like you to promise me something before I die.'

“我希望你在我死之前答应我一些事。”

Why do you talk about dying?' she asked.

“为什么要说起死亡来？”她问道。

Because I am sixty-eight years old. And I will die one day. Promise me you will never marry Morris Townsend.'

“因为我已经68岁了，有一天我会死去。答应我你永远不会和莫里斯·汤森结婚。”

For some moments she said nothing. 'Why do you speak of him?' she asked at last.

有那么半晌她什么都没说。“为什么要提起他？”她最后问。

Because he has been in New York, and at your cousin Marian's house. Your Aunt Elizabeth tells me that he is looking for another wife—I don't know what happened to the first one. He has grown fat and bald, and he has not made his fortune.'

“因为他已经回到纽约了，住在你表妹玛丽安家。你姑姑伊丽莎白跟我说他正在寻找一个新妻子——我不知道他的第一个妻子怎么了。他长胖了，头也秃了，可还是个穷光蛋。”

Fat and bald'; these words sounded strange to Catherine. Her memory was of the most beautiful young man in the world. 'I don't think you understand,' she said. 'I almost never think of Mr Townsend. But I can't promise that.'

“又胖又秃”；凯瑟琳觉得这些话听起来很陌生。她记忆中的是一个世界上最英俊的年轻人。“我想您不明白，”她说，“我几乎从没想过汤森先生。可是这件事我不能答应您。”

The Doctor was silent for a minute. 'I ask you for a particular reason. I am changing my will.'

医生沉默了足有一分钟。“我是出于特别的原因才请求你。我要修改遗嘱。”

Very few things made Catherine angry, but these words brought back painful memories from the past. She felt that her father was pushing her too far.

很少有什么事能令凯瑟琳生气，但这些话把过去的痛苦记忆又带了回来。她觉得父亲实在逼人太甚。

I can't promise,' she simply repeated.

“我不能答应您。”她只是重复了一遍。

Please explain.'

“请你解释。”

I can't explain,' said Catherine, 'and I can't promise.'

“我不能解释，”凯瑟琳说，“我也不能答应。”

A year later Doctor Sloper died after a three-week illness. The will he had changed shortly before his death now left Catherine only a fifth of his property. Mrs Penniman thought that this was cruel and unjust, but Catherine was neither surprised nor unhappy about the new will. 'I like it very much,' she told her aunt.

一年后，斯洛珀医生被病痛折磨了三个星期之后去世了。去世前不久他更改了遗嘱，只给凯瑟琳留下了五分之一的财产。彭尼曼夫人觉得这太绝情，而且不公平，但是凯瑟琳对于新遗嘱既没有感到惊讶也没有感到不高兴。“我很喜欢它。”她告诉她姑姑。

Catherine and Mrs Penniman continued to live in the house in Washington Square. On a warm evening in July, a year after Doctor Sloper's death, the two ladies sat together at an open window, looking out on the quiet square.

凯瑟琳和彭尼曼夫人仍然住在华盛顿广场的房子里。七月的一个温暖的晚上，此时斯洛珀医生过世已有一年之久，这两位女士一起坐在打开的窗户前，望着外面宁静的广场。

Catherine,' said Mrs Penniman. 'I have something to say that will surprise you. I have seen Morris Townsend.'

“凯瑟琳，”彭尼曼夫人说，“我有些话要对你讲，一定会让你感到惊喜。我见到莫里斯·汤森了。”

Catherine remained very still for some moments. 'I hope he was well,' she said at last.

凯瑟琳一动不动地待了一会儿。“我希望他过得还好。”她最后说。

I don't know. He would like very much to see you.'

“我不知道。他很想见你。”

I would rather not see him,' said Catherine, quickly.

“我倒宁愿不见他。”凯瑟琳很快地说道。

I was afraid you would say that,' said Mrs Penniman. 'I met him at Marian's house, and they are so afraid you will meet him there. I think that's why he goes. He very much wants to see you.' Catherine did not answer, and Mrs Penniman went on. 'He is still very handsome, though of course he looks older now. I believe he married some lady somewhere in Europe. She died soon afterwards—as he said to me, she only passed through his life. The first thing he did was to ask me about you. He had heard you had never married; he seemed very much interested about that. He said you had been the real romance in his life.'

“我料到你就会那么说。”彭尼曼夫人说道，“我在玛丽安家里遇见了他，而他们非常担心你会在那里碰到他。我想那正是他去那里的原因。他很想见你。”凯瑟琳没有回答，于是彭尼曼夫人又继续说：“他还是很英俊，虽然他现在看起来当然是老了一些。我想他是在欧洲的什么地方和某个女人结了婚。那个女人没过多久就死了——他是这么跟我说的，她只是他生命中的过客。他首先向我问起了你。他听说你一直没有结婚；他好像对此很感兴趣。他说你是他生命中真正的爱。”

Catherine had listened silently, staring down at the ground. At last she spoke, 'Please do not say more.'

凯瑟琳默默地听着，眼睛盯着地面。最后她说：“请别再说了。”

But he very much wants to see you.'

“可他很想见你。”

Please don't, Aunt Lavinia,' said Catherine, getting up from her seat and moving quickly to the other window, where Mrs Penniman could not see that she was crying.

“求求您别说了，拉维尼娅姑姑。”凯瑟琳说着从座位上站了起来，快步走到另一扇窗前，在那里彭尼曼夫人看不见她在哭。

A week later they were again sitting in the front parlour. Catherine was working on some embroidery when Mrs Penniman suddenly said, 'Morris has sent you a message. He wishes to see you, Catherine. He is going away again, and wants to speak to you before he leaves. He says his happiness depends upon it.'

一周之后她们又坐在了前厅里。凯瑟琳正在做一些刺绣的活儿，彭尼曼夫人突然说：“莫里斯给你送了个口信。他想见你，凯瑟琳。他又要走了，想在走之前和你说说话。他说他的幸福就靠这个了。”

My happiness does not,' said Catherine.

“我的幸福可不靠这个。”凯瑟琳说。

He believes that you have never understood him, that you have never judged him rightly,' said Mrs Penniman. 'This is very painful for him, and he wants just a few minutes to explain. He wishes to meet you as a friend.'

“他相信你从来没有理解他，你也从来没有对他作出正确的判断，”彭尼曼夫人说，“这让他很痛苦，他只想用几分钟时间来解释。他希望能像朋友一样和你会面。”

Catherine listened without looking up from her embroidery. Then she said simply, 'Please say to Mr Townsend that I wish he would leave me alone.'

凯瑟琳听着，没有从刺绣活计中抬起头。然后她只是简单地说：“请告诉汤森先生我想一个人待着。”

She had just finished speaking when the door bell rang. Catherine looked up at the clock; it was quarter past nine—a very late hour for visitors. She turned quickly to Mrs Penniman, who was blushing.

她话刚说完，门铃就响了。凯瑟琳抬头看了看表；时间是9点一刻——这个时候来串门实在是太晚了。她马上转向彭尼曼夫人，发现她的脸红了。

Aunt Penniman,' she said, in a way that frightened her companion, 'what have you done?'

“彭尼曼姑姑，”她说，她说话的方式令她的同伴感到害怕，“您做了些什么？”

My dearest Catherine,' said Mrs Penniman, avoiding her niece's eyes, 'just wait until you see him!'

“我最亲爱的凯瑟琳，”彭尼曼夫人说道，不敢看侄女的眼睛，“等你见到他再说吧！”

Catherine had frightened her aunt, but she was also frightened herself and before she could prevent it, the servant had opened the door and announced his name.

凯瑟琳把她姑姑吓了一跳，自己也吃惊不小，她还没来得及阻止，仆人就把门打开，报上了来客的姓名。

Mr Morris Townsend.'

“莫里斯·汤森先生。”

Catherine stood with her back turned to the door of the parlour. For some moments she remained still, feeling that he had come in. He had not spoken, however, and at last she turned round. She saw a gentleman standing in the middle of the room, from which her aunt had quietly left.

凯瑟琳站起身来，背对着客厅门。她在那里静静地站了一会儿，感到他进来了。然而，他没有开口说话，最后她转过身去。她看见一位绅士站在屋子中央，她姑姑已经悄悄地离开了。

For a moment she did not recognize him. He was forty-five years old, fatter, with thinning hair and a thick beard.

有那么一会儿她没认出他来。他已经45岁了，比以前胖了，头发稀疏，胡子浓密。

I have come because—I wanted to so much,' said Morris. It was the old voice, but it did not have the old charm.

“我来是因为——我很想来。”莫里斯说。声音还是没变，可是已经没有昔日的魅力了。

I think it was wrong of you to come,' said Catherine.

“我认为你来是个错误。”凯瑟琳说。

Did Mrs Penniman not give you my message?'

“彭尼曼夫人没告诉你我的口信吗？”

She told me something, but I did not understand.'

“她跟我说了一些事，可是我不明白。”

I wish you would let me tell you.'

“我希望你能让我来告诉你。”

I don't think it is necessary,' said Catherine.

“我觉得没必要。”凯瑟琳说。

Not for you, perhaps, but for me.' He seemed to be coming nearer; Catherine turned away. 'Can we not be friends again?' he asked.

“对你来说也许没必要，可是对我来说有必要。”他好像走得更近了；凯瑟琳转过身去。“我们难道不能再作朋友吗？”他问道。

We are not enemies,' said Catherine.

“我们并不是敌人。”凯瑟琳说。

He moved close to her; she saw his beard, and the eyes above it, looking strange and hard. It was very different from his old—from his young—face. 'Catherine,' he murmured, 'I have never stopped thinking of you.'

他走近她；她看到了他的胡须，还有上面的那双眼睛，看起来陌生而冷峻。这和他从前的——他年轻时的——面容非常不同。“凯瑟琳，”他低声说道，“我一直在想念你。”

Please don't say these things,' she answered.

“请别说这些话。”她答道。

He looked at her again silently. 'It hurts you to see me here. I will go away; but you must allow me to come again.'

他又默默地看了看她：“在这里见我让你难过。我会走的；不过你一定要允许我再来。”

Please don't come again,' she said. 'It is wrong of you. There is no reason for it. You behaved badly towards me.'

“请不要再来了，”她说，“这样不好。没理由这么做。你对我太差劲了。”

That is not true,' cried Morris. 'You had your quiet life with your father—I did not want to steal it from you.'

“不是这样的，”莫里斯叫道，“你和你父亲在一起平静地生活——我不想把这种生活从你身边偷走。”

Yes; I had that.'

“是啊；我有过这样的生活。”

Morris could not say that she also had some of her father's property; though he knew about Doctor Sloper's will. 'Catherine, have you never forgiven me?'

莫里斯不能说她还有一些她父亲的财产；尽管他知道斯洛珀医生遗嘱的事情。“凯瑟琳，你从来没有原谅过我吗？”

I forgave you years ago, but we cannot be friends.'

“我多年以前就原谅你了，但我们不能作朋友。”

We can if we forget the past. We still have a future.'

“如果忘记过去我们就能作朋友。我们还有未来。”

I can't forget—I don't forget,' said Catherine. 'You behaved too badly. I felt it very much; I felt it for years. I can't begin again—everything is dead and buried. I never expected to see you here again.'

“我忘不掉——我不会忘记，”凯瑟琳说，“你的表现很差劲。我深有体会；我体会了很多年。我不能从头再来——一切都成了过眼云烟。我从没想过会在这里再次见到你。”

Morris stood looking at her. 'Why have you never married?' he asked, suddenly.

莫里斯站在那里看着她。“为什么你一直没结婚？”他突然问道。

I didn't wish to marry.'

“我不想结婚。”

Yes, you are rich, you are free. Marriage had nothing to offer you.' He looked around the room for a moment. 'Well, I had hoped that we could still be friends.'

“是啊，你有钱，你很自由。婚姻不能给你带来什么。”他环顾了一下房间，“嗯，我本希望我们还可以作朋友。”

There is no possibility of that,' said Catherine.

“那不可能。”凯瑟琳说。

Goodbye, then,' said Morris.

“那么，再见。”莫里斯说。

He bowed, and she turned away. She stood there, looking at the ground, for some moments after she had heard him close the door of the room.

他鞠了一躬，她却转过身去。听到他把房门关上之后好一会儿，她还站在那里，望着地面。

In the hall he found Mrs Penniman.

他在大厅里见到了彭尼曼夫人。

Your plan did not work!' said Morris, putting on his hat.

“你的计划没用！”莫里斯说着戴上了帽子。

Is she so hard?' asked Mrs Penniman.

“她的心这么硬？”彭尼曼夫人问道。

She doesn't care a button for me,' said Morris. He stood for a moment, with his hat on. 'But why, then, has she never married?'

“她一点儿也不在乎我，”莫里斯说。他站了一会儿，帽子戴在头上，“可是，那她为什么不结婚？”

Yes—why?' said Mrs Penniman. 'But you will not give up—you will come back?'

“是啊——为什么？”彭尼曼夫人说，“不过你不会放弃——你还会回来吧？”

Come back! Certainly not!' And Morris Townsend walked out of the house, leaving Mrs Penniman staring.

“回来！当然不会！”莫里斯·汤森走出房子，留下彭尼曼夫人在那里发愣。

Catherine, meanwhile, in the parlour, picking up her embroidery, had seated herself with it again—for life.

与此同时，在客厅里，凯瑟琳捡起刺绣，坐在那里继续做活儿——为了生活。