书虫四级《华盛顿广场》：5.斯洛珀医生的决定

5.Doctor Sloper decides

5．斯洛珀医生的决定

Catherine listened for her father when he came in that evening, and she heard him go to his study. She sat quiet, though her heart was beating fast, for nearly half an hour; then she went and knocked on his door. On entering the room, she found him in his chair beside the fire, with a cigar and the evening paper.

那天晚上凯瑟琳听着父亲回来的声音，而且听到他走到书房里去了。她静静地坐着，虽然心跳得很快，她还是在那里坐了大约半个小时；然后她过去敲他的门。进到屋里的时候，她发现他正坐在壁炉边的椅子里，叼着雪茄烟，手里拿着晚报。

I have something to say to you,' she began very gently.

“我有话跟您说。”她开始说话，声音很温柔。

I shall be happy to hear it, my dear,' said her father. He waited, looking at her, while she stared silently at the fire.

“乐意倾听，亲爱的。”她父亲说。他等待着，看着她，而她只是一言不发地盯着壁炉。

I am engaged to be married!' Catherine said at last.

“我订婚了！”凯瑟琳终于说话了。

The Doctor did not show how surprised he was. 'You are right to tell me,' he said. 'And who is the happy man?'

医生没有表现出多么惊讶的样子。“你能告诉我这个很好，”他说，“那么那个幸福的男人是谁？”

Mr Morris Townsend.' As she said her lover's name, Catherine looked at him. Then she looked back at the fire.

“莫里斯·汤森先生。”说出恋人名字的时候，凯瑟琳看着他。然后又看着壁炉。

When did this happen?' the Doctor asked.

“这是什么时候的事？”医生问。

This afternoon—two hours ago.'

“今天下午——两小时之前。”

Was Mr Townsend here?'

“汤森先生来过这儿？”

Yes, father, in the front parlour.' She was very glad that she did not have to tell him her engagement had taken place in the garden of the Square.

“是的，爸爸，就在前厅。”她很高兴不需要告诉他自己是在广场花园里订婚的。

Her father was silent for a moment. 'Why did Mr Townsend not tell me? It is his duty to speak to me first.'

她父亲沉默了一会儿。“为什么汤森先生不来告诉我？他有义务先跟我说。”

He means to tell you tomorrow.'

“他想明天跟您说。”

The Doctor smoked his cigar for a while. 'You have gone very fast,' he said, at last.

医生吸了会儿雪茄。“你们进展得很快。”他最后终于开口说道。

Yes,' Catherine answered, simply. 'I think we have.'

“是的，”凯瑟琳简单地回答道，“我想我们是很快。”

Her father looked at her for a moment. 'I'm not surprised that Mr Townsend likes you. You are so simple and good.'

她父亲看了她一会儿：“汤森先生喜欢你我并不觉得奇怪。你是这么单纯善良。”

I don't know why; but he does like me. I am sure of that. And I like him very much.'

“我不知道为什么；不过他确实喜欢我。我对此确信不疑。而且我也很喜欢他。”

But you have known him a very short time, my dear.'

“可是你认识他的时间很短，亲爱的。”

Oh,' said Catherine, 'it doesn't take long to like a person—once you have begun.'

“哦，”凯瑟琳说，“喜欢一个人用不着太长的时间——一旦你开始喜欢他。”

Of course you are no longer a little girl.'

“当然你已经不再是小女孩儿了。”

I feel very old—and very wise,' said Catherine, smiling.

“我觉得自己已经够大了——而且很明智。”凯瑟琳微笑着说。

I am afraid that you will soon feel older and wiser. I don't like your engagement.'

“恐怕你不久就会感到年龄更大也更明智了。我不喜欢你订婚。”

Oh,' said Catherine, softly, getting up from her chair.

“哦。”凯瑟琳轻轻地说，从椅子上站了起来。

No, my dear. I am sorry to give you pain; but I don't like it. Why didn't you speak to me first?'

“不，亲爱的。对不起让你痛苦了；不过我不赞成。你为什么不先和我商量商量？”

Catherine hesitated for a moment. Then she said, 'I was afraid you didn't like Mr Townsend.'

凯瑟琳犹豫了一会儿，然后说：“我担心您不喜欢汤森先生。”

You were quite right. I don't like him.'

“没错。我不喜欢他。”

Dear father, you don't know him,' said Catherine gently. She remembered Morris's warning. 'You think he is only interested in my fortune.'

“亲爱的爸爸，您不了解他，”凯瑟琳柔声说。她想起了莫里斯的警告。“您以为他只对我的钱感兴趣。”

Doctor Sloper looked up at her, with his cold, reasonable eyes. 'I am not accusing Mr Townsend of that. You are an honest, kind-hearted girl, and there is nothing impossible in an intelligent young man loving you for yourself. But the main thing that we know about this young man is that he has spent his own fortune in amusing himself. There is good reason to believe that he would spend yours, too.'

斯洛珀医生抬起头看着他，目光冷淡而理智。“我并不是为这件事而指责汤森先生。你是一个诚实善良的女孩儿，聪明的年轻人爱上你这个人也不是不可能。但我们对这个年轻人的主要了解就是他把自己的钱都拿去享乐了。完全有理由相信他也会把你的钱花掉。”

That is not the only thing we know about him. He is kind, and generous, and true,' said poor Catherine. She was not used to arguing, and her voice trembled a little. 'And the fortune he spent was very small.'

“我们对他的了解不光是这一点。他心地善良，慷慨真诚，”可怜的凯瑟琳说。她不习惯和人争论，她的声音有些颤抖，“而且他花掉的钱也并不多。”

The Doctor stood up. He held her for a moment and kissed her. 'You won't think me cruel?' he said.

医生站了起来，把她搂在怀里抱了一会儿，吻了吻她。“你不会觉得我太不近人情了吧？”他说。

The question filled Catherine with fear, but she said, 'No, dear father; because if you knew how I feel, you would be so kind, so gentle.'

这个问题令凯瑟琳感到很害怕，不过她说：“不，亲爱的爸爸；因为如果您知道我的感受，您就会很和善、很温柔。”

Yes, I think I know how you feel,' the Doctor said. 'I will be very kind—be sure of that. And I will see Mr Townsend tomorrow. Meanwhile, do not tell anyone you are engaged.'

“是的，我想我知道你的感受，”医生说，“我会很和善——相信我。我明天要见见汤森先生。另外，别告诉任何人你订婚了。”

The next afternoon the Doctor stayed at home, waiting for Morris Townsend's visit. When the young man arrived, Doctor Sloper began at once.

第二天下午医生待在家里，等候莫里斯·汤森来访。那个年轻人一来，医生立刻就开始说话了。

Catherine told me yesterday what has been going on between you,' he said. 'I am very surprised. It was only the other day that you first met my daughter.'

“凯瑟琳昨天跟我讲了你们的事情，”他说，“我很吃惊。你是不久前才认识我女儿的。”

It' was not long ago, certainly,' said Morris. 'My interest in Miss Sloper began the first time I saw her.'

“没多久，当然了。”莫里斯说，“我第一次见到斯洛珀小姐的时候就对她产生了兴趣。”

Did it not start before you met her?' the Doctor asked.

“不是在你遇见她之前产生的吗？”医生问。

Morris looked at him. 'I had certainly already heard that she was a charming girl.'

莫里斯看着他：“我当然已经有所耳闻，她是一个迷人的姑娘。”

Naturally, you will speak well of her,' said the Doctor. 'But that is not the only thing that is necessary. I told Catherine yesterday that I did not like her engagement.'

“你自然会说她的好话，”医生说，“但这不是惟一必要的东西。我昨天跟凯瑟琳说我不赞成她订婚。”

She told me, and I was very sorry to hear it. I am greatly disappointed,' said Morris, looking at the floor.

“她告诉我了，听到这个真遗憾。我很失望。”莫里斯看着地板说。

Did you really expect me to say I was delighted?'

“你真的希望我说我很高兴吗？”

Oh no! I had an idea you didn't like me.'

“哦，不！我知道您不喜欢我。”

What gave you that idea?'

“你为什么会那么想呢？”

The fact that I am poor.'

“因为我穷。”

It is certainly a fact I must consider,' said the Doctor, 'I do not dislike you, but you do not appear to be a suitable husband for my daughter, who is a weak young woman with a large fortune.'

“这当然是我必须考虑的一个事实。”医生说，“我不是不喜欢你，不过你好像不适合作我女儿的丈夫，我女儿是一个拥有一大笔财产而又软弱的年轻女子。”

Morris listened politely. 'I don't think Miss Sloper is a weak woman,' he said.

莫里斯礼貌地听着：“我认为斯洛珀小姐并不是个软弱的女子。”

I have known my child twenty years, and you have known her six weeks. But whether she is weak or not, you are still a man without a profession, and without money.'

“我的孩子我已经了解了20年，而你认识她才六个星期。但不管她是不是软弱，你仍然既没工作也没钱。”

Yes, that is my weakness! You think I only want your daughter's money.'

“是的，那是我的弱点！您以为我只想要您女儿的钱。”

I don't say that. I only say that you are the wrong kind of man to marry my daughter.'

“我并没那么说。我只是说你不是我女儿要嫁的那种人。”

A man who loves and admires her deeply—is that the wrong kind of man?' Morris said, with his handsome smile. 'I don't care about her fortune. Not in any way.'

“一个深爱她并敬重她的人——这样的人还不合适吗？”莫里斯说道，脸上仍然带着迷人的微笑，“我不关心她的财富。根本就不关心。”

Fine words,' said the Doctor, 'but you are still the wrong kind of man.'

“说得好，”医生说，“但你仍然不合适。”

You think I would spend her money—is that it?'

“您以为我会花她的钱——是吗？”

Yes, I'm afraid I do think that.'

“是的。恐怕我正是这么想的。”

It is true that I was foolish when I was younger,' said Morris, 'but I have changed now. I spent my own fortune, because it was my own. That does not mean I would spend Miss Sloper's fortune. I would take good care of it.'

“我年轻的时候确实很蠢，”莫里斯说，“但我现在已经变了。我把自己的钱花了，因为那是我自己的，那并不意味着我就会把斯洛珀小姐的钱也花掉。我会好好珍惜它的。”

Taking too much care would be as bad as taking too little. Both ways would give Catherine an unhappy life.'

“太过珍惜会和不加珍惜一样糟糕。两种方式都会使凯瑟琳过上不幸的生活。”

I think you are very unjust!' said the young man.

“我觉得您很不公平！”年轻人说。

I can understand that you think that.'

“你这么想我可以理解。”

Do you want to make your daughter miserable?'

“您想让您的女儿痛苦吗？”

I accept that she will think I am cruel for a year.'

“我承认会有一年的时间她会认为我冷酷无情。”

A year!' said Morris, with a laugh.

“一年！”莫里斯说着，大笑起来。

For a lifetime, then. She will be miserable either way—with you or without you.'

“那么，就是一生。她无论怎样都会痛苦——不管是不是和你在一起。”

Here at last Morris became angry. 'You are not polite, sir!' he cried.

至此莫里斯终于生气了。“您可真没礼貌，先生！”他大声说道。

I'm afraid that is your fault—you argue too much. I cannot accept you as a son-in-law, and I shall advise Catherine to give you up, which she will do.'

“恐怕那是你的错——你争论得太多了。我无法接受你做我的女婿，我会建议凯瑟琳放弃你，她会照做的。”

Are you sure that she will give me up?' asked Morris. 'I don't think she will. She has gone too far... to stop.'

“您确信她会放弃我吗？”莫里斯问，“我觉得她不会。她已经走得太远……停不下来了。”

The Doctor stared at him coldly for a moment.

医生冷冷地盯着他看了一会儿。

I will say no more, sir,' said Morris, and he left the room.

“我没什么可说的了，先生。”莫里斯说完，离开了房间。

When the Doctor told Mrs Almond about his meeting with Morris Townsend, she thought that he had perhaps been too hard on the young man.

当医生把他和莫里斯·汤森会面的事情告诉阿尔蒙德夫人时，她觉得他也许对这个年轻人太苛刻了。

Lavinia thinks I am being very cruel,' said the Doctor.

“拉维尼娅觉得我很无情。”医生说。

And how is Catherine taking it?' said Mrs Almond.

“凯瑟琳有什么反应？”阿尔蒙德夫人说。

Very quietly. There have been no noisy tears, or anything of that kind.'

“非常平静。她既没有哭哭啼啼，也没有其他任何这类的举动。”

I am very sorry for Catherine,' Mrs Almond said. 'Now she will have to choose between her father and her lover.'

“我真替凯瑟琳难过，”阿尔蒙德夫人说，“现在她不得不在父亲和恋人之间作出选择。”

I am sorry for her too,' said the Doctor. 'It is just possible, of course, that I have made the greatest mistake of my life. So I shall go and visit Mr Townsend's sister, who will almost certainly tell me I have done the right thing.'

“我也替她难过，”医生说，“当然，也可能我犯了一生中最大的错误。所以我得去拜访汤森先生的姐姐，她十有八九会告诉我，我做的是对的。”

The visit was arranged for a few days later, and at the appointed time the Doctor arrived at a little house on Second Avenue, where Mrs Montgomery received him in a small front parlour.

这次见面定在几天后，医生在约定的时间来到了位于第二大道的一幢小屋，蒙哥马利夫人在一间小客厅里会见了他。

She was a little woman, with fair hair, and seemed rather alarmed by a visit from such a fine gentleman as Doctor Sloper. He explained the situation, but Mrs Montgomery was at first a little unwilling to talk about her brother.

她身材瘦小，长着一头金黄色的头发，似乎对像斯洛珀医生这种受人尊敬的绅士的来访很吃惊。他解释了一下情况，但蒙哥马利夫人最初有些不大乐意谈论她弟弟。

I can understand,' said the Doctor, 'that it is difficult for you to say unpleasant things about your own brother. but if my daughter married him, her happiness would depend on whether he was a good man or not.'

“我能理解，”医生说，“说自己兄弟的坏话的确很困难，可是如果我女儿嫁给他，那她的幸福可就取决于他是不是个好人了。”

Yes, I see that,' murmured Mrs Montgomery.

“是的，我明白。”蒙哥马利夫人低声说。

And I must remind you,' said the Doctor, 'that after my death Catherine will have thirty thousand dollars a year.'

“我还必须提醒你，”医生说，“我死后，凯瑟琳每年会有3万美元的收入。”

Mrs Montgomery listened with wide eyes. 'Your daughter will be very rich,' she said, softly.

蒙哥马利夫人听得瞪大了眼睛。“你女儿会很有钱。”她轻声说道。

Exactly. But if Catherine marries without my consent, she will have only the ten thousand dollars she inherited from her mother. She won't get a penny from me. I will be happy to inform Mr Townsend of that.'

“的确。但如果凯瑟琳不经过我的同意就结婚，那她就只有从她母亲那里继承来的1万美元。她不会从我这里得到一个子儿。我很乐意把这个情况通知汤森先生。”

Mrs Montgomery thought for a while. 'Why do you dislike Morris so much?' she asked at last, looking up.

蒙哥马利夫人想了一会儿。“你为什么这么不喜欢莫里斯？”她最后抬起头问道。

I don't dislike him—he is a charming young man. But I dislike him as a son-in-law, who must take care of my daughter. She is so soft, so weak. A bad husband could make her very miserable indeed, because she is not clever enough or strong enough to fight her own battles. That is why I have come to you. You may not agree with me, of course; you may want to tell me to go away, but I think that your brother is selfish and lazy, and I should like to know if I am right.'

“我不是不喜欢他——他是一个很有吸引力的年轻人。但我不喜欢他当我的女婿，我的女婿必须照顾我女儿。她是那么温柔软弱。丈夫不好真的会令她非常痛苦，因为她还没有聪明或强壮到可以为自己而战斗的地步。所以我来找你。当然，你可能不同意我的说法；你可能想让我走开，但我觉得你弟弟是个自私懒惰的人，我想知道我这么想对不对。”

She looked at him in surprise. 'But how did you find out that he was selfish?' she said. 'He hides it so well.' Then she turned her head away, and the Doctor saw tears in her eyes.

她惊讶地看着他。“但你是怎么发现他自私的呢？”她说，“他隐藏得那么好。”然后她扭开头去，医生看到了她眼中的泪光。

He waited for a moment, then said suddenly, 'Your brother has made you very unhappy, hasn't he? Tell me, do you give him money?'

他等了一会儿，接着突然说：“你弟弟让你很不愉快，是吗？告诉我，你给他钱吗？”

Yes, I have given him money,' said Mrs Montgomery.

“是的，我给他钱。”蒙哥马利夫人说。

And you have very little money yourself, and also five children to take care of, I believe.'

“而你自己就没多少钱，还有五个孩子要照料，我想。”

It is true that I am very poor,' she said.

“我的确很穷。”她说。

Your brother tells me,' said the Doctor, 'that he helps you with your children—he is their teacher.'

“你弟弟告诉我，”医生说，“他帮你带孩子——他是他们的老师。”

Mrs Montgomery stared for a moment, then said quickly, 'Oh yes; he teaches them—Spanish.'

蒙哥马利夫人愣了半晌，然后很快地说：“噢，是的；他教他们——西班牙语。”

The Doctor laughed. 'That must be a great help to you! So,' he went on, 'I see that I was right. Your brother lives on you, takes your money, and is extremely selfish.'

医生笑了。“那对你一定大有帮助！那么，”他继续说道，“我看我是对的。你弟弟靠你养活，拿你的钱，而且极为自私。”

There were tears again in Mrs Montgomery's eyes. 'But he is still my brother,' she said, her voice trembling a little. 'You must not believe that his character is bad.'

眼泪再次涌出蒙哥马利夫人的双眼。“但他还是我弟弟，”她说，声音有些颤抖，“你一定不会相信他人品恶劣。”

The Doctor spoke more gently. 'I am sorry that I have upset you. It's all for my poor Catherine. You must know her, and then you will see.' He stood up to go.

医生的口气更和善了。“抱歉让你难过了。这一切都是为了我那可怜的凯瑟琳。你一定要认识她，那样你就会明白了。”他站起身准备告辞了。

Mrs Montgomery also stood up. 'I should like to know your daughter,' she answered; and then, very suddenly— 'Don't let her marry him!'

蒙哥马利夫人也站了起来。“我很想认识您女儿，”她回答道；接着，很突然地——“别让她嫁给他！”

And Doctor Sloper went away with these words ringing in his ears.

耳中回响着这些话，医生离开了。