雙語讀電影 《愛麗絲夢(mèng)游仙境-2》第02章 :因?yàn)槲乙簧凶畈幌Ｍ氖戮褪锹涞煤湍阋粯拥慕Y(jié)局。

The Ascot mansion perched atop a hill at the end of a long driveway. But as the hansom cab carried the Kingsleighs up the drive, Alice’s eyes were drawn instead to the rambling woods lining the road. Leaning forward in excitement, she recognized the gnarled tree that marked the entrance to Underland. 
“Look, Mother! The rabbit hole!” Alice said. 
“Please don’t start that, dear.” Helen Kingsleigh’s hand f?loated up to her forehead, as though she had a headache. 
The carriage pulled to a stop, and a footman rushed forward to open the door and help the ladies out. 
“I do wish you’d worn that yellow dress,” Helen muttered to her daughter as they approached the mansion. 
Alice grinned, running her hands down the traditional Chinese silk costume she’d chosen for the occasion. The collar was cut to imitate the petals of a f?lower, in panels of pink, yellow, and red, and beautifully embroidered butterf?lies circled the purple jacket. Hanging straight down from her waist, a pleated skirt of green and yellow fabric swung cheerfully against her legs. She knew nobody in London would combine those colors, let alone wear that style, but she adored it. 
“If it’s good enough for the Dowager Empress of China, it’s good enough for the Ascots,” Alice said. 
“Alice, must you be so headstrong?” Shaking her head, Helen sighed as they swept inside the mansion, servants slamming the grand oak doors behind them. Unbeknownst to the servants, they’d closed the doors in the face of the blue butterf?ly, who f?luttered crossly. 
Inside, Alice strode toward the grand hall, her mother lagging self-consciously behind her. They paused in the entryway. Dressed in their f?inest, London’s elite f?littered about on the gleaming f?loor. 
“Miss Kingsleigh?” someone called. Turning, Alice saw James Harcourt, the clerk, approaching. “What are you—” 
“I’ve come to give my report to Lord Ascot, Mr. Harcourt,” Alice said. 
James nodded and gestured for them to follow him. 
They wove through the crowd, and a ripple of whispers followed in their wake as guests raised their eyebrows and muttered about Alice’s costume. Helen wrung her hands in embarrassment, but Alice couldn’t have cared less. 
Under a shimmering chandelier, they found Lady Ascot, Hamish, and his wife, all smiling benevolently at their audience. Hamish’s chest was puffed out in self-importance. At his side, his prim and proper wife, Alexandra, balanced their son in her arms. 
His piggish eyes landed on Helen Kingsleigh and the oddly dressed woman with her. That tiresome clerk, Harcourt, was leading them toward him. Blinking in shock, Hamish realized that the f?igure in the garish tunic was none other than Alice herself. 
Lady Ascot noticed the two interlopers as well. “Helen! What a surprise!” Lady Ascot pronounced, her eyebrows raised ever so slightly to register her disapproval of their breach in etiquette. She reached forward and clasped Helen’s arm before turning to her daughter. “And is that Alice? My, the sea and salt air have done wonders for you. When you left, you were so pale and peaked.” 
“Thank you,” Alice said. Only Lady Ascot could f?ind a way to combine an insult with a compliment. 
F?inally having collected himself, Hamish cleared his throat. “Alice! Welcome home. Only a year late.” He rocked on his feet. “We were afraid you may never come back with our ship!” 
“My ship,” Alice said, correcting him. “Hello, Hamish.” 
Next to them, Alexandra sniffed loudly. “It is proper to refer to my husband as Lord Ascot. It is why we are having this little soiree, after all,” she said, her words clipped. 
“Miss Kingsleigh,” Hamish said formally. “This is my wife, the new Lady Ascot.” 
Alice and Alexandra eyed each other. 
“So. Hamish tells me you’ve traveled the world these last three years,” Alexandra drawled. 
“Yes, I have just returned,” Alice replied. 
“Well, then! How was it?” Alexandra said. 
“The world?” Alice asked. 
“Yes!” Alexandra said brightly. 
Alice couldn’t help teasing her. “Highly enjoyable. You should visit it sometime.” 
Behind her, James covered his mouth to muff?le his laugh as Alexandra’s face registered her astonishment. 
“I’ve come to give my report, Lord Ascot,” Alice continued smoothly. 
“Ah, of course,” Hamish said. “If you would follow me, Miss Kingsleigh.” After nodding to his mother and wife, he guided Alice down a hall. 
Hamish led Alice to the mansion’s smoking room, which was covered in red wallpaper. The entire room of white-haired gentlemen turned to regard the newcomers. They greeted Hamish with a nod, but they stared blankly at Alice. 
“Gentlemen,” Hamish said, addressing the room. “Might I introduce Miss Alice Kingsleigh. Miss Kingsleigh—the board.” 
Despite Alice’s polite smile, none of the men’s expressions changed. Undaunted, she plunged forward with her planned speech. “Gentlemen, we must move quickly! The prof?its of my voyage—” 
“Scarcely outweigh the costs,” Hamish interjected. 
Alice glanced at him. “Further expeditions to Ta-Kiang or Wuchang—” she began. 
“There will be no ‘further expeditions,’ ” Hamish interrupted once more. 
“What?” Alice was f?labbergasted. What could he mean? Surely the company was not going to abandon the trade liaison she had fostered. 
“The risks are not worth the reward,” Hamish proclaimed. 
“An extra year at sea, Alice. There were hard decisions in your absence. From everyone.” As though he were posing for a painting, he clasped his hands behind his back and lifted his head slightly. 
Alice stared at him, f?inally realizing just how deadly serious he was. Nothing she could say would sway him; he had made up his mind. “But ... what am I to do?” 
“There’s a position in our clerking off?ice,” Hamish offered. His mouth twitched smugly, and Alice realized how much he was enjoying the situation. “You’ll start in f?iles, but, in time—” 
Alice felt her face burning, anger rising inside her. “This isn’t about China at all, is it? It’s because three years ago I turned you down when you asked me to marry you!” She couldn’t believe Hamish would be so stupid, so pigheaded! 
“I’m sorry, Miss Kingsleigh,” Hamish said, sounding completely unremorseful. “But that is all we can do for you. No other company is in the business of hiring female clerks, let alone ship’s captains!” 
Several of the board members chuckled, while others harrumphed at the thought. Only James, who had slipped into the room behind Alice, stood by quietly, wishing there were something he could do. 
Alice ignored the laughter and pounded her hand on a nearby cigar table. Whatever it took, she would make herself heard. “I have voting rights and ten percent of the company! Your father set those shares aside for me—” 
“Correction,” Hamish proclaimed. “He gave them to your mother, who sold them to me last year, while you were gone. Along with the bond on the house.” 
Alice’s anger seeped out like air from a def?lating balloon. “Her ... house?” 
“Secured by your father against the ship he bought,” Hamish conf?irmed. 
“The Wonder?” Alice’s words came out strangled. 
“Yes. Sign it over and you’ll redeem the house, receive a salary and a pension.” His tone might have been bored, but his eyes were f?ixed intently on her. 
“Give up the Wonder?” Alice was aghast. 
“Otherwise we cannot help you,” Hamish said, tapping a slip of paper that had been laid out on a table. 
With a new rush of rage, Alice realized it must be a prepared contract for the Wonder. Helen Kingsleigh cautiously entered the room at that moment and glanced around. 
“Or your mother.” Hamish’s words sent a chill through Alice. She spotted Helen’s thin shoulders from the corner of her eye, but she spun away, needing time to think. 
Shoving open the door, Alice stalked out of the room. Helen raced after her, but Alice didn’t stop until Helen reached out and grabbed hold of her sleeve. 
Alice turned on her, unable to contain her aggravation. Now they had no say in the company, no control in their fate. “How could you sell our shares?” 
“I had no choice, Alice! With your sister on her mission and you at sea for an extra year ... What was I to do?” Helen’s voice climbed higher and people started to turn toward them. 
Taking a deep breath, Helen pulled Alice into a hallway, f?irmly shutting the door behind them for privacy. 
“I did it for you, Alice!” her mother said fervently. “So you can make a decent start in life. So that you won’t be alone.” 
Alice faced her mother. “Ten minutes ago I was a sea captain.” Her voice was tinged with bitterness. Her next voyage abroad could have secured them both a comfortable living. 
“A sea captain is no job for a lady!” Helen countered. 
“Good!” Alice exclaimed. “All the better! On the ocean I am free, as father was. Or would you rather have me be a clerk?” 
“I’m talking about marriage, Alice,” Helen said impatiently. “Time is against you, and you are being careless with it!” 
“I once believed I could do six impossible things before breakfast,” Alice said softly. 
“That is a child’s dream, Alice,” her mother said. “The only way for women like us to have a good life is to marry well.” 
Alice rolled her eyes, her anger returning. Why was her mother so closed-minded? The world was changing. You didn’t have to believe in magic to envision new possibilities. 
“I’m only trying to help you,” her mother said softly. 
“Well, don’t,” Alice snapped. “Because the last thing I want in life is to end up like you.” 
Alice spun on her heel and stalked off, her words hanging in the air behind her. She didn’t turn back, so she didn’t see her mother lift her hand to her mouth, tears f?illing her eyes. 

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