牛津書蟲系列 織工馬南 7 Silas finds his'gold'

7 Silas finds his'gold'

7 西拉斯找到了他的“金子”

But while Godfrey Cass was managing to forget his prob-lems by the lovely Nancy's side，his wife was walking with slow，uncertain steps along the snow-coverea road to Ray-eloe.She was carrying her sleeping child in her arms.

就在戈弗雷·凱斯坐在可愛的南茜身邊試圖忘記一切煩惱的時候，他的妻子正在大雪覆蓋的道路上艱難地向瑞福洛的方向跋涉著。她的孩子睡在她的臂彎里。

For some time now she had planned to come to Raveloe on New Year's Eve.She knew that her husband would be at the centre of a happy，smiling group of friends，and she had chosen this moment to appear in front of all his family and guests at the Red House dance.'I don't care if Godfrey is ashamed of mes!'she thought bitterly.'I want people to know we're mar-ried!'sometimes she hated her husband， because he was still handsome，and had money，while she was no longer pretty，and very poor.She blamed him for her miserable life，but in her heart she knew she should blame her drinking.It had become a habit wiht her to spend most of the money Godfrey gave her on gin.She had a bottle in her pocket now，which she had lifted to her lips several times during her journey.

她已經(jīng)計(jì)劃好要在新年之夜到瑞福洛去，她知道她的丈夫一定正在被幸福歡笑的朋友們環(huán)繞著，她就是要選擇這個時候出現(xiàn)在他的家人和朋友們面前，出現(xiàn)在紅屋的舞會上。“我不在乎戈弗雷會以我為恥，”她苦澀地想，“我要讓大家知道我們結(jié)婚了!”有時她恨她的丈夫，因?yàn)樗匀挥⒖《腋挥?，可她已?jīng)不再漂亮了，而且貧困。她為自己的不幸怨他，但在心底里她知道應(yīng)該怨自己酗酒。她已經(jīng)習(xí)慣于把戈弗雷給她的錢用來買酒，現(xiàn)在她兜里就有一瓶酒，而且一路上她已經(jīng)喝了幾次。

It was already seven o'clock in the evening，and there was a freezing wind.Molly did not know she was very near Raveloe.Her legs were tired and the gin was beginning to make her feel sleepy.She thought she would rest for a while，and，still hold-ing her child，she lay down on the snow.She did not notice that the ground was cold.

已經(jīng)是晚上7點(diǎn)了，風(fēng)冷得刺骨。莫麗不知道她已經(jīng)離瑞福洛很近了。她的腿開始發(fā)沉，酒精也開始使她昏昏欲睡。她想應(yīng)該歇一會兒，于是就抱著孩子，躺到了雪地上。她沒有注意地上是那么冷。

In a few moments the child woke up，crying，'Mummy!'But the mother did not seem to hear.Suddenly，as the child fell gently out of its mother's arms on to the soft snow，it noticed a bright，dancing light on the white ground.Interested，the child stood up to see where the brightness came from，and followed the light to an open door，the door of Silas Marner's cottage.The little one toddled right in through the door and sat down by the bright fire.After a few minutes the child felt pleasantly warm， and fell asleep.

一會兒孩子醒了，開始哭著喊媽媽。可媽媽好像沒有聽見。孩子從媽媽的臂中滑落到松軟的雪地上時，忽然看到白白的雪地上跳動著一點(diǎn)小小的亮光。出于好奇，孩子站起來想看看光是從哪兒來的。向著亮光，孩子走進(jìn)了一扇開著的門，這是西拉斯·馬南的小草屋。小家伙蹣跚著直進(jìn)門里走到明亮的爐火前坐下。沒過幾分鐘，孩子暖和過來，甜甜地睡著了。

But where was Silas while this was happening?In the evenings he sometimes used to open his door and look out.He had some idea that his money would come back，or that some-one would come with information about the thief Tonight was New Year's Eve，and the villagers had told him to stay awake until midnight，because it would bring him good luck if he saw the beginning of the new year.So tonight he was more restless than usual.He opened his door several times during the evening，and stared out，but he saw and heard nothing in the silent，freezing night.The last time，as he was standing at the door，he had one of his fits，and stood there completely uncon-scions，holding the door open.

這時西拉斯在哪兒呢?他晚上有時會打開門看看外面，總覺得有一天他的金子會回來，或者什么人會給他帶來關(guān)于賊的消息。今晚是新年夜，村里人告訴他今天午夜前不要睡覺，因?yàn)榭粗碌囊荒甑絹頃o人帶來好運(yùn)。所以今晚他比平時更坐立不安。他幾次打開門向外面看，可是在這個靜靜的寒冷的冬夜，他什么也看不見，什么也聽不見。最后一次站到門口的時候，他又犯病了，站在那兒完全失去了知覺。門開著。

When he became conscious again，he closed the door and turned back to the fire.But when his shortsighted eyes looked at the floor in front of the fire，he seemed to see gold there!Gold—his own gold—taken and then brought back to him in the same strange way!His heart beat excitedly，and for a few moments he was unable to move.At last he reached out his hand to touch the gold，but instead of hard，metal coins his fin-gers felt soft，warm curls.

恢復(fù)知覺以后，他關(guān)上門回到爐火前，但當(dāng)他的近視眼看到爐前的地板時，他好像發(fā)現(xiàn)了金子!金子——他的金子——奇怪地離他而去又以同樣的方式奇怪地回到了他的身邊!他的心劇烈地跳動起來，好一會兒他都不能移動。終于他伸手去摸那金子，可是沒有摸到硬硬的金幣，卻摸到了軟軟的暖暖的鬈發(fā)。

With great surprise Silas fell on his knees to look at this wonderful thing.It was a sleeping child.Was he dreaming?Could it be his little sister，who had died when he was a child himself?If it wasn't a dream，how had the child entered the cottage?But thinking of his sister made him remember the past，and his life at the Light Street chapel.He wondered if this child was some kind of message from his past，sent perhaps by the God he had once trusted.

西拉斯驚奇地跪到地上去看這神奇的東西。這是一個熟睡著的孩子。是不是在做夢?這是不是自己小時候死去的小妹妹?如果不是夢，這孩子怎么到屋里來的?想到妹妹使他想到了自己的過去，想到在日光街小教堂的事。他懷疑這孩子會不會是那他曾經(jīng)信任過的上帝派來向他傳遞關(guān)于他過去生活的什么信息的。

Just then the child woke up，and began to cry.Silas held it in his arms，and spoke softly to quieten it.He remembered that he had made some porridge earlier，and gave a little to the child to eat.She stopped crying，and lifted her blue eyes with a smile to Silas's face as she ate.But then she pulled at her wet shoes，trying to take them off，and Silas suddenly realized she had come to the cottage through the snow.So he picked her up and went to the door.As he opened it and went out into the dark，the child cried'Mummy!'and reached forward，almost jump-ing out of his arms.A few steps away，Silas found a young woman's body，half-covered with snow.

這時候孩子醒了，開始哭。西拉斯把孩子抱在懷里，輕聲地哄著。他想起來自己做的麥片粥，就拿出來喂孩子。孩子不再哭了，一邊吃一邊抬起藍(lán)眼睛看著西拉斯的臉甜甜地笑。當(dāng)她使勁想把那雙濕濕的鞋子拽掉時，西拉斯想到她一定是從雪里走來的，于是就抱著孩子走向屋門。他打開門走進(jìn)黑暗中時，孩子喊著媽媽向前掙去，險些從西拉斯的胳膊里跳到地上。幾步之外，西拉斯看見一個半埋在雪里的年輕女人。

At the Red House，everybody was enjoying the party.Some people were still eating，while others were dancing or playing cards.Godfrey was looking forward to his next dance with Nancy.He was watching her dreamily across the room，when suddenly he saw something that made his lips go white and his whole body tremble. It was his own child，carried in Silas Marner's arms.The weaver had come straight into the hall，where the dancing was going on.

在紅屋里，人們在盡情享受著晚會的快樂，有的人還在吃著東西，有的人在玩紙牌或者跳舞。戈弗雷在等著和南茜的下一個舞。正當(dāng)他如醉如癡地遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地看著南茜的時候，眼前的景象使他一下嘴唇煞白，渾身發(fā)抖。他看到了他的孩子，在西拉斯的懷里?？棽冀硰街标J進(jìn)了正在開舞會的大廳。

Several people turned to look at the strange figure in the doorway.The Squire could not understand why Sllas had come in uninvited. He stood up and asked angrily，'Marner， what are you doing here?'

有人轉(zhuǎn)過去看門口這個奇怪的人，鄉(xiāng)紳不明白西拉斯為什么會沒有得到邀請就來到晚會上。他站起來生氣地問：“馬南，你來干什么?”

'I've come for the doctor，'replied Silas hurriedly.' There's a woman-dead，I think-near my cottage.'

“我來找大夫，”西拉斯著急地回答，“有個女人在我小屋旁邊，我想已經(jīng)死了。”

Godfrey had one great fear at that moment，that the woman was not dead.If she were his wife，and she were dead，he would be free to marry Nancy!

戈弗雷這時真怕那個女人沒有死，如果那是他的妻子，而且死了，他就可以娶南茜了!

While the Squire was calling for Dr Kimble，the ladies came closer to look at the pretty child.

鄉(xiāng)紳叫金布爾大夫的時候，女人們都圍過來看這個漂亮的小女孩。

'Whose child is it?'one of them asked.

“這是誰的孩子?”有人問。

'I don't know，'replied Godfrey wildly.'Some poor woman's-she's been found in the snow，I think.'

“我不知道，”戈弗雷暴躁地回答，“一個窮女人的——我想是在雪地上發(fā)現(xiàn)的那個。”

'You'd better leave the poor child here with us then，Master Marner，'offered Mrs Kimble kindly.

“你最好把這個可憐的孩子留在我們這兒，馬南師傅。”金布爾太太好心地說。

'No-I can't let it go，'said Silas unexpectedly.'It's come to me—I don't know where from—I want to keep it!''Well!'said Mrs Kimble，surprised.'A single man like you!Take care of a child!Well!'But the little one was holding on to Silas，and smiling up at him confidently.

“不——我不讓她離開我，”西拉斯的回答出人意料，“她是來找我的，我要留下她，雖然我不知道她從哪兒來。”“你?”金布爾太太很詫異，“你這么個單身男人!照顧一個孩子!行嗎?”可這時候小家伙正靠在西拉斯身上，在信任地對著西拉斯笑。

Dr Kimble hurried into the hall.'Where is this poor woman?Near the old quarry?Someone had better fetch Dolly Winthrop.I'll need her to help me.

金布爾大夫跑進(jìn)大廳：“那可憐的女人在哪兒?在采石場附近嗎?最好去叫一下多莉·溫思羅普，我需要她的幫助。”

'I'll go!'cried Godfrey.He wanted to get away，before any one noticed his white face and shaking hands， and he needed time to think. He ran out into the night.

“我去!”戈弗雷喊。趁人們還沒發(fā)現(xiàn)他蒼白的嘴唇和顫抖的手，他想趕快離開，他需要時間仔細(xì)想想。他一溜煙跑進(jìn)黑夜中。

When he and Dolly arrived at the quarry，the doctor had moved the woman into Silas's cottage，and Godfrey had to wait outside.He walked up and down in the snow，for what seemed like hours. He knew he should tell the truth about the woman and the child，but he could not make himself do what he knew was right.'Is she dead?'the voice inside his head asked.'If she is，I can marry Nancy.And then I'll be good，and have no more secrets.And I'll make sure the child is taken care of，of course.

當(dāng)他和多莉到采石場的時候，大夫已經(jīng)把女人移到了西拉斯的小屋。戈弗雷得在外面等著。他在外面走來走去，覺得大概過了幾個小時。他知道他應(yīng)當(dāng)講出關(guān)于女人和孩子的實(shí)情，可他怎么也不能讓自己去做應(yīng)當(dāng)做的事。“她死了嗎?”他的腦子里有個聲音在問。“如果她死了，我就能娶南茜了，我一定要變好，不再做見不得人的事，而且我一定會好好照料孩子的，一定會。”

When Dr Kimble came out of the cottage，Godfrey tried to speak calmly.'I thought I'd wait to see…'he began.

金布爾大夫出來的時候，戈弗雷盡可能平靜地說：“我想我應(yīng)當(dāng)?shù)仍谶@兒看看……”

'Oh，there was no need for you to come.Why didn't you send one of the men to fetch Dolly?The woman's dead， I'm afraid.She's very thin，and looks very poor.But she's got a wedding ring on.She'll be buried tomorrow.

“噢，你不必親自來，怎么不派別人去接多莉?我想那女人已經(jīng)死了。她很瘦弱，看來很窮，卻戴著個結(jié)婚戒指。明天給她下葬。”

'I'll just have a look at her，'said Godfrey quickly.' I think I saw a woman on the road yesterday with a child.Perhaps it was her.'And he ran into the cottage.

“我得看她一眼，”戈弗雷很快地說，“我昨天在路上看見了一個抱孩子的女人，也許就是她。”說著他跑進(jìn)了小屋。

There on the bed was his unloved wife.He only looked at her for a moment， but for the rest of his life he never forgot her sad，tired face.

床上躺著他已經(jīng)不再愛的妻子。他只看了她一會兒，但終生都沒有忘記她那張憂傷疲憊的臉。

The weaver had come back with the doctor，and was sitting by the fire，with the child on his knees.The little one was awake，but her wide open blue eyes looked up into Godfrey's face without recognizing him at all.The father was glad of this，but also a little sad，especially when he saw the small hand pull lovingly at the weaver's grey hair.

織布匠是和大夫一起回來的，他坐在火爐旁，抱著孩子。小家伙醒著，她睜大了藍(lán)眼睛盯著戈弗雷的臉看，可是根本沒認(rèn)出他來。這使父親很高興，可也有些難受，特別是當(dāng)他看到那雙小手在充滿愛意地拉著織布匠的灰色頭發(fā)的時候。

'So，who's going to take care of the child?'Godfrey asked，pretending not to show much interest.

“那誰來照料這孩子呢?”戈弗雷努力掩飾自己的關(guān)心。

'I am，'replied Silas firmly.'The mother's dead，and I sup-pose the child hasn't got a father. She's alone in the world，and so am I.My money's gone，I don't know where，and she's come，I don't know where from.I don't understand it at all，but I'm going to keep her.'

“我，”西拉斯堅(jiān)決地說，“她媽媽死了，我想孩子也沒有爸爸，她像我一樣在這個世上孤苦零叮我的錢不知到哪兒去了，而她不知從哪兒來了。這一切我都不明白，可我一定要撫養(yǎng)她。”

'Poor little thing!'said Godfrey.'Let me give you some-thing for her clothes.'He put his hand in his pocket and gave Silas some coins.

“可憐的小東西!給你些錢去給她買衣服。”戈弗雷從兜里拿出一些錢交給西拉斯。

As he walked back to the Red House，he felt very relieved.Nobody would recognize his dead wife，and soon his secret would be buried with her.Now he could talk of love to Nancy.He could promise to be a good husband to her.Only Dunstan knew about the secret marriage，and perhaps Dunstan would never come home.'What a good thing I didn't confess every-thing to the Squire!'he thought.'Now I can make Nancy and myself happy And the child?Well，it won't matter to her whether I'm her father or not.

回紅屋的路上，戈弗雷異常輕松，沒有人會認(rèn)識他死去的妻子，他的秘密很快就要和她一起被埋掉了?，F(xiàn)在他可以和南茜談情說愛了，他可以向她保證做一個好丈夫。只有鄧斯坦知道那段秘密婚姻，可他可能永遠(yuǎn)不會再回來了。“我沒有向父親坦白一切是多么對呀!”他想，“現(xiàn)在我可以讓自己和南茜幸福了。可孩子呢?嗨，我是不是她父親對她也并不重要。”

That week the dead woman was buried in Raveloe，and the child stayed at the weaver's cottage.The villagers were very surprised that Silas had decided to keep her，but they liked him for wanting to help an orphan.The women，especially，were very ready to give him useful advice on taking care of children.

那個星期這個死去的女人被埋在了瑞福洛，小女孩留在了織布匠的小屋。大家很驚訝西拉斯決定收留這孩子，可又都很高興他能關(guān)心孤兒。女人們更是時刻準(zhǔn)備著向西拉斯提供撫養(yǎng)孩子的經(jīng)驗(yàn)。

Dolly Winthrop came every day to help Silas.'It's no trou-ble，'she said.'I get up early，so I've got plenty of time.And I can bring you some of Aaron's old baby clothes，so you won't need to spend a lot of money on the child.I can wash her，and give her food，and—'

多莉·溫思羅普每天來幫助西拉斯。“沒問題，”她說，“我起得早，所以有足夠的時間。我可以把阿榮的舊衣服拿來，你也就不必為孩子花很多錢。我可以給她洗澡，可以給她喂飯，可以……”

'Ye—es，'said silas，hesitating.He was looking a little jeal-ously at the baby in Dolly's arms.'That's very kind of you.But—but I want to do everything for her myself!I want her to be fond of me!She's my child!'

“好——吧，”西拉斯猶豫地說。他有點(diǎn)兒忌妒地看著多莉懷里的孩子。“你真好，可——我想自己來為她做一切!我想讓她喜歡我!她是我的孩子。”

'Don't worry，'said Dolly gently，giving him the child.'Look，she loves you the best.See，she's smiling at you!

“別擔(dān)心，”多莉把孩子交還給西拉斯，溫柔地說，“看，她最愛的人還是你?？匆娏藛?，她在對你笑呢!”

And so Silas learnt how to take care of the little girl.He called her Eppie，which had been his little sister's name.His life was quite different now.When he was working and living only for his gold，he had not been interested in the world outside his cottage，or the people he sometimes met.But now that he had another reason for living，he had to look outward.He spent hours in the fields with Eppie，happily rediscovering the plants he used to know so well.Together they visited his neighbours，who were always delighted to see him and his adopted child.His days and evenings were full，taking care of a trusting，lov-ing child.

于是西拉斯學(xué)會了照顧這個小女孩。他管她叫埃比，這是他的小妹妹的名字。他的生活全變了。當(dāng)他為金子而工作而生活的時候，他對屋外的世界，對那些偶然見到的人們毫無興趣。現(xiàn)在生活的目的變了，他不得不開始看看外面的世界。他花幾個小時陪埃比在地里玩，又愉快地重新發(fā)現(xiàn)了那些他曾經(jīng)熟悉過的植物。他們一起去串門，去看那些喜歡見到他和他的養(yǎng)女的鄰居們。照看這個信賴他、喜歡他的孩子使他的日日夜夜變得很充實(shí)。

Godfrey Cass watched the little girl growing up with great interest During Eppie's childhood he often gave money to Silas to spend on her，but was careful that nobody should suspect him of being her father.His life was also changing.There was a new firmness about him which everyone noticed He was looking forward to marrying Nancy very soon.'Nancy and I will have children!'he thought happily.'But I won't forget that other child!'

戈弗雷·凱斯關(guān)注地看著小女孩一點(diǎn)兒一點(diǎn)兒長大。埃比小的時候他經(jīng)常送錢給西拉斯去給埃比買東西，可他又很小心，怕別人懷疑自己是孩子的父親。他的生活也變了。每個人都能發(fā)現(xiàn)他變得穩(wěn)重了。他盼著能快些娶南茜。“南茜和我會再有孩子。”他高興地想。“不過我不會忘了那另一個孩子。”