Marianne’s illness
玛丽安的病
Before leaving London, Elinor paid one last visit to her brother and his wife.
在离开伦敦之前,埃莉诺最后一次拜访了她的哥哥和嫂子。
Fanny did not wish to see her, and stayed in her room, but John was very interested in the news of Edward’s good luck.
范妮不愿见她,待在房间里没出来,但约翰对爱德华交好运的消息却非常感兴趣。
He could not understand why the colonel should give away a living, when he could have sold it.
他不明白为什么上校要把一个牧师职位白白送人,而不是把它卖掉。
But he had something more particular to say to his sister.
不过,他还有些更特别的话要对妹妹说。
Taking her hand, he spoke in a very serious whisper.
他拉着她的手,神情严肃地低声说道:
‘There is one thing I must say, because I know it will please you.
“有件事我必须告诉你,因为我知道这会让你高兴。
I know, in fact, Fanny heard her mother say, that although perhaps she did not approve of… of a certain attachment of Edward’s—you understand me—it would have been far preferable to her than this engagement to Miss Steele.
事实上,我知道,范妮听她母亲说过,虽然她也许不赞成……爱德华的那段感情——你懂我的意思——但比起跟斯蒂尔小姐订婚,那件事对她来说要好得多。
Of course all that is quite in the past now, and out of the question.
当然,现在这一切都已成为过去,不可能再发生了。
But I thought I would just tell you, my dear Elinor.
但我还是想告诉你一声,亲爱的埃莉诺。
Not that you have any reason to be sad.
这并不是说你有什么理由难过。
There is no doubt of your doing extremely well.
毫无疑问,你的前程会非常好。
Has Colonel Brandon been with you lately?’
布兰登上校最近常来看你吗?”
Elinor was glad to be spared the need to reply by the entrance of Mr Robert Ferrars.
罗伯特·费拉斯先生的到来让埃莉诺免于回答这个问题,她对此感到庆幸。
She had only met him once before and had found him a thoughtless and insensitive young man, full of his own self-importance.
她以前只见过他一次,觉得他是个轻率、冷漠且自视甚高的年轻人。
This short meeting only served to support her low opinion of his head and heart.
这次短暂的会面只是印证了她对他才智与品格的低评价。
He talked happily of Edward’s inheritance, which he would now enjoy, and laughed loudly at the idea of Edward as a poor vicar living in a cottage.
他兴高采烈地谈论着爱德华放弃的遗产——这笔财产现在将由他来继承,并且一想到爱德华要做个住在小茅屋里的穷牧师,他就放声大笑。
‘His engagement certainly was very shocking news,’ he added.
“他的婚约确实是个令人震惊的消息,”他补充道。
‘I said to my mother, “My dear madam, I do not know what you intend to do, but for myself, I must say that if Edward marries this young woman, I shall never see him again.”
“我对母亲说:‘亲爱的妈妈,我不知道您打算怎么办,但就我个人而言,我必须说,如果爱德华娶了那个年轻女人,我就再也不见他了。’
I saw the girl once, you know, just a plain, country girl, with no elegance or beauty.
你知道,我见过那姑娘一次,只是个普通的乡下女孩,既不优雅也不漂亮。
I cannot help thinking that if I had heard of the connection earlier, I could have persuaded Edward to break it off.
我不禁在想,如果我早点听说这段关系,或许能说服爱德华解除婚约。
But now it is all too late.
但现在一切都太晚了。
He must be punished, that is certain.’
他必须受到惩罚,这是肯定的。”
Elinor was relieved that she could not stay long, and sincerely hoped she would not see Robert Ferrars again.
埃莉诺因不能久留而感到如释重负,并真心希望不要再见到罗伯特·费拉斯。
The journey to Cleveland, the Palmers’ home in Somerset, took two days.
前往克利夫兰——帕尔默夫妇位于萨默塞特郡的家——的旅程花了两天时间。
Their house was comfortable and modern, with large, well-kept gardens and woods.
他们的房子舒适而现代,拥有宽敞且打理良好的花园和树林。
On her arrival Marianne went straight into the garden.
玛丽安一到就径直走进了花园。
She was feeling more agitated than usual, aware of being only eighty miles from Barton and only thirty from Willoughby’s country house, but she loved being back in the romantic countryside.
她比平时更加心绪不宁,意识到这里离巴顿只有八十英里,离威洛比的乡间别墅也只有三十英里,但她喜爱重返这充满浪漫气息的乡村。
She determined to spend as much time as possible taking lonely walks through the gardens and woods.
她决心尽可能多花时间在花园和树林中独自漫步。
Alone, she would be free to delight in her misery, thinking, dreaming, remembering.
独自一人时,她便可以尽情地沉浸在自己的痛苦中,思索、幻想、回忆。
The hours passed quietly at Cleveland.
在克利夫兰的日子过得平静安宁。
Mrs Palmer had her child, and Mrs Jennings her sewing.
帕尔默太太照看孩子,詹宁斯太太做针线活。
Elinor was surprised to find Mr Palmer very capable of being a pleasant companion, and only occasionally rude to his wife and mother-in-law.
埃莉诺惊讶地发现,帕尔默先生其实很善于做一个令人愉快的同伴,只是偶尔才对妻子和岳母粗鲁无礼。
Colonel Brandon, who was also a guest of the Palmers’, spent a great deal of time with Elinor, talking to her about the vicar’s house at Delaford and the repairs he was planning to have done to it.
同为帕尔默家客人的布兰登上校,花了很多时间与埃莉诺交谈,谈论德拉福德的牧师住宅以及他计划进行的修缮工程。
His pleasure in her conversation and his respect for her opinion would have been enough to justify Mrs Jennings’ view of his attachment, and even, perhaps, to make Elinor suspect it herself.
他从与她的交谈中获得的愉悦以及对她的意见的尊重,足以证明詹宁斯太太认为他钟情于她的看法是有道理的,甚至也许会让埃莉诺自己也产生怀疑。
She still felt certain, however, that while he spoke to her, it was Marianne at whom he looked, and of whom he thought.
然而,她仍然确信,当他与她说话时,他注视的是玛丽安,心里想的也是玛丽安。
When Marianne mentioned that she had a sore throat, and felt unwell, the colonel appeared extremely worried.
当玛丽安提到自己喉咙痛、身体不适时,上校显得极为担忧。
In his concern Elinor saw the quick feelings and needless alarm of a lover.
在他的关切中,埃莉诺看到了一个恋人特有的敏感和不必要的惊慌。
Two delightful evening walks in thick wet grass had given Marianne a violent cold.
两次在潮湿茂密的草地上愉快的傍晚散步,使玛丽安得了重感冒。
She felt heavy and feverish, with pains all over her body, but at first refused all medicines, saying that a good night’s rest was all that she needed.
她感到身体沉重、发烧,浑身疼痛,但起初拒绝服用任何药物,声称只需好好睡一觉就行了。
The next day, however, she was worse, unable to do anything except lie miserable on a sofa, and after another restless, feverish night, Elinor was very ready to send for the Palmers’ doctor.
然而第二天,她的病情加重了,除了痛苦地躺在沙发上什么也做不了;在经历了又一个焦躁不安、高烧不退的夜晚后,埃莉诺毫不犹豫地派人去请帕尔默家的医生。
After examining his patient, he said that she was suffering from an infection, and would recover in a few days.
医生检查完病人后说,她患了感染性疾病,几天内就会康复。
But the word ‘infection’ greatly alarmed Mrs Palmer, who feared that her baby might catch it, and she persuaded her husband to take her and the child to stay with a near relation, until there was no further danger of illness at Cleveland.
但“感染”这个词让帕尔默太太大为惊恐,她担心孩子会被传染,于是说服丈夫带她和孩子去一位近亲家住下,直到克利夫兰不再有疾病传播的危险。
Mrs Jennings kindly insisted on staying with the Miss Dashwoods, as she felt responsible for the young ladies in their mother’s absence, and Colonel Brandon also offered to stay, in case a gentleman’s help was needed.
詹宁斯太太好心坚持留下来陪伴达什伍德姐妹,因为她觉得在她们母亲不在身边时自己有责任照顾这两位年轻小姐;布兰登上校也主动提出留下,以备需要男士帮忙时使用。
Poor Marianne now felt really ill, and extremely miserable, as their return to Barton would have to be considerable delayed.
可怜的玛丽安此刻真的病倒了,而且极其痛苦,因为她们回巴顿的计划不得不大幅推迟。
Several days passed, and Marianne’s condition remained the same.
几天过去了,玛丽安的病情依然没有起色。
The doctor came every day, talking each time of a speedy recovery, and Elinor was just as hopeful.
医生每天都来,每次都说很快就会痊愈,埃莉诺也同样满怀希望。
In her letters home, she had not told her mother of the seriousness of Marianne’s illness, and now congratulated herself on not alarming Mrs Dashwood unnecessarily.
在给家里的信中,她没有告诉母亲玛丽安病情的严重性,现在她暗自庆幸没有让达什伍德太太不必要地担惊受怕。
But that evening, Marianne became restless again, and Elinor stayed beside her bed, watching her turning feverishly from side to side.
但那天晚上,玛丽安又变得烦躁不安,埃莉诺守在床边,看着她因高烧而辗转反侧。
Suddenly Marianne sat up and cried wildly, ‘Is mama coming?’
突然,玛丽安坐了起来,疯狂地喊道:“妈妈要来了吗?”
‘Not yet,’ replied Elinor, hiding her terror, and helping her sister to lie down again.
“还没到,”埃莉诺强忍恐惧回答道,并扶妹妹重新躺下。
‘It is a long way from Barton.’
“从巴顿到这里路途遥远。”
‘But she must come soon!’ cried Marianne desperately.
“但她必须快点来啊!”玛丽安绝望地哭喊。
‘I shall never see her again if she does not come soon!’
“如果她不赶紧来,我就再也见不到她了!”
Elinor was so alarmed that she sent for the doctor at once, and decided to send a messenger to Barton to fetch her mother.
埃莉诺惊恐万分,立刻派人去请医生,并决定派信使去巴顿接母亲。
She spoke immediately to Colonel Brandon, who, although greatly depressed and fearing the worst, was ready to help in any way, and offered to drive to Barton himself.
她立即告诉了布兰登上校,上校虽然心情沉重、预感不妙,但仍表示愿意尽一切努力相助,并提出亲自驾车前往巴顿。
How grateful Elinor was for the comfort of such a friend as the colonel at that moment!
在那一刻,能有上校这样一位朋友给予慰藉,埃莉诺是多么感激啊!
Not a second was lost in delay of any kind, and the colonel drove off into the night, leaving Elinor to watch over her sister.
没有丝毫耽搁,上校连夜驱车出发,留下埃莉诺守护妹妹。
Both sisters suffered greatly during that night, Marianne in her sleepless pain and fever, and Elinor in cruel anxiety that her mother would arrive too late to see her dear child alive.
那一夜姐妹俩都备受煎熬,玛丽安在高烧和疼痛中彻夜难眠,埃莉诺则在残酷的焦虑中担心母亲来得太晚,来不及见亲爱的女儿最后一面。
When the doctor came, he had to confess that his medicines had failed, and that the infection was stronger than ever.
医生来时,不得不承认药物已经无效,感染比以往任何时候都更严重了。
Elinor was calm, except when she thought of her mother, but she was almost without hope.
除了想到母亲时,埃莉诺表现得很镇定,但她几乎已经不抱希望了。
She stayed by her sister’s bed all morning, her thoughts confused and sorrowful.
整个上午她都守在妹妹床边,思绪混乱而悲伤。
But at midday, she began to see signs of the fever going down.
但到了中午,她开始看到退烧的迹象。
Cautiously, she told herself not to hope, but soon it seemed almost certain, and on the doctor’s next visit, he was able to congratulate her on Marianne’s slow but sure recovery.
她谨慎地告诫自己不要过早乐观,但很快情况似乎确凿无疑;医生再次来访时,终于能够祝贺她玛丽安正在缓慢但确定地康复。
Mrs Jennings showed her delight by talking and laughing without stopping, but Elinor’s feelings were of a different kind.
詹宁斯太太用不停的说笑来表达她的喜悦,但埃莉诺的感受却截然不同。
Her relief and happiness were strong, but silent.
她的宽慰和幸福是强烈而无声的。
That evening Marianne fell into a quiet, comfortable sleep, and Elinor knew that at last she was out of danger.
那天晚上,玛丽安进入了安静舒适的睡眠,埃莉诺知道她终于脱离了危险。
Her thoughts now began to turn to her mother’s arrival, which was expected at any moment.
她的思绪现在开始转向即将到来的母亲,预计她随时都会到达。
Mrs Jennings persuaded her to leave Marianne’s bedside for a few minutes to drink some tea, but Elinor soon returned, to sit by her sleeping sister and wait for the travellers from Barton.
詹宁斯太太劝她离开玛丽安的床边几分钟去喝点茶,但埃莉诺很快就回来了,坐在熟睡的妹妹身旁,等待从巴顿赶来的亲人。
The night was cold and stormy, but as long as Marianne slept peacefully, Elinor did not mind the beating of the rain on the windows, or the noise of the wind blowing round the house.
夜晚寒冷且风雨交加,但只要玛丽安安详地睡着,埃莉诺就不介意雨水敲窗的声音,也不在意狂风绕屋呼啸的声响。
At eight o’clock she heard a carriage drive up to the front door.
八点钟时,她听到一辆马车驶到了前门。
Knowing what her poor mother must be feeling, Elinor found it impossible to be calm, and hurried downstairs.
深知可怜的母亲此刻该是何种心情,埃莉诺无法保持镇定,急忙跑下楼去。
She rushed into the sitting-room, and saw—Willoughby.
她冲进客厅,看到的却是——威洛比。
With a look of horror, she stepped backwards, and was about to leave the room, when he said rapidly, ‘Miss Dashwood, I beg you to stay.
她满脸惊恐地向后退去,正要离开房间,他却急促地说道:“达什伍德小姐,求您留下来。
I have something I must tell you.’
我有话必须告诉您。”
Elinor was astonished.
埃莉诺十分惊讶。
‘To tell me? Well, sir, if you must. But be quick. I have no time to spare.’
“告诉我?好吧,先生,如果你非说不可的话。但请快点,我没时间浪费。”
‘Tell me first, is your sister really out of danger?’
“请先告诉我,您妹妹真的脱离危险了吗?”
‘We hope she is,’ replied Elinor coldly.
“我们希望如此,”埃莉诺冷冷地回答。
‘Thank God! I heard she was ill, and I have driven all day to get here.
“感谢上帝!我听说她病了,开了一整天的车才赶到这里。
I have come to offer some kind of explanation, to show you that I have not always been a scoundrel, and to receive something like forgiveness from Ma—your sister.’
我来是想做些解释,向您表明我并不一直是个卑鄙小人,并希望得到妈……您妹妹的原谅。”
‘Marianne has already forgiven you.’
“玛丽安已经原谅你了。”
‘Has she?’ he cried eagerly.
“真的吗?”他急切地叫道。
‘But listen, I must explain.
“但请听我说,我必须解释。
When I first met your family, I had no other intention than to pass the time pleasantly while in Devonshire.
当我初识你们一家时,除了想在德文郡愉快地消磨时光外,别无他意。
My income was never large, and my debts are always very great, so I was planning to attach myself to a woman of fortune.
我的收入从来不多,债务却总是很重,所以我原本打算追求一位富有的女子。
But I soon found myself sincerely fond of your sister, and the happiest hours of my life were spent with her.
但我很快发现自己真心喜欢上了令妹,我一生中最幸福的时光都是与她共度的。
I allowed myself, most wrongly, to put off asking her to marry me.
我错误地拖延了向她求婚的时间。
At last I determined to speak of marriage, but unfortunately my relation, Mrs Smith, had just discovered a connection’—he reddened, and looked away—’but you have probably heard the whole story from Colonel Brandon.’
最后我终于下定决心要谈婚论嫁,但不幸的是,我的亲戚史密斯太太刚刚发现了一段私情”——他脸红了,把目光移开——“不过您可能已经从布兰登上校那里听到了整个故事。”
‘I have,’ replied Elinor, also blushing, ‘and I cannot see how you will explain away your part in that terrible business.’
“我听过了,”埃莉诺也红着脸回答,“我不明白你怎么能为自己在那件可怕事情中的所作所为辩解。”
‘No, I know I was at fault,’ cried Willoughby, ‘but I must ask you to believe that I had no idea Eliza was in such need.
“不,我知道我有错,”威洛比喊道,“但我请您相信,我当时完全不知道伊丽莎处境如此艰难。
I suffered too, because Mrs Smith was extremely angry at my behaviour, and refused to allow me any more money, or see me again.
我也很痛苦,因为史密斯太太对我的行为极为愤怒,拒绝再给我一分钱,也不再愿意见我。
I knew that if I married Marianne, I would be poor, and I couldn’t bear the thought of that.
我知道如果娶了玛丽安,我就会变穷,我无法忍受这种念头。
So I came to Barton Cottage, to say goodbye to her.
所以我来到巴顿小屋,是为了向她告别。
How happy I had been, the day before, ready to become engaged to her!
就在前一天我还那么幸福,准备和她订婚!
And how miserable I was when I saw her sorrow and deep disappointment!
而当看到她悲伤和极度失望的样子时,我又是何等痛苦!
Oh God! What a hard-hearted scoundrel I was!’
天哪!我是个多么狠心的混蛋啊!”
There was a short silence, while Willoughby recovered his self-control, and Elinor’s heart softened a little towards him.
短暂的沉默之后,威洛比恢复了自制,埃莉诺对他的心肠也稍稍软了一些。
‘And then in London, Marianne’s notes to me! Every word was a knife in my heart!
“后来在伦敦,玛丽安给我的信笺!每一个字都像刀子扎在我的心上!
She was far dearer to me than any other woman in the world, but by then I was engaged to Miss Grey!’
她比世上任何其他女人都珍贵,可那时我已经和格雷小姐订婚了!”
‘Do not speak like that of my sister, Mr Willoughby,’ said Elinor.
“不要这样谈论我的妹妹,威洛比先生,”埃莉诺说。
‘Remember that you are a married man now.’
“记住你现在已经是有妇之夫了。”
He began to laugh wildly.
他开始狂笑起来。
‘Married, yes. Did you like the letter I wrote to Marianne?
“结婚了,是的。您喜欢我写给玛丽安的那封信吗?
Miss Grey happened to see Marianne’s last note to me, and read it.
格雷小姐碰巧看到了玛丽安给我的最后一封信,并读了它。
Her jealous anger made her think of a cruel punishment for me.
她的嫉妒和愤怒让她想到了一个惩罚我的残忍办法。
She told me what to write, and watched over me as I wrote the letter.
她告诉我该写什么,并在我写信时在一旁监视。
They were all her own gentle words, her own sweet thoughts.
那些全是她自己温柔的话语、甜蜜的心思。
I could not risk losing her—I needed her money to pay my debts.’
我不能冒失去她的风险——我需要她的钱来还债。”
‘You ought not to speak of Mrs Willoughby in this way. You have made your choice, and should respect your wife.’
“你不该这样谈论威洛比太太。既然做出了选择,你就应该尊重你的妻子。”
‘She does not deserve your pity. I have no chance of domestic happiness with her.
“她不配得到您的同情。我和她在一起毫无家庭幸福可言。
But do you think me less guilty than before?
但您觉得我的罪过比以前轻了吗?
Will you tell your sister, when she is recovered, what I have told you?
等她康复后,您会把我的话告诉她吗?
If ever, one day, by some happy chance, I were free again—’ Elinor stopped him with a frown.
如果有一天,侥幸我又自由了——”埃莉诺皱着眉头打断了他。
‘Well, I shall leave now. I shall live in terror of one event—your sister’s marriage.’
“好吧,我现在就走。我将活在一种恐惧之中——那就是您妹妹结婚的那一天。”
‘She can never be more lost to you than she is now.’
“她对你来说,永远不会比现在失去得更多了。”
‘But someone else will have her. And if that someone were he, whom of all men I could least bear… But I must go. Goodbye.’
“但别人将会拥有她。如果那个人偏偏是我最无法忍受的那个男人……但我必须走了。再见。”
And he almost ran out of the room.
说完他几乎是跑出了房间。
Elinor’s heart was full as she returned to her sleeping sister.
回到熟睡的妹妹身边时,埃莉诺百感交集。
The past, the present, the future—Willoughby’s visit and the pity she felt for him, Marianne’s health and her mother’s expected arrival, made her so agitated that she did not notice her hunger or tiredness.
过去、现在和未来——威洛比的来访及她对他的怜悯、玛丽安的健康状况以及母亲的即将到来,这一切让她心潮澎湃,以至于感觉不到饥饿和疲倦。
Only half an hour later, a second carriage arrived at the house.
仅仅半小时后,第二辆马车抵达了宅邸。
Elinor hurried to the door, just in time to receive and support her mother as she entered, half-dead with fear.
埃莉诺急忙跑到门口,刚好及时迎进并扶住了因恐惧而吓得半死的母亲。
In a moment Elinor was able to give the good news, and Mrs Dashwood’s tears silently expressed her relief.
片刻之后,埃莉诺便告知了好消息,达什伍德太太默默流下的泪水表达了她的宽慰。
Colonel Brandon shared her feelings in an even greater silence.
布兰登上校以更深的沉默分担着她的感受。
In two minutes Mrs Dashwood was with her suffering child, made dearer than ever by absence, unhappiness and danger.
两分钟后,达什伍德太太便来到了受苦的女儿身边;离别、不幸和危险使这个孩子比以往任何时候都更加珍贵。
Marianne’s recovery continued every day, and Mrs Dashwood soon found an opportunity to tell Elinor another piece of news.
玛丽安的身体一天天好转,达什伍德太太很快找到机会告诉了埃莉诺另一个消息。
On the long drive from Barton to Cleveland, Colonel Brandon had been unable to hide his feelings, and had told Mrs Dashwood that he had long wanted to marry Marianne.
在从巴顿到克利夫兰的漫长旅途中,布兰登上校无法掩饰自己的感情,向达什伍德太太吐露了他想娶玛丽安为妻的夙愿。
Mrs Dashwood was now as certain of the colonel’s excellent character as she had once been of Willoughby’s, and hoped that Marianne would, in time, come to accept Colonel Brandon’s offer of marriage.
达什伍德太太现在对上校优秀品质的确信程度,一如当初对威洛比的信任,她希望玛丽安终有一天能接受布兰登上校的求婚。
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