Return to Barton
重返巴顿
Marianne recovered so well that within a week she was able to travel home, with her mother and Elinor, in Colonel Brandon’s carriage.
玛丽安恢复得很好，不到一周便能与母亲和埃莉诺一同乘坐布兰登上校的马车回家。
Elinor was pleased to see that Marianne showed a new firmness of mind and calmness of expression.
埃莉诺高兴地看到，玛丽安展现出一种前所未有的内心坚定与神情平静。
Although she was clearly still upset when she thought of the past, she was now able to control her feelings, and show a cheerful face to her family.
虽然想起往事时她显然仍会难过，但如今已能控制情绪，在家人面前强颜欢笑。
She started planning a new life for herself.
她开始为自己规划新的生活。
‘When I am stronger, Elinor, we will take long walks together every day. I shall never get up later than six, and I shall spend every morning practising my music or reading.’
“等我身体再好些，埃莉诺，我们每天都要一起长途散步。我绝不再晚于六点起床，每天上午都要用来练琴或读书。”
Elinor smiled, doubting whether this plan would last very long, but happy to see Marianne enthusiastic again.
埃莉诺微笑着，虽怀疑这计划能否长久坚持，但很高兴看到玛丽安重燃热情。
A couple of days later, the weather was so fine that Mrs Dashwood encouraged Elinor to take Marianne out for a gentle walk, and the sisters set out along the quiet country road.
几天后天气极好，达什伍德太太便鼓励埃莉诺带玛丽安出去散散步，姐妹俩于是沿着宁静的乡间小路出发了。
‘There, exactly there,’ said Marianne, pointing to the hill behind the house, ‘is where I fell, and first saw Willoughby. I am thankful to find that I can see the place with so little pain! Can we talk on that subject now, do you think, Elinor?’
“就在那儿，确切地说就在那儿，”玛丽安指着屋后的小山丘说道，“就是我摔倒并初次遇见威洛比的地方。我很欣慰自己再看到此地时已不那么痛苦了！埃莉诺，你觉得我们现在能谈谈这件事吗？”
She was affectionately encouraged to speak openly.
埃莉诺温柔地鼓励她敞开心扉。
‘I know how badly I have behaved! My illness has given me time to think. I should never have been so incautious in my behaviour with Willoughby, and so impolite to other people. I know now that my own uncontrolled feelings caused my suffering, and even my illness was all my own fault. I have been unkind and unfair to almost everybody I know!—but especially to you, dearest Elinor. Did I follow your example? No! Did I help or comfort you, when you were suffering? No! I only thought of my own sorrow and my own broken heart.’
“我知道自己表现得多么糟糕！这场病让我有时间反思。我不该在与威洛比的交往中那样轻率，也不该对他人那样无礼。我现在明白，是我自己无法克制的情感导致了痛苦，甚至连生病也是我咎由自取。我对几乎所有认识的人都刻薄不公——尤其是对你，最亲爱的埃莉诺。我以你为榜样了吗？没有！在你痛苦时，我帮助或安慰过你吗？没有！我只顾着自己的悲伤和破碎的心。”
Elinor, impatient to calm her, praised her honesty.
埃莉诺急于安抚她，便称赞了她的坦诚。
‘I can never forget Willoughby,’ continued Marianne, ‘but my memories no longer make me miserable. If I only knew that he did not always intend to deceive me, that he had some good in him, I would have much greater peace of mind.’
“我永远无法忘记威洛比，”玛丽安继续说，“但回忆不再让我痛苦不堪。只要知道他并非一直存心欺骗我，知道他本性中尚有善良之处，我的心就能安宁许多。”
Elinor took a deep breath, and passed on to her sister what Willoughby had told her.
埃莉诺深吸一口气，将威洛比告诉她的事转述给了妹妹。
Marianne said nothing, but tears ran down her face. They were now on their way back to the cottage, and as they reached the door, she kissed Elinor gratefully, whispered, ‘Tell mama,’ and went slowly upstairs.
玛丽安一言不发，泪水却顺着脸颊流下。此时她们正走在回小屋的路上，走到门口时，她感激地吻了埃莉诺，低声说了句“告诉妈妈”，便缓缓上楼去了。
When Mrs Dashwood heard the story, she expressed some pity for Willoughby. But for her, nothing could remove the guilt of his behaviour towards Eliza, and then Marianne.
达什伍德太太听完此事后，对威洛比表示了些许同情。但在她看来，他对伊丽莎以及随后对玛丽安的所作所为，其罪责是无法洗刷的。
In the evening, when they were all together, Marianne spoke again of Willoughby. ‘I wish to tell you both,’ she told her mother and Elinor, in a trembling voice, ‘that what Elinor told me this morning was a great relief to me. I could never have been happy with him, after knowing all this.’
晚上大家聚在一起时，玛丽安又谈起了威洛比。“我想告诉你们俩，”她声音颤抖地对母亲和埃莉诺说，“今早埃莉诺告诉我的事让我如释重负。知道了这一切后，即便和他在一起，我也绝不会幸福。”
‘I know, I know!’ cried her mother. ‘My Marianne, happy with a scoundrel like that? No!’
“我知道，我知道！”母亲喊道，“我的玛丽安，跟那种无赖在一起会幸福？绝不！”
‘Marianne, you consider the matter,’ said Elinor, ‘exactly as a sensible person should. And I expect you realize that marriage to him would have involved you in many troubles and disappointments. You would always have been poor, and perhaps your influence on his heart would have lessened, as he realized his selfish demands could not be met.’
“玛丽安，你对这件事的看法，”埃莉诺说，“完全像一个理智的人应有的那样。我想你也意识到，嫁给他会让你陷入诸多麻烦与失望之中。你会一直受穷，而且当他发现无法满足自己自私的欲望时，你对他内心的影响力或许也会减弱。”
‘Selfish? Do you think him selfish?’ said Marianne. ‘Yes, you are right, it is true. How foolish I was!’
“自私？你觉得他自私吗？”玛丽安问。“是的，你说得对，确实如此。我当时多么愚蠢啊！”
‘I am more to blame than you, my child,’ said Mrs Dashwood. ‘I should have discovered his intentions earlier.’
“孩子，我更该受到责备，”达什伍德太太说，“我本该早点看清他的意图。”
During the next few days Marianne continued to get stronger, and life at Barton fell back into the old routines.
接下来的几天里，玛丽安的身体持续好转，巴顿的生活也恢复了往日的常态。
Elinor grew impatient for some news of Edward, but the news arrived in a rather unexpected way.
埃莉诺越来越急切地盼望着爱德华的消息，但这消息却以一种意想不到的方式传来了。
Mrs Dashwood’s manservant, Thomas, had been sent to Exeter one morning on business, and on his return finished his report with these words:
一天早上，达什伍德太太的男仆托马斯被派往埃克塞特办事，回来汇报完工作后补充道：
‘I suppose you know, madam, that Mr Ferrars is married.’
“夫人，我想您知道费拉斯先生已经结婚了。”
Marianne looked quickly at Elinor’s white face, and burst into uncontrolled sobbing.
玛丽安迅速瞥见埃莉诺苍白的脸色，顿时失声痛哭起来。
Mrs Dashwood did not know which daughter to take care of first. She and Margaret led Marianne to another room, and then Mrs Dashwood hurried back to Elinor, who, although clearly upset, had been able to start questioning Thomas. At once Mrs Dashwood took that trouble upon herself.
达什伍德太太一时不知该先照顾哪个女儿。她和玛格丽特把玛丽安领到另一个房间，然后急忙回到埃莉诺身边；埃莉诺虽然明显很难过，但已开始向托马斯询问情况。达什伍德太太立刻亲自接手了盘问。
‘Who told you that Mr Ferrars was married, Thomas?’
“谁告诉你费拉斯先生结婚了，托马斯？”
‘I saw him myself, madam, with his lady, Miss Steele, as her name was then. Miss Steele called to me from a carriage, and asked after the young ladies’ health. Then she smiled and said she had changed her name since she was last in Devon.’
“夫人，我亲眼看见他和太太在一起，就是当时的斯蒂尔小姐。斯蒂尔小姐从马车里叫我，问候几位小姐的身体。然后她笑着说，自从上次来德文郡后，她已经改姓了。”
‘Was Mr Ferrars in the carriage with her?’
“费拉斯先生和她一起在马车里吗？”
‘Yes, madam. He was sitting next to her, but I didn’t see his face. And Mr Ferrars isn’t a gentleman for talking much.’
“是的，夫人。他就坐在她旁边，但我没看清他的脸。况且费拉斯先生也不是个爱说话的人。”
‘Did Mrs Ferrars look well?’
“费拉斯太太气色好吗？”
‘Yes, madam, very well, and extremely happy.’
“很好，夫人，气色极佳，看起来非常幸福。”
Thomas was then sent away, and Elinor and her mother sat in thoughtful silence.
托马斯被打发走后，埃莉诺和母亲陷入了沉思般的沉默。
Mrs Dashwood now realized that Elinor had hidden her feelings for Edward, in order to spare her mother any unhappiness.
达什伍德太太此刻才意识到，埃莉诺一直隐瞒着对爱德华的感情，以免让母亲伤心。
She felt guilty that Marianne’s suffering had taken up so much of her time, when her eldest daughter was probably just as much in need of her care and attention.
她感到愧疚，因为玛丽安的痛苦占据了她太多时间，而大女儿可能同样需要她的关怀与照料。
Elinor herself was extremely miserable. She had always had a secret hope that something might happen to prevent his marrying Lucy. But now he really was married, and she could not bear the thought of it.
埃莉诺自己也痛苦万分。她心中一直暗自期盼能发生什么事阻止他娶露西。可如今他真的结婚了，她简直无法接受这个事实。
A few days later, a gentleman was seen riding up to their front door. At first Elinor thought it must be Colonel Brandon, but it was not him. In fact, it looked just like Edward. She looked again. It was Edward. She moved away from the window, and sat down. ‘I will be calm. I will — must —be calm.’
几天后，一位绅士骑马来到门前。起初埃莉诺以为是布兰登上校，但不是他。实际上，那人看起来很像爱德华。她又看了一眼，确实是爱德华。她从窗边走开坐下。“我要冷静。我一定要——必须——冷静。”
Her mother and sisters had recognized Edward too, but not a word was spoken, and they all waited in silence for their visitor to appear. He entered, looking pale, agitated and afraid. Mrs Dashwood greeted him kindly, and wished him every happiness. He blushed, and said something no one could hear.
母亲和妹妹们也认出了爱德华，但大家都默不作声，静静地等着客人进来。他走进屋，面色苍白，神情激动且惶恐。达什伍德太太亲切地招呼他，祝他幸福美满。他涨红了脸，嘟囔了一句谁也听不清的话。
Elinor, desperately, began to talk about the weather. When she had finished expressing her extreme delight in the dryness of the season, a very awful pause took place. It was ended by Mrs Dashwood, who felt it necessary to hope that Mrs Ferrars was well. Edward replied hurriedly that she was.
埃莉诺拼命找话题，开始谈论天气。当她表达完对这干燥季节的极度欣喜后，场面陷入了可怕的沉寂。最后还是达什伍德太太打破了沉默，她觉得有必要问候一下费拉斯太太是否安好。爱德华连忙回答说她很好。
Another pause.
又是一阵沉默。
‘Is Mrs Ferrars in Plymouth?’ asked Elinor, bravely.
“费拉斯太太在普利茅斯吗？”埃莉诺鼓起勇气问道。
‘Plymouth!’ he said, surprised. ‘No, my mother is in London.’
“普利茅斯！”他惊讶地说，“不，我母亲在伦敦。”
‘I meant,’ said Elinor, taking up her sewing from the table, ‘to ask about Mrs Edward Ferrars.’
“我的意思是，”埃莉诺拿起桌上的针线活说道，“想问问爱德华·费拉斯太太的情况。”
He blushed, looked puzzled, hesitated, then said, ‘Perhaps you mean—my brother—you mean Mrs Robert Ferrars.’
他脸红了，一脸困惑，犹豫了一下说：“也许你是指——我弟弟——你是指罗伯特·费拉斯太太吧。”
‘Mrs Robert Ferrars!’ repeated Marianne and Mrs Dashwood in the greatest astonishment. Elinor could not speak.
“罗伯特·费拉斯太太！”玛丽安和达什伍德太太极其震惊地重复道。埃莉诺则说不出话来。
‘Yes,’ said Edward, hurriedly, ‘you may not have heard that my brother is now married to—to—to Miss Lucy Steele.’
“是的，”爱德华急忙说，“你们可能还没听说，我弟弟现在娶了——娶了——娶了露西·斯蒂尔小姐。”
Elinor could sit there no longer. She ran out of the room, and as soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of happiness. Until then Edward had avoided looking at her; now he watched her hurry away, and seemed to fall into a dream. At last, without saying a word, he got up, left the room, and walked out of the house.
埃莉诺再也坐不住了。她跑出房间，门刚关上，便喜极而泣。在此之前爱德华一直避免看她；此刻他注视着她匆匆离去的背影，仿佛陷入了梦境。最后，他一言不发地站起身，离开房间，走出了屋子。
Great was the astonishment he left behind him. One thing, however, was certain. Edward was now free, and it was not hard to guess how he would use this freedom. Walking about in the fresh air made him feel brave enough to return, and when they all sat down to tea at four o’clock, Edward had won his lady, gained her mother’s permission, and was the happiest man alive.
他留下的惊愕可想而知。然而有一点是确定的：爱德华现在自由了，不难猜出他会如何利用这份自由。在户外呼吸新鲜空气让他有了回来的勇气，当四点钟大家坐下来喝茶时，爱德华已赢得了心上人，获得了她母亲的应允，成了世上最幸福的人。
His heart was now open to Elinor, with his weaknesses and mistakes confessed, and his boyish attachment to Lucy discussed with all the wise experience of a man of twenty-four.
他现在向埃莉诺敞开了心扉，坦承了自己的软弱与错误，并以一个二十四岁男人的成熟智慧，剖析了自己年少时对露西的那份依恋。
‘My engagement to Lucy certainly was foolish,’ said he, ‘but it would not have happened if my mother had allowed me to choose a profession. I had nothing to do, and no friends to advise me, so I imagined myself in love. When I met you, my dear Elinor, I realized at once how weak I had been.’
“我与露西订婚确实是愚蠢之举，”他说，“但如果母亲允许我选择职业，这事就不会发生。我当时无所事事，又没有朋友指点，便自以为坠入了爱河。直到遇见你，亲爱的埃莉诺，我才立刻意识到自己曾经多么软弱。”
Elinor’s mother and sisters were delighted; they could not love Edward enough, nor praise Elinor enough.
埃莉诺的母亲和妹妹们欣喜若狂；她们怎么疼爱爱德华都不够，怎么赞扬埃莉诺也不为过。
And Elinor—how can her feelings be described? From the moment of learning that Edward was free, to the moment of his asking her to marry him, her mind was in a storm. But when all doubt was past and she heard his voice expressing his deep love and affection for her, she knew her happiness was complete.
至于埃莉诺——该如何形容她的感受呢？从得知爱德华自由的那一刻起，到他向她求婚的那一刻止，她的内心如同风暴般翻涌。但当一切疑虑消散，听到他亲口表达对她深沉的爱意时，她知道自己的幸福圆满了。
Edward stayed at the cottage for a week, and one of the first subjects of discussion was of course Lucy’s marriage. It appeared that Robert had visited her several times, trying to persuade her to set Edward free. Lucy had realized that it was now Robert, not Edward, who would inherit his mother’s fortune. Being of similarly selfish character, they were attracted to each other, and decided to get married with speed and secrecy.
爱德华在小屋住了一周，首要话题自然是露西的婚事。原来罗伯特曾多次拜访她，试图劝她解除与爱德华的婚约。露西意识到，如今继承母亲财产的将是罗伯特而非爱德华。两人同样生性自私，因而互相吸引，决定迅速秘密结婚。
Edward’s mother was, naturally, horrified by Robert’s marriage. She did not greatly approve of Edward’s engagement to Elinor either, but in the end was persuaded to accept it, and even, rather unwillingly, gave Edward ten thousand pounds; she had given the same to Fanny on her marriage. This was much more than was expected by Edward and Elinor, who could now afford to marry very soon, and move into the vicar’s house at Delaford.
爱德华的母亲自然对罗伯特的婚事大为震惊。她对爱德华与埃莉诺的订婚也不太赞成，但最终被说服接受了，甚至颇为勉强地给了爱德华一万英镑；范妮结婚时她也给了同样的数目。这远超爱德华和埃莉诺的预期，他们现在有能力很快完婚，并搬进德拉福德的牧师住宅。
There they were visited by all their friends and relations, who found them one of the happiest couples in the world. Even Mrs Ferrars came to visit them, although they were never favourites with her. That honour was reserved for Robert and Lucy, who, by endless attentions and respectful messages, finally regained their place in her heart. The whole of Lucy’s behaviour in the matter may be seen as a most encouraging example of what self-interest can do to gain wealth and position. With Mrs Ferrars’ generous help, Robert and Lucy lived in great comfort, often visiting John and Fanny Dashwood; only their frequent domestic disagreements spoiled their happiness.
亲友纷纷前来探望，都认为他们是世上最幸福的夫妇之一。就连费拉斯太太也来看望他们，尽管他们从未成为她的宠儿。那份殊荣留给了罗伯特和露西，他们靠着无尽的殷勤和恭敬的问候，终于重新赢回了她在心中的地位。露西在此事中的全部行径，堪称自私自利者攫取财富与地位的最励志典范。在费拉斯太太的慷慨资助下，罗伯特和露西过着优渥舒适的生活，常去约翰和范妮·达什伍德家做客；唯有频繁的家庭争吵破坏了他们的幸福。
Elinor’s move to Delaford did not separate her from her family, as her mother and sisters spent half their time with her. Mrs Dashwood was anxious to bring Marianne and Colonel Brandon together, which was also Elinor’s and Edward’s wish. Knowing how good, how kind the colonel was, and how fondly he was attached to her, what could Marianne do?
埃莉诺搬到德拉福德并未与家人分离，因为母亲和妹妹有一半时间都与她同住。达什伍德太太一心撮合玛丽安和布兰登上校，这也是埃莉诺和爱德华的愿望。深知上校为人善良仁慈，又对她情深意重，玛丽安还能怎么做呢？
At the age of seventeen she had believed that passionate feeling was the most important thing in life. She had had her heart broken, and learnt to recover from it. Then at nineteen, with feelings of only warm friendship and respect, she agreed to marry a man she had once considered dull, and far too old for marriage!
十七岁时，她曾以为炽热的激情是人生至要之事。她经历了心碎，也学会了从中复原。而后在十九岁时，仅怀着温暖的友谊与敬重之情，她答应嫁给一个曾被她认为沉闷乏味、年纪太大不宜结婚的男人！
But so it was. Colonel Brandon was now as happy as all those who loved him believed he deserved to be, and Marianne, who could never love by halves, came in time to love her husband as much as she had loved Willoughby.
但事实就是如此。布兰登上校如今正如所有爱他的人所期望的那样幸福，而玛丽安这个爱起来从不保留的人，也终有一天爱丈夫如同当初爱威洛比一般深。
Willoughby himself was saddened to hear of her marriage, but he did not die of a broken heart. He even managed to get some enjoyment out of life, as his wife was not always unpleasant, and his home not always uncomfortable. But Marianne remained his idea of the perfect woman, and he often refused to admire a new young beauty as ‘nothing to compare with Mrs Brandon’.
威洛比本人听闻她结婚的消息虽感悲伤，却并未因此心碎而死。他甚至还能从生活中寻得些许乐趣，毕竟妻子并非总是令人不快，家中也并非总是不适。但玛丽安始终是他心中完美女性的化身，面对新晋的年轻美人，他常不屑一顾，称其“根本无法与布兰登太太相提并论”。
Mrs Dashwood stayed on at Barton Cottage, and as Margaret soon grew old enough for dancing and falling in love, Sir John and Mrs Jennings did not miss Elinor and Marianne as much as they had feared. Barton and Delaford were connected by strong family affection, and there was constant communication between the two places. Elinor and Marianne lived in great happiness, loved and respected by their husbands, and almost within sight of each other. The passing of the years only served to bring them all closer together.
达什伍德太太继续住在巴顿小屋，随着玛格丽特长大到可以跳舞恋爱的年纪，约翰爵士和詹宁斯太太也不像担心的那样想念埃莉诺和玛丽安了。巴顿与德拉福德因深厚的亲情紧密相连，两地往来不断。埃莉诺和玛丽安生活得十分幸福，深受丈夫的爱戴与尊重，彼此几乎近在咫尺。岁月的流逝只会让他们所有人的关系更加亲密。
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