The truth about Willoughby
关于威洛比的真相
The next day Marianne felt just as miserable, and could talk about nothing but Willoughby.
第二天，玛丽安依然感到痛苦万分，除了威洛比之外什么都谈不下去。
With affectionate words Elinor encouraged her to talk about her feelings.
埃莉诺用温情的话语鼓励她倾诉自己的感受。
Marianne was determined to avoid Mrs Jennings’ presence, however.
然而，玛丽安下定决心要避开詹宁斯太太。
‘She cannot feel, Elinor!’ she cried.
“她根本不懂感情，埃莉诺！”她哭喊道。
‘Her kindness is not sympathy. She is only interested in me because she will enjoy telling her friends all the details of my sad situation!’
“她的善意并非同情。她之所以关心我，只是因为她乐于向朋友们绘声绘色地讲述我悲惨处境的种种细节！”
It is unfortunate that many people of excellent intelligence and character, like Marianne, are neither reasonable nor fair.
遗憾的是，许多像玛丽安这样聪慧且品格优秀的人，却既不讲理也不公正。
Then something happened after breakfast which sank Mrs Jennings still lower in Marianne’s opinion.
接着，早饭后发生了一件事，使詹宁斯太太在玛丽安心中的地位更是一落千丈。
The sisters were in their room when Mrs Jennings hurried in, holding out a letter in her hand, and with a cheerful smile on her face.
姐妹俩正在房间里时，詹宁斯太太匆匆走了进来，手里举着一封信，脸上带着愉快的笑容。
‘Now, my dear,’ she cried, ‘I bring you something that I am sure will do you good.’
“瞧，亲爱的，”她叫道，“我给你带来了样东西，保准对你有好处。”
At once Marianne imagined a letter from Willoughby, full of affection and believable explanations, instantly followed by Willoughby himself, who would throw himself passionately at her feet.
玛丽安立刻以为那是威洛比的来信，满纸深情与令人信服的解释，紧接着威洛比本人就会冲进来，激情澎湃地跪倒在她脚边。
The work of one moment was destroyed by the next.
一瞬间的希望顷刻间化为泡影。
In front of her eyes was her mother’s writing, never unwelcome till then, and in the bitterness of her disappointment she felt she had reached the depths of her suffering.
眼前竟是母亲的笔迹——这曾是她从未排斥过的字迹——在失望的苦涩中，她觉得自己已坠入了痛苦的深渊。
She could not speak, and the tears poured down her face.
她说不出话来，泪水夺眶而出。
Mrs Jennings was not at all aware of what she had done, and with many kind words of sympathy, soon left the Miss Dashwoods to read the letter together.
詹宁斯太太全然不知自己造成了什么后果，说了许多同情的贴心话后，便留下达什伍德姐妹去一起读信了。
It brought them no comfort, as it expressed Mrs Dashwood’s complete confidence in, and affection for, Willoughby.
这封信并未给她们带来丝毫安慰，因为信中表达了达什伍德太太对威洛比完全的信任与喜爱。
Marianne’s tears flowed even faster when she thought how shocked and saddened her dear mother would be to hear the news.
一想到亲爱的母亲听到这个消息后会多么震惊和伤心，玛丽安的眼泪流得更急了。
She was now very eager to return home to Devonshire.
她现在迫切渴望回到德文郡的家中。
Elinor sat down, with a heavy heart, to write to her mother again, telling her how Willoughby had behaved, and asking what they should do.
埃莉诺怀着沉重的心情坐下来，再次给母亲写信，告诉她威洛比的所作所为，并询问她们该如何是好。
Just then, there was a knock on the front door, and Marianne, looking out of the window, saw Colonel Brandon outside.
就在这时，前门传来了敲门声，玛丽安望向窗外，看见布兰登上校站在外面。
She hurried away to her room, and Elinor remained to greet him.
她急忙躲回房间，埃莉诺留下来接待他。
He seemed disturbed and unhappy, and asked anxiously after Marianne.
他显得心烦意乱、郁郁寡欢，焦急地询问玛丽安的情况。
‘I have come, hoping to find you alone,’ he said, in some confusion, ‘because… My only wish is to give comfort, no, not comfort—to support your sister in this difficult time.
“我来这里，是希望能单独见你，”他有些慌乱地说，“因为……我唯一的愿望是给予安慰，不，不是安慰——而是在这艰难时刻支持你的妹妹。
My feeling for her, for yourself, for your mother… Will you allow me to prove it by telling you some details of—of… If I did not consider it useful, I would not bother you…’ He stopped.
我对她、对你、对你母亲的感情……你能否允许我通过告诉你一些关于……关于……的细节来证明这一点？如果我认为这没有用处，我就不会打扰你了……”他停住了。
‘I understand you,’ said Elinor. ‘You have something to say about Mr Willoughby, that will open his character to us.
“我明白你的意思，”埃莉诺说，“你想告诉我们一些关于威洛比先生的事，让我们看清他的真面目。
Telling me would be the greatest proof of friendly feeling for Marianne. I beg you, let me hear it immediately.’
告诉我这些就是你对玛丽安友善之情的最大证明。求你了，请立刻让我听听吧。”
‘I must tell you a little about myself first. Perhaps you remember at Barton Park, when I mentioned a young lady I once knew?
“我得先跟你讲讲我自己的一点往事。也许你还记得在巴顿庄园时，我曾提起过我认识的一位年轻女士？
She was very like your sister, with an eager mind, a warm heart and great sensibility.
她和你妹妹非常相像，思维热切，心地善良，情感丰富。
She was a distant cousin of mine, and from our earliest days we played together and loved each other.
她是我的远房表妹，我们从小一起玩耍，彼此相爱。
But at seventeen she was married, against her wishes, to my brother.
但在十七岁那年，她违背自己的意愿嫁给了我的哥哥。
Just before the wedding, she and I planned to run away and get married secretly, but my father discovered the plan, and sent me away to join the army.
就在婚礼前夕，我和她计划私奔秘密结婚，但父亲发现了这个计划，把我送去参军了。
It was an extremely unhappy marriage. My brother did not love or respect her, and spent his time on pleasures most unsuitable for a husband.
那是一段极其不幸的婚姻。我哥哥既不爱她也不尊重她，终日沉溺于那些极不适合为人夫者的享乐之中。
She was very young, had no friends or family to advise her (I had been sent abroad by then), and my brother’s bad example was always with her.
她当时太年轻了，没有亲友可以给她建议（那时我已被派往国外），而我哥哥的恶劣行径始终伴随着她。
I cannot describe the shock I received when I heard, two years later, of her divorce…’
两年后当我听说她离婚的消息时，那种震惊简直无法形容……”
He could not speak for a moment, and when he saw Elinor’s concern and sympathy, took her hand and kissed it gratefully.
他一时语塞，看到埃莉诺关切而同情的神情，便握住她的手感激地吻了一下。
‘When I returned to England three years later, I began to search for her, but she was no longer with her first seducer, the man for whom she had left her marriage.
“三年后我回到英国，开始寻找她，但她已不再和最初诱拐她的那个男人在一起了，正是为了那个人她才离开了婚姻。
There was every reason to fear she had left him only to sink deeper into a life of dishonour.
完全有理由担心，她离开他只是陷入了更深的堕落生活之中。
After six months, however, I did find her, in a debtors’ prison. She was so changed, so thin, so ill!
然而六个月后，我终于找到了她，是在债务人监狱里。她变得如此憔悴，如此消瘦，病得那么重！
She had only a short while to live, so I made sure she was properly looked after, and I was with her in her last moments.’
她时日无多，所以我确保她得到妥善的照料，并在她生命的最后时刻陪伴在她身边。”
He stopped for a moment to control himself, then went on. ‘With a firmer mind, and a happier marriage, she could have been everything you will live to see in your sister.
他停顿片刻以平复情绪，然后继续说道：“如果她有坚定的意志和幸福的婚姻，她本可以成为你在妹妹身上所能看到的一切美好品质。
She left to my care her little girl, Eliza, the child of her first seducer.
她把小女儿伊丽莎托付给我照顾，那是她与最初那个诱拐者所生的孩子。
I sent Eliza to school, and then put her in the care of a very respectable woman living in the country. She is now seventeen.
我把伊丽莎送去上学，后来又将她托付给乡下一位非常体面的女士照看。她现在十七岁了。
Imagine my horror, when she suddenly disappeared a year ago! For eight long months I searched, and found nothing. You can imagine what I thought, and feared, and how I suffered.’
想象一下一年前她突然失踪时我的恐惧！我苦苦搜寻了漫长的八个月，却一无所获。你可以想象我当时在想什么、怕什么，以及我是如何煎熬的。”
‘Good heavens!’ cried Elinor. ‘Could Willoughby—’
“天哪！”埃莉诺惊呼道，“难道是威洛比——”
‘The first news of Eliza came in the letter I received at Barton Park, on the morning of our planned excursion to Whitwell. That was why I left so suddenly.
“关于伊丽莎的第一个消息来自我在巴顿庄园收到的那封信，就在我们原定去惠特韦尔远足的那天早上。那就是我突然离开的原因。
Willoughby did not know that I was called away to help someone he had made poor and miserable. But if he had known, would he have cared? No!
威洛比并不知道我被叫走是为了帮助一个被他害得穷困潦倒、凄惨不堪的人。但即便他知道，他会在乎吗？不会的！
He had done what no man of feeling would do. He had left the girl whose innocence he had seduced—left her with no home, no friends, and no money.’
他做出了任何有良知的人都不会做的事。他抛弃了那个被他玷污了纯洁的姑娘——让她无家可归，无亲无故，身无分文。”
‘This is beyond everything!’ cried Elinor.
“这简直太过分了！”埃莉诺叫道。
‘Now you understand what he is like. Imagine what I have felt all these weeks, knowing his character, and seeing your sister as fond of him as ever.
“现在你明白他是什么样的人了。想想这几个星期我的感受吧，明知他的本性，却眼睁睁看着你妹妹对他一如既往的痴情。
Who can tell what his intentions were towards your sister? One day, she will doubtless feel grateful, when she compares her situation with that of my poor Eliza.
谁能说得清他对令妹究竟居心何在？终有一天，当她将自己的处境与我可怜的伊丽莎相比时，定会心存感激。
At least there is no dishonour in your sister’s suffering, and every friend of hers must feel concern for her unhappiness, and respect for her bravery in bearing it.’
至少令妹的痛苦中并无耻辱可言，她的每一位朋友都会为她的不幸而忧心，也会敬佩她承受苦难的勇气。”
Elinor thanked the colonel warmly for his kind words. ‘Have you,’ she continued, ‘seen Willoughby since you left Barton?’
埃莉诺热忱地感谢上校的肺腑之言。“自从离开巴顿以来，”她接着问，“你见过威洛比吗？”
‘Yes. Once,’ he replied seriously. ‘As Eliza had confessed to me the name of her seducer, I accused him of dishonourable behaviour and challenged him to a duel.
“见过。一次，”他严肃地回答，“由于伊丽莎向我坦白过诱拐者的名字，我便指责他行为卑劣，并向他提出决斗。
We met by appointment, but both of us returned unwounded. And my poor Eliza has had the child she was expecting, and now remains in the country.’
我们如约见面，但双方都毫发无损地回来了。而我可怜的伊丽莎生下了她腹中的孩子，如今仍住在乡下。”
After this, the colonel left, and Elinor very soon passed on the details of the conversation to her sister.
此后，上校便离开了，埃莉诺很快就把谈话的细节转述给了妹妹。
The effect was not quite what she had hoped. Marianne listened attentively, and appeared to accept Willoughby’s guilt.
效果并不完全如她所愿。玛丽安听得很认真，似乎也接受了威洛比的罪责。
She no longer avoided the colonel when he came to the house, and talked to him in a gentle, pitying voice.
当上校来访时，她不再回避他，而是用温柔而同情的语气与他交谈。
But she seemed even more depressed, now that Willoughby’s good character had been lost, as well as his heart.
但她似乎更加消沉了，因为威洛比不仅失去了她的心，也失去了他原本在她心中美好的品格形象。
Mrs Dashwood’s letter of reply arrived next day. Her disappointment was almost more painful than Marianne’s, and her anger even greater than Elinor’s.
达什伍德太太的回信次日便到了。她的失望几乎比玛丽安的还要痛苦，愤怒甚至比埃莉诺的还要强烈。
But she advised them not to shorten their stay with Mrs Jennings, which had been expected to last five or six weeks, as a speedy return to Barton would only remind Marianne of former happy times with Willoughby.
但她建议她们不要缩短在詹宁斯太太家的逗留时间——原计划是要住五六周的——因为匆匆返回巴顿只会让玛丽安想起昔日与威洛比共度的快乐时光。
She also hoped that Elinor would see more of the Ferrars family, who would soon be arriving in London.
她还希望埃莉诺能多见见费拉斯一家，他们很快就会抵达伦敦。
Sir John, Mrs Jennings, and Mrs Palmer all spoke forcefully about Willoughby, and determined to have nothing to do with him ever again.
约翰爵士、詹宁斯太太和帕尔默太太都激烈地谴责威洛比，并决心从此与他断绝一切往来。
They talked so much about him, however, that it was a happy relief to Elinor when Lady Middleton showed only calm and polite unconcern.
然而他们谈论他实在太多了，因此当米德尔顿夫人只表现出平静而礼貌的漠然时，埃莉诺反倒感到一种欣慰的解脱。
Whenever the subject was discussed she would say gently, ‘It is very shocking indeed!’, but privately she was already planning to visit Mrs Willoughby, who would be a woman of elegance and fortune.
每当谈起这个话题，她总是温和地说一句“这确实太令人震惊了！”，但私下里她已在盘算着要去拜访威洛比太太了，心想那定是一位优雅而富有的女士。
Mrs Jennings was disappointed to see that the colonel did not look more cheerful now that he no longer had a rival for Marianne.
詹宁斯太太失望地发现，既然上校在追求玛丽安这件事上已没有了竞争对手，他却并没有显得更高兴些。
There seemed to be a better understanding between the elder Miss Dashwood and the colonel, and Mrs Jennings, who had quite forgotten Edward Ferrars, began to think that Elinor would become Mrs Brandon.
年长的达什伍德小姐与上校之间似乎愈发默契了，早已把爱德华·费拉斯忘到九霄云外的詹宁斯太太，便开始觉得埃莉诺会成为布兰登太太。
A fortnight after Willoughby’s letter had arrived, Elinor had the painful duty of informing Marianne that he was married.
在收到威洛比来信两周后，埃莉诺不得不履行一项痛苦的职责——告诉玛丽安他已经结婚了。
Marianne received the news bravely at first and said nothing; but the tears came later, as wildly and as passionately as before.
玛丽安起初勇敢地接受了这个消息，一言不发；但随后眼泪还是涌了出来，如同先前一样狂野而激烈。
About this time, Elinor was sorry to see the Miss Steeles arrive in London, as their presence always gave her pain.
大约在这个时候，埃莉诺遗憾地看到斯蒂尔姐妹来到了伦敦，因为她们的出现总让她感到痛苦。
Lucy pretended to feel great delight in finding them in town, and Elinor had to use all her self-control to answer politely.
露西假装对在城里遇见她们感到无比欣喜，埃莉诺不得不竭尽全力克制自己才能礼貌地回应。
A pleasanter meeting took place a little later, when their brother, John Dashwood, came to visit them at Mrs Jennings’.
稍后有一次较为愉快的会面，她们的哥哥约翰·达什伍德到詹宁斯太太家来看望她们。
He enquired after their health and their mother’s, and was introduced to Colonel Brandon, who happened to be there.
他问候了她们和母亲的身体状况，并被介绍给了恰好在场的布兰登上校。
As it was a fine day, he asked Elinor to take a short walk with him. As soon as they were out of the house, his questions began.
那天天气很好，他便邀请埃莉诺陪他出去散散步。一出家门，他的问题就来了。
‘Who is Colonel Brandon? Is he a man of fortune?’
“布兰登上校是谁？他是个有钱人吗？”
‘Yes, he has a large house with some land, and, I believe, about two thousand pounds a year.’
“是的，他有一栋大宅子和一些地产，我相信他每年大约有两千英镑的收入。”
‘I think, Elinor, I will soon be congratulating you on making a very respectable marriage. He seems most gentlemanly, and he likes you, I am sure of it.’
“我想，埃莉诺，我不久就要恭喜你结成一桩非常体面的婚事了。他看起来极具绅士风度，而且肯定喜欢你，这一点我确信无疑。”
‘He has not the smallest wish to marry me .’
“他丝毫没有娶我的意思。”
‘You are wrong, Elinor. A very little effort on your side will catch him. Some of those little encouragements, which ladies can so easily give, will fix him, in spite of the smallness of your fortune. You should try for him. How amusing if Fanny had a brother, and I had a sister, marrying at the same time!’
“你错了，埃莉诺。你只要稍加努力就能俘获他的心。女士们很容易给出的那些小小暗示，就足以让他定下心来，尽管你的嫁妆微薄。你应该争取一下。要是范妮有个兄弟，而我有个妹妹，同时结婚的话，那该多有趣啊！”
‘Is Mr Edward Ferrars,’ Elinor said calmly, ‘going to marry?’
“爱德华·费拉斯先生，”埃莉诺平静地问道，“打算结婚了吗？”
‘It is not actually arranged yet, but the lady is Miss Morton, Lord Morton’s only daughter, with thirty thousand pounds of her own. Edward’s mother will most generously allow him a thousand a year, if he marries Miss Morton. I wish we could live so comfortably. I am afraid our income is not large enough for us to live as we would like.’ And he shook his head sadly at the thought of his own difficulties.
“虽然还没正式定下来，但女方是莫顿小姐，莫顿勋爵的独生女，自带三万英镑嫁妆。如果爱德华娶了莫顿小姐，他母亲会非常慷慨地每年给他一千英镑。真希望我们也能过得这么宽裕。恐怕我们的收入不够过上想要的生活。”想到自己的困境，他悲伤地摇了摇头。
The following week Mr and Mrs John Dashwood gave a grand dinner party. The Middletons, Mrs Jennings, Colonel Brandon, the Miss Dashwoods and the Miss Steeles were all invited. Elinor and Lucy both knew that Mrs Ferrars would be present as well.
接下来的一周，约翰·达什伍德夫妇举办了一场盛大的晚宴。米德尔顿一家、詹宁斯太太、布兰登上校、达什伍德姐妹和斯蒂尔姐妹都在受邀之列。埃莉诺和露西都知道费拉斯太太也会出席。
‘Pity me, dear Miss Dashwood!’ whispered Lucy, as they walked up the stairs. ‘In a moment I shall see the person on whom all my happiness depends—my future mother-in-law!’
“可怜可怜我吧，亲爱的达什伍德小姐！”上楼时露西低声耳语道，“马上就要见到我全部幸福所系之人了——我未来的婆婆！”
Mrs Ferrars was a little, thin woman, with a disagreeable expression. She was not a woman of many words, but she made it very clear that she strongly disliked Elinor, and as strongly approved of Lucy.
费拉斯太太是个瘦小的女人，面容刻薄。她话不多，但却毫不掩饰自己对埃莉诺的强烈厌恶，以及对露西的格外赏识。
‘If she knew Lucy’s secret,’ thought Elinor, amused, ‘how she would hate her!’ She felt almost relieved that she could not now hope to become Edward’s wife, with such a mother-in-law.
“要是她知道露西的秘密，”埃莉诺暗自好笑地想，“她会恨死她的！”想到有这样的婆婆，自己如今不可能指望成为爱德华的妻子了，她反而感到一丝释然。
The next morning, Elinor received a visit from Lucy, who had been so delighted by Mrs Ferrars’ welcoming behaviour to her that she felt she simply had to tell her dear friend about it.
第二天上午，露西前来拜访埃莉诺，她对费拉斯太太对自己的热情接待欣喜若狂，觉得非得跟好朋友说说不可。
‘She was so kind to me! Did you not notice it? And your sister-in-law too! What elegant, delightful women they are!’
“她对我太好了！你没注意到吗？还有你的嫂子也是！她们是多么优雅、可爱的女性啊！”
Before Elinor could bring herself to reply, the door opened and Edward walked in. It was a very difficult moment for the three of them, but Elinor took control of the situation. Anxious to show that nothing is wrong, she welcomed him in her usual way.
还没等埃莉诺勉强自己做出回应，门开了，爱德华走了进来。这对三人来说都是极为尴尬的时刻，但埃莉诺掌控了局面。为了装作若无其事，她像往常一样欢迎了他。
Lucy kept silent, watching Elinor narrowly out of the corner of her eye, while Edward did not know what to say, in his confusion, and could not keep the conversation going. Soon Elinor decided bravely to leave the engaged couple alone for a while, and went to fetch Marianne.
露西沉默不语，用眼角的余光紧盯着埃莉诺；而爱德华则满心慌乱，不知该说什么好，也无法将对话继续下去。很快，埃莉诺鼓起勇气决定让这对订了婚的恋人单独待一会儿，便起身去找玛丽安了。
Rushing delightedly into the room, Marianne cried, ‘Dear Edward! This is a moment of great happiness!’ and looked lovingly at him and her sister. There was a short silence.
玛丽安兴高采烈地冲进房间，喊道：“亲爱的爱德华！这真是个幸福的时刻！”她深情地看着他和姐姐。随后是一阵短暂的沉默。
‘My dear Edward!’ Marianne continued. ‘Why did you not come last night, to your sister’s dinner party? We were all there.’
“我亲爱的爱德华！”玛丽安继续说道，“昨晚你姐姐的晚宴你为什么没来？我们都在那儿呢。”
‘I had—an appointment—somewhere else.’
“我有——一个约会——在别处。”
‘An appointment! But was that so important, when such friends wanted to see you?’
“一个约会！但当这么多朋友想见你时，那个约会难道就那么重要吗？”
‘Perhaps, Miss Marianne,’ said Lucy smoothly, ‘you think young men never keep their appointments or their promises.’
“也许，玛丽安小姐，”露西圆滑地说道，“你以为年轻男人从来都不守约定或诺言吧。”
Elinor was very angry, but Marianne just answered, ‘No, I trust Edward. He is the most thoughtful, unselfish person I have ever met. He would never knowingly hurt anyone, I know.’
埃莉诺非常生气，但玛丽安只是回答道：“不，我信任爱德华。他是我见过的最体贴、最无私的人。我知道他绝不会故意伤害任何人。”
This praise was so unacceptable to Edward that he very soon got up to leave, and Elinor had every reason to expect that this painful meeting would not be repeated.
这番赞美让爱德华难以承受，他很快就起身告辞了，埃莉诺完全有理由相信这种痛苦的会面不会再发生了。
John and Fanny Dashwood continued to see Elinor and Marianne at London parties and dances, and John began to wonder about inviting his sisters to stay for a few days.
约翰和范妮·达什伍德继续在伦敦的聚会和舞会上见到埃莉诺和玛丽安，约翰开始考虑邀请妹妹们来家里小住几天。
Fanny, however, was astonished at this suggestion. ‘My love, I would ask them with all my heart if it was possible. But I had just decided to ask the Miss Steeles to stay with us. We can ask your sisters some other year, you know.’
然而，范妮对这个提议大为惊讶。“亲爱的，如果可以的话，我真心愿意邀请她们。但我刚决定请斯蒂尔姐妹来家里住。你知道的，我们可以改年再请你妹妹们。”
Mr Dashwood agreed at once, and Fanny, delighting in her escape, and proud of her quick thinking, wrote to invite Lucy and her sister. This made Lucy really happy. Such an opportunity of being near Edward and his family was the most useful thing in the world for her. And when the invitation was shown to Elinor, she began for the first time to share Lucy’s expectations, and prepared herself to hear officially of the engagement.
达什伍德先生立刻同意了，范妮庆幸自己逃过一劫，又为自己的机智感到得意，便写信邀请了露西和她姐姐。这让露西欣喜万分。能有这样一个接近爱德华及其家人的机会，对她来说是世上最有用的事了。而当埃莉诺看到这封邀请函时，她第一次开始有了和露西一样的预感，并做好心理准备等待订婚消息的正式宣布。
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