評論
打印
On the evening of the day on which I had seen Miss Scatcherd flog her pupil, Burns,
在我看見斯卡查德小姐鞭打她的學生彭斯的那天晚上，
I wandered as usual among the forms and tables and laughing groups without a companion, yet not feeling lonely.
我照例在長凳、桌子和笑聲不絕的人群中間穿來穿去，雖然無人作伴，倒也并不寂寞。
When I passed the windows, I now and then lifted a blind, and looked out.
經(jīng)過窗戶時，我不時拉起百葉窗，向外眺望。
It snowed fast, a drift was already forming against the lower panes.
雪下得很緊，下端的窗玻璃上已經(jīng)積起了一層。
Putting my ear close to the window, I could distinguish from the gleeful tumult within, the disconsolate moan of the wind outside.
我把耳朵貼在窗上，分辯得出里面輕快的喧嘩和外面寒風凄厲的呻吟。
Probably, if I had lately left a good home and kind parents, this would have been the hour when I should most keenly have regretted the separation.
如果我剛離開了一個溫暖的家和慈祥的雙親，這一時刻也許會非常后悔當初的離別。
That wind would then have saddened my heart.
那風會使我傷心不已。
This obscure chaos would have disturbed my peace!
這種模糊的混沌會打破我的平靜。
As it was, I derived from both a strange excitement, and reckless and feverish,
但實際上兩者激起了我一莫名的興奮，在不安和狂熱之中，
I wished the wind to howl more wildly, the gloom to deepen to darkness, and the confusion to rise to clamour.
我盼望風會咆哮得更猛烈；天色會更加昏暗變得一團漆黑，嗡嗡的人聲會進而成為喧囂。
Jumping over forms, and creeping under tables, I made my way to one of the fire-places.
我跨過凳子鉆過桌子，尋路來到一個壁爐跟前。
There, kneeling by the high wire fender, I found Burns, absorbed, silent,
跪在高高的鐵絲防護板旁邊，我發(fā)現(xiàn)彭斯有一本書作伴，全神貫注，沉默不語，
abstracted from all round her by the companionship of a book, which she read by the dim glare of the embers.
忘掉了周圍的一切，借著余火灰暗的閃光讀著書。
"Is it still 'Rasselas'?" I asked, coming behind her.
"還是那本《拉塞拉斯》嗎？"我來到她背后說。
"Yes," she said, "and I have just finished it."
"是的，"她說，"我剛讀完它。"
And in five minutes more she shut it up. I was glad of this.
過了五分鐘她掩上了書。這正合我心意。
"Now," thought I, "I can perhaps get her to talk." I sat down by her on the floor.
"現(xiàn)在，"我想，"我也許能使她開口了吧。"我—屁股坐在她旁邊的地板上。
What is your name besides Burns?
除了彭斯，你還叫什么？
Helen.
海倫。
Do you come a long way from here?
你從很遠的地方來嗎？
I come from a place farther north, quite on the borders of Scotland.
我來自很靠北的一個地方，靠近蘇格蘭邊界了。
Will you ever go back?
你還回去嗎？
I hope so, but nobody can be sure of the future.
我希望能這樣，可是對未來誰也沒有把握。
You must wish to leave Lowood?
你想必很希望離開羅沃德，是嗎？
No! Why should I? I was sent to Lowood to get an education, and it would be of no use going away until I have attained that object.
不，干嘛要這樣呢？送我到羅沃德來是接受教育的，沒有達到這個目的就走才沒有意思呢。
But that teacher, Miss Scatcherd, is so cruel to you?
可是那位教師，就是斯卡查德小姐，對你那么兇狠。
