評(píng)論
打印
A shrewd, observant personage, whose society I took pleasure in, partly because she was witty and original, and partly because she had a manner which set me at my ease.
這個(gè)人聰明伶俐，目光敏銳。我喜歡同她相處，一半是因?yàn)樗龣C(jī)靈而有頭腦，一半是因?yàn)樗纳駪B(tài)使人感到無拘無束。
Some years older than I, she knew more of the world, and could tell me many things I liked to hear, with her my curiosity found gratification.
她比我大幾歲，更了解世情，能告訴我很多我樂意聽的東西，滿足我的好奇心。
to my faults also she gave ample indulgence, never imposing curb or rein on anything I said.
對(duì)我的缺陷她也能寬容姑息，從不對(duì)我說的什么加以干涉。
She had a turn for narrative, I for analysis.
她擅長敘述，我善于分析。
she liked to inform, I to question.
她喜歡講，我喜歡問。
so we got on swimmingly together, deriving much entertainment, if not much improvement, from our mutual intercourse.
我們兩個(gè)處得很融洽，就是得不到很大長進(jìn)，也有不少樂趣。
And where, meantime, was Helen Burns?
與此同時(shí)，海倫.彭斯哪兒去了呢？
Why did I not spend these sweet days of liberty with her?
為什么我沒有同她共度這些自由自在的舒心日子？
Had I forgotten her? Or was I so worthless as to have grown tired of her pure society?
是我把她忘了，還是我本人不足取，居然對(duì)她純潔的交往感到了厭倦？
Surely the Mary Ann Wilson I have mentioned was inferior to my first acquaintance.
當(dāng)然我所提及的瑪麗.安.威爾遜要遜于我的第一位相識(shí)。
She could only tell me amusing stories, and reciprocate any racy and pungent gossip I chose to indulge in.
她只不過能給我講些有趣的故事，回對(duì)一些我所津津樂道的辛辣活潑的閑聊。
While, if I have spoken truth of Helen, she was qualified to give those who enjoyed the privilege of her converse a taste of far higher things.
而海倫呢，要是我沒有說錯(cuò)，她足以使有幸聽她談話的人品味到高級(jí)得多的東西。
True, reader, and I knew and felt this.
確實(shí)如此，讀者，我明白，并感覺到了這一點(diǎn)。
And though I am a defective being, with many faults and few redeeming points,
盡管我是一個(gè)很有缺陷的人，毛病很多，長處很少，
yet I never tired of Helen Burns, nor ever ceased to cherish for her a sentiment of attachment,
但我決不會(huì)嫌棄海倫，也不會(huì)不珍惜對(duì)她的親情。
as strong, tender, and respectful as any that ever animated my heart.
這種親情同激發(fā)我心靈的任何感情一樣強(qiáng)烈，一樣溫柔，一樣令人珍重。
How could it be otherwise, when Helen, at all times and under all circumstances, evinced for me a quiet and faithful friendship,
不論何時(shí)何地，海倫都向我證實(shí)了一種平靜而忠實(shí)的友情，
which ill-humour never soured, nor irritation never troubled?
鬧別扭或者發(fā)脾氣都不會(huì)帶來絲毫損害。
But Helen was ill at present.
可是海倫現(xiàn)在病倒了。
For some weeks she had been removed from my sight to I knew not what room upstairs.
她從我面前消失，搬到樓上的某一間房子，已經(jīng)有好幾周了。
She was not, I was told, in the hospital portion of the house with the fever patients, for her complaint was consumption, not typhus.
聽說她不在學(xué)校的醫(yī)院部同發(fā)燒病人在一起，因?yàn)樗嫉氖欠尾。皇前哒顐?/div>
And by consumption I, in my ignorance, understood something mild, which time and care would be sure to alleviate.
在我幼稚無知的心靈中，認(rèn)為肺病比較和緩，待以時(shí)日并悉心照料，肯定是可以好轉(zhuǎn)的。
I was confirmed in this idea by the fact of her once or twice coming downstairs on very warm sunny afternoons, and being taken by Miss Temple into the garden.
我的想法得到了證實(shí)，因?yàn)樗紶栐陲L(fēng)和日麗的下午下樓來，由坦普爾小姐帶著步入花園。
But, on these occasions, I was not allowed to go and speak to her.
但在這種場(chǎng)合，她們不允許我上去同她說話。
I only saw her from the schoolroom window, and then not distinctly;
我只不過從教室的窗戶中看到了她，而且又看不清楚，
for she was much wrapped up, and sat at a distance under the verandah.
因?yàn)樗脟?yán)嚴(yán)實(shí)實(shí)，遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地坐在回廊上。
