評論
打印
NUMBER 78.
七十八號的犯人
Wednesday, 8th.
周三，八日
I witnessed a touching scene yesterday afternoon. For several days, every time that the vegetablevender has passed Derossi she has gazed and gazed at him with an expression of great affection; for Derossi, since he made the discovery about that inkstand and prisoner Number 78, has acquired a love for her son, Crossi, the red-haired boy with the useless arm; and he helps him to do his work in school, suggests answers to him, gives him paper, pens, and pencils; in short, he behaves to him like a brother, as though to compensate him for his father's misfortune, which has affected him, although he does not know it.
昨天午后見了一件可感動的事。這四五天來，那個賣野菜的婦人遇到代洛西，總是用敬愛的眼色注視他。因為代洛西自從知道了那七十八號犯人和墨水瓶的事，就愛護那賣野菜的婦人的兒子克洛西——那個一只手殘廢了的赤發的小孩——在學校里時常替他幫忙，他不知道的，教給他，或是送他鉛筆和紙。代洛西很同情他父親的不幸，所以像自己的弟弟一般地愛護他。
The vegetable-vender had been gazing at Derossi for several days, and she seemed loath to take her eyes from him, for she is a good woman who lives only for her son; and Derossi, who assists him and makes him appear well, Derossi, who is a gentleman and the head of the school, seems to her a king, a saint. She continued to stare at him, and seemed desirous of saying something to him, yet ashamed to do it. But at last, yesterday morning, she took courage, stopped him in front of a gate, and said to him:--
這四五天中，賣野菜的母親見了代洛西總是盯著他看。這母親是個善良的婦人，是只為兒子而生存著。代洛西是個紳士的兒子，又是級長，竟能那樣愛護自己的兒子，在她眼中看來，代洛西已成了王侯或是圣火樣的人物了。她每次注視著代洛西，好像有什么話要說而又不敢出口。到了昨天早晨，她畢竟在學校門口把代洛西叫住了，這樣說；
"I beg a thousand pardons, little master! Will you, who are so kind to my son, and so fond of him, do me the favor to accept this little memento from a poor mother?" and she pulled out of her vegetable-basket a little pasteboard box of white and gold.
“哥兒，真對不起你！你這樣愛護我的兒子，肯不肯收下我這窮母親的紀念物呢？”說著從菜籃里取出小小的果子盒來。
Derossi flushed up all over, and refused, saying with decision:--
代洛西臉上通紅，明白地謝絕說：
"Give it to your son; I will accept nothing."
“請給了你自己的兒子吧！我是不收的。”
The woman was mortified, and stammered an excuse:--
那婦人難為情起來了，支吾地辯解說。
"I had no idea of offending you. It is only caramels."
“這不是什么了不得的東西，是一些方糖！”
But Derossi said "no," again, and shook his head. Then she timidly lifted from her basket a bunch of radishes, and said:--
代洛西仍舊搖著頭說：“不。”于是那婦人紅著臉從籃里取出一束蘿卜來：
"Accept these at least,--they are fresh,--and carry them to your mamma."
“那么，請收了這個吧！這還新鮮哩——請送給你母親！”
