In the evening we had a dance. Cathy begged that he might be liberated then, as Isabella Linton had no partner: her entreaties were vain, and I was appointed to supply the deficiency. We got rid of all gloom in the excitement of the exercise, and our pleasure was increased by the arrival of the Gimmerton band, mustering fifteen strong: a trumpet, a trombone, clarionets, bassoons, French horns, and a bass viol, besides singers. They go the rounds of all the respectable houses, and receive contributions every Christmas, and we esteemed it a first-rate treat to hear them. After the usual carols had been sung, we set them to songs and glees. Mrs. Earnshaw loved the music, and so they gave us plenty.
晚上,我們舉行了舞會。凱西請求把他放出來,因為伊莎貝拉·林頓沒有舞伴,但是她的努力沒有什么作用,而我則被叫去填補了那個空缺。勞作的郁悶被這個令人令人興奮的消息驅(qū)散了,更讓我們高興的是 GIMMEERTON 樂隊的到來,樂隊有 15 之多,(樂器有)喇叭,長號,單簧管, 巴頌管,法國號,古提琴,還有一些歌手。他們在有錢人家巡回演出,每個圣誕節(jié)的時候都會受到捐款,而我們則認為看他們演出是至高的享受。在頌歌唱畢之后,我們讓他們盡興的演唱。因為恩肖太太喜歡這些音樂,所以他們唱了不少。
Catherine loved it too: but she said it sounded sweetest at the top of the steps, and she went up in the dark: I followed. They shut the house door below, never noting our absence, it was so full of people. She made no stay at the stairs'-head, but mounted farther, to the garret where Heathcliff was confined, and called him. He stubbornly declined answering for a while: she persevered, and finally persuaded him to hold communion with her through the boards. I let the poor things converse unmolested, till I supposed the songs were going to cease, and the singers to get some refreshment: then I clambered up the ladder to warn her. Instead of finding her outside, I heard her voice within. The little monkey had crept by the skylight of one garret, along the roof, into the skylight of the other, and it was with the utmost difficulty I could coax her out again. When she did come, Heathcliff came with her, and she insisted that I should take him into the kitchen, as my fellow-servant had gone to a neighbour's, to be removed from the sound of our 'devil's psalmody,' as it pleased him to call it. I told them I intended by no means to encourage their tricks: but as the prisoner had never broken his fast since yesterday's dinner, I would wink at his cheating Mr. Hindley that once. He went down: I set him a stool by the fire, and offered him a quantity of good things: but he was sick and could eat little, and my attempts to entertain him were thrown away. He leant his two elbows on his knees, and his chin on his hands and remained rapt in dumb meditation. On my inquiring the subject of his thoughts, he answered gravely - 'I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don't care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!'
凱瑟琳也很喜歡,但是她說在樓梯頂上去聽會更好聽,于是她轉(zhuǎn)身走進了黑暗中。我也跟著她出來了。樓下的們關著,而且到處都是人,所以也沒有人發(fā)現(xiàn)我們的離開。她并沒有在樓梯頂停下來,而是向更上面走去,走向關著希斯克利夫的閣樓,并叫他的名字。一開始,他倔強的不應聲,但在她的一再堅持下,他終于隔著門板答應她。我沒有去打擾這對可憐的小東西的談話,直到我覺得音樂聲漸漸停止,歌手中場休息,我才爬上樓去提醒她。但是門外根本沒有人,我聽見她的聲音從門里傳了出來。這只小猴子從一個閣樓的天窗爬了進去,嚴重房頂,爬進了另一個天窗。我費了九牛二虎之力才把她哄出來。當她出來時,她把希斯克利夫也帶出來了。她堅持要我把他帶到廚房去,因為我的助手已經(jīng)去到鄰居家去了,為的是遠離“該死的”的頌歌,他喜歡這樣說。我告訴他們,我根本不想幫他們耍這樣的把戲,但是看在被關禁閉的人從昨天晚上到現(xiàn)在一直都在絕食的分上,這次對于他欺騙欣德利先生的事就睜只眼閉只眼了。但是他沒有精神了,吃不下什么東西,我也沒有心情再去逗他。他把雙肘支在膝蓋上,雙手托著下巴,一言不發(fā)的想著什么。當我問及他在想什么時,他嚴肅的回答道,“我在想我該怎么報復欣德利。我不在乎我要等多長時間,如果我最終能做道的話。我希望他不要在我報復之前死掉。”
'For shame, Heathcliff!' said I. 'It is for God to punish wicked people; we should learn to forgive.'
“真丟臉,希斯克利夫!”我說,“懲罰壞人是主的事情,我們應該學著原諒別人。”
'No, God won't have the satisfaction that I shall,' he returned. 'I only wish I knew the best way! Let me alone, and I'll plan it out: while I'm thinking of that I don't feel pain.'
“不,主不會有我的那種滿足感的,”他回答道,“我只想知道最好的辦法。讓我一個人呆在。我一定要想出來。我想這個的時候,我就感覺不道疼痛了。”
'But, Mr. Lockwood, I forget these tales cannot divert you. I'm annoyed how I should dream of chattering on at such a rate; and your gruel cold, and you nodding for bed! I could have told Heathcliff's history, all that you need hear, in half a dozen words.'
“但是,洛克伍德先生,我忘記了這些故事并不能讓你舒服。和你在養(yǎng)嘮叨真是令人討厭,而且你粥也涼了,你也打瞌睡了。關于希斯克利夫,我本該幾個只簡單的說說你該知道的就夠了。”
Thus interrupting herself, the housekeeper rose, and proceeded to lay aside her sewing; but I felt incapable of moving from the hearth, and I was very far from nodding. 'Sit still, Mrs. Dean,' I cried; 'do sit still another half-hour. You've done just right to tell the story leisurely. That is the method I like; and you must finish it in the same style. I am interested in every character you have mentioned, more or less.'
這樣管家站了起來,中斷了她的故事,準備放下她的針線活。但是我卻沒有力氣走到壁爐那邊,但我也還沒有到打瞌睡的程度。“坐著別動,迪恩太太。”我喊道,“請再坐半個小時。你這樣悠閑的講故事的方法非常好,這是我喜歡的方式,而且你必須以這樣的方式結(jié)束這個故事。我對你說到的每個人物都很感興趣,或多或少是這樣的。”
'The clock is on the stroke of eleven, sir.'
“鐘已經(jīng)敲了 11 下了,先生。”