評論
打印
"It was my father's last request to me, " replied her husband, "that I should assist his widow and daughters. "
“我父親臨終有囑咐，”丈夫回答說，“要我幫助寡母和妹妹們?！?
"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he was light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right senses, he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half your fortune from your own child. "
“他準是在說胡話。那陣子，他十有八九是神志不清了，要不然他就不會異想天開地要你把自己孩子的財產白白送掉一半?！?/P>
"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do. Perhaps it would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself. He could hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as he required the promise, I could not do less than give it; at least I thought so at the time. The promise, therefore, was given, and must be performed. Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new home. "
“親愛的范妮，他倒沒有規定具體數目，只是籠統地要求我幫助她們，使她們的境況好一些，他是無能為力啦。也許他不如索性把事情全部交給我。他總不會認為我會怠慢她們吧?？伤屛以S諾時，我又不能不應承；起碼在當時，我是這么想的。于是，我許諾了，而且還必須兌現。她們早晚要離開諾蘭莊園，到別處安家，總得幫她們一把吧?！?
"Well, then, LET something be done for them; but THAT something need not be three thousand pounds. Consider, " she added, "that when the money is once parted with, it never can return. Your sisters will marry, and it will be gone for ever. If, indeed, it could be restored to our poor little boy--"
“那好，就幫她們一把吧，可是幫—把何必要三干鎊，你想想看，”她接下去說道，“那錢一旦拋出去，可就再也收不目來了。你那些妹妹一出嫁，那錢不就無影無蹤啦。真是的，這錢要是能回到我們可憐的小兒子手里……”
"Why, to be sure, " said her husband, very gravely, "that would make great difference. The time may come when Harry will regret that so large a sum was parted with. If he should have a numerous family, for instance, it would be a very convenient addition. "
"To be sure it would. "
“哦，當然，”丈夫一本正經地說道，“那可就了不得啦。有朝一日，哈里會怨恨我們給他送掉這么一大筆錢。他一旦人丁興旺起來，這筆款子可就派大用場了。”
“誰說不是呢?！?
"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were diminished one half. --Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious increase to their fortunes!"
“這么說，不如把錢減掉一半，這或許對大家都有好處。繪她們一人五百鎊，她們也夠發大財的了?！?
"Oh! beyond anything great! What brother on earth would do half so much for his sisters, even if REALLY his sisters! And as it is--only half blood!--But you have such a generous spirit!"
“哦，當然是發大財了！世上哪個做哥哥的能這樣照應妹妹，即使是對待親妹妹，連你的一半也做不到！何況你們只是同父異母關系！可你卻這樣慷慨解囊?！?
"I would not wish to do any thing mean, " he replied. "One had rather, on such occasions, do too much than too little. No one, at least, can think I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly expect more. "
“我做事不喜歡小家子氣，”做丈夫的回答說，“逢到這當口，人寧可大手大腳，而別小里小氣。至少不會有人覺得我虧待了她們，就連她們自己也不會有更高的期望了?！?
