評論
打印
'John Carker,' said the Manager, when this was done, turning suddenly upon his brother, with his two rows of teeth bristling as if he would have bitten him, 'what is the league between you and this young man, in virtue of which I am haunted and hunted by the mention of your name? Is it not enough for you, John Carker, that I am your near relation, and can't detach myself from that - '
“約翰·卡克，”門關上以后，經理突然轉向他的哥哥，露出兩排牙齒，仿佛想要咬他似的。“您跟這位年輕人之間訂立了什么同盟，憑著它，把我的名字掛在嘴上，來跟我糾纏不休？約翰·卡克，難道你覺得還不夠嗎？我是你的近親，不能擺脫掉那份——”
'Say disgrace, James,' interposed the other in a low voice, finding that he stammered for a word.'You mean it, and have reason, say disgrace.'
“說恥辱吧，詹姆斯，”另一位看到他在整個詞上結巴住了，就低聲插嘴道。“你是想這樣說，也有理由這樣說的，就說恥辱吧。”
'From that disgrace,' assented his brother with keen emphasis, 'but is the fact to be blurted out and trumpeted, and proclaimed continually in the presence of the very House! In moments of confidence too? Do you think your name is calculated to harmonise in this place with trust and confidence, John Carker?'
“那份恥辱，”他的弟弟同意，并強烈地加重了語氣，“可是難道有必要把這事實在公司的老板面前不斷地吆喝、張揚和通告嗎？甚至在我受到信任的時候也要這樣做嗎？你以為提到你的名字跟在這里博得信賴與重用是協調的嗎，約翰·卡克？”
'No,' returned the other. 'No, James. God knows I have no such thought.'
“不是，”那一位回答道。“不是，詹姆斯。上帝知道，我沒有這樣的想法。”
'What is your thought, then?' said his brother, 'and why do you thrust yourself in my way? Haven't you injured me enough already?'
“那么，你的想法是什么呢？”他的弟弟說道，“你又為什么硬要擋住我的道路？難道你還嫌傷害我不夠嗎？”
'I have never injured you, James, wilfully.'
“我從來沒有故意傷害過你，詹姆斯。”
'You are my brother,' said the Manager. 'That's injury enough.'
“你是我的哥哥，”經理說道，“這傷害就足夠了。”
'I wish I could undo it, James.'
“我但愿我能消除這個傷害，詹姆斯。”
'I wish you could and would.'
“我但愿你能消除它，而且將消除它。”
During this conversation, Walter had looked from one brother to the other, with pain and amazement. He who was the Senior in years, and Junior in the House, stood, with his eyes cast upon the ground, and his head bowed, humbly listening to the reproaches of the other. Though these were rendered very bitter by the tone and look with which they were accompanied, and by the presence of Walter whom they so much surprised and shocked, he entered no other protestagainst them than by slightly raising his right hand in a deprecatory manner, as if he would have said, 'Spare me!' So, had they been blows, and he a brave man, under strong constraint, and weakened by bodily suffering, he might have stood before the executioner.
在這談話中間，沃爾特懷著痛苦與驚奇的心情，望望這一位，又望望那一位弟兄。那 位年齡較大、但在公司里職務很低的人的眼睛向地面低垂著，腦袋搭拉著，站在那里，恭順地聽著另一位的譴責。雖然譴責的語氣很尖刻，神色很嚴厲，而且當著震驚的沃爾特的面，但他卻沒有表示什么抗議，而只是用哀求的態度，稍稍抬起右手，仿佛想說：“饒恕我吧！”如果這些譴責是打擊，而他是一位體力衰弱的勇士，那么他也會在劊子手面前站著。
Generous and quick in all his emotions, and regarding himself as the innocent occasion of these taunts, Walter now struck in, with all the earnestness he felt.
沃爾特在感情上是一位寬厚與急躁的人，他認為他本人是無意間引起這些辱罵的原因，所以這時懷著誠摯的心情插進來說話。
