狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第28章Part 9

'He is very good-tempered,' said Florence, addressing herself with her natural grace and sweetness to the two lady strangers. 'He is only glad to see me. Pray forgive him.'
She saw in the glance they interchanged, that the lady who had screamed, and who was seated, was old; and that the other lady, who stood near her Papa, was very beautiful, and of an elegant figure.
'Mrs Skewton,' said her father, turning to the first, and holding out his hand, 'this is my daughter Florence.'
'Charming, I am sure,' observed the lady, putting up her glass. 'So natural! My darling Florence, you must kiss me, if you please.'
Florence having done so, turned towards the other lady, by whom her father stood waiting.
'Edith,' said Mr Dombey, 'this is my daughter Florence. Florence, this lady will soon be your Mama.'
Florence started, and looked up at the beautiful face in a conflict of emotions, among which the tears that name awakened, struggled for a moment with surprise, interest, admiration, and an indefinable sort of fear. Then she cried out, 'Oh, Papa, may you be happy! may you be very, very happy all your life!' and then fell weeping on the lady's bosom.
There was a short silence. The beautiful lady, who at first had seemed to hesitate whether or no she should advance to Florence, held her to her breast, and pressed the hand with which she clasped her, close about her waist, as if to reassure her and comfort her. Not one word passed the lady's lips. She bent her head down over Florence, and she kissed her on the cheek, but she said no word.
'Shall we go on through the rooms,' said Mr Dombey, 'and see how our workmen are doing? Pray allow me, my dear madam.'
He said this in offering his arm to Mrs Skewton, who had been looking at Florence through her glass, as though picturing to herself what she might be made, by the infusion - from her own copious storehouse, no doubt - of a little more Heart and Nature. Florence was still sobbing on the lady's breast, and holding to her, when Mr Dombey was heard to say from the Conservatory:
'Let us ask Edith. Dear me, where is she?'

“他的脾氣很好，”弗洛倫斯以她生性具有的優雅和親切的態度，向這兩位夫人致意道，“他只是看到我覺得高興。請原諒他。”
她在跟她們交換眼光的時候，看到那位剛纔發出尖叫聲並坐着的夫人已經老了，另一位站在她爸爸身旁的夫人長得很美麗，而且身材優雅。
“斯丘頓夫人，”她爸爸轉向第一位夫人，指着弗洛倫斯，說道，“這是我的女兒弗洛倫斯。”
“真的，她非常可愛，”那位夫人舉起長柄眼鏡看着她，說道，“多麼自然！我親愛的弗洛倫斯，你一定得親我一下，好嗎？”
弗洛倫斯這樣做了，然後轉向另一位夫人，她爸爸站在她身邊等待着。
“伊迪絲，”董貝先生說道，“這是我的女兒弗洛倫斯。弗洛倫斯，這位夫人不久就是你的媽媽了。”
弗洛倫斯吃了一驚，擡起眼睛，望着那張美麗的臉孔，心中充滿了各種矛盾的情緒；在這當中，媽媽這個名詞所喚出的眼淚在一剎那間跟驚異、好奇、羨慕和說不出的恐懼鬥爭着。然後，她喊道，“啊，爸爸，祝你幸福！祝你一輩子非常、非常幸福！”接着，她哭着撲向這位夫人的懷裏。
隨後是短時間的沉默。那位美麗的夫人最初似乎有些猶豫，是不是要向前朝弗洛倫斯走去，這時她把她抱在懷裏，緊緊地握着她緊抱住她腰身的手，彷彿讓她放心和在安慰她。這位夫人一句話也沒有說。她向弗洛倫斯低下頭，吻着她的臉頰，但卻沒有說話。
“我們是不是到這些房間去走走，”董貝先生說道，“看看我們這些工人活幹得怎麼樣了？請允許我，我親愛的夫人。”
他一邊說，一邊向斯丘頓夫人伸出胳膊；斯丘頓夫人這時正用長柄眼鏡看着弗洛倫斯，好像正在心中琢磨着，如果在弗洛倫斯身上注入稍多一些心靈與自然——當然是從她自己的倉庫中取來的——的話，那麼她會成爲一個什麼樣的人呢。弗洛倫斯依舊伏在那位夫人的胸前哭泣，並緊抱着她，這時聽到董貝先生從暖房中說道：
“讓我問問伊迪絲。哎呀，她在哪裏呀？”