狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第27章Part 12

'It is most extraordinary,' said Carker, bringing every one of his red gums to bear upon his praise. 'I was not prepared for anything so beautiful, and so unusual altogether.'
This might have applied to the sketcher no less than to the sketch; but Mr Carker's manner was openness itself - not as to his mouth alone, but as to his whole spirit. So it continued to be while the drawing was laid aside for Mr Dombey, and while the sketching materials were put up; then he handed in the pencils (which were received with a distant acknowledgment of his help, but without a look), and tightening his rein, fell back, and followed the carriage again.
Thinking, perhaps, as he rode, that even this trivial sketch had been made and delivered to its owner, as if it had been bargained for and bought. Thinking, perhaps, that although she had assented with such perfect readiness to his request, her haughty face, bent over the drawing, or glancing at the distant objects represented in it, had been the face of a proud woman, engaged in a sordid and miserable transaction. Thinking, perhaps, of such things: but smiling certainly, and while he seemed to look about him freely, in enjoyment of the air and exercise, keeping always that sharp corner of his eye upon the carriage.
A stroll among the haunted ruins of Kenilworth, and more rides to more points of view: most of which, Mrs Skewton reminded Mr Dombey, Edith had already sketched, as he had seen in looking over her drawings: brought the day's expedition to a close. Mrs Skewton and Edith were driven to their own lodgings; Mr Carker was graciously invited by Cleopatra to return thither with Mr Dombey and the Major, in the evening, to hear some of Edith's music; and the three gentlemen repaired to their hotel to dinner.
The dinner was the counterpart of yesterday's, except that the Major was twenty-four hours more triumphant and less mysterious. Edith was toasted again. Mr Dombey was again agreeably embarrassed. And Mr Carker was full of interest and praise.
There were no other visitors at Mrs Skewton's. Edith's drawings were strewn about the room, a little more abundantly than usual perhaps; and Withers, the wan page, handed round a little stronger tea. The harp was there; the piano was there; and Edith sang and played. But even the music was played by Edith to Mr Dombey's order, as it were, in the same uncompromising way. As thus.
'Edith, my dearest love,' said Mrs Skewton, half an hour after tea, 'Mr Dombey is dying to hear you, I know.'
'Mr Dombey has life enough left to say so for himself, Mama, I have no doubt.'

“真是了不起，”卡克先生露出他全部紅色的牙牀來支持他的稱讚，說道，“我根本沒料想到會看到這麼美麗、這麼非凡的珍寶！”
這些話也完全可以用來稱讚畫家本人，就像稱讚畫一樣；不過卡克先生的態度是毫無掩飾的，他不僅嘴上這麼說說而已，而且他的整個心眼也都是這樣想的。因此，當圖畫被放在一邊給了董貝先生，速寫的器具、材料被收拾起來的時候，他仍維持着這種神態；在這之後，他把鉛筆遞過去（她接過去的時候，對他的幫助冷冷淡淡地表示了一下感謝，但一眼也沒有看他），勒緊僵繩，退回去，重新跟隨在馬車後面。
他騎着馬的時候，也許想到：甚至連這種無足輕重的速寫也彷彿買賣成交似地畫出並交給了買主。他也許想到：雖然她對他的請求毫不躊躇地就立即同意，可是當她彎下身子畫畫或看着遠方被寫生的景物時，她那傲慢的面容是一個正在從事一筆骯髒的、卑鄙的交易的高傲的女人的面容。他也許正在想着這些事情，但他當然還在微笑着，而當他似乎隨意地看看四周，享受着新鮮的空氣和騎馬的樂趣的時候，他的一個眼角卻經常敏銳地注視着馬車。
他們到凱尼爾沃思人們常去參觀的遺蹟遊覽了一番，又到另一些風景地區去觀光；斯丘頓夫人提醒董貝先生，正如他觀看她的圖畫時所曾看到的，大部分風景伊迪絲過去都已速寫過；這樣，這一天的旅行就結束了。斯丘頓夫人和伊迪絲被馬車拉到她們的住所；克利奧佩特拉和藹親切地邀請卡克先生晚上跟董貝先生和少校一道回到她們那裏去聽伊迪絲演奏音樂；這三位先生就回到旅館去吃晚飯。
這天的晚飯和昨天的晚飯幾乎沒有什麼不同，只是少校更增加了二十四小時的得意，卻不像昨天那麼神祕了。大家又爲伊迪絲舉杯祝酒。董貝先生又愉快地感到不好意思。卡克先生則充分表示興趣和稱讚。
斯丘頓夫人的住所裏沒有別的客人。伊迪絲的圖畫擺滿了房間四處，也許比平時更多一些。臉無血色的童僕威瑟斯端上了比平時濃一些的茶。豎琴在那裏；鋼琴在那裏；伊迪絲唱歌和演奏了。但是甚至伊迪絲的音樂也是用同樣毫不通融的方式、按照董貝先生的定單演奏的，情況就像下面所敘述的：
“伊迪絲，我親愛的，”斯丘頓夫人在用茶過了半個小時之後說道，“我知道，董貝先生非常想聽你的音樂，簡直想得要死了呢！”
“媽媽，說實在的，董貝先生現在還活着，他自己可以開口。”