狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第24章Part 13

The golden water she remembered on the wall, appeared to Florence, in the light of such reflections, only as a current flowing on to rest, and to a region where the dear ones, gone before, were waiting, hand in hand; and often when she looked upon the darker river rippling at her feet, she thought with awful wonder, but not terror, of that river which her brother had so often said was bearing him away.
The father and his sick daughter were yet fresh in Florence's mind, and, indeed, that incident was not a week old, when Sir Barnet and his lady going out walking in the lanes one afternoon, proposed to her to bear them company. Florence readily consenting, Lady Skettles ordered out young Barnet as a matter of course. For nothing delighted Lady Skettles so much, as beholding her eldest son with Florence on his arm.
Barnet, to say the truth, appeared to entertain an opposite sentiment on the subject, and on such occasions frequently expressed himself audibly, though indefinitely, in reference to 'a parcel of girls.' As it was not easy to ruffle her sweet temper, however, Florence generally reconciled the young gentleman to his fate after a few minutes, and they strolled on amicably: Lady Skettles and Sir Barnet following, in a state of perfect complacency and high gratification.
This was the order of procedure on the afternoon in question; and Florence had almost succeeded in overruling the present objections of Skettles Junior to his destiny, when a gentleman on horseback came riding by, looked at them earnestly as he passed, drew in his rein, wheeled round, and came riding back again, hat in hand.
The gentleman had looked particularly at Florence; and when the little party stopped, on his riding back, he bowed to her, before saluting Sir Barnet and his lady. Florence had no remembrance of having ever seen him, but she started involuntarily when he came near her, and drew back.
'My horse is perfectly quiet, I assure you,' said the gentleman.
It was not that, but something in the gentleman himself - Florence could not have said what - that made her recoil as if she had been stung.
'I have the honour to address Miss Dombey, I believe?' said the gentleman, with a most persuasive smile. On Florence inclining her head, he added, 'My name is Carker. I can hardly hope to be remembered by Miss Dombey, except by name. Carker.'
Florence, sensible of a strange inclination to shiver, though the day was hot, presented him to her host and hostess; by whom he was very graciously received.
'I beg pardon,' said Mr Carker, 'a thousand times! But I am going down tomorrow morning to Mr Dombey, at Leamington, and if Miss Dombey can entrust me with any commission, need I say how very happy I shall be?'

由於這樣一些思索的結果，弗洛倫斯所記得的牆上的金黃色的水，對她來說，只不過像是流向安息的水流，它流向一個地方，比她早去的親人們正在那裏手挽手地等待着她；有好多次，當她望着腳邊潺潺流過的黑漆漆的河流時，她就懷着非常的驚奇，而不是恐怖，想起了那條她弟弟曾經時常說是把他漂走的河流。
弗洛倫斯和那位父親和他生病的女兒相遇之後不到一個星期，她對他們還記憶猶新的時候，有一天下午，巴尼特爵士和他的夫人出外到鄉間的小路上散步，他們建議弗洛倫斯陪他們一道走走。弗洛倫斯欣然同意，斯克特爾斯夫人自然就命令小巴尼特一道出去。因爲斯克特爾斯夫人看到她的大兒子挽着弗洛倫斯的胳膊是再也高興不過的了。
說實在的，小巴尼特在這種事情上的思想感情看來跟他母親完全相反；在這種場合他時常把他的情緒大聲地表露出來，雖然是含糊其詞地嘟囔着什麼“一羣毛丫頭”。可是要使弗洛倫斯溫柔的性情生氣是不容易的，所以她一般經過幾分鐘之後就能使那位年輕的先生安心於自己的命運；他們和睦地向前遊逛，斯克特爾斯夫人和巴尼特爵士則洋洋得意、十分高興地跟在後面。
就在這一天的下午，正當他們這樣向前走着，弗洛倫斯幾乎就要平息小斯克特爾斯的怨言，使他聽從命運擺佈的時候，一位騎馬的先生經過他們身旁時，注意地看着他們，然後勒住馬，掉轉馬頭，手裏握着帽子，重新向他們騎回來。
這位先生特別注意地看着弗洛倫斯；當這一小羣人站住看着他騎回來的時候，他先向她鞠躬，然後才向巴尼特爵士和他的夫人行禮致敬。弗洛倫斯記不得過去曾經看見過他，但是當他向她騎近的時候，她不由自主地感到吃驚並向後退縮。
“請放心，我的馬是十分馴服的，”那位先生說道。
可是並不是馬，而是那位先生身上的什麼東西——弗洛倫斯說不出那是什麼——，使得她像被刺痛似地畏縮。
“我想我有榮幸向董貝小姐致意吧？”那位先生露出極爲奉承取悅的笑容，說道。當弗洛倫斯把頭低下的時候，他繼續說道，“我姓卡克。我想除了我的姓卡克之外，董貝小姐不會記得我了。”
雖然天氣炎熱，弗洛倫斯卻奇怪地感到直想打寒顫；她把他介紹給她的主人和女主人。他們十分客氣地接待了他。
“一千次地請您原諒，”卡克先生說道，“不過明天早上我就去萊明頓，到董貝先生那裏。如果董貝小姐有什麼任務能交託給我去辦理，我將會感到萬分榮幸，難道這還需要我說嗎？”