狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第43章Part2

No word was ever spoken between Florence and Edith now, on these subjects. Edith had said there ought to be between them, in that wise, a division and a silence like the grave itself: and Florence felt she was right'
In this state of affairs her father was brought home, suffering and disabled; and gloomily retired to his own rooms, where he was tended by servants, not approached by Edith, and had no friend or companion but Mr Carker, who withdrew near midnight.
'And nice company he is, Miss Floy,' said Susan Nipper. 'Oh, he's a precious piece of goods! If ever he wants a character don't let him come to me whatever he does, that's all I tell him.'
'Dear Susan,' urged Florence, 'don't!'
'Oh, it's very well to say "don't" Miss Floy,' returned the Nipper, much exasperated; 'but raly begging your pardon we're coming to such passes that it turns all the blood in a person's body into pins and needles, with their pints all ways. Don't mistake me, Miss Floy, I don't mean nothing again your ma-in-law who has always treated me as a lady should though she is rather high I must say not that I have any right to object to that particular, but when we come to Mrs Pipchinses and having them put over us and keeping guard at your Pa's door like crocodiles (only make us thankful that they lay no eggs!) we are a growing too outrageous!'
'Papa thinks well of Mrs Pipchin, Susan,' returned Florence, 'and has a right to choose his housekeeper, you know. Pray don't!'
'Well Miss Floy,' returned the Nipper, 'when you say don't, I never do I hope but Mrs Pipchin acts like early gooseberries upon me Miss, and nothing less.'

现在弗洛伦斯与伊迪丝在这些问题上一句话也没有交谈过。伊迪丝曾经说过，在这方面，在她们之间应当有一道像坟墓一般的深沟和沉默；弗洛伦斯觉得她是对的。
就是在这样的情况下，她的父亲被抬回家来的；他忍受着痛苦，身体失去了行动的能力，忧闷不乐地隐居在他自己的房间中；仆人们在那里服侍他，但伊迪丝却没有到那里去看望过他。除了卡克先生之外，他没有别的朋友或伴侣。卡克先生在将近午夜的时候离开了。
“他是一位好同伴，弗洛伊小姐，”苏珊?尼珀说道，”啊，他是个了不起的宝贝！可是如果他什么时候需要一份品德推荐书的话，那么请他别来找我，这就是我要跟他说的一切。”
“亲爱的苏珊，”弗洛伦斯劝告道，”别说了！”
“啊，说声‘别说了’倒是很容易，弗洛伊小姐，”尼珀十分恼怒地回答道，”可是请原谅，我们的情况糟糕透顶，它使一个人身上的血都要变成带尖刺的别针和缝衣针了。请别误会我的意思，弗洛伊小姐，我这么说并不是要反对您的后妈，您的后妈总是以她贵夫人恰当的身份对待我，不过我必须说，她架子很大，虽然我没有权利反对这一点，但是当我们一提起这些个皮普钦太太，提起她们向我们发号施令，提起她们像鳄鱼一样在您爸爸门口守卫（谢天谢地她们幸好没有下蛋！），我们可真觉得太无法容忍下去了！”
“爸爸认为皮普钦太太不错，苏珊，”弗洛伦斯回答道，”您知道，他有权挑选他的女管家。请别说了！”
“唔弗洛伊小姐，”尼珀回答道，”当您对我说别说了，我希望我决不再说了，可是皮普钦太太对待我蛮横无礼，就像是没有成熟的醋栗一样，小姐，一点也不差。”