狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第30章Part 6

'Ah! wicked guesser!' replied Cleopatra, shaking her head. 'Ah! cunning, cunning man! One shouldn't tell these things; your sex, my dear Dombey, are so vain, and so apt to abuse our weakness; but you know my open soul - very well; immediately.'
This was addressed to one of the very tall young men who announced dinner.
'But Edith, my dear Dombey,' she continued in a whisper, when she cannot have you near her - and as I tell her, she cannot expect that always - will at least have near her something or somebody belonging to you. Well, how extremely natural that is! And in this spirit, nothing would keep her from riding off to-day to fetch our darling Florence. Well, how excessively charming that is!'
As she waited for an answer, Mr Dombey answered, 'Eminently so.
'Bless you, my dear Dombey, for that proof of heart!' cried Cleopatra, squeezing his hand. 'But I am growing too serious! Take me downstairs, like an angel, and let us see what these people intend to give us for dinner. Bless you, dear Dombey!'
Cleopatra skipping off her couch with tolerable briskness, after the last benediction, Mr Dombey took her arm in his and led her ceremoniously downstairs; one of the very tall young men on hire, whose organ of veneration was imperfectly developed, thrusting his tongue into his cheek, for the entertainment of the other very tall young man on hire, as the couple turned into the dining-room.
Florence and Edith were already there, and sitting side by side. Florence would have risen when her father entered, to resign her chair to him; but Edith openly put her hand upon her arm, and Mr Dombey took an opposite place at the round table.
The conversation was almost entirely sustained by Mrs Skewton. Florence hardly dared to raise her eyes, lest they should reveal the traces of tears; far less dared to speak; and Edith never uttered one word, unless in answer to a question. Verily, Cleopatra worked hard, for the establishment that was so nearly clutched; and verily it should have been a rich one to reward her!
And so your preparations are nearly finished at last, my dear Dombey?' said Cleopatra, when the dessert was put upon the table, and the silver-headed butler had withdrawn. 'Even the lawyers' preparations!'
'Yes, madam,' replied Mr Dombey; 'the deed of settlement, the professional gentlemen inform me, is now ready, and as I was mentioning to you, Edith has only to do us the favour to suggest her own time for its execution.'
Edith sat like a handsome statue; as cold, as silent, and as still.
'My dearest love,' said Cleopatra, 'do you hear what Mr Dombey says? Ah, my dear Dombey!' aside to that gentleman, 'how her absence, as the time approaches, reminds me of the days, when that most agreeable of creatures, her Papa, was in your situation!'
'I have nothing to suggest. It shall be when you please,' said Edith, scarcely looking over the table at Mr Dombey.
'To-morrow?' suggested Mr Dombey.
'If you please.'

"啊！你这可恶的猜测者！"克利奥佩特拉摇摇头，回答道，"啊，你这狡猾、狡猾的人！我不应当说这些事情；你们男人，我亲爱的董贝，虚荣心是多么重，是多么喜欢作弄我们的弱点；但是你知道，我的心胸是坦率的--好，立刻就来！"
最后几个字是对两位身材很高的年轻人当中的一位说的，他进来通报，晚饭已经准备好。
"但是伊迪丝，亲爱的董贝，"她继续低声地说道，"当她看不到你在他身旁的时候--我告诉她，她不能经常指望这一点--，至少可以看到属于你的什么东西或什么人。是的，这是极为自然的事。她怀着这样的心情，谁也不能阻挡她今天坐着马车去把我们亲爱的弗洛伦斯接来。你看，这是多么可爱的事啊！"
因为她等待着回答，董贝先生就回答道，"确实是这样。"
"亲爱的董贝，这证明了你有着善良的心，愿上帝为这保佑你！"克利奥佩特拉握紧他的手，喊道，"可是我有些太认真了！请像个天使一样，领我到楼下去吧，看看这些人准备给我吃什么晚饭。愿上帝保佑你，亲爱的董贝！"
克利奥佩特拉在进行了第二次祝福之后，相当敏捷地跳下长沙发；董贝先生搀着她的胳膊，礼节十分周到地领着她下了楼；当这两个人走进餐厅的时候，雇来的身材很高的年轻人当中的一位（他向主人表示尊敬的器官是很不发达的）把舌头伸到脸颊上，在给另一位雇来的身材很高的年轻人逗乐。
弗洛伦斯和伊迪丝已经在那里，并肩坐着。弗洛伦斯在父亲进来的时候本想站起来，把她的椅子让给他；但是伊迪丝用手坚决地拉住她的胳膊，董贝先生就在圆桌对面的座位上坐下。
谈话几乎完全由斯丘顿夫人一人支撑着。弗洛伦斯简直不敢抬起眼睛，唯恐显露出泪痕，更不敢说话了；伊迪丝除了回答一个问题外，一个字也没有说。克利奥佩特拉为了很快就要抓到手中的家业，确实很努力地工作着。这也确实是一份富有的家业，可以好好酬劳她的！
"这么说，你的一切准备终于就要结束了吗，我亲爱的董贝？"当最后的点心、水果端到桌上，白发苍苍的男管家退出去以后，克利奥佩特拉说道，"甚至连法律方面的准备工作也完成了！"
"是的，夫人，"董贝先生回答道，"律师们告诉我，婚约现在已准备好了，正像我对您说的，伊迪丝只要指定个签订的日期就行了。"
伊迪丝像美丽的塑像一样坐着；像塑像一样冷淡，一样沉默，一样一动不动。
"我最亲爱的，"克利奥佩特拉说道，"你听到董贝先生说了吗？啊，我亲爱的董贝！"她转向这位先生，低声说道，"她因为时间快到而心不在焉的神态真使我想起了以往的那些日子啊，那时候，她爸爸那位世上少见的好人，就跟你现在的处境一样！"
"我不想建议什么日子。您喜欢什么时候就什么时候，"伊迪丝眼光几乎没有越过桌面，看着董贝先生，说道。
"明天？"，董贝先生建议。
"随您的便。"