狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第28章Part 6

Notwithstanding the emphatic nature of this farewell, Mr Toots, instead of going away, stood leering about him, vacantly. Florence, to relieve him, bade adieu, with many thanks, to Lady Skettles, and gave her arm to Sir Barnet.
'May I beg of you, my dear Miss Dombey,' said her host, as he conducted her to the carriage, 'to present my best compliments to your dear Papa?'
It was distressing to Florence to receive the commission, for she felt as if she were imposing on Sir Barnet by allowing him to believe that a kindness rendered to her, was rendered to her father. As she could not explain, however, she bowed her head and thanked him; and again she thought that the dull home, free from such embarrassments, and such reminders of her sorrow, was her natural and best retreat.
Such of her late friends and companions as were yet remaining at the villa, came running from within, and from the garden, to say good-bye. They were all attached to her, and very earnest in taking leave of her. Even the household were sorry for her going, and the servants came nodding and curtseying round the carriage door. As Florence looked round on the kind faces, and saw among them those of Sir Barnet and his lady, and of Mr Toots, who was chuckling and staring at her from a distance, she was reminded of the night when Paul and she had come from Doctor Blimber's: and when the carriage drove away, her face was wet with tears.
Sorrowful tears, but tears of consolation, too; for all the softer memories connected with the dull old house to which she was returning made it dear to her, as they rose up. How long it seemed since she had wandered through the silent rooms: since she had last crept, softly and afraid, into those her father occupied: since she had felt the solemn but yet soothing influence of the beloved dead in every action of her daily life! This new farewell reminded her, besides, of her parting with poor Walter: of his looks and words that night: and of the gracious blending she had noticed in him, of tenderness for those he left behind, with courage and high spirit. His little history was associated with the old house too, and gave it a new claim and hold upon her heart. Even Susan Nipper softened towards the home of so many years, as they were on their way towards it. Gloomy as it was, and rigid justice as she rendered to its gloom, she forgave it a great deal. 'I shall be glad to see it again, I don't deny, Miss,' said the Nipper. 'There ain't much in it to boast of, but I wouldn't have it burnt or pulled down, neither!'
'You'll be glad to go through the old rooms, won't you, Susan?' said Florence, smiling.

图茨先生尽管这样有声有色地作了告别，但却没有走开，而是原地站着不动，并斜着眼睛，茫然地看着四周。弗洛伦斯为了使他摆脱困境，就开始向斯克特尔斯夫人告别，说了很多感谢的话，同时把胳膊向巴尼特爵士伸去。
“我亲爱的董贝小姐，”她的主人把她送上四轮马车的时候，说道，“我请您向您亲爱的爸爸转达我最亲切的问候，可以吗？”
弗洛伦斯接受这项任务是痛苦的，因为她觉得她如果要使他相信，他对她所表示的好意就是对她爸爸所表示的好意，那么这就欺骗了巴尼特爵士。不过因为她不能解释，所以她就低下头去向他表示感谢，这时她又重新想起那沉闷无趣的家可以使她从这些使她感到尴尬、引起她悲伤的事情中解脱出来，因此它是她自然的和最好的藏身场所。
她新近交上的朋友们和伴侣们，有些依旧住在别墅里，他们都从房屋里和花园中跑来向她告别。他们全都和她依依不舍，十分诚挚地跟她分手。甚至连仆人们也对她的离去感到惋惜；他们聚集在马车门口向她点头和行屈膝礼。当弗洛伦斯看着四周亲切的脸孔，在这些脸孔中间看到了巴尼特爵士和夫人的脸孔，看到了站在远处正在吃吃笑着和注视着她的图茨先生的脸孔时，她想起了那天夜里保罗和她离开布林伯博士的学校回家时的情景；当马车离开他们向前奔跑的时候，她的脸孔都被泪水沾湿了。
这是悲伤的眼泪，但这也是带来安慰的眼泪，因为当与她现在正要回去的那座沉闷无趣的老房屋有关的所有美好的回忆涌上心头的时候，它们使她感到这座老房屋十分亲切。自从她在那些寂静无声的房间中漫步穿行以来，自从她最后一次轻轻地、害怕地偷偷走进她父亲的那些房间以来，自从她在日常生活的一举一动之间都感觉到死去的亲爱的弟弟的庄严而又抚慰的影响以来，似乎已经过去了多么长久的时间了啊！这次新的告别还使她想起了她跟可怜的沃尔特的离别，想起了他那天夜间的神情和话语，想起了她曾注意到他既对留在后面的人们怀着亲切的感情，但同时却又表露出勇气和高兴；他的短短的历史也是和这座古老的房屋联系着的，这使这座房屋具有一种新的权利来要求获得和支配她的心。当她们行进在回家的路途中时，甚至连苏珊·尼珀对这居住了许多年的家的态度也温和起来了。虽然它是阴郁的，她对它的阴郁曾进行过严厉而中肯的指责，可是她大大地原谅它了。“我不否认，小姐，我将高兴再看到它，”尼珀说，“虽然它没有什么可夸耀的，可是我却不愿意它被火烧了，也不愿意它被拆毁了！”
“你将高兴穿过那些老房间，是不是，苏珊？”弗洛伦斯笑嘻嘻地问道。