書蟲四級《華盛頓廣場》：2.一個英俊的年輕人

2.A handsome young man

2．一個英俊的年輕人

Not long after the dancing had begun at the party, Marian Almond came up to introduce Catherine to a tall young man. She told Catherine that the young man very much wanted to meet her, and that he was a cousin of Arthur Townsend, the man she was engaged to.

晚會上的舞會開始后沒多久，瑪麗安·阿爾蒙德就把凱瑟琳介紹給了一位高個子年輕人。她告訴凱瑟琳這個年輕人很想見她，他是她未婚夫阿瑟·湯森的表兄。

Catherine always felt uncomfortable when meeting new people. The young man, Mr Morris Townsend, was very handsome, and when Marian went away, Catherine stood in front of him, not knowing what to say. But before she could get embarrassed, Mr Townsend began to talk to her with an easy smile.

凱瑟琳遇到生人的時候總是覺得不自在。這個叫莫里斯·湯森的年輕人長得很英俊，瑪麗安走開后，凱瑟琳站在他面前，不知道該說些什么好。不過還沒等她感到尷尬，湯森先生就已經(jīng)帶著輕松的笑容和她聊起天來了。

What a delightful party! What a charming house! What an interesting family! What a pretty girl your cousin is!'

“這個晚會真令人高興！這房子真漂亮！這一家人真有趣！你表妹長得真美！”

Mr Townsend looked straight into Catherine's eyes. She answered nothing; she only listened, and looked at him. He went on to say many other things in the same comfortable and natural way. Catherine, though silent, was not embarrassed; it seemed right that such a handsome man should talk, and that she should simply look at him.

湯森先生直視著凱瑟琳的眼睛。她什么也沒說；她只是聽著，并望著他。他繼續(xù)以同樣輕松自如的方式講了很多其他的事情。凱瑟琳盡管很沉默，卻沒有感到不自在；似乎這樣英俊的人就應該講話，而她就應該只看著他。

The music, which had been silent for a while, suddenly began again. He smiled and asked her to dance. Catherine gave no answer, she simply let him put his arm around her, and in a moment they were dancing around the room. When they paused, she felt that she was red, and then, for some moments, she stopped looking at him.

音樂停了一會兒之后又突然響了起來。他微笑著請她跳舞。凱瑟琳沒回答，只是任由他用胳膊摟住自己，不一會兒他們就在房中翩翩起舞了。他們休息的時候，她感到臉都紅了，后來有一段時間，她不再看他。

Does dancing make you dizzy?' he asked, in a kind voice.

“跳舞讓你覺得頭暈嗎？”他問道，聲音很親切。

Catherine looked up at him. 'Yes,' she murmured, though she did not know why; dancing had never made her dizzy.

凱瑟琳抬起頭看著他。“是啊。”她低聲說道，雖然她不知道為什么；跳舞從沒讓她覺得頭暈過。

Then we will sit and talk,' said Mr Townsend. 'I will find a good place to sit.'

“那我們就坐下來說會兒話吧，”湯森先生說道，“我來找個好座位。”

He found a good place—a charming place; a little sofa in a corner that seemed meant for two persons.

他找到了一個好地方——一個很吸引人的地方；角落里有一個好像專供兩人坐的小沙發(fā)。

We will talk,' the young man had said; but he still did all the talking. Catherine sat with her eyes fixed on him, smiling, and thinking him very clever. She had never seen anyone so handsome before.

“我們聊聊。”年輕人說；不過仍然是他一個人在說話。凱瑟琳坐在那里，目不轉(zhuǎn)睛地看著他，微笑著，覺得他真聰明。她從未見過這么英俊的人。

He told her that he was a distant cousin of Arthur Townsend, and Arthur had brought him to introduce him to the family. In fact, he was a stranger in New York—he had not been there for many years. He had been travelling around the world, living in many strange places, and had only come back a month or two before. New York was very pleasant, but he felt lonely.

他告訴她自己是阿瑟·湯森的遠房表兄，阿瑟帶他過來，把他介紹給這家人。實際上，他對紐約還很陌生一一他有好多年沒來過這里了。他一直在世界各地旅行，在很多陌生的地方生活過，直到一兩個月前才回來。紐約是一個很快樂的地方，但他卻感到孤獨。

People forget you,' he said, smiling at Catherine.

“人家都把你忘了。”他微笑著對凱瑟琳說。

It seemed to Catherine that no one who had seen him would ever forget him, but she kept this thought to herself.

凱瑟琳覺得任何見過他的人都不會忘記他，但她沒有把這想法說出來。

They sat there for some time. He was very amusing, and Catherine had never heard anyone speak as well as he did—not even an actor in a theatre. And Mr Townsend was not like an actor; he seemed so sincere, so natural.

他們在那里坐了一會兒。他很風趣，凱瑟琳從未聽到過誰說話像他那么動聽——連劇場的演員也比不上他。而且湯森先生并不像個演員；他看起來如此真誠自然。

Then Marian Almond came pushing through the crowd of dancers. She gave a little cry, which made Catherine blush, when she saw the young people still together. She told Mr Townsend that her mother had been waiting for half an hour to introduce him to somebody.

后來瑪麗安·阿爾蒙德穿過跳舞的人群走了過來。當她看見這兩個年輕人仍在一起時，不由得輕輕地驚呼了一聲，凱瑟琳羞得臉都紅了。她告訴湯森先生她母親想把他引見給別人，已經(jīng)等他半個小時了。

We shall meet again,' he said to Catherine, as he left her.

“我們以后再見。”他離開的時候?qū)P瑟琳說道。

Her cousin took Catherine by the arm. 'And what do you think of Morris?' she asked.

表妹拉著凱瑟琳的胳膊。“你覺得莫里斯怎么樣？”她問道。

Oh, nothing particular,' Catherine answered, hiding what she really felt for the first time in her life.

“哦，一般吧。”凱瑟琳回答道，沒有暴露內(nèi)心第一次感受到的真實情感。

Oh, I must tell him that!' cried Marian. 'It will do him good. He's so terribly conceited.'

“哦，我一定要把這話講給他聽！”瑪麗安大聲說道，“這對他有好處。他太自負了。”

Conceited?' said Catherine, staring at her cousin.

“自負？”凱瑟琳盯著表妹說道。

So Arthur says, and Arthur knows about him.'

“阿瑟是這么說的，阿瑟了解他。”

Oh, don't tell him!' said Catherine.

“哦，別跟他說！”凱瑟琳說。

Don't tell him! I have told him that many times.'

“別跟他說！我已經(jīng)跟他說過好多回了。”

Half an hour later Catherine saw her Aunt Penniman sitting by a window, with Morris Townsend—she already knew the name very well—standing in front of her. He was saying clever things, and Mrs Penniman was smiling.

半小時之后凱瑟琳看見彭尼曼姑姑坐在窗邊，莫里斯·湯森——她已經(jīng)很熟悉這個名字了——站在她面前。他正在講一些機智的話，而彭尼曼夫人則在微笑。

Catherine moved away quickly; she did not want him to turn round and see her. But she was glad he was talking to Mrs Penniman because it seemed to keep him near to her.

凱瑟琳迅速走開了；她不希望他轉(zhuǎn)過身看到她。但她很高興他在和彭尼曼夫人談話，因為這樣似乎把他和她拉近了。

In the carriage, as they drove home, Catherine was very quiet, and Doctor Sloper talked with his sister.

在回家的馬車上，凱瑟琳很安靜，而斯洛珀醫(yī)生則在和他姐姐說話。

Who was that young man you spent so much time with?' he asked. 'He seemed very interested in you.'

“和你在一起待了那么長時間的年輕人是誰??？”他問，“他好像對你挺感興趣的。”

He was not interested in me,' said Mrs Penniman. 'He talked to me about Catherine.'

“他對我不感興趣，”彭尼曼夫人說，“他在跟我講凱瑟琳。”

Oh, Aunt Penniman!' Catherine murmured.

“哦，彭尼曼姑姑！”凱瑟琳低聲叫道。

He is very handsome and very clever,' her aunt went on. 'He spoke in a—in a very charming way.'

“他很英俊，也很聰明，”她姑姑繼續(xù)說道，“他說話很——很吸引人。”

The Doctor smiled. 'He is in love with Catherine, then?'

醫(yī)生笑了：“那么他是愛上凱瑟琳了？”

Oh, father!' murmured the girl, thankful that it was dark in the carriage.

“哦，爸爸！”女孩兒低聲說道，幸好車廂里比較黑。

I don't know that; but he admired her dress.'

“我不知道；不過他夸獎她的裙子。”

Admiring just the dress, instead of the person, might not seem very enthusiastic, but Catherine did not think this. She was deeply pleased.

夸獎她的裙子，而不是欣賞她本人，這似乎顯得并不怎么熱情，不過凱瑟琳不這么認為。她感到非常開心。

Her father looked, with a cool little smile, at her expensive red and gold dress. 'You see,' he said, 'he thinks you have eighty thousand dollars a year.'

她父親冷笑著看著她那條價格不菲的紅色和金色相間的裙子。“你看到了，”他說道，“他以為你一年有8萬美元的收入呢。”

I don't believe he thinks of that,' said Mrs Penniman; 'he is too fine a gentleman.'

“我不相信他會這么想，”彭尼曼夫人說，“他可是個挺不錯的紳士。”

He must be extremely fine not to think of that!'

“他一定要頂好才不會那么想！”

Well, he is!' Catherine cried, before she knew it.

“嗯，他就是！”凱瑟琳想也沒想就脫口而出。

I thought you had gone to sleep,' her father answered. 'The hour has come!' he added to himself. 'Lavinia is going to arrange a romance for Catherine.'

“我還以為你已經(jīng)睡著了。”她父親回答道。“已經(jīng)是時候了！”他自己又想，“拉維尼婭要為凱瑟琳安排一段羅曼史。”

A few days after Mrs Almond's party, Morris Townsend and his cousin called at Washington Square. Catherine and her aunt were sitting together by the fire in the parlour.

阿爾蒙德夫人的晚會之后幾天，莫里斯·湯森和他表弟一起去造訪華盛頓廣場。凱瑟琳和她的姑姑當時正坐在客廳的壁爐邊。

Arthur Townsend sat and talked to Catherine, while his companion sat next to Mrs Penniman. Catherine, usually so easy to please, tonight found Arthur rather uninteresting. She kept looking over at the other side of the room, where Morris Townsend was deep in conversation with her aunt. Every few minutes he looked over at Catherine and smiled, and she wished that she was sitting nearer to him.

阿瑟·湯森坐下來和凱瑟琳說話，而他的同伴則坐在彭尼曼夫人旁邊。通常凱瑟琳是很容易被人逗樂的，可是這天晚上她卻覺得阿瑟很令人厭煩。她不停地朝屋子的另一邊望去，莫里斯·湯森和她姑姑正在那里談得起勁。每隔幾分鐘，他就朝凱瑟琳看一眼，對她笑笑，而她希望自己坐得離他更近點兒。

Arthur seemed to notice that Catherine was interested in his companion. 'My cousin asked me to bring him,' he explained. 'He seemed to want very much to come. I told him I wanted to ask you first, but he said that Mrs Penniman had invited him.'

阿瑟好像注意到凱瑟琳對他的同伴很感興趣。“我表哥讓我?guī)麃恚?rdquo;他解釋道，“他好像很想來。我告訴他我想先問問你，但他說彭尼曼夫人已經(jīng)邀請他了。”

We are very glad to see him,' said Catherine. She wished to talk more about him, but she did not know what to say. 'I never saw him before,' she went on.

“我們很高興見到他。”凱瑟琳說。她希望能多談談他，但又不知道說什么。“我以前從沒見過他。”她繼續(xù)說。

Arthur Townsend stared. 'But he told me he talked with you for over half an hour the other night.'

阿瑟·湯森瞧著她：“可他告訴我那天晚上他和你聊了半個多小時呢。”

I mean before the other night. That was the first time.'

“我的意思是那晚之前。那次是第一次。”

Oh, he has been away from New York—he has been all round the world.'

“哦，他一直不在紐約——他在世界各地跑。”

My aunt likes him very much,' said Catherine.

“我姑姑很喜歡他。”凱瑟琳說。

Most people like him—he's so brilliant—though I know some people who say my cousin is too clever.'

“大多數(shù)人都喜歡他——他很聰明——雖然我也知道有些人說我表哥聰明過頭了。”

Catherine listened with extreme interest. If Morris Townsend had a fault, it would naturally be that one, she thought. After a moment she asked, 'Now that he has come back, will he stay here always?'

凱瑟琳懷著極大的興趣聽著。如果莫里斯·湯森有什么缺點的話，那自然是這一點了，她想。過了一會兒，她問道：“那他現(xiàn)在回來了，他會長住在這里嗎？”

If he can find something to do,' said Arthur. 'He's looking around for some kind of employment or business, but he can't find anything.'

“如果他能找到事做的話。”阿瑟說，“他正在四處找工作或看有沒有生意可做，不過什么也沒找到。”

I am very sorry,' said Catherine.

“真遺憾。”凱瑟琳說。

Oh, he doesn't mind,' Arthur said. 'He isn't in a hurry.'

“哦，他不在乎，”阿瑟說，“他不著急。”

Catherine thought about this, then asked, 'Won't his father take him into his business—his office?'

凱瑟琳想了想，然后問道：“他父親難道不讓他一起做生意——在他的辦公室里工作嗎？”

He hasn't got a father—he has only got a sister,' said Arthur Townsend. And he looked across at his cousin and began to laugh. 'Morris, we're talking about you.'

“他沒有父親——只有一個姐姐。”阿瑟·湯森說。接著他朝表哥望去，笑了起來：“莫里斯，我們正在說你吶。”

Morris Townsend paused in his conversation with Mrs Penniman, and stared, with a little smile. Then he stood up.

莫里斯·湯森暫時中斷了和彭尼曼夫人的談話，瞧著他們，臉上帶著微笑。然后他站了起來。

I'm afraid I was not talking about you,' he said to Catherine's companion. 'Though I can't pretend that Miss Sloper's name did not enter our conversation.'

“恐怕我剛才可沒在說你，”他對凱瑟琳的同伴說道，“但是我不能假裝我們的談話中沒有提到斯洛珀小姐的名字。”

Catherine thought that this was a wonderfully clever thing to say, but she was embarrassed by it, and she also got up. Morris Townsend stood looking at her and smiling; he put out his hand to say goodbye. He was going, and though he had not said anything to Catherine, she was still glad that she had seen him.

凱瑟琳認為這么說實在是太機智了，但她又為這種說法感到局促不安，所以她也站了起來。莫里斯·湯森站在那里，微笑著看著她；他伸出手說再見。他要走了，雖然他一句話也沒和凱瑟琳說，她仍然很高興能見到他。

I will tell her what you have said—when you go!' said Mrs Penniman with a little laugh.

“我會告訴她你說的話——在你走之后！”彭尼曼夫人笑了一笑說道。

Catherine blushed—she felt they were almost laughing at her. What in the world had this beautiful young man said? She saw that he was looking at her kindly.

凱瑟琳羞紅了臉——她覺得他們好像是在嘲笑她。這個漂亮的小伙子到底說了些什么呢？她發(fā)現(xiàn)他正和善地看著她。

I have not talked with you,' he said, 'and that was what I came for. But it will be a good reason for coming another time. I am not afraid of what your aunt will say when I go.'

“我們還沒說過話，”他說，“我來就是想和你談談的。不過這樣就有很好的理由再來了。我不擔心我走后你姑姑會說些什么。”

After the two young men had left, Catherine, who was still blushing, gave Mrs Penniman a serious look.

兩個年輕人離去之后，凱瑟琳的臉上仍帶著紅暈，她嚴肅地看了彭尼曼夫人一眼。

What did you say you would tell me?' she asked.

“你說要告訴我什么？”她問。

Mrs Penniman smiled and nodded a little. 'It's a great secret, my dear child, but he is coming here to court you!'

彭尼曼夫人微笑著點了點頭。“這是個大秘密，我親愛的孩子，不過他要來追求你呢！”

Catherine was serious still. 'Is that what he told you?'

凱瑟琳仍然一臉嚴肅：“他是這么跟您說的嗎？”

He didn't say so exactly, but he left me to guess it. I'm good at guessing.' Mrs Penniman gave her niece a soft little kiss. 'You must be very nice to him.'

“他沒確切地這么說，不過我猜是這樣。我不會猜錯的。”彭尼曼夫人輕輕地吻了一下她的侄女，“你對他一定很好。”

Catherine stared—she was amazed. 'I don't understand you,' she said. 'He doesn't know me.'

凱瑟琳瞪大了眼睛——她感到很驚奇。“我不明白您的意思，”她說，“他并不了解我。”

Oh yes, he does. He knows you more than you think. I have told him all about you.'

“哦不，他了解的。他比你想像的更了解你。我把你的事情都跟他說了。”

Oh, Aunt Penniman!' said Catherine in a frightened voice. 'He is a stranger—we don't know him.'

“哦，彭尼曼姑姑！”凱瑟琳吃驚地說，“他是個生人——我們不了解他。”

My dear Catherine, you know very well that you admire him.'

“我親愛的凱瑟琳，你很清楚你喜歡他。”

Oh, Aunt Penniman!' said Catherine again. Perhaps she did admire him—though this did not seem to her a thing to talk about. But she could not believe that this brilliant stranger wished to court her; only a romantic woman like her aunt would believe that.

“哦，彭尼曼姑姑！”凱瑟琳又說道。也許她確實喜歡他——盡管這件事對于她來說似乎不適宜討論。不過她無法相信這樣一個出眾的陌生人想要追求她；只有她姑姑那樣浪漫的女人才會這么想。