書蟲6級《名利場》第四章: 布賴頓愉快之旅

"You're a devil for the ladies, Jos!" laughed one of his friends. "But what shall we do this afternoon, boys?"

“你真是女士的克星，喬斯！”他的朋友笑著說，“我們下午干什么呢，小伙子們？”

"There's a fine girl over there," said one of the three. "D' you see? A very pretty ankle, she's got."

“那邊有一個漂亮姑娘。”其中一人說，“你們看見了嗎？她的腳踝很美。”

Seven days after the wedding, three young men were walking by the sea in Brighton, enjoying the sea air and admiring all the pretty ladies as they passed.

婚禮之后七天，三個年輕人在布賴頓的海邊散步，一邊享受海邊的空氣，一邊欣賞每一位經過他們身邊的漂亮女士。

"Let's have a game of billiards," said the third man.

“我們玩一局臺球吧。”另一個人說。

"No, no, Captain," said Jos, alarmed. "No billiards today, Crawley, my boy; yesterday was enough."

“不，不，上尉。”喬斯慌張地說，“今天不玩臺球了，克勞利，我的好兄弟。昨天已經玩夠了。”

"You play very well," laughed Crawley. "Doesn't he, George?"

“你打得不錯啊，”克勞利笑著說，“是吧，喬治？”

George Osborne had brought Amelia to Brighton for a little honeymoon, and Joseph Sedley had come down to join them. And who should they discover, staying in the same hotel, but Captain and Mrs Rawdon Crawley? At once Rebecca and Amelia flew into each other's arms, and there was general delight among the young people. The two wedding parties met constantly, on excursions and at dinners, and the gentlemen for games of cards and billiards, which conveniently enabled Rawdon to refill his empty purse with his winnings from Jos and George.

喬治·奧斯本帶阿梅莉亞來布賴頓度個小蜜月，約瑟夫·塞德利隨后也加入了他們。他們發(fā)現(xiàn)誰也住在同一家旅館呢？當然是羅頓·克勞利上尉夫婦！麗貝卡和阿梅莉亞馬上就飛奔擁抱在一起，這些年輕人都很高興。兩方常常會面，一同出游，一起吃飯。男士們聚在一起玩牌、打臺球，羅頓干癟的錢包里輕而易舉地塞滿了從喬斯和喬治那里贏來的錢。

Miss Crawley, on whom all Rawdon's hopes depended, still refused to see him, and was now in Brighton, taking the sea air for her health. Her affectionate nephew and niece had followed her there, but Miss Crawley was guarded day and night by the fiercely possessive Mrs Bute Crawley, who was determined to prevent Rawdon inheriting any of his aunt's riches. Becky and Rawdon, however, were just as determined to succeed as Mrs Bute; and in the meantime they spent money freely and ran up debts, confident of getting the old lady's money in the end.

克勞利小姐現(xiàn)在也在布賴頓，她是來海邊療養(yǎng)的。羅頓把所有希望都寄托在她身上，可她仍然拒不見他。她那情真意切的侄子和侄媳追隨她來到這里，但是她被占有欲極強的比特·克勞利夫人從早到晚看得死死的。比特夫人抱定主意決不讓羅頓從他姑姑那里繼承一分錢，而貝姬和羅頓也和比特夫人一樣意志堅定，決心要成功。與此同時，他們花錢大手大腳，很快就欠下一筆筆債，不過他們有把握最后能將老太太的錢弄到手。

The two young couples had plenty to tell each other, and their marriages and future hopes were discussed with great interest on both sides. George was rather nervously waiting for the arrival of his friend Captain Dobbin, who had offered to tell George's father the news of his son's marriage to Amelia.

兩對年輕夫妻有太多事情要告訴彼此，雙方興致勃勃地討論婚姻和未來的希望。喬治焦急萬分地等待他朋友多賓上尉的到來，多賓之前主動提出向喬治的父親傳達他兒子與阿梅莉亞結婚的消息。

On meeting George Osborne again, Becky had taken some care to be especially charming to him, admiring his handsome face and his skill at billiards (at which he usually lost to Rawdon). In return, George thought Becky clever, amusing, stylish, and altogether delightful. He quite forgot his original opinion of her as a lowly governess.

再見到喬治·奧斯本時，貝姬刻意對他施展魅力，奉承他儀表堂堂，球技高超（打臺球時，他通常會輸給羅頓）。相應地，喬治覺得貝姬聰明、風趣又時髦，總而言之，很討人喜歡。他完全忘了以前認為她是個地位低下的家庭教師的評價了。

"Not a bit. I love the smell of them in the open air," Becky said.

“一點兒也不介意。我喜歡雪茄在室外散發(fā)的味道。”貝姬說。

It is hard for a young bride to have thoughts like these, but so it was. One evening, while Rawdon and Joseph were playing cards, Becky and George were outside on the balcony, admiring the moonlight. Amelia sat inside, neglected, watching.

一個年輕的新娘有這樣的想法很痛苦，但她確是這樣想的。一天晚上，羅頓和約瑟夫打牌，貝姬和喬治則在外面陽臺上欣賞月色。阿梅莉亞坐在屋內，無人理會，獨自觀察著這一切。

Amelia became faintly uneasy about her brilliant friend, always so lively and amusing, while she herself was so shy and quiet. She had only been married a week, and already George seemed bored, eager to be with other people as much as possible.

阿梅莉亞隱隱有些不安，她的朋友光彩照人，總是那么活潑風趣，而自己卻那么靦腆、少言寡語。她才剛剛結婚一周，喬治似乎就厭倦了，迫不及待地盡可能多和別人待在一起。

"What a fine night!" said George. "Do you mind my cigar?"

“夜色多美?。?rdquo;喬治說，“介意我抽雪茄嗎？”

Becky laughed. "Do you know what my plan is?" she said. "You remember Briggs, my Aunt Crawley's companion? She goes sea-bathing a lot, and one day I'm going to dive in next to her and insist on immediate forgiveness, right there in the water."

貝姬大笑起來。“你知道我有什么計劃嗎？”她說，“你記得布里格斯，克勞利姑姑的女伴嗎？她常去洗海水浴?？傆幸惶?，我會扎到她身邊，就在水里堅持讓她立刻原諒我們。”

"The sea is so calm and clear -- don't you wish you could just dive into it?" said George.

“大海如此平靜、清澈——難道你不希望自己能就這樣一頭扎進去？”喬治說。

George burst out laughing at the idea of this watery meeting.

這個水中會面的想法令喬治忍不住放聲大笑。

"What's the noise about, you two?" Rawdon called out.

“你們吵吵嚷嚷什么呢？”羅頓大聲問。

Amelia, unable to join in the laughter, crept away to her room, and a little cold hand closed around that tender heart.

阿梅莉亞無法加入他們的談笑，便悄悄地回了房間，一只冰涼的小手攥住了她那顆溫柔的心。

But apart from these little private worries of Amelia's, the time passed pleasantly enough, and hopes on both sides were high -- that George's father would forgive George, and that Miss Crawley would forgive Becky and Rawdon.

不過，除了阿梅莉亞私下里小小的擔心以外，大家度過了一段愉快的時光。雙方的期望都很高——喬治的父親會原諒喬治，克勞利小姐也會原諒貝姬和羅頓。

"It's my opinion," Dobbin went on, "that Napoleon will attack in less than three weeks, and we shall have a fine old time of it. But let's not say anything like that to the ladies, George, eh? It may come to nothing after all -- at the moment Brussels is full of fashionable people who think just that."

“我認為，”多賓繼續(xù)說，“拿破侖三周之內就會發(fā)動進攻，我們可能要好好大干一場了。但是，我們別把這事告訴女士們，好吧，喬治？也許最后什么事也沒有呢，現(xiàn)在布魯塞爾到處都是有這種想法的上流人士。”

But Vanity Fair is rarely a kind or forgiving place. And what would happen to our story, dear reader, if it was?

只是，名利場遠非善良寬容之地。親愛的讀者，假如名利場是那樣的，我們的故事又會如何發(fā)展呢？

The next day Dobbin arrived in Brighton, eager to see Amelia, even though she was now a married woman, forever out of his reach. He brought two pieces of news with him; the first he gave to the young men alone. It was news of war.

次日，多賓抵達布賴頓。盡管阿梅莉亞已經嫁為人婦，他永遠無法企及，但他仍急切地想見到她。他帶來了兩個消息。第一個消息——戰(zhàn)爭的消息——是說給年輕男士們聽的。

This news shocked his listeners, and they looked very serious.

這個消息令聽眾們大吃一驚，他們表情都很凝重。

"We're ordered to Belgium -- the whole army. We leave next week, sailing from Chatham."

“我們接到前往比利時的命令——全軍前往。下周開拔，從查塔姆出航。”

Dobbin did not reply and silently handed George a letter.

多賓沒有回答，只是默默地遞給喬治一封信。

"What did my father say?" George asked anxiously. "Tell me!"

“我父親怎么說？”喬治焦急地問，“告訴我！”

The second piece of news Dobbin brought was for George Osborne, and he waited until they were alone together.

多賓帶來的第二個消息是專給喬治·奧斯本的，他等到只剩他倆時。

"It's not in my father's handwriting," said George, alarmed.

“這不是我父親的筆跡。”喬治驚慌地說。

Mr Osborne also asks me to say that he refuses to receive any messages or letters from you on this or any other subject.

奧斯本先生還要求我傳達：您的任何口信或信件，無論與此事有關或是任何別的事宜，他概不接收。

SIR -- I AM INSTRUCTED by Mr Osborne to inform you that, as a result of the marriage you have chosen to enter into, he no longer recognizes you as his son, and that you will therefore inherit no money from him on his death. The only inheritance due to you is the money left to you and your two sisters by your mother. The sum of ￡2,000, being a third share of ￡6,000, will be paid to yourself or your agents upon receipt of your instructions.

先生，本人奉奧斯本先生之命通知您，鑒于您選擇的婚姻，令尊不再承認您是他的兒子。因此，令尊去世后您將不會繼承他的遺產。您能繼承的唯一遺產是令堂留給您與兩位姐妹的。這筆6,000英鎊的遺產分為三份，其中的一份2,000英鎊，在收到您的指示后將支付給您本人或您的代理人。

George was right. The letter was from his father's lawyer.

喬治是對的。信是他父親的律師寫的。

Your obedient servant, Samuel Higgs

您恭順的仆人，塞繆爾·希格斯

"This is all your fault!" shouted George. He threw the letter at Dobbin. "We could have waited, but no -- you had to get me married, and ruined! What the devil am I to do with two thousand pounds? That won't last me two years. I've already lost a hundred and forty to Crawley at cards and billiards this week."

“這都是你的錯！”喬治大吼。他把信甩給多賓。“我們本來可以等等的，可是不——你非要讓我結婚，讓我破產了！兩千英鎊夠我干什么?。窟B兩年都支撐不了。這個星期玩牌、打臺球我已經輸給克勞利一百四十英鎊了。”

"Well, well," said Dobbin calmly. "This storm will pass, George. Get your name mentioned in the Army Gazette and I'm sure your old father will welcome you back with open arms."

“好了，好了。”多賓平靜地說，“暴風雨會過去的，喬治。讓你的名字出現(xiàn)在軍報上，我保證你的老父親會張開雙臂歡迎你回家的。”

"Mentioned in the Gazette!" said George. "Among the list of dead, you mean? That's really helpful!"

“名字出現(xiàn)在軍報上！”喬治說，“出現(xiàn)在陣亡者名單里嗎，你的意思是？還真有用！”

It was impossible to argue with Dobbin for long as he was too good-natured. He had tried his best for his friend, but the father was a man of violent temper, and having decided to cut his son off, there was nothing Dobbin, or George's two sisters, or anyone else could say to persuade him otherwise.

多賓性情太溫厚，誰都不可能跟他爭論太久。他已為朋友使出了渾身解數(shù)，可那位父親脾氣暴躁，已經決定和兒子斷絕關系，無論多賓、喬治的兩個姐妹還是其他任何人都無法勸他回心轉意。

"Well, yes, it's hard," Dobbin said, "and, as you say, it's partly my fault, but there are some men who wouldn't mind changing with you. You have more money than most of them. You must live on your pay until your father changes his mind."

“呃，是啊，是挺難的。”多賓說，“就像你所說，我也有部分責任。不過有些人可不介意跟你互換呢。你比他們大多數(shù)人都有錢多了。在你父親改變主意之前，你先靠你的薪俸生活吧。”

"How can a man like me live on a soldier's pay?" George shouted angrily. "You're a fool, Dobbin. I must have my comforts, keep up my position in the world. Do you expect my wife to follow the regiment on foot, carrying her own luggage?"

“我這樣的人靠士兵的薪俸怎么生活呢？”喬治怒吼，“你真傻，多賓。我必須 享受舒適的生活，保持我的社會地位。你指望我的妻子自己拿行李，步行隨軍嗎？”

"Don't talk like that," said Dobbin. "Everything will be fine."

“別那么說。”多賓說，“一切都會好起來的。”

George gave Amelia the lawyer's letter. "It's not myself I care about, Emmy," he said, "it's you."

喬治把律師的信交給阿梅莉亞。“我擔心的不是自己，埃米。”他說，“是你。”

Before dinner that evening there were two little conversations between the husbands and wives in the hotel.

那天晚飯前，旅館里兩對夫妻各自進行了一番簡短的交談。

Amelia read the letter and her face cleared. The idea of being poor with the man she loved held no fears for her.

阿梅莉亞讀完信，表情放松下來。和她愛的人一起過窮日子，對她來說沒什么好害怕的。

George had to laugh at this, and they went down to dinner.

喬治只好對此一笑，然后他們下樓去吃晚飯。

"Oh, George," she said, "I'm sure he will forgive you soon, but it's so sad for you to be separated from your father like this."

“啊，喬治。”她說，“我肯定他很快就會原諒你的，不過像這樣和你的父親分開，你肯定很難過。”

In another room, Becky and Rawdon also talked about money.

另一個房間里，貝姬和羅頓也在談錢的問題。

"It is," said George, looking deeply miserable. "But you, my dear girl -- my wife has the right to expect certain comforts, not the poor life of an ordinary army wife."

“是啊。”喬治說，一副痛苦不堪的樣子。“但是你，我親愛的姑娘——我的妻子，有權享受舒適的生活，而不是普通軍人妻子過的那種窮日子。”

"But, George," said Amelia happily. "I can sew, and mend your trousers for you, and do all kinds of things. And two thousand pounds is a great deal of money, isn't it, George?"

“不過呢，喬治，”阿梅莉亞快活地說，“我會縫紉，可以為你補褲子，還可以做許多其他事。兩千英鎊是一大筆錢呢，是吧，喬治？”

"We'll all be leaving soon," Becky said. "Rawdon dear, you'd better get that money Osborne owes you before he goes."

“大家很快都要離開了。”貝姬說，“親愛的羅頓，你最好在奧斯本走之前把他欠你的錢要到手。”

Rawdon gave his usual great roar of laughter.

羅頓像往常一樣發(fā)出一陣大笑。

Dobbin disapproved strongly of Amelia being allowed to go anywhere near a possible battle, but of course he could not say that to her husband. "At least," he thought, "I shall be able to see her, and I will be there to protect her and keep her safe."

多賓強烈反對讓阿梅莉亞去可能有戰(zhàn)事的地方，但是，當然了，他不能對她丈夫那樣說。他想：“至少我能看見她，而且我會在那里保護她的安全。”

"You idiot!" said his wife. "I'm coming with you, of course."

“你這個傻瓜！”他妻子說，“我當然是跟你一塊兒去啦。”

"I intend to go," said Rebecca. "I must -- General Tufto is a great admirer of mine. Isn't he, Rawdon?"

“我 打算去。”麗貝卡說，“我必須去——塔夫脫將軍是我的崇拜者呢。對吧，羅頓？”

At dinner that evening they were all very bright and cheerful. George was excited by the thought of war, and Dobbin told amusing stories, but when Brussels was mentioned, a look of terror came over Amelia's sweet, smiling face.

當晚晚餐時，所有人都興致勃勃，歡聲笑語。喬治一想到打仗就激動不已，多賓講了一些趣事，但是提到布魯塞爾的時候，阿梅莉亞甜美的笑臉頓時變得驚恐起來。

"Don't be afraid, Emmy," said George. "You can come too."

“別害怕，埃米。”喬治說，“你也可以一起去。”

"You won't cry about me, I suppose," Rawdon said, half angry.

“你 不會為我 掉眼淚的，我猜。”羅頓有些惱怒地說。

"I must and will go," cried Amelia, with great determination.

“我必須去，我一定會去。”阿梅莉亞大聲說，聲音無比堅定。

"Cry her eyes out, I expect," said Becky.

“哭得肝腸寸斷，我估計。”貝姬說。

"Bravo!" said George, laughing. "Did you ever see such a fierce little fighter of a wife?" he asked the others.

“好極了！”喬治笑著說，“你們見過哪個妻子像好斗的小戰(zhàn)士似的嗎？”他問其他人。

"Good idea," said Rawdon. "Wonder what Mrs O. will do when Osborne goes out to Brussels with the regiment?"

“好主意。”羅頓說，“不知道奧斯本隨軍去布魯塞爾后，奧斯本夫人會怎么樣？”

"Has the regiment been ordered to Brussels, George?" she cried. And she seized George's arm in her terror.

“軍團已經接到命令去布魯塞爾了嗎，喬治？”她大聲問，驚恐之中抓住了喬治的胳膊。

It was not at all convenient, but gambling debts must be paid, so a good many bank-notes passed from George to Rawdon.

其實是一點都不方便，但賭債是必須償還的，因此一厚沓紙鈔從喬治手中遞到了羅頓手里。

After dinner, the men stayed to smoke their cigars, then went to rejoin the ladies. Rawdon touched George on the arm.

晚飯后，男士們留下來抽雪茄，然后再與女士們會合。羅頓碰了碰喬治的胳膊。

The next day Jos, Dobbin, Amelia, and George left for London, to prepare for Brussels. Rawdon and Becky would follow in a few days. Becky and Amelia kissed each other most affectionately on parting, but a tiny flame of jealousy was already burning in Amelia's gentle heart.

第二天，喬斯、多賓、阿梅莉亞和喬治出發(fā)前往倫敦，為布魯塞爾之行做準備。羅頓和貝姬幾天后再走。分別時刻，貝姬和阿梅莉亞非常親昵地吻別，但是嫉妒的小火苗已經在阿梅莉亞溫柔的心中燃燒起來了。

"I say, Osborne," he said lightly, "could you let me have that small amount, if convenient?"

“我說，奧斯本，”他輕描淡寫地說，“能把那個小數(shù)目給我嗎，方便的話？”

Before Becky and Rawdon left Brighton, they carried out a last attack on Miss Crawley's defences. Becky had obtained the very useful information that Mr Bute Crawley had broken his collar-bone falling from his horse, and Mrs Bute had had to hurry home to look after him. That left Miss Briggs. Becky arranged to meet that lady by chance on the beach, and poured out declarations of love and affection and concern for Miss Crawley and herself. Miss Briggs, by nature a kindly person, was soon won round, and Becky hurried back to Rawdon in the hotel.

貝姬和羅頓離開布賴頓之前，他們對克勞利小姐的防御發(fā)起了最后一次進攻。貝姬得到非常有利的消息：比特·克勞利先生跌下馬來，摔斷了鎖骨，比特夫人不得不趕回家照顧他?，F(xiàn)在就剩下布里格斯小姐。貝姬設計與她在海灘偶遇，盡情傾訴了一番對克勞利小姐和她的深情厚誼與關心。布里格斯小姐天性善良，很快就被說服了。貝姬趕回旅館找羅頓。

"Idiot," said his wife, pulling his ear. "I'll tell you what to say."

“傻瓜。”他妻子說，揪住他的耳朵。“我來告訴你寫什么。”

"You must sit down and write to your aunt at once, Rawdon," she said. "And then Briggs will try to persuade her to see you."

“你得立刻坐下來給你姑姑寫信，羅頓。”她說，“然后布里格斯會勸她與你見一面。”

And so she did, leaning over his shoulder to correct his spelling and grammar. The letter was in short, soldierly sentences, full of grateful affection, and made no mention of money.

她一邊說，一邊俯身探過他的肩頭，糾正他的拼寫和語法錯誤。信里都是短句子，語氣像軍人般簡捷，滿是感恩之情，而且壓根沒提錢的事。

She did agree to meet Rawdon briefly, but the interview was not a success, and that evening Rawdon received a letter from his aunt. Her health, she wrote, was too delicate for further meetings, but if he would like to call at her lawyer's office in London, he would find a communication waiting for him there.

她的確同意與羅頓短暫會面，但是見面并不成功。當晚羅頓收到他姑姑的一封信。信里說，她的健康狀況不佳，不能再繼續(xù)會客。他可以去倫敦她律師的辦公室，那里有一封函件等著他。

"Rawdon never wrote a word of that letter," she said. "He never wrote to me without asking for money in his life, and all his letters are full of bad spelling and bad grammar. It's that little snake of a governess who rules him." They are all the same, Miss Crawley thought in her heart. They all want me dead, and are hoping for my money. I wish they would all leave me alone.

“信絕不是羅頓寫的。”她說，“他給我寫信從來都是要錢，而且他的信錯字連篇，語法也不通。一定是那個家庭教師小蛇精寫的，她把羅頓完全掌控住了。”克勞利小姐心想，他們都是一丘之貉，盼著我死，惦著我的錢。我真希望他們離我遠遠的。

"But what shall I write?" asked the puzzled Rawdon.

“可是我寫什么呢？”羅頓困惑地問。

Old Miss Crawley laughed when the letter arrived, and laughed even more when Miss Briggs had read it out to her.

信到時老克勞利小姐哈哈大笑。布里格斯小姐念信給她聽時，她笑得更厲害了。

Though it was against themselves, the joke was a good one, and Becky burst out laughing at Rawdon's angry face.

盡管他們被捉弄了，可這個玩笑著實不錯?？粗_頓怒不可遏的樣子，貝姬忍不住哈哈大笑。

In London George also found that his financial future did not look promising. There was no sign that his father might forgive him, and when George went to collect his two thousand pounds from the lawyer, Mr Higgs was very cool and distant with him.

身在倫敦的喬治也發(fā)現(xiàn)他的財務前景不容樂觀。沒有跡象表明他父親可能會原諒他。喬治去律師那里領他的兩千英鎊時，希格斯先生對他非常冷淡疏遠。

"By God, Becky," he said, "she's only given me twenty pounds!"

“老天爺，貝姬。”他說，“她只給了我二十英鎊！”

At once, full of hope, Rawdon and Becky hurried back to London (which was exactly Miss Crawley's intention), and the next day Rawdon went to the lawyer's. He came back furious.

滿懷希望的羅頓和貝姬立刻匆匆返回倫敦（這正是克勞利小姐的目的），第二天羅頓去了律師那里，回來時怒氣沖沖。

But George did not care. The old man would forgive him in the end, he thought, and as his army pay had gone in gambling losses to Captain Crawley, he began to spend his two thousand pounds. He took a large apartment in a fine hotel, entertained Jos and Dobbin to a very expensive dinner there (much to Dobbin's disapproval), and sent his wife out to buy a great many fashionable clothes, suitable for a grand social life in Brussels.

但是喬治不在乎。他認為，老人最終會原諒他的。他的軍俸在賭博時輸給了克勞利上尉，于是他開始花那兩千英鎊。他在一家豪華旅館包下一個大套間，大擺宴席請喬斯和多賓吃飯（多賓對此極為反對），還讓妻子出去多多置辦些時髦的衣服，要配得上在布魯塞爾奢侈的社交生活。

Amelia happily obeyed her husband's orders about shopping, but was a little sad when he would not go with her to visit her parents. Mrs Sedley wept with happiness to see her daughter, and Amelia found it oddly comforting to be with her kind old parents again. Only nine days married, and so much had changed! Did she admit to herself how different the real man was from that handsome hero she had adored before marriage? No, a man must be very bad indeed before a woman will admit such a thing, and whatever secret disappointments lay in that gentle heart, they stayed well hidden from the world.

阿梅莉亞高高興興地聽從丈夫的話去購物，不過他不陪她一起去拜訪父母，讓她有點傷心。塞德利夫人見到女兒喜極而泣，阿梅莉亞和她年邁慈祥的雙親重聚，感到莫名的欣慰。結婚僅僅九天，這么多事情都變了！她有沒有暗自承認喬治本人和她婚前仰慕的那個俊杰有許多不同？沒有，只有當那個男的壞到極點了，女人才會承認這樣的事。無論那顆溫柔的心里悄悄裝著多少失望，它們都好好藏匿著不讓別人知道。