書蟲二級《新森林的孩子們》：5、國王的士兵

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5．Soldier of the King
5．國王的士兵

Edward had many adventures. He made new friends, and the King was very pleased to learn that the children of Colonel Beverley were alive and well. But the time was not yet right for King Charles II. Cromwell's army was still very strong, and by autumn 1651 the King's soldiers were either dead, or running away, back to Scotland. The King himself escaped alone — no one knew where.

愛德華經(jīng)歷了很多冒險，結(jié)交了新朋友，國王很高興得知貝弗利上校的孩子們都還活著，而且過得都很好。但是時機對于國王查理二世來說還不恰當。克倫威爾的軍隊仍然很強大，到1651年秋天，國王的士兵不是死了，就是逃回蘇格蘭了。國王獨自逃走了——沒人知道去了哪兒。

Edward returned secretly to the New Forest, wearing the uniform of a dead Roundhead soldier. He arrived at the cottage late at night and frightened his family and Pablo very much. Then they heard his voice, and in a minute Edward was in the arms of his brother and sisters.

愛德華穿著一個死去的圓顱黨士兵的軍服，秘密回到了新森林。他深夜到達農(nóng)舍，把他的家人和帕布洛都嚇壞了。然后他們聽到了他的聲音，立刻愛德華就被包圍在弟弟和妹妹們的懷抱中了。

Early the next morning Edward rode across the forest to see Mr Hetherstone, who was very pleased to see him. He listened to Edward's news, then said:

第二天一大早，愛德華騎馬穿過森林去見赫瑟斯頓先生。他很高興見到愛德華，聽了愛德華帶來的消息，他說道：

So,we must wait a while longer before we see a new King, and we must still pretend to be Cromwell's friends. We'll say that you went to fight for Cromwell. It was clever of you to come back in a Roundhead's uniform — that will help to keep both of us out of danger.'

“所以，我們必須再多等一段時間，才能看到新的國王，而且我們必須仍然裝作是支持克倫威爾的。我們會說你是去為克倫威爾而戰(zhàn)的。你很聰明，知道穿著圓顱黨士兵的軍服回來——這會幫我們倆遠離危險。”

For some days Cromwell's men searched the forest for the King. Then came news that the King was now in France, and at last the soldiers left the forest.

有好幾天的時間，克倫威爾的人都在森林里搜查國王。然后傳來消息說國王現(xiàn)在在法國，于是最后士兵們都離開了森林。

Edward returned to his job of secretary to Mr Hetherstone. Patience was very pleased to see him again, but Edward felt uncomfortable. He now wanted to tell Patience that he loved her, and he wanted to tell her father the secret of his name. But he was still a young man, and he did not know how to do either of these things.

愛德華重新當起了赫瑟斯頓先生的秘書。佩興斯非常高興又見到他，但是愛德華卻感到不自在?，F(xiàn)在他想告訴佩興斯他愛她，還想告訴她父親自己的姓氏的秘密。但是他還年輕，這兩件事中哪一件他都不知道該怎么處理。

One evening he found himself alone in the garden with Patience. For a while they talked of his adventures with the King, then Edward said:

一天晚上，他單獨和佩興斯待在花園里。他們聊了一會兒他和國王一起的冒險經(jīng)歷，接著愛德華說：

While I was away, I was always thinking of you. And now I have seen you again, I know that I must speak. I love you, Patience, and want to be with you always.'

“我離開的這段日子總是想起你?，F(xiàn)在我又見到你了，我知道我必須說出來。我愛你，佩興斯，我想永遠和你在一起。”

Patience looked away. 'You saved my life, and I can never forget that, Edward,' she said quietly. 'I know that you're my friend, and I thank you for your kind words. But I'm young and I must talk to my father.'

佩興斯轉(zhuǎn)過臉去。“你救了我的命，我永遠也不會忘記，愛德華，”她輕輕地說，“我知道你是我的朋友，我謝謝你這些好心的話。但是現(xiàn)在我還年輕，我必須跟我父親說。”

Edward did not understand her answer. What did she mean? Did she love him, or didn't she?

愛德華不明白她的回答。她是什么意思？她到底是愛他，還是不愛他？

Do you think that your father will say no because I'm only a poor forester?' he began.

“你覺得你父親會因為我只是個窮護林人而反對嗎？”他開口問道。

Just then Mr Hetherstone came out into the garden and called to them. 'Edward, I was looking for you. A letter has just arrived from Parliament. Look.'

就在這時，赫瑟斯頓先生來到花園叫他們。“愛德華，我正在找你呢。議會剛剛寄來一封信，看。”

The letter said that Parliament was giving Arnwood and its land to Mr Hetherstone. Edward's face turned white and for a minute he could not speak.

信中說議會要把安伍德及其附屬的土地分給赫瑟斯頓先生。愛德華的臉變得蒼白，一時間說不出話來。

We'll ride across tomorrow and look at Arnwood. I want to rebuild the house,' said Mr Hetherstone.

“我們明天騎馬過去看看安伍德，我想重建那座房子。”赫瑟斯頓先生說。

But Arnwood belongs to the Beverley family,' Edward said carefully. 'Perhaps not all the children died in the fire. And if some of them are still alive...'

“但是安伍德屬于貝弗利家，”愛德華小心地說，“或許不是所有的孩子都在火中喪生了，如果他們中有些還活著……”

I'll give Arnwood back, of course. But for now Arnwood belongs to me, and when Patience marries, it will belong to her husband.'

“那我當然會把安伍德還給他們。但是目前安伍德屬于我，佩興斯嫁人以后，它就屬于她丈夫了。”

Edward was silent. He could not tell Mr Hetherstone his secret now, or that he wanted to marry his daughter.

愛德華沉默了。他現(xiàn)在不能告訴赫瑟斯頓先生他的秘密了，也不能說他想娶他的女兒了。

That night he went to bed early, but could not sleep. 'Patience is rich now,' he thought, 'and many men will want to marry her. And I don't think that she loves me. And if I say I am Edward Beverley, I'm sure that Parliament will take Arnwood back, and I'll still be a poor forester. I can't stay here any more. I shall leave England, and go to the King in France.'

那天夜里他很早就上床了，但卻睡不著。“佩興斯現(xiàn)在有錢了，”他想，“很多男人都會想娶她。而且我認為她不愛我。如果我說我是愛德華·貝弗利，我敢肯定議會會收回安伍德，而我將仍舊是一個窮護林人。我不能再待在這兒了，我要離開英國，去法國找國王。”

Very early the next morning, while everyone else was still asleep, Edward left the house and rode across the forest to the cottage. There he made plans with Humphrey and his sisters. They were very sorry to see him so unhappy.

第二天清早，當其他所有人都還在睡覺的時候，愛德華離開了那所房子，騎馬穿過森林回到了農(nóng)舍。在那里他和漢弗萊還有妹妹們一起商量今后的計劃。他們看到他這么不開心都很難過。

It's time for Alice and Edith to leave the forest too,' Edward told Humphrey. 'While I was in the north with the King, I met the Conynghame family, who knew our father very well. They will be happy to take the girls and look after them. Our sisters will have a better life there. And you, Humphrey — why don't you come with me?'

“現(xiàn)在也是艾麗斯和伊迪絲離開森林的時候了，”愛德華對漢弗萊說，“我和國王在北方的時候遇到了科寧厄姆一家，他們和爸爸很熟。他們會很樂意收留妹妹們并照顧她們的，她們在那里會過得好一些。而你，漢弗萊——不如和我一起走吧？”

No,' said Humphrey. 'It will be good for the girls to get away, but it's better that I stay here. Pablo and I can look after the farm together. Also, I can watch and see what happens to Arnwood. One day you'll come back, and who knows what will happen then?'

“不，”漢弗萊說，“女孩們離開這兒會好一些，但是我留下來更好。帕布洛和我可以一起照看農(nóng)場，而且，我也可以關(guān)注著安伍德發(fā)生的一切?？傆幸惶炷銜貋淼模l知道那時候會發(fā)生什么呢？”

Edward left that night, and Alice and Edith cried very much. It was an unhappy time for them all — the end of their life together in the forest. Edward left a letter for Mr Hetherstone. 'You have been very kind to me, and I thank you,' he wrote. But he wrote nothing to Patience.

愛德華那天晚上就離開了，艾麗斯和伊迪絲哭得很傷心。那對他們每一個人來說都是個悲傷的時刻——是他們一起在森林中生活的結(jié)束。愛德華留給赫瑟斯頓先生一封信。“您對我一直很好，我很感謝您。”他寫道。但是他沒給佩興斯留下只言片語。

When Mr Hetherstone got Edward's letter, he rode over at once to see Humphrey. He, too, was very unhappy.

赫瑟斯頓先生收到愛德華的信后，立刻騎馬過來找漢弗萊，他也很難過。

All my plans have gone wrong,' he told Humphrey. 'Edward has gone, and my daughter is very unhappy. I've known for a long time that you were the Beverley children. I wanted Patience to marry Edward. She loves him, but she wanted to talk to me first, because she thought that Edward was a poor man. And I asked Parliament for Arnwood because I wanted to rebuild the house and then give it to Edward. Will you help me, Humphrey, to rebuild the house? One day the King will come back to England, and Edward will come back too. I want Arnwood to be ready for him.'

“我所有的計劃都出錯了，”他告訴漢弗萊，“愛德華走了，我女兒很不開心。我知道你們是貝弗利家的孩子已經(jīng)很久了。我想把佩興斯嫁給愛德華。她愛他，但是她想先和我談?wù)?，因為她以為愛德華是個窮人。而我向議會要安伍德是因為我想重建那座房子，然后把它交給愛德華。你愿意幫我重建那座房子嗎，漢弗萊？總有一天國王會回到英國，愛德華也會回來的。我想把安伍德給他準備好。”

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*　*　*

Edward was away for nearly nine years, fighting with the French army in France and Holland and Spain. But in May 1660, after Cromwell died, Charles Ⅱ came back to be King of England, and Edward Beverley was with him when he rode into London.

愛德華離開了將近九年，在法國、荷蘭和西班牙與法國軍隊一起作戰(zhàn)。但是克倫威爾死后，1660年5月，查理二世回來成了英國的國王，當他騎馬進入倫敦的時候，愛德華·貝弗利便隨侍在他身邊。

Those were happy times in London. But the happiest day of all was the day when the Beverley childern of the New Forest were together again at last.

在倫敦城里的時光是快樂的。但是最高興的時刻是新森林里的貝弗利家的孩子們終于又重新團聚了。

The farm at our cottage is now very large,' Humphrey told Edward. 'Mr Hetherstone rebuilt Arnwood and says that it belongs to you. He'll be happy to see you again.'

“我們農(nóng)舍的農(nóng)場現(xiàn)在很大了，”漢弗萊告訴愛德華，“赫瑟斯頓先生重建了安伍德，他說它是屬于你的。他會很高興再次見到你的。”

And what about Patience?' Alice asked. 'Do you still love her, Edward? She's here in London, you know.'

“那佩興斯怎么樣了？”艾麗斯問，“你還愛她嗎，愛德華？你知道，她現(xiàn)在就在倫敦。”

Yes, I saw her one day in the crowds at the King's house,' said Edward. 'She's more beautiful than ever. I still love her, but I'm sure that she has forgotten me.'

“是的，有一天我在國王家的人群中看到她了，”愛德華說，“她比以前更漂亮了。我仍然愛她，但是我肯定她已經(jīng)忘記我了。”

You were very unkind to her,' Edith said. 'She was very unhappy when you went away. But she hasn't married anyone in these nine years, and lots of men have asked her. So I think that she still loves you.'

“你對她太不好了，”伊迪絲說，“你離開的時候她很不開心。但是她在這九年里誰也沒嫁，很多男人都向她求過婚。所以我認為她還愛你。”

Edith was right, and about a year later Edward married Patience and they lived happily together at Arnwood. Oswald Partridge came to work for Edward there. Humphrey married the daughter of a friend, bought a bigger farm, and gave Jacob Armitage's cottage to Pablo. And Alice and Edith, now beautiful young women, married soldiers of the King. And there we will say goodbye to the Beverleys.

伊迪絲是對的。大約一年以后愛德華娶了佩興斯，他們一起幸福地生活在安伍德。奧斯瓦爾德·帕特里奇去安伍德為愛德華工作。漢弗萊娶了一位朋友的女兒，買了一個更大的農(nóng)場，把雅各布·阿米蒂奇的農(nóng)舍給了帕布洛。艾麗斯和伊迪絲現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)是漂亮姑娘了，她們嫁給了國王的士兵。到這里，我們就要和貝弗利一家說再見了。