牛津書蟲系列 織工馬南 6 The New Year's Eve dance

6 The New Year's Eve dance

6 新年舞會

On December 3lst it was snowing and very cold.All day there were ladies and gentlemen arriving at the Red House.

雖然12月31日的天氣很冷，而且下著雪，可一整天都有人從四面八方到紅屋來。

Godfrey Cass was waiting at the door for the only guest he cared about，Nancy Lammeter.Finally she arrived，sitting be hind her father on his horse，looking more beautiful than ever.Her lovely face blushed as she saw Godfrey come forward to lift her down from the horse.'Why is he waiting for me?'she thought.'I thought I made it clear to him that I'll never mar-ry him.People say he leads a bad life，and I can't marry a man like that.'

戈弗雷在門口等待著他唯一關(guān)心的客人——南茜·拉默特。終于她來了，坐在馬背上，在他爸爸背后，比平時更美麗動人。當(dāng)戈弗雷過來扶她下馬的時候，南茜漂亮的臉一下子紅了。“他等我干什么?”她想，“我想我已經(jīng)清楚地告訴過他我不會嫁給他。人們說他生活糜爛，我可不會嫁給這樣的人。”

But the Squire appeared just then， to welcome his guests，and in the excitement nobody noticed Nancy's pink face as Godfrey's strong arms lifted her down.She hurried into the house with the other ladies to change her clothes.

這時鄉(xiāng)紳出來迎接他的客人，人們都很高興，也就沒人注意到戈弗雷用強(qiáng)壯的手臂扶她下來時她的紅臉。南茜和其他女子一塊兒跑進(jìn)屋里去換衣服。

The house was full of servants running here and there.Mrs Kimble，who always helped the Squire arrange these parties，was giving orders in a loud voice.Cooks were preparing food in the kitchens，and there was already a wonderful smell of baking in the air.

屋里用人們在跑這兒跑那兒地服務(wù)，金布爾太太在大聲下達(dá)著命令，她經(jīng)常幫鄉(xiāng)紳安排這些聚會。廚子們在廚房忙著準(zhǔn)備飯菜，空氣里飄著烤面包的香味。

Upstairs，the ladies were excitedly putting on their best dresses，while talking to each other all the time.Nancy met her aunt，Mrs Osgood，who introduced her to some visitors of hers.The Misses Gunn were two young ladies who were not beauti-ful，but dressed very fashionably.

樓上，女士們一邊不停地聊天一邊換上最漂亮的衣服。南茜遇到了姨媽奧斯古德太太，姨媽把自己的客人介紹給她，其中有兩位年輕女士，甘氏姐妹，她們不太漂亮但穿得很時髦。

Just then Nancy's older sister Priscilla arrived.She was a large，cheerful girl，with a round face and a nose pink with cold.As they were changing their clothes，Priscilla said to Mrs Osgood，'Look at our dresses，aunt!Of course Nancy looks beautiful in hers，but this colour makes me look yellow! Nan-cy says we must wear the same dresses，because we're sisters，although I'm five years older!I'm ugly，I know I am.But I don't mind!'she turned to Mrs Osgood's two visitors.'In my opinion the pretty girls are useful-I'm sure you agree-to catch the men.I don't think men are worth worrying about.Any woman with a good father and a good home had better stay single.That's what I'm going to do，anyway.We ugly girls don't need husbands!'

這時南茜的姐姐普麗西拉來了，她是個快活的圓臉大個子女孩，鼻子凍得紅紅的。換衣服時，普麗西拉對奧斯古德太太說：“看我們的衣服，姨媽，南茜穿起來當(dāng)然漂亮，可我穿起來太老了!南茜說我們是姐妹，要穿一樣的衣服，盡管我比她大5歲!我知道我丑，可是我不在乎。”她又轉(zhuǎn)向姨媽的兩個朋友，“我想你們也同意女孩子漂亮就容易抓住男人的心，我可不在乎男人。有個好爸爸、好家庭的女人最好單身。我就打算這樣。我們丑姑娘不需要丈夫。”

Mrs Osgood stood up and said quickly，'My visitors and I should go downstairs now.Priscilla and Nancy，we'll see you later.'And the three ladies hurried out.

奧斯古德太太趕緊站起來說：“我們要下樓了。普麗西拉，南茜，過會兒見。”3個女人急匆匆出去了。

'Oh really，Priscilla!'cried Nancy，when they were alone.'You never think before you speak! I'm sure the Misses Gunn thought you were very impolite!You almost told them they were ugly!'

“真是的，普麗西拉!”只剩她們姐妹倆時南茜生氣地說，“你從來不在講話前先想想!我敢肯定甘氏姐妹認(rèn)為你很無禮!你差不多是在告訴她們她們是丑姑娘!”

'Did I?'asked Priscilla in surprise.'Well，that's the way I am.I always tell the truth.But I'm the ugly one—just look at me!'

“是嗎?”普麗西拉很奇怪，“嗨，我這人就這佯，我總是講實(shí)話?？墒强纯次?，我也丑呀!”

'Priscilla，you know I asked you to choose the dresses，'replied Nancy worriedly.'I don't mind what colour I wear.'

“普麗西拉，你知道我是讓你來挑的衣服，”南茜為難地說，“我不在乎穿什么顏色。”

'You look lovely in this colour，dear child!You know you always have whatever you want in the end，although you never give orders or shout about it.I'm looking forward to seeing you married.It'll be fun watching you make your husband do exactly what you want.'

“傻孩子，你穿這種顏色好看!雖然你從不會大嚷大叫或者發(fā)號施令，可你最后總能得到你想要的。我盼著看到你結(jié)婚，看著你讓你的丈夫按你的意思去做，多開心呀!”

'Don't say that，'answered Nancy， blushing. 'You know I'm never going to get married.'

“別說這些，”南茜的臉紅了，“你知道我永遠(yuǎn)不會結(jié)婚。”

Priscilla laughed.'I'm the one who'll stay single.And if you don't like Godfrey Cass，well，there are plenty of other young men.Come，let's go downstairs now.'

普麗西拉笑了，“我才是那個要單身的女人，如果你不喜歡戈弗雷·凱斯，還有很多別的小伙子。走吧，咱們下樓去!”

Although Priscilla was right in saying she was not good-looking，she was very popular among her neighbours because she was so cheerful and sensible.And Nancy was not only con-sidered to be the most beautiful girl in and around Raveloe，but also one of the most intelligent.

雖然普麗西拉確實(shí)像她說的那樣，不太好看，可她在鄰居中人緣很好，因?yàn)樗_朗而且懂事。而南茜不僅是瑞福洛一帶最漂亮的女孩，而且也是最聰明的女孩。

Seats at the dining-table had been kept for the Lammeter sisters.Priscilla was taken to sit between her father and the Squire.Nancy felt herself blushing again as Godfrey Cass came to lead her to a seat between himself and the vicar，Mr Crack-enthorp She knew that if she married Godfrey，she would one day be the most important woman in Raveloe，the Squire's wife But she repeated firmly to herself that she could not mar-ry a man of bad character.

餐桌邊拉默特姐妹的座位已經(jīng)留好了，普麗西拉的座位在爸爸和鄉(xiāng)紳之間。南茜覺得自己又臉紅了，她被戈弗雷領(lǐng)到了他自己與教區(qū)牧師克拉肯索普先生之間的座位上。她知道如果嫁給戈弗雷，自己就會成為瑞福洛最顯貴的女人，鄉(xiāng)紳的妻子?？伤磸?fù)對自己強(qiáng)調(diào)不能嫁給一個品行不端的人。

As she sat down，the vicar，who was always polite to ladies，said with a smile，'Ah，Miss Nancy，you're looking lovely this evening.Isn't she，Go dfrey?'

她坐下時，一貫對女士彬彬有禮的牧師微笑著說：“啊，南茜小姐，您今晚真漂亮，是不是，戈弗雷?”

Godfrey made no reply，and avoided looking at Nancy. There was too much he wanted to say to her.But the Squire， who al-ways enjoyed his parties and was feeling extremely cheerful，was rather impatient with his son.He thought he had better speak，if Godfrey was too shy to do it himself.

戈弗雷沒有回答，也盡量不去看南茜。他有太多的話想對她說?？蛇@時對晚會心滿意足的鄉(xiāng)紳對自己的兒子有些不耐煩了。他認(rèn)為既然兒子太害羞張不開嘴，那么自己最好親自說了。

'That's right，'the Squire said loudly.'When I look at Miss Nancy here，I think she's more beautiful than any girl I've ev-er seen.'

“是的，”鄉(xiāng)紳大聲說，“我覺得南茜比我見過的任何姑娘都要漂亮。”

While they were eating and drinking，people around the table were listening with interest to the Squire's words.' Per-haps Godfrey will marry Nancy after all!'the vicar's wife whispered to Mrs Osgood.Mr Lammeter's back was very straight as he looked across the table at his daughter.He was a serious，careful gentleman，who considered the Lammeters a better family than the Casses.He had already decided that Godfrey must change his way of life before Nancy could possi-bly marry him.

桌上所有的人都在一邊用餐一邊饒有興趣地聽著鄉(xiāng)紳的話。“大概戈弗雷還是會娶南茜!”牧師的太太小聲對奧斯古德太太說。拉默特先生在桌子對面筆直地坐著，看著女兒。這是一位嚴(yán)肅謹(jǐn)慎的紳士，他認(rèn)為拉默特家比凱斯家還要好。他早就決定在戈弗雷痛改前非之前不會把南茜嫁給戈弗雷。

Just then Dr Kimble called across the table，'Miss Nancy，will you save a dance for me?'

這時金布爾先生隔著桌子對南茜發(fā)出了邀請：“南茜小姐，可不可以和我跳支舞?”

'Come，come，Kimble，'said the Squire，'let the young ones enjoy themselves.My son Godfrey'll be angry if you take Miss Nancy away.I expect he's asked her for the first dance already.Haven't you，Godfrey?'

“行了，金布爾，”鄉(xiāng)紳插了進(jìn)來，“讓年輕人玩他們的吧!你把南茜小姐帶走，我兒子戈弗雷會生氣的。我想他已經(jīng)邀請南茜小姐和他跳第一支舞了，是不是戈弗雷?”

Godfrey was feeling very uncomfortable by now.Turning to Nancy，he said as lightly as possible，'I haven't asked her yet，but I hope she'll agree，if nobody's asked her…'

戈弗雷感到很不自在，他轉(zhuǎn)向南茜，盡量小聲地說：“我還沒有，可我希望她同意，如果還沒人請她的話……”

'No，I haven't accapted anyone else，'replied Nancy quietly with a blush.

“不，我還沒接受任何人的邀請。”南茜輕聲回答，臉又一紅。

'So will you please have the first dance with me?'asked Godfrey，beginning to feel better.She had not refused him!

“那你能否和我跳第一支舞?”戈弗雷的感覺好了一點(diǎn)兒。她沒有拒絕自己!

'I will，'answered Nancy coldly.She was still sure she would not marry him，but she wanted to remain polite.

“可以。”南茜冷淡地回答。雖然仍然肯定自己不會嫁給他，可南茜想盡量保持禮貌。

'Ah well，you're a lucky man，Godfrey，'said Dr Kimble with a laugh.'I think I can hear the music starting now!'

“好呀，你是個幸運(yùn)的小子，戈弗雷。”金布爾先生笑著說，“我想已經(jīng)開始奏樂了!”

The guests got up from the table in pairs and small groups，to move into the large hall，where the dancing was about to start.The small village band was already playing，as the Squire led the vicar's wife to the end of the hall to start the dance.They were followed by Godfrey and Nancy，and the other ladies and gentlemen.

客人們一對對或三五成群地起身走到大廳里，舞會要開始了。在鄉(xiāng)村小樂隊的伴奏下，鄉(xiāng)紳把牧師的太太領(lǐng)到大廳的盡頭帶頭跳起來，接下來是戈弗雷和南茜，然后是其他客人們。

As the dance went on，Godfrey felt happier and happier.Holding Nancy in his arms，he forgot all his problems.Sudden-ly the Squire's heavy foot stood on part of Nancy's dress，and some of the material was pulled away at the waist.Nancy asked Godfrey to take her to a quieter place，where she could repair the damage.He took her to a small room near the hall，hoping they would have a few private moments together. But Nancy sat down on the chair furthest away from him， and said coldly，'Thank you，sir.You needn't stay. I'm very sorry about taking you away from the dance.'

跳著舞，戈弗雷感到越來越幸福。摟著南茜，他忘掉了一切煩惱。忽然鄉(xiāng)紳的腳重重地踩住了南茜的長裙，把衣服腰間的部分扯壞了。南茜讓戈弗雷帶她到一個清靜的地方去整理衣服。戈弗雷把她帶進(jìn)了大廳旁邊的一間小屋，希望他們能夠有一段單獨(dú)相處的時間?？赡宪缱诹穗x他最遠(yuǎn)的椅子上，冷冷地說：“謝謝您，先生，您不必呆在這兒，很抱歉讓您從舞會上出來。”

'It's not very kind of you，'said Godfrey，moving close to her，'to be sorry you've danced with me.'

“這樣可不太好，”戈弗雷走近她一點(diǎn)兒，說，“你為什么不愿意和我跳舞呢?”

'I didn't mean that'replied Nancy，blushing prettily.'Gentlemen have so many things to enjoy.I'm sure one dance can't matter very much.'

“我不是這個意思!”南茜的臉紅得很可愛，“紳士們有那么多事可做，我肯定跳支舞沒什么重要。”

'You know that isn't true.You know one dance with you means more to me than anything else in the world.'

“你知道不是這樣的，你知道和你跳一支舞對我比任何事都重要。”

Nancy was a little surprised.Godfrey had not said anything like this to her for a long time.She replied firmly，'I'm afraid I can't believe you，Mr Godrey.'

南茜有些吃驚，戈弗雷很久沒有對她說這樣的話了。她堅決地回答：“戈弗雷先生，我恐怕不能相信你。”

'Nancy，if I changed my life，would you think better of me?Would you—like me，then?'Godfrey knew these were danger-ous words，but the sudden chance of speaking to her alone made him say more than he had planned.

“南茜，如果我改變我的生活，你會覺得我好一點(diǎn)兒嗎?你會——喜歡我嗎?”戈弗雷知道這些話很危險，可這突然來的單獨(dú)談話的機(jī)會使他講了比計劃里多得多的話。

'I'd be glad to see a good change in anybody，sir.'

“我對任何人的好的變化都感到很高興，先生。”

'You're very hard，Nancy，'said Godfrey bitterly.'You could help me to be better.I'm very miserable—but you don't feel anything.'

“你太苛刻了，南茜。”戈弗雷有些苦澀，“你可以幫我變好。我很痛苦——可你什么也感覺不到。”

'I think people who behave badly don't feel anything，'said Nancy sharply，forgetting to be cool and distant.

“我認(rèn)為品行不端的人才會什么也感覺不到。”南茜尖銳地說，忘了冷靜和距離。

Godfrey was delighted.He wanted to make her argue with him，to show him that she cared about him.But just then Priscilla hurried in，saying，'Dear child，let me look at your dress!I saw the Squire step on it during the dance.'

戈弗雷很高興，他想讓南茜和他爭論，這說明南茜仍然在乎他?？蛇@時普麗西拉闖了進(jìn)來，說：“好孩子，讓我看看你的衣服，我看見鄉(xiāng)紳在跳舞的時候踩到你了。”

'I suppose I'd better go now，'Godfrey said disappointedly to Priscilla.

“我想我得走了。”戈弗雷失望地對普麗西拉說。

'It doesn't matter at all to me whether you go or stay，'said Priscilla impatiently，looking closely at the waist of Nancy's dress.

“你走不走我都無所謂。”普麗西拉不耐煩地說，她在仔細(xì)地看南茜衣服的腰部。

'Do you want me to go?'Godfrey asked Nancy.

“你想讓我走嗎?”戈弗雷問南茜。

'Do whatever you like，'replied Nancy， trying to sound cold again.

“隨你便。”南茜盡可能恢復(fù)以前的冷淡。

'Well，I want to stay，'answered Godfrey，and sat down.Tonight he wanted to enjoy being with Nancy for as long as possible，without thinking about what would happen tomorrow.

“那么我想留下來。”戈弗雷說著坐下來。他今天晚上要盡可能多地呆在南茜身邊，不管明天會怎么樣。