And all sailed forth to see these wonderful things. Old Elsie stood in the room on the ground floor,and by her side stood Architect George. He and Emily now met for the first time after several years,and they met in the poultryhouse.
他们一起去看了这美妙的地方。老艾尔瑟站在起居室的中央,她的身边站着建筑师乔治。他和小爱米莉分别数年后相遇在鸡舍。
Yes,there he stood,and was handsome enough to be looked at. His face was frank and energetic; he had black shining hair,and a smile about his mouth,which said,“I have a browniebrownie n.核仁巧克力饼 that sits in my ear,and knows every one of you,inside and out.” Old Elsie had pulled off her wooden shoes,and stood there in her stockings,to do honor to the noble guests. The hens clucked,and the cocks crowed,and the ducks waddled to and fro,and said,“Quack,quack!” But the fair,pale girl,the friend of his childhood,the daughter of the General,stood there with a rosy blush on her usually pale cheeks,and her eyes opened wide,and her mouth seemed to speak without uttering a word,and the greeting he received from her was the most beautiful greeting a young man can desire from a young lady,if they are not related,or have not danced many times together,and she and the architect had never danced together.
是的,他站在这里,看上去很漂亮。他的面容很开朗,样子很果断,一头油亮的黑发,嘴上挂着一丝微笑,好像在说:我的耳朵后面有个鬼东西,他把你们都了解透了。老艾尔瑟脱掉她的木鞋,穿着袜子站在那边,表示对这些尊敬的客人的敬意。母鸡咯咯叫着,公鸡喔喔啼着,鸭子嘎嘎叫着一拐一拐地走着!不过那娇嫩苍白的姑娘,他童年时的女友,将军的女儿,也站在那里,通常是苍白的面孔却泛起了一阵玫瑰般的红晕。她的眼睛睁得大大的,嘴好像在说话,却连一个字也没有讲出,在向他致意。这是一个年轻男子从一个不是一家人、也不经常在一起跳舞的年轻女郎那儿得到的最令人心情舒畅的问候了,她和这位建筑师从来没有一起跳过舞。
The Count shook hands with him,and introduced him. “He is not altogether a stranger,our young friend George.”
伯爵先生握着他的手,对人介绍他说:“这是我们的年轻朋友,乔治先生,大家对他并不完全陌生!”
The Generals lady bowed to him,and the Generals daughter was very nearly giving him her hand; but she did not give it to him.
将军夫人略屈了膝,表示了敬意。女儿刚要把手伸给他,又缩了回来。
“Our little Master George!” said the General. “Old friends! Charming!”
“我们的小乔治!”将军说道,“住在一起的老友了。好极了!”
“You have become quite an Italian,” said the Generals lady,“and I presume you speak the language like a native?”
“您完全变成意大利人了!”将军夫人说道。“您大概就跟土生土长的意大利人一样,讲一口意大利话了吧?”
“My wife sings the language,but she does not speak it.” observed the General.
“将军夫人会唱意大利语歌,但不会讲意大利话。”将军这么说。
At dinner,George sat at the right hand of Emily,whom the General had taken down,while the Count led in the Generals lady.
进餐时,乔治坐在爱米莉的右边,将军搀着她,伯爵引着将军夫人入座。
Mr. George talked and told of his travels; and he could talk well,and was the life and soul of the table,though the old Count could have been it too. Emily sat silent,but she listened,and her eyes gleamed,but she said nothing.
乔治在讲话。他讲得很好,他是餐桌上总在讲话的人,是灵魂,尽管老伯爵也可以充当这个角色。爱米莉静静地坐着,用耳朵听着,她的眼睛闪闪发光。 可是她一言不发。
In the verandah,among the flowers,she and George stood together; the rosebushes concealed them. And George was speaking again,for he took the lead now.
她和乔治站在阳台上的花间,玫瑰花篱笆遮住别人的视线。乔治又说话了,是先讲的。
“Many thanks for the kind consideration you showed my old mother!” he said. “I know that you went down to her on the night when my father died,and you stayed with her till his eyes were closed. My heartiest thanks!”
“感谢您对我老母的盛情厚意!”他说道;“我知道我父亲去世的那天晚上,您下楼来去了她那里,陪着她直到我父亲合上眼。谢谢!”
He took Emilys hand and kissed it—he might do so on such an occasion. She blushed deeply,but pressed his hand,and looked at him with her dear blue eyes.
他握住她的手,吻了它。在这样的场合,他是可以这样做的。她的脸红了,不过又捏了一下他的手,用柔和的蓝眼睛望着他。
“Your mother was a dear soul!” she said. “How fond she was of her son! And she let me read all your letters,so that I almost believe I know you. How kind you were to me when I was little girl! You used to give me pictures.”
“您的母亲是很善良的人!她多么喜欢您啊!她让我读了您所有的信,我可以说是熟识您的了!您对我多么好啊!我很小的时候,您给我许多画!”
“Which you tore in two,” said George.
“您把它们都撕碎了!”乔治说道。
“No,I have still your drawing of the castle.”
“没有,我还留着我的宫殿呢,那张画!”
“I must build the castle in reality now.” said George; and he became quite warm at his own words.
“现在我该建筑一座真的了!”乔治说道。听到自己能这么说,感到很激动。
The General and the Generals lady talked to each other in their room about the porters son—how he knew how to behavebehave vi.举动,举止,运转v.行为表现,and to express himself with the greatest propriety.
将军和将军夫人,在他们的屋子里谈论看门人的儿子。他很懂得自己应有的行为举止,他善于把知识和学问表达清楚。
“He might be a tutor.” said the General.
“他可以成为一个家庭教师。”将军说道。
“Intellect!” said the Generals lady; but she did not say anything more.
“有才气!”将军夫人说道。然后她再没有话说了。
During the beautiful summertime Mr. George several times visited the Count at his castle; and he was missed when he did not come.
那个美好的夏天里,乔治先生常到伯爵府里来。若是他不来,府里的人便会想念他。
“How much the good God has given you that he has not given to us poor mortals.” said Emily to him. “Are you sure you are very grateful for it?”
“上帝赐给您的比赐给我们这些可怜人的要多得多!”爱米莉对他说道。“您是不是感觉到了?”
It flattered George that the lovely young girl should look up to him,and he thought then that Emily had unusually good abilities. And the General felt more and more convinced that George was no cellarchild. “His mother was a very good woman.” he observed. “It is only right I should do her that justice now she is in her grave.”
乔治心中很舒畅,这位漂亮的小姐瞧得起他,他感到她也有非凡的天赋。将军越来越确信,乔治不可能是一个地下室的孩子。“何况他母亲也是极忠诚的妇女!”他说道,“我很尊敬她的名声!”
The summer passed away,and the winter came; again there was talk about Mr. George. He was highly respected,and was received in the first circles. The General had met him at a court ball.
夏去冬来,人们又谈到了乔治先生。甚至在最高层的场合中他也很受人器重,受人欢迎,将军在宫廷舞会上遇见过他。
And now there was a ball to be given in the Generals house for Emily,and could Mr. George be invited to it?
现在将军家要为爱米莉举行舞会了。可不可以请乔治先生呢?
“He whom the King invites can be invited by the General also.” said the General,and drew himself up till he stood quite an inch higher than before.
“国王可以请的人将军也可以请!”将军说道,挺直了身子,一下子高了整整一寸。