6级-《名利场》-第6课

前情提要 

皮特爵士向贝姬求婚了，克劳利小姐显得非常震惊，而更让人惊讶的是，贝姬竟然拒绝了皮特爵士的求婚……

故事原文

Vanity Fair 6

名利场 6

Miss Eliza Styles was, of course, no other(1) than Captain Rawdon Crawley. That big, handsome soldier had become so devoted to little Rebecca that there was no solution(2) but to marry her. He admired her tremendously, believing her to be the cleverest little thing alive, and when he received her orders to rent some rooms for their new home, he hurried at once to obey.

无疑，伊丽莎·斯泰尔斯小姐不是别人，正是罗顿·克劳利上尉。这位身材魁梧、相貌英俊的军人对小丽贝卡如此倾心，只有娶了她才可一解相思。他对她爱慕至极，觉得她是世上最聪明的小东西。接到她的命令去租几个房间作他们的新家后，他忙不迭地去办了。

That night in Park Lane, Becky was especially charming to Miss Crawley and Miss Briggs. And after the business with Sir Pitt, Becky, with her secret sorrows, was the heroine of the day.

那天晚上在帕克街的家中，贝姬在克劳利小姐和布里格斯小姐眼中更显可爱。经过皮特爵士这档子事，暗自悲伤的贝姬成了当天的主角。

On the second day after Sir Pitt's proposal the servant went to wake Miss Sharp as usual, but almost at once ran to Miss Briggs's room in great excitement.

皮特爵士求婚后的第二天，仆人像往常一样去叫夏普小姐起床，但马上大呼小叫地奔向布里格斯小姐的房间。

'Oh, Miss Briggs,' said the servant, 'Miss Sharp's bed hasn't been slept in. And I found this letter for you in her room.'

“哎呀，布里格斯小姐。”仆人说，“夏普小姐的床没有动过。我在她房间里发现了这封给您的信。”

'What!' cried Miss Briggs. She opened the letter eagerly.

“什么！”布里格斯小姐大叫。她急切地打开了信。

DEAR, KIND MISS BRIGGS – I know that you will pity me and forgive me. I must leave the home where I have known nothing but kindness. I must do my duty and go to my husband, who commands me to join him. Yes, I am married, married to the best and most generous of men – Captain Rawdon Crawley!

亲爱、善良的布里格斯小姐：

我知道您会怜悯我，也会原谅我的。我必须离开这个充满温情的家了。我必须尽我的本分，去找我的丈夫，他要求我回到他的身边。是的，我结婚了，嫁给了最优秀、心肠最好的男人——罗顿·克劳利上尉！

Only you, dear Miss Briggs, will know how to give this news to his devoted aunt. Tell her how much it hurts me to leave her. Ask her to forgive the poor girl to whom she has shown such affection. Ask Miss Crawley to forgive her children.

只有您，亲爱的布里格斯小姐，知道怎样把这个消息告诉深爱着他的姑姑。请告诉她，离开她我有多么心痛。请她原谅这个她一直疼爱有加的可怜女孩吧。请克劳利小姐原谅她的孩子们。

Your affectionate and grateful Rebecca Crawley

深爱您、对您感激不尽的丽贝卡·克劳利

As Miss Briggs finished reading the letter, the servant came to tell her that Mrs Bute Crawley had arrived from hampshire. Mrs Bute was a strong and determined(3) woman, and she and her husband, Sir Pitt's brother, were anxious to pay Miss Crawley every attention. Like Rawdon, they too were in debt and their hopes lay in Miss Crawley's death, since they expected a good share of her money.

布里格斯小姐刚读完信，仆人来通报，比特·克劳利夫人从汉普郡来访。比特夫人是位身强体壮、意志坚定的女性，她和她丈夫——皮特爵士的弟弟——也焦急地关注着克劳利小姐。和罗顿一样，他们也欠了债。他们把希望寄托在克劳利小姐身上，想在她死后分上一大笔遗产。

Still holding the letter, Miss Briggs ran downstairs to tell Mrs Bute the terrible, shocking news of the marriage.

布里格斯小姐抓着信，跑下楼告诉比特夫人这个可怕又令人震惊的婚讯。

'It's a good thing I'm here,' said Mrs Bute, 'to take care of poor, dear Miss Crawley. But at least it will open her eyes(4) to that girl. I always knew she was a wicked, cunning(5) little thing.'

“还好我在这里。”比特夫人说，“我可以照顾可怜的克劳利小姐。不过，至少这件事能让她看清那姑娘的真面目。我一直都知道她是个邪恶又诡计多端的小东西。”

Mrs Bute and Miss Briggs waited until Miss Crawley was downstairs, seated comfortably in her armchair. And then they began to prepare her for the dreadful news about Rebecca.

比特夫人和布里格斯小姐一直等到克劳利小姐下了楼，舒舒服服地坐进扶手椅里，才开始为告诉她有关丽贝卡的可怕消息做铺垫。

'There was a reason for her refusing Sir Pitt,' said Mrs Bute.

“她拒绝皮特爵士是有原因的。”比特夫人说。

'Of course there was a reason,' Miss Crawley answered. 'She likes someone else.'

“当然有原因。”克劳利小姐回答，“她喜欢上了别人。”

'Likes!' Miss Briggs gasped. 'Oh, my dear Miss Crawley, she is married already!'

“喜欢！”布里格斯小姐倒吸了一口气，“啊，我亲爱的克劳利小姐，她已经结婚了！”

'The secretive little creature! How dare she not tell me!' cried Miss Crawley. 'Send her to me at once!'

“这个守口如瓶的小家伙！她竟敢瞒着我！”克劳利小姐大叫，“立刻叫她来见我！”

'We cannot,' said Mrs Bute. 'Oh, prepare yourself, dear friend! Miss Sharp has – gone!'

“我们叫不来。”比特夫人说，“啊，做好心理准备吧，亲爱的朋友！夏普小姐已经——走了！”

'She went last night,' Miss Briggs said. 'She left a letter for me. She's married to—'

“她昨晚走的。”布里格斯小姐说，“她留了封信给我。她嫁给了——”

'Such shocking news! Oh, do tell her gently!' said Mrs Bute.

“这消息太令人震惊了！啊，婉转地告诉她！”比特夫人说。

'Married to whom?' said Miss Crawley, in a nervous fury.

“嫁给谁了？”克劳利小姐又急又气。

'To – to a relation of—' Miss Briggs could not continue.

“嫁给——一个亲戚——”布里格斯小姐说不下去了。

'Tell me!' cried Miss Crawley. 'Don't drive me mad(6)!'

“告诉我！”克劳利小姐大喊，“别把我逼疯了！”

'Oh, Miss Crawley! She's married to your nephew Rawdon!'

“啊，克劳利小姐！她嫁给了您的侄子罗顿！”

'Rawdon – Rebecca – married! A governess! You stupid old fool, Briggs, I don't believe you!'

“罗顿——丽贝卡——结婚了！一个女家庭教师！你真是老糊涂，布里格斯，我不相信你的话！”

The old lady screamed in fury, then fell back in a faint, and had to be taken to bed. The doctor was sent for, and Mrs Bute went to sit by the bedside to act as nurse. 'Her relations ought to be round her at a time like this,' she said, full of concern.

老妇人愤怒地尖叫，眩晕中向后一倒，只好被送回床上。医生被请来了，比特夫人坐在床边充当护士。“像现在这种时候她的亲人应该在她身边。”她忧心忡忡地说。

No sooner had Miss Crawley been carried to her room than Sir Pitt arrived at the house. 'Where's Becky?' he said. 'Tell her to get her things together. She's coming with me to Queen's Crawley, even if she is married.'

克劳利小姐刚被送进她的房间，皮特爵士就来了。“贝姬在哪里？”他问，“让她把她的东西收拾好。就算她结婚了，她也要跟我回昆士克劳利。”

'Haven't you heard the news?' cried Miss Briggs. 'She's gone. And she has married your son – Captain Rawdon!'

“您还没听说吗？”布里格斯小姐大声说，“她离开了。她嫁给了您的儿子——罗顿上尉！”

When Sir Pitt heard this news, he broke out into such furious language that it sent poor Miss Briggs trembling from the room. The old man went away, back to Queen's Crawley, and there we will leave him, wild with hatred and unsatisfied desire.

皮特爵士听到这个消息，愤怒地破口大骂，吓得可怜的布里格斯小姐浑身哆嗦，赶紧离开房间。老头儿离开了，带着满腔的仇恨和未遂的心愿回到昆士克劳利。他的事我们先暂且按下不表。

'Suppose the old lady doesn't forgive us,' Rawdon said to his wife as they sat together in their comfortable little London home. He had filled it with presents for his wife – flowers, perfumes, a piano, jewellery, dresses... Becky had been trying her new piano all morning, and new rings sparkled on her little fingers. 'Suppose she doesn't forgive us, eh, Becky?'

“如果老太太不原谅我们呢？”罗顿对他妻子说。他们正一起坐在伦敦舒适的小家里。家里堆满了他送给妻子的礼物：花朵，香水，一架钢琴，珠宝首饰，衣裙……贝姬一上午都在试弹她那架新钢琴，小巧的手指上一个个新戒指闪闪发光。“如果她不原谅我们呢，呃，贝姬？”

'Then I'll make your fortune,' she said, patting his cheek.

“那么我会让你发财。”她拍拍他的脸颊说。

'You can do anything,' her husband said, kissing her little hand. 'Come on, let's go out for dinner.'

“你无所不能。”她丈夫吻着她的小手说，“走，我们出去吃饭吧。”

（原文中出现高光标示内容请见核心语言点）

核心语言点

1. no/none other than sb. 不是别人正是……

例句：

None other than my favorite actor was cast in the lead role.

主角不是别人， 就是我们最喜欢的演员。

The manager was none other than his son.

经理不是别人， 正是他儿子。

2. solution 处理/解决方法

solution to 某事的处理/解决方法

例句：

There is no simple solution to life.

生活没有简单的解决办法。

3. determined 明确的， 坚决的

词根 term 边界， 界限

terminate 终结

be determined to do sth. 坚决做某事

例句：

Olympic athletes are some of the most determined people.

奥林匹克运动员是最有决心的人之一。

We were bound and determined to finish the work on time.

我们坚决要按时完成任务。

4. open one's eyes to sth. 使某人看清某事

例句：

We need to open our eyes to these problems and stop ignoring them.

我们要正视这些问题，不要忽视它们。

5. cunning 狡猾的

例句：

He was as cunning as a fox.

他像狐狸一样狡猾。

6. drive sb. mad/crazy 使某人发疯一般

例句：

This itching is driving me mad.

痒得我快疯了。