狄更斯的小说特点 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第34章Part7

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第34章Part7  

'So Alice Marwood was transported
mother
' she pursued
'and was sent to learn her duty
where there was enty times less duty
and more wickedness
and wrong
and infamy
than here. And Alice Marwood is e back a woman. Such a woman as she ought to be
after all this. In good time
there will be more solemnity
and more fine talk
and more strong arm
most likely
and there will be an end of her; but the gentlemen needn't be afraid of being thrown out of work. There's crowds of little wretches
boy and girl
growing up in any of the streets they live in
that'll keep them to it till they've made their fortunes.'
The old woman leaned her elbows on the table
and resting her face upon her o hands
made a show of being in great distress - or really was
perhaps.
'There! I have done
mother
' said the daughter
with a motion of her head
as if in dismissal of the subject. 'I have said enough. Don't let you and I talk of being dutiful
whatever we do. Your childhood was like mine
I suppose. So much the worse for both of us. I don't want to blame you
or to defend myself; why should I? That's all over long ago. But I am a woman - not a girl
now - and you and I needn't make a show of our history
like the gentlemen in the Court. We know all about it
well enough.'
Lost and degraded as she was
there was a beauty in her
both of face and form
which
even in its worst expression
could not but be recognised as such by anyone regarding her with the least attention. As she subsided into silence
and her face which had been harshly agitated
quieted down; while her dark eyes
fixed upon the fire
exchanged the reckless light that had animated them
for one that was softened by something like sorrow; there shone through all her wayworn misery and fatigue
a ray of the departed radiance of the fallen angel.'
Her mother
after watching her for some time without speaking
ventured to steal her withered hand a little nearer to her across the table; and finding that she permitted this
to touch her face
and smooth her hair. With the feeling
as it seemed
that the old woman was at least sincere in this show of interest
Alice made no movement to check her; so
advancing by degrees
she bound up her daughter's hair afresh
took off her wet shoes
if they deserved the name
spread something dry upon her shoulders
and hovered humbly about her
muttering to herself
as she recognised her old features and expression more and more.
'You are very poor
mother
I see
' said Alice
looking round
when she had sat thus for some time.
'Bitter poor
my deary
' replied the old woman.
She admired her daughter
and was afraid of her. Perhaps her admiration
such as it was
had originated long ago
when she first found anything that was beautiful appearing in the midst of the squalid fight of her existence. Perhaps her fear was referable
in some sort
to the retrospect she had so lately heard. Be this as it might
she stood
submissively and deferentially
before her child
and inclined her head
as if in a pitiful entreaty to be spared any further reproach.
'How have you lived?'
'By begging
my deary.
'And pilfering
mother?'
'Sometimes
Ally - in a very small way. I am old and timid. I have taken trifles from children now and then
my deary
but not often. I have tramped about the country
pet
and I know what I know. I have watched.'
'Watched?' returned the daughter
looking at her.