狄更斯长篇小说 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第35章Part7

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第35章Part7  

Florence related it
and everything belonging to it
even down to the friendship of Mr Toots
of whom she could hardly speak in her distress without a tearful smile
although she was deeply grateful to him. When she had concluded her account
to the whole of which Edith
holding her hand
listened with close attention
and when a silence had succeeded
Edith said:
'What is it that you know I have seen
Florence?'
'That I am not
' said Florence
with the same mute appeal
and the same quick concealment of her face as before
'that I am not a favourite child
Mama. I never have been. I have never known how to be. I have missed the way
and had no one to show it to me. Oh
let me learn from you how to bee dearer to Papa Teach me! you
who can so well!' and clinging closer to her
with some broken fervent words of gratitude and endearment
Florence
relieved of her sad secret
wept long
but not as painfully as of yore
within the encircling arms of her new mother.
Pale even to her lips
and with a face that strove for posure until its proud beauty was as fixed as death
Edith looked down upon the weeping girl
and once kissed her. Then gradually disengaging herself
and putting Florence away
she said
stately
and quiet as a marble image
and in a voice that deepened as she spoke
but had no other token of emotion in it:
'Florence
you do not know me! Heaven forbid that you should learn from me!'
'Not learn from you?' repeated Florence
in surprise.
'That I should teach you how to love
or be loved
Heaven forbid!' said Edith. 'If you could teach me
that were better; but it is too late. You are dear to me
Florence. I did not think that anything could ever be so dear to me
as you are in this little time.'
She saw that Florence would have spoken here
so checked her with her hand
and went on.
'I will be your true friend always. I will cherish you
as much
if not as well as anyone in this world could. You may trust in me - I know it and I say it
dear
- with the whole confidence even of your pure heart. There are hosts of women whom he might have married
better and truer in all other respects than I am
Florence; but there is not one who could e here
his wife
whose heart could beat with greater truth to you than mine does.'
'I know it
dear Mama!' cried Florence. 'From that first most happy day I have known it.'
'Most happy day!' Edith seemed to repeat the words involuntarily
and went on. 'Though the merit is not mine
for I thought little of you until I saw you
let the undeserved reward be mine in your trust and love. And in this - in this
Florence; on the first night of my taking up my abode here; I am led on as it is best I should be
to say it for the first and last time.'
Florence
without knowing why
felt almost afraid to hear her proceed
but kept her eyes riveted on the beautiful face so fixed upon her own.