狄更斯哪部作品好 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第35章Part8

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第35章Part8  

'Never seek to find in me
' said Edith
laying her hand upon her breast
'what is not here. Never if you can help it
Florence
fall off from me because it is not here. Little by little you will know me better
and the time will e when you will know me
as I know myself. Then
be as lenient to me as you can
and do not turn to bitterness the only sweet remembrance I shall have.
The tears that were visible in her eyes as she kept them fixed on Florence
showed that the posed face was but as a handsome mask; but she preserved it
and continued:
'I have seen what you say
and know how true it is. But believe me - you will soon
if you cannot now - there is no one on this earth less qualified to set it right or help you
Florence
than I. Never ask me why
or speak to me about it or of my husband
more. There should be
so far
a division
and a silence beeen us o
like the grave itself.'
She sat for some time silent; Florence scarcely venturing to breathe meanwhile
as dim and imperfect shadows of the truth
and all its daily consequences
chased each other through her terrified
yet incredulous imagination. Almost as soon as she had ceased to speak
Edith's face began to subside from its set posure to that quieter and more relenting aspect
which it usually wore when she and Florence were alone together. She shaded it
after this change
with her hands; and when she arose
and with an affectionate embrace bade Florence good-night
went quickly
and without looking round.
But when Florence was in bed
and the room was dark except for the glow of the fire
Edith returned
and saying that she could not sleep
and that her dressing-room was lonely
drew a chair upon the hearth
and watched the embers as they died away. Florence watched them too from her bed
until they
and the noble figure before them
crowned with its flowing hair
and in its thoughtful eyes reflecting back their light
became confused and indistinct
and finally were lost in slumber.
In her sleep
however
Florence could not lose an undefined impression of what had so recently passed. It formed the subject of her dreams
and haunted her; now in one shape
now in another; but always oppressively; and with a sense of fear. She dreamed of seeking her father in wildernesses
of following his track up fearful heights
and down into deep mines and caverns; of being charged with something that would release him from extraordinary suffering - she knew not what
or why - yet never being able to attain the goal and set him free. Then she saw him dead
upon that very bed
and in that very room
and knew that he had never loved her to the last
and fell upon his cold breast
passionately weeping. Then a prospect opened
and a river flowed
and a plaintive voice she knew
cried
'It is running on
Floy! It has never stopped! You are moving with it!' And she saw him at a distance stretching out his arms towards her
while a figure such as Walter's used to be
stood near him
awfully serene and still. In every vision
Edith came and went
sometimes to her joy
sometimes to her sorrow
until they were alone upon the brink of a dark grave
and Edith pointing down
she looked and saw - what! - another Edith lying at the bottom.
In the terror of this dream
she cried out and awoke
she thought. A soft voice seemed to whisper in her ear
'Florence
dear Florence
it is nothing but a dream!' and stretching out her arms
she returned the caress of her new Mama
who then went out at the door in the light of the grey morning. In a moment
Florence sat up wondering whether this had really taken place or not; but she was only certain that it was grey morning indeed
and that the blackened ashes of the fire were on the hearth
and that she was alone.
So passed the night on which the happy pair came home.