狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第37章Part6

'Gone out! Does she go out to shun her Mama, Flowers?'
'La bless you, no, Ma'am. Mrs Dombey has only gone out for a ride with Miss Florence.'
'Miss Florence. Who's Miss Florence? Don't tell me about Miss Florence. What's Miss Florence to her, compared to me?'
The apposite display of the diamonds, or the peach-velvet bonnet (she sat in the bonnet to receive visitors, weeks before she could stir out of doors), or the dressing of her up in some gaud or other, usually stopped the tears that began to flow hereabouts; and she would remain in a complacent state until Edith came to see her; when, at a glance of the proud face, she would relapse again.
'Well, I am sure, Edith!' she would cry, shaking her head.
'What is the matter, mother?'
'Matter! I really don't know what is the matter. The world is coming to such an artificial and ungrateful state, that I begin to think there's no Heart - or anything of that sort - left in it, positively. Withers is more a child to me than you are. He attends to me much more than my own daughter. I almost wish I didn't look so young - and all that kind of thing - and then perhaps I should be more considered.'
'What would you have, mother?'
'Oh, a great deal, Edith,' impatiently.
'Is there anything you want that you have not? It is your own fault if there be.'
'My own fault!' beginning to whimper. 'The parent I have been to you, Edith: making you a companion from your cradle! And when you neglect me, and have no more natural affection for me than if I was a stranger - not a twentieth part of the affection that you have for Florence - but I am only your mother, and should corrupt her in a day! - you reproach me with its being my own fault.'
'Mother, mother, I reproach you with nothing. Why will you always dwell on this?'

“出去了！她出去是不是为了躲开她的妈妈，弗劳尔斯？”
“上帝保佑您，夫人，不是这样。董贝夫人只是跟弗洛伦斯小姐乘车出去转转。”
“弗洛伦斯小姐。弗洛伦斯小姐是谁？别跟我谈弗洛伦斯小姐。跟我比起来，弗洛伦斯小姐对她算得了什么？”
每当她开始要流出眼泪的时候，把她的钻石，或者桃红色的丝绒帽子（在她能到屋外走动之前好几个星期中，她总是戴着这顶帽子接见客人的），适当地展示在她面前，或者用什么花哨的服饰把她打扮起来，通常能把她的眼泪止住；她可以一直保持着自满自得的心情，直到伊迪丝前来看她为止。当她一看到那张高傲的脸孔时，她又会故态复萌。
“唔，真的，伊迪丝！”她会摇着头，喊道。
“怎么了，妈妈？”
“怎么了！我真不知道是怎么了。这世界已变到这样虚伪的忘恩负义的地步，我真开始觉得，世界上根本就再也没有什么良心或这一类的东西了。威瑟斯比你更像是我的孩子了。他比我亲生的女儿更殷勤地照料我。我真但愿我别显得这么年轻，也许那样我反倒可以得到更多的关心。”
“你想要什么，妈妈？”
“哦，许许多多东西，伊迪丝！”她不耐烦地回答道。
“你想要的东西还有什么你还没有的？如果还有的话，那得怪你自己了。”
“怪我自己了！”她开始啜泣。”伊迪丝！打从你躺在摇篮里的时候起，我就一直跟你形影不离，我是你这样的母亲啊！可是你却不理睬我，对我的感情还不如对一位陌生人那样，连你对弗洛伦斯的感情的二十分之一也不到--我不过是你的亲母亲罢了，但你却居然认为我有一天会使她道德败坏！--你竟还责备我说，这得怪我自己了。”
“妈妈呀，妈妈！我什么也没有责备你。为什么你老唠唠叨叨地说这个呢？”