狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第30章Part 5

Cleopatra, who in her juvenility was always playfully disposed, and who in her self-engrossment did not trouble herself about the nature of this agitation, pushed Florence behind her couch, and dropped a shawl over her, preparatory to giving Mr Dombey a rapture of surprise. It was so quickly done, that in a moment Florence heard his awful step in the room.
He saluted his intended mother-in-law, and his intended bride. The strange sound of his voice thrilled through the whole frame of his child.
'My dear Dombey,' said Cleopatra, 'come here and tell me how your pretty Florence is.'
'Florence is very well,' said Mr Dombey, advancing towards the couch.
'At home?'
'At home,' said Mr Dombey.
'My dear Dombey,' returned Cleopatra, with bewitching vivacity; 'now are you sure you are not deceiving me? I don't know what my dearest Edith will say to me when I make such a declaration, but upon my honour I am afraid you are the falsest of men, my dear Dombey.'
Though he had been; and had been detected on the spot, in the most enormous falsehood that was ever said or done; he could hardly have been more disconcerted than he was, when Mrs Skewton plucked the shawl away, and Florence, pale and trembling, rose before him like a ghost. He had not yet recovered his presence of mind, when Florence had run up to him, clasped her hands round his neck, kissed his face, and hurried out of the room. He looked round as if to refer the matter to somebody else, but Edith had gone after Florence, instantly.
'Now, confess, my dear Dombey,' said Mrs Skewton, giving him her hand, 'that you never were more surprised and pleased in your life.'
'I never was more surprised,' said Mr Dombey.
'Nor pleased, my dearest Dombey?' returned Mrs Skewton, holding up her fan.
'I - yes, I am exceedingly glad to meet Florence here,' said Mr Dombey. He appeared to consider gravely about it for a moment, and then said, more decidedly, 'Yes, I really am very glad indeed to meet Florence here.'
'You wonder how she comes here?' said Mrs Skewton, 'don't you?'
'Edith, perhaps - ' suggested Mr Dombey.

克利奥佩特拉由于她那老天真的脾气，时常爱开个玩笑，而且由于自以为是，没有花心思去研究一下弗洛伦斯刚才激动的性质，所以她把弗洛伦斯推到她的长沙发的后面，把一块围巾抛到她的身上，准备给董贝先生来一个惊喜交集。这一切做得非常之快，一转眼的工夫，弗洛伦斯就听到他那可怕的脚步声进入了房间。
他向未来的岳母和未来的新娘问候致意。他嗓门的奇怪声音使他的女儿听了全身颤抖。
"我亲爱的董贝，"克利奥佩特拉说道，"到这里来告诉我，你的可爱的弗洛伦斯好吗？"
"弗洛伦斯很好，"董贝先生向长沙发走去，说道。
"在家吗？"
"在家，"董贝先生说道。
"我亲爱的董贝，"克利奥佩特拉露出极为美妙动人、高兴活泼的神色，回答道，"你是不是肯定你没有骗我？我不知道当我对你进行责备之后，我最亲爱的伊迪丝会怎么说我，不过，说实话，我担心你是世界上最不诚实的男子了，我亲爱的董贝。"
即使他真的是这样，即使他当场被揭露过去确实有极为大量的虚伪言行的话，那么他也未心会比斯丘顿夫人掀开围巾之后，弗洛伦斯脸色苍白、浑身哆嗦、像幽灵似地站在他面前的时候更为仓皇失措的了。他还没有恢复镇静，弗洛伦斯就跑到他面前，双手搂着他的脖子，吻了一下他的脸孔，急急忙忙跑出了房间。他向四周看看，仿佛想和其他人商讨一下这个问题似的，可是伊迪丝立即就跟着弗洛伦斯走出去了。
"现在，请承认吧，我亲爱的董贝，"斯丘顿夫人向他伸出手去，说道，"你这一生中从没遇到过这样令人惊奇和高兴的事了吧！"
"我从没遇到过这样令人惊奇的事。"
"也从没遇到过这样高兴的事吧，我亲爱的董贝？"斯丘顿夫人举起扇子，问道：
"我--对，我非常高兴在这里遇见弗洛伦斯，"董贝先生说道；他似乎严肃地考虑了一会儿，然后更加肯定地说道，"是的，我的确很高兴在这里遇见弗洛伦斯。"
"你是不是奇怪，她怎么会到这里来的呢？"斯丘顿夫人问道，"是不是？"
"也许是，伊迪丝--"董贝先生推测着说道。