狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第56章Part7 END
Uncle Sol and Mr Toots wait patiently in the churchyard, sitting on the coping-stone of the railings, until Captain Cuttle and Susan come back, Neither being at all desirous to speak, or to be spoken to, they are excellent company, and quite satisfied. When they all arrive again at the little Midshipman, and sit down to breakfast, nobody can touch a morsel. Captain Cuttle makes a feint of being voracious about toast, but gives it up as a swindle. Mr Toots says, after breakfast, he will come back in the evening; and goes wandering about the town all day, with a vague sensation upon him as if he hadn't been to bed for a fortnight.
There is a strange charm in the house, and in the room, in which they have been used to be together, and out of which so much is gone. It aggravates, and yet it soothes, the sorrow of the separation. Mr Toots tells Susan Nipper when he comes at night, that he hasn't been so wretched all day long, and yet he likes it. He confides in Susan Nipper, being alone with her, and tells her what his feelings were when she gave him that candid opinion as to the probability of Miss Dombey's ever loving him. In the vein of confidence engendered by these common recollections, and their tears, Mr Toots proposes that they shall go out together, and buy something for supper. Miss Nipper assenting, they buy a good many little things; and, with the aid of Mrs Richards, set the supper out quite showily before the Captain and old Sol came home.
The Captain and old Sol have been on board the ship, and have established Di there, and have seen the chests put aboard. They have much to tell about the popularity of Walter, and the comforts he will have about him, and the quiet way in which it seems he has been working early and late, to make his cabin what the Captain calls 'a picter,' to surprise his little wife. 'A admiral's cabin, mind you,' says the Captain, 'ain't more trim.'
But one of the Captain's chief delights is, that he knows the big watch, and the sugar-tongs, and tea-spoons, are on board: and again and again he murmurs to himself, 'Ed'ard Cuttle, my lad, you never shaped a better course in your life than when you made that there little property over jintly. You see how the land bore, Ed'ard,' says the Captain, 'and it does you credit, my lad.'
The old Instrument-maker is more distraught and misty than he used to be, and takes the marriage and the parting very much to heart. But he is greatly comforted by having his old ally, Ned Cuttle, at his side; and he sits down to supper with a grateful and contented face.
'My boy has been preserved and thrives,' says old Sol Gills, rubbing his hands. 'What right have I to be otherwise than thankful and happy!'
The Captain, who has not yet taken his seat at the table, but who has been fidgeting about for some time, and now stands hesitating in his place, looks doubtfully at Mr Gills, and says:
'Sol! There's the last bottle of the old Madeira down below. Would you wish to have it up to-night, my boy, and drink to Wal'r and his wife?'
The Instrument-maker, looking wistfully at the Captain, puts his hand into the breast-pocket of his coffee-coloured coat, brings forth his pocket-book, and takes a letter out.
'To Mr Dombey,' says the old man. 'From Walter. To be sent in three weeks' time. I'll read it.'
'"Sir. I am married to your daughter. She is gone with me upon a distant voyage. To be devoted to her is to have no claim on her or you, but God knows that I am.
'"Why, loving her beyond all earthly things, I have yet, without remorse, united her to the uncertainties and dangers of my life, I will not say to you. You know why, and you are her father.
'"Do not reproach her. She has never reproached you.
'"I do not think or hope that you will ever forgive me. There is nothing I expect less. But if an hour should come when it will comfort you to believe that Florence has someone ever near her, the great charge of whose life is to cancel her remembrance of past sorrow, I solemnly assure you, you may, in that hour, rest in that belief."'
Solomon puts back the letter carefully in his pocket-book, and puts back his pocket-book in his coat.
'We won't drink the last bottle of the old Madeira yet, Ned,' says the old man thoughtfully. 'Not yet.
'Not yet,' assents the Captain. 'No. Not yet.'
Susan and Mr Toots are of the same opinion. After a silence they all sit down to supper, and drink to the young husband and wife in something else; and the last bottle of the old Madeira still remains among its dust and cobwebs, undisturbed.
A few days have elapsed, and a stately ship is out at sea, spreading its white wings to the favouring wind.
Upon the deck, image to the roughest man on board of something that is graceful, beautiful, and harmless - something that it is good and pleasant to have there, and that should make the voyage prosperous - is Florence. It is night, and she and Walter sit alone, watching the solemn path of light upon the sea between them and the moon.
At length she cannot see it plainly, for the tears that fill her eyes; and then she lays her head down on his breast, and puts her arms around his neck, saying, 'Oh Walter, dearest love, I am so happy!'
Her husband holds her to his heart, and they are very quiet, and the stately ship goes on serenely.
'As I hear the sea,' says Florence, 'and sit watching it, it brings so many days into my mind. It makes me think so much - '
'Of Paul, my love. I know it does.'
Of Paul and Walter. And the voices in the waves are always whispering to Florence, in their ceaseless murmuring, of love - of love, eternal and illimitable, not bounded by the confines of this world, or by the end of time, but ranging still, beyond the sea, beyond the sky, to the invisible country far away!
年輕的丈夫從一個窗子中探出身子，年輕的妻子從另一個窗子中探出身子；船長懸掛在這個車門上，蘇珊?尼珀緊緊抓住另一個車門；馬車不管是願意還是不願意，不得不繼續向前駛行；所有其他的二輪運貨馬車與轎式馬車都由於它的停頓而怨聲鼎沸；在四隻輪子上面從來沒有發生過這樣的混亂。可是蘇珊?尼珀還是勇敢地把她的決心堅持到底。她一直向她的女主人露出笑臉，流着眼淚笑着，直到最後。甚至當她被馬車拋在後面的時候，船長還時而出現在車門口，時而又在車門口消失，喊道，”萬歲，我的孩子！萬歲，我的心的喜悅！”他的襯衫領子則在激烈地飄動着，直到後來，他再沒有希望趕上馬車了，他才停止追趕。當馬車離開之後，船長又跟蘇珊?尼珀走在一起的時候，她人事不省地昏了過去，於是船長就把她送到一家烤麪包的店鋪裏，讓她甦醒過來。
所爾舅舅和圖茨先生在教堂院子裏坐在欄杆的蓋頂石上，耐心地等着卡特爾船長和蘇珊回來。誰也不想講話，誰也不想聽別人講話，他們倆真是極好的夥伴，彼此都很滿意。當他們四人又全都回到海軍軍官候補生家裏，坐下來吃早飯的時候，沒有一個人能咽得下一口。卡特爾船長假裝出對烤麪包片很貪吃的樣子，但終究還是放棄了這個騙人的花招。圖茨先生在早餐之後說，他將在晚上回來；他整天都在城裏閒逛，心中模糊地感到，彷彿他已有兩個星期沒有睡過覺似的。
他們過去慣常待在一起、如今卻變得空蕩蕩的住宅與房間有着一種奇怪的魔力。它加深了、然而卻又撫慰了離別的悲哀。圖茨先生夜間回來的時候告訴蘇珊?尼珀，他從來不曾像今天這樣感到憂鬱的，然而他卻喜歡這樣。當他們單獨在一起的時候，他向蘇珊?尼珀吐露，當她過去坦率地說出董貝小姐是否有一天可能愛他的看法的時候，他當時的心情是怎樣的。懷着這些共同回憶和一起流淚所產生的相互信任的心情，圖茨先生建議他們一起出去買些晚餐吃的東西。尼珀姑娘同意，他們就買回好多美味的小食品，在理查茲大嫂的幫助下，開出了一頓相當豐美的晚餐。
船長和老所爾到船上去過了；他們把戴送到那裏，並看着箱子裝上船。他們有很多話好談：沃爾特怎樣受到大家的喜愛；他怎樣把船上收拾得舒舒適適；他怎樣一直在悄悄地忙乎着，把他的船艙佈置得就像船長所說，像”圖畫”一樣，讓他的小妻子看了吃驚。”要知道，”船長說道，”海軍上將的船艙也不會比那更漂亮。”
但是最使船長高興的事情當中的一件事，就是他知道，那隻大表，還有方糖鉗子和茶匙都已放到船上了。他一次又一次低聲地自言自語道，”愛德華?卡特爾，我的孩子，當你把那包小小的財產轉交給他們共同使用時，你是選擇了你這一生中最好的一條航線啊！愛德華，你知道哪裏是岸，這給你增光，我的孩子。”船長說道。
年老的儀器製造商比平時更心神錯亂，眼睛更多淚；結婚與離別使他很傷心。但是有他的老朋友內德?卡特爾在身邊陪伴他，使他感到極大的安慰；他坐下吃晚飯時，臉上的表情是感激和滿足的。
“我的孩子安全無恙，茁壯成長，”老所爾?吉爾斯搓着手，說道，”我有什麼權利不感謝與快樂呢！”
船長一直坐立不安，還沒有在桌旁坐下來，這時遲疑不決地站在他的地方，懷疑地看着吉爾斯先生，說道：
“所爾！下面還有最後一瓶馬德拉陳酒，今天夜裏你是不是希望把它拿上來，爲沃爾和他的妻子的健康乾杯？”
儀器製造商若有所思地看着船長，把手伸進咖啡色上衣胸前的小袋中，掏出了一個小本子，從裏面抽出一封信。
“沃爾特寫給董貝先生的信，”老人說道，”要求在三星期內送到。我來念吧。”
先生。我跟您的女兒結婚了。她已跟我出發進行一次遠距離的航行。要對她忠誠就是對她或對您不提任何要求；但是上帝知道，我對她是忠誠的。
我愛她勝過世間一切事物。爲什麼我毫不後悔地已把她跟我的變化無常、充滿危險的生活聯結在一起，我不想跟您說。您知道爲什麼，您是她的父親。
別責備她。她從來沒有責備過您。
我不認爲，也不希望，您有一天會寬恕我。我絲毫也不指望這一點。如果將來有一個時候，您快慰地相信，在弗洛倫斯身邊有一個人，他的生活的重大責任就是消除她對過去悲痛的回憶，如果這樣一個時候來臨的話，那麼我將莊嚴地向您保證，那時候您將會相信這一點而安心。’”
所羅門把信小心地放回小本子裏，又把小本子放回到上衣中。
“我們現在還不要喝那最後一瓶馬德拉陳酒，內德，”老人沉思地說道，”現在還不喝。”
“現在還不喝，”船長同意道，”對，現在還不喝。”
蘇珊與圖茨先生也是同樣的意見。他們沉默了一會兒之後全都坐下來吃晚飯，喝點兒別的東西來祝賀這對年輕夫婦的健康；那最後一瓶馬德拉陳酒依舊擱在灰塵與蜘蛛網中間，沒有受到打擾。
過了幾天之後，一艘宏偉的船在大海上航行，迎着順風，展開它的白色的翅膀。
弗洛倫斯在甲板上。在船上最粗野的人們看來，她是優雅、美麗與純潔的化身。她的來到將給船上帶來快樂，將使這次航行平安與吉利。這是夜間。她與沃爾特單獨坐在那裏，注視着他們與月亮之間的海上莊嚴的光帶。
她終於不能清楚地看到它了，因爲淚水涌滿了她的眼睛；於是她把頭俯伏在他的胸上，把胳膊摟着他的脖子，說道，”啊，沃爾特，我親愛的，我是多麼幸福！”
她的丈夫把她緊緊抱在心窩裏，他們很安靜；宏偉的船寧靜地向前駛行。
“當我聽着大海，坐在這裏注視着它的時候，”弗洛倫斯說道，”以往的許多日子涌到了我的心頭。它使我想到--”
“想到保羅，我親愛的，我知道這點。”
想到保羅和沃爾特。海浪在它不斷的嘩嘩的中，一直在向弗洛倫斯低聲訴說着愛情--永恆的、無限的愛情；它越過了這個世界的邊界，越過了時間的盡頭，延伸到海洋之外，延伸到天空之外，一直延伸到遙遠的看不見的國家！
