狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第28章Part 7

'Well, Miss,' returned the Nipper, softening more and more towards the house, as they approached it nearer, 'I won't deny but what I shall, though I shall hate 'em again, to-morrow, very likely.'
Florence felt that, for her, there was greater peace within it than elsewhere. It was better and easier to keep her secret shut up there, among the tall dark walls, than to carry it abroad into the light, and try to hide it from a crowd of happy eyes. It was better to pursue the study of her loving heart, alone, and find no new discouragements in loving hearts about her. It was easier to hope, and pray, and love on, all uncared for, yet with constancy and patience, in the tranquil sanctuary of such remembrances: although it mouldered, rusted, and decayed about her: than in a new scene, let its gaiety be what it would. She welcomed back her old enchanted dream of life, and longed for the old dark door to close upon her, once again.
Full of such thoughts, they turned into the long and sombre street. Florence was not on that side of the carriage which was nearest to her home, and as the distance lessened between them and it, she looked out of her window for the children over the way.
She was thus engaged, when an exclamation from Susan caused her to turn quickly round.
'Why, Gracious me!' cried Susan, breathless, 'where's our house!'
'Our house!' said Florence.
Susan, drawing in her head from the window, thrust it out again, drew it in again as the carriage stopped, and stared at her mistress in amazement.
There was a labyrinth of scaffolding raised all round the house, from the basement to the roof. Loads of bricks and stones, and heaps of mortar, and piles of wood, blocked up half the width and length of the broad street at the side. Ladders were raised against the walls; labourers were climbing up and down; men were at work upon the steps of the scaffolding; painters and decorators were busy Inside; great rolls of ornamental paper were being delivered from a cart at the door; an upholsterer's waggon also stopped the way; no furniture was to be seen through the gaping and broken windows in any of the rooms; nothing but workmen, and the implements of their several trades, swarming from the kitchens to the garrets. Inside and outside alike: bricklayers, painters, carpenters, masons: hammer, hod, brush, pickaxe, saw, and trowel: all at work together, in full chorus!
Florence descended from the coach, half doubting if it were, or could be the right house, until she recognised Towlinson, with a sun-burnt face, standing at the door to receive her.
'There is nothing the matter?' inquired Florence.
'Oh no, Miss.'
'There are great alterations going on.'
'Yes, Miss, great alterations,' said Towlinson.

“唔，小姐，”蘇珊回答道；當她們愈來愈接近這座房屋的時候，她對它的態度也愈來愈溫和了，“我不想否認，我將高興穿過它們，不過很可能，明天我又會恨它們了。”
弗洛倫斯覺得，她住在家裏比住在其他任何地方都更感到安寧。在家裏，在這些高高的、黑暗的牆壁中間，把她心中的祕密深深地隱藏起來，比把它帶到外面明亮的光線中，試圖避開許多幸福的眼睛的注意，要好得多和容易得多。懷着愛的心在這裏孤獨地進行探索，不會因爲看到周圍懷着愛的心而感到新的氣餒，這要好得多；在充滿這些回憶的平靜的聖堂內去希望，去祈禱，去熱愛，比在一個不論有多少歡樂的新環境中要容易得多，雖然在她的四周，聖堂的牆壁已經朽壞了，腐蝕了，枯爛了；雖然她還會像過去一樣得不到關懷，但她可以懷着恆心和耐性。她歡迎回到她那具有魅力的往昔生活的夢幻中，盼望過去那黑黑的大門再一次把她關進裏面去。
滿懷着這些思想，她們轉進了那條長長的和幽暗的街道。弗洛倫斯不是坐在馬車中最靠近她的家的那一邊，當她們離家的距離愈來愈近的時候，她從窗口向外望出去，想看看住在對面的那些孩子們。
她正在這樣注意看着的時候，蘇珊高聲喊叫了一聲，促使她迅速地回過頭來。
“噯呀，天哪！”蘇珊氣喘吁吁地喊道，“我們的家在哪裏呀！”
“我們的家！”弗洛倫斯說道。
當馬車停住的時候，蘇珊剛把頭從窗外縮進來，這時又重新探出去，然後又把頭縮回來，吃驚地呆呆地看着她的女主人。
房屋四周，從底層到屋頂，豎立着縱橫交錯的腳手架。屋旁寬闊的街道有一半寬和一半長的地方都被一堆堆磚石、一堆堆灰漿和一堆堆木材堵塞住了；一些梯子豎靠在牆上，工人們爬上、爬下；另一些工人正在腳手架的踏板上工作；油漆工和室內裝飾工則在屋子裏忙碌着。一大卷一大卷的裝飾用紙正從門口的一輛大車中卸下；傢俱商的一輛貨車也擋住了道路；從裂着口的破窗子往裏看，房間中沒有任何傢俱；所能看到的只是工人們和他們的工具擠滿了從廚房到頂樓的各個地方。屋裏屋外都一樣：砌磚工、油漆工、木匠、石匠；錘子、灰沙鬥、刷子、鎬、鋸、鐵瓦刀——全都一齊工作着。
弗洛倫斯下了馬車，心中半信半疑，這究竟是不是她的家，直到後來她認出了臉被曬得黑黑的託林森正在門口迎接她。
“沒出什麼事吧？”弗洛倫斯問道。
“哦，沒有，小姐。”
“這裏正發生着很大的變化啊。”
“是的，小姐，很大的變化，”託林森說道。