狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第19章Part 07

Half an hour ago Walter, for his life, would have hardly called her by her name. But he could do so now when she entreated him. He could think of her being there, without a lurking misgiving that it would have been better if she had not come. He could calmly think how beautiful she was, how full of promise, what a home some happy man would find in such a heart one day. He could reflect upon his own place in that heart, with pride; and with a brave determination, if not to deserve it - he still thought that far above him - never to deserve it less
Some fairy influence must surely have hovered round the hands of Susan Nipper when she made the tea, engendering the tranquil air that reigned in the back parlour during its discussion. Some counter-influence must surely have hovered round the hands of Uncle Sol's chronometer, and moved them faster than the Tartar frigate ever went before the wind. Be this as it may, the visitors had a coach in waiting at a quiet corner not far off; and the chronometer, on being incidentally referred to, gave such a positive opinion that it had been waiting a long time, that it was impossible to doubt the fact, especially when stated on such unimpeachable authority. If Uncle Sol had been going to be hanged by his own time, he never would have allowed that the chronometer was too fast, by the least fraction of a second.
Florence at parting recapitulated to the old man all that she had said before, and bound him to the compact. Uncle Sol attended her lovingly to the legs of the wooden Midshipman, and there resigned her to Walter, who was ready to escort her and Susan Nipper to the coach.
'Walter,' said Florence by the way, 'I have been afraid to ask before your Uncle. Do you think you will be absent very long?'
'Indeed,' said Walter, 'I don't know. I fear so. Mr Dombey signified as much, I thought, when he appointed me.'
'Is it a favour, Walter?' inquired Florence, after a moment's hesitation, and looking anxiously in his face.
'The appointment?' returned Walter.
'Yes.'
Walter would have given anything to have answered in the affirmative, but his face answered before his lips could, and Florence was too attentive to it not to understand its reply.
'I am afraid you have scarcely been a favourite with Papa,' she said, timidly.
'There is no reason,' replied Walter, smiling, 'why I should be.'
'No reason, Walter!'
'There was no reason,' said Walter, understanding what she meant. 'There are many people employed in the House. Between Mr Dombey and a young man like me, there's a wide space of separation. If I do my duty, I do what I ought, and do no more than all the rest.'

半個小時以前，沃爾特無論如何也不敢放肆地用她的名字喊她。可是現在只要她請求，他就可以這樣喊她。當他想到她來到這裏的時候，不僅又在暗暗地擔心：如果她不來反而更好。他可以平靜地想到她長得多麼美，想到多麼大有希望，想到有朝一日某一位幸福的男子在她這樣一顆心中將會得到多少繾綣柔情。他可以自豪地想到他在這顆心中也佔有一席之地；並毅然下定決心，如果他現在還不配得到它的話——他仍然認爲它高不可攀——他決不能在將來比現在更不配得到它。
一定有什麼神力支配着蘇珊·尼珀倒茶的手，併產生了籠罩着後客廳中喝茶談話時的平靜的氣氛。一定又有什麼敵對的魔力支配着精密計時錶的指針，使它們走得比永遠在順風中航行的韃靼戰艦還快。不管怎麼樣，客人們是有一輛轎式馬車在一個不遠的安靜的角落裏等待着的；當他們偶爾看到精密計時錶時，它確鑿地指明，馬車已經等待得很長久了；這個事實是不容懷疑的，當它由這樣一個無可指責的權威說明時尤其如此。如果所爾舅舅要按照他自己的時間處以絞刑的話，那麼他也不會承認這精密計時錶走快了一秒鐘的萬分之一。
弗洛倫斯在離別時又把所有她剛纔說過的話向老人扼要地重說了一遍，並要他保證遵守他們所達成的協議。所爾舅舅親切地陪她走到木製海軍軍官候補生的腿邊，在那裏把她交給沃爾特；沃爾特欣然地護送着她與蘇珊，向馬車走去。
“沃爾特，”弗洛倫斯在路上說道，“我剛纔當着你舅舅的面不敢問您。您認爲您將離開很久嗎？”
“說實在的，”沃爾特說，“我也不知道。我怕會這樣。董貝先生指派我的時候，我覺得他表示了這樣的意思。”
“這是不是對您的一種恩惠，沃爾特？”弗洛倫斯遲疑了片刻後問道，同時憂慮地望着他的臉。
“您是指這次指派嗎？”沃爾特反問道。
“是的。”
沃爾特非常想給予肯定的回答，但是他的臉色比他的嘴回答得早，弗洛倫斯又是那麼注意地觀察着，所以她不可能不理解它的回答。
“我怕您不是我爸爸所寵愛的人，”她膽怯地說道。
“沒有什麼理由我必須是，”沃爾特微笑着回答道。
“沒有理由嗎，沃爾特？”
“過去沒有什麼理由，”沃爾特明白她的意思，說道，“公司裏僱用着許多人。在董貝先生和像我這樣的一個年輕人之間，有着一個很寬闊的距離。如果我盡我的職責，我就做我應當做的事，而不做任何其他有情。”