《远大前程》第14章 匹普再一次拜访艾丝黛拉和郝薇香小姐(2)

Go on，said Miss Havisham，looking interested．

继续说，郝薇香小姐感兴趣地看着我说。

I thought it was you，Miss Havisham！And you encouraged me in my mistake！

我想那是你，郝薇香小姐！你促使我犯了错误！

Why should I be kind to anybody after all I've suffered！cried Miss Havisham angrily．

为什么我必须仁慈地对待每个人蒙受伤害！郝薇香小姐生气地叫喊着。

Yes，you're right，I said quickly，to calm her．But you also encouraged your relations to think I would inherit¹ some of your fortune．

是的，你说得很对，我对她心平气和地接着说，你也促使了你的亲戚认为我会继承你的财产。

Why shouldn't I？she cried wildly．

我为什么会这样？她疯了似地叫喊。

But Matthew Pocket and his son are different．They aren't selfish² or greedy，they're generous³ and honest．I want you to know that．

不过，马修·朴凯特和他的儿子不同，他们不是自私自利贪心的，他们是慷慨诚实的，我让您知道这一点。

She looked carefully at me．What do you want for them？

她仔细地看着我，你为他们要什么呢？

I'm asking for money，I replied，my cheeks red．I would like you to help my friend Herbert become a partner in his company．

我要钱，我回答说，脸红了起来，我想让你去帮助我的朋友赫伯特在他的公司成为股东。

I started paying for this myself two years ago-and I want to keep it a secret from him,but now I find I can't continue the payments⁴．

两年前，我开始为这项工作自己投资，我要为此事对他保密——但是，我现在发现我不能继续投资了。

I can't explain why．It's part of the other person's secret．

我不能解释为什么，那是别人的一部分秘密。

Miss Havisham looked at the fire，and then at me again．

郝薇香小姐看着火炉，然后又看着我。

What else？she asked．

还有什么？她问道。

Turning to Estella，I tried to control my trembling⁵ voice．You know I love you，Estella，I said．I have loved you long and dearly．She shook her head．

我转向艾丝黛拉，极力地控制我震颤的声音，你知道我爱你，艾丝黛拉，我说我已经长时间地深深地爱着你。她摇了摇头。

1 inherit   

vt.继承(金钱等)，经遗传而得(性格、特征)

参考例句：

• He intended that his son should inherit his business.他打算让他的儿子继承他的生意。
• We must inherit in a critical way.我们要以批判的方式继承。

2 selfish   

adj.自私的，利己主义的，自我中心的

参考例句：

• You must learn to share and not be so selfish.你一定要学会与他人分享，不要那么自私。
• She is a selfish person.她是一个自私自利的人。

3 generous   

adj.慷慨的，大方的，慷慨给予的

参考例句：

• She was kind and generous.她心地善良，宽容大量。
• She was generous with her money.她很乐于仗义疏财。

4 payments   

n.支付，付款，缴纳，报酬( payment的名词复数 )；付出的[要付出的]款项；报答，报偿

参考例句：

• Welfare payments cease as soon as an individual starts a job. 一旦就业，即停发福利救济。
• The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children. 这项法律可强制父亲定期支付子女的费用。

5 trembling   

n.发抖adj.发抖的v.发抖( tremble的现在分词 )；焦虑；颤动；轻轻摇晃

参考例句：

• My legs were trembling with fear. 我吓得双腿直发抖。
• Daddy was trembling with anxiety as to how the talks would go. 爸爸为那些商谈的进展而焦虑不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》