9 The Woman I Love

　　A few days later Mr Churchill came to see Edward at Buckingham Palace．At first the King was quiet．Then he said：'This is my last night in England，Winston．I love this country．I wanted to be a modern，kind King．I wanted to change the world，but they stopped me．And now I have to leave．'

　　It was ten o'clock．Edward stood up and walked over to the window．In the dark streets below there were hundreds of people．They were singing and calling his name：'Edward，Edward，we love Edward！'they shouted．'Long live the King！Long live love！'

　　Suddenly the King turned to Mr Churchill．'Why is this happening to me，Winston？'he cried．'What have I done wrong？'

　　He sat down and put his head in his hands．There was a silence in the room，but through the open window came the shouting from the street．'Long live Edward！Long live love！Long live Edward！Long live love！'

　　Mr Churchill came over and put his hand on the King's arm．Edward looked up．'Thank you，Winston，'he said．'You were a good friend to me．'

　　'Thank you，Sir．And you were a good King．'

　　At ten o'clock the next morning the telephone rang in Edward's bedroom．

　　'They're ready for you now，Sir，'a voice said．

　　The King walked slowly down the stairs．In front of him there was an open door．The family were waiting for him．His mother sat near the window，dressed in black．His brothers stood beside her．'How close they are！'the King thought．

　　On a small table in the centre of the room there was a piece of paper．Edward sat down and read these words：

　　I，Edward the Eighth，King of Great Britain，King of India，King of Australia，King of New Zealand，King of Canada，King of Kenya，King of Nigeria，King of Bur-ma，King of Malaya，King of Singapore，and King of thirty-two other countries，have today given the crown to my brother George．

　　God be with him and all his people．

　　10th December 1936．

　　Edward took a pen and wrote his name at the bottom of the page．Then he stood up and kissed his brother's hand．

　　'I never wanted this to happen，'George said．'This is the worst day of my life．'

　　Edward walked over to his mother．'Before I kiss you，'she said，'there are some things that I want to say．I have never understood you，child．This morning you were a King．But tonight，you'll run from England like a thief．Alone．An-gry．Afraid．You think that you're free．But you're not．You cannot be free．

　　'Everyone needs their family．Everyone needs their home．And tonight you have lost both those things．

　　'I love you．I am your mother and nothing can change that．But if you marry that woman，you will break my heart．Go now．It is all very sad．'

　　Edward kissed Queen Mary's hand．Then he turned and walked away．

　　The next day Edward returned to Windsor Castle．He went into a small，cold room at the top of the building．From there，he spoke on BBC radio to Britain and the world．

　　This is what he said：

　　Tonight，for the first time，I can say a few words to you．Earlier today I gave the crown to my brother George．He is now your King．I will soon leave this country and travel to France．My heart is with Wallis and I cannot live without the woman I love．'

　　I don't know what will happen to me．Perhaps I will never see England again．But think of me tonight when I sail across the sea．

　　God be with you．Long live King George！

　　Edward left Windsor Castle and got into a large black car．It was now midnight and it was just beginning to rain．

　　'Take me away as quickly as you can，'he said．The car moved off into the darkness and the rain．

　　'What a night！'said the driver．'I think the sky is cry-ing，Sir．'

　　At 1．30 a．m．they arrived at Portsmouth．Edward got out of the car and a voice said：'The King is here！'

　　Edward stopped and looked out across the open sea．There was a thin，cold smile on his face．'King？'he said．'No，I am not the King．I am just a man in love．'

　　Then he turned and walked onto the ship and into the night．

　　9 我爱的女人

　　几天后，邱吉尔先生来白金汉宫拜访爱德华。开始，国王沉默不语。然后他说：“温斯顿，这是我在英国的最后一个晚上了。我爱这个国家。我想做一个跟得上时代的、仁慈的国王。我想改变这个世界，但他们阻止了我。现在，我不得不离开。”

　　10点了。爱德华站起身，走到窗前。夜幕中，下面街道上站了好几百人。他们唱着歌，叫着他的名字：“爱德华，爱德华，我们爱爱德华！”他们喊着，“国王万岁！爱情万岁！”

　　国王突然转向邱吉尔先生。“温斯顿，为什么这会发生在我身上？”他喊道，“我做错了什么？”

　　他坐下来，双手抱着头。屋里一片寂静，但街上的叫喊声从打开的窗户传进来。“爱德华万岁！爱情万岁！爱德华万岁！爱情万岁！”

　　邱吉尔先生走上前，把手放在国王的胳膊上。爱德华抬起头。“谢谢你，温斯顿，”他说。“你是我的好朋友。”

　　“谢谢您，陛下。您是位出色的国王。”

　　第二天上午10点，爱德华卧室里的电话响了。

　　“他们准备好了，正在等您，陛下。”一个声音说。

　　国王缓缓走下楼梯。在他面前，有一扇敞开的门。全家人都在等他。他的母亲坐在窗户旁，身穿黑衣。他的弟弟们站在她身旁。“他们之间是多么亲密呀！”国王想。

　　屋子中央有一张小桌子。上面放了一张纸。爱德华坐下来，读到下面的话：

　　我，爱德华八世，英国国王、印度国王、澳大利亚国王、新西兰国王、加拿大国王、肯尼亚国王、尼日利亚国王、缅甸国王、马来亚国王、新加坡国王，以及其他32个国家的国王，今天把王位交给我的弟弟乔治。

　　愿上帝与他同在，与他的臣民同在。

　　1936年12月10日。

　　爱德华取出一支笔，在这页纸的下部签了自己的名字。然后站起来，吻了吻弟弟的手。

　　“我从未期望过这种事发生，”乔治说，“这是我一生中最糟糕的一天。”

　　爱德华走到母亲身边。“在我吻你之前，”她说，“有些话我想说。孩子，我一直都不理解你。今天早晨你还是国王。但今晚，你就要像小偷一样逃离英国，孤零零一个人，愤愤不平，忐忑不安。你以为自己自由了，但你没有。你永远也不会自由。”

　　“每个人都需要自己的家庭。每个人都需要自己的家园。但今晚，这两样你都失去了。”

　　“我爱你。我是你的母亲，这是什么都改变不了的。但如果你娶了那个女人，就会伤透我的心。现在走吧。这太让人伤心了。”

　　爱德华吻了王太后玛丽的手。然后他转身走了。

　　第二天，爱德华回到了温莎城堡。他走进城堡顶部一间狭小阴冷的房间。在那里，他通过BBC的广播向英国和全世界讲了话。

　　下面就是他所说的：

　　今晚，我第一次有机会向你们讲几句话。今天早些时候，我把王位让给了我的弟弟乔治。现在，他是你们的国王了。我不久将离开这个国家去法国。我的心和沃利斯在一起，没有我爱的女人，我无法生活。”

　　我不知道我将来会怎么样。也许我再也看不到英国了。但是，今晚我跨越海峡时，请大家想着我。

　　愿上帝与你们同在。乔治国王万岁！

　　爱德华离开温莎城堡，坐进一辆黑色大轿车。时值午夜，天下起了雨。

　　“带我离开这儿，越快越好，”他说。汽车驶入黑夜和雨幕中。

　　“这是怎样的一个晚上啊！”司机说，“我想天空都在哭泣了，陛下。”

　　凌晨1点30分，他们到达朴茨茅斯。爱德华走下汽车，只听一个声音叫道：“国王来了！”

　　爱德华停下脚步，向大海那边望去。他的脸上挂着淡淡的、冷漠的微笑。“国王？”他说，“不，我不是国王。我只是一个恋爱中的男人。”

　　然后，他转身走上船，消失在夜色里。