《远大前程》第19章 一次婚礼 (3)（在线收听）

Dear Pip，said Biddy quietly to me after supper，have you quite forgotten her？ Tell me，as an old friend．

亲爱的匹普，晚饭后，毕蒂心平气和地对我说，你差不多忘记她了吧？作为一个老朋友，告诉我。

My dear Biddy，I can never forget her． But that was all a dream，which has passed！

我亲爱的毕蒂，我从来不能忘记她，不过，那都是梦想，一切成为过去！

But I was secretly planning to revisit Miss Havisham's old house，alone，as a way of remembering Estella．

但是，我正秘密地计划去单独重访郝薇香小姐的故居，作为想起艾丝黛拉的方法。

I had heard that her husband had been very cruel to her．They had separated，and then he had died two years ago．Perhaps she had remarried by now．

我听说过，她的丈夫对她十分粗野，他们已经离婚。两年前，他已经死了。或许目前她已经再婚了。

The old house had been knocked down，and there was nothing left but piles of stones in the garden．

那座旧住宅已经被拆掉，没有什么东西留下，而在花园里有一堆石头。

In the moonlight I walked sadly around，until suddenly I saw a woman's figure in the shadows．I went closer and then—

在日光下，我伤心地在周围转转，直到我突然朦朦胧胧看见一个女人的身影。我走近一些，这时—

Estella！I cried．

艾丝黛拉！我叫喊起来。

You recognize me？I have changed a lot，she answered．

你认得出我？我变了许多，她回答。

She was older，but still beautiful．I had never before seen such a soft light in those once proud eyes，or felt such a friend-ly touch of her once cold hand．

她是老了一些，但是仍然很漂亮。我以前从来没有在这双曾经傲慢的眼睛上见过这样的温柔明亮，摸到她那曾经冷冰冰的手感觉这样的亲切。

It's strange，Estella！ Afer so many years，we meet by chance，here，where we first met！

真奇怪，艾丝黛拉！这么多年后，我们在这里也是第一次见面的地方偶然相见！

Yes，it's strange．I haven't been here for years，although the land belongs to me．But tell me，you still live abroad？

是的，真奇怪，虽然这块房基地是属于我的，但是，我多年不在这里了。告诉我，你还住在国外吗？

Yes，I still do．I'm doing well in India．

是的，我还在国外，我在印度干得很好。

I've often thought of you．Since-my husband-died，I have given you a place in my heart．

我常想起你，自从我的丈夫死后，我一直给你在心中留着位置。

You have always held your place in my heart，I answered．

你总是在我心中占有位置，我回答。

There was silence for a few moments．

沉默了一会儿。

I didn't think I would say goodbye to you here，she said．

我不想在这儿向你告别。她说。

It's painful saying goodbye，Estella．

告别，那是痛苦的，艾丝黛拉。

But last time you said，God bless you，God forgive you！You could say that to me now，now that I understand how much you loved me，

但是，最后一次你说，上帝保佑你，上帝原谅你！你现在能对我那样说吗。现在，我才明白你是多么的爱我，

now that I have suffered，now that I am a better person．Tell me we are friends．She spoke more eagerly than I had ever heard her speak before．

现在，我很痛苦，现在，我是个比较好的人。告诉我，我们是朋友。她渴望说的超过以前我听到过她说的话。

We are friends，I said，taking her hand．

我们是朋友，我拉着她的手说。

And will continue being friends，even when we are apart，said Estella．

即使我们分开，也会继续是朋友，艾丝黛拉说。

We walked，hand in hand，out of the old garden．

我们手拉手走出那个旧花园。

As the morning mist had risen long ago when I first left the forge，

当晨雾老早升起来的时候，我第一次离开了铁匠铺。

so the evening mist was rising now，and in the clear moonlight I saw no shadow of another separation from her．

那么，现在夜雾正在升起，在这清朗的月光下，我却看不到另外一个影子从她那里分离出来。