Chapter16-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《月亮与六便士The Moon and Sixpence》

Chapter XVI What followed showed that Mrs.Strickland was a woman of character. Whatever anguish she suffered she concealed.She saw shrewdly that the world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune,and willingly avoids the sight of distress.Whenever she went out-and compassion for her misadventure made her friends eager to entertain her-she bore a demeanour that was perfect.She was brave,but not too obviously;cheerful,but not brazenly;and she seemed more anxious to listen to the troubles of others than to discuss her own.Whenever she spoke of her husband it was with pity.Her attitude towards him at first perplexed me.One day she said to me: "You know,I'm convinced you were mistaken about Charles being alone. From what I've been able to gather from certain sources that I can't tell you,I know that he didn't leave England by himself." "In that case he has a positive genius for covering up his tracks." She looked away and slightly coloured. "What I mean is,if anyone talks to you about it,please don't contradict it if they say he eloped with somebody." “Of course not.” She changed the conversation as though it were a matter to which she ·138· 十六 以后发生的事说明斯特里克兰德太太是一个要强的 ①shrewdly[ru:dli]ad.敏 女人。不论她有多么痛苦，她都深埋在心底，含而不露。 锐地 她明智地意识到，逢人就吐苦水，很快就会让全世界生 ②recital[ri'saital]n.叙述， 厌，于是刻意避免一脸苦相。她的朋友们出于对她的遭 详述：述说之事 遇的同情，大家都迫切希望款待她，而她每每外出做客 的时候，都举止得体，堪称完美。她表现得既勇敢，又 3 brazenly ['breizanli]ad. 肆无忌惮的 不突兀：既乐观开朗，又不肆无忌惮；她好像更倾向于 倾听别人倾诉烦恼而不是谈论自己的烦恼。每每谈到自 己丈夫的时候，总是带着怜悯之情。开始，她对他的这 种态度让我大惑不解。有一天。她对我说道： “你瞧，你说查尔斯现在一个人在巴黎，我能肯定 你说得不对。据我从某些渠道得到的消息，虽然我不能 向你透露消息的来源，我了解到他离开英国时并不是孤 身一人。” “若是如此，他当真是行踪诡秘、密不透风的天才 了。” contradict [.kontro'dikt]v. 斯特里克兰德太太回避开我的目光，微微地绯红了 反驳；否认 ⑤elope[i'laup]y(尤指出 脸。 于结婚的目的而与情人)】 “我的意思是说，假如有人跟你说起这件事，说他 私奔；出走 是跟哪个女人私奔了，请你用不着反驳。” “我自然不会。” 她换了话题，好像这是件与她无关的无足轻重的小 ·139· Chapter XVI attached no importance.I discovered presently that a peculiar story was circulating among her friends.They said that Charles Strickland had become infatuated with a French dancer,whom he had first seen in the ballet at the Empire,and had accompanied her to Paris.I could not find out how this had arisen,but,singularly enough,it created much sympathy for Mrs.Strickland, and at the same time gave her not a little prestige.This was not without its use in the calling which she had decided to follow.Colonel MacAndrew had not exaggerated when he said she would be penniless,and it was necessary for her to earn her own living as quickly as she could.She made up her mind to profit by her acquaintance with so many writers,and without loss of time began to learn shorthand and typewriting.Her education made it likely that she would be a typist more efficient than the average,and her story made her claims appealing.Her friends promised to send her work,and took care to recommend her to all theirs. The MacAndrews,who were childless and in easy circumstances,arranged to undertake the care of the children,and Mrs.Strickland had only herself to provide for.She let her flat and sold her furniture.She settled in two tiny rooms in Westminster,and faced the world anew.She was so efficient that it was certain she would make a success of the adventure. ·140· 十六 事。我很快就发现，在她的朋友圈里流传着一个离奇的 故事。她们说，查尔斯·斯特里克兰德为一个法国舞蹈 家神魂颠倒，他第一次看见她是在帝国大剧院上演的芭 蕾舞里，后来他就陪她去巴黎了。我无法知道这个故事 是怎么传开来的，然而令人啧啧称奇的是，它为斯特里 克兰德太太博得了很多人的同情，与此同时，还提高了 prestige [pre'sti:3:-sti:d3; prestid】n.威望，声望 她的声望。这对她决定今后从事的行业不无裨益。麦克 安德鲁上校曾经说过她身无分文，这一点儿都不夸张。 她有必要找一条谋生的道路，这是当务之急。她决定利 用自己熟识许多作家的有利条件，不失时机地第一时间 就学起了速记和打字。她所受的教育，使她比普通的 打字员更高效，关于她的传说也很吸引顾客。朋友们 纷纷答应照顾她的生意，还热心地把她推荐给自己的 熟人。 麦克安德鲁夫妇没有子嗣，生活环境优渥，于是承 担起抚养她子女的责任，斯特里克兰德太太只要养活自 己就可以了。她把住房租了出去，卖掉了家具，在威斯 敏斯特附近找了两个小房间住下来，以新的姿态面对世 界。她很高效，她的生意一定会兴隆的。 ·141·