THE APPOINTMENT KEPT
保持约定

The church clocks chimed three quarters past eleven, as two figures emerged on London Bridge. —
教堂的钟声敲响十一点一刻，两个人影走出了伦敦桥。 —

One, which advanced with a swift and rapid step, was that of a woman who looked eagerly about her as though in quest of some expected object; —
其中一个人，用迅捷而快速的步伐前进，急切地四处张望，似乎在寻找某个期待中的对象； —

the other figure was that of a man, who slunk along in the deepest shadow he could find, and, at some distance, accommodated his pace to hers: —
另一个人影是一个男人，他在能找到的最深的阴影中匍匐前行，并且一直保持与她的步伐一致： —

stopping when she stopped: and as she moved again, creeping stealthily on: —
她停下来时他也停下来；当她再次移动时，他就悄无声息地跟随： —

but never allowing himself, in the ardour of his pursuit, to gain upon her footsteps. —
但在追逐的热情中，他从未让自己赶上她的脚步。 —

Thus, they crossed the bridge, from the Middlesex to the Surrey shore, when the woman, apparently disappointed in her anxious scrutiny of the foot-passengers, turned back. —
于是，他们穿过了桥，从中萨克斯到萨里的岸边，当这个女人显然在焦急地寻找着步行者时，她失望地转身。 —

The movement was sudden; but he who watched her, was not thrown off his guard by it; —
这个动作突然，但在观察她的人并没有被这个动作打乱。 —

for, shrinking into one of the recesses which surmount the piers of the bridge, and leaning over the parapet the better to conceal his figure, he suffered her to pass on the opposite pavement. —
躲进了桥墩顶部的凹口之一，倚着栏杆以更好地掩饰他的身影，他任由她从对面人行道经过。 —

When she was about the same distance in advance as she had been before, he slipped quietly down, and followed her again. —
当她前进的距离与之前几乎一样时，他悄然下来，再一次跟随她。 —

At nearly the centre of the bridge, she stopped. —
在桥的中点附近，她停下了。 —

The man stopped too.
这个男人也停下来。

It was a very dark night. The day had been unfavourable, and at that hour and place there were few people stirring. —
那是一个非常黑暗的夜晚。当时的天气不利，而在这个时刻和地点，很少有人在外面。 —

Such as there were, hurried quickly past: —
路过的人匆匆走过： —

very possibly without seeing, but certainly without noticing, either the woman, or the man who kept her in view. —
很有可能根本没有看见，但肯定没有注意到，不管是那个女人，还是一直关注着她的那个男人。 —

Their appearance was not calculated to attract the importunate regards of such of London’s destitute population, as chanced to take their way over the bridge that night in search of some cold arch or doorless hovel wherein to lay their heads; —
他们的外表并不适合吸引伦敦贫困人口的注意，这些人碰巧在那个夜晚走过桥去找个冰冷的拱门或没有门的小屋来安顿。 —

they stood there in silence: neither speaking nor spoken to, by any one who passed.
他们静静地站在那里，没有和经过的任何人说话或被人搭话。

A mist hung over the river, deepening the red glare of the fires that burnt upon the small craft moored off the different wharfs, and rendering darker and more indistinct the murky buildings on the banks. —
一团薄雾笼罩在河面上，加深了码头停泊小船上燃烧的红色火焰，并使河岸上的暗混沌建筑物变得更加阴暗模糊。 —

The old smoke-stained storehouses on either side, rose heavy and dull from the dense mass of roofs and gables, and frowned sternly upon water too black to reflect even their lumbering shapes. —
两旁那些旧烟熏的仓库沉重而阴暗地从稠密的屋顶和山墙中崛起，对着连水都映不出的他们笨拙的形状，严肃地俯视着。 —

The tower of old Saint Saviour’s Church, and the spire of Saint Magnus, so long the giant-warders of the ancient bridge, were visible in the gloom; —
老圣救主教堂的塔楼和圣马格努斯教堂的尖顶，是古老桥梁的守护者，长期以来在夕照中可见； —

but the forest of shipping below bridge, and the thickly scattered spires of churches above, were nearly all hidden from sight.
但桥下的船只森林和桥上密布的教堂尖顶几乎全都被遮掩起来。

The girl had taken a few restless turns to and fro–closely watched meanwhile by her hidden observer–when the heavy bell of St. Paul’s tolled for the death of another day. —
当圣保罗大教堂的沉重钟声为又一个白昼的终结悲鸣时，女孩不安地来回踱步几步–同时被隐藏的观察者密切注视着。 —

Midnight had come upon the crowded city. The palace, the night-cellar, the jail, the madhouse: —
深夜来临了这座拥挤的城市。皇宫，夜店，监狱，疯人院： —

the chambers of birth and death, of health and sickness, the rigid face of the corpse and the calm sleep of the child: —
出生和死亡的房间，健康和疾病，尸体的严肃面孔和婴儿的平静睡眠： —

midnight was upon them all.
深夜笼罩了它们全部。

The hour had not struck two minutes, when a young lady, accompanied by a grey-haired gentleman, alighted from a hackney-carriage within a short distance of the bridge, and, having dismissed the vehicle, walked straight towards it. —
当时刻尚未过去两分钟，一位年轻女士和一位白发老绅士从距桥不远的地方下了一辆四轮马车，下车后径直走向桥。 —

They had scarcely set foot upon its pavement, when the girl started, and immediately made towards them.
她们刚踏上桥面，女孩就惊讶地启程，立即朝她们走去。

They walked onward, looking about them with the air of persons who entertained some very slight expectation which had little chance of being realised, when they were suddenly joined by this new associate. —
他们继续走着，看起来像是抱着一种很微弱但几乎没有可能实现的期望，突然这个新伙伴加入了他们。 —

They halted with an exclamation of surprise, but suppressed it immediately; —
他们惊讶地停下来，但立即压住了惊叹声； —

for a man in the garments of a countryman came close up–brushed against them, indeed–at that precise moment.
因为一个衣着如乡下人的男子恰在此时靠近–实际上在那一刻近乎擦身而过。

‘Not here,’ said Nancy hurriedly, ‘I am afraid to speak to you here. —
‘这里不行,‘南希匆匆地说道，’我在这里害怕和你说话。 —

Come away–out of the public road–down the steps yonder!’
走开吧–走出公共道路–下面的台阶！’

As she uttered these words, and indicated, with her hand, the direction in which she wished them to proceed, the countryman looked round, and roughly asking what they took up the whole pavement for, passed on.
她说着这些话，并用手指向她希望他们前进的方向时，那位农夫回头看了一眼，粗鲁地问道他们为什么占据了整个人行道，然后径直走了。

The steps to which the girl had pointed, were those which, on the Surrey bank, and on the same side of the bridge as Saint Saviour’s Church, form a landing-stairs from the river. —
女孩指向的那些台阶，是在泰晤士河的萨里岸上，在桥的同一侧，圣救世主教堂附近的一个船坡。 —

To this spot, the man bearing the appearance of a countryman, hastened unobserved; —
看起来像个乡下人的男人毫无察觉地急匆匆地赶到了这个地方； —

and after a moment’s survey of the place, he began to descend.
在瞄了地方一会儿之后，他开始下去。

These stairs are a part of the bridge; they consist of three flights. —
这些楼梯是桥的一部分；它们由三段组成。 —

Just below the end of the second, going down, the stone wall on the left terminates in an ornamental pilaster facing towards the Thames. —
在第二段下面的末端，石墙的左侧以一个面向泰晤士河的装饰性柱结尾。 —

At this point the lower steps widen: so that a person turning that angle of the wall, is necessarily unseen by any others on the stairs who chance to be above him, if only a step. —
在这一点上，下面的台阶变宽了：这样一个人转过这面墙角时，如果只相隔一步，就必然被上面的任何人看不见。 —

The countryman looked hastily round, when he reached this point; —
农夫快速地环顾四周，当他到达这一点时； —

and as there seemed no better place of concealment, and, the tide being out, there was plenty of room, he slipped aside, with his back to the pilaster, and there waited: —
由于这里似乎没有更好的藏身之处，而且潮水退去了，所以有足够的空间，他侧身躲到柱子背后，等待着： —

pretty certain that they would come no lower, and that even if he could not hear what was said, he could follow them again, with safety.
他非常肯定他们不会再往下走，即使他听不到他们说什么，他也可以安全地跟随着他们再次走。

So tardily stole the time in this lonely place, and so eager was the spy to penetrate the motives of an interview so different from what he had been led to expect, that he more than once gave the matter up for lost, and persuaded himself, either that they had stopped far above, or had resorted to some entirely different spot to hold their mysterious conversation. —
时间在这个偏僻的地方缓慢地流逝，间谍渴望窥探一个与他预期完全不同的会面背后的动机，以至于他不止一次认为这件事已经无望，并自欺地认为他们已经停在很高的地方，或者去了完全不同的地方进行他们神秘的谈话。 —

He was on the point of emerging from his hiding-place, and regaining the road above, when he heard the sound of footsteps, and directly afterwards of voices almost close at his ear.
他正要从藏身处出来，重新回到上面的道路时，他听到了脚步声，随即又听到了几乎紧贴着他的耳朵的声音。

He drew himself straight upright against the wall, and, scarcely breathing, listened attentively.
他挺直身体靠在墙上，疑若无声地专心倾听。

‘This is far enough,’ said a voice, which was evidently that of the gentleman. —
‘“走到这里就够了，”一个声音说，这显然是那位先生的声音。 —

‘I will not suffer the young lady to go any farther. —
‘“我不会让这位小姐再走下去。 —

Many people would have distrusted you too much to have come even so far, but you see I am willing to humour you.’
许多人会对你产生太多的疑虑，甚至不会走到这一步，但你看，我愿意迎合你。”

‘To humour me!’ cried the voice of the girl whom he had followed. —
‘“迎合我！”他跟着的那个女孩的声音喊道。 —

‘You’re considerate, indeed, sir. To humour me! —
‘“你真体贴，先生。为了迎合我！ —

Well, well, it’s no matter.’
好吧，没关系。”

‘Why, for what,’ said the gentleman in a kinder tone, ‘for what purpose can you have brought us to this strange place? —
‘“喂，为了什么，”先生说得更和蔼了些，’“你究竟为什么要把我们带到这个陌生的地方？ —

Why not have let me speak to you, above there, where it is light, and there is something stirring, instead of bringing us to this dark and dismal hole?’
为什么不让我在那边跟你说话，在那光线明亮的地方，那里有些活动，而不是把我们带到这个黑暗而令人沮丧的洞里呢？”

‘I told you before,’ replied Nancy, ‘that I was afraid to speak to you there. —
‘“之前我告诉你了，”南希回答道，“我害怕在那里跟你说话。 —

I don’t know why it is,’ said the girl, shuddering, ‘but I have such a fear and dread upon me to-night that I can hardly stand.’
我不知道为什么，”女孩发抖着说，“但我今晚有一种恐惧和惊惧，简直让我难以站立。”

‘A fear of what?’ asked the gentleman, who seemed to pity her.
‘“害怕什么？”先生问道，他似乎很同情她。

‘I scarcely know of what,’ replied the girl. ‘I wish I did. —
‘“我几乎不知道害怕什么，”女孩回答。“但愿我知道。 —

Horrible thoughts of death, and shrouds with blood upon them, and a fear that has made me burn as if I was on fire, have been upon me all day. —
恐怖的死亡的念头，和有血迹的裹尸布，以及一种让我燃烧得像火一样的恐惧，全天就在我身上。 —

I was reading a book to-night, to wile the time away, and the same things came into the print.’
今晚我正读着一本书打发时间，同样的事情出现在了书页上。”

‘Imagination,’ said the gentleman, soothing her.
‘“想象而已，”先生安慰她。

‘No imagination,’ replied the girl in a hoarse voice. —
‘没有想象力，’女孩用嘶哑的声音回答道。 —

‘I’ll swear I saw “coffin” written in every page of the book in large black letters,–aye, and they carried one close to me, in the streets to-night.’
‘我发誓我看到这本书的每一页上都写着”棺材”这个词，用大大的黑字，–是的，今晚街上他们还把一个棺材拉得离我这么近。

‘There is nothing unusual in that,’ said the gentleman. ‘They have passed me often.’
‘没什么不寻常的，’绅士说道。’他们经常路过我身边。

‘Real ones,’ rejoined the girl. ‘This was not.’
‘真的,‘女孩回答道。’这个不一样。

There was something so uncommon in her manner, that the flesh of the concealed listener crept as he heard the girl utter these words, and the blood chilled within him. —
女孩说这些话时的态度是如此异常，让偷听者汗毛都直立起来，血液在他的体内冰冷起来。 —

He had never experienced a greater relief than in hearing the sweet voice of the young lady as she begged her to be calm, and not allow herself to become the prey of such fearful fancies.
当年轻女子用甜美的声音劝慰她，让她镇定下来，不要让自己陷入这样可怕的幻想中时，他感到非常宽慰。

‘Speak to her kindly,’ said the young lady to her companion. ‘Poor creature! She seems to need it.’
年轻女子对她的伴侣说: ‘善待她吧。可怜的人！她似乎需要。

‘Your haughty religious people would have held their heads up to see me as I am to-night, and preached of flames and vengeance,’ cried the girl. —
‘你们那些高傲的虔诚人士看见我今晚这样，必会高抬起头，宣讲火焰和报应，’女孩叫道。 —

‘Oh, dear lady, why ar’n’t those who claim to be God’s own folks as gentle and as kind to us poor wretches as you, who, having youth, and beauty, and all that they have lost, might be a little proud instead of so much humbler?’
‘噢，亲爱的女士，为什么那些自称是上帝子民的人对待我们这些可怜的家伙没有像您这样温柔呢？您拥有青春、美丽和他们失去的一切，本可以有些自豪，而不是如此更加谦卑。

‘Ah!’ said the gentleman. ‘A Turk turns his face, after washing it well, to the East, when he says his prayers; —
‘啊！’绅士说道。’一名穆斯林在洗脸后，当他做祷告时，会把脸转向东方； —

these good people, after giving their faces such a rub against the World as to take the smiles off, turn with no less regularity, to the darkest side of Heaven. —
这些好人，在给他们的脸颊好好擦拭，把微笑擦去后，同样会规规矩矩地，转向天堂的最黑暗的一面。 —

Between the Mussulman and the Pharisee, commend me to the first!’
在穆斯林和法利赛人之间，我更欣赏前者！’

These words appeared to be addressed to the young lady, and were perhaps uttered with the view of affording Nancy time to recover herself. —
这些话似乎是对年轻女子说的，也许是为了给南茜恢复过来一些时间。 —

The gentleman, shortly afterwards, addressed himself to her.
不久之后，绅士把注意力转向了她。

‘You were not here last Sunday night,’ he said.
‘上个星期天晚上你不在这里，’他说。

‘I couldn’t come,’ replied Nancy; ‘I was kept by force.’
‘我没办法来，’南希回答道；‘我被强制留下了。’

‘By whom?’
‘是谁？’

‘Him that I told the young lady of before.’
‘就是我之前告诉那位年轻女士的那个人。’

‘You were not suspected of holding any communication with anybody on the subject which has brought us here to-night, I hope?’ —
‘希望你没有被怀疑涉及使我们今晚在这里的那个事情？’老绅士问道。 —

asked the old gentleman.
‘没有，’女孩摇摇头回答。

‘No,’ replied the girl, shaking her head. —
‘我很难缠身离开他而不让他知道原因； —

‘It’s not very easy for me to leave him unless he knows why; —
我离开之前没能给他一口鸦片酊喝。’ —

I couldn’t give him a drink of laudanum before I came away.’
‘你回来前他醒来了吗？’老绅士问。

‘Did he awake before you returned?’ inquired the gentleman.
‘没有；他和他们中的任何人都没有怀疑我。’

‘No; and neither he nor any of them suspect me.’
‘很好，’老绅士说。‘现在听我说。’

‘Good,’ said the gentleman. ‘Now listen to me.’
‘我准备好了，’女孩回答，随着他停顿了一会儿。

‘I am ready,’ replied the girl, as he paused for a moment.
‘这位年轻女士，’绅士开始说，‘几乎两周前的你告诉她的事情，她已经和我以及其他几位可以信任的朋友传达了。

‘This young lady,’ the gentleman began, ‘has communicated to me, and to some other friends who can be safely trusted, what you told her nearly a fortnight since. —
一开始我对你是否可以完全信赖有所怀疑，但现在我坚信你是可以信赖的。’ —

I confess to you that I had doubts, at first, whether you were to be implicitly relied upon, but now I firmly believe you are.’
‘我是的，’女孩认真地说。

‘I am,’ said the girl earnestly.
‘我承认，起初我对你是否可以完全信赖有所怀疑，但现在我坚信你是的。’

‘I repeat that I firmly believe it. To prove to you that I am disposed to trust you, I tell you without reserve, that we propose to extort the secret, whatever it may be, from the fear of this man Monks. But if–if–’ said the gentleman, ‘he cannot be secured, or, if secured, cannot be acted upon as we wish, you must deliver up the Jew.’
“我再次坚信这一点。为了向你证明我愿意信任你，毫不保留地告诉你，我们打算通过威胁这个叫Monks的人来获取无论是什么秘密。但是如果——如果——”绅士说道，“如果他无法被控制，或者即使被控制了却无法按照我们的意愿行事，你必须交出这个犹太人。”

‘Fagin,’ cried the girl, recoiling.
“费金，”女孩叫道，往后退了。

‘That man must be delivered up by you,’ said the gentleman.
“那个人必须由你交出，”绅士说道。

‘I will not do it! I will never do it!’ replied the girl. —
“我不会这样做！我永远不会这样做！”女孩回答道。 —

‘Devil that he is, and worse than devil as he has been to me, I will never do that.’
“他是个恶魔，对我更像是个恶魔，我永远都不会那样做。”

‘You will not?’ said the gentleman, who seemed fully prepared for this answer.
“你不会？”绅士看起来对这个回答已经做好了充分的准备。

‘Never!’ returned the girl.
“不会！”女孩回答说。

‘Tell me why?’
‘告诉我为什么?’

‘For one reason,’ rejoined the girl firmly, ‘for one reason, that the lady knows and will stand by me in, I know she will, for I have her promise: —
‘“有一个原因，”那女孩坚定地回答，“一个女士知道并会支持我的原因，我知道她会的，因为我有她的承诺；” —

and for this other reason, besides, that, bad life as he has led, I have led a bad life too; —
‘“而且还有另一个原因，就是尽管他过着荒唐的生活，我也过着不检点的生活； —

there are many of us who have kept the same courses together, and I’ll not turn upon them, who might–any of them–have turned upon me, but didn’t, bad as they are.’
‘有许多人和我一起走过同样的道路，我不会背叛他们，他们中的任何一个–任何一个可能背叛我的人–都没有这样做，尽管他们也很坏。”

‘Then,’ said the gentleman, quickly, as if this had been the point he had been aiming to attain; —
‘“那么，”绅士迅速说道，仿佛这是他一直以来试图达成的目标； —

‘put Monks into my hands, and leave him to me to deal with.’
‘“把蒙克斯交到我手中，让我来处理他。”

‘What if he turns against the others?’
‘“如果他反对其他人怎么办？”

‘I promise you that in that case, if the truth is forced from him, there the matter will rest; —
‘“我向你保证，如果真相被他逼出来了，这件事就此结束； —

there must be circumstances in Oliver’s little history which it would be painful to drag before the public eye, and if the truth is once elicited, they shall go scot free.’
‘奥利弗的小故事中一定有些情况，揭露在公众眼前会令人痛苦，如果真相一旦被揭示，他们将免于惩罚。”

‘And if it is not?’ suggested the girl.
‘“如果不是呢？”女孩暗示道。

‘Then,’ pursued the gentleman, ‘this Fagin shall not be brought to justice without your consent. —
‘“那么，”绅士继续说道，“这个费金就没有你的同意不会受到法律制裁。 —

In such a case I could show you reasons, I think, which would induce you to yield it.’
‘在这种情况下，我可以给你展示一些理由，我相信这些理由会说服你放手。”

‘Have I the lady’s promise for that?’ asked the girl.
‘“女士给了我那个承诺吗？”女孩问道。

‘You have,’ replied Rose. ‘My true and faithful pledge.’
‘“给了，”罗丝回答，“我的真诚和忠诚的保证。”

‘Monks would never learn how you knew what you do?’ said the girl, after a short pause.
‘“蒙克斯永远不会知道你是如何得知这一切的？”女孩犹豫片刻后说道。

‘Never,’ replied the gentleman. ‘The intelligence should be brought to bear upon him, that he could never even guess.’
“绝对不会，”绅士回答道。“必须动用情报，让他根本无法猜到。”

‘I have been a liar, and among liars from a little child,’ said the girl after another interval of silence, ‘but I will take your words.’
“我从小就是个谎言者，周围也都是谎言者，”女孩在另一个片刻的沉默后说道，“但我会相信你的话。”

After receiving an assurance from both, that she might safely do so, she proceeded in a voice so low that it was often difficult for the listener to discover even the purport of what she said, to describe, by name and situation, the public-house whence she had been followed that night. —
在得到两人的保证后，她开始以低得常常让人听不清楚言辞的声音，描述着那个晚上她被跟踪的酒店的名字和位置。 —

From the manner in which she occasionally paused, it appeared as if the gentleman were making some hasty notes of the information she communicated. —
从她偶尔停顿的方式可以看出绅士正在匆忙地记录她传达的信息。 —

When she had thoroughly explained the localities of the place, the best position from which to watch it without exciting observation, and the night and hour on which Monks was most in the habit of frequenting it, she seemed to consider for a few moments, for the purpose of recalling his features and appearances more forcibly to her recollection.
当她充分解释了那个地方的位置，最佳的观察位置以免引起注意，以及Monks最常光顾它的夜晚和时间，她似乎考虑了几分钟，目的是更有力地把他的面部和外表回忆起来。

‘He is tall,’ said the girl, ‘and a strongly made man, but not stout; he has a lurking walk; —
“他很高,”女孩说，“而且身形强壮，但并不胖；他走路时有一种隐藏的步态； —

and as he walks, constantly looks over his shoulder, first on one side, and then on the other. —
走路时，他不断地向两边看，先是一边，然后是另一边。” —

Don’t forget that, for his eyes are sunk in his head so much deeper than any other man’s, that you might almost tell him by that alone. —
不要忘记，因为他的眼睛在他的眼眶里沉得比其他人深得多，以至于你几乎可以光凭这一点就认出他来。 —

His face is dark, like his hair and eyes; —
他的脸色阴沉，就像他的头发和眼睛一样； —

and, although he can’t be more than six or eight and twenty, withered and haggard. —
虽然他可能不过二十六、二十八岁，但看起来憔悴而苍老。 —

His lips are often discoloured and disfigured with the marks of teeth; —
他的嘴唇经常被牙齿印记弄得色斑斑、面目全非； —

for he has desperate fits, and sometimes even bites his hands and covers them with wounds–why did you start?’ —
因为他常常发作，有时甚至咬手自伤，并将手覆盖伤口—你为何突然吃惊？ —

said the girl, stopping suddenly.
女孩停下来说。

The gentleman replied, in a hurried manner, that he was not conscious of having done so, and begged her to proceed.
绅士匆匆答道，称自己并没有意识到自己表现出惊讶，并请求她继续。

‘Part of this,’ said the girl, ‘I have drawn out from other people at the house I tell you of, for I have only seen him twice, and both times he was covered up in a large cloak. —
女孩说：“有些是我从那房子里的其他人那里打听到的，因为我只见过他两次，两次他都裹得严严实实。 —

I think that’s all I can give you to know him by. Stay though,’ she added. ‘Upon his throat: —
我想这就是我能告诉你他的一切了。但是，待会儿，”她接着说，“在他的脖子上： —

so high that you can see a part of it below his neckerchief when he turns his face: there is–’
如此之高，你可以看到他翻脸后领巾下的部分：那里有一处–”

‘A broad red mark, like a burn or scald?’ cried the gentleman.
“一处宽大的红印，像烧伤或烫伤？”绅士惊呼道。

‘How’s this?’ said the girl. ‘You know him!’
“怎么回事？”女孩说。“你认识他！”

The young lady uttered a cry of surprise, and for a few moments they were so still that the listener could distinctly hear them breathe.
年轻女士惊讶地尖叫起来，片刻间他们静如处子，倾听者明显可以听到他们的呼吸声。

‘I think I do,’ said the gentleman, breaking silence. ‘I should by your description. —
“我想我认识他，”绅士打破了沉默。“根据你的描述，我应该认识他。 —

We shall see. Many people are singularly like each other. —
我们等一会儿。很多人是惊人地相像的。 —

It may not be the same.’
可能并不是一样的。

As he expressed himself to this effect, with assumed carelessness, he took a step or two nearer the concealed spy, as the latter could tell from the distinctness with which he heard him mutter, ‘It must be he!’
当他这样表达时，带着装作漫不经心的口吻，他朝隐藏的间谍走近了一两步，后者从他听到的清晰的窃窃私语中可以判断出，“一定是他！”

‘Now,’ he said, returning: so it seemed by the sound: —
“现在，”他说着，回来了：从声音听来似乎是这样的： —

to the spot where he had stood before, ‘you have given us most valuable assistance, young woman, and I wish you to be the better for it. —
回到他之前站着的地方，“你为我们提供了非常宝贵的帮助，年轻女士，我希望你会因此受益。 —

What can I do to serve you?’
我能为你做些什么呢？”

‘Nothing,’ replied Nancy.
“没什么，”南希回答。

‘You will not persist in saying that,’ rejoined the gentleman, with a voice and emphasis of kindness that might have touched a much harder and more obdurate heart. —
“你不会坚持这么说的，”绅士以一种温和的语气和强调回答，这种语气也许可以感动更坚强、更顽固的心。 —

‘Think now. Tell me.’
“想一想。告诉我。”

‘Nothing, sir,’ rejoined the girl, weeping. —
“没有什么，先生，”女孩回答着，哭泣着。 —

‘You can do nothing to help me. I am past all hope, indeed.’
“你无法帮助我。我已经没有希望了，的确。”

‘You put yourself beyond its pale,’ said the gentleman. —
“你已经放弃自己，”绅士说道。 —

‘The past has been a dreary waste with you, of youthful energies mis-spent, and such priceless treasures lavished, as the Creator bestows but once and never grants again, but, for the future, you may hope. —
“过去是一个与你一起度过的年轻能量被浪费的沉闷荒野，你挥霍了像创造者只给一次并永远不再给予的无价之宝，但是，对于未来，你可以抱有希望。 —

I do not say that it is in our power to offer you peace of heart and mind, for that must come as you seek it; —
我不说我们有能力给你心灵的平静，那是你寻求的时候会出现的； —

but a quiet asylum, either in England, or, if you fear to remain here, in some foreign country, it is not only within the compass of our ability but our most anxious wish to secure you. —
但是在英格兰或者如果你害怕留在这里的话，在某个外国，为你保障一个宁静的庇护所，这不仅在我们的能力范围内，而且是我们最热切的愿望。 —

Before the dawn of morning, before this river wakes to the first glimpse of day-light, you shall be placed as entirely beyond the reach of your former associates, and leave as utter an absence of all trace behind you, as if you were to disappear from the earth this moment. —
在黎明破晓之前，在这条河第一缕晨光唤醒之前，你将被完全置于你以前的同伴的触及之外，留下的痕迹将像此刻你从地球上消失一样彻底消失。 —

Come! I would not have you go back to exchange one word with any old companion, or take one look at any old haunt, or breathe the very air which is pestilence and death to you. —
来吧！我不希望你和任何旧伴侣交换一句话，或去看看任何旧地方，或呼吸让你毒害和致命的空气。 —

Quit them all, while there is time and opportunity!’
趁着还有时间和机会，快离开他们吧！

‘She will be persuaded now,’ cried the young lady. ‘She hesitates, I am sure.’
‘她现在会被说服的，’那个年轻女士喊道。’她在犹豫，我敢肯定。’

‘I fear not, my dear,’ said the gentleman.
‘亲爱的，我担心不会，’那位绅士说道。

‘No sir, I do not,’ replied the girl, after a short struggle. ‘I am chained to my old life. —
‘不，先生，我不，’那女孩经过短暂挣扎后回答说。’我被我的旧生活所束缚。 —

I loathe and hate it now, but I cannot leave it. —
我现在讨厌它、憎恶它，但我却无法离开它。 —

I must have gone too far to turn back,–and yet I don’t know, for if you had spoken to me so, some time ago, I should have laughed it off. —
我一定已经走得太远，无法回头，–不过我也不确定，如果你些时以前对我说这番话，我可能会置之一笑。 —

But,’ she said, looking hastily round, ‘this fear comes over me again. I must go home.’
但是，’她急忙四下张望着说，’这种恐惧又再次笼罩在我心头。我必须回家了。

‘Home!’ repeated the young lady, with great stress upon the word.
‘家！’那年轻女士重读着这个词。

‘Home, lady,’ rejoined the girl. ‘To such a home as I have raised for myself with the work of my whole life. —
‘家，女士，’女孩回答说。’是我用整个一生的努力创造出来的这样一个家。 —

Let us part. I shall be watched or seen. Go! Go! —
我们分开吧。我会被监视或被看见。走吧！走吧！ —

If I have done you any service all I ask is, that you leave me, and let me go my way alone.’
如果我对你有任何帮助，我只求你离开我，让我独自走自己的路。

‘It is useless,’ said the gentleman, with a sigh. —
‘没用，’那绅士叹了口气说。 —

‘We compromise her safety, perhaps, by staying here. —
‘我们或许逗留在这里会危及她的安全。 —

We may have detained her longer than she expected already.’
我们已经可能比她预期的留她更久了。’

‘Yes, yes,’ urged the girl. ‘You have.’
‘是的，是的，’女孩催促道。’你已经说了。’

‘What,’ cried the young lady, ‘can be the end of this poor creature’s life!’
“怎么会有这个可怜生命的结局！”年轻女士喊道。

‘What!’ repeated the girl. ‘Look before you, lady. Look at that dark water. —
“什么！”女孩重复道。“请看一眼，女士。看那黑暗的水。 —

How many times do you read of such as I who spring into the tide, and leave no living thing, to care for, or bewail them. —
多少次你读到像我这样的人跳入潮水，再也没有任何活着的人来照顾或为他们哀叹。 —

It may be years hence, or it may be only months, but I shall come to that at last.’
或许是数年之后，或许只是几个月，但我最终会走到那一步。”

‘Do not speak thus, pray,’ returned the young lady, sobbing.
“请不要这样说，求求你。”年轻女士抽泣道。

‘It will never reach your ears, dear lady, and God forbid such horrors should!’ —
“亲爱的女士，愿这些恐怖的事情永远不会传到你的耳中。” —

replied the girl. ‘Good-night, good-night!’
女孩回答道。“晚安，晚安！”

The gentleman turned away.
绅士转身离去。

‘This purse,’ cried the young lady. ‘Take it for my sake, that you may have some resource in an hour of need and trouble.’
“这个钱包。”年轻女士喊道。“拿去吧，为了我，这样你在需要和困难时有点资源。”

‘No!’ replied the girl. ‘I have not done this for money. Let me have that to think of. —
“不！”女孩回答。“我做这一切并不是为了钱。让我想想。 —

And yet–give me something that you have worn: —
但是——给我点你穿过的东西： —

I should like to have something–no, no, not a ring–your gloves or handkerchief–anything that I can keep, as having belonged to you, sweet lady. —
我想留下一点东西——不，不是戒指——你的手套或手帕——任何属于你的东西，作为我留着的。 —

There. Bless you! God bless you. Good-night, good-night!’
在那儿。上帝保佑你！上帝保佑你。晚安，晚安！”

The violent agitation of the girl, and the apprehension of some discovery which would subject her to ill-usage and violence, seemed to determine the gentleman to leave her, as she requested.
女孩的剧烈激动，以及对可能发现会受到虐待和暴力的担忧，似乎决定了绅士离开她，正如她所请求的那样。

The sound of retreating footsteps were audible and the voices ceased.
渐行渐远的脚步声和声音停止了。

The two figures of the young lady and her companion soon afterwards appeared upon the bridge. —
这位年轻女士和她的伙伴很快出现在桥上。 —

They stopped at the summit of the stairs.
他们在楼梯的顶端停了下来。

‘Hark!’ cried the young lady, listening. ‘Did she call! I thought I heard her voice.’
“嘿！”年轻女士听了听。“她叫了吗？我觉得我听到她的声音。”

‘No, my love,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, looking sadly back. —
“不，亲爱的。”布朗洛先生悲伤地回答道，回望着。 —

‘She has not moved, and will not till we are gone.’
“她没动，直到我们走了。”

Rose Maylie lingered, but the old gentleman drew her arm through his, and led her, with gentle force, away. —
罗斯·梅莱犹豫了一下，但老绅士挽着她的胳膊，温和地领着她离开。 —

As they disappeared, the girl sunk down nearly at her full length upon one of the stone stairs, and vented the anguish of her heart in bitter tears.
随着他们的消失，女孩几乎全身躺在石阶上，用痛苦的眼泪宣泄着她心中的痛苦。

After a time she arose, and with feeble and tottering steps ascended the street. —
过了一会儿，她站起来，蹒跚地向街上走去。 —

The astonished listener remained motionless on his post for some minutes afterwards, and having ascertained, with many cautious glances round him, that he was again alone, crept slowly from his hiding-place, and returned, stealthily and in the shade of the wall, in the same manner as he had descended.
惊讶的听众在岗位上呆立了几分钟，然后确认了周围没有人留神地慢慢离开藏身处，像下去时一样偷偷地，靠着墙走回去。

Peeping out, more than once, when he reached the top, to make sure that he was unobserved, Noah Claypole darted away at his utmost speed, and made for the Jew’s house as fast as his legs would carry him.
当他爬到顶端时，Noah Claypole多次窥视，确保没人注意到他，然后以最快的速度朝着犹太人的房子跑去。