狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第56章Part3

'This, however,' said Mr Toots, 'is not the point. The company of Susan has been, I assure you, Miss Dombey, a consolation and satisfaction to me, in my state of mind, more easily conceived than described. The journey has been its own reward. That, however, still, is not the point. Miss Dombey, I have before observed that I know I am not what is considered a quick person. I am perfectly aware of that. I don't think anybody could be better acquainted with his own - if it was not too strong an expression, I should say with the thickness of his own head - than myself. But, Miss Dombey, I do, notwithstanding, perceive the state of - of things - with Lieutenant Walters. Whatever agony that state of things may have caused me (which is of no consequence at all), I am bound to say, that Lieutenant Walters is a person who appears to be worthy of the blessing that has fallen on his - on his brow. May he wear it long, and appreciate it, as a very different, and very unworthy individual, that it is of no consequence to name, would have done! That, however, still, is not the point. Miss Dombey, Captain Gills is a friend of mine; and during the interval that is now elapsing, I believe it would afford Captain Gills pleasure to see me occasionally coming backwards and forwards here. It would afford me pleasure so to come. But I cannot forget that I once committed myself, fatally, at the corner of the Square at Brighton; and if my presence will be, in the least degree, unpleasant to you, I only ask you to name it to me now, and assure you that I shall perfectly understand you. I shall not consider it at all unkind, and shall only be too delighted and happy to be honoured with your confidence.'
'Mr Toots,' returned Florence, 'if you, who are so old and true a friend of mine, were to stay away from this house now, you would make me very unhappy. It can never, never, give me any feeling but pleasure to see you.
'Miss Dombey,' said Mr Toots, taking out his pocket-handkerchief, 'if I shed a tear, it is a tear of joy. It is of no consequence, and I am very much obliged to you. I may be allowed to remark, after what you have so kindly said, that it is not my intention to neglect my person any longer.'
Florence received this intimation with the prettiest expression of perplexity possible.
'I mean,' said Mr Toots, 'that I shall consider it my duty as a fellow-creature generally, until I am claimed by the silent tomb, to make the best of myself, and to - to have my boots as brightly polished, as - as -circumstances will admit of. This is the last time, Miss Dombey, of my intruding any observation of a private and personal nature. I thank you very much indeed. if I am not, in a general way, as sensible as my friends could wish me to be, or as I could wish myself, I really am, upon my word and honour, particularly sensible of what is considerate and kind. I feel,' said Mr Toots, in an impassioned tone, 'as if I could express my feelings, at the present moment, in a most remarkable manner, if - if - I could only get a start.'
Appearing not to get it, after waiting a minute or two to see if it would come, Mr Toots took a hasty leave, and went below to seek the Captain, whom he found in the shop.
'Captain Gills,' said Mr Toots, 'what is now to take place between us, takes place under the sacred seal of confidence. It is the sequel, Captain Gills, of what has taken place between myself and Miss Dombey, upstairs.'
'Alow and aloft, eh, my lad?' murmured the Captain.
'Exactly so, Captain Gills,' said Mr Toots, whose fervour of acquiescence was greatly heightened by his entire ignorance of the Captain's meaning. 'Miss Dombey, I believe, Captain Gills, is to be shortly united to Lieutenant Walters?'
'Why, ay, my lad. We're all shipmets here, - Wal'r and sweet- heart will be jined together in the house of bondage, as soon as the askings is over,' whispered Captain Cuttle, in his ear.
'The askings, Captain Gills!' repeated Mr Toots.
'In the church, down yonder,' said the Captain, pointing his thumb over his shoulder.
'Oh! Yes!' returned Mr Toots.

“不過，這並不是重要的一點，”圖茨先生說道，”我可以向您肯定地說，董貝小姐，就我當時的心情來說（它是容易想象而難以描述的），跟蘇珊在一起對我是一種安慰與滿足。這次旅行本身就是一種報酬。可是那仍然不是重要的一點。董貝小姐，我曾經跟您說過，我明白，我並不是個人們可以稱做頭腦靈敏的人。我完全知道這一點。我自己比任何人都清楚，我是個多麼--如果不算說得太過分的話，那麼我就要說，我是個腦子很愚鈍的人。可是儘管這樣，董貝小姐，我還是看出沃爾特斯上尉的情況是怎麼回事。不論這種情況會使我產生多少痛苦（這是完全無關緊要的），可是我一定得說，沃爾特斯上尉看來是個值得享受降臨在他的--他的身上的幸福的人。祝願他長久地享受它，並珍惜它，就像一個很不相同、很不足取、指出他的姓名完全是無關緊要的人會珍惜它的一樣！不過，這仍然不是重要的一點。董貝小姐，吉爾斯船長是我的朋友，我覺得如果在這段時間裏我不時來回到這裏來看看，吉爾斯船長是會感到高興的。到這裏來看看也會使我感到高興。不過我不能忘記，我有一次在布賴頓廣場角落裏犯了一個極嚴重的錯誤；如果我到這裏來會使您有一點點不樂意的話，那麼我只請求您現在就向我指出來；我可以向您保證，我將完全理解您。我決不會認爲這是冷酷無情，而只會由於榮幸地得到您的信任而感到快樂和幸福。”
“圖茨先生，”弗洛倫斯回答道，”您是我的一位很真誠的老朋友；如果您現在不再到這裏來看我們的話，那麼您將會使我感到很不快樂。我看到您只會感到高興，而決不會產生任何其他的感情。”

”董貝小姐，”圖茨先生掏出手絹來，說道，”如果我掉眼淚的話，那麼這是歡樂的眼淚；這是無關緊要的；我深深地感謝您。在您講了這些親切的話以後，請允許我說一句，我不打算再輕視我自己了。”
弗洛倫斯聽到這個暗示，露出了茫然不解的可愛的表情。
“我的意思是說，”圖茨先生說道，”我將認爲，在我沒有被沉默的墳墓召喚去之前，作爲人類的一員，我有責任儘量讓我的外表好看一些；如果--如果情況允許的話，那麼我將--把我的靴子擦得亮亮的。董貝小姐，這是我最後一次冒昧地向您講到有關個人方面的事。我確實非常感謝您。如果我不是像我的朋友們或我自己所希望的那樣明白事理的話，那麼，說實話，我以我的榮譽發誓，我對別人的體貼與好意是特別能領會的。如果--如果--我知道怎樣開始的話，圖茨先生用充滿熱情的語氣說道，”我覺得彷彿我現在能以最美好的方式來表達我的感情似的。”
圖茨先生等了一、兩分鐘，看看他是否能想出怎樣開始；看來他還是想不出來，就匆匆告辭了。他走下樓去找船長，在店鋪裏找到了他。
“吉爾斯船長，”圖茨先生說道，”我現在跟您談的事情必須保證嚴守祕密，吉爾斯船長；這是我跟董貝小姐在樓上談話的結果。”
“在船內和在桅杆高處是嗎，我的孩子？”船長低聲問道。
“正是這樣，吉爾斯船長，”圖茨先生說道，他由於完全不明白船長講話的意思，就以極大的熱情表示同意。”吉爾斯船長，我相信董貝小姐很快就要跟沃爾特斯上尉結婚了吧？”
“是的，是的，我的孩子。我們這裏全都是船友。沃爾跟他親愛的情人在結婚預告結束之後，就立即在締結婚姻的房屋裏結爲夫婦了，”卡特爾船長湊着他的耳朵低聲說道。
“結婚預告，吉爾斯船長！”圖茨先生重複說道。
“在那邊教堂裏，”船長用大姆指指指肩膀後面，說道。
“啊，是的！”圖茨先生回答道。