狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第43章Part2

No word was ever spoken between Florence and Edith now, on these subjects. Edith had said there ought to be between them, in that wise, a division and a silence like the grave itself: and Florence felt she was right'
In this state of affairs her father was brought home, suffering and disabled; and gloomily retired to his own rooms, where he was tended by servants, not approached by Edith, and had no friend or companion but Mr Carker, who withdrew near midnight.
'And nice company he is, Miss Floy,' said Susan Nipper. 'Oh, he's a precious Piece of goods! If ever he wants a character don't let him come to me whatever he does, that's all I tell him.'
'Dear Susan,' urged Florence, 'don't!'
'Oh, it's very well to say "don't" Miss Floy,' returned the Nipper, much exasperated; 'but raly begging your pardon we're coming to such passes that it turns all the blood in a person's body into pins and needles, with their pints all ways. Don't mistake me, Miss Floy, I don't mean nothing again your ma-in-law who has always treated me as a lady should though she is rather high I must say not that I have any right to object to that particular, but when we come to Mrs Pipchinses and having them put over us and keeping guard at your Pa's door like crocodiles (only make us thankful that they lay no eggs!) we are a growing too outrageous!'
'Papa thinks well of Mrs Pipchin, Susan,' returned Florence, 'and has a right to choose his housekeeper, you know. Pray don't!'
'Well Miss Floy,' returned the Nipper, 'when you say don't, I never do I hope but Mrs Pipchin acts like early gooseberries upon me Miss, and nothing less.'

現在弗洛倫斯與伊迪絲在這些問題上一句話也沒有交談過。伊迪絲曾經說過，在這方面，在她們之間應當有一道像墳墓一般的深溝和沉默；弗洛倫斯覺得她是對的。
就是在這樣的情況下，她的父親被擡回家來的；他忍受着痛苦，身體失去了行動的能力，憂悶不樂地隱居在他自己的房間中；僕人們在那裏服侍他，但伊迪絲卻沒有到那裏去看望過他。除了卡克先生之外，他沒有別的朋友或伴侶。卡克先生在將近午夜的時候離開了。
“他是一位好同伴，弗洛伊小姐，”蘇珊?尼珀說道，”啊，他是個了不起的寶貝！可是如果他什麼時候需要一份品德推薦書的話，那麼請他別來找我，這就是我要跟他說的一切。”
“親愛的蘇珊，”弗洛倫斯勸告道，”別說了！”
“啊，說聲‘別說了’倒是很容易，弗洛伊小姐，”尼珀十分惱怒地回答道，”可是請原諒，我們的情況糟糕透頂，它使一個人身上的血都要變成帶尖刺的別針和縫衣針了。請別誤會我的意思，弗洛伊小姐，我這麼說並不是要反對您的後媽，您的後媽總是以她貴夫人恰當的身份對待我，不過我必須說，她架子很大，雖然我沒有權利反對這一點，但是當我們一提起這些個皮普欽太太，提起她們向我們發號施令，提起她們像鱷魚一樣在您爸爸門口守衛（謝天謝地她們幸好沒有下蛋！），我們可真覺得太無法容忍下去了！”
“爸爸認爲皮普欽太太不錯，蘇珊，”弗洛倫斯回答道，”您知道，他有權挑選他的女管家。請別說了！”
“唔弗洛伊小姐，”尼珀回答道，”當您對我說別說了，我希望我決不再說了，可是皮普欽太太對待我蠻橫無禮，就像是沒有成熟的醋栗一樣，小姐，一點也不差。”