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Aunt Jane’s Nieces by L. Frank Baum, CHAPTER IX. COUSINS.

CHAPTER IX. COUSINS.

"Come in," called Beth, answering a knock at her door. Louise entered, and with a little cry ran forward and caught Beth in her arms, kissing her in greeting.

"You must be my new cousin—Cousin Elizabeth—and I'm awfully glad to see you at last!" she said, holding the younger girl a little away, that she might examine her carefully.

Beth did not respond to the caress. She eyed her opponent sharply, for she knew well enough, even in that first moment, that they were engaged in a struggle for supremacy in Aunt Jane's affections, and that in the battles to come no quarter could be asked or expected. So they stood at arm's length, facing one another and secretly forming an estimate each of the other's advantages and accomplishments. "She's pretty enough, but has no style whatever," was Louise's conclusion. "Neither has she tact nor self-possession, or even a prepossessing manner. She wears her new gown in a dowdy manner and one can read her face easily. There's little danger in this quarter, I'm sure, so I may as well be friends with the poor child." As for Beth, she saw at once that her "new cousin" was older and more experienced in the ways of the world, and therefore liable to prove a dangerous antagonist. Slender and graceful of form, attractive of feature and dainty in manner, Louise must be credited with many advantages; but against these might be weighed her evident insincerity—the volubility and gush that are so often affected to hide one's real nature, and which so shrewd and suspicious a woman as Aunt Jane could not fail to readily detect. Altogether, Beth was not greatly disturbed by her cousin's appearance, and suddenly realizing that they had been staring at one another rather rudely, she said, pleasantly enough: "Won't you sit down?" "Of course; we must get acquainted," replied Louise, gaily, and perched herself cross-legged upon the window-seat, surrounded by a mass of cushions. "I didn't know you were here, until an hour ago," she continued. "But as soon as Aunt Jane told me I ran to my room, unpacked and settled the few traps I brought with me, and here I am—prepared for a good long chat and to love you just as dearly as you will let me." "I knew you were coming, but not until this morning," answered Beth, slowly. "Perhaps had I known, I would not have accepted our Aunt's invitation." "Ah! Why not?" enquired the other, as if in wonder.

Beth hesitated.

"Have you known Aunt Jane before today?" she asked.

"No." "Nor I. The letter asking me to visit her was the first I have ever received from her. Even my mother, her own sister, does not correspond with her. I was brought up to hate her very name, as a selfish, miserly old woman. But, since she asked me to visit her, we judged she had softened and might wish to become friendly, and so I accepted the invitation. I had no idea you were also invited." "But why should you resent my being here?" Louise asked, smiling. "Surely, two girls will have a better time in this lonely old place than one could have alone. For my part, I am delighted to find you at Elmhurst." "Thank you," said Beth. "That's a nice thing to say, but I doubt if it's true. Don't let's beat around the bush. I hate hypocrisy, and if we're going to be friends let's be honest with one another from the start." "Well?" queried Louise, evidently amused.

"It's plain to me that Aunt Jane has invited us here to choose which one of us shall inherit her money—and Elmhurst. She's old and feeble, and she hasn't any other relations." "Oh, yes, she has" corrected Louise. "You mean Patricia Doyle?" "Yes." "What do you know of her?" "Nothing at all." "Where does she live?" "I haven't the faintest idea." Louise spoke as calmly as if she had not mailed Patricia's defiant letter to Aunt Jane, or discovered her cousin's identity in the little hair-dresser from Madame Borne's establishment. "Has Aunt Jane mentioned her?" continued Beth.

"Not in my presence." "Then we may conclude she's left out of the arrangement," said Beth, calmly. "And, as I said, Aunt Jane is likely to choose one of us to succeed her at Elmhurst. I hoped I had it all my own way, but it's evident I was mistaken. You'll fight for your chance and fight mighty hard!" Louise laughed merrily.

"How funny!" she exclaimed, after a moment during which Beth frowned at her darkly. "Why, my dear cousin, I don't want Aunt Jane's money." "You don't?" "Not a penny of it; nor Elmhurst; nor anything you can possibly lay claim to, my dear. My mother and I are amply provided for, and I am only here to find rest from my social duties and to get acquainted with my dead father's sister. That is all." "Oh!" said Beth, lying back in her chair with a sigh of relief.

"So it was really a splendid idea of yours to be frank with me at our first meeting," continued Louise, cheerfully; "for it has led to your learning the truth, and I am sure you will never again grieve me by suggesting that I wish to supplant you in Aunt Jane's favor. Now tell me something about yourself and your people. Are you poor?" "Poor as poverty," said Beth, gloomily. "My father teaches music, and mother scolds him continually for not being able to earn enough money to keep out of debt." "Hasn't Aunt Jane helped you?" "We've never seen a cent of her money, although father has tried at times to borrow enough to help him out of his difficulties." "That's strange. She seems like such a dear kindly old lady," said Louise, musingly. "I think she's horrid," answered Beth, angrily; "but I mustn't let her know it. I even kissed her, when she asked me to, and it sent a shiver all down my back." Louise laughed with genuine amusement.

"You must dissemble, Cousin Elizabeth," she advised, "and teach our aunt to love you. For my part, I am fond of everyone, and it delights me to fuss around invalids and assist them. I ought to have been a trained nurse, you know; but of course there's no necessity of my earning a living." "I suppose not," said Beth. Then, after a thoughtful silence, she resumed abruptly; "What's to prevent Aunt Jane leaving you her property, even if you are rich, and don't need it? You say you like to care for invalids, and I don't. Suppose Aunt Jane prefers you to me, and wills you all her money?" "Why, that would be beyond my power to prevent," answered Louise, with a little yawn. Beth's face grew hard again. "You're deceiving me," she declared, angrily. "You're trying to make me think you don't want Elmhurst, when you're as anxious to get it as I am." "My dear Elizabeth—by the way, that's an awfully long name; what do they call you, Lizzie, or Bessie, or—" "They call me Beth," sullenly. "Then, my dear Beth, let me beg you not to borrow trouble, or to doubt one who wishes to be your friend. Elmhurst would be a perfect bore to me. I wouldn't know what to do with it. I couldn't live in this out-of-the-way corner of the world, you know." "But suppose she leaves it to you?" persisted Beth. "You wouldn't refuse it, I imagine." Louise seemed to meditate.

"Cousin," she said, at length, "I'll make a bargain with you. I can't refuse to love and pet Aunt Jane, just because she has money and my sweet cousin Beth is anxious to inherit it. But I'll not interfere in any way with your chances, and I'll promise to sing your praises to our aunt persistently. Furthermore, in case she selects me as her heir, I will agree to transfer half of the estate to you—the half that consists of Elmhurst." "Is there much more?" asked Beth.

"I haven't any list of Aunt Jane's possessions, so I don't know. But you shall have Elmhurst, if I get it, because the place would be of no use to me." "It's a magnificent estate," said Beth, looking at her cousin doubtfully. "It shall be yours, dear, whatever Aunt Jane decides. See, this is a compact, and I'll seal it with a kiss." She sprang up and, kneeling beside Beth, kissed her fervently.

"Now shall we be friends?" she asked, lightly. "Now will you abandon all those naughty suspicions and let me love you?" Beth hesitated.

The suggestion seemed preposterous. Such generosity savored of play acting, and Louise's manner was too airy to be genuine. Somehow she felt that she was being laughed at by this slender, graceful girl, who was scarcely older than herself; but she was too unsophisticated to know how to resent it. Louise insisted upon warding off her enmity, or at least establishing a truce, and Beth, however suspicious and ungracious, could find no way of rejecting the overtures.

"Were I in your place," she said, "I would never promise to give up a penny of the inheritance. If I win it, I shall keep it all." "To be sure. I should want you to, my dear." "Then, since we have no cause to quarrel, we may as well become friends," continued Beth, her features relaxing a little their set expression. Louise laughed again, ignoring the other's brusqueness, and was soon chatting away pleasantly upon other subjects and striving to draw Beth out of her natural reserve. The younger girl had no power to resist such fascinations. Louise knew the big world, and talked of it with charming naivete, and Beth listened rapturously. Such a girl friend it had never been her privilege to have before, and when her suspicions were forgotten she became fairly responsive, and brightened wonderfully.

They dressed in time for dinner, and met Aunt Jane and Silas Watson, the lawyer, in the great drawing-room. The old gentleman was very attentive and courteous during the stately dinner, and did much to relieve the girls' embarrassment. Louise, indeed, seemed quite at home in her new surroundings, and chatted most vivaciously during the meal; but Aunt Jane was strangely silent, and Beth had little to say and seemed awkward and ill at ease.

The old lady retired to her own room shortly after dinner, and presently sent a servant to request Mr. Watson to join her.

"Silas," she said, when he entered, "what do you think of my nieces?" "They are very charming girls," he answered, "although they are at an age when few girls show to good advantage. Why did you not invite Kenneth to dinner, Jane?" "The boy?" "Yes. They would be more at ease in the society of a young gentleman more nearly their own age." "Kenneth is a bear. He is constantly saying disagreeable things. In other words, he is not gentlemanly, and the girls shall have nothing to do with him." "Very well," said the lawyer, quietly. "Which of my nieces do you prefer?" asked the old lady, after a pause.

"I cannot say, on so short an acquaintance," he answered, with gravity. "Which do you prefer, Jane?" "They are equally unsatisfactory," she answered. "I cannot imagine Elmhurst belonging to either, Silas." Then she added, with an abrupt change of manner: "You must go to New York for me, at once." "Tonight?" "No; tomorrow morning. I must see that other niece—the one who defies me and refuses to answer my second letter." "Patricia Doyle?" "Yes. Find her and argue with her. Tell her I am a crabbed old woman with a whim to know her, and that I shall not die happy unless she comes to Elmhurst. Bribe her, threaten her—kidnap her if necessary, Silas; but get her to Elmhurst as quickly as possible." "I'll do my best, Jane. But why are you so anxious?" "My time is drawing near, old friend," she replied, less harshly than usual, "and this matter of my will lies heavily on my conscience. What if I should die tonight?" He did not answer.

"There would be a dozen heirs to fight for my money, and dear old Elmhurst would be sold to strangers," she resumed, with bitterness. "But I don't mean to cross over just yet, Silas, even if one limb is dead already. I shall hang on until I get this matter settled, and I can't settle it properly without seeing all three of my nieces. One of these is too hard, and the other too soft. I'll see what Patricia is like." "She may prove even more undesirable," said the lawyer. "In that case, I'll pack her back again and choose between these two. But you must fetch her, Silas, that I may know just what I am doing. And you must fetch her at once!" "I'll do the best I can, Jane," repeated the old lawyer.

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CHAPTER IX. COUSINS. CAPÍTULO IX. LOS PADRINOS. CAPÍTULO IX. COUSINOS. BÖLÜM IX. KOCALAR.

"Come in," called Beth, answering a knock at her door. Louise entered, and with a little cry ran forward and caught Beth in her arms, kissing her in greeting. |||||||||||||||цілуючи|||

"You must be my new cousin—Cousin Elizabeth—and I'm awfully glad to see you at last!" she said, holding the younger girl a little away, that she might examine her carefully.

Beth did not respond to the caress. ||||||抚摸 贝丝没有回应那抚摸。 She eyed her opponent sharply, for she knew well enough, even in that first moment, that they were engaged in a struggle for supremacy in Aunt Jane's affections, and that in the battles to come no quarter could be asked or expected. |盯着||对手|||||||||||时刻|||在|参与|||||优越性||||感情|||||战斗||||||||| |||суперник||||||||||||||||||||перевага|||||||||||||||||| 她锐利地盯着对手,因为她清楚地知道,即使在那第一刻,他们也在为珍姨的感情争夺霸权,而在接下来的战斗中,既不能求饶,也不能指望宽恕。 So they stood at arm's length, facing one another and secretly forming an estimate each of the other's advantages and accomplishments. ||||||||||秘密地|形成||估计|||||||成就 ||||||||||||||||||||досягнення Ils se sont donc tenus à distance, l'un face à l'autre, et se sont secrètement fait une idée des avantages et des réalisations de l'autre. 于是她们相对站立,保持一定距离,彼此偷偷评估对方的优势和成就。 "She's pretty enough, but has no style whatever," was Louise's conclusion. |||||||||路易丝| ||||||||||висновок "Elle est assez jolie, mais n'a aucun style", conclut Louise. "Вона досить гарна, але не має жодного стилю", - таким був висновок Луїзи. "她很漂亮,但完全没有风格,"路易斯得出结论。 "Neither has she tact nor self-possession, or even a prepossessing manner. |||||自我|||||迷人的| Ні||||||||||| "Elle n'a ni tact, ni assurance, ni même de manières avenantes. "她既没有机智,也没有自控力,甚至没有令人愉快的举止。 She wears her new gown in a dowdy manner and one can read her face easily. |||||||邋遢|||||||| ||||плаття||||||||||| 她穿着新衣服显得很邋遢,人们很容易看出她的表情。 There's little danger in this quarter, I'm sure, so I may as well be friends with the poor child." 在这一地区几乎没有危险,我相信,所以我不妨和这个可怜的孩子做朋友。 As for Beth, she saw at once that her "new cousin" was older and more experienced in the ways of the world, and therefore liable to prove a dangerous antagonist. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||对手 ||||||||||||||||||||||||схильний|||||противник Quant à Beth, elle a tout de suite vu que son "nouveau cousin" était plus âgé et plus expérimenté dans les affaires du monde, et qu'il risquait donc de se révéler un dangereux antagoniste. 至于贝丝,她立刻看出她的"新表亲"年长且对世事更有经验,因此可能会成为一个危险的对手。 Slender and graceful of form, attractive of feature and dainty in manner, Louise must be credited with many advantages; but against these might be weighed her evident insincerity—the volubility and gush that are so often affected to hide one's real nature, and which so shrewd and suspicious a woman as Aunt Jane could not fail to readily detect. 苗条|||||||||||||||归功于||||||||||||虚伪||||流利|||||影响||隐藏|一个人的||||||狡猾||可疑||||||||||容易| |||||||||||||||заслужила||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||проникливий||підозрілий||||||||||легко| De forme svelte et gracieuse, aux traits séduisants et aux manières délicates, Louise doit être créditée de nombreux avantages, mais on peut mettre en balance son manque évident de sincérité, la volubilité et l'exubérance qui sont si souvent utilisées pour cacher la vraie nature d'une personne, et qu'une femme aussi perspicace et méfiante que tante Jane ne pouvait manquer de déceler facilement. 路易丝身材纤细优雅,五官吸引,举止精致,确实有许多优势;但与这些相比,她明显的不诚实也可能被称道——那种滔滔不绝和过于热情的表现往往是为了掩饰一个人的真实本性,而像简阿姨这样聪明且多疑的女人无疑极易察觉。 Altogether, Beth was not greatly disturbed by her cousin's appearance, and suddenly realizing that they had been staring at one another rather rudely, she said, pleasantly enough: 总的来说||||||||||||意识到||||||||||粗鲁地|||很愉快地| |||||||||||||||||пильно дивилися||||||||| Dans l'ensemble, Beth n'était pas très perturbée par l'apparition de sa cousine et, réalisant soudain qu'elles s'étaient dévisagées assez grossièrement, elle dit, de manière assez plaisante : "Won't you sit down?" "Of course; we must get acquainted," replied Louise, gaily, and perched herself cross-legged upon the window-seat, surrounded by a mass of cushions. ||||||||||坐|||||||||||一堆|| |||||познайомитися|||||влаштувалася|||скрестивши ноги|||||||||| "Bien sûr, il faut que nous fassions connaissance", répondit gaiement Louise, qui s'installa les jambes croisées sur le siège de la fenêtre, entouré d'une masse de coussins. "I didn't know you were here, until an hour ago," she continued. "But as soon as Aunt Jane told me I ran to my room, unpacked and settled the few traps I brought with me, and here I am—prepared for a good long chat and to love you just as dearly as you will let me." |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||亲爱的||||| "Mais dès que tante Jane me l'a dit, j'ai couru dans ma chambre, j'ai déballé et installé les quelques pièges que j'avais apportés avec moi, et me voilà prêt pour une bonne et longue conversation et pour t'aimer aussi fort que tu me le permettras". 但是一听到简姨妈告诉我,我就跑回我的房间, unpacked,整理了我带来的几个陷阱,现在我来这里了——准备好好聊聊天,像你允许我一样深爱你。 "I knew you were coming, but not until this morning," answered Beth, slowly. "Je savais que vous veniez, mais pas avant ce matin", répond Beth, lentement. 我知道你要来,但直到今天早上才知道, "Perhaps had I known, I would not have accepted our Aunt's invitation." "Peut-être que si j'avais su, je n'aurais pas accepté l'invitation de notre tante." "Можливо, якби я знав, то не прийняв би запрошення нашої тітки". 也许如果我早知道,我就不会接受我们姨妈的邀请。 "Ah! Why not?" enquired the other, as if in wonder. запитав|||||| 另一个人好奇地问道。

Beth hesitated. |犹豫 贝丝犹豫不决。

"Have you known Aunt Jane before today?" “你今天之前就认识简阿姨吗?” she asked.

"No." "Nor I. The letter asking me to visit her was the first I have ever received from her. Ні||||||||||||||||| Even my mother, her own sister, does not correspond with her. ||||||||通信|| ||||||||переписуватися|| 甚至我母亲,她自己的姐妹,也没有和她联系。 I was brought up to hate her very name, as a selfish, miserly old woman. ||||||||||||吝啬的|| 我是在痛恨她的名字长大的,把她看作一个自私、吝啬的老太太。 But, since she asked me to visit her, we judged she had softened and might wish to become friendly, and so I accepted the invitation. 但是,既然她请我去看她,我们觉得她已经软化,可能想要变得友好,所以我接受了邀请。 I had no idea you were also invited." "But why should you resent my being here?" ||||生气||| ||||обурюватися||| "但你为什么要对我在这里感到厌烦?" Louise asked, smiling. 路易丝微笑着问道。 "Surely, two girls will have a better time in this lonely old place than one could have alone. "当然,两个女孩在这个寂寞的老地方会比一个人独自待在那里更开心。" For my part, I am delighted to find you at Elmhurst." |||||高兴||||| |||||втішений||||| 就我而言,我很高兴在埃尔姆赫斯特见到你。 "Thank you," said Beth. 谢谢,贝丝说。 "That's a nice thing to say, but I doubt if it's true. 这真是好话,但我怀疑这是否是真的。 Don't let's beat around the bush. Ne tournons pas autour du pot. 别拐弯抹角了。 I hate hypocrisy, and if we're going to be friends let's be honest with one another from the start." ||虚伪|||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||щирий|||||| 我讨厌虚伪,如果我们要做朋友,从一开始就要彼此诚实。 "Well?" "那怎么样?" queried Louise, evidently amused. ||显然|开心 ||очевидно|розважений 询问路易丝,显然 amused。

"It's plain to me that Aunt Jane has invited us here to choose which one of us shall inherit her money—and Elmhurst. "对我来说很明显,简姨妈邀请我们来这里是为了选择我们中的哪一个继承她的钱——还有埃姆赫斯特。 She's old and feeble, and she hasn't any other relations." |||虚弱|||||| |||слабка|||||| 她年老体弱,没有其他亲戚。" "Oh, yes, she has" corrected Louise. "You mean Patricia Doyle?" |||Дойл "你是说帕特里夏·道伊尔?" "Yes." "是的。" "What do you know of her?" "你对她了解多少?" "Nothing at all." "Where does she live?" "I haven't the faintest idea." |||最微弱| |||найменшого| “我一点都不知道。” Louise spoke as calmly as if she had not mailed Patricia's defiant letter to Aunt Jane, or discovered her cousin's identity in the little hair-dresser from Madame Borne's establishment. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||博尔纳||店铺 |говорила||||||||||||||||||||||||||||перукарня мадемуазель Борн Луїза говорила так спокійно, ніби не відправляла зухвалого листа Патриції тітці Джейн і не впізнала свою кузину в маленькій перукарні з закладу мадам Борн. 路易丝说话时很平静,仿佛她没有把帕特里夏的挑衅信寄给简阿姨,或者在博尔内夫人店里的小发型师那里发现了她表姐的身份。 "Has Aunt Jane mentioned her?" “简阿姨提到过她吗?” continued Beth.

"Not in my presence." "在我面前不行。" "Then we may conclude she's left out of the arrangement," said Beth, calmly. |||||||||安排||| |||висновок||||||угоді||| "那么我们可以得出结论,她被排除在安排之外," 贝丝平静地说。 "And, as I said, Aunt Jane is likely to choose one of us to succeed her at Elmhurst. ||||||||||||||наступник||| "正如我所说,简姨妈很可能会选择我们中的一个人来接替她在艾尔姆赫斯特的职位。" I hoped I had it all my own way, but it's evident I was mistaken. ||||||||||||||错了 ||||||||||||||помилявся 我希望一切都按我的方式进行,但显然我错了。 You'll fight for your chance and fight mighty hard!" |||||||非常| ||||||боротися|могутній| 你会为自己的机会而战,并且会非常努力地战斗! Louise laughed merrily. ||весело 路易丝愉快地笑了。

"How funny!" “真有趣!” she exclaimed, after a moment during which Beth frowned at her darkly. |叫道||||||||||阴沉地 她惊呼道,贝丝在她阴沉的目光下停顿了一会儿。 "Why, my dear cousin, I don't want Aunt Jane's money." "Mais, ma chère cousine, je ne veux pas de l'argent de tante Jane." "我的亲爱的表妹,我不想要简姑姑的钱。" "You don't?" "你不想要吗?" "Not a penny of it; nor Elmhurst; nor anything you can possibly lay claim to, my dear. |||||ні||||||||||| "Pas un sou, ni Elmhurst, ni quoi que ce soit que vous puissiez revendiquer, ma chère. "一分钱都没有;也没有Elmhurst;也没有任何你可能声称拥有的东西,亲爱的。" My mother and I are amply provided for, and I am only here to find rest from my social duties and to get acquainted with my dead father's sister. |||||充分||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||забезпечені|||||||||||||обов'язки||||ознайомлений||||| Ma mère et moi sommes amplement pourvus, et je ne suis ici que pour me reposer de mes obligations sociales et faire la connaissance de la sœur de mon défunt père. "我和我母亲的生活已经足够好,我来这里只是想从社交责任中休息一下,顺便认识我已故父亲的姐姐。" That is all." "就这些。" "Oh!" said Beth, lying back in her chair with a sigh of relief. |||||||||||полегшення 贝斯叹了口气,舒了一口气,靠在椅子上说。

"So it was really a splendid idea of yours to be frank with me at our first meeting," continued Louise, cheerfully; "for it has led to your learning the truth, and I am sure you will never again grieve me by suggesting that I wish to supplant you in Aunt Jane's favor. ||||||||你的|||坦诚|||||||||高兴地||||||||||||||||||伤心|||建议|||||||||| |||||чудова||||||щирим|||||||||||||||||||||||||||сумувати|||пропонуючи|||||||||| C'était donc une excellente idée de votre part d'être franche avec moi lors de notre première rencontre", continua Louise, joyeusement, "car cela vous a permis d'apprendre la vérité, et je suis sûre que vous ne me ferez plus jamais de peine en suggérant que je souhaite vous supplanter dans les faveurs de tante Jane". 路易丝愉快地接着说:“所以,您在我们第一次见面时坦诚相待真是个绝妙的主意,因为这使您得以了解真相,我相信您不会再让我感到伤心,暗示我想取代您在简姨妈心中的地位。” Now tell me something about yourself and your people. 现在告诉我一些关于你和你家人的事情。 Are you poor?" "Poor as poverty," said Beth, gloomily. "My father teaches music, and mother scolds him continually for not being able to earn enough money to keep out of debt." |||||妈妈||||||||||||||||债务 ||||||лає||постійно||||||||||||| "Hasn't Aunt Jane helped you?" "We've never seen a cent of her money, although father has tried at times to borrow enough to help him out of his difficulties." ||||||||хоча||||||||||||||| "That's strange. She seems like such a dear kindly old lady," said Louise, musingly. "I think she's horrid," answered Beth, angrily; "but I mustn't let her know it. ||||||生气地|||不能|||| |||жахливий|||||||||| I even kissed her, when she asked me to, and it sent a shiver all down my back." |||||||||||||颤抖|||| |||||||||||||тремтіння|||| Louise laughed with genuine amusement. |||真正的| |||щирий|розвага

"You must dissemble, Cousin Elizabeth," she advised, "and teach our aunt to love you. ||假装||||建议||||||| "你必须虚情假意,伊丽莎白表妹," 她劝道,"并教我们的姑姑爱上你。 For my part, I am fond of everyone, and it delights me to fuss around invalids and assist them. ||||||||||让我高兴|||||病人||| ||||||||||радує|||метушня||||| Pour ma part, j'aime tout le monde et je me réjouis de m'occuper des invalides et de les assister. 就我而言,我喜欢每一个人,照顾病人并帮助他们让我感到愉快。 I ought to have been a trained nurse, you know; but of course there's no necessity of my earning a living." ||||||||||||||||||挣钱|| |||||||||||||||необхідність|||заробляння|| 我本该成为一名受过训练的护士,你知道的;但当然,我并不需要靠此谋生。 "I suppose not," said Beth. Then, after a thoughtful silence, she resumed abruptly; "What's to prevent Aunt Jane leaving you her property, even if you are rich, and don't need it? |||沉思的|||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||раптово|||||||||||||||||| Puis, après un silence pensif, elle reprit brusquement : "Qu'est-ce qui empêche tante Jane de te laisser ses biens, même si tu es riche et que tu n'en as pas besoin ? You say you like to care for invalids, and I don't. |||||||病人||| Suppose Aunt Jane prefers you to me, and wills you all her money?" ||||||||把|||| 假设简阿姨更喜欢你而不是我,并把她所有的钱都留给你? "Why, that would be beyond my power to prevent," answered Louise, with a little yawn. ||||||||||||||哈欠 "Mais je ne peux pas l'empêcher", répond Louise avec un petit bâillement. "Чому, це не в моїх силах запобігти", - відповіла Луїза, злегка позіхнувши. "为什么,那是我无法阻止的,"路易丝回答说,打了个小哈欠。 Beth's face grew hard again. ||стала|| 贝丝的脸再次变得冷酷。 "You're deceiving me," she declared, angrily. |欺骗|||| |обманюєш|||| "Vous me trompez", déclare-t-elle avec colère. "You're trying to make me think you don't want Elmhurst, when you're as anxious to get it as I am." |||||||||||||тривожний|||||| “你试图让我认为你不想要厄尔姆赫斯特,而你实际上和我一样渴望得到它。” "My dear Elizabeth—by the way, that's an awfully long name; what do they call you, Lizzie, or Bessie, or—" ||||||||||||||||||贝西| “我亲爱的伊丽莎白——顺便说一句,这个名字真长;他们叫你利齐,还是贝西,或者——” "They call me Beth," sullenly. ||||闷闷不乐地 "Ils m'appellent Beth", d'un air maussade. “他们叫我贝丝,”她忧郁地说。 "Then, my dear Beth, let me beg you not to borrow trouble, or to doubt one who wishes to be your friend. ||||||просити||||||||||||||| "Alors, ma chère Beth, permettez-moi de vous prier de ne pas emprunter des ennuis, ni de douter de celui qui veut être votre ami. "那么,亲爱的贝丝,请让我恳求你不要自寻烦恼,或者怀疑一个希望成为你朋友的人。 Elmhurst would be a perfect bore to me. |||||无聊|| |||||нудний|| Elmhurst serait pour moi un ennui parfait. 埃尔姆赫斯特对我来说简直是无聊透顶。 I wouldn't know what to do with it. 我不知道该如何处理它。 I couldn't live in this out-of-the-way corner of the world, you know." |||||偏僻||||||||| 你知道,我无法住在这个偏僻的角落里。 "But suppose she leaves it to you?" 但是如果她把它留给你呢? persisted Beth. залишалася Бет| 贝丝坚持说道。 "You wouldn't refuse it, I imagine." Louise seemed to meditate. |||冥想 |здавалося||

"Cousin," she said, at length, "I'll make a bargain with you. ||||||||交易|| ||||||||угода|| “表亲,”她终于说道,“我和你达个交易。” I can't refuse to love and pet Aunt Jane, just because she has money and my sweet cousin Beth is anxious to inherit it. ||||||宠爱||||||||||||||||| ||відмовитися||||||||||||||||||тривожний||| Je ne peux pas refuser d'aimer et de caresser tante Jane, juste parce qu'elle a de l'argent et que ma gentille cousine Beth est impatiente d'en hériter. 我不能因为姑妈简有钱,而拒绝去爱她和宠爱她,毕竟我亲爱的表亲贝斯急于继承这笔遗产。 But I'll not interfere in any way with your chances, and I'll promise to sing your praises to our aunt persistently. ||||||||||||||||赞美||||坚持地 |||втручатися|||||||||||||||||постійно 但我绝不以任何方式干扰你的机会,并且我会承诺不断地向我们的姑妈赞美你。 Furthermore, in case she selects me as her heir, I will agree to transfer half of the estate to you—the half that consists of Elmhurst." 此外|||||||||||||||||||||||由|| Крім того|||||||||||||||||||||||складається з|| De plus, au cas où elle me choisirait comme héritier, j'accepterais de vous transférer la moitié de la succession - la moitié qui consiste en Elmhurst." 此外,如果她选择我作为她的继承人,我将同意把一半的遗产转让给你——包括Elmhurst的那一半。 "Is there much more?" 还有更多吗? asked Beth. 贝丝问道。

"I haven't any list of Aunt Jane's possessions, so I don't know. |||||||财物|||| But you shall have Elmhurst, if I get it, because the place would be of no use to me." "It's a magnificent estate," said Beth, looking at her cousin doubtfully. ||||||||||怀疑地 ||||||||||сумнівно "It shall be yours, dear, whatever Aunt Jane decides. ||||||||决定 See, this is a compact, and I'll seal it with a kiss." ||||契约||||||| |||||||запечатаю|||| She sprang up and, kneeling beside Beth, kissed her fervently. |||||||||热切地 |вскочила|||на колінах||||| 她跳起来,跪在贝丝旁边,热情地吻了她。

"Now shall we be friends?" "现在我们可以成为朋友了吗?" she asked, lightly. 她轻松地问。 "Now will you abandon all those naughty suspicions and let me love you?" |||||||怀疑||||| |||покинути||||підозри||||| "现在你会放弃那些调皮的怀疑,让我爱你吗?" Beth hesitated. 贝丝犹豫不决。

The suggestion seemed preposterous. |||荒谬 ||здавалося| 这个建议似乎荒谬。 Such generosity savored of play acting, and Louise's manner was too airy to be genuine. ||像|||||||||轻浮||| |щедрість|||||||||||||справжній Une telle générosité ressemble à un jeu d'acteur, et les manières de Louise sont trop aériennes pour être authentiques. 如此慷慨的举动似乎是一种表演,而路易丝的举止过于轻浮,无法显得真实。 Somehow she felt that she was being laughed at by this slender, graceful girl, who was scarcely older than herself; but she was too unsophisticated to know how to resent it. ||||||||||||||||||||||||幼稚|||||| |||||||||||стрункий|елегантний||||ледве|||||||||||||обурюватися| Elle avait l'impression que cette jeune fille svelte et gracieuse, à peine plus âgée qu'elle, se moquait d'elle, mais elle était trop ignorante pour savoir comment s'en offusquer. 不知为何,她感觉自己正在被这个纤细优雅的女孩嘲笑,而她的年纪几乎和自己一样;但她太单纯,不知道如何去反感。 Louise insisted upon warding off her enmity, or at least establishing a truce, and Beth, however suspicious and ungracious, could find no way of rejecting the overtures. ||坚持||||||||建立||停战||||||不友好||||||拒绝||提议 ||||||||||встановлення||перемир'я||||||||||||відхиляючи|| Louise insistait pour se débarrasser de son inimitié, ou au moins pour établir une trêve, et Beth, bien que méfiante et peu gracieuse, ne pouvait pas trouver le moyen de rejeter ces ouvertures. 路易丝坚持要化解她的敌意,或者至少建立一个停战协议,而贝丝虽然怀有怀疑和不情愿,却找不到拒绝提议的办法。

"Were I in your place," she said, "I would never promise to give up a penny of the inheritance. "Si j'étais à votre place, dit-elle, je ne promettrais jamais de renoncer à un centime de l'héritage. If I win it, I shall keep it all." "To be sure. I should want you to, my dear." J'aimerais que vous le fassiez, ma chère." "Then, since we have no cause to quarrel, we may as well become friends," continued Beth, her features relaxing a little their set expression. ||||||||||||||||||放松||||| |||||||сварка|||||||||||розслабляючись||||| "那么,既然我们没有争执的理由,不如就成为朋友吧,"贝丝继续说道,面部表情稍微放松了她那种固定的神情。 Louise laughed again, ignoring the other's brusqueness, and was soon chatting away pleasantly upon other subjects and striving to draw Beth out of her natural reserve. ||||||粗鲁||||聊天||||||||||||||| Louise rit à nouveau, ignorant la brusquerie de son interlocutrice, et bavarde bientôt agréablement sur d'autres sujets, s'efforçant de faire sortir Beth de sa réserve naturelle. Луїза знову розсміялася, не звертаючи уваги на грубість співрозмовниці, і незабаром приємно розмовляла на інші теми, намагаючись вивести Бет з її природної замкнутості. 路易丝再次笑了,忽略了对方的粗鲁,很快便愉快地聊起了其他话题,努力引导贝丝走出她的自然拘谨。 The younger girl had no power to resist such fascinations. |||||||опиратися|| 年轻女孩对这样的魅力无能为力。 Louise knew the big world, and talked of it with charming naivete, and Beth listened rapturously. |||||||||||天真|||| ||||||||||чарівний||||| Such a girl friend it had never been her privilege to have before, and when her suspicions were forgotten she became fairly responsive, and brightened wonderfully. ||||||||||||||||||||||反应灵敏||| |||||||||привілей|||||||підозри|||||досить|відповідна||| Elle n'avait jamais eu le privilège d'avoir une telle amie, et lorsque ses soupçons furent oubliés, elle devint assez réceptive et s'éclaira merveilleusement. 这样的女朋友她以前从未有过,当她的怀疑被遗忘时,她变得相当热情,眼睛也焕发出奇妙的光彩。

They dressed in time for dinner, and met Aunt Jane and Silas Watson, the lawyer, in the great drawing-room. ||||||||||||||адвокат||||| 她们及时穿好衣服,来到了大客厅,见到了简姑姑和律师西拉斯·沃特森。 The old gentleman was very attentive and courteous during the stately dinner, and did much to relieve the girls' embarrassment. |||||||礼貌|||||||||缓解||| |||||уважний|||||||||||зменшити|||сором'язливість Le vieil homme s'est montré très attentif et courtois pendant le dîner d'apparat et a largement contribué à soulager l'embarras des jeunes filles. 在庄重的晚餐期间,这位老先生非常关心和礼貌,做了很多事情来缓解女孩们的尴尬。 Louise, indeed, seemed quite at home in her new surroundings, and chatted most vivaciously during the meal; but Aunt Jane was strangely silent, and Beth had little to say and seemed awkward and ill at ease. |||||||||||||活泼地||||||||奇怪地|||||||||||||| |||||||||оточенні|||||||||||||||||||||здавалося|незграбно|||| 露易丝似乎在新环境中十分自在,餐桌上聊得非常愉快;但简姑姑格外沉默,贝丝也几乎没有话说,看起来既尴尬又不自在。

The old lady retired to her own room shortly after dinner, and presently sent a servant to request Mr. Watson to join her. ||||||||不久|||||||||||||| |||вийшла на пенсію|||||||||незабаром|надіслала||||||||| 老夫人晚餐后不久就退回了自己的房间,随后派了一名仆人去请沃森先生来见她。

"Silas," she said, when he entered, "what do you think of my nieces?" "赛拉斯,"她说,当他走进来的时候,"你觉得我的侄女们怎么样?" "They are very charming girls," he answered, "although they are at an age when few girls show to good advantage. ||||||||||||||||||好| |||чарівні||||хоча||||||||||||перевага "Ce sont des filles très charmantes, répondit-il, bien qu'elles soient à un âge où peu de filles se montrent sous leur meilleur jour. Why did you not invite Kenneth to dinner, Jane?" ||||запросити|||| "The boy?" "Yes. They would be more at ease in the society of a young gentleman more nearly their own age." Ils seraient plus à l'aise dans la société d'un jeune gentleman plus proche de leur âge". "Kenneth is a bear. |||ведмідь “肯尼斯是个野兽。 He is constantly saying disagreeable things. ||постійно||| 他总是不停地说些令人不快的话。 In other words, he is not gentlemanly, and the girls shall have nothing to do with him." 换句话说,他一点绅士风度都没有,女孩们都不想跟他打交道。” "Very well," said the lawyer, quietly. ||||адвокат| "Which of my nieces do you prefer?" asked the old lady, after a pause.

"I cannot say, on so short an acquaintance," he answered, with gravity. |||||||相识||||严肃 |||||||знайомство|||| "Which do you prefer, Jane?" "They are equally unsatisfactory," she answered. "Ils sont tout aussi insatisfaisants", a-t-elle répondu. "它们同样不令人满意,"她回答道。 "I cannot imagine Elmhurst belonging to either, Silas." ||||||будь-якому| "Je ne peux pas imaginer qu'Elmhurst appartienne à l'un ou à l'autre, Silas." "我无法想象Elmhurst会属于其中任何一个,Silas。" Then she added, with an abrupt change of manner: "You must go to New York for me, at once." |||||раптовий||||||||||||| 然后她突然改变了语气,补充道:"你必须立刻去纽约,替我一趟。" "Tonight?" "No; tomorrow morning. I must see that other niece—the one who defies me and refuses to answer my second letter." |||||||||ігнорує|||||||| "Patricia Doyle?" “帕特里夏·道伊?” "Yes. “是的。 Find her and argue with her. 找到她并和她争论。” Tell her I am a crabbed old woman with a whim to know her, and that I shall not die happy unless she comes to Elmhurst. Dites-lui que je suis une vieille femme un peu grincheuse qui a envie de la connaître, et que je ne mourrai pas heureuse si elle ne vient pas à Elmhurst. 告诉她我是一个脾气古怪的老女人,想要认识她,除非她来埃尔姆赫斯特,否则我不会死得心安理得。 Bribe her, threaten her—kidnap her if necessary, Silas; but get her to Elmhurst as quickly as possible." ||погрожувати||||||||||||||| Soudoyez-la, menacez-la, kidnappez-la s'il le faut, Silas, mais emmenez-la à Elmhurst le plus vite possible." 贿赂她,威胁她——必要时绑架她,西拉斯;但要尽快把她带到埃尔姆赫斯特。 "I'll do my best, Jane. "我会尽力而为,简。" But why are you so anxious?" |||||тривожний "My time is drawing near, old friend," she replied, less harshly than usual, "and this matter of my will lies heavily on my conscience. |||临近|||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||справа||||||||совість "Mon heure approche, mon vieil ami", répondit-elle, moins durement que d'habitude, "et cette question de mon testament pèse lourdement sur ma conscience. "我的时间快到了,老朋友,"她回答,语气没有平时那么严厉,"而我的遗嘱这个问题让我感到十分沉重。" What if I should die tonight?" "如果我今晚死去怎么办?" He did not answer. 他没有回答。

"There would be a dozen heirs to fight for my money, and dear old Elmhurst would be sold to strangers," she resumed, with bitterness. |||||继承人|||||||||||||||||| ||||дюжина|||битися||||||||||||||продовжила|| "Il y aurait une douzaine d'héritiers pour se disputer mon argent, et ce bon vieux Elmhurst serait vendu à des étrangers", reprit-elle avec amertume. "But I don't mean to cross over just yet, Silas, even if one limb is dead already. |||||||||||||кінцівка||| "Mais je n'ai pas l'intention de traverser tout de suite, Silas, même si un membre est déjà mort. "但是,我不打算马上就去世,西拉斯,即使我的一条腿已经死了。 I shall hang on until I get this matter settled, and I can't settle it properly without seeing all three of my nieces. |||||||||||||влаштувати||||||||| Je m'accrocherai jusqu'à ce que cette affaire soit réglée, et je ne peux pas la régler correctement sans voir mes trois nièces. 我会坚持下去,直到这个事情解决,而我不能在没有见到我所有三个侄女的情况下妥善解决它。 One of these is too hard, and the other too soft. L'un est trop dur, l'autre trop mou. 其中一个太硬,而另一个太软。 I'll see what Patricia is like." "She may prove even more undesirable," said the lawyer. ||виявитися||||||юрист "Elle peut s'avérer encore plus indésirable", a déclaré l'avocat. "In that case, I'll pack her back again and choose between these two. ||||упакую|||||||| "Dans ce cas, je la remballe et je choisis entre ces deux-là. But you must fetch her, Silas, that I may know just what I am doing. |||принести||||||||||| And you must fetch her at once!" |||принести||| Et vous devez aller la chercher immédiatement !" "I'll do the best I can, Jane," repeated the old lawyer.