🔊 The next morning was fair, and Catherine hardly knew how to believe it when she awoke and saw the sun. She had expected to be drenched in rain, and to hear the wind blowing against her window; but the elements were perfectly at peace, and a bright, steady beam of light streamed through the shutters. This auspicious beginning of her visit naturally gave her hopes of a continuance of its prosperity, and she rose with the happy persuasion of being able to explore the abbey before breakfast. She was determined to lose no time in looking over the house, and when she had finished dressing, she went to the window to examine the prospect. The morning was fine, and she walked to the lattice to enjoy the sight of the gardens and the park, which, though she had seen them the evening before, she had not been able to examine.

翌日清晨,天气晴朗。凯瑟琳醒来时望见阳光,几乎难以置信。她原以为会遭受暴雨浸淋,听闻狂风拍打窗棂；然而风雨止息,天地一片安宁,一道明亮而稳定的光束透过百叶窗流泻进来。此次造访如此吉兆开端,自然让她期盼好运延续,于是她欣然起身,满心以为能在早餐前探索这座修道院。她决心不耽搁时间,仔细察看这宅邸,穿戴整齐后便走到窗边审视景致。晨光美好,她踱至格子窗前,欣赏花园与庭院的风光--虽昨夜曾见,却未能细察。

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auspicious /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/

adj. 吉利的➕

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continuance /kənˈtɪnjuəns/

n. 持续➕

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prosperity /prɒˈsperəti/

n. 繁荣➕

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persuasion /pəˈsweɪʒn/

n. 信念➕

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prospect /ˈprɒspekt/

n. 景色➕

🔊 She had been mistaken in supposing the room she was in to be the most distant from the stairs. She saw that two others, opening from a passage which she had not yet observed, lay between her and the end of the gallery. She longed to explore further, but dared not yet; and returning to her own apartment, she began to think with certainty of the possibility of its having been the very one which had been fitted up for the reception of the unfortunate Mrs. Tilney. The room was certainly very unlike the one in which she had passed the night; it was larger and handsomer, and the furniture was in a better style. But what of that? It might only be the difference of the taste of different generations. She determined to make a closer examination, and to search for some memorial which might ascertain the fact.

她这才发觉自己弄错了,原以为所住的房间离楼梯最远。她看到,在她与走廊尽头之间,还有两间屋子,开向一条她尚未注意到的过道。她渴望进一步探索,却还不敢贸然行事；于是回到自己的房间,开始确信这房间很可能正是当年为迎接不幸的蒂尔尼太太而布置的那间。这房间当然与她昨夜所住的大不相同:更为宽敞、雅致,家具样式也更优良。但这又能说明什么呢？或许只是不同世代的口味差异罢了。她决心更仔细地检查,寻找或许能证实此事的纪念物。

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certainty /ˈsɜːtnti/

n. 确定性➕

🔊

possibility /ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti/

n. 可能性➕

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reception /rɪˈsepʃn/

n. 接待➕

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unfortunate /ʌnˈfɔːtʃənət/

adj. 不幸的➕

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examination /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/

n. 检查➕

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memorial /məˈmɔːriəl/

n. 纪念物➕

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ascertain /ˌæsəˈteɪn/

v. 查明➕

🔊 She looked round the room. The bed was of a dark, rich green, and the hangings were of the same colour. The chairs were also covered with green, and a green cloth was spread upon the table. There was nothing in all this to create suspicion; but Catherine remembered that in many old houses the furniture of one room was frequently made to match, and that green was a colour often used in ancient times. She walked to the bed, and examined the hangings. They were of a thick, substantial material, and in good preservation. She then turned to the table, and opened the drawers. They were empty, and she shut them again with disappointment. She next looked at the fireplace. The grate was filled with ashes, and she could not help thinking that it had been recently used. But this might be only fancy; and she turned from it to examine the walls. They were hung with a few indifferent pictures, and she passed them by without much notice.

她环顾室内。床是深浓的墨绿色,帷幔亦是同色。椅子也覆着绿罩,桌上铺着一块绿布。这一切本无可疑；但凯瑟琳记得,许多老宅中,同一房间的家具常是配套的,而绿色是古代常用的色调。她走到床边,细察帷幔。那是厚实耐用的料子,保存完好。接着她转向桌子,拉开抽屉。里面空空如也,她失望地关上。随后她看向壁炉。炉栅里满是灰烬,她不禁觉得那是近来用过的。但这或许只是臆想；她转身去检查墙壁。墙上挂着几幅平淡的画作,她未加细看便走了过去。

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suspicion /səˈspɪʃn/

n. 怀疑➕

🔊

ancient /ˈeɪnʃənt/

adj. 古代的➕

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substantial /səbˈstænʃl/

adj. 坚固的➕

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preservation /ˌprezəˈveɪʃn/

n. 保存➕

🔊

fancy /ˈfænsi/

n. 幻想➕

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indifferent /ɪnˈdɪfrənt/

adj. 平庸的➕

🔊 Her eye was then caught by a large, high chest, which stood in one corner of the room. It was of oak, and looked very old. Catherine approached it with a beating heart. She tried to lift the lid, but it was locked. She looked round for a key, but none was to be seen. She then examined the lock, and found it to be of a very ancient fashion. Her curiosity was now greatly excited, and she determined to apply to Eleanor for the key. She was just going to leave the room for that purpose, when her eye fell upon a small, secret drawer in the side of the chest. She pressed the spring, and the drawer flew open. In it she found a bundle of papers, tied up with a piece of faded ribbon. Her heart beat violently as she took them out. She untied the ribbon, and unfolded the papers. They were covered with writing, but the ink was so pale, and the characters so indistinct, that she could scarcely read a word. She carried them to the window, and by the help of the bright light, she made out a few lines. They appeared to be part of a letter, and the words that she could distinguish were "my dearest Catherine," and "your affectionate husband."

这时,她的目光被房间一隅一只高大箱柜吸引。那是橡木所制,看来年代久远。凯瑟琳心怀忐忑地走近。她试着抬起箱盖,却见锁着。她四下寻找钥匙,却一无所获。她继而检查锁孔,发现样式极为古老。此刻她的好奇心被大大激发,决意向埃莉诺索要钥匙。她正欲为此离开房间,目光却落到箱侧一个小暗屉上。她按下机关,暗屉便轻轻弹开。里面是一札用褪色丝带系着的文件。取出这札文件时,她的心剧烈地跳动着。她解开丝带,展开文件。纸上写满了字,但墨迹如此淡薄,字迹如此模糊,她几乎一字难辨。她持文件走到窗边,借着明亮光线,勉强认出几行。那似乎是信件的一部分,她能分辨的词语是“我最亲爱的凯瑟琳,”以及“你挚爱的丈夫。”

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curiosity /ˌkjʊəriˈɒsəti/

n. 好奇心➕

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apply /əˈplaɪ/

v. 申请➕

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bundle /ˈbʌndl/

n. 捆➕

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faded /ˈfeɪdɪd/

adj. 褪色的➕

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violently /ˈvaɪələntli/

adv. 猛烈地➕

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indistinct /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/

adj. 模糊的➕

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scarcely /ˈskeəsli/

adv. 几乎不➕

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distinguish /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/

v. 辨别➕

🔊

affectionate /əˈfekʃənət/

adj. 深情的➕

🔊 This discovery was almost too much for her feelings. She sat down, trembling, and read the lines over and over again. They were certainly written by General Tilney to his wife. But why were they hidden in this secret drawer? The thought that Mrs. Tilney might have been confined in this very room, and that these papers might contain some proof of her sufferings, filled Catherine's mind with horror. She resolved to examine them more carefully at a future time, and to show them to Eleanor, that she might judge of their importance. She tied them up again, replaced them in the drawer, and shut it.

这一发现令她心绪激荡,几乎难以自持。她坐下,浑身颤抖,将那几行字读了又读。这无疑是蒂尔尼将军写给他妻子的信。但它们为何藏在这个暗屉里？想到蒂尔尼太太或许曾被幽禁在这间屋子,而这些文件可能包含她所受苦难的某些证据,凯瑟琳心中充满恐惧。她决意日后再仔细检视它们,并拿给埃莉诺看,以便她判断其重要性。她重新系好文件,放回抽屉,关上了它。

🔊

confined /kənˈfaɪnd/

adj. 被限制的➕

🔊

proof /pruːf/

n. 证据➕

🔊

sufferings /ˈsʌfərɪŋz/

n. 苦难➕

🔊

horror /ˈhɒrə(r)/

n. 恐怖➕

🔊

resolved /rɪˈzɒlvd/

v. 决心➕

🔊 She then left the room, and went in search of Eleanor. She found her in the breakfast-parlour, and immediately related her discovery. Eleanor listened with attention, and when Catherine had finished, she said, "I have no doubt that the papers you found are some old letters of my father's. He often writes to my mother when he is absent from home, and she preserves all his letters. But why they should be locked up in that chest, I cannot imagine. However, I will ask him for the key, and we will examine them together."

接着她离开房间,去找埃莉诺。她在早餐室找到了她,立刻讲述了这一发现。埃莉诺专注地听着,待凯瑟琳说完,她说道:“我毫不怀疑,你发现的那些文件是我父亲的一些旧信。他出门在外时常给母亲写信,而母亲保存着他所有的信件。可它们为何锁在那只箱子里,我却想象不出。不过,我会向他讨要钥匙,我们可以一同查看。”

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related /rɪˈleɪtɪd/

v. 叙述➕

🔊

doubt /daʊt/

n. 怀疑➕

🔊

absent /ˈæbsənt/

adj. 缺席的➕

🔊

preserves /prɪˈzɜːvz/

v. 保存➕

🔊 Catherine was satisfied with this answer, and they sat down to breakfast. The General was in high spirits, and talked much of the improvements he had made in the abbey. Catherine listened with polite attention, but her thoughts were often wandering to the chest and the papers. After breakfast, the General proposed to show her the gardens, and she accompanied him and Eleanor with pleasure. The gardens were extensive and well laid out, and Catherine admired them very much; but she could not help wishing that the walk was over, that she might return to the examination of the chest.

凯瑟琳对这个回答感到满意,她们便坐下来用早餐。将军兴致颇高,大谈特谈他对修道院所做的种种改进。凯瑟琳礼貌地专注听着,但思绪常飘向那只箱子和那些文件。早餐后,将军提议带她参观花园,她欣然陪同他和埃莉诺前往。花园占地广阔,布局精巧,凯瑟琳大为赞叹；但她仍不禁盼着这场散步快些完结,好让她能回去继续检查那只箱子。

🔊

spirits /ˈspɪrɪts/

n. 情绪➕

🔊

improvements /ɪmˈpruːvmənts/

n. 改进➕

🔊

wandering /ˈwɒndərɪŋ/

v. 徘徊➕

🔊

proposed /prəˈpəʊzd/

v. 提议➕

🔊

accompanied /əˈkʌmpənid/

v. 陪伴➕

🔊

extensive /ɪkˈstensɪv/

adj. 广阔的➕

🔊

admired /ədˈmaɪəd/

v. 钦佩➕

🔊 When they returned to the house, Eleanor went to her father to ask for the key. She returned in a few minutes, and told Catherine that the General had given it to her, but that he had said the chest contained only some old household accounts, and that there was nothing in it worth looking at. Catherine, however, was not to be deterred, and they went together to the room. Eleanor unlocked the chest, and they lifted the lid. It was filled with linen, neatly folded. Catherine was disappointed, but she determined to search to the bottom. They took out the linen, piece by piece, and laid it on the bed. When they had removed it all, they found at the bottom of the chest a small box, also locked. Eleanor tried the key, but it did not fit. "This is strange," said she; "I never saw this box before. I must ask my father for another key."

回到宅邸后,埃莉诺去找她父亲要钥匙。几分钟后她回来了,告诉凯瑟琳将军已把钥匙给了她,但他说箱子里不过是一些旧的家用账目,没什么值得一看的东西。然而,凯瑟琳并未因此打消念头,她们一同去了那个房间。埃莉诺打开箱子,她们掀开箱盖。里面装满了叠放整齐的亚麻织品。凯瑟琳很失望,但她决心搜到底。她们一件件取出亚麻织品,铺放在床上。全部取出后,她们在箱底发现了一个同样锁着的小匣子。埃莉诺试了试那把钥匙,并不合用。“这就怪了,”她说,“我从未见过这只匣子。我得再向我父亲要另一把钥匙。”

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household /ˈhaʊshəʊld/

adj. 家庭的➕

🔊

accounts /əˈkaʊnts/

n. 账目➕

🔊

deterred /dɪˈtɜːd/

v. 阻止➕

🔊

linen /ˈlɪnɪn/

n. 亚麻布➕

🔊 Catherine's curiosity was now greater than ever. She assisted Eleanor in replacing the linen, and they shut the chest. Eleanor then went again to the General, and returned with a bunch of keys. She tried several before she found one that would open the box. When it was opened, they found it contained a miniature portrait of a lady, set in gold, and a few trinkets. Catherine took up the miniature, and looked at it eagerly. It was the portrait of a young and beautiful woman, with a mild and sweet expression. "Is this your mother?" she asked.

凯瑟琳的好奇心此刻比先前更甚。她帮埃莉诺将亚麻织品放回原处,然后合上箱子。埃莉诺再次去找将军,回来时拿着一串钥匙。她试了好几把,才找到能打开匣子的那一把。打开后,她们发现里面是一幅镶金的女士微型肖像,还有几件小首饰。凯瑟琳拿起那幅微型肖像,急切地端详起来。画像上的女子年轻美丽,神情温柔甜美。“这是你的母亲吗？”她问道。

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replacing /rɪˈpleɪsɪŋ/

v. 替换➕

🔊

bunch /bʌntʃ/

n. 一串➕

🔊

miniature /ˈmɪnətʃə(r)/

n. 微型画像➕

🔊

portrait /ˈpɔːtreɪt/

n. 肖像➕

🔊

trinkets /ˈtrɪŋkɪts/

n. 小饰品➕

🔊

eagerly /ˈiːɡəli/

adv. 急切地➕

🔊

mild /maɪld/

adj. 温和的➕

🔊 "Yes," replied Eleanor, "it is my mother's picture. I remember it was taken when she was very young. I am glad to have found it, for I had lost it some time ago, and feared it was gone forever."

“是的,”埃莉诺答道,“这是我母亲的画像。我记得这是她年轻时画的。能找到它我真高兴,因为前些日子我弄丢了它,还担心永远找不回来了。”

🔊 Catherine examined the picture with the deepest interest. She thought she could trace in the features a resemblance to Henry, and her heart warmed towards it. She replaced it in the box, and Eleanor locked it up again, and put it in her own room for safety. Catherine then returned to her apartment, her mind full of the discoveries she had made. She was now convinced that the room she occupied had been Mrs. Tilney's, and that the chest contained relics of her which were carefully preserved. She felt a mixture of pleasure and pain at the thought, and resolved to treat everything connected with the memory of the deceased lady with the utmost respect and tenderness.

凯瑟琳怀着最深切的兴趣审视这幅肖像。她觉得自己能在面容中找出与亨利相似之处,心中不由生出暖意。她将它放回匣中,埃莉诺重新锁好,为稳妥起见,把它放进了自己的房间。凯瑟琳随后回到自己的房间,脑海里充满了方才的种种发现。此时她已确信,自己所住的这间屋子正是蒂尔尼夫人曾经的居所,而那箱子里的东西,正是她被悉心保存的遗物。想到这里,她心中涌起一阵悲喜交加的复杂情绪,并决心以最大的敬意与温情来对待与这位已故夫人记忆相关的一切。

🔊

trace /treɪs/

v. 追踪➕

🔊

features /ˈfiːtʃəz/

n. 特征➕

🔊

resemblance /rɪˈzembləns/

n. 相似➕

🔊

convinced /kənˈvɪnst/

adj. 确信的➕

🔊

occupied /ˈɒkjupaɪd/

v. 占用➕

🔊

relics /ˈrelɪks/

n. 遗物➕

🔊

mixture /ˈmɪkstʃə(r)/

n. 混合➕

🔊

deceased /dɪˈsiːst/

adj. 已故的➕

🔊

utmost /ˈʌtməʊst/

adj. 极度的➕

🔊

tenderness /ˈtendənəs/

n. 温柔➕

🔊 The rest of the day passed quietly. Catherine read, worked, and walked with Eleanor, and in the evening the General joined them, and was as agreeable as before. Catherine began to think that she had been mistaken in her fears, and that the abbey was not the scene of horror she had imagined. She went to bed in better spirits, and slept soundly till morning.

这一天的余下时光平静度过。凯瑟琳读书、做手工,与埃莉诺一同散步；晚上将军也加入进来,像之前一样和蔼可亲。凯瑟琳开始觉得自己先前的恐惧或许是错的,这座修道院并非她想象中那般恐怖。她心境大为宽慰地上床就寝,一觉安稳睡到天明。

🔊

agreeable /əˈɡriːəbl/

adj. 令人愉快的➕

Chapter twenty-two (第二十二章)

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