7

　　'Mother，Mother，I'm so happy，'cried the girl，'and you must be happy too． '

　　Mrs Vane put her thin white hands on her daughter's head．'I'm only happy when I see you in the theatre，'she said．'And we are poor．We need the money—don't forget that．what do we know about this young man？You don't know his real name，or anything about him．'

　　'No，but I call him Prince Charming．He's everything to me．I love him and he loves me．Oh Mother，let me be happy！ '

　　'You're too young to think of love，'said her mother．She looked at her daughter's lovely face， and tried to warn her of the dangers of love，but the girl did not listen．She was locked in her prison of love．

　　At that moment the girl's brother entered the room．He was a heavy，dark young man，not at all like his sister．

　　'I've heard about a gentleman who visits you every night at the theatre，'he said to his sister．'Who is he？What does he want？'

　　'Oh James，don't be angry with me today，'cried Sybil．'You're leaving for Australia tomorrow，and today is your last day．Come for a walk with me in the park．I'll go and get ready．'She danced out of the room，and her mother and brother could hear her singing as she ran upstairs．

　　James Vane turned to his mother．'My new life as a sailor will keep me away from England for many years，'he said．'But I don't like to leave Sybil alone．'

　　'Sybil has me，her mother，you know，'said Mrs Vane quietly．

　　'Then take care of her．'James Vane gave his mother a long，hard look．'If that man hurts my sister，I'll find him，and kill him like a dog．'

　　7

　　“妈妈，妈妈，我太高兴了。”姑娘喊着，“你也应该高兴。”

　　文太太用瘦削白皙的双手抚摸女儿的头。“我只有在剧院看着你时才快乐。”她说，“我们穷，我们需要钱——别忘记这一点。我们了解这个年轻人什么呢？我们不知道他的真实姓名，不知道他的任何事情。”

　　“是的，我不知道；我叫他'迷人的王子'，他是我的一切，我爱他，他爱我。哦，妈妈，让我高兴些吧！”

　　“你们太年轻，还不能考虑爱情。”母亲说。她看着女儿可爱的面庞，努力提醒她爱情的危险。但是姑娘不听，她已经把自己锁进了爱情的监牢。

　　这时姑娘的哥哥走进了房间。他是一个壮实黝黑的年轻人，一点儿也不像他的妹妹。

　　“我听说一位绅士每天晚上到剧院去见你。”他对妹妹说，“他是谁？他想干什么？”

　　“哦，詹姆斯，今天别生我的气。”西比尔嚷着，“你明天要动身去澳大利亚，今天是你在家的最后一天。和我去公园散步吧，我去准备一下。”她舞出了房间，母亲和哥哥能听见她上楼梯时唱着歌。

　　詹姆斯·文转向母亲。“我当了水手，这种新的生活会使我离开英格兰很多年。”他说，“但我不想丢下西比尔一个人。”

　　“西比尔有我，她的母亲。”文太太平静地说。