《远大前程》第12章匹普真相大白(1)（打印版）

Chapter 12 Pip discovers the truth

第12章匹普真相大白

While Estella lived in London，staying with friends of Miss Havishams，I often visited her．

当艾丝黛拉生活在伦敦和郝薇香小姐的朋友住在一起时，我常去拜访她。

She had an endless stream of admirers，and I was jealous of all of them．

她有一个川流不息的崇拜者队伍，我是他们大家所嫉妒的。

I never had an hours happiness with her，but I still thought about her，day and night，and my dearest wish was to marry her．

我和她从来没有半小时的快乐，但我仍然日夜想念她，我的最美好的愿望是和她结婚。

Several times Miss Havisham ordered me to bring Estella to visit her，and of course I always obeyed．

郝薇香小姐几次要求我带着艾丝黛拉去看她。当然啦，我总是服从。

Estella was as proud and cold as ever，with her admirers，with Miss Havisham and with me．

艾丝黛拉对她的崇拜者、对郝薇香小姐、对我像以往一样的傲慢和冷酷无情。

One man who admired her and followed her everywhere was the unpleasant Bentley Drummle．One day I asked her about him．

有一个喜欢她并且到处陪着她的人是可恶的本特利·朱穆尔。一天，我向艾丝黛拉问起了他。

Estella，why do you encourage someone like Drummle？You know very well hes stupid，and nobody likes him．

艾丝黛拉，为什么你亲近像朱穆尔这样的人？你很清楚他是愚蠢的，没有人喜欢他。

Dont be foolish，Pip，she answered．Perhaps I encourage him because that has a certain effect on the others．

不要犯傻了，匹普，她回答说，也许我亲近他是因为在其他方面有某些影响。

But he isnt worth it！I cried angrily．

可是，他不值得亲近！我气愤地喊着。

What difference does it make？she answered tiredly．If I smile at him，its because it means nothing to me．

这样做有什么关系？她厌倦地回答，是否我对他微笑？而对你没什么表示。

You should be glad that I dont give you false looks or smiles．At least I am always honest with you．

你应当高兴，我没有给你虚假的一眼或虚假的微笑。最后，我始终对你是真情的。

But while my heart was aching for Estella，I had no idea that I would soon be hit by a disaster which would completely destroy my hopos and dreams．

但是，当我正为艾丝黛拉痛心时，我还没有意识到，我很快会受到完全毁灭我的希望和梦想的这一灾难性的打击。

The chain of events which had begun before I ever met her was slowly reaching its end．

我在认识她以前已经开始的一连串的事件，正慢慢地走向它的结尾。