19 A wedding(6)

　She was older，but still beautiful．I had never before seen such a soft light in those once proud eyes，or felt such a friend-ly touch of her once cold hand．
　　‘It's strange， Estella！ Afer so many years，we meet by chance，here，where we first met！’
　　‘Yes，it's strange．I haven't been here for years，although the land belongs to me．But tell me，you still live abroad？’
　　‘Yes，I still do．I'm doing well in India．’
　　‘I've often thought of you．Since-my husband-died，I have given you a place in my heart．’
　　‘You have always held your place in my heart，I answered．
　　There was silence for a few moments．
　　‘I didn't think I would say goodbye to you here，'she said．
　　‘It's painful saying goodbye，Estella．’
　　‘But last time you said，“God bless you， God forgive you！”You could say that to me now， now that I understand how much you loved me， now that I have suffered， now that I am a better person．Tell me we are friends．'she spoke more eagerly than I had ever heard her speak before．
　　‘We are friends，’ I said，taking her hand．
　　‘And will continue being friends，even when we are apart，'said Estella．
　　We walked，hand in hand， out of the old garden．As the morning mist had risen long ago when I first left the forge，so the evening mist was rising now，and in the clear moonlight I saw no shadow of another separation from her．
她是老了一些，但是仍然很漂亮。我以前从来没有在这双曾经傲慢的眼睛上见过这样的温柔明亮，摸到她那曾经冷冰冰的手感觉这样的亲切。
　　“真奇怪，艾丝黛拉！这么多年后，我们在这里也是第一次见面的地方偶然相见！”
　　“是的，真奇怪，虽然这块房基地是属于我的，但是，我多年不在这里了。告诉我，你还住在国外吗？”
　　“是的，我还在国外，我在印度干得很好。”
　　“我常想起你，自从——我的丈夫——死后，我一直给你在心中留着位置。”
　　“你总是在我心中占有位置，”我回答。
　　沉默了一会儿。
　　“我不想在这儿向你告别。”她说。
　　“告别，那是痛苦的，艾丝黛拉。”
　　“但是，最后一次你说，‘上帝保佑你，上帝原谅你！’你现在能对我那样说吗。现在，我才明白你是多么的爱我，现在，我很痛苦，现在，我是个比较好的人。告诉我，我们是朋友。”她渴望说的超过以前我听到过她说的话。
　　“我们是朋友，”我拉着她的手说。
　　“即使我们分开，也会继续是朋友，”艾丝黛拉说。
　　我们手拉手走出那个旧花园。当晨雾老早升起来的时候，我第一次离开了铁匠铺。那么，现在夜雾正在升起，在这清朗的月光下，我却看不到另外一个影子从她那里分离出来。