《远大前程》第3章 给匹普的一次机会(4)

 ‘Joe，’I asked，‘why don't you ever rebel？’
　　‘Well，'said Joe，‘ to start with，your sister's clever．And I'm not．And another thing，and this is serious，old boy，when I think of my poor mother's hard life，I'm afraid of not behaving right to a woman．So I'd much rather seem a bit weak with Mrs Joe than shout at her，or hurt her，or hit her．I'm just sorry she scolds you as well，Pip，and hits you with the stick．I wish I could take all the scolding myself．But there it is，Pip．’
　　Just then we heard the sound of a horse on the road．Mrs Joe and Uncle Pumblechook were returning from market．The carriage arrived，and in a rush of cold air，they were in the kitchen．
　　‘Now，'said Mrs Joe，excitedly throwing off her cloak，‘if this boy isn't grateful tonight，he never will be！’
　　‘She's offering the boy a great opportunity，’agreed Pumblechook．Trying to look grateful，I looked at Joe，making the word‘She？’with my lips．He clearly did not know either．
　　‘You were speaking of a she？’he said Politely to them．
　　‘She is a she，I suppose，’Mrs Joe replied crossly．‘Unless you call Miss Havisham a he．And even you wouldn't do that．’
‘The rich Miss Havisham who lives all alone in the big house in town？’asked Joe．
“乔，”我问道，“你为什么不反抗呢？”
　　“唉，”乔说，“首先，你姐姐聪明，而我不行。另一方面，这一点是重要的，老伙计，每当想起我可怜的妈妈苦难的生活，我害怕对女人采取不良的行为。因为，我必须对乔太太软弱一点儿，不能高声呼喊她、伤害她和打她。我很抱歉，她也责骂你，匹普，用棍子打你，我希望全部的责骂由我一人承担。可是，不现实，匹普。”
　　正在这时，我们听到路上的马蹄声，乔夫人和潘波趣舅舅赶集回来了。马车一到，冲进一股冷风，他们进了厨房。
　　“嘿，”乔夫人说，激动地脱掉她的斗篷，“如果这孩子今晚不感恩的话，那他就是一个忘恩负义的家伙！”
　　“她给这孩子提供了一个很好的机会，”潘波趣应和着说。我尽力表现出一副感恩的样子看着乔，随口吐出个字“她？”，他也不明白什么意思。
　　“你们正在谈论她？”他有礼貌地对他们说。
　　“我想像的，她就是她呗，”乔夫人不高兴地回答，“你总不能把郝薇香小姐叫他吧，即使你也不会这样叫吧。”
　　“在镇上，独住一幢大宅里腰缠万贯的郝薇香小姐吗？”乔问道。