《远大前程》第3章 给匹普的一次机会(12)

　We played with flags，’I answered．What lies I was telling！‘Estella waved a blue one，and I had a red one，and Miss Havisham waved one with little gold stars on，out of the carriage window．’
　　Fortunately they asked no more questions，and were still discussing the wonderful things I had seen，when Joe came in from the forge．When I saw his blue eyes open wide in surprise，I felt very sorry I had lied，and that evening，as soon as I found Joe alone for a moment，I confessed to him that I had lied about my visit to Miss Havisham．
　　‘Is none of it true，Pip？’he asked，shocked．‘No black carriage 
 But at least there were dogs， weren't there，Pip？No？Not even one dog？’
　　‘No，Joe，I'm sorry．’
　　‘Pip，old boy！’His kind face looked very unhappy．‘If you tell lies，where do you think you'll go when you die？’
‘I know，Joe，it's terrible．I don't know what happened．Oh I wish I didn't have such thick boots and such coarse hands！I'm so miserable，Joe．That beautiful young lady at Miss Havisham's said I was common．And I know I am！Somehow that made me tell lies．’
“我们玩旗子，”我回答说，我撒的弥天大谎! “艾丝黛拉挥舞着蓝色的一面旗，我有红色的一面旗，郝薇香小姐在马车窗户外面挥动着一面旗，上面镶着小金星。”
　　幸运的是他们再没有问题，仍然在讨论我所见到漂亮的东西，这时乔从锻工车间进来了。当我看到他吃惊地瞪着蓝色的大眼睛时，我对自己编造的谎言很内疚。我一发现乔独自呆一会儿时，就向他供认了关于我去拜访郝花香小姐所编造的谎话。
　　“那全不是真的？匹普！”他摇着头问，“没有黑的马车？但是，至少有狗吧，对吗？匹普，没有？一条狗也没有？”
　　“没有，乔，很抱歉。”
　　“匹普，老伙计！”他慈祥的脸上看上去很不高兴，“如果你说谎，当你死了，想想你会去哪儿？”
　　“我知道，乔，那是可怕的，我不知道发生什么事情，我希望我没有如此笨重的靴子和粗糙的双手！我是如此悲惨，乔。在郝薇香小姐家那个漂亮的年轻小姐说我是普通人家。我知道我是！莫名其妙地让我说谎。”