【导读】 在狄更斯的《远大前程》中,一个慷慨的陌生人给了皮普一笔可观的财富。作为交换条件,皮普必须迁往伦敦开始一个阔佬的绅士生活,皮普对此有什么样的感受呢?Great Expectations(excerpt)
As we drank our wine,Pumblechook reminded me of the happy times he and I had spent together during my childhood.I did not remember it quite like that,but I began to feel he was a goodhearted,sincere man.He wanted to ask my advice on a business matter.He said he was hoping to find a young gentleman who would put money into his business,and seemed very interested in my opinion.“And may I?May I?”He shook hands with me again.
“You know,I always used to say,‘That boy will make his fortune.He's no ordinary boy.’”He had certainly kept his opinion very secret,I thought.
There was one person I really wanted to visit before going to London.Dressed in my new clothes I went to miss Havisham's house,where her cousin opened the gate to me again.
“Well,Pip?”said Miss Havisham to me when she saw me.
“I'm going to London tomorrow,Miss Havisham,”I said,choosing my words carefully,“and I wanted to say goodbye.I've been so lucky since I saw you last,and I'm so grateful for it!”
“Good,good!”she replied,looking delightedly at her cousin who was staring at my new clothes.“I know about it.I've seen Mr Jaggers.So,a rich person has adopted you?”
“Yes,Miss Havisham.”
She smiled cruelly at her cousin,who was looking rather ill.
“Remember to do what Mr.Jaggers tells you.And you will always keep the name of Pip,won't you?Goodbye,Pip.”she gave me her hand and I kissed it.It seemed the natural thing to do.And so I left the old lady in her bride's dress in the candlelight,with the dusty furniture around her.
On Saturday morning I was in such a hurry that I only said a quick goodbye to my family,before setting out to walk the few miles into town for the London coach.As I left the peaceful sleeping village,the mist over the marshes was rising,to show me the great unknown world I was entering.Suddenly I realized what I was leaving behind—my childhood,my home,and Joe.Then I wished I had asked him to walk with me to the coach,and I could not stop crying.Whenever the horses were changed on the journey,I wondered with an aching heart whether to get down and go back to say goodbye properly.But the mist had completely risen now,and my new world lay ahead of me.