In the evening we had a dance. Cathy begged that he might be liberated then, as Isabella Linton had no partner: her entreaties were vain, and I was appointed to supply the deficiency. We got rid of all gloom in the excitement of the exercise, and our pleasure was increased by the arrival of the Gimmerton band, mustering fifteen strong: a trumpet, a trombone, clarionets, bassoons, French horns, and a bass viol, besides singers. They go the rounds of all the respectable houses, and receive contributions every Christmas, and we esteemed it a first-rate treat to hear them. After the usual carols had been sung, we set them to songs and glees. Mrs. Earnshaw loved the music, and so they gave us plenty.
晚上,我们举行了舞会。凯西请求把他放出来,因为伊莎贝拉·林顿没有舞伴,但是她的努力没有什么作用,而我则被叫去填补了那个空缺。劳作的郁闷被这个令人令人兴奋的消息驱散了,更让我们高兴的是 GIMMEERTON 乐队的到来,乐队有 15 之多,(乐器有)喇叭,长号,单簧管, 巴颂管,法国号,古提琴,还有一些歌手。他们在有钱人家巡回演出,每个圣诞节的时候都会受到捐款,而我们则认为看他们演出是至高的享受。在颂歌唱毕之后,我们让他们尽兴的演唱。因为恩肖太太喜欢这些音乐,所以他们唱了不少。
Catherine loved it too: but she said it sounded sweetest at the top of the steps, and she went up in the dark: I followed. They shut the house door below, never noting our absence, it was so full of people. She made no stay at the stairs'-head, but mounted farther, to the garret where Heathcliff was confined, and called him. He stubbornly declined answering for a while: she persevered, and finally persuaded him to hold communion with her through the boards. I let the poor things converse unmolested, till I supposed the songs were going to cease, and the singers to get some refreshment: then I clambered up the ladder to warn her. Instead of finding her outside, I heard her voice within. The little monkey had crept by the skylight of one garret, along the roof, into the skylight of the other, and it was with the utmost difficulty I could coax her out again. When she did come, Heathcliff came with her, and she insisted that I should take him into the kitchen, as my fellow-servant had gone to a neighbour's, to be removed from the sound of our 'devil's psalmody,' as it pleased him to call it. I told them I intended by no means to encourage their tricks: but as the prisoner had never broken his fast since yesterday's dinner, I would wink at his cheating Mr. Hindley that once. He went down: I set him a stool by the fire, and offered him a quantity of good things: but he was sick and could eat little, and my attempts to entertain him were thrown away. He leant his two elbows on his knees, and his chin on his hands and remained rapt in dumb meditation. On my inquiring the subject of his thoughts, he answered gravely - 'I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don't care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!'
凯瑟琳也很喜欢,但是她说在楼梯顶上去听会更好听,于是她转身走进了黑暗中。我也跟着她出来了。楼下的们关着,而且到处都是人,所以也没有人发现我们的离开。她并没有在楼梯顶停下来,而是向更上面走去,走向关着希斯克利夫的阁楼,并叫他的名字。一开始,他倔强的不应声,但在她的一再坚持下,他终于隔着门板答应她。我没有去打扰这对可怜的小东西的谈话,直到我觉得音乐声渐渐停止,歌手中场休息,我才爬上楼去提醒她。但是门外根本没有人,我听见她的声音从门里传了出来。这只小猴子从一个阁楼的天窗爬了进去,严重房顶,爬进了另一个天窗。我费了九牛二虎之力才把她哄出来。当她出来时,她把希斯克利夫也带出来了。她坚持要我把他带到厨房去,因为我的助手已经去到邻居家去了,为的是远离“该死的”的颂歌,他喜欢这样说。我告诉他们,我根本不想帮他们耍这样的把戏,但是看在被关禁闭的人从昨天晚上到现在一直都在绝食的分上,这次对于他欺骗欣德利先生的事就睁只眼闭只眼了。但是他没有精神了,吃不下什么东西,我也没有心情再去逗他。他把双肘支在膝盖上,双手托着下巴,一言不发的想着什么。当我问及他在想什么时,他严肃的回答道,“我在想我该怎么报复欣德利。我不在乎我要等多长时间,如果我最终能做道的话。我希望他不要在我报复之前死掉。”
'For shame, Heathcliff!' said I. 'It is for God to punish wicked people; we should learn to forgive.'
“真丢脸,希斯克利夫!”我说,“惩罚坏人是主的事情,我们应该学着原谅别人。”
'No, God won't have the satisfaction that I shall,' he returned. 'I only wish I knew the best way! Let me alone, and I'll plan it out: while I'm thinking of that I don't feel pain.'
“不,主不会有我的那种满足感的,”他回答道,“我只想知道最好的办法。让我一个人呆在。我一定要想出来。我想这个的时候,我就感觉不道疼痛了。”
'But, Mr. Lockwood, I forget these tales cannot divert you. I'm annoyed how I should dream of chattering on at such a rate; and your gruel cold, and you nodding for bed! I could have told Heathcliff's history, all that you need hear, in half a dozen words.'
“但是,洛克伍德先生,我忘记了这些故事并不能让你舒服。和你在养唠叨真是令人讨厌,而且你粥也凉了,你也打瞌睡了。关于希斯克利夫,我本该几个只简单的说说你该知道的就够了。”
Thus interrupting herself, the housekeeper rose, and proceeded to lay aside her sewing; but I felt incapable of moving from the hearth, and I was very far from nodding. 'Sit still, Mrs. Dean,' I cried; 'do sit still another half-hour. You've done just right to tell the story leisurely. That is the method I like; and you must finish it in the same style. I am interested in every character you have mentioned, more or less.'
这样管家站了起来,中断了她的故事,准备放下她的针线活。但是我却没有力气走到壁炉那边,但我也还没有到打瞌睡的程度。“坐着别动,迪恩太太。”我喊道,“请再坐半个小时。你这样悠闲的讲故事的方法非常好,这是我喜欢的方式,而且你必须以这样的方式结束这个故事。我对你说到的每个人物都很感兴趣,或多或少是这样的。”
'The clock is on the stroke of eleven, sir.'
“钟已经敲了 11 下了,先生。”