狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第27章Part 04

'Mrs Skewton,' said Mr Dombey, 'let me gratify my friend Carker:' Mr Dombey unconsciously emphasised the word friend, as saying "no really; I do allow him to take credit for that distinction:" 'by presenting him to you. You have heard me mention Mr Carker.'
'I am charmed, I am sure,' said Mrs Skewton, graciously.
Mr Carker was charmed, of course. Would he have been more charmed on Mr Dombey's behalf, if Mrs Skewton had been (as he at first supposed her) the Edith whom they had toasted overnight?
'Why, where, for Heaven's sake, is Edith?' exclaimed Mrs Skewton, looking round. 'Still at the door, giving Withers orders about the mounting of those drawings! My dear Mr Dombey, will you have the kindness -
Mr Dombey was already gone to seek her. Next moment he returned, bearing on his arm the same elegantly dressed and very handsome lady whom Mr Carker had encountered underneath the trees.
'Carker - ' began Mr Dombey. But their recognition of each other was so manifest, that Mr Dombey stopped surprised.
'I am obliged to the gentleman,' said Edith, with a stately bend, 'for sparing me some annoyance from an importunate beggar just now.'
'I am obliged to my good fortune,' said Mr Carker, bowing low, 'for the opportunity of rendering so slight a service to one whose servant I am proud to be.'

“斯丘頓夫人，”董貝先生說道，“請允許我來向您介紹一下我的朋友卡克，他將對此感到極爲榮幸，”董貝先生不由自主地在“朋友”這個詞上加重了語氣，好像是要說，“並不是真的如此，我是允許他享受這份特殊光榮。您過去聽我說到過卡克先生的。”
“真的，我高興極了。”斯丘頓夫人彬彬有禮、和藹可親地說道。
卡克先生自然也高興極了。如果斯丘頓夫人是（他最初以爲她是）他們昨夜曾爲她舉杯祝酒的伊迪絲，他不是會爲董貝先生感到更大的高興嗎？
“啊，我的天，伊迪絲在哪裏？”斯丘頓夫人向四周看看，高聲喊道。“她還在門口囑咐威瑟斯把這些畫鑲嵌在什麼鏡框裏的事呢！我親愛的董貝先生，是不是勞駕您——”
董貝先生早已出去找她。不一會兒，他回來了，胳膊裏挽着卡克先生在樹下遇見的那位衣着優雅、長得十分漂亮的女士。
“卡克——”董貝先生開始說道；但是他們早已認識了，這一點是這麼明顯，董貝先生驚奇地停住了。
“我很感謝這位先生，”伊迪絲莊嚴地低下了頭，說道，“他使我剛纔擺脫了一個乞丐無休無止的討厭糾纏。”
“我很感謝我的好運氣，”卡克先生深深地鞠着躬，說道，“使我有機會向一個我自豪能成爲她奴僕的人做了微不足道的一點小事。”