告别
On the morning after Mr. Harding's return home he received a note from the bishop full of affection, condolence, and praise. "Pray come to me at once," wrote the bishop, "that we may see what had better be done; as to the hospital, I will not say a word to dissuade you; but I don't like your going to Crabtree: at any rate, come to me at once."
哈丁先生到家的第二天早上，收到一封来自主教的便笺，字里行间充满慈爱、慰藉和赞扬。“请您马上到我这里来，”主教写道，“那样我们就可以商议怎么做最好。至于养老院，我不会说一句劝阻你的话，可是我不想你去小山楂子树教区。无论怎样，请您马上到我这里来。”
Mr. Harding did go to him at once; and long and confidential was the consultation between the two old friends. There they sat together the whole long day, plotting to get the better of the archdeacon, and to carry out little schemes of their own, which they knew would be opposed by the whole weight of his authority.
哈丁先生于是马上动身到他那里，两个老朋友推心置腹地谈了许久。他们一起坐了整整一天，谋划着怎样战胜会吏长，如何实施自己的小计谋。他们清楚，会吏长会用手中的职权全力反对这些小计谋。
The bishop's first idea was, that Mr. Harding, if left to himself, would certainly starve,—not in the figurative sense in which so many of our ladies and gentlemen do starve on incomes from one to five hundred a year; not that he would be starved as regarded dress coats, port wine, and pocket-money; but that he would positively perish of inanition for want of bread.
主教最先想到的是，如果让哈丁先生自行其是，他一定会挨饿，不是用来形容那么多每年拿一百到五百英镑的绅士贵妇们的那种挨饿，也不是指他在礼服、葡萄酒和零花钱上挨饿，而是真正意义上的，由于吃不上面包而活活饿死。
"How is a man to live, when he gives up all his income?" said the bishop to himself. And then the good-natured little man began to consider how his friend might be best rescued from a death so horrid and painful.
“放弃所有的收入，人还怎么活呢？”主教自言自语道。于是这个和善的小个子男人便开始考虑，如何用最好的办法把他的朋友从这个如此可怕、如此痛苦的死亡威胁中解救出来。
His first proposition to Mr. Harding was, that they should live together at the palace. He, the bishop, positively assured Mr. Harding that he wanted another resident chaplain,—not a young working chaplain, but a steady, middle-aged chaplain; one who would dine and drink a glass of wine with him, talk about the archdeacon, and poke the fire. The bishop did not positively name all these duties, but he gave Mr. Harding to understand that such would be the nature of the service required.
他给哈丁先生的第一个提议是，他们一起住在主教公馆。他，主教，极其明确地告诉哈丁先生，他需要一名家庭牧师，不是年轻的办事牧师，而是一位稳重的中年牧师，一位和他一起吃吃饭，喝杯酒，谈谈会吏长，捅捅炉火的牧师。主教没有明确列出所有这些职责，而是让哈丁先生明白，这些就是需要做的工作性质。
It was not without much difficulty that Mr. Harding made his friend see that this would not suit him; that he could not throw up the bishop's preferment, and then come and hang on at the bishop's table; that he could not allow people to say of him that it was an easy matter to abandon his own income, as he was able to sponge on that of another person. He succeeded, however, in explaining that the plan would not do, and then the bishop brought forward another which he had in his sleeve. He, the bishop, had in his will left certain moneys to Mr. Harding's two daughters, imagining that Mr. Harding would himself want no such assistance during his own lifetime. This legacy amounted to three thousand pounds each, duty free; and he now pressed it as a gift on his friend.
哈丁先生没少费口舌才让他的朋友明白，这不适合他。他不能辞了主教委派的闲职，又跑到主教家里蹭饭吃。他不允许人家说他轻易放弃自己的收入，是因为能依赖别人的收入生活。而他终于解释明白了这个计划不可行，于是主教又提出了另一个他早已有的以备不时之需的计划。他，主教，想着哈丁先生在有生之年是不需要帮助的，他在遗嘱里曾给哈丁先生的两个女儿留有一笔钱。这份遗产每人三千英镑，而且是免税的。现在他将这个作为礼物硬逼着送给他的朋友。
"The girls, you know," said he, "will have it just the same when you're gone,—and they won't want it sooner;—and as for the interest during my lifetime, it isn't worth talking about. I have more than enough."
“姑娘们呢，您知道，”他说，“等您过世后，还会拿到这些。她们并不急着要，至于我活着的时候的利息，那不值一提。我手里很宽裕。”
With much difficulty and heartfelt sorrow, Mr. Harding refused also this offer. No; his wish was to support himself, however poorly,—not to be supported on the charity of anyone. It was hard to make the bishop understand this; it was hard to make him comprehend that the only real favour he could confer was the continuation of his independent friendship; but at last even this was done. At any rate, thought the bishop, he will come and dine with me from time to time, and if he be absolutely starving I shall see it.
哈丁先生费了好大口舌谢绝了这个提议，也表示了由衷的歉意。不！他希望自己养活自己，无论多么贫困潦倒，而不是仰仗任何人的施舍。很难让主教理解这一点，也的确很难让他明白，他能够给予的唯一真正的帮助，是继续保持独立的友谊。而最后，连这个都做到了。主教心想，无论如何，他都会时不时地来同我吃吃饭，如果他真的在忍饥挨饿，我就会看到的。
Touching the precentorship, the bishop was clearly of opinion that it could be held without the other situation,—an opinion from which no one differed; and it was therefore soon settled among all the parties concerned, that Mr. Harding should still be the precentor of the cathedral.
提起领唱人这个职务，主教明确表示，没了其他职务，这个职位还是可以保留下来。这个意见没有人持异议，因此不久，所有相关各方都达成一致，哈丁先生可以继续作大教堂的领唱人。
On the day following Mr. Harding's return, the archdeacon reached Plumstead full of Mr. Cummins's scheme regarding Puddingdale and Mr. Quiverful. On the very next morning he drove over to Puddingdale, and obtained the full consent of the wretched clerical Priam, who was endeavouring to feed his poor Hecuba and a dozen of Hectors on the small proceeds of his ecclesiastical kingdom. Mr. Quiverful had no doubts as to the legal rights of the warden; his conscience would be quite clear as to accepting the income; and as to The Jupiter, he begged to assure the archdeacon that he was quite indifferent to any emanations from the profane portion of the periodical press.
哈丁先生回来后的第二天，会吏长也回到了普勒姆斯特德，心里全是卡明斯先生提出的那个关于布丁谷和奎瓦富的计划。第二天一大早，他就乘车去了布丁谷，得到教会中那个可怜的“特洛伊国王普里阿摩斯”的完全赞同。“普里阿摩斯”正努力用他那微薄的教会王国的收入，养活他可怜的妻子“赫卡柏”和十二个孩子“赫克托耳”。奎瓦富先生对于养老院院长的合法权利没有丝毫怀疑，接受这项收入，他良心无愧。至于《丘比特日报》，他非常恳切地向会吏长保证，对于报刊上发表的任何粗俗的文章，他丝毫不会在意。
Having so far succeeded, he next sounded the bishop; but here he was astonished by most unexpected resistance. The bishop did not think it would do. "Not do, why not?" and seeing that his father was not shaken, he repeated the question in a severer form: "Why not do, my lord?"
到目前为止，会吏长凯歌高奏，然后他去试探主教的意思。可是在那里他遭遇到了意想不到的*制抵**，让他大为吃惊。主教认为这办不到。“办不到？为什么办不到？”看到父亲没有动摇，他又用更加严肃的口吻问道，“为什么办不到，我的大人？”
His lordship looked very unhappy, and shuffled about in his chair, but still didn't give way; he thought Puddingdale wouldn't do for Mr. Harding; it was too far from Barchester.
主教看起来很不高兴，在椅子里动来动去，但是始终没有让步。他认为布丁谷对哈丁先生来说不适合，那离巴彻斯特镇太远了。
"Oh! of course he'll have a curate."
“哦！当然他会有一位助理牧师。”
The bishop also thought that Mr. Quiverful wouldn't do for the hospital; such an exchange wouldn't look well at such a time; and, when pressed harder, he declared he didn't think Mr. Harding would accept of Puddingdale under any circumstances.
主教同样认为，奎瓦富先生也不适合担任养老院院长，在这个时候，这种交换看起来并不妥。而且，会吏长再次紧逼的时候，他断言哈丁先生在什么情况下都不会接受布丁谷的职位。
"How is he to live?" demanded the archdeacon.
“那他怎么过活呢？”会吏长问道。
The bishop, with tears in his eyes, declared that he had not the slightest conception how life was to be sustained within him at all.
主教满眼泪水，他说他一点儿也不知道哈丁先生打算怎样维持生活。
The archdeacon then left his father, and went down to the hospital; but Mr. Harding wouldn't listen at all to the Puddingdale scheme. To his eyes it had no attraction; it savoured of simony, and was likely to bring down upon him harder and more deserved strictures than any he had yet received: he positively declined to become vicar of Puddingdale under any circumstances.
会吏长随后便离开他的父亲，去了养老院。可是哈丁先生根本就不听什么布丁谷计划。在他眼里，那里一点儿都不吸引人。这有些买卖圣职的意味，可能会给他惹来更严重、更应得的谴责，超过他已经遭受到的。他明确拒绝在布丁谷做牧师，无论什么情况都不做。
The archdeacon waxed wroth, talked big, and looked bigger; he said something about dependence and beggary, spoke of the duty every man was under to earn his bread, made passing allusions to the follies of youth and waywardness of age, as though Mr. Harding were afflicted by both, and ended by declaring that he had done. He felt that he had left no stone unturned to arrange matters on the best and easiest footing; that he had, in fact, so arranged them, that he had so managed that there was no further need of any anxiety in the matter. And how had he been paid? His advice had been systematically rejected; he had been not only slighted, but distrusted and avoided; he and his measures had been utterly thrown over, as had been Sir Abraham, who, he had reason to know, was much pained at what had occurred. He now found it was useless to interfere any further, and he should retire. If any further assistance were required from him, he would probably be called on, and should be again happy to come forward. And so he left the hospital, and has not since entered it from that day to this.
会吏长变得怒气冲冲，声音高亢，看起来更加傲慢。他说了些关于依赖和乞讨的话，还说养家糊口是每个人的责任，言中暗示了年轻人的愚蠢和老年人的顽固，好像哈丁先生两头都占了，末了，他说再也不管了。他觉得为了把事情安排得最好、最简便，自己已经费尽心思。事实上，他这样安排他们，已经把事情办得很周全了，不再需要在这件事上操心了。可是他得到了什么样的回报呢？他的建议遭到接二连三的拒绝。他不但受到轻视，还被猜疑，被故意回避。他和他的策略都被彻底拒绝了，和亚伯拉罕爵士一样。他有理由相信，爵士对于那些发生的事感到无比痛心。此时他发现，再做干涉也是无济于事的，他应该退出了。如果还需要他帮什么忙，他可能还会被找来，而他也会再次开心前往。所以他离开了养老院，而且从那天起一直到现在，再没有进过养老院。
And here we must take leave of Archdeacon Grantly. We fear that he is represented in these pages as being worse than he is; but we have had to do with his foibles, and not with his virtues. We have seen only the weak side of the man, and have lacked the opportunity of bringing him forward on his strong ground. That he is a man somewhat too fond of his own way, and not sufficiently scrupulous in his manner of achieving it, his best friends cannot deny. That he is bigoted in favour, not so much of his doctrines as of his cloth, is also true: and it is true that the possession of a large income is a desire that sits near his heart. Nevertheless, the archdeacon is a gentleman and a man of conscience; he spends his money liberally, and does the work he has to do with the best of his ability; he improves the tone of society of those among whom he lives. His aspirations are of a healthy, if not of the highest, kind. Though never an austere man, he upholds propriety of conduct both by example and precept. He is generous to the poor, and hospitable to the rich; in matters of religion he is sincere, and yet no Pharisee; he is in earnest, and yet no fanatic. On the whole, the Archdeacon of Barchester is a man doing more good than harm,—a man to be furthered and supported, though perhaps also to be controlled; and it is matter of regret to us that the course of our narrative has required that we should see more of his weakness than his strength.
这里，我们必须告别格兰特雷会吏长。我们担心在这本书里，把他描绘得比他实际的为人差。可是我们是针对他的那些小缺点来说的，并不是针对他的美德来讲的。我们只看到这个人软弱的一面，还没有机会看到他强悍的一面。他是一个多少有些坚持己见的人，而达到目的方式又不够严谨，他最亲密的朋友也不能否认。他盲目迷信宗教，却偏爱教会胜过教义，这种说法也是真的。而且，拥有一大笔收入是他内心的渴望也是真的。虽然如此，会吏长还是一位绅士，是一个有良心的人。他花钱大方，尽心尽力做分内的工作，他提升了生活在他周围的那些人的社交格调。他的雄心抱负即使不是最崇高的那种，也是健康的。尽管他从来都不是一个简朴的人，却也赞成行为得体、循规蹈矩。他对穷人很慷慨，对富人很热情。在宗教问题上，他很坚定，并不像法利赛人一样伪善。他很真诚，然而并不狂热。总的来说，巴彻斯特镇的会吏长是一个行善多于作恶的人，一个应该鼓励、支持的人，尽管或许也要加以控制。我们在讲述时，需要多看到他的缺点，少看到他的优点，这是一件令人遗憾的事。
Mr. Harding allowed himself no rest till everything was prepared for his departure from the hospital. It may be as well to mention that he was not driven to the stern necessity of selling all his furniture: he had been quite in earnest in his intention to do so, but it was soon made known to him that the claims of Messrs Cox and Cummins made no such step obligatory. The archdeacon had thought it wise to make use of the threat of the lawyer's bill, to frighten his father-in-law into compliance; but he had no intention to saddle Mr. Harding with costs, which had been incurred by no means exclusively for his benefit. The amount of the bill was added to the diocesan account, and was, in fact, paid out of the bishop's pocket, without any consciousness on the part of his lordship. A great part of his furniture he did resolve to sell, having no other means to dispose of it; and the ponies and carriage were transferred, by private contract, to the use of an old maiden lady in the city.
直到为离开养老院所做的准备都已经停当，哈丁先生才容自己休息一下。最好提一下，他可没被逼到不得不变卖全部家具的地步。他倒当真准备这么干，可是他很快就被告知，不需要那样做来支付科克斯和卡明斯律师的费用。会吏长原以为用律师费来威胁他的岳父吓他就范，是一个聪明的办法。其实他并没有打算让哈丁先生负担这笔费用。这笔费用根本不是只为让哈丁先生受益而花的。后来，这笔费用记到了主教区的账上，而且，实际上，是从主教的口袋里出的，而主教本人却毫无察觉。由于大部分家具没有办法安置，哈丁先生还是决定把它们卖掉。还有小马和马车，签了一纸私人契约，转给城里的一位老处女使用。
For his present use Mr. Harding took a lodging in Barchester, and thither were conveyed such articles as he wanted for daily use:—his music, books, and instruments, his own arm-chair, and Eleanor's pet sofa; her teapoy and his cellaret, and also the slender but still sufficient contents of his wine-cellar. Mrs. Grantly had much wished that her sister would reside at Plumstead, till her father's house at Crabtree should be ready for her; but Eleanor herself strongly resisted this proposal. It was in vain urged upon her, that a lady in lodgings cost more than a gentleman; and that, under her father's present circumstances, such an expense should be avoided. Eleanor had not pressed her father to give up the hospital in order that she might live at Plumstead Rectory and he alone in his Barchester lodgings; nor did Eleanor think that she would be treating a certain gentleman very fairly, if she betook herself to the house which he would be the least desirous of entering of any in the county. So she got a little bedroom for herself behind the sitting-room, and just over the little back parlour of the chemist, with whom they were to lodge. There was somewhat of a savour of senna softened by peppermint about the place; but, on the whole, the lodgings were clean and comfortable.
为了当前的需要，哈丁先生在巴彻斯特镇租住了一处寓所，把日常所需的各种用品也运到那里：他的乐谱、书籍还有乐器，他自己的扶手椅，埃莉诺心爱的沙发，埃莉诺的茶几和他的酒橱，还有他酒窖里寥寥无几、却也够喝的酒。格兰特雷太太多么希望自己的妹妹能够住在普勒姆斯特德教区，直到父亲在小山楂子树教区的房子为妹妹准备停当，可是埃莉诺自己坚决反对这个提议。女人在租住的寓所比男人的花费要大，而且，以她父亲目前的情况看，这样的花费应该避免，但这都无法说服她。埃莉诺督促父亲放弃养老院，并不是为了自己可以住在普勒姆斯特德教区，让他独自住在巴彻斯特镇的租住寓所。埃莉诺认为，要是她自己去住的那所房子，是父亲在这个国家里最不愿意踏进去的，那么对这位绅士并不那么公平。因此她要了一间起居室后面的小卧室，恰好在房东——一位药剂师狭小的后客厅楼上。那地方多少有些山扁豆的味道，被椒薄荷味冲淡了些。不过，这个租住的寓所大体上还算整洁舒适。
The day had been fixed for the migration of the ex-warden, and all Barchester were in a state of excitement on the subject. Opinion was much divided as to the propriety of Mr. Harding's conduct. The mercantile part of the community, the mayor and corporation, and council, also most of the ladies, were loud in his praise. Nothing could be more noble, nothing more generous, nothing more upright. But the gentry were of a different way of thinking,—especially the lawyers and the clergymen. They said such conduct was very weak and undignified; that Mr. Harding evinced a lamentable want of esprit de corps, as well as courage; and that such an abdication must do much harm, and could do but little good.
前任院长搬迁的日子已经定下来了，所有的巴彻斯特镇人都为这件事激动万分。哈丁先生的行为是否妥当，大家意见不一。当地的商界人士、市长、市政当局和委员会，还有大多数女士，都对哈丁先生大加赞扬。没有比这更高尚的，没有比这更慷慨的，也没有比这更正直的。可是上流社会人士对此却有着截然相反的想法，尤其是那些律师和牧师们。他们说这样的行为是无比懦弱的，有失尊严，说哈丁先生表现出缺乏勇气，还有集体精神，令人惋惜。还说这样主动让位会有很多害处，不会有什么好处。
On the evening before he left, he summoned all the bedesmen into his parlour to wish them good-bye. With Bunce he had been in frequent communication since his return from London, and had been at much pains to explain to the old man the cause of his resignation, without in any way prejudicing the position of his successor. The others, also, he had seen more or less frequently; and had heard from most of them separately some expression of regret at his departure; but he had postponed his farewell till the last evening.
在他离开的前一晚，他召集所有的受施人到客厅来，向他们告别。从伦敦回来后，他常常和邦斯交谈，极力向那个老头解释自己辞职的原因，同时千方百计避免伤害继任者的地位。其他人，他也或多或少地经常见到，从大部分人那里分别听到对他的离去表示惋惜的话，不过他一直拖到昨天晚上才告别。
He now bade the maid put wine and glasses on the table; and had the chairs arranged around the room; and sent Bunce to each of the men to request they would come and say farewell to their late warden. Soon the noise of aged scuffling feet was heard upon the gravel and in the little hall, and the eleven men who were enabled to leave their rooms were assembled.
此时，他吩咐女佣把酒和酒杯在桌子上摆好，屋里四周摆好椅子，然后让邦斯去叫每个人过来，同他们的前任院长告别。很快，那种上年纪的人发出的拖沓的脚步声便在砂砾上和小会堂里响了起来，十一个能够离开房间的人都聚齐了。
"Come in, my friends, come in," said the warden;—he was still warden then. "Come in, and sit down;" and he took the hand of Abel Handy, who was the nearest to him, and led the limping grumbler to a chair. The others followed slowly and bashfully; the infirm, the lame, and the blind: poor wretches! who had been so happy, had they but known it! Now their aged faces were covered with shame, and every kind word from their master was a coal of fire burning on their heads.
“进来，我的朋友们，进来。”院长说道——这个时候他还是院长。“进来，坐下吧。”他握住了离他最近的埃布尔·汉迪的手，把这个爱抱怨的瘸子扶到了椅子边。其他人也跟着慢腾腾地扭捏着坐下。羸弱的、跛足的，还有失明的，可怜不幸的人们啊！他们以前是多么开心啊，要是他们早知道就好了！现如今，他们衰老的脸上满是羞愧，主人宽容的话语句句都成了火中之炭，燃烧着他们的大脑。
When first the news had reached them that Mr. Harding was going to leave the hospital, it had been received with a kind of triumph;—his departure was, as it were, a prelude to success. He had admitted his want of right to the money about which they were disputing; and as it did not belong to him, of course, it did to them. The one hundred a year to each of them was actually becoming a reality; and Abel Handy was a hero, and Bunce a faint-hearted sycophant, worthy neither honour nor fellowship. But other tidings soon made their way into the old men's rooms. It was first notified to them that the income abandoned by Mr. Harding would not come to them; and these accounts were confirmed by attorney Finney. They were then informed that Mr. Harding's place would be at once filled by another. That the new warden could not be a kinder man they all knew; that he would be a less friendly one most suspected; and then came the bitter information that, from the moment of Mr. Harding's departure, the twopence a day, his own peculiar gift, must of necessity be withdrawn.
哈丁先生要离开养老院了，当他们第一次听到这个消息时，心里有一种胜利的喜悦。他的离开可以说是他们成功的前奏。他已经承认，没有权利拿那笔他们争论的钱。既然那笔钱不属于他，当然就属于他们了。他们每人每年一百英镑就要成为现实了。埃布尔·汉迪是一位英雄，而邦斯是个胆小的马屁精，既配不上荣誉，又不配讲什么交情。可是不久，其他消息传进了老头们的房间。他们先是得到通知，哈丁先生放弃的那笔收入并不会给他们。而且律师代理人芬尼证实了这个说法。接着他们又得知，哈丁先生的位置将会由另一个人来填补。大家都知道，新院长不会比哈丁先生更友善。大多数人猜他会是一个不那么友善的人。接着，更令人痛苦的消息传来，从哈丁先生离职的那一刻起，每天两便士，这是他个人的特殊馈赠，也必须取消。
And this was to be the end of all their mighty struggle,—of their fight for their rights,—of their petition, and their debates, and their hopes! They were to change the best of masters for a possible bad one, and to lose twopence a day each man! No; unfortunate as this was, it was not the worst, or nearly the worst, as will just now be seen.
这就是他们所有努力奋斗的结果！这就是他们为权利而战的结果！这就是他们*愿请**、争论、满怀期待的结果！他们最好的院长被换成一个可能不好的院长，每人每天还损失两便士！不！尽管这很不幸，这还不是最糟的，或者说不是接近最糟的，这点接着就可以看出来了。
"Sit down, sit down, my friends," said the warden; "I want to say a word to you and to drink your healths, before I leave you. Come up here, Moody, here is a chair for you; come, Jonathan Crumple;"—and by degrees he got the men to be seated. It was not surprising that they should hang back with faint hearts, having returned so much kindness with such deep ingratitude. Last of all of them came Bunce, and with sorrowful mien and slow step got into his accustomed seat near the fire-place.
“请坐，请坐，我的朋友们，”院长说道，“我想在离开你们之前，同你们说句话，而且为你们的身体健康干杯。到这里来，穆迪，这把椅子是你的。过来吧，乔纳森·科伦普尔。”他一个个安排所有的人都坐下。也难怪他们全都怯生生地犹豫不前，因为他们用极度的忘恩负义回报如此的仁慈体贴。邦斯是他们这群人中来得最晚的，他满脸悲伤，缓步走到火炉旁他常坐的位子上。
When they were all in their places, Mr. Harding rose to address them; and then finding himself not quite at home on his legs, he sat down again. "My dear old friends," said he, "you all know that I am going to leave you."
当他们都各就各位时，哈丁先生起身准备向他们致辞，可是觉得站着很不自在，又坐下了。“我亲爱的老朋友们，”他说道，“你们都知道，我就要离开大家了。”
There was a sort of murmur ran round the room, intended, perhaps, to express regret at his departure; but it was but a murmur, and might have meant that or anything else.
屋子四下响起一阵窃窃私语声，也许，是想对他的离去表示惋惜。可那只不过是一阵窃窃私语，可以是这个意思，也可以指别的什么意思。
"There has been lately some misunderstanding between us. You have thought, I believe, that you did not get all that you were entitled to, and that the funds of the hospital have not been properly disposed of. As for me, I cannot say what should be the disposition of these moneys, or how they should be managed, and I have therefore thought it best to go."
“最近咱们之间一直有些误会。我想，你们认为没有拿到该得的所有津贴，而且，养老院的资金也没有正确分配。至于我，我无法说这些钱该怎么分配，或是该怎样管理，因此我想，最好还是走吧。”
"We never wanted to drive your reverence out of it," said Handy.
“我们从没想要赶阁下您走。”汉迪说道。
"No, indeed, your reverence," said Skulpit. "We never thought it would come to this. When I signed the petition,—that is, I didn't sign it, because—"
“没有，确实没有，阁下。”斯库尔彼特说，“我们从没想到会走到这一步。我在*愿请**书上签字的时候，就是说，我签字不是因为——”
"Let his reverence speak, can't you?" said Moody.
“让阁下讲，行不？”穆迪说道。
"No," continued Mr. Harding; "I am sure you did not wish to turn me out; but I thought it best to leave you. I am not a very good hand at a lawsuit, as you may all guess; and when it seemed necessary that our ordinary quiet mode of living should be disturbed, I thought it better to go. I am neither angry nor offended with any man in the hospital."
“不，”哈丁先生继续说道，“我相信你们并不想把我赶走，不过我想，我最好还是离开。你们大家可能都猜到，我对打官司并不怎么在行。当咱们平静安逸的生活方式似乎不可避免地被打乱时，我想最好还是离开吧。我既不怨恨谁，也不会生谁的气。”
Here Bunce uttered a kind of groan, very clearly expressive of disagreement.
这时，邦斯哼了一声，很明显在表示不赞同。
"I am neither angry nor displeased with any man in the hospital," repeated Mr. Harding, emphatically. "If any man has been wrong,—and I don't say any man has,—he has erred through wrong advice. In this country all are entitled to look for their own rights, and you have done no more. As long as your interests and my interests were at variance, I could give you no counsel on this subject; but the connection between us has ceased; my income can no longer depend on your doings, and therefore, as I leave you, I venture to offer to you my advice."
“对养老院里的任何人，我既不怨恨，也没有感到不快，”哈丁先生又加重语气重复了一遍，“如果有谁做错了——我没有说任何人做错了——他也是被错误的建议鼓动的。在这个国家里，每个人都有权寻求自己的权利，你们并没有做过分的事。只要你我的利益存在分歧，在这个问题上，我就无法给你们什么建议。而我们之间的关系终止了，你们的行为不再决定我的收入。因此，在我离开你们的时候，斗胆给你们我的建议。”
The men all declared that they would from henceforth be entirely guided by Mr. Harding's opinion in their affairs.
老头们都表示，从今以后，他们在各项事务上完全听从哈丁先生的意见。
"Some gentleman will probably take my place here very soon, and I strongly advise you to be prepared to receive him in a kindly spirit and to raise no further question among yourselves as to the amount of his income. Were you to succeed in lessening what he has to receive, you would not increase your own allowance. The surplus would not go to you; your wants are adequately provided for, and your position could hardly be improved."
“很快会有一位绅士来接管我的职位，我强烈建议大家准备怀着友善之心接待他，你们不要再提他收入多少的问题了。即使你们成功地减少了他应得的收入，你们自己的津贴也不会增加。多余的也不会给你们，你们的需求已经充分满足了，你们的状况很难再改善了。”
"God bless your reverence, we knows it," said Spriggs.
“上帝保佑您，阁下，我们知道了。”斯普里格斯说道。
"It's all true, your reverence," said Skulpit. "We sees it all now."
“您说得完全正确，阁下，”斯库尔庇特说道，“现在我们全懂了。”
"Yes, Mr. Harding," said Bunce, opening his mouth for the first time; "I believe they do understand it now, now that they've driven from under the same roof with them such a master as not one of them will ever know again,—now that they're like to be in sore want of a friend."
“是的，哈丁先生，”邦斯第一次开了口，“我相信他们现在确实明白了，现在他们把与自己同一屋檐下的这样一位院长赶走了，他们中谁也不会再遇到这样的院长了。现在他们都极其需要一位朋友。”
"Come, come, Bunce," said Mr. Harding, blowing his nose and man?uvring to wipe his eyes at the same time.
“好啦，好啦，邦斯。”哈丁先生擤了擤鼻子，同时偷偷擦了擦眼睛。
"Oh, as to that," said Handy, "we none of us never wanted to do Mr. Harding no harm; if he's going now, it's not along of us; and I don't see for what Mr. Bunce speaks up agen us that way."
“哦，至于你说的，”汉迪说道，“我们中没有人想要伤害哈丁先生，他现在要走，也不能怪到我们头上。我不明白邦斯先生为什么要一再那样说我们。”
"You've ruined yourselves, and you've ruined me too, and that's why," said Bunce.
“你毁了自己，也毁了我，这就是为什么。”邦斯回答道。
"Nonsense, Bunce," said Mr. Harding; "there's nobody ruined at all. I hope you'll let me leave you all friends; I hope you'll all drink a glass of wine in friendly feeling with me and with one another. You'll have a good friend, I don't doubt, in your new warden; and if ever you want any other, why after all I'm not going so far off but that I shall sometimes see you;" and then, having finished his speech, Mr. Harding filled all the glasses, and himself handed each a glass to the men round him, and raising his own said:—
“胡说，邦斯，”哈丁先生说道，“压根没有谁被毁。我希望你们允许我离开你们这些朋友，希望你们能满怀友好之情与我，与彼此，干杯。我深信，你们的新院长将成为你们的好朋友。要是你们还嫌不够，呵，我毕竟没走多远，有时还能见见你们。”结束讲话后，哈丁先生把所有的杯子都斟满酒，亲自一杯杯地递给周围的老头，然后举起自己的酒杯说：
"God bless you all! you have my heartfelt wishes for your welfare. I hope you may live contented, and die trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thankful to Almighty God For the good things he has given you. God bless you, my friends!" and Mr. Harding drank his wine.
“上帝保佑你们大家！我衷心祝你们幸福。我希望你们活着时心满意足，死去时信任我主耶稣基督，并且对万能的上帝赐予你们的一切东西心怀感激。上帝保佑你们，我的朋友们！”哈丁先生干了自己的酒。
Another murmur, somewhat more articulate than the first, passed round the circle, and this time it was intended to imply a blessing on Mr. Harding. It had, however, but little cordiality in it. Poor old men! how could they be cordial with their sore consciences and shamed faces? how could they bid God bless him with hearty voices and a true benison, knowing, as they did, that their vile cabal had driven him from his happy home, and sent him in his old age to seek shelter under a strange roof-tree? They did their best, however; they drank their wine, and withdrew.
又一阵窃窃私语声在这圈人中响了起来，比先前的更清晰。而这一次是为了表达对哈丁先生的祝福。可是，听起来却不怎么热情真诚。可怜的老头们！他们痛心疾首、满面羞愧，又怎么热情真诚得起来？他们明知道是自己邪恶的阴谋把哈丁先生赶出幸福的家，让他一把年纪了还得到陌生的房檐下躲避风雨，又怎么能用热诚的声音和真诚的祝福祈祷上帝降福给他呢？但是他们尽力了，他们干了自己的酒，接着离开了。
As they left the hall-door, Mr. Harding shook hands with each of the men, and spoke a kind word to them about their individual cases and ailments; and so they departed, answering his questions in the fewest words, and retreated to their dens, a sorrowful repentant crew.
在他们走出大厅门口时，哈丁先生和他们一一握手，还对他们各自的情况和病痛说了一番安慰的话。他们用寥寥数语回答了他的问话，然后离开了，回到了他们的小破屋里，这是一群伤心悔恨的人。
All but Bunce, who still remained to make his own farewell. "There's poor old Bell," said Mr. Harding; "I mustn't go without saying a word to him; come through with me, Bunce, and bring the wine with you;" and so they went through to the men's cottages, and found the old man propped up as usual in his bed.
只有邦斯依然没走，来向院长单独告别。“还有可怜的老贝尔，”哈丁先生说，“我得同他说句话才能走，和我一起来吧，邦斯，带上酒。”于是他们穿行到老人们的屋子那边，看到这位老人像往常一样，撑起身子倚在床上。
"I've come to say good-bye to you, Bell," said Mr. Harding, speaking loud, for the old man was deaf.
“我是来和你道别的，贝尔。”哈丁先生大声说着，因为这个老头耳背。
"And are you going away, then, really?" asked Bell.
“那么，你要走了，真的吗？”贝尔问道。
"Indeed I am, and I've brought you a glass of wine; so that we may part friends, as we lived, you know."
“我确实要走了，我给你带来一杯酒，希望我们能友好地分别，和先前一样，你懂的。”
The old man took the proffered glass in his shaking hands, and drank it eagerly. "God bless you, Bell!" said Mr. Harding; "good-bye, my old friend."
老头用他颤抖的双手接过递来的酒杯，迫不及待地一饮而尽。“上帝保佑你，贝尔！”哈丁先生说，“再见啦，我的老朋友。”
"And so you're really going?" the man again asked.
“那么，你真的要走了？”这个老人再一次问道。
"Indeed I am, Bell."
“我确实要走了，贝尔。”
The poor old bed-ridden creature still kept Mr. Harding's hand in his own, and the warden thought that he had met with something like warmth of feeling in the one of all his subjects from whom it was the least likely to be expected; for poor old Bell had nearly outlived all human feelings. "And your reverence," said he, and then he paused, while his old palsied head shook horribly, and his shrivelled cheeks sank lower within his jaws, and his glazy eye gleamed with a momentary light; "and your reverence, shall we get the hundred a year, then?"
这个可怜的久卧病榻的老家伙依旧握着哈丁先生的手，院长觉得，他从他庇护下的这个人身上感受到了温暖的感觉，而这种感觉是最不可能期待从这个人身上得到的，因为可怜的老贝尔已经几乎活到超越人类情感的岁数了。“那么阁下，”他说着又停了下来，中风的老脑袋摇摆着，很吓人，皱巴巴的脸颊凹了下去，呆滞的眼睛里瞬间闪过一丝光芒，“那么阁下，那么，我们每年可以得到那一百英镑了吗？”
How gently did Mr. Harding try to extinguish the false hope of money which had been so wretchedly raised to disturb the quiet of the dying man! One other week and his mortal coil would be shuffled off; in one short week would God resume his soul, and set it apart for its irrevocable doom; seven more tedious days and nights of senseless inactivity, and all would be over for poor Bell in this world; and yet, with his last audible words, he was demanding his moneyed rights, and asserting himself to be the proper heir of John Hiram's bounty! Not on him, poor sinner as he was, be the load of such sin!
哈丁先生多么想温和地试着熄灭这对金钱不切实际的幻想啊！可这种幻想被卑鄙地勾了起来，扰乱了这位垂死的老人的安宁！再有一星期，这个老头就要摆脱尘世上的烦恼了。在短短的一星期里，上帝就要收回他的灵魂，把它收好，听从那不可改变的命数。再过七天七夜冗长乏味、混沌无知的日子，可怜的贝尔在这个世上的一切就结束了。可是，他在用自己最后让人听得到的话语，要求他的金钱权利，坚持自己是约翰·海勒姆的正当继承人！他是一个可怜的罪人，但愿这种沉重的罪恶不要压在他的身上！
Mr. Harding returned to his parlour, meditating with a sick heart on what he had seen, and Bunce with him. We will not describe the parting of these two good men, for good men they were. It was in vain that the late warden endeavoured to comfort the heart of the old bedesman; poor old Bunce felt that his days of comfort were gone. The hospital had to him been a happy home, but it could be so no longer. He had had honour there, and friendship; he had recognised his master, and been recognised; all his wants, both of soul and body, had been supplied, and he had been a happy man. He wept grievously as he parted from his friend, and the tears of an old man are bitter. "It is all over for me in this world," said he, as he gave the last squeeze to Mr. Harding's hand; "I have now to forgive those who have injured me;—and to die."
哈丁先生回到客厅，恼火地想着他刚刚看到的情景，邦斯跟着他。我们不去描述这两个好人的分离，因为他们是两个好人。前任院长努力地安慰这个老受施人，却是徒劳的，可怜的老邦斯觉得，他舒适的日子就要离他而去了。他在养老院度过了一段幸福的时光，可这已经不复存在了。在这里，他有过荣誉，有过友谊；他认识了院长，院长也认识了他；所有他想要的，灵魂上、身体上的，都得到满足；他过去一直是个幸福的人。在同朋友分别之际，他痛苦地哭泣着，老头的眼泪总是苦涩的。“我在这世上的一切全完啦，”他说着，最后一次握紧了哈丁先生的手，“现在，我得原谅那些曾经伤害过我的人，然后死去。”
And so the old man went out, and then Mr. Harding gave way to his grief and he too wept aloud.
就这样，老头走了出去。接着哈丁先生放声大哭起来，尽情发泄自己的悲伤。