美國語文第六冊 第47期:耐兒之死(4)
就在天剛一亮，那個和她一直很合得來的朋友——那個男孩子趕來了，
with an offering of dried flowers, which he begged them to lay upon her breast.
手上捧著一束干枯了的花，他請求把花放在她的胸前。
He told them of his dream again, and that it was of her being restored to them, just as she used to be.
他把自己做的夢又講給大家聽，這個夢本來她準備講給大家的，她一向這樣。
He begged hard to see her: saying, that he would be very quiet, and that they need not fear his being alarmed,
他請求大家讓他看看她的樣子：說些知心話，他說他會非常安靜的，他們不必擔心他被嚇著，
for he had sat alone by his young brother all day long, when he was dead, and had felt glad to be so near him.
因為一整天里他都和弟弟在一起。當他死的時候，會覺得快樂就在自己身旁相伴。
They let him have his wish; and, indeed, he kept his word, and was, in his childish way, a lesson to them all.
他們讓他得償所愿，他也確實照自己說的那樣，以孩子的方式給所有人上了一課。
Up to that time, the old man had not spoken once, except to her, or stirred from the bedside.
直到那時為止，老人不曾說過一句話，除了對她之外，也沒有離開床邊半步。
But, when he saw her little favorite, he was moved as they had not seen him yet, and made as though he would have him come nearer.
但是，當他看到她那很合得來的朋友時，他們從未見過他如此動容，甚至流露出想要那孩子更靠近一些的意思。
Then, pointing to the bed, he burst into tears for the first time,
然后，他指著床，第一次落淚，
and they who stood by, knowing that the sight of this child had done him good, left them alone together.
站在旁邊的大伙兒曉得這孩子的到來能慰藉他那顆破碎的心，于是便把他們單獨留下來。
Soothing him with his artless talk of her, the child persuaded him to take some rest, to walk abroad, to do almost as he desired him.
那孩子用他未加修飾的方式談著她，借此安慰老者，勸他去休息一會兒，出去散散步，或者做一些他所希望做的事情。
And, when the day came, on which they must remove her, in her earthly shape, from earthly eyes forever,
待天色大亮，他們必須把她那塵世的形體在眾人塵世的目光目送下永遠地移走了。
he led him away, that he might not know when she was taken from him.
他只能把他支開，免得使他知道她不會再回到他身邊后承受不住。
