L2Eveline伊芙林詹姆斯·乔伊斯她坐在窗前看着黄昏涌上大街。Shesatatthewindowwatchingtheeveninginvadetheavenue.她的头靠在窗帘上,鼻孔里满是提花窗帘布上的尘土气味。她累了。Herheadwasleanedagainstthewindowcurtains,andinhernostrilswastheodourofdustycretonne.Shewastired.很少有人走过。最后一所房子里的那个男人经过这里往家走;她听见他啪嗒啪嗒的脚步声走过水泥道,然后又嘎吱嘎吱地踩在新红房子前的煤渣小路上。Fewpeoplepassed.Themanoutofthelasthousepassedonhiswayhome;sheheardhisfootstepsclackingalongtheconcretepavementandafterwardscrunchingonthecinderpathbeforethenewredhouses.过去那里曾经有一块空地,他们每晚都在空地上和其他家的孩子一起玩耍。Onetimethereusedtobeafieldthereinwhichtheyusedtoplayeveryeveningwithotherpeople’schildren.后来一个贝尔法斯特来的男人买走了那块地并在那里建了房子——与他们棕色的小房子不同,他的房子是明亮的砖房还有闪亮的屋顶。ThenamanfromBelfastboughtthefieldandbuilthousesinit----notliketheirlittlebrownhouses,butbrightbrickhouseswithshiningroofs.这条街的孩子们过去总是在那块地上玩——迪瓦恩家的,沃特家的,邓恩家的,瘸子小基奥,她和她的兄弟姐妹。Thechildrenoftheavenueusedtoplaytogetherinthatfield–theDevines,theWaters,theDunns,littleKeoghthecripple,sheandherbrothersandsisters.但是欧内斯特却从来没有玩过,他太大了。Ernest,however,neverplayed:hewastoogrownup.她的父亲经常用他那根黑刺李木的拐杖到地里把她们赶出去;但小基奥总是站岗,一看见她的父亲过来就大声喊。Herfatherusedoftentohunttheminoutofthefieldwithhisblackthornstick;butusuallylittleKeoghusedtokeepnixandcalloutwhenhesawherfathercoming.即使这样他们那时似乎还是很开心。她父亲还没有这么坏,而且她母亲也还活着。Stilltheyseemedtohavebeenratherhappythen.Herfatherwasnotsobadthen;andbesides,hermotherwasalive.那是很久以前的事了,她和兄弟姐妹都已经长大了;她的母亲死了。Thatwasalongtimeago;sheandherbrothersandsisterswereallgrownup;hermotherwasdead.迪齐·邓恩也死了,沃特一家回英格兰了。TizzieDunnwasdead,too,andtheWatershadgonebacktoEngland.所有的一切都变了。现在她也要像其他人那样离开自己的家。Everythingchanged.Nowshewasgoingtogoawayliketheothers,toleaveherhome.家!她环顾屋内,审视着这么多年来她每周都要掸擦一遍的一切熟悉的物品,心里奇怪究竟哪来的这么多灰尘。Home!Shelookedroundtheroom,reviewingallitsfamiliarobjectswhichshehaddustedonceaweekforsomanyyears,wonderingwhereonearthallthedustcamefrom.也许她再也见不到那些熟悉的东西了,她做梦也没想到过和它们分开。Perhapsshewouldneverseeagainthosefamiliarobjectsfromwhichshehadneverdreamedofbeingdivided.可是这么多年里她从来没有弄清楚那张泛黄的照片上的牧师的姓名,照片就挂在墙上,在破旧的风琴的上边,旁边是耶稣对圣玛利亚·玛丽·阿拉科特许诺的彩色图片。AndyetduringallthoseyearsshehadneverfoundoutthenameofthepriestwhoseyellowingphotographhungonthewallabovethebrokenharmoniumbesidethecolouredprintofthepromisesmadetoBlessedMargaretMaryAlacoque.他是父亲的学友。每次父亲把照片递给到家里的朋友看时,总是不经意地带一句:“他现在在墨尔本。”Hehadbeenaschoolfriendofherfather.wheneverheshowedthephotographtoavisitorherfatherusedtopassitwithacasualword:”HeisinMelbournenow.“她已经答应离开,离开自己的家。这样做明智吗?Shehadconsentedtogoaway,toleaveherhome.Waswhatwise?她试着权衡这个问题的每一个方面。Shetriedtoweigheachsideofthequestion.在家里不管怎么说她有吃有住;有她认识了一辈子的人在她身边。Inherhomeanywayshehadshelterandfood;shehadthosewhomshehadknownallherlifeabouther.当然她得拼命干活,不论是在家里还是在商店里。Ofcourseshehadtoworkhard,bothinthehouseandatbusiness.如果商店里的人知道她和一个男人跑了,她们会怎么说她呢?Whatwouldtheysayofherinthestoreswhentheyfoundoutthatshehadrunawaywithafellow?也许说她是一个傻瓜;她们会登广告找别人代替她的位置。Sayshewasafool,perhaps;andherplacewouldbefilledupbyadvertisement.加文小姐会很高兴。她总是要压她一头,尤其是有旁人听着的时候。MissGavanwouldbeglad.Shehadalwayshadanedgeonher,especiallywhenevertherewerepeoplelistening.“希尔小姐,难道你没有看见这些女士在等着吗?”“MissHill,don’tyouseetheseladiesarewaiting?”“请精神点,希尔小姐。”“Looklively,MissHill,please.“离开商店她不会掉多少眼泪的。Shewouldnotcrymanytearsatleavingthestores.但是在她的新家里,在一个遥远陌生的国家里,事情就不会是那样了。Butinhernewhome,inadistantunknowncountry,itwouldnotbelikethat.她会结婚——她,伊芙林。Thenshewouldbemarried---she,Eveline.人们会很尊重她。她不会受到她母亲受过的那种对待。即使是现在,她已经过19岁了,她还是经常感到自己有挨父亲打的危险。Peoplewouldtreatherwithrespectthen.Shewouldnotbetreatedashermotherhadbeen.Evennow,thoughshewasovernineteen,shesometimesfeltherselfindangerofherfather’sviolence.她知道正是因为这种担心才使她心惊肉跳。Sheknewitwasthatthathadgivenherthepalpitations.她们长大以后,他还没有像他曾经打哈利和欧内斯特那样打过她,因为她是个女孩;但最近他开始威胁地,说要不是因为她死去的母亲的缘故,他会怎样对待她。Whentheyweregrowinguphehadnevergoneforher,likeheusedtogoforHarryandErnest,becauseshewasagirl;butlatterlyhehadbeguntothreatenherandsaywhathewoulddotoheronlyforherdeadmother’ssake.现在没有人能保护她,欧内斯特死了,而干教堂装修的哈利几乎总是在乡下的什么地方。Andnowshehadnobodytoprotecther,ErnestwasdeadandHarry,whowasinthechurchdecoratingbusiness,wasnearlyalwaysdownsomewhereinthecountry.另外,每星期六都为了钱而发生的争吵已使她开始感到说不出的厌倦。Besides,theinvariablesquabbleformoneyonSaturdaynightshadbeguntowearyherunspeakably.她总是交出她所有的工资——七个先令——哈利也总是尽力给家里寄钱,但问题是从她父亲手中要钱。Shealwaysgaveherentirewages----sevenshillings----andHarryalwayssentupwhathecould,butthetroublewastogetanymoneyfromherfather.他说她过去总是胡乱花钱,没有头脑,还说他不会将他辛苦挣来的钱交给她到街上乱花,等等,因为他星期六晚上通常心情相当糟。Hesaidsheusedtosquanderthemoney,thatshehadnohead,thathewasn’tgoingtogiveherhishard-earnedmoneytothrowaboutthestreets,andmuchmore,forhewasusuallyfairlybadonSaturdaynight.最后他会将钱给她并问她是否打算买星期天晚饭吃的东西。IntheendhewouldgiveherthemoneyandaskherhadsheanyintentionofbuyingSunday’sdinner.然后她不得不尽快跑到市场上买东西,她紧紧地将黑皮钱包攥在手里,在人群中挤着走,直到很晚才背着沉重的食品回家。Thenshehadtorushoutasquicklyasshecouldanddohermarketing,holdingherblackleatherpursetightlyinherhandassheelbowedherwaythroughthecrowdsandreturninghomelateunderherloadofprovisions.她好不容易才能将这个家维持下来,让那两个留给她照顾的年幼的弟弟妹妹能够按时上学,按时吃饭。Shehadhardworktokeepthehousetogetherandtoseethatthetwoyoungchildrenwhohadbeenlefttoherchargewenttoschoolregularlyandgottheirmealsregula