THE NECKLACE项链(中英对照)

THENECKLACE项链MathildeLoiselwasoneofthosepoorgirls，pretty，charmingandromantic，who，inspiteoftheirromanticdreams，aremarriedtoamediocrity．HerhusbandwasaclerkintheMinistryofEducation．Oneeveningherhusbandcamehomewithanairoftriumph．“Ihavesomethingniceforyou，”hesaid，givingheralargeenvelope．Shetoreopentheenvelope，whichcontainedthefollowingprintedcard：“TheMinisterofEducationandMadameGeorgesRamponneauhavethehonourtorequestthecompanyofMonsieurandMadameLoiselattheofficeoftheMinistryonMondayevening，January18th．”Shedidnotseemdelighted．Onthecontrary，sheflungtheinvitationcardonthetable，andsaidspitefully：“What'sthattome？”“Why，mydear，Ithoughtyou'dbepleased．Youlikeadance，don'tyou？Youhardlyevergoout，andthisisreallyagoodchanceforyou．Ihadnoendoftroubletogetit．Everyonewantsit，youknow．Alltheofficialswillbethere，butonlyafewclerksareinvited．”Shelookedathimruefullyandexclaimed：“Whatdoyouexpectmetowearatapartylikethat？”Itneveroccurredtohimthatshehadnoprettydressesnorjewels．Herepliedhesitatingly：“Why，thedressyouwearwhenyougotothetheatrelooksverynicetome．”Sheburstintotears．Whydidshemarrysuchadull，stupidfellow？Onlybecauseshewasbornintoapoorfamily．Oh，crueltrickofdestiny！“What'sthematter？”heaskedanxiously．“Nothing，”sheansweredwithaneffort．“It'sonlythatIhaven'tasuitabledress，andsoIcan'tgototheball．GivethiscardtoafriendofyourswhosewifehasabetterwardrobethanI．”Itwasaheart-breakingconfession．“Come，Mathilde，mydearest，”thedistressedhusbandsaid，“howmuchdoyouthinkitwouldcosttohaveaproperdress，somethingrathersimplewhichwouldbeusefulforotheroccasionsafter-wards？”Shethoughtforamoment，busywithhercalculations．Howmuchcouldsheaskwithoutshockingthethriftyhusbandandprovokingaflatrefusal？“I'mnotsure，butIthinkIcouldmanagewithfourhundredfrancs．”Thehusbandturnedalittlepale．ShehadnamedtheexactsumhehadsavedtobuyaguntoenjoyshootingontheplainofNanterrenextsummerwithafewfriends．Buthereplied：“Allright．Youshallhavefourhundredfrancs．Mindyougetareallynicedress．”***Thedayoftheballdrewnear．AlthoughMadameLoiselhadgothercoveteddress，sheseemedfarfrompleased．“Whatisthematter？”herhusbandasked．“Youlookoutofsortsthesedays．”“It'squiteannoyingtothinkthatIhaven'tasinglepieceofjewellerytowear．Imightaswellstayathomeascutamiserablefigureattheparty，”sheanswered．“Howaboutwearingnaturalflowers，then？”herhusbandsuggested．“Theyarenowquiteinfashion．Fortenfrancsyoucangettwoorthreesplendidroses．”“Wheredidyougetsuchasillyidea？”shereplied．“Can'tyouseehowmiserableI'dlookamongrichwomen？”“Wellthen，”herhusbandsaid．“Whydon'tyougoandaskyourfriend，MadameForestier，tolendyousomejewels？Sheisagoodfriendofyours，andhasalotofjewellery，hasn'tshe？”“Yes，ofcourse，”sheexclaimedindelight．“Whydidn'tIthinkofit？”ThenextdayshecalledonMadameForestierandexplainedhertrouble．MadameForestierwenttoherwardrobe，tookoutalargejewelcase，andplaceditopeninfrontofherfriend．“Takewhatyouwant，mydear，”shesaid．MadameLoiselfirstsawsomebracelets，thenapearlnecklace，thenaVenetiangoldcrosssetwithjewels，anexquisitepieceofmagnificentworkmanship．Shetriedthemon，oneafteranother，beforethemirror，uncertainwhichtochoose．“Haveyouanymore？”sheasked．“Oh，yes，lookforyourself．Idon'tknowwhatyouwouldlikebest．”SuddenlyMadameLoiseldiscoveredablacksatincase，inwhichlayasuperbdiamondneck-lace．Herheartbeatfast．Withtremblinghands，shetookitout，fasteneditroundherneck，andstoodgazingatherselfinthemirror，lostinadmiration．Sheaskedfearfully：“Wouldyoulendmethis？Idon'tthinkIneedanythingelse．”“Why，yes，certainly．”MadameLoiselthrewherarmsroundherfriend'sneck，kissedher，andhurriedout，lestherfriendshouldchangehermind．Thenightoftheballcameatlast．MadameLoiselwasabrilliantsuccess．Shelookedmorebeautifulthananyotherwomanpresent．Triumphantly，fullofgraceandjoy，shedancedadmirably，awareoftherapteyesofthecompany．Allthemeninquiredhername，wantedtobeintroduced，askedherforwaltzes．Sheattractedtheattentionofeventheministerhim-self．Shefeltasifshewereinabeautifuldream，intoxicatedwithhappiness．Oh，howlongshehadbeenyearningforsuchamoment！Itwasaboutfourinthemorningbeforeshecouldtearherselfawayfromtheball．Herhusbandhadbeendozingsincemidnightinalittledeserteddrawingroomwiththreeothergentlemenwhosewiveswereenjoyingthedance．Hethrewroundhershouldershercloakforeverydaywear，whichlookedstrangelyincongruouswithherelegantballdress，andanxioustoescapetheeyesoftheotherwomeninrichfurs，shehurrieddownthestaircase．Nocabwastobeseeninthestreet，and，shiveringwithcold，theytrudgedontowardstheSeine．Atlast，onthequay，theyfoundanold，ricketycabrarelyseeninParisinthedaytime．Onreachingtheirdwelling，theyclimbedthestairstotheirflatingloomysilence．Shetookoffhergarmentbeforethemirror．Shewantedtoenjoyonemoreglanceatherself，deckedinallherglory．Suddenlyshecriedoutinhorror．“Whatisthematter？”herhusbandasked．Hewasalreadyhalfundressed；hehadtobeattheofficebytenthenextday．Sheturnedtohim，likeonemad．“Thediamondnecklaceisgone！”“What？How？Impossible！”Theysearchedthefoldsofherskirtandcloak，herpockets，everywhere；butthenecklacewasnowheretobeseen．“Youhaditonwhenyoulefttheball？”“Yes，Irememberfingeringitinthevestibule．”“Ifyouhaddroppeditinthestreet，weshoul