In the autumn of 1930 Edward went to stay with his friends Lord and Lady Furness. This is how he described that weekend in a book called A King's Story:
1930年的秋天,愛德華去他的朋友弗內(nèi)斯勛爵夫婦那里小住。在《一個國王的故事》一書中,他是這樣描述那個周末的:
On Saturday the weather was cold and windy. It was raining heavily so we could not ride our horses. We decided to stay in the house and have an early lunch with some of Lady Furness' friends.
星期六,天氣很冷,刮著風(fēng)。雨下得很大,所以我們無法出去騎馬。我們決定待在屋里,早點開午飯。與我們共進(jìn)午餐的是弗內(nèi)斯勛爵夫人的一些朋友。
At one o'clock Wallis arrived with her husband. She was beautifully dressed and she smiled all the time. She spoke with Lord Furness for a few minutes, and then Lady Furness brought her over to see me.
1點鐘,沃利斯和她的丈夫來了。她穿得很漂亮,始終面帶微笑。她與弗內(nèi)斯勛爵談了幾分鐘,然后弗內(nèi)斯勛爵夫人把她帶到我面前。
Sir, I would like you to meet one of my dearest and sweetest American friends, Mrs Wallis Simpson.'
“殿下,我想介紹您認(rèn)識我的一位最可愛、最甜美的美國朋友,沃利斯·辛普森夫人。”
How do you do, Mrs Simpson,' I said. 'Please come and sit down.'
“您好,辛普森夫人,”我說,“請過來坐坐。”
Lady Furness left us and we began to talk.
弗內(nèi)斯勛爵夫人走開了,我們交談起來。
I could see that Wallis was not feeling very well. She had a bad cold and her eyes were red. 'I'm afraid that our English houses aren't very warm,' I said. 'We don't have American central heating here.'
我看得出,沃利斯不太舒服。她得了重感冒,眼睛紅紅的。“恐怕我們英國的房子不夠暖和,”我說,“我們這兒沒有美國的中央供暖系統(tǒng)。”
There was a long silence. Mrs Simpson turned her face and looked out of the window. Then she said: 'You have disappointed me, Sir.'
接著是長長的一段沉默。辛普森夫人轉(zhuǎn)頭向窗外望去。然后她說:“您讓我感到失望,殿下。”
And why is that?' I asked.
“為什么?”我問。
Because everybody asks me about American central heating. I thought that the Prince of Wales would talk about something more interesting.'
“因為每個人都問我美國中央供暖的事兒。我想,威爾士親王準(zhǔn)會談些比較有趣的事。”
I began to laugh.
我大笑起來。
What's the matter, Sir?' Wallis asked. 'Have I said something wrong?'
“怎么了,殿下?”沃利斯問,“我說錯什么了嗎?”
No,' I replied. 'I'm laughing because you didn't lie to me. You told me the truth.'
“沒有,”我回答,“我笑是因為你沒對我說謊。你講了真話。”
But why is that funny? Doesn't everybody do that?'
“可這有什么可笑的?難道大家不都這樣嗎?”
One day I'll be King of England,' I replied. 'And people are afraid of me. If I say that the sky is yellow, they say, "Yes, Sir, you are right". If I say that Wednesday is the first day of the week, they say, "Yes, Sir, you are right". And if I say that Scotland is bigger than Canada, they say, "Yes, Sir, you are right". But you told me that I was boring! You told me the truth. I like that!'
“有朝一日我會成為英國的國王,”我答道,“所以人們都怕我。如果我說天是黃的,他們會說,‘對,殿下,您說得對。’如果我說星期三是一周里的第一天,他們會說,‘對,殿下,您說得對。’如果我說蘇格蘭比加拿大還要大,他們會說,‘對,殿下,你說得對。’可是,您卻告訴我,我令人乏味!您講了真心話。我喜歡這樣!”
There was another silence and then Wallis began to laugh. 'Can I say one more thing, Sir?'
又是一陣沉默,然后沃利斯笑了起來。“我能再說一件事嗎,殿下?”
Yes, Mrs Simpson, what is it?'
“可以,辛普森夫人,什么事?”
It's your trousers, Sir.'
“是您的褲子,殿下。”
My trousers?'
“我的褲子?”
Yes, Sir. They are black and your shoes are brown.' These two colours don't look right together.
“是的,殿下。您的褲子是黑色的,鞋卻是棕色的。這兩種顏色配在一起有點兒不協(xié)調(diào)。”
I stood up and looked in the mirror. 'Yes, Mrs Simpson, you're right. I look very strange. The next time we meet, I will be better dressed.'
我站起身,照了照鏡子。“不錯,辛普森夫人,您說得對。我看上去真奇怪,等我們下次見面時,我會穿得更得體些。”
When lunch was ready, we walked through into the dining room. I sat at one end of the table and Wallis sat at the other end. I was watching her very carefully. I thought how beautiful her hands were. She began talking to Lady Furness and then, a few minutes later, she turned and smiled at me. I fell very happy.
午餐準(zhǔn)備好了,我們走進(jìn)餐廳。我坐在桌子一頭,沃利斯坐在另一頭。我仔細(xì)地打量她。我想,她的手多美呀!她開始和弗內(nèi)斯勛爵夫人談話,幾分鐘后,她轉(zhuǎn)過頭來向我微笑。我覺得很高興。
After lunch Wallis came over to say goodbye. 'My husband and I have to leave now, Sir. We're going to another Party in London.'
午餐后,沃利斯過來向我道別。“我和我丈夫現(xiàn)在得走了,殿下。我們要去倫敦參加另一個聚會。”
I wanted to speak to her but I could not find the right words. I don't know why. We shook hands and Wallis walked away.
我想對她說點什么,可一時找不到合適的話。我不懂為什么會這樣。我們握了握手,沃利斯走了。
I went into the next room and sat down near Lady Furness. 'Tell me about Mrs Simpson,' I said.
我走到隔壁房間里,坐在弗內(nèi)斯勛爵夫人身旁。“給我講講辛普森夫人的事。”我說。
What would you like to know?' she asked.
“您想知道什么?”她問。
Everything!' I said.
“她的一切!”我說。
Then perhaps, Sir, you would like to walk in the garden. We can talk more freely there.'
“那樣的話,殿下,也許您會愿意去花園里走走。我們在那兒談起來會比較自由些。”
We stood up and left the house by the back door. We walked slowly through the trees, and Lady Furness told me about Wallis...
我們起身從后門走出去。我們漫步在樹叢中,弗內(nèi)斯勛爵夫人給我講起了沃利斯的事……