(雙語)月亮和六便士 第26章(2)
Though his means were adequate to the needs of himself and his wife, he certainly had no money to waste; but now he was wantonly extravagant in the purchase of delicacies, out of season and dear, which might tempt Strickland's capricious appetite. I shall never forget the tactful patience with which he persuaded him to take nourishment. He was never put out by Strickland's rudeness; if it was merely sullen, he appeared not to notice it; if it was aggressive, he only chuckled. When Strickland, recovering somewhat, was in a good humour and amused himself by laughing at him, he deliberately did absurd things to excite his ridicule. Then he would give me little happy glances, so that I might notice in how much better form the patient was. Stroeve was sublime.
盡管他的收入一向只夠維持夫妻兩人的生活，從來就不寬裕，現在他卻大手大腳，購買時令已過、價錢昂貴的美味，想方設法叫思特里克蘭德多吃一點東西（他的胃口時好時壞，叫人無法捉摸）。我什么時候也忘不了他勸說思特里克蘭德增加營養(yǎng)的那種耐心和手腕。不論思特里克蘭德對他多么沒禮貌，他也從來不動火。如果對方只是郁悶懊喪，他就假裝看不到；如果對方頂撞他，他只是一笑置之。當思特里克蘭德身體好了一些，情緒高起來，嘲笑他幾句開開心，他就做出一些滑稽的舉動來，故意給對方更多譏笑的機會。他會高興地遞給我?guī)讉€眼色，叫我知道病人已經大有起色了。施特略夫實在是個大好人。
But it was Blanche who most surprised me. She proved herself not only a capable, but a devoted nurse. There was nothing in her to remind you that she had so vehemently struggled against her husband's wish to bring Strickland to the studio. She insisted on doing her share of the offices needful to the sick. She arranged his bed so that it was possible to change the sheet without disturbing him. She washed him. When I remarked on her competence, she told me with that pleasant little smile of hers that for a while she had worked in a hospital. She gave no sign that she hated Strickland so desperately. She did not speak to him much, but she was quick to forestall his wants. For a fortnight it was necessary that someone should stay with him all night, and she took turns at watching with her husband. I wondered what she thought during the long darkness as she sat by the bedside.
但是更使我感到吃驚的還是勃朗什。她證明了自己不僅是一個能干的、而且是一個專心致志的護士。你再也不會想到她曾一度激烈地反對過自己的丈夫，堅決不同意把思特里克蘭德帶回到家里來。病人需要照料的地方很多，她堅持要盡到自己一部分責任。她整理病人的床鋪，盡量做到在撤換床單時不驚擾病人。她給病人洗浴。當我稱贊她的能干時，她臉上露出慣有的微笑，告訴我她曾經在一家醫(yī)院做過一段事。她絲毫不讓人看出來，她曾經那樣討厭過思特里克蘭德。她同他說話不多，但是不管他有什么需要，她都很快地就能知道。有兩個星期思特里克蘭德整夜都需要有人看護，她就和她丈夫輪班守夜。我真想知道，在她坐在病床旁邊度過漫漫長夜時心里在想些什么。
