人性的枷锁 Of Human Bondage(3)

‘Was it a girl or a boy?’ she whispered to the nurse.
‘Another boy.’
The woman did not answer. In a moment the child’s nurse came back. She approached the bed.
‘Master Philip never woke up,’ she said. There was a pause. Then the doctor felt his patient’s pulse once more.
‘I don’t think there’s anything I can do just now,’ he said. ‘I’ll call again after breakfast.’
‘I’ll show you out, sir,’ said the child’s nurse.
They walked downstairs in silence. In the hall the doctor stopped.
‘You’ve sent for Mrs. Carey’s brother-in-law, haven’t you?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘D’you know at what time he’ll be here?’
‘No, sir, I’m expecting a telegram.’
‘What about the little boy? I should think he’d be better out of the way.’
‘Miss Watkin said she’d take him, sir.’
‘Who’s she?’
‘She’s his godmother, sir. D’you think Mrs. Carey will get over it, sir?’
The doctor shook his head.
第一章
天亮了，天色阴沉沉的。彤云低垂，寒风刺骨，眼看要飞雪花了。屋里睡着个孩子，一名女仆走了进来，拉开窗帘。她朝对面的房子，一幢正门前筑有柱廊的灰泥房子，无意识地望了一眼，然后走到孩子床边。
"醒醒，菲利普，"她说。
她掀开被子，抱起孩子，带他下了楼。孩子迷迷糊糊的，还未醒透。
"你妈妈要你去哩，"她说。
她来到下面一层楼，推开一间屋子的房门，将小孩抱到床前。床上躺着一位妇人，是孩子的母亲。她张开双臂，让孩子依偎在自己身边。孩子没问为什么要在这时候将他唤醒。妇人吻吻孩子的眼睛，并用那双纤弱的小手，隔着孩子的白法兰绒睡衣，抚摩他温暖的身子。她让孩子贴紧自己的身子。