Book One
第一部
Chapter 1
第一章
Thunder. Too deeply wrapped in her thoughts, Doris had not been aware of it. New Orleans was having a storm. Continued rain, the weatherman had said. Sixty-six degrees in New Orleans. By evening the rain will be turning to thundershowers. Be sure to carry your umbrellas. She would not need an umbrella.
外面雷声阵阵。多丽丝由于陷入极度的沉思之中，竟然没有听到雷声。新奥尔良地区正在下暴雨。气象太已经预报过：“新奥尔良地区有雨。华氏六十六度。夜晚将转为雷阵雨。别忘了带伞。”可她已不再需要伞了。
"That's thunder, Tracy." She forced a note of cheerfulness into her voice. "Tell me what's happening in Philadelphia."
“是雷声，特蕾西。”她极力使自己的声调显得很轻松，“告诉我，你在费城过得怎么样？”
"I feel like a princess in a fairy tale, Mother," Tracy said. "I never believed anyone could be so happy. Tomorrow night I'm meeting Charles's parents." She deepened her voice as though making a pronouncement. "The Stanhopes, of Chestnut Hill," she sighed. "They're an institution. I have butterflies the size of dinosaurs."
“我就象神话了的公主一样，妈妈。”特蕾西说，“我从来不相信有人会象我这样幸福。明天晚上我将和查尔斯的父母见面。”接着，她象宣告什么似的压低了嗓门，“是栗树山的斯坦厄普夫妇，”她叹了一口气，“他们很古板。我正害怕得发抖呢。”
"Don't worry. They'll love you, darling."
“别担心，他们会喜欢你的，亲爱的。”
"Charles says it doesn't matter. He loves me. And I adore him. I can't wait for you to meet him. He's fantastic."
“查尔斯也说没关系。他爱我，我也爱他。我真想让您马上见到他。他可帅了。”
"I'm sure he is." She would never meet Charles. She would never hold a grandchild in her lap. No. I must not think about that. "Does he know how lucky he is to have you, baby?"
“这我相信。”可她永远不会见到查尔斯了，永远也抱不上孙儿了。不，别想这些了。“孩子，他知道能得到你将有多幸福吗？”
"I keep telling him." Tracy laughed. "Enough about me. Tell me what's going on there. How are you feeling?"
“我也是一直这么跟他说的。”特蕾西笑了，“关于我的事就说到这儿吧。告诉我，您那儿的情况怎么样？您好吗？”
You're in perfect health, Doris, were Dr. Rush's words. You'll live to be a hundred. One of life's little ironies. "I feel wonderful." Talking to you.
拉什大夫曾说过这样的话：“多丽丝，您的身体好极了。您可以活到一百岁。”命运可真会捉弄人！“我很好。”多丽丝答到。
"Got a boyfriend yet?" Tracy teased.
“有男朋友了吗？”特蕾西开玩笑地说。
Since Tracy's father had died five years earlier, Doris Whitney had not even considered going out with another man, despite Tracy's encouragement.
自从特蕾西的父亲在五年前去世以后，尽管特蕾西一再怂恿，多丽丝-惠特里从没有考虑过和别的男人外出。
"No boyfriends." She changed the subject. "How is your job? Still enjoying it?"
“还没有。”她改变了话题，“你的工作怎么样？喜欢吗？”
"I love it. Charles doesn't mind if I keep working after we're married."
“喜欢。结婚以后，我要是继续工作，查尔斯也不会不高兴。”
"That's wonderful, baby. He sounds like a very understanding man."
“这太好了，宝贝。他真是个明白人。”
"He is. You'll see for yourself."
“是这样的。您还是亲眼见见他吧。”
