狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第24章Part 6
'I know you never will,' returned the lady. 'I can trust you as myself. I fear then, Kate, that Florence's father cares little for her, very seldom sees her, never was kind to her in her life, and now quite shuns her and avoids her. She would love him dearly if he would suffer her, but he will not - though for no fault of hers; and she is greatly to be loved and pitied by all gentle hearts.'
More of the flowers that Florence held fell scattering on the ground; those that remained were wet, but not with dew; and her face dropped upon her laden hands.
'Poor Florence! Dear, good Florence!' cried the child.
'Do you know why I have told you this, Kate?' said the lady.
'That I may be very kind to her, and take great care to try to please her. Is that the reason, aunt?'
'Partly,' said the lady, 'but not all. Though we see her so cheerful; with a pleasant smile for everyone; ready to oblige us all, and bearing her part in every amusement here: she can hardly be quite happy, do you think she can, Kate?'
'I am afraid not,' said the little girl.
“我知道你決不會，”那位夫人回答道，“我相信你就像相信我自己一樣。那麼我就告訴你吧，凱特；我擔心弗洛倫斯的父親很少關心她，很少看到她；他從來沒有對她表示過溫存，現在差不多完全躲開她，避免跟她見面。如果他允許的話，那麼她會深深地愛他，可是他卻不想這麼做，雖然她一點兒過錯也沒有；所有善良的心都會深切地愛她，可憐她。”
弗洛倫斯抱着的花朵，又有好些散落到地上，那些留下來的已經溼了，並不是由於露水；她的臉低垂到抱着這些花朵的手上。
“可憐的弗洛倫斯！親愛的善良的弗洛倫斯！”女孩子喊道。
“你知道我爲什麼把這告訴你嗎，凱特？”那夫人問道。
“這樣我可以很親切地對待她，極力設法使她高興。是不是這個緣故，姑媽？”
“那是一部分原因，”那夫人說道，“並不是全部。雖然我們看到她快快活活，對每個人都和顏悅色地露出笑容，非常樂意爲我們所有的人效勞，並參加這裏的一切娛樂，可是她卻很難是幸福的；你想她能幸福嗎，凱特？”
“我覺得她不能。”小女孩說道。
