The Blue Castle Progressive Translation Books for Vietnamese A2 Students

CHAPTERI

IfithadnotrainedonacertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swholelifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.

Shewouldhavegone,withtherestofherclan,to

Dì

AuntWellington’sengagementpicnicandDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.

Butitdid

mưa

rainandyoushallhearwhathappenedtoherbecauseofit.

Valancywakened

sớm

early,inthelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.

Shehadnotsleptverywell.

Onedoesnotsleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,andunmarried,inacommunityandconnectionwheretheunmarriedare

chỉ đơn giản

simplythosewhohavefailedtogetaman.

DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopelessoldmaidenhood.

ButValancyherselfhadneverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,littlehopethatRomancewouldcomeherwayyet—never,untilthiswet,horriblemorning,whenshewakenedtothefactthatshewastwenty-nineandunsoughtbyanyman.

Ay,therelaythesting.

Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeinganoldmaid.

Afterall,shethought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeingmarriedtoanUncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,orevenanUncleHerbert.

Whathurtherwasthatshehadneverhadachancetobeanythingbutanoldmaid.

Nomanhadeverdesiredher.

Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.

Shedarednotletherself

khóc

cryashardasshewantedto,fortworeasons.

Shewasafraidthatcryingmightbringonanotherattackofthat

đau

painaroundtheheart.

Shehadhadaspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—rather

tệ

worsethananyshehadhadyet.

Andshewasafraidhermotherwould

thấy

noticeherredeyesatbreakfastandkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.

“Suppose,”thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“Iansweredwiththeplaintruth,‘IamcryingbecauseIcannotgetmarried.’HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamedeverydayofherlifeofheroldmaiddaughter.”

Butofcourseappearancesshouldbekeptup.

“Itisnot,”Valancycouldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorial

giọng nói

voiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytothinkaboutmen.”

Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehadasenseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.

Forthatmatter,therewereagoodmanythingsaboutValancythatnobodysuspected.

Butherlaughterwasverysuperficialandpresentlyshelaythere,ahuddled,futilelittle

hình

figure,listeningtotherainpouringdownoutsideandwatching,withasickdistaste,thechill,mercilesslightcreepingintoher

xấu xí

ugly,sordidroom.

Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewitandhatedit.

Theyellow-painted

sàn

floor,withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythebed,withagrotesque,“hooked”dogonit,alwaysgrinningatherwhensheawoke;

thefaded,dark-red

giấy

paper;

theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaksandcrossedbycracks;

thenarrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;

thebrown-paperlambrequinwithpurplerosesonit;

thespottedoldlooking-glasswiththecrackacrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;

thejarofancientpotpourrimadebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;

theshell-covered

hộp

box,withoneburstcorner,whichCousinStickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;

thebeadedpincushionwithhalfitsbeadfringegone;

theonestiff,yellowchair;

thefadedoldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarnsaboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimoldface;

theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfromtheroomsbelow.

Therewereonlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.

One,anoldchromoofapuppysittingonarainydoorstep.

That

ảnh

picturealwaysmadeValancyunhappy.

Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedriving

mưa

rain!

Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthedoorandlethimin?

Theother

bức tranh

picturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingof

Nữ hoàng

QueenLouisecomingdownastairway,which

Dì

AuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronhertenthbirthday.

Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatitandhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfied

Nữ hoàng

QueenLouise.

Butsheneverdareddestroyitorremoveit.

MotherandCousinStickleswouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehadafit.

Everyroominthehousewas

xấu xí

ugly,ofcourse.

Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.

Therewasnomoneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.

Valancysometimesfeltthatshecouldhavedonesomethingforherroomherself,evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.

ButhermotherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.

Valancyneverpersisted.

Shewasafraidto.

Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.

Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordaysifoffended,withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.

TheonlythingValancylikedaboutherroomwasthatshecouldbealonethereatnightto

khóc

cryifshewantedto.

But,afterall,whatdiditmatterifaroom,whichyouusedfornothingexceptsleepinganddressingin,were

xấu xí

ugly?

Valancywasneverpermittedtostayaloneinherroomforanyotherpurpose.

Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirlingandCousinSticklesbelieved,couldonlywanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.

Butherroominthe

Blue

BlueCastlewaseverythingaroomshouldbe.

Valancy,socowedandsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedinreallife,waswonttoletherselfgo

khá

rathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.

NobodyintheStirlingclan,oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallhermotherandCousinStickles.

TheyneverknewthatValancyhadtwohomes—the

xấu xí

uglyredbrickboxofahome,onElmStreet,andthe

Xanh

BlueCastleinSpain.

Valancyhadlivedspirituallyinthe

Xanh

BlueCastleeversinceshecouldremember.

Shehadbeenaverytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.

Always,whensheshuthereyes,shecouldseeitplainly,withitsturretsandbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,

xanh

blueloveliness,againstthesunsetskiesofafairandunknownland.

Everything

tuyệt vời

wonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.

Jewelsthatqueensmighthaveworn;

robesofmoonlightandfire;

couchesofrosesand

vàng

gold;

longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,withgreat,whiteurns,andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgoingupanddownthem;

courts,marble-pillared,whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessangamongthemyrtles;

hallsofmirrorsthatreflectedonlyhandsomeknightsand

yêu

lovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofall,forwhoseglancemendied.

Allthatsupportedherthroughtheboredomofherdayswasthehopeofgoingonadreamspreeatnight.

Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedofhorroriftheyhadknownhalfthethingsValancydidinher

Blue

BlueCastle.

Foronethingshehadquiteafewloversinit.

Oh,onlyoneatatime.

Onewhowooedherwithalltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalryandwonherafterlongdevotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,andwasweddedtoherwithpompandcircumstanceinthegreat,banner-hungchapelofthe

Xanh

BlueCastle.

Attwelve,thisloverwasafairladwithgoldencurlsandheavenly

xanh

blueeyes.

Atfifteen,hewastallanddarkandpale,butstillnecessarilyhandsome.

Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.

Attwenty-five,hehadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,andafacestrongandruggedratherthanhandsome.

Valancynevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinher

Xanh

BlueCastle,butrecently—veryrecently—herherohadhadreddish,tawnyhair,atwistedsmileandamysteriouspast.

Idon’tsayValancydeliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrewthem.

One

chỉ đơn giản

simplyfadedawayasanothercame.

Thingsareveryconvenientinthisrespectin

Blue

BlueCastles.

But,onthismorningofherdayoffate,Valancycouldnotfindthekeyofher

Xanh

BlueCastle.

Realitypressedonhertoohardly,barkingatherheelslikeamaddeninglittledog.

Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—theonlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,withnopastandno

tương lai

future.

Asfarasshecouldlookback,lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnotone

duy nhất

singlecrimsonorpurplespot

bất cứ nơi nào

anywhere.

Asfarasshecouldlook

về phía trước

forwarditseemedcertaintobejustthesameuntilshewasnothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingtoawintrybough.

Themomentwhenawomanrealisesthatshehasnothingtolivefor—neitherlove,duty,purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessofdeath.

“AndIjusthavetogoonlivingbecauseIcan’tstop.

Imayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,inakindofpanic.

“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.

Itsickensmetothinkofit.”

Shewas

vui

gladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwasraining.

Therewouldbenopicnicthatday.

Thisannualpicnic,whereby

Dì

AuntandUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementatapicnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,averitablenightmaretoValancy.

Byanimpishcoincidenceitwasthesamedayasherbirthdayand,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,nobodyletherforgetit.

Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,itwouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelagainstit.

Thereseemedtobenothingoftherevolutionaryinhernature.

Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewouldsaytoheratthepicnic.

UncleWellington,whomshedislikedanddespisedeventhoughhehadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”wouldsaytoherinapig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmarriedyet,mydear?”

andthengooffintothebellowoflaughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.

Dì

AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,wouldtellheraboutOlive’snewchiffon

váy

dressandCecil’slastdevotedletter.

Valancywouldhavetolookaspleasedandinterestedasifthe

váy

dressandletterhadbeenhersorelse

Dì

AuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.

AndValancyhadlongagodecidedthatshewouldratheroffendGodthan

Dì

AuntWellington,becauseGodmight

tha thứ

forgiveherbutAuntWellingtonneverwould.

Dì

AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablehabitofalwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifheweretheonlymalecreatureintheworld,whocouldneverforgetthatshehadbeenagreatbeautyinheryouth,wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallow

skin—.

“Idon’tknowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.

WhenIwasagirlmy

skinwasrosesandcream.

IwascountedtheprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”

PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—orperhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“How

béo

fatyou’regetting,Doss!”

Andtheneverybodywould

cười

laughovertheexcessivelyhumorousideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDossgetting

béo

fat.

Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydislikedbutrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobeverycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeing

không

nonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—wouldprobablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthathadwonhimhisreputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusywithyourhope-chestthesedays?”

AndUncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhisabominableconundrums,betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.

“Whatisthe

sự khác biệt

differencebetweenDossandamouse?

“ThemousewishestoharmthecheeseandDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”

Valancyhadheardhimaskthatriddlefiftytimesandeverytimeshewantedto

ném

throwsomethingathim.

Butsheneverdid.

Inthefirstplace,theStirlings

chỉ đơn giản

simplydidnotthrowthings;

inthesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwasawealthyandchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthefearandadmonitionofhismoney.

Ifsheoffendedhimhewouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.

ValancydidnotwanttobecutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.

Shehadbeenpoorallherlifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.

Sosheenduredhisriddlesandevensmiledtorturedlittlesmilesoverthem.

Dì

AuntIsabel,downrightanddisagreeableasan

đông

eastwind,wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancycouldnotpredictjusthow,for

Dì

AuntIsabelneverrepeatedacriticism—shefoundsomethingnewwithwhichtojabyoueverytime.

Dì

AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsowellwhenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughttoher.

Valancyneversaidwhatshethought.

CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedafterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesofallrelativesandfriendswhohaddiedsincethelastpicnicand

tự hỏi

wonder“whichofuswillbethefirsttogonext.”

Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildredwouldtalkendlesslyofherhusbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,becauseValancywouldbetheonlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.

Forthesamereason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,

theo

accordingtothestrictwayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thinladywhoadmittedshehadasensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutelythetorturesofherneuritis.

AndOlive,thewondergirlofthewholeStirlingclan,whohadeverythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—wouldshowoffherbeautyandpresumeonherpopularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaofloveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.

Therewouldbe

không

noneofallthistoday.

Andtherewouldbenopackingupofteaspoons.

ThepackingupwasalwaysleftforValancyandCousinStickles.

Andonce,sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfrom

Dì

AuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.

Valancyneverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.

Its

linh

ghostappearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfeast.

Oh,yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelikeandsheblessedthe

mưa

rainthathadsavedherfromit.

Therewouldbenopicnicthisyear.

Dì

AuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateonthesacreddayitselfshewouldhavenocelebrationatall.

Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.

Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,ifthe

mưa

rainheldupintheafternoon,shewouldgouptothelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.

Valancywasneverallowedtoreadnovels,butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.

Theywere“naturebooks”—sothelibrariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allaboutthewoodsandbirdsandbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”

SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoomuch.

Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,toreadtoimproveyourmindandyourreligion,butabookthatwasenjoyablewas

nguy hiểm

dangerous.

Valancydidnotknow

liệu

whetherhermindwasbeingimprovedornot;

butshefeltvaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyearsagolifemighthavebeenadifferentthingforher.

Theyseemedtohertoyieldglimpsesofaworldintowhichshemightoncehaveentered,thoughthedoorwasforeverbarredtohernow.

ItwasonlywithinthelastyearthatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrariantoldValancythathehadbeenawell-knownwriterfor

vài

severalyears.

“Wheredoeshelive?”

Valancyhadasked.

“Nobodyknows.

FromhisbookshemustbeaCanadian,butnomore

thông tin

informationcanbehad.

Hispublisherswon’tsayaword.

QuitelikelyJohnFosterisanomdeplume.

Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’tkeeptheminatall,thoughIreallycan’tseewhatpeoplefindinthemtoraveover.”

“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.

“Oh—well—”

MissClarksonsmiledinapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’tsayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.

But

chắc chắn

certainlyFosterseemstoknowallthereistoknowaboutthem.”

Valancydidn’tknow

liệu

whethershecaredmuchforbugseither.

ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeof

hoang dã

wildcreaturesandinsectlifethatenthralledher.

Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamysteryneverrevealed—somehintofagreat

bí mật

secretjustalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechoof

yêu

lovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.

Yes,shewouldgetanewFosterbook.

Itwasa

tháng

monthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurelyMothercouldnotobject.

Valancyhadreaditfourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.

And—shealmostthoughtshewouldgoandseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueer

đau

painaroundtheheart.

Ithadcome

khá

ratheroftenlately,andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,nottospeakofanoccasionaldizzymomentandaqueershortnessofbreath.

Butcouldshegotoseehimwithouttellinganyone?

Itwasamostdaringthought.

NoneoftheStirlingseverconsultedadoctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncilandgettingUncleJames’approval.

Then,theywenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,whohadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.

ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.

And,

ngoài

besides,shecouldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,withoutbeingtakenthere.

Shedidnotwantanyonetoknowaboutherheart.

Therewouldbesuchafussmadeandeverymemberofthefamilywouldcomedownandtalkitoverandadviseherandcautionherandwarnherandtellherhorribletalesofgreat-auntsandcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohadbeen“justlikethat”and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”

Dì

AuntIsabelwouldrememberthatshehadalwayssaidDosslookedlikeagirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinchedandpeakedalways”;

andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasa

cá nhân

personalinsult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;

andGeorgianawouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasidesthat“poor,dearlittleDossisn’tlongforthisworld,I’mafraid”;

andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,myhearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimpliednooneelsehadanybusinesseventohaveaheart;

andOlive—Olivewouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftosay,“WhyallthisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDosswhenyouhaveme?”

Valancyfeltthatshecouldn’ttellanybody

trừ khi

unlessshehadto.

Shefeltquitesuretherewasnothingatallseriouslywrongwithherheartandnoneedofallthepotherthatwouldensueifshementionedit.

ShewouldjustslipupquietlyandseeDr.Trentthatveryday.

Asforhis

hóa đơn

bill,shehadthetwo

trăm

hundreddollarsthatherfatherhadputinthe

ngân hàng

bankforherthedayshewas

sinh

born.

Shewasneverallowedtouseeventhe

lãi suất

interestofthis,butshewouldsecretlytakeoutenoughtopayDr.Trent.

Dr.

Trentwasagruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,buthewasarecognisedauthorityonheartdisease,evenifhewereonlyageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.

Dr.Trentwasoverseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttoretiresoon.

Không

NoneoftheStirlingclanhadevergonetohimsincehehadtoldCousinGladys,tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.

Youcouldn’tpatroniseadoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—notto

kể

mentionthathewasaPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglican

nhà thờ

church.

CHAPTERII

WhenCousinSticklesknockedatherdoor,Valancyknewitwashalf-past

bảy

sevenandshemustgetup.

Aslongasshecouldremember,CousinStickleshadknockedatherdoorathalf-past

bảy

seven.

CousinSticklesandMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsince

bảy

seven,butValancywasallowedtolieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.

Valancygotup,thoughshehatedgettingupmorethismorningthanevershehadbefore.

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