第六章

「伍德小姐，這是摩爾先生，想必你早已見過」

莎拉剛進客廳，便看見懷特夫人和查爾斯．摩爾，她趕忙走過去致意「摩爾先生」，查爾斯笑道說：「叫我查爾斯就好」莎拉也笑了，點點頭。查爾斯．摩爾接著說：「伍德小姐的傷是否好多了」，莎拉心懷感激的說：「是的，好多了，還麻煩您跑來」「應該的」查爾斯．摩爾說：「畢竟是我害你受傷的」

莎拉不知該接什麼，這時懷特夫人說話了，「摩爾先生住這附近嗎？」「是的夫人，就離這裡五英哩的地方豪爾莊園」女主人像想到什麼笑了一下，說：「是這樣啊」「是的，夫人」「那你的職業是？」「我是附近教區的牧師」莎拉露出驚訝的表情，眼前這位邊彬彬有禮的男士是牧師。她所認識的牧師沒幾個，多半年紀很大了，很少見過年輕人將牧師當作職業的－當然莎拉不是瞧不起牧師這職業，只是很少有人會將講道當作志業，不過年老的牧師也有年輕時－莎拉發現自己想太多時，回神過來發現女主人已經離開客廳，這時查爾斯．摩爾顯然卸去有人在旁的靦腆，語氣輕快地對莎拉說：「希望這次來拜訪不會耽誤你的時間才好，伍德小姐」「並沒有」莎拉說：「相反的，你的來訪讓悶得發慌的我多點樂趣」

話一說完，莎拉覺得不妥，果然，查爾斯因為受到鼓勵而眼睛發亮：「真的嗎？伍德小姐喜歡我來拜訪你嗎？」莎拉原本要替自己辯護，無奈話打結在口腔，只能結巴地說：「唔，是……是這樣沒錯，倒是我怕耽誤了你的寶貴時間」查爾斯．摩爾趕忙說：「不、不會，今天我沒有其他的事，不要緊的」

莎拉覺得說話還是謹慎些好，免得招來誤會：「我的手傷好多了，多謝您的探視」話一說完，整個氣氛又冷到谷底。查爾斯略帶遺憾的口氣說：「那麼說，你的傷復原得很快，我就不能常來探視你了」莎拉這回很認真地說：「是的，我想沒有需要您常來探視，這真的太不好意思了」查爾斯說：「真希望妳說的是『歡迎您常來』……」

看得出來查爾斯．摩爾很失望，不過查爾斯．摩爾依舊很又有風度的說：「不過你會允許我偶而來拜訪你吧！」莎拉笑了：「是的，查爾斯」查爾斯．摩爾總算輕鬆的笑了，臉上的陰霾也瞬間消去－查爾斯．摩爾是有紳士風度的男子，他也知自己不要久留，很快起身向莎拉鞠躬說自己該走了，莎拉也回禮致意。

上了樓，在樓上遇到懷特夫人，懷特夫人很興味的問：「剛剛那位先生看來對你很是關心」莎拉臉紅了：「不是那麼回事，他只是不小心讓我受傷，而覺得不好意思，大概是居於一種義務，所以過來探視以便安心」懷特夫人笑說：「你覺得是這樣嗎？」「是的，夫人，一定是這樣沒錯」

懷特夫人若有所思的說：「摩爾先生看來人很不錯，多交個朋友也沒什麼不好，年輕人不是該多認識一些同年紀的人比較好嗎？以後比較有多點選擇」「選擇？」莎拉糊塗了：「夫人指的是？」「伍德小姐真是年輕天真啊！果然還不懂男女之間的事」她接著說：「像你這樣的年紀，我敢說你的父母應該開始急著幫你物色好婆家了」看得出來懷特夫人用得是關心的語氣說，莎拉臉紅著，但正色地說：「我還沒想過這些事呢？夫人」「這是遲早的事啊！伍德小姐」懷特夫人很認真「有機會的話，我會幫你介紹一些倫敦的年輕人，之前你已經見過一位了，就是威爾夫人介紹過的詹姆斯．布朗，他年輕有為，是倫敦名聲頂佳的律師呢！」

莎拉記起是有這樣一回事，幾個月前在大宅子見過詹姆斯．布朗，詹姆斯．布朗有點趾高氣昂的，莎拉對他的感覺不太好，但又不能當著懷特夫人的面說出來，她只有回答說：「是的，我記得布朗先生，他看起來人很不錯」懷特夫人說：「威爾夫人介紹的多半很有社會地位的，我相信你一定能從中找到適合你的一位」莎拉急忙說：「不，夫人，現今的我還是以教導您的兩位女兒為主，我不想耽誤孩子們的學習進度」懷特夫人笑了笑「不會的，伍德小姐，我相信你會將孩子們教導得很好，回倫敦後，有機會我會帶你去見識社交圈，參加舞會是最好的了，可以認識很多人，千萬別放棄這樣的機會」

看懷特夫人如此熱心，莎拉不敢再說什麼了，連忙謝謝懷特夫人的好意，然後藉口傷口有點痛，懷特夫人只好收拾此時聊天的興致，讓莎拉先離開。

待續~(107.9.23)

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Love in London

Chapter VI

"Miss Wood, this is Mr. Moore, I'm sure you've seen it before."

As soon as Sarah entered the living room, she saw Mrs. White and Charles．Moore, she hurried over to greet "Mr. Moore", Charles smiled and said, "Just call me Charles" Sarah also smiled and nodded. Charles．Moore then said, "Is Miss Wood's injury much better", Sarah said gratefully, "Yes, it's much better, and I bothered you to come here" "Yes" Charles．Moore said, "After all, I hurt you"

Sarah didn't know what to take, when Mrs. White spoke, "Does Mr. Moore live near here?" "Yes, Madame, it's five miles from here, Hauer Manor" The hostess smiled as if she thought of something, and said, "Yes, Ma'am", "What is your profession, then?" "I am a priest of a nearby parish" Sarah showed a surprised expression, and the polite man in front of her was a priest. There were few pastors she knew, most of them were very old, and she had rarely seen young people who had made a priesthood a profession - of course Sarah did not despise the profession of a priest, but few people would take preaching as a vocation, but old pastors also had a young age - when Sarah found herself thinking too much, she came back to her senses and found that the hostess had left the living room, at which point Charles． Moore apparently shed his shyness and said to Sarah in a brisk tone, "I hope this visit will not delay your time, Miss Wood" "No" Sarah said, "On the contrary, your visit has made me feel more amused."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sarah felt that something was wrong, and sure enough, Charles's eyes lit up because of the encouragement, "Really, Miss Wood, does Miss Wood like me to visit you?" Sarah was about to defend herself, but the words were tied in her mouth, so she could only stammer, "Well, yes...... That's right, but I'm afraid I'll delay your precious time," Charles．Moore hurriedly said, "No, no, I don't have anything else to do today, it doesn't matter."

Sarah thinks it's better to be cautious in her words, so as not to cause misunderstanding: "My hand injury is much better, thank you for visiting" As soon as she finished speaking, the whole atmosphere was cold again. Charles said in a slightly regretful tone, "Well, your injuries are healing quickly, and I can't come to visit you often" Sarah said very seriously this time, "Yes, I don't think you need to visit often, it's really embarrassing" Charles said, "I really hope you said 'you are welcome to come often'......

It could be seen that Charles．Moore was disappointed, but Charles．Moore still said very gracefully, "But you will allow me to come to visit you occasionally!" Sarah smiled: "Yes, Charles" Charles．Moore finally smiled easily, and the gloom on his face disappeared in an instant - Charles． Moore is a gentlemanly man, and he also knew that he should not stay long, so he quickly got up and bowed to Sarah and said that it was time for him to leave, and Sarah returned the salute.

I went upstairs and met Mrs. White upstairs, Mrs. White asked with great interest, "That gentleman seems to be very concerned about you just now" Sarah blushed: "It's not like that, he just accidentally hurt me, and he felt embarrassed, probably because of an obligation, so he came to visit for peace of mind" Mrs. White smiled and said, "Do you think that's the case?" "Yes, ma'am, it must be so."

Mrs. White said thoughtfully, "Mr. Moore seems to be a very good person, and there is nothing wrong with making more friends, shouldn't it be better for young people to get to know more people of the same age?" "Choice?" Sarah was confused: "Madame mean?" "Miss Wood is so young and naïve! she really doesn't understand the affairs of men and women" She continued, "At your age, I dare say that your parents should be in a hurry to help you find a good mother-in-law." Mrs. White said in a concerned tone, Sarah blushed, but said solemnly, "I haven't thought about these things, Madame?" "It's a matter of time!Miss Wood" Mrs. White was serious, "If I have the chance, I will introduce you to some young people in London, and you have already met one before, that is, James．Brown, whom Mrs. Will introduced, he is young and promising, and he is one of the most famous lawyers in London!"

Sarah remembers that she had seen James．Brown in the mansion a few months ago, and James Brown was a bit arrogant, and Sarah didn't feel very good about him, but she couldn't say it in front of Mrs. White, so she could only reply, "Yes, I remember Mr. Brown, he looked very nice" Mrs. White said, "Most of Mrs. Will's introductions are very socially high, and I'm sure you will be able to find a suitable one for you" Sarah hurriedly said, " No, ma'am, I still focus on teaching your two daughters, I don't want to delay the children's learning progress" Mrs. White smiled, "No, Miss Wood, I believe you will teach the children well, when I return to London, I will take you to see the social circle when I have the opportunity, attending the ball is the best, you can meet a lot of people, don't give up this opportunity"

Seeing that Mrs. White was so enthusiastic, Sarah didn't dare to say anything more, and hurriedly thanked Mrs. White for her kindness, and then excused herself that the wound was a little painful, and Mrs. White had to clean up the interest in chatting at this time and let Sarah leave first.

To be continued ~ (107.9.23)

因為用中文創作,再翻譯為英文,所以英文上的正確用詞無法翻譯出來,夫人可以意指"你的淑女身分"(代表的是當代的一種地位稱呼),公爵大人,伯爵大人,男爵大人等,小說中都有出現,抱歉,因為請Google翻譯翻譯的,而本人沒有從事過英文寫作,只想嘗試用英文表達整部小說的內容,敬請原諒!!謝謝!!

Because it is created in Chinese and then translated into English, the correct words in English cannot be translated, Madame can mean "your lady" (representing a contemporary status title), Lord Duke, Lord Earl, Lord Baron, etc., all appear in the novel, sorry, because I asked Google Translate to translate, and I have not been engaged in English writing, I just want to try to express the content of the whole novel in English, please forgive me!! Thank you!!

本小說創作如有雷同,純屬巧合,而小說寫作的年代約略定在與作家珍．奧斯汀同一年代

It is a coincidence that the novel was written in the same era as the writer Jane Austen