英语美文《项链 5》
THE NECKLACE
作者 莫泊桑
Madame Forestier received the necklace with an air of displeasure．
“You should have returned it sooner．I might need it at any moment．”
Madame Loisel feared lest her friend should examine the necklace and notice the difference．However，Madame Forestier carelessly put the case away without looking at the contents…
Then came to the couple days，weeks and years of drudgery．They heroically resolved to pay the appalling debt by working hard．They quitted the flat and moved into a garret．They bought nothing except daily necessaries，which they tried to do without often enough．She learned to bargain with tradesmen，ready to quarrel for every son．Her daydreaming was replaced by a constant endeavour to pay her way．
Each month some of the promissory notes had to be renewed，only to gain time．The husband worked after office hours，keeping accounts for a tradesman，and late at night copying manuscripts at five sons a page．
A new year came，followed by another andanother，and still they grubbed on，until ten years had flowed on．Their efforts were not in vain．At the end of that time they had managed to pay off everything，including interest at high rate．
Madame Loisel now looked older than her age．Her hair disheveled，her skirt turned to one side， her hands rough and hardened，the former sentimental，romantic woman had turned into a stout- hearted matron who had tasted the bitters of life．Now and then，however，when her husband was away at the office，she would sit by the window and think of the glory of that dance．What sort of woman would she be now，if she had not lost the necklace？Who knows？
One Sunday she went for a stroll in the Champs-Elysées to divert her mind from the labours of the week，when she caught sight of a lady with a child．It was Madame Forestier looked as young，as beautiful， and as charming as ten years before．Madame Loisel felt her heart beat hard．Should she speak to her？Yes，of course．The debt had all been paid；she might tell her all about it．Why not？She went up to Madame Forestier．
“Hello，Jeanne！”
Her friend looked mystified，addressed by a poorly－dressed stranger：She had not recognized Madame Loisel．
“I'm afraid you've made a mistake．Sorry，but I don't know you，she said．
Jeanne！It's me—Mathilde Loisel．”
Madame Forestier uttered a cry of surprise．
“Oh，my poor Mathild！What's happened to you？You're quite a stranger！
“Yes， I've had a very hard time since then—and all through you！
“Through me！How can that be？”
“You remember the diamond necklace I borrowed from you to attend the dance at the Education Office？”
“Yes，Well？”
“Well，I lost it．”
“What makes you say so？You returned it to me．”
“What I returned to you was another one，exactly like it．And for the last ten years my husband and I have been working hard to pay for it．You know，it is hard for us poor people to pay thirty－six thousand francs．But don't worry！It's all over now．We've paid it in full．”
Madame Forestier stopped short．
“You say that you lost my necklace and bought a diamond necklace like mine to replace it？
“Yes．You've never noticed it，then！They were exactly alike．”
Madame Forestier， deeply moved，seized bothher hands．
“Oh， my poor Mathilde！What have you done？Why， mine was only imitation， not genuine！
福蕾斯蒂埃夫人颇为不悦地接过项链。
“ 你该早点还,我随时都可能要戴。”
卢瓦泽尔夫人非常害怕她的朋友查验项链，担心她看出差异。好在福蕾斯蒂埃夫人连看都没看里面装的东西，就把盒子随手收下放起来了。
于是，日复一日，年复一年的艰辛岁月来临了。他们勇敢地决定靠辛勤工作来偿还那骇人听闻的债务。他们退掉了公寓，搬到了一处阁楼上住。除了日常用品，他们什么也不买，就连日用品也尽量少买。她学会了与商人讨价还价，随时预备为每一文钱与人争执。没有了白日梦，取而代之的是为还债而无休无止的苦干。
为了延长偿还期限，每月总得要续签一些期票。丈夫放工后就替一个商人记帐，深夜时还为别人抄稿子，抄一页挣5个苏。
一年接一年的过往了，他们仍然拼命干活，一直干了10年。他们的努力没有白费。10年后，他们终于还清了所有债务，包括印子钱利息。
卢瓦泽尔夫人现在看来比她的实际年龄老得多。她的头发凌乱，裙子歪斜到一边，双手也磨得粗糙有力。这个从前多愁善感、浪漫多情的女子现已变成了倍尝生活艰辛的铁娘子。然而，当丈夫往上班时，她也偶然坐在窗前回味那场舞会上的荣光。假如她没有丢失那条项链，她现在又会是什么样的女人呢？谁知道？
有一个星期天，她往香榭丽舍大道闲逛，藉以排解一周的劳累。忽然，她看到一个带着小孩的妇人，此人正是福雷斯蒂埃夫人！
福雷斯蒂埃夫人看上往跟10年前一样年轻，一样漂亮，一样迷人。卢瓦泽尔夫人的心激动得发颤。她该给她讲吗？是的，当然应该！债已还清，她当然可以告诉她这一切的一切。为什么不呢？她径直朝福雷斯蒂埃夫人走往。
“让娜，你好！”
给一个衣着极差的陌生人叫住，她的朋友显得颇为茫然，她压根儿就不熟悉卢瓦泽尔夫人了。
“我想恐怕你搞错了。对不起，我不熟悉你。”她答道。
“让娜！是我呀——玛蒂尔德·卢瓦泽尔。”
福雷斯蒂埃夫人轻轻地惊叫了一声。
“噢，可怜的玛蒂尔德！你到底怎么啦？你完全变了样！”
“是啊。从那天开始我就没过一天好日子，而这一切都是由于你！”
“由于我！这怎么可能呢？”
“你记得我为了往参加教育部大楼举行的舞会，向你借的那条钻石项链吗？”
“是的，那又怎样？”
“怎样，我把它弄丢了。”
“你怎么这样说呢？你把项链还给我了呀。”
“我还给你的是另外一条，完全相像的另外一条。为了还钱，我和丈夫在这过往的10年里拼命干活。你知道，对我们穷人来说，要偿还36000法郎是相当不易的。但不要担心，现在一切都过往了，我们已全部还清了。”
福雷斯蒂埃夫人忽然收住脚步。
“你说你把我那条项链丢了，并且买了条与它相似的钻石项链来还我？”
“是的。那么，你是从来就没有发现过！这两条项链完全一模一样。”
福雷斯蒂埃夫人非常感动，捉住了她的双手。
“唉，可怜的玛蒂尔德！你都干了些什么？我那条根本就是假的，不是真货！”
未完待续
居伊·德·莫泊桑（Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant，1850年8月5日—1893年7月6日），19世纪后半期法国优秀的批判现实主义作家，被誉为现代文学中的“世界短篇小说之王”，与俄国契诃夫和美国欧·亨利并称为“世界三大短篇小说巨匠”。他一生创作了六部长篇小说、三百五十九篇中短篇小说及三部游记，是法国文学史上短篇小说创作数量最大、成就最高的作家。代表作品有《项链》、《漂亮朋友》、《羊脂球》、《我的叔叔于勒》等。
英文朗诵：洁白 ：中学英语高级教师。中国朗诵联盟会员。喜欢朗读，希望通过自己的声音向世界传播中国文化，讲好中国故事。
中文朗诵：崔莉 （网名猫姐姐） 退休医生。在寂静的微观世界里与细胞对话。在喧腾的宏观世界中寻找声音的快乐，用声音传递温暖，传颂美好。
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