Unit 5B - The Wallet
He hesitated. Was it better to leave them with their dreams of yesteryear rather than risk a rude awakening?
The Wallet
Arnold Fine
It was a year ago today when I came across a wallet in the street. Inside was a letter that looked as if it had been carried around for years, dated 1924. The envelope was worn and all I could make out was the return address. I opened the letter carefully, hoping for some clue to the identity of the owner of the wallet.
It was signed Hannah and written to someone called Michael. She wrote that she could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. She would always love him, but felt it would be best if they never met again.
It was a beautiful letter. But there was no way, other than the name Michael, that the owner could be identified.
The return address was nearby, so I called in. I asked if anyone there knew of a Hannah, and was told, "Oh, of course! We bought this house from her some time ago. She's in a nursing home now."
They gave me the name of the home and I called the director. I explained the situation and was invited over, arriving to find him chatting to the door guard. We exchanged greetings and the director took me up to Hannah's room on the third floor of the large building.
She was a sweet, silver-haired old lady with a warm smile, full of life. I told her about finding the wallet and took out the letter. The moment she saw it she recognized it. "Young man," she said, "this letter was the last contact I had with Michael. I never heard from him again." She looked away for a moment in deep thought and continued, "I loved him very much. I was 16 at the time and my mother felt I was much too young to even be seeing Michael. He was so handsome."
Just then the director was called away and we were left alone. "Yes, Michael Goldstein was his name," she began once more. "If you do find him, give him my regards and tell him I still think of him often. That..." She hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and added, "I still love him. You know..." she said, smiling through her tears, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael."
At that moment the director returned. I thanked her and said goodbye. Downstairs the guard at the front door looked at me and asked, "Any luck Was the old lady able to help you"
I told him she had given me a lead." But I think I'll let this go for a while. I spent almost a whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet."
I took it out and showed it to the guard.
The guard took one look and said," Hey, wait a minute. That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know that anywhere. He's always losing it."
"Who's Mr. Goldstein" I pressed him as my hand started to shake.
"He's one of the old guys on the eighth floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. I'll take you up to him, if you like."
We found Mr. Goldstein in his room and the security man asked if he had lost his wallet.
Mr. Goldstein put his hand to his back pocket and, realizing it was empty, said, "Oh, my goodness. It is missing."
"Could this be yours" I asked, handing him the wallet.
The second he saw it he smiled with relief and said, "Yes... yes... that's it. Thank you so much."
"Not at all," I replied. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter."
The smile on his face disappeared. "You read the letter"
"Not only did I read it, I know where Hannah is."
The blood left his face as he suddenly grew pale.
"Hannah You know where she is How is she Is she still as pretty as she was"
The security man looked at me suggesting that I not say any more.
I hesitated.
"Please! Please tell me!" he begged.
"She's fine... just as pretty as when you knew her," I said softly.
"Could you tell me where she is" He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something... I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life seemed to come to an end. I never married. I guess I'll always love her. Oh, she was beautiful... and so sweet." He smiled to himself.
"Michael," I said. "Come with me."
The three of us took the elevator down to the third floor. Hannah was sitting alone watching television.
"Hannah," the guard said softly. "Do you know this man" She adjusted her glasses. She looked for
a moment but didn't say a word.
"Hannah, it's Michael. Do you remember me"
"Michael I don't believe it! Michael It's you! Michael!"
He walked slowly to her side. Michael took her around the waist and she held him tight, whispering, "Michael... my darling Michael..."
The two of them sat down on a sofa, holding hands, and started to talk. They had some sixty years' worth to catch up on. The guard and I walked out, both of us crying.
Three weeks later I got a call from the director: "You're invited to a wedding. Michael and Hannah are finally going to tie the knot! You know, the two of them were in this building for years and they never met, or if they did they didn't recognize each other."
Hannah wore a light brown dress for the wedding and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood erect, like a soldier. The hospital gave them a special room together, and if you ever wanted to see a 79-year-old bride and an 81-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.
参考译文——钱包
他迟疑着。是任由他俩各自追怀旧梦还是贸然将两人唤醒？
钱包
阿诺德·法恩
一年前的今天，我在街上发现一个钱包。(1) 钱包里面有封信，看上去已经随身携带很多年了。信上署的时间是1924年。信封已经破损了，我所能辨认得出的只有寄信人的地址。我小心翼翼地打开信，希望能找到些有关钱包主人身份的线索。
信的署名是汉纳，是写给一个叫迈克尔的人的。她写道，她不能再见他了，因为她母亲不允许。她将永远爱他，不过她觉得两人最好还是不再见面。
信写得很动人。但是除了迈克尔这个名字以外，没有其他任何能确定信件所有人身份的线索。
寄信人地址就在附近，于是我就打了个电话。我问有没有人知道一个叫汉纳的，对方告诉我说：“噢，当然！这房子是我们前些时从她那儿买的。现在她住在养老院。”
他们告诉我养老院的名字，我给院长打了电话。我解释了一下情况。他邀请我去走一趟。我到达时，他正在跟门卫聊天。寒暄之后，院长带我到大楼三楼汉纳住的房间。
那是位和蔼可亲的银发老妇人，面带热情的微笑，充满活力。我跟她说了捡到钱包一事，并取出那封信。她一看就认了出来。“小伙子，”她说，“这封信是我跟迈克尔的最后一次联系。我再也没有听到过他的消息。”她转过头，沉思了片刻，接着说道：“那时我非常爱他。当时我十六岁，我母亲认为我还太年轻，与迈克尔见见面也不行。他真是一表人才。”
就在这时，有人叫院长出去，只剩下我们俩。“没错，他叫迈克尔·戈尔德斯坦，”她又开口道。“要是你能找到他，请代我向他问好。告诉他，我仍常常想他。告诉他……”她迟疑片刻，深深地吸了一口气，接着说，“我仍爱着他。知道吗……”她含泪笑道，“我一直没结婚。我想没人能比得上迈克尔。”
这时院长回来了。我向汉纳致谢后便告辞了。到了楼下，在前大门值班的门卫看到我便问：“运气怎么样老太太帮上什么忙没有”
我告诉他，她提供了一些线索。“不过我得把这事搁一搁了。为了找这个钱包的主人，我都差不多搭上一整天了。”
我取出钱包，给门卫看。
门卫一见便说：“嗨！等一下。那是戈尔德斯坦先生的钱包。这钱包到哪儿我都能认出来。戈尔德斯坦先生老是丢钱包。”
“戈尔德斯坦先生是谁”我追问道，手都发颤了。
“他是住在八楼的一个老头。这肯定是迈克尔·戈尔德斯坦的钱包。你愿意的话我带你上去见他。"
我们在戈尔德斯坦先生的房间里见到了他，门卫问他有没有遗失钱包。
戈尔德斯坦先生伸手一摸后裤袋，发现口袋是空的，便说道：“噢，我的天哪。钱包不见了。”
“这是你的吗”我说着把钱包递了过去。
他一见便如释重负似地笑道，“是的是的，就是这个。多谢你了。”
“不客气，”我回答说，“不过我得告诉你一件事。我读过里面的信了。”
他脸上的笑容消失了。“你读过信了”
“我不仅读过信，我还知道汉纳在哪里。”
他脸色唰的一下子变得灰白。
“汉纳你知道她在哪里她好吗还像以前那么漂亮吗”
门卫望着我，示意我别再说了。
我迟疑着。
“说呀，请快说！”他恳求道。
“她很好……就像你当初认识她时一样漂亮，”我温言道。
“你能告诉我她在哪里吗”他抓住我的手问道，“你肯定知道些情况……当时我那么爱那位姑娘，因此，这封信一来，我的生活似乎就全完了。我一直没结婚。我想我会一直爱她。噢，她那么漂亮……那么甜蜜，”他暗自笑了起来。
“迈克尔，”我说，“跟我来。”
我们三人乘电梯到了三楼。汉纳正独自坐着看电视。
“汉纳，”门卫轻声道，“你认识这个人吗” 她扶了扶眼镜，望了片刻，什么也没说。
“汉纳，我是迈克尔。你还记得我吗”
“迈克尔真难以相信！迈克尔是你！迈克尔！”
他缓步走到她身边。迈克尔搂着她的腰，她也紧紧拥抱他，轻声道：“迈克尔……我亲爱的迈克尔……”
两人在沙发上坐下，手拉着手，交谈起来。他们有六十年的衷肠要倾诉。我和门卫退了出去，我俩都流了泪。
三个星期之后，我接到院长的电话。“请你来参加一个婚礼。迈克尔和汉纳最终将永结同心！知道吗，他们两人同在这幢楼里住了好多年了，却从没见过面；或是见过面，相互没认出来。”
婚礼上，汉纳穿着一袭浅褐色的礼服，显得仪态万方。迈克尔身穿藏青色西装，站得笔挺，就像士兵一样。养老院给了两人一个特别安排的房间。要是你想看一看79岁高龄的新娘与一个81岁高龄的新郎如何像少男少女一般如漆似胶，就来看看这一对吧。
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