"Emma"

CHAPTER 40.	CAPÍTULO XX
THE WANDERER	EL VAGABUNDO
We had a very serious conversation in Buckingham Street that night, about the domestic occurrences I have detailed in the last CHAPTER . My aunt was deeply interested in them, and walked up and down the room with her arms folded, for more than two hours afterwards. Whenever she was particularly discomposed, she always performed one of these pedestrian feats; and the amount of her discomposure might always be estimated by the duration of her walk. On this occasion she was so much disturbed in mind as to find it necessary to open the bedroom door, and make a course for herself, comprising the full extent of the bedrooms from wall to wall; and while Mr. Dick and I sat quietly by the fire, she kept passing in and out, along this measured track, at an unchanging pace, with the regularity of a clock-pendulum.	Aquella noche tuvimos una conversación muy seria en Buckingham Street sobre los sucesos que he detallado en el último capítulo. Mi tía se tomaba el mayor interés y estuvo paseando de arriba abajo por la habitación, con los brazos cruzados, durante más de dos horas. Siempre que tenía algún disgusto ejecutaba una proeza semejante, y se podía saber la importancia de su disgusto por lo que duraba el paseo. En aquella ocasión estaba tan afectada, que necesitó abrir la puerta de la alcoba para tener más sitio, y recorría las dos habitaciones de un extremo a otro, mientras míster Dick y yo, sentados inmóviles al lado del fuego, la veíamos pasar por nuestro lado una vez y otra, con la regularidad de un péndulo de reloj.
When my aunt and I were left to ourselves by Mr. Dick′s going out to bed, I sat down to write my letter to the two old ladies. By that time she was tired of walking, and sat by the fire with her dress tucked up as usual. But instead of sitting in her usual manner, holding her glass upon her knee, she suffered it to stand neglected on the chimney-piece; and, resting her left elbow on her right arm, and her chin on her left hand, looked thoughtfully at me. As often as I raised my eyes from what I was about, I met hers. ′I am in the lovingest of tempers, my dear,′ she would assure me with a nod, ′but I am fidgeted and sorry!′	Cuando míster Dick nos dejó solos a mi tía y a mí, para irse a la cama, yo me puse a escribir mi carta a las dos señoras. Entre tanto, mi tía, cansada de su paseo, se había sentado ante la chimenea, con la falda un poco remangada, como de costumbre; pero en lugar de poner el vaso sobre sus rodillas, lo dejó encima de la chimenea y se quedó con el codo derecho apoyado en la mano izquierda y la barbilla en la mano derecha, mirándome pensativa. Siempre que yo levantaba los ojos estaba seguro de encontrar los suyos. -Te quiero más que nunca, hijo mío -me dijo-; pero estoy preocupada y triste.
I had been too busy to observe, until after she was gone to bed, that she had left her night-mixture, as she always called it, untasted on the chimney-piece. She came to her door, with even more than her usual affection of manner, when I knocked to acquaint her with this discovery; but only said, ′I have not the heart to take it, Trot, tonight,′ and shook her head, and went in again.	Estaba demasiado preocupado con mi carta, y no me fijé, hasta después de que se hubiera acostado, de que había dejado intacta encima de la chimenea su «poción de la noche», como ella la llamaba. Cuando hice este descubrimiento, llamé a su puerta, y con más cariño que de costumbre me dijo: -No he tenido ganas de tomarlo esta noche, Trot -y movió la cabeza y se encerró de nuevo.
She read my letter to the two old ladies, in the morning, and approved of it. I posted it, and had nothing to do then, but wait, as patiently as I could, for the reply. I was still in this state of expectation, and had been, for nearly a week; when I left the Doctor′s one snowy night, to walk home.	A la mañana siguiente leyó mi carta para las tías de Dora, y la aprobó. La eché al correo. Ya no tenía nada que hacer más que esperar con paciencia la contestación. Hacía una semana que estaba en aquel estado de expectación. Una noche volvía de casa del doctor Strong.
It had been a bitter day, and a cutting north-east wind had blown for some time. The wind had gone down with the light, and so the snow had come on. It was a heavy, settled fall, I recollect, in great flakes; and it lay thick. The noise of wheels and tread of people were as hushed, as if the streets had been strewn that depth with feathers.	Había sido un día muy crudo, con un viento norte que cortaba la cara. El viento había desaparecido al anochecer y empezaba a nevar; caían gruesos copos, que cubrían ya todo el suelo, y los ruidos se habían apagado como si las calles estuvieran cubiertas de pluma.
My shortest way home,—and I naturally took the shortest way on such a night—was through St. Martin′s Lane. Now, the church which gives its name to the lane, stood in a less free situation at that time; there being no open space before it, and the lane winding down to the Strand. As I passed the steps of the portico, I encountered, at the corner, a woman′s face. It looked in mine, passed across the narrow lane, and disappeared. I knew it. I had seen it somewhere. But I could not remember where. I had some association with it, that struck upon my heart directly; but I was thinking of anything else when it came upon me, and was confused.	El camino más corto para volver a casa (y naturalmente el que tomé en semejante noche) fue el de la travesía de San Martín. La iglesia que da nombre a la calle está ahora aislada; pero antes sólo tenía espacio libre por la parte de delante, y la calleja torcía hacia el Strand. Cuando pasaba por delante del pórtico vi en la rinconada el rostro de una mujer. Me miró, cruzó la calle y desapareció. Yo la conocía, la ha bía visto en alguna parte; pero no recordaba dónde. Algo que interesaba a mi corazón se asociaba con ella; pero como iba pensando en otra cosa cuando me la encontré, sólo tuve una idea confusa.
On the steps of the church, there was the stooping figure of a man, who had put down some burden on the smooth snow, to adjust it; my seeing the face, and my seeing him, were simultaneous. I don′t think I had stopped in my surprise; but, in any case, as I went on, he rose, turned, and came down towards me. I stood face to face with Mr. Peggotty!	En los escalones de la iglesia había un hombre poniendo algo sobre la nieve y arreglándolo después; le vi al mismo tiempo que a la mujer. No había salido de mi sorpresa cuando el hombre se volvió y se encontro conmigo: estaba cara a cara con míster Peggotty.
Then I remembered the woman. It was Martha, to whom Emily had given the money that night in the kitchen. Martha Endell—side by side with whom, he would not have seen his dear niece, Ham had told me, for all the treasures wrecked in the sea.	Entonces recordé quién era la mujer. Era Martha, a quien Emily había dado dinero la noche aquella en la cocina. Martha Endell, al lado de la cual él no hubiera querido ver a su querida sobrina según me dijo Ham, ni por todos los tesoros ocultos en el mar.
We shook hands heartily. At first, neither of us could speak a word.	Nos estrechamos la mano cordialmente; al principio ninguno de los dos podíamos decir una palabra.
′Mas′r Davy!′ he said, gripping me tight, ′it do my art good to see you, sir. Well met, well met!′	-Míster Davy, ¡cómo me alegro de verle! ¡Qué feliz encuentro!
′Well met, my dear old friend!′ said I.	-Muy feliz, querido y viejo amigo - le dije.
′I had my thowts o′ coming to make inquiration for you, sir, tonight,′ he said, ′but knowing as your aunt was living along wi′ you—fur I′ve been down yonder—Yarmouth way—I was afeerd it was too late. I should have come early in the morning, sir, afore going away.′	-Había estado pensando ir a verle esta noche -repuso-; pero al saber que su tía está viviendo con usted (pues he estado por el lado de Yarmouth) he temido que fuera demasiado tarde, y pensaba ir por la mañana temprano, antes de volver a marcharme.
′Again?′ said I.	-¿Otra vez? ---dije.
′Yes, sir,′ he replied, patiently shaking his head, ′I′m away tomorrow.′	-Sí señor -replicó moviendo la cabeza con resignación-; me marcho mañana.
′Where were you going now?′ I asked.	-¿Y dónde va usted ahora? -pregunté.
′Well!′ he replied, shaking the snow out of his long hair, ′I was a-going to turn in somewheers.′	-¡Pchs! -replicó, sacudiendo la nieve de sus largos ca bellos-. Voy por ahí...
In those days there was a side-entrance to the stable-yard of the Golden Cross, the inn so memorable to me in connexion with his misfortune, nearly opposite to where we stood. I pointed out the gateway, put my arm through his, and we went across. Two or three public-rooms opened out of the stable-yard; and looking into one of them, and finding it empty, and a good fire burning, I took him in there.	En aquella época el establecimiento de La Cruz de Oro (tan memorable para mí en relación con su desgracia) tenía una puerta cerca de donde estábamos parados. Le señalé la verja, me agarré de su brazo, y nos dirigimos allí. Dos o tres de las salas del café daban al patio, y viendo una completamente vacía y con buen fuego, nos dirigimos a ella.
When I saw him in the light, I observed, not only that his hair was long and ragged, but that his face was burnt dark by the sun. He was greyer, the lines in his face and forehead were deeper, and he had every appearance of having toiled and wandered through all varieties of weather; but he looked very strong, and like a man upheld by steadfastness of purpose, whom nothing could tire out. He shook the snow from his hat and clothes, and brushed it away from his face, while I was inwardly making these remarks. As he sat down opposite to me at a table, with his back to the door by which we had entered, he put out his rough hand again, and grasped mine warmly.	Cuando le vi a la luz observé que tenía los cabellos largos y revueltos y el rostro quemado por el sol; las arrugas de su rostro eran más profundas, y tenía todo el aspecto de haber vagado a través de los climas más distintos; pero todavía parecía muy fuerte y decidido a cumplir su propósito sin que nada pudiera cansarle. Se sacudió la nieve que cubría su [...]
′I′ll tell you, Mas′r Davy,′ he said,—′wheer all I′ve been, and what-all we′ve heerd. I′ve been fur, and we′ve heerd little; but I′ll tell you!′	FALTA LA TRADUCCION DE VARIOS PARRAFOS
I rang the bell for something hot to drink. He would have nothing stronger than ale; and while it was being brought, and being warmed at the fire, he sat thinking. There was a fine, massive gravity in his face, I did not venture to disturb.
′When she was a child,′ he said, lifting up his head soon after we were left alone, ′she used to talk to me a deal about the sea, and about them coasts where the sea got to be dark blue, and to lay a-shining and a-shining in the sun. I thowt, odd times, as her father being drownded made her think on it so much. I doen′t know, you see, but maybe she believed—or hoped—he had drifted out to them parts, where the flowers is always a-blowing, and the country bright.′
′It is likely to have been a childish fancy,′ I replied.
′When she was—lost,′ said Mr. Peggotty, ′I know′d in my mind, as he would take her to them countries. I know′d in my mind, as he′d have told her wonders of ′em, and how she was to be a lady theer, and how he got her to listen to him fust, along o′ sech like. When we see his mother, I know′d quite well as I was right. I went across-channel to France, and landed theer, as if I′d fell down from the sky.′
I saw the door move, and the snow drift in. I saw it move a little more, and a hand softly interpose to keep it open.
′I found out an English gen′leman as was in authority,′ said Mr. Peggotty, ′and told him I was a-going to seek my niece. He got me them papers as I wanted fur to carry me through—I doen′t rightly know how they′re called—and he would have give me money, but that I was thankful to have no need on. I thank him kind, for all he done, I′m sure! "I′ve wrote afore you," he says to me, "and I shall speak to many as will come that way, and many will know you, fur distant from here, when you′re a-travelling alone." I told him, best as I was able, what my gratitoode was, and went away through France.′
′Alone, and on foot?′ said I.
′Mostly a-foot,′ he rejoined; ′sometimes in carts along with people going to market; sometimes in empty coaches. Many mile a day a-foot, and often with some poor soldier or another, travelling to see his friends. I couldn′t talk to him,′ said Mr. Peggotty, ′nor he to me; but we was company for one another, too, along the dusty roads.′
I should have known that by his friendly tone.
′When I come to any town,′ he pursued, ′I found the inn, and waited about the yard till someone turned up (someone mostly did) as know′d English. Then I told how that I was on my way to seek my niece, and they told me what manner of gentlefolks was in the house, and I waited to see any as seemed like her, going in or out. When it warn′t Em′ly, I went on agen. By little and little, when I come to a new village or that, among the poor people, I found they know′d about me. They would set me down at their cottage doors, and give me what-not fur to eat and drink, and show me where to sleep; and many a woman, Mas′r Davy, as has had a daughter of about Em′ly′s age, I′ve found a-waiting fur me, at Our Saviour′s Cross outside the village, fur to do me sim′lar kindnesses. Some has had daughters as was dead. And God only knows how good them mothers was to me!′
It was Martha at the door. I saw her haggard, listening face distinctly. My dread was lest he should turn his head, and see her too.
′They would often put their children—particular their little girls,′ said Mr. Peggotty, ′upon my knee; and many a time you might have seen me sitting at their doors, when night was coming in, a′most as if they′d been my Darling′s children. Oh, my Darling!′
Overpowered by sudden grief, he sobbed aloud. I laid my trembling hand upon the hand he put before his face. ′Thankee, sir,′ he said, ′doen′t take no notice.′	Se puso a sollozar en un repentino acceso de desesperación. Yo pasaba temblando mi mano por encima de la suya, con la que intentaba taparse el rostro. -Gracias - me dijo-, no se preocupe usted.
In a very little while he took his hand away and put it on his breast, and went on with his story. ′They often walked with me,′ he said, ′in the morning, maybe a mile or two upon my road; and when we parted, and I said, "I′m very thankful to you! God bless you!" they always seemed to understand, and answered pleasant. At last I come to the sea. It warn′t hard, you may suppose, for a seafaring man like me to work his way over to Italy. When I got theer, I wandered on as I had done afore. The people was just as good to me, and I should have gone from town to town, maybe the country through, but that I got news of her being seen among them Swiss mountains yonder. One as know′d his servant see ′em there, all three, and told me how they travelled, and where they was. I made fur them mountains, Mas′r Davy, day and night. Ever so fur as I went, ever so fur the mountains seemed to shift away from me. But I come up with ′em, and I crossed ′em. When I got nigh the place as I had been told of, I began to think within my own self, "What shall I do when I see her?"′	Al cabo de un momento se descubrió los ojos y continuó su relato. -A menudo por la mañana me acompañaban un momento por el camino, y cuando nos separábamos y yo les decía en mi lengua: «Muchas gracias, que Dios os bendiga», ellas siempre parecían comprenderme y me respondían con cariño. Por fin llegué a la costa. No era difícil para un marino como yo ganar su pasaje hasta Italia. Cuando llegué allí seguí errando de un lado a otro. Todo el mundo era bueno conmigo, y quizá hubiera viajado de ciudad en ciudad o a través de los campos si no hubiera oído decir que la habían visto en las montañas de Suiza. Alguien que conocía al criado los había visto a los tres; hasta me dijeron cómo viajaban y dónde estaban. Anduve día y noche, míster Davy, para encontrar aquellas montañas. Cuanto más avanzaba más parecían alejarse ellas. Pero las alcancé y las atravesé. Cuando llegué al lugar de que me habían hablado empecé a preguntarme: ¿Y qué vas a hacer cuando la veas?
The listening face, insensible to the inclement night, still drooped at the door, and the hands begged me—prayed me—not to cast it forth.	El rostro que nos escuchaba, insensible al rigor de la no che, se bajaba, y vi a aquella mujer de rodillas delante de la puerta, con las manos juntas como para rezar, suplicándome que no la despidiera.
′I never doubted her,′ said Mr. Peggotty. ′No! Not a bit! On′y let her see my face—on′y let her beer my voice—on′y let my stanning still afore her bring to her thoughts the home she had fled away from, and the child she had been—and if she had growed to be a royal lady, she′d have fell down at my feet! I know′d it well! Many a time in my sleep had I heerd her cry out, "Uncle!" and seen her fall like death afore me. Many a time in my sleep had I raised her up, and whispered to her, "Em′ly, my dear, I am come fur to bring forgiveness, and to take you home!"′	-Nunca he dudado de ella -dijo míster Peggotty-, nunca, ni un minuto. Sólo con que hubiera podido hacerle ver mi rostro, hacerle oír mi voz, recordarle la casa de que había huido, su infancia, sabía que, aunque hubiera llegado a princesa de sangre real, caería a mis pies. Lo sabía. ¡Cuántas veces en mi sueño la he oído gritar: « Tío, tío mío querido!» y la he visto caer como muerta ante mí. ¡Cuántas veces en mi sueño la he levantado diciéndole muy bajito: «Emily, querida mía; vengo a perdonarte y a llevarte conmigo! ».
He stopped and shook his head, and went on with a sigh.	Se detuvo, movió la cabeza, y después añadió con un suspiro: -
′He was nowt to me now. Em′ly was all. I bought a country dress to put upon her; and I know′d that, once found, she would walk beside me over them stony roads, go where I would, and never, never, leave me more. To put that dress upon her, and to cast off what she wore—to take her on my arm again, and wander towards home—to stop sometimes upon the road, and heal her bruised feet and her worse-bruised heart—was all that I thowt of now. I doen′t believe I should have done so much as look at him. But, Mas′r Davy, it warn′t to be—not yet! I was too late, and they was gone. Wheer, I couldn′t learn. Some said beer, some said theer. I travelled beer, and I travelled theer, but I found no Em′ly, and I travelled home.′	Él, él no es nada para mí. Emily lo era todo. Compré un traje de campesina para ella; sabía que una vez que la hubiera recobrado vendría conmigo por las carreteras rocosas; que iría donde yo quisiera, y que no me abandonaría jamás, no, jamás. Todo lo que quería era hacerle poner aquel traje y pisotear los que llevara, cogerla, como antes, en mis brazos y volver a nuestra casa, deteniéndonos a veces en el camino para que descansaran sus pies enfermos y su corazón, más enfermo todavía. Respecto a él, creo que ni siquiera le hubiera mirado. ¿Para qué? Pero todo esto no debía ser, míster Davy, no, todavía no. Llegué demasiado tarde: habían partido. Ni siquiera pude saber dónde iban. Unos decían que por aquí, otros que por allá, y he viajado por aquí y por allá; pero no la he encontrado. Entonces he vuelto.
′How long ago?′ I asked.	-¿Hace mucho tiempo? -pregunté.
′A matter o′ fower days,′ said Mr. Peggotty. ′I sighted the old boat arter dark, and the light a-shining in the winder. When I come nigh and looked in through the glass, I see the faithful creetur Missis Gummidge sittin′ by the fire, as we had fixed upon, alone. I called out, "Doen′t be afeerd! It′s Dan′l!" and I went in. I never could have thowt the old boat would have been so strange!′ From some pocket in his breast, he took out, with a very careful hand a small paper bundle containing two or three letters or little packets, which he laid upon the table.	-Pocos días solamente. Vi a lo lejos mi viejo barco y la luz que brillaba en la ventana, acercándome vi a la vieja mistress Gudmige sentada Bola al lado del fuego. Le grité: « No tengas miedo; es Daniel», y entré. Nunca hubiera creído que pudiera sorprenderme tanto verme en mi viejo barco. Sacó cuidadosamente de un bolsillo de su chaleco un paquete de papeles que contenía dos o tres camas y las puso encima de la mesa.
′This fust one come,′ he said, selecting it from the rest, ′afore I had been gone a week. A fifty pound Bank note, in a sheet of paper, directed to me, and put underneath the door in the night. She tried to hide her writing, but she couldn′t hide it from Me!′	-Esta primera carta ha llegado -dijo separándola de las otras- a los ocho días escasos de mi partida. Había dentro, a mi nombre, un billete de banco de cincuenta libras. Lo habían echado una noche por debajo de la puerta. Había tratado de desfigurar la letra, pero conmigo no le valía.
He folded up the note again, with great patience and care, in exactly the same form, and laid it on one side.	Volvió a plegar con cuidado el billete y lo dejó encima de la mesa.
′This come to Missis Gummidge,′ he said, opening another, ′two or three months ago.′After looking at it for some moments, he gave it to me, and added in a low voice, ′Be so good as read it, sir.′	-Esta otra carta, dirigida a mistress Gudmige, ha llegado hace dos o tres meses. Después de haberla contemplado un momento me la entregó, añadiendo en voz baja: «Tenga la bondad de leerla».
I read as follows:	Leí lo siguiente:
′Oh what will you feel when you see this writing, and know it comes from my wicked hand! But try, try—not for my sake, but for uncle′s goodness, try to let your heart soften to me, only for a little little time! Try, pray do, to relent towards a miserable girl, and write down on a bit of paper whether he is well, and what he said about me before you left off ever naming me among yourselves—and whether, of a night, when it is my old time of coming home, you ever see him look as if he thought of one he used to love so dear. Oh, my heart is breaking when I think about it! I am kneeling down to you, begging and praying you not to be as hard with me as I deserve—as I well, well, know I deserve—but to be so gentle and so good, as to write down something of him, and to send it to me. You need not call me Little, you need not call me by the name I have disgraced; but oh, listen to my agony, and have mercy on me so far as to write me some word of uncle, never, never to be seen in this world by my eyes again!	« ¡Oh, qué pensará usted cuando vea esta carta y sepa que es mi mano culpable la que traza estas líneas! Pero trate, trate, no por amor mío, sino por amor a mi tío, trate de dulcificar un momento su corazón hacia mí. Trate, se lo ruego, de tener piedad de una desgraciada, y escríbame en un pedacito de papel si está bien y lo que ha dicho de mí antes de que haya sido prohibido pronunciar mi nombre entre ustedes. Dígame si por la noche, a la hora en que yo volvía siempre, piensa todavía en la que amaba tanto. ¡Oh, mi corazón se rompe cuando pienso en todo esto! Caigo de rodillas y le suplico que no sea conmigo todo lo severa que merezco...; sé que lo merezco; pero sea usted buena y transigente; escríbame una palabra y envíemela. No me llame ya « mi pequeña», no me den ya más el hombre que he deshonrado; pero tenga piedad de mi angustia y sea lo bastante misericordiosa para hablarme un poco de mi tío, puesto que jamás, jamás en este mundo le vo lverán a ver mis ojos.
′Dear, if your heart is hard towards me—justly hard, I know—but, listen, if it is hard, dear, ask him I have wronged the most—him whose wife I was to have been—before you quite decide against my poor poor prayer! If he should be so compassionate as to say that you might write something for me to read—I think he would, oh, I think he would, if you would only ask him, for he always was so brave and so forgiving—tell him then (but not else), that when I hear the wind blowing at night, I feel as if it was passing angrily from seeing him and uncle, and was going up to God against me. Tell him that if I was to die tomorrow (and oh, if I was fit, I would be so glad to die!) I would bless him and uncle with my last words, and pray for his happy home with my last breath!′	Querida mistress Gudmige: si no tiene usted compasión de mí, pues tiene derecho a ello, ¡oh!, entonces pregúntele a aquel para el que soy más culpable, a aquel de quien debía ser la mujer, si debe usted ne garse a mi ruego. Si es lo bastante generoso para aconsejarle lo contrario (y yo creo que lo hará, pues es todo bondad a indulgencia), entonces, entonces únicamente dígale que cuando oigo por la noche la brisa me parece que acaba de pasar por su lado y el de mi tío y que sube a Dios para llevarle el mal que hayan dicho de mí. Decidles que si muriera mañana (¡oh, cómo querría morir si me sintiera preparada!) mis últimas palabras serían para bendecirle a él y a mi tío y mi última oración por su felicidad.»
Some money was enclosed in this letter also. Five pounds. It was untouched like the previous sum, and he refolded it in the same way. Detailed instructions were added relative to the address of a reply, which, although they betrayed the intervention of several hands, and made it difficult to arrive at any very probable conclusion in reference to her place of concealment, made it at least not unlikely that she had written from that spot where she was stated to have been seen.	También en esta carta había dinero: cinco libras. Míster Peggotty había dejado intacta aquella suma, lo mismo que la otra, y volvió a doblar también el billete. Había también instrucciones detalladas sobre la manera de hacerle llegar una respuesta; se veía que varias personas habían intervenido para disimular mejor el sitio en que estaba oculta; sin embargo, parecía bastante probable que hubiera escrito desde el sitio donde le habían dicho a míster Peggotty que la habían visto.
′What answer was sent?′ I inquired of Mr. Peggotty.	-¿Y qué le han contestado?
′Missis Gummidge,′ he returned, ′not being a good scholar, sir, Ham kindly drawed it out, and she made a copy on it. They told her I was gone to seek her, and what my parting words was.′	-Como mistress Gudmige no está muy fuerte en escritura, Ham se ha encargado de contestar por ella. Le han dicho que yo había salido en busca suya y lo que dije al despedirme.
′Is that another letter in your hand?′ said I.	-¿Y eso es otra carta?
′It′s money, sir,′ said Mr. Peggotty, unfolding it a little way. ′Ten pound, you see. And wrote inside, "From a true friend," like the fust. But the fust was put underneath the door, and this come by the post, day afore yesterday. I′m a-going to seek her at the post-mark.′	-No; es dinero -dijo míster Peggotty desplegando a medias diez libras-; como puede usted ver, hay escrito por dentro del envoltorio: « De parte de una amiga verdadera» . Pero la primera carta la habían echado por debajo de la puerta y esa ha venido por correo anteayer. Voy a buscar a Emily en la ciudad que pone en el sello.
He showed it to me. It was a town on the Upper Rhine. He had found out, at Yarmouth, some foreign dealers who knew that country, and they had drawn him a rude map on paper, which he could very well understand. He laid it between us on the table; and, with his chin resting on one hand, tracked his course upon it with the other.	Me lo enseñó. Era una ciudad a orillas del Rhin. Había encontrado en Yarmouth algunos comerciantes extranjeros que conocían aquel país, y le habían dibujado una especie de mapa para que comprendiera mejor las cosas. Lo puso encima de la mesa y me señaló su camino con una mano, mientras apoyaba la barbilla en la otra.
I asked him how Ham was? He shook his head.	Le pregunté cómo estaba Ham. Sacudió la cabeza.
′He works,′ he said, ′as bold as a man can. His name′s as good, in all that part, as any man′s is, anywheres in the wureld. Anyone′s hand is ready to help him, you understand, and his is ready to help them. He′s never been heerd fur to complain. But my sister′s belief is (′twixt ourselves) as it has cut him deep.′	-Trabaja mucho -me dijo-. Su nombre es ya conocido y respetado en todo el país; todo lo que puede ser un hombre en este mundo. Todos están dispuestos a ayudarle, y lo comprenderá usted, porque ¡es tan bueno con todo el mundo! Nunca se le ha oído quejarse. Entre nosotros, mi hermana cree que ha sido un golpe muy fuerte para él.
′Poor fellow, I can believe it!′	-¡Pobre muchacho! Yo también lo creo.
′He ain′t no care, Mas′r Davy,′ said Mr. Peggotty in a solemn whisper—′kinder no care no-how for his life. When a man′s wanted for rough sarvice in rough weather, he′s theer. When there′s hard duty to be done with danger in it, he steps for′ard afore all his mates. And yet he′s as gentle as any child. There ain′t a child in Yarmouth that doen′t know him.′	-Míster Davy -repuso míster Peggotty en voz baja y en tono solemne-, Ham ahora desprecia la vida. Siempre que se necesita un hombre para afrontar algún peligro en el mar, allí está él; siempre que hay un puesto peligroso que cubrir, allá va el primero. Y, sin embargo, es dulce como un niño; no hay ni un niño en todo Yarmouth que no le conozca.
He gathered up the letters thoughtfully, smoothing them with his hand; put them into their little bundle; and placed it tenderly in his breast again. The face was gone from the door. I still saw the snow drifting in; but nothing else was there.	Reunió las cartas con expresión pensativa, las dobló lentamente y volvió a meterse el paquetito en el bolsillo. Ya no había nadie en la puerta. La nieve continuaba cayendo; eso era todo.
′Well!′ he said, looking to his bag, ′having seen you tonight, Mas′r Davy (and that doos me good!), I shall away betimes tomorrow morning. You have seen what I′ve got heer′; putting his hand on where the little packet lay; ′all that troubles me is, to think that any harm might come to me, afore that money was give back. If I was to die, and it was lost, or stole, or elseways made away with, and it was never know′d by him but what I′d took it, I believe the t′other wureld wouldn′t hold me! I believe I must come back!′	-Y bien -me dijo mirando su saco-, puesto que le he visto esta noche, míster Davy, y eso me ha consolado, partiré mañana temprano. Ya ha visto usted lo que tengo aquí -y ponía la mano encima del paquetito-; lo que me preocupa es que pueda ocurrirme una desgracia antes de haber devuelto este dinero. Si me muriera y este dinero se perdiera o me lo robaran y él pudiera creer que lo he guardado, creo que el otro mundo no podría retenerme; sí; verdaderamente creo que volvería.
He rose, and I rose too; we grasped each other by the hand again, before going out.	Se levantó, y yo me levanté también, y nos estrechamos de nuevo la mano.
′I′d go ten thousand mile,′ he said, ′I′d go till I dropped dead, to lay that money down afore him. If I do that, and find my Em′ly, I′m content. If I doen′t find her, maybe she′ll come to hear, sometime, as her loving uncle only ended his search for her when he ended his life; and if I know her, even that will turn her home at last!′	-Andaría diez mil millas, andaría hasta el día en que cayera muerto de cansancio, por poderle tirar este dinero a la cara. Sólo cuando pueda hacerlo y recobre a mi Emily estaré contento. Si no la encuentro, quizá un día sabrá que su tío, que la quería tanto, no ha cesado de buscarla más que cuando ha dejado de vivir; y si la conozco bien, no hará falta más para atraerla al antiguo hogar.
As he went out into the rigorous night, I saw the lonely figure flit away before us. I turned him hastily on some pretence, and held him in conversation until it was gone.	Cuando salimos a la frialdad de la noche vi huir delante de nosotros a la figura misteriosa. Retuve un momento a míster Peggotty para darla tiempo a que desapareciera.
He spoke of a traveller′s house on the Dover Road, where he knew he could find a clean, plain lodging for the night. I went with him over Westminster Bridge, and parted from him on the Surrey shore. Everything seemed, to my imagination, to be hushed in reverence for him, as he resumed his solitary journey through the snow.	Me dijo que iba a pasar la noche en una posada en el camino de Dover, donde encontraría buena habitación. Yo le acompañé hasta el puente de Westminster. Después nos separamos. Me pareció que todo en la naturaleza guardaba un silencio religioso por respeto hacia el piadoso peregrino que volvía a emprender lentamente su marcha solitaria a través de la nieve.
I returned to the inn yard, and, impressed by my remembrance of the face, looked awfully around for it. It was not there. The snow had covered our late footprints; my new track was the only one to be seen; and even that began to die away (it snowed so fast) as I looked back over my shoulder.	Volví al patio de la posada buscando con los ojos a aquella cuyo rostro me había impresionado tan profundamente; pero no estaba. La nieve había borrado la huella de nuestros pasos, y sólo se veían los que yo acababa de imprimir, y era tan fuerte la nevada, que también empezaban a desaparecer. Solamente daba tiempo a volver la cabeza para mirarlos por encima de mi hombro.

CHAPTER 40.

CAPÍTULO XX

THE WANDERER

EL VAGABUNDO