The Battle of Life 人生的战斗（II）（英文版）

TheBattleofLifeistheonlyoneofthefiveChristmasBooksbyCharlesDickensthathasnosupernaturalorexplicitlyreligiouselements.(OnescenetakesplaceatChristmastime,butitisnotthefinalscene.)ThestorybearssomeresemblancetoTheCricketontheHearthintworespects:ithasanon-urbansetting,anditisresolvedwitharomantictwist.ItisevenlessofasocialnovelthanisCricket.AsistypicalwithDickens,theendingisahappyone.Thisnovellawasfirstpublishedin1846.Twosisters,GraceandMarion,livehappilyinanEnglishvillagewiththeirtwoservants,andtheirgood-naturedwidowerfatherDrJeddler.Marion,theyoungersister,isbetrothedtoAlfredHeathfield,Jeddler'swardwhoisleavingthevillagetocompletehisstudies.HeentrustsMariontoGrace'scareandmakesapromisetoreturntowinMarion'shand.OnthedaythatAlfredistoreturn,however,itisdiscoveredthatMarionhasrunoff.Afternursingheartbreak,AlfredmarriesGraceinsteadofMarionandshebearshimadaughter,alsocalledMarion.OnthebirthdayofMarion,GraceconfidestoAlfredthatMarionhasmadeapromisetoexplainherso-called"elopement"inperson.Marionindeedappearsthateveningbysunsetandexplainsherdisappearancetothepartiesinvolved.ItturnsoutthatMarionhasnot"eloped"buthasinsteadbeenlivingatherauntMartha'splacesoastoallowAlfredtofallinlovewithGrace.