🔊 They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk.

他们会像猫喝牛奶一样接受建议。

🔊

suggestion /səˈdʒestʃən/

n. 建议,暗示➕

--莎士比亚:《暴风雨》。

🔊 The triumphant confidence of the Mayor founded on Mr. Featherstone's insistent demand that Fred and his mother should not leave him, was a feeble emotion compared with all that was agitating the breasts of the old man's blood-relations, who naturally manifested more their sense of the family tie and were more visibly numerous now that he had become bedridden. Naturally: for when "poor Peter" had occupied his arm-chair in the wainscoted parlour, no assiduous beetles for whom the cook prepares boiling water could have been less welcome on a hearth which they had reasons for preferring, than those persons whose Featherstone blood was ill-nourished, not from penuriousness on their part, but from poverty.

市长得意洋洋,只因费瑟斯通先生坚持要让弗雷德和他母亲留下；可他的这点信心,比起老人那些血亲们胸中翻腾的激动,简直不值一提。这些血亲自然更在意家族纽带,如今老人卧床不起,他们便愈发显眼--本该如此:想当年“可怜的彼得”还坐在镶板客厅的扶手椅里时,那些被厨娘煮水伺候的勤勉甲虫,在自己偏爱的炉边,也不比这些费瑟斯通血液缺乏营养的人更不受欢迎；他们并非吝啬,只是贫穷。

🔊

triumphant /traɪˈʌmfənt/

adj. 胜利的,得意洋洋的➕

🔊

bedridden /ˈbedrɪdn/

adj. 卧床不起的➕

🔊 Brother Solomon and Sister Jane were rich, and the family candor and total abstinence from false politeness with which they were always received seemed to them no argument that their brother in the solemn act of making his will would overlook the superior claims of wealth. Themselves at least he had never been unnatural enough to banish from his house, and it seemed hardly eccentric that he should have kept away Brother Jonah, Sister Martha, and the rest, who had no shadow of such claims. They knew Peter's maxim, that money was a good egg, and should be laid in a warm nest.

所罗门哥哥和简姐姐家境殷实,家里人对他们一贯坦率,丝毫不讲虚礼,这在他们看来,并不能证明弟弟在庄重地立遗嘱时会忽视财富的优越地位。至少,他从未狠心到将他们赶出家门；至于把弟弟约拿、妹妹玛莎以及那些毫无权利可言的亲戚拒之门外,似乎也算不上什么怪事。他们深知彼得的信条:钱是好蛋,得放在暖窝里。

🔊

candor /ˈkændər/

n. 坦率,直率➕

🔊

banish /ˈbænɪʃ/

v. 放逐,驱逐➕

🔊 But Brother Jonah, Sister Martha, and all the needy exiles, held a different point of view. Probabilities are as various as the faces to be seen at will in fretwork or paper-hangings: every form is there, from Jupiter to Judy, if you only look with creative inclination. To the poorer and least favoured it seemed likely that since Peter had done nothing for them in his life, he would remember them at the last. Jonah argued that men liked to make a surprise of their wills, while Martha said that nobody need be surprised if he left the best part of his money to those who least expected it. Also it was not to be thought but that an own brother "lying there" with dropsy in his legs must come to feel that blood was thicker than water, and if he didn't alter his will, he might have money by him. At any rate some blood-relations should be on the premises and on the watch against those who were hardly relations at all. Such things had been known as forged wills and disputed wills, which seemed to have the golden-hazy advantage of somehow enabling non-legatees to live out of them. Again, those who were no blood-relations might be caught making away with things-and poor Peter "lying there" helpless! Somebody should be on the watch. But in this conclusion they were at one with Solomon and Jane; also, some nephews, nieces, and cousins, arguing with still greater subtilty as to what might be done by a man able to "will away" his property and give himself large treats of oddity, felt in a handsome sort of way that there was a family interest to be attended to, and thought of Stone Court as a place which it would be nothing but right for them to visit. Sister Martha, otherwise Mrs. Cranch, living with some wheeziness in the Chalky Flats, could not undertake the journey; but her son, as being poor Peter's own nephew, could represent her advantageously, and watch lest his uncle Jonah should make an unfair use of the improbable things which seemed likely to happen. In fact there was a general sense running in the Featherstone blood that everybody must watch everybody else, and that it would be well for everybody else to reflect that the Almighty was watching him. Thus Stone Court continually saw one or other blood-relation alighting or departing, and Mary Garth had the unpleasant task of carrying their messages to Mr. Featherstone, who would see none of them, and sent her down with the still more unpleasant task of telling them so.

可弟弟约拿、妹妹玛莎以及所有穷困潦倒的放逐者却另有看法。可能性这东西,就像木雕或壁纸上随意出现的面孔,千变万化--只要你愿意看,从朱庇特到朱迪,什么模样都有。在那些最贫苦、最不受待见的人看来,彼得生前对他们一毛不拔,临终时反倒很可能想起他们。约拿争辩说,男人都喜欢在遗嘱里制造惊喜；玛莎则说,就算他把大部分钱留给最意想不到的人,谁也不必大惊小怪。再者,一个“躺在那里”、双腿浮肿的亲弟弟,迟早会明白血浓于水的道理；就算不修改遗嘱,身边总还藏着些钱。无论如何,总得有几个血亲守在现场,提防那些八竿子打不着的亲戚。伪造遗嘱、争议遗嘱的事屡见不鲜,那些案子似乎总有种金灿灿、雾蒙蒙的优势,让非受遗赠人也能从中捞到好处。再说了,那些非血亲的家伙没准会顺手牵羊--可怜的彼得“躺在那里”,动弹不得！总得有人盯着。但在这一点上,他们与所罗门和简想得一样。此外,还有些侄子、侄女、外甥、外女,用更精微的道理推敲着一个有钱人如何能凭借“遗赠”财产来尽情满足自己的怪癖,他们体面地感到家族利益需要照顾,并认为斯通庄园是个理应造访的好地方。妹妹玛莎（即克兰奇太太）住在气喘吁吁的白垩平原, 没法亲自跑一趟；但她儿子作为可怜的彼得的外甥,可以代表她前去,顺便监视约拿舅舅,以防他利用那些看似可能发生的荒唐事。事实上,费瑟斯通血脉里普遍有种感觉:人人都得盯着别人,而别人也该想想,全能的上帝正盯着他们。于是,斯通庄园里不断有血亲进进出出,玛丽·加思不得不承担起传话的苦差--费瑟斯通先生谁都不见,她还得下去告诉他们,这差事更令人头疼。

🔊

exiles /ˈeksaɪlz/

n. 流亡者,被放逐者➕

🔊

fretwork /ˈfretwɜːrk/

n. 浮雕细工,格子细工➕

🔊 As manager of the household she felt bound to ask them in good provincial fashion to stay and eat; but she chose to consult Mrs. Vincy on the point of extra down-stairs consumption now that Mr. Featherstone was laid up.

作为管家,她觉得按本地好客的规矩,得请他们留下吃饭；不过她先请教了文西太太, 看看眼下费瑟斯通先生卧床不起,楼下多添些吃食是否妥当。

🔊

provincial /prəˈvɪnʃl/

adj. 外省的,地方的；土气的➕

🔊

consult /kənˈsʌlt/

v. 咨询,请教➕

🔊 "Oh, my dear, you must do things handsomely where there's last illness and a property. God knows, I don't grudge them every ham in the house-only, save the best for the funeral. Have some stuffed veal always, and a fine cheese in cut. You must expect to keep open house in these last illnesses," said liberal Mrs. Vincy, once more of cheerful note and bright plumage.

“哦,亲爱的,这可是临终大事,又有家产,你得办得体面些。上帝知道,我不心疼家里的火腿--只是把最好的留到葬礼上用。填馅小牛肉随时备着,再加一块切好的上等乳酪。这种时候,你就得敞开门待客。”开明的文西太太又恢复了快活的嗓子和鲜亮的打扮。

🔊

grudge /ɡrʌdʒ/

v. 吝惜,不愿给➕

🔊

liberal /ˈlɪbərəl/

adj. 慷慨的；开明的➕

🔊 But some of the visitors alighted and did not depart after the handsome treating to veal and ham. Brother Jonah, for example (there are such unpleasant people in most families; perhaps even in the highest aristocracy there are Brobdingnag specimens, gigantically in debt and bloated at greater expense)-Brother Jonah, I say, having come down in the world, was mainly supported by a calling which he was modest enough not to boast of, though it was much better than swindling either on exchange or turf, but which did not require his presence at Brassing so long as he had a good corner to sit in and a supply of food. He chose the kitchen-corner, partly because he liked it best, and partly because he did not want to sit with Solomon, concerning whom he had a strong brotherly opinion. Seated in a famous arm-chair and in his best suit, constantly within sight of good cheer, he had a comfortable consciousness of being on the premises, mingled with fleeting suggestions of Sunday and the bar at the Green Man; and he informed Mary Garth that he should not go out of reach of his brother Peter while that poor fellow was above ground. The troublesome ones in a family are usually either the wits or the idiots. Jonah was the wit among the Featherstones, and joked with the maid-servants when they came about the hearth, but seemed to consider Miss Garth a suspicious character, and followed her with cold eyes.

可有些客人下了马车,享用了体面的小牛肉和火腿后,却不走了。就说约拿弟弟吧--大多数家里都有这种人,讨厌得很；就算在最高等的贵族里,说不定也有巨人国式的家伙,债台高筑,臃肿不堪。--我是说约拿弟弟,他破落了,主要靠一种职业过活；这职业他谦虚得不愿吹嘘,可总比在交易所或赛马场行骗强得多。只要有个好角落坐,有东西吃,他就不必回布拉辛。他挑了厨房角落,一来他最喜欢那儿,二来不想和所罗门坐在一起--他对自个儿这位兄长,可是一肚子兄弟间的看法。他坐在那把著名的扶手椅上,穿着最好的衣服,时刻能看到美食,舒舒服服地意识到自己就在现场,偶尔还飘过礼拜日和绿人酒馆酒吧的念头。他对玛丽·加思说,他兄弟彼得只要还在地面上,他就不会走远。家里讨人嫌的,不是聪明过头就是傻得透顶。约拿是费瑟斯通家里的聪明人,女仆们围着炉子时他跟她们打趣,可对加思小姐却似乎起了疑心,一双冷眼一直跟着她。

🔊

aristocracy /ˌærɪˈstɑːkrəsi/

n. 贵族阶层➕

🔊

suspicious /səˈspɪʃəs/

adj. 怀疑的,可疑的➕

🔊 Mary would have borne this one pair of eyes with comparative ease, but unfortunately there was young Cranch, who, having come all the way from the Chalky Flats to represent his mother and watch his uncle Jonah, also felt it his duty to stay and to sit chiefly in the kitchen to give his uncle company. Young Cranch was not exactly the balancing point between the wit and the idiot,-verging slightly towards the latter type, and squinting so as to leave everything in doubt about his sentiments except that they were not of a forcible character. When Mary Garth entered the kitchen and Mr. Jonah Featherstone began to follow her with his cold detective eyes, young Cranch turning his head in the same direction seemed to insist on it that she should remark how he was squinting, as if he did it with design, like the gypsies when Borrow read the New Testament to them. This was rather too much for poor Mary; sometimes it made her bilious, sometimes it upset her gravity. One day that she had an opportunity she could not resist describing the kitchen scene to Fred, who would not be hindered from immediately going to see it, affecting simply to pass through. But no sooner did he face the four eyes than he had to rush through the nearest door which happened to lead to the dairy, and there under the high roof and among the pans he gave way to laughter which made a hollow resonance perfectly audible in the kitchen. He fled by another doorway, but Mr. Jonah, who had not before seen Fred's white complexion, long legs, and pinched delicacy of face, prepared many sarcasms in which these points of appearance were wittily combined with the lowest moral attributes.

玛丽对那一双眼睛倒还忍得住,可偏偏还有年轻的克兰奇。他一路从白垩平原赶来,代表母亲监视约拿舅舅,自然也觉得有责任留下来,而且多半坐在厨房里陪他舅舅。年轻的克兰奇算不上聪明和傻里傻气的平衡点--他略微偏向后者,又生着斜眼,使人对他的一切心思都拿不准,只知道算不上什么强烈的情感。每当玛丽·加思走进厨房,约拿·费瑟斯通先生开始用冷冷的侦探目光跟着她,年轻的克兰奇也把头扭向同一个方向,仿佛存心要让她注意到他在斜眼看人,就像吉卜赛人那样--当年鲍罗给他们读《新约》时,他们也是这副德性。这对可怜的玛丽来说可真够受的；有时她气得慌,有时又忍不住笑。有一天,她逮着机会,忍不住把厨房里的场景讲给弗雷德听；弗雷德马上就跑去瞧,假装只是路过。可他一对上那四只眼睛,就不得不冲进最近的门--那门正好通向奶品房,他在高大的屋顶下和奶罐之间放声大笑,空荡荡的回声厨房里听得清清楚楚。他从另一扇门溜走了,可约拿先生之前没见过弗雷德那白净的肤色、长长的腿和精致瘦削的脸,于是准备了一大堆讽刺话,把这些外貌特征和最低下的道德品性巧妙地凑在一起。

🔊

sentiments /ˈsentɪmənts/

n. 情感,情绪➕

🔊

sarcasms /ˈsɑːrkæzəmz/

n. 讽刺,挖苦➕

🔊 "Why, Tom, you don't wear such gentlemanly trousers-you haven't got half such fine long legs," said Jonah to his nephew, winking at the same time, to imply that there was something more in these statements than their undeniableness. Tom looked at his legs, but left it uncertain whether he preferred his moral advantages to a more vicious length of limb and reprehensible gentility of trouser.

“瞧,汤姆,你可穿不上这么绅士的裤子,也没这么双漂亮的长腿。”约拿对侄子说,同时眨眨眼,暗示这话里还有弦外之音。汤姆看了看自己的腿,但没表示他到底是看重自己的道德优势,还是更羡慕那种恶棍般的长腿和该受谴责的绅士裤。

🔊

gentlemanly /ˈdʒentlmənli/

adj. 绅士风度的➕

🔊

imply /ɪmˈplaɪ/

v. 暗示,意味着➕

🔊 In the large wainscoted parlour too there were constantly pairs of eyes on the watch, and own relatives eager to be "sitters-up." Many came, lunched, and departed, but Brother Solomon and the lady who had been Jane Featherstone for twenty-five years before she was Mrs. Waule found it good to be there every day for hours, without other calculable occupation than that of observing the cunning Mary Garth (who was so deep that she could be found out in nothing) and giving occasional dry wrinkly indications of crying-as if capable of torrents in a wetter season-at the thought that they were not allowed to go into Mr. Featherstone's room. For the old man's dislike of his own family seemed to get stronger as he got less able to amuse himself by saying biting things to them. Too languid to sting, he had the more venom refluent in his blood.

那间宽敞的镶板客厅里,也总有一双双眼睛在盯梢,亲戚们争着要“守夜”。许多人来了,吃了午饭,又走了。但所罗门哥哥和那位做了二十五年简·费瑟斯通才成了沃尔太太的女士,觉得每天在那儿待上几个钟头挺好--除了观察狡猾的玛丽·加思(她深藏不露,怎么也抓不住把柄)之外,他们也没别的正经事可干；偶尔他们还会干巴巴地皱着脸,挤出几滴眼泪--仿佛在更潮湿的季节里能哭成河--想到自己竟不被允许进费瑟斯通先生的房间。老人对自家人的厌恶越来越厉害,随着他日渐衰弱,没法再用刻薄的话取乐,那些毒液便更多地倒流回血液里。

🔊

cunning /ˈkʌnɪŋ/

adj. 狡猾的,巧妙的➕

🔊

languid /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/

adj. 倦怠的,无精打采的➕

🔊 Not fully believing the message sent through Mary Garth, they had presented themselves together within the door of the bedroom, both in black-Mrs. Waule having a white handkerchief partially unfolded in her hand-and both with faces in a sort of half-mourning purple; while Mrs. Vincy with her pink cheeks and pink ribbons flying was actually administering a cordial to their own brother, and the light-complexioned Fred, his short hair curling as might be expected in a gambler's, was lolling at his ease in a large chair.

他们不完全相信玛丽·加思传来的话,便一起出现在卧室门口。两人都穿着黑衣--沃尔太太手里半摊着一条白手帕--脸上都是那种半丧的紫色；而文西太太,粉红的脸蛋,粉红的丝带飘着,居然正给自己兄弟喂滋补酒；浅肤色的弗雷德,短鬈发,一副赌徒的样子,懒洋洋地靠在一张大椅子上。

🔊

partially /ˈpɑːrʃəli/

adv. 部分地➕

🔊

cordial /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/

n. 兴奋剂,热饮➕

🔊 Old Featherstone no sooner caught sight of these funereal figures appearing in spite of his orders than rage came to strengthen him more successfully than the cordial. He was propped up on a bed-rest, and always had his gold-headed stick lying by him. He seized it now and swept it backwards and forwards in as large an area as he could, apparently to ban these ugly spectres, crying in a hoarse sort of screech-

老费瑟斯通一看见这些送葬般的影子竟敢违抗他的命令出现,怒气比滋补酒更来劲地撑起了他。他靠床架子支着身子,那根金头手杖总放在身边。他一把抓起手杖,用尽力气来回挥舞,像是要赶走这些可怕的鬼影,嘶哑地尖叫起来--

🔊

funereal /fjuːˈnɪriəl/

adj. 葬礼的,阴沉的➕

🔊

spectres /ˈspektərz/

n. 幽灵,鬼怪➕

🔊 "Back, back, Mrs. Waule! Back, Solomon!"

“回去,回去,沃尔太太！回去,所罗门！”

🔊 "Oh, Brother. Peter," Mrs. Waule began-but Solomon put his hand before her repressingly. He was a large-cheeked man, nearly seventy, with small furtive eyes, and was not only of much blander temper but thought himself much deeper than his brother Peter; indeed not likely to be deceived in any of his fellow-men, inasmuch as they could not well be more greedy and deceitful than he suspected them of being. Even the invisible powers, he thought, were likely to be soothed by a bland parenthesis here and there-coming from a man of property, who might have been as impious as others.

“哦,弟弟彼得--”沃尔太太刚开口,所罗门就按住她的手制止。所罗门是个宽脸盘的男人,快七十岁了,一双小眼睛透着鬼祟。他不仅脾气比弟弟彼得温和得多,还自认为比他深沉得多；的确,他不太可能被任何人欺骗,因为他怀疑别人比他们实际更贪婪更奸诈。他甚至觉得,连那些无形的神力,说不定也能被他这样有财产的人--他本可以像别人一样不敬--用几句圆滑的插入语给哄顺了。

🔊

furtive /ˈfɜːrtɪv/

adj. 鬼鬼祟祟的,偷偷的➕

🔊

impious /ˈɪmpiəs/

adj. 不虔诚的,不敬的➕

🔊 "Brother Peter," he said, in a wheedling yet gravely official tone, "It's nothing but right I should speak to you about the Three Crofts and the Manganese. The Almighty knows what I've got on my mind-"

“彼得弟弟,”他用讨好而又郑重其事的腔调说,“我理所应当跟你谈谈那三块围场和锰矿的事。全能的上帝知道我心头压着什么--”

🔊

wheedling /ˈwiːdlɪŋ/

adj. 花言巧语的；哄骗的➕

🔊

gravely /ˈɡreɪvli/

adv. 严肃地；严重地➕

🔊

official /əˈfɪʃl/

adj. 官方的；正式的➕

🔊

tone /toʊn/

n. 语气；语调；色调➕

🔊

Almighty /ɔːlˈmaɪti/

n. 全能者（指上帝）➕

🔊 "Then he knows more than I want to know," said Peter, laying down his stick with a show of truce which had a threat in it too, for he reversed the stick so as to make the gold handle a club in case of closer fighting, and looked hard at Solomon's bald head.

“那他知道的比我想知道的多。”彼得放下手杖,表示休战,但这休战里也带着威胁--他倒转了手杖,让金头变成棍子,以备近身搏斗,然后狠狠盯着所罗门的光头。

🔊

truce /truːs/

n. 休战；停战➕

🔊

threat /θret/

n. 威胁；凶兆➕

🔊

reversed /rɪˈvɜːrst/

v. 颠倒；翻转（reverse的过去式）➕

🔊

bald /bɔːld/

adj. 秃头的；光秃的➕

🔊 "There's things you might repent of, Brother, for want of speaking to me," said Solomon, not advancing, however. "I could sit up with you to-night, and Jane with me, willingly, and you might take your own time to speak, or let me speak."

“有些事你可能会后悔的,弟弟,因为你不跟我说。”所罗门说,却没有上前。“今晚我陪你熬夜,让简也留下,你尽管慢慢说,或者让我说。”

🔊

repent /rɪˈpent/

v. 后悔；忏悔➕

🔊 "Yes, I shall take my own time-you needn't offer me yours," said Peter.

“是的,我会慢慢来的--你不必把你的时间给我。”

🔊 "But you can't take your own time to die in, Brother," began Mrs. Waule, with her usual woolly tone. "And when you lie speechless you may be tired of having strangers about you, and you may think of me and my children"-but here her voice broke under the touching thought which she was attributing to her speechless brother; the mention of ourselves being naturally affecting.

“可你又不能慢慢等死啊,弟弟。”沃尔太太用她惯常的绵软腔调接过话头。“等你不能说话了,身边都是陌生人,你也许会腻烦的,会想起我和我的孩子们--”说到这里,她的声音因为触及这个动人的念头而哽咽了--她把这念头归到那不能说话的弟弟头上；我们一提起自己,总是容易动情。

🔊

woolly /ˈwʊli/

adj. 羊毛的；模糊的；混乱的➕

🔊

speechless /ˈspiːtʃləs/

adj. 说不出话的；无语的➕

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attributing /əˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ/

v. 归因于；认为……属于（attribute的现在分词）➕

🔊

affecting /əˈfektɪŋ/

adj. 感人的；动人的➕

🔊 "No, I shan't," said old Featherstone, contradictiously. "I shan't think of any of you. I've made my will, I tell you, I've made my will." Here he turned his head towards Mrs. Vincy, and swallowed some more of his cordial.

“不,我不会的。”老费瑟斯通反驳道。“我不会想起你们任何人。我立了遗嘱,告诉你们,我立了遗嘱。”他转向文西太太, 又喝了几口滋补酒。

🔊

contradictiously /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃəsli/

adv. 矛盾地；反驳地➕

🔊

will /wɪl/

n. 遗嘱；意志➕

🔊 "Some people would be ashamed to fill up a place belonging by rights to others," said Mrs. Waule, turning her narrow eyes in the same direction.

“有些人本该羞于占据别人应得的位置。”沃尔太太说着,窄眼睛也朝那个方向望去。

🔊 "Oh, sister," said Solomon, with ironical softness, "you and me are not fine, and handsome, and clever enough: we must be humble and let smart people push themselves before us."

“哦,姐姐,”所罗门带着讽刺的温和说,“你我既不漂亮,又不英俊,也不聪明；我们得谦卑点,让那些精明人挤到前头去。”

🔊

ironical /aɪˈrɒnɪkl/

adj. 讽刺的；反语的➕

🔊

softness /ˈsɒftnəs/

n. 柔软；温和➕

🔊

humble /ˈhʌmbl/

adj. 谦逊的；卑微的➕

🔊 Fred's spirit could not bear this: rising and looking at Mr. Featherstone, he said, "Shall my mother and I leave the room, sir, that you may be alone with your friends?"

弗雷德可受不了这话；他站起来,看着费瑟斯通先生说:“先生,要不要我和母亲离开房间,好让您和您的朋友们单独谈谈？”

🔊

spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/

n. 精神；勇气；情绪➕

🔊 "Sit down, I tell you," said old Featherstone, snappishly. "Stop where you are. Good-by, Solomon," he added, trying to wield his stick again, but failing now that he had reversed the handle. "Good-by, Mrs. Waule. Don't you come again."

“坐下,我说。”老费瑟斯通没好气地说。“待在那儿别动。再见了,所罗门。”他试图再次挥舞手杖,但手柄已经倒转,没舞起来。“再见,沃尔太太。别再来了。”

🔊

snappishly /ˈsnæpɪʃli/

adv. 急躁地；不耐烦地➕

🔊

wield /wiːld/

v. 挥舞；运用（权力等）➕

🔊 "I shall be down-stairs, Brother, whether or no," said Solomon. "I shall do my duty, and it remains to be seen what the Almighty will allow."

“不管怎样,我都在楼下,弟弟。”所罗门说。“我会尽我的本分,全能的上帝会允许什么,咱们走着瞧。”

🔊 "Yes, in property going out of families," said Mrs. Waule, in continuation,-"and where there's steady young men to carry on. But I pity them who are not such, and I pity their mothers. Good-by, Brother Peter."

“是啊,眼看着财产从家族里流出去,”沃尔太太接着说,“--而家里本有稳重的年轻人可以接手。可我可怜那些不是这样的人,也可怜他们的母亲。再见,彼得弟弟。”

🔊

property /ˈprɒpəti/

n. 财产；房产；性质➕

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continuation /kənˌtɪnjuˈeɪʃn/

n. 继续；延续➕

🔊

steady /ˈstedi/

adj. 稳定的；持续的➕

🔊 "Remember, I'm the eldest after you, Brother, and prospered from the first, just as you did, and have got land already by the name of Featherstone," said Solomon, relying much on that reflection, as one which might be suggested in the watches of the night. "But I bid you good-by for the present."

“别忘了,我是你之后的老大,弟弟。我跟你一样,起步就兴旺,而且已经以费瑟斯通的名义有了土地。”所罗门很看重这个想法,觉得在守夜的漫漫长夜里,彼得也许会想起这一点。“暂且跟你告别了。”

🔊

eldest /ˈeldɪst/

adj. 最年长的➕

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prospered /ˈprɒspərd/

v. 繁荣；成功（prosper的过去式）➕

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reflection /rɪˈflekʃn/

n. 思考；反射；映像➕

🔊

watches /ˈwɒtʃɪz/

n. 夜间值班时间；守夜（watch的复数）➕

🔊 Their exit was hastened by their seeing old Mr. Featherstone pull his wig on each side and shut his eyes with his mouth-widening grimace, as if he were determined to be deaf and blind.

他们匆匆退出去,因为他们看见老费瑟斯通先生把假发往两边拉了拉,闭上眼睛,咧开嘴做了个鬼脸,好像打定主意又聋又瞎。

🔊

exit /ˈeksɪt/

n. 出口；离开➕

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hastened /ˈheɪsnd/

v. 加速；催促（hasten的过去式）➕

🔊

grimace /ɡrɪˈmeɪs/

n. 鬼脸；痛苦的表情➕

🔊 None the less they came to Stone Court daily and sat below at the post of duty, sometimes carrying on a slow dialogue in an undertone in which the observation and response were so far apart, that any one hearing them might have imagined himself listening to speaking automata, in some doubt whether the ingenious mechanism would really work, or wind itself up for a long time in order to stick and be silent. Solomon and Jane would have been sorry to be quick: what that led to might be seen on the other side of the wall in the person of Brother Jonah.

即便如此,他们还是每天到斯通庄园来,坐在楼下履行自己的职责。有时他们低声慢慢搭话,一问一答离得老远,谁听了都会以为自己是在听两座会说话的自动机,搞不清这精巧的玩意儿到底能不能运转,还是费了老大劲上紧发条,到头来卡住不响了。所罗门和简反倒庆幸自己说话慢条斯理--看看墙那边的约拿哥哥就知道了,话说快了会有什么下场。

🔊

dialogue /ˈdaɪəlɒɡ/

n. 对话；对白➕

🔊

undertone /ˈʌndərtəʊn/

n. 低声；潜在含义➕

🔊

observation /ˌɒbzərˈveɪʃn/

n. 观察；评论➕

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response /rɪˈspɒns/

n. 回应；反应➕

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automata /ɔːˈtɒmətə/

n. 自动机器（automaton的复数）➕

🔊

ingenious /ɪnˈdʒiːniəs/

adj. 精巧的；聪明的➕

🔊

mechanism /ˈmekənɪzəm/

n. 机制；机械装置➕

🔊 But their watch in the wainscoted parlour was sometimes varied by the presence of other guests from far or near. Now that Peter Featherstone was up-stairs, his property could be discussed with all that local enlightenment to be found on the spot: some rural and Middlemarch neighbours expressed much agreement with the family and sympathy with their interest against the Vincys, and feminine visitors were even moved to tears, in conversation with Mrs. Waule, when they recalled the fact that they themselves had been disappointed in times past by codicils and marriages for spite on the part of ungrateful elderly gentlemen, who, it might have been supposed, had been spared for something better. Such conversation paused suddenly, like an organ when the bellows are let drop, if Mary Garth came into the room; and all eyes were turned on her as a possible legatee, or one who might get access to iron chests.

不过,镶板客厅里的守望有时也因远近客人的到来而变变花样。既然彼得·费瑟斯通上了楼,他的财产自然成了就地讨论的好话题,当地的各种信息都能用上。一些乡下和米德尔马契的邻居对这家子深表同情,对他们反对文西家的利益感同身受；女客们跟沃尔太太谈话时,甚至动情落泪,想起自己过去也曾因刻薄遗嘱和老绅士出于报复的婚姻而失望过--那些老绅士本该有更好的结局。只要玛丽·加思一走进屋,这种谈话便戛然而止,好比风箱被放下时的风琴；所有人的目光都转向她,把她看作可能的受遗赠人,或者能接触到铁皮箱子的人。

🔊

wainscoted /ˈweɪnskəʊtɪd/

adj. 装有护墙板的➕

🔊

enlightenment /ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt/

n. 启迪,教化,开明➕

🔊

codicils /ˈkɒdɪsɪlz/

n. 遗嘱附录（复数）➕

🔊

spite /spaɪt/

n. 恶意,怨恨➕

🔊

ungrateful /ʌnˈɡreɪtfəl/

adj. 忘恩负义的➕

🔊

spared /spɛːd/

v. 饶恕,免除,避免➕

🔊

legatee /ˌlɛɡəˈtiː/

n. 遗产继承人,受遗赠人➕

🔊

bellows /ˈbɛləʊz/

n. 风箱➕

🔊

feminine /ˈfɛmɪnɪn/

adj. 女性的,女子气的➕

🔊

sympathy /ˈsɪmpəθi/

n. 同情,赞同➕

🔊

access /ˈæksɛs/

n. 通道,机会（使用/接触权）➕

🔊 But the younger men who were relatives or connections of the family, were disposed to admire her in this problematic light, as a girl who showed much conduct, and who among all the chances that were flying might turn out to be at least a moderate prize. Hence she had her share of compliments and polite attentions.

至于那些沾亲带故的年轻男子,倒倾向于用这种暖昧的光来看她--觉得她是个很有风度的姑娘,在漫天乱飞的机会里,至少也算不大不小的彩头。因此她也得到了不少恭维和殷勤的关照。

🔊

problematic /ˌprɒbləˈmætɪk/

adj. 有问题的,成问题的➕

🔊

conduct /ˈkɒndʌkt/

n. 行为,操行➕

🔊

moderate /ˈmɒdərɪt/

adj. 适度的,中等的➕

🔊

compliments /ˈkɒmplɪmənts/

n. 赞美,恭维（复数）➕

🔊

attentions /əˈtɛnʃənz/

n. 殷勤,关注（复数形式）➕

🔊

disposed /dɪˈspəʊzd/

adj. 有倾向的,愿意的➕

🔊

connections /kəˈnɛkʃənz/

n. 关系,联系（复数）➕

🔊

hence /hɛns/

adv. 因此,从此➕

🔊 Especially from Mr. Borthrop Trumbull, a distinguished bachelor and auctioneer of those parts, much concerned in the sale of land and cattle: a public character, indeed, whose name was seen on widely distributed placards, and who might reasonably be sorry for those who did not know of him. He was second cousin to Peter Featherstone, and had been treated by him with more amenity than any other relative, being useful in matters of business; and in that programme of his funeral which the old man had himself dictated, he had been named as a Bearer. There was no odious cupidity in Mr. Borthrop Trumbull-nothing more than a sincere sense of his own merit, which, he was aware, in case of rivalry might tell against competitors; so that if Peter Featherstone, who so far as he, Trumbull, was concerned, had behaved like as good a soul as ever breathed, should have done anything handsome by him, all he could say was, that he had never fished and fawned, but had advised him to the best of his experience, which now extended over twenty years from the time of his apprenticeship at fifteen, and was likely to yield a knowledge of no surreptitious kind. His admiration was far from being confined to himself, but was accustomed professionally as well as privately to delight in estimating things at a high rate. He was an amateur of superior phrases, and never used poor language without immediately correcting himself-which was fortunate, as he was rather loud, and given to predominate, standing or walking about frequently, pulling down his waistcoat with the air of a man who is very much of his own opinion, trimming himself rapidly with his fore-finger, and marking each new series in these movements by a busy play with his large seals. There was occasionally a little fierceness in his demeanor, but it was directed chiefly against false opinion, of which there is so much to correct in the world that a man of some reading and experience necessarily has his patience tried. He felt that the Featherstone family generally was of limited understanding, but being a man of the world and a public character, took everything as a matter of course, and even went to converse with Mr. Jonah and young Cranch in the kitchen, not doubting that he had impressed the latter greatly by his leading questions concerning the Chalky Flats. If anybody had observed that Mr. Borthrop Trumbull, being an auctioneer, was bound to know the nature of everything, he would have smiled and trimmed himself silently with the sense that he came pretty near that. On the whole, in an auctioneering way, he was an honourable man, not ashamed of his business, and feeling that "the celebrated Peel, now Sir Robert," if introduced to him, would not fail to recognise his importance.

尤其是来自博思罗普·特朗布尔先生的关照。他是一位杰出的单身汉,本地的拍卖商,和土地、牲口的买卖关系密切；确实是个公众人物,名字印在到处张贴的传单上,那些不认识他的人可真该感到遗憾。他是彼得·费瑟斯通的远房表弟,比别的亲戚更受礼遇,因为生意上用得着他；在老人口述的葬礼计划里,他被指定为一位护柩者。博思罗普·特朗布尔先生没有丝毫令人反感的贪婪--只有真诚的自我价值感；他知道,一旦出现竞争,这份价值感会让对手相形见绌。因此,如果彼得·费瑟斯通（就他特朗布尔看来,为人再好不过了）对他做了什么漂亮事,他只能说,他从未巴结讨好过,而是根据自己的经验给出了最好的建议--这经验从他十五岁当学徒算起,至今已二十多年,多半能生出些货真价实的见识来。他的鉴赏力远不限于自身,而是习惯性地--无论是工作上还是私下里--乐于把事物估个高价。他是高级措辞的爱好者,从不说粗话,说出口马上改口--这倒好,因为他嗓门不小,喜欢占主导地位,经常站着或走来走去,扯平背心,一副深以为然的样子,用食指飞快地整理自己,并用一大串印章的忙乱拨弄来标示每次新动作的转折。他举止间偶尔带点凶相,但主要冲着错误观点去的--世界上有这么多需要纠正的谬误,一个有点学问、有些阅历的人自然难免不耐烦。他觉得费瑟斯通家上下总体都缺见识,但自己是个见过世面的人、一个公众人物,所以把一切视为当然,甚至还会去厨房跟约拿先生和年轻的克兰奇攀谈,毫不怀疑自己用关于白垩平原的引导性问题给后者留下了深刻印象。要是有人说,博思罗普·特朗布尔先生是个拍卖商,理应对万物本性了如指掌,那他就会微微一笑,默默整一整自己,感到自己差不多就是如此。总之,在拍卖这一行,他是个体面人,不觉得自己的营生丢脸,而且觉得“那位著名的皮尔, 现在的罗伯特爵士”,要是介绍给他,也一定会认识到他的重要。

🔊

distinguished /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

adj. 卓越的,著名的➕

🔊

auctioneer /ˌɔːkʃəˈnɪə/

n. 拍卖商➕

🔊

placards /ˈplækɑːdz/

n. 标语牌,海报（复数）➕

🔊

amenity /əˈmiːnɪti/

n. 便利设施,愉快➕

🔊

odious /ˈəʊdiəs/

adj. 可憎的,令人厌恶的➕

🔊

cupidity /kjuːˈpɪdɪti/

n. 贪婪➕

🔊

rivalry /ˈraɪvəlri/

n. 竞争,敌对➕

🔊

fawned /fɔːnd/

v. 奉承,巴结（过去式）➕

🔊

apprenticeship /əˈprɛntɪsʃɪp/

n. 学徒期,学徒身份➕

🔊

surreptitious /ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs/

adj. 秘密的,鬼鬼祟祟的➕

🔊

amateur /ˈæmətə/

n. 业余爱好者➕

🔊

superior /suːˈpɪəriə/

adj. 优越的,上级的➕

🔊

predominate /prɪˈdɒmɪneɪt/

v. 主导,占优势➕

🔊

fore-finger /ˈfɔːˌfɪŋɡə/

n. 食指➕

🔊

seals /siːlz/

n. 印章,封蜡（复数）➕

🔊

fierceness /ˈfɪəsnəs/

n. 凶猛,强烈➕

🔊

demeanor /dɪˈmiːnə/

n. 风度,举止➕

🔊

converse /kənˈvɜːs/

v. 交谈,谈话➕

🔊

leading questions /ˈliːdɪŋ ˈkwɛstʃənz/

n. 诱导性问题➕

🔊

Bearer /ˈbɛərə/

n. 持票人,抬棺人（此处指送葬者）➕

🔊

merit /ˈmɛrɪt/

n. 优点,价值➕

🔊

dictated /dɪkˈteɪtɪd/

v. 口授,命令（过去分词）➕

🔊 "I don't mind if I have a slice of that ham, and a glass of that ale, Miss Garth, if you will allow me," he said, coming into the parlour at half-past eleven, after having had the exceptional privilege of seeing old Featherstone, and standing with his back to the fire between Mrs. Waule and Solomon.

“加思小姐,如果您允许,我不妨来一片火腿,喝一杯麦芽酒。”他十一点半走进客厅时说--之前他享有特权见了老费瑟斯通, 此刻背对壁炉,站在沃尔太太和所罗门之间。

🔊

exceptional /ɪkˈsɛpʃənl/

adj. 例外的,杰出的➕

🔊

privilege /ˈprɪvlɪdʒ/

n. 特权,荣幸➕

🔊 "It's not necessary for you to go out;-let me ring the bell."

“您不必出去--我按铃就行。”

🔊 "Thank you," said Mary, "I have an errand."

“谢谢,”玛丽说,“我正好要出去办点事。”

🔊

errand /ˈɛrənd/

n. 差事,跑腿➕

🔊 "Well, Mr. Trumbull, you're highly favoured," said Mrs. Waule.

“哦,特朗布尔先生,您可真受宠。”沃尔太太说。

🔊

favoured /ˈfeɪvəd/

adj. 受优待的,受宠的➕

🔊 "What! seeing the old man?" said the auctioneer, playing with his seals dispassionately. "Ah, you see he has relied on me considerably." Here he pressed his lips together, and frowned meditatively.

“什么？见到老头了？”拍卖商不动声色地拨弄着印章。“啊,你看,他可相当倚重我呢。”说着他抿紧嘴唇,若有所思地皱了皱眉。

🔊

dispassionately /dɪsˈpæʃənətli/

adv. 冷静地,不动感情地➕

🔊

meditatively /ˈmɛdɪtətɪvli/

adv. 沉思地,冥想地➕

🔊 "Might anybody ask what their brother has been saying?" said Solomon, in a soft tone of humility, in which he had a sense of luxurious cunning, he being a rich man and not in need of it.

“不知可不可以问问,他们弟弟说了什么？”所罗门用谦卑的柔和腔调说--这腔调里他感到一种奢侈的狡猾,因为他是个有钱人,本不需要耍滑头。

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humility /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/

n. 谦卑,谦虚➕

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luxurious /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs/

adj. 奢侈的,豪华的➕

🔊 "Oh yes, anybody may ask," said Mr. Trumbull, with loud and good-humoured though cutting sarcasm. "Anybody may interrogate. Any one may give their remarks an interrogative turn," he continued, his sonorousness rising with his style. "This is constantly done by good speakers, even when they anticipate no answer. It is what we call a figure of speech-speech at a high figure, as one may say." The eloquent auctioneer smiled at his own ingenuity.

“哦,当然可以问。”特朗布尔先生用响亮又友好的讽刺语气说。“谁都可以质问。谁都可以把评论变成疑问式。”他继续说下去,声音随着风格的提升而洪亮起来。“优秀的演说家常这么做,就算明知得不到回答。这就是我们所谓的修辞格--可以说是高价措辞。”这位雄辩的拍卖商对自己的机智报以微笑。

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sarcasm /ˈsɑːkæzəm/

n. 讽刺,挖苦➕

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interrogate /ɪnˈtɛrəɡeɪt/

v. 审问,询问➕

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interrogative /ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətɪv/

adj. 疑问的➕

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sonorousness /səˈnɔːrəsnəs/

n. 洪亮,响度➕

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anticipate /ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt/

v. 预期,预料➕

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eloquent /ˈɛləkwənt/

adj. 雄辩的,有口才的➕

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ingenuity /ˌɪndʒɪˈnjuːɪti/

n. 独创性,聪明才智➕

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figure of speech /ˈfɪɡə əv spiːtʃ/

n. 修辞手法➕

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good-humoured /ˌɡʊd ˈhjuːməd/

adj. 脾气好的,和善的➕

🔊 "I shouldn't be sorry to hear he'd remembered you, Mr. Trumbull," said Solomon. "I never was against the deserving. It's the undeserving I'm against."

“要是听说他记着您,特朗布尔先生, 我不会难过。”所罗门说。“我从不反对该得的人。我反对的是不配得的人。”

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deserving /dɪˈzɜːvɪŋ/

adj. 值得的,应得的➕

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undeserving /ˌʌndɪˈzɜːvɪŋ/

adj. 不配得到的,不值得的➕

🔊 "Ah, there it is, you see, there it is," said Mr. Trumbull, significantly. "It can't be denied that undeserving people have been legatees, and even residuary legatees. It is so, with testamentary dispositions." Again he pursed up his lips and frowned a little.

“啊,问题就在这儿,你看,就在这儿。”特朗布尔先生意味深长地说。“不可否认,不配得的人也当过受遗赠人,甚至当过剩余遗产继承人。遗嘱处置就是这样。”他又撅起嘴,轻轻皱眉。

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significantly /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/

adv. 显著地,意义重大地➕

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residuary /rɪˈzɪdʒuəri/

adj. 剩余的,遗产剩余的➕

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testamentary /ˌtɛstəˈmɛntəri/

adj. 遗嘱的➕

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dispositions /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃənz/

n. 处置,安排（复数）➕

🔊 "Do you mean to say for certain, Mr. Trumbull, that my brother has left his land away from our family?" said Mrs. Waule, on whom, as an unhopeful woman, those long words had a depressing effect.

“特朗布尔先生, 您能肯定我弟弟把土地留给了家族之外的人？”沃尔太太说--那些长词对她这个不抱希望的女人有种压抑感。

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unhopeful /ʌnˈhəʊpfəl/

adj. 没有希望的,不乐观的➕

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depressing /dɪˈprɛsɪŋ/

adj. 令人沮丧的,压抑的➕

🔊 "A man might as well turn his land into charity land at once as leave it to some people," observed Solomon, his sister's question having drawn no answer.

“一个人倒不如把地变成慈善田,也比留给某些人强。”所罗门接话--他姐姐的问题没得到回答。

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charity /ˈtʃærɪti/

n. 慈善,施舍➕

🔊 "What, Blue-Coat land?" said Mrs. Waule, again. "Oh, Mr. Trumbull, you never can mean to say that. It would be flying in the face of the Almighty that's prospered him."

“什么,蓝衣学校土地？”沃尔太太又说。“哦,特朗布尔先生, 您可千万不能这么说。这简直是打赐福给他的全能的上帝的脸。”

🔊 While Mrs. Waule was speaking, Mr. Borthrop Trumbull walked away from the fireplace towards the window, patrolling with his fore-finger round the inside of his stock, then along his whiskers and the curves of his hair. He now walked to Miss Garth's work-table, opened a book which lay there and read the title aloud with pompous emphasis as if he were offering it for sale:

沃尔太太说话时,博思罗普·特朗布尔先生从壁炉边走到窗前,用食指沿着领巾内侧、再沿颊须和头发的曲线巡逻了一遍。然后他踱到加思小姐的工作台边,打开上面放的一本书,用夸张的重音念出书名,好像正在拍卖--

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pompous /ˈpɒmpəs/

adj. 自负的；浮夸的➕

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emphasis /ˈɛmfəsɪs/

n. 强调；重点➕

🔊 "'Anne of Geierstein' (pronounced Jeersteen) or the 'Maiden of the Mist, by the author of Waverley.'" Then turning the page, he began sonorously-"The course of four centuries has well-nigh elapsed since the series of events which are related in the following chapters took place on the Continent." He pronounced the last truly admirable word with the accent on the last syllable, not as unaware of vulgar usage, but feeling that this novel delivery enhanced the sonorous beauty which his reading had given to the whole.

“《安妮·盖尔斯坦》(读作杰尔斯坦),或《迷雾少女》,威弗利作者著。”他翻过一页,开始朗声读道:“将近四个世纪已经过去,以下各章所述的一系列事件发生在欧洲大陆。”他把最后一个确实美妙的词的重音落在最后一个音节上--并非不知道俗语怎么念,而是觉得这种新读法能增强他整个朗读所赋予的洪亮之美。

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sonorously /ˈsɒnərəsli/

adv. 响亮地；洪亮地➕

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well-nigh /ˈwɛl naɪ/

adv. 几乎；将近➕

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elapsed /ɪˈlæpst/

v. （时间）过去,消逝➕

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admirable /ˈædmərəbl/

adj. 令人钦佩的；极好的➕

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accent /ˈæksənt/

n. 重音；口音；强调➕

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syllable /ˈsɪləbl/

n. 音节➕

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unaware /ˌʌnəˈweə/

adj. 未意识到的；不知道的➕

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vulgar /ˈvʌlɡə/

adj. 粗俗的；庸俗的➕

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novel /ˈnɒvəl/

adj. 新奇的；新颖的➕

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delivery /dɪˈlɪvəri/

n. 演讲方式；表演风格；递送➕

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enhanced /ɪnˈhɑːnst/

v. 提高；增强（enhance的过去分词）➕

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sonorous /ˈsɒnərəs/

adj. 洪亮的；响亮的➕

🔊 And now the servant came in with the tray, so that the moments for answering Mrs. Waule's question had gone by safely, while she and Solomon, watching Mr. Trumbull's movements, were thinking that high learning interfered sadly with serious affairs. Mr. Borthrop Trumbull really knew nothing about old Featherstone's will; but he could hardly have been brought to declare any ignorance unless he had been arrested for misprision of treason.

这时仆人端着托盘进来了,回答沃尔太太问题的时机就这样安稳地过去。她和所罗门看着特朗布尔先生的一举一动,心想高深的学问真会耽误正经事。博思罗普·特朗布尔先生其实对老费瑟斯通的遗嘱一无所知；可要不是被人控告隐匿叛国罪,他几乎不可能承认自己不知道。

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interfered /ˌɪntəˈfɪəd/

v. 干涉；妨碍（interfere的过去式）➕

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ignorance /ˈɪɡnərəns/

n. 无知；愚昧➕

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misprision /mɪsˈprɪʒən/

n. 轻罪；知情不报➕

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treason /ˈtriːzən/

n. 叛国罪；不忠➕

🔊 "I shall take a mere mouthful of ham and a glass of ale," he said, reassuringly. "As a man with public business, I take a snack when I can. I will back this ham," he added, after swallowing some morsels with alarming haste, "against any ham in the three kingdoms. In my opinion it is better than the hams at Freshitt Hall-and I think I am a tolerable judge."

“我只吃一小口火腿,喝一杯麦芽酒。”他宽慰地说。“作为有公事在身的人,我一有空就吃点心。我敢说这火腿,”他急匆匆吞了几口后补充道,“胜过三大王国里的任何火腿。依我看,它比弗雷希特府邸的火腿还好--我觉得我的味蕾还算不错。”

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mere /mɪə/

adj. 仅仅的；只不过的➕

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reassuringly /ˌriːəˈʃʊərɪŋli/

adv. 令人安心地；安慰地➕

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morsels /ˈmɔːsəlz/

n. 少量食物；一小口（复数）➕

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alarming /əˈlɑːmɪŋ/

adj. 惊人的；令人担忧的➕

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haste /heɪst/

n. 急速；匆忙➕

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tolerable /ˈtɒlərəbl/

adj. 可容忍的；尚好的➕

🔊 "Some don't like so much sugar in their hams," said Mrs. Waule. "But my poor brother would always have sugar."

“有些人不喜欢火腿里放那么多糖。”沃尔太太说。“但我可怜的弟弟总要放糖。”

🔊 "If any person demands better, he is at liberty to do so; but, God bless me, what an aroma! I should be glad to buy in that quality, I know. There is some gratification to a gentleman"- here Mr. Trumbull's voice conveyed an emotional remonstrance-"in having this kind of ham set on his table."

“要是有人要求更好的,他大可以去做；但是,老天保佑,好香啊！我很乐意买这种品质的火腿,我清楚得很。一位绅士会有某种满足感--”特朗布尔先生的声音带着情感的抗议--“把这种火腿摆到他桌上。”

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liberty /ˈlɪbəti/

n. 自由；自由权➕

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aroma /əˈrəʊmə/

n. 芳香；香气➕

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gratification /ˌɡrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

n. 满足；满意➕

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remonstrance /rɪˈmɒnstrəns/

n. 抗议；责备➕

🔊 He pushed aside his plate, poured out his glass of ale and drew his chair a little forward, profiting by the occasion to look at the inner side of his legs, which he stroked approvingly- Mr. Trumbull having all those less frivolous airs and gestures which distinguish the predominant races of the north.

他推开盘子,倒出麦芽酒,把椅子稍稍往前拉,趁便看了看自己腿的内侧,满意地拍了拍--特朗布尔先生具有那些不太轻浮的举止和姿态,正是北方优势种族的标志。

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profiting /ˈprɒfɪtɪŋ/

v. 获益；利用（profit的现在分词）➕

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occasion /əˈkeɪʒən/

n. 场合；时机➕

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inner /ˈɪnə/

adj. 内部的；里面的➕

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stroked /strəʊkt/

v. 抚摸（stroke的过去式）➕

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approvingly /əˈpruːvɪŋli/

adv. 赞许地；同意地➕

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frivolous /ˈfrɪvələs/

adj. 轻浮的；无聊的➕

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distinguish /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/

v. 区分；使有别于➕

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predominant /prɪˈdɒmɪnənt/

adj. 主要的；占优势的➕

🔊 "You have an interesting work there, I see, Miss Garth," he observed, when Mary re-entered. "It is by the author of 'Waverley': that is Sir Walter Scott. I have bought one of his works myself-a very nice thing, a very superior publication, entitled 'Ivanhoe.' You will not get any writer to beat him in a hurry, I think-he will not, in my opinion, be speedily surpassed. I have just been reading a portion at the commencement of 'Anne of Jeersteen.' It commences well." (Things never began with Mr. Borthrop Trumbull: they always commenced, both in private life and on his handbills.) "You are a reader, I see. Do you subscribe to our Middlemarch library?"

“我看到您那儿有一本有趣的书,加思小姐。”玛丽重新进来时他说。“是《威弗利》作者写的--也就是沃尔特·司各特爵士。我自己买过他一本作品--很好的东西,非常优秀的出版物,书名是《艾凡赫》。我看,想一下子超过他可不那么容易--依我看,他不会被很快超越。我刚刚读了《安妮·杰尔斯坦》的开头部分。开头开得很好。”（在博思罗普·特朗布尔先生那里,事物从不“开始”,它们总是“开头”--不论私生活还是他的传单都如此。）“我看您是个读书人。您订阅我们的米德尔马契图书馆吗？”

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observed /əbˈzɜːvd/

v. 观察；评论（observe的过去式）➕

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re-entered /ˌriːˈɛntəd/

v. 重新进入（re-enter的过去式）➕

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publication /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/

n. 出版物；出版➕

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entitled /ɪnˈtaɪtld/

adj. 名为……的；有资格的➕

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speedily /ˈspiːdɪli/

adv. 迅速地➕

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surpassed /səˈpɑːst/

v. 超越（surpass的过去分词）➕

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portion /ˈpɔːʃən/

n. 一部分；一份➕

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commencement /kəˈmensmənt/

n. 开始；开端➕

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commences /kəˈmensɪz/

v. 开始（commence的第三人称单数）➕

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handbills /ˈhændbɪlz/

n. 传单；宣传单（复数）➕

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subscribe /səbˈskraɪb/

v. 订阅；捐献➕

🔊 "No," said Mary. "Mr. Fred Vincy brought this book."

“没有。”玛丽说。“这本书是弗雷德·文西先生带来的。”

🔊 "I am a great bookman myself," returned Mr. Trumbull. "I have no less than two hundred volumes in calf, and I flatter myself they are well selected. Also pictures by Murillo, Rubens, Teniers, Titian, Vandyck, and others. I shall be happy to lend you any work you like to mention, Miss Garth."

“我自己是个大藏书家。”特朗布尔先生回答。“我至少有二百卷小牛皮装帧的书,而且我敢说选得很精。此外还有牟利罗、鲁本斯、特尼尔斯、提香、凡·戴克等人的画作。加思小姐,您要是愿意提任何作品,我很乐意借给您。”

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bookman /ˈbʊkmən/

n. 书商；学者；爱书人➕

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flatter /ˈflætə/

v. 奉承；自夸➕

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selected /sɪˈlektɪd/

adj. 精选的；选择的➕

🔊 "I am much obliged," said Mary, hastening away again, "but I have little time for reading."

“非常感谢。”玛丽说着又急忙走开。“可我没什么时间读书。”

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obliged /əˈblaɪdʒd/

adj. 感激的；必须的➕

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hastening /ˈheɪsənɪŋ/

v. 匆忙（hasten的现在分词）➕

🔊 "I should say my brother has done something for her in his will," said Mr. Solomon, in a very low undertone, when she had shut the door behind her, pointing with his head towards the absent Mary.

“我敢说我弟弟在遗嘱里给了她什么。”所罗门先生在她关上门后用极低的声音说,头朝玛丽离去的方向点了点。

🔊

absent /ˈæbsənt/

adj. 缺席的；不在的➕

🔊 "His first wife was a poor match for him, though," said Mrs. Waule. "She brought him nothing: and this young woman is only her niece,-and very proud. And my brother has always paid her wage."

“不过他第一房妻子对他来说不般配。”沃尔太太说。“她没给他带来任何东西；这年轻姑娘只是她侄女--而且很骄傲。我弟弟一直付她工资。”

🔊

niece /niːs/

n. 侄女；外甥女➕

🔊

wage /weɪdʒ/

n. 工资；薪水➕

🔊 "A sensible girl though, in my opinion," said Mr. Trumbull, finishing his ale and starting up with an emphatic adjustment of his waistcoat. "I have observed her when she has been mixing medicine in drops. She minds what she is doing, sir. That is a great point in a woman, and a great point for our friend up-stairs, poor dear old soul. A man whose life is of any value should think of his wife as a nurse: that is what I should do, if I married; and I believe I have lived single long enough not to make a mistake in that line. Some men must marry to elevate themselves a little, but when I am in need of that, I hope some one will tell me so-I hope some individual will apprise me of the fact. I wish you good morning, Mrs. Waule. Good morning, Mr. Solomon. I trust we shall meet under less melancholy auspices."

“依我看,倒是个懂事的姑娘。”特朗布尔先生说着喝完麦芽酒,站起来,有力地整了整背心。“我观察过她调滴剂配药时的样子。她做事很专心,先生。这对女人来说很重要,对我们楼上那位朋友也很重要--可怜的好老头。一个生命有价值的人应该把妻子当成护士来考虑；我要是结婚,就会这样做。我相信我单身了这么久,不至于在这方面犯错。有些人结婚是为了提升自个儿的地位；可要是我也需要那种提升,希望有人告诉我一声--希望有人提醒我。祝您早上好,沃尔太太。早上好,所罗门先生。我希望下次见面时,气氛不那么阴郁。”

🔊

sensible /ˈsensəbl/

adj. 明智的；合情理的➕

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emphatic /ɪmˈfætɪk/

adj. 强调的；显著的➕

🔊

adjustment /əˈdʒʌstmənt/

n. 调整；调节➕

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waistcoat /ˈweɪskəʊt/

n. 马甲；背心➕

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drops /drɒps/

n. 滴剂；滴（复数）➕

🔊

up-stairs /ˈʌpˈsteəz/

adv. 在楼上；向楼上➕

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soul /səʊl/

n. 灵魂；人（口语）➕

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elevate /ˈelɪveɪt/

v. 提升；抬高➕

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individual /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl/

n. 个人；个体➕

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apprise /əˈpraɪz/

v. 通知；告知➕

🔊

melancholy /ˈmelənkəli/

adj. 忧郁的；悲伤的➕

🔊

auspices /ˈɔːspɪsɪz/

n. 赞助；支持；征兆（复数）➕

🔊 When Mr. Trumbull had departed with a fine bow, Solomon, leaning forward, observed to his sister, "You may depend, Jane, my brother has left that girl a lumping sum."

特朗布尔先生优雅地鞠躬走后,所罗门前倾身子对姐姐说:“等着瞧吧,简,我弟弟给那姑娘留了一大笔钱。”

🔊

departed /dɪˈpɑːtɪd/

v. 离开（depart的过去式）➕

🔊

lumping /ˈlʌmpɪŋ/

adj. 大量的；总括的➕

🔊 "Anybody would think so, from the way Mr. Trumbull talks," said Jane. Then, after a pause, "He talks as if my daughters wasn't to be trusted to give drops."

“从特朗布尔先生说话的口气,谁都会这么想。”简说。停顿片刻,她又说:“听他这口气,好像我的女儿们连滴剂都不配调似的。”

🔊 "Auctioneers talk wild," said Solomon. "Not but what Trumbull has made money."

“拍卖商说话没边儿。”所罗门说。“不过这并不代表特朗布尔没赚钱。”

🔊

Auctioneers /ˌɔːkʃəˈnɪəz/

n. 拍卖商（复数）➕

Chapter ten (第十章)

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