双语小说连载:《董贝父子》第六章 Part 3

In spite of the double disappointment, it was impossible to regard in the light of a failure a visit which was greeted with such a reception; so the sisters talked hopefully about family matters, and about Biler, and about all his brothers and sisters: while the black-eyed, having performed several journeys to Banbury Cross and back, took sharp note of the furniture, the Dutch clock, the cupboard, the castle on the mantel-piece with red and green windows in it, susceptible of illumination by a candle-end within; and the pair of small black velvet kittens, each with a lady's reticule in its mouth; regarded by the Staggs's Gardeners as prodigies of imitative art. The conversation soon becoming general lest the black-eyed should go off at score and turn sarcastic, that young lady related to Jemima a summary of everything she knew concerning Mr. Dombey, his prospects, family, pursuits, and character. Also an exact inventory of her personal wardrobe, and some account of her principal relations and friends. Having relieved her mind of these disclosures, she partook of shrimps and porter, and evinced a disposition to swear eternal friendship.

虽然感到双重的失望，但却不可能把受到这样热烈欢迎的一次访问看作是一次失败；所以两姐妹就满怀希望地谈起家常事务，谈到拜勒，谈到他的弟弟和妹妹们；在这段时间中，黑眼睛在到班伯里十字架去的旅行已来回了好几趟以后，就细细地观察室内的家具、荷兰钟、碗柜、壁炉台上的城堡，城堡里有红色的和绿色的窗子，里面点一根烛头就可以把它们照亮；还有一对黑色的丝绒制的小猫，每只嘴里都衔着一只贵妇人用的网状手提包，斯塔格斯花园里的人们都认为这是仿制艺术的珍品。不久，唯恐黑眼睛会突然情不自禁地说出挖苦的话来，谈话就转到大家都能参加的一般内容，于是那位年轻的姑娘就把她所知道的有关董贝先生的一切，如他的前途，他的家庭，他的事业和他的性格，都向杰迈玛简略地叙述了一番。她也详详细细、一件不漏地列举了她个人全部服装的清单，还稍稍谈到她的主要的亲戚和朋友。把这些话开诚布公地说出，不再积压在心头以后，她吃起河虾，喝起黑啤酒来，这时心情愉快，随时准备为永恒的友谊而发愿起誓。

Little Florence herself was not behind-hand in improving the occasion; for, being conducted forth by the young Toodles to inspect some toad-stools and other curiosities of the Gardens, she entered with them, heart and soul, on the formation of a temporary breakwater across a small green pool that had collected in a corner. She was still busily engaged in that labor, when sought and found by Susan; who, such was her sense of duty, even under the humanizing influence of shrimps, delivered a moral address to her (punctuated with thumps) on her degenerate nature, while washing her face and hands; and predicted that she would bring the grey hairs of her family in general, with sorrow to the grave. After some delay, occasioned by a pretty long confidential interview above stairs on pecuniary subjects, between Polly and Jemima, an interchange of babies was again effected - for Polly had all this timeretained her own child, and Jemima little Paul - and the visitors took leave.

小弗洛伦斯在利用这个机会方面也不落后。因为当小图德尔们陪伴她去看毒菌和花园里的其他新奇事物时，她和他们一起专心一意地在一个角落里由积水形成的一个绿色的小池塘中，着手修建一个临时防波堤。当她仍在忙忙碌碌地从事这项劳动时，苏珊把她寻找到了。虽然在河虾的影响下，苏珊已变得通达人情，可是她仍怀有强烈的责任感，所以她一边给弗洛伦斯洗脸洗手，一边针对她这种变坏了的品性，向她发表了一篇训诫性的谈话；她一边说，一边用拳头打她，作为标点符号，并预言她将使她全家的老人都伤心而死。波利与杰迈玛在楼上相当长久地谈了一些有关金钱方面的私房话，稍稍耽搁了一些时间；在这之后，她们就重新交换了婴孩——因为波利一直抱着她亲生的孩子，杰迈玛则抱着小保罗——，来访的人于是也告辞了。

    But first the young Toodles, victims of a pious fraud, were deluded into repairing in a body to a chandler's shop in the neighbourhood, for the ostensible purpose of spending a penny; and when the coast was quite clear, Polly fled: Jemima calling after her that if they could only go round towards the City Road on their way back, they would be sure to meet little Biler coming from school.

但是首先是把年轻的图德尔们（他们是一个意向善良的骗局的牺牲品）哄骗到一个邻近的零售店里去，表面上的理由是让他们把一个便士在那里花掉。障碍一经排除，波利就拔脚逃走了；杰迈玛在她的后面大声叫喊说，她们回去时只要稍稍绕点路，沿着去城里的路走，那就一定会遇上放学回来的小拜勒的。

'Do you think that we might make time to go a little round in that direction, Susan?' inquired Polly, when they halted to take breath.
“你看，我们是不是可以腾出时间朝那个方向稍稍绕一点路呢，苏珊？”当她们停下来，缓一口气的时候，波利问道。

'Why not, Mrs. Richards?' returned Susan.
“为什么不可以，理查兹大嫂？”苏珊回答道。

'It's getting on towards our dinner time you know,' said Polly.
“您知道，现在走下去就快到我们吃晚饭的时间了，”波利说道。”

But lunch had rendered her companion more than indifferent to this grave consideration, so she allowed no weight to it, and they resolved to go 'a little round.'
但是吃过的午饭使她的女伴对这个郑重的考虑毫不在意，所以她没有把它当成什么了不得的大事，于是她们也就决定去“稍稍绕点路”。

注释：
1. render vt. 致使；提出；实施；着色；以…回报
vi. 给予补偿
n. 打底；交纳；粉刷
词组：
account rendered [经]结欠清单
render services 提供服务
render an account 报帐；开送账单
例句：
(1). I must render down this fat; we are short of lard.
我得把这块肥肉熬成油，我们正缺猪油。
(2). If you'll deliver this parcel, you will render me a great service.
如果你把这包东西送去，那就帮我的大忙了。

2. be indifferent to 不在乎……；对……漠不关心
例句：
(1). I was so excited to see snow that I was indifferent to the cold.
我看到雪激动得连寒冷都不在乎了。
(2). Many one or little one is indifferent to me.
多一个或少一个对我是无关紧要的。