評論
打印
Did she send you here, Bessie?
是她派你到這里來的嗎，貝茜？
No, indeed, but I have long wanted to see you,
說真的，不是。我倒早就想見你了。
and when I heard that there had been a letter from you, and that you were going to another part of the country,
我聽說你寫了信來，說是要去遠地方，
I thought I'd just set off, and get a look at you before you were quite out of my reach.
我想我還是乘你還沒有遠走高飛的時候，動身來見你一面?！?/div>
"I am afraid you are disappointed in me, Bessie." I said this laughing.
“恐怕你對我失望了吧，貝茜?！闭f完我笑了起來。
I perceived that Bessie's glance, though it expressed regard, did in no shape denote admiration.
我發覺貝茜的目光雖然流露出關切，卻絲毫沒有贊賞之意。
No, Miss Jane, not exactly.
不，簡小姐，不完全這樣。
You are genteel enough. You look like a lady.
你夠文雅的了，你看上去像個貴婦人。
And it is as much as ever I expected of you: you were no beauty as a child.
當然你還是我所預料的那樣，還是孩子的時候你就長得不漂亮。
I smiled at Bessie's frank answer.
我對貝茵坦率的回答報之以微笑。
I felt that it was correct, but I confess I was not quite indifferent to its import.
我想她說得對，不過我承認，我對這話的含義并沒有無動于衷。
At eighteen most people wish to please,
在十八歲的年紀上，大多數人都希望能討人喜歡，
and the conviction that they have not an exterior likely to second that desire brings anything but gratification.
而她們相信，自己并不具備有助于實現這種愿望的外表時，心里是絕不會高興的。
"I dare say you are clever, though," continued Bessie, by way of solace.
“不過我想你很聰明，”貝茜繼續說，以表示安慰。
What can you do? Can you play on the piano?
你會什么？能彈鋼琴嗎？
A little.
會一點兒。
There was one in the room.
房內有一架鋼琴。
Bessie went and opened it, and then asked me to sit down and give her a tune.
貝茜走過去把它打開，隨后要我坐下來給她彈個曲子。
I played a waltz or two, and she was charmed.
我彈了一兩曲華爾茲，她聽得著了迷。
"The Miss Reeds could not play as well!" said she exultingly.
“兩位里德小姐彈不了這么好！”她欣喜地說。
I always said you would surpass them in learning, and can you draw?
我總是說你在學問上一定會超過她們的，你能畫嗎？
That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece.
壁爐架上的那幅畫就是我畫的。
It was a landscape in water colours, of which I had made a present to the superintendent,
這是一幅水彩風景畫，我把它作為禮物送給了校長，
in acknowledgment of her obliging mediation with the committee on my behalf, and which she had framed and glazed.
以感謝她代表我在委員會中所作的善意斡旋。她把這幅畫加了框，還上了光。
Well, that is beautiful, Miss Jane! It is as fine a picture as any Miss Reed's drawing-master could paint,
嗬，好漂亮，簡小姐！它同里德小姐的繪畫老師作的畫一樣好，
let alone the young ladies themselves, who could not come near it, and have you learnt French?
更不要說年輕小姐她們自己了，她們同你天差地遠。你學法語了嗎？
Yes, Bessie, I can both read it and speak it.
學了，貝茵，我能讀還能講。
And you can work on muslin and canvas?
你會做細布和粗布上的刺繡活嗎？
I can.
我會。
