評論
打印
She was a little ashamed of her courage and business capacity, but delighted that she was going to dine the next night with a K.C. who lived in South Kensington. She was pleased to be able to tell you that her son was at Cambridge, and it was with a little laugh that she spoke of the rush of dances to which her daughter, just out, was invited. I suppose I said a very stupid thing.
對自已經(jīng)營打字行業(yè)的膽略和見識她不好意思多談，但是一說起第二天晚上要在一位家住南肯星頓的皇家法律顧問那里吃晚飯，卻總是眉飛色舞。她很愿意告訴你她兒子在劍橋大學(xué)讀書的事；講起她女兒剛剛步入社交界，一參加舞會就應(yīng)接不暇時，她總是得意地笑了起來。我覺得我在和她聊天的時候問了一句蠢話。
Is she going into your business? I asked.
“她要不要到你開的這個打字所里做點兒事？”
Oh no; I wouldn't let her do that, Mrs. Strickland answered. "She's so pretty. I'm sure she'll marry well."
“啊，不，我不讓她做這個，”思特里克蘭德太太回答，“她長得很漂亮，我認(rèn)為她一定能結(jié)一門好親事。”
I should have thought it would be a help to you.
“那對你將會有很大的幫助，我早該想到的。”
Several people have suggested that she should go on the stage, but of course I couldn't consent to that, I know all the chief dramatists, and I could get her a part to-morrow, but I shouldn't like her to mix with all sorts of people.
“有人建議叫她上舞臺，但是我當(dāng)然不會同意。所有有名的戲劇家我都認(rèn)識，只要我肯張嘴，馬上就能給她在戲里派個角色，但是我不愿意她同雜七雜八的人混在一起。”
I was a little chilled by Mrs. Strickland's exclusiveness.
思特里克蘭德太太這種孤芳自賞的態(tài)度叫我心里有點兒發(fā)涼。
Do you ever hear of your husband?
“你聽到過你丈夫的什么消息嗎？”
No; I haven't heard a word. He may be dead for all I know.
“沒有，什么也沒有聽到過。說不定他已經(jīng)死了。”
I may run across him in Paris. Would you like me to let you know about him?
“我在巴黎可能遇見他。如果我知道他什么消息，你要不要我告訴你。”
She hesitated a minute.
她猶豫了一會兒。
If he's in any real want I'm prepared to help him a little. I'd send you a certain sum of money, and you could give it him gradually, as he needed it. That's very good of you, I said.
“如果他的生活真的貧困不堪，我還是準(zhǔn)備幫助幫助他。我會給你寄一筆錢去，在他需要的時候，你可以一點一點地給他。”你真善良，我說道。
But I knew it was not kindness that prompted the offer. It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive.
但是我知道她答應(yīng)做這件事并不是出于仁慈的心腸。有人說災(zāi)難不幸可以使人性高貴，這句話并不對；叫人做出高尚行動的有時候反而是幸福得意，災(zāi)難不幸在大多數(shù)情況下只能使人們變得心胸狹小、報復(fù)心更強(qiáng)。
