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A soft sound of rising now became audible.
這時響起了輕輕的起立聲。
The curtain was swept back from the arch, through it appeared the dining-room,
帳幔被撩到了拱門背后，露出了餐室，
with its lit lustre pouring down light on the silver and glass of a magnificent dessert-service covering a long table.
只見長長的桌上擺滿了盛甜點心的豪華餐具，燭光傾瀉在銀制的和玻璃的器皿上。
A band of ladies stood in the opening.
一群女士站在門口。
They entered, and the curtain fell behind them. There were but eight.
隨后她們走了進來，門簾在身后落下。她們不過八位。
Yet, somehow, as they flocked in, they gave the impression of a much larger number.
可不知怎地，成群結隊進來的時候，給人的印象遠不止這個數目。
Some of them were very tall. Many were dressed in white;
有些個子很高。有些一身著白。
And all had a sweeping amplitude of array that seemed to magnify their persons as a mist magnifies the moon.
她們的服裝都往外伸展得很闊，仿佛霧氣放大了月亮一樣，這些服裝也把她們的人放大了。
I rose and curtseyed to them.
我站起來向她們行了屈膝禮。
One or two bent their heads in return, the others only stared at me.
有一兩位點頭回禮，而其余的不過盯著我看而已。
They dispersed about the room, reminding me, by the lightness and buoyancy of their movements, of a flock of white plumy birds.
她們在房間里散開，動作輕盈飄拂，令我想起了一群白色羽毛的鳥。
Some of them threw themselves in half-reclining positions on the sofas and ottomans.
有些人一下子坐下來，斜倚在沙發和臥榻上。
Some bent over the tables and examined the flowers and books.
有的俯身向著桌子，細細揣摩起花和書來。
The rest gathered in a group round the fire.
其余的人則團團圍著火爐。
All talked in a low but clear tone which seemed habitual to them.
大家都用低沉而清晰的調子交談著，似乎這已成了她們的習慣。
I knew their names afterwards, and may as well mention them now.
后來我知道了她們的大名，現在不妨來提一下。
First, there was Mrs. Eshton and two of her daughters.
首先是埃希頓太太和她的兩個女兒。
She had evidently been a handsome woman, and was well preserved still.
她顯然曾是位漂亮的女人，而且保養得很好。
Of her daughters, the eldest, Amy, was rather little, naive, and child-like in face and manner, and piquant in form.
她的大女兒艾米個頭比較小，有些天真，臉部和舉止都透出了孩子氣，外表也顯得很調皮。
her white muslin dress and blue sash became her well.
她那白色的薄紗禮服和藍色的腰帶很合身。
