評論
打印
"Did she know of any place in the neighbourhood where a servant was wanted?"
“你知道附近有誰需要傭人嗎？”
"Nay; she couldn't say."
“不，我說不上來。”
"What was the chief trade in this place? What did most of the people do?"
“這個地方的主要行業是什么？大多數人是干什么活兒的？”
"Some were farm labourers; a good deal worked at Mr. Oliver's needle-factory, and at the foundry."
“有些是農場工，很多人在奧利弗先生的縫紉廠和翻砂廠工作。”
"Did Mr. Oliver employ women?"
“奧利弗先生雇用女人嗎？”
"Nay; it was men's work."
“不，那是男人的工作。”
"And what do the women do?"
“那么女人干什么呢？”
"I knawn't," was the answer. "Some does one thing, and some another. Poor folk mun get on as they can."
“我說不上來，”對方回答，“有的干這，有的干那，窮人總得想方設法把日子過下去呀。”
She seemed to be tired of my questions: and, indeed, what claim had I to importune her?
她似乎對我的回話不耐煩了，其實我又何必強人所難呢？
A neighbour or two came in; my chair was evidently wanted. I took leave.
這時進來了一兩位鄰居，很明顯看中了我的椅子，我起身告辭了。
I passed up the street, looking as I went at all the houses to the right hand and to the left;
我沿街走去，一面走一面左顧右盼，打量著所有的房子，
but I could discover no pretext, nor see an inducement to enter any.
但找不到進門的借口或動機。
I rambled round the hamlet, going sometimes to a little distance and returning again, for an hour or more.
我這么漫無目的地繞著村莊走了一個來小時，有時走遠了一些，又折回來。
Much exhausted, and suffering greatly now for want of food, I turned aside into a lane and sat down under the hedge.
因為沒有東西下肚，我筋疲力盡難受極了，于是折進一條小巷，在樹籬下坐了下來。
Ere many minutes had elapsed, I was again on my feet,
可是沒過幾分鐘我又站起來，
however, and again searching something -- a resource, or at least an informant.
再去找些什么--食物，或者至少打聽到一點消息。
A pretty little house stood at the top of the lane, with a garden before it, exquisitely neat and brilliantly blooming.
小巷的高處有一間漂亮的小房子，房子前有一個精致整潔、繁花盛開的花園。
