評論
打印
The Charcoal-man and the Gentleman.
賣炭者與紳士
Monday, 7th.
星期一，7日。
Garrone would certainly never have uttered the words which Carlo Nobis spoke yesterday morning to Betti. Carlo Nobis is proud, because his father is a great gentleman; a tall gentleman, with a black beard, and very serious, who accompanies his son to school nearly every day. Yesterday morning Nobis quarrelled with Betti, one of the smallest boys, and the son of a charcoal-man, and not knowing what retort to make, because he was in the wrong, said to him vehemently, "Your father is a tattered beggar!" Betti reddened up to his very hair, and said nothing, but the tears came to his eyes; and when he returned home, he repeated the words to his father; so the charcoal-dealer, a little man, who was black all over, made his appearance at the afternoon session, leading his boy by the hand, in order to complain to the master. While he was making his complaint, and every one was silent, the father of Nobis, who was taking off his son's coat at the entrance, as usual, entered on hearing his name pronounced, and demanded an explanation.
昨天卡羅·諾琵斯向培諦說的那樣的話，如果是卡隆，決不會說的。卡羅·諾琵斯因為他父親是上等人，很是高傲。他的父親是個長身有黑須的沉靜的紳士，差不多每天早晨都要伴著帶琵斯到學校里來。昨天，諾琵斯和培諦相罵了。培諦年紀頂小，是個賣炭者的兒子。諾琵斯因為自己的理錯了，無話可辯，就說：“你父親是個叫化子！”培諦氣得連發根都紅了，不做聲，只籟簌地流著眼淚。好像后來他回去向父親哭訴了。午后上課時，他那賣炭的父親——全身墨黑的矮小的男子就攜著他兒子的手到學校里來，把這事告訴了先生。我們大家都默不做聲。諾琵斯的父親照例正在門口替他兒子脫外套，聽見有人說起他的名字，就問先生說：“什么事？”
"This workman has come," said the master, "to complain that your son Carlo said to his boy, 'Your father is a tattered beggar.'"
“你們的卡羅對這位的兒子說：‘你父親是個叫化子！’這位正在這里告訴這事呢。”先生回答說。
Nobis's father frowned and reddened slightly. Then he asked his son, "Did you say that?"
諾琵斯的父親臉紅了起來，問自己的兒子：“你曾這樣說的嗎？”
His son, who was standing in the middle of the school, with his head hanging, in front of little Betti, made no reply.
諾琵斯俯了首立在教室中央，什么都不回答。
Then his father grasped him by one arm and pushed him forward, facing Betti, so that they nearly touched, and said to him, "Beg his pardon."
他父親捉了他的手臂，拉他到培諦身旁，說：“快道歉！”
