評論
打印
"Upon my word, " said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right. My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than what you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you have described. When my mother removes into another house my services shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can. Some little present of furniture too may be acceptable then. "
“喲！”達什伍德先生說，“你說得真是一點不假。我父親對我的要求，除了你說的之外，肯定沒有別的意思。我現在搞清楚了，我要嚴格履行我的諾言，照你說的，為她們幫點忙，做點好事。等我母親搬家的時候，我一定盡力幫她安頓好，還可以送她點小件家什。”
"Certainly, " returned Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, ONE thing must be considered. When your father and mother moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved, and is now left to your mother. Her house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it. "
“當然，”約翰．達什伍德夫人說，“但是，有一點你還得考慮。你父母親搬進諾蘭莊園時，斯坦希爾那里的家具雖說都賣了，可那些瓷器、金銀器皿和亞麻臺布都還保存著，統統留給了你母親。因此，她一搬家，屋里準擺得闊闊氣氣的。”
"That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here. "
“你考慮得真周到。那可是些傳家寶啊!有些金銀器皿送給我們可就美啦。”
"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what belongs to this house. A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for any place THEY can ever afford to live in. But, however, so it is. Your father thought only of THEM. And I must say this: that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything in the world to THEM. "
“就是嘛。那套瓷器餐具也比我們家的漂亮多了。我看太漂亮了，她們的房里根本不用配擺設。不過，事情就這么不公平。你父親光想著她們。我實對你說吧：你并不欠你父親的情，不用理睬他的遺愿，因為我們心里有數，他若是辦得到的話，準會把所有財產都留給她們的。”
This argument was irresistible. It gave to his intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife pointed out.
這個論點是無可爭辯的。如果達什伍德先生先前還有點下不了決心的話，這下子可就鐵了心啦。他最后決定，對他父親的遺孀和女兒，按他妻子說的，像鄰居式地幫幫忙也就足夠了；越此雷池一步，不說有失體統，也是絕對多余的。
