評論
打印
They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her appearance was favourable to their wishes. Lady Middleton was not more than six or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking, and her address graceful. Her manners had all the elegance which her husband's wanted. But they would have been improved by some share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long enough to detract something from their first admiration, by shewing that, though perfectly well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.
當然，她們很想見見她，因為她們以后能否在巴頓過上舒適日子，在很大程度上有賴于她，她的光臨正合她們的心愿。米德爾頓夫人不過二十六七歲，臉蛋俊俏，身材苗條，儀態嫵媚動人。她丈夫缺少的優雅舉止，她倒一應俱全。不過，她若是多少具備幾分她丈夫的坦率和熱情，舉止還會顯得更加優雅。但她呆的時間一長，達什伍德母女就不像開頭那樣對她贊羨不已了。因為她雖然受過良好的教養，但卻不茍言笑，冷冷淡淡，除了極其簡單地寒響幾句之外，別無他話可說。
Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which means there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, while he hung about her and held down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he could make noise enough at home. On every formal visit a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision for discourse. In the present case it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his father or mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of course every body differed, and every body was astonished at the opinion of the others.
不管怎樣，話兒還是沒有少說，因為約翰爵士喜好閑聊，而且米德爾頓夫人也有先見之明，帶來了她的大孩于。他是個六歲上下的小男孩，這就是說，一旦談話陷入僵局，他可以成為太太小姐們反復提及的話題。因為大伙兒少不得總要問問他叫什么名字，今年幾歲啦，稱贊稱贊他的美貌，然后再提些別的問題，不過統統都得由母親代為回答。出乎米德爾頓夫人意料之外，這孩子緊緊偎依在她身旁，一直低著頭。她不由的納悶：他在家里還大吵大鬧的，到了客人面前怎么這樣羞羞答答。每逢正式探親訪友，為了提供談話的資料，人們該帶上孩子一同前往。現在，大伙兒足足用了十分鐘，談論這孩子究竟像父親還是像母親，以及具體地在哪些地方像哪個人。當然，大家的看法很不一致，各人都對別人的看法表示驚訝。
An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without securing their promise of dining at the park the next day.
過不多久，達什伍德母女就會有機會對客人的另外幾個孩子展開一場爭論，因為約翰爵士得不到她們同意第二天去巴頓莊園用餐的許諾，說什么也不肯離去。
