評論
打印
His endeavouring to hoist himself on to a very high window-seat, and his slipping down again, appeared to prepare Toots's mind for the reception of a discovery.
保羅設法攀登到一個很高的靠窗子的座位上，但卻又從上面滑了下來；這件事情似乎使圖茨的心智開了竅，使他能夠發現一件事情。
'You're a very small chap;' said Mr Toots.
“您是個很小的家伙，”圖茨先生說道。
'Yes, Sir, I'm small,' returned Paul. 'Thank you, Sir.'
“是的，先生，我很小，”保羅回答道。“謝謝您，先生。”
For Toots had lifted him into the seat, and done it kindly too.
因為圖茨已把他舉到座位上，而且態度很親切地做了這件事。
'Who's your tailor?' inquired Toots, after looking at him for some moments.
“您的衣服是誰做的？”圖茨向他看了一會兒之后，問道。
'It's a woman that has made my clothes as yet,' said Paul. 'My sister's dressmaker.'
“我的衣服一直是一位女人做的，”保羅說道。“她給我姐姐做衣服。”
'My tailor's Burgess and Co.,' said Toots. 'Fash'nable. But very dear.'
“我的衣服是伯吉斯公司做的，”圖茨說道。“很時髦。但是很貴。”
Paul had wit enough to shake his head, as if he would have said it was easy to see that; and indeed he thought so.
保羅聰明地點點頭，仿佛想說，·這·點很容易看得出來；他確實也是這樣想的。
'Your father's regularly rich, ain't he?' inquired Mr Toots.
“您的父親很有錢，是嗎？”圖茨先生問道。
'Yes, Sir,' said Paul. 'He's Dombey and Son.'
“是的，先生，”保羅說道，“他就是——董貝父子公司。”
'And which?' demanded Toots.
“董貝什么？”圖茨問道。
'And Son, Sir,' replied Paul.
“父子，先生，”保羅回答道。
Mr Toots made one or two attempts, in a low voice, to fix the Firm in his mind; but not quite succeeding, said he would get Paul to mention the name again to-morrow morning, as it was rather important. And indeed he purposed nothing less than writing himself a private and confidential letter from Dombey and Son immediately.
圖茨先生低聲地試了一兩次，想把公司的名字記在心頭，但不很成功，就說，他想請保羅第二天早上把這名字再說一次，因為這是相當重要的。其實他無非是想立刻起草一封董貝父子公司寫給他本人親啟的機密信件罷了。
By this time the other pupils (always excepting the stony boy) gathered round. They were polite, but pale; and spoke low; and they were so depressed in their spirits, that in comparison with the general tone of that company, Master Bitherstone was a perfect Miller, or complete Jest Book.' And yet he had a sense of injury upon him, too, had Bitherstone.
這時候其他的學生（那位石頭般的孩子總是例外）都聚集在一起。他們都彬彬有禮，但臉色蒼白，低聲說話；他們精神都很抑郁，跟這群人的心緒比起來，比瑟斯通少爺可以稱得上是一位真正的米勒①或者是一本《笑話大全》了。然而比瑟斯通少爺也有一種受屈感。
--------
①指18世紀英國（滑稽）演員喬（約瑟夫）·米勒（Joe（Joseph）DMiller）（公元1684—1738年）；在他死后，由約翰·莫特利（JohnMottley）編了一本《喬·米勒趣話集》（JoeMiller’sJests）出版。
