🔊 With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten to the pump-room the next day, secure within herself of seeing Mr. Tilney there before the morning was over, and ready to meet him with a smile; but no smile was demanded-Mr. Tilney did not appear. Every creature in Bath, except himself, was to be seen in the room at different periods of the fashionable hours; crowds of people were every moment passing in and out, up the steps and down; people whom nobody cared about, and nobody wanted to see; and he only was absent.

凯瑟琳翌日赶往泵房厅的急切之情,比往日更甚；她满心以为不等上午过去,定能在那里见到蒂尔尼先生,并准备好以微笑相迎。然而,这微笑全然无处施展--蒂尔尼先生并未现身。在巴斯这段时髦的时辰里,泵房厅内不同时分几乎能见到除他之外的每一个人；人群时刻川流不息,上上下下；尽是些无人理会、也无人愿见的面孔。唯独他,缺席了。

🔊

eagerness /ˈiːɡərnəs/

n. 渴望,热切➕

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hasten /ˈheɪsən/

v. 急忙,加速➕

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pump-room /ˈpʌmp ruːm/

n. 泵房,这里指巴斯的一个社交场所➕

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fashionable /ˈfæʃənəbəl/

adj. 时尚的,流行的➕

🔊 "What a delightful place Bath is," said Mrs. Allen as they sat down near the great clock, after parading the room till they were tired; "and how pleasant it would be if we had any acquaintance here."

“巴斯真是个怡人的地方,”艾伦太太在房间里漫步,直至疲惫,才在大钟旁坐下说道,“若是我们在这儿有些熟人,那该多好。”

🔊

delightful /dɪˈlaɪtfəl/

adj. 令人愉快的,可爱的➕

🔊

parading /pəˈreɪdɪŋ/

v. 游行,炫耀➕

🔊

acquaintance /əˈkweɪntəns/

n. 相识,熟人➕

🔊 This sentiment had been uttered so often in vain that Mrs. Allen had no particular reason to hope it would be followed with more advantage now; but we are told to "despair of nothing we would attain," as "unwearied diligence our point would gain"; and the unwearied diligence with which she had every day wished for the same thing was at length to have its just reward, for hardly had she been seated ten minutes before a lady of about her own age, who was sitting by her, and had been looking at her attentively for several minutes, addressed her with great complaisance in these words: "I think, madam, I cannot be mistaken; it is a long time since I had the pleasure of seeing you, but is not your name Allen?" This question answered, as it readily was, the stranger pronounced hers to be Thorpe; and Mrs. Allen immediately recognized the features of a former schoolfellow and intimate, whom she had seen only once since their respective marriages, and that many years ago. Their joy on this meeting was very great, as well it might, since they had been contented to know nothing of each other for the last fifteen years. Compliments on good looks now passed; and, after observing how time had slipped away since they were last together, how little they had thought of meeting in Bath, and what a pleasure it was to see an old friend, they proceeded to make inquiries and give intelligence as to their families, sisters, and cousins, talking both together, far more ready to give than to receive information, and each hearing very little of what the other said. Mrs. Thorpe, however, had one great advantage as a talker, over Mrs. Allen, in a family of children; and when she expatiated on the talents of her sons, and the beauty of her daughters, when she related their different situations and views-that John was at Oxford, Edward at Merchant Taylors’, and William at sea-and all of them more beloved and respected in their different station than any other three beings ever were, Mrs. Allen had no similar information to give, no similar triumphs to press on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend, and was forced to sit and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions, consoling herself, however, with the discovery, which her keen eye soon made, that the lace on Mrs. Thorpe’s pelisse was not half so handsome as that on her own.

这番感慨艾伦太太早已徒然抒发过多次,此刻也无特别理由期望它能带来更多益处；但古训有云,“心之所欲,勿轻言弃”,因为“孜孜不倦,终有所成”。她日日怀着同样愿望,这番不倦的殷切,终究获得了应有的回报:因为她落座未满十分钟,邻座一位与她年纪相仿的女士--这女士已专注打量了她好几分钟--便以极为殷勤的口吻对她说道:“夫人,我想我不会认错；自上次有幸见到您已过去很久,但您不是姓艾伦吗？”这个问题立刻得到了肯定的回答,陌生人随即道出自己姓索普；艾伦太太立即认出这是她昔日的同窗挚友,自各自婚后仅见过一面,且已是多年以前。此番重逢,两人自是欢喜非常,这也难怪,毕竟过去十五年间,她们都满足于对彼此音讯全无。彼此恭维了一番容貌之后,她们感叹自上次相聚以来时光飞逝,未料竟会在巴斯相遇,见到老友是何等乐事；接着便互相打听并告知各自家庭、姐妹、表亲的近况。两人同时开口,都更急于倾诉而非倾听,对方所言谁也未曾真个听进多少。不过,索普太太作为谈话者,却占着一大优势--她膝下儿女成群；当她滔滔不绝地细数儿子们的才华、女儿们的貌美,当她讲述他们各自的前程--约翰在牛津,爱德华在麦钱特泰勒斯学校,威廉在海上--并声称他们在各自领域所受的爱戴与尊敬,简直无人能及之时,艾伦太太却无类似的家门荣耀可供炫耀,也无法将这般“胜利”强加于朋友那无意倾听、更未必相信的耳朵,只得端坐一旁,佯装在聆听这些母爱洋溢的絮叨,好在她目光敏锐,很快便发现索普太太短外套上的花边,远不及她自己那件的一半漂亮,这才聊以自慰。

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sentiment /ˈsentɪmənt/

n. 情绪,观点➕

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uttered /ˈʌtərd/

v. 说出,发声➕

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vain /veɪn/

adj. 徒劳的,虚荣的➕

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advantage /ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/

n. 优势,好处➕

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despair /dɪˈspeər/

v. 绝望➕

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attain /əˈteɪn/

v. 达到,获得➕

🔊

unwearied /ʌnˈwɪərid/

adj. 不疲倦的,不懈的➕

🔊

diligence /ˈdɪlɪdʒəns/

n. 勤奋,勤勉➕

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complaisance /kəmˈpleɪzəns/

n. 殷勤,彬彬有礼➕

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recognized /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/

v. 认出,承认➕

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features /ˈfiːtʃərz/

n. 特征,面貌➕

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schoolfellow /ˈskuːlfeləʊ/

n. 同学➕

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intimate /ˈɪntɪmət/

n. 密友,知己➕

🔊

respective /rɪˈspektɪv/

adj. 各自的,分别的➕

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contented /kənˈtentɪd/

adj. 满足的,满意的➕

🔊

compliments /ˈkɒmplɪmənts/

n. 恭维,赞美➕

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inquiries /ɪnˈkwaɪəriz/

n. 询问,调查➕

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intelligence /ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/

n. 情报,智力➕

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expatiated /ɪkˈspeɪʃieɪtɪd/

v. 详述,阐述➕

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talents /ˈtælənts/

n. 才能,天赋➕

🔊

situations /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃənz/

n. 情况,处境➕

🔊

triumphs /ˈtraɪʌmfz/

n. 胜利,成功➕

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maternal /məˈtɜːrnəl/

adj. 母亲的,母性的➕

🔊

effusions /ɪˈfjuːʒənz/

n. 流露,倾泻➕

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consoling /kənˈsoʊlɪŋ/

v. 安慰,慰藉➕

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keen /kiːn/

adj. 敏锐的,热切的➕

🔊

pelisse /pəˈliːs/

n. 女式长外套➕

🔊

handsome /ˈhænsəm/

adj. 英俊的,漂亮的➕

🔊 "Here come my dear girls," cried Mrs. Thorpe, pointing at three smart-looking females who, arm in arm, were then moving towards her. "My dear Mrs. Allen, I long to introduce them; they will be so delighted to see you: the tallest is Isabella, my eldest; is not she a fine young woman? The others are very much admired too, but I believe Isabella is the handsomest."

“我亲爱的女儿们来了,”索普太太喊道,指着三位打扮入时、正手挽手朝她走来的年轻女子。“亲爱的艾伦太太,我急着给您引见；她们见到您不知该有多高兴呢:个子最高的是伊莎贝拉,我的长女；她难道不是个出色的姑娘吗？另外两位也很受人赞赏,不过我相信伊莎贝拉是最标致的。”

🔊

smart-looking /ˈsmɑːrt ˈlʊkɪŋ/

adj. 看起来时髦的,漂亮的➕

🔊

females /ˈfiːmeɪlz/

n. 女性,雌性➕

🔊

admired /ədˈmaɪərd/

v. 钦佩,欣赏➕

🔊 The Miss Thorpes were introduced; and Miss Morland, who had been for a short time forgotten, was introduced likewise. The name seemed to strike them all; and, after speaking to her with great civility, the eldest young lady observed aloud to the rest, "How excessively like her brother Miss Morland is!"

索普家的几位小姐被引见了；被短暂遗忘的莫兰小姐也一并被引见。这姓氏似乎让她们都吃了一惊；礼貌地交谈几句之后,那位最年长的小姐大声对妹妹们说道:“莫兰小姐和她哥哥真是像得出奇！”

🔊

civility /sɪˈvɪləti/

n. 礼貌,客气➕

🔊

excessively /ɪkˈsesɪvli/

adv. 过度地,过分地➕

🔊 "The very picture of him indeed!" cried the mother-and "I should have known her anywhere for his sister!" was repeated by them all, two or three times over. For a moment Catherine was surprised; but Mrs. Thorpe and her daughters had scarcely begun the history of their acquaintance with Mr. James Morland, before she remembered that her eldest brother had lately formed an intimacy with a young man of his own college, of the name of Thorpe; and that he had spent the last week of the Christmas vacation with his family, near London.

“简直就是他的翻版！”母亲喊道--“我无论在哪儿都能认出她是他的妹妹！”这话被她们反复说了两三遍。凯瑟琳一时有些愕然；但没等索普太太和她的女儿们开始细说她们如何认识詹姆斯·莫兰先生,她便想起自己的大哥最近与同学院一位姓索普的年轻人过从甚密；而且他在圣诞节假期的最后一周,正是在伦敦附近的索普家里度过的。

🔊

scarcely /ˈskeəsli/

adv. 几乎不,刚刚➕

🔊

intimacy /ˈɪntɪməsi/

n. 亲密关系,亲近➕

🔊 The whole being explained, many obliging things were said by the Miss Thorpes of their wish of being better acquainted with her; of being considered as already friends, through the friendship of their brothers, etc., which Catherine heard with pleasure, and answered with all the pretty expressions she could command; and, as the first proof of amity, she was soon invited to accept an arm of the eldest Miss Thorpe, and take a turn with her about the room. Catherine was delighted with this extension of her Bath acquaintance, and almost forgot Mr. Tilney while she talked to Miss Thorpe. Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. Their conversation turned upon those subjects, of which the free discussion has generally much to do in perfecting a sudden intimacy between two young ladies: such as dress, balls, flirtations, and quizzes. Miss Thorpe, however, being four years older than Miss Morland, and at least four years better informed, had a very decided advantage in discussing such points; she could compare the balls of Bath with those of Tunbridge, its fashions with the fashions of London; could rectify the opinions of her new friend in many articles of tasteful attire; could discover a flirtation between any gentleman and lady who only smiled on each other; and point out a quiz through the thickness of a crowd. These powers received due admiration from Catherine, to whom they were entirely new; and the respect which they naturally inspired might have been too great for familiarity, had not the easy gaiety of Miss Thorpe’s manners, and her frequent expressions of delight on this acquaintance with her, softened down every feeling of awe, and left nothing but tender affection. Their increasing attachment was not to be satisfied with half a dozen turns in the pump-room, but required, when they all quitted it together, that Miss Thorpe should accompany Miss Morland to the very door of Mr. Allen’s house; and that they should there part with a most affectionate and lengthened shake of hands, after learning, to their mutual relief, that they should see each other across the theatre at night, and say their prayers in the same chapel the next morning. Catherine then ran directly upstairs, and watched Miss Thorpe’s progress down the street from the drawing-room window; admired the graceful spirit of her walk, the fashionable air of her figure and dress; and felt grateful, as well she might, for the chance which had procured her such a friend.

一切解释清楚后,索普家的几位小姐说了许多亲切的话,表示希望与她加深了解,又说既然双方的兄弟已是朋友,她们也理当视彼此为友,等等。凯瑟琳听了满心欢喜,也用尽了她所能想到的一切得体言辞来应答；而作为友谊的首个明证,她很快便受邀挽起索普大小姐的手臂,同她在厅里散步。凯瑟琳为在巴斯交际圈的扩大而喜不自胜,与索普小姐交谈时,她几乎将蒂尔尼先生抛在了脑后。友谊无疑是治疗爱情失意之痛的一剂良药。她们的谈话自然转向了那些话题,而这类话题的自由探讨,往往最能促成两位年轻女士之间突如其来的亲密:诸如衣着、舞会、眉目传情,还有各色滑稽人物。不过,索普小姐比莫兰小姐年长四岁,见识也至少多出四年,讨论起这些话题来,便占了显著的上风；她能比较巴斯与滕布里奇威尔斯的舞会孰优孰劣,能品评巴斯风尚与伦敦风尚的异同；能在许多雅致服饰的见解上纠正这位新朋友；能从仅仅相视一笑的绅士淑女间窥见一段风情；还能透过密密匝匝的人群,指出哪个是怪诞可笑之人。这些本事让凯瑟琳佩服不已,对她而言这全是闻所未闻的新鲜事；若非索普小姐举止率性活泼,又频频表示与她相识何等高兴,从而化开了那份油然而生的敬畏,只留下亲切友爱之情,那么这敬意或许会因过于厚重而妨碍了彼此的亲近。她们这日益滋长的情谊,光在泵房厅里走上五六圈已无法满足；待到众人一同离开时,索普小姐执意要陪莫兰小姐一直走到艾伦先生的家门口；在那里,她们得知当晚能在剧院里隔座相望,翌日清晨又将在同一座小教堂祈祷,彼此都松了口气,这才以最深切、最绵长的一次握手依依道别。凯瑟琳随即径直跑上楼,从客厅的窗户目送索普小姐沿街走去,欣赏她步态优雅、神采飞扬,欣赏她身段打扮入时；她心中满是感激--这感激也确在情理之中--感激这机缘让她结识了这样一位朋友。

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obliging /əˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/

adj. 乐于助人的,殷勤的➕

🔊

amity /ˈæməti/

n. 友好,和睦➕

🔊

balm /bɑːm/

n. 安慰剂,香膏➕

🔊

pangs /pæŋz/

n. 剧痛,痛苦➕

🔊

disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/

adj. 失望的➕

🔊

flirtations /flɜːrˈteɪʃənz/

n. 调情, flirtation的复数➕

🔊

quizzes /ˈkwɪzɪz/

n. 恶作剧,测验➕

🔊

rectify /ˈrektɪfaɪ/

v. 纠正,改正➕

🔊

attire /əˈtaɪər/

n. 服装,衣着➕

🔊

gaiety /ˈɡeɪəti/

n. 欢乐,愉快➕

🔊

awe /ɔː/

n. 敬畏,惊叹➕

🔊

attachment /əˈtætʃmənt/

n. 依附,情感➕

🔊

quitted /ˈkwɪtɪd/

v. 离开, quit的过去式➕

🔊

affectionate /əˈfekʃənət/

adj. 深情的,充满爱的➕

🔊

lengthened /ˈleŋθənd/

adj. 延长的,变长的➕

🔊

mutual /ˈmjuːtʃuəl/

adj. 相互的,共同的➕

🔊

chapel /ˈtʃæpəl/

n. 小教堂,礼拜堂➕

🔊

graceful /ˈɡreɪsfəl/

adj. 优雅的,优美的➕

🔊

procured /prəˈkjʊərd/

v. 获得,取得➕

🔊 Mrs. Thorpe was a widow, and not a very rich one; she was a good-humoured, well-meaning woman, and a very indulgent mother. Her eldest daughter had great personal beauty, and the younger ones, by pretending to be as handsome as their sister, imitating her air, and dressing in the same style, did very well.

索普太太是个寡妇,家境并不十分宽裕；她是个脾气和善、心地不坏的女人,同时也是位极其纵容的母亲。她的大女儿容貌确实出众,几个小女儿则靠着假装和姐姐一样漂亮,模仿她的仪态,穿着同样款式的衣裳,倒也颇能应付场面。

🔊

widow /ˈwɪdəʊ/

n. 寡妇➕

🔊

good-humoured /ɡʊd ˈhjuːmərd/

adj. 好脾气的,愉快的➕

🔊

well-meaning /wel ˈmiːnɪŋ/

adj. 好意的,善意的➕

🔊

indulgent /ɪnˈdʌldʒənt/

adj. 纵容的,溺爱的➕

🔊

pretending /prɪˈtendɪŋ/

v. 假装,伪装➕

🔊

imitating /ˈɪmɪteɪtɪŋ/

v. 模仿,仿效➕

🔊 This brief account of the family is intended to supersede the necessity of a long and minute detail from Mrs. Thorpe herself, of her past adventures and sufferings, which might otherwise be expected to occupy the three or four following chapters; in which the worthlessness of lords and attorneys might be set forth, and conversations, which had passed twenty years before, be minutely repeated.

对这家人的这番简述,意在省却索普太太亲自详述其过往经历与种种艰辛的必要--否则,这番叙述恐怕得占据接下来三四章的篇幅；在那几章里,我们或许会读到贵族与律师如何不堪,以及二十年前的对话如何被一字不差地复述出来。

🔊

supersede /ˌsuːpərˈsiːd/

v. 取代,接替➕

🔊

necessity /nəˈsesəti/

n. 必要性,需要➕

🔊

adventures /ədˈventʃərz/

n. 冒险,奇遇➕

🔊

sufferings /ˈsʌfərɪŋz/

n. 苦难,痛苦➕

🔊

worthlessness /ˈwɜːrθləsnəs/

n. 无价值,无用➕

🔊

lords /lɔːrdz/

n. 贵族,领主➕

🔊

attorneys /əˈtɜːrniz/

n. 律师,代理人➕

🔊

minutely /maɪˈnjuːtli/

adv. 详细地,仔细地➕

Chapter four (第四章)

🔒 使用该功能需要授权码