🔊 An abbey! Yes, it was delightful to be really in an abbey! But she doubted, as she looked round the room, whether anything within her observation would have given her the consciousness of it. The furniture was in all the profusion and elegance of modern taste. The fireplace, where she had expected the ample width and ponderous carving of former times, was contracted to a Rumford, with slabs of plain though handsome marble, and ornaments over it of the prettiest English china. The windows, to which she looked with peculiar dependence, from having heard the general talk of his preserving them in their Gothic form with reverential care, were yet less what her fancy had portrayed. To be sure, the pointed arch was preserved-the form of them was Gothic-they might be even casements-but every pane was so large, so clear, so light! To an imagination which had hoped for the smallest divisions, and the heaviest stone-work, for painted glass, dirt, and cobwebs, the difference was very distressing.

一座修道院！是啊,能真正置身于一座修道院中,真是令人欣喜！但她环顾房间时,却怀疑目之所及是否有什么能让她意识到这一点。家具尽是现代品味的奢华与优雅。壁炉,她本期望看到昔日那种宽阔厚重、雕刻繁复的式样,却缩成了一个拉姆福德式壁炉,镶嵌着朴素而美观的大理石板,上方装饰着最精美的英国瓷器。窗户,她原本对此抱以特别的期待,因为听将军说起过他如何怀着虔敬之心,刻意保留了它们的哥特式样,然而眼前的景象却与她想象中的相去甚远。的确,尖顶拱得以保留--窗形是哥特式的--它们甚至可能是竖铰链窗--但每一方玻璃都如此宽大、如此明澈、如此透亮！对于一个曾向往着最细密的窗棂、最厚重的石工、彩绘玻璃、尘封与蛛网的想象而言,这番光景着实令人泄气。

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profusion /prəˈfjuːʒ(ə)n/

n. 大量,丰富➕

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elegance /ˈɛlɪɡəns/

n. 优雅,高雅➕

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ponderous /ˈpɒnd(ə)rəs/

adj. 沉重的,笨重的；冗长沉闷的➕

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contracted /kənˈtræktɪd/

v. 收缩,缩小；订立合同➕

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reverential /ˌrɛvəˈrɛnʃ(ə)l/

adj. 恭敬的,表示敬意的➕

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Gothic /ˈɡɒθɪk/

adj. 哥特式的（建筑、文学等风格）➕

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casements /ˈkeɪsmənts/

n. 窗扇（尤指向外或向内开的窗户）➕

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pane /peɪn/

n. （窗或门上的）一块玻璃➕

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cobwebs /ˈkɒbwɛbz/

n. 蜘蛛网➕

🔊 The general, perceiving how her eye was employed, began to talk of the smallness of the room and simplicity of the furniture, where everything, being for daily use, pretended only to comfort, &c., flattering himself, however, that there were some apartments in the Abbey not unworthy her notice-and was proceeding to mention the costly gilding of one in particular, when, taking out his watch, he stopped short to pronounce it with surprise within twenty minutes of five! This seemed the word of separation, and Catherine found herself hurried away by Miss Tilney in such a manner as convinced her that the strictest punctuality to the family hours would be expected at Northanger.

将军察觉到她的目光所向,便开始谈起房间的狭小和家具的简朴,说这里的一切都是为了日常使用,只求舒适云云,不过又自得地表示,修道院里有些房间还是值得她一看的--正待提及其中一间尤其奢华的金饰装潢,他却掏出怀表,猛然打住,惊呼道差二十分就五点了！这仿佛是散场的口令,凯瑟琳随即被蒂尔尼小姐匆匆带走,这情形使她确信,在诺桑觉寺,严守家庭作息时刻是断不容马虎的。

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apartments /əˈpɑːtmənts/

n. 套房,公寓➕

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costly /ˈkɒs(t)li/

adj. 昂贵的,代价高的➕

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gilding /ˈɡɪldɪŋ/

n. 镀金,金箔➕

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pronounce /prəˈnaʊns/

v. 宣布,宣称；发音➕

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punctuality /ˌpʌŋ(k)tʃʊˈalɪti/

n. 守时,准时➕

🔊 Returning through the large and lofty hall, they ascended a broad staircase of shining oak, which, after many flights and many landing-places, brought them upon a long, wide gallery. On one side it had a range of doors, and it was lighted on the other by windows which Catherine had only time to discover looked into a quadrangle, before Miss Tilney led the way into a chamber, and scarcely staying to hope she would find it comfortable, left her with an anxious entreaty that she would make as little alteration as possible in her dress.

穿过高大宽敞的大厅返回,他们登上了一道宽阔闪亮的橡木楼梯,经过许多段阶梯和平台,来到了一条长廊。一侧是一排房门,另一侧则有窗户提供照明,凯瑟琳只来得及瞥见窗外是个内院,蒂尔尼小姐便已引她步入一间卧房,几乎未驻足客套,只匆匆留下一句焦虑的恳请,希望她更衣时尽量从简,随即离去。

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lofty /ˈlɒfti/

adj. 高耸的；崇高的,高尚的➕

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ascended /əˈsɛndɪd/

v. 攀登,上升➕

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flights /flaɪts/

n. （楼梯的）一段➕

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landing-places /ˈlandɪŋpleɪsɪz/

n. 楼梯平台；登陆地➕

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gallery /ˈɡal(ə)ri/

n. 画廊；走廊➕

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quadrangle /ˈkwɒdraŋɡ(ə)l/

n. 四方院,四合院（尤指大学或大建筑中的）➕

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chamber /ˈtʃeɪmbə/

n. 房间,室；议会➕

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entreaty /ɪnˈtriːti/

n. 恳求,乞求➕

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alteration /ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/

n. 改变,改动➕

🔊 A moment's glance was enough to satisfy Catherine that her apartment was very unlike the one which Henry had endeavoured to alarm her by the description of. It was by no means unreasonably large, and contained neither tapestry nor velvet. The walls were papered, the floor was carpeted; the windows were neither less perfect nor more dim than those of the drawing-room below; the furniture, though of the kind which is now usually called old-fashioned, was handsome and comfortable, and the air of the room altogether far from uncheerful. Her heart instantaneously at ease on this point, she resolved to lose no time in particular examination of anything, as she greatly dreaded disobliging the general by any delay. Her habit therefore was thrown off with all possible haste, and she was preparing to unpin the linen package, which the chaise-seat had conveyed for her immediate accommodation, when her eye suddenly fell on a large high chest, standing back in a deep recess on one side of the fireplace.

只消瞥上一眼,凯瑟琳便确信她的卧室与亨利曾竭力用描述吓唬她的那间截然不同。它绝不算过大,既无挂毯也无天鹅绒。墙壁贴着壁纸,地板铺着地毯；窗户与楼下客厅的相比,既不更残缺也不更昏暗；家具虽属如今通常称为老式的种类,却美观舒适,整个房间的气氛远非阴郁。她心头顿感一松,决定不再耗时细查任何物件,因为她生怕因任何耽搁而触怒将军。于是她急忙脱下外衣,正要去解那个由轻便马车捎来、供她应急的亚麻布包裹,目光却骤然落在壁炉一侧深深凹进去的一个高大箱柜上。

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endeavoured /ɪnˈdɛvəd/

v. 努力,尽力（endeavour的过去式）➕

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tapestry /ˈtapɪstri/

n. 挂毯,织锦➕

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velvet /ˈvɛlvɪt/

n. 天鹅绒,丝绒➕

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carpeted /ˈkɑːpɪtɪd/

adj. 铺了地毯的➕

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instantaneously /ˌɪnst(ə)nˈteɪnɪəsli/

adv. 瞬间地,即刻地➕

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disobliging /ˌdɪsəˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/

adj. 不帮忙的,不合作的；冒犯的➕

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chaise-seat /ˈʃeɪz siːt/

n. 马车座椅➕

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recess /rɪˈsɛs/

n. 壁龛；凹处；休会期➕

🔊 The sight of it made her start; and, forgetting everything else, she stood gazing on it in motionless wonder, while these thoughts crossed her:

这景象让她吃了一惊；她忘却了一切,站着凝视它,一动不动,满心惊奇,与此同时,这些念头掠过她的脑海:

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gazing /ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/

v.-ing. 凝视,注视➕

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motionless /ˈməʊʃnləs/

adj. 静止的,不动的➕

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wonder /ˈwʌndə(r)/

n. 惊奇,惊叹➕

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crossed /krɒst/

v. (想法等) 掠过,闪过（脑海）➕

🔊 'This is strange indeed! I did not expect such a sight as this! An immense heavy chest! What can it hold? Why should it be placed here? Pushed back too, as if meant to be out of sight! I will look into it-cost me what it may, I will look into it-and directly too-by daylight. If I stay till evening my candle may go out.' She advanced and examined it closely: it was of cedar, curiously inlaid with some darker wood, and raised, about a foot from the ground, on a carved stand of the same. The lock was silver, though tarnished from age; at each end were the imperfect remains of handles also of silver, broken perhaps prematurely by some strange violence; and, on the centre of the lid, was a mysterious cipher, in the same metal. Catherine bent over it intently, but without being able to distinguish anything with certainty. She could not, in whatever direction she took it, believe the last letter to be a T; and yet that it should be anything else in that house was a source of wonderment. But how was it to be opened? It had no key, nor was there any apparent method of opening it without one. She was determined, however, to make the attempt, and therefore, having let down the front, she applied her strength to the lid; but it resisted all her efforts: not a knot or a crevice could be seen through which the slightest ray of light could penetrate. Again she examined it; but to no purpose. She then turned the chest on one end, and after looking at every part with equal attention, perceived that the lid was fastened by two bolts of a secret kind, which were to be opened by a spring. Her courage rose with the discovery; and having, with some difficulty, found the spring, she pressed it, and the bolts instantly withdrew. The lid then yielded to her hand, and she saw within a white cotton counterpane, properly folded, reposing on one corner of the chest.

“这真奇怪！我没想到会看到这样的东西！一个巨大沉重的箱子！里面能装什么？为什么会放在这里？还推到后面,好像故意要藏起来似的！我要看看里面--不管付出什么代价,我都要看看--而且马上就看--趁天亮。如果等到晚上,我的蜡烛可能会熄灭。”她走上前去仔细端详:箱子是雪松木的,巧妙地镶嵌着一些深色木材,离地约一英尺高,置于同种木材雕刻的底座上。锁是银质的,虽因年久而晦暗；两端残留着残缺的银质把手,或许因某种奇异的暴力而早早断裂；箱盖中央有一个神秘的银质符号。凯瑟琳专注地俯身查看,却无法确定任何东西。无论从哪个方向看,她都无法相信最后一个字母是T；然而在这房子里它竟然是别的什么,这让她惊异不已。可是怎么打开它呢？没有钥匙,也没有任何明显的不用钥匙就能打开的方法。但她决心尝试,于是放下箱前板,用力去掀箱盖；但它纹丝不动:看不到任何结或缝隙,连一丝光也透不进去。她又检查了一遍；但毫无结果。然后她把箱子侧立起来,同样仔细地察看了每一处,终于发现箱盖是由两个暗栓锁住的,须得用机关才能开启。窥破此中机关,她勇气陡增；费了些周折找到弹簧后,她用力一按,暗栓应声而开。箱盖随即被她掀开,只见箱内一角,整整齐齐叠放着一床白色的棉布床罩。

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immense /ɪˈmɛns/

adj. 巨大的,广大的➕

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curiously /ˈkjʊərɪəsli/

adv. 好奇地；奇怪地➕

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inlaid /ɪnˈleɪd/

adj. 镶嵌的,嵌饰的➕

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tarnished /ˈtɑːnɪʃt/

adj. 失去光泽的,变黯淡的；玷污的➕

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cipher /ˈsʌɪfə/

n. 密码；无足轻重的人➕

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intently /ɪnˈtɛntli/

adv. 专心地,专注地➕

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wonderment /ˈwʌndəm(ə)nt/

n. 惊奇,惊讶➕

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crevice /ˈkrɛvɪs/

n. （岩石或墙壁的）裂缝,裂隙➕

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penetrate /ˈpɛnɪtreɪt/

v. 穿透,刺入；洞察➕

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perceived /pəˈsiːvd/

v. 察觉,认识到；理解➕

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bolts /bəʊlts/

n. 门栓,螺栓➕

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spring /sprɪŋ/

n. 弹簧；春天➕

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withdrew /wɪðˈdruː/

v. 撤回,收回；取款➕

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yielded /ˈjiːldɪd/

v. 屈服,让步；产生（结果）➕

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counterpane /ˈkaʊntəpeɪn/

n. 床罩➕

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reposing /rɪˈpəʊzɪŋ/

v. 休息,安卧➕

🔊 Her eager eyes immediately fell on a roll of paper which occupied the other corner, and which, being tied with a ribbon, seemed to be the very document she sought. Seizing it with trembling hands, she hastily untied the ribbon, and unrolling it, found it to be a list of linen, containing a particular account of all the sheets, table-cloths, napkins, and other articles, which were the property of Mrs. Tilney, and which had been carefully put aside for the use of her daughter. The list was long, and the articles numerous; but Catherine had time to read only the first few items, when her attention was called away by the sound of footsteps approaching her room. She started, thrust the paper into her bosom, and hastily closed the chest; but before she could replace it in its former position, the door opened, and Miss Tilney entered.

她急切的目光立刻攫住了占据另一角的一卷纸,那纸捆着丝带,仿佛正是她苦寻的文件。她双手微颤地抓过纸卷,慌忙扯开丝带,展开一看,原来是一份亚麻织品的清单,详列了所有床单、桌布、餐巾等物,件件都属蒂尔尼太太的产业,被悉心收存以备其女使用。清单颇长,所列物品繁多；然而凯瑟琳只来得及看清开头的几项,便被渐近门口的脚步声惊扰了心神。她一惊,将纸塞进怀中,急忙关上箱子；但还未及将其放回原处,门开了,蒂尔尼小姐走了进来。

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eager /ˈiːɡə/

adj. 热切的,渴望的➕

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document /ˈdɒkjʊm(ə)nt/

n. 文件,公文➕

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seizing /ˈsiːzɪŋ/

v. 抓住,夺取➕

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trembling /ˈtrɛmblɪŋ/

adj. 颤抖的,哆嗦的➕

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unrolling /ʌnˈrəʊlɪŋ/

v. 展开,铺开➕

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linen /ˈlɪnɪn/

n. 亚麻布；亚麻布制品（如床单、桌布等）➕

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napkins /ˈnapkɪnz/

n. 餐巾；尿布➕

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thrust /θrʌst/

v. 猛推,刺；强使接受➕

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bosom /ˈbʊz(ə)m/

n. 胸部；怀抱；内心➕

Chapter twenty-four (第二十四章)

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