雙語小說連載:《董貝父子》第六章 Part 3

In spite of the double disappointment, it was impossible to regard in the light of a failure a visit which was greeted with such a reception; so the sisters talked hopefully about family matters, and about Biler, and about all his brothers and sisters: while the black-eyed, having performed several journeys to Banbury Cross and back, took sharp note of the furniture, the Dutch clock, the cupboard, the castle on the mantel-piece with red and green windows in it, susceptible of illumination by a candle-end within; and the pair of small black velvet kittens, each with a lady's reticule in its mouth; regarded by the Staggs's Gardeners as prodigies of imitative art. The conversation soon becoming general lest the black-eyed should go off at score and turn sarcastic, that young lady related to Jemima a summary of everything she knew concerning Mr. Dombey, his prospects, family, pursuits, and character. Also an exact inventory of her personal wardrobe, and some account of her principal relations and friends. Having relieved her mind of these disclosures, she partook of shrimps and porter, and evinced a disposition to swear eternal friendship.

雖然感到雙重的失望，但卻不可能把受到這樣熱烈歡迎的一次訪問看作是一次失敗；所以兩姐妹就滿懷希望地談起家常事務，談到拜勒，談到他的弟弟和妹妹們；在這段時間中，黑眼睛在到班伯裏十字架去的旅行已來回了好幾趟以後，就細細地觀察室內的傢俱、荷蘭鍾、碗櫃、壁爐臺上的城堡，城堡裏有紅色的和綠色的窗子，裏面點一根燭頭就可以把它們照亮；還有一對黑色的絲絨制的小貓，每隻嘴裏都銜着一隻貴婦人用的網狀手提包，斯塔格斯花園裏的人們都認爲這是仿製藝術的珍品。不久，唯恐黑眼睛會突然情不自禁地說出挖苦的話來，談話就轉到大家都能參加的一般內容，於是那位年輕的姑娘就把她所知道的有關董貝先生的一切，如他的前途，他的家庭，他的事業和他的性格，都向傑邁瑪簡略地敘述了一番。她也詳詳細細、一件不漏地列舉了她個人全部服裝的清單，還稍稍談到她的主要的親戚和朋友。把這些話開誠佈公地說出，不再積壓在心頭以後，她吃起河蝦，喝起黑啤酒來，這時心情愉快，隨時準備爲永恆的友誼而發願起誓。

Little Florence herself was not behind-hand in improving the occasion; for, being conducted forth by the young Toodles to inspect some toad-stools and other curiosities of the Gardens, she entered with them, heart and soul, on the formation of a temporary breakwater across a small green pool that had collected in a corner. She was still busily engaged in that labor, when sought and found by Susan; who, such was her sense of duty, even under the humanizing influence of shrimps, delivered a moral address to her (punctuated with thumps) on her degenerate nature, while washing her face and hands; and predicted that she would bring the grey hairs of her family in general, with sorrow to the grave. After some delay, occasioned by a pretty long confidential interview above stairs on pecuniary subjects, between Polly and Jemima, an interchange of babies was again effected - for Polly had all this timeretained her own child, and Jemima little Paul - and the visitors took leave.

小弗洛倫斯在利用這個機會方面也不落後。因爲當小圖德爾們陪伴她去看毒菌和花園裏的其他新奇事物時，她和他們一起專心一意地在一個角落裏由積水形成的一個綠色的小池塘中，着手修建一個臨時防波堤。當她仍在忙忙碌碌地從事這項勞動時，蘇珊把她尋找到了。雖然在河蝦的影響下，蘇珊已變得通達人情，可是她仍懷有強烈的責任感，所以她一邊給弗洛倫斯洗臉洗手，一邊針對她這種變壞了的品性，向她發表了一篇訓誡性的談話；她一邊說，一邊用拳頭打她，作爲標點符號，並預言她將使她全家的老人都傷心而死。波利與傑邁瑪在樓上相當長久地談了一些有關金錢方面的私房話，稍稍耽擱了一些時間；在這之後，她們就重新交換了嬰孩——因爲波利一直抱着她親生的孩子，傑邁瑪則抱着小保羅——，來訪的人於是也告辭了。

But first the young Toodles, victims of a pious fraud, were deluded into repairing in a body to a chandler's shop in the neighbourhood, for the ostensible purpose of spending a penny; and when the coast was quite clear, Polly fled: Jemima calling after her that if they could only go round towards the City Road on their way back, they would be sure to meet little Biler coming from school.

但是首先是把年輕的圖德爾們（他們是一個意向善良的騙局的犧牲品）哄騙到一個鄰近的零售店裏去，表面上的理由是讓他們把一個便士在那裏花掉。障礙一經排除，波利就拔腳逃走了；傑邁瑪在她的後面大聲叫喊說，她們回去時只要稍稍繞點路，沿着去城裏的路走，那就一定會遇上放學回來的小拜勒的。

'Do you think that we might make time to go a little round in that direction, Susan?' inquired Polly, when they halted to take breath.
“你看，我們是不是可以騰出時間朝那個方向稍稍繞一點路呢，蘇珊？”當她們停下來，緩一口氣的時候，波利問道。

'Why not, Mrs. Richards?' returned Susan.
“爲什麼不可以，理查茲大嫂？”蘇珊回答道。

'It's getting on towards our dinner time you know,' said Polly.
“您知道，現在走下去就快到我們吃晚飯的時間了，”波利說道。”

But lunch had rendered her companion more than indifferent to this grave consideration, so she allowed no weight to it, and they resolved to go 'a little round.'
但是吃過的午飯使她的女伴對這個鄭重的考慮毫不在意，所以她沒有把它當成什麼了不得的大事，於是她們也就決定去“稍稍繞點路”。

註釋：
1. render vt. 致使；提出；實施；着色；以…回報
vi. 給予補償
n. 打底；交納；粉刷
詞組：
account rendered [經]結欠清單
render services 提供服務
render an account 報帳；開送賬單
例句：
(1). I must render down this fat; we are short of lard.
我得把這塊肥肉熬成油，我們正缺豬油。
(2). If you'll deliver this parcel, you will render me a great service.
如果你把這包東西送去，那就幫我的大忙了。

2. be indifferent to 不在乎……；對……漠不關心
例句：
(1). I was so excited to see snow that I was indifferent to the cold.
我看到雪激動得連寒冷都不在乎了。
(2). Many one or little one is indifferent to me.
多一個或少一個對我是無關緊要的。