狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第17章Part 06
The Captain, who did not fail to make himself acquainted with all that passed, through inquiries of Walter from day to day, found the time still tending on towards his going away, without any occasion offering itself, or seeming likely toofferitself, for a better understanding of his position. It was after much consideration of this fact, and much pondering over such an unfortunate combination of circumstances, that a bright idea occurred to the Captain. Suppose he made a call on Mr Carker, and tried to find out from him how the land really lay!
Captain Cuttle liked this idea very much. It came upon him in a moment of inspiration, as he was smoking an early pipe in Brig Place after breakfast; and it was worthy of the tobacco. It would quiet his conscience, which was an honest one, and was made a little uneasy by what Walter had confided to him, and what Sol Gills had said; and it would be a deep, shrewd act of friendship. He would sound Mr Carker carefully, and say much or little, just as he read that gentleman's character, and discovered that they got on well together or the reverse.
卡特爾船長很喜歡這個主意，它是他在布里格廣場吃過早飯以後抽第一斗煙時靈機一動的一剎那中突然來到他的頭腦中的；抽這鬥煙很值得。他的良心是誠實的，沃爾特向他吐露的內情以及所爾·吉爾斯所說的話曾使他稍感不安，這次訪問將會使他的良心安寧下來；而且這將是一個寓意深長，精明高超的友好行動。他將謹慎小心地試探卡克先生，當他看清這位先生的性格，認定他們是否能融洽相處之後再決定多談或少談。Accordingly, without the fear of Walter before his eyes (who he knew was at home packing), Captain Cuttle again assumed his ankle-jacks and mourning brooch, and issued forth on this second expedition. He purchased no propitiatory nosegay on the present occasion, as he was going to a place of business; but he put a small sunflower in his button-hole to give himself an agreeable relish of the country; and with this, and the knobby stick, and the glazed hat, bore down upon the offices of Dombey and Son.
因此，不怕遇見沃爾特（他知道他在家裏忙着收拾行李），卡特爾船長重新穿上短靴，別上哀悼友人的胸針，走上他的第二次征途。這次他沒有買送禮的花束，因爲他是到一個辦公的地方去；但是他在鈕釦孔裏插了一朵小小的向日葵花，身上發出了令人愉快的鄉村的清香，他就這樣拿着那根多節的手杖，戴着上了光的帽子，動身到董貝父子公司去了。
一r:vt.提供, 提出, 出價, 貢獻 vi.提議, 出現, 求婚 n.提議, 出價
【語法用法】
offer作名詞或動詞時，後均可加不定式，但是在作名詞時所接的不定式的動作一般是由提出offer的人做的。
He made an offer to teach me French.
他提議教我學法語。
offer和give不可同時使用，因都有“提供”的意思，有重複性。
He offered to give her help.
He offered her help.
第一句是錯誤的，應用第二句的格式。
Both advice and help were offered (to) the young man.句中的to在英國不可省略，但在美國可省略。
【錯句舉例與錯句分析】
錯句: Jack offered driving his friend to the airport.
訂正: Jack offered to drive his friend to the airport.
翻譯: 傑克提議開車送他朋友去機場。
分析: offer後可接不定式，不可接動名詞。
【詞義辨析】
offer, present, propose, volunteer
這些動詞均含“提出、提供”之意。
offer最普通用詞，多指主動提出或提供意見或東西等，但是否接受由對方自行決定。
present既可指提出意見、建議等，又可指拿出某物供人欣賞或贈送。
propose指直接而主動地提出問題或建議等，也指在討論或爭辨中提出具體意見或建議。
volunteer與offer同義，側重出於自願，而不是奉命做某事。
【例句用法】
He came towards me, smiled and offered his hand.
他向我走來，微笑著伸出手來和我握手。
Ask her about it when a suitable moment offers itself.
這個問題你在適當的時候問問她吧。
二ness:n.商業, 事務, 生意
【語法用法】
business由busy和ness組合而成，等同於busy的抽象名詞；
in business指“在經商營業”，屬於形容詞短語或狀語短語範疇；on business指“因事或因公，出差”，屬於狀語短語。
She engaged in business.
She wants to see you on business.
go to business意思是“到辦事處去，上班”，go into business意思是“從事商業”。
She go to business by bike.
He went into business at the age of 18.
表示“不要管別人的閒事”可說“Mind your own business”。
【詞義辨析】
ir, business, matter, concern, thing
這些名詞均含“事情”之意。
affair含義較廣，側重指已發生或必須去做的任何事情或事務。複數形式多指重大或較複雜的事務。
business通常指較重要或較難而又必須承擔的事情，也可指商事。
matter普通用詞，着重指一件考慮中的或需要處理的事。
concern往往強調與個人或團體利害有直接或重大關係的事。
thing用作“事情”解時，詞義較籠統、含糊，多用於指不很具體的事。
ness, commerce, trade, bargain, deal
這些名詞均含“貿易，交易”之意。
business指包括售貨、購貨、換貨在內的綜合商業活動，方式可以是批發或零售。
commerce多指大規模的買賣或易貨關係。
trade普通用詞，含義廣。既可指某種具體的商業又可指廣泛的貿易。
bargain多指買賣雙方通過談判、協商就商品質量、數量、價格等項達成協議所成的生意。
deal口語用詞，指買賣雙方經過交涉達成協議成交。
【例句用法】
The main business of this meeting is our wages claim.
這次會議的主要議題是我們在工資方面的要求。
Business is always brisk before Christmas.
聖誕節前生意總是很興隆。
