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"Well--it's queer to have brought Miss Welland, anyhow," some one said in a low tone, with a side- glance at Archer.
“唔——不管怎么说，把韦兰小姐带来总是令人费解，”有人悄悄地说，一面斜视了阿切尔一眼。
"Oh, that's part of the campaign: Granny's orders, no doubt," Lefferts laughed.
“噢，这是运动的一个组成部分嘛：肯定是老祖宗的命令，”莱弗茨笑着说。
"When the old lady does a thing she does it thoroughly."
“老夫人要是干一件事，总要干得完全彻底。”
The act was ending, and there was a general stir in the box.
这一幕结束了，包厢里一阵普遍的骚动。
Suddenly Newland Archer felt himself impelled to decisive action.
纽兰·阿切尔突然感到必须采取果断行动。
The desire to be the first man to enter Mrs. Mingott's box, to proclaim to the waiting world his engagement to May Welland,
他要第一个走进明戈特太太的包厢，第一个向期望中的社交界宣布他与梅·韦兰的订婚消息，
and to see her through whatever difficulties her cousin's anomalous situation might involve her in;
第一个去帮助她度过表姐的异常处境可能使她卷入的任何困难。
this impulse had abruptly overruled all scruples and hesitations,
这一冲动猛然间压倒了一切顾虑与迟疑，
and sent him hurrying through the red corridors to the farther side of the house.
促使他匆匆穿过一节节红色走廊，向剧院较远的一端走去。
As he entered the box his eyes met Miss Welland's,
进入包厢的时候，他的眼睛遇到了韦兰小姐的目光，
and he saw that she had instantly understood his motive,
而且他发现她立即明白了他的来意，
though the family dignity which both considered so high a virtue would not permit her to tell him so.
尽管家族的尊严不允许她对他明讲——两个人都认为这是一种很高尚的美德。
The persons of their world lived in an atmosphere of faint implications and pale delicacies,
他们这个圈子的人都生活在一种含而不露、稍显矜持的气氛中，
and the fact that he and she understood each other without a word seemed to the young man to bring them nearer than any explanation would have done.
年轻人觉得，他与她不用说一句话就能互相沟通，任何解释都不能使他们更加贴近。
Her eyes said: "You see why Mamma brought me,"
她的眼睛在说：“你明白妈妈为什么带我来。”
and his answered: "I would not for the world have had you stay away."
他的眼睛则回答：“无论如何我都不肯让你离开这儿。”
"You know my niece Countess Olenska?"
“你认识我的侄女奥兰斯卡伯爵夫人吗？”
Mrs. Welland enquired as she shook hands with her future son- in-law.
韦兰太太与她未来的女婿握手时问道。
Archer bowed without extending his hand, as was the custom on being introduced to a lady;
按照引见给女士的习惯，阿切尔欠一下身子，没有伸出手；
and Ellen Olenska bent her head slightly, keeping her own pale-gloved hands clasped on her huge fan of eagle feathers.
埃伦·奥兰斯卡轻轻低一下头，两只戴浅色手套的手继续握着那把大鹰毛扇子。
Having greeted Mrs. Lovell Mingott, a large blonde lady in creaking satin, he sat down beside his betrothed, and said in a low tone:
与洛弗尔·明戈特太太打过招呼——她是个大块头的金发女人，穿一身悉索作响的缎子衣裙——他在未婚妻的身旁坐下，低声说：
"I hope you've told Madame Olenska that we're engaged?
“我希望你已经告诉奥兰斯卡夫人我们订婚了吧？
I want everybody to know--I want you to let me announce it this evening at the ball."
我想让每个人都知道——我要你允许我今晚在舞会上宣布。”
