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Mr. van der Luyden paused again, and continued with increasing benevolence:
范德卢顿先生又停顿了一下，益发慈祥地接着说：
"Before taking him down to Maryland we are inviting a few friends to meet him here--only a little dinner--with a reception afterward.
“在说服他去马里兰之前，我们准备请几位朋友在这儿见见他——只不过是个小型宴会——事后还要举行欢迎会。
I am sure Louisa will be as glad as I am if Countess Olenska will let us include her among our guests."
如果奥兰斯卡伯爵夫人肯做我们的客人，我相信路易莎会跟我一样高兴的、”
He got up, bent his long body with a stiff friendliness toward his cousin, and added:
他站了起来，以生硬的友好态度向表妹弯了弯他那修长的身体，又说道：
"I think I have Louisa's authority for saying that she will herself leave the invitation to dine when she drives out presently:
“我想我可以代表路易莎说，她马上就要乘车外出，亲自递送宴会请柬，
with our cards--of course with our cards."
还有我们的名片——当然还有我们的名片。”
Mrs. Archer, who knew this to be a hint that the seventeen-hand chestnuts which were never kept waiting were at the door,
阿切尔太太明白这是让她告辞的暗示，
rose with a hurried murmur of thanks.
便匆匆低声道着谢站起身来。
Mrs. van der Luyden beamed on her with the smile of Esther interceding with Ahasuerus; but her husband raised a protesting hand.
范德卢顿太太眉开眼笑地看着她，那笑容仿佛是以斯帖正在向亚哈随鲁说情，不过她丈夫却抗议似地举起一只手。
"There is nothing to thank me for, dear Adeline; nothing whatever.
“没什么好谢的，亲爱的艾德琳，一点也不用谢。
This kind of thing must not happen in New York; it shall not, as long as I can help it,"
这种事情不能允许在纽约发生；只要我办得到，就不准再发生。”
he pronounced with sovereign gentleness as he steered his cousins to the door.
他带着王者的风范说，一面领着表亲走向门口。
Two hours later, every one knew that the great C-spring barouche in which Mrs. van der Luyden took the air at all seasons
两小时后，人人都已知道有人见到范德卢顿太太社交季节乘坐兜风的C形弹簧大马车
had been seen at old Mrs. Mingott's door, where a large square envelope was handed in;
曾在明戈特太太的门前逗留，并递进去一个方形大信封。
and that evening at the Opera Mr. Sillerton Jackson was able to state that the envelope contained a card inviting the Countess Olenska to the dinner
而当晚在歌剧院里，西勒顿·杰克逊便会说明，那信封里装着一份请柬，
which the van der Luydens were giving the following week for their cousin, the Duke of St. Austrey.
邀请奥兰斯卡伯爵夫人参加范德卢顿夫妇下周为表弟圣奥斯特利公爵举办的宴会。
Some of the younger men in the club box exchanged a smile at this announcement, and glanced sideways at Lawrence Lefferts,
听了这一通报，俱乐部包厢里几个青年人微笑地交换了一下眼色，并斜眼瞅了瞅劳伦斯·莱弗茨。
who sat carelessly in the front of the box, pulling his long fair moustache,
他在包厢前排坐着，正漫不经心地扯弄他那金色的长胡髭。
and who remarked with authority, as the soprano paused: "No one but Patti ought to attempt the Sonnambula."
女高音的歌声一停，他便权威地说：“除了帕蒂，谁都不配演桑那布拉这个角色。”
