评论
打印
As we came down through the shop, the civil Mr Johnson was awaiting us; he had been informed of the exchange of the note for gold, and with much good feeling and real kindness, but with a little want of tact, he wished to condole with Miss Matty, and impress upon her the true state of the case.
我们下楼穿过店铺时，彬彬有礼的约翰逊先生正在等我们，他已经得知了用金币换票据的事，他怀着极大的善意和真诚的关怀，只是有点缺乏策略，想要安慰马蒂小姐，并让她明白真实情况。
I could only hope that he had heard an exaggerated rumour for he said that her shares were worse than nothing, and that the bank could not pay a shilling in the pound.
我只能希望他听到的是夸大其词的谣言，因为他说她的股份一文不值，银行连一分钱也无法支付。
I was glad that Miss Matty seemed still a little incredulous; but I could not tell how much of this was real or assumed, with that self-control which seemed habitual to ladies of Miss Matty’s standing in Cranford, who would have thought their dignity compromised by the slightest expression of surprise, dismay, or any similar feeling to an inferior in station, or in a public shop.
我很高兴，马蒂小姐似乎仍然有点怀疑；但我不知道她的怀疑有多少是真的，有多少是假装的，因为像马蒂小姐这样在克兰福德有地位的女士，似乎习惯于克制自己的情绪，她们认为，在地位较低的人面前或在公共商店里，表现出丝毫的惊讶、沮丧或任何类似的情绪，都会有损她们的尊严。
However, we walked home very silently.
然而，我们默默地走回家。
I am ashamed to say, I believe I was rather vexed and annoyed at Miss Matty’s conduct in taking the note to herself so decidedly.
我很惭愧地说，我觉得我对马蒂小姐如此果断地自己把票据买下感到相当恼火和烦心。
I had so set my heart upon her having a new silk gown, which she wanted sadly; in general she was so undecided anybody might turn her round; in this case I had felt that it was no use attempting it, but I was not the less put out at the result.
我一心想让她有一件新丝绸长袍，这是她非常想要的；一般情况下，她非常优柔寡断，任何人都可以转变她的心意；但在这件事上我觉得尝试也没用，但我还是对结果感到不安。
Somehow, after twelve o’clock, we both acknowledged to a sated curiosity about the fashions, and to a certain fatigue of body (which was, in fact, depression of mind) that indisposed us to go out again.
不知怎的，十二点过后，我们都承认对时尚的好奇心得到了满足，身体也感到有些疲倦（实际上是情绪低落），因此不想再出门了。
But still we never spoke of the note; till, all at once, something possessed me to ask Miss Matty if she would think it her duty to offer sovereigns for all the notes of the Town and County Bank she met with?
但是我们还是没有谈到那张票据；直到突然之间我不知是着了什么魔，问马蒂小姐她是否认为她有责任用金币兑换她遇见的所有郡镇银行的票据？
I could have bitten my tongue out the minute I had said it.
我刚一说完那句话，就恨不得把舌头咬下来。
She looked up rather sadly, and as if I had thrown a new perplexity into her already distressed mind; and for a minute or two she did not speak.
她非常悲伤地抬起头来，仿佛我给她已经苦恼的心灵又带来了新的困惑；有那么一两分钟，她没有说话。
Then she said—my own dear Miss Matty—without a shade of reproach in her voice— “My dear, I never feel as if my mind was what people call very strong; and it’s often hard enough work for me to settle what I ought to do with the case right before me.
然后她说——我亲爱的马蒂小姐——她的声音里没有一丝责备：“亲爱的，我从不觉得我的头脑像人们说的那样非常坚强；对我来说，要决定如何处理摆在我面前的事情就已经够困难了。
I was very thankful to—I was very thankful, that I saw my duty this morning, with the poor man standing by me;
我非常感激……我非常感激，今天早上我看到了自己的责任，那个可怜的人就站在我旁边；
but its rather a strain upon me to keep thinking and thinking what I should do if such and such a thing happened; and, I believe, I had rather wait and see what really does come; and I don’t doubt I shall be helped then if I don’t fidget myself, and get too anxious beforehand.
但是一直思考如果这样或那样的事情发生我该怎么办，对我来说是一种压力；而且我相信，我不如静待事情的发展；而且我毫不怀疑，如果我不提前烦躁不安、过于焦虑，我会得到帮助的。
You know, love, I’m not like Deborah.
你知道，亲爱的，我和黛博拉不一样。
If Deborah had lived, I’ve no doubt she would have seen after them, before they had got themselves into this state.”
如果黛博拉还活着，我毫不怀疑她会帮助人们，而且会及时避免他们陷入这种状态。
We had neither of us much appetite for dinner, though we tried to talk cheerfully about indifferent things.
我们俩都没有什么胃口吃晚饭，尽管我们试图愉快地谈论一些无关紧要的事。
