22 I went out of his office and the pregnant secretary sat me in front of her own typewriter. I turned a stricken face to her, "I couldn't hear. I couldn't hear what he said..."
我走出他的办公室，那个怀孕的秘书让我在她的打字机前坐下。我愁眉苦脸地对她说：“我没听清。他说的我没听清……”
23 "Wait, I'll tell him." She bustled off. At the other desk was a blonde, thin girl, who had thrown one look at me and then gone back to clattering. The pregnant one reappeared, a pink sheet in hand: "Now just copy this on the typewriter, best you can."
“别急，我去跟他说。”她匆匆走开去。另一张桌子前坐着的是一个苗条的金发姑娘，她看了我一眼，接着又咔嗒咔嗒打字了。怀孕的那位回来了，手里拿着一张粉红色的纸：“你就把这个打一份，尽你最大努力吧。”
24 I hit the keys, swiftly; the typewriter was the same make as mine, a Royal.
我快速击打着字键；打字机的牌子跟我自己的那台一样，是皇家牌的。
25 "My, you are fast. I'll tell Mr. Harned."
“哟，你打得真够快的。我要去跟哈内德先生说。”
26 And Mr. Harned came out, benign behind those enormous goggle glasses. "Well, Miss Chou, we've decided to take you on as a typist, at thirty-five dollars a month. To start Monday. Is that all right?"
哈内德先生走了出来，他戴着那副奇大的有色眼镜，看上去和颜悦色。“行，周小姐，我们决定聘用你当打字员，一个月35美元。星期一开始上班。行吗？”
27 I nodded, unable to speak. Had he said ten dollars I would have accepted.
我点了点头，话都说不出来。他即使说10美元我也会答应。
28 The kind secretary said: "Now take your time, and wipe your face. How old are you, by the way?"
那位好心的秘书说：“好了，别着急，擦擦脸。对了，你多大了？”
29 "Sixteen, nearly."
“16，快16了。”
30 "Is that all? Why my eldest is bigger than you, and she isn't through school yet. I told Mr. Harned you were shy and upset, and that's why you couldn't take dictation. He's all right, just takes getting used to, that's all."
“才16？瞧，我的大闺女都比你大，她还没毕业哪。我跟哈内德先生说了，你刚才是因害羞不安而没法做记录的。他挺不错的，只要慢慢习惯起来就行了。”
31 "I couldn't understand his English."
“我听不懂他说的英语。”
32 "Oh, you'll get used to it. Now, I won't be around on Monday, I'm going to have a baby. It's your letter that got them interested in you, you wrote such good English, better than all the other letters we've had. Mr. Harned will give you a try." She whispered, "I put in a good word for you."
“嗯，你会习惯的。好了，星期一我不来了，我要生孩子了。是你的信引起了他们对你的兴趣，你的英文写得真好，写得比我们收到的其他的信都好。哈内德先生要试试你。”她压低了声音说：“我帮你说了好话。”
33 "Thanks, thanks a lot, ... I need the money, I ..."
“谢谢，多谢了，…… 我需要钱，我……”
34 "Yes, dear, we know." Obviously she wanted her typewriter back, and her chair. I was still sitting on it. "Well, bye-bye for now; hope you enjoy yourself in this job. I've been here six months and I've enjoyed every minute. Don't let Mr. Harned worry you; he's really great, once you get used to him."
“是啊，孩子，我们明白。”显然她想坐回到自己的椅子里，回到打字机前。可我还坐在那张椅子上呢。“好了，再见了；但愿你喜欢这活儿。我在这儿干了六个月了，一直干得挺开心。别因为怕哈内德先生而发愁；他人真的挺好，只要你习惯了就行了。”
35 I had a job, had a job, had a job.
我有工作了，有工作了，有工作了。
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