Paul had sunk into a sweet sleep, and dreamed that he was walking hand in hand with Florence through beautiful gardens, when they came to a large sunflower which suddenly expanded itself into a gong, and began to sound. Opening his eyes, he found that it was a dark, windy morning, with a drizzling rain: and that the real gong was giving dreadful note of preparation, down in the hall.
保罗沉浸在甜蜜的睡眠中,并梦见他与弗洛伦斯手挽手地穿过一些美丽的花园;当他们走向一朵大的向日葵时,它突然扩大成了一面锣,开始响出声来。他睁开眼睛,看到这是个黑暗的、刮风的早晨,下着蒙蒙细雨;真正的锣正在楼下前厅中发出可怕的声音,通知大家,是准备上课的时候了。
So he got up directly, and found Briggs with hardly any eyes, for nightmare and grief had made his face puffy, putting his boots on: while Tozer stood shivering and rubbing his shoulders in a very bad humour. Poor Paul couldn't dress himself easily, not being used to it, and asked them if they would have the goodness to tie some strings for him; but as Briggs merely said 'Bother!' and Tozer, 'Oh yes!' he went down when he was otherwise ready, to the next storey, where he saw a pretty young woman in leather gloves, cleaning a stove. The young woman seemed surprised at his appearance, and asked him where his mother was. When Paul told her she was dead, she took her gloves off, and did what he wanted; and furthermore rubbed his hands to warm them; and gave him a kiss; and told him whenever he wanted anything of that sort - meaning in the dressing way - to ask for 'Melia; which Paul, thanking her very much, said he certainly would. He then proceeded softly on his journey downstairs, towards the room in which the young gentlemen resumed their studies, when, passing by a door that stood ajar, a voice from within cried, 'Is that Dombey?' On Paul replying, 'Yes, Ma'am:' for he knew the voice to be Miss Blimber's: Miss Blimber said, 'Come in, Dombey.' And in he went. Miss Blimber presented exactly the appearance she had presented yesterday, except that she wore a shawl. Her little light curls were as crisp as ever, and she had already her spectacles on, which made Paul wonder whether she went to bed in them. She had a cool little sitting-room of her own up there, with some books in it, and no fire But Miss Blimber was never cold, and never sleepy.
因此他就立即起床,并看到布里格斯正在穿靴子,他的脸孔由于梦魔与痛苦的缘故肿胀起来,因此连眼睛都几乎看不到了;托泽则心情很不好地站在那里颤抖,并搓着肩膀。可怜的保罗由于不习惯,自己穿衣服不容易,就问他们是否能行个好,帮他系一些带子;可是布里格斯只是说了声“讨厌!”托泽也说,“啊,是真讨厌!”所以他就胡乱潦草地把衣服穿好,走到下面的一层;他在那里看到一位漂亮的年轻女人戴着皮手套,正在打扫火炉。那位年轻女人看到他这副样子,似乎感到吃惊,问他的母亲在哪里。当保罗告诉他,她已经死了;她就脱下手套,做了他需要做的事情,并搓搓他的手,使它们暖和起来,又吻了他一下,告诉他,不论什么时候他需要做那一类事情——指穿衣服——,那么就请喊一下“梅莉亚”;保罗非常感谢她,说他一定会那样做的。然后他轻轻地继续往楼下走去,走向那间年轻的先生们重新开始学习的房间;当他经过一扇半开半掩的门时,里面有一个声音喊道,“那是董贝吗?”保罗回答道,“是的,夫人;”因为他知道那是布林伯小姐的声音,布林伯小姐说,“请进来,董贝!”他就走进去了。布林伯小姐的外表就跟她昨天的外表完全一样,所不同的只是她披了一条披肩。她那短而浅色的卷发像过去一样蜷曲;她也早已戴上眼镜,保罗心中暗想,她上床睡觉时是不是戴着它们。她自己有一间凉爽的起居室,里面有一些书,却没有火炉。但是布林伯小姐从来不冷,也从来没有睡意。
Now, Dombey,' said Miss Blimber, 'I am going out for a constitutional.'
“现在,董贝,”布林伯小姐说道,“我出去搞点健身运动。”
Paul wondered what that was, and why she didn't send the footman out to get it in such unfavourable weather. But he made no observation on the subject: his attention being devoted to a little pile of new books, on which Miss Blimber appeared to have been recently engaged.
保罗不知道那是什么,心中纳闷,天气这样不好,她为什么不派个仆人去搞。但是他在这个问题上没有发表什么意见,因为他的注意力已集中到一小堆新书上,看来布林伯小姐最近正在研究它们。
'These are yours, Dombey,' said Miss Blimber.
“这些都是您的书,董贝,”布林伯小姐说道。