铜山毛榉案 18来到铜山毛榉(3)

"I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they seem to you to be relevant or not."

"你所谈的全部细节我都乐意听取，"我的朋友说，"不管你认为它们与你有无关系。"

"I shall try not to miss anything of importance.

"我尽量不让任何重要的环节漏掉。

The one unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the appearance and conduct of the servants.

这个屋子使我立刻感到最不愉快的就是仆人们的外表和行为。

There are only two, a man and his wife.

这家人只有两个仆人，一个男人和他的女人。

Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, uncouth¹ man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual smell of drink.

托勒是男的名字，粗鲁笨拙，灰白的头发和连鬓胡子，并且永远是那么酒气熏人。

Twice since I have been with them he has been quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it.

有两次我和他们在一起的时候，他就醉得很厉害，然而鲁卡斯尔先生似乎视若无睹，满不在乎。

His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable².

他的老婆是一个高个子的强壮女人，面目可憎，和鲁卡斯尔太太一样沉默寡言，但远不如她和气。

They are a most unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the nursery and my own room,

他们夫妻俩是最令人讨厌的一对配偶，但幸运的是我大部分时间是在保育室和我自己的房间里，

which are next to each other in one corner of the building.

这两间房间是毗连的，都在这屋子的一个角落里。

For two days after my arrival at the Copper³ Beeches⁴ my life was very quiet;

我到铜山毛榉后，开头两天生活很安静。

on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after breakfast and whispered something to her husband.

第三天，鲁卡斯尔太太早餐后下楼来，低声地和她丈夫说了些什么。

'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims⁵ so far as to cut your hair.

'啊，是的，'他转向我，'我们十分感谢你，亨特小姐，因为你迁就了我们的癖好而将头发剪掉。

I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest iota⁶ from your appearance.

我向你保证这丝毫无损于你的容貌。

We shall now see how the electric-blue dress will become you.

我们现在来看一看你穿铁蓝色服装合适不合适。

You will find it laid out upon the bed in your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should both be extremely obliged.'"

这件衣服放在你房间的床上，你可以在那里看到它，如果你肯把它穿上，那我们两人都十分感谢你。'"

1 uncouth   

adj.无教养的，粗鲁的

参考例句：

• She may embarrass you with her uncouth behavior.她的粗野行为可能会让你尴尬。
• His nephew is an uncouth young man.他的侄子是一个粗野的年轻人。

2 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

3 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

4 beeches   

n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 )；山毛榉木材

参考例句：

• The beeches, oaks and chestnuts all belong to the same family. 山毛榉树、橡树和栗子树属于同科树种。 来自互联网
• There are many beeches in this wood. 这片树林里有许多山毛榉。 来自互联网

5 WHIMS   

虚妄，禅病

参考例句：

• The mate observed regretfully that he could not account for that young fellow's whims. 那位伙伴很遗憾地说他不能说出那年轻人产生怪念头的原因。
• The rest she had for food and her own whims. 剩下的钱她用来吃饭和买一些自己喜欢的东西。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

6 iota   

n.些微，一点儿

参考例句：

• There is not an iota of truth in his story.他的故事没有一点是真的。
• He's never shown an iota of interest in any kind of work.他从来没有对任何工作表现出一点儿兴趣。