《远大前程》第3章 给匹普的一次机会(15)

The rich Miss Havisham who lives all alone in the big house in town？asked Joe．

在镇上，独住一幢大宅里腰缠万贯的郝薇香小姐吗？乔问道。

There aren't any other Miss Havishams that I know of！

我所知道的没有第二个郝薇香小姐！

She wants a boy to go and play there．

她想要一个孩子到她那儿去玩玩。

She asked Uncle Pumblechook if he knew of anyone．And Uncle Pumblechook，thinking of us as he always does，suggested this boy．

她问起潘波趣舅舅是否有认识的小孩子，潘波趣舅舅总是先想到我们，提到了这个孩子。

And what's more，Uncle Pumblechook，realizing that this boy's fortune may be made by going to Miss Havisham's，has of-fered to take him into town tonight in his carriage，and let him sleep in his own house，and deliver him tomorrow to Miss Havisham's．

还有，潘波趣舅舅认识到郝薇香小姐可以给这个孩子带来好运。所以，今天晚上，用他的马车带他到镇上，让他睡在潘波趣舅舅家里，明天把他送到郝薇香小姐家里。

And just look！she cried，catching hold of me．Look at the dirt on this by！

瞧！她抓着我喊了起来，看看这个脏孩子！

I was washed from top to toe in Mrs Joe's usual violent¹ manner，and handed over，in my tightest² Sunday clothes，to Mr Pumblechook．

乔夫人以常用的粗暴手法给我从头到脚洗了洗澡，给我穿上最好的衣服，把我交给潘波趣先生。

In the carriage taking me into town，I cried a little．

我小声哭着，上了马车到了镇上。

I had never been away from Joe before，and I had no idea what was going to happen to me at Miss Havisham's．

以前我从来没有离开乔，对我来讲，在郝薇香小姐家将会发生什么，我不敢想。

Mr Pumblechook seemed to agree with my sister that I should be punished as much as possible，even when eating，and so for breakfast next morning he gave me a large piece of bread with very little butter，and a cup of warm water with very little milk，and insisted on checking my learning³．

潘波趣先生似乎赞成我姐姐想尽一切办法要惩罚的做法，甚至在吃饭时也不放过。所以，第二天吃早饭，他给我一大块面包，夹了一点点黄油，一杯温水加很少一点牛奶，并坚持检查我的学习。

What's seven and thirteen，boy？He continued testing me all through breakfast．And nine？And eleven？

7加13得几，孩子？整个早餐中，他不断地考我，加9？加 11？

So I was glad to arrive at Miss Havisham's house at about ten oclock．

大约10点时分，到达郝薇香小姐家，我很高兴。

It was a large house，made of old stone，and with iron⁴ bars on the windows．

那是一座宽大的住宅，用旧石所砌，窗户架有铁栏杆。

We rang the bell，and waited at the gate．Even then Mr Pumblechook said，And fourteen？but I pretended⁵ not to hear him．

我们按了门铃后，在门口耐心等候，潘波趣先生连这时也不放过，说：加14？不过，我假装没听见他说的什么。

Then a young lady came to open the gate，and let me in．Mr Pumblechook was following me when she stopped him．

接着，一位年轻的小姐过来打开了门，让我进去。潘波趣先生想跟着我进来，却被她阻止了。

1 violent   

adj.暴力的，猛烈的，激烈的，极端的，凶暴的，歪曲的

参考例句：

• The madman was violent and had to be locked up.这个精神病患者很凶暴，不得不把他锁起来。
• They caught him and gave him a violent beating.他们抓住了他，把他狠狠打了一顿。

2 tightest   

adj.紧的( tight的最高级 )；（安排）紧凑的；紧身的；严密的

参考例句：

• He could free himself from the tightest knots or locks in seconds. 他能在几秒钟内从最紧的绳索或锁中逃离出来。 来自英语晨读30分（高二）
• America's jet project was initiated under the tightest possible secrecy. 美国的喷气式飞机项目是在极尽可能秘密地情况下启动的。 来自互联网

3 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

4 iron   

n.铁，熨斗，坚强，烙铁，镣铐；vt.烫平，熨，用铁包；vi. 烫衣服

参考例句：

• The iron has lost its magnetic force.这块铁已失去了磁力。
• We need an electrician to mend the iron.我们要请电工修理熨斗。

5 pretended   

adj.假装的；徒有外表的；传说的；号称的v.假装( pretend的过去式和过去分词 )；伪装；（尤指儿童）（在游戏中）装扮；自诩

参考例句：

• He pretended that resigning was part of his long-term career strategy. 他假装辞职是他长远事业规划的一部分。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He politely pretended not to have heard this remark. 他有礼貌地假装没有听到这句话。 来自《简明英汉词典》