The next morning, I'd ferry across the river to Pukou，and，from there，catch an afternoon train for Beijing.

 

第二日上午便须渡江到浦口，下午上车北去。

Father said he was too busy to go and see me off at the railway station, but would ask a hotel waiter that he knew to accompany me there instead.

父亲因为事忙，本已说定不送我，叫旅馆里一个熟识的茶房陪我同去。

He urged the waiter again and again to take good care of me, but still did not quite trust him.

他再三嘱咐茶房，甚是仔细。

He hesitated for quite a while about what to do.

但他还是不放心，怕茶房不妥帖；颇鋳躇了一会。

As a matter of fact, nothing would matter at all because I was already twenty then and had gone to Beijing quite a few times.

其实我那年已二十岁，北京已来往过两三次，是没有什么要紧的了。

After some wavering, he finally decided that he himself would accompany me to the station.

他踌躇了一会，终于决定还是自己送我去。

I repeatedly tried to talk him out of it, but he only said, never mind!

我再三回劝他 不必去；他只说：不要紧，

It won't be comfortable for them to go there!

他们去不好！

We entered the railway station after crossing the river.

我们过了江，进了车站。

While I was at the booking office buying a ticket, father saw to my luggage.

我买票，他忙着照顾行李。

There was quite a bit of luggage and he had to bargain with the porter over the fee.

行李太多了，得向脚夫行些小费，才可过去。他便又忙着和他们讲价钱。

I was then such a smart-aleck that I frowned upon the way father was haggling and on the verge of chipping in a few words when the bargain was finally clinched.

我那时真是聪明过分，总觉他说话不大漂亮，非自己插嘴不可。

Getting on the train with me, he picked me a seat close to the carriage door.

但他终于讲定了价钱，就送我上车。他给我拣定了靠车门的一张椅子；

I put on the brownish fur-lined overcoat he had tailor-made for me.

我将他给我做的紫毛大衣铺好座位。

He told me to be watchful on the way and I be careful not to catch cold at night.

他嘱我路上小心，夜里要警醒些，不要受凉。

He also asked the train attendants to take good care of me.

又嘱托茶房好好照应我。

I sniggered at father for being so impractical for it was utterly useless to entrust me to those attendants, who cared for nothing but money.

我心里暗笑他的迂；他们只认得钱，托他们真是白托！