《远大前程》第4章 一份从陌生人那里来的礼品(7)

Go on，my love，she used to whisper in Estella's ear，break men's hearts and have no mercy！I want my revenge!

继续，宝贝，她在艾丝黛拉耳边用习惯的耳语说，打碎男人的心，决不仁慈手软！我要报仇雪恨！

Meanwhile my sister and that fool Pumblechook never stopped discussing Miss Havisham and her considerable wealth．

其间，我姐姐和傻瓜潘彼趣从来没有停止过讨论郝蔽香小姐和她可观的财富。

They were sure I could expect a large present from her，either before or after her death．

他们确信我能期望从她那儿，或死前或死后得到大量的赠品。

But one day Miss Havisham decided¹ it was time to apprentice² me to Joe，and told me to bring him to her house．

可是，一天郝获香小姐决定是我做乔的徒弟的时候了，还告诉我把他带到她家来。

My sister was very angry because she was not invited as well．

我姐姐很愤怒，因为也没有邀请她。

Dear old Joe simply could not believe his eyes when he and I entered Miss Havisham s room the next day．

第二天，当我和他进入郝证香小姐的房间时，

The darkness，the candles，the dust，the ancient furniture，the old lady in her bride's dress－it was almost too much for Joe's limited intelligence．

亲爱的老乔却不敢相信自己的眼睛，黑暗、蜡烛、尘土、陈旧的家具、穿着新娘衣着的老夫人—乔的有限智力几乎应接不暇。

That may be why he refused to speak to Miss Havisham directly，but spoke³ only to me during the conversation．

那可能是他为什么拒绝与郝薇香小姐直接说话，而在整个谈话中，他只冲着我讲话。

I was ashamed of him，especially as I could see Estella laughing at me over Miss Havisham's shoulder．

尤其是当我越过郝花香小姐的肩膀看到艾丝黛拉在嘲笑我的时候，我真为他感到羞耻。

So，began Miss Havisham，you，Joe Gargery，black－smith，are ready to take Pip as an apprentice？'

哦！郝薇香小姐开始说，你，乔·葛吉瑞，铁匠，准备收匹普当徒弟？

You know，Pip，replied Joe，how we've both been looking forward to working together．Haven't we，Pip？'

你知道，匹普，乔回答说，我们俩多么盼望能在一起干活，是吧？匹普。

You don't expect any payment when he becomes your ap－prentice？'she continued．

他当你的徒弟，你不想收费吗？她接着说。

Now，Pip，said Joe，rather offended，that question doesn't need an answer. Between you and me. Does it，Pip？

喂，匹普，乔特别伤感的说，这个问题不需要回答，你我之间还谈钱的事儿吗？匹普？

Miss Havisham looked kindly⁴ at Joe. I think she understood more of his character than Estella did．

郝薇香小姐友好地看着乔，我想她比艾丝黛拉更了解他的性格。

She picked up a little bag from the table．Pip has earned something here．There are twenty-five pounds in this bag .Give it to your master，Pip．

她从桌子上拿起一个小袋子，匹普在这里挣的工钱，这个袋子里有25英镑，匹普，把钱给你的师傅。

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 apprentice   

n.学徒，徒弟

参考例句：

• My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
• The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。