在几分钟(对坐在桌子上的小保罗·董贝来说,这似乎是一段无穷无尽的时间)之后,布林伯博士回来了。博士的步伐庄严,有意使那颗幼稚的心灵留下严肃的感觉。这类乎一种行军;但是当博士伸出他的右脚的时候,他沉着地围绕着他的脊椎轴心,以半圆形的拐步转向左脚;而当他伸出左脚的时候,他又以同样的姿态转向右脚。因此,他每迈出一步,似乎都要看一下周围,仿佛在说,“有谁肯行个好,向我指出,有哪个学科,在哪个方向,我还没有得到知识的?我想未必有吧。”
Mrs Blimber and Miss Blimber came back in the Doctor’s company; and the Doctor, lifting his new pupil off the table, delivered him over to Miss Blimber.
布林伯夫人和布林伯小姐跟布林伯博士一道回来。博士把他新来的小学生从桌子上举出以后,把他交给了布林伯小姐。
’Cornelia,’ said the Doctor, ’Dombey will be your charge at first. Bring him on, Cornelia, bring him on.’
“科妮莉亚,”博士说道,“董贝首先交给你管。培养他吧,科妮莉亚,培养他吧。”
Miss Blimber received her young ward from the Doctor’s hands; and Paul, feeling that the spectacles were surveying him, cast down his eyes.
布林伯小姐从博士的手中接过了她年幼的弟子;保罗觉得那副眼镜正在打量他,就低下了眼睛。
’How old are you, Dombey?’ said Miss Blimber.
“您几岁了,董贝?”布林伯小姐问道。
’Six,’ answered Paul, wondering, as he stole a glance at the young lady, why her hair didn’t grow long like Florence’s, and why she was like a boy.
“六岁,”保罗回答道。当他偷偷地向这位小姐看一眼的时候,他奇怪,她的头发为什么不像弗洛伦斯的那么长,她又为什么像一个男孩子。
’How much do you know of your Latin Grammar, Dombey?’ said Miss Blimber.
“您对拉丁语语法知道多少,董贝?”布林伯小姐问道。
’None of it,’ answered Paul. Feeling that the answer was a shock to Miss Blimber’s sensibility, he looked up at the three faces that were looking down at him, and said:
“一点也不知道,”保罗回答道。他觉得这个回答在布林伯小姐的感觉上引起了震惊,因此就抬起头来望着那些俯视着他的脸孔,说道:
’I have’n’t been well. I have been a weak child. I couldn’t learn a Latin Grammar when I was out, every day, with old Glubb. I wish you’d tell old Glubb to come and see me, if you please.’’What a dreadfully low name’ said Mrs Blimber. ’Unclassical to a degree! Who is the monster, child?’
“我的身体不好。我是个虚弱的孩子。我每天跟老格拉布出去的时候,我不能学拉丁语语法。劳驾您告诉老格拉布来看看我。”“多么可怕的粗俗的姓名!”布林伯夫人说道。“一丁点古典的味道也没有!这个妖怪是谁,孩子?”
’What monster?’ inquired Paul.
“什么妖怪?”保罗问道。
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