Young Toots blushed again; and finding, from a solemn silence which prevailed, that he was expected to say something, said to Paul, ’How are you?’ in a voice so deep, and a manner so sheepish, that if a lamb had roared it couldn’t have been more surprising.

　　小图茨又脸红了。他发现周围一片肃静，大家正等着他说点什么，于是就对保罗说，“您好吗？”声音十分低沉，态度十分羞怯，因此如果一个小羊能吼叫的话，那么也不会比他更使人吃惊的了。

　　With that, Mrs Blimber, who was a lady of great suavity, and a wiry figure, and who wore a capcomposed of sky-blue materials, pied upstairs with Mr Dombey and Cornelia; Mrs Pipchin following, and looking out sharp for her enemy the footman.

　　布林伯夫人是一位十分和蔼有礼的女士，身材瘦削而结实，头上戴了一顶用蓝色材料做成的便帽；她说完之后，就跟董贝先生和科妮莉亚动身到搂上去，皮普钦夫人则跟在后面，眼光敏锐地往四处张望，在寻找她的敌人——那位男仆。

　　While they were gone, Paul sat upon the table, holding Florence by the hand, and glancing timidlyfrom the Doctor round and round the room, while the Doctor, leaning back in his chair, with his hand in his breast as usual, held a book from him at arm’s length, and read. There was something very awful in this manner of reading. It was such a determined, unimpassioned, inflexible, cold-blooded way of going to work. It left the Doctor’s countenance exposed to view; and when the Doctor smiled suspiciously at his author, or knit his brows, or shook his head and made wryfaces at him, as much as to say, ’Don’t tell me, Sir; I know better,’ it was terrific.

　　他们走了以后，保罗坐在桌子上，用手抓住弗洛伦斯，胆怯地看着博士，然后一遍又一遍地看着房间里的各处；博士则背靠着椅子，像平时一样地把一只手插进上衣的胸间，另一只手拿着一本书在读着，那书离他有一只胳膊的距离。这种读书态度中有一些很可怕的东西。这是坚决地、不动感情地、永不改变地、冷冷淡淡地从事工作的方式。它使博士的脸色显露出来。当博士怀着好意向作者微笑着，或者皱着眉头或摇摇头，向作者做着怪脸的时候，他好像是在说，“别跟我说了，老兄；我知道得比您更清楚，”这时他脸上的神色是可怕的。

　　Toots, too, had no business to be outside the door, ostentatiously examining the wheels in his watch, and counting his half-crowns. But that didn’t last long; for Doctor Blimber, happening to change the position of his tight plump legs, as if he were going to get up, Toots swiftly vanished, and appeared no more.

　　图茨站在门外，也没有什么事情好做，就炫耀地观察着他的表的齿轮，又数数半克朗一枚的硬币。但是时间没有过多久；因为当布林伯博士正好要换换他绷紧的肥腿的位置，仿佛要站起来的时候，图茨就迅速地溜掉，再也没有回来了。

　　Mr Dombey and his conductress were soon heard coming downstairs again, talking all the way; and presently they re-entered the Doctor’s study.

　　不久就听到董贝先生和他的向导一边谈着话，一边走下楼来：不一会儿他们就走进博士的书房。

　　’I hope, Mr Dombey,’ said the Doctor, laying down his book, ’that the arrangements meet yourapproval.’

　　“我希望，董贝先生，”博士放下书本，说道，“您会赞同我们所作的安排。”

　　’They are excellent, Sir,’ said Mr Dombey.

　　“安排得好极了，先生，”董贝先生说道。

　　’Very fair, indeed,’ said Mrs Pipchin, in a low voice; never disposed to give too muchencouragement.

　　“确实很不坏，”皮普钦太太说道，她决不肯给予过多的赞扬。

　　’Mrs Pipchin,’ said Mr Dombey, wheeling round, ’will, with your permission, Doctor and Mrs Blimber, visit Paul now and then.’

　　“布林伯博士和夫人。”董贝先生转过身来说道，“在您们的许可下，皮普钦太太将不时来看看保罗。”

　　’Whenever Mrs Pipchin pleases,’ observed the Doctor.

　　“皮普钦太太什么时候愿意来都行，”博士说道。

　　’Always happy to see her,’ said Mrs Blimber.

　　“永远高兴见到她，”布林伯夫人说道。

　　’I think,’ said Mr Dombey, ’I have given all the trouble I need, and may take my leave. Paul, my child,’ he went close to him, as he sat upon the table. ’Good-bye.’

　　“我想，”董贝先生说道，“我已给你们增添了不少麻烦，现在我可以走了。保罗，我的孩子，”因为保罗坐在桌子上，他就走到他的跟前，说道，“再见。”

　　’Good-bye, Papa.’

　　“再见，爸爸。”