Doctor Blimber inclined his head, in gentle tolerance of such insignificant poaching as Mrs Pipchin’s, and said he was glad to hear it. It was much more satisfactory, he observed, rubbing his hands, to begin at the foundation. And again he leered at Paul, as if he would have liked to tacklehim with the Greek alphabet, on the spot.

　　布林伯博士对皮普钦太太这种毫不足取的侵犯温和地表示容忍，低下头说道，他很高兴听到这一点。他搓搓手说，在这个基础上开始是非常令人满意的。然后他又斜眼瞅着保罗，仿佛他很想当场就跟他聊聊希腊字母似的。

　　’That circumstance, indeed, Doctor Blimber,’ pursued Mr Dombey, glancing at his little son, ’and the interview I have already had the pleasure of holding with you, renders any furtherexplanation, and consequently, any further intrusion on your valuable time, so unnecessary, that - ’

　　“这样一种情况，布林伯博士，”董贝向他的小儿子看了一眼，继续说道，“加上我又有幸跟您进行过会晤，因此我确实就不必要再作进一步的说明来侵占您宝贵的时间了，所以——”

　　’Now, Miss Dombey!’ said the acid Pipchin.

　　“好了，董贝小姐”！皮普钦尖刻地说道。

　　’Permit me,’ said the Doctor, ’one moment. Allow me to present Mrs Blimber and my daughter; who will be associated with the domestic life of our young Pilgrim to Parnassus Mrs Blimber,’ for the lady, who had perhaps been in waiting, opportunely entered, followed by her daughter, that fair Sexton in spectacles, ’Mr Dombey. My daughter Cornelia, Mr Dombey. Mr Dombey, my love,’ pursued the Doctor, turning to his wife, ’is so confiding as to - do you see our little friend?’

　　“请允许我再耽搁你们一会儿，”博士说道，“请允许我介绍一下布林伯夫人和我的女儿，她们将与我们前往帕纳萨斯①参拜的年轻人的家庭生活有关。这是布林伯夫人，”那位可能一直在等待着的夫人及时地走了进来，后面跟着她的女儿，那位戴着眼镜的美丽的掘墓的教堂司事②；“这是董贝先生。这是我的女儿科妮莉亚，董贝先生。我亲爱的，”博士转向他的妻子，继续说道，“董贝先生对我们十分信任，因此——你看到我们的小朋友了吗？”

　　Mrs Blimber, in an excess of politeness, of which Mr Dombey was the object, apparently did not, for she was backing against the little friend, and very much endangering his position on the table. But, on this hint, she turned to admire his classical and intellectual lineaments, and turning again to Mr Dombey, said, with a sigh, that she envied his dear son.

　　布林伯夫人原先只把董贝先生作为她那过分的礼貌的目标，显然没有看到这位小朋友，因为她背对着他，对他在桌子上的地位造成很大的危险。但是，她听到这句暗示的话以后，就转过身去欣赏他的面貌中古典的与智慧的特色，然后又转回来，叹了一口气，对董贝先生说，她羡慕他的亲爱的儿子。

　　’Like a bee, Sir,’ said Mrs Blimber, with uplifted eyes, ’about to plunge into a garden of the choicest flowers, and sip the sweets for the first time Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Terence, Plautus, Cicero. What a world of honey have we here. It may appear remarkable, Mr Dombey, in one who is a wife - the wife of such a husband - ’

　　“像一只蜜蜂一样，先生，”布林伯夫人抬起眼睛，说道，“就将飞进一个盛开着最美好的花朵的花园里，头一次去领略那芳甜的滋味。维吉尔③，贺拉斯④，奥维德⑤，泰伦斯⑥，普劳图斯⑦，西塞罗。我们这里拥有一个什么样的蜜的世界呀。董贝先生，一个妻子说这些话也许看来是令人惊异的，这样一位丈夫的妻子——”

　　’Hush, hush,’ said Doctor Blimber. ’Fie for shame.’

　　“别说了，别说了，”布林伯博士说道。“真不害羞。”

　　’Mr Dombey will forgive the partiality of a wife,’ said Mrs Blimber, with an engaging smile.

　　“董贝先生会原谅一位妻子的偏心的，”布林伯夫人露着迷人的微笑，说道。 ------- ①帕纳萨斯（Parnassus）：希腊中部的山峰，传说为太阳神阿波罗及诗神缪斯的灵地。 ②教堂司事（Sexton）：教堂司事，担任教堂内外管理、敲钟、墓地等工作，这里是把布林伯小姐比做一位“掘墓人”。 ③维吉尔（拉丁语全名为PubliusVirgiliusMaro，英译名为Virgil，公元前70—19年）：古罗马著名诗人。 ④贺拉斯（拉丁语全名为QuintusHoratiusFlacus，英译名为Horace，公元前65—8年）：古罗马著名诗人。 ⑤奥维德（拉丁语全名为PubliusOvidiusNaso，英译名为Ovid，公元前48—17？年）：古罗马著名诗人。 ⑥泰伦斯（拉丁语全名为PubliusTerentiniusAfer，英译名为Terence，公元前186A185—159？年）：古罗马著名喜剧作家。 ⑦普劳图斯（拉丁语全名为TitusMaccusPlautus，英译名为Plautus，公元前254？—184年）：古罗马著名喜剧作家。

　　注释：associate vi. 交往；结交

　　n. 同事，伙伴；关联的事物

　　vt. 联想；使联合；使发生联系

　　adj. 副的；联合的

　　[ 过去式associated 过去分词associated 现在分词associating ]

　　例句：

　　(1) He is my business associate .

　　他是我的生意合伙人。

　　(2) Never associate with bad companions.

　　千万不要与坏人为伍。

　　(3) Remember that associate I told you about?

　　还记得我跟你提过的。那个合伙人吗？

　　(4) I only associate with good decent fellows.

　　我只和正派的好人交往。

　　(5) They associate yellow, too, with happiness.

　　他们也把黄色与幸福联系在一起。

　　(6) Even an associate professor has to suffer insult!

　　做了副教授还要受糟蹋。

　　(7) People often associate their country with mother.

　　人们经常将祖国与母亲联系在一起。

　　(9) I like to associate her with the girl whom I love.

　　总爱把她和我爱的女孩联系在一起！

　　excess n. 超过，超额；过度，过量；无节制

　　adj. 额外的，过量的；附加的

　　[ 复数excesses ]

　　例句：

　　(1) May also be due to excess heat.

　　也有可能是因为特别热。

　　(2) Excess carbon in the atmosphere?

　　大气中的碳过多了吗？

　　(3) Never spend in excess of your income.

　　花钱切不可超过自己的收入。

　　(4) This wave of excess density is sound.

　　这种过剩密度的波就是声波。

　　(5) Do I still pay excess baggage as well?

　　还需要为超重行李付费么？

　　(6) To get the excess water off your hair.

　　要将头发上多余的水弄掉。

　　(7) It would export excess supply, instead.

　　相反，它将输出过度的供应。

　　(8) For life, which in its weakness or excess.

　　要温和，要怜惜弱者，要敬畏生命。