铜山毛榉案 09当事人到访(6)

"Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings¹ and found little enough in the cupboard,

"唔，福尔摩斯先生，我回到寓所，打开食橱，见里面已经没有隔宿之粮了，

and two or three bills upon the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very foolish thing.

桌子上又放着两三张索款单，这时我开始自问是不是做了一件很愚蠢的事。

After all, if these people had strange fads² and expected obedience³ on the most extraordinary matters,

毕竟，如果这些人有奇怪的癖好而又希望别人顺从他们这种最异乎寻常的要求，

they were at least ready to pay for their eccentricity⁴.

那么，他们至少是准备为他们的怪癖付出代价的。

Very few governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year.

在英国家庭女教师能够得到一年一百镑的薪水是罕见的。

Besides, what use was my hair to me?

再说，我的头发对我有什么用？

Many people are improved by wearing it short, and perhaps I should be among the number.

好多人把头发剪短以后都显得更精神了，也许我也应把头发剪短。

Next day I was inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after I was sure of it.

第二天，我想我大概是错了，再过一天我肯定自己是错了。

I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open

在我几乎要克服我的傲气、重新前往介绍所询问那个位置是否依然空着的时候，

when I received this letter from the gentleman himself.

我接到那位先生写来的亲笔信。

I have it here, and I will read it to you.

我把它带来了，我这就念给你听。

The Copper⁵ Beeches⁶, near Winchester. Dear Miss Hunter:

温切斯特附近，铜山毛榉。亲爱的亨特小姐：

Miss Stoper has very kindly⁷ given me your address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have reconsidered your decision.

承蒙斯托珀小姐的好意将你的地址告诉了我，所以我从这里写信问你是否重新考虑过你的决定。

My wife is very anxious that you should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you.

我的妻子急切盼望你能来临，因为我对你的描述对她产生了很大的吸引力。

We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a year,

我们情愿每季度给你三十英镑，也就是一年一百二十英镑，

so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which our fads may cause you.

用以补偿因为我们的癖好可能给你带来的小小不便。

They are not very exacting⁸, after all.

毕竟这些要求对你并非过于苛刻。

My wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue, and would like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning.

我的妻子偏爱特别深的铁蓝色，并希望你在早晨于室内穿着这种颜色的服装。

You need not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one,

然而你并不需要自己花钱购置，

as we have one belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which would, I should think, fit you very well.

因为我们有一件原为我们亲爱的女儿艾丽丝（现在美国费城）所有的衣服，据我看这件衣服对你是很合身的。

Then, as to sitting here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that need cause you no inconvenience.

其次，至于坐在这里或那里，或者按照指定的方式来消遣，这将不致于使你感到有何不便。

As regards your hair, it is no doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty during our short interview,

关于你的头发，这无疑是令人可惜的，特别是在和你短暂的会见时我就不禁为它的如此美丽而大为赞赏，

but I am afraid that I must remain firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary may recompense you for the loss.

但是我恐怕必须坚持这一点，唯一希望增加的薪水也许足以补偿你的损失。

Your duties, as far as the child is concerned, are very light.

至于照管孩子方面的职责，那是很轻松的。

Now do try to come, and I shall meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train.

望你务必前来，我将乘马车到温切斯特来接你。请通知我你乘坐的火车班次。

Yours faithfully, Jephro Rucastle."

你的忠实的杰夫罗·鲁卡斯尔。

1 lodgings   

n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍

参考例句：

• When he reached his lodgings the sun had set. 他到达公寓房间时，太阳已下山了。
• I'm on the hunt for lodgings. 我正在寻找住所。

2 fads   

n.一时的流行，一时的风尚( fad的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It was one of the many fads that sweep through mathematics regularly. 它是常见的贯穿在数学中的许多流行一时的风尚之一。 来自辞典例句
• Lady Busshe is nothing without her flights, fads, and fancies. 除浮躁、时髦和幻想外，巴歇夫人一无所有。 来自辞典例句

3 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

4 eccentricity   

n.古怪，反常，怪癖

参考例句：

• I can't understand the eccentricity of Henry's behavior.我不理解亨利的古怪举止。
• His eccentricity had become legendary long before he died.在他去世之前他的古怪脾气就早已闻名遐尔了。

5 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

6 beeches   

n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 )；山毛榉木材

参考例句：

• The beeches, oaks and chestnuts all belong to the same family. 山毛榉树、橡树和栗子树属于同科树种。 来自互联网
• There are many beeches in this wood. 这片树林里有许多山毛榉。 来自互联网

7 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。

8 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。