《简·爱》 Chapter 09 第九章（4）

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A shrewd, observant personage, whose society I took pleasure in, partly because she was witty¹ and original, and partly because she had a manner which set me at my ease.

这个人聪明伶俐，目光敏锐。我喜欢同她相处，一半是因为她机灵而有头脑，一半是因为她的神态使人感到无拘无束。

Some years older than I, she knew more of the world, and could tell me many things I liked to hear, with her my curiosity found gratification.

她比我大几岁，更了解世情，能告诉我很多我乐意听的东西，满足我的好奇心。

to my faults also she gave ample indulgence, never imposing² curb³ or rein⁴ on anything I said.

对我的缺陷她也能宽容姑息，从不对我说的什么加以干涉。

She had a turn for narrative⁵, I for analysis.

她擅长叙述，我善于分析。

she liked to inform, I to question.

她喜欢讲，我喜欢问。

so we got on swimmingly together, deriving⁶ much entertainment, if not much improvement, from our mutual⁷ intercourse⁸.

我们两个处得很融洽，就是得不到很大长进，也有不少乐趣。

And where, meantime, was Helen Burns?

与此同时，海伦.彭斯哪儿去了呢？

Why did I not spend these sweet days of liberty with her?

为什么我没有同她共度这些自由自在的舒心日子？

Had I forgotten her? Or was I so worthless as to have grown tired of her pure society?

是我把她忘了，还是我本人不足取，居然对她纯洁的交往感到了厌倦？

Surely the Mary Ann Wilson I have mentioned was inferior to my first acquaintance.

当然我所提及的玛丽.安.威尔逊要逊于我的第一位相识。

She could only tell me amusing stories, and reciprocate⁹ any racy and pungent¹⁰ gossip I chose to indulge in.

她只不过能给我讲些有趣的故事，回对一些我所津津乐道的辛辣活泼的闲聊。

While, if I have spoken truth of Helen, she was qualified¹¹ to give those who enjoyed the privilege of her converse¹² a taste of far higher things.

而海伦呢，要是我没有说错，她足以使有幸听她谈话的人品味到高级得多的东西。

True, reader, and I knew and felt this.

确实如此，读者，我明白，并感觉到了这一点。

And though I am a defective¹³ being, with many faults and few redeeming¹⁴ points,

尽管我是一个很有缺陷的人，毛病很多，长处很少，

yet I never tired of Helen Burns, nor ever ceased to cherish for her a sentiment of attachment¹⁵,

但我决不会嫌弃海伦，也不会不珍惜对她的亲情。

as strong, tender, and respectful as any that ever animated¹⁶ my heart.

这种亲情同激发我心灵的任何感情一样强烈，一样温柔，一样令人珍重。

How could it be otherwise, when Helen, at all times and under all circumstances, evinced for me a quiet and faithful friendship,

不论何时何地，海伦都向我证实了一种平静而忠实的友情，

which ill-humour never soured, nor irritation¹⁷ never troubled?

闹别扭或者发脾气都不会带来丝毫损害。

But Helen was ill at present.

可是海伦现在病倒了。

For some weeks she had been removed from my sight to I knew not what room upstairs.

她从我面前消失，搬到楼上的某一间房子，已经有好几周了。

She was not, I was told, in the hospital portion of the house with the fever patients, for her complaint was consumption, not typhus.

听说她不在学校的医院部同发烧病人在一起，因为她患的是肺病，不是斑疹伤寒。

And by consumption I, in my ignorance, understood something mild, which time and care would be sure to alleviate¹⁸.

在我幼稚无知的心灵中，认为肺病比较和缓，待以时日并悉心照料，肯定是可以好转的。

I was confirmed in this idea by the fact of her once or twice coming downstairs on very warm sunny afternoons, and being taken by Miss Temple into the garden.

我的想法得到了证实，因为她偶尔在风和日丽的下午下楼来，由坦普尔小姐带着步入花园。

But, on these occasions, I was not allowed to go and speak to her.

但在这种场合，她们不允许我上去同她说话。

I only saw her from the schoolroom window, and then not distinctly;

我只不过从教室的窗户中看到了她，而且又看不清楚，

for she was much wrapped up, and sat at a distance under the verandah.

因为她裹得严严实实，远远地坐在回廊上。

1 witty   

adj.机智的，风趣的

参考例句：

• Her witty remarks added a little salt to the conversation.她的妙语使谈话增添了一些风趣。
• He scored a bull's-eye in their argument with that witty retort.在他们的辩论中他那一句机智的反驳击中了要害。

2 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

5 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

6 deriving   

v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• I anticipate deriving much instruction from the lecture. 我期望从这演讲中获得很多教益。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He anticipated his deriving much instruction from the lecture. 他期望从这次演讲中得到很多教益。 来自辞典例句

7 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

8 intercourse   

n.性交；交流，交往，交际

参考例句：

• The magazine becomes a cultural medium of intercourse between the two peoples.该杂志成为两民族间文化交流的媒介。
• There was close intercourse between them.他们过往很密。

9 reciprocate   

v.往复运动；互换；回报，酬答

参考例句：

• Although she did not reciprocate his feelings, she did not discourage him.尽管她没有回应他的感情，她也没有使他丧失信心。
• Some day I will reciprocate your kindness to me.总有一天我会报答你对我的恩德。

10 pungent   

adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的

参考例句：

• The article is written in a pungent style.文章写得泼辣。
• Its pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them out of their hideouts.它的刺激性气味会令恐怖分子窒息，迫使他们从藏身地点逃脱出来。

11 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

12 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

13 defective   

adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的

参考例句：

• The firm had received bad publicity over a defective product. 该公司因为一件次品而受到媒体攻击。
• If the goods prove defective, the customer has the right to compensation. 如果货品证明有缺陷， 顾客有权索赔。

14 redeeming   

补偿的，弥补的

参考例句：

• I found him thoroughly unpleasant, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. 我觉得他一点也不讨人喜欢，没有任何可取之处。
• The sole redeeming feature of this job is the salary. 这份工作唯其薪水尚可弥补一切之不足。

15 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

16 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

17 irritation   

n.激怒，恼怒，生气

参考例句：

• He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
• Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说，但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。

18 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。