《简·爱》 Chapter 10 第十章（7）

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The next day she laid the affair before Mr. Brocklehurst,

第二天，她向布罗克赫斯特先生提出了这件事，

who said that Mrs. Reed must be written to, as she was my natural guardian¹.

而他说必须写信通知里德太太，因为她是我的当然监护人。

A note was accordingly addressed to that lady, who returned for answer, that I might do as I pleased.

结果便向那位太太发了封简函。她回信说，一切悉听尊便。

She had long relinquished² all interference in my affairs.

她已久不干预我的事务了。

This note went the round of the committee, and at last,

这封信函在委员会里传阅，

after what appeared to me most tedious delay, formal leave was given me to better my condition if I could.

并经过了在我看来是极其今人厌烦的拖延后，我终于得到了正式许可，在可能情况下改善自己的处境。

And an assurance added, that as I had always conducted myself well, both as teacher and pupil, at Lowood,

附带还保证，由于我在罗沃德当教师和当学生时，一向表现很好，

a testimonial of character and capacity, signed by the inspectors³ of that institution, should forthwith be furnished me.

为此即将为我提供一份由学校督导签字的品格和能力证明书。

This testimonial I accordingly received in about a month, forwarded a copy of it to Mrs. Fairfax,

大约一周以后，我收到了这份证明，抄寄了一份给费尔法克斯太太，

and got that lady's reply, stating that she was satisfied,

并得到了那位太太的回复，说是对我感到满意，

and fixing that day fortnight as the period for my assuming the post of governess in her house.

并定于两周后我去那位太太家担任家庭教师。

I now busied myself in preparations:

现在我忙于作准备了。

The fortnight passed rapidly.

两周时间一晃而过。

I had not a very large wardrobe, though it was adequate to my wants;

我的衣装不多，只是够穿罢了。

And the last day sufficed to pack my trunk, the same I had brought with me eight years ago from Gateshead.

最后一天也完全够我整理箱子，还是八年前从盖茨黑德带来的那一只。

The box was corded, the card nailed on.

箱子已用绳子捆好，贴上了标签。

In half-an-hour the carrier was to call for it to take it to Lowton,

半小时之后有脚夫来把它取走，送往洛顿，

whither I myself was to repair at an early hour the next morning to meet the coach.

我自己则第二天一早要赶到那里去等公共马车。

I had brushed my black stuff travelling-dress, prepared my bonnet⁴, gloves, and muff.

我刷好了我的黑呢旅行装，备好帽子、手套和皮手筒。

Sought in all my drawers to see that no article was left behind.

把所有的抽屉翻了一遍，免得丢下什么东西。

And now having nothing more to do, I sat down and tried to rest.

此刻，我已无事可做，便想坐下来休息一下。

I could not; though I had been on foot all day, I could not now repose⁵ an instant.

但我做不到，尽管我已奔忙了一整天，却一刻也无法休息。

I was too much excited.

我太兴奋了。

A phase of my life was closing tonight, a new one opening tomorrow.

我生活的一个阶段今晚就要结束，明天将开始一个新的阶段。

Impossible to slumber⁶ in the interval⁷; I must watch feverishly⁸ while the change was being accomplished⁹.

在两者的间隙，我难以入睡，我必须满腔热情地观看这变化的完成。

"Miss," said a servant who met me in the lobby,

“小姐，”一个在门厅碰到我的仆人说。

where I was wandering like a troubled spirit, "a person below wishes to see you."

这会儿我正像一个不安的幽灵似地在那里徘徊，“楼下有个人要见你。

"The carrier, no doubt," I thought, and ran downstairs without inquiry¹⁰.

“准是脚夫，”我想，问也没问一声就奔下了楼去。

I was passing the back-parlour or teachers' sitting-room¹¹, the door of which was half open, to go to the kitchen,

我正经过半开着的后客厅，也就是教师休息室，向厨房走去，

when some one ran out:"It's her, I am sure! — I could have told her anywhere!"

有人却从里面跑了出来：“准是她！在哪儿我都认得出她来！”

cried the individual who stopped my progress and took my hand.

那人拦住我，一把抓过我的手叫道。

I looked. I saw a woman attired¹² like a well-dressed servant, matronly,

我定睛一看，见是一个少妇，穿戴得像一个衣着讲究的仆人，一付已婚妇女模样，

yet still young, very good-looking, with black hair and eyes, and lively complexion¹³.

却不失年轻漂亮，头发和眸子乌黑，脸色红润。

1 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

2 relinquished   

交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃

参考例句：

• She has relinquished the post to her cousin, Sir Edward. 她把职位让给了表弟爱德华爵士。
• The small dog relinquished his bone to the big dog. 小狗把它的骨头让给那只大狗。

3 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 bonnet   

n.无边女帽；童帽

参考例句：

• The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。
• She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。

5 repose   

v.(使)休息；n.安息

参考例句：

• Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。
• Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑，即使在睡眠时也是这样。

6 slumber   

n.睡眠，沉睡状态

参考例句：

• All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
• Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒，因为他需要休息。

7 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

8 feverishly   

adv. 兴奋地

参考例句：

• Feverishly he collected his data. 他拼命收集资料。
• The company is having to cast around feverishly for ways to cut its costs. 公司迫切须要想出各种降低成本的办法。

9 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

10 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

11 sitting-room   

n.（BrE）客厅，起居室

参考例句：

• The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
• Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

12 attired   

adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bride was attired in white. 新娘穿一身洁白的礼服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is appropriate that everyone be suitably attired. 人人穿戴得体是恰当的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 complexion   

n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格

参考例句：

• Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
• Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。