《远大前程》第8章 拜访文米克先生和贾格斯先生(3)

Here's Mr Pip，aged¹ parent． Nod your head at him，Mr Pip，he's completely² deaf，but he likes to see people nod at him．

这是匹普先生，老父亲。向他点点你的头，匹普，他完全耳聋。但是，他喜欢看到人们向他点头。

This is a fine house of my son's，sir，cried the old man，nodding back at me．It should be kept by the nation for the public to visit after my son's death．

这是我儿子雅致的房子，先生。老人喊着，向我回敬着点头，我儿子死后，这座房子会被国家保存起来，供人们参观。

You're proud of it，aren't you，Aged？said Wemmick，his face losing all its usual hardness as he looked at the old man．

你为这座房子感到自豪，对吗？老父亲。文米克说，当他看着老人时，以往脸上冷冰冰的表情悄然失散。

I hope Mr Jaggers admires your home，Mr Wemmick？ I asked．

我希望贾格斯先生羡慕你的家，文米克先生？我说。

He's never been here． Never met the Aged．Never been invited． No，the office is one thing，and private life is another．

他从不来这儿，从不见这位老人，从不拜访。不，事务所是一码事，而个人的生活是另一码事。

At the office I never speak of the Castle，and at the Castle I don't think about the office．

在事务所，我从来不提这座城堡的事，而在这座城堡里，我不考虑事务所的事。

The Aged was obviously³ looking forward to the evening ceremony of firing the gun．

显而易见，这位老人正盼望着晚上的开枪仪式。

At nine oclock exactly Wemmick fired it．As the tiny house shook，the Aged jumped up and down in his armchair，crying excitedly，I heard it！That's the gun！

在9点钟，文米克确实开枪。当这座小房子振动时，这位老人在椅子上跳上跳下，兴高采烈地叫喊着，我听到了！那是枪声！

Supper was excellent，and I spent the night in the smallest bedroom I had ever seen．

晚餐极丰盛，我在从未见过的最小的就寝房间里消磨了这一夜。

Next morning，as Wemmick and I walked back to London，I noticed his face becoming dryer⁴ and harder，and his mouth becoming more like a post-box again．

第二天早晨，当我和文米克走回伦敦时，我发现他的脸又干又硬，他的嘴又变得像一个邮箱。

When we arrived at the office，nobody could have guessed that he had a home，or an aged parent，or any interests at all out－side his work．

当我们到达事务所，没有人能猜到他有一个家，或一位老父亲，或他工作之外的许多乐趣。

Wemmick was right in saying that Mr Jaggers would invite me to dinner． Startop，Drummle，Herbert and I were asked to go to the office at six oclock the next evening．

文米克说贾格斯先生将邀我吃晚饭是对的。第二天晚上6点钟，史达多蒲、朱穆尔、赫伯特和我被叫到事务所。

1 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

2 completely   

adv.完全地，十分地，全然

参考例句：

• She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
• I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。

3 obviously   

adv.显然；明白地

参考例句：

• Obviously they were putting him to a severe test.显然他们是在给他以严峻的考验。
• Obviously he was lying.显然他是在撒谎。

4 dryer   

n.干衣机，干燥剂

参考例句：

• He bought a dryer yesterday.他昨天买了一台干燥机。
• There is a washer and a dryer in the basement.地下室里有洗衣机和烘干机。