I was going out at my door on the morning after that deplorable day of headache, sickness, and repentance, with an odd confusion in my mind relative to the date of my dinner-party, as if a body of Titans had taken an enormous lever and pushed the day before yesterday some months back, when I saw a ticket-porter coming upstairs, with a letter in his hand. —
我在那个可悲的头痛、生病和后悔之日的早晨走出门去，脑子里对我的晚宴日期感到一种奇怪的混乱，仿佛一群泰坦巨人拿着巨大的杠杆，把前天推迟了几个月，就在这时，我看见一个搬运工拿着一封信上楼来。 —

He was taking his time about his errand, then; —
他在慢慢地办他的事情， —

but when he saw me on the top of the staircase, looking at him over the banisters, he swung into a trot, and came up panting as if he had run himself into a state of exhaustion.
但当他看见我在楼梯顶上向他望来，他突然加快脚步，喘着粗气地上来，仿佛自己跑得筋疲力尽。

’T. Copperfield, Esquire,’ said the ticket-porter, touching his hat with his little cane.
’T. Copperfield 先生，’ 票务员用他的小手杖轻轻触帽说。

I could scarcely lay claim to the name: I was so disturbed by the conviction that the letter came from Agnes. However, I told him I was T. Copperfield, Esquire, and he believed it, and gave me the letter, which he said required an answer. —
我几乎不能确认这个名字是我的，因为我被信件来自阿格尼丝的信念所困扰。 —

I shut him out on the landing to wait for the answer, and went into my chambers again, in such a nervous state that I was fain to lay the letter down on my breakfast table, and familiarize myself with the outside of it a little, before I could resolve to break the seal.
然而，我告诉他我是 T. Copperfield 先生，他相信了，并递给我这封信，他说需要回复。

I found, when I did open it, that it was a very kind note, containing no reference to my condition at the theatre. —
我把他留在楼梯上等回答，然后再次进入我的办公室，我紧张得不得了，以至于我只能把这封信放在早餐桌上，熟悉一下外面的情况，才能下定决心打开信封。 —

All it said was, ‘My dear Trotwood. I am staying at the house of papa’s agent, Mr. Waterbrook, in Ely Place, Holborn. —
我发现，当我打开它时，这是一封非常友好的便条，没有提及我在剧院的情况。 —

Will you come and see me today, at any time you like to appoint? —
它只是说，“我亲爱的特洛特伍德。我住在爸爸的代理人沃特布鲁克先生的房子里，位于霍尔本的伊莱广场。 —

Ever yours affectionately, AGNES. ‘
你今天可以随时来见我吗？永远爱你的，阿格尼丝。”

It took me such a long time to write an answer at all to my satisfaction, that I don’t know what the ticket-porter can have thought, unless he thought I was learning to write. —
写一封令我满意的回答花了我很长时间，我不知道那个搬运工会怎么想，除非他觉得我在学写作。 —

I must have written half-a-dozen answers at least. —
我至少写了半打答案。 —

I began one, ‘How can I ever hope, my dear Agnes, to efface from your remembrance the disgusting impression’ - there I didn’t like it, and then I tore it up. —
我开始写一封，“我亲爱的阿格尼丝，我怎么希望能从你的记忆中抹去令人讨厌的印象” - 我不喜欢这个，然后我把它撕了。 —

I began another, ‘Shakespeare has observed, my dear Agnes, how strange it is that a man should put an enemy into his mouth’ - that reminded me of Markham, and it got no farther. —
我开始另一封，“莎士比亚曾经观察过，我亲爱的阿格尼丝，一个人怎么会将敌人放入他的口中” - 那让我想起了马克姆，然后就没写下去了。 —

I even tried poetry. I began one note, in a six-syllable line, ‘Oh, do not remember’ - but that associated itself with the fifth of November, and became an absurdity. —
我甚至尝试写诗。我开始一封笔记，用六个音节的句子，“哦，不要记得” - 但那让我联想到了十一月五日，变得荒谬。 —

After many attempts, I wrote, ‘My dear Agnes. Your letter is like you, and what could I say of it that would be higher praise than that? —
经过多次尝试，我写道：“亲爱的艾格尼丝。你的信就像你一样，我能说什么才能更高度赞扬它呢？ —

I will come at four o’clock. Affectionately and sorrowfully, T.C.’ With this missive (which I was in twenty minds at once about recalling, as soon as it was out of my hands), the ticket-porter at last departed.
我会在四点钟过来。深情而悲伤地，T.C. ” 随着这封信（一旦离开我的手就有二十个念头想要收回它），行李搬运工最终离开了。

If the day were half as tremendous to any other professional gentleman in Doctors’ Commons as it was to me, I sincerely believe he made some expiation for his share in that rotten old ecclesiastical cheese. —
如果这一天对医学共同体中的其他任何专业人士来说有一半是如此令人震惊的，我真诚地相信他为参与那个腐烂的旧教会奶酪所贡献的部分做了一些补偿。 —

Although I left the office at half past three, and was prowling about the place of appointment within a few minutes afterwards, the appointed time was exceeded by a full quarter of an hour, according to the clock of St. Andrew’s, Holborn, before I could muster up sufficient desperation to pull the private bell-handle let into the left-hand door-post of Mr. Waterbrook’s house.
尽管我在下午三点半离开办公室，而仅仅过了几分钟我就在约会地点周围转悠，但根据霍尔本圣安德鲁钟表的时间，我花了整整15分钟以上才鼓起足够的勇气按一下安装在沃特布鲁克先生房子左门柱上的私人门铃。

The professional business of Mr. Waterbrook’s establishment was done on the ground-floor, and the genteel business (of which there was a good deal) in the upper part of the building. —
沃特布鲁克先生的公司的专业事务在底楼完成，而有很多（而且是相当多）上部建筑的优雅事务则在楼上进行。 —

I was shown into a pretty but rather close drawing-room, and there sat Agnes, netting a purse.
我被带到一个漂亮但相当狭窄的客厅，阿格尼丝坐在那里，正在织一个钱包。

She looked so quiet and good, and reminded me so strongly of my airy fresh school days at Canterbury, and the sodden, smoky, stupid wretch I had been the other night, that, nobody being by, I yielded to my self-reproach and shame, and - in short, made a fool of myself. —
她看起来非常安静和善良，让我强烈地想起我在坎特伯雷那充满朝气的学生时代，以及我在另一天晚上沮丧、烟熏笨拙的表现，当时没有人在场，我就向着自责和羞耻屈服了——总之，我闹出了笑话。 —

I cannot deny that I shed tears. To this hour I am undecided whether it was upon the whole the wisest thing I could have done, or the most ridiculous.
我不能否认我流泪了。直到现在，我仍未决定这是我所做的最明智的事情，还是最荒谬的事情。

‘If it had been anyone but you, Agnes,’ said I, turning away my head, ‘I should not have minded it half so much. —
‘如果不是你，艾格尼丝’，我转过头说，’我不会那么在意。 —

But that it should have been you who saw me! —
但真没想到却是你看到了我！ —

I almost wish I had been dead, first.’
我几乎希望我早就死了，第一次就死了。’

She put her hand - its touch was like no other hand - upon my arm for a moment; —
她把手——它的触感没有其他手那样——轻轻放在我的胳膊上片刻； —

and I felt so befriended and comforted, that I could not help moving it to my lips, and gratefully kissing it.
我感到如此被帮助和安慰，以至于我情不自禁地把她的手移向嘴唇，感激地亲吻了一下。

‘Sit down,’ said Agnes, cheerfully. ‘Don’t be unhappy, Trotwood. —
‘坐下’，阿格尼丝愉快地说道。’不要不开心，特罗特伍德。 —

If you cannot confidently trust me, whom will you trust?’
如果你连我都不能放心地信任，那么你会信任谁呢？’

‘Ah, Agnes!’ I returned. ‘You are my good Angel!’
“啊，阿格尼丝！”我说。“你是我的好天使！”

She smiled rather sadly, I thought, and shook her head.
她微微带着忧伤的微笑，摇了摇头。

‘Yes, Agnes, my good Angel! Always my good Angel!’
“是的，阿格尼丝，我的好天使！永远是我的好天使！”

‘If I were, indeed, Trotwood,’ she returned, ‘there is one thing that I should set my heart on very much.’
“如果我真的是，特洛特伍德，”她回答说，“那么有一件事我会非常心心念念。”

I looked at her inquiringly; but already with a foreknowledge of her meaning.
我疑惑地看着她，但我已经预知了她的意思。

‘On warning you,’ said Agnes, with a steady glance, ‘against your bad Angel.’
“警告你，”阿格尼丝用坚定的目光说，“对付你的坏天使。”

‘My dear Agnes,’ I began, ‘if you mean Steerforth -’
“亲爱的阿格尼丝，”我开始说，“如果你指的是斯迪福斯——”

‘I do, Trotwood,’ she returned. ‘Then, Agnes, you wrong him very much. He my bad Angel, or anyone’s! —
“我指的正是他，特洛特伍德，”她回答。“那么，阿格尼丝，你错怪他了。他是我的坏天使，或任何人的坏天使！ —

He, anything but a guide, a support, and a friend to me! My dear Agnes! —
他，绝非一位引导者、支持者和朋友对我来说！亲爱的阿格尼丝！ —

Now, is it not unjust, and unlike you, to judge him from what you saw of me the other night?’
现在，这难道不是不公正的吗，也不像你，从你在另一个晚上见到的我就判断他吗？”

‘I do not judge him from what I saw of you the other night,’ she quietly replied.
“我并不是从你在另一个晚上见到的我就判断他，”她平静地回答。

‘From what, then?’
“那是从什么地方呢？”

‘From many things - trifles in themselves, but they do not seem to me to be so, when they are put together. —
“从许多事情——细枝末节，但当它们放在一起时，它们对我来说并不是细枝末节。 —

I judge him, partly from your account of him, Trotwood, and your character, and the influence he has over you.’
我部分是根据你对他的描述，特洛特伍德，和你的性格，以及他对你的影响来判断他。”

There was always something in her modest voice that seemed to touch a chord within me, answering to that sound alone. —
她谦逊的声音总是触动我内心的某根弦，只有那声音才能唤起共鸣。 —

It was always earnest; but when it was very earnest, as it was now, there was a thrill in it that quite subdued me. —
它总是真诚的；但当它变得非常真诚时，这种激动让我感到心悸。 —

I sat looking at her as she cast her eyes down on her work; I sat seeming still to listen to her; —
我坐在那里看着她，当她垂下眼帘看着手中的工作，我似乎仍在倾听她。 —

and Steerforth, in spite of all my attachment to him, darkened in that tone.
尽管我对他非常依恋，但在那种语气下，斯迪福德的形象变得阴暗起来。

‘It is very bold in me,’ said Agnes, looking up again, ‘who have lived in such seclusion, and can know so little of the world, to give you my advice so confidently, or even to have this strong opinion. —
“我是多么大胆啊，”阿格尼丝再次抬起头说，“我过着如此隐秘的生活，对世界了解何其有限，竟如此自信地给你出主意，甚至拥有这么强烈的看法。 —

But I know in what it is engendered, Trotwood, - in how true a remembrance of our having grown up together, and in how true an interest in all relating to you. —
但我知道这是源于什么，特洛特——源于我们共同长大的那段记忆，源于我对与你相关的一切充满真诚的兴趣。 —

It is that which makes me bold. I am certain that what I say is right. I am quite sure it is. —
正是这使我勇敢。我确信自己说的是对的。我很确定。 —

I feel as if it were someone else speaking to you, and not I, when I caution you that you have made a dangerous friend.’
当我告诫你交了一个危险的朋友时，我感觉好像不是我在和你说话，而是别人在和你说话。

Again I looked at her, again I listened to her after she was silent, and again his image, though it was still fixed in my heart, darkened.
我再次看着她，再次倾听她沉默后的声音，他的形象虽然仍栩栩如生地存在在我的心中，但变得模糊了。

‘I am not so unreasonable as to expect,’ said Agnes, resuming her usual tone, after a little while, ‘that you will, or that you can, at once, change any sentiment that has become a conviction to you; —
“我并不如此苛刻地期望，”阿格尼丝过了一会儿又恢复了平常的语气说，“你能够或者立即就改变对你已经成为信念的任何情感； —

least of all a sentiment that is rooted in your trusting disposition. —
尤其是那种根植于你信任性格的情感。 —

You ought not hastily to do that. I only ask you, Trotwood, if you ever think of me - I mean,’ with a quiet smile, for I was going to interrupt her, and she knew why, ‘as often as you think of me - to think of what I have said. —
你不应该轻率地这样做。我只是要求你，特洛特，如果你有任何时候想起我——我的意思是，”她带着和缓的微笑打断了我，因为我要打断她，她知道为什么，“每当你想到我——请记住我所说的。 —

Do you forgive me for all this?’
你原谅我了吗？”

‘I will forgive you, Agnes,’ I replied, ‘when you come to do Steerforth justice, and to like him as well as I do.’
“阿格尼丝，你来公正对待斯迪福德，像我一样喜欢他时，我会原谅你的。”

‘Not until then?’ said Agnes.
“那要等到那时候？”阿格尼丝说。

I saw a passing shadow on her face when I made this mention of him, but she returned my smile, and we were again as unreserved in our mutual confidence as of old.
当我提到他时，我看到她脸上掠过一丝阴影，但她回以微笑，我们如昔日般再度彼此无保留地相信。

‘And when, Agnes,’ said I, ‘will you forgive me the other night?’
“阿格尼丝，你什么时候愿意原谅我那晚呢？”我问道。

‘When I recall it,’ said Agnes.
“等我想起来的时候，”阿格尼丝说。

She would have dismissed the subject so, but I was too full of it to allow that, and insisted on telling her how it happened that I had disgraced myself, and what chain of accidental circumstances had had the theatre for its final link. —
她本想避开这个话题，但我实在忍不住，非要告诉她我是如何丢脸的，以及最终导致了我在剧院出丑的一连串意外事件。 —

It was a great relief to me to do this, and to enlarge on the obligation that I owed to Steerforth for his care of me when I was unable to take care of myself.
向她述说这一切对我来说是一种极大的宽慰，我还详细阐述了我对史迪福的感激之情，因为在我无法照顾自己的时候，他照料了我。

‘You must not forget,’ said Agnes, calmly changing the conversation as soon as I had concluded, ‘that you are always to tell me, not only when you fall into trouble, but when you fall in love. —
“你不要忘了，”阿格尼丝冷静地转移话题说，在我讲完后，”你总是要告诉我，不仅当你遇到麻烦时，还有当你坠入爱河时。 —

Who has succeeded to Miss Larkins, Trotwood?’
“谁接替了拉金斯小姐，特洛特？”

‘No one, Agnes.’
“没有人，阿格尼丝。”

‘Someone, Trotwood,’ said Agnes, laughing, and holding up her finger.
“有人呀，特洛特，”阿格尼丝笑着说，并举起手指。

‘No, Agnes, upon my word! There is a lady, certainly, at Mrs. Steerforth’s house, who is very clever, and whom I like to talk to - Miss Dartle - but I don’t adore her.’
“不，阿格尼丝，我发誓！斯蒂福斯夫人家里确实有一个很聪明的女士，我很喜欢与之交谈——达特尔小姐——但我并不崇拜她。

Agnes laughed again at her own penetration, and told me that if I were faithful to her in my confidence she thought she should keep a little register of my violent attachments, with the date, duration, and termination of each, like the table of the reigns of the kings and queens, in the History of England. —
阿格尼丝再次笑着展现了她的洞察力，并告诉我，如果我对她保持忠诚的话，她认为她会像在《英格兰历史》里国王和王后的统治表那样，记下我每次热烈爱慕的对象，包括日期、持续时间和终结方式。 —

Then she asked me if I had seen Uriah.
然后她问我是否见过乌里亚。

‘Uriah Heep?’ said I. ‘No. Is he in London?’
“乌里亚希普？”我说，”没有。他在伦敦吗？”

‘He comes to the office downstairs, every day,’ returned Agnes. ‘He was in London a week before me. —
“他每天都在楼下的办公室来往，”阿格尼丝回答道，”比我早到伦敦一个星期。 —

I am afraid on disagreeable business, Trotwood.’
我担心是一些令你不安的事情，特洛特。

‘On some business that makes you uneasy, Agnes, I see,’ said I. ‘What can that be?’
“你看得出来我是因为什么事情而犯愁，阿格尼丝吗？”我说。”那会是什么呢？”

Agnes laid aside her work, and replied, folding her hands upon one another, and looking pensively at me out of those beautiful soft eyes of hers:
艾格尼丝放下手中的工作，交叠双手，用那双美丽柔软的眼睛凝视着我，沉思着回答道：

‘I believe he is going to enter into partnership with papa.’
‘我相信他打算与爸爸合伙。’

‘What? Uriah? That mean, fawning fellow, worm himself into such promotion!’ I cried, indignantly. —
‘什么？乌里亚？那个阴险、奉承的家伙，竟然想要巴结进入这种重要位置！’我愤然地喊道。 —

‘Have you made no remonstrance about it, Agnes? Consider what a connexion it is likely to be. —
‘你没有对此提出抗议吗，艾格尼丝？考虑一下这可能带来的关系。 —

You must speak out. You must not allow your father to take such a mad step. You must prevent it, Agnes, while there’s time.’
你必须说出来。在还有时间的时候，你不能让你父亲采取这么疯狂的行动。你必须阻止，艾格尼丝。’

Still looking at me, Agnes shook her head while I was speaking, with a faint smile at my warmth: and then replied:
艾格尼丝在我讲话时一直看着我，微微笑着摇了摇头，然后回答道：

‘You remember our last conversation about papa? —
‘你还记得我们上次关于爸爸的对话吗？ —

It was not long after that - not more than two or three days - when he gave me the first intimation of what I tell you. —
就在那之后不久——不超过两三天——他给了我第一个关于我告诉你的消息的提示。 —

It was sad to see him struggling between his desire to represent it to me as a matter of choice on his part, and his inability to conceal that it was forced upon him. —
看到他在努力想要告诉我这是他的选择，却又无法掩饰这是被迫的样子，真是让人心疼。 —

I felt very sorry.’
我感到很难过。’

‘Forced upon him, Agnes! Who forces it upon him?’
‘被迫？艾格尼丝！是谁强迫他的？’

‘Uriah,’ she replied, after a moment’s hesitation, ‘has made himself indispensable to papa. —
她犹豫了一会儿后回答道：’乌里亚，’使自己变得对爸爸不可或缺。 —

He is subtle and watchful. He has mastered papa’s weaknesses, fostered them, and taken advantage of them, until - to say all that I mean in a word, Trotwood, - until papa is afraid of him.’
他狡猾而警觉。他摸清了爸爸的弱点，加以培养，并利用它们，直到——用一句话来说，特罗特伍德，——直到爸爸害怕他了。

There was more that she might have said; more that she knew, or that she suspected; I clearly saw. —
她可以说出更多，或者她知道的，或者她怀疑的。我清楚地看到。 —

I could not give her pain by asking what it was, for I knew that she withheld it from me, to spare her father. —
我不能通过询问来给她带来痛苦，因为我知道她对我隐瞒了一些事实，是为了不让她父亲难过。 —

It had long been going on to this, I was sensible: —
一直以来，我都能感觉到这种情况正在发生： —

yes, I could not but feel, on the least reflection, that it had been going on to this for a long time. —
是的，稍加思考我就不能不感觉到，这种情况已经持续很长时间了。 —

I remained silent.
我保持沉默。

‘His ascendancy over papa,’ said Agnes, ‘is very great. —
“他对爸爸的影响力很大，”艾格尼丝说。 —

He professes humility and gratitude - with truth, perhaps: —
他声称自己谦卑而感激 - 或许是真的： —

I hope so - but his position is really one of power, and I fear he makes a hard use of his power.’
我希望是这样 - 但他的地位实际上是占优势的，我担心他会过度使用这种权力。

I said he was a hound, which, at the moment, was a great satisfaction to me.
我说他是个卑鄙小人，那时，这让我很满足。

‘At the time I speak of, as the time when papa spoke to me,’ pursued Agnes, ‘he had told papa that he was going away; —
“在我提到的那个时候，当爸爸和我谈话时，”继续说道，艾格尼丝说，“他告诉爸爸他要离开； —

that he was very sorry, and unwilling to leave, but that he had better prospects. —
他很遗憾，不愿意离开，但他有更好的前途。 —

Papa was very much depressed then, and more bowed down by care than ever you or I have seen him; —
那时爸爸非常沮丧，比你我见过的他更忧心忡忡； —

but he seemed relieved by this expedient of the partnership, though at the same time he seemed hurt by it and ashamed of it.’
但这个合伙的办法似乎让他松了口气，尽管同时他似乎为此感到伤心和羞愧。”

‘And how did you receive it, Agnes?’
“你是如何看待这件事的，艾格尼丝？”

‘I did, Trotwood,’ she replied, ‘what I hope was right. —
“我做了我觉得对的事，特拉特伍德，”她回答说，“我深信为了爸爸的平静，这种牺牲是必要的，我恳求他去做。 —

Feeling sure that it was necessary for papa’s peace that the sacrifice should be made, I entreated him to make it. —
我说这会减轻他生活的负担 - 我希望会这样！ —

I said it would lighten the load of his life - I hope it will! —
“在这种情况下，我希望是对的”。 —

• and that it would give me increased opportunities of being his companion. Oh, Trotwood!’ —
  -那样我就有更多的机会成为他的伴侣。哦，特洛特伍德！ —
  

cried Agnes, putting her hands before her face, as her tears started on it, ‘I almost feel as if I had been papa’s enemy, instead of his loving child. —
阿格尼丝哭了起来，把手放在脸前，泪水迅速流了下来，“我几乎觉得自己像是爸爸的敌人，而不是他爱的孩子。 —

For I know how he has altered, in his devotion to me. —
因为我知道他为了我已经改变了。 —

I know how he has narrowed the circle of his sympathies and duties, in the concentration of his whole mind upon me. —
我知道他把他的热情和责任减少了，把他整个心思集中在我身上。 —

I know what a multitude of things he has shut out for my sake, and how his anxious thoughts of me have shadowed his life, and weakened his strength and energy, by turning them always upon one idea. —
我知道他为了我放弃了很多事情，他对我的忧虑让他的生活蒙上阴影，让他的力量和活力削弱，因为他总是把注意力集中在一个念头上。 —

If I could ever set this right! If I could ever work out his restoration, as I have so innocently been the cause of his decline!’
如果我能弥补这一切！如果我能弥补他的恢复，就像我无意中导致他的衰落一样！

I had never before seen Agnes cry. I had seen tears in her eyes when I had brought new honours home from school, and I had seen them there when we last spoke about her father, and I had seen her turn her gentle head aside when we took leave of one another; —
我以前从未看过阿格尼丝哭泣。我曾在我从学校带回新的荣誉时看到她眼中的泪水，我们上次谈到她父亲时也看到过那些眼泪，我们告别时我看到她把温柔的头转向一边； —

but I had never seen her grieve like this. —
但我从未看过她像现在这样伤心。 —

It made me so sorry that I could only say, in a foolish, helpless manner, ‘Pray, Agnes, don’t! —
这让我很难过，我只能以一个愚蠢、无助的方式说，“请，阿格尼丝，别哭了！ —

Don’t, my dear sister!’
别哭，我亲爱的姐妹！”

But Agnes was too superior to me in character and purpose, as I know well now, whatever I might know or not know then, to be long in need of my entreaties. —
但我现在知道，阿格尼丝在性格和目的上远远超过我，不需要我的恳求多久。 —

The beautiful, calm manner, which makes her so different in my remembrance from everybody else, came back again, as if a cloud had passed from a serene sky.
那种让她在我的记忆中与所有人都不同的美丽、平静的态度又回来了，就像一朵云从宁静的天空中经过似的。

‘We are not likely to remain alone much longer,’ said Agnes, ‘and while I have an opportunity, let me earnestly entreat you, Trotwood, to be friendly to Uriah. Don’t repel him. —
“我们很可能不会再独处太久，”阿格尼丝说，“趁我有机会，让我诚恳地请求你，特洛特伍德，友善对待乌里亚。不要拒绝他。 —

Don’t resent (as I think you have a general disposition to do) what may be uncongenial to you in him. —
不要因为他身上可能与你不和的地方（我觉得你总体上有这种倾向）而怀有怨恨。 —

He may not deserve it, for we know no certain ill of him. —
也许他不值得，因为我们并不确切知道他有什么恶行。” —

In any case, think first of papa and me!’
无论如何，先想想爸爸和我吧！

Agnes had no time to say more, for the room door opened, and Mrs. Waterbrook, who was a large lady - or who wore a large dress: —
对于阿格尼丝来说，没有更多的时间说了，因为房间门打开了，水布鲁克太太进来了，是一位身材魁梧的女士 - 或者说穿着一身宽大的裙子： —

I don’t exactly know which, for I don’t know which was dress and which was lady - came sailing in. —
我不确定到底哪个是裙子，哪个是女士 - 因为我不知道哪个是裙子，哪个是女士 - 悠闲地走了进来。 —

I had a dim recollection of having seen her at the theatre, as if I had seen her in a pale magic lantern; —
我模糊地记得在剧院看到过她，好像是在一个苍白的幻灯片里看到过她； —

but she appeared to remember me perfectly, and still to suspect me of being in a state of intoxication.
但她似乎完全记得我，仍然怀疑我是醉酒的状态。

Finding by degrees, however, that I was sober, and (I hope) that I was a modest young gentleman, Mrs. Waterbrook softened towards me considerably, and inquired, firstly, if I went much into the parks, and secondly, if I went much into society. —
然而，渐渐地发现我很清醒，并且（我希望）我是一个谦虚的年轻绅士，水布鲁克太太对我大为热情，首先询问我是否经常去公园，其次询问我是否经常参加社交活动。 —

On my replying to both these questions in the negative, it occurred to me that I fell again in her good opinion; —
当我对这两个问题都是否定回答时，我发现我再次得到她的好评； —

but she concealed the fact gracefully, and invited me to dinner next day. —
但她很优雅地掩饰这个事实，邀请我第二天一起吃晚餐。 —

I accepted the invitation, and took my leave, making a call on Uriah in the office as I went out, and leaving a card for him in his absence.
我接受了邀请，告别了她，出门时在办公室去探访乌赖亚，并在他不在的情况下给他留下了一张名片。

When I went to dinner next day, and on the street door being opened, plunged into a vapour-bath of haunch of mutton, I divined that I was not the only guest, for I immediately identified the ticket-porter in disguise, assisting the family servant, and waiting at the foot of the stairs to carry up my name. —
第二天我去吃晚餐时，当街门打开时，我立刻进入了一股羊腿蒸汽浴，我猜到不止我一位客人，因为我立刻辨认出掩饰着的搬运工，帮助家仆，站在楼梯脚下等待携带我的名字。 —

He looked, to the best of his ability, when he asked me for it confidentially, as if he had never seen me before; —
当他私下问我要名字时，他尽其所能看起来好像从未见过我； —

but well did I know him, and well did he know me. —
但我很了解他，他也很了解我。 —

Conscience made cowards of us both.
良心使我们俩都胆怯。

I found Mr. Waterbrook to be a middle-aged gentleman, with a short throat, and a good deal of shirt-collar, who only wanted a black nose to be the portrait of a pug-dog. —
我发现沃特布鲁克先生是一位中年绅士，有着短脖子和很多衬衫领，只缺一个黑色的鼻子就像一只哈巴狗的肖像。 —

He told me he was happy to have the honour of making my acquaintance; —
他告诉我很高兴有幸结识我； —

and when I had paid my homage to Mrs. Waterbrook, presented me, with much ceremony, to a very awful lady in a black velvet dress, and a great black velvet hat, whom I remember as looking like a near relation of Hamlet’s - say his aunt.
当我向沃特布鲁夫人表示敬意之后，她非常仪式地介绍我给一位身着黑天鹅绒连衣裙和黑天鹅绒大礼帽的可怕女士，我记得她看起来像是哈姆雷特的近亲 - 其中一个阿姨。

Mrs. Henry Spiker was this lady’s name; and her husband was there too: —
这位女士的名字是亨利·斯派克太太；她的丈夫也在场。 —

so cold a man, that his head, instead of being grey, seemed to be sprinkled with hoar-frost. —
他是一个非常冷酷的人，他的头发似乎不是灰色，而是布满了白霜。 —

Immense deference was shown to the Henry Spikers, male and female; —
亨利·斯派克夫妇受到了极大的尊敬； —

which Agnes told me was on account of Mr. Henry Spiker being solicitor to something Or to Somebody, I forget what or which, remotely connected with the Treasury.
阿格尼丝告诉我，这是因为亨利·斯派克是某个与财政部间接相关的事务或某个人的律师。

I found Uriah Heep among the company, in a suit of black, and in deep humility. —
我在人群中发现了尤里亚·希普，穿着一身黑色的衣服，谦卑得令人动容。 —

He told me, when I shook hands with him, that he was proud to be noticed by me, and that he really felt obliged to me for my condescension. —
当我与他握手时，他告诉我自己很荣幸受到我的注意，他真的感谢我的俯就。 —

I could have wished he had been less obliged to me, for he hovered about me in his gratitude all the rest of the evening; —
我希望他对我不要这么感激，因为在晚宴的余下时间里，他一直在感激地围绕着我； —

and whenever I said a word to Agnes, was sure, with his shadowless eyes and cadaverous face, to be looking gauntly down upon us from behind.
每当我对阿格尼丝说话时，他带着无影的眼睛和尸僵的脸，一定会从我们身后阴森地俯视着我们。

There were other guests - all iced for the occasion, as it struck me, like the wine. —
还有其他一些客人 - 我觉得他们都像酒一样为这个场合“冰封”了。 —

But there was one who attracted my attention before he came in, on account of my hearing him announced as Mr. Traddles! —
但是有一个在进来之前就吸引了我的注意，因为我听到他被宣布为特拉德尔斯先生！ —

My mind flew back to Salem House; and could it be Tommy, I thought, who used to draw the skeletons!
我的思绪飞回到塞勒姆学校；我想，会不会是画骷髅的汤米，我想道。

I looked for Mr. Traddles with unusual interest. —
我对特拉德尔斯先生产生了非同寻常的兴趣。 —

He was a sober, steady-looking young man of retiring manners, with a comic head of hair, and eyes that were rather wide open; —
他是一个稳重、举止谨慎的年轻人，头发搞怪，眼睛相当张大； —

and he got into an obscure corner so soon, that I had some difficulty in making him out. —
他很快就走进了一个不引人注意的角落，让我有些困难看清他。 —

At length I had a good view of him, and either my vision deceived me, or it was the old unfortunate Tommy.
最后我终于看清了他，要么是我的视力出了问题，要么那就是那个不幸的老汤米。

I made my way to Mr. Waterbrook, and said, that I believed I had the pleasure of seeing an old schoolfellow there.
我走到沃特布鲁克先生那里，说我相信我在那里见到了一位老同学。

‘Indeed!’ said Mr. Waterbrook, surprised. —
“真的吗！”沃特布鲁克先生惊讶地说。 —

‘You are too young to have been at school with Mr. Henry Spiker?’
“你太年轻了，不可能跟亨利·斯派克先生一起上学吧？”

‘Oh, I don’t mean him!’ I returned. ‘I mean the gentleman named Traddles.’
“哦，我不是说他！”我回答道。“我是指名叫特雷德尔斯的绅士。”

‘Oh! Aye, aye! Indeed!’ said my host, with much diminished interest. ‘Possibly.’
“哦！啊，是吗！”我的主人说着，兴趣大为减退。“可能吧。”

‘If it’s really the same person,’ said I, glancing towards him, ‘it was at a place called Salem House where we were together, and he was an excellent fellow.’
“如果他真的是同一个人的话，”我朝他瞥了一眼，“我们曾在一个叫做塞勒姆学校一起上学，他是个很好的家伙。”

‘Oh yes. Traddles is a good fellow,’ returned my host nodding his head with an air of toleration. —
“哦是的。特雷德尔斯是个好家伙。”我的主人颇有些宽容地点了点头。 —

‘Traddles is quite a good fellow.’
“特雷德尔斯的确是个好人。”

‘It’s a curious coincidence,’ said I.
“这真是个巧合。”我说。

‘It is really,’ returned my host, ‘quite a coincidence, that Traddles should be here at all: —
“的确如此，”我的主人回答说，“特雷德尔斯能够来这里，真是个巧合； —

as Traddles was only invited this morning, when the place at table, intended to be occupied by Mrs. Henry Spiker’s brother, became vacant, in consequence of his indisposition. —
因为特雷德尔斯今天早晨才受邀，请坐在原本应该由亨利·斯派克太太的兄弟占据的位置上，因为他因病不能来。 —

A very gentlemanly man, Mrs. Henry Spiker’s brother, Mr. Copperfield.’
亨利·斯派克太太的兄弟，考克斯菲尔德先生，是位非常有教养的人。”

I murmured an assent, which was full of feeling, considering that I knew nothing at all about him; —
我含混地表示同意，考虑到我对他一无所知，这种表示充满了感情； —

and I inquired what Mr. Traddles was by profession.
然后我询问特雷德尔斯是什么职业。

‘Traddles,’ returned Mr. Waterbrook, ‘is a young man reading for the bar. —
‘特拉德尔斯，’沃特布鲁克先生回答道，’是一个正在读法律的年轻人。 —

Yes. He is quite a good fellow - nobody’s enemy but his own.’
是的。他是一个相当不错的家伙 - 除了他自己，没有别人的敌人。

‘Is he his own enemy?’ said I, sorry to hear this.
‘他是自己的敌人吗？’我很遗憾地说。

‘Well,’ returned Mr. Waterbrook, pursing up his mouth, and playing with his watch-chain, in a comfortable, prosperous sort of way. —
‘嗯，’沃特布鲁克先生回答道，嘴唇紧抿着，玩弄着他的表链，一副舒适、繁荣的样子。 —

‘I should say he was one of those men who stand in their own light. —
‘我会说他是那种给自己设限的人之一。 —

Yes, I should say he would never, for example, be worth five hundred pound. —
是的，我会说他永远不会值得五百镑的。 —

Traddles was recommended to me by a professional friend. Oh yes. —
特拉德尔斯是由一位专业朋友向我推荐的。哦，是的。 —

Yes. He has a kind of talent for drawing briefs, and stating a case in writing, plainly. —
是的。他有一种擅长书写简要和清晰陈述案情的才能。 —

I am able to throw something in Traddles’s way, in the course of the year; —
在今年的过程中，我能给特拉德尔斯找一些事情做； —

something - for him - considerable. Oh yes. Yes.’
一些 - 对他来说 - 相当可观的事。哦，是的。是的。

I was much impressed by the extremely comfortable and satisfied manner in which Mr. Waterbrook delivered himself of this little word ‘Yes’, every now and then. —
当沃特布鲁克先生时不时发出这个小词“是”的时候，我非常受感动。 —

There was wonderful expression in it. It completely conveyed the idea of a man who had been born, not to say with a silver spoon, but with a scaling-ladder, and had gone on mounting all the heights of life one after another, until now he looked, from the top of the fortifications, with the eye of a philosopher and a patron, on the people down in the trenches.
里面有很好的表达。它完全传达了一个生来就不说配有银制餐具，但至少有个攀登梯的人，一路攀登各个人生高度，直到现在他站在城堡的最高处，以哲学家和资助人的眼光，注视着壕沟里的人们。

My reflections on this theme were still in progress when dinner was announced. —
当晚餐宣布时，我还在沉思这个主题。 —

Mr. Waterbrook went down with Hamlet’s aunt. Mr. Henry Spiker took Mrs. Waterbrook. —
沃特布鲁克先生和哈姆雷特的阿姨一起下楼。亨利·斯派克先生带着沃特布鲁克夫人。 —

Agnes, whom I should have liked to take myself, was given to a simpering fellow with weak legs. —
我本想带的阿格尼丝被交给了一个双腿虚弱的傻笑的家伙。 —

Uriah, Traddles, and I, as the junior part of the company, went down last, how we could. —
乌赖、特莱德尔斯和我作为公司的下层员工，最后下楼来了，我们尽可能以我们的方式。 —

I was not so vexed at losing Agnes as I might have been, since it gave me an opportunity of making myself known to Traddles on the stairs, who greeted me with great fervour; —
我没有因失去阿格尼丝而感到如此恼火，因为这使我有机会在楼梯上向特莱德尔斯介绍自己，他非常热情地向我打招呼； —

while Uriah writhed with such obtrusive satisfaction and self-abasement, that I could gladly have pitched him over the banisters. —
乌赖表现出过分的满足和自我屈辱，以至于我几乎希望把他推出栏杆外。 —

Traddles and I were separated at table, being billeted in two remote corners: —
特莱德尔斯和我被安排在餐桌的两个远离的角落： —

he in the glare of a red velvet lady; I, in the gloom of Hamlet’s aunt. —
他坐在一位红丝绒女士的明亮处；而我坐在哈姆雷特的阿姨的昏暗处。 —

The dinner was very long, and the conversation was about the Aristocracy - and Blood. Mrs. Waterbrook repeatedly told us, that if she had a weakness, it was Blood.
晚餐时间很长，谈话内容主要是关于贵族和家族血统。沃特布鲁太太一再告诉我们，如果她有什么弱点，那就是家族血统。

It occurred to me several times that we should have got on better, if we had not been quite so genteel. —
我多次想过，如果我们没有那么彬彬有礼，我们会相处得更好。 —

We were so exceedingly genteel, that our scope was very limited. —
我们的彬彬有礼程度过高，因此我们的谈话范围非常狭窄。 —

A Mr. and Mrs. Gulpidge were of the party, who had something to do at second-hand (at least, Mr. Gulpidge had) with the law business of the Bank; —
一对名叫高普利奇夫妇也参加了晚宴，他们与银行的法律业务有一定牵连（至少高普利奇先生有）； —

and what with the Bank, and what with the Treasury, we were as exclusive as the Court Circular. —
银行和财政部的事务让我们变得像宫廷那样独立。 —

To mend the matter, Hamlet’s aunt had the family failing of indulging in soliloquy, and held forth in a desultory manner, by herself, on every topic that was introduced. —
更糟糕的是，哈姆雷特的阿姨有自言自语的家庭习惯，并且以一种散漫的方式独自讨论每一个引入的话题。 —

These were few enough, to be sure; but as we always fell back upon Blood, she had as wide a field for abstract speculation as her nephew himself.
尽管话题不多，但我们总是回到谈论家族血统，她像侄子一样有广阔的抽象思考领域。

We might have been a party of Ogres, the conversation assumed such a sanguine complexion.
谈话的氛围变得如此血腥，我们可能会成为食人魔一样。

‘I confess I am of Mrs. Waterbrook’s opinion,’ said Mr. Waterbrook, with his wine-glass at his eye. —
“我承认我赞同沃特布鲁太太的观点，”沃特布鲁先生举起酒杯放在眼前说。 —

‘Other things are all very well in their way, but give me Blood!’
“其他事情各有各的好处，但我偏爱家族血统！”

‘Oh! There is nothing,’ observed Hamlet’s aunt, ‘so satisfactory to one! —
“哦！没有什么能比得上这样令人满意的了，”哈姆雷特的阿姨观察到。 —

There is nothing that is so much one’s beau-ideal of - of all that sort of thing, speaking generally. —
“对于所有这类事物，一般而言，没有比这更符合某人的理想型。” —

There are some low minds (not many, I am happy to believe, but there are some) that would prefer to do what I should call bow down before idols. —
“有一些低劣的思想（我很高兴相信并不多见，但确实有一些），他们更愿意做我所称之为在偶像面前俯首称臣的事情。” —

Positively Idols! Before service, intellect, and so on. But these are intangible points. —
“确实是偶像！在服务、智力等等事情之前。但这些都是无法触及的点。” —

Blood is not so. We see Blood in a nose, and we know it. —
“血液就不一样了。我们看到鼻子里的血液，我们知道它。” —

We meet with it in a chin, and we say, “There it is! That’s Blood!” —
“我们在下巴上遇见它，我们就说，‘那就是！那是血液！’” —

It is an actual matter of fact. We point it out. —
“这是一个实际事实。我们指出它。” —

It admits of no doubt.’
“这是无可置疑的。”

The simpering fellow with the weak legs, who had taken Agnes down, stated the question more decisively yet, I thought.
那个带着细弱腿的做酒友的矫揉造作的家伙开始更加决绝地陈述这个问题，我想。

‘Oh, you know, deuce take it,’ said this gentleman, looking round the board with an imbecile smile, ‘we can’t forego Blood, you know. —
“哦，你们知道的，该死的，”这位先生带着愚蠢的微笑环顾座位，“我们不能放弃血液，你知道的。” —

We must have Blood, you know. Some young fellows, you know, may be a little behind their station, perhaps, in point of education and behaviour, and may go a little wrong, you know, and get themselves and other people into a variety of fixes - and all that - but deuce take it, it’s delightful to reflect that they’ve got Blood in ‘em! —
“我们必须得有血液，你知道。有些年轻人，你知道，可能在受教育和行为方面略显不足，可能会走一些弯路，给自己和其他人带来各种困境 - 总而言之 - 但该死的，令人高兴的是，他们有血液在体内！” —

Myself, I’d rather at any time be knocked down by a man who had got Blood in him, than I’d be picked up by a man who hadn’t!’
“我个人宁愿随时被一个有热血的人打倒，也不愿被一个没有热血的人扶起来！”

This sentiment, as compressing the general question into a nutshell, gave the utmost satisfaction, and brought the gentleman into great notice until the ladies retired. —
这种观点将一般问题概括得非常满意，使人们极为满意，并使这位绅士备受关注，直到女士们退场。 —

After that, I observed that Mr. Gulpidge and Mr. Henry Spiker, who had hitherto been very distant, entered into a defensive alliance against us, the common enemy, and exchanged a mysterious dialogue across the table for our defeat and overthrow.
在那之后，我观察到古尔皮奇先生和亨利·斯皮克先生，他们此前一直保持着距离，联合起来对付我们，共同的敌人，并在桌子上进行神秘的对话，以期我们的失败和崩溃。

‘That affair of the first bond for four thousand five hundred pounds has not taken the course that was expected, Spiker,’ said Mr. Gulpidge.
“那张头号债券四千五百英镑的事情没有按预期的方式进行，斯皮克，”古尔皮奇先生说。

‘Do you mean the D. of A.’s?’ said Mr. Spiker.
“你是指司法部长们吗？”斯派克先生说。

‘The C. of B.’s!’ said Mr. Gulpidge.
“业务大臣们！”古尔皮奇先生说。

Mr. Spiker raised his eyebrows, and looked much concerned.
斯派克先生挑起眉毛，看起来非常担忧。

‘When the question was referred to Lord - I needn’t name him,’ said Mr. Gulpidge, checking himself -
“当这个问题被转交给 - 我不必说出他的名字，”古尔皮奇先生说着，停了下来 -

‘I understand,’ said Mr. Spiker, ‘N.’
“我明白了，”斯派克先生说道，”N.”

Mr. Gulpidge darkly nodded - ‘was referred to him, his answer was, “Money, or no release.”’
古尔皮奇先生显得神秘地点点头 - “他的回答是，”钱，否则不释放。”

‘Lord bless my soul!’ cried Mr. Spiker.
“天哪，”斯派克先生叫道。

”‘Money, or no release,“’ repeated Mr. Gulpidge, firmly. —
又重复了一遍，”钱，否则不释放，”古尔皮奇先生坚定地说着。 —

‘The next in reversion - you understand me?’
“接下来是继承人 - 你明白我的意思吗？”

‘K.,’ said Mr. Spiker, with an ominous look.
“K.，”斯派克先生说着，带着一种不祥的眼神。

’- K. then positively refused to sign. He was attended at Newmarket for that purpose, and he point-blank refused to do it.’
“K. 然后坚决拒绝签字。他是为此目的在纽马克特被陪同，而他直截了当地拒绝了。”

Mr. Spiker was so interested, that he became quite stony.
斯派克先生兴致勃勃，变得板着脸。

‘So the matter rests at this hour,’ said Mr. Gulpidge, throwing himself back in his chair. —
“所以事情就停留在这个时刻，”古尔皮奇先生靠在椅子上说。 —

‘Our friend Waterbrook will excuse me if I forbear to explain myself generally, on account of the magnitude of the interests involved.’
“如果可能的话，我们的朋友沃特布鲁克会谅解我，我先不通篇解释自己，因为牵涉到的利益重大。”

Mr. Waterbrook was only too happy, as it appeared to me, to have such interests, and such names, even hinted at, across his table. —
据我看来，沃特布鲁克先生只会太高兴了，因为这些利益和这些名字即使只是稍作提及也能够出现在他的餐桌上。 —

He assumed an expression of gloomy intelligence (though I am persuaded he knew no more about the discussion than I did), and highly approved of the discretion that had been observed. —
他装出一副忧郁而聪明的表情（尽管我相信他对讨论的内容并不比我了解得多），并高度赞扬了人们所保持的谨慎。 —

Mr. Spiker, after the receipt of such a confidence, naturally desired to favour his friend with a confidence of his own; —
斯派克先生在得知这样一个秘密之后，自然也希望向他的朋友透露一个秘密； —

therefore the foregoing dialogue was succeeded by another, in which it was Mr. Gulpidge’s turn to be surprised, and that by another in which the surprise came round to Mr. Spiker’s turn again, and so on, turn and turn about. —
因此，前面的对话之后又是另一个对话，又是另一个对话引起另一个惊讶，如此循环反复。 —

All this time we, the outsiders, remained oppressed by the tremendous interests involved in the conversation; —
这段时间，我们这些外人都被谈话中涉及的巨大利益所压倒； —

and our host regarded us with pride, as the victims of a salutary awe and astonishment. —
而我们的主人则以骄傲的神情望着我们，好像我们是受到敬畏和惊讶的受害者一样。 —

I was very glad indeed to get upstairs to Agnes, and to talk with her in a corner, and to introduce Traddles to her, who was shy, but agreeable, and the same good-natured creature still. —
我非常高兴能和艾格尼丝一起上楼，在一个角落里和她聊天，同时介绍她认识特拉德尔斯，他有些害羞，但很和蔼，还是那么善良。 —

As he was obliged to leave early, on account of going away next morning for a month, I had not nearly so much conversation with him as I could have wished; —
由于他第二天早上就要离开去一个月，所以我和他的交谈时间并不多； —

but we exchanged addresses, and promised ourselves the pleasure of another meeting when he should come back to town. —
但我们交换了联系方式，承诺下次他再来这座城市时一定要再见面。 —

He was greatly interested to hear that I knew Steerforth, and spoke of him with such warmth that I made him tell Agnes what he thought of him. —
他非常感兴趣听到我认识斯提尔福，对他表达了如此热情，以至于我让他告诉艾格尼丝他对他的看法。 —

But Agnes only looked at me the while, and very slightly shook her head when only I observed her.
但在我注意到的时候，艾格尼丝只是看着我，并且微微摇了摇头。

As she was not among people with whom I believed she could be very much at home, I was almost glad to hear that she was going away within a few days, though I was sorry at the prospect of parting from her again so soon. —
因为我认为她和周围的人并不是很亲近，听说她几天内就要离开时，我几乎感到高兴，尽管我对再次很快离别她感到遗憾。 —

This caused me to remain until all the company were gone. —
这使得我一直待到所有的客人都离开。 —

Conversing with her, and hearing her sing, was such a delightful reminder to me of my happy life in the grave old house she had made so beautiful, that I could have remained there half the night; —
和她交谈，听她唱歌，都让我回忆起自己在那座美丽的老房子里度过的幸福时光，以至于我本可以在那里待到半夜； —

but, having no excuse for staying any longer, when the lights of Mr. Waterbrook’s society were all snuffed out, I took my leave very much against my inclination. —
但是，当沃特布鲁克先生的聚会的灯光都熄灭时，我没有任何借口再待下去，非常不情愿地告辞。 —

I felt then, more than ever, that she was my better Angel; —
我当时感到，她是我的更好的天使； —

and if I thought of her sweet face and placid smile, as though they had shone on me from some removed being, like an Angel, I hope I thought no harm.
如果我想起她甜美的脸庞和平静的微笑，仿佛它们从某个遥远的存在，像一个天使，照耀在我身上，我希望没有在想什么坏事。

I have said that the company were all gone; —
我已经说了所有人都走了； —

but I ought to have excepted Uriah, whom I don’t include in that denomination, and who had never ceased to hover near us. —
但是我应该除外尤利亚，我不把他算在那个范畴之内，他一直在我们附近徘徊。 —

He was close behind me when I went downstairs. —
当我下楼的时候，他就在我身后。 —

He was close beside me, when I walked away from the house, slowly fitting his long skeleton fingers into the still longer fingers of a great Guy Fawkes pair of gloves.
当我慢慢离开房子时，他就在我身旁，将他那根很长的骨架手指插进一个更长的盖伊·福克斯式的大手套里。

It was in no disposition for Uriah’s company, but in remembrance of the entreaty Agnes had made to me, that I asked him if he would come home to my rooms, and have some coffee.
我并不怎么想和尤利亚一起；但是基于对阿格尼丝的请求，我询问他是否会回我的房间，喝点咖啡。

‘Oh, really, Master Copperfield,’ he rejoined - ‘I beg your pardon, Mister Copperfield, but the other comes so natural, I don’t like that you should put a constraint upon yourself to ask a numble person like me to your ouse.’
‘哦，真的，考伯菲尔德先生，’他回答说 - ‘对不起，柯潘菲尔德先生，但另一个这么自然，我不希望您对像我这样卑微的人提出要求来到您家里。’

‘There is no constraint in the case,’ said I. ‘Will you come?’
‘这个情况并没有约束，’我说。 ‘你愿意来吗？’

‘I should like to, very much,’ replied Uriah, with a writhe.
‘我非常愿意，’尤利亚扭动着回答。

‘Well, then, come along!’ said I.
‘那么，走吧！’我说。

I could not help being rather short with him, but he appeared not to mind it. —
我忍不住对他有点不耐烦，但他似乎并没有介意。 —

We went the nearest way, without conversing much upon the road; —
我们走了最近的路，路上没有多说话； —

and he was so humble in respect of those scarecrow gloves, that he was still putting them on, and seemed to have made no advance in that labour, when we got to my place.
他对那些像稻草人一样的手套非常谦卑，以至于当我们到达我的地方时，他仍在戴着它们，似乎在这项工作中没有取得任何进展。

I led him up the dark stairs, to prevent his knocking his head against anything, and really his damp cold hand felt so like a frog in mine, that I was tempted to drop it and run away. —
我引导他上了黑暗的楼梯，以免他撞到任何东西，他湿冷的手感觉像一只青蛙一样，我忍不住想松开并逃跑。 —

Agnes and hospitality prevailed, however, and I conducted him to my fireside. —
然而，阿格尼丝和好客占了上风，我带他到我的火炉边。 —

When I lighted my candles, he fell into meek transports with the room that was revealed to him; —
当我点亮蜡烛时，他对展现给他的房间感到温和的喜悦； —

and when I heated the coffee in an unassuming block-tin vessel in which Mrs. Crupp delighted to prepare it (chiefly, I believe, because it was not intended for the purpose, being a shaving-pot, and because there was a patent invention of great price mouldering away in the pantry), he professed so much emotion, that I could joyfully have scalded him.
当我在一只普通的锡炉里热咖啡，这是克拉普太太喜欢准备的容器（我相信主要是因为它不是为此设计的，而是一个剃须杯，而且厨房里还有一个价格昂贵的专利发明正在腐烂），他表现出了如此多的情感，以至于我可能会欣然把他烫伤。

‘Oh, really, Master Copperfield, - I mean Mister Copperfield,’ said Uriah, ‘to see you waiting upon me is what I never could have expected! —
“哦，真的，考柏菲尔德先生 - 我是说，考柏菲尔德先生，”乌里亚说，“能见到你在等候我，这是我无法预期的！ —

But, one way and another, so many things happen to me which I never could have expected, I am sure, in my umble station, that it seems to rain blessings on my ed. —
但无论如何，在我的谦卑地位上，发生了我根本无法预料的许多事情，我敢肯定，似乎是一场祝福之雨。 —

You have heard something, I des-say, of a change in my expectations, Master Copperfield, - I should say, Mister Copperfield?’
“您可能听说过我的期望发生了一些变化，考柏菲尔德先生 - 我应该说，考柏菲尔德先生？”

As he sat on my sofa, with his long knees drawn up under his coffee-cup, his hat and gloves upon the ground close to him, his spoon going softly round and round, his shadowless red eyes, which looked as if they had scorched their lashes off, turned towards me without looking at me, the disagreeable dints I have formerly described in his nostrils coming and going with his breath, and a snaky undulation pervading his frame from his chin to his boots, I decided in my own mind that I disliked him intensely. —
当他坐在我的沙发上，长长的双膝挑高搁在咖啡杯下，帽子和手套放在他旁边的地面上，他的勺子轻轻地转动着，他那无影的红眼睛，看起来好像已经烧焦了睫毛，转向我而不看着我，他的鼻孔里那些我以前描述过的令人不快的凹痕随着他的呼吸来回开合，他那蛇一般的身躯从下巴到靴子处都在波动，我内心决定我非常讨厌他。 —

It made me very uncomfortable to have him for a guest, for I was young then, and unused to disguise what I so strongly felt.
他作为我的客人让我感到非常不舒服，因为那时我还年轻，不习惯隐藏我如此强烈的感受。

‘You have heard something, I des-say, of a change in my expectations, Master Copperfield, - I should say, Mister Copperfield?’ observed Uriah.
“您可能听说我的期望发生了一些变化，考柏菲尔德先生 - 我应该说，考柏菏尔德先生？”乌里亚说。

‘Yes,’ said I, ‘something.’
“是的，”我说，“有些。”

‘Ah! I thought Miss Agnes would know of it!’ he quietly returned. —
“啊！我想艾格尼丝小姐会知道！”他平静地回答。 —

‘I’m glad to find Miss Agnes knows of it. —
“我很高兴发现艾格尼丝小姐知道了。 —

Oh, thank you, Master - Mister Copperfield!’
哦，谢谢您，考柏菲尔德先生 - 先生！”

I could have thrown my bootjack at him (it lay ready on the rug), for having entrapped me into the disclosure of anything concerning Agnes, however immaterial. —
我本可以向他扔我的靴拔（它已经准备在地毯上），因为他诱使我透露任何与艾格尼丝有关的事情，尽管微不足道。 —

But I only drank my coffee.
但我只是喝着咖啡。

‘What a prophet you have shown yourself, Mister Copperfield!’ —
“您展示了多么伟大的预言者，考柏菲尔德先生！” —

pursued Uriah. ‘Dear me, what a prophet you have proved yourself to be! —
追求Uriah。“亲爱的，你证明自己是多么有远见啊！ —

Don’t you remember saying to me once, that perhaps I should be a partner in Mr. Wickfield’s business, and perhaps it might be Wickfield and Heep? —
难道你不记得曾经对我说过，也许我应该成为韦克菲尔德先生生意上的合伙人，也许会是韦克菲尔德和希普？ —

You may not recollect it; but when a person is umble, Master Copperfield, a person treasures such things up!’
你也许不记得了；但一个谦卑的人，科波菲尔德先生，会珍藏这样的话！

‘I recollect talking about it,’ said I, ‘though I certainly did not think it very likely then.’ ‘Oh! —
‘我记得我们谈及过这件事，’我说，‘尽管那时我确实没有认为这很可能。 —

who would have thought it likely, Mister Copperfield!’ returned Uriah, enthusiastically. —
“哦！谁会认为有可能呢，科波菲尔德先生！”尤利亚热切地回答道。 —

‘I am sure I didn’t myself. I recollect saying with my own lips that I was much too umble. —
‘我确信当时我也没有想到。我记得当时我亲口说我太谦卑了。’。 —

So I considered myself really and truly.’
所以我认为自己确实如此。”

He sat, with that carved grin on his face, looking at the fire, as I looked at him.
他带着那副雕琢好的笑容坐在那，看着火炉，正如我看着他一样。

‘But the umblest persons, Master Copperfield,’ he presently resumed, ‘may be the instruments of good. I am glad to think I have been the instrument of good to Mr. Wickfield, and that I may be more so. —
‘但是，即使是最谦卑的人，科波菲尔德先生，也可能成为善的工具。我很高兴能够想到我曾经是对韦克菲尔德先生有好处的工具，也许还可以更多。’ —

Oh what a worthy man he is, Mister Copperfield, but how imprudent he has been!’
‘哦，韦克菲尔德先生是多么令人尊敬的人啊，科波菲尔德先生，但他却有多么不慎重啊！’

‘I am sorry to hear it,’ said I. I could not help adding, rather pointedly, ‘on all accounts.’
‘我很遗憾听到这个消息，’我说。我情不自禁地补充道，‘出于各种原因。’

‘Decidedly so, Mister Copperfield,’ replied Uriah. ‘On all accounts. Miss Agnes’s above all! —
‘无论如何，科波菲尔德先生，’尤利亚回答说。‘出于各种原因。尤其是阿格尼丝小姐！ —

You don’t remember your own eloquent expressions, Master Copperfield; —
你可能不记得你自己雄辩的措辞，科波菲尔德先生； —

but I remember how you said one day that everybody must admire her, and how I thanked you for it! —
但我记得你曾经说过有一天每个人都必须钦佩她，以及我如何因此感谢你！ —

You have forgot that, I have no doubt, Master Copperfield?’
你可能忘了，我毫无疑问，科波菲尔德先生？

‘No,’ said I, drily.
‘不,‘我干巴巴地说道。

‘Oh how glad I am you have not!’ exclaimed Uriah. ‘To think that you should be the first to kindle the sparks of ambition in my umble breast, and that you’ve not forgot it! —
‘哦，我真高兴你没有!‘乌利亚兴奋地说道。’想想你竟然是第一个点燃我卑微胸膛里野心火花的人，而且你一点也没忘记! —

Oh! - Would you excuse me asking for a cup more coffee?’
哦！- 你能原谅我再要一杯咖啡吗?’

Something in the emphasis he laid upon the kindling of those sparks, and something in the glance he directed at me as he said it, had made me start as if I had seen him illuminated by a blaze of light. —
他强调点燃那些火花的语气和他说这话时向我投来的目光，使我仿佛看到他被一团光芒照亮。 —

Recalled by his request, preferred in quite another tone of voice, I did the honours of the shaving-pot; —
被他的请求提醒后，我以完全不同的语气作出回应，我端起了刮脸油壶； —

but I did them with an unsteadiness of hand, a sudden sense of being no match for him, and a perplexed suspicious anxiety as to what he might be going to say next, which I felt could not escape his observation.
但我的手有些发抖，感到自己与他不匹配，我突然感到一种疑虑，担心他接下来要说什么，我觉得这种情绪他不可能察觉不到。

He said nothing at all. He stirred his coffee round and round, he sipped it, he felt his chin softly with his grisly hand, he looked at the fire, he looked about the room, he gasped rather than smiled at me, he writhed and undulated about, in his deferential servility, he stirred and sipped again, but he left the renewal of the conversation to me.
他一言不发。他搅动着咖啡，咕噜咕噜喝着，用多毛的手轻轻摸着下巴，看着火炉，环顾四周，对我微笑，不过更像是在呻吟，他在谦卑的奉承中扭动和摇摆，搅拌和喝着，但他让我来继续谈话。

‘So, Mr. Wickfield,’ said I, at last, ‘who is worth five hundred of you - or me’; —
‘所以，威克菲尔德先生,‘最后我说道，’相当于你或我五百倍’; —

for my life, I think, I could not have helped dividing that part of the sentence with an awkward jerk; —
毫无疑问地，我想，我自己也感到那句话的意义有些支离破碎; —

‘has been imprudent, has he, Mr. Heep?’
‘希普先生，他行为不慎，是吗?’

‘Oh, very imprudent indeed, Master Copperfield,’ returned Uriah, sighing modestly. —
‘哦，非常不慎啊，考巴菲尔德先生,‘乌利亚谦虚地叹了口气。 —

‘Oh, very much so! But I wish you’d call me Uriah, if you please. —
‘哦，非常不慎啊!但还是请你叫我乌利亚，如果你不介意的话。 —

It’s like old times.’
感觉就像旧时光。’

‘Well! Uriah,’ said I, bolting it out with some difficulty.
‘好吧！乌利亚,‘我艰难地说。

‘Thank you,’ he returned, with fervour. ‘Thank you, Master Copperfield! —
‘谢谢，’他激动地回应道。’谢谢你，考巴菲尔德先生! —

It’s like the blowing of old breezes or the ringing of old bellses to hear YOU say Uriah. I beg your pardon. —
听到你说乌里亚，就像是老风吹过或是旧钟声响起。请原谅我。 —

Was I making any observation?’
我有做出任何观察吗？

‘About Mr. Wickfield,’ I suggested.
关于韦克菲尔德先生，我建议。

‘Oh! Yes, truly,’ said Uriah. ‘Ah! Great imprudence, Master Copperfield. —
“哦！是的，的确，”乌里亚说。“啊！大不谨慎，考伯菲尔德先生。 —

It’s a topic that I wouldn’t touch upon, to any soul but you. —
这是一个话题，我只敢跟你提及，没有别人。 —

Even to you I can only touch upon it, and no more. —
即使对你，我也只能提及，不敢多说。 —

If anyone else had been in my place during the last few years, by this time he would have had Mr. Wickfield (oh, what a worthy man he is, Master Copperfield, too! —
如果最近几年有其他人站在我的位置，那么他现在就会让韦克菲尔德先生（哦，他是多么一个值得尊敬的人，考伯菲尔德先生，） —

) under his thumb. Un–der–his thumb,’ said Uriah, very slowly, as he stretched out his cruel-looking hand above my table, and pressed his own thumb upon it, until it shook, and shook the room.
在他的掌控下。掌–控–他，”乌里亚非常缓慢地说着，同时将他那看起来残酷的手伸到我的桌子上，用他自己的大拇指压在上面，直到房间都在颤抖。

If I had been obliged to look at him with him splay foot on Mr. Wickfield’s head, I think I could scarcely have hated him more.
如果我被迫让他的千手触及韦克菲尔德先生的脑袋，我觉得我几乎无法再更加憎恨他。

‘Oh, dear, yes, Master Copperfield,’ he proceeded, in a soft voice, most remarkably contrasting with the action of his thumb, which did not diminish its hard pressure in the least degree, ‘there’s no doubt of it. —
“噢，亲爱的，是的，考伯菲尔德先生，”他以一种柔声的语调继续着，这与他的大拇指的动作形成了极其明显的对比，那根大拇指并没有丝毫减轻它的硬压力，“这毫无疑问。 —

There would have been loss, disgrace, I don’t know what at all. Mr. Wickfield knows it. —
会有损失、耻辱，我不知道会发生什么。韦克菲尔德先生明白这点。 —

I am the umble instrument of umbly serving him, and he puts me on an eminence I hardly could have hoped to reach. —
我是谦卑地为他效劳的谦卑工具，而他把我放在了一个我几乎难以希望达到的高度。 —

How thankful should I be!’ With his face turned towards me, as he finished, but without looking at me, he took his crooked thumb off the spot where he had planted it, and slowly and thoughtfully scraped his lank jaw with it, as if he were shaving himself.
我应该有多感激啊！”他赞许地说完，将脸转向我，但没有看我，然后从他放置的地方拿走了他那根扭曲的大拇指，用它缓慢而深思地在他瘦骨嶙峋的下颚上刮了一下，好像在给自己刮胡子。

I recollect well how indignantly my heart beat, as I saw his crafty face, with the appropriately red light of the fire upon it, preparing for something else.
我清楚地记得，当我看到他狡猾的脸，炉火适当的红光照在上面，为即将发生的事做准备时，我的心是多么愤怒地跳动着。

‘Master Copperfield,’ he began - ‘but am I keeping you up?’
“考伯菲尔德先生，”他开始了，“但是我打扰了你的休息吗？”

‘You are not keeping me up. I generally go to bed late.’
‘你并没有让我睡不着。我通常睡得很晚。’

‘Thank you, Master Copperfield! I have risen from my umble station since first you used to address me, it is true; —
‘谢谢你，考珀菲尔德先生！从你第一次称呼我的谦逊身份起，我已经从谦卑的地位上升起来，这是真的； —

but I am umble still. I hope I never shall be otherwise than umble. —
但我仍然谦逊。我希望我永远都不会变得不谦逊。 —

You will not think the worse of my umbleness, if I make a little confidence to you, Master Copperfield? Will you?’
如果我向你做一点小小的自白，考珀菲尔德先生，你依然不会认为我的谦逊变差了吧？你会吗？’

‘Oh no,’ said I, with an effort.
‘哦，不会的，’我费力地说。

‘Thank you!’ He took out his pocket-handkerchief, and began wiping the palms of his hands. —
‘谢谢！’他掏出手帕，开始擦拭手掌。 —

‘Miss Agnes, Master Copperfield -’ ‘Well, Uriah?’
‘阿格尼丝小姐，考珀菲尔德先生 -’ ‘嗯，尤赖亚？’

‘Oh, how pleasant to be called Uriah, spontaneously!’ he cried; —
‘哦，被称为尤赖亚真是太愉快了！’他喊道； —

and gave himself a jerk, like a convulsive fish. —
并像痉挛的鱼一样抽搐了一下。 —

‘You thought her looking very beautiful tonight, Master Copperfield?’
‘你认为她今晚看起来很美丽，考珀菲尔德先生？’

‘I thought her looking as she always does: —
‘我觉得她看起来就像她一直都是的那样： —

superior, in all respects, to everyone around her,’ I returned.
在各个方面都比周围的每个人都优秀，’我回答道。

‘Oh, thank you! It’s so true!’ he cried. ‘Oh, thank you very much for that!’
‘哦，谢谢！那太真实了！’他叫道。’谢谢你非常多！’

‘Not at all,’ I said, loftily. ‘There is no reason why you should thank me.’
‘不用客气，’我高傲地说。’没有理由让你感谢我。’

‘Why that, Master Copperfield,’ said Uriah, ‘is, in fact, the confidence that I am going to take the liberty of reposing. —
‘考珀菲尔德先生，理由就在于我即将依次表示的这个信任，’尤赖亚说。 —

Umble as I am,’ he wiped his hands harder, and looked at them and at the fire by turns, ‘umble as my mother is, and lowly as our poor but honest roof has ever been, the image of Miss Agnes (I don’t mind trusting you with my secret, Master Copperfield, for I have always overflowed towards you since the first moment I had the pleasure of beholding you in a pony-shay) has been in my breast for years. —
我擦拭着手，时而看着自己的手，时而看着炉火，说道，“我虽然谦卑，我母亲也很低调，我们虽然贫穷却诚实，但我心中多年来一直有着阿格尼丝小姐的形象（卡伯菲尔德先生，我愿意把我的秘密告诉你，自从我第一次在马车上见到你，我就一直对你满怀感激）。 —

Oh, Master Copperfield, with what a pure affection do I love the ground my Agnes walks on!’
噢，卡伯菲尔德先生，我是多么纯洁地爱着阿格尼丝踏过的土地啊！

I believe I had a delirious idea of seizing the red-hot poker out of the fire, and running him through with it. —
我想疯狂地想着夺过火热的火钳，用它刺穿他。 —

It went from me with a shock, like a ball fired from a rifle: —
火钳飞跃出我手，像是从步枪里射出的子弹。 —

but the image of Agnes, outraged by so much as a thought of this red-headed animal’s, remained in my mind when I looked at him, sitting all awry as if his mean soul griped his body, and made me giddy. —
但当我看着他时，阿格尼丝的形象依然萦绕在我的脑海中，像个不可忍受的念头，看着他身子歪斜坐着，仿佛卑鄙的灵魂控制着他的身体，让我感到头晕。 —

He seemed to swell and grow before my eyes; the room seemed full of the echoes of his voice; —
他似乎在我的眼前膨胀长大；房间里充满了他声音的回荡。 —

and the strange feeling (to which, perhaps, no one is quite a stranger) that all this had occurred before, at some indefinite time, and that I knew what he was going to say next, took possession of me.
一种奇怪的感觉（也许没有人会完全陌生）涌入我的心头，仿佛所有这一切在某个模糊的时刻已经发生过，我知道他接下来要说什么。

A timely observation of the sense of power that there was in his face, did more to bring back to my remembrance the entreaty of Agnes, in its full force, than any effort I could have made. —
他脸上所展现的权力感，比我所能做出的任何努力更能让我醒悟到阿格尼丝的请求的真实力量。 —

I asked him, with a better appearance of composure than I could have thought possible a minute before, whether he had made his feelings known to Agnes.
我问他，是否向阿格尼丝表达过自己的感情。

‘Oh no, Master Copperfield!’ he returned; ‘oh dear, no! Not to anyone but you. —
“哦不，卡伯菲尔德先生！”他回答道，“哦亲爱的，不！除了你以外没有。” —

You see I am only just emerging from my lowly station. —
你看我才刚从我的低微地位中脱颖而出。 —

I rest a good deal of hope on her observing how useful I am to her father (for I trust to be very useful to him indeed, Master Copperfield), and how I smooth the way for him, and keep him straight. —
我对她父亲非常有希望（我相信我对他确实很有用，卡伯菲尔德先生），我寄予了很大希望，希望她能看到我对她父亲的帮助，我为他铺平道路，让他处于正确的路径。 —

She’s so much attached to her father, Master Copperfield (oh, what a lovely thing it is in a daughter! —
她是如此依恋她的父亲，卡伯菲尔德先生（哦，女儿对父亲的爱是多么美好！），我想她可能会因为他的缘故对我友善。 —

), that I think she may come, on his account, to be kind to me.’
我探究了这个流氓整个阴谋的深度，并理解了他为什么把它暴露出来。

I fathomed the depth of the rascal’s whole scheme, and understood why he laid it bare.
知道为什么他把它公诸于众。

‘If you’ll have the goodness to keep my secret, Master Copperfield,’ he pursued, ‘and not, in general, to go against me, I shall take it as a particular favour. —
“如果你愿意保守我的秘密，卡伯菲尔德先生，”他继续说道，“而且一般不要与我作对，我会视为特别的恩惠。 —

You wouldn’t wish to make unpleasantness. I know what a friendly heart you’ve got; —
你不希望制造不愉快。我知道你有一颗友善的心； —

but having only known me on my umble footing (on my umblest I should say, for I am very umble still), you might, unbeknown, go against me rather, with my Agnes. I call her mine, you see, Master Copperfield. —
但是只见过我卑微的一面（我应该说最卑微的，因为我仍然非常卑微），你可能会，潜意识地，反对我，与我的阿格尼丝。你看，我称她为我的阿格尼丝。 —

There’s a song that says, “I’d crowns resign, to call her mine!” I hope to do it, one of these days.’
有一首歌说，“我愿放弃王冠，只为拥有她！”我希望有朝一日能做到。”

Dear Agnes! So much too loving and too good for anyone that I could think of, was it possible that she was reserved to be the wife of such a wretch as this!
亲爱的阿格尼丝！对任何我能想到的人来说都太过慈爱和善良，难道她会被留给一个这样的恶棍来当妻子吗？

‘There’s no hurry at present, you know, Master Copperfield,’ Uriah proceeded, in his slimy way, as I sat gazing at him, with this thought in my mind. —
“现在没有必要着急，你知道的，卡伯菲尔德先生，”乌利亚以他那滑头滑脑的方式接着说，当我凝视着他时，脑海中闪过这个念头。 —

‘My Agnes is very young still; and mother and me will have to work our way upwards, and make a good many new arrangements, before it would be quite convenient. —
“我的阿格尼丝还很年轻；我们母女将必须逐渐向上爬，做出许多新安排，才会比较方便。 —

So I shall have time gradually to make her familiar with my hopes, as opportunities offer. —
所以我将有时间逐渐让她熟悉我的希望，只要机会来了。 —

Oh, I’m so much obliged to you for this confidence! —
哦，非常感谢你给我的这份信任！ —

Oh, it’s such a relief, you can’t think, to know that you understand our situation, and are certain (as you wouldn’t wish to make unpleasantness in the family) not to go against me!’
噢，这是多么令人宽慰，你无法想象，知道你了解我们的情况，并且确定（因为你不希望在家庭中制造不愉快）不会反对我！

He took the hand which I dared not withhold, and having given it a damp squeeze, referred to his pale-faced watch.
他握住我的手，我不敢拒绝，给了一个潮湿的握手，然后看了看他那张苍白的脸。

‘Dear me!’ he said, ‘it’s past one. The moments slip away so, in the confidence of old times, Master Copperfield, that it’s almost half past one!’
“天啊！”他说，“已经过了一点。时光在过去的岁月中如此溜走，卡伯菲尔德先生，现在已经快两点了！”

I answered that I had thought it was later. —
我回答说我以为现在更晚了。 —

Not that I had really thought so, but because my conversational powers were effectually scattered.
并不是我真的这么想，而是因为我的对话能力基本上被分散了。

‘Dear me!’ he said, considering. ‘The ouse that I am stopping at - a sort of a private hotel and boarding ouse, Master Copperfield, near the New River ed - will have gone to bed these two hours.’
“天啊！”他想了一下。“我住的那栋房子——一种私人旅馆和寄宿家庭，卡伯菲尔德先生，在新河边附近——大概已经关门睡觉两个小时了。”

‘I am sorry,’ I returned, ‘that there is only one bed here, and that I -’
“对不起，”我回答道，“这里只有一张床，我-”

‘Oh, don’t think of mentioning beds, Master Copperfield!’ —
“噢，别再提床了，考珀菲尔德先生！” —

he rejoined ecstatically, drawing up one leg. —
他兴奋地回答，一条腿拉起来。 —

‘But would you have any objections to my laying down before the fire?’
“但你介意我在火炉前躺下吗？”

‘If it comes to that,’ I said, ‘pray take my bed, and I’ll lie down before the fire.’
“如果是这样，”我说，“请你睡我的床，我会在火炉前躺下。”

His repudiation of this offer was almost shrill enough, in the excess of its surprise and humility, to have penetrated to the ears of Mrs. Crupp, then sleeping, I suppose, in a distant chamber, situated at about the level of low-water mark, soothed in her slumbers by the ticking of an incorrigible clock, to which she always referred me when we had any little difference on the score of punctuality, and which was never less than three-quarters of an hour too slow, and had always been put right in the morning by the best authorities. —
他对这个提议的拒绝几乎够高兴得足以传达给克鲁普夫人的耳朵，我想她那时正在一个位置约低潮时刻的遥远卧室里睡觉，被一只固执的时钟的滴答声所安慰，每当我们在守时方面有任何小的分歧时，她总是指着这只时钟，这只时钟总是慢了三刻钟，早上总是被权威人士调整过。 —

As no arguments I could urge, in my bewildered condition, had the least effect upon his modesty in inducing him to accept my bedroom, I was obliged to make the best arrangements I could, for his repose before the fire. —
在我迷惑不解的状态下，我所能提出的任何争辩都不能影响他的谦逊，使他接受我的卧室，我只好为他在火炉前安排最好的休息。 —

The mattress of the sofa (which was a great deal too short for his lank figure), the sofa pillows, a blanket, the table-cover, a clean breakfast-cloth, and a great-coat, made him a bed and covering, for which he was more than thankful. —
沙发的床垫（对他瘦长的身材来说太短了许多），沙发垫子，毯子，桌布，一个干净的早餐布，和一件大衣，为他做了一张床和被单，他非常感激。 —

Having lent him a night-cap, which he put on at once, and in which he made such an awful figure, that I have never worn one since, I left him to his rest.
我借给他一顶睡帽，他立刻戴上，他戴着睡帽看上去像个可怕的小丑，自那以后我再也没有戴过睡帽，我就让他睡觉了。

I never shall forget that night. I never shall forget how I turned and tumbled; —
我永远不会忘记那一夜。我永远不会忘记我如何翻来覆去； —

how I wearied myself with thinking about Agnes and this creature; —
我如何因为想着阿格尼丝和这个人而使自己感到疲惫； —

how I considered what could I do, and what ought I to do; —
我如何考虑我能做什么，我应该做什么； —

how I could come to no other conclusion than that the best course for her peace was to do nothing, and to keep to myself what I had heard. —
我怎么也想不出其他结论，除了最好为了她的平静，什么也不做，保守着我听到的一切。 —

If I went to sleep for a few moments, the image of Agnes with her tender eyes, and of her father looking fondly on her, as I had so often seen him look, arose before me with appealing faces, and filled me with vague terrors. —
如果我睡了一会儿，阿格尼丝和她那双柔情的眼睛的形象，以及她父亲深情凝视她的形象，像我经常看到他这样凝视她，会在我面前浮现，带给我一种模糊的恐惧。 —

When I awoke, the recollection that Uriah was lying in the next room, sat heavy on me like a waking nightmare; —
当我醒来时，乌赖亚躺在隔壁房间的回忆像一场惊悚的噩梦一样沉重地压在我身上； —

and oppressed me with a leaden dread, as if I had had some meaner quality of devil for a lodger.
他用沉重的恐惧压迫着我，好像我有某种更下贱的恶魔在寄宿一样。

The poker got into my dozing thoughts besides, and wouldn’t come out. —
火钳深深地印在我打瞌睡的思想中，再也无法摆脱。 —

I thought, between sleeping and waking, that it was still red hot, and I had snatched it out of the fire, and run him through the body. —
在睡着和醒着之间，我以为火钳还是灼烫的，并且我用它刺穿了他的身体。 —

I was so haunted at last by the idea, though I knew there was nothing in it, that I stole into the next room to look at him. —
虽然我知道只是幻想，但这个念头始终萦绕在脑际，于是我悄悄走进旁边的房间去看他。 —

There I saw him, lying on his back, with his legs extending to I don’t know where, gurglings taking place in his throat, stoppages in his nose, and his mouth open like a post-office. —
我看到他仰卧着，双腿伸展到我不知道哪里，喉咙发出咕噜声，鼻子有阻塞，嘴巴张得像一个邮局。 —

He was so much worse in reality than in my distempered fancy, that afterwards I was attracted to him in very repulsion, and could not help wandering in and out every half-hour or so, and taking another look at him. —
他在现实中比我病态的幻想中更加糟糕，以至于后来我不得不被他的样子所吸引，却又排斥，每隔半个小时左右都不能不进出房间，再看他一眼。 —

Still, the long, long night seemed heavy and hopeless as ever, and no promise of day was in the murky sky.
夜晚漫长而绝望，乌云密布的天空中看不到一丝曙光。

When I saw him going downstairs early in the morning (for, thank Heaven! —
当我早晨看到他下楼的时候（谢天谢地！他不愿留下吃早餐），我觉得夜晚随着他的离去悄然消散。 —

he would not stay to breakfast), it appeared to me as if the night was going away in his person. —
当我出门去查尔斯广场时，我特别嘱咐克鲁普太太留窗户敞开，好让我的起居室能够通风，摆脱他的存在。 —

When I went out to the Commons, I charged Mrs. Crupp with particular directions to leave the windows open, that my sitting-room might be aired, and purged of his presence.
这些夜晚似乎一如既往地漫长而绝望，乌云密布的天空中看不到一丝曙光。