《简·爱》 Chapter 10 第十章（9）

（单词翻译）

Did she send you here, Bessie?

是她派你到这里来的吗，贝茜？

No, indeed, but I have long wanted to see you,

说真的，不是。我倒早就想见你了。

and when I heard that there had been a letter from you, and that you were going to another part of the country,

我听说你写了信来，说是要去远地方，

I thought I'd just set off, and get a look at you before you were quite out of my reach.

我想我还是乘你还没有远走高飞的时候，动身来见你一面。”

"I am afraid you are disappointed in me, Bessie." I said this laughing.

“恐怕你对我失望了吧，贝茜。”说完我笑了起来。

I perceived that Bessie's glance, though it expressed regard, did in no shape denote admiration¹.

我发觉贝茜的目光虽然流露出关切，却丝毫没有赞赏之意。

No, Miss Jane, not exactly.

不，简小姐，不完全这样。

You are genteel enough. You look like a lady.

你够文雅的了，你看上去像个贵妇人。

And it is as much as ever I expected of you: you were no beauty as a child.

当然你还是我所预料的那样，还是孩子的时候你就长得不漂亮。

I smiled at Bessie's frank answer.

我对贝茵坦率的回答报之以微笑。

I felt that it was correct, but I confess I was not quite indifferent to its import.

我想她说得对，不过我承认，我对这话的含义并没有无动于衷。

At eighteen most people wish to please,

在十八岁的年纪上，大多数人都希望能讨人喜欢，

and the conviction that they have not an exterior² likely to second that desire brings anything but gratification.

而她们相信，自己并不具备有助于实现这种愿望的外表时，心里是绝不会高兴的。

"I dare say you are clever, though," continued Bessie, by way of solace³.

“不过我想你很聪明，”贝茜继续说，以表示安慰。

What can you do? Can you play on the piano?

你会什么？能弹钢琴吗？

A little.

会一点儿。

There was one in the room.

房内有一架钢琴。

Bessie went and opened it, and then asked me to sit down and give her a tune⁴.

贝茜走过去把它打开，随后要我坐下来给她弹个曲子。

I played a waltz or two, and she was charmed.

我弹了一两曲华尔兹，她听得着了迷。

"The Miss Reeds could not play as well!" said she exultingly⁵.

“两位里德小姐弹不了这么好！”她欣喜地说。

I always said you would surpass them in learning, and can you draw?

我总是说你在学问上一定会超过她们的，你能画吗？

That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece.

壁炉架上的那幅画就是我画的。

It was a landscape in water colours, of which I had made a present to the superintendent⁶,

这是一幅水彩风景画，我把它作为礼物送给了校长，

in acknowledgment of her obliging mediation⁷ with the committee on my behalf, and which she had framed and glazed⁸.

以感谢她代表我在委员会中所作的善意斡旋。她把这幅画加了框，还上了光。

Well, that is beautiful, Miss Jane! It is as fine a picture as any Miss Reed's drawing-master could paint,

嗬，好漂亮，简小姐！它同里德小姐的绘画老师作的画一样好，

let alone the young ladies themselves, who could not come near it, and have you learnt French?

更不要说年轻小姐她们自己了，她们同你天差地远。你学法语了吗？

Yes, Bessie, I can both read it and speak it.

学了，贝茵，我能读还能讲。

And you can work on muslin and canvas?

你会做细布和粗布上的刺绣活吗？

I can.

我会。