A CHARCOAL-BURNER carried on his trade in his own house. —-
一个炭烧工在自家做生意。 —-

One day he met a friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened. —-
一天，他遇到了一个朋友，一个漂布工人，他求他搬来和他一起住，说他们会做更好的邻居，他们的家庭开销会减少。 —-

The Fuller replied, “The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal.”
漂布工人回答说：“对我来说，这个安排是不可能的，因为你无论我把什么洗白了，你都会立刻用你的炭抹黑。”

Like will draw like.
物以类聚。