My new life had lasted for more than a week, and I was stronger than ever in those tremendous practical resolutions that I felt the crisis required. —
我的新生活已经持续了一个多星期，我在那些巨大的实际决心中比以往任何时候都更为坚强，我觉得危机需要这样。 —

I continued to walk extremely fast, and to have a general idea that I was getting on. —
我继续快步行走，总觉得自己在前进。 —

I made it a rule to take as much out of myself as I possibly could, in my way of doing everything to which I applied my energies. —
我规定自己要尽可能地充分发挥自己的潜能，做任何事情都是这样。 —

I made a perfect victim of myself. I even entertained some idea of putting myself on a vegetable diet, vaguely conceiving that, in becoming a graminivorous animal, I should sacrifice to Dora.
我将自己做成了一个完美的牺牲品。我甚至模糊地设想通过以禾本植物为食物，成为一个草食动物来牺牲自己，为了多拉。

As yet, little Dora was quite unconscious of my desperate firmness, otherwise than as my letters darkly shadowed it forth. —
小多拉至今仍然对我那种绝望的坚定不畏感到毫无察觉，只是通过我的信件隐约能感受到。 —

But another Saturday came, and on that Saturday evening she was to be at Miss Mills’s; —
但又一个星期六来临了，在那个星期六的晚上她会去米尔斯小姐那里； —

and when Mr. Mills had gone to his whist-club (telegraphed to me in the street, by a bird-cage in the drawing-room middle window), I was to go there to tea.
当米尔斯先生去他的纸牌俱乐部（通过客厅中间窗口的鸟笼在街上发出的信号）时，我也要去那里喝茶。

By this time, we were quite settled down in Buckingham Street, where Mr. Dick continued his copying in a state of absolute felicity. —
到这时，我们已经在白金汉街很稳定，迪克先生在那里继续着他的抄写工作，充满了绝对的幸福感。 —

My aunt had obtained a signal victory over Mrs. Crupp, by paying her off, throwing the first pitcher she planted on the stairs out of window, and protecting in person, up and down the staircase, a supernumerary whom she engaged from the outer world. —
我姨母通过拿出赔偿金打败了克鲁普夫人，她将第一只放在楼梯上的花瓶从窗户扔了出去，亲自在楼梯上下保护着一个从外界来的临时工。 —

These vigorous measures struck such terror to the breast of Mrs. Crupp, that she subsided into her own kitchen, under the impression that my aunt was mad. —
这些有力的措施让克鲁普夫人胸口感到巨大的恐惧，使她在自己的厨房里平静下来，认为我姨母是疯了。 —

My aunt being supremely indifferent to Mrs. Crupp’s opinion and everybody else’s, and rather favouring than discouraging the idea, Mrs. Crupp, of late the bold, became within a few days so faint-hearted, that rather than encounter my aunt upon the staircase, she would endeavour to hide her portly form behind doors - leaving visible, however, a wide margin of flannel petticoat - or would shrink into dark corners. —
我姨母对克鲁普夫人和其他所有人的看法都极其漠不关心，甚至更喜欢而不是打消了这种想法，所以克鲁普夫人，以前很大胆的，最近几天变得胆怯得厉害，以至于她宁可躲到门后－－当然，她留下宽大的绒毛裙子边缘使她可见－－她经常躲在黑暗的角落里。 —

This gave my aunt such unspeakable satisfaction, that I believe she took a delight in prowling up and down, with her bonnet insanely perched on the top of her head, at times when Mrs. Crupp was likely to be in the way.
我姨母由此得到了无法言喻的满足，我相信她在觉得克鲁普夫人可能出现的时候，喜欢在上下捉摸，把她的帽子疯狂地斜戴在头顶。

My aunt, being uncommonly neat and ingenious, made so many little improvements in our domestic arrangements, that I seemed to be richer instead of poorer. —
我姨母极其整洁和有创意，对我们的家务安排进行了许多小小的改进，使我似乎比起更富有而不是更贫穷。 —

Among the rest, she converted the pantry into a dressing-room for me; —
其中之一，她把食品室改成了一个为我准备的更衣室； —

and purchased and embellished a bedstead for my occupation, which looked as like a bookcase in the daytime as a bedstead could. —
并买了一张床架，并为我布置，这张床架看起来白天看起来像一个书柜一样。 —

I was the object of her constant solicitude; —
我是她持续关怀的对象； —

and my poor mother herself could not have loved me better, or studied more how to make me happy.
我可怜的母亲自己对我也不会更爱，也不会更努力使我快乐。

Peggotty had considered herself highly privileged in being allowed to participate in these labours; —
Peggotty认为自己能够参与这些劳作是非常荣幸的； —

and, although she still retained something of her old sentiment of awe in reference to my aunt, had received so many marks of encouragement and confidence, that they were the best friends possible. —
尽管她仍然对我姨有些敬畏之情，但她收到了许多鼓励和信任的表示，他们成了可能的最好的朋友。 —

But the time had now come (I am speaking of the Saturday when I was to take tea at Miss Mills’s) when it was necessary for her to return home, and enter on the discharge of the duties she had undertaken in behalf of Ham. ‘So good-bye, Barkis,’ said my aunt, ‘and take care of yourself! —
但现在已经是时候了（我说的是我要在米尔斯小姐那里喝下午茶的那个星期六），她需要回家了，开始履行她为汉姆承担的职责。“再见，巴克斯，”我姨妈说，“照顾好自己！ —

I am sure I never thought I could be sorry to lose you!’
我真没想到我会为失去你感到伤心！”

I took Peggotty to the coach office and saw her off. —
我把Peggotty送到了车站，看着她离开。 —

She cried at parting, and confided her brother to my friendship as Ham had done. —
她在分别时哭了，并把她的兄弟托付给了我的友谊，就像汉姆一样。 —

We had heard nothing of him since he went away, that sunny afternoon.
自从那个阳光普照的下午他离开以后，我们就再也没有听到过他的消息。

‘And now, my own dear Davy,’ said Peggotty, ‘if, while you’re a prentice, you should want any money to spend; —
“现在，我亲爱的戴维，”Peggotty 说，“假如你当学徒时需要用钱花； —

or if, when you’re out of your time, my dear, you should want any to set you up (and you must do one or other, or both, my darling); —
或者，亲爱的，当你出师之后需要用钱开业（你必须做其中一件或两件事，亲爱的）； —

who has such a good right to ask leave to lend it you, as my sweet girl’s own old stupid me!’
那么，谁有更多的权利，要求借给你钱，而不是我这个对我甜美女儿心疼的老傻瓜呢！”

I was not so savagely independent as to say anything in reply, but that if ever I borrowed money of anyone, I would borrow it of her. —
我并不是太过分独立，以至于回应什么，只是如果我向任何人借钱，我会向她借。 —

Next to accepting a large sum on the spot, I believe this gave Peggotty more comfort than anything I could have done.
除了立刻接受一大笔钱，我相信这个能给 Peggotty 带来更多的安慰。

‘And, my dear!’ whispered Peggotty, ‘tell the pretty little angel that I should so have liked to see her, only for a minute! —
“还有，亲爱的！” Peggotty 悄悄说，“告诉那位漂亮的小天使，我真的很想见她，只要一分钟！” —

And tell her that before she marries my boy, I’ll come and make your house so beautiful for you, if you’ll let me!’
告诉她，在她嫁给我家的孩子之前，我会来为你收拾房子，让你的家变得更美丽，如果你愿意让我来做！’

I declared that nobody else should touch it; —
我宣称除了我，没有人可以碰它； —

and this gave Peggotty such delight that she went away in good spirits.
这让佩格蒂非常高兴，她雀跃地离开了。

I fatigued myself as much as I possibly could in the Commons all day, by a variety of devices, and at the appointed time in the evening repaired to Mr. Mills’s street. —
在下午，在众议院，我努力使自己尽可能地疲惫，通过各种手段，到了晚上约定的时间，去了米尔斯先生的街道。 —

Mr. Mills, who was a terrible fellow to fall asleep after dinner, had not yet gone out, and there was no bird-cage in the middle window.
在我去的时候，米尔斯先生，这个午餐后很容易打盹的人，还没有出去，中间窗户里没有鸟笼。

He kept me waiting so long, that I fervently hoped the Club would fine him for being late. —
在他如此长时间的等待中，我内心祈祷社团会因为他迟到而对他开罚。 —

At last he came out; and then I saw my own Dora hang up the bird-cage, and peep into the balcony to look for me, and run in again when she saw I was there, while Jip remained behind, to bark injuriously at an immense butcher’s dog in the street, who could have taken him like a pill.
最后他出来了；那时我看到我心爱的朵拉挂起鸟笼，伸头看向阳台，然后又看到了我，当她看到我在那儿时，她又跑了进去，而吉普则留在后面，在街上对着一个巨大的屠夫狗吠得不可开交，那狗本可以像吞药丸一样将它吞下。

Dora came to the drawing-room door to meet me; —
朵拉来到客厅门口迎接我； —

and Jip came scrambling out, tumbling over his own growls, under the impression that I was a Bandit; and we all three went in, as happy and loving as could be. —
吉普慌乱地挤了出来，在自己的咆哮声中摔倒，误以为我是强盗；我们三人进去了，幸福地相亲相爱。 —

I soon carried desolation into the bosom of our joys - not that I meant to do it, but that I was so full of the subject - by asking Dora, without the smallest preparation, if she could love a beggar?
我立刻在我们快乐的时刻制造了荒凉，虽然我不是有意这样做，但是我被这个主题充分填满了，因此毫无准备地问朵拉，她能否爱一个乞丐？

My pretty, little, startled Dora! Her only association with the word was a yellow face and a nightcap, or a pair of crutches, or a wooden leg, or a dog with a decanter-stand in his mouth, or something of that kind; —
我漂亮的小朵拉吃了一惊！对于这个词，她唯一的联想是一个黄脸和头巾、一双拐杖、一条木腿，或者一只嘴里含着酒坛的狗，或者类似的东西； —

and she stared at me with the most delightful wonder.
她带着最令人愉快的惊讶看着我。

‘How can you ask me anything so foolish?’ pouted Dora. ‘Love a beggar!’
“你怎么能这么傻呢，”朵拉生气地说。”爱一个乞丐！”

‘Dora, my own dearest!’ said I. ‘I am a beggar!’
“朵拉，我亲爱的！”我说。”我是一个乞丐！”

‘How can you be such a silly thing,’ replied Dora, slapping my hand, ‘as to sit there, telling such stories? —
“你怎么会这么愚蠢，”朵拉回答，拍了拍我的手，”坐在那里，说这种事？” —

I’ll make Jip bite you!’
“我要让吉普咬你！”

Her childish way was the most delicious way in the world to me, but it was necessary to be explicit, and I solemnly repeated:
“她孩子气的方式对我来说是世界上最美味的方式，但有必要明确，我郑重地重复道：

‘Dora, my own life, I am your ruined David!’
“朵拉，我的爱人，我是你毁了的大卫！”

‘I declare I’ll make Jip bite you!’ said Dora, shaking her curls, ‘if you are so ridiculous.’
“我发誓我会让吉普咬你！”朵拉摇着她的卷发说，“如果你这么荒唐。”

But I looked so serious, that Dora left off shaking her curls, and laid her trembling little hand upon my shoulder, and first looked scared and anxious, then began to cry. —
但我看起来如此认真，朵拉停止摇动她的卷发，颤抖的小手搁在我的肩膀上，起初感到惊恐和焦虑，然后开始哭泣。 —

That was dreadful. I fell upon my knees before the sofa, caressing her, and imploring her not to rend my heart; —
那简直太可怕了。我跪在沙发前面，抚摸着她，哀求她不要伤害我的心； —

but, for some time, poor little Dora did nothing but exclaim Oh dear! Oh dear! —
但是，有一段时间，可怜的小朵拉除了呼喊“天哪！天哪！” —

And oh, she was so frightened! And where was Julia Mills! —
“哦，她是如此恐惧！朱莉娅·米尔斯在哪里呢！ —

And oh, take her to Julia Mills, and go away, please! —
“哦，带她去找朱莉娅·米尔斯，然后走开，拜托！ —

until I was almost beside myself.
直到我几乎快发疯。

At last, after an agony of supplication and protestation, I got Dora to look at me, with a horrified expression of face, which I gradually soothed until it was only loving, and her soft, pretty cheek was lying against mine. —
最后，在极力恳求和抗议之后，我让朵拉看着我，脸上带着恐惧的表情，逐渐使她平静下来，直到只剩下爱意，她柔软漂亮的脸颊贴在我的脸上。 —

Then I told her, with my arms clasped round her, how I loved her, so dearly, and so dearly; —
然后我告诉她，双臂搂着她，我是多么爱她，如此深深； —

how I felt it right to offer to release her from her engagement, because now I was poor; —
我觉得应该提出解除婚约的提议，因为现在我很穷； —

how I never could bear it, or recover it, if I lost her; —
如果失去了她，我永远无法忍受或恢复； —

how I had no fears of poverty, if she had none, my arm being nerved and my heart inspired by her; —
如果她没有担忧，我也不怕贫穷，因为我的手臂得到了加强，我的心得到了她的鼓舞；” —

how I was already working with a courage such as none but lovers knew; —
我已经像恋人们所不知道的那样勇敢地工作； —

how I had begun to be practical, and look into the future; —
我开始变得实际起来，审视未来； —

how a crust well earned was sweeter far than a feast inherited; —
辛勤劳动赚来的一块面包比继承的盛宴更甜美； —

and much more to the same purpose, which I delivered in a burst of passionate eloquence quite surprising to myself, though I had been thinking about it, day and night, ever since my aunt had astonished me.
我说了更多类似的话，以激情洋溢的雄辩方式表达出来，这即使令我自己惊讶，但自从我的姑姑使我大吃一惊以来，我日夜都在想着它。

‘Is your heart mine still, dear Dora?’ said I, rapturously, for I knew by her clinging to me that it was.
“亲爱的多拉，你的心还是属于我吗？”我兴奋地说，因为我知道她紧紧依偎在我身边。

‘Oh, yes!’ cried Dora. ‘Oh, yes, it’s all yours. Oh, don’t be dreadful!’
“哦，是的！”多拉叫道，“哦，是的，它全是你的。哦，别可怕！”

I dreadful! To Dora!
我岂能可怕！对于多拉来说！

‘Don’t talk about being poor, and working hard!’ —
“别谈论贫困和艰苦工作！” —

said Dora, nestling closer to me. ‘Oh, don’t, don’t!’
多拉贴得更近些。“哦，别，别！”

‘My dearest love,’ said I, ‘the crust well-earned -’
“我最亲爱的爱人，”我说，“辛勤挣来的面包——”

‘Oh, yes; but I don’t want to hear any more about crusts!’ —
“哦，是的；但我不想再听面包的事情了！” —

said Dora. ‘And Jip must have a mutton-chop every day at twelve, or he’ll die.’
多拉说，“吉普必须每天十二点吃一块羊排，否则它会死。”

I was charmed with her childish, winning way. —
她那种孩子般的迷人方式让我着迷。 —

I fondly explained to Dora that Jip should have his mutton-chop with his accustomed regularity. —
我热情地向多拉解释，吉普应该按照惯例定时吃他的羊排。 —

I drew a picture of our frugal home, made independent by my labour - sketching in the little house I had seen at Highgate, and my aunt in her room upstairs.
我绘画了我们勤俭的家，由我的劳动使之独立——描绘了我在海格特看到的小房子，和我姑姑楼上的房间。

‘I am not dreadful now, Dora?’ said I, tenderly.
‘亲爱的，我现在不可怕吧?‘我温柔地问道。

‘Oh, no, no!’ cried Dora. ‘But I hope your aunt will keep in her own room a good deal. —
‘哦，不，不!‘多拉喊道。’但我希望你阿姨可以呆在她自己的房间里很多时间。 —

And I hope she’s not a scolding old thing!’
希望她不是一个爱唠叨的老人!’

If it were possible for me to love Dora more than ever, I am sure I did. —
如果说我能更加爱多拉，我敢肯定我已经这样做了。 —

But I felt she was a little impracticable. —
但我觉得她有点不切实际。 —

It damped my new-born ardour, to find that ardour so difficult of communication to her. —
发现这种热情很难与她沟通，让我新生的热情受到阻碍。 —

I made another trial. When she was quite herself again, and was curling Jip’s ears, as he lay upon her lap, I became grave, and said:
我又做出了努力。当她完全恢复正常，正在给吉普抚摸耳朵时，我变得严肃，说道：

‘My own! May I mention something?’
‘我的亲爱的! 我可以提及一些事情吗?’

‘Oh, please don’t be practical!’ said Dora, coaxingly. ‘Because it frightens me so!’
‘哦，请不要太实际!‘多拉哄着说。’因为那样会吓唬我!’

‘Sweetheart!’ I returned; ‘there is nothing to alarm you in all this. —
‘心肝!‘我回答道;‘这一切并没有什么可让你惊恐的。 —

I want you to think of it quite differently. —
我希望你完全将它看作不同的事物。 —

I want to make it nerve you, and inspire you, Dora!’
我希望让它激励你，激发你的内在力量，多拉!’

‘Oh, but that’s so shocking!’ cried Dora.
‘哦，但那太可怕了!‘多拉喊道。

‘My love, no. Perseverance and strength of character will enable us to bear much worse things.’ —
‘亲爱的，不，不是的。坚持和性格力量会让我们承受更糟糕的事情。’ —

‘But I haven’t got any strength at all,’ said Dora, shaking her curls. —
‘但我一点力量也没有,‘多拉摇了摇头发。 —

‘Have I, Jip? Oh, do kiss Jip, and be agreeable!’
“我，吉普？哦，亲亲吉普，让人心情愉快！”

It was impossible to resist kissing Jip, when she held him up to me for that purpose, putting her own bright, rosy little mouth into kissing form, as she directed the operation, which she insisted should be performed symmetrically, on the centre of his nose. —
不由得我去亲吻吉普，当她把他举起来让我这么做时，把她自己明亮、红润的小嘴弄成接吻的姿势，指挥我进行这个操作，她坚持要对准他的鼻子中心对称地完成。 —

I did as she bade me - rewarding myself afterwards for my obedience - and she charmed me out of my graver character for I don’t know how long.
我遵照她的吩咐——然后奖励自己听话而做——她迷住了我，让我从严肃的角色中脱身，我不知道有多久。

‘But, Dora, my beloved!’ said I, at last resuming it; ‘I was going to mention something.’
“但是，朵拉，我心爱的！”最后我重新变得正经起来；

The judge of the Prerogative Court might have fallen in love with her, to see her fold her little hands and hold them up, begging and praying me not to be dreadful any more.
可能未被马教法庭震惊并爱上她，看到她双手合拢抬起，乞求我不再恐怖。

‘Indeed I am not going to be, my darling!’ I assured her. —
我向她保证“亲爱的！我确实不会的。” —

‘But, Dora, my love, if you will sometimes think, - not despondingly, you know; far from that! —
“但是，朵拉，亲爱的，如果你有时想一想，–不要沮丧，你知道；远非如此！ —

• but if you will sometimes think - just to encourage yourself - that you are engaged to a poor man -’
  但如果你有时想一想-只是鼓励自己-你订了一个穷人—”
  

‘Don’t, don’t! Pray don’t!’ cried Dora. ‘It’s so very dreadful!’
“别，别！求你别！”朵拉喊道，“这是太可怕了！”

‘My soul, not at all!’ said I, cheerfully. —
“我的心肝，一点也不可怕！”我欢快地说 —

‘If you will sometimes think of that, and look about now and then at your papa’s housekeeping, and endeavour to acquire a little habit - of accounts, for instance -’
如果你有时考虑一下这点，并且偶尔看看你爸爸的家务，努力养成一点习惯—比如记账—”

Poor little Dora received this suggestion with something that was half a sob and half a scream.
可怜的小朵拉接受这个建议时，半哭半喊。

’- It would be so useful to us afterwards,’ I went on. —
“-这对我们以后会有很大用处的，”我继续说。 —

‘And if you would promise me to read a little - a little Cookery Book that I would send you, it would be so excellent for both of us. —
“如果你答应我读一本小小的烹饪书，我会给你寄过去，这对我们两个都会很好。 —

For our path in life, my Dora,’ said I, warming with the subject, ‘is stony and rugged now, and it rests with us to smooth it. —
因为我们的生活道路，我的朵拉，现在是坎坷和崎岖的，我们有责任去抚平它。 —

We must fight our way onward. We must be brave. —
我们必须勇敢地继续前行。我们必须勇敢。 —

There are obstacles to be met, and we must meet, and crush them!’
有障碍需要克服，我们必须面对并摧毁它们！

I was going on at a great rate, with a clenched hand, and a most enthusiastic countenance; —
我正滔滔不绝地谈着，手紧握，表情非常热情； —

but it was quite unnecessary to proceed. I had said enough. I had done it again. —
但继续下去完全是不必要的。我已经说够了。我又做了同样的事。 —

Oh, she was so frightened! Oh, where was Julia Mills! —
哦，她那么害怕！哦，朱莉娅·米尔斯在哪里！ —

Oh, take her to Julia Mills, and go away, please! —
哦，带她去找朱莉娅·米尔斯，然后走开，拜托！ —

So that, in short, I was quite distracted, and raved about the drawing-room.
总之，我完全分心了，在客厅里胡言乱语。

I thought I had killed her, this time. I sprinkled water on her face. I went down on my knees. —
我以为这次我杀了她。我往她脸上洒了水。我跪了下来。 —

I plucked at my hair. I denounced myself as a remorseless brute and a ruthless beast. —
我拽着头发。我指责自己是一个冷酷无情的兽类。 —

I implored her forgiveness. I besought her to look up. —
我乞求她的原谅。我恳求她抬起头来看我。 —

I ravaged Miss Mills’s work-box for a smelling-bottle, and in my agony of mind applied an ivory needle-case instead, and dropped all the needles over Dora. I shook my fists at Jip, who was as frantic as myself. —
我在米尔斯小姐的针线盒里翻找香水瓶，在痛苦的心情下用了一个象牙针筒，结果把所有的针掉到了多拉身上。我向吉普挥舞着拳头，他和我一样疯狂。 —

I did every wild extravagance that could be done, and was a long way beyond the end of my wits when Miss Mills came into the room.
我做了任何疯狂的事情，到了我最聪明的尽头，当米尔斯小姐走进房间时。

‘Who has done this?’ exclaimed Miss Mills, succouring her friend.
‘是谁做的？’米尔斯小姐惊呼，帮助她的朋友。

I replied, ‘I, Miss Mills! I have done it! Behold the destroyer!’ —
我回答说，’是我，米尔斯小姐！是我做的！看，这位毁灭者！’ —

• or words to that effect - and hid my face from the light, in the sofa cushion.
  - 或类似的话 - 然后把脸埋在沙发垫里，不让光线照射。
  

At first Miss Mills thought it was a quarrel, and that we were verging on the Desert of Sahara; —
起初米尔斯小姐以为我们在争吵，以为我们正要走向撒哈拉沙漠； —

but she soon found out how matters stood, for my dear affectionate little Dora, embracing her, began exclaiming that I was ‘a poor labourer’; —
但她很快就明白了事情的真相，因为我亲爱的、充满感情的小朵拉搂着她，开始高声说我是一个“可怜的劳动者”； —

and then cried for me, and embraced me, and asked me would I let her give me all her money to keep, and then fell on Miss Mills’s neck, sobbing as if her tender heart were broken.
然后她哭着为我求情，拥抱我，问我是否让她把所有的钱都给我留着，然后扑到米尔斯小姐的脖子上，像她那颗细腻的心被打碎了一样啜泣。

Miss Mills must have been born to be a blessing to us. —
米尔斯小姐一定是天生就是我们的福音。 —

She ascertained from me in a few words what it was all about, comforted Dora, and gradually convinced her that I was not a labourer - from my manner of stating the case I believe Dora concluded that I was a navigator, and went balancing myself up and down a plank all day with a wheelbarrow - and so brought us together in peace. —
她从我口中得知了事情的全貌，安慰了多拉，并逐渐说服她，让她相信我并不是一个劳动者——根据我陈述的方式，我相信多拉是这样的结论，认为我是一个水手，整天拿着一辆独轮车来回平衡自己——从而使我们和好如初。 —

When we were quite composed, and Dora had gone up-stairs to put some rose-water to her eyes, Miss Mills rang for tea. —
当我们完全平静下来，多拉已经上楼去给眼睛涂上些玫瑰水后，米尔斯小姐便响了茶铃。 —

In the ensuing interval, I told Miss Mills that she was evermore my friend, and that my heart must cease to vibrate ere I could forget her sympathy.
在随后的间隔中，我告诉米尔斯小姐她永远是我的朋友，心在她之前绝不停止跳动，我永远不会忘记她的同情心。

I then expounded to Miss Mills what I had endeavoured, so very unsuccessfully, to expound to Dora. Miss Mills replied, on general principles, that the Cottage of content was better than the Palace of cold splendour, and that where love was, all was.
然后我向米尔斯小姐解释了我之前曾努力但却极其不成功地向多拉解释的内容。米尔斯小姐基于一般原则回答说，知足的小屋胜过冷冰冰的宫殿，有了爱，一切都好了。

I said to Miss Mills that this was very true, and who should know it better than I, who loved Dora with a love that never mortal had experienced yet? —
我对米尔斯小姐说这是非常正确的，谁还懂得这一点比我更好呢，我爱多拉的爱，任何凡人都未曾体会过。 —

But on Miss Mills observing, with despondency, that it were well indeed for some hearts if this were so, I explained that I begged leave to restrict the observation to mortals of the masculine gender.
但当米尔斯小姐满含沮丧地观察到，如果这样的话对某些心灵有好处的话，我解释说我乞求允许将这条观点限制在男性的凡人之上。

I then put it to Miss Mills, to say whether she considered that there was or was not any practical merit in the suggestion I had been anxious to make, concerning the accounts, the housekeeping, and the Cookery Book?
我随后请教米尔斯小姐，她是否认为我之前所急于提出的有关账目、家政和烹饪书的建议是否有任何实际的价值？

Miss Mills, after some consideration, thus replied:
米尔斯小姐经过一番考虑，如此回答:

‘Mr. Copperfield, I will be plain with you. —
“科波菲尔德先生，我将向您坦诚相待。 —

Mental suffering and trial supply, in some natures, the place of years, and I will be as plain with you as if I were a Lady Abbess. —
精神上的痛苦和考验在某些人的天性中占据了岁月的位置，我将如一位仁爱大姐般坦率地对待您。 —

No. The suggestion is not appropriate to our Dora. Our dearest Dora is a favourite child of nature. —
不。这个建议对我们的多拉不合适。我们心爱的多拉是大自然的宠儿。 —

She is a thing of light, and airiness, and joy. —
她是一团光明、通透和快乐。 —

I am free to confess that if it could be done, it might be well, but -’ And Miss Mills shook her head.
我可以自由地承认，如果可以的话，那可能是个好主意，但是 -’ 米尔茨小姐摇摇头。

I was encouraged by this closing admission on the part of Miss Mills to ask her, whether, for Dora’s sake, if she had any opportunity of luring her attention to such preparations for an earnest life, she would avail herself of it? —
我受到米尔茨小姐这番话的鼓舞，便问她，为了朵拉的缘故，如果有机会引导她关注对一个认真的生活的准备，她会抓住这个机会吗？ —

Miss Mills replied in the affirmative so readily, that I further asked her if she would take charge of the Cookery Book; —
米尔茨小姐回答肯定，我进一步问她是否愿意带走烹饪书； —

and, if she ever could insinuate it upon Dora’s acceptance, without frightening her, undertake to do me that crowning service. —
如果她能在不吓到朵拉的情况下巧妙地让她接受，是否愿意为我完成这个至关重要的任务。 —

Miss Mills accepted this trust, too; but was not sanguine.
米尔茨小姐也接受了这个任务，但并不太乐观。

And Dora returned, looking such a lovely little creature, that I really doubted whether she ought to be troubled with anything so ordinary. —
朵拉回来了，看起来那么可爱，以至于我真的怀疑是否应该给她添麻烦。 —

And she loved me so much, and was so captivating (particularly when she made Jip stand on his hind legs for toast, and when she pretended to hold that nose of his against the hot teapot for punishment because he wouldn’t), that I felt like a sort of Monster who had got into a Fairy’s bower, when I thought of having frightened her, and made her cry.
她那么爱我，那么迷人（特别是当她让吉普用后腿站起来吃烤面包时，假装因为他不乖而把他的鼻子按在热茶壶上惩罚他时），我想到吓唬她，让她哭了，就觉得自己像是进入了仙境的怪物。

After tea we had the guitar; and Dora sang those same dear old French songs about the impossibility of ever on any account leaving off dancing, La ra la, La ra la, until I felt a much greater Monster than before.
下午茶后我们弹吉他；朵拉唱着那些关于永远不会停止跳舞的可爱的法国老歌，La ra la, La ra la，我感觉比以前更加可怕。

We had only one check to our pleasure, and that happened a little while before I took my leave, when, Miss Mills chancing to make some allusion to tomorrow morning, I unluckily let out that, being obliged to exert myself now, I got up at five o’clock. —
我们的乐趣只有一个挫折，就在我告别之前不久，当米尔茨小姐碰巧提到明天早上，我不幸地泄露了，因为现在必须努力，我五点钟就起床了。 —

Whether Dora had any idea that I was a Private Watchman, I am unable to say; —
朵拉是否意识到我是一个私人警卫，我无法说； —

but it made a great impression on her, and she neither played nor sang any more.
但那给她留下了深刻的印象，她再也没有弹奏或唱歌。

It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu; —
当我向她告别时，她仍然心事重重； —

and she said to me, in her pretty coaxing way - as if I were a doll, I used to think:
她以一种可爱的讨好方式对我说 - 就像我曾经以为我是一个玩偶：

‘Now don’t get up at five o’clock, you naughty boy. It’s so nonsensical!’
‘现在别起床五点钟，你这个坏孩子。这太荒谬了！’

‘My love,’ said I, ‘I have work to do.’
“亲爱的，”我说，“我有工作要做。”

‘But don’t do it!’ returned Dora. ‘Why should you?’
“但不要做啊！”多拉回答道，“你为什么要做呢？”

It was impossible to say to that sweet little surprised face, otherwise than lightly and playfully, that we must work to live.
面对那张甜美而惊讶的小脸，要说出我们必须工作才能生存，只能轻快地、俏皮地说。

‘Oh! How ridiculous!’ cried Dora.
“哦！多么荒谬！”多拉喊道。

‘How shall we live without, Dora?’ said I.
“没有，多拉，我们怎么活下去呢？”我说。

‘How? Any how!’ said Dora.
“怎么？总会有办法的！”多拉说。

She seemed to think she had quite settled the question, and gave me such a triumphant little kiss, direct from her innocent heart, that I would hardly have put her out of conceit with her answer, for a fortune.
她似乎认为自己已经彻底解决了这个问题，直接从她清澈无邪的心灵中给了我一个胜利的小吻，即便换取一笔财富我也不会让她对自己的回答失去信心。

Well! I loved her, and I went on loving her, most absorbingly, entirely, and completely. —
嗯！我爱她，继续深深地、完全地爱着她。 —

But going on, too, working pretty hard, and busily keeping red-hot all the irons I now had in the fire, I would sit sometimes of a night, opposite my aunt, thinking how I had frightened Dora that time, and how I could best make my way with a guitar-case through the forest of difficulty, until I used to fancy that my head was turning quite grey.
但是也继续工作得很努力，热火朝天地应付我现在手头上的各种难题，有时晚上我会坐在我阿姨对面，想着我那次是怎么吓到多拉的，以及怎样最好地用吉他盒穿越困难的森林，直到我常常觉得自己的头发都变成灰白了。