Mr. Towers Chandler was pressing his evening suit in his hall bedroom. —
钱德勒先生正在他的小卧室内熨晚礼服。 —

One iron was heating on a small gas stove; —
一个熨斗正在一个小型煤气炉上加热； —

the other was being pushed vigorously back and forth to make the desirable crease that would be seen later on extending in straight lines from Mr. Chandler’s patent leather shoes to the edge of his low-cut vest. —
另一个熨斗则被有力地来回推动，以形成理想的褶皱，稍后会从钱德勒先生的漆皮鞋一直延伸到他低开口背心的边缘。 —

So much of the hero’s toilet may be intrusted to our confidence. —
我们可以放心地使用英雄的整理方式。 —

The remainder may be guessed by those whom genteel poverty has driven to ignoble expedient. —
余下的部分可能会被那些被优雅的贫困推到卑鄙手段的人所猜测。 —

Our next view of him shall be as he descends the steps of his lodging-house immaculately and correctly clothed; —
我们下一个看到他时，他将会从他的出租屋的台阶上下来，穿着完美而得体； —

calm, assured, handsome–in appearance the typical New York young clubman setting out, slightly bored, to inaugurate the pleasures of the evening.
沉着、自信、英俊——在外貌上，他是典型的纽约年轻俱乐部会员，稍微有点无聊地启程，迎接晚上的乐趣。

Chandler’s honorarium was $18 per week. He was employed in the office of an architect. —
钱德勒的工资是每周18美元。他在一家建筑师事务所工作。 —

He was twenty-two years old; he considered architecture to be truly an art; —
他今年22岁；他认为建筑确实是一门艺术； —

and he honestly believed–though he would not have dared to admit it in New York–that the Flatiron Building was inferior to design to the great cathedral in Milan.
而他坦诚地相信–虽然他不敢在纽约承认–弗拉特铁塔比米兰大教堂的设计更差。

Out of each week’s earnings Chandler set aside $1. —
每周的收入中，钱德勒都会留出1美元。 —

At the end of each ten weeks with the extra capital thus accumulated, he purchased one gentleman’s evening from the bargain counter of stingy old Father Time. He arrayed himself in the regalia of millionaires and presidents; —
在这样积累的额外资本后的每十个星期的末尾，他从吝啬的老父时间的特价货架购买了一套绅士的晚装。他打扮得像百万富翁和总统一样。 —

he took himself to the quarter where life is brightest and showiest, and there dined with taste and luxury. —
他带着华丽和奢侈的衣着，来到生活最亮丽炫耀的地方，在那里享受美食。 —

With ten dollars a man may, for a few hours, play the wealthy idler to perfection. —
对于一个人来说，十美元足够了，可以几个小时完美地扮演富有的懒散者。 —

The sum is ample for a well-considered meal, a bottle bearing a respectable label, commensurate tips, a smoke, cab fare and the ordinary etceteras.
这个数目足以供应一顿深思熟虑的饭菜，一瓶带有体面标签的酒，适当的小费，一支烟，打的费用和其他普通的花费。

This one delectable evening culled from each dull seventy was to Chandler a source of renascent bliss. —
每周七十个乏味的日子中，这个美妙的夜晚对于钱德勒来说，是一种重获新生的喜悦。 —

To the society bud comes but one debut; it stands alone sweet in her memory when her hair has whitened; —
在社会界，发生过的事只有一次首次亮相；当她白发苍苍时，这个美好记忆将独自存在于她的脑海中。 —

but to Chandler each ten weeks brought a joy as keen, as thrilling, as new as the first had been. —
但对于钱德勒来说，每十周都会带来一种敏锐而激动人心的喜悦，就像第一次一样新鲜。 —

To sit among bon vivants under palms in the swirl of concealed music, to look upon the habitues of such a paradise and to be looked upon by them–what is a girl’s first dance and short-sleeved tulle compared with this?
坐在棕榈树下与美食家一起听着隐藏的音乐，看着这个天堂的常客们并被他们注视着——对一个女孩来说，第一次的舞会和短袖薄纱有什么可比？

Up Broadway Chandler moved with the vespertine dress parade. —
钱德勒沿着百老汇走动，走向夕阳下的时装游行。 —

For this evening he was an exhibit as well as a gazer. —
对于今晚，他不仅是一个观察者，也是一个展示者。 —

For the next sixty-nine evenings he would be dining in cheviot and worsted at dubious table d’hotes, at whirlwind lunch counters, on sandwiches and beer in his hall-bedroom. —
在接下来的六十九个晚上里，他将在带有疑问的家常便饭桌前进餐，或在旋风快餐柜台上用三明治和啤酒填饱肚子。 —

He was willing to do that, for he was a true son of the great city of razzle-dazzle, and to him one evening in the limelight made up for many dark ones.
他愿意这样做，因为他是这个魔幻舞台的真正儿子，对他来说，一个晚上的聚光灯足以弥补许多黑暗的时光。

Chandler protracted his walk until the Forties began to intersect the great and glittering primrose way, for the evening was yet young, and when one is of the beau monde only one day in seventy, one loves to protract the pleasure. —
Chandler故意延长步行时间，直到Forties路开始与绚丽的大道相交。因为这个夜晚还很年轻，而当一个人只有70天可以成为美丽世界中的一员时，他会喜欢延续这份快乐。 —

Eyes bright, sinister, curious, admiring, provocative, alluring were bent upon him, for his garb and air proclaimed him a devotee to the hour of solace and pleasure.
眼睛明亮、阴险、好奇、欣赏、挑逗、迷人的目光都投向了他，因为他的装束和举止表明他是一个热衷于消遣和娱乐的人。

At a certain corner he came to a standstill, proposing to himself the question of turning back toward the showy and fashionable restaurant in which he usually dined on the evenings of his especial luxury. —
在某个拐角处，他停了下来，考虑着是否要回到那个华丽而时尚的餐厅，这个餐厅通常是他奢华之夜的去处。 —

Just then a girl scuddled lightly around the corner, slipped on a patch of icy snow and fell plump upon the sidewalk.
就在那时，一个女孩轻快地绕过拐角，滑倒在一片冰雪上，砰的一声摔在人行道上。

Chandler assisted her to her feet with instant and solicitous courtesy. —
Chandler立刻有礼貌地扶她起身。 —

The girl hobbled to the wall of the building, leaned against it, and thanked him demurely.
女孩一瘸一拐地走到建筑物的墙边，倚着墙，谦逊地向他道谢。

“I think my ankle is strained,” she said. “It twisted when I fell.”
“我想我的脚踝扭伤了，”她说。”摔倒时它扭到了。”

“Does it pain you much?” inquired Chandler.
“你疼吗？” Chandler问道。

“Only when I rest my weight upon it. I think I will be able to walk in a minute or two.”
“只有在我把重量放在它上面时。我想我一两分钟后就能走了。

“If I can be of any further service,” suggested the young man, “I will call a cab, or–”
“如果我还能提供任何帮助的话,“年轻人提议道，”我可以叫一辆计程车，或者–”

“Thank you,” said the girl, softly but heartily. —
“谢谢,“女孩轻轻地说，但衷心地说。 —

“I am sure you need not trouble yourself any further. It was so awkward of me. —
“我确定你不需要再麻烦自己了。这真是我的笨拙。 —

And my shoe heels are horridly common-sense; —
“而且我的鞋跟很不合时宜; —

I can’t blame them at all.”
我一点都不能怪它们。”

Chandler looked at the girl and found her swiftly drawing his interest. —
Chandler看着这个女孩，发现她迅速引起了他的兴趣。 —

She was pretty in a refined way; and her eye was both merry and kind. —
她长得漂亮，带有一种高雅的气质；她的眼睛既开心又善良。 —

She was inexpensively clothed in a plain black dress that suggested a sort of uniform such as shop girls wear. —
她身上的衣服朴素廉价，穿着一件普通的黑色连衣裙，像店员穿的制服。 —

Her glossy dark-brown hair showed its coils beneath a cheap hat of black straw whose only ornament was a velvet ribbon and bow. —
她光泽的深棕色头发在一顶廉价的黑色草帽下呈现出一圈的卷发，只有一条天鹅绒丝带和蝴蝶结作为装饰。 —

She could have posed as a model for the self-respecting working girl of the best type.
她可以被当作最好类别中自尊的工作女孩的模特。

A sudden idea came into the head of the young architect. —
一个突然的想法浮现在年轻建筑师的脑海中。 —

He would ask this girl to dine with him. —
他想邀请这个女孩与他共进晚餐。 —

Here was the element that his splendid but solitary periodic feasts had lacked. —
这正是他辉煌而孤独的定期宴会所缺乏的元素。 —

His brief season of elegant luxury would be doubly enjoyable if he could add to it a lady’s society. This girl was a lady, he was sure–her manner and speech settled that. —
如果他能够与一位女士共度这段优雅的奢华时光，那将会是双倍的享受。他确信这个女孩是一个女士——她的举止和言谈证实了这一点。 —

And in spite of her extremely plain attire he felt that he would be pleased to sit at table with her.
尽管她穿着非常朴素，但他觉得能与她坐在一起用餐会让他很开心。

These thoughts passed swiftly through his mind, and he decided to ask her. —
这些念头在他脑海中迅速闪过，他决定要问她。 —

It was a breach of etiquette, of course, but oftentimes wage- earning girls waived formalities in matters of this kind. —
这当然是违反礼节的，但在这种事情上，常常靠工作赚钱的女孩会放弃形式主义。 —

They were generally shrewd judges of men; —
她们通常是一个很聪明的男人的评判者； —

and thought better of their own judgment than they did of useless conventions. —
她们对自己的判断比无用的传统更有信心。 —

His ten dollars, discreetly expended, would enable the two to dine very well indeed. —
他十美元的精打细算将能让两人享受一顿非常美味的晚餐。 —

The dinner would no doubt be a wonderful experience thrown into the dull routine of the girl’s life; —
这顿晚餐无疑将是女孩平淡生活中的一次奇妙体验； —

and her lively appreciation of it would add to his own triumph and pleasure.
而她对此的热切欣赏将增添他自己的胜利和愉悦。

“I think,” he said to her, with frank gravity, “that your foot needs a longer rest than you suppose. —
“我觉得，”他用坦率而庄重的语气对她说道，“你的脚需要比你想象得更长时间的休息。” —

Now, I am going to suggest a way in which you can give it that and at the same time do me a favour. —
现在，我要提出一种方法，你可以通过这种方式让它得到休息，同时也能帮我个忙。 —

I was on my way to dine all by my lonely self when you came tumbling around the corner. —
我正准备孤独地去吃饭，当你从拐角处跌倒过来。 —

You come with me and we’ll have a cozy dinner and a pleasant talk together, and by that time your game ankle will carry you home very nicely, I am sure.”
你跟我来，我们一起吃一顿舒适的晚餐，愉快地聊天，到那时候你那受伤的脚踝就能很好地承担着回家的路了，我敢肯定。”

The girl looked quickly up into Chandler’s clear, pleasant countenance. —
女孩迅速地抬起头，看着钱德勒清晰而愉快的面容。 —

Her eyes twinkled once very brightly, and then she smiled ingenuously.
她的眼睛闪烁了一下，然后天真地微笑了起来。

“But we don’t know each other–it wouldn’t be right, would it?” she said, doubtfully.
“但是我们不认识彼此，这样做是否合适？”她犹豫地说道。

“There is nothing wrong about it,” said the young man, candidly. —
年轻人坦率地说道，“这没有什么问题。” —

“I’ll introduce myself–permit me–Mr. Towers Chandler. —
“我来做个自我介绍吧——请允许——塔尔兹·钱德勒先生。” —

After our dinner, which I will try to make as pleasant as possible, I will bid you good-evening, or attend you safely to your door, whichever you prefer.”
我们吃完晚餐后，我会尽量让你感到愉快，然后和你道别，或者安全地陪你回家，任你选择。”

“But, dear me!” said the girl, with a glance at Chandler’s faultless attire. —
“可是，天哪！”那个女孩朝着钱德勒无可挑剔的着装看了一眼。 —

“In this old dress and hat!”
“穿着这件旧裙子和帽子！”

“Never mind that,” said Chandler, cheerfully. —
“不要介意这些，”钱德勒高兴地说。 —

“I’m sure you look more charming in them than any one we shall see in the most elaborate dinner toilette.”
“我敢肯定你穿着它们比我们看到的任何人都更迷人，即使是在最精心准备的晚宴上。”

“My ankle does hurt yet,” admitted the girl, attempting a limping step. —
“我还是有点脚脖子疼，”那个女孩承认道，试图一瘸一拐地走了一步。 —

“I think I will accept your invitation, Mr. Chandler. —
“我想我会接受你的邀请，钱德勒先生。 —

You may call me–Miss Marian.”
你可以叫我——玛丽安小姐。”

“Come then, Miss Marian,” said the young architect, gaily, but with perfect courtesy; —
“那么，玛丽安小姐，”年轻的建筑师快乐地说道，但完全彬彬有礼。 —

“you will not have far to walk. There is a very respectable and good restaurant in the next block. —
“你不必走很远。下一条街上有一家非常体面而好的餐馆。 —

You will have to lean on my arm–so–and walk slowly. —
你必须靠着我的胳膊——就是这样——慢慢地走。 —

It is lonely dining all by one’s self. I’m just a little bit glad that you slipped on the ice.”
一个人独自吃饭很孤单。我有点庆幸你在冰上滑倒。”

When the two were established at a well-appointed table, with a promising waiter hovering in attendance, Chandler began to experience the real joy that his regular outing always brought to him.
当两人坐在装饰精美的餐桌边，有一个充满希望的服务员在周围忙碌时，钱德勒开始体验到他每次常规外出带给他的真正的快乐。

The restaurant was not so showy or pretentious as the one further down Broadway, which he always preferred, but it was nearly so. —
这家餐厅不像布罗德韦更远的那家那样华丽或矫揉造作，他总是更喜欢后者，但它几乎一样。 —

The tables were well filled with Prosperous-looking diners, there was a good orchestra, playing softly enough to make conversation a possible pleasure, and the cuisine and service were beyond criticism. —
桌子上坐满了看起来富裕的食客，有一个很好的乐团，音乐轻得足以让交谈成为可能，而且菜肴和服务都无可挑剔。 —

His companion, even in her cheap hat and dress, held herself with an air that added distinction to the natural beauty of her face and figure. —
尽管她戴着便宜的帽子穿着便宜的衣服，但她的举止显得很有魅力，这使得她本身美丽的脸庞和身材更加独特。 —

And it is certain that she looked at Chandler, with his animated but self-possessed manner and his kindling and frank blue eyes, with something not far from admiration in her own charming face.
毫无疑问，她看着钱德勒，他热情而沉着的举止，那双有神的坦率的蓝眼睛，她自己迷人的脸上流露出一种近乎钦佩的眼神。

Then it was that the Madness of Manhattan, the frenzy of Fuss and Feathers, the Bacillus of Brag, the Provincial Plague of Pose seized upon Towers Chandler. —
此时，曼哈顿的疯狂、华丽、炫耀的疯狂、自吹自擂的细菌、虚荣的苛刻折磨了塔尔斯·钱德勒。 —

He was on Broadway, surrounded by pomp and style, and there were eyes to look at him. —
他站在布罗德韦上，被浮华和风格所包围，有人注视着他。 —

On the stage of that comedy he had assumed to play the one-night part of a butterfly of fashion and an idler of means and taste. —
在那个喜剧的舞台上，他扮演了一个一夜成名的时尚花蝴蝶和有钱有味的懒散之徒的角色。 —

He was dressed for the part, and all his good angels had not the power to prevent him from acting it.
他为这个角色打扮得体，他的所有好天使都无法阻止他去扮演。

So he began to prate to Miss Marian of clubs, of teas, of golf and riding and kennels and cotillions and tours abroad and threw out hints of a yacht lying at Larchmont. —
所以他开始向玛丽安小姐大谈俱乐部、茶会、高尔夫、骑马、狗舍、舞会和出国旅游，并故意透露出在拉奇蒙特停泊的游艇的暗示。 —

He could see that she was vastly impressed by this vague talk, so he endorsed his pose by random insinuations concerning great wealth, and mentioned familiarly a few names that are handled reverently by the proletariat. —
他看得出她对这些含糊其辞的话题深感印象深刻，于是他通过随意暗示自己拥有巨大财富，随口提到了一些受下层人崇敬的名字，来加强他的伪装。 —

It was Chandler’s short little day, and he was wringing from it the best that could be had, as he saw it. —
这是钱德勒短暂的一天，他努力从中获得他所能得到的最好的，至少他是这么认为的。 —

And yet once or twice he saw the pure gold of this girl shine through the mist that his egotism had raised between him and all objects.
然而，有一两次，他看到了这个女孩纯粹的金子般的光辉透过他的自负所造成的迷雾闪烁出来。

“This way of living that you speak of,” she said, “sounds so futile and purposeless. —
“你所谈论的这种生活方式，”她说道，”听起来那么无趣和毫无目的性。” —

Haven’t you any work to do in the world that might interest you more?”
你难道没有世界上更能吸引你的工作吗？

“My dear Miss Marian,” he exclaimed–“work! —
“亲爱的玛丽安小姐,“他惊呼道—— “工作！ —

Think of dressing every day for dinner, of making half a dozen calls in an afternoon–with a policeman at every corner ready to jump into your auto and take you to the station, if you get up any greater speed than a donkey cart’s gait. —
想象一下每天打扮好去吃晚饭，下午拜访六个人——每个角落都有警察准备跳进你的汽车，如果你开得比驴车快，就把你带到警察局。 —

We do-nothings are the hardest workers in the land.”
我们这些无所事事的人是这个国家里最辛苦的工作者。

The dinner was concluded, the waiter generously fed, and the two walked out to the corner where they had met. —
晚餐结束了，侍者得到了慷慨的赏赐，两人走出去到了他们相遇的街角。 —

Miss Marian walked very well now; her limp was scarcely noticeable.
玛丽安小姐现在走路很好，她的跛足几乎看不出来了。

“Thank you for a nice time,” she said, frankly. “I must run home now. —
“谢谢你愉快的时光，”她坦率地说道，”我现在必须赶回家了。 —

I liked the dinner very much, Mr. Chandler.”
我非常喜欢这顿晚餐，钱德勒先生。

He shook hands with her, smiling cordially, and said something about a game of bridge at his club. —
他和她握手，友好地微笑着，提到了他俱乐部里的桥牌游戏。 —

He watched her for a moment, walking rather rapidly eastward, and then he found a cab to drive him slowly homeward.
他望着她急速向东走了一会，然后找了一辆出租车慢慢地开回家。

In his chilly bedroom Chandler laid away his evening clothes for a sixty-nine days’ rest. —
在他寒冷的卧室里，钱德勒将他的晚装收拾好，准备休息六十九天。 —

He went about it thoughtfully.
他做这件事时很深思熟虑。

“That was a stunning girl,” he said to himself. —
“那个女孩真是个惊艳的姑娘，”他对自己说。 —

“She’s all right, too, I’d be sworn, even if she does have to work. —
“她也很不错，我发誓，即使她不得不工作。 —

Perhaps if I’d told her the truth instead of all that razzle-dazzle we might–but, confound it! —
也许如果我把真相告诉她而不是演那些花里胡哨的戏码，也许我们……可是，讨厌！ —

I had to play up to my clothes.”
我不得不迎合我的衣服。

Thus spoke the brave who was born and reared in the wigwams of the tribe of the Manhattans.
这样说的是一个在曼哈顿人部落的帐篷里出生长大的勇敢者。

The girl, after leaving her entertainer, sped swiftly cross-town until she arrived at a handsome and sedate mansion two squares to the east, facing on that avenue which is the highway of Mammon and the auxiliary gods. —
离开她的款待者后，女孩飞快地穿过城市，来到一座漂亮而稳重的宅邸，位于东边两个街区，面对着那条通往财神和辅助神的大道。 —

Here she entered hurriedly and ascended to a room where a handsome young lady in an elaborate house dress was looking anxiously out the window.
她匆忙地进入一间房间，一位身穿华丽家居服的漂亮姑娘焦急地望着窗外。

“Oh, you madcap!” exclaimed the elder girl, when the other entered. —
“哦，你这个疯丫头！”年长的姑娘在另一个人进来时 exclaimed。 —

“When will you quit frightening us this way? —
“你什么时候才能停止这样吓唬我们？ —

It is two hours since you ran out in that rag of an old dress and Marie’s hat. —
距你穿着那件破破烂烂的旧裙子和玛丽的帽子从家里出去已经过去两个小时了。 —

Mamma has been so alarmed. She sent Louis in the auto to try to find you. —
妈妈非常担心。她派路易斯开车去找你。 —

You are a bad, thoughtless Puss.”
你是一个坏孩子，没有考虑他人。

The elder girl touched a button, and a maid came in a moment.
大姐按了一个按钮，一个女仆立刻进来了。

“Marie, tell mamma that Miss Marian has returned.”
“玛丽，告诉妈妈玛丽安小姐回来了。”

“Don’t scold, sister. I only ran down to Mme. Theo’s to tell her to use mauve insertion instead of pink. —
“别责备她，姐姐。我只是跑到西奥夫人那里告诉她要用紫色装饰代替粉红色的。 —

My costume and Marie’s hat were just what I needed. —
我的服装和玛丽的帽子正是我所需要的。 —

Every one thought I was a shopgirl, I am sure.”
大家肯定都以为我是个售货员。

“Dinner is over, dear; you stayed so late.”
“晚餐结束了，亲爱的；你待得太久了。”

“I know. I slipped on the sidewalk and turned my ankle. —
“我知道。我在人行道上滑倒扭了脚踝。 —

I could not walk, so I hobbled into a restaurant and sat there until I was better. —
我不能走路，所以我就一直坐在一家餐馆里，直到好了为止。 —

That is why I was so long.”
这就是为什么我会这么久。”

The two girls sat in the window seat, looking out at the lights and the stream of hurrying vehicles in the avenue. —
两个女孩坐在窗台上，望着大道上匆忙的车流和灯光。 —

The younger one cuddled down with her head in her sister’s lap.
年幼的那个蜷缩在姐姐的膝盖上。

“We will have to marry some day,” she said dreamily–” both of us. —
“我们迟早都要结婚的，”她梦幻般地说道。 —

We have so much money that we will not be allowed to disappoint the public. —
我们有很多钱，以至于我们不能让公众失望。 —

Do you want me to tell you the kind of a man I could love, Sis?”
你想让我告诉你，我能喜欢什么样的男人，姐姐吗？

“Go on, you scatterbrain,” smiled the other.
“继续说吧，你这个心烦意乱的家伙，”另一个人微笑着说。

“I could love a man with dark and kind blue eyes, who is gentle and respectful to poor girls, who is handsome and good and does not try to flirt. —
“他的眼睛又深又善良，对待穷女孩温柔而尊重，英俊而善良，丝毫不试图调情的男人，我会喜欢他。” —

But I could love him only if he had an ambition, an object, some work to do in the world. —
但是我只会喜欢那些有抱负、有目标、有工作的男人。 —

I would not care how poor he was if I could help him build his way up. —
我不会在乎他有多穷，只要我可以帮助他奋斗。 —

But, sister dear, the kind of man we always meet–the man who lives an idle life between society and his clubs–I could not love a man like that, even if his eyes were blue and he were ever so kind to poor girls whom he met in the street.”
但是，亲爱的姐姐，我们总是遇到的那种人——那些在社交圈和俱乐部之间过着悠闲生活的男人——我不会喜欢那样的人，即使他的眼睛是蓝色的，也不会喜欢他对街上遇见的贫穷女孩那样善良。