WHICH CONTAINS THE SUBSTANCE OF A PLEASANT CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. BUMBLE AND A LADY; —
文中包含了班布尔先生和一位女士之间愉快对话的内容； —

AND SHOWS THAT EVEN A BEADLE MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE ON SOME POINTS
并且显示出即使是一个警长也可能在某些方面有感情；

The night was bitter cold. The snow lay on the ground, frozen into a hard thick crust, so that only the heaps that had drifted into byways and corners were affected by the sharp wind that howled abroad: —
夜晚寒冷刺骨。地上的雪冻成了一层坚硬厚实的冰层，只有堆积在巷子和角落里的积雪受到了呼啸的犀利风影响； —

which, as if expending increased fury on such prey as it found, caught it savagely up in clouds, and, whirling it into a thousand misty eddies, scattered it in air. —
那风，仿佛对发现的东西愈发愤怒，残忍地将其卷入乌云之中，旋转成千上万的雾气漩涡，将其散布在空气中； —

Bleak, dark, and piercing cold, it was a night for the well-housed and fed to draw round the bright fire and thank God they were at home; —
凛冽、黑暗、刺骨的寒冷，这是一个让安居者围在明亮的火炉旁感恩上帝让他们安居的夜晚； —

and for the homeless, starving wretch to lay him down and die. —
也是一个让无家可归、挨饿的可怜人蜷缩下来并选择死亡的夜晚； —

Many hunger-worn outcasts close their eyes in our bare streets, at such times, who, let their crimes have been what they may, can hardly open them in a more bitter world.
在这种时候，在我们荒凉的街道上，很多饥饿的流浪者闭上双眼，无论他们的罪行如何，他们都几乎无法在一个更加惨烈的世界里张开眼睛。

Such was the aspect of out-of-doors affairs, when Mrs. Corney, the matron of the workhouse to which our readers have been already introduced as the birthplace of Oliver Twist, sat herself down before a cheerful fire in her own little room, and glanced, with no small degree of complacency, at a small round table: —
这就是户外事务的面貌，当已经被我们介绍过的工house里的管理人小考尼夫人，坐在自己的小房间里一个温暖的火炉前，凝视着一个小圆桌，不禁满怀自得之情。 —

on which stood a tray of corresponding size, furnished with all necessary materials for the most grateful meal that matrons enjoy. —
在桌上放着一个相应大小的托盘，摆放着所有管理人最喜爱的餐点所需的各种材料。 —

In fact, Mrs. Corney was about to solace herself with a cup of tea. —
—

As she glanced from the table to the fireplace, where the smallest of all possible kettles was singing a small song in a small voice, her inward satisfaction evidently increased,–so much so, indeed, that Mrs. Corney smiled.
事实上，考尼夫人正准备用一杯茶来安慰自己。

‘Well!’ said the matron, leaning her elbow on the table, and looking reflectively at the fire; —
当她从桌子看向壁炉时，那里放着最小的水壶中传来的一阵微小歌声，她内心的满足感显然增加了，–以至于考尼夫人笑了起来。 —

‘I’m sure we have all on us a great deal to be grateful for! —
‘嗯!‘管理人把手肘靠在桌子上，对着火炉反思地说。 —

A great deal, if we did but know it. Ah!’
‘我敢说我们每一个人都有很多值得感激的地方！

Mrs. Corney shook her head mournfully, as if deploring the mental blindness of those paupers who did not know it; —
很多很多，只要我们知道。啊！ —

and thrusting a silver spoon (private property) into the inmost recesses of a two-ounce tin tea-caddy, proceeded to make the tea.
考尼夫人悲伤地摇了摇头，似乎在哀叹那些不明白的乞丐的智力盲目；

How slight a thing will disturb the equanimity of our frail minds! —
她把一把银勺（私人物品）插进一个两盎司锡茶盒的最深处，开始泡茶。 —

The black teapot, being very small and easily filled, ran over while Mrs. Corney was moralising; —
多么微小的一件事却会打乱我们脆弱心灵的平静！ —

and the water slightly scalded Mrs. Corney’s hand.
考尼夫人正在思索时，由于茶壶很小且容易盛满，茶水溢出了；

‘Drat the pot!’ said the worthy matron, setting it down very hastily on the hob; —
烫到了考尼夫人的手。 —

‘a little stupid thing, that only holds a couple of cups! What use is it of, to anybody! —
‘该死的茶壶！’这位怡人的管理人很快地把它放在炉边； —

Except,’ said Mrs. Corney, pausing, ‘except to a poor desolate creature like me. Oh dear!’
‘一个只能装两小杯的小傻东西！对谁有什么用处呢？

With these words, the matron dropped into her chair, and, once more resting her elbow on the table, thought of her solitary fate. —
说完这番话，女管家又坐回椅子上，再次将手肘放在桌子上，内心思念着她孤独的命运。 —

The small teapot, and the single cup, had awakened in her mind sad recollections of Mr. Corney (who had not been dead more than five-and-twenty years); —
小茶壶和单个茶杯在她脑海中唤起了对已故的科尼先生的悲伤回忆（他去世还不到二十五年）； —

and she was overpowered.
她被深深震撼了。

‘I shall never get another!’ said Mrs. Corney, pettishly; ‘I shall never get another–like him.’
“我再也找不到另一个了！”科尼夫人不耐烦地说道，“我再也找不到一个像他那样的了。”

Whether this remark bore reference to the husband, or the teapot, is uncertain. —
这句话是指丈夫还是茶壶并不确定。 —

It might have been the latter; for Mrs. Corney looked at it as she spoke; —
可能是指后者，因为科尼夫人说话时盯着茶壶看； —

and took it up afterwards. She had just tasted her first cup, when she was disturbed by a soft tap at the room-door.
她在喝第一口茶的时候被房门外轻轻敲门的声音打断了。

‘Oh, come in with you!’ said Mrs. Corney, sharply. ‘Some of the old women dying, I suppose. —
“哦，进来吧！”科尼夫人尖刻地说，“我想又有老太太快不行了。 —

They always die when I’m at meals. Don’t stand there, letting the cold air in, don’t. —
她们总是在我吃饭的时候死。别站在那里，让冷风进来，别。 —

What’s amiss now, eh?’
现在又发生什么事了，呵？”

‘Nothing, ma’am, nothing,’ replied a man’s voice.
“没什么，夫人，没什么，”一个男人的声音回答说。

‘Dear me!’ exclaimed the matron, in a much sweeter tone, ‘is that Mr. Bumble?’
“天啊！”女管家以一种更甜的语气惊叹道，“那是邦布尔先生吗？”

‘At your service, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bumble, who had been stopping outside to rub his shoes clean, and to shake the snow off his coat; —
“听候差遣，夫人，”邦布尔先生说道，他一直停在外面擦拭鞋子干净，抖掉外套上的雪； —

and who now made his appearance, bearing the cocked hat in one hand and a bundle in the other. —
他现在出现了，一手拿着整齐的帽子，另一手拿着一个包裹。 —

‘Shall I shut the door, ma’am?’
“我关上门，夫人？”

The lady modestly hesitated to reply, lest there should be any impropriety in holding an interview with Mr. Bumble, with closed doors. —
那位女士谦逊地犹豫着，不敢回答，唯恐与邦布尔先生闭门谈话有失体统。 —

Mr. Bumble taking advantage of the hesitation, and being very cold himself, shut it without permission.
邦布尔趁机而起，自己本身也很冷，未经允许便将门关上。

‘Hard weather, Mr. Bumble,’ said the matron.
‘天气很冷，邦布尔先生，’女主说道。

‘Hard, indeed, ma’am,’ replied the beadle. ‘Anti-porochial weather this, ma’am. —
‘确实很冷，夫人，’那个收容所长回答说，‘真是不像在对教区的天气。 —

We have given away, Mrs. Corney, we have given away a matter of twenty quartern loaves and a cheese and a half, this very blessed afternoon; —
今天下午我们已经施舍了整整二十块面包和半块奶酪； —

and yet them paupers are not contented.’
可这些乞丐们还是心不满意。

‘Of course not. When would they be, Mr. Bumble?’ said the matron, sipping her tea.
‘当然不满意。哪有那会儿，邦布尔先生？’女主啜了口茶说道。

‘When, indeed, ma’am!’ rejoined Mr. Bumble. —
‘真是何等人啊，夫人！’邦布尔回答说。 —

‘Why here’s one man that, in consideration of his wife and large family, has a quartern loaf and a good pound of cheese, full weight. —
‘这里有个男子，为了他的妻子和众多子女，拿到了一块面包和一斤多的奶酪，都是满分。 —

Is he grateful, ma’am? Is he grateful? Not a copper farthing’s worth of it! —
他感激吗，夫人？他感激吗？居然一点钱也不付！ —

What does he do, ma’am, but ask for a few coals; if it’s only a pocket handkerchief full, he says! —
他干了什么，夫人，还要要一些煤；说是就一手帕包满也行！ —

Coals! What would he do with coals? Toast his cheese with ‘em and then come back for more. —
煤！他要煤干什么啊？用来烤奶酪吗，然后再过来要更多。 —

That’s the way with these people, ma’am; —
这些人就是这样，夫人； —

give ‘em a apron full of coals to-day, and they’ll come back for another, the day after to-morrow, as brazen as alabaster.’
今天送他们一团煤灰，后天他们又回来了，还是那么峭硬地要求.’

The matron expressed her entire concurrence in this intelligible simile; and the beadle went on.
女主表示完全赞同这个易懂的比喻；邦布尔则继续说下去。

‘I never,’ said Mr. Bumble, ‘see anything like the pitch it’s got to. —
“我从没见过像这样的人似的，”班布尔先生说道。 —

The day afore yesterday, a man–you have been a married woman, ma’am, and I may mention it to you–a man, with hardly a rag upon his back (here Mrs. Corney looked at the floor), goes to our overseer’s door when he has got company coming to dinner; —
前天，一个男人——您曾经是位已婚的女人，夫人，我可以向您提及——一个几乎一丝不挂的男人（这时柯尼夫人望向地板），去了我们的看管官门口，那时他正要宴请客人; —

and says, he must be relieved, Mrs. Corney. —
并说，柯尼太太，他必须得到救济。 —

As he wouldn’t go away, and shocked the company very much, our overseer sent him out a pound of potatoes and half a pint of oatmeal. —
由于他不肯离开，令客人感到非常震惊，我们的看管官就送给他一磅土豆和半品脱燕麦面。 —

“My heart!” says the ungrateful villain, “what’s the use of this to me? —
“天哪！”这位忘恩负义的恶棍说，“这对我有何用呢？” —

You might as well give me a pair of iron spectacles!” —
“好吧，”我们的看管官拿走了这些，“这里你再也得不到别的了。” —

“Very good,” says our overseer, taking ‘em away again, “you won’t get anything else here.” —
“你倒是说得好！” 次官说着，将它们再次收走，“你在这儿什么都别想拿到了。” —

“Then I’ll die in the streets!” says the vagrant. —
“然后我就会死在街头!“闲汉说。 —

“Oh no, you won’t,” says our overseer.’
“哦不，你不会的,“我们的督查员说。

‘Ha! ha! That was very good! So like Mr. Grannett, wasn’t it?’ —
“哈哈!太好了!很像格兰尼先生，不是吗?“干涩的话语插入了。 —

interposed the matron. ‘Well, Mr. Bumble?’
“好吧，邦布尔先生?“。

‘Well, ma’am,’ rejoined the beadle, ‘he went away; —
“好吧，夫人,“北德尔回答说，”他走了； —

and he did die in the streets. There’s a obstinate pauper for you!’
他确实死在了街头。那就是一个顽固的乞丐！”

‘It beats anything I could have believed,’ observed the matron emphatically. —
“它打败了我能想到的任何事情,“女管理员强调说。 —

‘But don’t you think out-of-door relief a very bad thing, any way, Mr. Bumble? —
“但是，邦布尔先生，你不认为户外救济无论如何都很糟糕吗？你是经验丰富的绅士，应该知道。来吧。” —

You’re a gentleman of experience, and ought to know. Come.’
“科尼夫人,“北德尔微笑着说，如同知道更多信息的人那样,“户外救济，如果管理得当；

‘Mrs. Corney,’ said the beadle, smiling as men smile who are conscious of superior information, ‘out-of-door relief, properly managed: —
果管理得当，夫人，是教区的保障。 —

properly managed, ma’am: is the porochial safeguard. —
外救济的重要原则是给乞丐正好他们不想要的东西； —

The great principle of out-of-door relief is, to give the paupers exactly what they don’t want; —
后他们就会厌倦而不再前来。 —

and then they get tired of coming.’
“天啊!“科尼夫人惊叹道。”那也太好笑了！”

‘Dear me!’ exclaimed Mrs. Corney. ‘Well, that is a good one, too!’
“是的。夫人，你和我之间”，邦布尔先生回答说，”那就是重要的原则；

‘Yes. Betwixt you and me, ma’am,’ returned Mr. Bumble, ‘that’s the great principle; —
户外救济不要多给，才能刺激他们不再来。” —

and that’s the reason why, if you look at any cases that get into them owdacious newspapers, you’ll always observe that sick families have been relieved with slices of cheese. —
这就是为什么，如果你看看任何登上那些大胆报纸的案例，你会发现患病的家庭总是通过吃些奶酪得到缓解。 —

That’s the rule now, Mrs. Corney, all over the country. —
这是现在的规定，科尼夫人，遍布全国。 —

But, however,’ said the beadle, stopping to unpack his bundle, ‘these are official secrets, ma’am; —
但是，’道德长官停下来拆开他的包裹说，’这些是官方机密，太太们； —

not to be spoken of; except, as I may say, among the porochial officers, such as ourselves. —
不能说出口的；除了，我可以说，像我们这样的教区官员之间。 —

This is the port wine, ma’am, that the board ordered for the infirmary; —
这是理事会为医院订购的波特酒； —

real, fresh, genuine port wine; only out of the cask this forenoon; —
真正的，新鲜的，地道的波特酒；刚从酒桶里取出来； —

clear as a bell, and no sediment!’
透亮如水晶，没有沉淀！

Having held the first bottle up to the light, and shaken it well to test its excellence, Mr. Bumble placed them both on top of a chest of drawers; —
Mr. Bumble将第一个酒瓶举到光下检查其品质，然后摇了摇以测试其优劣； —

folded the handkerchief in which they had been wrapped; —
把它们两个都放在一个抽屉柜上； —

put it carefully in his pocket; and took up his hat, as if to go.
将它们包裹着的手帕小心地放进口袋里；然后拿起帽子，好像要离开。

‘You’ll have a very cold walk, Mr. Bumble,’ said the matron.
“布伦布先生，你会走得很冷的。”女主人说。

‘It blows, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Bumble, turning up his coat-collar, ‘enough to cut one’s ears off.’
“吹风了，太太，”布伦布先生回答，翻起衣领，“足以把人的耳朵都给吹下来。”

The matron looked, from the little kettle, to the beadle, who was moving towards the door; —
主人眼睛从小水壶上移开，看着那位朝门口走去的道德长官； —

and as the beadle coughed, preparatory to bidding her good-night, bashfully inquired whether–whether he wouldn’t take a cup of tea?
当道德长官清嗓子，准备跟她道晚安时，女主人害羞地询问是否——是否他不想来杯茶？

Mr. Bumble instantaneously turned back his collar again; laid his hat and stick upon a chair; —
Mr. Bumble立刻又把衣领翻回去；把帽子和棍子放在椅子上； —

and drew another chair up to the table. As he slowly seated himself, he looked at the lady. —
他又拉过一把椅子坐到了桌前。慢慢地坐下之后，他看着那位女士。 —

She fixed her eyes upon the little teapot. —
她盯着小茶壶。 —

Mr. Bumble coughed again, and slightly smiled.
巴姆堡又咳嗽了一声，微微一笑。

Mrs. Corney rose to get another cup and saucer from the closet. —
科尼夫人站起来从碗柜里拿另一只茶杯和茶碟。 —

As she sat down, her eyes once again encountered those of the gallant beadle; —
她坐下来，又一次与勇敢的守夜人对视； —

she coloured, and applied herself to the task of making his tea. —
她脸红了，开始给他倒茶。 —

Again Mr. Bumble coughed–louder this time than he had coughed yet.
巴姆堡又咳嗽了一声，这一次比之前的都响亮。

‘Sweet? Mr. Bumble?’ inquired the matron, taking up the sugar-basin.
‘很甜呢？巴姆堡先生？’ 管家拿起糖罐问道。

‘Very sweet, indeed, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Bumble. He fixed his eyes on Mrs. Corney as he said this; —
‘非常甜，夫人，’ 巴姆堡先生回答道。他说这话时盯着科尼夫人； —

and if ever a beadle looked tender, Mr. Bumble was that beadle at that moment.
在那一刻，如果有任何一位守夜人看起来温柔，那一定是巴姆堡先生。

The tea was made, and handed in silence. Mr. Bumble, having spread a handkerchief over his knees to prevent the crumbs from sullying the splendour of his shorts, began to eat and drink; —
茶泡好了，无声地递给他。巴姆堡先生用手帕盖住膝盖，以免面包屑弄脏他的华丽短裤，开始吃喝； —

varying these amusements, occasionally, by fetching a deep sigh; —
偶尔深深地叹口气； —

which, however, had no injurious effect upon his appetite, but, on the contrary, rather seemed to facilitate his operations in the tea and toast department.
但是，这些叹息对他的胃口没有伤害，相反，似乎还有利于茶和烤面包的享受。

‘You have a cat, ma’am, I see,’ said Mr. Bumble, glancing at one who, in the centre of her family, was basking before the fire; —
‘我看到你有只猫，夫人，’ 巴姆堡先生说，看着一只正躺在火炉前晒太阳的猫和她的小猫们； —

‘and kittens too, I declare!’
‘太可爱了，我得说！’

‘I am so fond of them, Mr. Bumble, you can’t think,’ replied the matron. —
‘我对它们非常喜爱，班布尔先生，您无法想象，’女监护人回答道。 —

‘They’re so happy, so frolicsome, and so cheerful, that they are quite companions for me.’
‘它们如此幸福，如此欢快，如此快乐，简直就是我的伴侣啊。’

‘Very nice animals, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Bumble, approvingly; ‘so very domestic.’
‘非常可爱的动物，夫人，’班布尔满意地回答道；’非常亲人。’

‘Oh, yes!’ rejoined the matron with enthusiasm; —
‘噢，是的！’女监护人热情地回答， —

‘so fond of their home too, that it’s quite a pleasure, I’m sure.’
‘它们对家非常喜爱，所以我确信那是一种乐趣。’

‘Mrs. Corney, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bumble, slowly, and marking the time with his teaspoon, ‘I mean to say this, ma’am; —
‘科尼夫人，’班布尔慢慢地说着，用茶匙打着节拍，’我想说的是，夫人； —

that any cat, or kitten, that could live with you, ma’am, and not be fond of its home, must be a ass, ma’am.’
‘与您住在一起，不喜欢家的任何猫或小猫，一定是个笨蛋，夫人。’

‘Oh, Mr. Bumble!’ remonstrated Mrs. Corney.
‘噢，班布尔先生！’科尼夫人抗议道。

‘It’s of no use disguising facts, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bumble, slowly flourishing the teaspoon with a kind of amorous dignity which made him doubly impressive; —
‘掩盖事实无济于事，夫人，’班布尔说着，缓缓地甩动着匙子，展示着一种令人难以忽视的自负， —

‘I would drown it myself, with pleasure.’
‘我会很乐意亲自淹死它。’

‘Then you’re a cruel man,’ said the matron vivaciously, as she held out her hand for the beadle’s cup; —
‘那么您是个残忍的人，’女监护人活泼地说着，伸出手接过交给灶火神父的杯子； —

‘and a very hard-hearted man besides.’
‘而且还是个硬心肠的人。’

‘Hard-hearted, ma’am?’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘Hard?’ Mr. Bumble resigned his cup without another word; —
‘硬心肠，夫人？’班布尔说道。’冷酷的？’班布尔无言地将杯子交还给科尼夫人； —

squeezed Mrs. Corney’s little finger as she took it; —
当她接过杯子的时候，他捏了捏她的小手指； —

and inflicting two open-handed slaps upon his laced waistcoat, gave a mighty sigh, and hitched his chair a very little morsel farther from the fire.
用力拍了两下他那镶边马甲，深深地叹了口气，将椅子稍稍往离火炉更远的位置挪了一点。

It was a round table; and as Mrs. Corney and Mr. Bumble had been sitting opposite each other, with no great space between them, and fronting the fire, it will be seen that Mr. Bumble, in receding from the fire, and still keeping at the table, increased the distance between himself and Mrs. Corney; —
这是一张圆桌；当科尼夫人和邦布尔先生对坐在一起时，他们之间并没有很大的空间，正对着火炉，因此可以看到邦布尔先生把自己从火炉处退开，在桌子旁边，增加了他与科尼夫人之间的距离； —

which proceeding, some prudent readers will doubtless be disposed to admire, and to consider an act of great heroism on Mr. Bumble’s part: —
这一行动，一些明智的读者无疑会赞赏，并认为邦布尔先生的英勇行为： —

he being in some sort tempted by time, place, and opportunity, to give utterance to certain soft nothings, which however well they may become the lips of the light and thoughtless, do seem immeasurably beneath the dignity of judges of the land, members of parliament, ministers of state, lord mayors, and other great public functionaries, but more particularly beneath the stateliness and gravity of a beadle: —
他受到时间、地点和机会的诱惑，想说一些软软的话语，虽然这些话语可能适合轻率无思虑的人，但在法官、国会议员、政府部长、市长和其他重要官员的圣洁面前，尤其是在一个执法者的庄严与庄重的面前，这些话却显得无比卑微； —

who (as is well known) should be the sternest and most inflexible among them all.
而且（众所周知）作为一个执法者，他应该是最严格和最不妥协的；

Whatever were Mr. Bumble’s intentions, however (and no doubt they were of the best): —
无论邦布尔先生的意图如何（毫无疑问，他都是好意的）； —

it unfortunately happened, as has been twice before remarked, that the table was a round one; —
不幸的是，正如前面两次提到的，这张桌子是圆的； —

consequently Mr. Bumble, moving his chair by little and little, soon began to diminish the distance between himself and the matron; —
于是邦布尔先生开始慢慢地挪动自己的椅子，很快就减小了他与女监督之间的距离； —

and, continuing to travel round the outer edge of the circle, brought his chair, in time, close to that in which the matron was seated.
他在整个圆桌边缘旋转的同时，及时地把他的椅子移得离女监督坐的椅子很近；

Indeed, the two chairs touched; and when they did so, Mr. Bumble stopped.
事实上，两把椅子相碰；当它们碰撞时，邦布尔先生停了下来；

Now, if the matron had moved her chair to the right, she would have been scorched by the fire; —
如果女监督把椅子往右移，她会被火烫到； —

and if to the left, she must have fallen into Mr. Bumble’s arms; —
如果向左移，她必定会掉进邦布尔先生的怀抱； —

so (being a discreet matron, and no doubt foreseeing these consequences at a glance) she remained where she was, and handed Mr. Bumble another cup of tea.
所以（作为一个谨慎的女监督，毫无疑问一眼就能预见到这些后果），她保持不动，并递给邦布尔先生另一杯茶；

‘Hard-hearted, Mrs. Corney?’ said Mr. Bumble, stirring his tea, and looking up into the matron’s face; —
‘冷酷，科尼夫人？’邦布尔先生搅着茶，抬头看着女监督的脸说； —

‘are you hard-hearted, Mrs. Corney?’
‘你是冷酷的，科尼夫人吗？’

‘Dear me!’ exclaimed the matron, ‘what a very curious question from a single man. —
‘天啊！’女监督惊呼道，‘一个单身男子问这么奇怪的问题。 —

What can you want to know for, Mr. Bumble?’
你到底想知道什么，邦布尔先生?’

The beadle drank his tea to the last drop; finished a piece of toast; —
任命喝光了茶，把一块面包片吃完； —

whisked the crumbs off his knees; wiped his lips; —
甩掉膝盖上的面包屑；擦了擦嘴； —

and deliberately kissed the matron.
然后故意亲了一下女监事。

‘Mr. Bumble!’ cried that discreet lady in a whisper; —
‘邦布尔先生!‘那位谨慎的女士低声说道； —

for the fright was so great, that she had quite lost her voice, ‘Mr. Bumble, I shall scream!’ —
由于害怕太大，她已经完全失去了声音，’邦布尔先生，我会尖叫的！’ —

Mr. Bumble made no reply; but in a slow and dignified manner, put his arm round the matron’s waist.
邦布尔先生没有回答；但以缓慢而庄重的方式，搂住了女监事的腰。

As the lady had stated her intention of screaming, of course she would have screamed at this additional boldness, but that the exertion was rendered unnecessary by a hasty knocking at the door: —
正如那位女士已经表示她打算尖叫一样，当这种额外的大胆出现时，她当然会尖叫，但是门外快速的敲门声导致这种努力变得毫无意义： —

which was no sooner heard, than Mr. Bumble darted, with much agility, to the wine bottles, and began dusting them with great violence: —
听到敲门声，布姆布立刻敏捷地冲向酒瓶，开始用力擦拭： —

while the matron sharply demanded who was there.
老妇人尖利地要求问：“谁在那儿？”

It is worthy of remark, as a curious physical instance of the efficacy of a sudden surprise in counteracting the effects of extreme fear, that her voice had quite recovered all its official asperity.
值得一提的是，突如其来的惊吓对抵消极端恐惧的效果有一种引人注目的生理实例，这位女士的声音完全恢复了所有官方的严厉。

‘If you please, mistress,’ said a withered old female pauper, hideously ugly: —
“如果您愿意，女主人，”一个枯槁的老女乞丐说着，她长得丑得可怕： —

putting her head in at the door, ‘Old Sally is a-going fast.’
顶着门朝里探头，“老莎利病情加重了。”

‘Well, what’s that to me?’ angrily demanded the matron. ‘I can’t keep her alive, can I?’
“好吧，那跟我有什么关系？”女管家生气地问道，“我又不能让她活下去，是吧？”

‘No, no, mistress,’ replied the old woman, ‘nobody can; she’s far beyond the reach of help. —
“不，不，女主人，”老妇人回答说，“没人能救她，她已经远不在帮助的范围内了。 —

I’ve seen a many people die; little babes and great strong men; —
我见过很多人死去；小婴儿和强壮的大男人； —

and I know when death’s a-coming, well enough. But she’s troubled in her mind: —
我知道死亡临近的时候，充分了解.但她心里很不安： —

and when the fits are not on her,–and that’s not often, for she is dying very hard,–she says she has got something to tell, which you must hear. —
当她没有发作的时候——而这情况并不经常，因为她非常难熬——她说她有事要告诉你，你必须听。 —

She’ll never die quiet till you come, mistress.’
除非你来了，女主人，她永远不会安静下来。”

At this intelligence, the worthy Mrs. Corney muttered a variety of invectives against old women who couldn’t even die without purposely annoying their betters; —
得知这个消息，可敬的科尼太太怒斥起老女人，甚至在没有故意惹恼上辈的情况下都无法安静地死去； —

and, muffling herself in a thick shawl which she hastily caught up, briefly requested Mr. Bumble to stay till she came back, lest anything particular should occur. —
随意地抓起厚厚的披肩遮住自己，她简短地要求布姆布在她回来之前等着，以免发生什么特殊情况。 —

Bidding the messenger walk fast, and not be all night hobbling up the stairs, she followed her from the room with a very ill grace, scolding all the way.
命令传信者快点走，不要整夜在楼梯上蹒跚，她一路责骂地跟随着离开房间。

Mr. Bumble’s conduct on being left to himself, was rather inexplicable. —
当被单独留下时，孟波先生的行为相当难以解释。 —

He opened the closet, counted the teaspoons, weighed the sugar-tongs, closely inspected a silver milk-pot to ascertain that it was of the genuine metal, and, having satisfied his curiosity on these points, put on his cocked hat corner-wise, and danced with much gravity four distinct times round the table.
他打开了壁橱，数了茶匙，称了糖夹，仔细检查了一只银牛奶壶，以确保它是真正的金属，满足了他的好奇心后，歪戴着三角帽，严肃地围着桌子跳了四圈。

Having gone through this very extraordinary performance, he took off the cocked hat again, and, spreading himself before the fire with his back towards it, seemed to be mentally engaged in taking an exact inventory of the furniture.
完成这个非常奇特的表演后，他又把三角帽摘下来，背对着壁炉舒展开，似乎在脑中准确清点家具清单。