HERBERT and I went on from bad to worse, in the way of increasing our debts, looking into our affairs, leaving Margins, and the like exemplary transactions; —
我和赫伯特在处理债务、审视自己的事务、留意利润等方面一直越来越糟，这似乎成了一种惯例； —

and Time went on, whether or no, as he has a way of doing; —
时光不等人，继续前行，如他惯常所为； —

and I came of age - in fulfilment of Herbert’s prediction, that I should do so before I knew where I was.
我终于年满二十一岁了 - 正如赫伯特所预言的，我在毫无准备之前就年满了；

Herbert himself had come of age, eight months before me. —
赫伯特比我早八个月年满二十一岁； —

As he had nothing else than his majority to come into, the event did not make a profound sensation in Barnard’s Inn. But we had looked forward to my one-and-twentieth birthday, with a crowd of speculations and anticipations, for we had both considered that my guardian could hardly help saying something definite on that occasion.
他没有其他可以继承的，所以这件事并没有在巴纳德律师事务所引起多大轰动。但我们都期待着我即将年满二十一岁的那一天，充满了各种推测与期待，因为我们认为我的监护人在那天几乎不可能不说出一些明确的话；

I had taken care to have it well understood in Little Britain, when my birthday was. —
我确保在小不列颠广场将我的生日日期宣扬出去； —

On the day before it, I received an official note from Wemmick, informing me that Mr Jaggers would be glad if I would call upon him at five in the afternoon of the auspicious day. —
在那之前一天，我收到了韦米克的官方通知，告诉我贾格斯先生希望我在那个幸运的日子下午五点去见他； —

This convinced us that something great was to happen, and threw me into an unusual flutter when I repaired to my guardian’s office, a model of punctuality.
这使我们确信将会发生一件大事，当我准时到达监护人的办公室时，内心出现了不同寻常的激动；

In the outer office Wemmick offered me his congratulations, and incidentally rubbed the side of his nose with a folded piece of tissuepaper that I liked the look of. —
韦米克在外间祝贺我，并顺便用折叠的纸巾擦了擦自己鼻子旁边，那张纸巾看起来很不错； —

But he said nothing respecting it, and motioned me with a nod into my guardian’s room. —
但他并未提及此事，只是点头示意我进入监护人的房间； —

It was November, and my guardian was standing before his fire leaning his back against the chimney-piece, with his hands under his coattails.
那是在十一月，我的监护人站在火炉前，背靠在壁炉旁，双手插在大衣兜里；

Well, Pip,' said he,I must call you Mr Pip to-day. Congratulations, Mr Pip.’
“好吧，皮普，”他说，“今天我必须称你为皮普先生。祝贺你，皮普先生；”

We shook hands - he was always a remarkably short shaker - and I thanked him.
我们握手 - 他一向握手的时间都很短 - 我向他道谢；

`Take a chair, Mr Pip,’ said my guardian.
“请坐，皮普先生，”我的监护人说；

As I sat down, and he preserved his attitude and bent his brows at his boots, I felt at a disadvantage, which reminded me of that old time when I had been put upon a tombstone. —
我落座后，他仍保持着那副姿态，眉头紧锁，瞧着自己的靴子，我感到有些处于劣势，这让我想起了很久以前被扔到墓碑上时的那种感觉。 —

The two ghastly casts on the shelf were not far from him, and their expression was as if they were making a stupid apoplectic attempt to attend to the conversation.
架子上的两个可怕的石膏像离他不远，它们的表情仿佛在愚蠢地试图参与谈话。

Now my young friend,' my guardian began, as if I were a witness in the box,I am going to have a word or two with you.’
现在，我的年轻朋友，'我监护人开始说，好像我是一个见证人，我要和你谈几句话。

If you please, sir.' <span><tang1>请吧，先生。’

What do you suppose,' said Mr Jaggers, bending forward to look at the ground, and then throwing his head back to look at the ceiling,what do you suppose you are living at the rate of?’
你认为，'杰格斯先生弯下腰看着地面，然后抬起头看着天花板，你认为你的生活费是多少？

At the rate of, sir?' <span><tang1>是什么费率，先生？

At,' repeated Mr Jaggers, still looking at the ceiling,the - rate - of?’ —
是，'杰格斯先生重复道，依然看着天花板，费 - 率 - 是？’ —

And then looked all round the room, and paused with his pocket-handkerchief in his hand, half way to his nose.
然后四处看了看房间，用手帕盖住鼻子的一半停顿了一下。

I had looked into my affairs so often, that I had thoroughly destroyed any slight notion I might ever have had of their bearings. —
我曾经如此频繁地查看我的情况，以至于已经彻底毁掉了我可能曾对它们有过的轻微概念。 —

Reluctantly, I confessed myself quite unable to answer the question. —
令人不情愿的是，我承认自己完全不能回答这个问题。 —

This reply seemed agreeable to Mr Jaggers, who said, I thought so!' --- <span><tang1> 这个回答似乎对杰格斯先生很满意，他说，我就知道！’ —

and blew his nose with an air of satisfaction.
并带着满足的口气擤了擤鼻子。

Now, I have asked you a question, my friend,' said Mr Jaggers.Have you anything to ask me?’
现在，我问了你一个问题，我的朋友，'杰格斯先生说。你有什么要问我的吗？

Of course it would be a great relief to me to ask you several questions, sir; --- <span><tang1>当然，问几个问题对我来说会很大的解脱，先生； —

but I remember your prohibition.’
但我记得你的禁令。

Ask one,' said Mr Jaggers. <span><tang1>问一个吧，’杰格斯先生说。

`Is my benefactor to be made known to me to-day?’
今天我的恩人会向我透露吗？

`No. Ask another.’
不，换一个问题吧。

`Is that confidence to be imparted to me soon?’
那个秘密很快会告诉我吗？

Waive that, a moment,' said Mr Jaggers,and ask another.’
“暂且放下这个问题，” Jaggers 先生说，“再问一个。”

I looked about me, but there appeared to be now no possible escape from the inquiry, `Have - I - anything to receive, sir?’ —
我四处看了看，但似乎现在没有逃避这个问题的可能了，“先生，我有什么要领取吗？” —

On that, Mr Jaggers said, triumphantly, `I thought we should come to it!’ —
在这时，Jaggers 先生得意地说，“我就知道我们会问到这个！” —

and called to Wemmick to give him that piece of paper. —
并叫 Wemmick 给他那张纸。 —

Wemmick appeared, handed it in, and disappeared.
Wemmick出现了，递交了文件，然后消失了。

Now, Mr Pip,' said Mr Jaggers,attend, if you please. You have been drawing pretty freely here; —
“现在，Pip先生，”Jaggers先生说，“请听好了。你在这里挥霍了不少钱； —

your name occurs pretty often in Wemmick’s cash-book; —
在Wemmick的账簿中经常出现了你的名字； —

but you are in debt, of course?’
但你当然是负债的，是吗？”

`I am afraid I must say yes, sir.’
“恐怕我必须说是的，先生。”

`You know you must say yes; don’t you?’ said Mr Jaggers.
“你知道你必须说是的，不是吗？”Jaggers先生说。

`Yes, sir.’
“是的，先生。”

I don't ask you what you owe, because you don't know; and if you did know, you wouldn't tell me; --- <span><tang1>我不问你欠多少，因为你不知道；而且如果你知道了，你也不会告诉我； —

you would say less. Yes, yes, my friend,’ cried Mr Jaggers, waving his forefinger to stop me, as I made a show of protesting: —
`你会说的更少。是的，是的，我的朋友，’杰格斯先生大声说，挥舞着他的食指阻止我，当我做出抗议的表现时： —

it's likely enough that you think you wouldn't, but you would. --- <span><tang1>你可能认为你不会，但你会。 —

You’ll excuse me, but I know better than you. Now, take this piece of paper in your hand. —
`请原谅我，但我比你更了解。现在，拿着这张纸。 —

You have got it? Very good. Now, unfold it and tell me what it is.’
`你拿到了吗？很好。现在，展开它告诉我这是什么。’

This is a bank-note,' said I,for five hundred pounds.’
`这是一张五百英镑的银行票，’我说。

That is a bank-note,' repeated Mr Jaggers,for five hundred pounds. —
`这是一张五百英镑的银行票，’杰格斯先生重复说道。 —

And a very handsome sum of money too, I think. You consider it so?’
而且还是一大笔相当可观的钱，我想。你认为呢？

How could I do otherwise!' <span><tang1>我怎么能不这么认为呢！’

`Ah! But answer the question,’ said Mr Jaggers.
“啊！但回答问题，”贾格斯先生说。

`Undoubtedly.’
“毫无疑问。”

`You consider it, undoubtedly, a handsome sum of money. —
“你确信，毫无疑问，是一大笔可观的钱。” —

Now, that handsome sum of money, Pip, is your own. —
现在，这一大笔可观的钱，皮普，是你自己的。 —

It is a present to you on this day, in earnest of your expectations. —
这是作为对你期望的诚意之礼赠予你的这一天。 —

And at the rate of that handsome sum of money per annum, and at no higher rate, you are to live until the donor of the whole appears. —
并且以这一大笔可观的钱每年的利率，以及不会更高的利率，你要过上这样的生活，直到整个金源的出现。 —

That is to say, you will now take your money affairs entirely into your own hands, and you will draw from Wemmick one hundred and twenty-five pounds per quarter, until you are in communication with the fountain-head, and no longer with the mere agent. —
也就是说，你现在要完全自己打理你的金钱事务，你会从韦密克那里每季度取得一百二十五英镑，直到你与资助方联系，而不再与纯粹的代理联系。 —

As I have told you before, I am the mere agent. —
正如我之前告诉过你的，我只是个代理。 —

I execute my instructions, and I am paid for doing so. —
我执行我的指示，并为此而获得报酬。 —

I think them injudicious, but I am not paid for giving any opinion on their merits.’
我认为它们不明智，但我并没有因给出任何关于它们优缺点的意见而获得报酬。

I was beginning to express my gratitude to my benefactor for the great liberality with which I was treated, when Mr Jaggers stopped me. —
当我正要对我的恩人表达我的感激之情时，贾格斯先生阻止了我。 —

I am not paid, Pip,' said he, coolly,to carry your words to any one;’ —
“皮普，我并不是被付钱去把你的话传达给任何人。” —

and then gathered up his coat-tails, as he had gathered up the subject, and stood frowning at his boots as if he suspected them of designs against him.
然后像整理完主题一样，他收拢起了他的大褂，愤怒地望着他的靴子，仿佛怀疑它们对他有阴谋。

After a pause, I hinted:
在停顿之后，我暗示道:

`There was a question just now, Mr Jaggers, which you desired me to waive for a moment. —
“杰格斯先生，刚才有个问题，您希望我暂时回避。 —

I hope I am doing nothing wrong in asking it again?’
我再问一遍，希望没有做错什么吧?”

`What is it?’ said he.
“什么问题?”他说。

I might have known that he would never help me out; —
我本应该知道他永远不会帮助我; —

but it took me aback to have to shape the question afresh, as if it were quite new. —
但我还是有点措手不及，需要重新提出问题，好像是全新的一样。 —

Is it likely,' I said, after hesitating,that my patron, the fountain-head you have spoken of, Mr Jaggers, will soon–’ there I delicately stopped.
“我在犹豫了一下之后说，”杰格斯先生，您说的那个源头，我这位赞助人，很可能会很快——”这里我停顿了一下。

Will soon what?' asked Mr Jaggers.That’s no question as it stands, you know.’
“很快什么?”杰格斯先生问道。“现在这个问题不清楚，你知道的。”

Will soon come to London,' said I, after casting about for a precise form of words,or summon me anywhere else?’
“我经过深思熟虑之后说，”或者即将来到伦敦，杰格斯先生，或者把我召唤到其他地方?”

Now here,' replied Mr Jaggers, fixing me for the first time with his dark deep-set eyes,we must revert to the evening when we first encountered one another in your village. —
“现在在这里，”杰格斯先生回答道，第一次用他深邃的眼睛盯着我，“我们必须回到我们在你村庄第一次相遇的那个晚上。 —

What did I tell you then, Pip?’
那时你说了我什么，皮普?”

`You told me, Mr Jaggers, that it might be years hence when that person appeared.’
“您告诉我，杰格斯先生，也许还要多年以后才会出现那个人。”

Just so,' said Mr Jaggers;that’s my answer.’
“完全正确，”杰格斯先生说，“这就是我的答案。”

As we looked full at one another, I felt my breath come quicker in my strong desire to get something out of him. —
当我们直视彼此时，为了从他那里得到一些东西，我感到自己的呼吸变快了。 —

And as I felt that it came quicker, and as I felt that he saw that it came quicker, I felt that I had less chance than ever of getting anything out of him.
我感觉呼吸变快，感觉他也看出来了，我觉得自己比以往任何时候更没有机会从他那里得到任何东西。

`Do you suppose it will still be years hence, Mr Jaggers?’
“杰格斯先生，你觉得还会是几年之后吗？”

Mr Jaggers shook his head - not in negativing the question, but in altogether negativing the notion that he could anyhow be got to answer it - and the two horrible casts of the twitched faces looked, when my eyes strayed up to them, as if they had come to a crisis in their suspended attention, and were going to sneeze.
杰格斯先生摇了摇头，不是在否定问题，而是彻底否定自己可能被迫回答这个问题的想法。当我的目光转向那两个扭曲着脸的可怕雕像时，它们看起来好像到达了注意力悬挂的危机点，快要打喷嚏了。

Come!' said Mr Jaggers, warming the backs of his legs with the backs of his warmed hands,I’ll be plain with you, my friend Pip. That’s a question I must not be asked. —
“来吧！”杰格斯先生用温暖的手背搓着后腿说，“我会直言不讳地告诉你，我的朋友皮普。那是一个我不能回答的问题。” —

You’ll understand that, better, when I tell you it’s a question that might compromise me. —
你会更理解这点，当我告诉你这是一个可能让我陷入尴尬境地的问题时。 —

Come! I’ll go a little further with you; —
来吧！我会对你多说一点。” —

I’ll say something more.’
他弯下腰，几乎要俯视他的靴子，这样他就能在停顿时擦擦小腿。

He bent down so low to frown at his boots, that he was able to rub the calves of his legs in the pause he made.
“当那个人透露的时候，”杰格斯先生说，挺直身子，“你和那个人会解决你们自己的事务。”

When that person discloses,' said Mr Jaggers, straightening himself,you and that person will settle your own affairs. —
“当那个人透露时，我的参与这件事将会结束。” —

When that person discloses, my part in this business will cease and determine. —
“当那个人透露的时候，我就不需要知道任何事情。” —

When that person discloses, it will not be necessary for me to know anything about it. —
“这就是我要说的一切。” —

And that’s all I have got to say.’
我们相互看了一会儿，直到我收回目光，若有所思地看着地板。

We looked at one another until I withdrew my eyes, and looked thoughtfully at the floor. —
从他最后的讲话中，我推断出哈维悄咽小姐出于某种原因没有告诉他她设计我和埃斯特拉结合的计划； —

From this last speech I derived the notion that Miss Havisham, for some reason or no reason, had not taken him into her confidence as to her designing me for Estella; —
他对此不满，并对此感到嫉妒； —

that he resented this, and felt a jealousy about it; —
或者他真的反对这个计划，不愿参与其中。 —

or that he really did object to that scheme, and would have nothing to do with it. —
或者他真的反对这个计划，不愿参与其中。 —

When I raised my eyes again, I found that he had been shrewdly looking at me all the time, and was doing so still.
当我再次抬起头时，发现他一直在机警地盯着我看，而且仍在这样做。

If that is all you have to say, sir,' I remarked,there can be nothing left for me to say.’
“如果这就是你要说的，先生，”我说，“那我就没什么好说的了。”

He nodded assent, and pulled out his thief-dreaded watch, and asked me where I was going to dine? —
他点了点头，掏出了他那个让小偷畏惧的手表，然后问我要去哪里吃晚饭？ —

I replied at my own chambers, with Herbert. —
我回答说在自己的房间，和赫伯特一起。 —

As a necessary sequence, I asked him if he would favour us with his company, and he promptly accepted the invitation. —
作为必然的结果，我问他是否愿意光临，他立刻接受了邀请。 —

But he insisted on walking home with me, in order that I might make no extra preparation for him, and first he had a letter or two to write, and (of course) had his hands to wash. —
但他坚持要和我一起走回家，以免我为他准备额外的东西，而且他还有一两封信要写，（当然）需要洗手。 —

So, I said I would go into the outer office and talk to Wemmick.
所以，我说我会去外间和韦米克聊聊。

The fact was, that when the five hundred pounds had come into my pocket, a thought had come into my head which had been often there before; —
事实上，当五百镑进入我口袋时，一个想法再次出现在我脑海中，这个想法以前经常出现； —

and it appeared to me that Wemmick was a good person to advise with, concerning such thought.
看来韦米克是我向询问有关这个想法的好人选。

He had already locked up his safe, and made preparations for going home. —
他已经锁好保险柜，准备回家。 —

He had left his desk, brought out his two greasy office candlesticks and stood them in line with the snuffers on a slab near the door, ready to be extinguished; —
他把桌子锁好，把他那两只沾满油脂的办公室烛台放在门附近的一块板上，准备灭掉； —

he had raked his fire low, put his hat and great-coat ready, and was beating himself all over the chest with his safe-key, as an athletic exercise after business.
他炉火烧得低低的，准备好帽子和大外套，正在用他的保险柜钥匙在胸前做起体操。

Mr Wemmick,' said I,I want to ask your opinion. I am very desirous to serve a friend.’
“韦米克先生，”我说，“我想请你的意见。我很想帮助一个朋友。”

Wemmick tightened his post-office and shook his head, as if his opinion were dead against any fatal weakness of that sort.
韦米克收紧了他的邮政制服，摇了摇头，仿佛对任何那种致命弱点的看法都坚决反对。

This friend,' I pursued,is trying to get on in commercial life, but has no money, and finds it difficult and disheartening to make a beginning. —
“这个朋友，”我继续说，“正试图在商业生活中取得进展，但手头没有钱，发现很难和灰心寡意地开始。” —

Now, I want somehow to help him to a beginning.’
现在，我想以某种方式帮助他一个新的开始。

`With money down?’ said Wemmick, in a tone drier than any sawdust.
“出了钱吗？”韦米克的语气比任何锯末都干燥。

`With some money down,’ I replied, for an uneasy remembrance shot across me of that symmetrical bundle of papers at home; —
“带了一些钱。”我回答道，脑海中颇不安地想起了家里那叠整齐的文件。 —

`with some money down, and perhaps some anticipation of my expectations.’
“带了一些钱，或许对我的期望有些预期。”

Mr Pip,' said Wemmick,I should like just to run over with you on my fingers, if you please, the names of the various bridges up as high as Chelsea Reach. Let’s see; —
“皮普先生，”韦米克说，“如果您不介意，我想用手指快速列出一下从伦敦一直到切尔西码头的各座桥的名字。看看； —

there’s London, one; Southwark, two; Blackfriars, three; Waterloo, four; Westminster, five; —
有伦敦一座；萨克一座；黑衣修士一座；滑铁卢一座；威斯敏斯特一座； —

Vauxhall, six.’ He had checked off each bridge in its turn, with the handle of his safe-key on the palm of his hand. —
沃克斯霍尔一座。”他一一用上保险箱钥匙手柄在手掌心上划了过去。 —

`There’s as many as six, you see, to choose from.’
“你看到了，总共有六座可以选择。”

`I don’t understand you,’ said I.
“我不明白你的意思。”我说。

Choose your bridge, Mr Pip,' returned Wemmick,and take a walk upon your bridge, and pitch your money into the Thames over the centre arch of your bridge, and you know the end of it. —
“选择你的桥吧，皮普先生，”韦米克回答，“走在你选择的桥上，把钱扔到泰晤士河的桥中心拱处，你就会知道结果。 —

Serve a friend with it, and you may know the end of it too - but it’s a less pleasant and profitable end.’
服务一个朋友，你也可能会知道结果——但那是一个不那么愉快和有利可图的结果。”

I could have posted a newspaper in his mouth, he made it so wide after saying this.
他说完这句话后，口张得可以塞进一张报纸。

`This is very discouraging,’ said I.
“这很让人泄气。”我说。

`Meant to be so,’ said Wemmick.
“就是故意这样的，”韦米克说。

Then is it your opinion,' I inquired, with some little indignation,that a man should never–’
“那么，您认为，一个人永远不应该–”

- Invest portable property in a friend?' said Wemmick.Certainly he should not. —
`“给朋友投资可移动财产？”温米克说。“当然不应该。 —

Unless he wants to get rid of the friend - and then it becomes a question how much portable property it may be worth to get rid of him.’
除非他想要摆脱这位朋友 - 那么问题就变成了，为了摆脱他，值得投入多少可移动财产。”

And that,' said I,is your deliberate opinion, Mr Wemmick?’
“这是你的慎重意见，温米克先生？”我说。

That,' he returned,is my deliberate opinion in this office.’
他回答说：“在这个办公室，这就是我的慎重意见。”

`Ah!’ said I, pressing him, for I thought I saw him near a loophole here; —
“啊！”我说，逼问他，因为我觉得他在这里找到了一个漏洞； —

`but would that be your opinion at Walworth?’
“但是在沃尔沃，这会是你的意见吗？”

Mr Pip,' he replied, with gravity,Walworth is one place, and this office is another. —
“皮普先生，”他庄严地回答道，“沃尔沃是一处地方，这个办公室是另一处地方。 —

Much as the Aged is one person, and Mr Jaggers is another. They must not be confounded together. —
就像年迈老人是一人，杰格斯先生是另一人。它们不应该混为一谈。 —

My Walworth sentiments must be taken at Walworth; —
我在沃尔沃的看法应该在沃尔沃采纳； —

none but my official sentiments can be taken in this office.’
只有我的官方看法可以在这个办公室采纳。”

Very well,' said I, much relieved,then I shall look you up at Walworth, you may depend upon it.’
“好的，”我松了口气说，“那我会去沃尔沃找你的，你可以相信。”

Mr Pip,' he returned,you will be welcome there, in a private and personal capacity.’
“皮普先生，”他回答道，“你以私人身份来的话会受欢迎。”

We had held this conversation in a low voice, well knowing my guardian’s ears to be the sharpest of the sharp. —
我们用低声音进行了这个谈话，深知我监护人的耳朵是最灵敏的。 —

As he now appeared in his doorway, towelling his hands, Wemmick got on his greatcoat and stood by to snuff out the candles. —
当他现在出现在门口擦手时，温米克穿上了大衣，准备熄灭蜡烛。 —

We all three went into the street together, and from the door-step Wemmick turned his way, and Mr Jaggers and I turned ours.
我们三人一起走上街道，温米克走他的路，而杰格斯先生和我走我们的路。

I could not help wishing more than once that evening, that Mr Jaggers had had an Aged in Gerrard-street, or a Stinger, or a Something, or a Somebody, to unbend his brows a little. —
我多次不禁希望那天晚上，杰格斯先生能有个在杰拉德街的老人,或者是一位毒蛇,或者是一位什么样的人,去稍微放松他的眉头。 —

It was an uncomfortable consideration on a twenty-first birthday, that coming of age at all seemed hardly worth while in such a guarded and suspicious world as he made of it. —
在二十一岁生日的时候，考虑到在他所建构的这个防备严密和猜疑重重的世界里，年满法定年龄好像几乎不值得。 —

He was a thousand times better informed and cleverer than Wemmick, and yet I would a thousand times rather have had Wemmick to dinner. —
他比韦米克了解得更多、更聪明一千倍，可是我却愿意一千遍宁肯请韦米克吃饭。 —

And Mr Jaggers made not me alone intensely melancholy, because, after he was gone, Herbert said of himself, with his eyes fixed on the fire, that he thought he must have committed a felony and forgotten the details of it, he felt so dejected and guilty.
杰格斯先生让我非常忧伤，因为在他走后，赫伯特盯着火焰，说他觉得自己一定犯了某种重罪，却把罪行的细节给忘了，感到如此沮丧和内疚。