It has not occurred to me to mention Peggotty since I ran away; —
自我逃跑后我一直没有提起佩各蒂的事情； —

but, of course, I wrote her a letter almost as soon as I was housed at Dover, and another, and a longer letter, containing all particulars fully related, when my aunt took me formally under her protection. —
但当然，我一到多佛就给她写了一封信，接着又写了一封更长的信，详细叙述我一切情况，当我姨妈正式接纳我时，我又写了一封信； —

On my being settled at Doctor Strong’s I wrote to her again, detailing my happy condition and prospects. —
我定居在斯特朗医生那里后，又写信给她，详述我快乐的境况和前景； —

I never could have derived anything like the pleasure from spending the money Mr. Dick had given me, that I felt in sending a gold half-guinea to Peggotty, per post, enclosed in this last letter, to discharge the sum I had borrowed of her: —
我从未能从狄克先生给我的那笔钱中得到什么快乐，与我寄给佩各蒂的一枚金币邮票，封在这封信里，偿还我借过她的那笔钱，所带来的快乐相比； —

in which epistle, not before, I mentioned about the young man with the donkey-cart.
在那封信里，我第一次提到了那个拉驴车的年轻人；

To these communications Peggotty replied as promptly, if not as concisely, as a merchant’s clerk. —
佩各蒂以迅速回信，虽然不像一名商人文员那样简洁，但她已将尽全力用墨水来表达她对我的旅程的感受； —

Her utmost powers of expression (which were certainly not great in ink) were exhausted in the attempt to write what she felt on the subject of my journey. —
她将尽全力在信中表达自己的感受、虽然用字不多。 —

Four sides of incoherent and interjectional beginnings of sentences, that had no end, except blots, were inadequate to afford her any relief. —
四面毫无逻辑和感叹开头的句子，以点状结束，给她带来的安慰微乎其微。 —

But the blots were more expressive to me than the best composition; —
但这些点子对我而言比最好的文章还更有表现力； —

for they showed me that Peggotty had been crying all over the paper, and what could I have desired more?
因为它们向我展示了佩戈蒂已经在整张纸上哭过，我还能要求什么呢？

I made out, without much difficulty, that she could not take quite kindly to my aunt yet. —
我很容易看出，她对我姑姑还不太感冒。 —

The notice was too short after so long a prepossession the other way. —
在如此长时间的倾向之后，这个通知确实太仓促了。 —

We never knew a person, she wrote; but to think that Miss Betsey should seem to be so different from what she had been thought to be, was a Moral! —
她写道，我们从未了解一个人；但想到贝茜小姐看起来与人们所认为的不同，真是令人反思！ —

• that was her word. She was evidently still afraid of Miss Betsey, for she sent her grateful duty to her but timidly; —
  - 这是她的话。她显然仍然害怕贝茜小姐，所以她温顺地向她表示感激； —
  

and she was evidently afraid of me, too, and entertained the probability of my running away again soon: —
而且她显然也害怕我，并认为我很可能很快会再次逃走： —

if I might judge from the repeated hints she threw out, that the coach-fare to Yarmouth was always to be had of her for the asking.
如果我从她频繁地暗示来判断，到雅茅斯的车费总是可以向她索要的。

She gave me one piece of intelligence which affected me very much, namely, that there had been a sale of the furniture at our old home, and that Mr. and Miss Murdstone were gone away, and the house was shut up, to be let or sold. —
她告诉了我一条非常触动我的消息，那就是我们旧家的家具已经被拍卖掉了，莫德斯通先生和小姐已经离开了，房子已经关上了，准备出租或出售。 —

God knows I had no part in it while they remained there, but it pained me to think of the dear old place as altogether abandoned; —
天知道，在他们还在那里的时候我与此毫无关系，但想到这个亲爱的老地方被彻底遗弃，我感到痛心； —

of the weeds growing tall in the garden, and the fallen leaves lying thick and wet upon the paths. —
想象着冬风如何呼啸着围绕着它，冷雨如何猛烈地打在窗玻璃上，月光如何在空旷的房间墙壁上制造幽灵，整夜注视着它们的孤寂。 —

I imagined how the winds of winter would howl round it, how the cold rain would beat upon the window-glass, how the moon would make ghosts on the walls of the empty rooms, watching their solitude all night. —
我再次想到了教堂墓地下的坟墓旁边的树： —

I thought afresh of the grave in the churchyard, underneath the tree: —
它似乎像房子一样死了，现在，与我的父母有关的一切都消失了。 —

and it seemed as if the house were dead too, now, and all connected with my father and mother were faded away.
一切都凋零了。

There was no other news in Peggotty’s letters. —
佩格蒂的信件中没有其他消息。 —

Mr. Barkis was an excellent husband, she said, though still a little near; —
她说，巴基斯先生是个优秀的丈夫，尽管有点小气。 —

but we all had our faults, and she had plenty (though I am sure I don’t know what they were); —
但我们都有自己的缺点，她有很多（虽然我真不知道是什么）； —

and he sent his duty, and my little bedroom was always ready for me. —
他问候我，说我的小卧室一直为我准备好。 —

Mr. Peggotty was well, and Ham was well, and Mrs.. Gummidge was but poorly, and little Em’ly wouldn’t send her love, but said that Peggotty might send it, if she liked.
佩格蒂说，佩格蒂先生身体好，汉姆也好，古米奇太太有些健康不佳，小艾米丽并没有送来问候，只说可以由佩格蒂转达。

All this intelligence I dutifully imparted to my aunt, only reserving to myself the mention of little Em’ly, to whom I instinctively felt that she would not very tenderly incline. —
我将这一切消息忠实地告诉了阿姨，只保留了提到小艾米丽的部分，因为直觉告诉我阿姨不会对她很温和。 —

While I was yet new at Doctor Strong’s, she made several excursions over to Canterbury to see me, and always at unseasonable hours: —
当我还是斯壮医生的新学生时，她几次跑到坎特伯雷看我，而且总是在不合时宜的时候； —

with the view, I suppose, of taking me by surprise. —
我猜是想给我一个惊喜。 —

But, finding me well employed, and bearing a good character, and hearing on all hands that I rose fast in the school, she soon discontinued these visits. —
但发现我表现很好，品行端正，听到人人都说我在学校里进步很快，她很快就停止了这些访问。 —

I saw her on a Saturday, every third or fourth week, when I went over to Dover for a treat; —
每隔第三或第四周的星期六，我去多佛小镇时她会去看我一次； —

and I saw Mr. Dick every alternate Wednesday, when he arrived by stage-coach at noon, to stay until next morning.
每隔一个星期三，迪克先生会乘坐公共马车在中午到达，留到第二天早上。

On these occasions Mr. Dick never travelled without a leathern writing-desk, containing a supply of stationery and the Memorial; —
在这些时候，迪克先生从不出门不带一个装满文具和《纪念册》的皮制书桌，他认为现在应该抓紧时间，这本书真得动手处理了。 —

in relation to which document he had a notion that time was beginning to press now, and that it really must be got out of hand.
迪克先生对姜饼特别喜欢。

Mr. Dick was very partial to gingerbread. —
为了让他的访问更愉快，阿姨已经告诉我在一个蛋糕店给他开了一个账户，但有个附带条件，就是他一天不能消费超过一先令的东西。 —

To render his visits the more agreeable, my aunt had instructed me to open a credit for him at a cake shop, which was hampered with the stipulation that he should not be served with more than one shilling’s-worth in the course of any one day. —
我们保留此限制，以确保迪克先生购买的数量不会过多。 —

This, and the reference of all his little bills at the county inn where he slept, to my aunt, before they were paid, induced me to suspect that he was only allowed to rattle his money, and not to spend it. —
这一点，以及他在县旅馆住宿时所有小账单的引用，在付清账单之前我叔母看过，让我怀疑他只被允许把钱摇得响亮，而不是花掉。 —

I found on further investigation that this was so, or at least there was an agreement between him and my aunt that he should account to her for all his disbursements. —
进一步调查后我发现确实如此，或者至少他和我叔母之间有协议，他应当向她解释所有的支出。 —

As he had no idea of deceiving her, and always desired to please her, he was thus made chary of launching into expense. —
由于他并没有欺骗她的打算，总是想讨好她，因此他变得十分谨慎地控制开支。 —

On this point, as well as on all other possible points, Mr. Dick was convinced that my aunt was the wisest and most wonderful of women; —
对于这一点，以及所有可能的点，迪克先生确信我叔母是最聪明、最神奇的女人； —

as he repeatedly told me with infinite secrecy, and always in a whisper.
他总是偷偷告诉我的，而且总是用小声说话。

‘Trotwood,’ said Mr. Dick, with an air of mystery, after imparting this confidence to me, one Wednesday; —
‘特洛特伍德，’迪克先生在一个星期三向我透露这个秘密后说， —

‘who’s the man that hides near our house and frightens her?’
‘谁才是躲在我们家附近吓她的那个人？’

‘Frightens my aunt, sir?’
‘吓唬我叔母，先生？’

Mr. Dick nodded. ‘I thought nothing would have frightened her,’ he said, ‘for she’s -’ here he whispered softly, ‘don’t mention it - the wisest and most wonderful of women.’ —
迪克先生点了点头。’我本以为没有什么能吓唬她，’他说，’因为她是-’ —

Having said which, he drew back, to observe the effect which this description of her made upon me.
在这里他小声地耳语，’不要说出来-最聪明、最神奇的女人。’

‘The first time he came,’ said Mr. Dick, ‘was- let me see- sixteen hundred and forty-nine was the date of King Charles’s execution. —
‘他第一次来的时候，’迪克先生说，’让我想想-一千六百四十九年是查理一世被处决的日期。 —

I think you said sixteen hundred and forty-nine?’
我想你说的是一千六百四十九年？’

‘Yes, sir.’
‘是的，先生。’

‘I don’t know how it can be,’ said Mr. Dick, sorely puzzled and shaking his head. —
‘我不知道怎么可能，’迪克先生困惑不解地摇摇头。 —

‘I don’t think I am as old as that.’
‘我觉得我没那么老。’

‘Was it in that year that the man appeared, sir?’ I asked.
‘“是在那一年那个人出现的吗，先生？”我问道。

‘Why, really’ said Mr. Dick, ‘I don’t see how it can have been in that year, Trotwood. —
‘“噢，真的吗？”狄克先生说，“特洛特伍德，我真看不出是在那一年。 —

Did you get that date out of history?’
你是从历史中得到那个日期的吗？”

‘Yes, sir.’
“是的，先生。”

‘I suppose history never lies, does it?’ said Mr. Dick, with a gleam of hope.
“我想历史永远不会撒谎，不是吗？”狄克先生带着一丝希望说道。

‘Oh dear, no, sir!’ I replied, most decisively. I was ingenuous and young, and I thought so.
“哦，亲爱的，不会的，先生！”我坚定地回答道。我当时很天真年幼，所以我这么认为。

‘I can’t make it out,’ said Mr. Dick, shaking his head. ‘There’s something wrong, somewhere. —
“我搞不明白，”狄克先生摇摇头说，“哪里出了问题。”’ —

However, it was very soon after the mistake was made of putting some of the trouble out of King Charles’s head into my head, that the man first came. —
然而，就在错误地把一些烦恼从查尔斯国王的脑子里转移到我的脑子之后不久，那个人就来了。 —

I was walking out with Miss Trotwood after tea, just at dark, and there he was, close to our house.’
晚茶后，我正和特洛特伍德小姐一起出去散步，天色渐暗，就在那时，他就出现在我们家附近。

‘Walking about?’ I inquired.
‘在四处走动吗?‘我询问道。

‘Walking about?’ repeated Mr. Dick. ‘Let me see, I must recollect a bit. —
‘四处走动?‘迪克先生重复道。 ‘让我想想，我必须回忆一下。 —

N-no, no; he was not walking about.’
不，不; 他并没有四处走动。

I asked, as the shortest way to get at it, what he WAS doing.
我以最简洁的方式问他在做什么。

‘Well, he wasn’t there at all,’ said Mr. Dick, ‘until he came up behind her, and whispered. —
‘嗯，他一点也不在那里,‘迪克先生说，’直到他走到她身后，低声细语。 —

Then she turned round and fainted, and I stood still and looked at him, and he walked away; —
然后她转身晕倒了，我站在那里看着他，他走开了； —

but that he should have been hiding ever since (in the ground or somewhere), is the most extraordinary thing!’
但他之后就一直躲着不见（藏在地下或其他地方），这是最不可思议的事情!’

‘HAS he been hiding ever since?’ I asked.
‘他一直躲着不见吗?‘我问道。

‘To be sure he has,’ retorted Mr. Dick, nodding his head gravely. ‘Never came out, till last night! —
‘当然是的,‘迪克先生严肃地点点头。 ‘直到昨晚都没出来！ —

We were walking last night, and he came up behind her again, and I knew him again.’
我们昨晚在散步，他又走到她身后，我再认出了他。

‘And did he frighten my aunt again?’
‘他又吓到我的姨妈了吗?’

‘All of a shiver,’ said Mr. Dick, counterfeiting that affection and making his teeth chatter. —
‘抖得厉害，’迪克先生说着，假装那种不自然地颤抖并让牙齿打颤。 —

‘Held by the palings. Cried. But, Trotwood, come here,’ getting me close to him, that he might whisper very softly; —
‘紧紧抓住篱笆。哭了。但，特洛特伍德，过来，’他拉着我靠近他，轻声细语地说到。 —

‘why did she give him money, boy, in the moonlight?’
她为什么在月光下给他钱，男孩？

‘He was a beggar, perhaps.’
也许他是个乞丐。

Mr. Dick shook his head, as utterly renouncing the suggestion; —
迪克先生摇了摇头，完全否认这个建议； —

and having replied a great many times, and with great confidence, ‘No beggar, no beggar, no beggar, sir!’ —
他信心满满地回答了很多次，“不是乞丐，不是乞丐，不是乞丐，先生！” —

went on to say, that from his window he had afterwards, and late at night, seen my aunt give this person money outside the garden rails in the moonlight, who then slunk away - into the ground again, as he thought probable - and was seen no more: —
然后继续说，从他的窗口晚上很晚的时候，他看到我姑姑在月光下在花园栅栏外给这个人钱，然后这个人偷偪地消失了——他觉得可能是钻进地里去了——再也没有见到； —

while my aunt came hurriedly and secretly back into the house, and had, even that morning, been quite different from her usual self; —
而我姑姑匆忙地又秘密地回到房子里，甚至到了那天早上，她的样子都很不同寻常； —

which preyed on Mr. Dick’s mind.
这让迪克先生很担忧。

I had not the least belief, in the outset of this story, that the unknown was anything but a delusion of Mr. Dick’s, and one of the line of that ill-fated Prince who occasioned him so much difficulty; —
故事开始时，我一点也不相信这个不知名的人是别的，只是迪克先生的幻觉，而且还是给他那位给他带来那么多困扰的不幸王子后裔的行列中的一个； —

but after some reflection I began to entertain the question whether an attempt, or threat of an attempt, might have been twice made to take poor Mr. Dick himself from under my aunt’s protection, and whether my aunt, the strength of whose kind feeling towards him I knew from herself, might have been induced to pay a price for his peace and quiet. —
但是经过一番思考，我开始考虑到是否曾经有人试图或者威胁要将可怜的迪克先生从我姑姑的保护下带走两次，而我的姑姑，我从她那里得知她对迪克先生的友好感情有多深，可能已经被诱使付出代价来换取他的平安与安静。 —

As I was already much attached to Mr. Dick, and very solicitous for his welfare, my fears favoured this supposition; —
由于我已经非常喜欢迪克先生，非常关心他的幸福，我的恐惧支持了这种假设； —

and for a long time his Wednesday hardly ever came round, without my entertaining a misgiving that he would not be on the coach-box as usual. —
因此在很长一段时间里，每周三一到，我都担心他不会像往常一样在车匣上； —

There he always appeared, however, grey-headed, laughing, and happy; —
然而，他总是出现，头发灰白，笑容满面，幸福快乐； —

and he never had anything more to tell of the man who could frighten my aunt.
他再也没有任何关于那个能吓唬我姑姑的人的事情。

These Wednesdays were the happiest days of Mr. Dick’s life; —
这些周三是迪克先生一生中最快乐的日子； —

they were far from being the least happy of mine. He soon became known to every boy in the school; —
它们远非我最快乐的日子。他很快就被学校里的每个男孩所熟知； —

and though he never took an active part in any game but kite-flying, was as deeply interested in all our sports as anyone among us. —
尽管他从不参与任何游戏，只是放风筝，但他对我们所有的运动都像我们其中任何一个人一样深深地感兴趣。 —

How often have I seen him, intent upon a match at marbles or pegtop, looking on with a face of unutterable interest, and hardly breathing at the critical times! —
我多少次看到他，专注地看弹珠或陀螺比赛，带着难以言喻的兴趣表情，关键时刻几乎屏住呼吸！ —

How often, at hare and hounds, have I seen him mounted on a little knoll, cheering the whole field on to action, and waving his hat above his grey head, oblivious of King Charles the Martyr’s head, and all belonging to it! —
我多少次在跑狗和猎人游戏中看到他站在小土丘上，为整个团队加油助威，挥舞着帽子，毫不顾及卡尔一世的头颅，以及与之相关的一切！ —

How many a summer hour have I known to be but blissful minutes to him in the cricket-field! —
多少个夏日的时光对他来说仅仅是板球场上的幸福几分钟！ —

How many winter days have I seen him, standing blue-nosed, in the snow and east wind, looking at the boys going down the long slide, and clapping his worsted gloves in rapture!
我多少个冬天看到他，站在寒风中冻得发青，看着男孩们滑过长长的滑梯，手舞足蹈地拍打着羊毛手套，欣喜若狂！

He was an universal favourite, and his ingenuity in little things was transcendent. —
他是个普遍受欢迎的人，而且他在小事上的巧思是无与伦比的。 —

He could cut oranges into such devices as none of us had an idea of. —
他能把橙子切成我们都想不到的图案。 —

He could make a boat out of anything, from a skewer upwards. —
他可以用任何东西做船，从一根牙签开始。 —

He could turn cramp-bones into chessmen; fashion Roman chariots from old court cards; —
他可以将腿骨做成象棋子；用旧扑克牌制作罗马战车； —

make spoked wheels out of cotton reels, and bird-cages of old wire. —
用棉线轴做出辐条车轮，用旧电线做鸟笼。 —

But he was greatest of all, perhaps, in the articles of string and straw; —
但或许他最伟大的是在绳子和稻草方面； —

with which we were all persuaded he could do anything that could be done by hands.
我们都相信他的能力可以用手做任何事情。

Mr. Dick’s renown was not long confined to us. —
狄克先生的名声并不仅仅局限于我们这里。 —

After a few Wednesdays, Doctor Strong himself made some inquiries of me about him, and I told him all my aunt had told me; —
几个星期过后，斯特朗医生向我打听过他的情况，我告诉了他我姨妈告诉我的一切； —

which interested the Doctor so much that he requested, on the occasion of his next visit, to be presented to him. —
这让医生非常感兴趣，他请求在下次访问时介绍他见一见。 —

This ceremony I performed; and the Doctor begging Mr. Dick, whensoever he should not find me at the coach office, to come on there, and rest himself until our morning’s work was over, it soon passed into a custom for Mr. Dick to come on as a matter of course, and, if we were a little late, as often happened on a Wednesday, to walk about the courtyard, waiting for me. —
我主持了这个仪式；医生总是请狄克先生，如果他没有在车站找到我，就去那里等待，直到我们早上的工作结束。很快，这成为了狄克先生默认的行为，如果我们有时会有点迟到，尤其是在周三经常发生的情况，他会在院子里走动，等待我。 —

Here he made the acquaintance of the Doctor’s beautiful young wife (paler than formerly, all this time; —
在这里，他认识了医生那位年轻美丽的妻子（比以前苍白，这段时间一直是这样； —

more rarely seen by me or anyone, I think; —
我觉得很少见到他，或者几乎没见到他； —

and not so gay, but not less beautiful), and so became more and more familiar by degrees, until, at last, he would come into the school and wait. —
她看起来不那么开心，但同样美丽），于是渐渐地变得越来越熟悉，直到最后，他会进入学校等待。 —

He always sat in a particular corner, on a particular stool, which was called ‘Dick’, after him; —
他总是坐在一个特定的角落，一个特定的凳子上，这个凳子是以他命名的’Dick’; —

here he would sit, with his grey head bent forward, attentively listening to whatever might be going on, with a profound veneration for the learning he had never been able to acquire.
在这里，他会坐着，灰色的头微微低着，全神贯注地倾听任何可能发生的事情，对他从未能获得的学识怀有无比的崇敬。

This veneration Mr. Dick extended to the Doctor, whom he thought the most subtle and accomplished philosopher of any age. —
狄克先生对医生怀有的这种崇敬，他认为医生是有史以来最敏锐、最博学的哲学家。 —

It was long before Mr. Dick ever spoke to him otherwise than bareheaded; —
在很久以后，狄克先生才开始和医生进行除了脱帽之外的谈话； —

and even when he and the Doctor had struck up quite a friendship, and would walk together by the hour, on that side of the courtyard which was known among us as The Doctor’s Walk, Mr. Dick would pull off his hat at intervals to show his respect for wisdom and knowledge. —
即使当他和医生已经成为很好的朋友，并且会在我们之间称为”医生走廊”的那一侧走来走去，狄克先生也会时不时地拉下帽子，以示对智慧和知识的尊重。 —

How it ever came about that the Doctor began to read out scraps of the famous Dictionary, in these walks, I never knew; —
但是，我从来不知道医生是如何开始在这些散步中念起这本著名的词典的； —

perhaps he felt it all the same, at first, as reading to himself. —
也许一开始，他觉得这和自己心里默默念着没有什么两样。 —

However, it passed into a custom too; and Mr. Dick, listening with a face shining with pride and pleasure, in his heart of hearts believed the Dictionary to be the most delightful book in the world.
不过，这也变成了一种习惯；而狄克先生则坐在那里，面带骄傲和喜悦，他内心深处相信这本字典是世界上最令人愉悦的书。

As I think of them going up and down before those schoolroom windows - the Doctor reading with his complacent smile, an occasional flourish of the manuscript, or grave motion of his head; —
当我想着他们在那教室窗户外来回走动时 - 医生带着满足的微笑阅读，偶尔在手稿上做些华丽的挥动，或是他沉静的点头； —

and Mr. Dick listening, enchained by interest, with his poor wits calmly wandering God knows where, upon the wings of hard words - I think of it as one of the pleasantest things, in a quiet way, that I have ever seen. —
而狄克先生则倾听着，被兴趣所吸引，他可怜的才智静静地飘向天空，难以想象的艰深单词的翅膀上 - 我觉得这是我见过的最愉快的一件事。 —

I feel as if they might go walking to and fro for ever, and the world might somehow be the better for it - as if a thousand things it makes a noise about, were not one half so good for it, or me.
我感觉他们可能会永远地往返走动，世界可能因此变得更好 - 就好像千万件喧嚣的事情中，没有一半是对于它或我来说那么好。

Agnes was one of Mr. Dick’s friends, very soon; —
Agnes很快成为狄克先生的朋友之一; —

and in often coming to the house, he made acquaintance with Uriah. The friendship between himself and me increased continually, and it was maintained on this odd footing: —
并且经常来到这所房子，他与乌利亚建立了友谊。 我与他之间的友谊不断增强，并以这种奇怪的方式维持着： —

that, while Mr. Dick came professedly to look after me as my guardian, he always consulted me in any little matter of doubt that arose, and invariably guided himself by my advice; —
虽然狄克先生明确是来照看我的监护人，但在任何疑问事项上，他总是向我请教，而且总是听从我的建议; —

not only having a high respect for my native sagacity, but considering that I inherited a good deal from my aunt.
他不仅对我出生的精明表示高度尊重，而且认为我从姑姑那里继承了很多。

One Thursday morning, when I was about to walk with Mr. Dick from the hotel to the coach office before going back to school (for we had an hour’s school before breakfast), I met Uriah in the street, who reminded me of the promise I had made to take tea with himself and his mother: —
一个星期四的早晨，我正要和狄克先生一起从旅馆走到马车站，然后回学校（因为我们在早餐前还有一个小时的课），我在街上遇到了乌利亚，他提醒我承诺要和他和他的母亲一起喝茶； —

adding, with a writhe, ‘But I didn’t expect you to keep it, Master Copperfield, we’re so very umble.’
还补充说，带着一种扭曲的表情，”但我没想到你会兑现承诺，考柏菲尔德小主，我们真的非常谦卑。

I really had not yet been able to make up my mind whether I liked Uriah or detested him; —
我真的还没有下定决心是喜欢乌利亚还是厌恶他; —

and I was very doubtful about it still, as I stood looking him in the face in the street. —
当我站在街上瞧着他的脸时，我仍然对此心存疑虑。 —

But I felt it quite an affront to be supposed proud, and said I only wanted to be asked.
但被认为是骄傲对我来说是一种侮辱，我说我只是想被邀请。

’ Oh, if that’s all, Master Copperfield,’ said Uriah, ‘and it really isn’t our umbleness that prevents you, will you come this evening? —
‘哦，如果只是这样，考柏菲尔德小主，’乌利亚说,‘如果真的不是我们的谦卑阻止你，你今晚会来吗？ —

But if it is our umbleness, I hope you won’t mind owning to it, Master Copperfield; —
但如果是我们的谦卑，我希望你不介意承认，考柏菲尔德小主; —

for we are well aware of our condition.’
因为我们很清楚我们的状况。

I said I would mention it to Mr. Wickfield, and if he approved, as I had no doubt he would, I would come with pleasure. —
我说我会告诉韦克菲尔德先生，如果他同意的话，我会很高兴前去。 —

So, at six o’clock that evening, which was one of the early office evenings, I announced myself as ready, to Uriah.
所以，在那天晚上六点，也就是早班办公时间之一，我对乌利亚表示我已经准备好了。

‘Mother will be proud, indeed,’ he said, as we walked away together. —
‘母亲会非常自豪的，’他说，当我们一起走开时。 —

‘Or she would be proud, if it wasn’t sinful, Master Copperfield.’
‘假如这不是罪孽，科波菲尔德先生，她会感到骄傲的。

‘Yet you didn’t mind supposing I was proud this morning,’ I returned.
‘可是今天早上你却不介意认为我骄傲，’我回答道。

‘Oh dear, no, Master Copperfield!’ returned Uriah. ‘Oh, believe me, no! —
‘哦，不，科波菲尔德先生！’尤赖亚回答道。’哦，相信我，绝对不是！ —

Such a thought never came into my head! I shouldn’t have deemed it at all proud if you had thought US too umble for you. —
‘这种想法从未在我脑中闪过！如果你认为我们太卑微，我绝不会认为这骄傲。 —

Because we are so very umble.’
‘因为我们实在太卑微了。

‘Have you been studying much law lately?’ I asked, to change the subject.
‘你最近学法律学得怎么样呢？’我问，想改变话题。

‘Oh, Master Copperfield,’ he said, with an air of self-denial, ‘my reading is hardly to be called study. —
‘哦，科波菲尔德先生，’他带着一种牺牲的态度说，’我的阅读几乎不能称为学习。 —

I have passed an hour or two in the evening, sometimes, with Mr. Tidd.’
‘有时我会在晚上和蒂德先生一起度过一个小时或两个小时。

‘Rather hard, I suppose?’ said I. ‘He is hard to me sometimes,’ returned Uriah. ‘But I don’t know what he might be to a gifted person.’
‘我猜想相当困难吧？’我说。’对我有时倒是挺困难的，’尤赖亚回答道。’但我不知道他对才华横溢的人会怎么样。

After beating a little tune on his chin as he walked on, with the two forefingers of his skeleton right hand, he added:
‘他又一边漫不经心地用他纤瘦的右手的两个骨指敲击着下巴，一边说道：

‘There are expressions, you see, Master Copperfield - Latin words and terms - in Mr. Tidd, that are trying to a reader of my umble attainments.’
‘你看，科波菲尔德先生，有些表达 - 拉丁语言和术语 - 在蒂德先生的著作中，对于我这种卑微的学识来说是很有挑战的。

‘Would you like to be taught Latin?’ I said briskly. —
‘你想学拉丁语吗？’我干脆地说道。 —

‘I will teach it you with pleasure, as I learn it.’
‘我愿意教你，就像我学习的时候一样。

‘Oh, thank you, Master Copperfield,’ he answered, shaking his head. —
‘哦，谢谢你，科波菲尔德先生，’他摇着头回答道。 —

‘I am sure it’s very kind of you to make the offer, but I am much too umble to accept it.’
‘我确信你的提议非常友善，但是我太卑微了，无法接受。’

‘What nonsense, Uriah!’
“乌里亚，别说废话！”

‘Oh, indeed you must excuse me, Master Copperfield! —
“噢，确实您得原谅我，考珀菲尔德先生！” —

I am greatly obliged, and I should like it of all things, I assure you; but I am far too umble. —
“非常感谢，我很想要，我向您保证；但我太谦卑了。” —

There are people enough to tread upon me in my lowly state, without my doing outrage to their feelings by possessing learning. —
“在我的卑微状态下，已经有足够多的人来践踏我了，没有必要因为拥有学识而伤害他们的感情。” —

Learning ain’t for me. A person like myself had better not aspire. —
“学问不适合我。像我这样的人最好不要有抱负。” —

If he is to get on in life, he must get on umbly, Master Copperfield!’
“要想在生活中成功，必须要谦卑，考珀菲尔德先生！”

I never saw his mouth so wide, or the creases in his cheeks so deep, as when he delivered himself of these sentiments: —
“当他发表这些观点时，我从未见过他的嘴巴张得那么大，或者脸颊上的皱纹那么深。” —

shaking his head all the time, and writhing modestly.
“一边颤抖着头，一边谦卑地扭动。”

‘I think you are wrong, Uriah,’ I said. ‘I dare say there are several things that I could teach you, if you would like to learn them.’
“我觉得你错了，乌里亚，”我说。“我敢说有好几件事情我可以教你，如果你想学的话。”

‘Oh, I don’t doubt that, Master Copperfield,’ he answered; ‘not in the least. —
“噢，考珀菲尔德先生，我一点也不怀疑这一点。” —

But not being umble yourself, you don’t judge well, perhaps, for them that are. —
“但是因为你自己不谦虚，你也许不能很好地为那些谦卑之人判断。 —

I won’t provoke my betters with knowledge, thank you. —
“谢谢，我不想用知识挑衅我的上级。 —

I’m much too umble. Here is my umble dwelling, Master Copperfield!’
“我太谦卑了。这里是我的谦卑住所，考珀菲尔德先生！”

We entered a low, old-fashioned room, walked straight into from the street, and found there Mrs. Heep, who was the dead image of Uriah, only short. —
“我们走进了一个低矮、老式的房间，直接从街上进去，发现那里是乌里亚的母亲，她长得和乌里亚一模一样，只是矮了。” —

She received me with the utmost humility, and apologized to me for giving her son a kiss, observing that, lowly as they were, they had their natural affections, which they hoped would give no offence to anyone. —
“她以极度的谦卑接待了我，并向我道歉为给她的儿子亲吻，说他们虽然卑微，但他们有自然的感情，希望不会冒犯任何人。” —

It was a perfectly decent room, half parlour and half kitchen, but not at all a snug room. —
这是一个相当不错的房间，一半是客厅，一半是厨房，但一点也不舒适。 —

The tea-things were set upon the table, and the kettle was boiling on the hob. —
茶具已经摆在桌上，壶在灶台上煮着。 —

There was a chest of drawers with an escritoire top, for Uriah to read or write at of an evening; —
有一个带书桌的抽屉柜，Uriah可以在晚上读书或写作； —

there was Uriah’s blue bag lying down and vomiting papers; —
Uriah的蓝色包袋躺在那里，吐出着文件； —

there was a company of Uriah’s books commanded by Mr. Tidd; there was a corner cupboard: —
有一堆Uriah的书，由Tidd先生指挥着；还有一个壁橱； —

and there were the usual articles of furniture. —
还有一些必备的家具。 —

I don’t remember that any individual object had a bare, pinched, spare look; —
我记不得任何一个物品看起来空旷、勉强或吝啬； —

but I do remember that the whole place had.
但整个房间给人的感觉却如此。

It was perhaps a part of Mrs. Heep’s humility, that she still wore weeds. —
也许这是希普太太的一种谦卑，她仍然穿着丧服。 —

Notwithstanding the lapse of time that had occurred since Mr. Heep’s decease, she still wore weeds. —
尽管自希普先生去世以来已过去了一段时间，她仍然穿着丧服。 —

I think there was some compromise in the cap; —
我觉得她的帽子里有一些权衡； —

but otherwise she was as weedy as in the early days of her mourning.
但除此之外，她和她早期的丧服一样。

‘This is a day to be remembered, my Uriah, I am sure,’ said Mrs. Heep, making the tea, ‘when Master Copperfield pays us a visit.’
“这是一个让人铭记的日子，我相信，我的Uriah，”希普太太边沏茶边说，“当科波菲尔德先生来拜访我们。”

‘I said you’d think so, mother,’ said Uriah.
“我说过你会这么想，母亲，”Uriah说。

‘If I could have wished father to remain among us for any reason,’ said Mrs. Heep, ‘it would have been, that he might have known his company this afternoon.’
“如果有什么理由我希望父亲能留在我们中间的话，”希普太太说，“那就是他能认识今天下午来的客人。”

I felt embarrassed by these compliments; but I was sensible, too, of being entertained as an honoured guest, and I thought Mrs. Heep an agreeable woman.
我被这些赞美弄得有些尴尬；但我也意识到自己被当作贵宾款待，我认为希普夫人是一个很讨人喜欢的女人。

‘My Uriah,’ said Mrs. Heep, ‘has looked forward to this, sir, a long while. —
“我儿尤利亚”希普太太说，“他很早就盼望着这一天，先生。” —

He had his fears that our umbleness stood in the way, and I joined in them myself. —
他很担心我们的卑微身份会成为阻碍，而我也有同感。 —

Umble we are, umble we have been, umble we shall ever be,’ said Mrs. Heep.
“卑微的我们，一直都是卑微的，将来也会如此，”希普太太说。

‘I am sure you have no occasion to be so, ma’am,’ I said, ‘unless you like.’
“我肯定您完全没必要这样，夫人，”我说，“除非您乐意。”

‘Thank you, sir,’ retorted Mrs. Heep. ‘We know our station and are thankful in it.’
“谢谢您，先生，”希普太太反驳道，“我们知道自己的位置，并为此感恩。”

I found that Mrs. Heep gradually got nearer to me, and that Uriah gradually got opposite to me, and that they respectfully plied me with the choicest of the eatables on the table. —
我发现希普太太渐渐靠近我，而尤利亚也慢慢移至我对面，他们恭敬地向我提供桌上最美味的食物。 —

There was nothing particularly choice there, to be sure; —
那里当然没有特别美味的东西； —

but I took the will for the deed, and felt that they were very attentive. —
但我把“诚意为实”来看，觉得他们很关心。 —

Presently they began to talk about aunts, and then I told them about mine; —
随后他们开始谈论姑妈，然后我也告诉了他们关于我的姑妈； —

and about fathers and mothers, and then I told them about mine; —
再谈论父母，然后我也告诉了他们关于我的父母； —

and then Mrs. Heep began to talk about fathers-in-law, and then I began to tell her about mine - but stopped, because my aunt had advised me to observe a silence on that subject. —
然后希普太太开始谈论岳父，然后我也开始告诉她关于我的岳父—但停了下来，因为我姑妈劝我对这个话题保持沉默。 —

A tender young cork, however, would have had no more chance against a pair of corkscrews, or a tender young tooth against a pair of dentists, or a little shuttlecock against two battledores, than I had against Uriah and Mrs. Heep. They did just what they liked with me; —
然而，一个嫩软的塞子也没有机会对抗一对螺丝钻，或者一个嫩嫩的牙对抗两个牙医，又或者一个小毽子对抗两个拍球板，就如同我对抗尤利亚和希普太太那般。他们对我为所欲为； —

and wormed things out of me that I had no desire to tell, with a certainty I blush to think of. —
并且用一种让我羞愧不已的肯定，找出了我不愿意透露的事情。 —

the more especially, as in my juvenile frankness, I took some credit to myself for being so confidential and felt that I was quite the patron of my two respectful entertainers.
尤其是因为在我幼稚的坦诚中，我对自己如此坦诚感到有些自豪，觉得自己是两位尊敬款待者的庇护者。

They were very fond of one another: that was certain. —
他们彼此非常喜欢，这是肯定的。 —

I take it, that had its effect upon me, as a touch of nature; —
我觉得，这对我产生了影响，像是一种自然的感受； —

but the skill with which the one followed up whatever the other said, was a touch of art which I was still less proof against. —
但其中一人如何跟进另一人所说的话，那种技巧是一种艺术，我对此更加难以抵抗。 —

When there was nothing more to be got out of me about myself (for on the Murdstone and Grinby life, and on my journey, I was dumb), they began about Mr. Wickfield and Agnes. Uriah threw the ball to Mrs. Heep, Mrs. Heep caught it and threw it back to Uriah, Uriah kept it up a little while, then sent it back to Mrs. Heep, and so they went on tossing it about until I had no idea who had got it, and was quite bewildered. —
当我再没有关于自己的信息可以透露时（因为关于默德斯通和格林比的生活，以及我的旅程，我一言不发），他们开始谈起韦福德先生和艾格尼丝。乌莱向希普夫人传球，希普夫人接住了传回乌莱，乌莱把球稍微传回希普夫人，他们就这样不停地传球，直到我完全搞不清楚到底是谁得到了球，感到很困惑。 —

The ball itself was always changing too. —
球本身也在不断变化。 —

Now it was Mr. Wickfield, now Agnes, now the excellence of Mr. Wickfield, now my admiration of Agnes; —
有时是韦福德先生，有时是艾格尼丝，有时是韦福德先生的卓越，有时是我对艾格尼丝的钦佩； —

now the extent of Mr. Wickfield’s business and resources, now our domestic life after dinner; —
有时是韦福德先生的业务和资源的广泛性，有时是晚饭后我们的家庭生活； —

now, the wine that Mr. Wickfield took, the reason why he took it, and the pity that it was he took so much; —
有时是韦福德先生喝的酒，他喝的原因，以及可惜他喝了这么多； —

now one thing, now another, then everything at once; —
时而这个，时而那个，然后又一下子全都谈到； —

and all the time, without appearing to speak very often, or to do anything but sometimes encourage them a little, for fear they should be overcome by their humility and the honour of my company, I found myself perpetually letting out something or other that I had no business to let out and seeing the effect of it in the twinkling of Uriah’s dinted nostrils.
不时地说话，或者看起来几乎不说话、只是偶尔鼓励他们一下，担心他们会被自己的谦卑和我作为客人的荣耀所压倒，我发现自己总是在无意中说出一些我不应该说的事，然后立刻看到乌莱塔蒂的鼻孔在闪烁。

I had begun to be a little uncomfortable, and to wish myself well out of the visit, when a figure coming down the street passed the door - it stood open to air the room, which was warm, the weather being close for the time of year - came back again, looked in, and walked in, exclaiming loudly, ‘Copperfield! Is it possible?’
我开始感到有点不舒服，希望早点结束这次拜访，这时一位身影从街上经过门口——房间敞开着通风，因为天气很暖和，不合时节——又回头看了一眼，然后径直走了进来，大声喊道：“柯波菲尔！难道是真的吗？”

It was Mr. Micawber! It was Mr. Micawber, with his eye-glass, and his walking-stick, and his shirt-collar, and his genteel air, and the condescending roll in his voice, all complete!
那是麦卡伯先生！是麦卡伯先生，带着眼镜、拄着拐杖、扣着衬衫领子、带着绅士气质，以及他声音中殷勤的腔调，一切都完整！

‘My dear Copperfield,’ said Mr. Micawber, putting out his hand, ‘this is indeed a meeting which is calculated to impress the mind with a sense of the instability and uncertainty of all human - in short, it is a most extraordinary meeting. —
“我亲爱的柯波菲尔，”麦卡伯先生伸出手说，“这确实是一次令人印象深刻的相遇，让人感到所有人类的不稳定和不确定——简言之，这是一次非同寻常的相遇。 —

Walking along the street, reflecting upon the probability of something turning up (of which I am at present rather sanguine), I find a young but valued friend turn up, who is connected with the most eventful period of my life; —
在街上漫步，思考着可能会发生的事情（我目前对此相当乐观），我遇到了一个年轻但珍贵的朋友，他与我生活中最重要的时期有关； —

I may say, with the turning-point of my existence. —
我可以说，与我生命的转折点有关。 —

Copperfield, my dear fellow, how do you do?’
“卡柏菲尔德，我亲爱的朋友，你好吗？”

I cannot say - I really cannot say - that I was glad to see Mr. Micawber there; —
“我不能说-我真的不能说-看到密卡伯先生我很高兴； —

but I was glad to see him too, and shook hands with him, heartily, inquiring how Mrs. Micawber was.
但我也很高兴见到他，热情地和他握手，询问密卡伯夫人健康如何。

‘Thank you,’ said Mr. Micawber, waving his hand as of old, and settling his chin in his shirt-collar. ‘She is tolerably convalescent. —
“谢谢，”密卡伯先生说，像往常一样挥动着手，把下巴埋在衬衫领子里。“她康复得相当不错。 —

The twins no longer derive their sustenance from Nature’s founts - in short,’ said Mr. Micawber, in one of his bursts of confidence, ‘they are weaned - and Mrs. Micawber is, at present, my travelling companion. —
孪生子们不再从自然的泉源中获取营养-总之，”密卡伯先生在他的一次自信爆发中说，“他们已经断奶了-而密卡伯夫人目前是我的旅行伴侣。 —

She will be rejoiced, Copperfield, to renew her acquaintance with one who has proved himself in all respects a worthy minister at the sacred altar of friendship.’
“Copperfield，她会很高兴重新见到一个在所有方面都证明自己是友谊神圣祭坛上堪称的牧师的人。”

I said I should be delighted to see her.
我说我会很高兴见到她。

‘You are very good,’ said Mr. Micawber.
“你太好了，”密卡伯先生说。

Mr. Micawber then smiled, settled his chin again, and looked about him.
然后密卡伯先生微笑着，再次点了点下巴，四处环顾。

‘I have discovered my friend Copperfield,’ said Mr. Micawber genteelly, and without addressing himself particularly to anyone, ‘not in solitude, but partaking of a social meal in company with a widow lady, and one who is apparently her offspring - in short,’ said Mr. Micawber, in another of his bursts of confidence, ‘her son. —
“我发现了我的朋友卡柏菲尔德，”密卡伯先生以有礼貌的方式说，并没有特别地对任何人说，“不是孤独地，而是在一个与一个寡妇女士一起共进社交餐的场合，而且那个显然是她的后代-总之，”密卡伯先生在另一次自信爆发中说，“她的儿子。 —

I shall esteem it an honour to be presented.’
我将感到荣幸受到介绍。”

I could do no less, under these circumstances, than make Mr. Micawber known to Uriah Heep and his mother; —
在这种情况下，我不能不让密卡伯先生认识乌里亚希普和他的母亲； —

which I accordingly did. As they abased themselves before him, Mr. Micawber took a seat, and waved his hand in his most courtly manner.
于是我向他们介绍了。当他们在他面前屈尊时，密卡伯先生坐下来，以最有礼貌的方式挥手。

‘Any friend of my friend Copperfield’s,’ said Mr. Micawber, ‘has a personal claim upon myself.’
“卡柏菲尔德的任何朋友，”密卡伯先生说，“在我这里都有个人的权利。”

‘We are too umble, sir,’ said Mrs. Heep, ‘my son and me, to be the friends of Master Copperfield. —
“我们太谦卑了，先生，”希普夫人说，“我和我儿子，成为卡柏菲尔德大师的朋友是不可能的。” —

He has been so good as take his tea with us, and we are thankful to him for his company, also to you, sir, for your notice.’
他一直很乐意跟我们一起喝茶，我们很感谢他的陪伴，也感谢您，先生，您的关注。

‘Ma’am,’ returned Mr. Micawber, with a bow, ‘you are very obliging: —
‘夫人，’米考伯先生鞠了个躬，’您太客气了。 —

and what are you doing, Copperfield? Still in the wine trade?’
你在干什么，考伯菲尔德？还在做酒业吗？

I was excessively anxious to get Mr. Micawber away; —
我非常着急想让米考伯先生离开； —

and replied, with my hat in my hand, and a very red face, I have no doubt, that I was a pupil at Doctor Strong’s.
我端着帽子，脸可能是非常红润的，回答说我是斯特朗医生的学生。

‘A pupil?’ said Mr. Micawber, raising his eyebrows. ‘I am extremely happy to hear it. —
‘学生？’米考伯先生抬起眉毛说，‘听到这个消息我感到非常高兴。 —

Although a mind like my friend Copperfield’s’ - to Uriah and Mrs. Heep - ‘does not require that cultivation which, without his knowledge of men and things, it would require, still it is a rich soil teeming with latent vegetation - in short,’ said Mr. Micawber, smiling, in another burst of confidence, ‘it is an intellect capable of getting up the classics to any extent.’
虽然像我朋友考伯菲尔德这样的思维不需要耕耘，但如果没有他对人和事物的了解，依然需要耕耘，这个土壤非常肥沃，富含潜在的植被——总之，’米考伯先生笑着说，在又一次的自信爆发中，‘这是一个能够广泛研究古典的智力。

Uriah, with his long hands slowly twining over one another, made a ghastly writhe from the waist upwards, to express his concurrence in this estimation of me.
乌里亚，双手缠绕在一起，从腰部开始向上作出可怕的扭动，表示他认同我这个评价。

‘Shall we go and see Mrs. Micawber, sir?’ I said, to get Mr. Micawber away.
‘我们去看看米考伯夫人，先生，好吗？’我说，想把米考伯先生拉开。

‘If you will do her that favour, Copperfield,’ replied Mr. Micawber, rising. —
‘如果你愿意帮她个忙，考伯菲尔德，’米考伯先生站起来回答道。 —

‘I have no scruple in saying, in the presence of our friends here, that I am a man who has, for some years, contended against the pressure of pecuniary difficulties.’ —
‘在我们这些朋友面前，我毫不犹豫地说，我是一个在许多年里与经济困难斗争的人。 —

I knew he was certain to say something of this kind; —
我知道他肯定会说这种话； —

he always would be so boastful about his difficulties. —
他总是会夸夸其谈他的困境。 —

‘Sometimes I have risen superior to my difficulties. —
‘有时候我能战胜困难。 —

Sometimes my difficulties have - in short, have floored me. —
有时候我的困难——总之，让我咽下一口苦水。’ —

There have been times when I have administered a succession of facers to them; —
有时我给他们连续施加了一系列的面罩； —

there have been times when they have been too many for me, and I have given in, and said to Mrs. Micawber, in the words of Cato, “Plato, thou reasonest well. —
有时候困扰我的事情太多，我就会妥协，对米考伯夫人说：“普拉托，你说得有道理。” —

It’s all up now. I can show fight no more.” —
一切都结束了。我再也无力抗争。 —

But at no time of my life,’ said Mr. Micawber, ‘have I enjoyed a higher degree of satisfaction than in pouring my griefs (if I may describe difficulties, chiefly arising out of warrants of attorney and promissory notes at two and four months, by that word) into the bosom of my friend Copperfield.’
但在我一生中的任何时候，我都没有像在向朋友柯波菲尔抒发我的痛苦时那样得到如此高度的满足（如果我能用“痛苦”这个词来描述主要困扰我的事情，主要是两个到四个月的支票和本票的问题）。

Mr. Micawber closed this handsome tribute by saying, ‘Mr. Heep! Good evening. Mrs. Heep! —
米考伯先生以这个优美的赞辞结束了说话，说：“希伯先生！晚上好。希伯夫人！” —

Your servant,’ and then walking out with me in his most fashionable manner, making a good deal of noise on the pavement with his shoes, and humming a tune as we went.
你的仆人，”然后以最时髦的方式跟我一起走出去，在人行道上响亮地踏着鞋子，一边哼着曲子。

It was a little inn where Mr. Micawber put up, and he occupied a little room in it, partitioned off from the commercial room, and strongly flavoured with tobacco-smoke. —
这是一个小客栈，米考伯先生住在那里，他在里面的一个小房间里，该房间与商务室隔开，充满了烟草味。 —

I think it was over the kitchen, because a warm greasy smell appeared to come up through the chinks in the floor, and there was a flabby perspiration on the walls. —
我想应该是在厨房上面，因为从地板的缝隙中似乎飘上了一股温暖而油腻的气味，墙壁上还有一层潮湿的汗水。 —

I know it was near the bar, on account of the smell of spirits and jingling of glasses. —
我知道那是在酒吧附近，因为有酒精味和玻璃杯叮当声。 —

Here, recumbent on a small sofa, underneath a picture of a race-horse, with her head close to the fire, and her feet pushing the mustard off the dumb-waiter at the other end of the room, was Mrs. Micawber, to whom Mr. Micawber entered first, saying, ‘My dear, allow me to introduce to you a pupil of Doctor Strong’s.’
这时，米考伯太太平躺在一个小沙发上，沿着壁炉，靠近一幅赛马的画，她的脚踢开放在房间另一端的小推车上的芥末，这时米考伯先生走进来，说：‘亲爱的，允许我向你介绍德斯特朗医生的一个学生。’

I noticed, by the by, that although Mr. Micawber was just as much confused as ever about my age and standing, he always remembered, as a genteel thing, that I was a pupil of Doctor Strong’s.
顺便说一句，我注意到，虽然米考伯先生对我的年龄和地位仍然一头雾水，但他总是记得我是德斯特朗医生的学生，觉得这是一个体面的事情。

Mrs. Micawber was amazed, but very glad to see me. —
米考伯太太很惊讶，但非常高兴见到我。 —

I was very glad to see her too, and, after an affectionate greeting on both sides, sat down on the small sofa near her.
我也很高兴见到她，双方亲热地打了招呼之后，坐在她附近的小沙发上。

‘My dear,’ said Mr. Micawber, ‘if you will mention to Copperfield what our present position is, which I have no doubt he will like to know, I will go and look at the paper the while, and see whether anything turns up among the advertisements.’
‘亲爱的，’米考伯先生说，‘如果你告诉柯波菲尔，我们目前的处境是怎样的，我毫无疑问他会想知道，我去看看报纸，看看广告有没有什么新的情况。’

‘I thought you were at Plymouth, ma’am,’ I said to Mrs. Micawber, as he went out.
‘我以为您在普利茅斯，夫人，’他出去时，我对米考伯太太说。

‘My dear Master Copperfield,’ she replied, ‘we went to Plymouth.’
‘我亲爱的科波菲尔先生，’她回答说，‘我们去了普利茅斯。’

‘To be on the spot,’ I hinted.
‘在那个地方，’我暗示说。

‘Just so,’ said Mrs. Micawber. ‘To be on the spot. —
‘正是如此，’米考伯太太说，‘在那个地方。’ —

But, the truth is, talent is not wanted in the Custom House. The local influence of my family was quite unavailing to obtain any employment in that department, for a man of Mr. Micawber’s abilities. —
但事实是，海关并不需要才能。我家的地方影响力对于让米考伯先生这样有才能的人在那个部门里找到工作是毫无用处的。 —

They would rather NOT have a man of Mr. Micawber’s abilities. —
他们宁可没有米考伯先生这样有才能的人。 —

He would only show the deficiency of the others. —
他只会凸显其他人的不足。 —

Apart from which,’ said Mrs. Micawber, ‘I will not disguise from you, my dear Master Copperfield, that when that branch of my family which is settled in Plymouth, became aware that Mr. Micawber was accompanied by myself, and by little Wilkins and his sister, and by the twins, they did not receive him with that ardour which he might have expected, being so newly released from captivity. —
米考伯太太说：‘此外，我不会对你隐瞒，我亲爱的科波菲尔先生，当我在普利茅斯定居的分支家族得知米考伯先生和我，以及小威尔金斯和他的姐姐，以及孪生子们一起，他们并没有像他原本期望的那样热情地接待他，因为他刚刚从囚禁中释放出来。 —

In fact,’ said Mrs. Micawber, lowering her voice, - ‘this is between ourselves - our reception was cool.’
实际上，’米考伯太太压低声音说，‘我们之间的事 - 保密 - 我们的接待是冷淡的。’

‘Dear me!’ I said.
‘亲爱的我!‘我说。

‘Yes,’ said Mrs. Micawber. ‘It is truly painful to contemplate mankind in such an aspect, Master Copperfield, but our reception was, decidedly, cool. —
‘是的,‘米卡伯太太说。’考虑到人类面对这种情况确实是令人痛苦的，考柯菲尔德先生，但我们的接待，明显地，是冷淡的。 —

There is no doubt about it. In fact, that branch of my family which is settled in Plymouth became quite personal to Mr. Micawber, before we had been there a week.’
毫无疑问。事实上，我们在那里不到一周,迈克伯先生就对我在普利茅斯定居的那个家族产生了很亲切的感情。

I said, and thought, that they ought to be ashamed of themselves.
我说，并认为，他们应该为自己感到羞耻。

‘Still, so it was,’ continued Mrs. Micawber. —
‘但事实就是如此，’米卡伯太太继续说。 —

‘Under such circumstances, what could a man of Mr. Micawber’s spirit do? —
‘在这种情况下，米卡伯先生这样一个有勇气的人能做什么？ —

But one obvious course was left. To borrow, of that branch of my family, the money to return to London, and to return at any sacrifice.’
但留给他的只有一条显而易见的路。向我那个家族的支部借钱，以便返回伦敦，不惜一切代价返回。

‘Then you all came back again, ma’am?’ I said.
‘那么您都再次回来了，夫人?‘我说。

‘We all came back again,’ replied Mrs. Micawber. —
‘我们都再次回来了，’米卡伯太太回答道。 —

‘Since then, I have consulted other branches of my family on the course which it is most expedient for Mr. Micawber to take - for I maintain that he must take some course, Master Copperfield,’ said Mrs. Micawber, argumentatively. —
‘从那时起，我已经咨询了其他家庭支部对于米卡伯先生应该采取的最有效行动，因为我坚持认为他必须采取某种行动，考柯菲尔德先生，’米卡伯太太辩论道。 —

‘It is clear that a family of six, not including a domestic, cannot live upon air.’
‘很显然，一个六口之家，不包括一个仆人，不能靠空气生活。’

‘Certainly, ma’am,’ said I.
‘当然，夫人，’我说。

‘The opinion of those other branches of my family,’ pursued Mrs. Micawber, ‘is, that Mr. Micawber should immediately turn his attention to coals.’
‘其他家庭支部的意见是，米卡伯先生应立即将注意力转向煤炭。’

‘To what, ma’am?’
‘什么，夫人?’

‘To coals,’ said Mrs. Micawber. ‘To the coal trade. —
‘煤炭,‘米卡伯太太说。’从事煤炭贸易。’ —

Mr. Micawber was induced to think, on inquiry, that there might be an opening for a man of his talent in the Medway Coal Trade. Then, as Mr. Micawber very properly said, the first step to be taken clearly was, to come and see the Medway. —
麦卡伯先生被勾引去考虑在梅德韦河煤炭贸易中有可能为他这样的人才找到职业出路。然后，正如麦卡伯先生非常恰当地说的，要采取的第一步显然是来看看梅德韦河。 —

Which we came and saw. I say “we”, Master Copperfield; —
我们就来看了。我说“我们”，柯波菲尔德先生； —

for I never will,’ said Mrs. Micawber with emotion, ‘I never will desert Mr. Micawber.’
因为我绝对不会，’米夏伯夫人激动地说， ‘我绝对不会抛弃米夏伯先生。

I murmured my admiration and approbation.
我低声表达了我对此的赞赏和支持。

‘We came,’ repeated Mrs. Micawber, ‘and saw the Medway. —
‘我们来了，’ 米夏伯夫人重复说，’并看到了梅德韦河。 —

My opinion of the coal trade on that river is, that it may require talent, but that it certainly requires capital. —
我对那条河上的煤炭贸易的看法是，这可能需要才能，但绝对需要资本。 —

Talent, Mr. Micawber has; capital, Mr. Micawber has not. —
米夏伯先生有才能；资本，米夏伯先生没有。 —

We saw, I think, the greater part of the Medway; and that is my individual conclusion. —
我认为我们看到了梅德韦河的大部分；这是我个人的结论。 —

Being so near here, Mr. Micawber was of opinion that it would be rash not to come on, and see the Cathedral. —
离这里这么近，米夏伯先生认为不来看大教堂是不智的。 —

Firstly, on account of its being so well worth seeing, and our never having seen it; —
首先，因为它非常值得一看，而我们从未见过； —

and secondly, on account of the great probability of something turning up in a cathedral town. —
其次，由于在大教堂城镇很有可能出现意外。 —

We have been here,’ said Mrs. Micawber, ‘three days. Nothing has, as yet, turned up; —
我们在这里已经呆了三天。到目前为止没有什么意外发生； —

and it may not surprise you, my dear Master Copperfield, so much as it would a stranger, to know that we are at present waiting for a remittance from London, to discharge our pecuniary obligations at this hotel. —
我对伦敦寄来我们酒店的汇款以偿还我们的债务感到焦虑，如果你不是一个陌生人，你知道这不会太让你惊讶。 —

Until the arrival of that remittance,’ said Mrs. Micawber with much feeling, ‘I am cut off from my home (I allude to lodgings in Pentonville), from my boy and girl, and from my twins.’
在汇款到达之前，’米夏伯夫人用很多感情地说，’我被隔绝在家中（我指在彭顿维尔的住所）和我的男孩女孩，和我的双胞胎。

I felt the utmost sympathy for Mr. and Mrs. Micawber in this anxious extremity, and said as much to Mr. Micawber, who now returned: —
我对米夏伯夫人先生处在这种焦虑的境地感到最大的同情，并对现在回来的米夏伯先生表示了同样的看法。 —

adding that I only wished I had money enough, to lend them the amount they needed. —
添加说，我只希望我有足够的钱，可以借给他们所需的金额。 —

Mr. Micawber’s answer expressed the disturbance of his mind. —
弥卡伯先生的回答表达了他内心的不安。 —

He said, shaking hands with me, ‘Copperfield, you are a true friend; —
他握着我的手说，“考珀菲尔德，你是一个真正的朋友； —

but when the worst comes to the worst, no man is without a friend who is possessed of shaving materials.’ —
但是到了万不得已的时候，没有一个人是没有朋友，只要有刮胡刀用的人。” —

At this dreadful hint Mrs. Micawber threw her arms round Mr. Micawber’s neck and entreated him to be calm. —
在这可怕的暗示下，米卡伯太太抱住了米卡伯先生的脖子，恳求他保持冷静。 —

He wept; but so far recovered, almost immediately, as to ring the bell for the waiter, and bespeak a hot kidney pudding and a plate of shrimps for breakfast in the morning.
他哭了一会儿，但几乎立刻恢复过来，马上按铃叫侍者，预订了明早的热肾布丁和一盘虾。

When I took my leave of them, they both pressed me so much to come and dine before they went away, that I could not refuse. —
当我告别时，他们俩都极力邀请我在他们离开之前去吃饭，我无法拒绝。 —

But, as I knew I could not come next day, when I should have a good deal to prepare in the evening, Mr. Micawber arranged that he would call at Doctor Strong’s in the course of the morning (having a presentiment that the remittance would arrive by that post), and propose the day after, if it would suit me better. —
但是，我知道第二天自己不可能前来，因为晚上还有很多要准备的事情，米卡伯先生安排说他会在上午去斯特朗医生家（有一种预感说汇款会在那次邮件中到）提议第二天，如果我觉得更合适的话。 —

Accordingly I was called out of school next forenoon, and found Mr. Micawber in the parlour; —
因此，第二天上午我被叫出学校，发现米卡伯先生在客厅里； —

who had called to say that the dinner would take place as proposed. —
他来说定议的晚宴将如期举行。 —

When I asked him if the remittance had come, he pressed my hand and departed.
当我问他汇款是否到了，他握着我的手离开了。

As I was looking out of window that same evening, it surprised me, and made me rather uneasy, to see Mr. Micawber and Uriah Heep walk past, arm in arm: —
当我那天晚上从窗户望出去时，看到米卡伯先生和尤里亚·希普臂挽着胳膊走过，让我感到惊讶，有点不安： —

Uriah humbly sensible of the honour that was done him, and Mr. Micawber taking a bland delight in extending his patronage to Uriah. But I was still more surprised, when I went to the little hotel next day at the appointed dinner-hour, which was four o’clock, to find, from what Mr. Micawber said, that he had gone home with Uriah, and had drunk brandy-and-water at Mrs. Heep’s.
尤里亚谦虚地感受到对他的荣誉，而米卡伯先生则乐此不疲地展现对尤里亚的赞助。但更令我惊讶的是，第二天按照约定的晚宴时间四点钟，我去到小酒店，发现根据米卡伯所说，他已经跟尤里亚回家，并在希普太太家喝了白兰地水。

‘And I’ll tell you what, my dear Copperfield,’ said Mr. Micawber, ‘your friend Heep is a young fellow who might be attorney-general. —
“我告诉你吧，我亲爱的柯波菲尔德，”米卡伯先生说，“你的朋友希普是一个有希望成为总检察长的年轻人。” —

If I had known that young man, at the period when my difficulties came to a crisis, all I can say is, that I believe my creditors would have been a great deal better managed than they were.’
“如果当我的困难达到危机时我认识那个年轻人，我能说的是，我相信我的债权人会管理得更好。”

I hardly understood how this could have been, seeing that Mr. Micawber had paid them nothing at all as it was; —
我几乎不明白这是怎么回事，因为当时米卡伯先生根本就没有支付给他们任何钱； —

but I did not like to ask. Neither did I like to say, that I hoped he had not been too communicative to Uriah; —
但我不想问。我也不想说，我希望他没对尤里亚太多交流； —

or to inquire if they had talked much about me. —
或者询问他们是否多谈了一些关于我的事情。 —

I was afraid of hurting Mr. Micawber’s feelings, or, at all events, Mrs. Micawber’s, she being very sensitive; —
我担心伤害米卡伯先生的感情，或者至少也是夫人的感情，因为她很敏感； —

but I was uncomfortable about it, too, and often thought about it afterwards.
但我对此感到不舒服，事后时常想起这件事。

We had a beautiful little dinner. Quite an elegant dish of fish; —
我们有一顿美丽的晚餐。一道相当精致的鱼菜； —

the kidney-end of a loin of veal, roasted; fried sausage-meat; a partridge, and a pudding. —
一端烤牛腰子；炸的香肠肉；一只麻雀，还有一道布丁。 —

There was wine, and there was strong ale; —
有葡萄酒，也有浓烈的麦芽酒； —

and after dinner Mrs. Micawber made us a bowl of hot punch with her own hands.
晚饭后，米卡伯太太亲手为我们调了一碗热鸡尾酒。

Mr. Micawber was uncommonly convivial. I never saw him such good company. —
米卡伯先生异常愉快。我从未见过他如此和蔼可亲。 —

He made his face shine with the punch, so that it looked as if it had been varnished all over. —
他在鸡尾酒的作用下，让他的脸润泽有光，看起来就像整个人都被上过油蜡一样。 —

He got cheerfully sentimental about the town, and proposed success to it; —
他变得对这个城镇感情用事起来，祝愿它成功； —

observing that Mrs. Micawber and himself had been made extremely snug and comfortable there and that he never should forget the agreeable hours they had passed in Canterbury. —
表示米卡伯太太和他在那里过得非常舒适温暖，他永远不会忘记他们在坎特伯雷度过的愉快时光。 —

He proposed me afterwards; and he, and Mrs. Micawber, and I, took a review of our past acquaintance, in the course of which we sold the property all over again. —
之后他向我求婚，他和米卡伯太太和我一起回顾了过去的相识，在这过程中我们再次把财产抵押了一遍。 —

Then I proposed Mrs. Micawber: or, at least, said, modestly, ‘If you’ll allow me, Mrs. Micawber, I shall now have the pleasure of drinking your health, ma’am.’ —
然后我向米卡伯太太求婚，或者说，谦虚地说，’夫人，请允许我祝贺您，夫人。’ —

On which Mr. Micawber delivered an eulogium on Mrs. Micawber’s character, and said she had ever been his guide, philosopher, and friend, and that he would recommend me, when I came to a marrying time of life, to marry such another woman, if such another woman could be found.
于是米卡伯先生对米卡伯太太的品德发表了赞美之辞，说她一直是他的向导、哲学家和朋友，他会推荐我，当我到了结婚的年龄，娶另一个这样的女人，如果能找到的话。

As the punch disappeared, Mr. Micawber became still more friendly and convivial. —
随着鸡尾酒的消失，米卡伯先生变得更加友善和愉快。 —

Mrs. Micawber’s spirits becoming elevated, too, we sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’. When we came to ‘Here’s a hand, my trusty frere’, we all joined hands round the table; —
米卡伯太太的精神也变得高涨，我们唱起了《友谊地久天长》。当我们唱到’我的挚友，请伸出您的手’时，我们环着桌子都牵起了手。 —

and when we declared we would ‘take a right gude Willie Waught’, and hadn’t the least idea what it meant, we were really affected.
当我们宣布我们要’喝一杯好酒’时，我们真的被感动了。

In a word, I never saw anybody so thoroughly jovial as Mr. Micawber was, down to the very last moment of the evening, when I took a hearty farewell of himself and his amiable wife. —
总而言之，直到晚上最后一刻，我从未见过有人像米卡伯先生那样欢快。 —

Consequently, I was not prepared, at seven o’clock next morning, to receive the following communication, dated half past nine in the evening; —
因此，第二天早上七点，我收到了以下的通讯，时间是晚上九点半； —

a quarter of an hour after I had left him: -
离我离开他后15分钟的时间。

‘My DEAR YOUNG FRIEND,
亲爱的年轻朋友，

‘The die is cast - all is over. Hiding the ravages of care with a sickly mask of mirth, I have not informed you, this evening, that there is no hope of the remittance! —
决定已经定了 - 一切都结束了。我用一种虚弱的欢乐面具掩饰着忧虑的创伤，今晚我没有告诉你，没有希望能收到汇款！ —

Under these circumstances, alike humiliating to endure, humiliating to contemplate, and humiliating to relate, I have discharged the pecuniary liability contracted at this establishment, by giving a note of hand, made payable fourteen days after date, at my residence, Pentonville, London. —
在这种情况下，同样令人羞辱地承受、令人羞辱地考虑，也令人羞辱地叙述，我已经通过签一张付款期满后十四天的票据，支付了在我的住所伦敦彭通维尔的债务。 —

When it becomes due, it will not be taken up. —
到期时，它将无法兑现。 —

The result is destruction. The bolt is impending, and the tree must fall.
结果将是毁灭。雷霆将降临，这棵树必将倒下。

‘Let the wretched man who now addresses you, my dear Copperfield, be a beacon to you through life. —
让那个现在写信给你的可怜男人，我亲爱的考伯菲尔德，成为你一生中的警示。 —

He writes with that intention, and in that hope. —
他怀有这种意图，并怀有这种希望。 —

If he could think himself of so much use, one gleam of day might, by possibility, penetrate into the cheerless dungeon of his remaining existence - though his longevity is, at present (to say the least of it), extremely problematical.
如果他觉得自己会有这么大的用处，一丝白昼可能会进入他余生的阴暗牢房里-尽管他目前的寿命 (至少可以这么说) 是极为难以预测的。

‘This is the last communication, my dear Copperfield, you will ever receive
这是你将会收到的最后一封来信，我亲爱的考伯菲尔德

‘From
来自

‘The
那个

‘Beggared Outcast,
赤贫的流浪者，

‘WILKINS MICAWBER.’
威尔金斯 麦考伯。

I was so shocked by the contents of this heart-rending letter, that I ran off directly towards the little hotel with the intention of taking it on my way to Doctor Strong’s, and trying to soothe Mr. Micawber with a word of comfort. —
我被这封令人心碎的信件的内容震惊得不知所措，我直奔小旅馆，打算顺便拿起它，然后去司徒郎那里，试图安慰麦考伯先生一番。 —

But, half-way there, I met the London coach with Mr. and Mrs. Micawber up behind; —
但，在半途中，我遇到了带着麦考伯夫妇的伦敦驿车。 —

Mr. Micawber, the very picture of tranquil enjoyment, smiling at Mrs. Micawber’s conversation, eating walnuts out of a paper bag, with a bottle sticking out of his breast pocket. —
麦考伯先生非常安祥地享受着夫人的谈话，笑容满面地从纸袋里吃着核桃，胸袋里还塞着一瓶。 —

As they did not see me, I thought it best, all things considered, not to see them. —
由于他们没有看见我，考虑到种种情况，我认为最好不要见到他们。 —

So, with a great weight taken off my mind, I turned into a by-street that was the nearest way to school, and felt, upon the whole, relieved that they were gone; —
所以，释怀了许多烦忧后，我走进了一条通往学校的小巷，总体而言，感到很舒坦，他们走了； —

though I still liked them very much, nevertheless.
尽管我仍然非常喜欢他们。