WHAT vain weathercocks we are! I, who had determined to hold myself independent of all social intercourse, and thanked my stars that, at length, I had lighted on a spot where it was next to impracticable - I, weak wretch, after maintaining till dusk a struggle with low spirits and solitude, was finally compelled to strike my colours. and under pretence of gaining information concerning the necessities of my establishment, I desired Mrs. Dean, when she brought in supper, to sit down while I ate it. hoping sincerely she would prove a regular gossip, and either rouse me to animation or lull me to sleep by her talk.
**** next to impossible ----- almost impossible. Thanked my stars that, at length, I had lighted on a spot where it was next to impracticalbe --- after a period of time, I feel lucy that I am in a position of impossible to (keep the word) Strike one’s colours --- to give up a plan previously set ****
’You have lived here a considerable time,’ I commenced. ’did you not say sixteen years?’ “你在这里住了相当长时间了,”我问道,“好像你说过是16年?”
’Eighteen, sir: I came when the mistress was married, to wait on her. after she died, the master retained me for his housekeeper.’ “18年,先生。我是在女主人嫁过来的时候来的,是来伺候她的。她死了之后,主人让我留下来做管家。”
’Indeed.’ “真的吗?”
There ensued a pause. She was not a gossip, I feared. unless about her own affairs, and those could hardly interest me. However, having studied for an interval, with a fist on either knee, and a cloud of meditation over her ruddy countenance, she ejaculated - ’Ah, times are greatly changed since then!’ 接下来无话。我担心她不是一个喜欢闲聊的人,或是只会聊她自己,或是我根本就不感兴趣的事情。然而,她想了一会,双拳放于膝盖上,红润的脸庞上蒙上了沉思,突然,她说道,“唉,自那以后事情就大变样了!”
’Yes,’ I remarked, ’you’ve seen a good many alterations, I suppose?’ “是吗,”我说,“我想,你肯定目睹了很多变化。”
’I have: and troubles too,’ she said. “是的,还有很多变故。”
’Oh, I’ll turn the talk on my landlord’s family!’ I thought to myself. ’A good subject to start! And that pretty girl-widow, I should like to know her history: whether she be a native of the country, or, as is more probable, an exotic that the surly INDIGENAE will not recognise for kin.’ With this intention I asked Mrs. Dean why Heathcliff let Thrushcross Grange, and preferred living in a situation and residence so much inferior. ’Is he not rich enough to keep the estate in good order?’ I inquired. “啊,我要把话题引到房东身上去!”我暗自想到,“要找个好的话题。还有那个漂亮的年轻寡妇,我很想知道她的过去。她是不是本地人,或者更可能是一个本地人根本就不认可的外来者。”怀着这个想法,我问迪安太太为什么希斯克利夫要出租画眉山庄,而自己却住在条件差了很多的地方。“难道是他没有足够的钱来维持他的房产?”我问道。
’Rich, sir!’ she returned. ’He has nobody knows what money, and every year it increases. Yes, yes, he’s rich enough to live in a finer house than this: but he’s very near - close-handed. and, if he had meant to flit to Thrushcross Grange, as soon as he heard of a good tenant he could not have borne to miss the chance of getting a few hundreds more. It is strange people should be so greedy, when they are alone in the world!’ “有钱,先生!”她回答道。“任何人都不知道他有多少钱,但是每年都在增加。是的,是的,他有足够的钱住到比这更好的房子里去,但是他的手却很紧。如果他曾经打算搬到画眉山庄来住,一旦他听说有好的房客,他就舍不得错过多赚几百块钱的机会。一个无亲无故的人还这么贪婪,真的是很奇怪啊!”