董贝父子中董贝的形象 双语小说连载:《董贝父子》第8章 Part 10

双语小说连载:《董贝父子》第8章 Part 10  

The Castle of this ogress and child-queller was in a steep by-street at Brighton; where the soil was more than usually chalky
flinty
and sterile
and the houses were more than usually brittle and thin; where the small front-gardens had the unaccountable property of producing nothing but marigolds
whatever was sown in them; and where snails were constantly discovered holding on to the street doors
and other public places they were not expected to ornament
with the tenacity of cupping-glasses. In the winter time the air couldn't be got out of the Castle
and in the summer time it couldn't be got in. There was such a continual reverberation of wind in it
that it sounded like a great shell
which the inhabitants were obliged to hold to their ears night and day
whether they liked it or no. It was not
naturally
a fresh-smelling house; and in the window of the front parlour
which was never opened
Mrs Pipchin kept a collection of plants in pots
which imparted an earthy flavour of their own to the establishment. However choice examples of their kind
too
these plants were of a kind peculiarly adapted to the embowerment of Mrs Pipchin. There were half-a-dozen specimens of the cactus
writhing round bits of lath
like hairy serpents; another specimen shooting out broad claws
like a green lobster; several creeping vegetables
possessed of sticky and adhesive leaves; and one unfortable flower-pot hanging to the ceiling
which appeared to have boiled over
and tickling people underneath with its long green ends
reminded them of spiders - in which Mrs Pipchin's dwelling was unmonly prolific
though perhaps it challenged petition still more proudly
in the season
in point of earwigs.
Mrs Pipchin's scale of charges being high
however
to all who could afford to pay
and Mrs Pipchin very seldom sweetening the equable acidity of her nature in favour of anybody
she was held to be an old 'lady of remarkable firmness
who was quite scientific in her knowledge of the childish character.' On this reputation
and on the broken heart of Mr Pipchin
she had contrived
taking one year with another
to eke out a tolerable sufficient living since her husband's demise. Within three days after Mrs Chick's first allusion to her
this excellent old lady had the satisfaction of anticipating a handsome addition to her current receipts
from the pocket of Mr Dombey; and of receiving Florence and her little brother Paul
as inmates of the Castle.
Mrs Chick and Miss Tox
who had brought them down on the previous night (which they all passed at an Hotel)
had just driven away from the door
on their journey home again; and Mrs Pipchin
with her back to the fire
stood
reviewing the new-ers
like an old soldier. Mrs Pipchin's middle-aged niece
her good-natured and devoted slave
but possessing a gaunt and iron-bound aspect
and much afflicted with boils on her nose
was divesting Master Bitherstone of the clean collar he had worn on parade. Miss Pankey
the only other little boarder at present
had that moment been walked off to the Castle Dungeon (an empty apartment at the back
devoted to correctional purposes)
for having sniffed thrice
in the presence of visitors.
奇克夫人与托克斯小姐是在昨天夜间把他们姐弟两人领到布赖顿来的（他们在旅馆里度过了这一夜）。当她们乘坐着马车刚离开大门，又踏上归途的时候，皮普钦太太背对着壁炉，像一位老兵一样站在那里打量着这两位新来的人。皮普钦太太有一位中年的侄女，是她忠心耿耿的奴仆；她性情温厚，但却有着瘦削的、严厉的外貌，鼻子上长着一些疖子，使她十分苦恼；这时她正从比瑟斯通少爷身上脱下他刚才受检阅时所穿的一件干净的衣领。目前仅有的另一位寄宿生潘基小姐因为当着来访客人的面三次呼呼地吸气，在这之前已经被领到城堡地牢（这是后面的一个空房间，专用来作为惩罚的场所）里去了。
'Well
Sir
' said Mrs Pipchin to Paul
'how do you think you shall like me?'
'I don't think I shall like you at all
' replied Paul. 'I want to go away. This isn't my house.'
'No. It's mine
' retorted Mrs Pipchin.
注释：peculiarly adv. 特别；尤其；古怪地；奇怪地
例句：
(1) This question is peculiarly difficult.
这个问题特别难。
(2) He is peculiarly fortunate in his wife.
他有这样的好妻子是非常幸运的。
(3) All the characters were peculiarly unsympathetic.
所有的角色都让人特别地感到厌恶。
(4) Note
that this is not a peculiarly British problem.
需要指出的是，这不是英国特有的问题。
(5) The side mirrors are peculiarly hollow for the most part.
侧后视镜是诱因空心的大部分。
(6) Cricket is peculiarly the English man's own outdoor game.
板球乃英国人特有的户外运动。
present vt. 提出；介绍；呈现；赠送
vi. 举枪瞄准
adj. 现在的；出席的
n. 现在；礼物；瞄准
词组：
present oneself 出席
at present 目前，现在
present situation 现状
at the present 目前；当前
present condition 目前的状态
present status 现状
for the present 暂时，目前
present something at someone 举枪对准某人瞄准，用(武器)对准某人
present time 目前；现在时（时态）
present at 出席；在场
at the present time 目前
birthday present 生日礼物
present value 现值
present with 赠（礼物）
past and present 过去与现在
live in the present 活在当下
at the present stage 在现阶段；目前
present value 净现值，现在净价值；纯现价
present itself vt. 出现，呈现
the present day 目前；当代
例句：
(1) It will be a great present.
这会是一个很棒的礼物。
(2) Here is a present from our pany.
这是我们公司送给你的礼物。
(3) Why are you leaving your present job?
你为什么要离开现在的工作呢？
(4) Under the present educational system.
在现有的教育体制下。
(5) And what is the best present to all of them?
对以上的人及所有人的最好礼物是什么？
(6) I just got the best birthday present of all !
我刚刚得到了最好的生日礼物！
(7) Good idea! She'll be happy to see my present.
好主意！她看到我给她的礼物，一定会很高兴。