狄更斯小说改编系列 狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第32章Part 1

狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第32章Part 1  

Honest Captain Cuttle
as the weeks flew over him in his fortified retreat
by no means abated any of his prudent provisions against surprise
because of the non-appearance of the enemy. The Captain argued that his present security was too profound and wonderful to endure much longer; he knew that when the wind stood in a fair quarter
the weathercock was seldom nailed there; and he was too well acquainted with the determined and dauntless character of Mrs MacStinger
to doubt that that heroic woman had devoted herself to the task of his discovery and capture. Trembling beneath the weight of these reasons
Captain Cuttle lived a very close and retired life; seldom stirring abroad until after dark; venturing even then only into the obscurest streets; never going forth at all on Sundays; and both within and without the walls of his retreat
avoiding bons
as if they were worn by raging lions.
The Captain never dreamed that in the event of his being pounced upon by Mrs MacStinger
in his walks
it would be possible to offer resistance. He felt that it could not be done. He saw himself
in his mind's eye
put meekly in a hackney-coach
and carried off to his old lodgings. He foresaw that
once immured there
he was a lost man: his hat gone; Mrs MacStinger watchful of him day and night; reproaches heaped upon his head
before the infant family; himself the guilty object of suspicion and distrust; an ogre in the children's eyes
and in their mother's a detected traitor.
A violent perspiration
and a lowness of spirits
always came over the Captain as this gloomy picture presented itself to his imagination. It generally did so previous to his stealing out of doors at night for air and exercise. Sensible of the risk he ran
the Captain took leave of Rob
at those times
with the solemnity which became a man who might never return: exhorting him
in the event of his (the Captain's) being lost sight of
for a time
to tread in the paths of virtue
and keep the brazen instruments well polished.
But not to throw away a chance; and to secure to himself a means
in case of the worst
of holding munication with the external world; Captain Cuttle soon conceived the happy idea of teaching Rob the Grinder some secret signal
by which that adherent might make his presence and fidelity known to his mander
in the hour of adversity. After much cogitation
the Captain decided in favour of instructing him to whistle the marine melody
'Oh cheerily
cheerily!' and Rob the Grinder attaining a point as near perfection in that acplishment as a landsman could hope to reach
the Captain impressed these mysterious instructions on his mind:
'Now
my lad
stand by! If ever I'm took - '
'Took
Captain!' interposed Rob
with his round eyes wide open.
'Ah!' said Captain Cuttle darkly
'if ever I goes away
meaning to e back to supper
and don't e within hail again
enty-four hours arter my loss
go you to Brig Place and whistle that 'ere tune near my old moorings - not as if you was a meaning of it
you understand
but as if you'd drifted there
promiscuous. If I answer in that tune
you sheer off
my lad
and e back four-and-enty hours arterwards; if I answer in another tune
do you stand off and on
and wait till I throw out further signals. Do you understand them orders
now?'
'What am I to stand off and on of
Captain?' inquired Rob. 'The horse-road?'