艰难时世-读名著学英文 节选

Stephen closed the door of Mr. Bounderby's house. With his
eyes on theground he crossed the street. He was walking sadly away
when he felt a hand onhis arm. It was a woman. She was tall and
still straight, although she must havebeen very old. She was
dressed very cleanly and plainly. Clearly she had come along way,
for there was country dirt on her shoes.
"Pray, sir," said the old woman,"didn't I see you come out of
that gentle-man's house?" pointing back to Mr. Bounderby's.
"Yes, madam," Stephen replied.
"Have you--you'll excuse an old woman's curiosity--have you
seen thegentleman?"
"Yes, madam."
"And how did he look, sir? Was he strong and bold and proud?"
As shestraightened her own figure, and held up her head in
adapting her action to herwords, the idea crossed Stephen that he
had seen this old woman before, and hadnot quite liked her.
"Oh yes," he said, "he was all that."
"And healthy," said the old woman, "as the fresh wind?"
"Yes," returned Stephen.
斯蒂芬合上庞德贝先生家的大门。他两眼盯着地上，穿过了那条街道。
正当他忧心不已地走着的时候，一只手搭在了他的胳臂上。是一位妇人。她
身形高大，虽已年迈，但腰板依然硬朗。很明显，她是长途跋涉来的，因为
她的鞋上还沾着乡下的泥土。
“请原谅，先生，”老太婆说，“我刚看到的从这位绅士家里走出来的
人是不是你?”她回头指着庞德贝先生家的房子。
“是的，老太太，”斯蒂芬回答说。
“你看见了——请你原谅一位老太婆的好奇心——你看见那位绅士了吗
?”
“见到了，老太太。”
“他看起来怎么样，先生?他是不是又强壮、又魁梧，而且精力充沛呢?
”当她昂首挺胸，以相应的姿势来配合她的话时，一个念头在斯蒂芬的脑海
里一闪而过：他似乎以前就见过这位老太太，而且还不大喜欢她。
“噢，是的。”他说，“他一向如此。”
“而且，”老太婆说，“像清风一样健康吧?”
“是的。”斯蒂芬答道。
P86-87

艰难时世-读名著学英文 目录