雙語小說連載:《董貝父子》第11章 Part 8大綱
Even his childish agitation could not master the sly and quaint yet touching look, with which he accompanied the reply.
It brought a vague expression of dissatisfaction into Mr Dombey's face; but the door being opened, it was quickly gone.
它使董貝先生臉上露出了隱約的、不滿的表情；但這時門開了，它很快就消失了。'Doctor Blimber is at home, I believe?' said Mr Dombey.
“我想布林伯博士在家吧？”董貝先生說道。
The man said yes; and as they passed in, looked at Paul as if he were a little mouse, and the house were a trap. He was a weak-eyed young man, with the first faint streaks or early dawn of a grin on his countenance. It was mere imbecility; but Mrs Pipchin took it into her head that it was impudence, and made a snap at him directly.
那僕人說是的；當他們走進去的時候，他看着保羅，彷彿他是隻小耗子，而那座房屋則彷彿是隻捕鼠籠似的。他是一位弱視的青年，臉上露出一絲難以覺察的齜牙咧嘴的笑容或它最初閃出的一道微光。這僅僅是低能的表現而已；但皮普欽太太卻憑空地認爲這是無禮，所以就立刻惡狠狠地抓住了他。'How dare you laugh behind the gentleman's back?' said Mrs Pipchin. 'And what do you take me for?'
“你怎麼敢在有身份的先生背後發笑？”皮普欽太太說道。'I ain't a laughing at nobody, and I'm sure I don't take you for nothing, Ma'am,' returned the young man, in consternation.
“你又把我當作什麼人？”“我沒有笑任何人；我還可以肯定，我沒有把您小看了，夫人，”那位年輕人驚慌地回答道。'A pack of idle dogs!' said Mrs Pipchin, 'only fit to be turnspits. Go and tell your master that Mr Dombey's here, or it'll be worse for you!'
“一羣吊兒郎當的懶狗！”皮普欽太太說，“只配去轉動烤肉叉①！去告訴你的主人，董貝先生來了，要不你的結果就更糟！”The weak-eyed young man went, very meekly, to discharge himself of this commission; and soon came back to invite them to the Doctor's study.
那位弱視的年輕人十分溫順地離開去執行任務；不久就回來請他們到博士的書房裏去。'You're laughing again, Sir,' said Mrs Pipchin, when it came to her turn, bringing up the rear, to pass him in the hall.
“你又笑了，先生，”皮普欽太太笑道；她走在後面，這時從他身邊穿過前廳。'I ain't,' returned the young man, grievously oppressed. 'I never see such a thing as this!'
“我沒有笑，”被欺壓得很痛苦的年輕人回答道。“我從來沒有見到這樣的事情！”'What is the matter, Mrs Pipchin?' said Mr Dombey, looking round. 'Softly! Pray!'
“怎麼回事，皮普欽太太？”董貝先生回過頭來看了一下，說道。“請輕一些！”--------①英國舊時社會中訓練狗用踏車來轉動烤肉叉。
註釋：quaint adj. 古雅的；奇怪的；離奇有趣的；做得很精巧的
[ 比較級quainter 最高級quaintest ]
例句：
奇怪的
(1) What a quaint little building!
多麼古雅的一座小房子啊！
(2) Our neighbor is a quaint old lady.
我們的鄰居是位古怪的老太太。
(3) Quaint little villages here and there;
以及遍佈的小小精巧村莊；
(4) They still keep some quaint old customs.
他們仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的舊風俗。
(5) Lijiang was then a tiny, quaint little town.
那時，麗江還是座鮮爲人知的小城。
(6) The quaint village remains quiet and peaceful.
這個古樸的村莊仍然安靜祥和。
(7) The piano has a quaint old-world tone about it.
這架鋼琴的音色具有一種古雅的老式風味。
snap vt. 突然折斷，拉斷；猛咬；啪地關上
vi. 咬；厲聲說；咯嗒一聲關上
n. 猛咬；劈啪聲；突然折斷
adj. 突然的
[ 過去式snapped 過去分詞snapped 現在分詞snapping ]
例句：
(1) Here is some of our holiday snap.
這些是我們的上些假日快照。
(2) We are having a cold snap.
看樣子要過一段寒潮天氣。
(3) He broke off the twig with a snap.
他啪地一聲把那根樹枝折斷了。
(4) The box shut with a snap .
箱子啪地一聲關上了。
(5) There They were hearing trees snap.
他們聽到樹木被攔腰折斷。
(6) Then off her foot came with a snap!
然後突然折斷了她的一隻腳！
(7) He is a young man with plenty of snap.
他是一個“精力充沛”的小夥子。
(8) A snap-shot of time.
一個管理單元拍攝的時間。
(9) The time is right to call a snap election.
正是時候舉行一次“臨時選舉”。
