名著精讀《傲慢與偏見》第13章 第1節

"I HOPE my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife as they were at breakfast the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party."

第二天吃過早飯的時候，班納特先生對他的太太說：“我的好太太，我希望你今天的午飯準備得好一些，因爲我預料今天一定有客人來。”

"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home."

“你指的是那一位客人，我的好老爺？我一些也不知道有誰要來，除非夏綠蒂·盧卡斯碰巧會來看我們，我覺得拿我們平常的飯餐招待她也夠好了。我不相信她在家裏經常吃得這麼好。”

"The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger."

“我所說到的這位客人是位男賓，又是個生客。”

Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. -- "A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. Why Jane -- you never dropt a word of this; you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. -- But -- good lord! how unlucky! there is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill, this moment."

班納特太太的眼睛閃亮了起來。“一位男賓又是一位生客！那準是彬格萊先生，沒有錯。──哦，吉英，你從來沒出過半點兒風聲，你這個狡猾的東西！──嘿，彬格萊先生要來，真叫我太高興啦。可是──老天爺呀！運氣真不好，今天連一點兒魚也買不着。──麗迪雅寶貝兒，代我按一按鈴。我要馬上吩咐希爾一下。”

"It is not Mr. Bingley," said her husband; "it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life."

她的丈夫連忙說：“並不是彬格萊先生要來；說起這位客人，我一生都沒見過他。”

This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.

這句話叫全家都吃了一驚。他的太太和五個女兒立刻迫切地追問他，使他頗爲高興。

After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained. "About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases."

拿他太太和女兒們的好奇心打趣了一陣以後，他便原原本本地說：“大約在一個月以前，我就收到了一封信，兩星期以前我寫了回信，因爲我覺得這是件相當傷腦筋的事，得趁早留意。信是我的表侄柯林斯先生寄來的。我死了以後，這位表侄可以高興什麼時候把你們攆出這所屋子，就什麼時候攆出去。”

"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it."

“噢，天啊，”他的太太叫起來了。“聽你提起這件事我就受不了。請你別談那個討厭的傢伙吧。你自己的產業不能讓自己的孩子繼承，卻要讓別人來繼承，這是世界上最難堪的事。如果我是你，一定早就想出辦法來補救這個問題啦。”

in v. 召集，召來，邀請，拜訪，叫 ... 進來，打電話，要求歸還，收回

We could call in on Patrick on the way to your mother's.
我們到你母親家去，不妨順路到帕特里克家串個門兒。

kle['spɑ:kl] n. 閃耀，火花 v. 閃耀，冒火花

The wet grass sparkles in the sun.
太陽使溼草閃閃發光。

nishment n. 驚訝，令人驚訝的事

They all stared with astonishment.
他們全都驚訝地瞪着眼。

night n. 兩星期，十四天

I see them about once a fortnight.
我大約兩星期見他們一次。

us adj. 可憎的，討厭的

Comparisons are odious.
人比人，氣死人。

il[in'teil] vt. 使必需，使蒙受;限定繼承 n. 限定繼承權

The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter.
這所房子和地產限定由長女繼承。