雙語小說連載:《董貝父子》第14章 Part 4

Dombey didn't seem to be absolutely blinded by the light let in upon his intellect, but he made Miss Blimber a little bow.

董貝似乎沒有被照到他才智上的亮光完全奪去了目力，但他向布林伯小姐稍稍鞠了個躬。

'"Analysis,"' resumed Miss Blimber, casting her eye over the paper, '"of the character of P. Dombey." I find that the natural capacity of Dombey is extremely good; and that his general disposition to study may be stated in an equal ratio. Thus, taking eight as our standard and highest number, I find these qualities in Dombey stated each at six three-fourths!'

“‘對保·董貝性格的分析’。”布林伯小姐把眼光投到紙上，“我發現董貝的天賦才能是非常好的；他愛好學習的性格也可以給予相同的評價。因此，把八作爲我們的標準和最高數字，我認爲董貝的這些品質每種可以評定爲六又四分之三！”

Miss Blimber paused to see how Paul received this news. Being undecided whether six three-fourths meant six pounds fifteen, or sixpence three farthings, or six foot three, or three quarters past six, or six somethings that he hadn't learnt yet, with three unknown something elses over, Paul rubbed his hands and looked straight at Miss Blimber. It happened to answer as well as anything else he could have done; and Cornelia proceeded.

布林伯小姐停了一下，看看保羅是怎樣接受這個消息的。保羅不知道六又四分之三是指六鎊十五先令還是六便士三法新①，還是六英尺三英寸，還是六點三刻，還是六個他還沒有學習到的什麼東西以及三個另外不知道的東西，所以就搓搓手，直望着布林伯小姐。看來他這樣的回答不比他所能作出的其他任何回答壞；科妮莉亞就繼續說下去。

'"Violence two. Selfishness two. Inclination to low company, as evinced in the case of a person named Glubb, originally seven, but since reduced. Gentlemanly demeanour four, and improving with advancing years." Now what I particularly wish to call your attention to, Dombey, is the general observation at the close of this analysis.'

“‘粗暴二。自私二。喜歡跟粗野的人交往，就像在一位名叫格拉布的人的情況中所表現的，原先是七，但以後減少了。上流人士的舉止四，並逐漸進步’。現在，董貝，我特別希望促請您注意的是這一分析末尾的總的評語。”

Paul set himself to follow it with great care.

保羅做好準備，極爲注意地聽這個評語。

'"It may be generally observed of Dombey,"' said Miss Blimber, reading in a loud voice, and at every second word directing her spectacles towards the little figure before her: '"that his abilities and inclinations are good, and that he has made as much progress as under the circumstances could have been expected. But it is to be lamented of this young gentleman that he is singular (what is usually termed old-fashioned) in his character and conduct, and that, without presenting anything in either which distinctly calls for reprobation, he is often very unlike other young gentlemen of his age and social position." Now, Dombey,' said Miss Blimber, laying down the paper, 'do you understand that?'

“對董貝可以作出總的評語如下，”布林伯小姐說道；她高聲朗讀，每唸完兩個詞的時候，都要把眼鏡轉向她前面的小人兒：“‘他的才能與嗜好是好的；他取得了在現有情況下所能期望的進步；但這位年輕的先生值得惋惜的是，他的性格與行爲怪僻（通常稱爲老氣）；雖然並沒有任何顯然需要加以責備的表現，但他常常跟其他和他的年齡與社會地位相近的年輕的先生們很不相同。’好了，董貝，”布林伯小姐放下那張紙，說道，“您聽懂了嗎？”

'I think I do, Ma'am,' said Paul.

“我想聽懂了，夫人，”保羅說道。

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①法新（farthing）：舊時英國銅幣，等於1A4便士。

註釋：disposition n. 處置；[心理] 性情；[軍] 部署；傾向
詞根：dispose
adj. disposable 可任意處理的；可自由使用的；用完即可丟棄的
disposed 有…傾向的；打算做…的；有某種健康狀態的

n. disposal 處理；支配；清理；安排
dispose 處置；性情

v. disposed 處理；配置；使適應（dispose的過去分詞）；使有傾向

vi. dispose 處理；安排；（能夠）決定

vt. dispose 處理；處置；安排
詞組：
disposition effect處置效應；處分效果；錯位效應；處分效應
foreclosure disposition扣押抵債處置
psychological disposition心理傾向
Plant disposition植物配置
disposition flaw性格缺陷
personal disposition個人秉賦；人傾向
file disposition文件安置
secondary disposition次要性格
mental disposition心理傾向
例句：
(1) She has a good disposition.
她的性情好。
(2) She has shown no abnormality in intelligence or in disposition.
她在智力或性情上都未顯示出任何反常。
(3) The twin brothers are alike in appearance but differ greatly in disposition.
這對孿生兄弟外貌很相像， 但性格卻相差很大。
(4) We have hardly a trait, desire or disposition that is the same across all circumstances.
我們幾乎沒有哪種特質、慾望或性情在所有情況下都是相同的。
(5) We hold the goods at your disposition.
我們保留貨物等候你們處置。
(6) Seek out those with an upbeat disposition – you’ll find it is infectious.
尋找那些性格積極向上的人——你會發現樂觀是可以傳染的。
(7) Methodology of withdrawal, including disposition of assets.
撤離的方法，包括財產的處置；


spectacle n. 精彩的表演；奇特的現象；出人意外的情況
詞根：spectacle
tacled 戴了眼鏡的；有眼鏡狀斑紋的
adv. spectacularly 壯觀地；引人注目地

詞組：spectacle stone透石膏
spectacle plate雙孔板；雙孔鈑；吊柱眼板
Spectacle cases眼鏡盒
spectacle screw眼鏡螺絲
protecting spectacle防護眼鏡
Spectacle Mechanisms眼鏡構造
natural spectacle自然奇觀
例句：
(1) A curious spectacle was witnessed.
目擊了這一奇異的景象。
(2) It was really an absurd spectacle.
這真是一個荒唐的場面。
(3) The crowd was dazzled by the spectacle.
人羣被這一奇觀弄得眼花繚亂。
(4) The city after the earthquake was a terrible spectacle.
地震過後的城市一派可怕的景象。
(5) It is a spectacle, for everyone. I do not care about that.
這對所有人都是個場面，我不在乎。
(6) Many of the new projects, however, actually skip the spectacle of doomsday.
不過，眼下的許多新片實際上都跳過了有關世界末日的壯觀景象。
(7) The marvelous spectacle being famed for steep valley would be lost forever.
由陡峭峽谷而聞名的三峽奇觀將永遠失去了。
(8) I need to buy new spectacle frames but I will keep the old lenses.
我需要買新的眼鏡框, 不過我會留着舊鏡片。
(9) The woman serving tea in the conference room almost fainted at the spectacle.
房間裏倒茶的女服務生看到這一景象幾乎昏厥過去。