I noticed these objects cursorily only -- in them there was nothing extraordinary.
我只是粗略地看了看这些东西,它们并没有不同寻常的地方。
A group of more interest appeared near the hearth, sitting still amidst the rosy peace and warmth suffusing it.
令我更感兴趣的是火炉旁的一群人,在洋溢着的玫瑰色的宁静和暖意中默默地坐着。
Two young, graceful women -- ladies in every point -- sat, one in a low rocking-chair, the other on a lower stool;
两个年轻高雅的女子--从各方面看都像贵妇人--坐着,一个坐在低低的摇椅里;另一个坐在一条更矮的凳子上。
both wore deep mourning of crape and bombazeen, which sombre garb singularly set off very fair necks and faces:
两人都穿戴了黑纱和毛葛的重丧服,暗沉沉的服饰格外烘托出她们白皙的脖子和面孔。
a large old pointer dog rested its massive head on the knee of one girl
一只大猎狗把它巨大无比的头靠在一个姑娘膝头,
in the lap of the other was cushioned a black cat.
另一个姑娘的膝头则偎着一只黑猫。
A strange place was this humble kitchen for such occupants! Who were they?
这个简陋的厨房里居然呆着这样两个人,真是奇怪。她们会是谁呢?
They could not be the daughters of the elderly person at the table;
不可能是桌子旁边那个长者的女儿,
for she looked like a rustic, and they were all delicacy and cultivation.
因为她显得很土,而她们却完全是高雅而有教养。
I had nowhere seen such faces as theirs: and yet, as I gazed on them, I seemed intimate with every lineament.
我没有在别处看到过这样的面容,然而我盯着她们看时,却似乎觉得熟悉每一个面部特征。
I cannot call them handsome -- they were too pale and grave for the word:
她们说不上漂亮--过分苍白严肃了些,够不上这个词。
as they each bent over a book, they looked thoughtful almost to severity.
两人都低头看书,显得若有所思,甚至还有些严厉。
A stand between them supported a second candle and two great volumes, to which they frequently referred,
她们之间的架子上放着第二根蜡烛,和两大卷书,两人不时地翻阅着,
comparing them, seemingly, with the smaller books they held in their hands,
似乎还在与手中的小书作比较,
like people consulting a dictionary to aid them in the task of translation.
像是在查阅词典,翻译什么一样。
This scene was as silent as if all the figures had been shadows and the firelit apartment a picture:
这一幕静得仿佛所有的人都成了影子,生了火的房间活像一幅画。
so hushed was it, I could hear the cinders fall from the grate, the clock tick in its obscure corner;
这儿那么静谧,我能听到煤渣从炉栅上落下的声音,昏暗的角落时钟的嘀嗒声,
and I even fancied I could distinguish the click-click of the woman's knitting-needles.
我甚至想象我能分辨出那女人嚓嚓嚓嚓的编织声。
When, therefore, a voice broke the strange stillness at last, it was audible enough to me.
因而当一个嗓音终于打破奇怪的宁静时,我足以听得分明。