St. John had a book in his hand -- it was his unsocial custom to read at meals -- he closed it, and looked up,
圣·约翰手里捧着一本书——吃饭时看书是他不合群的习惯——他合上书,抬起头来。
"Rosamond Oliver," said he,
“罗莎蒙德·奥利弗,”他说
"is about to be married to Mr. Granby, one of the best connected and most estimable residents in S----, grandson and heir to Sir Frederic Granby:
“要跟格兰比先生结婚了。他是弗雷德里克·格兰比爵士的孙子和继承人,是S城家庭背景最好、最受尊敬的居民之一
I had the intelligence from her father yesterday."
我是昨天从他父亲那儿得到这个消息的。”
His sisters looked at each other and at me; we all three looked at him: he was serene as glass.
他的妹妹们相互看看,又看了看我。我们三个人都看着他,他像一块玻璃那样安详。
"The match must have been got up hastily," said Diana:
“这门婚事准是定得很匆忙,”黛安娜说,
"they cannot have known each other long."
“他们彼此不可能认识很久的。”
"But two months: they met in October at the county ball at S----.
“但有两个月了。他们十月份在S城的一个乡间舞会上见的面。
But where there are no obstacles to a union, as in the present case,
可是,眼下这种情况,从各方面看来这门亲事都是称心合意的,
where the connection is in every point desirable, delays are unnecessary:
没有什么障碍,也就没的必要拖延了。
they will be married as soon as S---- Place, which Sir Frederic gives up to them, can he refitted for their reception."
等弗雷德里克爵士出让给他们的S城那个地方整修好,可以接待他们了,他们就结婚。”
The first time I found St. John alone after this communication, I felt tempted to inquire if the event distressed him:
这次谈话后我第一回见圣·约翰独自呆着的时候,很想问问他,这件事是不是很使他伤心。
but he seemed so little to need sympathy, that, so far from venturing to offer him more,
但他似乎不需要什么同情,因此,我不但没有冒昧地再有所表示,
I experienced some shame at the recollection of what I had already hazarded.
反而想起自己以前的冒失而感到羞愧。
Besides, I was out of practice in talking to him: his reserve was again frozen over, and my frankness was congealed beneath it.
此外,我已疏于同他交谈,他的冷漠态度再次结冻,我的坦率便在底下凝固了。