The Mistresses
女教师
Saturday, 17th
星期六,17日。
Garoffi was thoroughly terrified today, in the expectation of a severe punishment from the teacher; but the master did not make his appearance; and as the assistant was also missing, Signora Cromi, the oldest of the schoolmistresses, came to teach the school; she has two grown-up children, and she has taught several women to read and write, who now come to accompany their sons to the Baretti schoolhouse. She was sad today, because one of her sons is ill. No sooner had they caught sight of her, than they began to make an uproar. But she said, in a slow and tranquil tone, "Respect my white hair; I am not only a school-teacher, I am also a mother"; and then no one dared to speak again, in spite of that brazen face of Franti, who contented himself with jeering at her on the sly.
卡洛斐怕先生贵罚他,很担心。不料先生今天缺席,连助手先生也没有在校,由一个名叫克洛弥夫人的年龄最大的女先生来代课。这位先生有两个很大的儿子,其中一个正病着,所以她今天面有忧容。学生们见了女先生就喝起彩来。先生用和缓的声音说:“请你们对我的白发表示些敬意,我不但是教师,还是母亲呢。”大家于是都肃静了,唯有那铁面皮的匆兰谛,还在那里嘲弄先生。
Signora Delcati, my brother's teacher, was sent to take charge of Signora Cromi's class, and to Signora Delcati's was sent the teacher who is called "the little nun," because she always dresses in dark colors, with a black apron, and has a small white face, hair that is always smooth, very bright eyes, and a delicate voice, that seems to be forever murmuring prayers.
我弟弟那级的级任教师代尔卡谛先生,到克洛弥先生所教的一级里去了。另外有位绰号“修女”的女先生,代着代尔卡谛先生教那级的课。这位女先生平时总穿黑的罩服,是个白皮肤、头发光滑、炯眼、细声的人,无论何时,好像总在那里祈祷。