1. But all this time, he has been busy at the office, doing paper-work and other
menial tasks.
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但大多数时间,他都是被安排在办公室忙来忙去,做点文书工作,或打点下手。
2. Did he gain his precarious bread by some petty trade, by
menial toil, by violence, or by theft?
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他究竟是在做小生意,当奴仆,还是靠打家劫舍来获得朝不保夕的口粮呢?
3. They are "bound" to the family of the house, which means they do all manner of
menial tasks for them until they die.
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它们受住在房子里的家庭的约束,也就是说它们为他们做尽一切不体面的工作,直到它们死去。