Mrs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors. As such, however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by her husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody beyond himself, his wife, and their child. He really pressed them, with some earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as no plan appeared so eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she could accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood, his invitation was accepted.
约翰.达什伍德夫人如今当上了诺兰庄园的女主人,她的婆母和小姑们反而落到寄人篱下的境地。不过,这么一来,她待她们反倒文静客气起来。她丈夫对她们也和和气气的,他除了对自己和自己的老婆孩子之外,对别人充其量也只能如此。他颇为恳切地请求她们把诺兰庄园当作自己的家。达什伍德太太觉得一时在左近找不到合适的房子,不如暂且呆在这里,于是便接受了他的请求。
A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former delight, was exactly what suited her mind. In seasons of cheerfulness, no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself. But in sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, and as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.
对于达什伍德太太来说,呆在个老地方,随时随地都能回想起昔日的欢乐,倒也再称心不过了。碰到高兴的时候,谁也没有她那样开心,那样乐观地期待着幸福的到来,仿佛期待本身就是一种幸福似的。可是一遇到伤心事,她也同样胡思乱想,失去常态,同她高兴时不能自己一样,她伤心起来也是无法解脱的。
Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended to do for his sisters. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree. She begged him to think again on the subject. How could he answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child too, of so large a sum? And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him only by half blood, which she considered as no relationship at all, have on his generosity to so large an amount. It was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist between the children of any man by different marriages; and why was he to ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his money to his half sisters?
约翰.达什伍德夫人根本不赞成丈夫资助他几个妹妹,从他们小宝贝的财产中挖掉三千镑,岂不是把他刮成穷光蛋了吗?她请丈夫重新考虑这件事。自己的孩子,而且是独生子,他怎么忍心剥夺他这么一大笔钱呀?几位达什伍德小姐与他只是同父异母兄妹,她认为这根本算不上什么亲属关系,她们有什么权利领受他这样慷慨的资助?人所周知,同父异母子女之间历来不存在什么感情,可他为什么偏要把自己的钱财送给同父异母妹妹,毁自已,也毁他们可怜的小哈里?