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But it was generally said that Mrs Pipchin was a woman of system with children; and no doubt she was. Certainly the wild ones went home tame enough, after sojourning for a few months beneath her hospitable roof. It was generally said, too, that it was highly creditable of Mrs Pipchin to have devoted herself to this way of life, and to have made such a sacrifice of her feelings, and such a resolute stand against her troubles, when Mr Pipchin broke his heart in the Peruvian mines.
不过人们通常都说，皮普钦太太是一位很有办法管理孩子的女人，毫无疑问她也确实如此。那些粗野的孩子在她款待周到的屋顶下寄居几个月之后，回家时确实都十分驯服。人们通常也说，当皮普钦先生在秘鲁的矿井伤心而死去以后，她献身于这样一种生活方式，在感情上作出这样大的牺牲，这样坚决地克服各种困难，这是令人极为钦佩的。
At this exemplary old lady, Paul would sit staring in his little arm-chair by the fire, for any length of time. He never seemed to know what weariness was, when he was looking fixedly at Mrs Pipchin. He was not fond of her; he was not afraid of her; but in those old, old moods of his, she seemed to have a grotesque attraction for him. There he would sit, looking at her, and warming his hands, and looking at her, until he sometimes quite confounded Mrs Pipchin, Ogress as she was. Once she asked him, when they were alone, what he was thinking about.
对于这位堪称楷模的老太太，保罗总是在壁炉旁边坐在他的小扶手椅子里，目不转睛地看着，不论时间有多久。当他一动不动地看着皮普钦太太的时候，他似乎从来不知道疲倦。他不喜欢她；他不怕她。但是在他那老气而又老气的心绪中，她似乎对他有一种奇异的吸引力。他会坐在那里看着她，烘烘手，又看着她，直到有时他使皮普钦太太也感到十分困窘（尽管她是一位恶魔）。有一次当只有他们两个人的时候，她问他，他在想什么。
'You,' said Paul, without the least reserve.
“ 想您，”保罗十分坦率地说道。
'And what are you thinking about me?' asked Mrs Pipchin.
“您想我什么？”皮普钦太太问道。
'I'm thinking how old you must be,' said Paul.
“我在想您该有多老了，”保罗说道。
'You mustn't say such things as that, young gentleman,' returned the dame. 'That'll never do.'
“您不应该说这样的话，年轻的先生，”那位老太太回答道，“那是绝对不合适的。”
'Why not?' asked Paul.
“为什么不合适？”保罗问道。
'Because it's not polite,' said Mrs Pipchin, snappishly.
“因为那不礼貌，”皮普钦太太暴躁地说道。
'Not polite?' said Paul.
“不礼貌吗？”保罗说道。
'No.'
“是的。”
'It's not polite,' said Paul, innocently, 'to eat all the mutton chops and toast, Wickam says.
“威肯姆说，“保罗天真地说道，“一个人把所有的羊排和烤面包片都吃掉是不礼貌的。”
'Wickam,' retorted Mrs Pipchin, colouring, 'is a wicked, impudent, bold-faced hussy.'
“威肯姆，”皮普钦太太红着脸，回答道，“是个 邪恶的、冒失无礼的、厚颜无耻的 贱货。”
'What's that?' inquired Paul.
“那是什么？”保罗问道。
'Never you mind, Sir,' retorted Mrs Pipchin. 'Remember the story of the little boy that was gored to death by a mad bull for asking questions.'
“这不关您的事，先生，”皮普钦太太回答道。“记住那个小男孩的故事，他因为爱问这问那，结果就被一头发了疯的公牛用角顶死了。”
'If the bull was mad,' said Paul, 'how did he know that the boy had asked questions? Nobody can go and whisper secrets to a mad bull. I don't believe that story.
“如果那头公牛是疯的，”保罗说道，“它怎么 知道这个小男孩问了问题？谁也不会走到疯牛跟前，低声地把秘密 告诉它呀。我不相信这个故事。”
'You don't believe it, Sir?' repeated Mrs Pipchin, amazed.
“您不相信它吗，先生？”皮普钦太太吃惊地重复说道。
'No,' said Paul.
“不相信，”保罗说道。
