评论
打印
'You want somebody to send to the West Indies, you were saying,' observed Mr Dombey, hurriedly.
“您刚才说，您要派一个人到西印度群岛去，”董贝先生急忙说道。
'Yes,' replied Carker.
“是的，”卡克回答道。
'Send young Gay.'
“派年轻人盖伊去。”
'Good, very good indeed. Nothing easier,' said Mr Carker, without any show of surprise, and taking up the pen to re-endorse the letter,as coolly as he had done before. '"Send young Gay."'
“好，确实很好。没有什么比这更容易的了，”卡克先生说道；他没有露出任何惊奇的表情，而是像先前一样，冷冰冰地在公文背面重新签署了意见。“派年轻人盖伊去。”
'Call him back,' said Mr Dombey.
“喊他回来，”董贝先生说道。
Mr Carker was quick to do so, and Walter was quick to return.
卡克先生迅速照办；沃尔特也迅速地回来了。
'Gay,' said Mr Dombey, turning a little to look at him over his shoulder. 'Here is a -
“盖伊，”董贝先生稍稍转过身子，以便回过头来看着他。 “有一个——”
'An opening,' said Mr Carker, with his mouth stretched to the utmost.
“空缺，”卡克先生嘴巴张得极为宽阔地说道。
'In the West Indies. At Barbados. I am going to send you,' said Mr Dombey, scorning to embellish the bare truth, 'to fill a junior situation in the counting-house at Barbados. Let your Uncle know from me, that I have chosen you to go to the West Indies.'Walter's breath was so completely taken away by his astonishment, that he could hardly find enough for the repetition of the words 'West Indies.'
“在西印度群岛。在巴巴多斯。我打算派您去，”董贝先生说道；他不屑美化明摆着的事实真相，“去接替巴巴多斯会计室里一个低级的职位。请代我转告您的舅舅，我已选择您到西印度群岛去了。” 沃尔特惊愕得完全停止了呼吸，因此连“西印度群岛”这几个字也不能重复说出来。
'Somebody must go,' said Mr Dombey, 'and you are young and healthy, and your Uncle's circumstances are not good. Tell your Uncle that you are appointed. You will not go yet. There will be an interval of a month - or two perhaps.'
“总得派个人去，”董贝先生说道，“您年轻，健康，舅舅的境况又不好。告诉您舅舅，已经指派您了。现在还不走。还有一个月的时间——或者也许是两个月。”
'Shall I remain there, Sir?' inquired Walter.
“我将留在那里吗，先生？”沃尔特问道。
'Will you remain there, Sir!' repeated Mr Dombey, turning a little more round towards him. 'What do you mean? What does he mean, Carker?'
“我将留在那里吗，先生？”沃尔特问道。 “您将留在那里吗，先生！”董贝先生把身子朝他那边稍稍转过来一点，重复地说道。“您的话是什么意思？他的话是什么意思，卡克？”
'Live there, Sir,' faltered Walter.
“住在那里，先生，”沃尔特结结巴巴地说道。
'Certainly,' returned Mr Dombey.
“当然，”董贝先生回答道。
Walter bowed.
沃尔特鞠了个躬。
'That's all,' said Mr Dombey, resuming his letters. 'You will explain to him in good time about the usual outfit and so forth, Carker, of course. He needn't wait, Carker.'
“我的话已经说完了，”董贝先生说道，一边重新看他的信。“当然，卡克，您在适当的时候向他交代一下旅行用品等等事情。他不必待在这里了，卡克。”
'You needn't wait, Gay,' observed Mr Carker: bare to the gums.
“您不必待在这里了，盖伊，”卡克先生露出牙床，说道。
