The service over, and the clergyman withdrawn, Mr Dombey looks round, demanding in a low voice, whether the person who has been requested to
attend to receive instructions for the tablet, is there?
仪式完毕,教士们都离开之后,董贝先生环顾四周,低声问道,要求到这里来听取他有关墓碑的指示的人在不在?
Someone comes forward, and says 'Yes.'
一个人走上来,说:“在。”
Mr Dombey intimates where he would have it placed; and shows him, with his hand upon the wall, the shape and size; and how it is to follow
the memorial to the mother. Then, with his pencil, he writes out the inscription, and gives it to him: adding, 'I wish to have it done at
once.
董贝先生通知他,他希望把墓碑安放在什么地方;又用手在墙上画出它的形状和大小;还指出,它应该紧挨着他母亲的墓碑,然后他用铅笔写出碑文,递给他,
说:“我希望立刻把它刻好。
'It shall be done immediately, Sir.'
“立刻就会刻好,先生。”
'There is really nothing to inscribe but name and age, you see.'
“您看,除了姓名和年龄就没有什么别的要刻的了。”
The man bows, glancing at the paper, but appears to hesitate. Mr Dombey not observing his hesitation, turns away, and leads towards the
porch.
那人鞠了个躬,看了看那张纸,好像踌躇不定似的。董贝先生没有留意到他在迟疑,所以就转身向门廊走去。
'I beg your pardon, Sir;' a touch falls gently on his mourning cloak; 'but as you wish it done immediately, and it may be put in hand when I
get back'
“请您原谅,先生,”一只手轻轻地碰了碰他的丧服,“可是因为您希望立刻就把它刻好,我回去也可以着手进行——”
'Well?'
“唔?”
'Will you be so good as read it over again? I think there's a mistake.'
“能不能劳驾您再看一遍?我觉得有一个差错。”
'Where?'
“什么地方?”
The statuary gives him back the paper, and points out, with his pocket rule, the words, 'beloved and only child.'
那位雕刻墓碑的匠人把纸递还给他,用随身携带的一支尺子指出下面的一些词:“心爱的和唯一的孩子。”
'It should be, "son," I think, Sir?'
“先生,我想应当是‘儿子’吧?”
'Yes, you're right. Correct mistakes'
“您说得对。当然是。改过来吧。”