CHAPTER 9 第九章-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《简·爱Jane Eyre》

CHAPTER9 ._. When the typhus fever had fulfilled its mission of devastation{①} at Lowood, it gradually disappeared from thence; but not till its virulence② and the number of its victims had drawn public attention on the school Inquiry was made into the origin of the scourge③, and by degrees various facts came out which excited public indignation④ in a high degree. The unhealthy nature of the site; the quantity and quality of the children's food; the brackish{}, fetid{}water used in its preparation; the pupil's wretched{ clothing and accommodations③- all these things were discovered; and the discovery produced a result mortifying to Mr Brocklehurst, but beneficial to the institution. Several wealthy and benevolent individuals in the county subscribed largelyfor the erection{} of a more convenient building in a better situation; new regulations were made; improvements in diet and clothing introduced; the funds of the school were entrusted to the management of a committee. Mr Brocklehurst, who, from his wealth and family connexions^{}, could not be overlooked, still retained the post 052. 第九章 ...... ① devastation /devas'tetfon n.破坏,劫掠 斑疼伤寒热在罗沃德完成了它摧毁性的使 ② virulence /virolons/ n. 有 毒,毒性 命后,便渐渐地从那里消失了。但是其病毒和 牺牲者的数字引起了公众对学校的注意,干是 ③ scourge /ska:dy n. 灾难 人们对这场灾祸的根源做了调查,接着一步一 ④ indignation /ndtg'netfan n.愤怒,愤慨 步的,各种实际情况被公布出来,这在很大程 5 brackish /braekif/ a. 有盐 味的,使人恶心的 度上引起了公众的愤怒。学校的地点不利干健 6 fetid/feud. 有恶臭的 康,孩子们的伙食量少质差,做饭用的水臭而 wretched/retfid/a 可怜的. 不幸的 恶心;学生们的衣着和居住条件很糟,一切都 ⑧ accommodation /5.kpms'deifan/n. 居住设 暴露无遗,暴光的结果使布罗克赫斯特大失脸 施 面,但对学校是有益的。 郡里的一些富有的具有善心的人们慷慨解 erection /t'rekfan/ n. 竖起 囊,在一个更好的地点建造了一座更合适的大 建筑物 楼。校规重新作了制订,伙食和衣着有所改 善。学校的经费委托给一个委员会管理。布罗 克赫斯特先生,由于他的财富和有着广泛影响 conncxion /ka'nekfon/ n 和背景的家庭,不可能被别人忽视,所以仍担 联系,连结 任司库一职。但在履行职务时由几个更为慷慨 · 053· JaneFyre gentlemen of rather more enlarged and sympathizing minds: his office of inspector, too, was shared by those who knew how to combine reason with strictness, comfort with economy, compassion with uprightness. The school, thus improved, became in time a truly useful and noble institution. I remained an inmate of its walls, after its regeneration, for eight years-six as pupil, and two as teacher; and in both capacities I bear my testimony①to its value and importance. .. 'A new servitude②! There's something in that,' I soliloquized③ (mentally, be it understood; I did not talk aloud). 'I know there is, because it does not sound too sweet. It is not like such words as Liberty, Excitement, Enjoyment: delightful sounds truly, but no more than sounds for me, and so hollow and fleeting{} that it is mere waste of time to listen to them. But Servitude! That must be a matter of fact Any one may serve. I have served here eight years; now all I want is to serve elsewhere. Can I not get so much of my own will! Is not the thing feasible! Yes-yes-the end is not so diffcult, if I had only a brain active enough to ferret*} out the means of attaining it.' ._ Next day new steps were to be taken: my plans could no longer be confined to my own breast; I must impart them in order to achieve their r success. Having sought and obtained an audience of the superintendent, during the noontide{}recreation{}, I told her I had a prospect of getting a new situation where the salary would be double what I now received (for at Lowood I only got fifteen pounds per annum); and requested she would break the matter for me to Mr ·054· 简·爱) 和富有同情心的绅士们协助进行。他作为督导 的职务,也与他人一起承担,他们知道该怎样 把理智与严格、舒适与经济、怜悯与正直结合 起来。学校经过这样的改进,适时地成了一个 真正有用的高尚学府。学校获得新生之后,我 在它的围墙之内生活了八年,当了六年的学 ① testimony / testiman!/ n. 生,两年的教师,在这两个位置上我都是它价 证言,证据 值和重要性的见证人 ...... ② servitude /'sa:vitju:d/ n. 苦 役,奴隶状态 “一种新的工作!这有一定道理,”我自言 ③ soliloguize /so'lilokwaiz/. 自言自语,独白 自语(要知道,只是心里想想,没有说出口 来)。“我知道是有道理,因为它并不十分动 听,不像自由、兴奋、享受这些词,它们的声 ④ fleet /fli:t/v. 飞过,掠过 音确实很悦耳,听那东西只是徒然浪费时间。 但是工作却全然不同!它毕竟是实实在在的 任何个人都可以工作。我在这儿已经工作了八 年,现在我所期求的不过是到别处去工作。难 :feasible /fitzabl/a. 可行 道我连自已这点愿望也达不到?这事不可行 的,可能的 是呀,是呀,达到自的并非难事,只需要聪明 ferret /ferit/ t. 搜出,驱出 的脑袋想出达到目的的办法。” ...... 第二天一些新的措施开始执行了,我的计 划不能再禁在自己心里。为了获得成功我必 7 noontide /nu:ntaid/ n. 正 须把它公布于众。在下午娱乐活动的时间,我 午 找到了校长与之讲明我的情况,告诉她我有机 8 recreation /rekrr'etfn/ n. 消 遣,娱乐 会找到一个新的职位,薪金是我目前所得的两 倍(在罗沃德我的年薪仅为十五镑),请她替 我把这事透露给布罗克赫斯特先生或委员会里 · 055· JaneFyre Brocklehurst, or some of the committee, and ascertain whether they would permit me to mention them as references. She obligingly consented to act as mediatrix{①} in the matter. The next day she laid the affair before Mr Brocklehurst, who said that Mrs Reed must be written to, as she was my natural guardian. A note was accordingly addressed to that lady,who returned for answer, that 'I might do as I pleased: she had long relinquished all interference② in my affairs.' This note went the round of the committee, and at last, after what appeared to me most tedious③ delay, formal leave was given me to better my condition if I could; and an assurance added, that as I had always conducted myself well, both as teacher and pupil, at Lowood,a testimonial of character and capacity, signed by the inspectors of that institution, should forthwith be furnished me. This testimonial I accordingly received in about a month, forwarded a copy of it to Mrs Fairfax, and got that lady's reply, stating that she was satisfied, and fixing that day fortnight as the period for my assuming the post of governess④} in her house . . 056. 简·爱) 的某些人,并问明白他们是否允许我把他们作 为证明人提出来。她满口应允充当这件事情的 ① mediarix /mi:dt'eitrks/ n 中间人。第二天,她向布罗克赫斯特先生提出 女仲裁者 了这件事,而他说必须写信通知里德太太,因 为她是我的自然监护人。一封简函很快发给了 那位太太,她回信说,我可以做任何我想做的 ② interference /anta'ftarans 事情,她已久不干预我的事务了。这封信函在 n.冲突,干沸 委员会里传阅,最后在我看来是经历了让人极 tedious /ti:dasa 沉阅的 其厌烦的拖延后,终于正式允许我离去,在可 单调乏味的 能的情况下改善自已的处境。同时还附加了一 个保证,鉴于我在罗沃德当教师和当学生时一 向表现很好,学校督导还签署了关于我的品格 和能力的证明书 大约一周以后,我收到了这份证明,抄寄 了一份给费尔法克斯太太,并得到了那位太太 的回复,说是对我感到满意,并定于两周后我 ④ governess /qAvons/ n. 女 去那位太太家担任家庭教师 家庭教师 ...... 057.