狄更斯双语小说:《董贝父子》第29章Part 2

A little stateliness was mingled with Miss Tox's sweetest friend's demeanour, but she kissed Miss Tox, and said, 'Lucretia, thank you, I am pretty well. I hope you are the same. Hem!'
Mrs Chick was labouring under a peculiar little monosyllabic cough; a sort of primer, or easy introduction to the art of coughing.
'You call very early, and how kind that is, my dear!' pursued Miss Tox. 'Now, have you breakfasted?'
'Thank you, Lucretia,' said Mrs Chick, 'I have. I took an early breakfast' - the good lady seemed curious on the subject of Princess's Place, and looked all round it as she spoke - 'with my brother, who has come home.'
'He is better, I trust, my love,' faltered Miss Tox.
'He is greatly better, thank you. Hem!'
'My dear Louisa must be careful of that cough' remarked Miss Tox.
'It's nothing,' returned Mrs Chic 'It's merely change of weather. We must expect change.'
'Of weather?' asked Miss Tox, in her simplicity.
'Of everything' returned Mrs Chick 'Of course we must. It's a world of change. Anyone would surprise me very much, Lucretia, and would greatly alter my opinion of their understanding, if they attempted to contradict or evade what is so perfectly evident. Change!' exclaimed Mrs Chick, with severe philosophy. 'Why, my gracious me, what is there that does not change! even the silkworm, who I am sure might be supposed not to trouble itself about such subjects, changes into all sorts of unexpected things continually.'
'My Louisa,' said the mild Miss Tox, 'is ever happy in her illustrations.'
'You are so kind, Lucretia,' returned Mrs Chick, a little softened, 'as to say so, and to think so, I believe. I hope neither of us may ever have any cause to lessen our opinion of the other, Lucretia.'
'I am sure of it,' returned Miss Tox.

托克斯小姐的最亲爱的朋友的态度中有几分庄严，但她吻了托克斯小姐，说道，”卢克丽霞，谢谢您，我很好。我希望您也一样。嗯赫！”
奇克夫人奇特地一声一声不连贯的咳嗽，这是连声咳嗽的导火线或前奏曲。
“您对我真好，这么早就来看我，我亲爱的！”托克斯小姐继续说道，”您吃过早饭了吗？”
“谢谢您，卢克丽霞，”奇克夫人说道，”我吃过了。今天早饭吃得很早--”这位善良的夫人似乎对公主广场感到好奇，一边说一边环顾着四周，”是跟我哥哥一道吃的，他已经回家了。”
“我想他比过去好些了吧，我亲爱的，”托克斯小姐结结巴巴地说道。
“他好得多了，谢谢您，嗯赫！”
“亲爱的路易莎，你得注意您的咳嗽，”托克斯小姐说道。
“没什么，”奇克夫人回答道，”只不过是因为气候变化的缘故。我们必须预料到会有变化。”
“是指气候变化吗？”托克斯小姐以她特有的纯朴的表情问道。
“任何事情的变化，”奇克夫人回答道，”我们当然必须预料到。这是个充满变化的世界。任何人如果企图对抗或回避那些显而易见的真理，都会使我大吃一惊的，卢克丽霞，并会大大改变我对她（他）是否通晓事理的看法的。变化！”奇克夫人带着严肃的哲学意味，高声喊道，”哎呀，天哪，还有什么不发生变化的！即使是蚕，我本以为它不会在这方面给自己找麻烦的，可是它却连续不断地变成各种意想不到的东西。”
“我的路易莎，”温柔的托克斯小姐说道，”总是举出巧妙的例子来说明。”
“卢克丽霞，”稍稍温和下来的奇克夫人回答道，”我相信，您这么说和这么想是您的一片好意。我希望，我们两人谁也不会有什么理由来改变彼此的看法。”
“我完全相信，”托克斯小姐回答道。