So there he lived, at Mrs. Wickett's, with his quiet enjoyments of reading and talking and remembering; an old man, white-haired and only a little bald[103], still fairly active for his years[104], drinking tea, receiving callers, busying himself with[105]corrections for the next edition of the Brookfeldian Directory[106], writing his occasional letters[107]in thin, spidery, but very legible script[108]. He had new masters to tea[109], as well as[110]new boys. There were two of them[111]that autumn term, and as they were leaving after their visit, one of them commented: 'Quite a character, the old boy, isn't he?[112]All that fuss about mixing the tea -- a typical bachelor[113], if ever there was one[114].'
Which[115]was oddly incorrect[116]; because Chips was not a bachelor at all. He had married[117]; though it was so long ago that[118]none of the staff at Brookfield could remember his wife.
英语精读连载Good-Bye,Mr.Chips《再会,契普斯先生》8[103] bald [bɔ:ld]秃顶的
[104] fairly active for his years拿他的年纪来说,算是相当活跃的了。for就……而论。
[105] busying himself with以(事情、工作)使自己忙碌;忙于……
[106] Brookfeldian Directory [dɪ'rektərɪ]布鲁克菲尔德人名录
[107] occasional ['keɪʒənl] letters偶尔写的书信
[108] in thin, spidery, but very legible ['ledʒəbl] script用细小而清楚的字体写成的。spidery(字迹)细长的。
[109] had new masters to tea请新教师们来吃茶点。
[110] as well as在……以外
[111] them指new masters。
[112] Quite a character ['kærɪktə] , the old boy, isn't he?=The old boy is quite a character, isn't he? old boy对人昵称,已见前注,这里指Chips。character有突出性格的人。[113] All that fuss about mixing the tea -- a typical ['tɪpɪkəl] bachelor ['bætʃələ]制茶时手忙脚乱的种种样子——一个典型的独身汉。这个句子中没有谓语动词;破折号前后两个名词词组,虽然在语法上没有关系(不能说是省去连系动词的主语与表语的关系),但在逻辑上的关系很清楚。
[114] if ever there was one假如世间有个典型的独身汉的话。意即“没有则已;要是有,那就是Chips。”ever有“在任何时候”的意思。one=a typical bachelor.
[115] Which有些语法家认为不能用which引起一句句子,更不能用which引起一节;事实上英美作家常有这样用的。这里就用which代替上节所说Chips是typical bachelor的话,引起新的一节。
[116] oddly incorrect错得奇怪(看下文自明)
[117] had married结过婚。marry和be married略有不同:前者指结婚的行动,后者指结婚的状态。
[118] so long ago that…时间如此久远,以至于……
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