For many months she argued with David Wilson about the danger of the waste products, but he would not listen to her.And so, eighteen months after John’s report, Mary decided to move to another company.she was pleased, because it was a more important job,but that wasn’t the reason she was going.She knew that the cleaning machines would never be built.
John was sad to see her go. He had enjoyed working with her, and she had come to his house several times over the last year and a half. His children liked her now.They had never been so friendly with any woman, since their mother had died.
读书笔记
是否公开
4
-
在她走的前一天,玛丽和约翰在工厂的餐厅共进午餐。
读书笔记
是否公开
4
-
On her last day,Mary and John had lunch in the factory restaurant together.
’You don’t have to go, you know, Mary,’John said.’This company is very successful, and it’s growing all the time.Your new paint has meant four hundred new jobs—all because of your discovery! This isn’t a poor town any more—it’s becoming successful,rich! People will want to move here from other places.’
He talked about the new sports centre at Andrew’s school,which was built with money from the paint company.There were two big,new shops in the town as well,and a new the-atre,and a lot of new houses.’And it’s all because of you,’he said.’It’s wonderful, Mary,don’t you think?’He smiled at her across the table,and took her hand in his.
She looked at him quietly.He had changed a lot since he had first started working at the factory.For the first six months after he had got the job,he had been really happy and lively.She had always known where he was in the factory,because he was always laughing,or singing to himself.
But for the last eighteen months he had been much quieter.He was always busy,but he didn’t sing or laugh,and he didn’t often look Mary in the eyes.And when he was alone,he looked tired and sad.
She took her hand away from his,gently.’You know why I’m going,John,’she said.’I know what’s going into the river,and I don’t like to think about it.You should leave,too,and get a job in another company.’
’I’m too old.’John stared at her angrily.’It isn’t easy for me to get a new job.And Mary,the company has been mak-ing the paint for more than two years now,and no one’s been hurt,have they?’
读书笔记
是否公开
11
-
玛丽沉默了一会,然后她说,“只有你。”
读书笔记
是否公开
11
-
Mary didn’t answer for a moment.Then she said,’Only you.’
She looked at him sadly.His head was bald now, and he was beginning to look like an old man.Once,she had wanted to marry him.Now,she was pleased that he hadn’t asked her.
’Oh,I just meant your leg,of course.’John still had a painful red place on his leg,and sometimes he walked badly because of it.But that wasn’t what Mary meant.
’No,of course not.But you’re a woman,and…well,it’s sometimes difficult for me,as a father on my own.Christine’s a young woman now,and she hasn’t got a mother to discuss things with.I don’t always know what to say.’
’No.’mary looked at him sadly.She often wondered why he didn’t ask her to his house more often.She liked him and his children,and she thought he liked her.’How old is Chris-tine now?’
读书笔记
是否公开
19
-
“18岁,并且她打算结婚。”
读书笔记
是否公开
19
-
’Eighteem.And she wants to get married.’
读书笔记
是否公开
20
-
“已经想结婚啦?她还很年轻啊?”
读书笔记
是否公开
20
-
’Already?She’s rather young,isn’t she?’
读书笔记
是否公开
21
-
约翰看上去不高兴的样子。“是呀,我也这么说。但她很生我的气,玛丽,真的很生气。”
读书笔记
是否公开
21
-
John looked unhappy.’Well,that’s what I say.But she gets so angry with me,Mary,really angry.’
’He’s called SimonMacDonald.He’s a journalist—he works for the local newspaper.He’s a nice young man,I sup-pose.But every time I speak to him,we argue.And then Christine always agrees with him,and I get angry with her,too.I don’t want to,Mary,but I do.I feel I’m losing her,you see.’
’Oh,I don’t know.Stupid things,really.He belongs to one of these environmental groups—Greenworld,I think—and he’s always talking about it.He thinks only young people are right,and everyone over twenty-five is always wrong!’
读书笔记
是否公开
26
-
玛丽带着思考的神情望着他。
读书笔记
是否公开
26
-
Mary looked at John thoughtfully.
读书笔记
是否公开
27
-
“那你想让我做什么,约翰?我不是一个母亲,也从没结过婚。”
读书笔记
是否公开
27
-
’Well,what do you want me to do,John?I’m not a moth-er and I’ve never been married.’
读书笔记
是否公开
28
-
“是的,但是……你也许可以跟克里斯汀谈谈?如果你星期日可以来我家吃午饭……?”
读书笔记
是否公开
28
-
’No,but…you could talk to Christine,perhaps?If you came to our house for Sunday lunch…?’
So Mary went to John’s house.Simon was there too.They had a meal and talked about horses and sailing.Everyone was polite,and there were no arguments.Later,Mary went with Christine to look at her horse,and Simon stayed with John.In the field,Mary began to talk about Simon.
读书笔记
是否公开
30
-
“他是一个好青年,克里斯汀,他非常聪明善良。他使我想起你的父亲。”
读书笔记
是否公开
30
-
’He’s fine young man,Christine.He’s very clever and kind.He makes me think of your father.’
读书笔记
是否公开
31
-
“我父亲!他一点也不像我父亲!并且爸爸恨他。”
读书笔记
是否公开
31
-
’My father!He’s nothing like my father!And Dad hates him!’
And so for a long time Mary stood in the quiet,lonely field.She helped Christine give food to her horse,and listened to her talk about Simon.Simon,Christine said,was kind,intelli-gent,very hard-working.He liked sailing and riding,and he wanted to make the world a cleaner,better place.He made her feel important,like an adult,not a child any more.She had met his parents,and they liked her a lot.It was only her father…
Mary put her hand on the horse’s neck.’I’m not sure,’she said.’I think you should marry him,but you don’t want to make your father angry,do you?That’s not the best way to start your life with Simon.’
读书笔记
是否公开
38
-
“对,但如果不得已,我也许会的。”
读书笔记
是否公开
38
-
’No,but I will if I have to!’
读书笔记
是否公开
39
-
“你想让我跟他谈谈吗?也许他会听我的。这对他来讲很困难——你是他唯一的女儿,他也许对此非常焦虑。”
读书笔记
是否公开
39
-
’Would you liKe me to talk to him?Perhaps he’ll listen to me.It’s difficult for him—you’re his only daughter,and he’s probably very worried about it.’
读书笔记
是否公开
40
-
“哦,你肯帮我吗?玛丽?求你了。我想让爸爸喜欢西蒙,真的,但他总是对他发火。”
读书笔记
是否公开
40
-
’Oh,would you,Mary?Please.I want Dad to like Simon,really,but he’s always nasty to him.’
读书笔记
是否公开
41
-
“亲爱的,我一定尽力,但我不知道是否有效。”
读书笔记
是否公开
41
-
’I’ll do my best,my dear,but I don’t know if it’ll work.’
Mary did try,very hard,before she moved to Scotland for her new job.She spoke to John on the phone,and sometimes they had a cup of coffee together in town.She was surprised how carefully John listened to her,and how grateful he seemed for her help.
He’s really a very lonely man, she thought. It must be hard for him with two children and no wife. He used to talk to his children a lot, but he doesn’t now.
读书笔记
是否公开
44
-
最后约翰同意了婚事。由于这个好消息,玛丽被邀请参加了一个特殊的晚餐。克里斯汀非常高兴。
读书笔记
是否公开
44
-
At last John agreed to the marriage. Mary was invited to a special supper because of the good news. Christine was very happy.
读书笔记
是否公开
45
-
当玛丽到达时,她亲吻了玛丽并给了她一件小巧秘密的礼物以表示感谢。它是一对漂亮的耳环。
读书笔记
是否公开
45
-
She kissed Mary when she arrived, and gave her a small, secret present to thank her. It was a pair of pretty earrings.
读书笔记
是否公开
46
-
用餐时,约翰有点儿不自然,但也很高兴。他努力使自己笑出来,并感谢玛丽,虽然他没想到送她一件礼物。
读书笔记
是否公开
46
-
At the meal, John seemed a little nervous, but happy too. He tried hard to smile, and thanked Mary, although he didn’t think of giving her a present.
读书笔记
是否公开
47
-
整个晚餐他都在观察克里斯停他好像害怕他再也见不到她了,当她冲他笑时,他感到很幸福。
读书笔记
是否公开
47
-
He watched Christine all through the meal. He seemed to be afraid that he would never see her again, and he was very happy when she smiled at him.
’Mr Duncan,’ he said. ’I’ll always remember this night. I know how much you love your daughter, and believe me, sir, I love her too. You’ve been worried about me because you want her to have the best husband possible, and I - well, I can’t promise anything, but am going to try to be that man. You’re a rich man, Mr Duncan, and of course, Christine and I won’t have a lot of money at first, but I hope we’ll manage.’
读书笔记
是否公开
50
-
他对克里斯汀笑了笑。“邓肯先生,昨天,我跟我的老板谈了,他将付给我比以前多一点的工资!”
读书笔记
是否公开
50
-
He smiled at Christine. ’And yesterday, Mr Duncan, I spoke to my employer,and he’s going to pay me a little more than before!’
’Well, because he’s given me a new job. He’s asked me to write about the environment for our newspaper. I have to write a full-page article every week on the environment. And this is the first one. Look here!’
读书笔记
是否公开
53
-
他从口袋里抽出一页报纸,举在他们面前,上面有江河、沙滩和一些海豹的图片,标题是:
读书笔记
是否公开
53
-
He pulled a page of newspaper out of his pocket,and held it up in front of them.There were pictures of water,sandbanks,and some seals.The headline read: