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罗沃德学校--这部份由本郡布罗克赫斯特府的内奥米.布罗克赫斯特重建于公元××××年。""你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。"--《马太福音》第五章第十六节。 I read these words over and over again: I felt that an explanationbelonged to them, and was unable fully to penetrate their import. Iwas still pondering the signification of "Institution," andendeavouring to make out a connection between the first words andthe verse of Scripture, when the sound of a cough close behind memade me turn my head. I saw a girl sitting on a stone bench near;she was bent over a book, on the perusal of which she seemed intent:from where I stood I could see the title--it was "Rasselas;" a namethat struck me as strange, and consequently attractive. In turninga leaf she happened to look up, and I said to her directly - 我一遍遍读着这些字，觉得它们应该有自己的解释，却无法充分理解其内涵。我正在思索"学校"一字的含义，竭力要找出开首几个字与经文之间的联系，却听得身后一声咳嗽，便回过头去，看到一位姑娘坐在近处的石凳上，正低头聚精会神地细读着一本书。从我站着的地方可以看到，这本书的书名是《拉塞拉斯》。这名字听来有些陌生，因而也就吸引了彩缤纷我。她翻书的时候，碰巧抬起头来，于是我直截了当地说： "Is your book interesting?" I had already formed the intention ofasking her to lend it to me some day." 你这本书有趣吗？"我己经起了某一天向她借书的念头。 "I like it," she answered, after a pause of a second or two, duringwhich she examined me." 我是喜欢的，"她顿了一两秒钟，打量了我一下后回答道。 "What is it about?" I continued. I hardly know where I found thehardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger; the step wascontrary to my nature and habits: but I think her occupationtouched a chord of sympathy somewhere; for I too liked reading,though of a frivolous and childish kind; I could not digest orcomprehend the serious or substantial." 它说些什么？"我继续问。我自己也不知道哪里来的胆子，居然同一个陌生人说起话来。这回我的性格与积习相悖，不过她的专注兴许打动了我，因为我也喜欢读书，尽管是浅薄幼稚的一类。对那些主题严肃内存充实的书，我是无法消化或理解的。 
你可以看一下，"这姑娘回答说，一面把书递给我。 I did so; a brief examination convinced me that the contents wereless taking than the title: "Rasselas" looked dull to my triflingtaste; I saw nothing about fairies, nothing about genii; no brightvariety seemed spread over the closely-printed pages. I returned itto her; she received it quietly, and without saying anything she wasabout to relapse into her former studious mood: again I ventured todisturb her - 我看了看。粗粗-翻，我便确信书的内容不像书名那么吸引人。以我那种琐细的口味来说，"拉塞拉斯"显得很枯燥。我看不到仙女，也看不到妖怪，密密麻麻印着字的书页中，没有鲜艳夺目丰富多彩的东西。我把书递还给她，她默默地收下了，二话没说又要回到刚才苦用功的心境中去，我却再次冒昧打扰了她： "Can you tell me what the writing on that stone over the door means?What is Lowood Institution?"" 能告诉我们门上那块石匾上的字是什么意思吗？罗沃德学校是什么？" "This house where you are come to live."" 就是你来住宿的这所房子。" "And why do they call it Institution? Is it in any way differentfrom other schools?"" 他们为什么叫它'学校'呢？与别的学校有什么不同吗？" 
这是个半慈善性质的学校，你我以及所有其他人都是慈善学校的孩子。我猜想你也是个孤儿，你父亲或者母亲去世了吗？" "Both died before I can remember."" 我能记事之前就都去世了。" "Well, all the girls here have lost either one or both parents, andthis is called an institution for educating orphans."" 是呀，这里的姑娘们不是夫去了爹或妈，便是父母都没有了，这儿叫作教育孤儿的学校。" "Do we pay no money? Do they keep us for nothing?"" 我们不付钱吗？他们免费护养我们吗？" "We pay, or our friends pay, fifteen pounds a year for each."" 我们自己，或者我们的朋友付十五英镑一年。" 
那他们为什么管我们叫慈善学校的孩子？" "Because fifteen pounds is not enough for board and teaching, andthe deficiency is supplied by subscription."" 因为十五英镑不够付住宿货和学费，缺额由捐款来补足。" "Who subscribes?"" 谁捐呢？" "Different benevolent-minded ladies and gentlemen in thisneighbourhood and in London."" 这里附近或者伦敦心肠慈善的太太们和绅士们。" "Who was Naomi Brocklehurst?"" 内奥米.布罗克赫斯特是谁？" 
就像匾上写着的那样，是建造大楼新区部份的太太，她的儿子监督和指挥这里的一切。" "Why?"" 为什么？" "Because he is treasurer and manager of the establishment."" 因为他是这个学校的司库和管事。" "Then this house does not belong to that tall lady who wears awatch, and who said we were to have some bread and cheese?"" 那这幢大楼不属于那位戴着手表、告诉我们可以吃面包和乳酪的高个子女人了？" "To Miss Temple? Oh, no! I wish it did: she has to answer to Mr.Brocklehurst for all she does. Mr. Brocklehurst buys all our foodand all our clothes."" 属于坦普尔小姐？啊，不是！但愿是属于她的。她所做的一切要对布罗克赫斯特先生负责，我们吃的和穿的都是布罗克赫斯特先生买的。" 
他住在这儿吗？" "No--two miles off, at a large hall."" 不--住在两路外，一个大庄园里。" "Is he a good man?"" 他是个好人吗？" "He is a clergyman, and is said to do a great deal of good."" 他是个牧师，据说做了很多好事。" "Did you say that tall lady was called Miss Temple?"" 你说那个高个子女人叫坦普尔小姐？" 
不错。" "And what are the other teachers called?"" 其他教师的名字叫什么？" "The one with red cheeks is called Miss Smith; she attends to thework, and cuts out--for we make our own clothes, our frocks, andpelisses, and everything; the little one with black hair is MissScatcherd; she teaches history and grammar, and hears the secondclass repetitions; and the one who wears a shawl, and has a pocket-handkerchief tied to her side with a yellow ribband, is MadamePierrot: she comes from Lisle, in France, and teaches French."" 脸颊红红的那个叫史密斯小姐，她管劳作，负责裁剪--因为我们自己做衣服、罩衣、外衣，什么都做。那个头发黑黑的小个子叫做斯卡查德小姐，她教历史、语法，听第二班的朗诵。那位戴披巾用黄缎带把一块手帕拴在腰上的人叫皮埃罗夫人，她来自法国里尔，教法语。" "Do you like the teachers?" 你喜欢这些教师吗？" "Well enough."" 够喜欢的。" 
你喜欢那个黑乎乎的小个子和××太太吗？--我没法把她的名字读成像你读的那样。" "Miss Scatcherd is hasty--you must take care not to offend her;Madame Pierrot is not a bad sort of person."" 斯卡查德小姐性子很急，你可得小心，别惹她生气；皮埃罗太太倒是不坏的。" "But Miss Temple is the best--isn't she?"" 不过坦普尔小姐最好，是不是？"
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