《简·爱》 Chapter 36 第三十六章（12）

She had a woman to take care of her called Mrs. Poole -- an able woman in her line, and very trustworthy,

她有一个女人照应，名叫普尔太太——干那一行是很能干的，也很可靠。

but for one fault -- a fault common to a deal of them nurses and matrons --

但有一个毛勃—那些看护和主妇的通勃—

she kept a private bottle of gin by her, and now and then took a drop over-much.

她私自留着—瓶杜松子酒，而且常常多喝那么一口。

It is excusable, for she had a hard life of it: but still it was dangerous;

那也是可以原谅的，因为她活得太辛苦了，不过那很危险，

for when Mrs. Poole was fast asleep after the gin and water, the mad lady, who was as cunning¹ as a witch,

酒和水一下肚，普尔太太睡得烂熟，那位像巫婆一般狡猾的疯女人，

would take the keys out of her pocket, let herself out of her chamber²,

便会从她口袋里掏出钥匙，开了门溜出房间，

and go roaming³ about the house, doing any wild mischief⁴ that came into her head.

在府宅游荡，心血来潮便什么荒唐的事都干得出来。

They say she had nearly burnt her husband in his bed once:

他们说，有一回差一点把她的丈夫烧死在床上。

but I don't know about that.

不过我不知道那回事。

However, on this night, she set fire first to the hangings of the room next her own,

但是，那天晚上，她先是放火点燃了隔壁房间的帷幔，

and then she got down to a lower storey, and made her way to the chamber that had been the governess's --

随后下了一层楼，走到原来那位家庭女教师的房间

(she was like as if she knew somehow how matters had gone on, and had a spite⁵ at her) --

（不知怎么搞的，她似乎知道事情的进展，而且对她怀恨在心）——

and she kindled⁶ the bed there; but there was nobody sleeping in it, fortunately.

给她的床放了把火，幸亏没有人睡在里面。

The governess had run away two months before;

两个月前，那个家庭女教师就出走了。

and for all Mr. Rochester sought her as if she had been the most precious thing he had in the world, he never could hear a word of her;

尽管罗切斯特先生拼命找她，仿佛她是稀世珍宝，但她还是杳无音讯。

and he grew savage⁷ -- quite savage on his disappointment:

他变得越来越粗暴了——因为失望而非常粗暴。

1 cunning   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；n.狡猾，奸诈

参考例句：

• A spy used cunning means to find out secrets.间谍使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• The fox is known for its cleverness and cunning.狐狸的机敏和狡猾是人所共知的。

2 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

3 roaming   

随便走( roam的现在分词 )； 漫步； 眼睛或手 （缓慢地）扫遍； 摸遍

参考例句：

• After roaming around nearly half his life,he finally settled down in Canada. 他过了半辈子的流浪生活，最后在加拿大定居了下来。
• After roaming around nearly half his life,he finally settled down in Quebec. 他过了半辈子的流浪生活，最后在魁北克定居了下来。

4 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

5 spite   

n.（用于短语）虽然，不顾，尽管

参考例句：

• He has modern ideas in spite of his great age.尽管他年事很高，但思想观念却很入时。
• In spite of his anger,his remarks were restrained.他尽管生气，说的话还是有节制的。

6 kindled   

（使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光

参考例句：

• We watched as the fire slowly kindled. 我们看着火慢慢地燃烧起来。
• The teacher's praise kindled a spark of hope inside her. 老师的赞扬激起了她内心的希望。

7 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。