I was half-an-hour late at the office, a thing that has never happened to me before. There has recently been much irregularity in the attendance of the clerks, and Mr. Perkupp, our principal, unfortunately choose this very morning to pounce down upon us early. Someone had given the tip to the others. The result was that I was the only one late of the lot. Buckling, one of the senior clerks, was a brick, and I was saved by his intervention. As I passed by Pitt's desk, I heard him remark to his neighbour: "How disgracefully late some of the head clerks arrive!" This was, of course, meant for me. I treated the observation with silence, simply giving him a look, which unfortunately had the effect of making both of the clerks laugh. Thought afterwards it would have been more dignified if I had pretended not to have heard him at all. Cummings called in the evening, and we played dominoes.
我迟到了半个小时，这是以前从没有过的事。因为最近员工的出勤不太正常，我们的头波卡普先生很不幸地选择了今天早晨搞突然袭击。有人把消息透露给了其他人。结果我成了今天唯一迟到的人。我们的一位高级职员巴克林真是个好人，他帮我解了围。当我经过皮特的办公桌时，我听到他对邻桌说：“一些高级员工来得可真晚啊！”这当然是冲我来的。我对这句话报以沉默，只是看了他一眼，谁知还是不幸地使两个家伙笑起来。后来想，如果我当时假装什么也没有听到，会更体面些。晚上卡明斯来串门，我们玩多米诺骨牌。
[本段要点]
1. happen to sb. （某事）发生在某人身上；某人出了(某事)
If anything happens to him, let me know. 如果他出了什么事，告诉我。
2. irregularity [C U] n. 无规则；不整齐；不合规律的事情；反常的事情
3. attendance [C U] n. 出席；到场
4. pounce (down) upon/on 突然袭击；猛扑
5. give the tip to sb. 暗中关照某人做；悄悄向某人透露消息
6. lot (口）（与the连用）全部；全体
7. brick (口）好人；砖头
8. intervention [C U] n. 干涉；介入
9. This was, of course, meant for me. 这当然是冲我来的。
10. observation [C] n. 言语；评论 [U 观察；注意；观察力
11. dignified adj. 有尊严的；有品格的
12. pretend (not) to do sth. 假装（没有）做某事
April 12.--Mustard-and-cress and radishes not come up yet. Left Farmerson repairing the scraper, but when I came home found three men working. I asked the meaning of it, and Farmerson said that in making a fresh hole he had penetrated the gas-pipe. He said it was a most ridiculous place to put the gas-pipe, and the man who did it evidently knew nothing about his business. I felt his excuse was no consolation for the expense I shall be put to.
4月12日 芥菜和萝卜没有出来。去上班时让法默森修理刮泥板，但我回家后却发现有三个人在工作。我问这是怎么回事，法默森回答说在他打新眼的时候穿透了煤气管道。他说把煤气管道放在那个位置太搞笑了，安装管道的人显然对他所从事的工作一无所知。我觉的他的理由对我将为之付出的费用起不到任何安慰。
[本段要点]
1. penetrate vt. vi. 穿透；刺入；看穿
2. evidently adv. 显然地；明显地
3. consolation [C U] n. 安慰；带来安慰的或事
In the evening, after tea, Gowing dropped in, and we had a smoke together in the breakfast-parlour. Carrie joined us later, but did not stay long, saying the smoke was too much for her. It was also rather too much for me, for Gowing had given me what he called a green cigar, one that his friend Shoemach had just brought over from America. The cigar didn't look green, but I fancy I must have done so; for when I had smoked a little more than half I was obliged to retire on the pretext of telling Sarah to bring in the glasses.
晚上，饮过茶后，高英来访，我们一起在早餐室抽烟。卡丽后来也去了早餐室，但是没有停留多久，她说她受不了烟味。其实我也受不了，因为高英给我的是他称之为“绿雪茄”的一种烟，是他的朋友苏迈克从美国带回来的。这种雪茄看起来并不绿，不过我想我的脸肯定是绿了，因为我刚抽了一半多一点就无法忍受，被迫打着告诉莎拉拿杯子的借口躲到一边去了。
[本段要点]
1. bring over 使某人(从海外)来到某地；将某物从别处带来
2. fancy vt. 想像；认为
3. be obliged to do sth. 不得不
注意：be obliged to sb. 表示“感激某人”
4. on/under the pretext of 打着某借口；在某借口下
5. bing in 拿来；引进；挣钱
I took a walk round the garden three or four times, feeling the need of fresh air. On returning Gowing noticed I was not smoking: offered me another cigar, which I politely declined. Gowing began his usual sniffing, so, anticipating him, I said: "You're not going to complain of the smell of paint again?" He said: "No, not this time; but I'll tell you what, I distinctly smell dry rot." I don't often make jokes, but I replied: "You're talking a lot of DRY ROT yourself." I could not help roaring at this, and Carrie said her sides quite ached with laughter. I never was so immensely tickled by anything I have ever said before. I actually woke up twice during the night, and laughed till the bed shook.
感觉需要呼吸些新鲜空气，我绕着花园走了三四趟。一回来高英就注意到我没有抽烟，又递给我一支，我礼貌的拒绝了。高英开始用鼻子吸气，所以我抢在他开口之前问他：“这次不准备抱怨油漆味了？” 他说：“不，这次不会。不过我告诉你，我明显闻到了一股干腐的味道。” 我不经常说俏皮话，但是这次我回复道：“（因为）你的谈话就很干腐。” 说完我忍不住大笑起来，卡丽说她笑的都肚子疼了。我以前说的话从没有这么风趣。我晚上竟然醒了两次，笑得床板乱颤。
[本段要点]
1. sniff vt. vi. （发出声地）用鼻子吸气 ；嗅；闻出
I like sniffing the sea-air.我喜欢呼吸海上的空气。
2. anticipate vt. 期待；预期；（文）抢先一步；先（于别人）做某事
Do you anticipate any trouble?你预料会有麻烦吗？
We anticipated their complaint by writing a full report. 我们没等他们投诉就抢先写了一份详尽的报告。
3. distinctly adv. 清楚地；显然地；明显地
4. roar vt. vi. 吼叫；怒吼
"Get out of my house!'", he roared. “滚出我的房子”，他吼道。
The crowd roared in delight.人群高兴的欢呼起来。
The crowd roared in delight.人群高兴的欢呼起来。
5. immensely adv. 极大地；无限地
6. tickle vt. vi. 痒；使痒； 胳肢
Stop tickling me! 不要再胳肢我了！
Mommy, this blanket tickles.妈妈，这个毯子让人发痒。
Mike's fur collar was tickling her neck.迈克的皮领使他的脖子发痒。
Mommy, this blanket tickles.妈妈，这个毯子让人发痒。
Mike's fur collar was tickling her neck.迈克的皮领使他的脖子发痒。
April 13.--An extraordinary coincidence: Carrie had called in a woman to make some chintz covers for our drawing-room chairs and sofa to prevent the sun fading the green rep of the furniture. I saw the woman, and recognised her as a woman who used to work years ago for my old aunt at Clapham. It only shows how small the world is.
4月13日一次罕见的巧合：卡丽找了一个女人帮她给客厅的椅子和沙发做印花棉套，以防这些家俱上的绿色棱纹平布在阳光下褪色。我看到这个女人后认出她就是多年以前为我住在克位彭的姑妈做工的那个。这只能说明世界太小了。
[本段要点]
1. An extraordinary coincidence 一个罕见的巧合
extraordinary adj. 非常的；特别的；不普通的
coincidence [C U] n.巧合；巧合的事
2. fade vt. vi. （声音等）减弱；颜色褪去；消失
Hopes of a peace settlement are beginning to fade.和平解决的希望开始变弱。
The sun had faded the curtains.太阳使窗帘褪色。
Over the years her beauty had faded a little. 过了这么多年，她美丽依旧。
The sun had faded the curtains.太阳使窗帘褪色。
Over the years her beauty had faded a little. 过了这么多年，她美丽依旧。
常用搭配：
fade in （图片）淡入；（声音）渐显
fade out （图片）淡出；（声音）渐弱
fade away 逐渐凋谢；慢慢减弱
3. rep [U] n. 棱纹平布
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