The Charcoal-man and the Gentleman.

卖炭者与绅士

Monday, 7th.

星期一，7日。

Garrone would certainly never have uttered the words which Carlo Nobis spoke yesterday morning to Betti. Carlo Nobis is proud, because his father is a great gentleman; a tall gentleman, with a black beard, and very serious, who accompanies his son to school nearly every day. Yesterday morning Nobis quarrelled with Betti, one of the smallest boys, and the son of a charcoal-man, and not knowing what retort to make, because he was in the wrong, said to him vehemently, "Your father is a tattered beggar!" Betti reddened up to his very hair, and said nothing, but the tears came to his eyes; and when he returned home, he repeated the words to his father; so the charcoal-dealer, a little man, who was black all over, made his appearance at the afternoon session, leading his boy by the hand, in order to complain to the master. While he was making his complaint, and every one was silent, the father of Nobis, who was taking off his son's coat at the entrance, as usual, entered on hearing his name pronounced, and demanded an explanation.

昨天卡罗·诺琵斯向培谛说的那样的话，如果是卡隆，决不会说的。卡罗·诺琵斯因为他父亲是上等人，很是高傲。他的父亲是个长身有黑须的沉静的绅士，差不多每天早晨都要伴着带琵斯到学校里来。昨天，诺琵斯和培谛相骂了。培谛年纪顶小，是个卖炭者的儿子。诺琵斯因为自己的理错了，无话可辩，就说：“你父亲是个叫化子！”培谛气得连发根都红了，不做声，只籁簌地流着眼泪。好像后来他回去向父亲哭诉了。午后上课时，他那卖炭的父亲——全身墨黑的矮小的男子就携着他儿子的手到学校里来，把这事告诉了先生。我们大家都默不做声。诺琵斯的父亲照例正在门口替他儿子脱外套，听见有人说起他的名字，就问先生说：“什么事？”

"This workman has come," said the master, "to complain that your son Carlo said to his boy, 'Your father is a tattered beggar.'"

“你们的卡罗对这位的儿子说：‘你父亲是个叫化子！’这位正在这里告诉这事呢。”先生回答说。

Nobis's father frowned and reddened slightly. Then he asked his son, "Did you say that?"

诺琵斯的父亲脸红了起来，问自己的儿子：“你曾这样说的吗？”

His son, who was standing in the middle of the school, with his head hanging, in front of little Betti, made no reply.

诺琵斯俯了首立在教室中央，什么都不回答。

Then his father grasped him by one arm and pushed him forward, facing Betti, so that they nearly touched, and said to him, "Beg his pardon."

他父亲捉了他的手臂，拉他到培谛身旁，说：“快道歉！”