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"You are mistaken, Elinor, " said she warmly, "in supposing I know very little of Willoughby. I have not known him long indeed, but I am much better acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature in the world, except yourself and mama. It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy;-- it is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others. I should hold myself guilty of greater impropriety in accepting a horse from my brother, than from Willoughby. Of John I know very little, though we have lived together for years; but of Willoughby my judgment has long been formed. "

“你想错了，埃丽诺，”她激动地说道，“你认为我不很了解威洛比。的确，我认识他时间不长，可是天下人除了你和妈妈之外，我最了解的就是他了。熟悉不熟悉，不取决于时间和机缘，而只取决于性情。对某些人来说，七年也达不到相互了解，而对另些人来说，七天就绰绰有余了。我倘若接受的是我哥哥的马，而不是威洛比的马，我会觉得更不恰当，那才问心有愧呢。我对约翰很不了解，虽然我们在一起生活了许多年；但对威洛比，我早就有了定见。”

Elinor thought it wisest to touch that point no more. She knew her sister's temper. Opposition on so tender a subject would only attach her the more to her own opinion. But by an appeal to her affection for her mother, by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be the case) she consented to this increase of establishment, Marianne was shortly subdued; and she promised not to tempt her mother to such imprudent kindness by mentioning the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw him next, that it must be declined.

埃丽诺觉得，最好别再触及那个话题。她知道她妹妹的脾气。在如此敏感的一个问题上与她针锋相对，只会使她更加固执己见。于是，她便转而设法激起她的母女之请，向她摆明：母亲是很溺爱子女的，倘使她同意增加这份家产（这是很可能的），那一定会给她招来诸多不便。这么一讲，玛丽安当即软了下来。她答应不向母亲提起送礼的事，以免惹得她好心好意地贸然应允。她还答应下次见到威洛比时告诉他，不能收他的礼物了。

She was faithful to her word; and when Willoughby called at the cottage, the same day, Elinor heard her express her disappointment to him in a low voice, on being obliged to forego the acceptance of his present. The reasons for this alteration were at the same time related, and they were such as to make further entreaty on his side impossible. His concern however was very apparent; and after expressing it with earnestness, he added, in the same low voice, --"But, Marianne, the horse is still yours, though you cannot use it now. I shall keep it only till you can claim it. When you leave Barton to form your own establishment in a more lasting home, Queen Mab shall receive you. "
　　
玛丽安信守诺言，威洛比当天来访时，埃丽诺听她低声向他表示：她很失望，不得不拒绝接受他的礼物。她同时申述了她之所以改变主意的缘由，说得他不好再作恳求。但是威洛比显然十分关切，并且一本正经地做了表白，然后以同样低微的声音接着说道：“不过，玛丽安，这马虽然你现在不能使用，却仍然归你所有。我先保养着，直至你领走为止。等你离开巴顿去建立自己的家庭时，‘麦布皇后’会来接你的。”

词汇释义

1.supposing adv. 假如，去 ... 吧，不妨 ... 吧 动词suppose的现在分词形式

I'm going to university, always supposing I pass my exams.
我若考试及格就要上大学了。

2.acquaint vt. 使 ... 熟知

I am acquainted with her.
我认识她。

3.intimacy n. 亲密，隐私

He refused to tell it to me except in the intimacy of his room.
除非避开众人耳目在他房间里谈，否则他不肯把这件事告诉我

4.disposition n. 性情，倾向，安排，处置，控制

Joanna had a gentle retiring disposition.
乔安娜性格温柔而腼腆。

5.impropriety n. 不适当，不正确，用词错误，不得体

Impropriety is the soul of wit.
不规矩是打趣话的精髓。

6.indulgent adj. 纵容的，任性的，宽纵的

They are indulgent parents.
他们对子女很纵容。

7.subdue v. 使服从，压制，减弱

He managed to subdue his mounting anger.
他设法克制住了阵阵愤怒。

8.forego vt. 放弃，领先=forgo

The workers agreed to forgo a pay increase for the sake of greater job security.
工人们为了工作更保险，同意放弃增加工资的要求。

9.alteration n. 改变，变更

The timetable is subject to alteration.
时刻表有可能更改。

难句解析

1. I have not known him long indeed, but I am much better acquainted with him, than I am with any other creature in the world, except yourself and mama.

【难句解析】"than I am with..."这里的with前省去了acquainted；

【句子翻译】的确，我认识他时间不长，可是天下人除了你和妈妈之外，我最了解的就是他了。

2.I should hold myself guilty of greater impropriety in accepting a horse from my brother, than from Willoughby.

【难句解析】hold oneself guilty in doing sth.“对...感到内疚”；

【句子翻译】我倘若接受的是我哥哥的马，而不是威洛比的马，我会觉得更不恰当，那才问心有愧呢。

3.But by an appeal to her affection for her mother, by representing the inconveniences which that indulgent mother must draw on herself, if (as would probably be the case) she consented to this increase of establishment, Marianne was shortly subdued; and she promised not to tempt her mother to such imprudent kindness by mentioning the offer, and to tell Willoughby when she saw him next, that it must be declined.

【难句解析】an appeal to sth.“对...的吸引力”；draw on “利用”；decline sth.“谢绝某物”；

【句子翻译】于是，她便转而设法激起她的母女之请，向她摆明：母亲是很溺爱子女的，倘使她同意增加这份家产（这是很可能的），那一定会给她招来诸多不便。这么一讲，玛丽安当即软了下来。她答应不向母亲提起送礼的事，以免惹得她好心好意地贸然应允。她还答应下次见到威洛比时告诉他，不能收他的礼物了。