小说原文
'Unless,' said Mr Dombey, stopping in his reading without looking off the letter, and seeming to listen. 'Unless he has anything to say.'
“除非，”董贝先生说道，他停止阅读，但眼睛没有离开信件，好像在听话似的。“除非他有什么话要说。”
'No, Sir,' returned Walter, agitated and confused, and almost stunned, as an infinite variety of pictures presented themselves to his mind; among which Captain Cuttle, in his glazed hat, transfixed with astonishment at Mrs MacStinger's, and his uncle bemoaning his loss in the little back parlour, held prominent places. 'I hardly know - I - I am much obliged, Sir.'
“没有，先生，”沃尔特回答道；当无数种形形色色的景象涌现到他的心头时，他感到激动和慌乱，几乎昏了过去；在这些景象当中，卡特尔船长戴着上了光的帽子，在麦克斯廷杰太太家里惊愕得目瞪口呆；他的舅舅在小后客厅里悲叹着他的损失，是最为突出的两幅。“我实在不知道——我——我很感谢，先生。”
'He needn't wait, Carker,' said Mr Dombey.
“他不必待在这里了，卡克，”董贝先生说道。
And as Mr Carker again echoed the words, and also collected his papers as if he were going away too, Walter felt that his lingering any longer would be an unpardonable intrusion - especially as he had nothing to say - and therefore walked out quite confounded.
卡克先生又随声重复了这句话，而且还收拾着他的公文，仿佛他也要走似的，这时候沃尔特觉得他再迟延下去就会是不可原谅的打扰了——特别是他已没有什么话要说的了——，因此就十分狼狈地走出了办公室。
Going along the passage, with the mingled consciousness and helplessness of a dream, he heard Mr Dombey's door shut again, as Mr Carker came out: and immediately afterwards that gentleman called to him.
他沿着走廊走过去，像在梦中一样感到既清醒而又束手无策，这时候他听到卡克先生走出来时董贝先生的房门又关上的声音，因为在这之后，这位先生立即喊住了他。
'Bring your friend Mr Carker the Junior to my room, Sir, if you please.'
“劳驾您把您的朋友，低级职员卡克先生领到我的房间里来，先生。”
Walter went to the outer office and apprised Mr Carker the Junior of his errand, who accordingly came out from behind a partition where he sat alone in one corner, and returned with him to the room of Mr Carker the Manager.
沃尔特走到外面的办公室里，把他的使命告诉了低级职员卡克先生。于是低级职员卡克先生就从一个隔板后面（他单独坐在一个角落里）走出来，沃尔特跟他一起回到经理卡克先生的房间里。
That gentleman was standing with his back to the fire, and his hands under his coat-tails, looking over his white cravat, as unpromisingly as Mr Dombey himself could have looked. He received them without any change in his attitude or softening of his harsh and black expression: merely signing to Walter to close the door.
那位先生背对着壁炉站着，手抄在燕尾服里面，从白领带上面看着前面，那种严厉可怕的神色只有董贝先生本人才能有。他接待他们的时候，丝毫没有改变姿势或使他那生硬与阴沉的表情柔和下来，而仅仅向沃尔特示意，要他把门关上。重点讲解
注释：oblige vt. 迫使；强制；赐，施恩惠；责成
vi. 帮忙；施恩惠
[ 过去式obliged 过去分词obliged 现在分词obliging ]
Gentlemen Oblige君子成人之美
词根：oblige
adj.
obliged 必须的；感激的；有责任的
obligate 有责任的，有义务的；必需的
obliging 乐于助人的；有礼貌的；体贴的；亲切的
obligated 有义务的；责无旁贷的
n.
obligation 义务；职责；债务
obligated 使负义务（obligate的过去式）
obliger 施惠与人者

例句：
(1) Please oblige me by lifting the box.
请老家帮我把这只箱子提起来。
(2) I asked him if he could oblige us with a left to the nearest garage.
我问他是否能帮忙将我们带往最近的加油站。
(3) Will you oblige me with your name and address?
敬请赐告你的姓名和地址好吗?。
(4) I'll do any thing within reason to oBlige.
凡能做到的我都愿效劳[尽力]。
(5) Can you oblige me by opening the window?
能帮忙把窗户打开吗？
(6) So if you are up for the challenge, oblige her.
所以，如果你做好了挑战的准备，就去满足她吧。
(7) Could you oblige me by opening the window?
请你为我打开窗子好吗？
(8) I need my brother to oblige me.
我需要我弟弟帮我做到。
(9) Sorry, I can't oblige you.
很抱歉, 我不能帮你的忙。
(10) Excuse me, but could you oblige me with a match.
对不起，请给我一根火柴好吗？
(11) I'll do anything within reason to oblige.
能办到的，我都愿效劳。

soft adj. 软的，柔软的；温柔的，温和的；软弱的；笨的
adv. 柔软地；温和地
n. 柔性；柔软的东西；柔软部分
[ 比较级softer 最高级softest ]
词组：
soft tissue 软组织
soft soil 软土，软泥地
soft ground 软弱地基；软土地面；不稳定地层；弱土质
soft clay 软粘土；软黏土；软质粘土
soft landing 软着陆；软性经济滑坡
soft drink n. 软饮料；不含酒精的饮料
soft power 软实力；柔性国力
soft ware 软件；语言设备；设计计算法；程序设备
soft start 软启动；缓启动；平稳起动
soft water n. 软水
soft capsule 软胶囊剂
soft texture 松软的组织
soft coal 烟煤
soft science 软科学；人文科学学科
soft light 柔光；柔光模式；柔光灯
soft palate 软腭
soft music 轻音乐
soft spot 软弱不振的企业；弱点
例句：
(1) The soft breeze stirs the leaves.
柔和的微风摇动着树叶。
(2) The soil felt soft beneath our feet.
我们脚下的土踩上去很松软。
(3) The nail easily penetrated the soft wood.
钉子很容易地就穿透了软木材。
(4) I'm hacking the soft for netting.
我在设计上网软件呢。
(5) They should be allowed to work in China, if only to build soft power.
他们应该被允许在中国工作，即使只为了建立软实力。
(6) Do you like the soft touch of snowflakes on your face?
你喜欢柔软的雪花触到脸上时的感觉吗？
(7) Many of these objectives and the outcomes I expect are quite soft.
我所期望的这些目标和成果中许多是相当 软的。
(8) She felt like lying back in the soft chair and enjoying the richness of it.
她真想就这样躺在柔软的椅子上，尽情享受那种浓厚的细腻感。