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'What did you say, Captain Cuttle?' inquired Walter.
“您说什么，卡特尔船长？”沃尔特问道。
'Stand by!' returned the Captain, thoughtfully.
“做好准备！”船长若有所思地回答道。
Walter paused to ascertain if the Captain had any particular information to add to this, but as he said no more, went on.
沃尔特停了一下，想听听船长是不是还要再补充一些意见，但是船长没有再讲什么，沃尔特就继续说下去。
'Now, the second point, Captain Cuttle. I am sorry to say, I am not a favourite with Mr Dombey. I have always tried to do my best, and I have always done it; but he does not like me. He can't help his likings and dislikings, perhaps. I say nothing of that. I only say that I am certain he does not like me. He does not send me to this post as a good one; he disclaims to represent it as being better than it is; and I doubt very much if it will ever lead me to advancement in the House—whether it does not, on the contrary, dispose of me for ever, and put me out of the way. Now, we must say nothing of this to my Uncle, Captain Cuttle, but must make it out to be as favourable and promising as we can; and when I tell you what it really is, I only do so, that in case any means should ever arise of lending me a hand, so far off, I may have one friend at home who knows my real situation.
“现在讲第二点，卡特尔船长。我很遗憾地告诉您，我不是董贝先生所喜爱的人。我一直来总是想方设法，作出我最大的努力，我也确实总是这样做的，可是他却不喜欢我。也许他不能左右自己的喜爱与厌恶，这一点我也不想说什么。我只是说，我敢肯定他不喜欢我。他派我到那里去，并不是因为那是个好差使；他不想把事情说得比实际好一些，他不屑于这样做；我不相信这次调动会帮助我在公司里晋升职位；相反的，我怀疑是不是要用这个办法把我永远打发掉，以便扫除障碍。可是这些话我们一句也别跟舅舅说，卡特尔船长，我们一定得尽量把这次派遣说成是一个有利的、前程远大的差使；我向您吐露真情，只是为了我在远方万一需要帮助的时候，在祖国能有一个知道我真实情况的朋友。”
'Wal'r, my boy,' replied the Captain, 'in the Proverbs of Solomon you will find the following words, "May we never want a friend in need, nor a bottle to give him!" When found, make a note of.'
“沃尔，我的孩子，”船长回答道，“在所罗门箴言中，你可以找到下面的话：‘让我们永远不缺少患难中的朋友，也不缺少送给他喝的酒！’你找到的时候，请把它记下来。”
Here the Captain stretched out his hand to Walter, with an air of downright good faith that spoke volumes; at the same time repeating (for he felt proud of the accuracy and pointed application of his quotation), 'When found, make a note of.'
这时船长以胜过千言万语的坦白真诚的神情，向沃尔特伸出手来；由于他对准确引用所罗门箴言和运用得当而感到得意，所以又重复说道：“你找到的时候，请把它记下来。”
'Captain Cuttle,' said Walter, taking the immense fist extended to him by the Captain in both his hands, which it completely filled, next to my Uncle Sol, I love you. There is no one on earth in whom I can more safely trust, I am sure. As to the mere going away, Captain Cuttle, I don't care for that; why should I care for that! If I were free to seek my own fortune—if I were free to go as a common sailor—if I were free to venture on my own account to the farthest end of the world—I would gladly go! I would have gladly gone, years ago, and taken my chance of what might come of it. But it was against my Uncle's wishes, and against the plans he had formed for me; and there was an end of that. But what I feel, Captain Cuttle, is that we have been a little mistaken all along, and that, so far as any improvement in my prospects is concerned, I am no better off now than I was when I first entered Dombey's House—perhaps a little worse, for the House may have been kindly inclined towards me then, and it certainly is not now.'
“卡特尔船长，”沃尔特把船长伸出的大拳头满满地握在两只手中说，“除了所尔舅舅，您是我最爱的人。确实，在这世界上我没有更能信赖的人了。单单就离别这件事情本身来说，卡特尔船长，我并不把它放在心上；我为什么要把它放在心上呢！如果我可以自由地去寻找运气的话，如果我可以当一名普通的船员出去的话，如果我可以自由地自己承担风险，航行到天涯海角的话，那么我将高高兴兴地出去！我可能几年前就已经高高兴兴地出去碰碰我的运气如何了。但是这违背我舅舅的愿望，违背他为我所制订的计划，所以事情也就到此完结了。但是，卡特尔船长，我觉得我们过去有一些错误；就改善我的前途来说，我现在出去并不比当初一进董贝公司的时候就出去更好，也许还更坏一些，因为当时公司可能对我怀有好感，现在则肯定没有了。”
重点讲解
一.inquire:vt.询问, 查究 vi.询问, 查究
【词义辨析】
ask, demand, inquire, question
这些动词均含有“问，询问”之意。
ask最普通用词，可与demand, inquire和question换用，但ask用于口语中，指提出问题让人回答。
demand指根据自己的权利、职责或身份认为有必要弄清情况而正式发问，常隐含命令对方回答的意味。
inquire较正式用词，指为得到真实情况而详细询问或调查了解。
question指因感到可疑或为了解情况，弄清究竟而发问，有时指一连串的发问。
【例句用法】
The police will inquire into the cause of his death.
警方将调查他的死因。
We inquired the way of a boy.
我们向一个男孩问路。
二.improve:vt.改善, 改进, 提高 vi.变得更好, 改进
【语法用法】
improve跟improve upon的区别：前者指的的是“在好或不好的基础上进行修改，改进”，而后者则是指“在好的基础再更进一步”。
This poem cannot be improved.
这首诗太好或太坏，以致于不能修改了。
This poem cannot be improved upon.
这首诗好得不能再好了。
improve跟better的区别：前者指的是大方面的，或是人物内在的提高，以及比较抽象的事物的提高，如improve one's health。后者指的是人的地位，物质或经

济条件上的提高，如better the conditions of the workers（工人生活条件的提高）；
在使用improved同improving时要特别注意，避免误用improved而形成被动语态。
【错句举例与错句分析】
错句: Do you think the situation is improved?
订正: Do you think the situation is improving?
翻译: 你认为这个形势得到改善了吗？
分析: 句中的形势改善应是一种主动语态，这不可用improved。
【词义辨析】
improve, better, perfect, refine
这些动词均有“改进、改善”之意。
improve最常用词，多指状态或性质上的深刻或重要改进，也可指自身能力的提高。
better多用于口语，指适当地改善原来并非很差的状态或性质，也指社会地位、经济状况的改善。
perfect语义强，通常指使方法、技术等达到完善美好的境地。
refine侧重指使语言、仪态等变得文雅、优美，也可指技艺等的提高。
【例句用法】
Wine improves with age.
酒存放得越久越醇。
I hope the weather will improve before Friday.
我希望星期五之前天气会好转。
I want to improve my English.
我想提高我的英语水平。