原文欣赏
'Ned,' said the old man, drawing Walter to his side, and taking his arm tenderly through his, 'I know. I know. Of course I know that Wallyconsidersme more than himself always. That's in my mind. When I say he is glad to go, I mean I hope he is. Eh? look you, Ned and you too, Wally, my dear, this is new and unexpected to me; and I'm afraid my being behind the time, and poor, is at the bottom of it. Is it really good fortune for him, do you tell me, now?' said the old man, looking anxiously from one to the other. 'Really and truly? Is it? I can reconcile myself to almost anything that advances Wally, but I won't have Wally putting himself at any disadvantage for me, or keeping anything from me. You, Ned Cuttle!' said the old man, fastening on the Captain, to the manifest confusion of that diplomatist; 'are you dealing plainly by your old friend? Speak out, Ned Cuttle. Is there anything behind? Ought he to go? How do you know it first, and why?'
“内德，”老人把沃尔特拉到他的身旁，亲切地挽着他的胳膊，说道，“我知道。我知道。我知道沃尔特总是更多地考虑我，而很少考虑他自己。这一点我心里是明白的。我说他高兴去，我的意思是说，我希望他高兴去。嗯，内德，你听着，还有沃利，亲爱的，你也听着，这是我意想不到的新消息；我怕我落在时代的后面，而且贫穷可怜；这就是根本的原因。现在，请你们告诉我，这对他是不是真的是个好运气？”老人忧虑不安地从这一位望到另一位，说道，“千真万确是那样吗？如果这对沃利的前程真是有利的话，那么我自己几乎什么都能迁就，但是我不愿意沃利为我而牺牲自己或者对我隐瞒什么。你，内德·卡特尔”！老人眼睛直瞪着船长，瞪得这位外交家局促不安，“你对你的老朋友老实吗？说出来，内德·卡特尔背后有什么瞒着我？他该不该去？你怎么先知道的，为什么能先知道？”
As it was a contest of affection and self-denial, Walter struck in with infinite effect, to the Captain's relief; and between them they tolerably reconciled old Sol Gills, by continued talking, to the project; or rather so confused him, that nothing, not even the pain of separation, was distinctly clear to his mind.
由于这是一场骨肉情谊与自我牺牲的竞赛，船长感到宽慰的是，沃尔特这时进来插话，取得了无限的效果。他们两人一刻不停地交谈着，使老所尔·吉尔斯多少安下心来；或者说得确切些，把他弄得稀里糊涂，一切都不明白，甚至连离别的痛苦他也不能清楚地感觉到了。
He had not much time tobalancethe matter; for on the very next day, Walter received from Mr Carker the Manager, the necessary credentials for his passage and outfit, together with the information that the Son and Heir would sail in a fortnight, or within a day or two afterwards at latest. In the hurry of preparation: which Walter purposely enhanced as much as possible: the old man lost what little selfpossession he ever had; and so the time of departure drew on rapidly.
他没有多少时间来衡量这件事情，因为第二天，沃尔特就从经理卡克先生那里接到有关出发和服装用品的必要指令，同时还得悉，“儿子和继承人”号将在两星期或最迟晚一、两天内开航。沃尔特故意把准备工作搞得匆匆忙忙，在这匆忙的过程中，老人仅有的一点冷静也失去了，因此启程的日期迅速地就临近了。
重点讲解
一.consider:v.考虑, 思考, 认为, 体谅, 注视
【词义辨析】
1.consider, think, believe, count, deem, reckon, regard
这些动词均含有“认为”之意。
consider指经过考虑和观察后得出的结论。
think普通用词，指按照自己的意见提出看法。
believe通常指根据一定的证据，经思考后而认为属实。
count指作出判断后而得出的看法等。
deem正式用词，常用于法律、文学，强调作判断而不是思考。
reckon指对人或事作全面“权衡”，把各方面意见考虑进去后得出结论。
regard侧重凭外表或表面现象作判断。多强调观点。
2.study, consider, ponder, weigh, contemplate
这些动词均有“考虑、思考、估量”之意。
study普通用词，指对各方面考虑，在制订出计划或采取具体动作之前作认真检查。
consider既指一时的对某事的考虑，也指长时间的深入的思考。
ponder侧重仔细、深入、连续地考虑问题，以作出认真的估计和正确的抉择。
weigh指作出决策前把问题的各个方面进行比较，权衡利害得失，取有利的方面。
contemplate通常指长时间思考某事，有时含无确定的实际目的。
【例句用法】
In judging him you should consider his youth.
在对他进行评审时，你应该考虑到他还年轻。
He will be considered a weak leader.
他会被认为是个软弱无能的领导人。
二.balance:n.平衡, 天平, 平静, 结余, 差额, 调和, 制衡 vt.权衡, 使平衡, 抵消, 称重量 vi.均衡, 建立平衡
【语法用法】
美国人习惯用the balance表示“其余”，而英国人则习惯用the remainder或the rest来表示。
【词义辨析】
remainder, surplus, rest, remains, balance
这些名词均含“剩余部分”之意。
remainder含义较广，可指数学运算中的余数，也指从整体取走或用掉部分后的所余部分，或一群人走掉一部分剩下的人。
surplus表盈余。
rest最普通用词与定冠词连用，指任何指定数量的人或物等。
remains常指人或动物死后的遗体或遗骨，也指古代文明的遗迹或去世作家尚未发表的遗稿。
balance指支取存款的余额或减去各种开支后的尾数。
【例句用法】
Do the firm's accounts balance?
这家公司的帐目收支是否平衡？
The girl lost her balance and fell off the balance beam.
小女孩失去了平衡，从平衡木上摔了下来。