原文欣赏
The Captain, who did not fail to make himself acquainted with all that passed, through inquiries of Walter from day to day, found the time still tending on towards his going away, without any occasion offering itself, or seeming likely toofferitself, for a better understanding of his position. It was after much consideration of this fact, and much pondering over such an unfortunate combination of circumstances, that a bright idea occurred to the Captain. Suppose he made a call on Mr Carker, and tried to find out from him how the land really lay!
船长每天都向沃尔特打听，所以知道发生的一切情形；他觉得时间一天天接近沃尔特动身的日子，却没有出现或看来可能出现任何情况可以更好地了解沃尔特的处境。船长对这个事情进行了反复的考虑，对不幸凑合在一起的一些情况进行了许多思索之后，心中忽然出现一个巧妙的主意。不妨去拜访一下卡克先生，设法从他那里了解一下，海岸究竟是在哪个方向？
Captain Cuttle liked this idea very much. It came upon him in a moment of inspiration, as he was smoking an early pipe in Brig Place after breakfast; and it was worthy of the tobacco. It would quiet his conscience, which was an honest one, and was made a little uneasy by what Walter had confided to him, and what Sol Gills had said; and it would be a deep, shrewd act of friendship. He would sound Mr Carker carefully, and say much or little, just as he read that gentleman's character, and discovered that they got on well together or the reverse.
卡特尔船长很喜欢这个主意，它是他在布里格广场吃过早饭以后抽第一斗烟时灵机一动的一刹那中突然来到他的头脑中的；抽这斗烟很值得。他的良心是诚实的，沃尔特向他吐露的内情以及所尔·吉尔斯所说的话曾使他稍感不安，这次访问将会使他的良心安宁下来；而且这将是一个寓意深长，精明高超的友好行动。他将谨慎小心地试探卡克先生，当他看清这位先生的性格，认定他们是否能融洽相处之后再决定多谈或少谈。
Accordingly, without the fear of Walter before his eyes (who he knew was at home packing), Captain Cuttle again assumed his ankle-jacks and mourning brooch, and issued forth on this second expedition. He purchased no propitiatory nosegay on the present occasion, as he was going to a place of business; but he put a small sunflower in his button-hole to give himself an agreeable relish of the country; and with this, and the knobby stick, and the glazed hat, bore down upon the offices of Dombey and Son.
因此，不怕遇见沃尔特（他知道他在家里忙着收拾行李），卡特尔船长重新穿上短靴，别上哀悼友人的胸针，走上他的第二次征途。这次他没有买送礼的花束，因为他是到一个办公的地方去；但是他在钮扣孔里插了一朵小小的向日葵花，身上发出了令人愉快的乡村的清香，他就这样拿着那根多节的手杖，戴着上了光的帽子，动身到董贝父子公司去了。
重点讲解
一.offer:vt.提供, 提出, 出价, 贡献 vi.提议, 出现, 求婚 n.提议, 出价
【语法用法】
offer作名词或动词时，后均可加不定式，但是在作名词时所接的不定式的动作一般是由提出offer的人做的。
He made an offer to teach me French.
他提议教我学法语。
offer和give不可同时使用，因都有“提供”的意思，有重复性。
He offered to give her help.
He offered her help.
第一句是错误的，应用第二句的格式。
Both advice and help were offered (to) the young man.句中的to在英国不可省略，但在美国可省略。
【错句举例与错句分析】
错句: Jack offered driving his friend to the airport.
订正: Jack offered to drive his friend to the airport.
翻译: 杰克提议开车送他朋友去机场。
分析: offer后可接不定式，不可接动名词。
【词义辨析】
offer, present, propose, volunteer
这些动词均含“提出、提供”之意。
offer最普通用词，多指主动提出或提供意见或东西等，但是否接受由对方自行决定。
present既可指提出意见、建议等，又可指拿出某物供人欣赏或赠送。
propose指直接而主动地提出问题或建议等，也指在讨论或争辨中提出具体意见或建议。
volunteer与offer同义，侧重出于自愿，而不是奉命做某事。
【例句用法】
He came towards me, smiled and offered his hand.
他向我走来，微笑著伸出手来和我握手。
Ask her about it when a suitable moment offers itself.
这个问题你在适当的时候问问她吧。
二.business:n.商业, 事务, 生意
【语法用法】
business由busy和ness组合而成，等同于busy的抽象名词；
in business指“在经商营业”，属于形容词短语或状语短语范畴；on business指“因事或因公，出差”，属于状语短语。
She engaged in business.
She wants to see you on business.
go to business意思是“到办事处去，上班”，go into business意思是“从事商业”。
She go to business by bike.
He went into business at the age of 18.
表示“不要管别人的闲事”可说“Mind your own business”。
【词义辨析】
1.affair, business, matter, concern, thing
这些名词均含“事情”之意。
affair含义较广，侧重指已发生或必须去做的任何事情或事务。复数形式多指重大或较复杂的事务。
business通常指较重要或较难而又必须承担的事情，也可指商事。
matter普通用词，着重指一件考虑中的或需要处理的事。
concern往往强调与个人或团体利害有直接或重大关系的事。
thing用作“事情”解时，词义较笼统、含糊，多用于指不很具体的事。
2.business, commerce, trade, bargain, deal
这些名词均含“贸易，交易”之意。
business指包括售货、购货、换货在内的综合商业活动，方式可以是批发或零售。
commerce多指大规模的买卖或易货关系。
trade普通用词，含义广。既可指某种具体的商业又可指广泛的贸易。
bargain多指买卖双方通过谈判、协商就商品质量、数量、价格等项达成协议所成的生意。
deal口语用词，指买卖双方经过交涉达成协议成交。
【例句用法】
The main business of this meeting is our wages claim.
这次会议的主要议题是我们在工资方面的要求。
Business is always brisk before Christmas.
圣诞节前生意总是很兴隆。