下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
He was standing near his writing—table, and pointing angrily to some envelopes, papers, and little piles of coin upon it as he addressed some observations to the bailiff, Jakoff Michaelovitch, who was standing in his usual place (that is to say, between the door and the barometer) and rapidly closing and unclosing the fingers of the hand which he held behind his back. The more angry Papa grew, the more rapidly did those fingers twirl, and when Papa ceased speaking they came to rest also. Yet, as soon as ever Jakoff himself began to talk, they flew here, there, and everywhere with lightning rapidity. These movements always appeared to me an index of Jakoff's secret thoughts, though his face was invariably placid, and expressive alike of dignity and submissiveness, as who should say, "I am right, yet let it be as you wish. " On seeing us, Papa said, "Directly—wait a moment, " and looked towards the door as a hint for it to be shut.
他正站在书桌旁，生气地指着桌子上的一堆信封、文件，还有上面的一小堆硬币，对站在老地方（就是门和晴雨表之间）的管家雅科夫•米哈伊洛夫说着什么；管家此时正背着双手，手指一会儿握起，一会儿松开。父亲越是生气，他的手指就扭动得越快，父亲不说了，他也不扭了。而雅科夫自己开始说话时，他的手便这儿那儿地到处飞舞，速度简直快如闪电。那些动作在我看来可以反映出雅科夫内心私密的想法，但他的脸还是一如既往地平静。他既意识到自己的尊严，也意识到自己是受人管的。好像在说：我是对的，但就按照你的意愿做吧。一看到我们，父亲便说：马上就好——再等等。然后他看向房门，示意谁去关上。
"Gracious heavens! What can be the matter with you today, Jakoff? " he went on with a hitch of one shoulder (a habit of his). "This envelope here with the 800 roubles enclosed, —Jacob took out a set of tablets, put down 800 and remained looking at the figures while he waited for what was to come next—is for expenses during my absence. Do you understand? From the mill you ought to receive 1000 roubles. Is not that so? And from the Treasury mortgage you ought to receive some 8000 roubles. From the hay—of which, according to your calculations, we shall be able to sell 7000 poods (The pood = 40 lbs. ) at 45 copecks a piece there should come in 3000. Consequently the sum—total that you ought to have in hand soon is—how much? —12, 000 roubles. Is that right? " Precisely, "answered Jakoff. Yet by the extreme rapidity with which his fingers were twitching I could see that he had an objection to make. Papa went on: " Well, of this money you will send 10, 000 roubles to the Petrovskoe local council, As for the money already at the office, you will remit it to me, and enter it as spent on this present date.
慈悲的上帝啊！你今天是怎么回事，雅科夫？他耸了耸一边的肩膀（这是他的一个习惯）。这信封装着800卢布，——雅科夫拿出算盘，写下800，眼睛盯着着数字，等待着下文——是用于我不在时的开销。你明白吗？从磨坊那里，你应该拿到1000卢布。不对吗？然后从国库那里你应该收到8000卢布的押金。干草那儿——按你的估计，应该能卖到7000普特（1普特＝40磅），按45戈比1普特算，能进账3000卢布。这样算下来你手头一共能有多少？——12000卢布。对吧？是的。雅科夫回答道。但他的手指飞快地扭动着，我想他会提出异议。父亲继续说道：那么，你从这些钱里取10000卢布寄给彼得洛夫斯科耶当地的委员会。至于帐房里那些钱，你去拿给我，就当是今天的支出吧。
Jakoff turned over the tablet marked 12, 000, "and put down 21, 000—seeming, by his action, to imply that 12, 000 roubles had been turned over in the same fashion as he had turned the tablet. " And this envelope with the enclosed money, "concluded Papa, " you will deliver for me to the person to whom it is addressed. "
雅科夫把他在算盘上拨出的12000抹掉，打上21000，他这样做，像是表示那12000卢布就像是算珠一样被抹掉了。这个装着钱的信封，父亲最后说，你就给我按照这上面的地址转交给那个人吧。
I was standing close to the table, and could see the address. It was "To Karl Ivanitch Mayer. " Perhaps Papa had an idea that I had read something which I ought not, for he touched my shoulder with his hand and made me aware, by a slight movement, that I must withdraw from the table. Not sure whether the movement was meant for a caress or a command, I kissed the large, sinewy hand which rested upon my shoulder.
我站得离书桌很近，可以看见那个地址。上面写着给卡尔•伊万内奇•马叶尔。父亲似乎是觉察到了我看了一些不该看的东西，于是他把手搭在我的肩上，轻轻地动了一下，示意我离开书桌。我不是很清楚那样的动作是爱抚还是命令，但我还是亲吻了我肩上那只宽大有力的手。
"Very well, " said Jakoff. "And what are your orders about the accounts for the money from Chabarovska? " (Chabarovska was Mamma's village. )
是，雅科夫说，现在您对哈巴洛夫卡那边的账目还有什么吩咐吗？哈巴洛夫卡是母亲的庄园。
"Only that they are to remain in my office, and not to be taken thence without my express instructions. "
存在我的账房里，没有我的指示不许挪用。
For a minute or two Jakoff was silent. Then his fingers began to twitch with extraordinary rapidity, and, changing the expression of deferential vacancy with which he had listened to his orders for one of shrewd intelligence, he turned his tablets back and spoke.
有那么一会儿雅科夫很沉默。然后他的手指动得更快了。他不再是那副聆听命令时毕恭毕敬的呆模样，而是显出了精明的本性，他拉近算盘，开口说道：
"Will you allow me to inform you, Peter Alexandritch, " he said, with frequent pauses between his words, "that, however much you wish it, it is out of the question to repay the local council now. You enumerated some items, I think, as to what ought to come in from the mortgage, the mill, and the hay (he jotted down each of these items on his tablets again as he spoke). Yet I fear that we must have made a mistake somewhere in the accounts. Here he paused a while, and looked gravely at Papa.
请允许我报告，彼得•亚力山德雷奇，他说道，不时地停顿一下，不管你怎么想，但当地委员会那笔钱现在无法偿还。你列举了一些款项，我们能有所进账，比如押金、磨坊和干草（他一边说一边在算盘上记录了每一个项目）。但恐怕我们什么地方算错了。说到这里他停了一会儿，严肃地看着父亲。
"How so? "
怎么会这样？
"Well, will you be good enough to look for yourself? There is the account for the mill. The miller has been to me twice to ask for time, and I am afraid that he has no money whatever in hand. He is here now. Would you like to speak to him? "
那么，你自己看看，好吗？这是磨坊的账目。磨坊老板来找过我两次，请求延期付款，我猜想他手头儿根本没钱。他现在就在这儿。你要跟他谈谈吗？
"No. Tell me what he says, " replied Papa, showing by a movement of his head that he had no desire to have speech with the miller.
不了。告诉我他是怎么说的。父亲回答说。他的头动了一下，表示他不想跟磨坊老板说话。
"Well, it is easy enough to guess what he says. He declares that there is no grinding to be got now, and that his last remaining money has gone to pay for the dam. What good would it do for us to turn him out? As to what you were pleased to say about the mortgage, you yourself are aware that your money there is locked up and cannot be recovered at a moment's notice. I was sending a load of flour to Ivan Afanovitch today, and sent him a letter as well, to which he replies that he would have been glad to oblige you, Peter Alexandritch, were it not that the matter is out of his hands now, and that all the circumstances show that it would take you at least two months to withdraw the money. From the hay I understood you to estimate a return of 3000 roubles? (Here Jakoff jotted down 3000 on his tablets, and then looked for a moment from the figures to Papa with a peculiar expression on his face. ) " Well, surely you see for yourself how little that is? And even then we should lose if we were to sell the stuff now, for you must know that:
好，其实很容易猜到他说了什么。他说现在根本没什么磨坊生意，而他最后的钱都用在大坝上了。如果我们把他赶走，又能得到什么好处呢？至于您说的押金，您自己也清楚您的钱被冻结了，短时间内收不回来。今天我给伊万•阿凡纳西奇运去一车面粉，还附了一封信。他回复说，如果现在事情都在他的控制之中，他很高兴为您，彼得•亚力山德雷奇效劳；但所有的情况都表明您至少要等两个月才能拿回这笔钱。然后干草上您说能收到3000卢布？雅科夫又在记事本上写出3000，他看看数字，又看看父亲，脸上带着奇特的表情。那么，您也清楚这是多么少的数目。再说，如果我们现在就卖出去，还会赔本，因为您一定也知道：
It was clear that he would have had many other arguments to adduce had not Papa interrupted him.
显然，如果不是父亲打断他的话，他还会列举出许多理由来。
"I cannot make any change in my arrangements, " said Papa. "Yet if there should REALLY have to be any delay in the recovery of these sums, we could borrow what we wanted from the Chabarovska funds. "
我不会改变我的安排的。父亲说，即使收回这些账目真的会有什么延误，我们还能用哈巴洛夫卡那笔钱。
"Very well, sir. " The expression of Jakoff's face and the way in which he twitched his fingers showed that this order had given him great satisfaction. He was a serf, and a most zealous, devoted one, but, like all good bailiffs, exacting and parsimonious to a degree in the interests of his master. Moreover, he had some queer notions of his own. He was forever endeavouring to increase his master's property at the expense of his mistress's, and to prove that it would be impossible to avoid using the rents from her estates for the benefit of Petrovskoe (my father's village, and the place where we lived). This point he had now gained and was delighted in consequence.
是，先生。雅科夫脸上的表情和他扭动手指的方式表明他对于这样的安排很满意。他本来是个农奴，而且非常热情忠诚。不过，跟所有的好管家一样，他会为了主人的利益，变得十分苛刻而节俭。而且他还有着一些奇怪的想法。他总是竭力以牺牲女主人的财产为代价来增加男主人的财产。所以他极力证明，不得不用母亲的地产来补贴彼得洛夫斯科耶的开销（也就是我们现在居住着的父亲的庄园）。这个目的他已经达到了，并且很满意这样的结果。
Papa then greeted ourselves, and said that if we stayed much longer in the country we should become lazy boys; that we were growing quite big now, and must set about doing lessons in earnest.
父亲问候了我们，还说如果我们再在乡下呆着会变懒散的；他说我们现在已经长大了，必须开始认真学习了。
"I suppose you know that I am starting for Moscow tonight? " he went on, "and that I am going to take you with me? You will live with Grandmamma, but Mamma and the girls will remain here. You know, too, I am sure, that Mamma's one consolation will be to hear that you are doing your lessons well and pleasing every one around you. "
我想你们知道今晚我要出发去莫斯科了吧？他说道，并且会带上你们。到时候你们跟外祖母住在一起，不过母亲和女孩子们会留在这里。我肯定你们也知道，你们优秀的成绩和让人满意的表现对于母亲来说将是一种安慰。
The preparations which had been in progress for some days past had made us expect some unusual event, but this news left us thunderstruck, Woloda turned red, and, with a shaking voice, delivered Mamma's message to Papa.
这些天来的准备已经渐渐令我们察觉到有什么不寻常的事要发生，但这个消息还是使沃恩震惊不已，沃洛达的脸变得通红，然后用颤抖的声音转达了母亲让捎的口信。
"So this was what my dream foreboded! " I thought to myself. "God send that there come nothing worse! " I felt terribly sorry to have to leave Mamma, but at the same rejoiced to think that I should soon be grown up, "If we are going today, we shall probably have no lessons to do, and that will be splendid. However, I am sorry for Karl Ivanitch, for he will certainly be dismissed now. That was why that envelope had been prepared for him. I think I would almost rather stay and do lessons here than leave Mamma or hurt poor Karl. He is miserable enough already. "
原来我那个梦就预示着这个！我暗暗地想，上帝保佑千万别有什么更糟糕的事情了！我十分不愿意离开母亲，但同时又高兴我很快就能长大了。如果我们今天走的话，我们就不用做功课了，那简直太棒了。但是，我为卡尔•伊万内奇感到难过，因为他一定会被辞退的。所以才会准备那个信封给他。我想我简直宁愿留在这儿一直学下去，而不是离开母亲，或是伤害可怜的卡尔。他已经够悲惨的了。
As these thoughts crossed my mind, I stood looking sadly at the black ribbons on my shoes. After a few words to Karl Ivanitch about the depression of the barometer and an injunction to Jakoff not to feed the hounds, since a farewell meet was to be held after luncheon, Papa disappointed my hopes by sending us off to lessons—though he also consoled us by promising to take us out hunting later. On my way upstairs I made a digression to the terrace. Near the door leading on to it Papa's favourite hound, Milka, was lying in the sun and blinking her eyes.
这些思绪掠过我的脑海，我悲伤地站着，看着鞋带。父亲又跟卡尔•伊万内奇说了几句晴雨表下降的事，吩咐雅科夫不要去喂猎犬，因为午宴过后我们要去向它们辞行。然后，父亲打消了我的希望，他让我们去上课——不过也安慰我们说会带我们出去打猎。上楼的时候，我顺便跑到平台上。在通向平台的门边，父亲最喜欢的那只猎狗米尔卡正躺在那儿眨着眼睛晒太阳。
"Miloshka, " I cried as I caressed her and kissed her nose, "we are going away today. Goodbye. Perhaps we shall never see each other again. " I was crying and laughing at the same time.
米尔卡，我抚摸着它，吻着它的鼻子喊道，我们今天就要离开这里了。再见。也许我们再也不会见面了。一时间，我又哭又笑。
CHAPTER IV LESSONS