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When you are getting on in years [1] (but not ill, of course), you get very sleepy at times [2] , and the hours seem to pass like lazy cattle moving across a landscape [3] . It was like that for Chips [4] as the autumn term progressed and the days shortened till it was actually dark enough to light the gas before call-over [5] . For [6] Chips, like some old sea-captain, still measured time by the signals of the past; and well he might [7] , for he lived at Mrs. Wickett’s [8] , just across the road from the School [9] . He had been there more than a decade [10] , ever since [11] he finally gave up his mastership [12] ; and it was Brookfield far more than Greenwich time that both he and his landlady kept [13] . ‘Mrs. Wickett,’ Chips would sing out [14] , in that jerky, high-pitched voice [15] that had still a good deal of [16] sprightliness [17] in it, ‘you might [18] bring me a cup of tea before prep [19] , will you?’
When you are getting on in years it is nice to sit by the fire [20] and drink a cup of tea and listen to the school bell sounding dinner, call-over, prep, and lights out [21] . Chips always wound up the clock [22] after that last bell [23] ; then he put the wire guard [24] in front of the fire, turned out the gas [25] , and carried a detective novel to bed [26] . Rarely did he read more than a page of it [27] before sleep came swiftly and peacefully, more like a mystic intensifying of perception than any changeful entrance into another world [28] . For [29] his days and nights were equally full of [30] dreaming.
He was getting on in years (but not ill, of course); indeed, as Doctor Merivale [31] said, there was really nothing the matter with [32] him. ‘My dear fellow, you’re fitter [33] than I am,’ Merivale would say, sipping a glass of sherry [34] when he called every fortnight or so [35] . ‘You’re past the age when people get these horrible diseases; you’re one of the few lucky ones who’re going to die a really natural death [36] . That is [37] , of course, if you die at all [38] . You’re such a remarkable old boy [39] that one never knows [40] .’ But when Chips had a cold [41] or when east winds roared over the fenlands, Merivale would sometimes take Mrs. Wickett aside [42] in the lobby [43] and whisper: ‘Look after him, you know [44] . His chest ... it puts a strain on his heart. [45] Nothing really wrong with him [46] — only anno domini [47] , but that’s the most fatal complaint [48] of all, in the end [49] …’
Anno domini ... by Jove [50] , yes. Born in [51] 1848 and taken to the Great Exhibition [52] as a toddling child —not many people still alive [53] could boast [54] a thing like that. Besides, Chips could even remember Brookfield in Wetherby’s time [55] . A phenomenon, that was [56] . Wetherby had been an old man in those days — 1870 — easy to remember because of the Franco-Prussian War [57] . Chips had put in for [58] Brookfield after a year at Melbury [59] , which he hadn’t liked, because he had been ragged [60] there a good deal [61] . But Brookfield he had liked, almost from the beginning. [62] He remembered that day of his preliminary interview [63] — sunny July, with the air full of flower scents and the plick-plock [64] of cricket [65] on the pitch [66] . Brookfield was playing Barnhurst [67] , and one of the Barnhurst boys, a chubby little fellow, made a brilliant century [68] . Queer that a thing like that should stay in the memory so clearly. [69] Wetherby himself was very fatherly and courteous [70] ; he must have been ill then, poor chap [71] , for he died during the summer vacation, before Chips began his first term. But the two had seen and spoken to each other, anyway [72] . Chips often thought, as he sat by the fire at Mrs. Wickett’s: I am probably the only man in the world [73] who has a vivid recollection of old Wetherby ... Vivid, yes; it was a frequent picture in his mind, that summer day [74] with the sunlight filtering through [75] the dust [76] in Wetherby’s study. ‘You are a young man, Mr. Chipping [77] , and Brookfield is an old foundation [78] . Youth and age [79] often combine well. Give your enthusiasm to Brookfield and Brookfield will give you something in return. [80] And don’t let anyone play tricks with [81] you. I — er [82] — gather [83] that discipline was not always your strong point at Melbury [84] ?’
‘Well [85] , no, perhaps not [86] , sir.’
‘Never mind; you’re full [87] young; it’s largely a matter of experience [88] . You have another chance here. Take up a firm attitude [89] from the beginning, that’s the secret of it [90] .’
Perhaps it was. [91] He remembered that first tremendous ordeal [92] of taking prep [93] ; a September sunset [94] more than half a century ago; Big Hall [95] full of lusty barbarians ready to pounce on him as their legitimate prey [96] . His youth [97] , fresh-complexioned [98] , high-collared, and side-whiskered [99] (odd fashions people followed in those days [100] ), at the mercy of [101] five hundred unprincipled ruffians [102] to whom the baiting of new masters was a fine art [103] , an exciting sport, and something of [104] a tradition [105] . Decent little beggars individually [106] , but, as a mob, just pitiless and implacable [107] . The sudden hush [108] as he took his place at the desk on the dais [109] ; the scowl he assumed to cover his inward nervousness [110] ; the tall clock ticking behind him and the smells of ink and varnish; the last blood-red rays slanting in slabs through the stained-glass windows [111] . Someone dropped a desk lid. Quickly, he must take everyone by surprise [112] ; he must show that there was no nonsense about him [113] . ‘You there in the fifth row — you with the red hair — what’s your name?’— ‘Colley [114] , sir.’ — ‘Very well, Colley, you have a hundred lines [115] .’ No trouble at all after that [116] . He had won his first round [117] .
And years later [118] , when Colley was an alderman [119] of the City of London [120] and a baronet [121] and various other things [122] , he sent his son (also red-haired) to Brookfield, and Chips would say: ‘Colley, your father was the first boy I ever punished [123] when I came here twenty-five years ago. He deserved it [124] then, and you deserve it now?’ How they all laughed; and how Sir Richard [125] laughed when his son wrote home [126] the story in next Sunday’s letter!
And again, years after that, many years after that [127] , there was an even better [128] joke. For another Colley [129] had just arrived — son of the Colley who was a son of the first Colley. And Chips would say, punctuating his remarks with that little ‘umph-um’ [130] that had by then [131] become a habit with him: ‘Colley，you are — umph — a splendid [132] example of — umph — inherited traditions [133] . I remember your grandfather [134] — umph — he could never grasp the Ablative Absolute [135] . A stupid fellow, your grandfather. [136] And your father, too — umph — I remember him — he used to [137] sit at that far desk [138] by the wall [139] — he wasn’t much better，either [140] . But I do believe — my dear Colley — that you are — umph — the biggest fool of the lot [141] !’ Roars of laughter.
A great joke, this growing old — but a sad joke, too [142] , in a way [143] . And as Chips sat by his fire with autumn gales rattling [144] the windows, the waves of humour and sadness [145] swept over him very often until tears [146] fell, so that when Mrs. Wickett came in with his cup of tea she did not know whether he had been laughing or crying. And neither did Chips himself. [147]
[1] getting on in years 渐渐老了；上年纪
[2] at times 时常；是习语
[3] a landscape 一片风景
[4] Chips [tʃɪps] 契普斯，本书主人公，其实这是他的绰号；他姓Chipping ['tʃɪpɪŋ]，但学生们都称他Chips。
[5] the days shortened till it was actually dark enough to light the gas before call-over 白日一天短一天，短到在点名之前已经暗得要点煤气灯。it指天色；gas指煤气灯。 call-over = roll-call 点名。日长的时候当在点名之后才点灯。
[6] For 并列连词，引起一个全句。
[7] well he might = he might well measure ['meʒə] time by the signals of the past. well = reasonably.
[8] at Mrs. Wickett’s. ['wɪkɪts] = at Mrs. Wickett’s house or home.
[9] across the road from the School 在这所学校对面。across the road from也可作across from。 School 专指 Brookfield ['brʊkfi:ld] 公学，所以用大写开首，参见下文。
[10] decade ['dekeɪd] 十年
[11] ever since 自从；比since语气重，有“自从……以来一向”的意思。
[12] give up ['gɪv'ʌp] his mastership 放弃他的教员职位。
[13] it was Brookfield far more than Greenwich ['grɪnɪdʒ] time that both he and his landlady ['læn'leɪdɪ] kept 是both he and his landlady kept Brookfield far more than Greenwich time 的强调句，意思是说“他和他的女房东所遵照的时间，与其说是格林威治（世界标准）时间，远不如说是布鲁克菲尔德时间。” Brookfield 英国地名，也是当地的学校名，这里指Brookfield time。 Greenwich 在英国伦敦附近，为本初子午线经过的地方。
[14] would sing out 时常高声喊道。would表示过去惯常的行为。
[15] jerky, high-pitched ['haɪ'pɪtʃt] voice 断断续续的，音调高的声音
[16] a good deal of 许多（后面接不可数名词）
[17] sprightliness ['spraɪtlɪnɪs] 生气勃勃
[18] you might 意思相当于I request you to，是一种客气的祈使句式。句末附加疑问will you，也是客气的语气。
[19] before prep 在上预备课之前。 prep 学生用语，是preparation的简写。
[20] sit by the fire 坐在火炉旁边。 fire 火炉中的火。
[21] the school bell sounding dinner, call-over, prep, and lights out 学校的钟声响起，通知吃晚饭、点名、上预备课和熄灯。 dinner 正餐，一般是晚上的一顿主餐，不是supper。
[22] wound [waʊnd] up the clock 给钟上发条；开钟。wound是wind [waɪnd]的过去式。
[23] after that last bell 最后一次敲钟（指熄灯钟）之后
[24] wire guard （放在火炉前的）金属丝安全罩
[25] turned out the gas 关掉煤气
[26] to bed 就寝；并不着重“到床上去”。这里的bed带有抽象的意思。
[27] Rarely did he read more than a page of it = He rarely read [red] more than a page of it. 因略有否定意味的副词rarely放在句首，所以句中主谓倒装。
[28] more like a mystic intensifying of perception than any changeful entrance into another world （修饰 sleep）更像是一种神秘的感知强化，而不像是任何变幻莫测的世界切换。因Chips年迈，醒时所见反不如梦中所见的清楚。
[29] For 并列连词，引起一个全句。
[30] full of 充满
[31] Doctor Merivale ['merɪveɪl] 梅里韦尔医生
[32] the matter with = amiss with，wrong with，对于……失常的。the matter有形容词的作用。
[33] fitter 更健康的
[34] sherry ['ʃerɪ] 西班牙等地产的葡萄酒；雪利酒
[35] called every fortnight or so 每（隔）两星期左右来访一次
[36] ’re going to die a really natural death 将真正自然地死去。 die a natural death 指因年老或疾病而死，有别于因事故、遇害、自杀等而死。
[37] That is 那就是说；即
[38] if you die at all 承接上句，省去主句you’re going to die a really natural death。
[39] old boy 老头儿，也作对男子的昵称
[40] one never knows 人们无从逆料（他究竟如何）。这里有“也许他竟会不死”的含义。 one 泛指“人们”。
[41] had a cold 伤风
[42] take Mrs. Wickett aside 把Mrs. Wickett拉到旁边
[43] lobby 前室；门廊
[44] you know 你该知道（谈话中常用的口头语）
[45] His chest ... it puts a strain on his heart. 这里 it 是赘词。作者用省略号表示医生说了His chest后停顿了一下，再接下去说时，插入一个 it 代 his chest。 put a strain on his heart 增加他心脏的负担；压迫心脏。
[46] Nothing really wrong with him = There is nothing really wrong with him 他并不真有什么毛病。 wrong with = 上文的the matter with。
[47] anno domini ['ænə ʊ 'dɒmɪnaɪ] （口语）老年；一般用大写，原义是“公元”。
[48] fatal complaint 致命的疾病
[49] in the end 到底；究竟
[50] by Jove ['dʒəʊv] 一种口头禅，有赌咒的意思，表示“真的”、“不是胡说”等。 Jove = Jupiter ['dʒu:pɪtə] 罗马神话中的主神。
[51] Born in 前面省去 He was。
[52] the Great Exhibitio n [eksɪ'bɪʃ ə n] 1851年英国伦敦举行的第一次大展览会
[53] alive [ə'laɪv] 活着的，只能用作表语或后置修饰语。
[54] boast 夸口说
[55] Wetherby’s ['weðəbɪz] time 在韦瑟比（任校长）的时候
[56] A phenomenon [fɪ'nɒmɪnən] , that was = That was a phenomenon。 phenomenon 稀有现象。
[57] Franco-Prussian ['fræŋkəʊ'prʌʃ ə n] War 普（鲁士）法（兰西）战争（爆发于1870年）
[58] put in for 请求加入
[59] Melbury ['melb ə rɪ] 梅尔伯瑞，英国地名，也是那地方的校名。
[60] ragged [rægd] rag的过去分词，“被人作弄”的意思。注意不要与形容词ragged ['rægɪd]（破烂的，粗糙的）混淆。
[61] a good deal 许多，这里作状语。
[62] But Brookfield he had liked, almost from the beginning. 这句中把宾语Brookfield放在句首，是强调Brookfield； had 印成斜体，也表示强调，要重读。上句说他不喜欢Melbury，这句说“可是Brookfield是他几乎一开始就确实喜欢的。” from the beginning 从一开始就……（有“始终”的意思）。比较： at the beginning 在开始的时候（开始时候如此，后来未必如此）。
[63] preliminary [prɪ'lɪmInərɪ] interview ['ɪntəvju:] 就职前的面试。雇主在雇用新人之前，往往要先经过一次面试，对雇员进行一些了解或交待一些情况。
[64] plick-plock 劈里啪啦的声音
[65] cricket ['krɪkɪt] 板球（盛行于英国的一种球类运动）
[66] pitch （板球的）两个三柱门（wicket）之间的球场
[67] playing Barnhurst ['bɑ:nhɜ:st] 和巴恩赫斯特校队比赛
[68] made a brilliant century 得到个漂亮的一百分。 century （板球比赛中的）一百分(100 runs)。
[69] Queer that a thing like that should stay in the memory so clearly. = It is queer that ... should .... should有“竟然”的意思。
[70] fatherly and courteous [kɜ:tjəs] 慈祥和殷勤的
[71] poor chap 可怜的家伙（对人怜悯或同情的称呼；这里是称 Wetherby。）
[72] anyway 无论如何；= anyhow
[73] the only man in the world 这里in the world是习语，并不着重world这词的实义，有“天下；毕竟”的意思，如：What in the world is it?（这到底是什么？）
[74] it was a frequent picture in his mind, that summer day 那年夏季的这一天是他头脑里时常出现的一幅图象；即那天的情景常萦绕在他脑际。这里it是虚词，实际的主语是that summer day；that summer day后面的话只是它的修饰语。同类的句子如：it is important, education。
[75] filtering through 滤过；透过
[76] dust 一片灰尘
[77] Chipping 是Chips的正式姓氏，见前注。
[78] Brookfield is an old foundation 布鲁克菲尔德是一所（建立已久的）老学校。
[79] Youth and age 指Chips和Brookfield，参看上句。
[80] Give your enthusiasm [ɪn'θju:zɪæz ə m] to Brookfield and Brookfield will give you something in return. = If you give your enthusiasm to Brookfield, Brookfield will give you something in return. in return 作为报答。
[81] play tricks with 对……恶作剧；对……耍花招
[82] er [ə] 在断续的说话中无意识地发出的含糊音
[83] gather 推想
[84] discipline ['dɪsɪplɪn] was not always your strong point at Melbury? 你在梅尔伯瑞管学生的纪律并不怎么好吧？（全句用陈述句的形式，句末用疑问号，读时带疑问口气，相当于疑问句。always没有具体意义，只是使语气婉转些。 strong point 优点；特长。
[85] Well 语助词（谈话时常用）
[86] perhaps not = perhaps discipline was not always my strong point at Melbury.
[87] full 十分，极（是副词）
[88] it’s largely a matter of experience 这主要是个经验问题。 largely 主要地。
[89] Take up a firm attitude ['ætɪtju:d] 采取坚强态度
[90] that’s the secret of it 这个it说不出它的先行词是什么，有的语法家称之为“it的含糊用法”（the vague use of it ）。
[91] Perhaps it was. = Perhaps it was the secret of it.
[92] tremendous [trɪ'mendəs] ordeal [ɔ:'dɪəl] 可怕的磨难
[93] taking prep 主持预备课（prep见第5页注释19）
[94] sunset 日落时
[95] Big Hall （Brookfield 学校中的）大礼堂
[96] lusty barbarians [bɑ:'beərɪənz] ready to pounce on him as their legitimate [lɪ'dʒɪtɪmɪt] prey 强壮的野人们（指学生们，说他们的粗野）准备随时向他扑击上来，当作他们合法的猎物。 （用legitimate是说学生认为作弄新教师是理所当然的，有讥刺的意思。）
[97] His youth 他的青春（这里用抽象的“他的青春”指他这青春时代的人）
[98] fresh-complexioned 神清气爽的
[99] side-whiskered 两颊有须的
[100] odd fashions people followed in those days = odd fashions which （或 that）people followed in those days
[101] at the mercy of 在……掌握之中；任……处置
[102] ruffians 流氓们（指那些捣蛋学生）
[103] the baiting of new masters was a fine art 作弄新教师是一种巧妙的艺术。a fine art 有“拿手好戏”的意思；比较： the fine arts 美术，或泛指艺术。
[104] something of = in some sense or degree
[105] tradition [trə'dɪʃ ə n] 传统的风气
[106] Decent ['di:snt] little beggars individually [ˌɪndɪ'vɪdʒʊəlɪ] = They are little beggars individually 他们一个个分别而论都是些循规蹈矩的小家伙。little beggars = youngsters，是戏谑语。
[107] implacable [ɪm'plækəbl] 无法使其镇定的
[108] The sudden hush 和后面 the scowl，the smells，the last blood-red rays 一连串名词后面都只有修饰语，没有谓语。这种以名词或名词词组构成的单部句（one-member sentence），在文艺作品中很多，可称为“名词句”。
[109] took his place at the desk on the dais ['deɪɪs] 在讲台上的书桌前就位（不一定是坐是立）
[110] the scowl [skaʊl] he assumed to cover ['kʌvə] his inward ['ɪnwəd] nervousness 为掩盖他内心的紧张而做出的皱眉的样子。the scowl后省去which （或that）。
[111] the last blood-red rays slanting in slabs through the stained-glass windows 一片片血红的残阳穿过彩色玻璃窗斜射进来。
[112] he must take everyone by surprise 他定要使人人都吃一惊。 he must … （Chips想）他必须……（用must而不用had to…，表示he当时的想法。下面的he must也是这样。）
[113] there was no nonsense about him 他（Chips）不容胡闹
[114] Colley ['kɒlɪ] 考利，姓
[115] you have a hundred lines 罚你抄一百行拉丁文（英国学校的一种罚则）
[116] No trouble at all after that. = There was no trouble at all after that. 在那以后就没有麻烦了。
[117] won his first round 胜了第一个回合。 round 一局；一场。
[118] years later 若干年后。years修饰later。
[119] alderman ['ɔ:ldəmən] 英国的市政官，次于市长（mayor）
[120] the City of London 伦敦市区（比通称的London范围小）
[121] baronet ['bærənɪt] 从男爵
[122] and various other things 还有各种其他头衔
[123] the first boy I ever punished = the first boy that I ever punished
[124] deserved it 应得处罚。it指上句所说的处罚这件事，未必一定要有个名词（如punishment）做它的先行词。
[125] Sir Richard ['rɪtʃəd] = Sir Richard Colley，就是上文第一个Colley。因为他是baronet，所以称Sir。注意Sir用在baronet和knight （爵士）的姓名或名之前，不可用于姓的前面，和Mr.的用法不同。
[126] wrote home 把……写在家信中
[127] years after that, many years after that 许多许多年以后（这里，推想起来，当是二十多年之后。）
[128] even better 甚至更好
[129] another Colley 又一个姓考利的（他是第三代的Colley了）
[130] punctuating ['pʌŋ k tjʊeɪtɪŋ] his remarks with that little ‘umph-um” 用那“嗯，嗯”之声（像标点一般）夹杂在他说的话里。umph可读作含糊的[m]，也可读作[ʌmf]；um可读作[əm]。
[131] by then 到那时候，不迟于那个时候
[132] splendid 出色的；这里是谐语，有讥刺义。
[133] inherited [ɪn'herɪtɪd] traditions 继承的传统
[134] your grandfather 指第一个Colley
[135] Ablative ['æblətɪv] Absolute ['æbsəl j u:t] （拉丁语法中的）夺格独立结构
[136] A stupid fellow, your grandfather. = Your grandfather was a stupid fellow. 这种省去连系动词而把主语和表语倒置的句型，口语中常有。
[137] used to… （过去）常常……。在现代英语中只用过去式used to，不用现在式use to。又，used本当读[ju:zd]，但在used to这一习语中读[ju:st]。
[138] that far desk 那个远离讲台的课桌
[139] by the wall 靠墙的
[140] wasn’t much better, either 也并不好多少。 either 也；用在否定句中。
[141] the lot 全体，一批。这里指Colley祖孙三个。
[142] A great joke, this growing old — but a sad joke, too = This growing old is a great joke — but a sad joke, too 这样一年年变老（的情况）是一个大笑话，……，渐入老境的这个情况既可笑，又可悲。
[143] in a way 就某一方面而论；多少有些是习语。
[144] rattling 使震动而发出格格声
[145] waves of humour ['hju:mə] and sadness 浪潮般的一阵阵幽默和忧伤。humour也读作['ju:mə]，那是老式的读法。
[146] tears [tɪəz] 泪珠；是不可数名词。注意：动词tear（撕）读[teə]，不要混淆。
[147] And neither did Chips himself Chips本人也不（知道）。And neither = Neither.