現(xiàn)代英文選評：A Student in Economics 工讀生

A Student in Economics 工讀生

George Milburn (1906—1966)

本文原題《經(jīng)濟(jì)系學(xué)生》，描寫一個(gè)半工半讀的大學(xué)生清苦的生活，文筆樸素，很是動(dòng)人。我國學(xué)生有志留學(xué)者甚多，這篇描寫美國學(xué)生生活的小說，很值得我們參考。

作者喬治·米爾本是美國小說家，生于俄克拉何馬州。本文選自《短篇名作二十篇》（Twenty Grand Short Stories, Bantam Books）。

All of the boys on the third floor of Mrs. Gooch's approved rooms for men had been posted to get Charlie Wingate up that afternoon. He had to go to see the Dean. Two or three of them forgot all about it and two or three of them had other things to do, but Eddie Barbour liked waking people up.

● approved rooms for men：經(jīng)學(xué)校當(dāng)局核準(zhǔn)的男生公寓。美國有些大學(xué)規(guī)定：本科學(xué)生一定得住學(xué)校宿舍，如借住校外公寓者，則該項(xiàng)公寓須經(jīng)學(xué)校當(dāng)局特別核準(zhǔn)。Mrs. Gooch是公寓房東太太的名字。posted：通知。had been posted：事前都經(jīng)囑托。get…up：喚醒。

● Dean：大學(xué)里高級首長，可能是院長，也可能是教務(wù)長，這里是訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長，看下文便知。訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長要找那位學(xué)生下午去談話，那位學(xué)生下午要睡覺，恐怕因睡誤事，特別拜托同宿舍的朋友叫醒他。到了那時(shí)，別人都沒有來叫他，只有一位朋友還把這事放在心上。

Hey! Eddie cried. "Come out of that! Wake up there, Charlie! You can't sleep no more if you got to see the Dean at two-thirty. You just about got time to make it."

Two hours' sleep ain't enough, Charlie said.

Is two hours all the sleep you got last night?

Where you get the 'last night'? I worked all night last night. I had classes till noon today. And darn little more yesterday or the day before. Two hours' sleep is not enough sleep for a man to get.

● Come out of that：別睡啦！that大約是指that condition：昏睡不醒的狀態(tài)。

● You can't sleep no more=you can't sleep any more。把雙重否定（can't, no）當(dāng)一重否定用，是英美人很容易犯的文法錯(cuò)誤。if you got to see是if you have got to see的省略用法，意即謂if you have to see。次句的got也是have got的省略，have got在口語中常用來代替have。

● 這一句You just about got time to make it是很常用的口語英文，但是很難用文法來分析它。just=barely，剛夠得上，剛來得及。about：大約；這個(gè)字（副詞）形容動(dòng)詞got，這種用法只見之于口語，在寫作時(shí)應(yīng)該避免。make it：趕得上。

● ain't：這個(gè)字是are not或am not的縮寫，但是也可以作is not的縮寫。

● Is two hours…：“two hours”當(dāng)一個(gè)單位來看，動(dòng)詞可以用單數(shù)形式is。

● Where you get the 'last night'?：“上一夜”這個(gè)觀念你是從哪里來的？在我根本無“上一夜”可言：昨晚做了一夜的工，今天上午又是連著上課。

● darn是詛咒的話，表示氣憤。little more=little more sleep。

Charlie Wingate loped up the steps of the Administration Building, hurried through the revolving doors, and walked past hissing steam radiators down the long hall to the Dean of Men's office. He was ten minutes late. Before he opened the frosted-glass door he took out a pair of amber-colored spectacles and put them on. Then he went in and handed his summons to the secretary.

The Dean will see you in a moment, she said. "Please take a chair."

● loped：邊走邊跳。steps：臺(tái)階。Administration Building：行政大樓。revolving doors：旋轉(zhuǎn)門。hissing：（熱汽流通時(shí)）絲絲發(fā)響。steam radiators：水汀爐子。Dean of Men：男生訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長。

● frosted-glass：表面上有凹凸花紋的半透明玻璃；壓花玻璃。ambercolored spectacles：琥珀色（茶晶）眼鏡。put them on：戴上眼鏡。summons：（訓(xùn)導(dǎo)處的）通知單。此字語尾為s，然為單數(shù)形式，其復(fù)數(shù)形式作summonses。secretary：女秘書。秘書可男可女，但在美國通常為女子的職業(yè)，故次句的女性代名詞（she）出現(xiàn)得并不突兀。

Charlie sat down and gave an amber-hued glance about the outer office. Three dejected freshmen, holding their green caps, were waiting with him. He recognized none of them, so he picked up a week-old copy of the Christian Science Monitor and started to read it. But the room was warm and he immediately went to sleep. He had his head propped back against the wall. The newspaper slipped down into his lap. His amber-colored glasses hid his eyes and no one could see that they were closed. He was awakened by the secretary shaking him. She was smiling and the freshmen were all snickering.

● amber-hued glance：向四周一瞥，戴了有色眼鏡，所見皆呈琥珀色。outer office：訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長在里間，外間供女秘書辦公并學(xué)生等候傳見之用。

● dejected：垂頭喪氣的。訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長召見，可能要受到斥責(zé)。green caps：美國大學(xué)通例，一年級新生要戴特定的帽子。

● Christian Science Monitor：《基督科學(xué)會(huì)箴言報(bào)》，為波士頓有名大報(bào)，言論向?yàn)榕e世所推重。（按：五六十年代的確如此。目今它是一份小型報(bào)紙，銷路、聲望皆已大跌。）

● propped back against the wall：頭往后仰，以墻作枕。他戴有色眼鏡，就是為掩飾瞌睡之用！

● snickering：竊竊低笑。

Wake up and pay for your bed, fella! one of the freshmen called, and everyone laughed heartily.

I sort of drowsed off. It's so nice and warm in here, Charlie said, apologizing to the pretty secretary.

● pay for your bed：鋪位沒有出錢，怎么就在這里打起瞌睡來了？fella即fellow（朋友）。

● sort of這兩個(gè)字聯(lián)用，作副詞用，在口語英文中很常見，有“未必盡然，可以這么說”之意。例如，I sort of expected it（我多少是料定了這件事情會(huì)發(fā)生的）。sort of和kind of可以通用。drowsed off：迷迷糊糊地打起瞌睡來了。但是他不承認(rèn)真的在打瞌睡，加上sort of兩字，意思就較有伸縮，可以譯作：“不知怎么的”。

The Dean of Men got up as he entered and with his eyes on the slip bearing Charlie's name, said, "Ah, this is Charles Wingate, isn't it?" He grasped Charlie's hand as if it were an honor and pressed a button under the edge of his desk with his other hand. The secretary appeared at the door. "Miss Dunn, will you bring in Wingate's folder—Charles W-i-n-g-a-t-e. How do you like college by now, Wingate? Eyes troubling you?"

Pretty well, sir. Yes, sir, a little. I wear these glasses.

● slip：紙條，即訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長傳見的通知條。bearing Charlie's name：一面有他的名字。Charles是他的學(xué)名，Charlie是朋友熟人間的昵稱。

● as if it were an honor：握手的方式很親熱，好像Charlie是什么大人物，而訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長同他一握手，訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長會(huì)覺得很光榮似的。button：電鈴之鈕。

● Miss Dunn：女秘書的芳名。folder：文件夾子，內(nèi)藏有關(guān)該學(xué)生的文件。

● W-i-n-g-a-t-e：訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長把字母一個(gè)一個(gè)地拼出來，俾檔案容易找尋。

● by now：上了這幾個(gè)星期的課（到了現(xiàn)在這個(gè)時(shí)候）。college可譯作“大學(xué)生活”，Charlie也是一名新生。Eyes troubling you? ：訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長看見學(xué)生戴茶晶眼鏡故發(fā)此問。

● Pretty well：恐怕是答復(fù)第一個(gè)問題，很喜歡大學(xué)生活。a little：眼睛有一點(diǎn)兒毛病。I wear these glasses：我經(jīng)常戴這一副眼鏡。wear是present indicative，照文法書上說，這種時(shí)態(tài)可以表示“習(xí)慣，經(jīng)常”之意。sir：學(xué)生叫老師，士兵叫官長，都用這個(gè)稱呼。

The secretary came back with the folder and the Dean looked through it briefly. "Well, Wingate, I suppose you're anxious to know why I sent for you. The unpleasant truth is, Wingate, you don't seem to be doing so well in your college work. Your freshman adviser conferred with you twice about this, and this week he turned your case over to me. My purpose, of course, is to help you. Now, to be quite frank, Wingate, you're on the verge of flunking out. Less than a third of the semester remains, and you have a failing grade in English 101, conditional grades in Psychology 51 and Military Training, three hours of F and four hours of D, almost half your total number of hours. On the other hand, you have an A average in Spanish 1 and B in Economics 150. Wingate, how do you account for your failing English when you are an A student in Spanish?"

● briefly：簡略地。sent for you：找你來談話。注意時(shí)態(tài)用過去式，學(xué)生已在面前，“召喚”已為過去之事。

● unpleasant truth：談起來使人很不愉快，但事實(shí)真相是如此。to be doing：注意它的進(jìn)行時(shí)態(tài)。

● freshman adviser：大一導(dǎo)師。conferred with you：同你談過。

● on the verge of：在邊緣上，即將。flunking是美國字：學(xué)業(yè)成績不及格。flunking out：因?qū)W期成績不佳而被勒令退學(xué)。

● Less than a third…：點(diǎn)明時(shí)候，這一學(xué)期所剩不到三分之一的時(shí)間了。English 101：大學(xué)課程通常都用號碼代表課程名稱，English 101可能即是大一英文；大二散文可能叫做English 201。號碼的編制各學(xué)校并不一律。

● conditional grades：即丁等，或D。F是不及格（failing grade），某課程如得F即不給學(xué)分。得D者，在某種條件之下（如補(bǔ)考得C以上，或與其他得B以上之課程相平均），仍可得學(xué)分。故D可稱為“成問題的分?jǐn)?shù)”。three hours of F：三個(gè)學(xué)分得F，即English 101。hours 是每星期上課的鐘點(diǎn)數(shù)，通常鐘點(diǎn)數(shù)即代表該課程的學(xué)分。four hours of D：大一Psychology 51是三學(xué)分，軍訓(xùn)是一學(xué)分。

● A average：平均分?jǐn)?shù)得甲等。Spanish 1：第一年西班牙文，這是美國大學(xué)里的外國語。

● account for：說明。怎么本國語考了一個(gè)戊等，外國語反而得甲等呢？

To tell you the truth, sir, I got behind on my written work in English, and I've never been able to catch up. And I don't really have to study Spanish. My father is a railway section foreman in my home town, and he's always had a gang of Mexicans working for him. I've been speaking Mexican ever since I was a kid. I probably know as much Spanish as my professor.

● got behind on my written work：欠繳作文，欠繳練習(xí)。catch up：趕上；作文練習(xí)太多，補(bǔ)繳也不及。

● railway section foreman：鐵路某一段的工頭。父親手下工人大多數(shù)為墨西哥人（學(xué)生的家鄉(xiāng)大約在美國的西南部，鄰近墨西哥的地方），墨西哥人說西班牙話，學(xué)生耳染目濡，從小就會(huì)西班牙文。

How about this B in Economics? That's a fairly high grade.

Yes, sir. Doctor Kenshaw—he's my Ec professor—doesn't give exams. Instead he gives every one a B until he calls for our term papers. We don't recite in his class. We just listen to him lecture. And the grade you get on your term paper is your semester grade.

● fairly high grade：相當(dāng)高的分?jǐn)?shù)。學(xué)生承認(rèn)這個(gè)分?jǐn)?shù)不算壞，故答曰：“Yes, sir”。

● Ec是economics的簡稱，exam是examination的簡稱。這位教授不舉行考試，平時(shí)分?jǐn)?shù)每人都是一個(gè)B，最后分?jǐn)?shù)視“期終論文”而定?，F(xiàn)在期終論文還沒有繳，所以這位學(xué)生平時(shí)分?jǐn)?shù)可以有B。按：中國一般大學(xué)，教授到了學(xué)期終了，才把分?jǐn)?shù)送進(jìn)教務(wù)處。本文所述的那家美國大學(xué)，平時(shí)分?jǐn)?shù)隨時(shí)送教務(wù)處或?qū)W生的導(dǎo)師，可以說是很認(rèn)真的了。

● recite：背誦。上課不背書，只要聽教授講述即可（lecture是infinitive）。

Ah! What you students term a pipe course, eh, Wingate?

Not exactly, sir. We have to do a lot of outside reading for the term paper. But I'm counting on keeping that B in Ec.

That's fine, Wingate. But it appears to me that it's high time you were getting busy on some of these other grades, too. Why can't you dig in and pull these D's up to B's, and this F up to at least a C? You've got it in you. You made an unusually high grade on your entrance exams, your record shows. Graduated from high school with honors. What's the trouble, Wingate? Tell me!

● 訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長和學(xué)生這段對話，入情入理，兩人口吻，均恰如其身份，是很好的戲劇對白，也可用作會(huì)話練習(xí)。

● pipe course（美俚）：容易對付的課程。

● it's high time：這該是時(shí)候了。high解作far advanced：已到最后關(guān)頭，不可再因循坐誤。學(xué)生希望他的主系功課（經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)）能夠維持乙等，但是別的功課他也該用功。were getting busy是subjunctive mood，學(xué)生是否真的回去用功，尚不可知；英美人說話，把“直述”和“虛擬”兩種語氣分別得很清楚。

● dig in（美國俗語）=study hard。pull...up：把這兩個(gè)丁等“拉”高，成為乙等。D's：照文法書規(guī)定，一個(gè)單獨(dú)字母的復(fù)數(shù)形式，于s之前，還要加一（’）。

● got it的it代表“能考到好分?jǐn)?shù)的學(xué)養(yǎng)、天分等”。

● your record shows：據(jù)我這里的記錄看來。這一句照文法分析起來，這三個(gè)字可算是“主句”，前面“You made…”是從句，做shows的賓語。事實(shí)上，訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長說這句話的時(shí)候，恐怕沒有考慮到前后的主從關(guān)系，他先說了“你入學(xué)考試的成績非常之好”——何以見得呢？有記錄為憑。這三字用以附加說明，應(yīng)該是一種parenthetic construction。

● Graduated…with honors：中學(xué)畢業(yè)成績優(yōu)異。主語You省卻。honors作“成績優(yōu)異”解時(shí)，一定用復(fù)數(shù)形式。

I don't know, sir, except I work at night and…

Oh, I see it here on your enrollment card. Where do you work?

I work nights for Nick Pappas down at The Wigwam.

How many hours do you work?

Ten hours, sir. From nine till seven. The Wigwam stays open all night. I eat and go to eight o'clock class when I get off.

Very interesting, Wingate. But don't you suppose that it would be advisable to cut down a bit on this outside work and attend a little more closely to your college work? After all, that's what you're here for, primarily—to go to college, not work in a cafe.

● enrollment card：注冊登記卡。學(xué)生如課外兼差者，注冊時(shí)要注明。

● nights即every night。Nick Pappas恐是人名，店主的名字。The Wigwam：咖啡（cafe）的名字。wigwam原意為印第安人的茅屋，該店可譯作“茅屋咖啡館”。down at的down似指本城或本街的某一方向，在downtown附近的地方。

● get off：下班。晚上九點(diǎn)工作到上午七點(diǎn)，吃了早飯就去趕上早晨八點(diǎn)的課。

● advisable：值得一做。it would be advisable是虛擬語氣，有“不妨如此”之意。cut down…on：減少。attend…to：用心對付。more closely：多用一點(diǎn)心。

● primarily：主要的。你到這里來，主要為的是要上學(xué)念書，不是到咖啡館去做茶房的。

I couldn't work fewer hours and stay in school, sir. I just barely get by as it is. I get my board at The Wigwam, and I pay my room rent, and I've been paying out on a suit of clothes. That leaves only about a dollar a week for all the other things I have to have.

Can't you arrange for a little financial support from home?

No, sir, I'm afraid I couldn't. I have two brothers and two sisters at home younger than I am. It wouldn't be right for me to ask my father to send money out of what he makes.

● I couldn't work是虛擬式語氣，意謂“即使我想這么做，也辦不到。”既想減少課外工作時(shí)間，又想不輟學(xué)，兩者不可兼得。

● just barely get by：只是勉強(qiáng)對付過去。by有“過去”之意。as it is：就現(xiàn)狀來說。

● board：膳食之“膳”，此字原意為木板，轉(zhuǎn)為桌子，又轉(zhuǎn)為專指飯桌，再轉(zhuǎn)為飯桌上陳列的膳食。

● paying out on：分期付款（注意時(shí)態(tài)；錢還沒付清）。a suit of clothes：一套西裝。

● all the other things I have to have：其他必需用途。I have to have（定語從句）：我所“不得不有”的東西。

● I am afraid I couldn't的couldn't也是虛擬語氣。

● younger than I am：英文里沒有姐姐和妹妹，哥哥和弟弟的分別，所以要加這四個(gè)字來說明，中文翻譯起來，只要說“我有兩個(gè)弟弟，兩個(gè)妹妹”即可，不必說“我有兩個(gè)年齡比我輕的兄弟和姐妹”。

● It wouldn't be right又是虛擬語氣。我不向父親去要錢，假如去要錢，那是不對的。虛擬語氣日常會(huì)話中用處很大，讀這一段對白便知。

● out of what he makes：從父親的收入里，克扣了寄錢給我。make有“賺錢”之意。

Well, there's this about it, Wingate. The university is here, supported by the taxpayers of this State, for the purpose of giving the young men and women of this State educational opportunities. The university is not here for the purpose of training young men to be waiters in all-night restaurants. And, as far as I can see, that's about all you are deriving from your university career. So it occurs to me that you should make a choice: either find some way to devote more attention to your college work or drop out of school altogether. The fact is, you are on probation right now. As you must know, any student who is passing in less than half his work is automatically suspended from the university and must return to his home. Now one F more and out you'll go, Wingate. That's just being frank with you.

● there's this about it中的it指“因兼差分心而耽誤學(xué)業(yè)”一事，this指下文所說明的那一段道理。

● taxpayers：納稅人。州立大學(xué)系賴本州人民納稅而維持的。educational opportunities：受教育的機(jī)會(huì)。

● all-night restaurants：通宵營業(yè)的餐館。

● as far as I can see：據(jù)我所知道的。語氣中有保留：事實(shí)也許并不如此。that's about all的that指“學(xué)做茶房”一事。university career：在大學(xué)讀書這段過程。deriving：獲得。你在大學(xué)讀書所得益者，不過是學(xué)做茶房而已。about all：幾乎盡在于此，此外別無收獲。

● it occurs to me：我有這個(gè)想法。devote more attention to：更用心。drop out of school：退學(xué)。altogether字典上解作“完全地”，其實(shí)即相當(dāng)于北平話的“干脆”退了學(xué)算了。

● on probation：試讀，試用（人員）；錄用與否，視成績而定。right用以加強(qiáng)now。

● automatically：自動(dòng)地；根據(jù)學(xué)校規(guī)定，不必另外有什么手續(xù)。suspended from the university：停學(xué)。half his work：及格學(xué)分不到全部所修學(xué)分的一半。

● out you'll go=you'll go out。out放在前面是不是念起來更為有勁？out在這里，是全句重心所在。one F more：只要再拿一個(gè)戊等。這種句法結(jié)構(gòu)（后面跟and：只要如何如何，就有如何如何的結(jié)果），是很常用的。

● being frank：跟你說老實(shí)話。being是gerund。

I'd hate to have to go back home like that, sir.

Well, you'd have to. If you flunk out, the university authorities are obliged to see that you return to your home immediately.

I'd hate that, sir, I'd hate to go back home and have to live off my family, and that's probably what I'd have to do. You know there are not many jobs to be had nowadays, sir, and I'd hate to go back home and loaf.

● like that：那樣子（被學(xué)校除名）回家。

● you'd have to：假如不用功，就非被除名不可。you'd的’d是would的縮寫，虛擬語氣。

● are obliged：有此責(zé)任。to see=to make sure：做到這一點(diǎn)。you return的return也是虛擬語氣；假如主語是he或she，return也不用加s。

● I'd hate that：我不愿意那樣（假如真的有那一天的話）。to live off my family：依賴家庭為生。

● to be had（被動(dòng)式infinitive）：可能找到的事情并不多。loaf：閑蕩。

It is a problem, I'll confess, Wingate. But what's the point in your coming to your university and working all-night in a cafe and then flunking your class work? Moreover, your freshman adviser reports that you make a practice of sleeping in class. Is that true?

Well, yes, sir, I suppose I do drop off sometimes.

● 第一句的is重讀：“我承認(rèn)這的確是一個(gè)問題。”

● point：目的。

● make a practice of：有此習(xí)慣。

● I suppose：我想。suppose在此處即等于think，并無“假設(shè)”之意。do drop off：的確瞌睡。drop off=fall asleep；這兩個(gè)字的意義比上文drowse off更重，drowse off不過是假寐而已。

Pretty impossible situation, isn't it, Wingate? Well, I've given you the best advice I can. Unless you can alter your circumstances I suggest that you withdraw from the university at once. We have six thousand other students here who need our attention, and the university has to be impartial and impersonal in dealing with these problems. Unless you can find some means to avoid flunking out I suggest withdrawing beforehand.

● 第一句：這種情形，豈不是令人相當(dāng)難堪？impossible=intolerable。

● you withdraw：請你自動(dòng)休學(xué)。這是訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長的建議，所以withdraw還是虛擬語氣的動(dòng)詞。

● impartial：不偏不頗。impersonal：公事公辦，不考慮個(gè)別情形。means：法子。

I believe I'll try to stick it through, sir. I'll try to remove the conditional grades, and maybe I can luck through on my finals.

I hope you can, Wingate. As you feel that way about it, good luck to you. The Dean of Men stood up. Charlie stood up too. The Dean put out his hand and showed his teeth in a jovial smile and bore down on his knuckles. "I'm counting on you strong, old man." he said, encircling Charlie's shoulders with his left arm. "I know you have the stuff and that you'll come through with flying colors one of these days."

Thank you, sir, Charlie said, grinning tearfully while the Dean gave his shoulder little pats.

● stick it through：堅(jiān)持下去。

● maybe：是副詞。luck through：憑運(yùn)氣闖過去。luck當(dāng)動(dòng)詞用。finals：大考。

● feel that way about it：對這件事情有那種想法。

● jovial smile：友善的一笑。bore down on：用力地握。bore是bear的過去式。knuckles：手指骨節(jié)，尤其指連接手掌的根部骨節(jié)。按：這一句的句法似乎欠妥，前面his hand和his teeth都是指的訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長，最后his knuckles又指那學(xué)生了，代名詞his所指不清，謹(jǐn)慎的作家應(yīng)該避免這種毛病。

● counting on you strong：滿心希望要看你表現(xiàn)你的實(shí)力。strong是objective complement。old man相當(dāng)于“朋友”。

● encircling：左臂圍著學(xué)生的肩膀（右手在握手）。

● stuff：天分，實(shí)力；相當(dāng)于普通話，你是個(gè)念書的“料”。

● flying colors原意是“飄揚(yáng)的旗幟”，轉(zhuǎn)作“勝利，輝煌的成績”。one of these days：將來有一天。

● grinning tearfully：滿眶眼淚，強(qiáng)顏歡笑。little pats：輕輕地拍他的肩膀。

At one o'clock Charlie finished cleaning off the last of the tables. The Wigwam was empty, so he opened the book he must read for Ec 150. He had read a few lines when a bunch of girls from the Theta house down the street came charging in, giggling and talking in gasps and screams, their fur coats clutched over their sleeping pajamas. It was long after the closing hour, and they told Charlie to keep an eye out for the university night watchman.

● 時(shí)已子夜一時(shí)，咖啡館主顧漸少，Charlie乃可展誦他的經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)指定參考書。

● a bunch of girls：一群女生。Theta house：“姊妹會(huì)”自營宿舍之名。美國大學(xué)本科男生通常有“兄弟會(huì)”（fraternity），女生有“姊妹會(huì)”（sorority）之組織。會(huì)名大多用希臘字母標(biāo)之，這里的Theta就是一個(gè)希臘字母。姊妹會(huì)有自備宿舍者，會(huì)員即寄宿在內(nèi)。down the street該會(huì)宿舍在街的某一頭，想必離那咖啡館不遠(yuǎn)。charge原意是“沖鋒”，這里借作“沖進(jìn)來”。

● giggling：傻笑。talking in gasps and screams：有的講了半句就要換氣，有的尖了嗓子怪叫。fur coats：皮大衣。sleeping pajamas：睡衣。clutched：裹緊。

● the closing hour：本可指咖啡館的打烊時(shí)間，但咖啡館既通宵營業(yè)，這里當(dāng)指學(xué)校宿舍關(guān)門時(shí)間，過了這個(gè)時(shí)間，照規(guī)矩學(xué)生不可再上街進(jìn)食，查出要受罰的，所以這輩女生叫Charlie留意街上大學(xué)所雇的巡更的（night watchman）。

They took up the two back booths and they consulted The Wigwam's printed menu card without failing to read aloud the lines "We Employ Student Help Exclusively," and "Please Do Not Tip. A Smile Is Our Reward" with the customary shrieks. Nearly all ordered filets mignon and French fries, which were not on the menu, but two or three ordered pecan waffles and coffee, which were. When he had served their orders Charlie went back to his book again, but the low buzz of their talk and their sudden spurts of laughter disturbed him and he could not read. At a quarter of two they began peering round corners of their booths. They asked Charlie in whispers if the coast was clear.

● booths：小間，雅座。printed menu card：印好的菜單。consulted普通解作“請教”，這里是“看菜單”。without failing to：點(diǎn)菜之前，少不了要把這幾句話朗誦出來。這幾句話是：“本店專雇學(xué)生兼理店務(wù)。（Help是集體名詞=the whole force of hired helpers；exclusively：只雇這一種。）請不給小帳。諸君惠賜一笑，本店服務(wù)生即覺心滿意足。”

● with the customary shrieks：念了這幾句話，那幾個(gè)女生照例要哈哈狂笑。（這幾句話本沒有什么可笑，但女學(xué)生聚在一起，喜歡大笑，此殆中外一理。）shrieks和screams都是尖聲叫喊，都可解作尖聲大笑，但shrieks的叫聲笑聲更為可怕。

● ordered：點(diǎn)菜。filets mignon：無骨的嫩牛肉片（中國的西餐館似把它譯作“腓力牛排”）。filet乃法文拼法，去骨的肉片、魚片皆可稱為filet，亦作fillet（英文字）。mignon亦是法文，是“嫩”的意思。French fries即French fried potatoes：油炸洋芋條。

● waffles是一種蛋奶烘餅，pecan是一種胡桃，殼薄形長，味甘芳。which were=which were on the menu。菜單上沒有的菜，大約店里平常也準(zhǔn)備，所以也可以點(diǎn)。

● buzz：嗡嗡之聲。sudden spurts of laughter：突發(fā)的笑聲。spurts：（水等之）激射。

● a quarter of two：一點(diǎn)四十五分。一點(diǎn)五十分也可說ten minutes of two。

● peering：張望。whispers：低聲說話。if the coast was clear：街上是否有巡夜的走過。所以用coast（海岸）者，據(jù)說這是當(dāng)年海邊私梟把風(fēng)者語。

Charlie went to the door and looked out on the street and beckoned widely with his arm. They trooped out with their fur coats pulled tight, their fur-trimmed silken mules slapping their bare heels. They had left about thirty cents as a tip, all in cents and nickels. The coins were carefully imbedded in the cold steak grease and gluey syrup and putty-colored cigarette leavings on their plates. Charlie began stacking the plates without touching the money. He carried the dirty dishes back and set them through the opening in the kitchen wall. Fat Kruger came to the opening and Charlie went back to his book. Fat called, "Hey, Charlie, you leavin' this tip again?"

● beckoned：做手勢（widely有“揮動(dòng)”之意）。

● trooped：（多數(shù)人）匆忙地走。

● fur-trimmed：毛皮滾邊的。mules：拖鞋（slippers是便鞋，如中國緞鞋等都是；mules才是沒后跟的拖鞋）。slapping：拖拉拖拉地響。heels：腳踵。bare：沒有穿襪子。

● cents：一分一枚的銅幣。nickels：五分一枚的鎳幣。

● imbedded：塞、埋（此字源自bed，原有“塞在被褥之間”之意，imbed亦可拼作embed）。steak grease：牛排的油湯。gluey：粘而且膩的。syrup：糖漿，waffles上常常澆了糖漿才吃，故盤子里有糖漿遺留。putty：油灰（用以補(bǔ)漏等等）。cigarette leavings：香煙頭（浸在油里，故呈油灰色）。

● stacking the plates：把盤子疊起。

● dirty dishes：dish是盛食物器皿的總名（盤、碗、盅等均可）。plate只是扁平的盤子（此二字都有別種用法，請查字典）。小姐們把錢丟在“盤子”的油湯里面，Charlie所疊起的也是“盤子”。但這里他要把所有的碗盞等等都送進(jìn)廚房里去洗，故用dishes。洗碗碟的人，叫做 dishwasher。the opening in the kitchen wall：廚房墻上的窗洞。

● Fat Kruger：在廚房里做工的學(xué)生之名。

● you leavin'=you are leaving。此人發(fā)音把ng讀作n，小說家為求寫生逼真起見，亦把g給吃掉了。again：足見他不收小帳已不是一次了。

You're right. I'm leaving it! Charlie said. "I can get along without their tips. They leave it that way every time. I guess they think I'll grabble on their filthy plates to get a lousy thirty cents. It takes a woman to think up something like that."

● get along：維持下去。that way：總是把賞錢放在油污里面。

● grabble：用手亂摸。filthy：臟（比dirty更多一層“可憎”的意思）。lousy：此字系美國俚語，很常用，凡是一切可恨可厭的東西，都可用這個(gè)字來形容，相當(dāng)于中文“這幾個(gè)臭錢”中的“臭”字。（正式作文中應(yīng)避免。）a lousy thirty cents：三角錢當(dāng)作一個(gè)單位，故前面可用冠詞a。

● It takes a woman：賞錢還賞得不干不凈，這種臟主意，只有女人才想得出。（那幾個(gè)女生的嘻嘻哈哈，他看在眼里，心里當(dāng)然非常不舒服，一肚子氣，到現(xiàn)在才發(fā)泄一下。）

He sat down on a counter stool with the economics book before him, trying to fix his mind on it. He read a page. The print became thin, blurred parallels of black on the page. He propped the muscles with his palms at his temples, trying to keep his eyes open. His head jerked forward and he caught it and began reading again. Soon his face lowered slowly through his hands and came to rest on the open book.

● 子夜以后咖啡館中已無顧客，他開始專心用功。

● counter stool：靠著柜臺(tái)的高腳凳子，和前面所說的雅座不同。

● print：書上的字。thin, blurred parallels of black：一行一行的字，成了稀稀的模糊的平行黑線——他的眼睛已看不見字（這是描寫簡單樸素之處，希讀者注意）。

● propped：撐?。ㄌ栄╰emples上的肌肉）。palms：手掌。

● jerked forward：往前一沖。he caught it：收住前沖之勢，止住不動(dòng)。

● lowered slowly：慢慢地俯首下去。through his hand：他的手掌不是撐住了太陽穴嗎？但是頭慢慢地滑下去了。rest：頭伏在書上。

Fat Kruger came through the kitchen swinging door and tiptoed up front. Fat gave his head a gentle shove, and Charlie started up to catch his balance.

What time is it? Charlie said, yawning and arching his back.

Half past two. Charlie, I wouldn't put my eyes out over that book if I was you, when you're dyin' for sleep, Fat said.

● swinging door：推拉自如的彈簧門。tiptoed up front：躡著腳走向前來。

● a gentle shove：輕輕一推。started up：猛然一驚。to catch his balance：怕跌下凳子去，趕快坐穩(wěn)了。

● yawning：打呵欠。arching his back：把背拱起。

● put my eyes out over that book：讀書。If I was you普通語法教科書作if I were you，但if I was you也有人這么說的。

● dyin' for：渴欲。此人說話沒有ng的音，前面已經(jīng)說過了。

I've got to get it read, Fat. It's my outside reading in Economics and the whole semester grade depends on it. It's the hardest book to keep your mind on you ever saw. I've been reading on it for over a month and I'm only half through, and he's going to call for these reports any day now. If I flunk Ec I flunk out of school.

● 第一句的read是過去分詞：“非把它讀完不可”。

● semester grade：學(xué)期成績。

● 第三句的you是泛指，實(shí)在還是說他自己，并不一定指聽話的對方。you ever saw（定語從句）：你所看見過的書中，以這本書最難叫人專心閱讀。saw是過去式，照語法書規(guī)定，用現(xiàn)在完成式have seen較妥，但口語習(xí)慣用過去式亦可。I've been reading on it：注意時(shí)態(tài)（一直在讀，尚未讀完）。reading on it大約相當(dāng)于working on it：用心研讀。

● half through：讀完一半。he's going中的he指教授。call for：催繳（學(xué)生的報(bào)告）。any day now：學(xué)期所剩只有三分之一，這幾天教授隨時(shí)都會(huì)叫學(xué)生繳報(bào)告的。

● I flunk out of school：照語法書規(guī)定，應(yīng)說I'll flunk out of school。但這里前一clause與后一clause都用flunk，亦有簡煉動(dòng)人的效果。

Charlie, I just can't figure you out. You never do get any real sleep. You sure must want a college education bad. It don't look to me like you would figure it's worth it.

● figure out：了解（美國俗語，很常用）。

● 第三句的sure和bad都當(dāng)副詞用，前者即surely，后者即badly（非常之需要）。

● 第四句的語法很成問題，但美國人普通是這么說的，所以不妨分析一下。don't是用錯(cuò)了，應(yīng)作doesn't；前面的It代替后面like以后的clause。like在口語中常用以代替as或as if，這里似乎是代替as if（后面的動(dòng)詞would是虛擬式）。it's worth it中的第一個(gè)it代替college education，第二個(gè)it代替犧牲睡眠的刻苦生活。全句可譯作：據(jù)我看來，你這樣吃苦來讀大學(xué)，總有一天你會(huì)覺得（figure）是劃不來的。

Oh, it's worth it! It's a big satisfaction to my folks to have me in college. And where can a man without a college degree get nowadays? But I'll tell you the truth, I didn't know it was going to be like this when I came down here last fall. I used to read College Humor in high school, and when fellows came home from university for the holidays, all dressed up in snappy clothes, talking about dates and footballs and dances, and using college slang—well, I had a notion I'd be like that when I got down here. The university publicity department sent me a little booklet showing how it was easy to work your way through college. So here I am. I haven't had a date or been to a dance or seen a football game since I enrolled. And there are plenty of others just like me. I guess I'm getting a college education, all right—but the only collegiate thing I've been able to do is go to sleep in class.

● my folks：家里的人（我進(jìn)了大學(xué)，他們心里很覺得安慰）。where can a man get?他能爬到哪里去？混不出頭的！college degree：大學(xué)學(xué)位。nowadays：這年頭兒。

● last fall：時(shí)已冬令，秋天已成過去，故稱last fall；并不是“去年的秋天”。秋季入學(xué)時(shí)，我并不知道大學(xué)生活會(huì)這么（like this）清苦的。

● College Humor：雜志名，內(nèi)容都是介紹大學(xué)生活的輕松的一方面。

● all dressed up...：是absolute phrase。snappy=smart。dates：男女朋友的約會(huì)。

● well：轉(zhuǎn)換語氣之用。這句的從句（when…）很長，這里起，轉(zhuǎn)入主句。

● I had a notion：我當(dāng)時(shí)以為（注意動(dòng)詞的過去式）。like that：生活可以跟他們所講的和雜志上所看到的一樣。

● university publicity department：大學(xué)的對外宣傳部。中國大學(xué)中似乎尚無此一機(jī)構(gòu)。booklet：小冊子。

● work your way through college：半工半讀地讀完大學(xué)課程。

● plenty of others：像我這樣不交女朋友，不跳舞，不看足球的學(xué)生多得很。

● I guess=I think。I'm getting a college education有“我（算是）在大學(xué)里讀書”的自嘲之意。all right：就算這樣吧。

● the only collegiate thing：唯一稱得上大學(xué)教育的事情。I've been able to do是定語從句。

How you get by with sleeping in class, Charlie?

I wear these colored spectacles and prop myself, and the profs can't see I've got my eyes closed.

Fat waggled his heavy face mournfully. "Boy, it sure is tough when a man don't get his sleep."

Yeah, it is, Charlie said, looking down at his book again. "I'll get a break pretty soon, though. I'd rather chop off a hand than to flunk out of university before I'd even finished one semester."

● 第一句應(yīng)作How do you get by…?怎么對付過去的呢？

● prop myself：身體往后靠。profs=professors。

● waggled：搖。mournfully：愁容滿面地（搖他的頭）。這一句的sure仍是surely；don't仍應(yīng)作doesn't。tough：艱苦，不好過。Boy這里只是一個(gè)近乎口頭禪的感嘆詞。美國人常用boy；oh, boy此二詞。

● Yeah, it is=Yes, it is tough。

● break：休息。這里恐是指圣誕假期而言。though=however。

● rather…than：寧可砍斷一只手，也不情愿在第一學(xué)期終了之前，就被學(xué)校勒令退學(xué)。I'd finished=I had finished，這個(gè)動(dòng)詞也是虛擬語氣，并不是直述語氣的過去完成式。

The tardiest of the hundred students enrolled in Dr. Sylvester Kenshaw's Economics 150 straggled into the lecture room and made their ways to alphabetically assigned chairs with much scuffling and trampling of toes and mumbled apologies. Ec 150, renowned as a pipe course, was always crowded.

● enrolled in…Economics 150：選這門課的。tardy：行動(dòng)遲緩的；tardiest：上課到得最遲的（那些學(xué)生）。這個(gè)字是本句的主語，動(dòng)詞是straggled：三三兩兩悠悠蕩蕩地進(jìn)入（教室）。alphabetically assigned chairs：依字母次序排列的指定的課椅。scuffling：碰撞。trampling of toes：踩著別人的腳趾。教室擁擠，許多學(xué)生業(yè)已入座，遲到學(xué)生在他們身邊擠過去，難免有碰撞和踩人腳趾之事發(fā)生。mumbled apologies：含糊的道歉。

● renowned as a pipe course：以分?jǐn)?shù)寬出名（pipe course前面已有說明）。

● crowded：教室擠，就是選課學(xué)生多。分?jǐn)?shù)打得寬，學(xué)生都來選。作者對此，恐不無感慨焉。

Dr. Kenshaw was late that morning. Charlie Wingate sat in his chair on the back row in an agony of waiting. He had on his amber glasses and he could fall asleep as soon as Dr. Kenshaw opened his lecture. But he had to stay awake until then.

● on the back row：他的姓是W字母開始，故座位排在后排。in an agony of waiting：等候得焦灼不安。agony是大痛苦，或“痛苦萬狀”。

● He had on his amber glasses=he had his amber glasses on：戴上眼鏡了。

● to stay awake=to remain awake：教授沒有來，他還不能睡。

When the clock on the front wall showed nine after eleven the seated class began stirring as if it were mounted on some eccentric amusement-park device. Excited whispers eddied out on the warm air of the steamheated lecture room. "He's giving us another out!" "He's not meeting this class today!" "He's got one more minute to make it!" "Naw; six more! You have to wait fifteen minutes on department heads."

● the seated class：業(yè)已就座的全班學(xué)生。stirring：騷動(dòng)。底下跟一個(gè)clause，騷動(dòng)之狀：好像全班學(xué)生（it=the class）都跨上了游藝場中的翻天椅或逍遙椅。some：某種。eccentric：特別的。amusement-park device：游藝場里的機(jī)關(guān)；美國游藝場中都有各種特別設(shè)備，人坐上去會(huì)四處旋轉(zhuǎn)或上下翻飛。

● Excited whispers：聲音雖低，可是情緒興奮。eddied out：聲音像水花似的，一圈一圈向四周散布出去。把聲音比作水之旋渦，而把空氣比作水；既然說到空氣，就得描寫空氣之“暖”，此為描寫之細(xì)膩處。

● 引號里幾句話的He，指的都是教授。out：缺席。meeting this class：來上課。to make it：趕得及。再過一分鐘，就是十一點(diǎn)十分，教授遲到了十分鐘，學(xué)生就要一哄而散了。前文有過You just about got time to make it這樣的句子。

● naw即no。平常的教授等他十分鐘就夠，系主任應(yīng)該等他十五分鐘。這位先生是經(jīng)濟(jì)系主任，這里點(diǎn)明。

There was a seething argument on this point, but when the clock showed fourteen minutes after eleven a bold leader sprang up and said, "Come on everybody!" All but five or six especially conscientious students rose and milled after him toward the door. Charlie Wingate followed, thoroughly awakened by the chance of getting to bed so soon. The leader yanked the door open and Dr. Kenshaw stumbled in, all out of breath, his eyeglasses steamed, his pointed gray beard quivering, a vain little man in a greenish-black overcoat.

● seething：沸騰狀的；argument：爭論。七嘴八舌，各執(zhí)一辭，有的主張等滿十分鐘就不再等了，有的主張應(yīng)該等足十五分鐘。

● a bold leader：勇敢的領(lǐng)袖；首先發(fā)難者。sprang up：從座上一躍而起。

● especially conscientious students：特別奉公守法的學(xué)生。這種人只有五六個(gè)，他們還安坐不動(dòng)。余人都唯那位領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人物馬首是瞻，紛紛站起，向門口走去。milled：（像牛羊似的）四處亂走（move around in confusion）。

● awakened是過去分詞。既然可以早些回去暢睡，這么一興奮，反而神清氣爽了。thoroughly：足見他來上課的時(shí)候還是想瞌睡，現(xiàn)在方才完全醒過來。

● yanked：（美國俗語）使勁一轉(zhuǎn)旋鈕，然后把門推開。stumbled in：踉蹌地進(jìn)來。steamed（過去分詞）：教授從冷空氣里進(jìn)來，室內(nèi)的熱氣在眼鏡上結(jié)一層薄霧。pointed：尖形的。quivering：抖動(dòng)；因匆忙之故歟？抑見學(xué)生不耐久候而發(fā)怒耶？vain：虛榮心重的，自以為了不起的；這里可解作“盛氣凌人的”。little：身材矮小的。a vain little man，是“同位語”，說明主語Dr. Kenshaw。

Go back to your seats! Dr. Kenshaw commanded sternly as soon as he could get his breath. He marched over to his lecture table and planked down his leather brief case. He took off his overcoat and began wiping the steam from his eyeglasses while the students hurried back to their chairs. "It does seem to me," he said, his voice quavering with anger, "that it would be no more than courteous for the class to await my arrival on those rare occasions when I am delayed."

● sternly：嚴(yán)厲地。get his breath：上文不是說過他all out of breath嗎？

● planked down：用力放下。brief case：公文包。

● quavering：（聲音之）顫動(dòng)。教授的談吐很典雅。本文諸人物的談吐，此公的和前文訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長的屬于同一類型，都是受過高深教育者的口吻；只是訓(xùn)導(dǎo)長的顯得誠懇，此公的顯得尖刻。說話尖刻的人，于用字 句方面，一定也特別講究。

● no more than courteous=only courteous。“我難得有事情，因此遲到，諸位多等一會(huì)兒，據(jù)我看來，未必就委屈了諸位，這不過是禮貌問題而已。”

A few students exchanged meaning glances. They meant, "Now we're in for it. The old boy has on one of his famous mads."

● exchanged glances：互相看看。meaning glances：眼光的意思，心照不宣。They meant=the glances meant。

● in for it（用于口語）=unable to escape from a danger, penalty, etc.（挨罵是挨定的了）。in是副詞。

● The old boy即教授。mad在口語用法中，有angry的意思；但這里當(dāng)作名詞用，頗見特別。one of his famous mads：老先生的脾氣是出了名的，今天可又要發(fā)作了。on是副詞，用法同前文的He had on his amber glasses相仿。

Today, I believe I shall forego delivering my prepared lecture, Dr. Kenshaw went on in a more even voice, "and let you do the talking. Perhaps it would be moot to hear a few outside reading reports this morning. All of you doubtless are aware that these reports were due last week, although I had not expected to call for them at once. Let us begin forthwith. When your name is called, you will rise and read your report to the class."

● 教授用了幾個(gè)典雅的字，如第一句的forego（=abstain from，這里似以譯作“暫停”為妥）和第二句的moot（=debatable，該不該這樣做是值得討論的）。

● a few outside reading reports：幾篇課外閱讀的報(bào)告。

● due last week：上星期就該繳了。I had not expected…：我本來不打算馬上就催你們繳。forthwith=immediately。

Mr. Abbot! he called, Mr. Abbot stammered an excuse. Dr. Kenshaw passed coldly on to Miss Adams, making no comment. All through the A's it was the same. But with the B's an ashen, spectacled Miss Ballentyne stood up and began reading in a droning voice her report on "The Economic Consequence of the Peace."Obviously Dr. Kenshaw was not listening to her. His hard little eyes under craggy brows were moving up one row and down the other, eager for a victim. On the back row, Charlie Wingate's propped legs had given way and he had slipped far down into his seat, fast asleep. When Dr. Kenshaw's preying eyes reached Charlie they stopped moving. Someone tittered nervously and then was silent as Dr. Kenshaw jerked his head round in the direction of the noise. Miss Ballentyne droned on.

● stammered an excuse：結(jié)結(jié)巴巴地說了一個(gè)理由（例如“做好了忘了帶來了”或“上星期有病了”等）。

● making no comment：教授“不加評論”；并不責(zé)備他。

● All through the A's：凡A字開頭的學(xué)生，統(tǒng)統(tǒng)無法應(yīng)命。

● ashen, spectacled：臉色灰白，鼻架眼鏡的。droning：很單調(diào)的聲音。她的讀書報(bào)告的題目是：《和平對于經(jīng)濟(jì)上的影響》。

● hard little eyes：小小的冷酷的眼睛。craggy brows：像巖石似的凸出的眉毛。up one row and down the other：一排一排地看。eager for a victim：一心要找個(gè)學(xué)生來出氣。

● given way：軟了下來（本來是挺直的）。fast asleep：睡熟。

● preying eyes：虎視眈眈擇人而噬的眼睛。they stopped moving：（拆爛污的）學(xué)生已經(jīng)捉到，教授的眼睛也無勞左右搜索了。

● tittered nervously：神經(jīng)緊張地偷偷笑了一下。jerked his head round：腦袋突然轉(zhuǎn)了過去，追查誰在偷笑。

When she had finished, Dr. Kenshaw said dryly, "Very good, Miss Ballentyne, very good indeed. Er…ah…would someone be kind enough to arouse the recumbent young gentleman in the last row?"

There was a murmur of laughter while everyone turned to look at Milton Weismann nudging Charlie Wingate. Charlie sprang up quickly. Dr. Kenshaw was running down the list of names in his small record book.

● dryly：冷淡地。arouse：喚醒。recumbent：身體躺著的。這也是一個(gè)典雅的字。這一句話的禮貌很周到，但是也很刻薄。全句用虛擬式，不用命令式，這是非常客氣的請求：不知哪一位……？稱學(xué)生為young gentleman，很典雅，但是語帶諷刺。

● Milton Weismann：Wingate的鄰座同學(xué)。nudging：用肘輕推。

● running down the list of names：名字一個(gè)一個(gè)地看下去。record book：記學(xué)生成績的小冊子。

Mr. …ah…Wingate, isn't it? Mr. Wingate, your report.

Pardon me, sir?

Mr. Wingate, what was the title of the book assigned to you for report in the class?

Theory of the Leisure Class by Veblen, sir.

● 教授拿教室座位次序和點(diǎn)名冊子名單次序一對照，知道這位學(xué)生名叫Wingate，但沒有十分把握，所以前面吞吞吐吐了一下。

● Pardon me, sir? 學(xué)生恐怕沒有聽清楚教授的話。

● Thorstein Veblen（1857—1929）：美國經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家，他的那本《有閑階級論》（1899年出版）是經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)名著，據(jù)說非常艱深難懂，無怪那個(gè)學(xué)生讀得叫苦連天。

Ah, then that's the explanation. So you were assiduously engaged in evolving your own theory of the leisure class. Is that right, Mr. Wingate? You have evidently concluded that Economics 150 is the leisure class.

The class rocked with laughter. Dr. Kenshaw, pleased with his pun and flattered by the response to it, found it hard to keep his face straight.

● 教授在這里大大地挖苦了那學(xué)生一番。that's (=that is) the explanation：這就是說明；這一下我可明白了。

● assiduously：勤勉地。engaged in：從事于。evolving your own theory：發(fā)明你自己的理論。

● evidently：明顯地。concluded：得到這樣一個(gè)結(jié)論——來上我們這班課的都是有閑階級。

● rocked with laughter：笑得前仰后合。

● pun：雙關(guān)語。上文的class既解作階級，又解作“班級”。教授妙語解頤，自己也很欣賞自己的機(jī)智。the response to it：對他妙語的反應(yīng)，全班大笑，笑話沒有白說，因此更為得意了。hard to keep his face straight：臉板不下來，自己也想笑。

Mr. Wingate's theory is quite apparently one to which the majority of this class subscribes. Now these reading reports were assigned to you last September, and you have had ample time to prepare them. I'll not call for any more of them today, but at the next session of this class I expect every one of these papers in. As for you, Mr. Wingate, if you'll see me directly after class, I'll be glad to hear any explanation or apology that you may wish to make.

● is quite apparently one=is quite apparently a theory。to which之to連后面的subscribes； subscribe to=agree to。“這位同學(xué)的有閑階級理論，全班同學(xué)大多數(shù)顯然都贊成的。”

● ample time：充分時(shí)間。

● the next session of this class：下次上課的時(shí)候。I expect every one of these papers in：我希望統(tǒng)統(tǒng)繳齊，一份不漏。

● apology：道歉，賠罪。

Thank you, sir, Charlie mumbled. He entered a slow torture, trying to keep awake until the class bell rang. But fifteen minutes had to pass before the bell would ring.

When the bell rang the class rose quickly and began clumping out. When the last had gone out, Dr. Kenshaw unscrewed his fountain pen and opened his roll book. He ran his finger down the list until he came to "Wingate, C." and in the space opposite under "Smstr Grd" he marked a precise little F.

● slow torture：慢性的受罪。還有十五分鐘才得下課，他又不敢再在堂上睡覺。

● clumping=walking heavily。

● unscrewed：取下筆套。roll book：點(diǎn)名冊子，就是record book。Wingate, C.：點(diǎn)名冊以姓氏排列，故首書是Wingate，C是Charles的縮寫。

● Smstr Grd是Semester Grade的省寫。前文已經(jīng)說明，他再得一個(gè)F，就要被除名了。precise：清清楚楚的。

A whiffling snore escaped Charlie Wingate in the back of the room. Dr. Kenshaw took his overcoat from its hanger, slipped into it, and strapped up his brief case. He put on his hat and strode out of the lecture room, slamming the door. The noise made a hollow echo in the empty room, but it did not disturb Charlie Wingate. He slept on behind his amber glasses.

● whiffling：輕輕的如微風(fēng)之聲。snore：鼾聲。escaped：從他（鼻子里）發(fā)出來。

● hanger：衣架。its代替overcoat's。slipped into it：穿上大衣（全身滑進(jìn)大衣里面去）。strapped up：把皮帶扣上。

● strode（stride的過去式）：大踏步地走出去。slamming the door：把門砰的一關(guān)。

● hollow echo：空洞的回聲。但是可憐的Charlie又睡熟了。