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Chapter 4 Lessons
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Karl Ivanitch was in a bad temper, This was clear from his contracted brows, and from the way in which he flung his frockcoat into a drawer, angrily donned his old dressing-gown again, and made deep dints with his nails to mark the place in the book of dialogues to which we were to learn by heart. Woloda began working diligently1, but I was too distracted to do anything at all. For a long while I stared vacantly at the book; but tears at the thought of the impending2 separation kept rushing to my eyes and preventing me from reading a single word. When at length the time came to repeat the dialogues to Karl (who listened to us with blinking eyes--a very bad sign), I had no sooner reached the place where some one asks, "Wo kommen Sie her?" ("Where do you come from?") and some one else answers him, "lch komme vom Kaffeehaus" ("I come from the coffee-house"), than I burst into tears and, for sobbing3, could not pronounce, "Haben Sie die Zeitung nicht gelesen?" (Have you not read the newspaper?") at all. Next, when we came to our writing lesson, the tears kept falling from my eyes and, making a mess on the paper, as though some one had written on blotting- paper with water, Karl was very angry. He ordered me to go down upon my knees, declared that it was all obstinacy4 and " puppet- comedy playing" (a favourite expression of his) on my part, threatened me with the ruler, and commanded me to say that I was sorry. Yet for sobbing and crying I could not get a word out. At last--conscious, perhaps, that he was unjust--he departed to Nicola's pantry, and slammed the door behind him. Nevertheless their conversation there carried to the schoolroom.

"Have you heard that the children are going to Moscow, Nicola?" said Karl.

"Yes. How could I help hearing it?"

At this point Nicola seemed to get up for Karl said, "Sit down, Nicola," and then locked the door. However, I came out of my corner and crept to the door to listen.

"However much you may do for people, and however fond of them you may be, never expect any gratitude5, Nicola," said Karl warmly. Nicola, who was shoe-cobbling by the window, nodded his head in assent6.

"Twelve years have I lived in this house," went on Karl, lifting his eyes and his snuff-box towards the ceiling, "and before God I can say that I have loved them, and worked for them, even more than if they had been my own children. You recollect7, Nicola, when Woloda had the fever? You recollect how, for nine days and nights, I never closed my eyes as I sat beside his bed? Yes, at that time I was 'the dear, good Karl Ivanitch'--I was wanted then; but now"--and he smiled ironically--"the children are growing up, and must go to study in earnest. Perhaps they never learnt anything with me, Nicola? Eh?"

"I am sure they did," replied Nicola, laying his awl8 down and straightening a piece of thread with his hands.

"No, I am wanted no longer, and am to be turned out. What good are promises and gratitude? Natalia Nicolaevna"--here he laid his hand upon his heart--"I love and revere9, but what can SHE I do here? Her will is powerless in this house."

He flung a strip of leather on the floor with an angry gesture. "Yet I know who has been playing tricks here, and why I am no longer wanted. It is because I do not flatter and toady10 as certain people do. I am in the habit of speaking the truth in all places and to all persons," he continued proudly, "God be with these children, for my leaving them will benefit them little, whereas I--well, by God's help I may be able to earn a crust of bread somewhere. Nicola, eh?"

Nicola raised his head and looked at Karl as though to consider whether he would indeed be able to earn a crust of bread, but he said nothing. Karl said a great deal more of the same kind--in particular how much better his services had been appreciated at a certain general's where he had formerly11 lived (I regretted to hear that). Likewise he spoke12 of Saxony, his parents, his friend the tailor, Schonheit (beauty), and so on.

I sympathised with his distress13, and felt dreadfully sorry that he and Papa (both of whom I loved about equally) had had a difference. Then I returned to my corner, crouched14 down upon my heels, and fell to thinking how a reconciliation15 between them might be effected.

Returning to the study, Karl ordered me to get up and prepare to write from dictation. When I was ready he sat down with a dignified16 air in his arm-chair, and in a voice which seemed to come from a profound abyss began to dictate17: "Von al-len Lei- den-shaf-ten die grau-samste ist. Have you written that? " He paused, took a pinch of snuff, and began again: "Die grausamste ist die Un-dank-bar-keit [The most cruel of all passions is ingratitude18.] a capital U, mind."

The last word written, I looked at him, for him to go on,

"Punctum" (stop), he concluded, with a faintly perceptible smile, as he signed to us to hand him our copy-books.

Several times, and in several different tones, and always with an expression of the greatest satisfaction, did he read out that sentence, which expressed his predominant thought at the moment, Then he set us to learn a lesson in history, and sat down near the window. His face did not look so depressed19 now, but, on the contrary, expressed eloquently20 the satisfaction of a man who had avenged21 himself for an injury dealt him.

By this time it was a quarter to one o'clock, but Karl Ivanitch never thought of releasing us, He merely set us a new lesson to learn. My fatigue22 and hunger were increasing in equal proportions, so that I eagerly followed every sign of the approach of luncheon23. First came the housemaid with a cloth to wipe the plates, Next, the sound of crockery resounded24 in the dining-room, as the table was moved and chairs placed round it, After that, Mimi, Lubotshka, and Katenka. (Katenka was Mimi's daughter, and twelve years old) came in from the garden, but Foka (the servant who always used to come and announce luncheon) was not yet to be seen. Only when he entered was it lawful25 to throw one's books aside and run downstairs.

Hark! Steps resounded on the staircase, but they were not Foka's. Foka's I had learnt to study, and knew the creaking of his boots well. The door opened, and a figure unknown to me made its appearance,

 

卡尔·伊凡内奇情绪不佳。这从他那皱紧的眉头,从他把大礼服抛进五屉柜,怒气冲冲地系腰带,用指甲使劲在《会话课本》上划一条线,标明我们要背熟的地方等等动作来看,都可以看得出。沃洛佳规规矩矩地学习,我却心里烦躁,什么也做不出来。我茫然若失地对《会话课本》望了好久。但是一想到就要离别,我便热泪盈眶,再也读不下去了。轮到我向卡尔·伊凡内奇说那段会话的时候,他眯缝着眼睛听我说(这是一种不祥的兆头)。恰恰到一个人问:“Wo kommen sie her?” ① 另一个回答说:“Ich komme vom Kaffe—Hause”的地方 ② ,我再也忍不住眼泪,由于痛哭失声,就说不出:“Haben Sie die Zeitung nicht gelesen?” ③ 这句话来了。到习字的时候,泪水落到纸上,弄得满纸墨斑,看上去好象是用水在包装纸上写的。

--------

①“Wo kommen sie her?”:德语“您从哪里来?”

②“Ich komme vom kaffe-Hause”:德语“我从咖啡馆里来。”

③“Haben sie die zeitung nicht gelesen?”:德语“您没有看过报吗?”

卡尔·伊凡内奇生起气来,罚我跪下。反复地说,这是倔脾气,装腔作势(这是他的口头禅),用戒尺威吓我,要我讨饶,我却被泪水哽住了。连一个字也说不出来。最后,一他大概感到自己做事不公平,就走进尼古拉的房间,砰的一声把门关上。

从教室里可以听到下房里的谈话。

“孩子们要去莫斯科,你听说了吧,尼古拉?”卡尔·伊凡内奇一进屋就说。

“不错,听说了。”

想必是尼古拉要站起来,因为卡尔·伊凡内奇说;“坐着吧,尼古拉!”随后就关上门。我离开墙角,走到门边去偷听。

“不论替人家做了多少好事,不论多么忠心耿耿,看起来,决不能指望人家感激你。尼古拉,对不对?”卡尔·伊凡内奇感伤地说。

坐在窗口补靴子的尼古拉,肯定地点点头。

“我在这所房子里住了十二年,我可以当着上帝起誓,尼古拉,”卡尔·伊凡内奇接着说,’朝天花板抬起眼睛和鼻烟壶,“我爱护他们,照顾他们,比对自己的孩子都尽心。你记得吧,尼古拉,沃洛佳害热病的时候,你记得我怎样在他的床边坐了九天没有合眼。是的,那时我是个好心的人。是亲爱的卡尔·伊凡内奇;那时用得着我。可是现在呢,”他含着一丝讽刺的笑意补充说,“现在孩子长大了,得认真学习了!好象他们在这儿没有学习似的。尼古拉,是不是?”

“好象还得学习,”尼古拉放下锥子,双手拉着麻绳说。

“是的,现在用不着我了,要把我赶走了;诺言丢到哪儿去啦?哪儿有感激的意思?尼古拉呀,我很敬爱娜达丽雅·尼古拉耶芙娜,”他一只手按着胸口说,“但是她又怎样呢?……在这所房子里,她的意旨反正是无足轻重的。”这时,他用一种富于表情的手势,把一小片碎皮子扔到地板上。“我知道这是谁出的鬼主意,为什么不需要我了。因为我不会象有些人那样阿谀逢迎,随声附和。我对任何人都总爱讲老实话,”他骄傲地说。“别去管他们!我不在这里,他们也发不了财。而我呢,上帝是慈悲的,总会找到一块面包的……是不是,尼古拉?”

尼古拉抬起头,看了看卡尔‘伊凡内奇,好象想弄清他是不是真的会找到一块面包。不过,他一句话也没有说。

卡尔·伊凡内奇照这样又唠叨了很久,说了好多。他提到,他以前住在某将军家里,他的功劳得到了较好的报酬(听见这话,我心里难过),他说到萨克森、他的父母、他的朋友会恩海特裁缝,等等,等等。

我很同情他的痛苦。我对父亲和卡尔·伊凡内奇几乎是同样敬爱的,一想到他们互不理解,心里就很难过:我又回到角落里跪下,考虑怎样才可以使他们言归于好。

卡尔·伊凡内奇回到教室以后,吩咐我站起来,准备默写的练习本。等一切都准备就绪,他就威严地坐在自己的安乐椅上,用一种仿佛发自内心深处的声音开始口授:“Von al—len Lei—den一schaf—ten die grau—samste ist……haben s ie geschrie—ben? ① ”说到这儿,他停了一停,慢吞吞地吸了一撮鼻烟,打起精神接着说:“Die grausamste ist die Un—dank—bar—keit……Ein grossesU ② ”。我等着他往下说,写好最后一个字之后,向他望了一眼。

--------

①“Von al-len lei-den-schaf-ten die grau-samste ist……baben sie geschrie-ben?”:德语“在一切缺点中,最可怕的……写好了吗?”

②“Die grausamste ist die undank-bar-keit……Ein grosses U”:德语“最可怕的是忘恩负义……”U要大写。

“Punctum ① ,”他含着一丝几乎觉察不出的微笑说,然后做了一个手势,要我们把练习本交给他。

--------

①Punctum:德语“句点”。

他用抑扬顿挫的声调,带着极其满意的神情把这句表达自己内心思想的格,读了好几遍。随后,他就坐在窗口给我们上历史课。他的脸色不象先前那么阴沉了,流露出一个已经充分出了气的人的得意神情。

差一刻就一点钟了;但是,卡尔‘伊凡内奇好象还不想放我们走:他接连不断地给我们上新课。无聊和食欲同样地增长起来。我急不可耐地注意着表明快吃午饭的一切迹象。一会儿一个女仆拿着擦子去刷碟子,一会儿听见饭厅里餐具的响声和挪动桌椅地声音,一会儿米米、柳博奇卡和卡简卡(卡简卡是米米的女儿,十二岁)从花园里走进来。但是福加——总是来宣布开饭的管家福加——却没有露面。只有他露面的时候,我们才能扔下书本,不顾卡尔·伊凡内奇,跑下楼去。

这回听见楼梯上的脚步声了;但这并不是福加,我熟悉他的脚步声,永远听得出他的靴子的咯吱声。门打开了,一个我完全不认识的人出现在门口。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 diligently gueze5     
ad.industriously;carefully
参考例句:
  • He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
  • He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。
2 impending 3qHzdb     
a.imminent, about to come or happen
参考例句:
  • Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时,严重的战乱爆发了。
  • The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。
3 sobbing df75b14f92e64fc9e1d7eaf6dcfc083a     
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的
参考例句:
  • I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
  • Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。
4 obstinacy C0qy7     
n.顽固;(病痛等)难治
参考例句:
  • It is a very accountable obstinacy.这是一种完全可以理解的固执态度。
  • Cindy's anger usually made him stand firm to the point of obstinacy.辛迪一发怒,常常使他坚持自见,并达到执拗的地步。
5 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激,感谢
参考例句:
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
6 assent Hv6zL     
v.批准,认可;n.批准,认可
参考例句:
  • I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
  • The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。
7 recollect eUOxl     
v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得
参考例句:
  • He tried to recollect things and drown himself in them.他极力回想过去的事情而沉浸于回忆之中。
  • She could not recollect being there.她回想不起曾经到过那儿。
8 awl qPYyl     
n.尖钻
参考例句:
  • Six awl make a shoemaker.六个鞋砧,练出一个鞋匠。
  • It was fun to play with an awl.玩钻子是件很有趣的事。
9 revere qBVzT     
vt.尊崇,崇敬,敬畏
参考例句:
  • Students revere the old professors.学生们十分尊敬那些老教授。
  • The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven.中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。
10 toady CJ8zr     
v.奉承;n.谄媚者,马屁精
参考例句:
  • He flung it in my teeth that I was a toady.他责备我是个马屁精。
  • Arrogance has no defense against a toady.傲慢防不了谄媚者。
11 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
12 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
13 distress 3llzX     
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛
参考例句:
  • Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
  • Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。
14 crouched 62634c7e8c15b8a61068e36aaed563ab     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
  • The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身,准备猛扑。
15 reconciliation DUhxh     
n.和解,和谐,一致
参考例句:
  • He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
  • Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。
16 dignified NuZzfb     
a.可敬的,高贵的
参考例句:
  • Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中,他始终沉默以保持尊严。
  • He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
17 dictate fvGxN     
v.口授;(使)听写;指令,指示,命令
参考例句:
  • It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
  • What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令?
18 ingratitude O4TyG     
n.忘恩负义
参考例句:
  • Tim's parents were rather hurt by his ingratitude.蒂姆的父母对他的忘恩负义很痛心。
  • His friends were shocked by his ingratitude to his parents.他对父母不孝,令他的朋友们大为吃惊。
19 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
参考例句:
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
20 eloquently eloquently     
adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地)
参考例句:
  • I was toasted by him most eloquently at the dinner. 进餐时他口若悬河地向我祝酒。
  • The poet eloquently expresses the sense of lost innocence. 诗人动人地表达了失去天真的感觉。
21 avenged 8b22eed1219df9af89cbe4206361ac5e     
v.为…复仇,报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 );为…报复
参考例句:
  • She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》
22 fatigue PhVzV     
n.疲劳,劳累
参考例句:
  • The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
  • I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。
23 luncheon V8az4     
n.午宴,午餐,便宴
参考例句:
  • We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
  • I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。
24 resounded 063087faa0e6dc89fa87a51a1aafc1f9     
v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音
参考例句:
  • Laughter resounded through the house. 笑声在屋里回荡。
  • The echo resounded back to us. 回声传回到我们的耳中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 lawful ipKzCt     
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的
参考例句:
  • It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
  • We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。


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