A-Mortal-Flower.doc

Han Suyin was born in Beijing in 1917. Her father was a Chinese railway engineer and her mother a Dutch lady. She is a physician and the author of many works, including A Mortal Flower, which tells of the experiences of the author and her family, both in and out of China. This excerpt describes the author's experience of looking for her first job in the early 1930s. 韩素音1917年生于北京。她父亲是中国铁路工程师，母亲是位荷兰女子。她是医生，也是作家，著述颇丰，其中包括《尘世的花》。此书讲述了作者及其家庭在国内外的经历。下述节录描写了作者在上世纪30年代初第一次找工作的经历。
Dutch[dʌtʃ]adj. 荷兰人的;荷兰的;荷兰语的各付各的账；平摊费用；实行AA制
physician[fiˈziʃən]n. 医生, 内科医生
author[ˈɔ:θə]n. 1． 著作家, 作者2． 创造者, 创始人; 发起
mortal[ˈmɔ:təl]adj. 1． 终有一死的;2．致命的3不共戴天的, 你死我活的5凡人的,世间的n.凡人, 人类
excerpt [ek'sə:pt, 'eksə:pt] n. 摘录，引用 网络释义摘录 选择 选录
describe [di'skraib]vt. 描述，形容；描绘

A Mortal Flower 尘世的花 Han Suyin韩素音

1 The day after meeting Hilda I wrote a letter to the Rockefeller Foundation, applying for a job. 遇见希尔达的第二天，我就给洛克菲勒基金会写信申请工作。
Hilda ['hildə]n. 希尔达（女子名）
Rockefeller ['rɔkifelə] n. 洛克菲勒（姓氏）
foundation [faun'deiʃən] n. 基础；地基；基金会；根据；创立网络释义基础 基金会 粉底霜
apply [ə'plai]vt. 申请；涂，敷；应用vi. 申请；涂，敷；适用；请求网络释义应用 化妆 概念

2 or Mother thought I would get in. "You have to have pull.[pul] It's an American[ə'merikən] thing, Rockefeller Foundation['rɔkifelə][faun'deiʃən]. You must have pull."
父母亲都觉得我不会被录用。“你要有后台才行。那可是一家美国机构，洛克菲勒基金会。你一定要有后台。”
foundation [faun'deiʃən] n. 基础；地基；基金会；根据；创立

3 Mother said: "That's where they do all those experiments on dogs and people. All the Big Shots of the Nanking government also came here to have medical treatment, and sometimes took away a nurse to become a new wife."
母亲说：“那里，他们在狗和人身上做各种试验。南京政府所有的头面人物也都来这里看病，有时还带走个护士做姨太太。”
experiment [ik'speriment, ek's-] n. 实验，试验；尝试vi. 尝试；进行实验
medical ['medikəl] n. 医生；体格检查adj. 医学的；药的；内科的
treatment ['tri:tmənt] n. 治疗，疗法；处理；对待

4 It made sense to me, typing in a hospital ['hɔspitəl] 。 I would learn about medicine, since I wanted to study medicine. And as there was no money at home for me to study, I would earn money, and prepare myself to enter medical school. I had already discovered that a convent-school education was not at all adequate, and that it would take me at least three more years of hard study before being able to enter any college at all. Science, mathematics, Chinese literature and the classics . . .with the poor schooling given to me, it would take me years to get ready for a university.
在医院里当打字员，对我挺合适。那样我就能了解一些医学知识，这很重要，因为我想学医。家里没钱供我上学，所以我得挣钱，自己想办法上医学院。我已经发现在女隐修会学校的教育远远不够，要想上大学，自己至少得再努力三年才行。科学、物理、数学、中国文学、古典文学……就凭我学的那么点儿功课，要上大学还得准备好多年。
sense [sens] n. 感觉，官能；观念；道理；理智vt. 感觉到；检测
type [taip] n. 类型，品种；模范；样式vi. 打字 网络释义象征 种类 机型
typing ['taipiŋ] n. 打字；键入，按类型把…归类（type的现在分词）网络释义版式 打字 打字员
medicine ['medisin] n. 药；医学；内科；巫术vt. 用药物治疗；给…用药
earn [ə:n] vt. 赚，赚得；获得，挣得；使得到；博得
prepare [pri'pεə] vt. 准备；使适合；装备；起草vi. 预备；做好思想准备
discover [dis'kʌvə] vt. 发现；发觉
convent ['kɔnvənt] n. 女修道院
adequate ['ædikwit] adj. 充足的；适当的；胜任的网络释义足够的 适当的 适度的
least [li:st] adj. 最小的；最少的（little的最高级）
literature ['litərətʃə] n. 文学；文献；文艺；著作
classic ['klæsik] adj. 经典的；古典的，传统的；最优秀的n. 名著；经典著作；大艺术家

5 "I will do it," But clenched teeth, decision tearing my bowels, were not enough; there was no money, no money, my mother said it, said it until I felt as if every scrap of food I ate was wrenched off my father's body. “我要上大学，”可是，咬牙切齿痛下决心是无济于事的；家里没钱，根本没钱，母亲说的，整天这么说，让我觉得自己吃的每一小口东西仿佛都是从父亲身上撕下来的。
clench [klentʃ]vt. 紧握；确定；把…敲弯n. 紧抓；敲环脚网络释义牢牢抓住 捏紧 钉紧
decision [di'siʒən] n. 决定，决心；决议
tear [tɛə,tiə]vi. 流泪, 撕破n. 眼泪, （撕破的）洞或裂缝, 撕扯vt. 撕掉, 扯下, 扰乱
tearing ['tɛəriŋ] adj. 撕裂的；痛苦的；猛烈的v. 撕开；裂开
bowel ['bauəl] n. 肠；内部；同情vt. 将……的肚肠取出
felt [felt] n.v. 感觉 毡；毡制品vi. 粘结vt. 使粘结；把…制成毡
scrap [skræp] n. 碎片；残余物；打架；少量vt. 废弃；使解体；拆毁adj. 废弃的；零碎的
wrench [rentʃ] n. 扳手，扳钳；扭伤；痛苦；歪曲；猛扭 网络释义被扭动的

6 "No one is going to feed you doing nothing at home." (2) Of course, one who does not work must not eat unless one can get married, which is called: "being settled at last." But with my looks I would never get married; I was too thin, too sharp, too ugly. Mother said it, Elder Brother had said it. Everyone agreed that I should work, because marriage would be difficult for me.
“你在家里闲着不做事，谁来供养你。”当然，不工作就没饭吃，除非嫁人，那叫做“终于有了归宿。”可论我的长相一辈子也嫁不出去；我太瘦小，嘴快人丑。母亲这么说。大哥这么说过。人人都觉得我该找事干，因为嫁人我是没指望了。
feed [fi:d] vt. 喂养；供给；放牧；抚养（家庭等）；靠…为生n. 饲料；饲养；
settle ['setl]n. 定居；沉淀；下陷vt. 解决；安排；使…定居有背长椅vi. 解决；
sharp [ʃɑ:p] adj. 急剧的；锋利的；强烈的；敏捷的；刺耳的n. 尖头；骗子；内行vi. 打扮；
ugly ['ʌɡli] adj. 丑陋的；邪恶的；令人厌恶的

7 Within a week a reply came. The morning postman brought it, and I choked over my milk and coffee. "I'm to go for an interview. At the Peking Union Medical College. To the Comptroller's office."
不到一个星期，回信就来了。早上送信的邮差送来的，我正喝着加奶咖啡，一下子给呛着了。“我要去面试。在北京协和医学院。审计主任的办公室。”
within [wi'ðin, wi'θin] prep. 在…之内adv. 在内部n. 里面
reply [ri'plai] vi. 回答；答辩；回击
choke [tʃəuk]n. 窒息；噎；窒息；阻塞；说不出话来vt. 呛；使窒息；阻塞；抑制；扑灭
choked over 激动得说不出话了
Peking ['pi:'kiŋ] n. 北京的旧称，现在称Beijing
medical ['medikəl] n. 医生；体格检查adj. 医学的；药的；内科的
comptroller [kən'trəulə] n. 审计官；监查官网络释义 专利局长 审计官 审计主任

8 Father and Mother were pleased. Mother put the coffee pot down and took the letter. "What good paper, so thick." But how could we disguise the fact that I was not [even] fifteen years old? I had claimed to be sixteen in the letter. In fact, said Papa, it was not a lie since Chinese are a year old when born, and if one added the New Year as an extra year, as do the Cantonese and the Hakkas, who became two years old when they reach their first New Year (so that a baby born on December 31st would be reckoned two years old on the following January 2nd), I could claim to being sixteen.
父母亲都挺高兴。母亲放下咖啡壶，取过信。“多好的纸，这么厚实。”可我们怎么才能掩饰我还不到15足岁的事实呢？我在信里说自己16岁。其实，爸爸说，这也不是撒谎，因为中国人生下来就是1岁，要是到了新年再加1岁，就像广东人和客家人那样，他们第一次过新年就2岁了（所以说12月31日生的孩子到了1月2日就已经2岁了），那么我可以说自己16岁了。
pot [pɔt] n. 壶；盆；罐vt. 把…装罐；射击；节略vi. 随手射击网络释义锅 深锅 饮剂
thick [θik]adj. 厚的；浓的；粗大的adv. 密集地；浓浓地，厚厚地网络释义沈重 粗缆 厚的
disguise [dis'ɡaiz] n. 伪装；假装；用作伪装的东西vt. 掩饰；假装；隐瞒
claim [kleim]n. 要求；声称；索赔；断言；值得vi. 提出要求网络释义索赔 权项 要求
since [sins] conj. 因为；由于；既然；自…以来；自…以后adv. 后来
Cantonese [,kæntə'ni:z] n. 广东人；广东话adj. 广州的，广州人的
Hakka ['hækə; hɑ:k'kɑ:]n. （汉）客家；客家人；客家语
reach [ri:tʃ] n. 范围；延伸；vi. 达到；伸出手；传开 达到 到达率 得到
reckon ['rekən] vt. 测算，估计；认为 ，猜想，料想网络释义总计的

9 "You look sixteen," said Mama; "all you have to do is to stop hopping and picking your pimples. And lengthen your skirt."
“你看上去有16岁，”妈妈说。“你只要别再蹦蹦跳跳的、别再掐脸上的粉刺就行了。还有就是把裙子放放长。”
hop [hɔp] n. 跳跃；舞会；短途旅行 网络释义驿站 中继段 跳数
pick [pik] 采摘；掘vi. 挑选；采摘；挖选择；n. 鹤嘴锄；挖；[篮球]掩护vt. 拾取；精选；
pimple ['pimpl] n. 疙瘩；[医] 丘疹；面疱 网络释义 丘疹 小疮 青春痘
lengthen ['leŋθən] vt. 使延长；加长vi. 延长；变长
skirt [skə:t] n. 裙子vt. 绕过，回避；位于…边缘vi. 沿边走，绕开；环绕

10 What dress should I wear? I had two school uniforms, a green dress, a brown dress, and one dress with three rows of frills for Sunday, too dressy for an interview. I had no shoes except flat-heeled school shoes, and tennis shoes. There was no time to make a dress and in those years no ready-made clothes existed, so Mother lengthened the green dress. I squeezed two pimples on my forehead, then went to the East market and bought some face powder, Butterfly brand, pink, made in Shanghai by a Japanese firm.
我该穿哪件衣服呢？我有两套校服，一套绿的和一套褐色的女服，还有一条缀着三排花边的女服，是过节穿的，穿着去面试太花哨了。我也没什么鞋，只有学校发的平跟鞋，还有球鞋。现做是来不及了，那时又没成衣出售，所以母亲就把那套绿颜色的服装放放长。我掐了额头上的两粒粉刺，接着去东单买了些蝴蝶牌香粉，粉红色的，是一家日本公司在上海生产的。
wear [wεə] n. 穿著,磨损,耐久性v. 穿著,用旧,耗损网络释义磨损 成衣 现成服装
uniform ['ju:nifɔ:m] n. 制服adj. 统一的；一致的；相同的；均衡的；始终如一的
row [rəu]n. 行，排；划船；街道；吵闹vt. 划船；使……成排 行 列 排列
frills [frilz] n. 虚饰，臭架子网络释义荷叶边 阳春 臭架子
dressy ['dresi] adj.[口语] (指衣服)款式好的；漂亮的，时髦的
heeled [hi:ld] adj. 有后跟的；带手枪的；带着钱的v. 紧跟；（使）倾斜（heel的过去分词）
heel [hi:l]n. 脚后跟；踵vt. 倾侧vi. 倾侧网络释义鞋后跟 柱脚 脚跟
flat [flæt]n. 公寓；平地；平面；adj. 平坦的；扁平的；浅的；单调的
ready-made ['redi'meid] adj. 现成的；做好的；陈旧的；平凡的做好准备 现成物 现成品
exist [iɡ'zist] vi. 存在；生存；生活；继续存在网络释义现有
squeeze [skwi:z] vt. 挤；紧握；勒索vi. 压榨n. 压榨；紧握；拥挤；佣金网络释义挤压，掐
forehead ['fɔːhed]n. 额，前额网络释义额头 前额 脑门子
powder ['paudə] . 粉；粉末；vi. 搽粉；变成粉末[化工][军] 火药搽粉于网络释义火药 粉末 粉
face powder擦脸香粉；扑面粉网络释义面粉 扑粉 扑面粉
butterfly ['bʌtəflai] n. 蝴蝶；蝶泳；举止轻浮的人；追求享乐的人网络释义蝴蝶 蝶泳 花蝴蝶
brand [brænd] n. 商标，牌子；烙印vt. 铭刻于，铭记 品牌 商标 牌
pink [piŋk] n. 粉红色；典范；头面人物adj. 粉红的；脸色发红的粉红色 粉红 粉红佳人

11 The next morning, straw-hatted, with powder on my nose, I went with my father to the gates of the hospital.
第二天上午，我带着帽子，鼻子上搽了粉，跟父亲来到医院门口。
hatted ['hætid]adj. 戴着帽子的v. 戴上帽子；供应帽子（hat的过去分词）网络释义带着帽子
12 "It's not this gate, this is for the sick. It's the other gate, round the corner," said the porter.
“不是这个门，这是病人走的。走另外一扇门，拐弯就是，”看门的说。
porter ['pɔ:tə, 'pəu-] n. 门房；服务员；行李搬运工；守门人网络释义行李员 行李夫 搬运工人

13 The Yu Wang Fu Palace occupied a whole city block. We walked along its high grey outer wall, hearing the dogs scream in the kennels, and came to its other gate, which was the Administration building gate. It had two large stone lions, one male, one female. We crossed the marble courtyard, walked up the steps with their carved dragons coiling in the middle, into an entrance hall, with painted beams and intricate painted ceiling, red lacquered pillars, huge lamps. There was cork matting on the stone floor.
御王府占了整整一个街区。我们绕青灰高墙走，一路听见狗在窝里尖叫，走着走着到了另一扇大门，是行政楼的门。门前是一公一母两个大石狮子。我们穿过大理石庭院，走上正中雕有蟠龙的台阶，来到前厅，看见精致的雕梁画栋，丹漆柱子，还有高高大大的灯台。青石地面上铺着软木垫。
occupy ['ɔkjupai]、vt. 占据，占领；居住；使忙碌网络释义占有 占用 居住于
block [blɔk]n. 块；街区；大厦；障碍物adj. 成批的，大块的；交通堵塞的块 嵌段 分程序
grey [ɡrei] n. 灰色adj. 灰色的；灰白的vt. 使变成灰色；使变老vi. 变成灰色；老化
scream [skri:m] n. 尖叫声；尖锐刺耳的声音；极其滑稽可笑的人
kennel ['kenəl] n. 狗屋；养狗场；[建] 阴沟；网络释义狗窝 下水道 沟渠
administration [əd,mini'streiʃən]n. 管理；行政；实施；行政机构网络释义总务部 管理 经营
lion ['laiən] n. 狮子；名人；勇猛的人；社交场合的名网络释义恶魔巫师 狮子 狮子星座
male [meil] n. 男人；雄性动物adj. 男性的；雄性的；有力的网络释义阳的 马累 男性
marble ['mɑ:bl] n. 大理石；大理石制品；弹珠adj. 大理石的；冷酷无情的
beam [bi:m] n. 横梁；光线；以梁支撑；用…照射；流露大梁 近光灯 远光灯
intricate ['intrikət] adj. 复杂的；错综的，缠结的网络释义复杂的 错综复杂的 难懂的
ceiling ['si:liŋ] n. 天花板；上限网络释义上升限度 天花板 上限
lacquered ['lækəd]adj. 涂漆的；喷漆的v. 涂漆（lacquer的过去分词）喷漆的 表面涂清漆
lamp [læmp]n. 灯；照射器vt. 照亮i. 发亮网络释义环介导等温扩增 专用照明灯电源 灯泡
cork [kɔ:k] n. 软木塞，软木制品；软木vt. 网络释义软木 木栓 软木塞
matting ['mætiŋ]n. 席子；编席的原料 修边 垫子 打毛

14 "I'll leave you," said Papa. "Try to make a good impression. " And he was gone.
“我走了，”爸爸说。“注意给人留个好印象。”说着他就走了。

15 I found the Comptroller's office easily; there was a messenger in the hall directing visitors. An open door, a room, two typewriters clattering and two women making them clatter.
我没费周折就找到了审计主任的办公室；厅里有个当差的给来访者作指点。一扇开着的门，一间屋子，屋里两台咔嗒作响的打字机，两位女士咔嗒咔嗒在打字。
messenger ['mesindʒə] n. 报信者，送信者；先驱网络释义信差 信使 雅虎通
hall [hɔ:l] n. 门厅，走廊；会堂；食堂；学生宿舍
direct [di'rekt, dai-]指导 直接 命令 adj. 直接的；直系的；亲身的；恰好的vt. 管理；指挥；导演；指向
typewriter ['taip,raitə] n. 打字机网络释义打字机 照相打字机 打字员
clatter ['klætə] n. 哗啦声；嘈杂的谈笑声；咔嗒声vt. 使卡搭卡搭的响网络释义铿锵作响

16 I stood at the door and one of the women came to me. She had the new style of hair, all upstanding curls, which I admired, a dress with a print round the hem; she was very pregnant, so that her belly seemed to be coming at me first. She smiled. "Hello, what can I do for you?"
我站在门口，其中一位女士走上前来。她留着新式的发型，是我所喜欢的那种满头卷发竖立着的式样，穿着沿褶边印有花纹的裙子。由于她怀孕已快足月，所以她向我走过来时似乎是她的肚子最先到达我面前。她微微一笑。“你好，有事儿吗？”
upstanding [ʌp'stændiŋ] adj. 良好的；正直的；直立的；姿势笔直的网络释义直立的 姿势笔直的
curl [kə:l] n. 卷曲；卷发；螺旋状物 ；盘绕网络释义旋度 鬈曲 旋量 起跳时在空中转身
admire [əd'maiə] vt. 钦佩；赞vi. 钦佩；称网络释义钦佩的 羡慕的 叹赏
hem [hem] n. 边，边缘；摺边vt. 包围；给...缝边vi. 做褶边
pregnant ['preɡnənt] adj. 怀孕的；富有意义网络释义怀孕 妊娠的 孕育的
belly ['beli]n. 腹部；胃；食vt. 使鼓vi. 涨满；鼓网络释义皮革肚边部位 肚子 煤层变厚

7 "I have an interview."
“我是来面试的。”

18 She took the letter from my hand. "Glad you could come. Now, just sit you down. No, sit down there. I'll tell Mr. Harned you've come."
她从我手里接过信。“真高兴你来了。这样吧，你先坐下。不，坐那儿。我去跟哈内德先生说你来了。”

19 The office had two other doors besides the one to the corridor, on one was "Comptroller." That was the one she went through and returned from.
除了通走廊的门，办公室另外还有两扇门，一扇门上写着“审计主任”。她从这扇门走了进去，一会儿又走出来。
corridor ['kɔridɔ:] n. 走廊 网络释义走廊 通路 过道

20 "Mr. Harned will see you now."
“哈内德先生这就见你。”

21 Mr. Harned was very tall, thin, with a small bald head, a long chin, enormous glasses. I immediately began to quiver with fright. His head was like a temple on top of a mountain, like the white pagoda on the hill in the North Sea Park. I could not hear a word of what he said. A paper and a pencil were in my hand, however, and Harned was dictating to me, giving me a speed test in shorthand.
哈内德先生高高瘦瘦，小小的秃脑袋，尖尖的下巴，那副眼镜奇大无比。我一下子害怕得哆嗦起来。他的脑袋就像是山顶上的庙宇，就像北海公园山上的白塔。他说了些什么我一句也没听进。可我手里拿着纸和笔，我怎么办呢。哈内德在给我口授着什么，让我做速记的速度测试。
bald [bɔ:ld] adj. 秃顶的；光秃的；单调的；无装饰vi. 变网络释义秃头 光秃秃 秃山顶
chin [tʃin] n. 下巴；聊天；引体向上动作vi. 闲谈；作引体向上动作网络释义颔 下巴 切削击
enormous [i'nɔ:məs] adj. 庞大的，巨大的；凶暴的，极恶的
immediately [i'mi:diətli] adv. 立即，立刻；直接conj. 一…就
quiver ['kwivə] n. 颤抖；箭袋；震动vi. 颤抖；振动vt. 使…颤动；抖动
fright [frait] n. 惊吓；惊骇vt. 使惊恐网络释义吃惊 惊骇 害怕
temple ['templ] n. 庙宇；寺院；神殿；太阳穴网络释义庙宇 寺庙 脚丝
pagoda [pə'ɡəudə] n. （东方寺院的）宝塔；印度的旧金币网络释义佛塔 塔 浮屠
hill [hil] n. 小山；丘陵；斜坡；山冈网络释义希尔 丘陵 小山
park [pɑ:k] n. 公园；[交] 停车场vt. 停放；放置；寄存网络释义公园 停车场 园林
paper ['peipə] n. 纸；论文；文件；报纸adj. 纸做的vt. 用纸糊；用纸包装论文 纸 文件
harn[英]低质粗支亚麻纱(织物)
dictate [dik'teit, 'dikteit] n. 命令；指示vt. 命令；口述；网络释义命令 支配 口述
speed [spi:d] n. 速度，速率；迅速，快速；昌盛，繁荣速度 高速钻床 生死时速
shorthand ['ʃɔ:thænd] n. 速记；速记法adj. 速记法的网络释义速记 词组简码输入 以速记术记录

22 I went out of his office and the pregnant secretary sat me in front of her own typewriter. I turned a stricken face to her, "I couldn't hear. I couldn't hear what he said..."
我走出他的办公室，那个怀孕的秘书让我在她的打字机前坐下。我愁眉苦脸地对她说：“我没听清。他说的我没听清……”
pregnant ['preɡnənt] adj. 怀孕的；富有意义的网络释义怀孕 妊娠的 孕育的
secretary ['sekrətəri] n. 秘书；书记；部长；大臣网络释义秘书 风流老板俏秘书 总经理秘书
stricken ['strikən] adj. 患病的；受挫折的；受…侵袭的；遭殃的 被侵害的 受打击的 受灾的

23 "Wait, I'll tell him." She bustled off. At the other desk was a blonde, thin girl, who had thrown one look at me and then gone back to clattering. The pregnant one reappeared, a pink sheet in hand: "Now just copy this on the typewriter, best you can."
“别急，我去跟他说。”她匆匆走开去。另一张桌子前坐着的是一个苗条的金发姑娘，她看了我一眼，接着又咔嗒咔嗒打字了。怀孕的那位回来了，手里拿着一张粉红色的纸：“你就把这个打一份，尽你最大努力吧。”
bustle ['bʌsl] vi. 喧闹；忙乱；充满vt. 使忙碌；催促网络释义奔忙的 bustled off飞过了
blonde [blɔnd] n. 白肤金发碧眼的女人网络释义金发女郎 色白的 金发美女
reappear [,ri:ə'piə] vi. 再出现
sheet [ʃi:t] n. 薄片，纸张；薄板；床单网络释义床单 塑胶片 工作表

4 I hit the keys, swiftly; the typewriter was the same make as mine, a Royal.
我快速击打着字键；打字机的牌子跟我自己的那台一样，是皇家牌的。
key [ki:] （打字机等的）键；关键；钥匙 键入；锁上；调节…的音调解答 对译本 电键
Royal ['rɔiəl] adj. 英国的；（英国）皇家的网络释义王室的 皇冠 皇家

25 "My, you are fast. I'll tell Mr. Harned."
“哟，你打得真够快的。我要去跟哈内德先生说。”
fast [fɑ:st, fæst]n. 斋戒；绝食稳固adv. 迅速地；紧紧地；彻底地 禁食，快速 快干 迅捷网络

26 And Mr. Harned came out, benign behind those enormous goggle glasses. "Well, Miss Chou, we've decided to take you on as a typist, at thirty-five dollars a month. To start Mon