《福尔摩斯探案集·铜山毛榉案》第7节
“‘My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,’ said I. ‘A little French, a little German, music, and drawing—’ “‘Tut, tut!’ he cried. ‘This is all quite beside the question. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, madam, would commence at £ 100 a year.’ “You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. “‘It is also my custom,’ said he, smiling in the most pleasant fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the white creases of his face, ‘to advance to my young ladies half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.’
注释摘要
维奥莱特·亨特照实说出自己的才艺：会一点法语、一点德语，加上音乐和绘画。这是维多利亚时代家庭女教师求职时最标准的自我介绍——不是自谦，而是事实。中产阶级家庭出身的年轻女性若要谋职，她们所受的教育通常就停留在这几项"才艺"上，刚好够教小孩子，却不足以为生。她的措辞"a little"也是体面人该有的克制，既不说自己精通，也不至于显得什么都不会。 但杰弗罗·鲁…