Chaptet 5
When Chips, dreaming through the hours[1]at Mrs. Wickett's, recollected those days, he used to look down at his feet[2]and wonder which one it was that had performed so signal a service[3]. That, the trivial cause[4]of so many momentous happenings, was the one thing of which details evaded him[5]. But he resaw[6]the glorious hump of the Gable[7](he had never visited the Lake District since[8]), and the mouse-grey depths of Wastwater under the Screes[9]; he could resmell the washed air after heavy rain[10], and refollow the ribbon of the pass across to Sty Head[11]. So clearly it lingered[12], that time of dizzy happiness[13], those evening strolls[14]by the waterside, her cool voice[15]and her gay laughter. She had been a very happy person, always.[16]
They had both been so eager, planning a future together[17]; but he had been rather serious about it, even a little awed[18]. It[19]would be all right, of course, her coming to Brookfield; other housemasters were married[20]. And she liked boys, she told him[21], and would enjoy living among them[22]. 'Oh, Chips, I'm so glad you are what you are[23]. I was afraid you were a solicitor[24]or a stockbroker[25]or a dentist or a man with a big cotton business[26]in Manchester[27]. When I first met you[28], I mean[29]. Schoolmastering's[30]so different, so important, don't you think? To be influencing[31]those who are going to grow up and matter to the world[32] …'
Chips said he hadn't thought of it like that -- or, at least, not often[33]. He did his best; that was all anyone could do in any job[34].
'Yes, of course, Chips. I do love you for saying simple things like that.[35]'
And one morning -- another memory gem-clear when he turned to it[36]-- he had for some reason[37]been afflicted with an acute desire[38]to depreciate[39]himself and all his attainments[40]. He had told her of[41]his only mediocre degree[42], of his occasional difficulties of discipline[43], of the certainty that he would never get a promotion, and of his complete ineligibility[44]to marry a young and ambitious girl. And at the end of it all[45]she had laughed in answer[46].
[1] dreaming through the hours整个整个小时一直处于梦境之中；终日如醉如梦。
[2] look down at his feet俯视他的双脚。比较：look down upon蔑视。
[3] which one it was that had performed so signal a service是哪一只脚起了如此重要的作用；是哪一只脚蹩伤而让他和Katherine相识并结婚的。which one=which foot.
[4] That, the trivial ['trɪvɪəl] cause That指上句蹩伤一只脚的事；the trivial cause是That的同位语。
[5] the one thing of which details ['di:teɪlz] evaded him他唯一记不清细节的事情。他样样都记得，唯有蹩伤的是哪一只脚那件事的细节记不清楚。the one唯一的。
[6] resaw在回忆中重又看到
[7] the glorious hump of the Gable大山墙（指上一章的Great Gable）的山峰
[8] since从此，是副词；从爬山邂逅Katherine的那次之后。
[9] the mouse-gray depths [depθs] of Wastwater ['wɒstwɔ:tə] under the Screes散石山坡下沃斯特湖的灰鼠色的深渊
[10] resmell the washed [wɒʃt] air after heavy rain回忆中重又嗅到大雨后清新的空气。washed经大雨冲洗过的。
[11] refollow the ribbon of the pass across to Sty [staɪ] Head回忆中重又循着如带的山径跨越到斯代岬。
[12] So clearly it lingered ['lɪŋgəd]=It lingered so clearly. It以that time of dizzy happiness, those evening strolls by the waterside, her cool voice and her gay laughter作它的同位语。
[13] dizzy happiness使人头昏目眩的（极度的）欢乐
[14] evening strolls [strəʊlz] by the waterside黄昏时分在湖边的散步
[15] cool voice文静的声音
[16] She had been a very happy person, always.=She had always been a very happy person. always放在句末，更口语化，更生动。
[17] planning a future together一同计划未来（的生活方式）。
[18] he had been rather serious about it, even a little awed [ɔ:d]他对此相当谨慎，甚至有所畏惧。it指future。awed此处是过去分词；had been awed畏惧。
[19] It引起后面的同位语her coming to Brookfield。
[20] were married是结了婚的（指状态）。比较：marry结婚（指行动）。
[21] she told him是插入语。
[22] enjoy living among them注意enjoy后接动名词，不可接不定式。
[23] you are what you are你是这样一个人。
[24] solicitor [sə'lɪsɪtə]律师
[25] stockbroker股票经纪人
[26] a big cotton business ['bɪznɪs]一家大的棉纺厂。business作“工商企业”解时，是可数名词。
[27] Manchester ['mæntʃɪstə]曼彻斯特（英国工业城市，纺织业中心）
[28] When I first met you承接上句，修饰I was afraid。
[29] I mean我的意思是说。I mean拖在句末，在口语中很普通，同样类型的如下句中的don't you think?
[30] Schoolmastering's=Schoolmastering is.Schoolmastering在学校中当教师。[31] To be influencing说明上句中Schoolmastering的作用。
[32] are going to grow up and matter to the world将成长起来，对世界发挥作用。matter关系重大；是不及物动词。
[33] not often=had not often thought of it like that.it指上节Katherine所说当教师的重要作用。
[34] that was all anyone could do in any job那是任何人做任何事情所能做到的一切；只是尽力而为。all后省略关系代词that。
[35] I do love you for saying simple things like that.我就喜欢你说那样简单明了的话。do love是love的着重式，do重读。for后接动名词，表示原因。
[36] another memory gem-clear ['dʒemklɪə] when he turned to it另一段回忆，在他想到它时，清晰地活现眼前。gem-clear像宝石般晶莹明澈的，是形容词，它前面省略that was或which was。turned to it想到它；it=memory。放在两个破折号内的这句话是插入语，它前面的one morning修饰它后面he had for some reason been afflicted中的谓语动词had been afflicted。
[37] for some reason为某种理由
[38] had been afflicted with an acute desire为一个强烈的意愿所苦；急切要做到某一点的心情使自己苦恼。
[39] depreciate [dɪ'pri:ʃɪeɪt]贬低
[40] attainments学识，造诣；习惯用复数。
[41] He had told her of…他告诉他（某事）。注意用of。这里told her后面接有四个并列的“of…”，表示他所告诉她的各项内容。
[42] his only mediocre ['mi:dɪəʊkə] degree他仅有的平凡的学位（如仅有一个学士学位）
[43] difficulties of discipline管教学生守纪律的困难
[44] complete ineligibility [ɪnˌelɪdʒə'bɪlɪtɪ]完全没有资格；根本不配
[45] at the end of it all在他说完这一番话之后。it泛指上面Chips所说的一番话。
[46] laughed [lɑ:ft] in answer以哈哈大笑作为回答。
