1.they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance

【难句解析】这句的主干是so...that..., a good opinion意思是“赞誉”。

【句子翻译】一家人一直过着体面日子，赢得了四近乡邻的交口称誉。

2.But her death, which happened ten years before his own, produced a great alteration in his home; for to supply her loss, he invited and received into his house the family of his nephew Mr. Henry Dashwood, the legal inheritor of the Norland estate, and the person to whom he intended to bequeath it.

【难句解析】第一句中的主干是her death producted...alteration，which引导的从句指代death；第二句中，received意思是“接纳、接待”，这句话的主干是for to supply...，he invited and received the family，后面的the legal inheritor...and the person...均指代his nephew。

3.In the society of his nephew and niece...

【难句解析】句中society的意思是“相伴、交往”，该词在书中多次出现，多为此意。

【句子翻译】有侄儿、侄媳及其子女作伴...

4.By a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present lady, three daughters.

【难句解析】句中by表示“在...期间”

【句子翻译】亨利．达什伍德先生同前妻生下一个儿子，同现在的太太生了三个女儿。