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Mr Toots — than whom there were few better fellows in the world, though there may have been one or two brighter spirits — had laboriously invented this long burst of discourse with the view of relieving the feelings both of Florence and himself. But finding that he had run through his property, as it were, in an injudicious manner, by squandering the whole before taking a chair, or before Florence had uttered a word, or before he had well got in at the door, he deemed it advisable to begin again.
世界上虽然可以找到一两个头脑比图茨先生更聪明的人，但却很少有比他更好的人。为了宽慰弗洛伦斯和他本人的心情，他曾经煞费苦心地编出了这长长一串的话，可是在他还没有在椅子上坐下来之前，在弗洛伦斯还没有说出一句话之前，或者在他还没有从门口完全跨进来之前，他已把他的全部财产挥霍罄尽了；当他发现他的财产已经用得一干二净之后，他认为从头再说一遍倒是个可取的办法。
'How d'ye do, Miss Dombey?' said Mr Toots. 'I'm very well, I thank you; how are you?'
“您好吗，董贝小姐？”图茨先生说道，“我很好，谢谢您。您身体好吗？”
Florence gave him her hand, and said she was very well.
弗洛伦斯向他伸出手去，说她很好。
'I'm very well indeed,' said Mr Toots, taking a chair. 'Very well indeed, I am. I don't remember,' said Mr Toots, after reflecting a little, 'that I was ever better, thank you.'
“我确实很好，”图茨先生在椅子上坐下来，说道，“确实是这样。我不记得，”图茨先生想了一会儿，说，“曾经还有比现在更好的时候，谢谢您。”
'It's very kind of you to come,' said Florence, taking up her work, 'I am very glad to see you.'
“您真客气，还来看我，”弗洛伦斯拿起针线活，说，“我很高兴见到您。”
Mr Toots responded with a chuckle. Thinking that might be too lively, he corrected it with a sigh. Thinking that might be too melancholy, he corrected it with a chuckle. Not thoroughly pleasing himself with either mode of reply, he breathed hard.
图茨先生吃吃地笑了一下，作为回答。考虑到这可能显得太快活了，他就用一声叹息来纠正；考虑到这可能又显得太忧愁了，他又吃吃笑了一下，进行纠正。这两个回答方式哪一个也不能使他完全称心满意，他就呼呼地直喘气。
'You were very kind to my dear brother,' said Florence, obeying her own natural impulse to relieve him by saying so. 'He often talked to me about you.'
“您待我亲爱的弟弟很好，”弗洛伦斯说。她自然而然，不由自主地希望用这些话把他从困境中救出。“他时常跟我谈到您。”
'Oh it's of no consequence,' said Mr Toots hastily. 'Warm, ain't it?'
“啊，那无关紧要，”图茨先生急忙说道，“今天挺温暖，是不是？”
'It is beautiful weather,' replied Florence.
“美好的天气，”弗洛伦斯回答。
'It agrees with me!' said Mr Toots. 'I don't think I ever was so well as I find myself at present, I'm obliged to you.
“这种天气对我很合适！”图茨先生说，“我觉得我身体从来没有像现在这样好过。谢谢您。”
After stating this curious and unexpected fact, Mr Toots fell into a deep well of silence.
图茨先生叙述了这个奇妙的、意想不到的事实之后，掉进了沉默的深井中。
