狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第23章Part 18
The philosopher seemed to have left Uncle Sol pretty much where he had found him, for he still went roaming about the watery world, compasses in hand, and discovering no rest for them. It was in pursuance of a whisper in his ear from Florence, while the old man was absorbed in this pursuit, that Captain Cuttle laid his heavy hand upon his shoulder.
'What cheer, Sol Gills?' cried the Captain, heartily.
'But so-so, Ned,' returned the Instrument-maker. 'I have been remembering, all this afternoon, that on the very day when my boy entered Dombey's House, and came home late to dinner, sitting just there where you stand, we talked of storm and shipwreck, and I could hardly turn him from the subject'
But meeting the eyes of Florence, which were fixed with earnest scrutiny upon his face, the old man stopped and smiled.
'Stand by, old friend!' cried the Captain. 'Look alive! I tell you what, Sol Gills; arter I've convoyed Heart's-delight safe home,' here the Captain kissed his hook to Florence, 'I'll come back and take you in tow for the rest of this blessed day. You'll come and eat your dinner along with me, Sol, somewheres or another.'
'Not to-day, Ned!' said the old man quickly, and appearing to be unaccountably startled by the proposition. 'Not to-day. I couldn't do it!'
'Why not?' returned the Captain, gazing at him in astonishment.
看來，這位智慧非凡的人走後，所爾舅舅的處境就跟他遇到他的時候一樣，因爲他依舊在海洋的世界中游來轉去，手裏拿着圓規，找不到一個可以落腳的地方。當老人全神貫注地進行這個研究工作的時候，弗洛倫斯在卡特爾船長耳邊輕輕地說了些什麼，於是船長把他沉重的手擱到老人肩上。
“情況怎麼樣，所爾·吉爾斯？”船長親切地問道。
“馬馬虎虎，內德，”儀器製造商回答道，“今天下午我一直在回想，就在我外甥進董貝公司工作的那一天，他很晚纔回來吃晚飯，正好坐在你現在所站的地方。我們曾經談到了暴風雨和船隻失事，我很難把他從這個話題引開。”
但是老人碰上弗洛倫斯那雙眼睛時，停住和微笑了；那雙眼睛正用認真研究的眼光注視着他的臉孔。
“做好準備，老朋友！”船長喊道，“振作起精神來！這就是我要對你說的，所爾·吉爾斯，等我把心中的喜悅平安護送回家以後，”這時船長向着弗洛倫斯吻了吻他的鉤子，“我再來拖你①，直到這上帝祝福的日子過完。所爾，那時候你跟我一起到一個什麼地方去吃晚飯。”
“今天不，內德！”老人不知什麼緣故，似乎被這建議驚嚇了一跳，因此很快地說道“今天不，我不能！”
“爲什麼今天不？”船長驚奇地注視着他，問道。
