“That was a strange jest”。 remarked the Generals lady，when the Count had gone away. The General shook his head thoughtfully，and went out for a ride，with his groom behind him at a proper distance，and he sat more stifflystiffly adv.顽固地，呆板地，僵硬地 than ever on his high horse.
“这是一种奇特的嘲弄。”伯爵走后将军夫人评论道。将军沉思地摇了摇头，带着马夫骑马走了。马夫离开他一段距离，他骑在高头大马上看去比往日要更加不可一世。
It was Emilys birthday. Flowers，books，letters，and visiting cards came pouring in. The Generals lady kissed her on the mouth，and the General kissed her on the forehead； they were affectionate parents，and they and Emily had to receive grand visitors，two of the Princes. They talked of balls and theatres，of diplomaticdiplomatic adj.外交的，老练的 missions，of the government of empires and nations； and then they spoke of talent，native talent； and so the discourse turned upon the young architect.
小爱米莉的生日到了，人们送来了许多花、书信和名片。将军夫人吻着她的嘴，将军吻着她的前额。他们是慈爱的父母，她和他们都有高贵的人来访——两位王子来访过。他们谈起了舞会，谈起了戏剧，谈起了派遣外交使节，谈到了国家和国土的治理。谈到了勤奋的人，谈到了国内勤奋的人，这样便自然谈到了那位年轻的教授，建筑师先生。
“He is building up an immortalityimmortality n.不朽，不朽的声名 for himself，” said one，“and he will certainly build his way into one of our first familie？”。
“他在为自己名垂千古而建房筑屋！”有人这么说，“他也为进入一个显赫的家庭而建房筑屋！”
“One of our first families！” repeated the General and afterwards the Generals lady； “What is meant by one of our first families？”
“一个显赫的家庭！”后来将军对将军夫人重复了一遍。“最显赫的家族是哪一家？”
“I know for whom it was intended，” said the Generals lady，“but I shall not say it. I dont think it. Heaven disposes，but I shall be astonished.”
“我知道这暗示的是谁家！”将军夫人说道。“可是我不说！我不想它！由上帝决定吧！不过我要吃惊的。”
“I am astonished also！” said the General. “I havent an idea in my head！” And he fell into a reverie，waiting for ideas.
“让我也吃惊吧！”将军说道，“我脑子里一点概念都没有！”于是他陷入了沉思。
There is a power，a nameless power，in the possession of favor from above，the favor of Providence，and this favor little George had. But we are forgetting the birthday.
仁慈的源泉里，宫廷和上帝的恩赐里，都有一股力量，一股不可名状的力量。一切恩赐小乔治都有了。但是我们忘记生日了。
Emilys room was fragrant with flowers，sent by male and female friends； on the table lay beautiful presents for greeting and remembrance，but none could come from George—none could come from him； but it was not necessary，for the whole house was full of remembrances of him. Even out of the ashbin the blossom of memory peepedpeep vi.窥视，偷看n.窥看，隐约看见 forth，for Emily had sat whimpering there on the day when the windowcurtain caught fire，and George arrived in the character of fire engine. A glance out of the window，and the acacia tree reminded of the days of childhood. Flowers and leaves had fallen，but there stood the tree covered with hoar frosthoar frost n.树冰，冰霜，白霜，looking like a single huge branch of coral，and the moon shone clear and large among the twigs，unchanged in its changings，as it was when George divided his bread and butter with little Emily.
爱米莉的屋子里洋溢着男友和女友送来的花的香气，桌子上摆着许多纪念品，但没有一件是乔治送的。他送不进来，但也不必要，因为整座屋子都是对他的纪念，甚至楼梯下面的沙洞也都绽开了回忆的花朵；窗帘燃起来的时候，小爱米莉曾在那里哇哇叫过，乔治作为第一个灭火器水龙头到了那里。从窗子往外一看，金合欢树让人想起了童年时代。花和叶子都凋落了，但是树挂满白霜，像根珊瑚枝。月亮悬在树枝间，又亮又大，多年来它都不停地移动，却又没有变样，还像当年乔治把黄油面包分给小爱米莉的时候一样。
Out of a box the girl took the drawings of the Czars palace and of her own castle—remembrances of George. The drawings were looked at，and many thoughts came. She remembered the day when，unobserved by her father and mother，she had gone down to the porters wife who lay dying. Once again she seemed to sit beside her，holding the dying womans hand in hers，hearing the dying womans last words： “Blessing George！” The mother was thinking of her son，and now Emily gave her own interpretationinterpretation n.解释，阐明，口译，通译 to those words. Yes，George was certainly with her on her birthday.
她从抽屉里拿出那些画着沙皇宫殿的画，有她自己的宫殿的画——乔治的纪念品。她看着这些画，沉思着，涌起了许多回忆。她记得有一天，趁父亲母亲没有注意，她来到地下室正在弥留之际的看门人的妻子那里。她坐着陪她，握着她的手，听她说最后的话：“祝福——乔治！”母亲想着自己的儿子。——现在，爱米莉赋予它自己的意义。是的，乔治在她的生日这天是到场了的，真的是这样！
It happened that the next day was another birthday in that house，the Generals birthday. He had been born the day after his daughter，but before her of course—many years before her. Many presents arrived，and among them came a saddlesaddle n.鞍，鞍状物v.承受 of exquisite workmanship，a comfortable and costly saddle—one of the Princes had just such another. Now，from whom might this saddle come？ The General was delighted. There was a little note with the saddle. Now if the words on the note had been “many thanks for yesterdays reception”，we might easily have guessed from whom it came. But the words were “From somebody whom the General does not know”。
第二天发生了这样的事，这家人又有一个人过生日，是将军的生日。他比女儿晚一天出生，当然早于她许多年。这天人们又送来了许多礼品，其中有一副马鞍，它的外表十分美丽，很舒服、很昂贵，只有一位王子的可以与它相比。这是谁送的呢？将军很高兴。马鞍上附有一个小纸条。如果上面写着“谢谢昨日的邀请”，我们也许可以猜到是谁送的了。但是上面写的是：“一个将军不认识的人敬赠。”
“Whom in the world do I not know？” exclaimed the General. “I know everybody；” and his thoughts wandered all through society，for he knew everybody there. “That saddle comes from my wife！” he said at last. “She is teasing me—charming！”
“世界上有谁我还不认识呢？”将军说道。“谁我都认识！”他想到许多大的社交活动，每个人他都认识。“这是我的妻子送的！”最后他说道；“她在和我开玩笑！好极了！”
But she was not teasingtease n.揶揄，戏弄，逗惹vt.取笑，逗恼，奚落 him； those times were past.
但是她没有开玩笑，那样的日子过去了。
Again there was a feast，but it was not in the Generals house，it was a fancy ball at the Princes，and masks were allowed too.
后来举行了一个宴会。但不是在将军家。这是一位王子开的化装舞会；允许戴假面具。
The General went as Rubens，in a Spanish costume，with a little ruff round his neck，a sword by his side，and a stately manner. The Generals lady was Madame Rubens，in black velvet made high round the neck，exceedingly warm，and with a millstone round her neck in the shape of a great ruff—accurately dressed after a Dutch picture in the possession of the General，in which the hands were especially admired. They were just like the hands of the Generals lady.