Last week at a dinner-party, the hostess asked meto sit next to Mrs Rumbold. Mrs Rumbold was alarge,unsmiling lady in a tight black dress. She didnot even look up when I took my seat beside her.Her eyes were fixed on her plate and in a short time,she was busy eating. I tried to make conversation.'A new playis coming to" The Globe" soon,' I said. "Will you be seeing it ?" 'No,'she answered. 'Willyoube spendingyour holidays abroad this year?' Iasked. 'No,' she answered. 'Will you be staying inEngland?' I asked. 'No,' she answered. In despair, I asked her whether she wasenjoying her dinner. 'Young man,' she answered, 'if you ate more and talked less, wewould both enjoy your dinner!'

精讲笔记：

10. 'Will you be staying in England ?'I asked.

“您就待在英国吗?”我问。

语言点 参考上面第8句的分析。

11. 'No,' she answered.

“不，”她回答。

语言点 参考上面第7句的分析。

12. In despair, I asked her whether she was enjoying her dinner.

失望之中我问她饭吃得是否满意。

语言点 whether在此引出间接引语，作“是否”讲。

13. 'Young man,'she answered,‘if you ate more and talked less,we would both enjoyour dinner

!’

“年轻人”她回答道，“假如你多吃点，少说点，我们两个都会吃得好的。”

语言点 这是一个标准的对当时情况进行假设的虚拟语气。

再例：If you helped me, I would be grateful.

如果你帮助我，我会感激你的。