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"Miss Robinson was sitting opposite to him. She was looking rather nice that evening. Of course I recognized her dress, it was one of Sophie's old ones; but if you hadn't known Miss Robinson was the governess you would never have suspected it.
“罗宾逊小姐坐在他的对面。她那晚看起来很漂亮。当然，我认得她的衣服，那是索菲的一件旧裙子，但是你若之前不知道罗宾逊小姐是家庭女教师的话，你根本不会怀疑。
"'That's a very beautiful necklace that young lady has on,' said Borselli.
“‘这位年轻女士戴的项链十分漂亮，’博尔塞利说。
"Oh, but that's Mrs Livingstone's governess,' said Mary Lyngate.
“‘哦，但她是利文斯通夫人的家庭女教师，’玛丽•林格特说。
"'I can't help that,' he said. 'She's wearing one of the finest strings of pearls for its size that I've seen in my life. It must be worth fifty thousand pounds.'
“‘我忍不住要说，’他说，‘由于尺寸的原因，她戴的珍珠项链是我一生中见过的最好的项链之一。它一定值50,000英镑。’
"'Nonsense.'
“‘胡说。’
"'I give you my word it is.'
“‘我可以向你保证这一点。’
"Mary Lyngate leant over. She has rather a shrill voice.
“玛丽•林格特俯下身子。她的声音十分尖锐。
"'Miss Robinson, do you know what Count Borselli says?' she exclaimed. 'He says that string of pearls you're wearing is worth fifty thousand pounds.'
“‘罗宾逊小姐,你知道博尔塞利爵士在说什么吗？’她惊叫道。‘他说你戴的那串珍珠项链值50,000英镑。’
"Just at that moment there was a sort of pause in the conversation so that everybody heard. We all turned and looked at Miss Robinson. She flushed a little and laughed.
“在那一刻，谈话出现了短暂的停顿，所以在座的每个人都听到了。我们都转头看向罗宾逊小姐。她有点脸红并笑起来。
"'Well, I made a very good bargain,' she said, 'because I paid fifteen shillings for it.'
“‘那么我这笔交易很划算，’她说，‘因为我买这串项链只花了15先令。’
"'You certainly did.'
“‘的确是这样。’
"We all laughed. It was of course absurd. We've all heard of wives palming off on their husbands as false a string of pearls that was real and expensive. That story is as old as the hills."
“我们都笑了起来。这当然很荒唐。我们都听说过妻子拿昂贵的真的珍珠项链哄 骗丈夫说是假货的故事。这种故事已经很古老了。”
