1. But all this time, he has been busy at the office, doing paper-work and other
menial tasks.
但大多数时间,他都是被安排在办公室忙来忙去,做点文书工作,或打点下手。
2. Did he gain his precarious bread by some petty trade, by
menial toil, by violence, or by theft?
他究竟是在做小生意,当奴仆,还是靠打家劫舍来获得朝不保夕的口粮呢?
3. They are "bound" to the family of the house, which means they do all manner of
menial tasks for them until they die.
它们受住在房子里的家庭的约束,也就是说它们为他们做尽一切不体面的工作,直到它们死去。