The General and his gracious lady were grand people. They had two coats of arms on their carriage，a coat of arms for each of them，and the gracious lady had had this coat of arms embroideredembroider vt.刺绣，镶边，装饰，给…添油加醋vi.绣花 on both sides of every bit of linen she had，and even on her nightcap and her dressingbag. One of the coats of arms，the one that belonged to her，was a very dear one； it had been bought for hard cash by her father，for he had not been born with it，nor had she； she had come into the world too early，seven years before the coat of arms，and most people remembered this circumstance，but the family did not remember it. A man might well have a bee in his bonnet，when he had such a coat of arms to carry as that，let alone having to carry two； and the Generals wife had a bee in hers when she drove to the court ball，as stiff and as proud as you please.
将军和他的夫人是高贵的人。他们的马车上绘着两个族徽；两人各有一个。夫人每件衣服上都有族徽；贴身穿的，外面穿的，睡帽上，装着放换洗衣服的行囊上，都有。她的——两人当中的一个，是很值钱的族徽；这是她的父亲用明晃晃的银币买来的，因为他不是生下来就承袭族徽的。她也不是，因为她到世上来早了一些，比族徽早了七年。大多数人都记得这事，可是她的家人却记不得。将军的族徽很老很大，扛上它会把人压垮，更不用说扛两个族徽了。将军夫人打扮得珠光宝气、昂首挺胸地乘车去参加宫廷舞会的时候，族徽就死沉地压着她。
The General was old and gray，but he had a good seat on horseback，and he knew it，and he rode out every day，with a groom behind him at a proper distance. When he came to a party，he looked somehow as if he were riding into the room upon his high horse； and he had orders，too，such a number that no one would have believed it； but that was not his fault. As a young man he had taken part in the great autumn reviews which were held in those days. He had an anecdoteanecdote n.轶事，奇闻 that he told about those days，the only one he knew.
将军已年老，头发已灰白。不过骑马还不错。他知道这一点。他每天带着马夫一起出去骑马，马夫在他后面保持适当的距离。参加社交活动时他总像是骑着自己的高头大马径直去的。他身上佩戴着勋章，勋章多得难以想像，但那完全不是他的过错。他年轻的时候参加军队，参加过秋收大演习，那是和平时期对军队的训练。他有一个那段时期的故事，是他可讲的惟一故事：A subaltern under his orders had cut off one of the princes，and taken him prisoner，and the Prince had been obliged to ride through the town with a little band of captured soldiers，himself a prisoner behind the General. This was an evermemorable event，and was always told over and over again every year by the General，who，moreover，always repeated the remarkable words he had used when he returned his sword to the Prince； those words were，“Only my subaltern could have taken your Highness prisoner； I could never have done it！” And the Prince had replied，“You are incomparableincomparable adj.无与伦比的，不能比较的。”
他部下的一个军官截获了一个王子，俘虏了他。这位王子作为一个犯人不得不和那些被俘的士兵一起跟在将军后面骑马进城去。这是一件难忘的事件，多年来被将军反复地讲着的还老是他在给那位王子佩剑时说的那几个同样值得纪念的字：“只有我部下的军官能俘虏殿下，我永远做不到！”王子回答说：“您是独一无二的！”
In a real war the General had never taken part. When war came into the country，he had gone on a diplomatic career to foreign courts. He spoke the French language so fluently that he had almost forgotten his own； he could dance well，he could ride well，and orders grew on his coat in an astoundingastounding adj.令人惊骇的 way. The sentries presented arms to him，one of the most beautiful girls presented arms to him，and became the Generals lady，and in time they had a pretty，charming child，that seemed as if it had dropped from heaven，it was so pretty； and the porters son danced before it in the courtyard，as soon as it could understand it，and gave her all his colored pictures，and little Emily looked at them，and was pleased，and tore them to pieces. She was pretty and delicate indeed.
将军从未参加过真正的战争。在战争降临到这个国家的时候，他已经去过三个国家，踏入外交领域。他会说法文，于是他几乎忘掉了自己的语言；他跳舞跳得很好，马也骑得很好。他衣服上的勋章在增加，到了不可思议的地步。卫士向他敬礼，一位最美丽的姑娘向他敬礼，她成了将军夫人。他们生了一个很漂亮很可爱的孩子，好像是从天上降下来的，那么美丽。当小姑娘能开始观察四周事物的时候，看门人的儿子就在院子里她的面前跳舞，还把自己画的所有彩色画都送给了她。她看着画很高兴，但却把它们撕掉。她就是这么娇嫩这么可爱。
“My little Roseleaf！” cried the Generals lady，“thou art born to wed a prince.”
“我的玫瑰花瓣！”将军夫人说道，“你是为王子而降生的！”
The prince was already at the door，but they knew nothing of it； people dont see far beyond the threshold.
王子已经站在门口，但是却没有人知道。人的眼光不能穿过门槛。
“The day before yesterday our boy divided his bread and butter with her！” said the porters wife，“There was neither cheese nor meat upon it，but she liked it as well as if it had been roast beef. There would have been a fine noise if the General and his wife had seen the feast，but they did not see it.
“前不久我们的孩子和她分吃了黄油面包！”看门人的妻子说道，“面包上没有干酪也没有肉，可是她吃得津津有味，就像是块烤牛肉。将军一家人如果看见了那种食物，一定会闹翻天的。不过他们没有看见。”
George had divided his bread and butter with little Emily，and he would have divided his heart with her，if it would have pleased her. He was a good boy，brisk and clever，and he went to the night school in the Academy now，to learn to draw properly. Little Emily was getting on with her education too，for she spoke French with her “bonne” and had a dancing master.
乔治把黄油面包分给小爱米莉吃，他很愿意把自己的心也分给她，只要能让她高兴。他是一个好男孩，很聪颖，很机灵。他现在进了艺术学院的夜校，认真学习绘画。小爱米莉的知识也有进步；她和她的保姆说法文，还请了舞蹈老师。
“George will be confirmed at Easter.” said the porters wife； for George had got so far as this.
“复活节时，乔治该参加坚信礼了！”看门人的妻子说道。乔治已经这么大了。
“It would be the best thing，now，to make an apprentice of him.” said his father. “It must be to some good calling—and then he would be out of the house.”
“他去学一门手艺该是很合理的了！”父亲说道，“学一门好手艺，这样他便可以离家自立了！”
“He would have to sleep out of the house.” said Georges mother. “It is not easy to find a master who has room for him at night，and we shall have to provide him with clothes too. The little bit of eating that he wants can be managed for him，for hes quite happy with a few boiled potatoes； and he gets taught for nothing. Let the boy go his own way. You will say that he will be our joy some day，and the Professor says so too.”
“可是晚间他还得回家来住。”母亲说道。“现在要找一位有地方住宿的师傅很不容易。衣服我们也得供他；他只吃那么一点点东西，该是供得起的。你知道，他有一两块煮熟的土豆便很满意了。他的学习是免费的。让他自己选择自己的道路，你瞧，我们会从他那里得到快乐的。教授也那么说。”
The confirmationconfirmation n.证实，确认，批准【宗】按手礼； 坚信礼 suit was ready. The mother had worked it herself； but the tailor who did repairs had cut them out，and a capital cutterout he was.
参加坚信礼的衣服做好了，是妈妈自己缝的，不过是由一个缝衣人裁的。