第十一章（第4/20页）

Time, in her flight, drops these fine old feathers.

飞逝的时光，将这些古雅的羽毛都吹散了。

They discussed the collieries. Clifford's idea was, that his coal, even the poor sort, could be made into hard concentrated fuel that would burn at great heat if fed with certain damp, acidulated air at a fairly strong pressure. It had long been observed that in a particularly strong, wet wind the pit-bank burned very vivid, gave off hardly any fumes, and left a fine powder of ash, instead of the slow pink gravel.

他们的话题围绕着煤矿。克利福德的想法是，即便自家的煤炭品质较差，也能够加工成高度浓缩的燃料，如果在强大的压力环境下，施以某种潮湿的酸性气体，便能燃烧产生巨大的热能。早有科学实验证明，置于极其强烈潮湿的气流中，煤炭能够充分燃烧，几乎不产生任何烟尘，残留物是精细的粉末，而非粉红色的渣滓。

"But where will you find the proper engines for burning your fuel?" asked Winter.

“可你到哪里去找适合的机器，来燃烧你的燃料呢？”温特问。

"I'll make them myself. And I'll use my fuel myself. And I'll sell electric power. I'm certain I could do it.” "If you can do it, then splendid, splendid, my dear boy. Haw! Splendid! If I can be of any help, I shall be delighted. I'm afraid I am a little out of date, and my collieries are like me. But who knows, when I'm gone, there may be men like you. Splendid! It will employ all the men again, and you won't have to sell your coal, or fail to sell it. A splendid idea, and I hope it will be a success. If I had sons of my own, no doubt they would have up-to-date ideas for Shipley: no doubt! By the way, dear boy, is there any foundation to the rumour that we may entertain hopes of an heir to Wragby?” "Is there a rumour?" asked Clifford.

“我自己研制。使用自己的燃料。然后出售产生的电力。我很有把握做到这一点。”“如果你能做到，那简直太棒了，棒极了，我亲爱的孩子。哈哈！棒极了！要是能帮上忙，我乐意效劳。恐怕我有些落伍，我的煤矿也跟我一样德行。可谁知道呢，我归天以后，或许也会有你这样的人接班。太棒了！所有工人都又会有饭吃，再也不用担心煤卖不出去。这真是个好主意，我希望它能够大获成功。要是我有儿子，他们肯定也能想出些新点子，推动希普利煤矿的发展，这毫无疑问！顺便问一句，亲爱的孩子，外面的传言究竟有否根据？我们是否可以期待拉格比后继有人呢？”“外面有谣传吗？”克利福德问。

"Well, my dear boy, Marshall from Fillingwood asked me, that's all I can say about a rumour. Of course I wouldn't repeat it for the world, if there were no foundation.” "Well, Sir," said Clifford uneasily, but with strange bright eyes. "There is a hope. There is a hope." Winter came across the room and wrung Clifford's hand.

“哦，亲爱的孩子，菲林伍德的马绍尔向我打听过此事，我听到的仅此而已。当然，如果这只是捕风捉影，我绝不会向外透露半字。”“哦，温特先生，”克利福德不安地说，两眼闪烁着奇异的光芒。“的确有希望。的确有希望。”温特从房间那边走上前来，紧紧握住克利福德的手。

"My dear boy, my dear lad, can you believe what it means to me, to hear that! And to hear you are working in the hopes of a son: and that you may again employ every man at Tevershall. Ah, my boy! to keep up the level of the race, and to have work waiting for any man who cares to work!—”

“我亲爱的孩子，我亲爱的小伙子，你能想象得知这个消息，我有多么开心！得知你心怀得子的希望努力工作，得知你将召回特沃沙弗所有的工人。啊，我的孩子！能够在竞争中处于领先，能够给所有愿意工作的人们提供岗位……”