Last week at a dinner party， the hostess asked me to sit next to Mrs. Rumbold. Mrs. Rumbold was a large， unsmiling lady in a tight black dress. She did not 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 play is coming to "The Globe" soon，’ I said. ’Will you be seeing it？’

’No，’ she answered.

’Will you be spending your holidays abroad this year？’ I asked.

’No，’ she answered.

’Will you be staying in England？’ I asked.

’No，’ she answered.

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

’Young man，’ she answered， ’if you ate more and talked less， we would both enjoy our dinner！"

New words and expressions  生词和短语

hostess n. 女主人

unsmiling adj. 不笑的，严肃的

tight adj. 紧身的

fix v. 凝视

globe n. 地球

despair n. 绝望

参考译文

在上星期的一次宴会上，女主人安排我坐在兰伯尔德夫人的身旁。兰伯尔德夫人是一位身材高大、表情严肃的女人，穿一件紧身的黑衣服。当我在她身旁坐下来的时候，她甚至连头都没有抬一下。她的眼睛盯着自己的盘子，不一会儿就忙着吃起来了。我试图找个话题和她聊聊。

"一出新剧要来’环球剧场’上演了，"我说，"您去看吗？"

"不，"她回答。

"您今年去国外度假吗？"我又问。

"不，"她回答。

"您就呆在英国吗？"我问。

"不，"她回答。

失望之中我问她饭是否吃得满意。

"年轻人，"她回答说，"如果你多吃点，少说点，我们两个都会吃得好的！"