2020-12-26

While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.

In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also appertaining thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young."

The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, though,the letters of "Dillingham"looked blurred,as though they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.

这位家庭主妇逐渐平复下来，她缓缓地从一楼走二楼家门口，她环顾四周，这间每周八美元房租的公寓，陈旧得简直无法形容，就象是流浪者的收容所。

走廊底下，有个信箱，可从未收到任何信件。门上那个门铃按钮恐怕没人能将它按响，当然还有个小小的门牌上面标有“占姆斯•迪林厄姆”。

这位迪林厄姆先生也曾春风得意，那时老板每周能付给三十美元，可如今，他的周薪己缩水至只有区区二十美元。就象门牌上的“迪林厄姆”，也模糊得只剩下一个清晰的迪字。但是无论何时，只要迪林厄姆先生下班回家，刚走到门口，他就能听见迪林厄姆太太呼唤着“占姆斯”，然后给他一个大大的拥抱。这位太太就是已经出场的黛拉小姐，这一切看起来多么美好。