“内德，”老人把沃尔特拉到他的身旁，亲切地挽着他的胳膊，说道，“我知道。我知道。我知道沃尔特总是更多地考虑我，而很少考虑他自己。这一点我心里是明白的。我说他高兴去，我的意思是说，我希望他高兴去。嗯，内德，你听着，还有沃利，亲爱的，你也听着，这是我意想不到的新消息；我怕我落在时代的后面，而且贫穷可怜；这就是根本的原因。现在，请你们告诉我，这对他是不是真的是个好运气？”老人忧虑不安地从这一位望到另一位，说道，“千真万确是那样吗？如果这对沃利的前程真是有利的话，那么我自己几乎什么都能迁就，但是我不愿意沃利为我而牺牲自己或者对我隐瞒什么。你，内德·卡特尔”！老人眼睛直瞪着船长，瞪得这位外交家局促不安，“你对你的老朋友老实吗？说出来，内德·卡特尔背后有什么瞒着我？他该不该去？你怎么先知道的，为什么能先知道？”
'Ned,' said the old man, drawing Walter to his side, and taking his arm tenderly through his, 'I know. I know. Of course I know that Wallyconsidersme more than himself always. That's in my mind. When I say he is glad to go, I mean I hope he is. Eh? look you, Ned and you too, Wally, my dear, this is new and unexpected to me; and I'm afraid my being behind the time, and poor, is at the bottom of it. Is it really good fortune for him, do you tell me, now?' said the old man, looking anxiously from one to the other. 'Really and truly? Is it? I can reconcile myself to almost anything that advances Wally, but I won't have Wally putting himself at any disadvantage for me, or keeping anything from me. You, Ned Cuttle!' said the old man, fastening on the Captain, to the manifest confusion of that diplomatist; 'are you dealing plainly by your old friend? Speak out, Ned Cuttle. Is there anything behind? Ought he to go? How do you know it first, and why?'
由于这是一场骨肉情谊与自我牺牲的竞赛，船长感到宽慰的是，沃尔特这时进来插话，取得了无限的效果。他们两人一刻不停地交谈着，使老所尔·吉尔斯多少安下心来；或者说得确切些，把他弄得稀里糊涂，一切都不明白，甚至连离别的痛苦他也不能清楚地感觉到了。
As it was a contest of affection and self-denial, Walter struck in with infinite effect, to the Captain's relief; and between them they tolerably reconciled old Sol Gills, by continued talking, to the project; or rather so confused him, that nothing, not even the pain of separation, was distinctly clear to his mind.
他没有多少时间来衡量这件事情，因为第二天，沃尔特就从经理卡克先生那里接到有关出发和服装用品的必要指令，同时还得悉，“儿子和继承人”号将在两星期或最迟晚一、两天内开航。沃尔特故意把准备工作搞得匆匆忙忙，在这匆忙的过程中，老人仅有的一点冷静也失去了，因此启程的日期迅速地就临近了。
He had not much time tobalancethe matter; for on the very next day, Walter received from Mr Carker the Manager, the necessary credentials for his passage and outfit, together with the information that the Son and Heir would sail in a fortnight, or within a day or two afterwards at latest. In the hurry of preparation: which Walter purposely enhanced as much as possible: the old man lost what little selfpossession he ever had; and so the time of departure drew on rapidly.