Branson: Is that all, My Lord?

 

Robert: It is. Off you go and good luck.

 

Robert: He seems a bright spark after poor old Taylor. And to think Taylor's gone off to run a tea shop. I cannot feel it will make for a very restful retirement¹, can you?

 

Carson: I would rather be put to death, My Lord.

 

Robert: Quite so. Thank you, Carson.

 

Dowager Countess: How about some house parties?

 

Cora: She's been asked to one next month by Lady Anne McNair.

 

Dowager Countess: A most terrible idea. She doesn't know anyone under 100.

 

Cora: I might send her over to visit my aunt. She could get to know New York.

 

Dowager Countess: Oh, I don't think things are quite that desperate. Poor Mary, she's been terribly down in the mouth lately.

 

Cora: She was very upset by the death of poor Mr Pamuk.

 

Dowager Countess: Why? She didn't know him. One can't go to pieces at the death of every foreigner. We'd all be in a state of collapse² whenever we opened a newspaper. Oh, no. Of course, Mary's main difficulty is that her situation is unresolved. I mean, is she an heiress or isn't she?

 

Cora: The entail³'s unbreakable. Mary cannot inherit.

 

Dowager Countess: No, what we need is a lawyer who's decent and honour bound to look into it. I... I think perhaps I know just the man.

 

 

bright spark: 精明的人，生气勃勃的人 

 

put to death: 处死，杀死。Carson这里的意思是：我宁愿一死了之/一了百了。

 

house party: 在乡间别墅举行的连续数日的宴会

 

I don't think things are quite that desperate: 我觉得还没有沦落到那种境地。

 

down in the mouth: 垂头丧气，闷闷不乐

 

go to pieces: 身体[精神]垮下来；瓦解，崩溃

 

entail: 限定继承，是旧时英国土地保有和继承的一种形式。

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