There was a knock nɒk敲门(或窗等)声,and the Butlerˈbʌtlə(r)管家came in with a silver tray treɪ 托盘bearingˈbeərɪŋ承受 a coffeepotˈkɒfɪpɒt咖啡壶 and a cup.
“Thank you,Wren,”said Lord Asriel.
“Is that the Tokay I can see on the table?”
“The Master ordered it decanted dɪˈkæntɪd(把液体，尤指酒)倒入，注入 especially for you, my lord,” said the Butler. “There are only three dozen bottles left of the'98.”
“All good things pass away pɑːs əˈweɪ消失.Leave the tray treɪ 托盘 here beside me.Oh,ask the Porterˈpɔːtə(r)搬运工勤杂工 to send up the two cases I left in the Lodge lɒdʒ管理员室;传达室,would you?”
“Here, my lord?”
“Yes, here,man. And I shall need a screen skriːn屏幕;荧光屏;荧屏;银幕 and a projecting prəˈdʒektɪŋ放映;投射;投影 lantern, also here, also now.”
The Butler could hardly prevent himself from opening his mouth in surprise, but managed to suppress səˈpres抑制;控制;忍住 the question, or the protest.
“Wren, you're forgetting your place,” said Lord Asriel. “Don't question me; just do as I tell you.”
“Very good, my lord,” said the Butler. “If I may suggest it,I should perhaps let Mr. Cawson know what you're planning,my lord, or else he'll be somewhatˈsʌmwɒt有点;有几分;稍微 taken abackˈteɪkən əˈbæk吃了一惊;大吃一惊;惊讶;吃惊;吓了一跳, if you see what I mean.”
“Yes. Tell him,then.”
Mr. Cawson was the Stewardˈstjuːəd管理员. There was an old and well-establishedˌwel ɪˈstæblɪʃt得到确认的；固定下来的，成熟的 rivalry ˈraɪvlri竞争;竞赛;较量 between him and the Butler.The Steward was the superior,but the Butler had more opportunities to ingratiate ɪnˈɡreɪʃieɪt 讨好;巴结;迎合 himself with the Scholars, and made full use of 充分利用them. He would be delighted to have this chance of showing the Steward that he knew more about what was going on in the Retiring Room.
He bowed baʊd鞠躬;点头 and left. Lyra watched as her uncle poured pɔːd倒 a cup of coffee,drained dreɪnd喝光;喝干 it at once, and poured another before sippingˈsɪpɪŋ小口喝;抿 more slowly. She was agog əˈɡɒɡ兴奋期待;急切了解:cases of specimensˈspɛsɪmɪnz样品;样本;标本? A projecting lantern prəˈdʒektɪŋ ˈlæntən幻灯机投射灯? What did he have to show the Scholars that was so urgentˈɜːdʒənt紧急的;紧迫的;迫切的; and important?
