事业 · 创业者自述

P.T. 巴纳姆:奋斗与胜利·补录 609

P.T. 巴纳姆《奋斗与胜利》· Struggles and Triumphs · 领导

I feared there would be a clashing of interests between the rival pigmies; but wishing to please him, I consented to his request, especially as Lavinia also favored it. I wished I could then fathom that little woman’s heart, and see whether she (who must have discovered the secret of the General’s frequent visits to the Museum) desired the Commodore’s visit in order to stir up the General’s ardor, or whether, as seemed to me the more likely, she was seeking in this way to prevent a _denouement_ which she was not inclined to favor. Certain it is, that though I was the General’s confidant, and knew all his desires upon the subject, no person had discovered the slightest evidence that Lavinia Warren had ever entertained the remotest suspicion of his thoughts regarding marriage. If she had made the discovery, as I assume, she kept the secret well. In fact, I assured Tom Thumb that every indication, so far as any of us could observe, was to the effect that his suit would be rejected. The little General was fidgety, but determined; hence he was anxious to have Lavinia meet his mother, and also see his possessions in Bridgeport, for he owned considerable land and numerous houses there.

出处: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50115
定位:Additional excerpt 609 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录

白话

巴纳姆担心两个小个子演员会因争风吃醋起冲突,但为了取悦准将,也因拉维尼亚赞成,便同意准将来访。他想看透拉维尼亚的心思:她是否知道将军常来博物馆的秘密,是想借此刺激将军更热情,还是想避免摊牌?尽管巴纳姆是将军的知己,知道将军想娶她,但拉维尼亚从未流露丝毫察觉。巴纳姆告诉将军,种种迹象表明求婚会被拒。将军焦躁但坚定,想带拉维尼亚见母亲、看他在布里奇波特的房产,以展示实力。

上下文

巴纳姆在回忆录中讲述他如何周旋于拇指汤姆将军和海军准将纳特之间,同时观察拉维尼亚的态度。

今日一问

当你喜欢一个人时,你会像将军一样急于展示自己的“资产”和家庭,还是先耐心观察对方的真实态度?

公版传记;原文逐字取自 Project Gutenberg,仅摘录段落并附全书链接。

本文本为公版;底本与原文链接见上。 版权

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