04上 | 你的幽默，我永远不懂，痛痛痛！

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一失足成千古恨，最好的时机变成了最坏的时机。被主人调戏得昏天暗地。

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Embarrassing as those moments were for me, I would not wish to imply that I in any way blame Mr Farraday, who is in no sense an unkind person; he was, I am sure, merely enjoying the sort of bantering which in the United States, no doubt, is a sign of a good, friendly understanding between employer and employee, indulged in as a kind of affectionate sport. 

though I must confess, I remain rather unsure as to how I should respond.

In fact, during my first days under Mr Farraday, I was once or twice quite astounded  by some of the things he would say to me. 

For instance, I once had occasion to ask him if a certain gentleman expected at the house was likely to be accompanied by his wife.

"God help us if she does come," Mr Farraday replied. "Maybe you could keep her off our hands, Stevens. Maybe you could take her out to one of those stables around Mr Morgan's farm. Keep her entertained in all that hay. She may be just your type."

For a moment or two, I had not an idea what my employer was saying.Then I realized he was making some sort of joke and endeavoured to smile appropriately, though I suspect some residue of my bewilderment , not to say shock, remained detectable in my expression. 

I did though on one occasion not long ago, pluck up the courage to attempt the required sort of reply. I was serving Mr Farraday morning coffee in the breakfast room when he had said to me:
"I suppose it wasn't you making that crowing noise this morning, Stevens?"

As it happened, I had that same morning been giving thought to the dilemma of whether or not I was expected to reciprocate my employer's bantering, and had been seriously worried at how he might be viewing my repeated failure to respond to such openings. I therefore set about thinking of some witty reply;

After a moment or two, I said:"More like swallows than crows, I would have said, sir. From the migratory aspect."


And I followed this with a suitably modest smile to indicate without ambiguity that I had made a witticism, since I did not wish Mr Farraday to restrain any spontaneous mirth' he felt out of a misplaced respectfulness. 


Mr Farraday, however, simply looked up at me and said: "I beg your pardon, Stevens?"

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