Ellen 回顧了自己同Phillip 建設小家庭的歷程。Ellen 建議Marilyn 先去
房地產經紀人處看看再說。

    Marilyn ： When did you buy a house ？

    Ellen ： After Richard was born. I was teaching music ， and Philip
was opening his first medical office. Marilyn ： Where was the house？

    Ellen ： Right here in Riverdale. Of course ， it was a small house，
but just right for us. Marilyn： It's funny. History repeats itself. Now
Richard and I are having a baby ， and we probably won't be able to afford
a house right Ellen ： Why don't you look at some houses， Marilyn？

    Marilyn ： Good idea. Ellen ： Look in the real-estate section of
Sunday's Times. You'll learn a lot. Marilyn ： Maybe we should speak to
a real-estate agent about a house. Ellen： And a bank about a mortgage.
Marilyn ： I'll talk to Richard about it. I think it's a good idea， Ellen.
We can learn a lot by asking. Ellen ： And if I can be of any help， let
me know. As a matter of fact， my friend Virginia Martinelli is a real-estate
agent. Marilyn： Good. Ellen： You won't believe this ， but she sold
us our first house and this one. Marilyn： Well ， I'll tell Richard，
and we'll go to see her. Do you think the skirt length is right ， Ellen？
Do you think it's too long？

    Ellen ： I think the skirt is just right. Are you planning to attach
a train to it ？

    Marilyn ： No. No train. Just the dress. But I am going to make a
headpiece of lace. Ellen： That dress is gorgeous. Marilyn： Thanks ，
Ellen. And thanks for the advice about the house. I'll talk to Richard
about it the minute he comes home. Ellen： And remember ， we love having
you here. There's no need to rush.

    「語言點精講」

    1. When did you buy a house ？

    你們什么時候買的房子？

    Marilyn 把重音放在助動詞did 上了。如果句中的助動詞重讀了，表示急于
知道更多的內容，否則句中助動詞不重讀。

    2. History repeats itself.歷史在重復。意思是說今天發生在Richard 夫
婦身上的情況與多年前他父母買房的情景相似。

    3. Why don't you look at some houses？

    你們為什么不先看看房子呢？

    Why don ‘t you …？：為什么不…呢？這是提建議的一種說法。

    4. Look in the real-estate section of Sunday‘s Times. You'll learn
a lot.看看星期天的《紐約時報》房地產廣告部份，你會學到不少東西的。

    real-estate section ：報紙上刊登出售房子消息的版面。

    Times ：指《紐約時報》。這是New York Times的簡稱。

    5. Maybe we should speak to a real-estate agent about a house.… And
a bank about a mortgage.也許我們該去找一位房地產經紀人，談談買房子的事。
……還可以找一家銀行談談買房抵押借款的問題。

    speak to：表示為某種目的而特為找某人談話。

    real-estate agent ：房地產經紀人。

    And a bank about a mortgage.是“And you should speak to a bank about
a mortgage. ”的省略語。mortgage：按揭，抵押貸款。通常是以房子作抵押向
銀行借款。大約用15到30年時間還清借款。

    6. And if I can be of any help， let me know. 如果有我能幫忙的地方
的話，就告訴我。用于向某人表示自己愿意提供幫助。

    be of help：是“能幫忙，有所幫助”的意思。

    7. I'll talk to Richard about it the minute he comes home.等Richard
一回家，我就去和他談這件事。

    the minute：在這里起一個連詞的作用，相當于“as soon as”。

    8. There's no need to rush. 沒有必要操之過急。