从银行回来后，Richard 和Marilyn 终于完全弄清楚了买房子意味着什么。
既无担保品，又不愿去求Phillip 当担保人，他们只能寄希望于出版Richard 的
摄影集出版之后的稿酬了。Ellen 及时宽慰了他们的焦虑，Stewart 家的传统又
得到了发扬。

    Richard ： It all sounded so easy until they mentioned needing collateral
or a guarantor. Marilyn ： We have no collateral. Richard ： And I don't
think it's a good idea to ask Dad to sign as a guarantor. I don't feel
right about it. Marilyn ： I understand your feelings about it， Richard.
Ellen ： Now， tell me， what's the problem ？

    Marilyn ： We can get a loan from the bank if we can put up some collateral.
Richard ： And we don't own anything to use as collateral. Marilyn： Or
someone can sign with us as a guarantor. Ellen： Why don't you speak to
Dad ？

    Richard ： No. If we buy a house， I want to be able to handle it
alone. Ellen： Everybody needs help sometimes ， Richard. Marilyn ： I
understand Richard's feelings about it， Ellen. Richard ： In two or three
months， I'll have an advance on my book and be able to put more money
down. Marilyn ： What about the house in Mount Kisco？ Somebody else'll
buy it by then. Richard ： Then there'll be other houses， Marilyn. Ellen
： Richard has a point. You're just beginning to look. Marilyn： We're
in no great rush. It's true. Richard： This has been a great learning
experience for us ， Marilyn. Talking to the real-estate agent. Looking
at the houses. Talking to the loan officer at the bank. Marilyn ： It
has been a learning experience. That's true. Ellen： I think you're doing
the right thing. Taking your time. Looking around. Especially with a purchase
of this kind. You're talking about a lot of money. Marilyn： We'll call
Mrs. Martinelli and tell her to keep looking for us. Richard： And I'll
call Mr. Riley at the bank and tell him we'll see him in a couple of months.
Ellen ： And if you ever need Dad or me to help you …

    Marilyn ： We know. Ellen ： You know we'll be there for you. Richard
： It's a Stewart tradition. We're a family.

    「语言点精讲」

    1. It all sounded so easy until they mentioned needing collateral
or a guarantor. 一起头好像什么都很容易，可后来他提到了需要担保物或担保
人，就不是那么容易了。

    until ：在此表示“到……之后情况就完全不同了”。可以使用“It all sounded
so easy until …”来说明某事比预期的要难。

    2. I don't feel right about it. 我觉得那样不合适。我认为那样做不对。

    3. We can get a loan from the bank if we can put up some collateral.
我们要想得到银行的贷款，得提供担保物。

    put up collateral ：提供担保物、抵押物。这是个常用的固定搭配。

    4. If we buy a house， I want to be able to handle it alone.如果我
们买一所房子，我想要自己来解决这件事。

    handle：对付，承担，解决。

    5. In two or three months ， I'll have an advance on my book and be
able to put more money down.再过两三个月，我这本书就能得到预付稿酬了，
那时就能拿出更多的一笔头期款了。

    an advance：预付款。这里指在书出版前，出版者预付给作者的钱。

    put more money down ：这里指增加首付款的数目。

    6. Somebody else'll buy it by then. 到那时候会被别人买去了。

    介词by表示“到某时为止，在某时以前”。

    7. Richard has a point. You're just beginning to look. Richard has
a point.： Richard说的有道理。用来表示对某人观点、说法等的赞同。

    You're just beginning to look.：你们只不过刚开始看房子而已。意思为，
不用慌，不必着急去买。

    8. We're in no great rush. in no great rush ：不很急（买房子）。

    9. You know we'll be there for you. We'll be there for you. ：我们
会在你的身边。这里指“如果你们需要帮助，我们会伸出援助之手。”