Ellen 回顾了自己同Phillip 建设小家庭的历程。Ellen 建议Marilyn 先去
房地产经纪人处看看再说。

    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.

    「语言点精讲」

    1. When did you buy a house ？

    你们什么时候买的房子？

    Marilyn 把重音放在助动词did 上了。如果句中的助动词重读了，表示急于
知道更多的内容，否则句中助动词不重读。

    2. History repeats itself.历史在重复。意思是说今天发生在Richard 夫
妇身上的情况与多年前他父母买房的情景相似。

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

    你们为什么不先看看房子呢？

    Why don ‘t you …？：为什么不…呢？这是提建议的一种说法。

    4. Look in the real-estate section of Sunday‘s Times. You'll learn
a lot.看看星期天的《纽约时报》房地产广告部份，你会学到不少东西的。

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

    Times ：指《纽约时报》。这是New York Times的简称。

    5. Maybe we should speak to a real-estate agent about a house.… And
a bank about a mortgage.也许我们该去找一位房地产经纪人，谈谈买房子的事。
……还可以找一家银行谈谈买房抵押借款的问题。

    speak to：表示为某种目的而特为找某人谈话。

    real-estate agent ：房地产经纪人。

    And a bank about a mortgage.是“And you should speak to a bank about
a mortgage. ”的省略语。mortgage：按揭，抵押贷款。通常是以房子作抵押向
银行借款。大约用15到30年时间还清借款。

    6. And if I can be of any help， let me know. 如果有我能帮忙的地方
的话，就告诉我。用于向某人表示自己愿意提供帮助。

    be of help：是“能帮忙，有所帮助”的意思。

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

    the minute：在这里起一个连词的作用，相当于“as soon as”。

    8. There's no need to rush. 没有必要操之过急。