從銀行回來后，Richard 和Marilyn 終于完全弄清楚了買房子意味著什么。
既無擔(dān)保品，又不愿去求Phillip 當(dāng)擔(dān)保人，他們只能寄希望于出版Richard 的
攝影集出版之后的稿酬了。Ellen 及時寬慰了他們的焦慮，Stewart 家的傳統(tǒng)又
得到了發(fā)揚。

    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.

    「語言點精講」

    1. It all sounded so easy until they mentioned needing collateral
or a guarantor. 一起頭好像什么都很容易，可后來他提到了需要擔(dān)保物或擔(dān)保
人，就不是那么容易了。

    until ：在此表示“到……之后情況就完全不同了”�？梢允褂�“It all sounded
so easy until …”來說明某事比預(yù)期的要難。

    2. I don't feel right about it. 我覺得那樣不合適。我認(rèn)為那樣做不對。

    3. We can get a loan from the bank if we can put up some collateral.
我們要想得到銀行的貸款，得提供擔(dān)保物。

    put up collateral ：提供擔(dān)保物、抵押物。這是個常用的固定搭配。

    4. If we buy a house， I want to be able to handle it alone.如果我
們買一所房子，我想要自己來解決這件事。

    handle：對付，承擔(dān)，解決。

    5. In two or three months ， I'll have an advance on my book and be
able to put more money down.再過兩三個月，我這本書就能得到預(yù)付稿酬了，
那時就能拿出更多的一筆頭期款了。

    an advance：預(yù)付款。這里指在書出版前，出版者預(yù)付給作者的錢。

    put more money down ：這里指增加首付款的數(shù)目。

    6. Somebody else'll buy it by then. 到那時候會被別人買去了。

    介詞by表示“到某時為止，在某時以前”。

    7. Richard has a point. You're just beginning to look. Richard has
a point.： Richard說的有道理。用來表示對某人觀點、說法等的贊同。

    You're just beginning to look.：你們只不過剛開始看房子而已。意思為，
不用慌，不必著急去買。

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

    9. You know we'll be there for you. We'll be there for you. ：我們
會在你的身邊。這里指“如果你們需要幫助，我們會伸出援助之手。”