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The common people of the place know me already, and love me, particularly the children. When at first I associated with them, and inquired in a friendly tone about their various trifles, some fancied that I wished to ridicule them, and turned from me in exceeding ill-humour. I did not allow that circumstance to grieve me: I only felt most keenly what I have often before observed. Persons who can claim a certain rank keep themselves coldly aloof from the common people, as though they feared to lose their importance by the contact; whilst wanton idlers, and such as are prone to bad joking, affect to descend to their level, only to make the poor people feel their impertinence all the more keenly.

I know very well that we are not all equal, nor can be so; but it is my opinion that he who avoids the common people, in order not to lose their respect, is as much to blame as a coward who hides himself from his enemy because he fears defeat.

The other day I went to the fountain, and found a young servant-girl, who had set her pitcher on the lowest step, and looked around to see if one of her companions was approaching to place it on her head. I ran down, and looked at her. "Shall I help you, pretty lass?" said I. She blushed deeply. "Oh, sir!" she exclaimed. "No ceremony!" I replied. She adjusted her head-gear, and I helped her. She thanked me, and ascended the steps.

1、associate  v.结交；使发生关系；联想
              Don't associate with dishonest boy.
              n.合作人，同事
              adj.副的
              associate editor 副主编（美）
2、inquire   v.询问，查究
             inquire into 调查
             inquire into a matter 调查一件事情 
             inquire after 问候
             The lady inquired after your health.
             inquire about/of 询问
3、fancy  v.想象，设想，认为
          adj.奇特的，异样的   
          n.幻想，想象力
4、ridicule  n. v.嘲笑，奚落
   sneer  冷笑，讥笑，嘲笑
5、exceeding  adj.非常的，极度的           
6、ill-humour  n.坏脾气，恶劣的情绪
7、grieve   v.（使）悲痛，（使）伤心，忧伤
8、keenly   adv.敏锐地
   keen  adj.锋利的，敏锐的，热心的，渴望的
9、claim  v.要求，认领，主张
10、aloof  adv.避开，远离
           adj.孤零的，冷淡的
           She held herself aloof from the others.
11、wanton   adj.荒唐的，肆意的，不道德的
           n.荡妇，水性杨花的女人        
           v.挥霍，放肆
             a wanton novels 淫秽的小说
             a wanton child 顽童            
12、idler  n.懒惰者，游手好闲的人
13、prone  adj.倾向于
14、descend  v.下去
    ascend  v.攀登，上升                     
15、impertinence   n.不适宜，鲁莽，无礼
    impertinent  adj.无关的，鲁莽的，无礼的
    pertinence  n.相关性，针对性   
    pertinent  adj.相关的，中肯的，适当的
16、all the more  更加
17、as much 同样多
18、coward  n.懦弱的人
            adj.胆怯的
19、pitcher  大水罐，（棒球）投手
20、lass  n.少女，爱人，情妇
21、gear  n.齿轮，传动装置

　当地的下层老百姓已经认识我了，并且很喜欢我，尤其是孩子。我来作个有点儿可悲的说明：起先我去接近他们，友好地向他们问这问那，于是有人就以为我是要取笑他们，便粗暴地将我打发走。对此我倒并不生气，只不过我对我以前常说的事有了极其生动的体会：某些稍有地位的人对老百姓总是冷冰冰地采取疏远的态度，他们似乎以为接近老百姓有失他们的身份；还有一些浅薄之辈和捣蛋的家伙，他们做出一副降贵纡尊的姿态，好在穷苦百姓面前更显得鹤立鸡群。我知道，我们并不平等，还不可能平等；但是我却认为，那些以为必须远离所谓群氓以维护自己尊严的人，同那些因为怕吃败仗，所以见了敌人就躲起来的胆小鬼一样，应该受到谴责。
　　不久前我去井边，看见一个青年女仆，她将水瓮放在最下面的一级台阶上，正在回头张望，看有没有女伴来帮她把水瓮放到头顶上去。我走下台阶，望着她。"要我帮您吗，姑娘？"我说。——她满脸通红。——"噢，不用，先生！"她说。——"别客气。"——她摆正头上的垫圈，我帮她放上水瓮。她道了谢，便往上走去。