Chapter 6
There had followed then a time of such happiness[1]that Chips, remembering it long afterwards, hardly believed it could ever have happened[2]before or since[3]in the world[4]. For his marriage was a triumphant success. Katherine conquered Brookfield as she had conquered[5]Chips; she was immensely popular with boys and masters alike[6]. Even the wives of the masters, tempted at first to be jealous of someone so young and lovely[7], could not long resist her charms[8].
But most remarkable of all was the change she made in Chips[9]. Till his marriage he had been a dry and rather neutral sort of person[10]; liked and thought well of by Brookfield in general[11], but not of the stuff that makes for great popularity[12]or that stirs great affection. He had been at Brookfield for over a quarter of a century, long enough to have established himself as a decent fellow[13]and a hard worker; but just too long for anyone to believe him capable of ever being much more[14]. He had, in fact, already begun to sink into that creeping dry rot of pedagogy[15]that is the worst and ultimate pitfall of the profession[16]; giving the same lessons year after year[17]had formed a groove[18]into which the other affairs of his life adjusted themselves with insidious ease[19]. He worked well; he was conscientious; he was a fixture[20]that gave service, satisfaction, confidence, everything except inspiration[21].
[1] There had followed then a time of such happiness这句子里There是虚词，又因用了There而主谓倒装。
[2] hardly believed it could ever have happened几乎不相信这（指a time of such happiness）可能会发生。
[3] before or since在这一段幸福的时光之前和之后。before和since两词都是副词。
[4] in the world世界上，天下；是习语，用以加强语气。
[5] conquered ['kɒŋkəd]征服。Katherine是“新女性”，而Chips和Brookfield都是比较守旧的，但终于都接受她、喜欢她，所以说她征服了他和它。
[6] popular with boys and masters alike=popular both with boys and masters.masters教师们。注意：popular后惯用with。
[7] tempted at first to be jealous ['dʒeləs] of someone so young and lovely开始时候（因受狭隘心理的影响而）倾向于妒忌Katherine那样一个年轻美貌的人。tempted是过去分词，修饰the wives of the master。jealous后惯接of。somene美国Little, Brown版作one。so young and lovely是后置修饰语，修饰someone。
[8] could not long resist her charms不能长期抵御她的魅力；不久就不由得喜爱她的妩媚可亲。charms妩媚；可爱之处；用复数。
[9] most remarkable of all was the change she made in Chips=the change（that或which）she made in Chips was most remarkable of all.倒装句加强语气；又，最高级形容词作表语时常不加冠词the。
[10] a dry and rather neutral sort of person冷漠的、思想感情属于中性的人；既没有强烈的感情，也不坚持某种思想的人。
[11] liked and thought well of by Brookfield in general被大部分的Brookfield师生所喜爱和认可。liked和thought都是过去分词，修饰a dry and neutral sort of person。think well of认为好；think ill of认为不好；都是习语。
[12] not of the stuff that makes for great popularity不是属于能够赢得众人十分爱戴的性格的。这个否定的介词短语，与上面liked和thought组成的分词短语并列，也是修饰a dry and neutral sort of person的。makes for有助于，导致；是习语。
[13] established himself as a decent ['di:snt] fellow使自己被公认为正派的人。established himself受到承认，立足；是习语。
[14] too long for anyone to believe him capable of ever being much more（Chips在Brookfield的时间）太久，所以任何人都不会相信他可能有一天有更大的突出成就（如升职等）。capable of…是believe的宾词补足语。
[15] sink into that creeping dry rot of pedagogy ['pedəgɒgɪ]陷入教学工作（所特有）的那种逐渐干枯腐朽的状态；教学年头长了，渐渐变得迂腐。dry rot原义“（树木的）枯朽”，转义“（社会、道德等的）败坏”。
[16] that is the worst and ultimate pitfall of the profession这是教学职业最糟糕的最终陷阱（易犯的毛病）。美国Little, Brown版上that作which。这个定语从句修饰that creeping dry rot of pedagogy。
[17] giving the same lessons year after year年年（教来教去）教同样的那些课。giving动名词，作had formed的主语。year after year年复一年；是习语。
[18] formed a groove形成一条槽；〔转义〕成为老一套。[19] into which (=groove) the other affairs of his life adjusted themselves with insidious [ɪn'sɪdɪəs] ease他生活中的其他事情不知不觉地自然纳入这老一套。adjusted themselves使自己适应。
[20] fixture久居其位的人
[21] everything except inspiration [ˌɪnspə'reɪʃən]承接gave。gave everything except inspiration给人以一切，就是不给人以灵感；独不善于启发。
