These words were cut long ago. There is green mould in the grooves of the letters and yellow streaks on the marble, which come from more years than men could count.

这些话早就被删掉了。字母的凹槽里有绿色的霉菌，大理石上有黄色的条纹，这是人类无法计算的年代。

But none of these young men had much hope of really advancing in his profession, or any earnest desire to do so;and over many of them the green mould of the perfunctory was already perceptibly spreading.

但是这些年轻人中没有一个人对在他的职业中真正取得进步抱有太大希望，也没有任何真诚的愿望这样做； 在他们中的许多人身上， 敷衍了事的绿色霉菌已经明显蔓延开来。