第8章 我的家庭(6)
Among the Polish students I did not have any companions in my studies.Nevertheless，my relations with their small colony had a certain intimacy.From time to time we would gather in one another's bare rooms，where we could talk over national questions and feel less isolated.We would also go for walks together，or attend public reunions，for we were all interested in politics.By the end of the first year，however，I was forced to give up these relationships，for I found that all my energy had to be concentrated on my studies，in order to achieve them as soon as possible.I was even obliged to devote most of my vacation time to mathematics.
我在学习上有着一定的困难，特别是在开始的时候，因此，我把精力全部集中到学习上。确实，我从前的基础知识非常薄弱，虽然到这之前做了一些准备，但却很不充分，与法国同学的差距很大，尤其是数学的差距更大，所以我必须付出巨大的努力去对自己的不足进行弥补。白天我在课堂、实验室和图书馆之间忙碌，晚上我就一个人躲在阁楼陋室里刻苦学习，常常学到深夜。每当学到新的东西，我便会激动兴奋起来。科学奥秘就像一个新的世界一样逐渐地展现在我的面前，我因此也就能够自由地学习它们并且掌握它们了，这真的使我很高兴。
与同学们的和睦相处同样也给我留下了愉快的印象。初到巴黎时，我不爱说话，腼腆羞涩，但是不久我便发现同学们全都学习认真、待人亲切，因此我便开始同他们一起探讨学习上的问题，这使我对学习的兴趣更浓厚了。
在我所就读的那个系里，并没有波兰学生，但是我同一个波兰侨民小团体的关系却非常密切。我经常参与他们在一个简陋的小屋中举行聚会，和他们一起对祖国波兰的各种问题进行讨论，我那怀念祖国的情感在此得以尽情地抒发。我们有时会一起外出散步，有时还会参与公众集会，对政治始终保持着一种极大的热情。但是第一学年临近结束时，我却不得不离开了这个小团体，因为我认为自己应该把全部精力放在学习上面，这样才能够尽快地完成学业。即使是在假期里，我也仍在抓紧时间复习我的数学。
My persistent efforts were not in vain.I was able to make up for the deficiency of my training and to pass examinations at the same time with the other students.I even had the satisfaction of graduating in first rank as "licenciée es sciences physiques"in 1893，and in second rank as "licenciée es sciences mathématiques"in，1894.
My brother-in-law，recalling later these years of work under the conditions I have just described，jokingly referred to them as "the heroic period of my sister-in-law's life."For myself，I shall always consider one of the best memories of my life that period of solitary years exclusively devoted to the studies，finally within my reach，for which I had waited so long.
It was in 1894 that I first met Pierre Curie.One of my compatriots，a professor at the University of Fribourg，having called upon me，invited me to his home，with a young physicist of Paris，whom he knew and esteemed highly.Upon entering the room I perceived，standing framed by the French window opening on the balcony，a tall young man with auburn hair and large，limpid eyes.I noticed the grave and gentle expression of his face，as well as a certain abandon in his attitude，suggesting the dreamer absorbed in his reflections.He showed me a simple cordiality and seemed to me very sympathetic.After that first interview he expressed the desire to see me again and to continue our conversation of that evening on scientific and social subjects in which he and I were both interested，and on which we seemed to have similar opinions.
天道酬勤，我的努力没有白费。我成功地弥补了先前在知识方面的各种差距，从而能够和同学们一起通过考试。1893年，我以优异的成绩完成了物理学的结业考试；1894年，数学结业考试时，我的成绩位于乙等，这些成绩使我感到非常满意。
我的姐夫后来在谈到我那几年的艰难学习情况时，曾戏谑地说那是“我妻妹的一生当中英勇顽强的时期”，我自身也始终将这段时期的艰苦奋斗看做是我一生之中最值得回忆的美好时期。在这期间中，我孤身奋斗，废寝忘食地埋头钻研，终于能够进行科学研究了，这是我长久以来所期盼的。