1 Time did not spoil the beauty of the walls, nor the palace itself, lying like a jewel in the hollow of a hand.
2 It is obvious that this was merely a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. There was no real clearing up of the outstanding debt.
3 He doubtlessly expected hugs, tablefuls of food, tears, laughter, and conversation followed by more conversation, then hugs and more hugs all over again, without end.
4 There is nothing more disappointing to a hostess who has gone to a lot of trouble or expanse than to have her guest so interested in talking politics or business with her husband that he fails to notice the flavour of the coffee, the lightness of the cake, or the attractiveness of the house, which may be her chief interest and pride.
5 English prose is elaborate rather than simple. It was not always so.
解析：
1时光的流逝丝毫无损于围墙的完美，也无损于宅邸本身，它宛如托在掌心的一颗明珠。
2显然，这只是拆东墙补西墙，要彻底还清这么多的债务是绝对不可能的。
3无疑问，他以为会有热烈的拥抱，满桌的食物，激动的泪水，欢乐的笑声，一段接一段的谈话，一次又一次的拥抱，没完没了。
4最令女主人失望的是，她花了许多心神或费用来招待客人，可是这位客人只顾津津有味地与她的丈夫论政治、谈生意，丝毫也没注意到咖啡的浓香、糕点的松软或房间内讲究的陈设，而这些却可能是她最感兴趣、最为自豪的。
5今英国散文华巧而欠简朴，过去却并非总是如此。
