'They're hard-working, respectable people, and he left them to join a gang of thieves and bad characters, and almost broke his mother's heart. '

“父母可是任劳任怨、清白正派的，竟跑出来一帮小偷、坏一起，这简直使妈伤心透了。”

At one time it looked as though he could not live more than a few hours, and I am convinced that it was only through the Dutchman's doggedness that he pulled through.

有一段日子看上去连几个钟头也活不过去了，我毫不怀疑，之所以能够活下来完全要归功这位荷兰画家任劳任怨的护理。