But as neither had ever reached a decision without prefacing it by this mysterious conclave, Mrs. Archer and her son, having set forth their case, waited resignedly for the familiar phrase.

然而，由于这对夫妻谁也未曾不经双方秘密会谈就独自做出过决定，阿切尔太太和儿子阐明他们的问题之后，只好安心地等待熟悉的措辞。