有读者问： 小说《简·爱》（Jane Eyre ）第19章有这样一句话：
(1)Fetch me, now, Jane, a glass of wine from the dining-room; they will be at supper there; ...
有一译本将they will be at supper there译作“他们将在那里吃晚饭”。但另一译本则译作“他们大概在那儿进晚餐”。孰对孰错，请指教。
前一译本显然错了，后一译本对了。为什么这样说呢？ 理由有二： 一是will除常表将来外，亦可表现在。它表现在时是一情态动词，表示推测或很可能，相当于汉语的“必定”或“我料想”。如：
(2)This will be the book you're looking for.
(3)That will be Roland: I can hear him at the door.
有时可与表现在的时间词now，by this time等连用，如：
(4)It will be raining now in Shanghai.
(5)They will be home by this time.
二是可从下文看得出来。下文是：I went. I found all the party in the dining-room at supper, ...
