1·The parents wanted to do the right thing by them; but their idea of the right thing was "the mechanized service of the kind which is rendered by an over-conscientious gasoline station attendant."
家长们本身也想做到最好；但他们自认为正确的事就像“一个过分尽职的加油站服务员所提供的一种和蔼的机械化的服务”一样。