核心问题
Dorothy Howell was applying for a job as a clerk typist at a textile company when she caught the eye of a traveling salesman, Hugh Rodham. She was attracted to his energy and self-assurance and gruff sense of humor. (Hillary, Living History, p. 9)
[原译] 母亲前往一家成衣公司应征打字员时,注意到前来推销的父亲,被他的精力、自信和生硬的幽默感吸引。(希拉里,《亲历历史》,译林出版社,p.5)
catch the eye of 可以译为“注意到”吗？
词典解答
catch sb.'s eye 意为“吸引某人注意”，例如：
Try to catch the waiter's eye. 招呼服务员。
A newspaper headline caught his eye. 报纸的大标题引起了他的注意。
因此，不是“母亲注意到父亲”，而是“母亲引起了父亲的注意”。
[试译] 母亲在一家成衣公司应征打字员时，引起了做旅行推销员的父亲——休·罗德姆的注意，她也被父亲的精力、自信和生硬的幽默感吸引。