胡楊

There was a letter waiting on Emmelines plate when she came down to breakfast next morning. Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children， and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop1 in for prayers before she had had time to see at the contents of this one.

第二天早上埃米琳下樓吃早飯時，發(fā)現(xiàn)盤子里有一封信等著她拆閱。對波頓家的孩子們來說，收到信是件難得而又令人愉快的事。埃米琳還沒來得及看信的內(nèi)容，仆人們就成群結(jié)隊地來做禱告，她覺得這是件很煩人的事。

Sunday prayers， however， never took long， and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter. To her great delight it proved to be from Mary.

不過，禮拜日的祈禱并沒有花很長時間，埃米琳很快就可以“飛回”她的信里去了。令她大為高興的是，這封信原來是瑪麗寄來的。

Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all， and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on. Then followed the really exciting part of the letter：

瑪麗一開始就說她有多想念他們大伙兒，有多頻繁地想起他們，不知道他們過得怎么樣。接下來是這封信中令人興奮的部分：

“Do you think your Auntie would let you three come over and spend the day with me next Saturday？ Eastwich Fair will be going on， and it would be nice for you to go and see it， especially as you were disappointed last year on account of the scarlet fever being in the town. Tell Master Micky he shall have shrimps2 for tea if he can come， and give him and Miss Kitty each a kiss from me.”

“你覺得下個星期六你姨媽會讓你們?nèi)齻€人來和我共度一天嗎？伊斯特維奇交易會就要開始了，你要是能來看看就好了，尤其是去年你因為在城里得了猩紅熱而錯過了。告訴米奇少爺，如果他能來，我就請他便餐的時候吃蝦，然后給他和基蒂小姐每人一個吻。”

Emmeline looked up from her letter with shining eyes. “Oh， Aunt Grace，” she cried， “this is a letter from Mary， asking us three to go and spend the day with her next Saturday！The Fair will be going on—thats why she is asking us just now. We may go， maynt we？”

埃米琳的視線從信上移開，抬起頭來，眼神閃閃發(fā)光?！班蓿窭俳z姨媽，”她叫道，“這是瑪麗寫的一封信，請我們?nèi)齻€人下星期六去和她一起玩一天！交易會馬上就要開始了——這就是她剛才問我們的原因。我們可以去，對嗎？”

“Three cheers for Mary！” cried Kitty， jumping up and down， as her custom was when excited.

“為瑪麗歡呼三聲！”基蒂叫了起來，跳上跳下，這是她每次表達興奮的習慣。

“For shes a jolly good fellow！” said Micky， in what Aunt Grace called his sea-captains voice.

“因為她是個快樂的朋友！”米奇插嘴說，用他被格蕾絲姨媽形容為像船長的聲音。

“Have you been used to going to this Fair other years？” asked Aunt Grace， who was looking rather troubled as she poured out the tea.

“你以前常去這個交易會嗎？”格蕾絲姨媽問，她倒茶的時候顯得有些不安。

“No， because till Grandmamma Moorby died we always used to go and stay with her for August and September， and last year there was the scarlet fever； but we may go this year， maynt we， Aunt Grace？” repeated Emmeline a little impatiently.

“沒有，因為在穆爾比奶奶去世以前，我們總是在八月和九月和她住在一起，去年（我）還得了猩紅熱；但是我們今年能去，是嗎，格蕾絲姨媽？”埃米琳有點不耐煩地重復了一遍。

“I must think about it， Emmeline，” said Aunt Grace quietly. “Kitty， will you pass Emmeline her tea—for one thing， Saturday isnt a whole holiday， you know.”

“我必須考慮一下，埃米琳，”格蕾絲姨媽平靜地說?！盎?，請你把茶遞給埃米琳好嗎？首先，星期六并不是一個完整的假日，你知道的?！?/p>

“Oh， but we can work on Wednesday afternoon，” said Emmeline. “One whole holiday comes to the same thing as two half ones.”

“噢，不過我們星期三下午可以工作，”埃米琳說?！耙粋€完整的假期相當于兩個半假期。”

“Not quite，” said Aunt Grace. “Your afternoon work is never so much as what you do in the morning. But well see whether it can be arranged.”

“不完全是，”格蕾絲姨媽說?！澳阆挛绲墓ぷ鲝膩頉]有你早上做的事情那么多。但我們會看看能否安排好?！?/p>

“‘Well see always means ‘yes in the end，” said Kitty.

“‘我們看看最后總是意味著‘是，”基蒂說。

“No， Kitty， said Aunt Grace， rather distressed， “I dont at all promise. I should like you to have the pleasure， but I dont yet know whether it will be possible.”

“不，基蒂，”格蕾絲姨媽說，相當苦惱地，“我可沒答應。我希望你能去玩一次，但我還不知道這是否可能?！?/p>

“Oh， Aunt Grace！” cried Kitty. “You cant not let us go to the Fair. There are such darling baby elephants！”

“噢，格蕾絲姨媽！”基蒂嚷道，“你不能不讓我們?nèi)ソ灰讜?。那里有那么可愛的小象！?/p>

“Yes，” added Micky， “and there are boats which go up and down， and up and down， and round and round， till you get as lovely and seasick as if you were on the real sea！” Micky spoke without any thought of sarcasm3.

“是的，”米奇補充道，“還有幾艘船，它們上上下下，上上下下，轉(zhuǎn)啊轉(zhuǎn)，直到你變得可愛和暈船，就像在真正的大海上一樣！”米奇說話時絲毫不帶諷刺之意。

“Dear me！ I should be very sorry to stand in the way of Mickys having the pleasure of being seasick！” said Aunt Grace， with one of her funny little smiles. “Ill see what can be done， children. But dont say any more about it just now.”

“親愛的！我很抱歉妨礙了米奇享受暈船的樂趣！”格蕾絲姨媽笑了笑，說道：“孩子們，我來看看能做些什么。不過，現(xiàn)在別再提這件事了?！?/p>

The twins were a good-humoured little couple， and quite aware that Aunt Grace was always glad to give them pleasure when she could， so they left off teasing4 to go to the Fair and devoted their attention to their boiled eggs. Eggs were a special Sunday treat. Emmeline， however， ate even her egg in blue silence. Perhaps it was hardly consistent5 for a young lady who judged her aunt so severely for worldliness6 to set her heart on attending a fair， but the best of us are inconsistent sometimes. Besides， it was not only the possible loss of the pleasure itself with which she was not happy； there was Marys disappointment to be thought of—dear Mary， who had been like a mother to them all while Aunt Grace was enjoying herself in London. Altogether Emmeline felt that she did well to be angry， and went on nursing her grievance7 all the morning.

這對雙胞胎是一對性情溫和的“小伙伴”，他們很清楚格蕾絲姨媽只要有可能，總是樂意給他們帶來歡樂的，所以他們就不再逗著要去參加交易會，而是專心吃煮雞蛋。雞蛋在星期日是一種特殊的食物。然而，埃米琳卻在憂郁的沉默中吃完她的雞蛋。也許對一位年輕的女士來說，如果她一心認為姨媽太過世故，那么她就會一心一意地要去參加這個交易會，這也許與她自己的想法并不太一致，可即便是我們中最優(yōu)秀的人，有時也會前后矛盾。此外，她所不滿的不僅是可能失去的樂趣本身；一想到親愛的瑪麗會失望——當格蕾絲姨媽在倫敦玩得高興的時候，瑪麗她就像他們所有人的母親一樣。埃米琳覺得她生氣是有道理的，因此整個上午都在抱怨。

The day was a wet one. In the morning it drizzled8， though not enough to keep the party from church， but at lunch-time the rain began to fall so heavily that the usual Sunday walk was clearly out of the question.

那天是雨天。早晨下著毛毛雨，雖然還不足以使聚會的人不去教堂，但到了午餐時間，雨開始下得很大，顯然不可能像往常那樣在禮拜日散步了。

“Ive got some letters I must write，” said Aunt Grace as they rose from the table， “but I shall have finished them before very long， and then I shall be very pleased to go on with The Pilgrims Progress”.

“我有幾封信要寫，”格蕾絲姨媽說，他們從桌邊站起身來，“不過我很快就會寫完的，到那時我就會非常高興地繼續(xù)寫《天路歷程》了?！?/p>

She went to the drawing-room， where Emmeline followed her， with the intention of writing an aggrieved9 letter to Mary， while Micky and Kitty repaired to the schoolroom on some business of their own.

她走到客廳，埃米琳跟在后面，打算給瑪麗寫一封憤憤不平的信，而米奇和基蒂則到教室里去處理他們自己的事情。

Somehow Emmelines grievance did not seem quite so impressive when she came to write it down， or perhaps it was that her pen still travelled too slowly for her thoughts. In any case she grew bored presently， and wandered upstairs to the schoolroom to see what the twins were doing. Judging from the eager sound of their voices as she drew near the schoolroom door， it seemed to be something interesting.

不知怎的，當埃米琳要把它寫下來的時候，她的怨氣似乎沒有那么強烈了，也許是因為她的筆跟不上她的思緒。不管怎樣，不久她就覺得無聊了，于是就上樓到教室里去看看那對雙胞胎在干什么。她走近教室門口時從他們急切的說話聲判斷，這似乎是件有趣的事情。

She found them sitting on the floor， playing with their bricks.

她發(fā)現(xiàn)他們坐在地板上玩積木。

“Well， I never！” she cried with a very good imitation10 of Janes voice of righteous11 wrath12. “To think of playing with bricks on Sunday！You know Mary never let us.” Emmeline spoke in a quite sincere belief that it was her duty as an elder sister to keep the twins in the way that they should go， but perhaps her elder-sisterly mission was all the easier today because she was in a bad humour with the world in general.

“嗯，我從來沒有！”她很好地模仿了簡義憤填膺的聲音，大聲喊道。“想想禮拜日玩積木吧！你知道瑪麗從不讓我們這樣做。”埃米琳說得很真誠，她相信作為一個姐姐，她有責任讓這對雙胞胎保持他們應有的生活方式，不過，也許她姐姐的使命今天更容易完成些，因為她心情不好，覺得整個世界都在和她作對。

The twins only giggled in an annoying way. “Mary isnt here now，” sang out Micky.

那對雙胞胎只是咯咯地笑得讓人討厭?！艾旣惉F(xiàn)在不在這里，”米奇喊道。

“And Im sure Aunt Grace wouldnt mind，” added Kitty defiantly13.

“我相信格蕾絲姨媽不會介意的，”基蒂挑釁地補充道。

The hard lump which Emmeline knew so well at such times rose suddenly in her throat. So even the twins were going over to the enemy！ “Well， of all the hateful children！” she exclaimed hotly， while the tears rushed to her eyes， and again the twins laughed in a provoking14 way.

在這種時候，埃米琳非常熟悉的喉嚨哽咽的感覺突然涌了上來。所以就連這對雙胞胎也要投敵了！ “好吧，都是討人厭的孩子！”她激動地叫了起來，眼淚奪眶而出，雙胞胎又一次以一種令人生氣的方式笑了起來。

“Why， whats happening here？” asked Aunt Graces voice as she opened the schoolroom door.

“怎么了，這是怎么回事？”格蕾絲姨媽打開教室的門問道。

“It is a Sunday game—really and truly it is，” declared Kitty.

“這是一場禮拜日的比賽，千真萬確，”基蒂說。

“It isnt，” said Emmeline. “They would never have thought of playing with bricks on Sunday at home.”

“不是的，”埃米琳說?！八麄儚膩頉]有想過禮拜日在家玩積木?！?/p>

“It is quite a Sunday game，” repeated Kitty. “We are starting a Home for brick widows and orphans15. The long bricks are the widows and the little ones the orphans. It was last night that made us think of it.”

“這是一場禮拜日的比賽，”基蒂重復道?！拔覀冋跒榉e木里的寡婦和孤兒建一個家。長的積木是寡婦，小的積木是孤兒。昨晚我們才想起這件事的?！?/p>

“Yes，” said Micky， “tomorrow we shall play that the brick-box is a thieves home， and the little bricks will be clever little boy thieves， and the big ones grown-up thieves. That will be much more exciting， only Kitty thought the Home was best for Sunday.”

“是的，”米奇說，“明天我們要玩的是，積木盒子是小偷的巢穴，小積木將是聰明的小男孩小偷，而那些大的則是成年竊賊。這會令人更興奮，只有基蒂覺得禮拜日在家最好。”

“I agree with Kitty，” said Mr. Faulkner， who had come into the schoolroom behind Aunt Grace without the children noticing him in the heat of the argument. Emmeline looked rather embarrassed and ashamed now that she was aware of his presence， but the twins were brave as ever.

“我同意基蒂的看法，”?？思{先生說，他跟在格蕾絲姨媽后面走進教室，孩子們在激烈的爭論中并沒有注意到他。埃米琳現(xiàn)在意識到他的存在，顯得有些難為情，但這對雙胞胎卻一如既往地勇敢無畏。

“Well， suppose you put the widows and orphans back into the Home now，” Aunt Grace suggested， “and then， if you come down into the drawing-room， Mr. Faulkner will tell some interesting stories about the real orphans. Wont you， Mr. Faulkner？”

“好吧，假如你現(xiàn)在把寡婦和孤兒送回家里去，”格蕾絲姨媽建議道，“接下來，如果你們下樓到客廳里來，?？思{先生會講一些關(guān)于真正孤兒的有趣故事給你們聽。?？思{先生，你愿意嗎？”

“Ill tell stories certainly，” he replied， “whether theyll be interesting is another matter.”

“我當然會講故事，”他回答道，“它們是否有趣是另一回事?！?/p>

“Oh yes， they will，” said Kitty. “We were ever so interested last night， werent we， Micky？”

“噢，不，它們會有趣的，”基蒂說?！白蛱焱砩衔覀兙秃芨信d趣，不是嗎，米奇？”

“That was partly because of the lantern，” said Micky frankly， as he flung unlucky brick orphans violently back into the brick-box Home. “But the stories were decent， too，” he added kindly.

“這在一定程度上是因為燈籠，”米奇坦率地說，他把不幸的積木孤兒粗暴地扔回了積木盒，“但故事也很不錯，”他親切地補充道。

A few minutes later the whole party were seated in the drawing room. The children listened with all attention as Mr. Faulkner told stories， some so funny that his audience went into lots of laughter， and some so sad that Aunt Graces eyes filled with tears. Even Emmeline was charmed out of her unhappiness， and became like a different being.

幾分鐘后，大家都坐在了客廳里。福克納先生講故事的時候，孩子們聽得聚精會神，有的滑稽得讓聽眾們哄堂大笑，有的悲慘得令格蕾絲姨媽的眼睛里都充滿了淚水。就連埃米琳也被迷住了，忘記了她的不愉快，變成了另一個人。

“Do tell us some more about that wonderful little Kathleen who was so very good to the poor—the child you spoke about last night，” she pleaded， as Mr. Faulkner paused for a moment.

?？思{先生停頓了一會兒，她懇求道：“請一定要多告訴我們一些關(guān)于那個可愛的小凱薩琳的事，她對窮人非常好，就是你昨天晚上提到的那個孩子?！?/p>

“No，” said Aunt Grace， almost sharply for her， “that was the only part of last nights lecture I didnt enjoy. I think that little girl was in a false position altogether.”

“不，”格蕾絲姨媽說，幾乎是嚴厲地對她說道：“這是昨晚故事中我唯一不喜歡的部分。我認為那個小女孩完全錯了?！?/p>

Mr. Faulkner looked decidedly taken aback. “But surely you approve16 of children trying to help their less happy brothers and sisters？” he said.

福克納先生顯然吃了一驚?！暗悄憧隙ㄙ澇珊⒆觽?nèi)椭麄儾惶腋５男值芙忝冒桑俊彼f。

“Certainly，” said Aunt Grace， “but the help should be of a suitable kind. That child was encouraged to help people who were in many ways better and wiser than herself， and certainly far more experienced. I am sure such help does harm， not only to those on whom it is offered to， but to the child who gives it. I expect your little girl soon became self-conscious and self-conceited17， however pure her motives may have been to start with.”

“當然可以，”格蕾絲姨媽說，“不過這種幫助應該是適當?shù)摹＿@個孩子被鼓勵去幫助那些在許多方面比她更好、更聰明，當然也更有經(jīng)驗的人。我相信這樣的幫助不僅對那些被給予的人，而且對給予的孩子都是有害的。我猜你說的小女孩兒很快就會變得敏感和自以為是起來，不管當初她的動機有多么純潔?！?/p>

“I cant say as to that， for I never knew the child，” said Mr. Faulkner， “but as to the effect of her influence， I am sure from many things I have heard that it was nothing but good.”

?？思{先生說：“關(guān)于這個，我無法知道，因為我從來就不認識那個孩子，但說到她的影響，我可以肯定，從聽說的許多事情來看，她的影響都是好的?！?/p>

“Mr. Faulkner， can you turn coach-wheels？” broke in Micky anxiously. He wanted much to develop a hero-worship for Mr. Faulkner， but could not quite make up his mind to do so till he was satisfied on this important point.

“福克納先生，你會駕馭馬車嗎？”米奇焦急地插嘴說。他非常想崇拜?？思{先生，但是直到他對這一重要問題感到滿意之后，才下定決心這樣做。

“Rather！” said Mr. Faulkner. “Id show you now if it wasnt Sunday， but Ill tell you what—if Miss Bolton will let me， Ill come again tomorrow afternoon， and you and I will have a coach-wheel exhibition. By the way， I suppose you can turn them yourself？”

“更確切地說！”?？思{先生說，“如果不是禮拜日，我現(xiàn)在就帶你去看看，不過我要告訴你，要是波頓小姐愿意，我明天下午再來，你和我可以看一次馬車展覽。順便問一下，我想你自己能駕馭它們吧？”

“Oh yes， Micky could go in for a coach-wheel championship，” said Aunt Grace proudly.

“噢，對，米奇可以參加一個馬車駕馭賽，”格蕾絲姨媽自豪地說。

“And can you ride bare-back？” asked Micky.

“你能騎無馬鞍的嗎？”米奇接著問。

“I have done so on occasion，” said Mr. Faulkner， laughing. “Can you？”

“我有時也這樣做?！备？思{先生笑著說，“你能嗎？”

“Well， I havent yet，” Micky said to himself， “but I mean to when our donkey comes. Were going to buy a donkey， you know， as soon as Aunt Grace gets her next quarters money.”

“嗯，我還沒試過，”米奇自言自語地說，“但我想等我們的驢到的時候。你知道的，格蕾絲姨媽一拿到下一季度的錢，我們就去買一頭驢?！?/p>

So the merry talk went on， while all the time Emmeline sat by in silent anger. To think of Aunt Grace daring to disapprove of the wonderful child who was Emmelines ideal18！But Aunt Grace wanted everybody to be as frivolous19 and worldly20 as herself！

于是，愉快的談話繼續(xù)進行著，而埃米琳卻一直坐在一旁，一言不發(fā)，憤憤不平。想到格蕾絲姨媽竟敢不贊同這個可愛的孩子，而這個孩子正是埃米琳的理想！但是格蕾絲姨媽希望每個人都像她自己一樣輕浮和世俗！

1. troop [ ] vi. （尤指悲傷或疲憊地） 成群結(jié)隊地走 [非正式]

2. shrimp [ ] n. 蝦；小蝦

3. sarcasm [ ] n. 諷刺；挖苦；嘲笑

4. tease [ ] vt. 取笑；戲弄；強求

5. consistent [ ] adj. 始終如一的，一致的；堅持的

6. worldliness [ ] n. 俗氣；世俗心；世故；物欲

7. grievance [ ] n. 不滿，不平；委屈；冤情

8. drizzle [ ] vi. 下毛毛雨

9. aggrieved [ ] adj. 受委屈的，憤憤不平的；權(quán)利受到不法侵害的

10. imitation [ ] n. 模仿，仿造；仿制品

11. righteous [ ] adj. 正義的；正直的；公正的

12. wrath [ ] n. 憤怒；激怒

13. defiantly [ ] adv. 挑戰(zhàn)地；對抗地

14. provoking [ ] adj. 刺激的；令人生氣的，激怒人的

15. orphan [ ] n. 孤兒

16. approve [ ] vt. 批準；贊成；為……提供證據(jù)；vi. 批準；贊成；滿意

17. conceited [ ] adj. 自負的；狂想的；逞能的

18. ideal [ ] n. 理想；典范

19. frivolous [ ] adj. 無聊的；輕佻的；瑣碎的

20. worldly [ ] adj. 世俗的；世間的；塵世的