巴斯克维尔的猎犬 华生医生的第一份报告（3）

　　We are four able-bodied men in this household, so that we could take good care of ourselves,but I confess that I have had uneasy moments when I have thought of the Stapletons. They livemiles from any help. There are one maid, an old manservant, the sister, and the brother, the latternot a very strong man. They would be helpless in the hands of a desperate fellow like this NottingHill criminal if he could once effect an entrance. Both Sir Henry and I were concerned at theirsituation, and it was suggested that Perkins the groom¹ should go over to sleep there, but Stapletonwould not hear of it.

　　我们这里一起住着四个身强力壮的男人， 因此我们还能很好地照顾自己。可是坦白地说，我一想起斯台普吞这一家来， 心中就感到不安。 他们住的地方是一处方圆几英里之内孤立无援的所在， 家中只有一个女仆、 一个老男仆和他们兄妹二人， 而这个哥哥也不是个很强壮的人。 如果这个来自瑙亭山的逃犯一旦闯进门去的话， 落在这样一个不要命的家伙手里， 他们真会被弄得束手无策呢。 亨利爵士和我都很关心他们的情况， 并且还曾建议让马夫波金斯到他们那边去睡， 可是斯台普吞却不以为然。

　　The fact is that our friend, the baronet, begins to display a considerable interest in our fairneighbour. It is not to be wondered at, for time hangs heavily in this lonely spot to an active manlike him, and she is a very fascinating and beautiful woman. There is something tropical andexotic about her which forms a singular contrast to her cool and unemotional brother. Yet he alsogives the idea of hidden fires. He has certainly a very marked influence over her, for I have seenher continually glance at him as she talked as if seeking approbation² for what she said. I trust thathe is kind to her. There is a dry glitter in his eyes and a firm set of his thin lips, which goes with apositive and possibly a harsh nature. You would find him an interesting study.

　　事实上， 咱们的朋友——这位准男爵， 对我们的女邻居已开始表现出相当大的兴趣来了。

　　这本是不足为奇的事， 对他这样一个好动的人来说， 在这样一个孤寂的地方实在无聊得很，而她又是个很动人的美女。 在她身上， 有着一种热带的异国情调， 这一特点和她哥哥的冷淡而不易动情形成了奇特的对比， 但是， 他也使人感觉到在他的内心潜藏着烈火似的情感。 他肯定具有左右她的力量， 因为我曾看到， 她在谈话的时候不断地望着他， 好象她所说的话都需要征求他的同意似的。 我相信他待她很好。 他的两眼炯炯有神， 嘴唇薄而坚定， 这些特点往往显示着一种独断和可能是粗暴的性格。 我想你一定会感到他是个很有趣的研究对象吧。

1 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

2 approbation   

n.称赞；认可

参考例句：

• He tasted the wine of audience approbation.他尝到了像酒般令人陶醉的听众赞许滋味。
• The result has not met universal approbation.该结果尚未获得普遍认同。