《风语河岸柳》第2章 宽敞的公路(3)

When they came down the steps again, the Toad¹ was still talking excitedly to the Mole².

当他们再次踩踏脚板下来时，蛤蟆仍兴奋地对鼹鼠说：

So you see, everything is ready for when we start this afternoon.

你看见了，一切已准备就绪，我们今天下午就出发。

What was that? said the Rat slowly. Did you sayweand startandthis afternoon?

你说什么？水鼠慢慢地说，你是说‘我们’‘今天下午’‘出发’？

Now, dear good old Ratty, said Toad quickly, dont talk in that cross voice.

好了，亲爱的好阿鼠，蛤蟆急忙说，不要用那种厉害的口气说话，

You know you've got to come. You cant³ stay by your boring old river all your life.

你知道，你该有所进展了，你不能一辈子呆在你那条乏味的老河边，

I want to show you the world!

我想带你看看外面的世界！

I dont care, said the Rat calmly. Im not coming, and thats final.

我不在乎，水鼠平静地说，我不想有所改变，这就是我最终的决定，

I'm going to stay by my old river, and whats more, Moles⁴ going to stay with me, aren't you, Mole?

我将呆在我的老河旁，另外，鼹鼠将和我呆在一起，是不是，鼹鼠？

Of course I am, said the Mole bravely. But his face looked sad.

当然，是这样，鼹鼠勇敢地说，但却显得有些垂头丧气，

Poor Mole! He thought that life in a caravan⁵ on the open road would be an exciting adventure.

可怜的鼹鼠！他想：坐在大篷车里走在宽敞的公路上的生活一定是很刺激有趣的经历。

The Rat saw his sad face and felt worried. He liked his friends to be happy and he could see that the Mole really wanted to go.

水鼠看着他那伤感的样子，很担心。他希望他的朋友开心快乐，他能看出鼹鼠真的想去。

Toad watched them both carefully. Come in and have some lunch, he said pleasantly, and well talk it over.

癞蛤蟆审视着他们俩，然后愉快地说：进来用点午餐，然后再聊这事。

During lunch-which was excellent, of course, because everything at Toad Hall always was-the Toad talked and talked.

就餐时—午餐当然是一流的，因为蛤蟆宅第的一切总是如此—癞蛤蟆说个没完。

He was full of wonderful plans.

他满脑子美妙的计划，

How interesting each day would be! What adventures the three friends would have together!

每一天都将多么有趣！他们三位朋友在一起将会有多么刺激兴奋的经历！

Ah, the happiness of the travelling life!

啊，幸福的旅行生活！

1 toad   

n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆

参考例句：

• Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
• Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。

2 mole   

n.胎块；痣；克分子

参考例句：

• She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
• The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。

3 cant   

n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔

参考例句：

• The ship took on a dangerous cant to port.船只出现向左舷危险倾斜。
• He knows thieves'cant.他懂盗贼的黑话。

4 moles   

防波堤( mole的名词复数 )； 鼹鼠； 痣； 间谍

参考例句：

• Unsightly moles can be removed surgically. 不雅观的痣可以手术去除。
• Two moles of epoxy react with one mole of A-1100. 两个克分子环氧与一个克分子A－1100反应。

5 caravan   

n.大蓬车；活动房屋

参考例句：

• The community adviser gave us a caravan to live in.社区顾问给了我们一间活动住房栖身。
• Geoff connected the caravan to the car.杰弗把旅行用的住屋拖车挂在汽车上。