美国小学英语教材3:第101课 魔法小屋(2)

 　　Irene ran from parlor¹ to bedroom and from bedroom to kitchen. 艾琳从客厅跑到卧室，又从卧室跑到厨房。

　　"Oh! it is lovely!" she cried, in great joy, as she looked about her. “噢！太棒了！”她看着四周，十分高兴地说道。

　　But suddenly she heard a voice call out," Now, then, little mistress², if you do not give me some wood at once, I shall go out." 但这个时候，她突然听到一个声音：“好吧，小主人。如果你现在不给我加些木柴，我就要灭了。”

　　Irene almost jumped out of her shoes. It was the fire talking! 艾琳吓得几乎要跳了起来。是火焰在说话！

　　Too much surprised to speak, the little girl just stood and listened. 小姑娘惊讶得一句话也说不出来了，就只是站在那儿，听火焰继续说。

　　"Very well, then," cried the voice, again; "if you will not take care of me, I shall go out." At once the fire went out. “很好！很好！”这个声音又响了起来，“如果你不照顾我，我就灭了算了。”说完，火立刻熄灭了。

　　Irene went to the wood-box and opened it. 艾琳走到木箱子旁边，打开它，

　　Taking some small sticks, she hurried to the stove. 拿出了一些小木棍，匆匆忙忙地跑到炉子边。

　　"Here, mistress, come back and put down my cover, please," called out another voice. “这里，小主人。先回来，帮忙把箱盖合上。”另一个声音在说话。

　　"Now the wood-box is talking," thought Irene. “现在一定是木箱子在说话。”艾琳想。

　　Just then a stick of wood said," You let me fall, mistress. Kindly³ pick me up." 就在这时，一根木棍开始说话了：“小主人，你把我弄掉了。小心地把我捡起来吧。”

　　Irene did as she was told. 艾琳按照指示做了起来。

　　She closed the wood-box, picked up the wood, and swept the floor. 她先是盖上了储木盒，捡起了木棍，打扫了地板。

　　Then she laid the broom⁴ upon the table and started to build the fire. 接着，她把扫帚放在桌子上，准备开始生火。

　　But the broom called out," Hang me up, mistress! Hang me up!" 但这时，扫帚说话了：“小主人，把我挂起来！把我挂起来！”

　　"I can't do everything at once," said Irene, crossly, as she hung up the broom. “我总不能一下子做完所有事情啊。”艾琳一边气冲冲地说一边把扫帚挂了起来。

　　"One thing at a time, mistress, one thing at a time," answered the broom. “小主人，一样一样来，一样一样来。”扫帚回答说。

1 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

2 mistress   

n.（文学用语）使男子为之倾倒的女人，女主人

参考例句：

• Does his wife know he has a mistress?他的妻子知道他有一个情妇吗？
• Is your mistress at home?你家女主人在家吗？

3 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

4 broom   

n.扫帚，灌木；vt.扫

参考例句：

• She is sweeping with a broom.她在用扫帚扫地。
• He stood his broom behind the door.他把扫帚立在门后。