美国语文第五册 第7期:温柔的手(2)

 　　"Who's that?" A rough voice asked the question; and now a heavy-looking man took the dog's place in the door. “你是谁？”一个粗厉声音响起，一位脸色阴沉的男人在狗的身后闪出。

　　"How far is it to G—?" I asked, not deeming it best to say, in the beginning, that I sought a resting place for the night. “请问，这里离G地还有多远？”我问道，乍开口，才觉得并不合适，那时的我不过想找个过夜的地方。

　　"To G—!" growled¹ the man, but not so harshly as at first. "It's good six miles from here." “到G地去，”那男人大声地说，言语间却少了最初的苛厉，“从这到那还有不近的六英里路呢。”

　　"A long distance; and I'm a stranger and on foot," said I. “路真够远的，我是步行来的，一个过路客，”我说，

　　If you can make room for me until morning, I will be very thankful. 如果你们让我在这歇上一晚，我真是感激不尽。

　　I saw the girl's hand move quickly up his arm, until it rested on his shoulder, and now she leaned to him still closer. 我看见那姑娘的手迅速上移，最后搭在那男人肩膀上，现在她贴那男人更近了点。

　　Come in. We'll try what can be done for you. 进来吧，看看我们能给你帮上什么忙。

　　There was a change in the man's voice that made me wonder. 那男人语气的变化让我有点喜出望外。

　　I entered a large room, in which blazed a brisk fire. 我走进房间，房间很宽敞，火苗轻快地跳跃着。

　　Before the fire sat two stout² lads, who turned upon me their heavy eyes, with no very welcome greeting. 火堆边坐着两位粗硕身材的人，满脸阴沉地打量着我，明显带着不快的神情。

　　A middle-aged³ woman was standing⁴ at a table, and two children were amusing themselves with a kitten on the floor. 一位中年妇女站在桌子旁边，两个孩子在地上逗着小猫玩。

　　"A stranger, mother," said the man who had given me so rude a greeting at the door; and he wants us to let him stay all night. “妈妈，这位过路客，”刚才在门口粗鲁地与我打招呼的那位男人说道，他想在这里过上一夜。

　　The woman looked at me doubtingly for a few moments, and then replied coldly, "We don't keep a public house." 那妇人狐疑地打量我片刻，冷淡地说，“我们这没有客房。”

　　"I'm aware of that, ma'am," said I; "but night has overtaken me, and it's a long way yet to G—." “我，我知道，夫人，”我说，“不过，天太晚了，去G地路实在太远了。”

　　"Too far for a tired man to go on foot," said the master of the house, kindly⁵, “他走得太累了，前面的路那么远，”那好心的姑娘接着说，

　　so it's no use talking about it, mother; we must give him a bed. 别说了，妈妈，我们得给他准备个睡觉的地方。

1 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 stout   

adj.强壮的，粗大的，结实的，勇猛的，矮胖的

参考例句：

• He cut a stout stick to help him walk.他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路。
• The stout old man waddled across the road.那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。

3 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 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。