英语听力：勃朗特一家的故事 02 Cowan Bridge School

　　2 Cowan Bridge¹ School

　　I was² born⁴ in a small house in Ireland⁵．There were only two rooms in our house，and I had⁶ nine brothers and sisters．My parents were very poor．We had no money，and only a small farm．But we did⁷ have a church⁸ near us， and that church had a school．

　　That school gave⁹ me my one chance¹⁰ of success¹¹．I worked very hard there，and when I was sixteen，I became¹² a teacher．Then I went to St John's College，Cambridge，to study some more．I became a curate．When I married，I was able¹⁴ to get a good job and a house for my family．I got¹⁵ all that because I worked so hard at school．

　　I wanted my children to go to the best school that I could¹⁶ find．Cowan Bridge School was a school for the daughters of churchmen．It belonged¹⁷ to a churchman—Mr Wilson．He was a good man，I thought¹⁸．I liked the school，and it was not too expensive．So，in July 1824，I took¹⁹ Maria and Elizabeth there．In September，I took Charlotte and，in November，Emily as³ well．Emily was just six then，and Charlotte was eight．

　　I remember how quiet the house was that autumn．In the evenings I taught²⁰ my son，Branwell，and my wife²¹'s sister looked after the youngest child，Anne．I often thought about the girls．My eldest，Maria，was a good，clever girl—I thought she must be the best pupil in the school．I waited for her letters，and wondered²² what new things she was learning²³．

　　She did tell me some things in her letters，but not enough．She told me she liked the schoolwork，and I was pleased²⁴．But she did not tell me about the food，or the cold，or the unkind²⁵ teachers．Charlotte told me those things，much later²⁶．I know Maria did not tell me that the food was often burnt²⁷ and uneat－able，or that they could not sleep because the beds were too cold．She did not tell me that the poor hungry children had to wash with ice in the morning，and walk through wet snow to sit for two hours with icy²⁸ feet in a cold church on Sundays． She did not tell me that many of the children at the school were ill．

　　You didn't tell me that， did you，Maria？Did you？Or did you try to write something，and stop because you were afraid of the teachers？You were a good，brave child，and I was so proud²⁹ of you，so pleased because you were at school．I wanted you to learn everything；I didn't want you to be poor like my sisters．God³⁰ help me，I thought you were happy at Cowan Bridge School！

　　There were no Christmas holidays at the school，and it was too difficult to travel³¹ over the cold，windy hills to visit my little girls．So I sat³² at home here in Haworth，with Aunt Branwell，my son，and the little girl，Anne．Outside，the wind blew snow over the gravestones，and there was ice on our windows．

　　On Christmas Day little Anne looked lonely³⁴．She asked me about her sisters．

　　'Don't worry，my dear，'I said³⁵．'They are happy，with the other girls at school．You shall³⁶ go to Cowan Bridge，too，when you are older．'

　　I remember how strangely³⁷ she looked at me then．She was only four，and very pretty．She smiled at me，but her face went very white，and her hands started to shake³⁸．I don't know why．I thought she was cold，and I put some more wood on the fire．Then Aunt Branwell read her a story from the Bible，and I for－got about it．

　　In February a letter came¹³．It was in an adult's handwriting，not Maria'

　　Many children in the school have been ill，and your daughter Maria...

　　My hand began to shake badly³⁹，and I dropped the letter on the floor．As I picked⁴⁰ it up，I could see only one word—dead⁴¹ ...If your daughter Maria does not come home soon，she will be dead．

　　I went over the hills to bring her back．My Maria was in a small bed in a cold room upstairs⁴²，coughing badly．Elizabeth and Charlotte and Emily stood⁴³ beside her，waiting for me．They looked so sad and ill and frightened⁴⁴．I remember the big eyes in their small white faces．But I did not bring them home then；the school doctor said it was not necessary⁴⁵． So I took Maria home across⁴⁶ the cold，windy moors⁴⁷ to Haworth．I sat be－side her in the coach⁴⁸ and held her hand all the way．I remem－ber how cold her hand was in mine．Thin cold fingers，that did not move at all．

　　It was too late to save⁴⁹ her．She lay⁵⁰ in bed upstairs for nearly⁵¹ three months，but she was too ill to eat．Her poor face was white，I remember，and it seemed⁵² thin and small like a dead child's．Only her eyes looked alive—big dark⁵³ eyes in a thin white face．'Don't cry，father，'she said to me once．' I shall be with mother soon，you know．And with God．'

　　I buried⁵⁴ Maria beside her mother，and a month later I buried Elizabeth there，too．She became ill at school，and a woman from the school brought⁵⁵ her home．I brought Charlotte and Emily home two weeks later．They were here when Elizabeth died⁵⁶．Her body lay all night in a wooden⁵⁷ box on the table，and her little sisters and brother kissed⁵⁸ her before she was buried．

　　I had wanted so much for these two girls，and now I had nothing．I stood in the church，and looked at the summer flow－ers I had put on their grave³³．I remembered how my wife had held the girls in her arms，and how she had smiled at me when we looked at them．'They have come back to you now，Maria，'I said．'I am sorry．I am so sorry，my love．'

　　2 考恩桥学校

　　我生于爱尔兰的一座小房子里。家里只有两个房间，我有9个兄弟姐妹。父亲很穷，我们没有钱，只有一个小农场。附近有个教堂，那个教堂有一所学校。

　　这所学校赋予了我一个成功的机会。我非常努力，16岁时，我成了一名教师，后来我去剑桥的圣约翰学院深造。我成了副牧师。等到我成家的时候，我得到了一份好工作和一座房子。这一切得益于我在学校的努力。

　　我要我的孩子上我能找到的最好的学校。考恩桥学校是专为牧师的女儿们开办的。它属于一个牧师——威尔逊先生。我认为他是个好人。我喜欢这所学校，而且它也不太贵。在1842年7月，我把玛丽亚和伊丽莎白送到了那里。9月份，我又把夏洛蒂送到那儿。11月份又送去了爱米丽。爱米丽当时只有6岁，夏洛蒂8岁。

　　我记得那年秋天，家里变得非常安静。晚上我教儿子布兰韦尔念书；我妻子的姐姐照料最小的孩子安妮。我时常惦记我的女儿们。我的大女儿玛丽亚是个善良聪明的女孩，我相信她一定是学校中最好的学生。我等着她的来信，猜想着她又学到了什么新的东西。

　　在信中她的确给我讲了一些事，但还不够多。她只告诉我她喜欢学校的功课，我很高兴。但她没讲起学校的饮食、寒冷和严厉的教师。夏洛蒂后来告诉我了，但那已是很久以后的事了。我知道玛丽亚没有告诉我食物经常烧焦，难以下咽；床铺冰冷得令人无法入睡。她没有告诉我可怜的孩子们经常一大早饿着肚子，却不得不用冰水漱洗，然后踏着积雪去教堂，星期天在冰冷的教堂里坐上两个钟头，双脚冻得冰凉。她也没有告诉我学校有许多孩子都生病了。

　　玛丽亚，你没有告诉我这些，是吗？或许你试着写可又停了笔，因为你害怕老师知道。你是个善良聪明的孩子，我那么地以你为荣，为你在学校念书而高兴。我希望你学会所有的东西；我不想你像我的姐妹们那么穷困一生。上帝，帮帮我，我以为你在考恩桥学校是快活的呀！

　　圣诞节学校也不放假，对我来说，要爬过寒风呼啸的山峦去看我的女儿们太困难了。所以，我和布兰韦尔姨妈、儿子和小女儿安妮留在霍沃斯的家中。屋外，寒风把雪卷到墓碑上空，窗户上都结了冰。

　　圣诞节那天小安妮显得很孤单。她向我问起姐姐们。

　　“别担心，亲爱的。”我说，“她们和其他孩子在学校里很快活。你长大了也要去考恩桥学校。”

　　我记得她听了以后那么奇怪地看着我，她只有4岁，非常漂亮。她冲我笑了笑，可是脸却变得非常苍白，双手也开始颤抖起来。我不知道是怎么回事。我以为她冷，就往火里加了些木头。然后布兰韦尔姨妈给她念圣经里的一个故事，我就把这事忘了。

　　2月份时来了一封信，不是玛丽亚写的，而是一个成年人的笔迹。“亲爱的勃朗特先生，”上面写道，“恐怕有个坏消息要通知您。学校里有很多孩子都病了，您的女儿玛丽亚……”

　　我的手剧烈地哆嗦起来，信纸滑落到地板上。我捡起来，只看见一个字——“死……如果您的女儿玛丽亚不赶快回家的话，她会死的。”

　　我翻山越岭去接她回家。我的小玛丽亚躺在楼上一间冰冷房间的小床上，剧烈地咳嗽着。伊丽莎白、夏洛蒂和爱米丽站在床边等着我。她们看上去好像病了，又伤心又惊恐不安。我记得她们苍白的小脸上大大的眼睛！但是我没有把她们也接回家；学校的医生说用不着。于是我只带着玛丽亚穿过寒风呼啸的荒野回到霍沃斯。一路上我在马车里坐在她身旁，握着她的手。我还记得她的手在我手心里是多么的冰凉啊。手指又细又凉，一动也不动。

　　要挽救她的生命还是太晚了。她在楼上的床上躺了近三个月，病得不能吃东西。我记得她那苍白的小脸看上去那么瘦小，像个死孩子一样。只有眼睛看上去还是活生生的——瘦削、苍白的脸上大大的黑眼睛。“别哭，爸爸。”有一次她对我说，“你知道，我很快就要和妈妈在一起了。和上帝在一起。”

　　我把玛丽亚埋在她妈妈的旁边。1个月以后我又掩埋了伊丽莎白，她在学校生了病，被学校的一个女人送回了家。两周后我把夏洛蒂和爱米丽接了回来。伊丽莎白死时她们都在家。她的尸体在桌上的木盒里放了整夜，下葬前她的小妹妹们和小弟弟亲吻了她。

　　我曾在这两个女孩子身上寄托了那么多希望，而现在我什么也没有了。我站在教堂里看着我放在她们坟上的花儿。我还记得我妻子如何把她们搂在怀里，记得当我看着她们时，她们是如何地向我微笑着。“她们回到你身边了，玛丽亚。”我说，“对不起，真对不起，亲爱的。” 

1 bridge   

n.桥，鼻梁，桥牌；vt.渡过，架桥

参考例句：

• There are two bookshops near the bridge.大桥附近有两家书店。
• I am strange at bridge.我对桥牌是外行。

2 was   

v.(is,am的过去式)是，在

参考例句：

• He said he was right.他说他是正确的。
• He was cold and hungry.他又冷又饿。

3 as   

conj.按照；如同

参考例句：

• He got work in a hotel as a waiter.他在一家旅馆找到了当服务生的工作。
• In the hotel,the old men were drinking away as usual.在旅馆里，这些老人和往常一样喝个不停。

4 born   

v.动词bear的过去分词；adj.出生的，与生俱来的

参考例句：

• The baby can cry as soon as he is born.婴儿生下来就会哭。
• I feel as if I had been born again.我有一种再生之感。

5 Ireland   

n.爱尔兰(西欧国家)；爱尔兰岛(西欧)

参考例句：

• Ireland lies to the west of England.爱尔兰位于英格兰之西。
• Dublin is the capital of Ireland.都柏林是爱尔兰的首都。

6 had   

vbl.have的过去式和过去分词；conj.有

参考例句：

• I just had a good idea!我有个好主意！
• The boy had a small branch of a tree in his hand.这个男孩手上拿一条小树枝。

7 did   

v.动词do的过去式

参考例句：

• How many goals did you score in the last game?上一场比赛你们进了几个球？
• Why did you choose basketball in the first place?你为何首先选择篮球呢？

8 church   

n.教堂，礼拜堂；教会

参考例句：

• Mary joined a church yesterday.玛丽昨天加入了教会。
• She was standing on the church steps.她正站在教堂门前的台阶上。

9 gave   

vbl.（give的过去式）给予，产生，发表

参考例句：

• He asked for money and I gave him some.他要钱，我给了他一些。
• I gave you a map so you wouldn't get lost. 我给你一张地图，这样你就不会迷路了。

10 chance   

n.机会，意外；运气；风险；vi.偶然发生；vt.偶然发生，冒险

参考例句：

• We will take a chance to have the party outdoor.我们将冒险举行露天聚会。
• This is the last chance any of us has.对于我们中的任何人来说，这是最后的一次机会。

11 success   

n.成就，成功

参考例句：

• The party looks like being a success after all.无论怎么说这次聚会看起来是成功的。
• All in all,it has been a great success.总的来说，非常成功。

12 became   

v.(become的过去式)成为

参考例句：

• He became a doctor at the age of 27.他27岁时成了一名医生。
• He became a millionaire when he was still young.他还年轻时就成了百万富翁。

13 came   

v.动词come的过去式

参考例句：

• I was surprised why he came here so early.他为什么那么早到这里，我很惊奇。
• The doctor came in time to save his life.医生及时来抢救他的生命。

14 able   

adj.能...的，有才能的，能干的，能够的

参考例句：

• How good and able he is!瞧他多能干啊！
• He is able to do this job well.他有能力做好这件工作。

15 got   

v.(get的过去式)得到，猜到，明白

参考例句：

• I just got some bad news.我刚得到一些坏消息。
• I have got far too much work to do.我要做的事太多了。

16 could   

v.能，可能(can的过去式)；aux.v.(can的过去式)能；可以

参考例句：

• Could I open the window?我可以打开窗子吗？
• I could wait ten minutes.我可以等十分钟。

17 belonged   

v.属于( belong的过去式和过去分词 )；是…的成员；应被放在；适应

参考例句：

• Politically, they belonged to the conservative party and opposed reform. 在政治上，他们是保守派，反对改革。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They belonged to a younger genration. 他们属于年轻的一代。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

18 thought   

n.想法，思想，思维，思潮，关心，挂念；v.vbl.think的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• It was just a thought.这仅仅是一个想法。
• She thought he had a cold.她认为他感冒了。

19 took   

vt.带，载(take的过去式)

参考例句：

• I took my dog for a walk along the river.我带着狗沿那条河散步。
• It took me about two hours to cook the meat.我花了大约两个小时来煮这些肉。

20 taught   

v.teach的过去式过去分词

参考例句：

• Children must be taught to be careful of traffic.必须教育孩子要当心车辆。
• Miss Brown taught my daughter last year.去年是布朗小姐教我女儿的。

21 wife   

n.妻子，太太，老婆

参考例句：

• She is my wife.她是我妻子。
• He is a tall man but his wife is a short woman.他是个子很高的男人，但他妻子很矮。

22 wondered   

vt.对…感到好奇（wonder的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• I wondered uneasily if anything had happened to the children. 我忐忑不安地揣测孩子们是不是出了什么事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mother wondered if she could last out another operation. 母亲怀疑自己是否经得起再动一次手术。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

24 pleased   

adj.高兴的，快乐的，喜欢的，满意的

参考例句：

• She was pleased to hear good news about him.听到他的好消息，她很高兴。
• Whichever day you come,we will be pleased to see you.无论你哪一天来，我们都很高兴。

25 unkind   

adj.不仁慈的，不和善的

参考例句：

• He was never unkind to her.他从未亏待过她。
• Unkindness often reacts on the unkind person.恶人有恶报。

26 later   

adv.过后，后来；adj.以后的，更后的，较晚的

参考例句：

• He didn't turn up until half an hour later.半小时后他才出现。
• This part of the hospital was built on later.医院的这个部分是后来增建的。

27 burnt   

adj.烧坏的；烧伤的；烫伤的；灼伤的v.（使）燃烧( burn的过去式和过去分词 )；使用某物为燃料；烧毁；烧坏

参考例句：

• Your hand looks badly burnt. 你的手似乎烧伤很重。
• I'm feeling burnt-out at work—I need a holiday. 我觉得工作得太累了—我需要休假。

28 icy   

adj.寒冷的；冰冷的

参考例句：

• Father will not chance driving on the icy roads.父亲不愿意冒险在结冰的道路上开车。
• She fixed her questioner with an icy glare.她冷冷地盯着审问者。

29 proud   

adj.感到自豪的；得意的

参考例句：

• He was proud of having such a good friend.他为有这样的好朋友而自豪。
• We are proud of our great motherland.我们为伟大的祖国而自豪。

30 god   

n.上帝，神；被极度崇拜的人或物

参考例句：

• God knows how the cat got up on the roof.只有天知道那只猫是怎样爬上房顶的。
• God wills that man should be happy.上帝愿人类幸福。

31 travel   

n.旅行，游历，进行；vi.旅行，行进，移动，被传播；vt.旅行，通行于，使移动

参考例句：

• We can now travel by air.现在我们可以坐飞机旅行。
• Autumn is the best season for travel.秋天是旅行的最好季节。

32 sat   

v.（sit的过去式，过去分词）坐

参考例句：

• He sat on a chair.他坐在椅子上。
• The mother sat by the sick child all night long.妈妈整夜守在生病的孩子身旁。

33 grave   

n.墓穴，坟墓，雕刻工，抑音；adj.庄重的，严肃的，重大的，低沉的；vt.雕刻

参考例句：

• Marriage is the grave of love.婚姻是爱情的坟墓。
• This is a very grave matter indeed.这问题的确非常严重。

34 lonely   

adj.孤独的，寂寞的，孤零零的，人迹罕至的

参考例句：

• The place is a bit lonely.那个地方有点荒凉。
• I don't feel lonely as I've made new friends here. 我在这里又交了新朋友，一点也不寂寞。

35 said   

v.动词say的过去式、过去分词

参考例句：

• He said to me that he could not come.他对我说他不能来。
• He said to his mother that he would do it by himself.他对他的母亲说他将自己独立做那件事。

36 shall   

v.aux.（主要用于第一人称）将

参考例句：

• I shall always love you.我将永远爱你。
• Which club shall we join?我们要参加哪个社团？

37 strangely   

adv.奇妙地；怪异地；不可思议地；异常的

参考例句：

• Modigliani's women have strangely elongated faces. 莫迪里阿尼画中的妇女都长着奇长无比的脸。
• She's been acting very strangely lately. 近来她举止十分反常。

38 shake   

n./vt.(shook；shaken)震动；颤抖；vi.摇动，摇

参考例句：

• Let's shake hands and be friends.让我们握手做朋友。
• Shake,shake,shake your shoulders,shake them up and down.耸耸肩，从上到下耸耸肩。

39 badly   

adv.非常，严重地；坏地，差地，拙劣地

参考例句：

• I miss you so badly.我非常非常想你。
• We need money badly now.我们现在非常需要钱。

40 picked   

adj.精选的，摘下的v.采( pick的过去式和过去分词 )；摘；啄；叼

参考例句：

• I picked up a few good bargains in the sale. 我在减价期间买了几样挺不错的便宜货。
• She picked herself up, brushed herself down, and started walking again. 她爬起来，掸掸身上的灰尘，又往前走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

41 dead   

adj.死的；无生命的；死气沉沉的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• Mary threw away the dead flowers.玛丽把枯萎的花扔掉了。
• He was dead asleep.他完全睡着了。

42 upstairs   

adj.楼上的；adv.在楼上，往楼上，高水平地，上层地，头脑上地；n.楼上

参考例句：

• He would prefer to meet me downstairs rather than upstairs.他宁愿在楼下见我，而不愿在楼上。
• I think I'll go upstairs and have a sleep.我想上楼去睡一觉。

43 stood   

vbl.stand的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She stood up when they came in.当他们进来时，她站了起来。
• The child stood by the side of his mother.孩子站在母亲身边。

44 frightened   

adj.受惊的，受恐吓的

参考例句：

• I was frightened of him when I saw him first.我第一次见他时怕他。
• You frightened me to death,staying out all night!你整夜不回家，把我急死了！

45 necessary   

adj.必需的，必要的；n.（pl.）必需品

参考例句：

• If necessary,give me a ring.如果需要，打个电话给我。
• Sleep is necessary to health.睡眠对健康是必要的。

46 across   

adv.横过，使...被理解(或接受)；prep.穿过，横过

参考例句：

• He walked across the road carefully.他小心地过马路。
• You can go across the bridge.你可以越过这座桥。

47 moors   

v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• the North York moors 北约克郡的漠泽
• They're shooting grouse up on the moors. 他们在荒野射猎松鸡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

48 coach   

n.大巴，教练；(火车)客车车厢，四轮马车，经济舱；vt.训练，指导；vi.训练，指导

参考例句：

• The coach is full of elderly ladies.客车上坐满了老太太。
• The coach plays better than players.教练比运动员打得好。

49 save   

n.救援，救球，节约；v.解救，保存，节省；prep.除...之外

参考例句：

• Why didn't you save me?你为什么不救我？
• We have to save old newspapers.我们得保存旧报纸。

50 lay   

（lie的过去式和过去分词）；vt.击，放置，产卵，使平静，打赌，压平，设计；vi.生蛋，打赌，全力以赴；n.隐蔽处，计划，价格，生蛋，叙事诗，诗歌；adj.世俗的，外行的

参考例句：

• Please lay the knife on the dish.请把刀放在盘子上。
• All birds lay eggs.鸟都下蛋。

51 nearly   

adv.将近，几乎，差不多

参考例句：

• I nearly missed the bus.我险些错过了公交车。
• It is nearly two years since I came here.我来这儿快两年了。

52 seemed   

v.好像，仿佛( seem的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She seemed totally absorbed in her book. 她好像完全被这本书迷住了。
• My life seemed aimless. 我的生活似乎没有目标。

53 dark   

adj.黑色的；暗的；黑暗的

参考例句：

• The night is too dark for us to see.夜间太暗，我们看不见。
• The sky was dark blue and clear when the moon came up.月亮出来时，天空是深蓝色的，非常晴朗。

54 buried   

v.埋葬( bury的过去式和过去分词 )；掩埋；原谅；沉溺于

参考例句：

• They found the body buried beneath a pile of leaves. 他们发现尸体被埋在一堆树叶下面。
• He was buried in Highgate Cemetery. 他被安葬在海格特墓地。

55 brought   

vbl.bring的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He brought a new book with him.他带来一本新书。
• I brought you your shirt.我带来了你的衬衣。

56 died   

vbl.死亡，消逝v.死亡，枯萎( die的过去式和过去分词 )；死时处于（某种状态）或具有（某种身份）adj.死亡的，消逝的

参考例句：

• He was banished to Australia, where he died five years later. 他被流放到澳大利亚，五年后在那里去世。
• He was utterly bereft when his wife died. 他的妻子去世时，他十分凄凉。

57 wooden   

adj.木制的；木头似的，呆笨的

参考例句：

• The room was full of wooden furniture.房间里摆满了木制家具。
• There's a wooden bridge over the river.河上有一座木桥。

58 kissed   

v.吻( kiss的过去式和过去分词 )；轻拂，轻触

参考例句：

• He bent and kissed her. 他低下头吻了她。
• She kissed him with unusual fervour. 她特别热烈地吻着他。