【双语有声阅读】一架红木钢琴(下)

She said she had started to play in church where she and her grandmother had to walk over tow¹ miles, and that she then played in school, had won many awards and a music scholarship.

 

她说，她开始在教堂里弹琴，她和奶奶要走两英哩去那家教堂。后来，她在学校里弹琴，获得许多奖并一项音乐奖学金。

 

She had married an attorney² in Memphis and he had bought her that beautiful grand piano she was playing.

 

她嫁了一位孟菲斯的律师，先生给她买了那架她正在弹的，漂亮的平台钢琴。

 

Something else entered my mind .Elise, I asked,It's a little dark in here. What color is that piano?

 

我想起了另外一件事。艾丽丝， 我问她，这里有点儿暗。那架钢琴是什么颜色的？

 

It's red mahogany, she said, Why?

 

是一架红木的，她说，为什么？

 

I couldn't speak.

 

我一时语塞。

 

Did she understand the significance of the red mahogany?

 

她懂得这红木的意义吗？

 

The unbelievable audacity³ of her grandmother insisting on a red mahogany piano when no one in his right mind would have sold her a piano of any kind?

 

她奶奶那令人难以置信的勇气，当没有一个人在处于正常思维情况下肯卖给她任何一架钢琴的时候，她却坚持要一架红木的？

 

No, I'm sure she didn't understand that either.

 

我不认为她懂。

 

But I did, and my throat tightened⁴.

 

但是，我懂。我的喉咙哽咽了。

 

Finally, I found my voice.I just wondered, I said.

 

最后，我终于能说话了。我刚才想。。。

 

I‘m proud of you, but I have to go to my room..

 

我为你骄傲...不过，我得进我的房间了。

 

And I did have to go to my room,because men don't like to be seen crying in public.

 

我的确得回我的房间去了，因为男人不愿意被人看到在公开场合流泪。

1 tow   

n.拖，拉，牵引

参考例句：

• The broken-down car was taken in tow by a lorry.那辆坏了的车由一辆货车拖着。
• Mrs Hayes went to the supermarket with her four little children in tow.海斯太太带着她的4个小孩到超市去了。

2 attorney   

n.（业务或法律事务上的）代理人，辩护律师

参考例句：

• He acted as attorney for me.他充当我的律师。
• The attorney for the union accused the Mayor of playing politics.工会的律师谴责市长在这次罢工中耍阴谋。

3 audacity   

n.大胆，卤莽，无礼

参考例句：

• He had the audacity to ask for an increase in salary.他竟然厚着脸皮要求增加薪水。
• He had the audacity to pick pockets in broad daylight.他竟敢在光天化日之下掏包。

4 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。