17 IT IS THE CHILD就是这个孩子-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《小公主A Little Princess》

17 “IT IS THE CHILD！” THE next afternoon three members of the Large Family sat in the Indian gentleman's library,doing their best to cheer him up.They had been allowed to come in to perform this office because he had specially invited them.He had been living in a state of suspense for some time, and today he was waiting for a certain event very anxiously.This event was the return of Mr.Carmichael from Moscow.His stay there had been prolonged from week to week.On his first arrival there,he had not been able satisfactorily 2 to trace the family he had gone in search of.When he felt at last sure that he had found them and had gone to their house, he had been told that they were absent on a journey.His efforts to reach them had been unavailing,so he had decided to remain in Moscow until their return.Mr.Carrisford sat in his recliningchair,and Janet sat on the floor beside him.He was very fond of Janet.Nora had found a footstool,and Donald was astride 5 the tiger's head which ornamented the rug made of the animal's skin.It must be owned that he was riding it rather violently. “Don't chirrup so loud,Donald,”Janet said.“When you come to ·398· 17。 “就是这个孩子！” 第二天下午，大家庭的三个成员坐在印度绅 士的图书室里，想方设法使他高兴起来。他们得 到允许来这里完成这一工作，是因为印度绅士特 ①suspense/sas'pens/n.焦 别请他们来的。有一段时期，这位印度绅士是在 急，焦虑 焦急不安的状态中度日的，今天他正万分焦急地 等待着一件重大事情。这就是卡迈克尔先生从莫 斯科回来了。他在莫斯科滞留的时间拖了一周又 一周。他初到那里时，未能如愿找到他要寻找的 ②satisfactorily /saetis'facktarili/ad.满意 那一家人的踪迹。而当他终于肯定已找到他们并 地 前往访问他们的住宅时，却获悉他们出去旅行 了。他竭力想找到他们，却劳而无功。只好决定 3unavailing /'Ano'veilin/a. 留在莫斯科等待他们归来。卡里斯福特先生坐在 无用的，无效的 躺椅上，珍妮特坐在他旁边的地板上。他很喜欢 ④recline/ri'klain/.靠在， 珍妮特。诺拉找到了一个脚凳，唐纳德骑在一只 斜倚，倚靠 “老虎”的头上，它是动物皮制成的地毯上的一 ③astride'straid/骑，跨 个装饰品。必须承认，他骑着它的时候身体在剧 烈颠动。 ⑥chirup'tSirop/u.吱喳地 “别吱吱嘎嘎地那么响，唐纳德，”珍妮特 叫 说。“你来想法使病人高兴，但不是拔直嗓门就 ·399· ALittle Princess cheer an ill person up you don't cheer him up at the top of your voice. Perhaps cheering up is too loud,Mr.Carrisford?"turning to the Indian gentleman. But he only patted her shoulder. “No,it isn't,”he answered..“And it keeps me from thinking too much.” "I am going to be quiet,"Donald shouted."We'll all be as quiet as mice.” "Mice don't make a noise like that,"said Janet. Donald made a bridle of his handkerchief and bounced up and down on the tiger's head. “A whole lot of mice might,”he said cheerfully..“A thousand mice might.” "I don't believe fifty thousand mice would."said Janet,severely, “and we have to be as quiet as one mouse.” Mr.Carrisford laughed and patted her shoulder again. “Papa won't be very long now,”she said,“May we talk about the lost little girl?” "I don't think I could talk much about anything else just now,"the Indian gentleman answered,knitting his forehead with a tired look. “We like her so much,”said Nora.“We call her the little un-fairy princess.” "Why?"the Indian gentleman inquired,because the fancies of the Large Family always made him forget things a little. It was Janet who answered. "It is because,though she is not exactly a fairy,she will be so rich when she is found that she will be like a princess in a fairy tale.We ·400· 小公主 能使他高兴的。也许欢呼声太吵了吧，卡里斯福 特先生？”她转过头问印度绅士。 但他只是拍拍她的肩膀。 “不，不吵，”他回答，“它使我不会想得太 多。” “我这就安静下来，”唐纳德喊道。“我们都 像老鼠一样安静。” “老鼠才不会做出那种声音来哪，”珍妮特 说。 唐纳德用手帕当作缰绳，在“老虎”头上上 ①bridle/braid/n缰绳 ②bounce/bauns/.跳跃，跳 下跳动。 动 “许多老鼠或许就能，”他兴高兴烈地说， “1000只老鼠兴许能。” “我相信5万只老鼠也不能，”珍妮特厉声说， “但我们必须像一只老鼠那样安静。” 卡里斯福特先生笑了，又拍拍珍妮特的肩 膀。 “现在不会太久爸爸就会来了，”她说，“我 们可以谈谈那个丢失了的小女孩吗？” “我想目前说不出更多别的情况，”印度绅士 回答，面露倦容皱紧眉头。 “我们都很喜欢她，”诺拉说，“我们管她叫 做像仙女般的小公主。” “为什么？”印度绅士问道，因为大家庭成员 们的想象力总使他暂时忘掉一些事情。 答话的是珍妮特。 “那是因为她虽说不是真的小仙女，但找到 她时，她会富有得像神话故事里的一位公主，我 们先管她叫小仙女般的公主吧，但这并不十分恰 当。” ·401· ALittle Princess called her the fairy princess at first,but it didn't quite suit." “Is it true,”said Nora,“that her papa gave all his money to a friend to put in a mine that had diamonds in it,and then the friend thought he had lost it all and ran away because he felt as if he was a robber?" "But he wasn't really,you know,"put in Janet,hastily. The Indian gentleman took hold of her hand quickly. “No,he wasn't really,”he said. “I am sorry for the friend,.”Janet said,“Ican't help it..He didn't mean to do it and it would break his heart.I am sure it would break his heart.” “You are an understanding②little woman,Janet,.”the Indian gentleman said,and he held her hand close. “Did you tell Mr.Carrisford,”Donald shouted again,“about the little-girl-who-isn't-a-beggar?Did you tell him she has new nice clothes?Perhaps she's been found by somebody when she was lost." “There's a cab！”exclaimed Janet..“Ir's stopping before the door.It is papa!” They all ran to the windows to look out. “Yes,it's papa,”Donald proclaimed..“But there is no little girl.” All three of them incontinently fled from the room and tumbled into the hall.It was in this way they always welcomed their father.They were to be heard jumping,up and down,clapping their hands,and being caught up and kissed. Mr.Carrisford made an effort to rise and sank back again into his chair. “It is no use,”he said..“What a wreck⑤Iam！” Mr.Carmichael's voice approached the door. ·402· 小公主 诺拉说：“她爸爸把所有的钱都交给一个朋 友投资到有钻石的矿山了，后来那位朋友以为本 钱全亏光了，就逃掉啦，因为他感到自己仿佛是 个强盗，这是真的吗？” “但你知道，他并不真的是这样，”珍妮特急 ①put in插嘴 忙插口说。 那位印度绅士迅速地握住她的手。 “是的，他并不真的是这样，”他说。 “我替那位朋友难过，”珍妮特说。“我没法 不难过。他并不是有意要这样做，这使他很伤 心。我敢肯定，那件事使他很伤心。” ②understanding “你是个能体谅人的小女孩，珍妮特，”印度 Andb'staendin/a.体谅 绅士说着紧紧握着她的手。 的，谅解的 “你有没有告诉卡里斯福特先生，”唐纳德又 叫道，“关于那个不是叫花子的小姑娘的事儿？ 你有没有告诉他，她已经有了漂亮的新衣服？既 然她是个丢失了的孩子，也许已经有人找到她 啦。” “有一辆马车！”珍妮特叫着说。“它正停在 门前。是爸爸” 他们都跑到窗子边向外张望着。 “不错，是爸爸，”唐纳德宣布说。“但没有 ③incontinently /in'kantinantli/a.不能自 小女孩。” 制地 三个孩子都情不自禁地奔出房间，急忙跑进 了门厅。他们一向是用这种方式欢迎父亲的。可 以听到他们在跳上跳下，拍手，以及被高高地举 ④sink/sink/v.下落，陷于 了起来亲吻的声音。 卡里斯福特先生努力想站起身，却又落到椅 子上。 ⑤wreck/rek/n健康受损的 “没有用处，”他说，“我的身体真坏！” 人 卡迈克尔先生的说话声临近门口。 ·403· ALittle Princess “No,children,”he was saying,“you may come in after I have talked to Mr.Carrisford.Go and play with Ram Dass." Then the door opened and he came in.He looked rosier than ever, and brought an atmosphere of freshness and health with him;but his eyes were disappointed and anxious as they met the invalid's look of eager question even as they grasped each other's hands. “What news?”Mr.Carrisford asked.“The child the Russian people adopted?" "She is not the child we are looking for,"was Mr.Carmichael's answer."She is much younger than Captain Crewe's little girl.Her name is Emily Carew.I have seen and talked to her.The Russians were able to give me every detail."How wearied and miserable the Indian gentleman looked!His hand dropped from Mr.Carmichael's. “Then the search has to be begun over again,”he said.“That is all. Please sit down?” Mr.Carmichael took a seat.Somehow,he had gradually grown fond of this unhappy man.He was himself so well and happy,and so surrounded by cheerfulness and love,that desolation and broken health seemed pitifully unbearable things.If there had been the sound of just one gay little high-pitched voice in the house,it would have been so much less forlorn.And that a man should be compelled to carry about in his breast the thought that he had seemed to wrong and desert a child was not a thing one could face. “Come,come,”he said in his cheery voice;“we'll find her yet.” "We must begin at once.No time must be lost,"Mr.Carrisford fretted "Have you any new suggestion to make-any whatsoever?" Mr.Carmichael felt rather restless,and he rose and began to pace ·404· 小公主 “不行，孩子们，”他在说。“我和卡里斯福 特先生谈完话之后你们才可以进来，去和拉姆· 达斯玩儿去吧。” Datmosphere /'tmasfia/n. 接着门开了，他走了进来。他的脸色看上去 气息 比以前更红润，焕发着饱满的精神和健康的气 ②freshness/frefnis/n.新 鲜，精神饱满 息；但他的目光接触到病人甚至在互相握手时那 热切询问的目光时，他的眼神却流露出了失望和 忧虑。 “有什么消息吗？”卡里斯福特先生问。“俄 国人收养的那个孩子呢？” “她并不是我们正在寻找的那个孩子，”卡迈 克尔先生回答说。“她比克鲁上尉的小女孩小多 啦。她的名字叫埃米莉卡鲁。我见了她，和她 说过话。俄国人能向我提供一切详情。” 印度绅士的样子是多么疲倦、多么悲痛啊！ 他的手从卡迈克尔先生的手中垂落下来。 “那么，我们的寻找工作只得重新开始啦，” 他说。“就这样吧，请坐。” 卡迈克尔先生坐了下来。不知为什么，他已 经逐渐喜欢上这位不幸的人了。他自己是这样的 ③surround/s3 raund/g.围 绕，环绕 健康和幸福，周围充满欢乐和爱，因而孤独和体 ④pitiful /pitiful a.可怜的 弱多病，似乎是可怜的、无法忍受的事情。要是 ⑤highpitched高音调的 compel/kam'pel/强迫， 在这所房子里能出现一个尖细嗓子的欢声笑语， 迫使 也就远不会那么孤寂了。而且，要是一个人不得 不经常想到他似乎做了错事，遗弃了一个孩子， 那真是让人无法忍受的事。 “得啦，得啦。”卡迈克尔先生爽朗地说， “我们还会找到她的。” ⑦fret/fret/v.焦急 “我们必须立即开始。一定不能浪费时间 ⑧pace /peis/.踱步，缓慢 地走 了。”卡里斯福特先生焦急地说。“你有什么新 的建议吗？—不管什么建议。” ·405· ALittle Princess the room with a thoughtful though uncertain face. “Well,perhaps,”he said..“Idon't know what it may be worth.The fact is,an idea occurred to me as I was thinking the thing over in the train on the journey from Dover." "What was it?If she is alive,she is somewhere." "Yes;she is somewhere.We have searched the schools in Paris.Let us give up Paris and begin in London.That was my idea-to search London.” "There are schools enough in London,"said Mr.Carrisford.Then he slightly startled,roused by a recollection."By the way,there is one next door.” "Then we will begin there.We cannot begin nearer than next door." “No,”said Carrisford..“There is a child there who interests me;but she is not a pupil.And she is a little dark,forlorn creature,as unlike poor Crewe as a child could be." Perhaps the Magic was at work again at that very moment -the beautiful Magic.It really seemed as if it might be so.What was it that brought Ram Dass into the room-even as his master spoke-salaaming respectfully,but with a scarcely concealed touch of excitement in his dark,flashing eyes？ “Sahib③，”he said,“the child herself has come--the child the sahib felt pity for.She brings back the monkey who had again run away to her attic under the roof.I have asked that she remain.It was my thought that it would please the sahib to see and speak with her." “Who is she?”inquired Mi.Carmichael.. “God knows,”Mr.Carrisford answered.“She is the child I spoke of. ·406· 小公主 卡迈克尔先生感到相当不安。他站了起来， 开始在屋里踱来踱去，脸上流露出一种沉思的虽 然不能捉摸的神情。 “嗯，或许有，”他说。“我不知道是否值得 考虑。事情是这样的：我从多佛坐上火车，一路 上一直思索这件事，我想到了一个主意。” “什么主意？如果她活着，她准在某个地方。” “对；她是在某个地方。我们一直在巴黎的 各个学校里寻找。让我们放弃巴黎，在伦敦开始 寻找吧。这就是我的主意—在伦敦寻找她。” “伦敦有好多学校，”卡里斯福特先生说。接 ①by the way顺便说一句 着他想起一件事使他略微一惊。“顺便说说，隔 壁就有一所学校。” “那我们就从它开始。没有比从隔壁开始更 近的了。” “是的，”卡里斯福特先生说。“那里有一个 小孩使我感兴趣。但她不是学生。她是个脸色微 黑、孤苦伶仃的小姑娘，这个孩子不像可怜的克 鲁。” 或许就在那个时刻，魔法又一次施展魔 力—那美妙的魔法。好像它真的能这么做似 ②touch/tAt∫/n少许 的。是什么事情使拉姆·达斯走进房间一甚至 在主人说话的时候一恭敬地施了个额手礼，但 在他那浅黑色的、闪闪发亮的眸子里却流露出一 ③sahib /'sa:hib/n大人，阁 种几乎掩饰不住的兴奋神情呢？ 下，先生 “老爷，”他说，“那孩子亲自来啦一就是 老爷感到可怜的那个孩子。她把又逃到她的阁楼 里的猴子给送回来了。我要她留一下。我想，老 爷会高兴见见她和她说说话的。” “她是谁？”卡迈克尔先生问道。 “天晓得，”卡里斯福特先生回答说。“她就 ·407·