Chapter16 The Return Home回家-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《彼得潘Peter Pan》

Chapter 16 The Return Home By two bells that morning they were all stirring their stumps;for there was a big sea running;and Tootles,the bo'sun,was among them,with a rope's end in his hand and chewing tobacco.They all donned pirate clothes cut off at the knee,shaved smartly,and tumbled up,with the true nautical roll and hitching their trousers. It need not be said who was the captain.Nibs and John were first and second mate.There was a woman aboard.The rest were tars before the mast, and lived in the fo'c'sle.Peter had already lashed himself to the wheel;but he piped all hands and delivered a short address to them;said he hoped they would do their duty like gallant hearties,but that he knew they were the scum of Rio and the Gold Coast,and if they snapped at him he would tear them.His bluff strident words struck the note sailors understand,and they cheered him lustily.Then a few sharp orders were given,and they turned the ship round, and nosed her for the mainland. Captain Pan calculated,after consulting the ships chart,that if this weather lasted they should strike the Azores about the 21st of June,after which it would save time to fly. Some of them wanted it to be an honest ship and others were in favour of keeping it a pirate;but the captain treated them as dogs,and they dared not express their wishes to him even in a round robin.Instant obedience was the ·252· 第十六章回家 ①stump[stAmp]m.树桩 第二天早晨，钟响了两下之后'，孩子们都忙碌起 来，因为海上起了大风。图图是水手长，他嘴里嚼着烟 草，正忙着扯缆绳。孩子们都穿着膝盖以下部分被剪掉 ②tumble up匆忙跑上甲板 的海盗服，还装模作样地把脸刮得干干净净，像真正的 ③nautical[np:tikol]a.水手 水手那样，提着裤子匆忙地爬上了甲板。 的 不用我明说，大家也知道谁是船长吧。尼布斯和约 ④hitch[hitk急拉 ⑤tar[tan.水手 翰分别是大副、二副。除了那位女士，其余的孩子都是 普通水手，住在前舱。彼得掌握着舵，随后将全体船员 ©lash [lac]k捆绑，这里 指牢牢掌握 召集在一起，发表了一个简短讲话。他说希望孩子们像 勇敢的水手一样，对他忠心耿耿。虽然他知道他们都来 ⑦hearty[ha:tn.伙伴 自里奥和黄金海岸，是一帮粗人，但是谁要是敢对他无 ⑧scum[skAm]n.卑郡的人 礼，他就要把那个人撕个粉碎。船员们都听懂了这番虚 ⑨bluff [blA]a.坦率的 张声势的激烈言辞，于是发出了一阵粗重的欢呼声。接 ⑩strident['straidont]a.强 着，彼得下了几道严峻的命令，然后他们掉转船头向英 硬的 国本土驶去。 潘船长查看了航海图之后预测说，要是这种天气持 续不变，他们就能在六月二十一日到达亚速尔群岛。到 那儿之后，飞回家就省时间了。 船员中有些人希望这艘船是一艘守规矩的船，而 另一些人则希望它仍然是一艘海盗船。可是，船长把他 们都看成喽啰，所以他们不敢发表意见，连一份请愿书 @robin['robin]n.抗议书 也不敢递交。唯一安全的做法就是绝对服从。有一次， 1按船上的规定，每半小时敲一下钟。到四点钟，敲到八下，然后 从头开始。打两响是早晨五点钟。—译注 ·253· Chapter 16 The Return Home only safe thing.Slightly got a dozen for looking perplexed when told to take soundings.The general feeling was that Peter was honest just now to lull Wendy's suspicions,but that there might be a change when the new suit was ready,which,against her will,she was making for him out of some of Hook's wickedest garments.It was afterwards whispered among them that on the first night he wore this suit he sat long in the cabin with Hook's cigar-holder in his mouth and one hand clenched,all but the forefinger,which he bent and held threateningly aloft like a hook. Instead of watching the ship,however,we must now return to that desolate home from which three of our characters had taken heartless flight so long ago. It seems a shame to have neglected No.14 all this time;and yet we may be sure that Mrs Darling does not blame us.If we had returned sooner to look with sorrowful sympathy at her,she would probably have cried,"Don't be silly;what do I matter?Do go back and keep an eye on the children."So long as mothers are like this their children will take advantage of them;and they may lay to that. Even now we venture into that familiar nursery only because its lawful occupants are on their way home;we are merely hurrying on in advance of them to see that their beds are properly aired and that Mr and Mrs Darling do not go out for the evening.We are no more than servants.Why on earth should their beds be properly aired,seeing that they left them in such a thankless hurry?Would it not serve them jolly well right if they came back and found that their parents were spending the weekend in the country?It would be the moral lesson they have been in need of ever since we met them;but if we contrived things in this way Mrs Darling would never forgive us. One thing I should like to do immensely,and that is to tell her,in the way authors have,that the children are coming back,that indeed they will be here on Thursday week.This would spoil so completely the surprise to which Wendy and John and Michael are looking forward.They have been planning it out on the ship:mothers rapture,fathers shout of joy,Nanas leap through the air to embrace them first,when what they ought to be preparing for is a good hiding.How delicious to spoil it all by breaking the news in advance;so that ·254· 第十六章 回家 斯莱特利被指派去测水深，他只是稍稍露出一丝迷惑的 ①sounding['saundir]n.探 神情，就被打了十二下。大伙都觉得，彼得装作很诚实 测 正直，只是为了打消温迪的怀疑，等到他的新衣做成之 后，他就会发生变化。这件新衣服是用胡克最邪恶的一 件海盗服改制成的，温迪本来不愿意给他做这件衣服， 但是彼得坚持要穿，她实在没办法了，才同意帮他改 小。后来大家私下议论说，彼得第一次穿上这件衣裳的 ②forefinger[b:figp]m.食 指 晚上，他在胡克的船舱里坐了很长时间，嘴里衔着胡克 ③alot['loft]ad.在高处 的烟袋，一只手紧握成拳头，只伸出食指，还把食指弯 曲着举得老高，做出很吓人的样子。 这艘船的事暂且先说到这里，现在，我们来看看那 个冷冷清清的家。自打三个主角不负责任地离家出走， 已经过去很长时间了，说也惭愧，这么长时间里，我们 都几乎要把十四号这个家给忘了。不过，我们知道，达 林夫人一定不会责怪我们的。假如我们早一点回到这 里，带着深切的同情去探望她，她或许还会喊道：“别 傻了，我有什么要紧？快回去照顾那些孩子们吧。”母 亲们总是这样以孩子为重，难怪孩子们都借故迟迟不肯 ④occupant['bkjp3ntjn.居 回家。 住者 现在我们斗胆走进那间熟悉的育儿室，是因为它 的合法主人已经在归来的途中。我们只比他们早回来一 点儿，提前看看他们的床铺是不是都晾晒过了，还要提 醒达林先生和夫人今晚不要出门，我们只是为他们服务 而已。不过，既然他们连句谢谢都不说就离家出走了， ⑤contrive[kan''traiv]v.设想 又何必替他们晾晒床铺呢？要是他们回到家里，发现父 母去乡间过周末了，这不更能好好教训他们一顿吗？自 打我们和他们相识以来，他们就应该受到一些教训。不 过，如果我们把情节设想成这样，达林夫人永远不会原 凉我们。 像其他讲故事的人一样，我也非常想做一件事。 那就是告诉达林夫人她的孩子们就要回来了，他们下礼 国rapture[raptfa)]v欣喜若 狂 拜四就会到家。不过这样一来，我们就把温迪、约翰和 迈克尔的计划给搞糟了，他们打算给家人一个惊喜。他 们在船上已经开始想象了：母亲的狂喜，父亲的欢呼， 娜娜会飞奔着抢先扑上来拥抱他们。要是提前把消息 泄露出来，搞坏他们的计划，这该有多么痛快。想象一 ·255· Chapter 16 The Return Home when they enter grandly Mrs Darling may not even offer Wendy her mouth,and Mr Darling may exclaim pettishly,"Dash it all,here are those boys again." However,we should get no thanks even for this.We are beginning to know Mrs Darling by this time,and may be sure that she would upbraid us for depriving the children of their little pleasure. "But,my dear madam,it is ten days till Thursday week;so that by telling you what's what,we can save you ten days of unhappiness." "Yes,but at what a cost!By depriving the children of ten minutes of delight.” “Oh,if you look at it in that way.” "What other way is there in which to look at it?" You see,the woman had no proper spirit.I had meant to say extraordinarily nice things about her;but I despise her,and not one of them will I say now. She does not really need to be told to have things ready,for they are ready.All the beds are aired,and she never leaves the house,and observe,the window is open.For all the use we are to her,we might go back to the ship.However,as we are here we may as well stay and look on.That is all we are,lookers-on Nobody really wants us.So let us watch and say jaggy things,in the hope that some of them will hurt. The only change to be seen in the night nursery is that between nine and six the kennel is no longer there.When the children flew away,Mr Darling felt in his bones that all the blame was his for having chained Nana up,and that from first to last she had been wiser than he.Of course,as we have seen,he was quite a simple man;indeed he might have passed for a boy again if he had been able to take his baldness off;but he had also a noble sense of justice and a lion courage to do what seemed right to him;and having thought the matter out with anxious care after the flight of the children,he went down on all fours and crawled into the kennel.To all Mrs Darlings dear invitations to him to come out he replied sadly but firmly: "No,my own one,this is the place for me." In the bitterness of his remorse he swore that he would never leave the kennel until his children came back.Of course this was a pity;but whatever Mr Darling did he had to do in excess;otherwise he soon gave up doing it.And ·256· 第十六章 回家 下，当他们神气地走进家门时，达林夫人不会去亲吻温 ①pettishly[petifli]ad.易怒 迪，达林先生会气冲冲地嚷道：“快走开，孩子们回来 地 了！”但是，就算我们这样做了也得不到感谢。因为我 们了解达林夫人是怎样的一个人，她准会责怪我们夺走 了孩子们那点儿小小的乐趣。 “可是，我亲爱的夫人，还有十天才到下礼拜四 啊，我们把一切真相告诉你，这样你可以少过十天不快 乐的日子。” “的确如此，但是，这代价得多大呀！这要夺走孩 子们十分钟的快乐时光。” “好吧，如果你这样想的话…” “还能怎样想呢？” 你看吧，这位女士的思维真是奇怪。我原本是为 她着想，想告诉她一些好消息，但是现在我有些瞧不 起她，而且我再也不想提任何跟孩子有关的事了。实际 上，用不着我去提醒达林夫人，她早就安排好一切了。 三张床都已经晾晒妥当，而且她也从不出门。还有，你 仔细看，窗子是开着的。这个家没什么需要我们帮忙的 ②looker-on[ukar'n]n.旁 观者 地方，我们还不如回到船上去。不过，我们已经来了， ③jaggy['d3gi]a.有缺口 就不妨继续留下察看情况，我们本来就是旁观者嘛，没 的，这里指不中听的 有人真正需要我们做什么。那么，我们就在一旁做个观 众好了，顺便说几句讽刺的话，好让某些人听了不痛 快。 育儿室里发生的唯一变化是，从晚九点到早六点， 狗窝不在这里了。自打孩子们飞走以后，达林先生打心 眼里觉得所有错都怪他，都怪他把娜娜拴了起来，自始 ④baldness[bo:ldnos]n.秃 至终娜娜都比他聪明。当然，我们都能看出，达林先生 顶 是个相当单纯的人，要是没有秃顶，他甚至可以假扮成 一个男孩。同时，他还有着极强的正义感和狮子般的勇 气，总是坚持做自己认为正确的事。孩子们飞走后，他 深刻地反思了自己的行为，然后四肢伏地，钻进了娜娜 的狗窝。无论达林夫人怎样劝他出来，他都悲伤而坚决 地回答：“不，亲爱的，这才是我应该待的地方。” ⑤remorse[ri'mo:s]n.懊悔 追悔莫及的达林先生发誓说，只要孩子们一天不回 来，他就一天不出狗窝。这事让我们非常同情他，然而 ⑤in excess过分地 达林先生不论做什么都喜欢走极端，要不然就很快地半 ·257· Chapter 16 The Return Home there never was a more humble man than the once proud George Darling,as he sat in the kennel of an evening talking with his wife of their children and all their pretty ways. Very touching was his deference to Nana.He would not let her come into the kennel,but on all other matters he followed her wishes implicitly. Every morning the kennel was carried with Mr Darling in it to a cab, which conveyed him to his office,and he returned home in the same way at six. Something of the strength of character of the man will be seen if we remember how sensitive he was to the opinion of neighbours:this man whose every movement now attracted surprised attention.Inwardly he must have suffered torture;but he preserved a calm exterior even when the young criticised his little home,and he always lifted his hat courteously to any lady who looked inside. It may have been quixotic,but it was magnificent.Soon the inward meaning of it leaked out,and the great heart of the public was touched. Crowds followed the cab,cheering it lustily;charming girls scaled it to get his autograph;interviews appeared in the better class of papers,and society invited him to dinner and added,"Do come in the kennel." On that eventful Thursday week Mrs Darling was in the night nursery awaiting Georges return home:a very sad-eyed woman.Now that we look at her closely and remember the gaiety of her in the old days,all gone now just because she has lost her babes,I find I won't be able to say nasty things about her after all.If she was too fond of her rubbishy children she couldn't help it. Look at her in her chair,where she has fallen asleep.The corner of her mouth, where one looks first,is almost withered up.Her hand moves restlessly on her breast as if she had a pain there.Some like Peter best and some like Wendy best,but I like her best.Suppose,to make her happy,we whisper to her in her sleep that the brats are coming back. They are really within two miles of the window now,and flying strong,but all we need whisper is that they are on the way.Let's. It is a pity we did it,for she has started up,calling their names;and there is no one in the room but Nana. ·258· 第十六章 回家 途而废。他经常在晚上坐在狗窝里和妻子谈论孩子们和 他们可爱的小模样儿，过去那个骄傲的乔治·达林，现 在是多么的谦逊啊！ 最让人感动的是他对娜娜的尊重。他不让娜娜进狗 窝，并且别的事情也全听娜娜的。 implicitly [implisitli]ad. 毫无疑问地 每天早晨，达林先生坐在狗窝里，连人带窝被抬进 一辆出租车，就这样被送到办公室。六点钟，再原样被 运回家。我们要知道，达林先生曾经非常看重邻居的看 法，由此我们可以看出他的性格有多么坚强。如今周围 人都很惊诧地注意着他，想必他在心里一定忍受着极大 ②inwardly[inwodli]ad.内 的痛苦。当年轻人们对着他的小屋指指点点时，他仍然 心地 保持镇静，要是哪位女士探头向狗窝里张望，他还会向 她脱帽致意。 这行为也许有点儿唐·吉诃德的感觉，可是也挺让 人敬佩的。不久，这事的缘由被传了出去，公众的宽广 ③quixotic[kwik'sotik]a.不 切实际的 胸怀深受感动。人们成群结队地跟在他的车后，热情地 为他欢呼；迷人的女郎登上他的车，求他亲笔签名；他 的专访登上了第一流的报纸，上流社会还邀请他去参加 ④autograph['b:tgra:fjn.亲 笔签名 晚宴，并且附加一句：“请务必乘狗窝前来。” 终于到了礼拜四这个不寻常的夜晚，达林夫人正 坐在育儿室里等着乔治回来。她成了一个眼神忧伤的女 ⑤await[bwei)k等待 人。我们仔细回想一下她曾经活泼愉快的样子，现在她 的丰采完全消失了，只因为她失去了她的孩子们。我实 在不忍心说她的坏话了。她实在是情不自禁地热爱着她 那几个淘气的孩子。这会儿她坐在椅子上睡着了，看看 她吧，最先看到的是她的嘴角，几乎憔悴极了。她的手 不时地按住胸口，似乎那里在隐隐作痛。有的人最喜欢 彼得，有的人最喜欢温迪，可是我最喜欢达林夫人。为 了让她高兴起来，我们要不要在她梦中悄悄告诉她，你 的小家伙们要回来了？ 孩子们确实离窗口只有两英里远了，而且他们飞得 飞快。我们只需悄悄地对达林夫人说，他们已在回家的 路上了。那就这样说吧！ 糟糕，我们真的说了。达林夫人突然从梦中惊醒， 呼唤着孩子们的名字。可是，房间里除了娜娜，一个人 也没有。 ·259· Chapter 16 The Return Home "O Nana,I dreamt my dear ones had come back." Nana had filmy eyes,but all she could do was to put her paw gently on her mistress's lap;and they were sitting together thus when the kennel was brought back.As Mr Darling puts his head out of it to kiss his wife,we see that his face is more worn than of yore,but has a softer expression. He gave his hat to Liza,who took it scornfully;for she had no imagination, and was quite incapable of understanding the motives of such a man.Outside, the crowd who had accompanied the cab home were still cheering,and he was naturally not unmoved.“Listen to them,”he said;“'it is very gratifying.” “Lot of little boys,,”sneered Liza. "There were several adults today,"he assured her with a faint flush;but when she tossed her head he had not a word of reproof for her.Social success had not spoilt him;it had made him sweeter.For some time he sat half out of the kennel,talking with Mrs Darling of this success,and pressing her hand reassuringly when she said she hoped his head would not be turned by it. "But if I had been a weak man,"he said."Good heavens,if I had been a weak man!” "And,George,"she said timidly,"you are as full of remorse as ever,aren't you?” "Full of remorse as ever,dearest!See my punishment:living in a kennel." "But it is punishment,isn't it,George?You are sure you are not enjoying it?” "My love!" You may be sure she begged his pardon;and then,feeling drowsy,he curled round in the kennel. "Won't you play me to sleep,"he asked,"on the nursery piano?"and as she was crossing to the day nursery he added thoughtlessly,"And shut that window. I feel a draught.” "O George,never ask me to do that.The window must always be left open for them,always,always." Now it was his turn to beg her pardon;and she went into the day nursery ·260· 第十六章 回家 “啊，娜娜，我梦到我的宝贝们回来了！” 睡眼蒙胧的娜娜不知如何是好，她只能把她的爪 子轻轻地放在女主人的膝上，她们就这样坐着。这时狗 窝被运回来了。达林先生从狗窝里伸出头来亲吻他的妻 ①yore [j:]n.往昔 子，我们可以看到，他的脸比以前憔悴了许多，但与此 同时他的神情也温和了许多。 达林先生摘下帽子递给莉莎，她冷淡地接了过去。 @incapable [in'keipabl]a. 莉莎缺乏想象力，她实在没法理解达林先生的行为。房 无能力的 子外面，尾随而来的一群人还在欢呼，达林先生对此感 到很感动。 “听听这些欢呼声，”他说，“真叫人欣慰。” “一群小孩儿。”莉莎嘲笑说。 ③reproof[ripu:f]n.责备 “今天人群里有好几个大人呢。”达林先生微红着 脸告诉莉莎，可是莉莎把头一转表示不屑听这些话，达 林先生没有因此责备她。如今的名气并没有使他得意扬 扬，反倒使他变得更和气了。有时候，他坐在狗舍里， 伸出半截身子和达林夫人谈论他如今的名气。每当达林 夫人说希望他不会因此头脑发热，他就会紧紧地握住达 林夫人的手，让她不必担心。 “幸亏我不是个软弱的人，”达林先生说，“天 哪，要是我是一个软弱的人该怎么办啊！” “乔治，”达林夫人小心翼翼地问， “你仍然感到 懊悔，是不是？” “我仍然感到懊悔，亲爱的。你瞧我给自己的惩 罚：住在狗窝里。” ④drowsy[drauzi]a.昏昏 “你真的是在惩罚自己吗，乔治？真的不是因为觉 欲睡的 得这样做很有趣？” “你怎么会这样想，亲爱的！” 接下来，达林夫人会立即请求他的原谅。然后，达 林先生觉得困了，他蜷着身子在狗窝里躺下。 “你能到育儿室去为我弹一首催眠曲吗？”他请求 着。达林夫人向育儿室走去时，他又随口说：“把窗户 关上吧，我觉得有风。” “哦，乔治，绝不能关窗户。窗户要永远开着，等 孩子们回来，永远，永远。 这下轮到达林先生请求她的原谅了。达林夫人走进 ·261·