9 Herr Sesemam Hears of Things Which Are New to Him塞斯曼先生听到了新鲜事-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《小海蒂Heidi》

IX.Herr Sesemann Hears of Things Which Are New to Him don't be so unhappy;look now,I promise you that you shall have just as many rolls,or more,all fresh and new to take to grandmother when you go home;yours would have been hard and stale by then.Come,Heidi,do not cry any more!" Heidi could not get over her sobs for a long time,she would never have been able to leave off crying at all if it had not been for Clara's promise,which comforted her.But to make sure that she could depend upon it she kept on saying to Clara,her voice broken with her gradually subsiding sobs,"Will you give me as many,quite as many,as I had,for grandmother?"And Clara assured her each time that she would give her as many,“or more,.”she added,“only be happy again..” Heidi appeared at supper with her eyes red with weeping,and when she saw her roll she could not suppress a sob.But she made an effort to control herself,for she knew she must sit quietly at table.Whenever Sebastian could catch her eye this evening he made all sorts of strange signs,pointing to his own head and then to hers,and giving little nods as much as to say,"Don't you be unhappy!I have got it all safe for you." When Heidi was going to get into bed that night she found her old straw hat lying under the counterpane.She snatched it up with delight,made it more out of shape still in her joy,and then,after wrapping a handkerchief round it,she stuck it in a corner of the cupboard as far back as she could. It was Sebastian who had hidden it there for her;he had been in the dining- room when Tinette was called,and had heard all that went on with the child and the latter's loud weeping.So he followed Tinette,and when she came out of Heidi's room carrying the rolls and the hat,he caught up the hat and said,"I will see to this old thing."He was genuinely glad to have been able to save it for Heidi, and that was the meaning of his encouraging signs to her at supper. IX.Herr Sesemann Hears of Things Which Are New to Him A few days after these events there was great commotion and much running up and down stairs in Herr Sesemann's house.The master had just returned,and ·152· 9.塞斯雯先生听到了新鲜事 候给婆婆带去。你攒的面包到那时会变硬变味的。来， ①stale[stei训a.(面包等) 海蒂，别哭了！” 变硬的 海蒂啜泣着，好长时间停不下来，克莱拉许诺的话 给了她一点儿安慰，否则她是没办法不哭的。但为了弄 清楚这话确实可信，她不断地抽泣着问克莱拉：“你会 给我…同样多的…面包，让我…送给婆婆吗？” 克莱拉每次都保证肯定会一样多，“或者更多，”她又加 上一句，“只是你要高兴起来。” 开晚饭的时候，海蒂来了，眼睛哭得红红的，看到 桌上的白面包，她又忍不住抽泣起来。但她控制住了自 己，因为她明白在餐桌上应该安静。那天晚上，每当塞 巴斯蒂安与海蒂目光相对，他都做出各种奇怪的手势， 指指自己的头，又指指海蒂的，还不住地点头，像是在 说：“别不高兴！我都给你安排好了。” 晚上海带上床睡觉的时候，发现那个旧草帽就在自 己的床单下面。她高兴地拿了起来，弄得更没形了，然 后用手绢把它包起来，塞到衣柜角落的最里边。 是塞巴斯蒂安把它藏在那儿的。女管家叫蒂耐特的 时候，他一直在餐室，听见了里面的对话和海蒂大声哭 泣的声音。于是他就尾随着蒂耐特，当她拿着草帽和面 包从海蒂屋里出来的时候，塞巴斯蒂安走上去抓住草帽 说：“这破玩意儿由我来处理吧。”能把旧草帽给海蒂留 下来，他心里由衷地高兴。在吃晚饭时，他跟海蒂打手 势鼓励她，就是为这件事。 9.塞斯曼先生听到了新鲜事 过了几天，塞斯曼先生的家里乱哄哄的，人们楼 上楼下地跑着。主人刚刚到家，塞巴斯蒂安和蒂耐特 忙碌着把车上的箱子一个个地往楼上搬，塞斯曼先生 ·153· IX.Herr Sesemann Hears of Things Which Are New to Hfim Sebastian and Tinette were busy carrying up one package after another from the carriage,for Herr Sesemann always brought back a lot of pretty things for his home.He himself had not waited to do anything before going in to see his daughter.Heidi was sitting beside her,for it was late afternoon,when the two were always together.Father and daughter greeted each other with warm affection,for they were deeply attached to one another.Then he held out his hand to Heidi,who had stolen away into the corner,and said kindly to her,"And this is our little Swiss girl;come and shake hands with me!That's right!Now,tell me,are Clara and you good friends with one another,or do you get angry and quarrel,and then cry and make it up,and then start quarrelling again on the next occasion?" "No,Clara is always kind to me,"answered Heidi. “And Heidi,”put in Clara quickly,"has not once tried to quarrel..” "That's all right,I am glad to hear it,"said her father,as he rose from his chair. "But you must excuse me,Clara,for I want my dinner;I have had nothing to eat all day.Afterwards I will show you all the things I have brought home with me." He found Fraulein Rottenmeier in the dining-room superintending the preparation for his meal,and when he had taken his place she sat down opposite to him,looking the very embodiment of bad news,so that he turned to her and said,"What am I to expect,Fraulein Rottenmeier?You greet me with an expression of countenance that quite frightens me.What is the matter?Clara seems cheerful enough.” "Herr Sesemann,"began the lady in a solemn voice,"it is a matter which concerns Clara;we have been frightfully imposedupon." "Indeed,in what way?"asked Herr Sesemann as he went on calmly drinking his wine. "We had decided,as you remember,to get a companion for Clara,and as I knew how anxious you were to have only those who were well-behaved and nicely brought up about her,I thought I would look for a little Swiss girl,as I hoped to find such a one as I have often read about,who,born as it were of the mountain air,lives and moves without touching the earth." "Still I think even a Swiss child would have to touch the earth if she wanted to go anywhere,"remarked Herr Sesemann,"otherwise they would have been given wings instead of feet." ·154· 9.塞斯雯先生听到了新鲜事 每次回家都带来许多好东西。他自己要做的第一件事 就是去看女儿，海蒂正坐在她旁边，因为当时正临近 黄昏，这时候通常是她们两人在一起。父女相见，格 外亲切，热烈的问候之后，他向海蒂伸出手，这时海 蒂已悄悄退缩到屋角。塞斯曼先生和善地说：“这就是 我们的瑞士小姑娘了；来，握握手。对，很好！告诉我， ①steal away溜走 你和克莱拉是好朋友吗？还是你们互相生气、吵架， 大哭一场之后和好，然后又开始为下一件事吵架呢？” “克莱拉一直对我很好。”海蒂回答。 “海蒂也从不吵架。”克莱拉很快插话说。 “这很好，我非常高兴。”她爸爸一边站起身，一 边说，“请原凉，克莱拉，我得吃饭了。这一整天，我 还什么都没吃。吃完饭，我把带回家的东西都拿给你 看。” 他见罗顿迈尔小姐正在餐室里指挥着准备饭莱，就 去餐桌旁坐了下来，女管家坐在了对面，她看上去像碰 到了什么不幸的事情，塞斯曼先生就问道：“罗顿迈尔 ②embodiment [im'bodimant]n.化身 小姐，有什么事吗？你见面就是这种表情，使我有些害 怕，怎么了？克莱拉倒是蛮高兴的。” “塞斯曼先生，”女管家语气沉重地开口道，“是有 关克莱拉的事，我们被人骗惨了。” ③impose[im'pauz]v(用 “真的吗？是怎么回事？”塞斯曼先生问，继续平 欺骗手段)把…硬塞 静地喝着酒。 给 “你还记得吧，当初我们决定给克莱拉找个伴儿， 我知道你很想找个举止文雅、有教养的女孩儿，就想瑞 士女孩儿可能比较合适。因为我在书里读到过，说是瑞 士人生长呼吸的都是山里的空气，从不碰土地。” “我觉得即使是瑞士孩子也要接触土地，因为她总 得去什么地方吧。”塞斯曼先生表示不同意见，“否则， 他们就应该长翅膀而不是长脚了，” “哎，塞斯曼先生，你明白我的意思，”罗顿迈尔 ·155· IX.Herr Sesemann Hears of Things Which Are New to Him "Ah,Herr Sesemann,you know what I mean,"continued Fraulein Rottenmeier. "I mean one so at home among the living creatures of the high,pure mountain regions,that she would be like some idealistic being from another world among us.” "And what could Clara do with such an idealistic being as you describe, Fraulein Rottenmeier?" "I am not joking,Herr Sesemann,the matter is a more serious one than you think;I have been shockingly,disgracefully imposed upon." "But how?What is there shocking and disgraceful?I see nothing shocking in the child,"remarked Herr Sesemann quietly. "If you only knew of one thing she has done,if you only knew the kind of people and animals she has brought into the house during your absence!The tutor can tell you more about that." "Animals?What am I to understand by animals,Fraulein Rottenmeier?" "It is past understanding;the whole bebaviour of the child would be past understanding,if it were not that at times she is evidently not in her right mind." Herr Sesemann had attached very little importance to what was told him up till now-but not in her right mind!That was more serious and might be prejudicial to his own child.Herr Sesemann looked very narrowly at the lady opposite to assure himself that the mental aberration was not on her side.At that moment the door opened and the tutor was announced. “Ah!Here is some one,.”exclaimed Herr Sesemann,.“who will help to clear up matters for me.Take a seat,"he continued,as he held out his hand to the tutor. "You will drink a cup of coffee with me-no ceremony,I pray!And now tell me, what is the matter with this child that has come to be a companion to my daughter? What is this strange thing I hear about her bringing animals into the house,and is she in her right senses?" The tutor felt he must begin with expressing his pleasure at Herr Sesemann's return,and with explaining that he had come in on purpose to give him welcome, but Herr Sesemann begged him to explain without delay the meaning of all he had heard about Heidi.The tutor started in his usual style."If I must give my opinion about this little girl,I should like first to state that,if on one side,there is a lack of development which has been caused by the more or less careless way in which ·156· 9.塞斯雯先生听到了新鲜事 小姐接着说，“我指的是，一个人在那与世隔绝的高山 上生活得太习惯了，她对我们来说，就像是从另一个世 Didealistic [aidio'listik]a. 界来的生灵，太理想化了。” 理想主义的 “那么，罗顿迈尔小姐，克莱拉如何能跟这样一个 理想化的生灵相处呢？” “我不是在开玩笑，塞斯曼先生，事情比你想象的 要严重得多：我被人骗了，手段令人震惊和可耻。” “可是到底是怎么回事呢？怎么震惊和可耻了？我 看孩子很好嘛。”塞斯曼先生平静地说。 “你只要了解她干的一件事，知道她趁你不在时往家 里带的人和动物就明白了！老师会告诉你更多的情况。” “动物？罗顿迈尔小姐，你让我怎样理解‘动物' 这个词呢？” “理解不了。要不是这孩子显然头脑常常有问题， 她的所作所为根本让人理解不了。” 塞斯曼先生迄今为止对听到的话都没在意一“头 脑有问题”却不行了！这一点很严重，而且会对自己的 孩子有害，他仔细地盯着对面的女管家，想先弄清楚她 2prejudicial [predu'difl] a有害的 的头脑是否肯定没问题。这时，门开了，老师走了进来。 3 aberration [.aba'reifan] “啊，你来得正好！”塞斯曼先生喊道，“你可以 .失常 把事情给我讲清楚，快请坐。”他向老师伸出手，接着 说，“跟我一起喝杯咖啡吧一我保证，这可不是什么 礼仪！现在请你告诉我，找来给我女儿做伴儿的那个孩 子怎么了？我听说她竟然把动物带到家里来，这是怎么 回事？她头脑正常吗？” 老师觉得首先应该表示自己对塞斯曼先生的归来感 到高兴，并说明自己是特意来欢迎他的，塞斯曼先生却 求他立刻把关于海蒂的事讲给他听。于是，老师就像往 常一样开口了：“若是我一定要发表对这个女孩儿的看 法，有一点我要首先声明，从一方面来说，不管是由于 抚养者粗心大意、疏忽了启蒙教有，还是由于她在山上 过着与世隔绝的生活，她在成长教育上是有所欠缺的， ·157· IX.Herr Sesemann Hears of Things Which Are New to Him she has been brought up,or rather,by the neglect of her education when young, and by the solitary life she has led on the mountain,which is not wholly to be condemned;on the contrary,such a life has undoubtedly some advantages in it, if not allowed to overstep a certain limit of time-" "My good friend,"interrupted Herr Sesemann,"you are giving yourself more trouble than you need.I only want to know if the child has caused you alarm by any animals she has brought into the house,and what your opinion is altogether as to her being a fit companion or not for my daughter?" "I should not like in any way to prejudice you against her,"began the tutor once more,"for if on the one hand there is a certain inexperience of the ways of society,owing to the uncivilised life she led up to the time of her removal to Frankfurt,on the other hand she is endowed with certain good qualities,and taken on the whole-” "Excuse me,my dear sir,do not disturb yourself,but I must-I think my daughter will be wanting me,"and with that Herr Sesemann quickly left the room and took care not to return.He sat himself down beside his daughter in the study; and then turning to Heidi,who had risen,"Little one,will you fetch me,"he began,and then paused,for he could not think what to ask for,but he wanted to get the child out of the room for a little while,"fetch me-fetch me a glass of water.” “Fresh water?”asked Heidi. "Yes-yes-as fresh as you can get it,"he answered.Heidi disappeared on the spot. "And now,my dear little Clara,"he said,drawing his chair nearer and laying her hand in his,"answer my questions clearly and intelligibly:what kind of animals has your little companion brought into the house,and why does Fraulein Rottenmeier think that she is not always in her right mind?" Clara had no difficulty in answering.The alarmed lady had spoken to her also about Heidi's wild manner of talking;but Clara had been able to put a meaning to it.She told her father everything about the tortoise and the kittens,and explained to him what Heidi had said the day Fraulein Rottenmeier had been put in such a fright.Herr Sesemann laughed heartily at her recital."So you do not want me to send the child home again,"he asked,"you are not tired of having her here?" ·158· 9.塞斯曼先生听到了新鲜事 不过这无可厚非；另一方面，这种生活是有其优势的， 如果不允许超越特定的时间界限—” ①condemn[kan'dem]g谴 “朋友，”塞斯曼先生打断了他的话，“你自己搞得太 责 复杂了。我只是想知道这孩子把动物带迸家里来是不是引 起了你的惊恐，你认为她跟我女儿做伴儿合适不合适？” “我无论如何不愿让您对她产生偏见。”老师又开始 了，“如果说在一方面，由于她在来法兰克福之前所过的 未开化的生活导致了她对社会运行方式缺乏经验，那么 在另一方面，她具有某些很好的品质，总的来说—” “请原谅，亲爱的先生，别让你自己为难，不过我 必须一我想女儿肯定在等我。”说完，塞斯曼先生马上 ②endow[in'dauv天生具 有 就离开了，并且再不回来。他在书房里坐在女儿旁边，转 向已经站立起来的海蒂。“小家伙，你给我去拿点儿—一” 他说着停顿了一下，想不出要让她去拿什么，但他想把 孩子打发走一会儿，就接着说，“给我拿一拿杯水。” ③fetch[fet们v取来 “新鲜的水吗？”海蒂问。 “对一对，只要你能弄到新鲜的水，”他回答。 海蒂马上就出去了。 “我亲爱的小克莱拉，”他说着把自己的椅子拉得 更近些，并抓住了她的手，“现在请你清楚并理智地回 答我的问题：你的小伙伴把什么样的动物带到家里来 了？为什么罗顿迈尔小姐认为她头脑一向有毛病？” 这两个问题对克莱拉来说都不难回答，那位受了惊 ④intelligibly[in'telid3abli町 吓的夫人也跟她说过海蒂讲话是如何粗鲁，但克莱拉能 ad.易理解地 明白那是怎么回事。她给爸爸详细讲述了乌龟和小猫的 故事，还给他解释了在罗顿迈尔小姐受惊吓那天海蒂说 过的话。听着女儿的叙述，塞斯曼先生开心地大笑起来。 “这么说你不愿意让我再把这孩子打发回家了，”他说， “你不烦她在这儿吧？” “不烦，不烦。”克莱拉叫着，“别把她打发走。自 ⑤recital[ri'saito]n.详述 从海蒂来了后，时间过得快多了，每天都有新鲜事，以 前的日子太乏味了。她总有好多事情讲给我听。” ·159· IX.Herr Sesemann Hears of Things Which Are New to Hfim "Oh,no,no,"Clara exclaimed,"please do not send her away.Time has passed much more quickly since Heidi was here,for something fresh happens every day, and it used to be so dull,and she has always so much to tell me." "That's all right then-and here comes your little friend.Have you brought me some nice fresh water?"he asked as Heidi handed him a glass. “Yes,fresh from the pump",”answered Heidi. "You did not go yourself to the pump?"said Clara. "Yes I did;it is quite fresh.I had to go a long way,for there were such a lot of people at the first pump,so I went further down the street,but there were just as many at the second pump,but I was able to get some water at the one in the next street,and the gentleman with the white hair asked me to give his kind regards to Herr Sesemann.” “You have had quite a successful expedition②，”said Herr Sesemann laughing, "and who was the gentleman?" "He was passing,and when he saw me he stood still and said.'As you have a glass will you give me a drink,to whom are you taking the water?'and when I said,To Herr Sesemann,'he laughed very much,and then he gave me that message for you,and also said he hoped you would enjoy the water." "Oh,and who was it I wonder who sent me such good wishes-tell me what he was like,"said Herr Sesemann. "He was kind and laughed,and he had a thick gold chain and a gold thing hanging from it with a large red stone,and a horse's head at the top of his stick." "It's the doctor-my old friend the doctor,"exclaimed Clara and her father at the same moment,and Herr Sesemann smiled to himself at the thought of what his friend's opinion must have been of this new way of satisfying his thirst for water. That evening when Herr Sesemann and Fraulein Rottenmeier were alone, settling the household affairs,he informed her that he intended to keep Heidi;he found the child in a perfectly right state of mind,and his daughter liked her as a companion.“I desire③，therefore,”he continued,laying stress upon his words,."that the child shall be in every way kindly treated,and that her peculiarities shall not be looked upon as crimes.If you find her too much for you alone,I can hold out a prospect of help,for I am shortly expecting my mother here on a long visit,and she,as you know,can get on with anybody,whatever they may be like." ·160· 9.塞斯曼先生听到了新鲜事 “那就好了一你的小朋友来了。给我拿新鲜的水 来了吗？”海蒂递过一个杯子的时候，他问道。 “拿来了，刚从水泵里压出来的。”海蒂回答。 “你没有亲自去水泵吧？”克莱拉问。 “不，我去了，水很新鲜。我走了好长一段路，因 ①pump[pAmp]n.水泵 为第一个水泵那儿人很多，我就继续沿着大街往前走， 但第二个水泵也有同样多的人。不过在另一条街的水泵 那儿我弄到了水，那儿有一位白头发绅士还让我替他向 塞斯曼先生问好。” “看来你还有一段成功的历险记呢，”塞斯曼先生 笑着说，“那位绅士是谁？” “他正路过，看见我就停下来说，‘你有个杯子， 2 expedition [.ekspi'difan] n.远足 让我喝口水好吗？你这是给谁弄水呀？’我说，‘给塞 斯曼先生。’他听了就大笑起来，并让我带给你那个口 信儿，他还说希望你喜欢喝这水。” “啊，我想知道是谁给我这么美好的祝愿—告诉 我他长得什么样儿。”塞斯曼先生说。 “他很慈祥，还爱笑，有一条很粗的金链子，上面 有金坠，金坠上镶着一块很大的红宝石，他手杖的顶端 是个马头。” “原来是医生一我的老朋友。”克莱拉和她爸爸 同时叫了起来。想起老朋友对自己解渴的新方法会怎么 看，塞斯曼先生不禁微笑起来。 ③satisfy['satisfai]v.满足 那天晚上，塞斯曼先生和罗顿迈尔小姐单独在一起 研究解决家务事的时候，他告诉她准备留下海蒂：他发 现孩子的头脑很正常，克莱拉也愿意让她陪伴，“因此， 我希望，”他加强了语气接着说，“这个孩子要处处受到 善待，她的特点不能被看成毛病。如果你觉得她实在让 ④desire[di'zaia]希望 你受不了，我可以指望别人帮忙，因为我母亲很快就要 来这儿长住一段时间，你知道她跟谁都合得来，不论别 ⑤prospect[praspek灲n.合 人什么样。” 适的人选 ·161·