29. An Epoch i n Ame’s Life值得纪念的日子-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《绿山墙的安妮Anne of Green Gables》下

Chapter XXIX An Epoch in Anne's Life Anne was bringing the cows home from the back pasture by way of Lover's Lane. The cows swung^{} placidly② down the lane, and Anne followed them dreamily, repeating aloud the battle canto③ from MARMION and exulting in④ its rushing lines and the clash of spears in its imagery. When she came to the lines The stubborn spearsmen still made good Their dark impenetrable{}wood she stopped in ecstasy to shut her eyes that she might the better fancy herself one of that heroic ring. When she opened them again it was to behold Diana coming through the gate that led into the Barry field and looking so important that Anne instantly divined{} there was news to be told. "Isn't this evening just like a purple dream, Diana?" "It's a very fine evening,"said Diana, "but oh, I have such news. Anne. Guess. You can have three guesses." “Charlotte Gillis is going to be married in the church after all and Mrs. Allan wants us to decorate it."cried Anne .302· 第二十九章 值得纪念的日子 安呢经过情人径把母牛从后牧场赶回家。 母牛慢条斯理地在小道上游荡着,安晁恍恍 懊地跟在后面,反复大声朗诵着战斗长诗《马 ① swing /swin/v. 摇摆,旋转 ② placidly /plaesidlr/ ad. 平稳 米恩》,诗中那急急而过的队伍和长矛碰撞发出 地,平静地 的叮当声令她陶醉,当念到“顽固的长矛手穿过 ③canto/kaentau/n. 诗篇(长 诗中的一个篇章 黑暗得难以通过的树林,他们得到了补偿”时, ④exult in狂喜 她茫然地停下脚步,闭上眼睛,更好地幻想自己 impenetrable /Im'penitrabl a.不能穿过的 就在那英雄行列中。她又张开眼睛,看见黛安娜 ecstasy /ekstasv/ n. 狂喜. 过了通向巴里田地的那扇小门,正向她走来,看 入迷 神情是有重要的事。安呢立即猜到,对方有消息 来通报。 divine /dr'vain/v. 推 “今天的傍晚是不是像个紫色的梦,黛安娜?” “这的确是个美好的傍晚,”黛安娜说, “哦,我有个好消息要告诉你,安呢。猜猜吧, 你有三次机会。” “夏洛特·吉利斯最终要在教堂举行婚礼了, 阿伦太太要我们布置礼堂。”安娓大声道。 .303· Anne of Green Gabfes “No. Charlotte's beau won't agree to that, because nobody ever has been married in the church yet, and he thinks it would seem too much like a funeral. Guess again." "Jane's mother is going to let her have a birthday party?" Diana shook her head, her black eyes dancing with merriment^{}. "I can't think what it can be," said Anne in despair “I knew you couldn't guess it. Mother had a letter from Aunt Josephine today, and Aunt Josephine wants you and me to go to town next Tuesday and stop with her for the Exhibition. There!" exclaimed Diana. "Oh, Diana," whispered Anne, finding it necessary to lean up against a maple tree for support, "do you really mean it? But I'm afraid Marilla won't let me go." "I'll tell you," said Diana, "we'll get Mother to ask Marilla. She'll be more likely to let you go then: and if she does we'll have the time of our lives, Anne. I've never been to an Exhibition,and it's so aggravating② to hear the other girls talking about their trips. Jane and Ruby have been twice, and they're going this year again." "I'm not going to think about it at all until I know whether I can go or not," said Anne resolutely. "If I did and then was disappointed, it would be more than I could bear. But in case I do go I'm very glad my new coat will be ready by that time. I'm so glad. It is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable. At least, it is easier for me. It's to be done Saturday night, and I'm trying not to imagine myself walking up the church aisle on Sunday in my new suit and cap, because I'm afraid it isn't right to imagine such things. But it just slips into my mind in spite of me. My cap is so pretty. Do you suppose it's wrong for us to think so much about our clothes? Marilla says it is very .304. 绿山墙的安妃 “不对。夏洛特的情人不同意在礼堂举行婚 礼,因为没有人在那儿举行过婚礼。他觉得太像 葬礼了。再猜猜。” “简的妈妈让她办生日聚会?” ① meriment /merimant/ n. 欢 黛安娜摇摇头,她那黑眼睛里闪着兴奋的光 乐 彩。 “我想不出到底是什么。”安娓无可奈何地 说。 “我就知道你猜不到。妈妈今天收到约瑟芬 姑婆的信,她想要你和我下周二到镇上去,待在 她家,和她一起去看博览会。”戴安哪嚷道 “哦,黛安娜,”安晃低声说,觉得要找棵枫 树靠一靠了,“你说的都是真的吗?可我担心玛 丽拉不让我去。” “听我说,”黛安哪道,“咱们带着我妈妈去 求玛丽拉。那样她就很可能会让你去的。要是她 ② aggravating /aearo. yeitin/ a 答应了,那咱们就能玩个痛快了,安呢。我还从 令人恼怒的 来没去过博览会。听别的女孩子说起她们外出玩 的事可真让人难受。简和鲁比去过两次,而且今 年她们还要去呢。” “除非我知道自己能不能去,要不我压根儿 就不准备去想这事,”安婉坚决地说,“要是我想 了,还是失望一场,那我可受不了。如果我能 去,到时候我的新外套也做好了。我太高兴了。 一个人的衣服漂亮了,做起好人来就容易多了。 至少对我来说是这样。衣服到周六晚上就做好 了,我努力不去想象自已穿着新外套和帽子在教 .305· Anne of Green Gables sinful^{}. But it is such an interesting subject, isn't it?" Marilla agreed to let Anne go to town, and it was arranged that Mr. Barry should take the girls in on the following Tuesday. Anne counted it all joy, and was up before sunrise on Tuesday morning. A glance from her window assured her that the day would be fine, for the eastern sky behind the firs of the Haunted Wood was all silvery and cloudless. Through the gap in the trees a light was shining in the western gable of Orchard Slope, a token② that Diana was also up. Anne was dressed by the time Matthew had the fire on and had the breakfast ready when Marilla came down, but for her own part was much too excited to eat. After breakfast the jaunty③ new cap and jacket were donned④, and Anne hastened over the brook and up through the firs to Orchard Slope. Mr. Barry and Diana were waiting for her, and they were soon on the road. It was a long drive, but Anne and Diana enjoyed every minute of it. The air was fresh and crisp, and little smoke-blue mists curled through the valleys and floated off from the hills. It was almost noon when they reached town and found their way to “Beechwood." It was quite a fine old mansion}. Miss Barry met them at the door with a twinkle} in her sharp black eyes. "So you've come to see me at last, you Anne-girl," she said. "Mercy, child, how you have grown! You're taller than I am, I declare. And you're ever so much better looking than you used to be. too. But I dare say you know that without being told." "Indeed I didn't,"said Anne radiantly. "I know I'm not so freckled as I used to be, so I've much to be thankful for, but I really hadn't dared to hope there was any other improvement. I'm so glad you think there is, Miss Barry." Miss Barry's house was furnished with "great .306. 绿山墙的安妃 ① sinful/'sinfal/a. 有罪的,罪 堂侧廊走的情景,因为我担心想这些事不合规 恶的 矩。可我还是忍不住心里老想着。我的帽子可漂 亮了。你觉得我们是不是不该这么在意衣服?玛 丽拉说这是罪恶的。不过这可是非常有趣的话 题,你说是不是?” 玛丽拉同意让安呢去,并安排好下周二让巴 里先生带着两个小姑娘去。安呢兴致勃勃,周二 ②token/toukann. 表征,记 号 大清早,太阳还没出来,她就起床了。朝窗外一 望,她认定这天是个晴天,因为东边魔鬼森林里 的冷杉林后的天空银白色的一片,万里无云。一 丝灯光从树隙间透出来,在果园坡的西面山墙上 ③ jaunty /d3o:ntr/ a.整洁的 闪烁着,这说明黛安哪也起床了。 ④don/dpn/v. 穿上 马修生完火,安娓已经穿戴好了。玛丽拉下 楼来,早饭已经准备停当了。可安娓兴奋得根本 吃不下饭。早饭后戴上了时鬓的新帽子,穿上了 新外套,安娓急不可耐地跑过小溪,穿过冷杉 林,到了果园坡。巴里先生和黛安娜正在等着 她,很快他们就上路了。 mansion /maenfan/ n. 大厦 这次旅行路途遥远,但是安呢和黛安娜一路 寰宅 twinkle /twinkl/ n. 眨服 上都兴致不减。空气新鲜清冽,一袭烟清色的薄 雾穿过谷地,飘离山冈,袅袅而上。将近中午 时,他们到了镇上,朝“比奇伍德山庄”走去。 这是一座漂亮的古老宅第。巴里小姐在门口迎接 他们,锐利乌黑的眼睛里闪着光。 “你到底来看望我了,你这个安娓姑娘。”她 说,“老天,孩子,你长得可真快!我说,你可 比我还要高了。你比过去漂亮多了。我敢说,用 不着别人提醒,你自已准知道。” “我还真不知道呢,”安呢满面红光地说 .307· Anne of Green Gabfes magnificence," as Anne told Mar illa afterward. The two little country girls were rather abashed^{①} by the splendor②} of the parlor where Miss Barry left them when she went to see about dinner "Isn't it just like a palace?" whispered Diana."I never was in Aunt Josephine's house before, and I'd no idea it was so grand. I just wish Julia Bell could see this-she puts on such airs about her mother's parlor.” "Velvet carpet," sighed Anne luxuriously③, "and silk curtains! I've dreamed of such things, Diana. But do you know I don't believe I feel very comfortable with them after all. There are so many things in this room and all so splendid that there is no scope for imagination. That is one consolation④ when you are poor-there are so many more things you can imagine about." Their sojourn{} in town was something that Anne and Diana dated from for years. From first to last it was crowded with delights. On Wednesday Miss Barry took them to the Exhibition grounds and kept them there all day. "It was splendid,"Anne related to Marilla later on. "I never imagined anything so interesting. I think I liked the horses and the flowers and the fancywork best. Josie Pye took first prize for knitted lace. I was real glad she did. And I was glad that I felt glad, for it shows I'm improving, don't you think, Marilla, when I can rejoice in Josie's success? Clara Louise MacPherson took a prize for painting, and Mrs Lynde got first prize for homemade butter and cheese. So Avonlea was pretty well represented, wasn't it? There were thousands of people there, Marilla. It made me feel dreadfully insignificant. We saw a man go up in a balloon. I'd love to go up in a balloon, Marilla; it would be simply thrilling; and we saw a man telling fortunes. Mine was that I .308. 绿山墙的安妃 “我知道自已脸上的雀斑少了,这就谢天谢地了。 ① abashed /'baft/a. 局促不 真不敢有其他指望了。您这么说我听了真高兴, 安的 巴里小姐。”巴里小姐的家布置得真叫“富丽堂 ② splendor /'splenda/ n. 光辉 壮丽,显赫 皇”--这话是后来安婉对玛丽拉说的。巴里小 姐去查看午饭的时候,这两个留在客厅里的乡下 女孩真被周围华丽的摆设惊呆了。 “这简直就像座宫殿!”黛安娜轻声道, “我 以前没有来过约瑟芬姑婆家,不知道这里这么华 ③ luxuriously /lAg'3uariasly 丽。我真希望朱莉哑·贝尔也来看看一-瞧她说 ad.奢侈地,豪华地 起自已妈妈的客厅来多神气!” “天鹅绒地毯,”安娓赞叹道, “还有丝绸窗 帘!我在梦里见过这些东西,黛安娜。但是你知 ④ consolation /kpnsa'leifan 道吗,和这些东西在一起我并不舒服。这个房间 n.安慰,慰藉 里摆了这么多东西,都这么华丽,就没有想象的 sojourn /sou'd3a:n/ n. 旅居. 余地了。所以穷人家就有一点好处--他们有更 逗留 多可以去想象的东西。” 几年前安呢和黛安娜就想着来镇上了。所以 自始至终她们都兴致高昂。 周三,巴里小姐带她俩去博览会,在那里待 了整整一天。 “棒极了,”安妃后来跟玛丽拉说,“我从来 没想象过会有这样有趣的事。我想我最喜欢的是 马、花还有刺绣品。乔西·派伊的针织花边得了 一等奖,我真为她高兴。我为自已能为此高兴而 感到高兴。我能为乔西的成功而高兴,这说明我 在进步,你说是不是,玛丽拉?克莱拉·路易斯 麦克菲森的画得了奖,蕾切尔太太家制的黄油和 奶醉得了第一名。这下埃文利可大大出名了,是 不是?博览会上有好几千人,玛丽拉。让我觉得 自己很微不足道。我看见一个人坐着气球飞上了 .309. Anne of Green Gabfes would marry a dark-complected{man who was very wealthy, and I would go across water to live. I looked carefully at all the dark men I saw after that, but I didn't care much for any of them, and anyhowI suppose it's too early to be looking out for him yet. Oh, it was a never- to-be-forgotten day, Marilla. I was so tired I couldn't sleep at night. Miss Barry put us in the spare room, according to promise. It was an elegant room, Marilla, but somehow sleeping in a spare room isn't what I used to think it was." Thursday the girls had a drive in the park, and in the evening Miss Barry took them to a concert in the Academy of Music, where a noted prima donna② was to sing. To Anne the evening was a glittering vision of delight. "Oh, Marilla, it was beyond description. I was so excited I couldn't even talk. I just sat in enraptured silence. Madame Selitsky was perfectly beautiful, and wore white satin and diamonds. But when she began to sing I never thought about anything else. Oh, I can't tell you how I felt. Tears came into my eyes, but, oh, they were such happy tears. I was so sorry when it was all over, and I told Miss Barry I didn't see how I was ever to return to common life again. She said she thought if we went over to the restaurant across the street and had an ice cream it might help me. That sounded so prosaic③; but to my surprise I found it true. Diana said she believed she was born for city life. Miss Barry asked me what my opinion was, but I said I would have to think it over very seriously before I could tell her what I really thought. So I thought it over after I went to bed. That is the best time to think things out. And I came to the conclusion, Marilla, that I wasn't born for city life and that I was glad of it. I told Miss Barry so at breakfast the next morning and she laughed. Miss Barry generally laughed at anything I said, even when I said the most solemn things. I don't think I liked it, Marilla, because I wasn't .310. 绿山墙的安婉 ① complected /kam'plektid 天。我也想坐着气球飞上去,玛丽拉,那可真叫 a(美口)(脸部)肤色..... 惊心动魄。我看见有人在算命,算的结果说我会 的 嫁给一个非常有钱的肤色黜黑的男人,将来漂洋 过海去生活。这以后我就开始留心肤色黑的男人 来,可没有一个让我看中,不管怎么说,现在找 起来还是早了点。噢,这可真是让人难以忘怀的 一天,玛丽拉。我累得晚上睡不着觉。巴里小姐 按之前说的,安排我们睡在客房。那是很雅致的 一个房间,玛丽拉,但是不知怎么的,睡客房跟 我以前想的不是一回事。” ② prima donna 首席女高音 周四,两个小姑娘坐车在公园玩,傍晚巴里 小姐带她们去音乐学院听音乐会,是一个著名的 首席女歌手在演唱。这个晚上安哪全身心沉醉干 欢乐的海洋之中。 “噢,玛丽拉,那真是妙不可言的。我兴奋 得不知从何说起。我坐在那里一言不发,如痴如 醉,塞里特斯基夫人美极了,穿着白色级子衣 服,戴着钻石首饰。她一开唱,我就不再想别的 事了。曜,我实在说不清当时的感受。眼泪涌入 眼眶,那可是幸福的眼泪。她唱完的时候我觉得 很难过,我跟巴里小姐说,我不知道今后怎么再 ③ prosaic /prou'zeuk/ a. 单调 的,无趣的 回到平凡的生活中。她说,我们到对面街上的饭 馆吃点冰淇淋,可能会对我有好处。这话听起来 无厘头,但我发现确实如她所说。黛安哪说,她 生来就是要过城市生活的。巴里小姐问我的看 法,我说我得认真想想,才能告诉她真正的想 法。所以上床后我就想开了。这时候最适合思 考。最后我得出结论,玛丽拉,那就是我天生不 适合城市生活,对此我感到高兴。第二天早饭的 时候,我把自己的想法跟巴里小姐说了,她笑 .311·