31.Where the Brook and River Meet人生的转折点-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《绿山墙的安妮Anne of Green Gables》下

Chapter XXXI Where the Brook and River Meet Anne had her "good" summer and enjoyed it wholeheartedly^{①. She and Diana fairly lived outdoors, reveling in all the delights that Lover's Lane and the Dryad's Bubble and Willowmere and Victoria Island afforded. Marilla offered no objections to Anne's gypsyings ②. The Spencervale doctor who had come the night Minnie May had the croup met Anne at the house of a patient one afternoon early in vacation, looked her over sharply, screwed③} up his mouth, shook his head, and sent a message to Marilla Cuthbert by another person. It was: "Keep that redheaded girl of yours in the open air all summer and don't let her read books until she gets more spring into her step." As a result,Anne had the golden summer of her life as far as freedom, and frolic^④} went. She walked, rowed, berried{}, and dreamed to her heart's content; and when September came she was bright-eyed and alert, with a step that would have satisfied the Spencervale doctor and a heart full of ambition and zest^{} once more "I feel just like studying with might and main," she declared as she brought her books down from the attic^{}. "I've had a perfectly beautiful .332. 第三十一章 人生的转折点 安呢痛痛快快地玩儿了一暑假。她和戴安娜 整天不着家,陶醉在情人径、树神泡泡泉、柳树 ① wholeheartedly /haul'ha:tidl/ad尽力,全 塘和维多利亚岛给予她们的一切欢乐之中。玛丽 心全意地 拉没有反对安呢这么疯玩儿。因为刚放假时的 ② gypsying /d3ipsmn/ n. 游玩 流浪 一个下午,从斯潘塞维尔来的那位给明尼·梅治 过哮喘病的大夫在一个病人家里遇见了安呢 他用犀利的目光打量了安娓一番,抿着嘴唇,摇 了摇头,然后让别人给玛丽拉捎了张便条。上面 ③ screw /skru:/ v. 拧,拧紧 写着: “让你那红头发的女孩儿在外面玩一个夏天 等脚步变得轻快了再看书。” 结果,安呢撒着欢玩儿,享受了一个最美好 的夏天。她散步、划船、采浆果,尽情地幻想。 ④ frolic /'frplik/ n. 调皮 秋天到来的时候,她两眼放光,敏捷活泼,迈着 berry/beri/v. 采果(或浆 会让那位斯潘塞维尔大夫满意的轻盈步伐,再一 果) 次充满雄心和热情。 zest /zest/n. 热 “我真想玩儿命学习,”她一边把书从阁楼上 拿下来一边宣布说,“玛丽拉,我过了一个非常 attic/aetrk/n. 阁楼 美好的夏天,现在我特兴奋,就像要参加赛跑的 ·333· Anne of Green Gabfes summer, Marilla, and now I'm rejoicing{} as a strong man to run a race. Why can't women be ministers, Marilla? I asked Mrs. Lynde that and she was shocked and said it would be a scandalous② thing. I think women would make splendid ministers. I'm sure Mrs. Lynde can pray every bit as well as Superintendent Bell and I've no doubt she could preach too with a little practice." "Yes, I believe she could," said Marilla dryly. "She does plenty of unofficial preaching③ as it is. Nobody has much of a chance to go wrong in Avonlea with Rachel to oversee them." "Marilla," said Anne in a burst of confidence, "I want to tell you something and ask you what you think about it. I do really want to be good; and when I'm with you or Mrs. Allan or Miss Stacy I want it more than ever and I want to do just what would please you and what you would approve of. But mostly when I'm with Mrs. Lynde I feel desperately wicked and as if I wanted to go and do the very thing she tells me I oughtn't to do. I feel irresistibly tempted to do it. Now, what do you think is the reason I feel like that? Do you think it's because I'm really bad and unregenerate④?" Marilla looked dubious^{} for a moment. Then she laughed "If you are I guess I am too, Anne, for Rachel often has that very effect on me. I sometimes think she'd have more of an influence for good, as you say yourself, if she didn't keep nagging* people to do right. There should have been a special commandment against nagging. But there, I shouldn't talk so." "I'm very glad you feel the same," said Anne decidedly. "I shan't worry so much over that after this. But I dare say there'll be other things to worry me. They keep coming up new all the time. It keeps me busy all the time thinking them over and deciding what is right. It's a serious thing to grow up, isn't it, Marilla? But when I have such good friends .334· 绿山墙的安妃 ① reioicing rr'dspisrn: 欣喜 棒小伙儿似的。为什么女人就不能当牧师呢,玛 高兴 丽拉?我问了林德太太这个问题,她很吃惊,她 ② scandalous /skaendalas a 不 说女人做牧师会弄出乱子的。我认为女人也会成 体面的,可耻的 为出色的牧师。我相信林德太太完全能祷告得利 贝尔学监一样好,我一点儿都不怀疑她稍加练习 也能布道。” “是的,我相信她行,”玛丽拉干巴巴地说 “她做了很多非正式布道。有蕾切尔监督,埃文 ③ preaching /pri:tfn/ n. 说考 利人出错的机会不多。” “玛丽拉,”安呢突然信心十足地说,“我想 告诉您一件事,看看您怎么想。我真的想变好。 每当我和您、阿伦太太或斯塔西小姐在一起,我 就更想变好,我只想做让你们高兴和你们同意做 的事。可是如果我和林德太太在一起,我就常常 觉得自已很坏,好像总想去做她告诉我不应当做 的事,我感到一种不可抗拒的诱惑力。哎,您说 ④ unregenerate 我怎么会有这种感觉呢?您认为这是因为我真的 'Anrr'd3enarit/ a顽固不化 很坏很顽固吗?” 的 dubious /dju:bras/ a. 怀疑 玛丽拉有一会儿看上去犹豫不决,然后她笑 的,可疑的 了起来。 “安婉,如果你很坏很顽固的话,我想我也 是,因为蕾切尔也经常让我产生那种感觉。我有 nag/nxeq/v. 不断地叨恼 人,说话膀叨 时想她会对人产生深远的影响,就像你说的,如 果她不老是嘴叨着要别人循规蹈矩的话。应当制 定一条反对嘴叨的特殊法令。算了,不说了,我 不该这样说。” “您有同样的感觉我很高兴,”安婉肯定地 说,“从此以后我不会为这件事发那么大愁了。 但是我敢说会有其他事情来烦我。我整天忙着考 虑这些问题,决定怎样做才对。长大成人是一件 ·335· Anne of Green Gabfes as you and Matthew and Mrs. Allan and Miss Stacy I ought to grow up successfully, and I'm sure it will be my own fault if I don't. I'm so glad you made my new dresses longer. That dark-green one is so pretty and it was sweet of you to put on the flounce^{①. Of course I know it wasn't really necessary, but flounces are so stylish this fall and Josie Pye has flounces on all her dresses. I know I'll be able to study better because of mine. I shall have such a comfortable feeling deep down in my mind about that flounce." "It's worth something to have that," admitted Marilla. Miss Stacy came back to Avonlea school and found all her pupils eager for work once more. Especially did the Oueen's class gird up their loins②} for the fray, for at the end of the coming year, loomed③ up that fateful{④ thing known as "the Entrance," When Anne had bad dreams she found herself staring miserably at pass lists of the Entrance exams, where Gilbert Blythe's name was blazoned{} at the top and in which hers did not appear at all. But it was a jolly, busy, happy swift-flying winter. New worlds of thought, feeling,and ambition, fresh, fascinating fields of unexplored knowledge seemed to be opening out before Anne's eager eyes. Much of all this was due to Miss Stacy's tactful }, careful, broadminded{ guidance. She led her class to think and explore and discover for themselves and encouraged straying{} from the old beaten paths. Apart from her studies Anne expanded socially. The Debating Club flourished * and gave several concerts; there were one or two parties almost verging on^{} grown-up affairs; there were sleigh^{②} drives and skating frolics^{} galore^{⑧}. Between times Anne grew. "Why,Anne, how you've grown!" Marilla said, almost ·336. 绿山墙的安婉 很严肃的事,是不是,玛丽拉?既然我有像您、 马修,还有阿伦太太和斯塔西小姐这样的好朋 友,我就应当好好地成长,如果别人说我不好 ① flounce /flaons/ n. 衣裙上 那肯定是我自已的错。我很高兴您把我的新衣服 的荷边装饰 做长了一些。墨绿的那件很美,您真好,还给镶 上了荷叶边。当然,我知道不一定要加荷叶边, 可是荷叶边今年秋天很时兴,乔西·派伊所有的 衣服上都镶了荷叶边。我知道有了荷叶边,我能 学习得更好,我心里感到十分舒服。 “荷叶边能让你觉得舒服这就好。”玛丽拉承 认道。 ② loin /lpn/ n. 腰部 斯塔西小姐回到了埃文利学校,发现所有的 ③loom /um/v隐约可见,迫 近 学生又都对学习充满了热情。预考班的学生更是 ④ fateful /fertfol/ a. 宿命的 做好了拼搏的准备,明年年底那决定命运的“入 重大的,决定性的 学考试”正在逼近。安婉在梦中常常梦到自己 miserably /mzoroblr/ ad. 悲 惨地,糟糕地 正痛苦地盯着入学考试录取名单,吉尔伯特·布 blazon/bleizn/v. 宣扬 菜思的名字赫然列在榜首,而她却名落孙山。 但是这也是个快乐、繁忙、转瞬即逝的冬 tactful/taektfal/ a. 机智的 天。思想、感情和理想的新世界,还有那迷人的 老练的 有待探索的新知识似乎正在如饥似渴的安呢面前 ③ broadminded 开大门。 /brpdmatndd/a.心胸开阔 的,宽宏大量的 这一切大多因为斯塔西小姐教导有方。她让学 stray /strer/v. 迷路,仿徨 生自已去思考、去探索,鼓励他们离经叛道。 flourish/flArf/v. 繁荣,茂 除了学习之外,安妃增加了社交活动,辩论 盛,活跃 verge on接近 社团红火了起来,举行了好几场音乐会,有一两 sleigh /slev/ n. 雪概 次聚会几乎接近了成年人聚会的水平,还多次组 frolic /frolk/n. 调皮,欢乐 的聚会 织了滑雪和溜冰活动。 galore /qo'lo:/a.(用在名词 安呢的个子蹄得很快 后)大量的,丰富的 “哟,安呢,你怎么长这么高了呀!”玛丽拉 .337· Anne of Green Gables unbelievingly. The child she had learned to love had vanished somehow and here was this tall, serious-eved girl of fifteen. Marilla loved the girl as much as she had loved the child, but she was conscious of a queer sorrowful sense of loss. And that night, when Anne had gone to prayer meeting with Diana, Marilla sat alone in the wintry twilight and indulged{ in the weakness of a cry. Matthew, coming in with a lantern, caught her at it and gazed at her in such consternation that Marilla had to laugh through her tears. "I was thinking about Anne," she explained. "She's got to be such a big girl-and she'll probably be away from us next winter. I'll miss her terrible." "She'll be able to come home often,"comforted Matthew. "The branch railroad will be built to Carmody by that time." "It won't be the same thing as having her here all the time," sighed Marilla gloomily, determined to enjoy her luxury ② of grief ③ uncomforted. "But there-men can't understand these things!" There were other changes in Anne no less real than the physical change. For one thing, she became much quieter. Perhaps she thought all the more and dreamed as much as ever, but she certainly talked less. Marilla noticed and commented on this also "You don't chatter half as much as you used to, Anne, nor use half as many big words. What has come over you?" Anne colored and laughed a little "I don't know-I don't want to talk as much," she said, denting{④ her chin thoughtfully with her forefinger."It's nicer to think dear, pretty thoughts and keep them in one's heart, like treasures. There's so much to learn and do and think that there isn't time for big words. Besides, Miss Stacy says the short ones are much stronger and better. She makes us write all our essays as simply as possible. I've got used to it now and I .338. 绿山墙的安妃 说,几乎不敢相信。她已经爱上的那个孩子好像 不见了,取而代之的是这个神情严肃的十五岁少 女,她高高的个子,眼眉中透着沉思。玛丽拉像 爱那个孩子一样深深爱着这个姑娘,但是她有一 种奇特的令人痛苦的失落感。那天晚上安婉和戴 ① indulge /in'dAldy/ v. 放纵 安哪一起去祷告会的时候,她独自坐在冬日的暮 色中,任凭软弱的泪水尽情流淌。马修提着灯进 了屋,发现玛丽拉在哭,他惊恐万状地盯着她 弄得她忍不住破涕为笑。 “我正在想安呢的事呢,”她解释说, “她已 经长这么大了--明年冬天可能要离开我们了。 我会想死她的。” “她会经常回家的,”马修安慰道, “到那时 候,铁路支线就会修到卡莫迪了。” ② luxury /lAkfarv/ n. 奢侈,豪 “她常回来和她一直在这儿可不一样,”玛丽 华 拉忧郁地叹了口气,她还是止不住地伤心, “算 ③ grief /gri:f/n. 悲痛,忧伤 了,不说了--男人搞不懂这些事情!” 安呢不光个子长高了,其他方面也有明显变 化。比如,她变得安静多了。也许她思考得更多 了,而且和以前一样爱幻想,但她的话确实少多 了。玛丽拉注意到了这一点,还对此发表了意见。 “安呢,你现在说的话连过去的一半都不到, 也不学大人的口气说话了。你这是怎么啦?” 安呢脸红了,微微笑了笑。 ④ dent /dent/ v 弄y “我不知道-我只是不想多说话,”她说 若有所思地用食指顶着下巴,“思考一些高尚美 好的东西,宝贝似的把它们藏在心里,这样要好 些。要学要做要考虑的东西太多了,没有时间用 学大人的口气说话。另外,斯塔西小姐说简练的 语言更有力,更好。她要求我们所有文章都写得 ·339· Anne of Green Gabfes see it's so much better." "You've only two more months before the Entrance,"said Marilla. “Do you think you'll be able to get through?" Anne shivered. "I don't know. Sometimes I think I'll be all right-and then I get horribly afraid. We've studied hard and Miss Stacy has drilled {① us thoroughly, but we mayn't get through for all that. We've each got a stumbling② block. Miss Stacy is going to give us examinations in June just as hard as we'll have at the Entrance and mark us just as strictly, so we'll have some idea. I wish it was all over, Marilla. It haunts me. Sometimes I wake up in the night and wonder what I'll do if I don't pass." "Why,go to school next year and try again," said Marilla unconce- rnedly. "Oh, I don't believe I'd have the heart for it." Anne sighed and buried herself resolutely in her book. There would be other springs, but if she did not succeed in passing the Entrance, Anne felt convinced that she would never recover sufficiently to enjoy them. .340. 绿山墙的安妃 简单拖要。但是现在我习惯了简明拒要,也觉得 这样要好得多。” “你再过两个月就要考试了,”玛丽拉说。 “你觉得能通过吗?” 安婉打了个哆嗦。 “不知道。我有时候想我会通过的--接着 ①drill/drl/v 训练:练习 我又很害怕。我们学习很刻苦,斯塔西小姐又对 ② stumbling /'stAmbln/ a. 阻 我们进行了全面训练,但是就这样,我们也可能 碍的 通不过。我们每个人都有自已的弱点。斯塔西小 姐六月份要考我们一次,难度和入学考试一样, 打分也同样严格,这样大家心里就有点儿数了。 要是都考完了该多好呀,玛丽拉,我整天提心吊 胆的。有时半夜醒来我都在想要是没考上我该怎 么办。” “嗨,明年接着上,再考一次呗。”玛丽拉毫 不在乎地说。 “噢,我觉得我可没有勇气这样做。” 安呢叹了口气,又毅然一头扎进了书本。春 天还会有的,但是如果通不过入学考试,安婉确 信她就再也恢复不过来,再也不能享受美好的春 天了。 .341·