Chapter10 Dickon迪康-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《秘密花园The Secret Garden》

Chapter X Dickon The sun shone down for nearly a week on the secret garden.The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it.She liked the name,and she liked still more the feeling that when its beautiful old walls shut her in no one knew where she was.It seemed almost like being shut out of the world in some fairy place.The few books she had read and liked had been fairy-story books,and she had read of secret gardens in some of the stories.Sometimes people went to sleep in them for a hundred years,which she had thought must be rather stupid.She had no intention of going to sleep,and,in fact,she was becoming wider awake every day which passed at Misselthwaite.She was beginning to like to be out of doors;she no longer hated the wind,but enjoyed it.She could run faster,and longer,and she could skip up to a hundred.The bulbs in the secret garden must have been much astonished.Such nice clear places were made round them that they had all the breathing space they wanted, and really,if Mistress Mary had known it,they began to cheer up under the dark earth and work tremendously.The sun could get at them and warm them,and when the rain came down it could reach them at once,so they began to feel very much alive. Mary was an odd,determined little person,and now she had something interesting to be determined about,she was very much absorbed,indeed.She ·150· 第十章 迪康 太阳在秘密花园上方高悬了将近一周的时间。“秘 密花园”便是玛丽每每想到那里时脑海中浮现出的名字。 她喜欢这个名字，更喜欢那种被四面古老而美丽的围墙 环绕起来，无人知晓她身在何方的感觉。这种感觉几乎 就像是远离尘嚣，身处仙境之中一般。玛丽并没有读过 多少书，而她喜欢的为数不多的几本便是童话故事，其 中一些故事中便曾出现过秘密花园。在有的故事中，人 们会在园中沉睡上数百年，但她觉得这样的事情实在是 太愚蠢了。她并没有沉睡的打算，事实上，她在米瑟斯 韦特庄园度过的每一天都比前一天更加精力充沛。她逐 渐开始喜欢在外面待着：她也不再憎恶刮风，反而开始 享受旷野上的风。她跑得更快了，坚持的时间也更久了， ①astonish[o'stoni明v.使惊 就连跳绳都能跳到一百个了。秘密花园里的球茎一定感 讶，使吃惊 到惊讶异常，因为它们的周身突然有了这样干净的一片 地方，终于可以痛快地呼吸了；说真的，尽管女王玛丽 自己并没有意识到，但球茎们确实已经开始在漆黑的泥 土中欢呼雀跃，努力生根发芽了。阳光将它们晒得暖洋 洋的，而当雨滴落下来的时候，它们立刻便能喝到水， 这样一来，这些球茎也变得生机勃勃的了。 玛丽是一个性情古怪，却意志坚定的小人儿，而现 如今，她的这份意志也终于有了用武之地。事实上，打 ·151· ChapterX Dickon worked and dug and pulled up weeds steadily,only becoming more pleased with her work every hour instead of tiring of it.It seemed to her like a fascinating sort of play.She found many more of the sprouting pale green points than she had ever hoped to find.They seemed to be starting up everywhere and each day she was sure she found tiny new ones,some so tiny that they barely peeped above the earth.There were so many that she remembered what Martha had said about the "snowdrops by the thousands,"and about bulbs spreading and making new ones.These had been left to themselves for ten years and perhaps they had spread,like the snowdrops,into thousands.She wondered how long it would be before they showed that they were flowers.Sometimes she stopped digging to look at the garden and try to imagine what it would be like when it was covered with thousands of lovely things in bloom.During that week of sunshine,she became more intimate with Ben Weatherstaff.She surprised him several times by seeming to start up beside him as if she sprang out of the earth. The truth was that she was afraid that he would pick up his tools and go away if he saw her coming,so she always walked toward him as silently as possible. But,in fact,he did not object to her as strongly as he had at first.Perhaps he was secretly rather flatteredby her evident desire for his elderly company.Then, also,she was more civil than she had been.He did not know that when she first saw him she spoke to him as she would have spoken to a native,and had not known that a cross,sturdy old Yorkshire man was not accustomed to salaam to his masters,and be merely commanded by them to do things. "Tha'rt like th'robin,"he said to her one morning when he lifted his head and saw her standing by him."I never knows when I shall see thee or which side tha'll come from." “He's friends with me now,”said Mary. “That's like him,”snapped Ben Weatherstaff.“Makin'up to th'women folk just for vanity an'flightiness.There's nothin'he wouldn't do for th'sake ·152· 第十章地康「 理花园这件有趣的事情令她十分投入。她不停地劳作 着，挖着土，小心翼翼地将杂草拔出来。玛丽越做越开 ①sprout[spraut).(种子、 心，越做越满意，反而一点都不觉得累。花园里的工作 植物)萌芽，发芽 对她来说更像是一种令人着迷的游戏。她在那里发现 了许许多多抽芽的浅绿色小尖尖，这也十分出乎她的意 料。这些尖尖似乎遍地都是，玛丽几乎可以确定，自己 每天都能看到新冒出来的小芽，一些更是袖珍得堪堪冒 出土来。这些小芽多得不得了，也让她想起了玛莎口中 “成百上千的雪花莲”，还有那些不断繁衍着的球茎。眼 前的小芽们在这里待了十年了，它们大概也像雪花莲一 般，繁衍得遍地都是了吧。她不禁好奇，这些小东西到 底要多久才能长出花朵的样子。玛丽时不时地也会停下 手中的工作，看看这片花园，试着想象若是有一天，这 里遍地开满了娇艳的花朵，那该是怎样一番景象啊。 在这阳光明媚的一周里，她与本·韦泽斯塔夫的关 系更加亲近了。好几次，她都像是从土里冒出来的一样， 突然出现在他的身旁。其实，玛丽只是觉得害怕，害怕 若是他看到自己过来，会拾起工具掉头就走：因此，她 也总是尽量轻手轻脚地靠近他。然而事实上，本并不像 ②fatter[Hety.(尤指由 一开始那样排斥她了。搞不好，他还会因为玛丽明显渴 于某种行为)自己感到 得意 望自己这个老人家的陪伴而暗自感到骄傲呢。另一个原 因便是，她比原来更懂事了。他并不知道，最开始的时 候，玛丽同他说话的方式与她同那些印度仆人说话的方 式并无二致：她也并不清楚，一个脾气暴躁、体魄健壮 的约克郡老头并没有向主人行礼的习惯，甚至都不习惯 听令于人。 “你就跟那只知更鸟似的，”一天清晨，当本抬起 头，看到她就站在自己身边的时候，他这样说道，“我 永远不知道你啥时候会突然出现，也不知道你会从哪边 儿冒出来。” ③vanity[vaenat间n.虚荣心， “它现在是我的朋友了。”玛丽说。 虚夸 “像是它会干出的事儿，”本·韦泽斯塔夫打断了 她的话，“凑到女人跟前儿，又虚荣，又轻浮。为了显 ·153· ChapterX Dickon o'showin'off an'flirtin'his tail-feathers.He's as full o'pride as an egg's full o' meat.” He very seldom talked much and sometimes did not even answer Mary's questions except by a grunt,but this morning he said more than usual.He stood up and rested one hobnailed boot on the top of his spade while he looked her over. “How long has tha'been here?he jerked②out. "I think it's about a month,"she answered. "Tha's beginnin'to do Misselthwaite credit,"he said."Tha's a bit fatter than tha'was an'tha's not quite so yeller.Tha'looked like a young plucked crow when tha'first came into this garden.Thinks I to myself I never set eyes on an uglier,sourer faced young'un." Mary was not vain and as she had never thought much of her looks she was not greatly disturbed. "I know I'm fatter,"she said."My stockings are getting tighter.They used to make wrinkles.There's the robin,Ben Weatherstaff." There,indeed,was the robin,and she thought he looked nicer than ever. His red waistcoat was as glossy as satin and he flirted his wings and tail and tilted his head and hopped about with all sorts of lively graces.He seemed determined to make Ben Weatherstaff admire him.But Ben was sareastic "Aye,there tha'art!"he said."Tha'can put up with me for a bit sometimes when tha's got no one better.Tha's been reddenin'up thy waistcoat an'polishin' thy feathers this two weeks.I know what tha's up to.Tha's courtin'some bold young madam somewhere tellin'thy lies to her about bein'th'finest cock robin on Missel Moor an'ready to fight all th'rest of'em." “Oh!look at him!”'exclaimed Mary. The robin was evidently in a fascinating,bold mood.He hopped closer and closer and looked at Ben Weatherstaff more and more engagingly.He flew on to the nearest currant bush and tilted his head and sang a little song right at him. "Tha'thinks tha'll get over me by doin'that,"said Ben,wrinkling his face ·154· 第十章地康「 摆它的尾羽，它可是啥都干得出来。那家伙浑身上下满 满都是骄傲，就跟鸡蛋里满满都是肉一样。” 他话很少，有时候甚至会故意无视玛丽的问题，只 是嘟嘰一声，然而这天早上，他说了很多话。他站在那 hobnailed ['hobneild]a. 里，一只靴子蹬在铁锹头上，就那样看着她。 (靴底等)钉有平头钉 “你在这地方待了多久了？”他突兀地问了一句。 的 “我觉得大概有一个月了吧。”玛丽答道。 ②jerk[d3a:k]v.突然说出 “你开始给米瑟斯韦特挣面子了，”他说，“你长肉 了，脸色也好看多了。刚来的时候，你活像一只让人拔 了毛的乌鸦。我还想嘞，真没见过比你更难看、更招人 讨厌的小东西了。” 玛丽从来不会自恃过高，也很少关注自己的容貌， 因此，听了这话，她也并不怎么生气。 “我知道自己长肉了，”她说，“我的长简袜越来越 ③vain[vein]a.自负的，自 高自大的 紧了，以前袜子上还会皱皱的呢。知更鸟来了，本·韦 泽斯塔夫。” 确实，那只知更鸟就在那里，在她眼中，今天的它 真是漂亮极了。鸟儿红色的胸脯就如丝绸一般光滑，它 扇动着翅膀，摆动尾巴，偶尔还侧过脑袋，活泼而又优 雅地在地上蹦蹦跳跳。它似乎下定决心想要本·韦泽斯 塔夫赞美自己，但是本说出口的话却是十足的讽刺。 ④sarcastic[sa:kaeztik]a.好 “哎呀，你在这儿呀！”他说，“找不着别人的时候， 挖苦人的：使用讽刺语 你还是能在我身边儿忍一忍的嘞。这俩礼拜，你是不是 言的 一直忙着拾掇胸脯儿，整理羽毛呢。我知道你打的是什 么主意。你肯定又在追求哪儿的漂亮姑娘呢，编着瞎话 儿告诉她你是米瑟旷野上最洋气的公知更鸟，还随时准 备击退所有竞争对手。” “天哪！快看它！”玛丽惊呼出声。 显然，那只知更鸟此时此刻正在努力施展着自己的 魅力。它一步一步越跳越近，越发可人儿地瞧着本·韦 泽斯塔夫。然后，它便飞到了离自己最近的那片醋栗丛 ⑤currant[kArant)n.【植物】 中，歪着小脑袋，冲着他唱了一首小曲儿。 黑醋栗 “你觉着那样儿就能蒙混过关了是吧，”说这话的 ·155· ChapterX Dickon up in such a way that Mary felt sure he was trying not to look pleased."Tha' thinks no one can stand out against thee-that's what tha'thinks." The robin spread his wings-Mary could scarcely believe her eyes.He flew right up to the handle of Ben Weatherstaff's spade and alighted on the top of it.Then the old man's face wrinkled itself slowly into a new expression.He stood still as if he were afraid to breathe-as if he would not have stirred for the world,lest his robin should start away.He spoke quite in a whisper. "Well,I'm danged!"he said as softly as if he were saying something quite different.“Tha'does know how to get at a chap②-tha'does！Tha's fair unearthly3,tha's so knowin'." And he stood without stirring-almost without drawing his breath- until the robin gave another flirt to his wings and flew away.Then he stood looking at the handle of the spade as if there might be Magic in it,and then he began to dig again and said nothing for several minutes. But because he kept breaking into a slow grin now and then,Mary was not afraid to talk to him. “Have you a garden of your own?”she asked "No.I'm bachelder an'lodge with Martin at th'gate." “If you had one,.”said Mary,“what would you plant? “Cabbages an''taters an'onions.” "But if you wanted to make a flower garden,"persisted Mary,"what would you plant?” “Bulbs an'sweet--smellin'things一but mostly roses.” Mary's face lighted up. “Do you like roses??”she said. Ben Weatherstaff rooted up a weed and threw it aside before he answered. "Well,yes,I do.I was learned that by a young lady I was gardener to.She ·156· 第十章地康 时候，本那张老脸皱成了一团，但玛丽就是知道，他只 是在努力绷住，不要露出开心的表情而己。“你觉着没 人比你强了是吧—你就是这么觉着的。” 知更鸟展开双翼一下一刻，玛丽几乎不敢相信自 己的眼睛。它径直飞到了本·韦泽斯塔夫手上那柄铁锹 的把手上，并落在了最高处。随后，这个老头儿的脸又 皱成了一个不一样的表情。他站在那里一动不动，仿佛 ①lest [lest)co列.以免，免 得：惟恐 呼吸都带着几分小心一好像就算天塌下来了，他也不 @chap[tep]n.男人；家 会移动分毫，生怕惊走了那只知更鸟。喃喃地，他开了口。 好 unearthly[wn':8la.超 “哎哟，该死的！”他的嗓音是那样轻柔，似乎说 自然的：非世俗的 的根本就不是这句话，“你还真是知道怎么讨好别人 ④draw[dr]v.吸进，吸入 你肯定知道！你简直不像正常的鸟儿，什么事儿都明白 (空气、烟雾) 得一清二楚。” 他就那样不动分毫地站在那里，几乎就连呼吸都是 静止的，直到那只知更鸟卖弄了一下翅膀，飞走了。之 后，他僵站着看了一会儿铁锹的把手，好像能从里面看 出花儿来；再之后，他便又开始挖土了，还连着几分钟 都一言不发。 然而，他时不时地便会缓缓露出一丝微笑，于是， ⑤lodge [lods3.(在他人 房内等处)暂住 玛丽也并不害怕同他搭话。 “你有自己的园子吗？”她问道。 “没有。我是个老光棍儿，跟看大门的马丁住在 一起。” “如果你有的话，”玛丽说，“你会种点什么呢？” “圆白菜、马铃薯和洋葱。” “但如果你想要弄出一片花园的话，你会种点什么 呢？”玛丽追问着。 “球茎和有香味儿的东西一但是主要还是蔷薇吧。” 玛丽的小脸亮了起来。 “你喜欢蔷藏吗？”她问道。 回答这个问题之前，本·韦泽斯塔夫先是连根拔出 了一棵杂草，又把它扔到了一边。 “嗯，是吧，我还挺喜欢的。这些都是一位年轻女 ·157· ChapterX Dickon had a lot in a place she was fond of,an'she loved 'em like they was children- or robins.I've seen her bend over an'kiss 'em."He dragged out another weed and scowled at it."That were as much as ten year'ago." "Where is she now?"asked Mary,much interested. "Heaven,"he answered,and drove his spade deep into the soil,"cording to what parson says..” "What happened to the roses?"Mary asked again,more interested than ever. "They was left to themselves." Mary was becoming quite excited. "Did they quite die?Do roses quite die when they are left to themselves?" she ventured. “Well,I'd got to like'em-an'I liked her一an'she liked'em,”Ben Weatherstaff admitted reluctantly."Once or twice a year I'd go an'work at'em a bit-prune'em an'dig about th'roots.They run wild,but they was in rich soil,so some of 'em lived." "When they have no leaves and look gray and brown and dry,how can you tell whether they are dead or alive?"inquired Mary. "Wait till th'spring gets at'em-wait till th'sun shines on th'rain and th' rain falls on th'sunshine an'then tha'll find out." “How一how?”cried Mary,forgetting to be careful.“Look along th' twigs an'branches an'if tha'see a bit of a brown lump swelling here an'there, watch it after th'warm rain an'see what happens."He stopped suddenly and looked curiously at her eager face."Why does tha'care so much about roses an' such,all of a sudden?"he demanded. Mistress Mary felt her face grow red.She was almost afraid to answer. I一I want to play that一that I have a garden of my own,”she stammered, “I一there is nothing for me to do.I have nothing一and no one.” "Well,"said Ben Weatherstaff slowly,as he watched her,"that's true.Tha' hasn't.” ·158· 第十章地康「 士教会我的，当时，我是她请来的园丁。她在自己喜欢 的那个地方种了好多好多的蔷薇，拿它们当孩子一或 者是知更鸟一样爱护。我还见过她弯下身亲吻它们呢。” 说着，他又拔出了一棵杂草，还瞪了那东西一眼。“那 几乎是十年前的事儿了。” “那她现在在哪里呢？”玛丽充满好奇地问道。 “天堂，”他回答，说完便把手中的铁锹深深插进 了土里，“反正人们都是这么说的。” “那些蔷薇怎么样了？”玛丽无比的好奇，又一次 问道。 “它们就自己在那儿自生自灭了。” 玛丽突然激动了起来。 ①venture ['ventf)v.猜测 “那它们都死光了吗？没人照顾的话，蔷薇就活不 了了吗？”她小心翼翼地确认着。 “怎么说呢，我后来喜欢上它们了一我也喜欢 ②prune [pru:n]v.修剪（树 她一她喜欢它们。”本·韦泽斯塔夫不情不愿地承认 枝等) 道，“每隔那么一两年，我就会过去摆弄摆弄那些花 儿—修修剪剪，再在根部的周围松松土。虽然它们没 人管，但是那片土肥沃得很，肯定有些是活着的。” “可是如果那些花上面一片叶子也没有，看着还枯 黄一片，那你怎么能知道它们是活着的还是死了呢？” 玛丽询问道。 “等春天来了你就知道了一等到阳光照射在雨滴 ③twig[twig]n.细枝，嫩枝 里，雨滴洒落在阳光上的时候，你自然就知道了。” “怎么知道的—到底是怎么知道的？”玛丽抛却 了自己的小心翼翼，大声追问着。 “沿着枝丫仔细看看，要是你能看见上面这儿啊那 儿啊的长着棕色的小鼓包，瞧着吧，一场暖雨过后就会 有变化了。”他突然停了下来，好奇地打量着玛丽迫切 的面庞。“你为什么突然之间这么关心蔷薇啊什么的？” 他问道。 女王玛丽觉得自己的小脸慢慢红了起来。她几乎不 敢回答这个问题。 ·159·