Chapter20 “I Shall Live Forever and Ever and Ever!我会永远活下去永远—永远-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《秘密花园The Secret Garden》

Chapter XX "I Shall Live Forever-and Ever-and Ever!" But they were obliged to wait more than a week because first there came some very windy days and then Colin was threatened with a cold, which two things happening one after the other would no doubt have thrown him into a rage but that there was so much careful and mysterious planning to do and almost every day Dickon came in, if only for a few minutes, to talk about what was happening on the moor and in the lanes and hedges and on the borders of streams. The things he had to tell about otters' and badgers' and water-rats' houses, not to mention birds' nests and field-mice and their burrows, were enough to make you almost tremble with excitement when you heard all the intimate details from an animal charmer and realized with what thrilling eagerness and anxiety the whole busy underworld was working. "They're same as us," said Dickon, "only they have to build their homes every year. An' it keeps 'em so busy they fair scufle{} to get 'em done." The most absorbing thing, however, was the preparations to be made before Colin could be transported with sufficient secrecy to the garden. No one must see the chair-carriage and Dickon and Mary after they turned a certain corner of the shrubbery and entered upon the walk outside the ivied walls. As each day passed, Colin had become more and more fixed in his feeling that the mystery .352· 第二十章 “我会永远活下去 --永远--永远! 然而,他们不得不多等了一周多的时间。最初的几 天刮起了大风,而后柯林又染上了感冒,这两件事情叠 加在一起本来肯定会令他大发脾气,可是三个人在一起 制订了那么多细致而又神秘的计划,迪康又几乎每天都 会过来,哪怕只是短短的几分钟,他们也会聚在一起, 讨论着旷野中、小路上、树丛里和小溪边发生的故事。 他向他们描绘着水辙、河鼠和猝的家是什么样子的,更 别说还有鸟巢和田鼠挖出的洞穴。迪康是那样一个招小 动物喜欢的人,而当你从他的口中听到那些详尽无比的 细节时,几乎会兴奋得发抖,还会突然意识到,地底下 那个忙碌的世界竟真是充斥着令人激动的热情与渴望。 “它们和我们没什么差别,”迪康说,“只不过是每 年都得重新建一次家。它们忙得很,总是得脚不沾地才 能把活儿干完。” ①scuffle ['skafl]v. 忙乱, 慌乱. 然而,最有意思的事情还莫过于为把柯林悄悄带到 秘密花园里而做准备了。当他们在一块灌木丛旁转过弯 去,走到那面布满常春藤的围墙之外后,一定不能叫别 人瞧见他的轮椅,也不能让人发现了迪康和玛丽。时间 一天天过去,柯林也越发坚信,那座花园的神秘感便是 其最大的魅力之一。什么东西都不能破坏这种感觉。谁 .353· ChapterXX "I Shaff Cive Forever-and Ever-and Ever!" surrounding the garden was one of its greatest charms. Nothing must spoil that. No one must ever suspect that they had a secret. People must think that he was simply going out with Mary and Dickon because he liked them and did not object to their looking at him. They had long and quite delightful talks about their route. They would go up this path and down that one and cross the other and go round among the fountain flower-beds as if they were looking at the "bedding-out plants" the head gardener, Mr. Roach, had been having arranged. That would seem such a rational^{①}thing to do that no one would think it at all mysterious. They would turn into the shrubbery walks and lose themselves until they came to the long walls. It was almost as serious and elaborately②} thought out as the plans of march made by great generals{③} in time of war Rumors{} of the new and curious things which were occurring in the invalid's apartments had of course filtered{}through the servants'hall into the stable yards and out among the gardeners, but notwithstanding this, Mr. Roach was startled one day when he received orders from Master Colin's room to the effect that he must report himself in the apartment no outsider had ever seen, as the invalid himself desired to speak to him “Well. well."he said to himself as he hurriedly changed his coat. "what's tc do now? His Royal Highness that wasn't to be looked at calling up a man he's never set eyes on." Mr. Roach was not without curiosity. He had never caught even a glimpse of the boy and had heard a dozen exaggerated^{} stories about his uncanny} looks and ways and his insane tempers. The thing he had heard oftenest was that he might die at any moment and there had been numerous fanciful descriptions of a humped back and helpless limbs, given by people who had never seen him “Things are changing in this house, Mr. Roach," said Mrs. Medlock, as she led him up the back staircase to the corridor on to which opened the hitherto③ mysterious chamber. “Let's hope they're changing for the better, Mrs. Medlock."he answered "They couldn't well change for the worse," she continued: "and queer as it .354: 第二十章 "我会永远活下去--永远--永远!” 都不能发现他们的秘密。他一定要让别人觉得他只是同 玛丽和迪康一起出去玩了,因为他喜欢他们,也不介意 被他们看着。他们会在一起愉快地讨论很久,商量着要 走哪条路才不会被人看到。他们计划着先走这条路,再 走那条路,穿过另一条路,再绕过装着喷泉的花坛,装 作自已是在欣赏园丁头头儿罗彻先生侍弄出来的花圃。 这样的计划看上去再合理不过了,没人会觉得他们神神 秘秘的。他们还会拐到那条灌木丛小路上,那儿谁也看 ① rational I'raefonoll a. 合理 的 不见,最后再走到那面绵延的墙壁旁边。三个人的计划 做得又认真又精巧,甚至快要赶上战争时代将军们制订 ② elaborately Ii'laebaratli] 下的作战方案了。 ad.精心计划地 ③ general ['d3enoraln.【军 小病号房间里出现的那些稀奇古怪的东西自然传到 事】将军 了仆人们的房间里,还自那里一直传向了马既,甚至就 ④ rumor I'ru:maln. 谣传 传闻 连外面的园丁都听到了传闻。然而尽管如此,罗彻先生 filter P'filta]v.(消息等) 那天在接到从柯林少爷那里传过来的命令时却还是吓了 走漏,泄露,慢慢传开 一跳。柯林少爷命他到那个外人从未进去过的房间里 去,因为他有话想跟他说。 “哎呀,哎呀,”他一面麻利地套上大衣, 一面自 言自语道,“现在是什么情况?那个看都不让别人看一 眼的王子殿下现在居然要把我这个见都没见过的人叫过 去。” 罗彻先生并非不好奇。他连那个男孩的衣角都不曾 见过,却听过许多夸张的传闻,说他长相古怪,行事难 exaggerated lig'zaedgoreitid 测,脾气更是让人无法忍受。他最常听到的便是那些说 a.夸大的,夸张的 uncanny L.An'kaeni] a. 他随时都有可能一命鸣呼的话,而那些见都没见过他的 乎寻常的 人还拿他的驼背和无力的四肢编出了无数种版本的离奇 故事。 “这个房子里的情况和从前不一样了,罗彻先生。” 麦德洛克夫人一面如是说道,一面领着他爬上后面的楼 ③ hitherto L.hioo'tu:] ad. 到 目前为止,迄今 梯,步入走廊,走向那间迄今为止尚是一个迷的房间。 “我们只能希望情况是在慢慢变好吧,麦德洛克夫 人。”他回答。 “反正本来也不会更差了,”她继续道,“虽然很是 ·355· ChapterXX "I Shaff Cive Forever-and Ever-and Ever!" all is there's them as finds their duties made a lot easier to stand up under. Don't you be surprised, Mr. Roach, if you find yourself in the middle of a menagerie^{① and Martha Sowerby's Dickon more at home than you or me could ever be." There really was a sort of Magic about Dickon, as Mary always privately believed. When Mr. Roach heard his name he smiled quite leniently②. "He'd be at home in Buckingham Palace or at the bottom of a coal mine." he said. "And yet it's not impudence, either. He's just fine, is that lad." It was perhaps well he had been prepared or he might have been startled. When the bedroom door was opened a large crow, which seemed auite at home perched on the high back of a carven chair, announced the entrance of a visitor by saying"Caw -Caw" quite loudly. In spite of Mrs. Medlock's warning, Mr Roach only just escaped being sufficiently undignified{} to jump backward. The young Rajah was neither in bed nor on his sofa. He was sitting in an armchair and a young lamb was standing by him shaking its tail in feeding-lamh fashion as Dickon knelt giving it milk from its bottle. A sauirrel was perched on Dickon's bent back attentively④ nibbling{} a nut. The little girl from India was sitting on a big footstool looking on "Here is Mr. Roach. Master Colin."said Mrs. Medlock The young Rajah turned and looked his servitor^{*} over - at least that was what the head gardener felt happened “Oh. you are Roach, are you?" he said. "I sent for you to give you some very important orders." "Very good, sir," answered Roach, wondering if he was to receive instructions to fell all the oaks in the park or to transform the orchards intc water-gardens. “I am going out in my chair this afternoon,"said Colin. "If the fresh air .356. 第二十章 "我会永远活下去--永远--永远!” 奇怪,但是大家都觉得自已的活计没有以前那样难做 ① menagerie [mi'naed3ori] n. 了。罗彻先生,一会儿你要是发现自己的身边都是野生 野生动物 动物,还看见玛莎·索尔比家的迪康比你我还舒服自在 地待在房间里,你可别觉得惊讶。” 就同玛丽私底下一直以来坚信的那般,迪康身上好 ② leniently ['li:njantli] ad 宽厚地 像真的有某种魔法。罗彻先生听到他的名字,便温和地 笑了起来。 “无论是在白金汉宫,还是在煤矿底下,他肯定都 是一样的舒服自在,”他说,“但你也不会觉得他粗野无 理。那个孩子,他就是那个样子的。” 大约还是多亏了有麦德洛克夫人给他打了预防针 不然他可能真的会被吓到的。他们刚刚打开卧室的房 ③ undignified LAn'diani.faid 门,便看到一只巨大的乌鸦悠闲地栖在一把雕花木椅的 a.无尊严的;尴尬的 椅背上,还大声地“哑吼”叫着,好像是在宣布有访客 到了。尽管麦德洛克夫人已经提醒过他,罗彻先生还是 受到了惊吓,就只差往后跳开,丢了体面了。 ④ attentively [e'tentivlil ad 小王爷既没有躺在床上,也没有窝在沙发里。此 专心地 nibble 'nibl]v.一点一点 时此刻,他正坐在扶手椅中,旁边还站着一只小羊 地吃(或咬) 羔,摇摆着尾巴,一副吃奶的架势,等着一旁跪在那 servitor I'sa:vitoln.(男 里的迪康用手中的奶瓶喂奶给它喝。迪康弯下的背上 侍从,仆人 趴着一只松鼠,津津有味地一点点磕着坚果。那个从 印度来的小女孩就坐在一把大大的脚凳上,看着这一 切。 “罗彻先生来了,柯林少爷。”麦德洛克夫人说。 小王爷转过头,审视着他的仆从一一至少,这位园 丁头头儿是这样感觉的。 “哦,你就是罗彻,是吗?”他开口道,“我让人 把你叫过来,是为了交给你一些很重要的任务。” “没有问题,先生。”罗彻回答。他不禁猜想,面 前这个人是会让他砍掉园子里所有的橡树,还是会让他 将果园变成水上花园。 “我今天下午会坐着轮椅出门,”柯林说,“若是我 ·357· Chapter XX "I Shaff Cive Forever-and Ever-and Ever!" agrees with^{①}me I may go out every day. When I go, none of the gardeners are to be anywhere near the Long Walk by the garden walls. No one is to be there. 1 shall go out about two o'clock and everyone must keep away until I send word that they may go back to their work." "Very good, sir." replied Mr. Roach, much relieved to hear that the oaks might remain and that the orchards were safe. "Mary," said Colin, turning to her, “what is that thing you say in India when you have finished talking and want people to go?" "You say,'You have my permission to go," answered Mary The Rajah waved his hand. "You have my permission to go, Roach," he said. "But, remember, this is very important." "Caw - Caw!" remarked the crow hoarsely but not impolitely. "Very good, sir. Thank you, sir," said Mr. Roach, and Mrs. Medlock took him out of the room. Outside in the corridor. being a rather good-natured man. he smiled until he almost laughed "My word!" he said, "he's got a fine lordly{②} way with him, hasn't he? You'd think he was a whole Roval Family rolled into one -Prince Consort③} and all." "Eh!" protested Mrs. Medlock, "we've had to let him trample{} all over every one of us ever since he had feet and he thinks that's what folks was born for." “Perhaps he'll grow out of it. if he lives." suggested Mr. Roach “Well, there's one thing pretty sure," said Mrs. Medlock. "If he does live and that Indian child stays here I'll warrant she teaches him that the whole orange does not belong to him, as Susan Sowerby says. And he'll be likely to find out the size of his own quarter." Inside the room Colin was leaning back on his cushions .358. 第二十章 “我会永远活下去--永远--永远!” ①agree with适合(某人) 喜欢外面的新鲜空气的话,可能以后每天都会出去。我 的健康 在外面的时候,所有园工都不准出现在花园墙壁之外那 条长长的走道附近。谁都不准待在那里。我大约会在两 点的时候出门,所有人都给我离得远远的,直到我让你 们回来,才准回来继续工作。” “没有问题,先生。”罗彻先生答道。听说橡树能 够保住,果园也能无事,他大大舒了一口气。 “玛丽,”柯林转过头说,“在印度的时候,要是你 的话都说完了,想让别人离开,你们会怎么说?” “你就说:“我允许你退下了。'”玛丽回答。 王爷挥了挥手。 “我允许你退下了,罗彻,”他说,“但是,一定要 记住,我跟你说的事情很重要。” “砥吼!”乌鸦粗哑却不失礼节地叫道。 “没有问题,先生。谢谢你,先生。”罗彻先生说完 麦德洛克夫人便将他带出了房间。 站在走廊里,这位好脾气的男人笑了起来,差点就 成大笑了。 “我的天哪!”他说,“他那副高高在上的样子, ② lordly I'lo:dlila. 贵族气 架势还挺足,不是吗?不知道的还以为是哪个皇室家族 派的 ③ prince consort 女王的夫 合为一体了呢-一亲王还是什么的。” 婿 “哎!”麦德洛克夫人不满道,“自打他长出脚开 ④ trample I'traempllv. 踩. 践踏 始,我们每一个人都让他从头到脚地践踏过,他还觉着 这就是我们的命呢。” “有可能等他长大一点就好了,要是他能活下去的 话。”罗彻先生说道。 “怎么说呢,有一件事倒是我能确定的,”麦德洛 克夫人说,“要是他真能活下去,那个印度小孩还能 一直待在这里的话,我保证,她一定能让他知道,就 像苏珊·索尔比说的那样,这一整个儿橙子不都是他 的。没准儿啊,他还能认清自已到底应该拿多大的一 份呢。” 房间里,柯林正靠在背后的软垫上。 .359· ChapterXX "I Shaff Cive Forever-and Ever-and Ever!" “It's all safe now."he said. “And this afternoon I shall see it-- this afternoon I shall be in it!" Dickon went back to the garden with his creatures and Mary stayed with Colin. She did not think he looked tired but he was very quiet before their lunch came and he was quiet while they were eating it. She wondered why and asked him about it. "What big eyes you've got, Colin," she said. "When you are thinking they get as big as saucers^{①. What are you thinking about now?" "I can't help thinking about what it will look like." he answered "The garden?"asked Mary. "The springtime," he said. "I was thinking that I've really never seen it before. I scarcely ever went out and when I did go I never looked at it. I didn't even think about it." "I never saw it in India because there wasn't any,"said Mary Shut in and morbid{}as his life had been, Colin had more imagination than she had and at least he had spent a good deal of time looking at wonderful books and pictures. “That morning when you ran in and said 'It's come! It's come!', you made me feel quite queer. It sounded as if things were coming with a great procession{③} and big bursts and wafts of music. I've a picture like it in one of my books - crowds of lovely people and children with garlands^{④} and branches with blossoms on them, everyone laughing and dancing and crowding and playing on pipes. That was why I said, 'Perhaps we shall hear golden trumpets'and told you to throw open the window." "How funny!" said Mary. "That's really just what it feels like. And if all the flowers and leaves and green things and birds and wild creatures danced pas at once, what a crowd it would be! I'm sure they'd dance and sing and flute and that would be the wafts of music." They both laughed but it was not because the idea was laughable but .360. 第二十章 “我会永远活下去--永远--永远!” “现在安全了,”他说,“今天下午我就能看到那里 是什么样子的了--今天下午,我就能进去了!” 迪康和他的小家伙们回到了花园,玛丽则留下来陪 柯林。她觉得他不像累了的样子,但是一直到午餐之前, 他都格外安静,甚至在吃饭的过程中也是一言不发。她 不清楚发生了什么事,便开口问了出来。 “你的眼睛可真大呀,柯林,”她说,“每次你想事 情的时候,它们都会睁得像茶托一样大。你现在在想些 ①saucer l'so:sol n. 茶碟. 什么?” 茶托 “我忍不住一直在想它会是什么样子的。”他回答。 “花园吗?”玛丽问道。 “春天。”他说,“我在想,我似乎真的从来都没有 见过春天的样子。我几乎不怎么出门,出门的时候也不 好好看。我甚至都没有想过这件事。” “我在印度的时候也从来都没见过春天,因为那里 ② morbid l'mo:bidla. (精神 没有春天。”玛丽说。 等)病态的 尽管过着封闭而病态的生活,柯林却比她更有想象 力,至少他还有大把大把的时间是花在那些精彩的书和 图片上的。 “那天早晨,当你大喊着‘它来了!它来了!’跑 进来的时候,我的心情还挺奇特的。听上去就像是什么 ③ procession [prou'sefon] n. 东西列队而来,还伴着一阵一阵的欢呼和音乐。我在一 列队行进 ④garland fag:londln. 花环 本书上看到过这样的图片--一群群光鲜亮丽的男男女 花冠 女和可爱的孩子,他们头上戴着花环,手里拿着开了花 的树枝,每个人都聚在一起大笑着,还跳着舞,吹奏着 乐器。所以我才说,我们没准儿还能听见金色小号的声 音呢',还让你去把窗子推开。” “太有意思了!”玛丽说,“我的感觉还真就是这 样的。要是所有的鲜花、树叶、绿油油的植物、小鸟和 野生动物都能聚在一起跳舞的话,那条队伍得有多壮观 啊!我敢保证,它们一定会一边跳舞,一边唱歌,一边 还吹着笛子,那就是你说的一阵一阵的音乐。” 两个人都笑了起来,不是因为这种想法有多么可 .361.