巴斯克威尔的猎犬 梅利琵宅邸的主人斯台普吞（8）

 

　　We had come to a point where a narrow grassy¹ path struck off from the road and wound awayacross the moor². A steep, boulder-sprinkled hill lay upon the right which had in bygone days beencut into a granite³ quarry⁴. The face which was turned towards us formed a dark cliff, with ferns andbrambles growing in its niches⁵. From over a distant rise there floated a gray plume⁶ of smoke.

　　我们走过了一条狭窄多草的由大道斜岔出去的小路， 曲折迂回地穿过沼地。 右侧是陡峭的乱石密布的小山， 多年前已被开成了 花岗岩采石场； 向着我们的一面是暗色的崖壁， 隙罅里长着羊齿植物和荆棘； 在远处的山坡上， 浮动着一抹灰色的烟雾。

　　"A moderate walk along this moor-path brings us to Merripit House," said he. "Perhaps youwill spare an hour that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to my sister."“顺着这条沼地小径慢慢走一会儿， 就能到梅利琵了 ， ” 他说道，“也许您能匀出一小时的时间来吧， 我很愿意把您介绍给我的妹妹。”

　　My first thought was that I should be by Sir Henry's side. But then I remembered the pile ofpapers and bills with which his study table was littered. It was certain that I could not help withthose. And Holmes had expressly said that I should study the neighbours upon the moor. Iaccepted Stapleton's invitation, and we turned together down the path.

　　我首先想到我应当陪伴着亨利爵士， 可是随后又想起了那一堆满满地堆在他书桌上的文件和证券， 当然在这些事情上我是无法帮他忙的， 而且福尔摩斯还曾特意地说过， 我应当对沼地上的邻人们加以考察， 因此我就接受了斯台普吞的邀请， 一起转上了小路。

 

1 grassy   

adj.盖满草的；长满草的

参考例句：

• They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside.他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
• Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。

2 moor   

n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊

参考例句：

• I decided to moor near some tourist boats.我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
• There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor.沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。

3 granite   

adj.花岗岩，花岗石

参考例句：

• They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
• The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。

4 quarry   

n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找

参考例句：

• Michelangelo obtained his marble from a quarry.米开朗基罗从采石场获得他的大理石。
• This mountain was the site for a quarry.这座山曾经有一个采石场。

5 niches   

壁龛( niche的名词复数 )； 合适的位置[工作等]； （产品的）商机； 生态位（一个生物所占据的生境的最小单位）

参考例句：

• Some larvae extend the galleries to form niches. 许多幼虫将坑道延伸扩大成壁龛。
• In his view differences in adaptation are insufficient to create niches commensurate in number and kind. 按照他的观点，适应的差异不足以在数量上和种类上形成同量的小生境。

6 plume   

n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰

参考例句：

• Her hat was adorned with a plume.她帽子上饰着羽毛。
• He does not plume himself on these achievements.他并不因这些成就而自夸。