《风语河岸柳》第4章 与獾先生相遇(1)

Chapter¹ 4 A meeting with Mr Badger²

第4章 与獾先生相遇

They waited patiently for a very long time, jumping up and down in the snow to keep warm.

他们耐心地等了很长时间，在雪地里又蹦又跳以保持身体的暖和。

At last they heard feet coming slowly towards the door.

最后他们终于听到了脚步慢腾腾地向门口走来。

Then the door opened, just enough to show a long nose and pair of sleepy eyes.

然后门开了，仅仅够露出一只长鼻子和一对困倦的眼睛。

'And who, 'said a deep, angry voice, 'is making visits at this time of night?'

是谁，一个低沉、愠怒的声音问道，这么晚还来串门？

'Oh, Badger, 'cried the Rat³, 'let us in, please.

噢，獾，水鼠叫道，请让我们进去。

It's me, Rat, and my friend Mole⁴, and we're lost in the snow. '

是我，水鼠，还有我的朋友鼹鼠，我们在雪地里迷路了。

'What?'said the Badger, in a very different voice.

什么？獾用完全不同的语调说，

'My dear Ratty! Lost in the snow, and in the Wild Wood! Come in at once, both of you, and get yourselves warm. '

亲爱的阿鼠！在雪地里迷路，在野树林！赶快进来，你们俩，先暖和暖和。

That was a wonderful moment for the Mole and the Rat, when they heard the door close behind them, shutting out the Wild Wood.

听到门在他们身后关起来，把野树林隔离在外，

They followed the Badger down long dark tunnels⁵ until they came into a large kitchen.

对鼹鼠和水鼠来说，这真是美妙的时刻。他们跟着獾向下走过长长的黑通道，来到一个大大的厨房。

There was a bright fire, with comfortable armchairs⁶ round it, and a great wooden table with long seats.

那儿有明亮的炉火，四周摆放着舒服的扶手椅，一张特大的木桌和长椅。

'This is not the kind of night for small animals to be out, 'the Badger said, in a fatherly way. 'Sit yourselves down by the fire, while I get you some supper. '

这种夜晚小动物们是不应该出来的，獾慈父般地说，坐在火边，我给你们取点晚餐。

Soon the Mole and the Rat were warm and dry, and the dangers of the Wild Wood seemed a long way away, like a bad dream.

很快他们就烤干了衣服，也感觉暖和了，野树林的危险像一场恶梦显得已很遥远。

Then supper arrived.

晚餐准备好了。

It was enough for ten small hungry animals, and the Rat and the Mole realized just how hungry they were.

它够十只饥饿的小动物吃个饱，水鼠和鼹鼠也才意识到他们已饥肠辘辘了。

When at last they could eat no more, they sat with the Badger round the fire, and told him the story of their adventures⁷.

他们吃饱了以后，便与獾围坐在火炉边，说着他们的危险经历。

1 chapter   

n.章，篇，重要章节

参考例句：

• I will skip the next chapter.我将略过下一章。
• Go and open a wonderful new chapter.去开启美好的新篇章。

2 badger   

v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠

参考例句：

• Now that our debts are squared.Don't badger me with them any more.我们的债务两清了。从此以后不要再纠缠我了。
• If you badger him long enough,I'm sure he'll agree.只要你天天纠缠他，我相信他会同意。

3 rat   

n.鼠，卑鄙的人，变节者；vi.背叛，捕鼠；vt.弄蓬松，告发

参考例句：

• The rat is hated by many people.老鼠被很多人憎恶。
• He stopped up the rat holes.他塞住了那些老鼠洞。

4 mole   

n.胎块；痣；克分子

参考例句：

• She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
• The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。

5 tunnels   

隧道，地道( tunnel的名词复数 )； （动物栖息的）穴

参考例句：

• The badger sett had twelve entrances to what must have been a labyrinth of tunnels. 这个獾穴有12 个入口，下面必定有一套错综复杂的地道。
• Workers could not clear the tunnels of smoke. 工人们无法清除隧道里的烟雾。

6 armchairs   

n.扶手椅( armchair的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He eased himself into one of the armchairs. 他小心地坐到扶手椅里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Michael had sat down in one of the big leather armchairs. 迈克尔坐在一个很大的皮扶手椅上。 来自教父部分

7 adventures   

冒险活动( adventure的名词复数 )； 冒险经历； 奇遇

参考例句：

• her adventures travelling in Africa 她在非洲旅行时的冒险经历
• She entertained them by narrating her adventures in Africa. 她讲述她在非洲的历险来使他们开心。