《风语河岸柳》第4章 与獾先生相遇(3)

'Very well, 'continued the Badger¹. 'But when the days are longer and warmer, then we'll do something. We-you and me and our friend the Mole² here-we'll try to teach Toad³ a lesson.

很好，獾继续说。但是日子变长变暖后，我们还是会干些事的。我们—你和我，还有我们的朋友，鼹鼠—我们设法教训他一下。

We won't listen to any silliness. We'll bring him back to reason, and turn him into a sensible Toad at last.

我们不愿再听到任何蠢事了。我们要让他恢复理智，最后变成聪明的癞蛤蟆。

But now, it's time for bed. Don't hurry tomorrow morning-come for breakfast as late as you want! '

但是现在该睡觉了，明天早上不要赶时间—睡够了再用早餐！

The two tired animals slept long and deeply, and came down to breakfast very late indeed. In the kitchen they found two young hedgehogs, busy with bowls of bread and hot milk.

这两只疲倦的动物沉沉入睡了很长时间，的确很迟才下来吃早餐。在厨房里他们看见两只小豪猪正忙着吃碗里的面包和热牛奶。

'Hello! 'said the Rat pleasantly. 'Where did you two come from? Lost your way in the snow, I suppose?'

你们好！水鼠愉快地说，你们俩从哪儿来？在雪地里迷路了吧，我猜？

'Yes, sir, 'said one of the hedgehogs politely.

是的，先生，其中一只豪猪礼貌地答道，

'We got lost on the way to school, and Mr Badger said we could come in and have some breakfast. '

我们去学校的路上迷了路，獾先生说我们可以进来用些早餐。

The breakfast things were all ready on the table, and the Mole and the Rat quickly got to work.

早餐配料已准备好在桌子上，鼹鼠和水鼠很快开始工作。

The Rat made the coffee while the Mole fried several pieces of bread and an enormous number of eggs.

水鼠煮咖啡，鼹鼠煎了几片面包和一大堆鸡蛋。

When the door bell rang, one of the hedgehogs went to answer the door.

门铃响了，一只豪猪起身去开门，

He came back followed by the Otter⁴, who gave a shout of happiness when he saw the Rat.

回来时后面跟着水獭，当他看见水鼠，高兴地叫了起来。

He ran across the room and almost knocked the Rat off his chair.

他小跑着穿过房间，差点把水鼠从椅子上撞了下来。

'Get off! 'said the Raf, with his mouth full of fried bread.

走开！水鼠说道，嘴里塞满了煎面包。

1 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。

2 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。

3 toad   

n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆

参考例句：

• Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
• Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。

4 otter   

n.水獭

参考例句：

• The economists say the competition otter to the brink of extinction.经济学家们说，竞争把海獭推到了灭绝的边缘。
• She collared my black wool coat with otter pelts.她把我的黑呢上衣镶上了水獭领。