《风语河岸柳》第4章 与獾先生相遇(5)

The Badger¹ smiled warmly at him. 'That's just what I say, 'he replied.

獾对他温和地微笑着。这正是我的看法，他回答道，

'Down here, you're safe and dry and warm. With a house above ground, you've got to worry about fire, and wind and rain, holes in the roof and broken windows.

在地下，你是安全、干燥、温暖的。住在地面上的房子里，你得担心火、风和雨，还有房顶上的洞和破窗户。

No, above ground is fine in its way, but one's home should be underground. '

是的，从某种意义上说，地上的房子是不错，但‘家’应该在地下。

The Mole² agreed with everything that the Badger said. His own little home was underground, so it was natural for him to feel comfortable there.

鼹鼠非常同意獾的说法。他自己的小家就在地下，因此他觉得这儿舒服是很自然的。

He and the Badger became very friendly, and after lunch the Badger took him all round his home, down tunnel after tunnel, through room after room.

他和獾之间变得非常的默契，午餐后，獾带他去参观他的家，向下穿过了一个又一个通道，走过了一间又一间房子。

The Mole was interested in everything and thought it was all wonderful. '

鼹鼠对什么都感兴趣，认为这里的一切都是那么美妙。

When they got back to the kitchen, the Rat was walking up and down, very restless³. Unlike the Mole, he didn't really feel comfortable underground.

当他们回到厨房，水鼠正在那儿来回踱步，一副很不安的样子。不像鼹鼠，他在地下感到不太舒服，

He wanted to be back in his own home, where the windows looked out over the river, and where he could hear the wind whispering through the trees.

他想回到他自己的家，在那儿，从窗户里能看见潺潺河水，能听到风过河岸树时的轻轻低语。

'Come along, Mole, 'he said. 'We must get off while it's daylight. We don't want to spend another night lost in the Wild Wood. '

快点，鼹鼠，他说。趁天亮，我们得马上走。我们不想在野树林里再迷失去路而浪费又一个晚上。

'It's all right, 'said the Otter⁴. 'I'm coming with you and I know all the paths. '

没问题，水獭说，我和你们作伴，我熟悉所有的路。

'You mustn't worry, Ratty, 'added the Badger calmly.

你不必担心，阿鼠，獾平静地补充道。

'My tunnels go further than you think, and I've several back doors at the edge of the wood-although I keep them secret from most people. '

我的地道要比你们想的远得多，在树林的尽头，我开了几个后门—尽管我对大多数人都保守着这个秘密。

So the journey home was really very easy.

因此回家就真的很容易了。

When they came out of the Badger's secret back door, they found a path across the fields and soon they could see the river in front of them.

当他们走出獾的秘密后门，他们就看见了穿过田野的小路，很快他们就看到了前面的河。

The Mole looked back at the Wild Wood for a moment, thinking of the terror⁵ that he had felt there.

鼹鼠回过头看着野树林，想了一会他在那儿的可怕经历，

Then he hurried on after the others, happy to be back in the open fields, and looking forward to the bright firelight of home.

然后急忙赶上他俩，庆幸自己又回到了广阔的田野，并期待着炉火明亮的家。

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 restless   

adj.焦躁不安的；静不下来的，运动不止的

参考例句：

• He looks like a restless man.他看上去坐立不安。
• He has been very restless all day and he awoke nearly all last night.他一整天都心神不定，昨夜几乎一整夜没有合眼。

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。

5 terror   

n.恐怖；可怖的人(事)

参考例句：

• We were in mortal terror of being found out. 我们非常害怕被发现。
• That guy is a proper terror. 那家伙真是讨厌。