《风语河岸柳》第7章 重返蛤蟆宅第(3)

When they came in and saw Toad¹, the Badger² shook his head sadly. ' Poor Toad! This is not a happy home-coming for you.

当他们走进房子看见癞蛤蟆时，獾很遗憾地摇着头说：可怜的蛤蟆！对你来说，这不是一次愉快的回家之行。

But the Mole³ was very pleased to see him. 'Here's old Toad! ' he cried. 'How did you manage to escape from prison?It was very clever of you to do that. '

当鼹鼠见到他显得非常高兴。你这个老蛤蟆！他叫道，你是怎么设法从监狱里逃出来的？你真是聪明。

' Clever?' said Toad. 'Well, I don't want to boast⁴, Mole. I'll tell you all about it and you can decide if—

聪明？癞蛤蟆说，得了，我不想吹牛了，鼹鼠。我将告诉你所有的一切，然后你会决定我是否—

‘Toad, do he quiet, please! ' said the Rat. 'We need to discuss plans. I think I know the best way for Toad to—'

癞蛤蟆，请你务必保持安静！水鼠说道，我们必须研究些方案。我想我知道癞蛤蟆应采取的最好方法—

'No, you don't! ' said the Mole. 'I know what Toad should do. He should—'

不，你不知道！鼹鼠打断道。我知道癞蛤蟆应怎么做，他应该—

'Well, I'm not going to! ' cried Toad, getting excited. 'I'm not taking orders from you fellows! It's my house that we're talking about and—'

够了，我什么都不想做！癞蛤蟆叫道，他有些激动。我不会听从你们这帮家伙的命令！我们现在谈论的是我的房子，而且——

By now they were almost shouting at each other, when suddenly a deep low voice came from an armchair.

这时，他们几乎是在互相大叫大嚷了，突然从手扶椅那儿传来一个低沉的声音。

'Be quiet at once, all of you! ' said the Badger. 'And listen.

你们全给我马上安静下来！獾说道。听着，

The Mole and I have been watching Toad Hall.

鼹鼠和我一直在注意着蛤蟆宅第的动向。

The stoats, with their guns, are on guard all round the walls, and they're very good guards too. We can't attack the place from outside. They're too strong for us. '

持枪的大白鼬把守在围墙周围，他们还都是很不赖的卫兵。我们是不能从外面攻打进去的。对于我们来说，他们太厉害了。

' Then there's no hope, ' cried Toad miserably⁵. 'I shall go and join the army or something, and never see my dear Toad Hall again! '

那么没有希望了，癞蛤蟆痛苦地叫道。我将离开这儿去参军或干别的什么，我将再也见不到我心爱的宅第了！

'Cheer up, Toady⁶, ' said the Badger, 'because now I'm going to tell you a very great secret. '

振作起来，阿癞，獾说，因为我将告诉你一个非常重大的秘密。

Toad sat up, interested. He loved secrets, although he could never keep them.

蛤蟆很有兴趣地坐直了身。他喜欢秘密，尽管他从来不能保守秘密。

1 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。

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 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。

4 boast   

v.自夸；以拥有…而自豪；吹嘘；n.自吹自擂

参考例句：

• It is nothing to boast of.这没有什么可夸耀的。
• Talent is his boast.他以有才自豪。

5 miserably   

adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地

参考例句：

• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
• It was drizzling, and miserably cold and damp. 外面下着毛毛细雨，天气又冷又湿，令人难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 toady   

v.奉承；n.谄媚者，马屁精

参考例句：

• He flung it in my teeth that I was a toady.他责备我是个马屁精。
• Arrogance has no defense against a toady.傲慢防不了谄媚者。