美国语文第五册 第73期:刻板守旧的姑娘(1)

 　　Polly hoped the "dreadful boy" (Tom) would not be present; 波莉但愿那个讨厌的男孩（汤姆）不会来，

　　but he was, and stared at her all dinner time in a most trying manner. 可他偏在，更可恶的是，他那惹人生烦的眼睛直直地盯着她，整整一餐饭，没闪过眼。

　　Mr. Shaw, a busy-looking gentleman, said, "How do you do, my dear? Hope you'll enjoy yourself;" 肖先生说，“你好，亲爱的，希望你在这里玩得开心。”他似乎忙得不可开交，

　　and then appeared to forget her entirely¹. 接下来，好像完全忘了她的存在。

　　Mrs. Shaw, a pale, nervous woman, greeted her little guest kindly², and took care that she wanted for nothing. 面色苍白的肖太太，神情有点紧张，问候了她的小客人后，便再也没有招呼她。

　　Madam Shaw, a quiet old lady, with an imposing³ cap, exclaimed, on seeing Polly, 年迈的肖老夫人，言语不多，头上戴着颇为夸张的帽子，一见波莉，就大呼小叫起来，

　　Bless my heart! the image of her mother—a sweet woman—how is she, dear? “我的天哪！好家伙！简直和你妈一个模子刻出来的，你妈可真是个大美人，她还好吗？我的孩子。”

　　and kept peering at the newcomer over her glasses till, between Madam and Tom, poor Polly lost her appetite. 老太太边说，边从眼镜上端辨认才到的客人，侧身躲过肖太太和汤姆挡住来客的视线。可怜的波莉觉得索然无趣。

　　Her cousin Fanny chatted like a magpie⁴, and little Maud fidgeted, till Tom proposed to put her under the big dish cover, 波莉堂姐范妮叽喳起来没完没了，旁边的小穆德烦躁地坐立不安。汤姆对她说，那我把你放到那个大号菜盘盖子下，

　　which produced such an explosion that the young lady was borne screaming away by the much-enduring nurse. 没想到，居然让过来掀锅盖的一位年轻女子尖叫着跑开，这种把戏实在超出了她的心理承受能力。

　　It was, altogether, an uncomfortable dinner, and Polly was very glad when it was over. 总而言之，那次经历有点令人难忘，一俟晚餐结束，波莉如释重负地喘气，顿时开心起来。

　　They all went about their own affairs; and, after doing the honors of the house, 大家各忙各的散去了，尽过地主之谊后，

　　Fan was called to the dressmaker, leaving Polly to amuse herself in the great drawing-room. 范妮被叫到裁缝那里去了，偌大的客厅里，只留波莉独自一人玩耍。

　　Polly was glad to be alone for a few minutes; 波莉感觉很爽，没人叨扰自己。

　　and, having examined all the pretty things about her, began to walk up and down over the soft, flowery carpet, humming to herself, 将周围好玩的杂七杂八瞅完后，波莉在客厅那块松软的花地毯上走来走去，嘴里不停地哼唱着。

　　as the daylight faded, and only the ruddy glow of the fire filled the room. 白天正在退去，火苗的红润光亮在整个房间弥漫开来。

1 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

2 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

3 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

4 magpie   

n.喜欢收藏物品的人，喜鹊，饶舌者

参考例句：

• Now and then a magpie would call.不时有喜鹊的叫声。
• This young man is really a magpie.这个年轻人真是饶舌。