美国语文第五册 第74期:刻板守旧的姑娘(2)

 　　Presently Madam came slowly in, and sat down in her armchair, saying,  不一会，肖老夫人步履迟缓地走进客厅，在摇椅上坐下，她对波莉说，

　　"That's a fine old tune¹; sing it to me, my dear. I have n't heard it this many a day." “这是一只很老的曲子，很好听，给我唱唱，亲爱的，我可是很久没听过这首歌了。”

　　Polly didn't like to sing before strangers, for she had no teaching but such as her busy mother could give her; 在生人面前开口让波莉感到很是别扭，波莉从未受过什么正规教育，除了从整天忙碌的妈妈那得到些家常教诲；

　　but she had been taught the utmost respect for old people, 长者最应该获得尊重，这种道理她倒是清楚，

　　and, having no reason for refusing, she directly went to the piano and did as she was bid. 看来没有任何理由拒绝，于是，她径直走到钢琴边，按老人的吩咐唱了起来。

　　"That's the sort of music it's a pleasure to hear. Sing some more, dear," said Madam, in her gentle way, when she had done. 波莉唱完，老夫人轻声地说，“就是这首歌，真的不错。再来一遍吧，亲爱的。”

　　Pleased with this praise, Polly sang away in a fresh little voice that went straight to the listener's heart and nestled there. 听到老夫人的赞扬，波莉心里感觉挺受用。再次开口时，她的歌声愈加清新柔婉，悠悠然荡漾开来。

　　The sweet old tunes² that one is never tired of were all Polly's store. 百听不厌、经典甜美的老歌从来都是波莉的拿手好戏。

　　The more she sung, the better she did it; and when she wound up with "A Health to King Charlie," 她越唱越发投入，一曲《祝查理国王健康》达到高亢，

　　the room quite rung with the stirring music made by the big piano and the little maid. 整个房间弥漫着钢琴叮当交响与小姑娘的美妙歌声。

　　"That's a jolly tune! Sing it again, please," cried Tom's voice; “这曲子太好听了！再唱一遍，好吗？”汤姆冷不丁冒了出来。

　　and there was Tom's red head bobbing up over the high back of the chair where he had hidden himself. 他的红头发突然出现在高椅后面，没想到，他竟藏在那里。

　　It gave Polly quite a turn, for she thought no one was hearing her but the old lady dozing³ by the fire. 波莉心猛然一惊，她原以为，客厅里只有那位老太太，在火炉边打盹，不会有别人，

　　"I can't sing any more; I'm tired," she said, and walked away to Madam in the other room. “不唱了，我累了。”说完，她迅速躲开汤姆，走向房间那头的老太太。

　　The red head vanished like a meteor, for Polly's tone had been decidedly cool. 红头发汤姆即刻流星般消失了，毕竟，波莉话里有不容置疑的冷淡。

1 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

2 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 dozing   

v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。