美国语文第五册 第154期:回家之路(1)

 　　On our way from Springfield to Boston, a stout¹, black-whiskered man sat immediately in front of me, in the drawing-room car,  我们坐在一辆从斯普林菲尔德开往波士顿火车的卧铺车厢里，一位壮硕结实、长有黑色胡须的男子恰好坐在我前面，

　　whose maneuvers² were a source of constant amusement.  他的搞笑动作成为车厢笑料不断的来源。

　　He would get up every five minutes, hurry away to the narrow passage leading to the door of the car, and commence laughing in the most violent manner, 他总会每隔五分钟站起，匆忙离开座位，跑向通向车厢门边的过道，然后，肆无忌惮地开怀大笑，

　　continuing that healthful exercise until he observed that some one was watching him, when he would return to his seat.  直到觉察有人关注他，才会结束这种健康练习，返回他的座位。

　　As we neared Boston these demonstrations³ increased in frequency and violence, but the stranger kept his seat and chuckled⁴ to himself. 当火车接近波士顿，男人表演的频率增加，甚至举止更为疯狂；一旦坐下，那男人兀自咯咯地笑着，

　　He shifted the position of his two portmanteaus, or placed them on the seat as if he was getting ready to leave.  不停挪动自己两只旅行箱的位置，或干脆将其放在座位上，似乎马上他就会离开。

　　As we were at least twenty-five miles from Boston, such early preparations seemed extremely ridiculous.  当时，我们离波士顿最少还有二十五英里，如此早就做下车准备，看来太滑稽好笑。

　　He became so excited at last that he could not keep his secret.  最后他愈加激动，好像非得找人聊天一吐为快。

　　Some one must be made a confidant; and as I happened to be the nearest to him, he selected me.  我碰巧坐得离他最近，亦就理所当然地成为他情感宣泄的知己。

　　Turning around suddenly, and rocking himself to and fro in his chair, he said, 他突然转过身来，在座椅里前后摇晃地开口对我说，

　　I have been away from home three years. Have been in Europe.  我离家已经三年，一直待在欧洲。

　　My folks don't expect me for three months yet, but I got through and started.  我的老乡们三月内别指望见到我了，不过，我与他们已打过招呼了。

　　I telegraphed them at the last station—they've got the dispatch by this time.  我在最后离开的站台上与他们通过话，现在，他们想必接到我的快件了。

　　As he said this he rubbed his hands, and changed the portmanteau on his left to the right, and then the one on the right to the left.  他一边说，一边搓着手，然后将左手的旅行箱放到右边，右边的换到左边。

1 stout   

adj.强壮的，粗大的，结实的，勇猛的，矮胖的

参考例句：

• He cut a stout stick to help him walk.他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路。
• The stout old man waddled across the road.那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。

2 maneuvers   

n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He suspected at once that she had been spying upon his maneuvers. 他立刻猜想到，她已经侦察到他的行动。 来自辞典例句
• Maneuvers in Guizhou occupied the Reds for four months. 贵州境内的作战占了红军四个月的时间。 来自辞典例句

3 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

4 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。