美国语文第五册 第192期:癫狂的火车司机(2)

 　　At this juncture¹ some one touched me on the elbow.  恰好那时，有人用肘碰了碰我，

　　I turned, and saw a stranger by my side.  转身一看，身边站着位陌生人，

　　I thought that he was going to remonstrate² with me for my backwardness.  我以为，他将指责为何拖延开车时间。

　　In fact, I began to have strong temptations to pull off my uniform,  其实当时，我真想一把扯掉身上的制服，

　　for every anxious eye was fixed³ upon the glaring badges which marked me as the chief officer of the train.  因为，每一双焦虑眼睛无不注视我制服上佩戴的列车长佩章。

　　However, this stranger was a middle-aged⁴ man, tall and stout⁵, with a face of great energy and intelligence.  那位陌生的中年人，身材高大、壮实，看起来精力充沛、富有睿智。

　　His eye was black and brilliant,—so brilliant that I could not gaze steadily⁶ into it, though I tried; 望着他那双黝黑闪亮的眼睛，亮得似乎无法凝视片刻，直入深处。

　　and his lips, which were very thin, seemed more like polished marble than human flesh.  他的嘴唇很薄，看来更像抛光后的大理石。

　　His dress was black throughout, and not only set with exact nicety, but was scrupulously⁷ clean and neat. 他全身上下黑色装束，服装极为考究，洁净笔挺。

　　“You want an engineer, I understand,” he said in a low, cautious tone,  “我知道，你需要一位火车司机。”他开口对我说，声音低沉，言语谨慎，

　　at the same time gazing quietly about him, as though he wanted no one to hear what he said. 同时冷静地环顾着周围，好像不希望有人听见我们之间的对话。

　　“I do,” I replied. “My train is all ready, and we have no engineer within twenty miles of this place.”  “确实需要。”我说道，“火车就要开了，这地方方圆二十英里内却找不到一位司机。”

　　“Well, sir, I am going to Bromberg; I must go, and I will run the engine for you.”  “哦，是这样。先生，我将去布朗伯格，一定要坐这班车走，我来给你开车。”

　　“Ha!” I uttered, “are you an engineer?”  “太好了！”我开口问，“你是司机？”

　　I am, sir—one of the oldest in the country. 当然，先生，我可是这个国家资格最老的司机。

1 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

2 remonstrate   

v.抗议，规劝

参考例句：

• He remonstrated with the referee.他向裁判抗议。
• I jumped in the car and went to remonstrate.我跳进汽车去提出抗议。

3 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

4 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

5 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。

6 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

7 scrupulously   

adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地

参考例句：

• She toed scrupulously into the room. 她小心翼翼地踮着脚走进房间。 来自辞典例句
• To others he would be scrupulously fair. 对待别人，他力求公正。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史