美国语文第五册 第221期:斯格威尔的手段(3)

 　　"Now," said Squeers, giving the desk a great rap with his cane¹,  “喂，”斯格威尔用拐杖重重地敲击一下桌子，

　　which made half the little boys nearly jump out of their boots, “is that physicking over?”  多半孩子刹那间三魂吓掉个两魂半，“治疗结束了吗？”

　　"Just over," said Mrs. Squeers, choking the last boy in her hurry,  “刚完。”斯格威尔夫人答道，她手脚慌忙地塞药，竟然让最后一个男孩噎住半晌，

　　and tapping the crown of his head with the wooden spoon to restore him.  随后她猛地用木勺敲打孩子顶部，让他得以缓过气来，

　　Here, you Smike: "take away now. Look sharp!" 一边说，“好了，史迈克，赶快走，长点眼！”

　　Smike shuffled² out with the basin, and Mrs. Squeers hurried out after him into a species of washhouse,  史迈克笨拙地端着盆走开了，斯格威尔夫人匆忙跟在他的身后,两人走进一间好像洗衣房的地方，

　　where there was a small fire, and a large kettle, together with a number of little wooden bowls which were arranged upon a board.  房间炉灶上火苗很小，垛着个大水壶，旁边木板上摆放几只小木碗。

　　Into these bowls Mrs. Squeers, assisted by the hungry servant, 在一位饥肠咕噜的佣人帮忙张罗下，

　　poured a brown composition which looked like diluted³ pincushions without the covers, and was called porridge.  斯格威尔夫人将一盆无盖、类似粥的褐色混合黏状物分别倒进木碗内，

　　A minute wedge of brown bread was inserted in each bowl, and when they had eaten their porridge by means of the bread,  然后逐一添加小撮面包。孩子们就这样吃完面包，喝光粥，早餐转眼草草结束；

　　the boys ate the bread itself, and had finished their breakfast, whereupon Mr. Squeers went away to his own.  之后，斯格威尔先生走开，独自享用他的早餐去了。

　　After some half-hour's delay Mr. Squeers reappeared, 约莫半个时辰，斯格威尔先生回来了，

　　and the boys took their places and their books, of which latter commodity the average might be about one to eight learners.  男孩们走到各自座位，拿出书本，大约八个孩子才能有一本书。

1 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

2 shuffled   

v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼

参考例句：

• He shuffled across the room to the window. 他拖着脚走到房间那头的窗户跟前。
• Simon shuffled awkwardly towards them. 西蒙笨拙地拖着脚朝他们走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 diluted   

无力的，冲淡的

参考例句：

• The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade. 这颜料可用水稀释以使色度淡一些。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。