美国语文第六册 第214期:瑞普·凡·温克尔(4)

The bystanders began now to look at each other, nod, wink¹ significantly, and tap their fingers against their foreheads.

此时，围观者面面相觑，互相点头示意，双手抚额，一筹莫展。

There was a whisper, also, about securing the gun, and keeping the old fellow from doing mischief², at the very suggestion of which the self-important man in the cocked hat retired³ with some precipitation.

也有人小声低语，说先应该夺下他的枪，免得这个老家伙狗急跳墙开枪走火，那个戴尖顶帽颇为高傲的老者暗示大家马上动手。

At this critical moment, a fresh, comely⁴ woman pressed through the throng⁵ to get a peep at the gray-bearded man.

就在这千钧一发之际，一位相貌姣好的妇人拨开众人，瞥了一眼这位一脸灰白胡须的老人。

She had a chubby⁶ child in her arms, which, frightened at his looks, began to cry. "Hush⁷, Rip!" cried she, "hush, you little fool! the old man won't hurt you."

她怀中抱着一个胖乎乎的幼儿，这孩子一见瑞普便吓得大哭。“别哭，瑞普！”她喝道，“别哭，你这个小笨蛋！这位老人又不会打你！”

The name of the child, the air of the mother, the tone of her voice, all awakened⁸ a train of recollections in his mind.

这孩子的名字，这位母亲的举止和说话的声音，所有这一切唤醒了他心中的记忆。

"What is your name, my good woman?" asked he. "Judith Gardenier." "And your father's name?" "Ah, poor man! Rip Van Winkle was his name.

“这位善良的夫人，你的名字是？”他问道。“朱迪丝·卡德尼耶。”“你父亲的名字是？”“哦，那可怜的人！他的名字是瑞普·凡·温克尔。

but it's twenty years since he went away from home with his gun, and never has been heard of since.

二十年前他拎着枪离家一去未归，从那以后再也没有他的音信。

his dog came home without him; but whether he shot himself, or was carried away by the Indians, nobody can tell.

他养的狗也不见了；到底是自杀了还是被印第安人劫走了，谁也说不清。

I was then but a little girl." Rip had but one question more to ask; but he put it with a faltering⁹ voice: "Where's your mother?"

当时我还是个小女孩呢。”瑞普还想再问一个问题；他的声音颤抖着：“你母亲在哪儿？”

"Oh, she, too, died but a short time since; she broke a blood vessel¹⁰ in a fit of passion at a New England peddler."

“噢，不久后她也死了；在与一个新英格兰小贩的争执中因血管破裂而亡。”

1 wink   

n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁

参考例句：

• He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
• The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间，那颗卫星就消失了。

2 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 comely   

adj.漂亮的，合宜的

参考例句：

• His wife is a comely young woman.他的妻子是一个美丽的少妇。
• A nervous,comely-dressed little girl stepped out.一个紧张不安、衣着漂亮的小姑娘站了出来。

5 throng   

n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集

参考例句：

• A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
• The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

6 chubby   

adj.丰满的，圆胖的

参考例句：

• He is stocky though not chubby.他长得敦实，可并不发胖。
• The short and chubby gentleman over there is our new director.那个既矮又胖的绅士是我们的新主任。

7 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

8 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。

10 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。