精灵鼠小弟 第84期:绝望又难过的鼠小弟

 Stuart looked at her in despair.

斯图亚特绝望地看了看她。

"Did you ever see an Indian paddling along some quiet unspoiled river with a great big piece of rope dragging astern?" he asked.

“你曾经见过一艘船尾拖着绳子在宁静的水面上航行的印第安独木舟吗？”他问。

"We could pretend we were fishing," said Harriet, who didn't realize that some people are fussy¹ about boats.

“我们可以假装是在钓鱼，”哈丽雅特觉得一个人不必因为船的小事而发愁。

"I don't want to pretend I'm fishing," cried Stuart, desperately².

“我可不想假装是在钓鱼，”斯图亚特绝望地大叫。

Besides, look at that mud! Look at it!

此外，再看看那些泥！看哪！

He was screaming now.

他的声音更高了。

Harriet sat down on the twig³ beside Stuart.

哈丽雅特坐到斯图亚特坐的树枝上。

She offered him a peppermint⁴ but he shook his head.

她递给他一块薄荷糖，他却摇摇头不接。

"Well," she said, "it's starting to rain, and I guess I'd better be running along if you are not going to take me paddling in your canoe."

“哦，”她说，“天就要下雨了，如果你不带我划独木舟，我还是快点回去的好。”

I don't see why you have to sit here and sulk.

我不明白你坐在这里发呆还有什么用。

Would you like to come up to my house?

你愿意到我家来吗？

After dinner you could take me to the dance at the Country Club.

晚饭后你可以带我去乡村俱乐部跳舞。

It might cheer you up.

这会让你高兴起来的。

"No, thank you," replied Stuart.

“不，谢谢你，”斯图亚特回答。

I don't know how to dance.

我不会跳舞。

Besides, I plan to make an early start in the morning.

而且，我打算明天一早就离开。

I'll probably be on the road at daybreak.

黎明时分我就该在路上了。

"Are you going to sleep out in all this rain?" asked Harriet.

“那么你就睡在雨里吗？”哈丽雅特问。

"Certainly," said Stuart.

“当然，”斯图亚特说。

I'll crawl in under the canoe.

我可以在独木舟下躲雨。

Harriet shrugged⁵ her shoulders.

哈丽雅特耸耸肩膀。

"Well," she said, "good-by, Mr. Little."

“好吧，”她说，“再见，利特尔先生。”

"Good-by, Miss Ames," said Stuart.

“再见，埃姆斯小姐，”斯图亚特说。

I am sorry our evening on the river had to end like this.

我很难过，我们在夜河边的会面就这么结束了。

"So am I," said Harriet.

“我也是，”哈丽雅特说。

1 fussy   

adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的

参考例句：

• He is fussy about the way his food's cooked.他过分计较食物的烹调。
• The little girl dislikes her fussy parents.小女孩讨厌她那过分操心的父母。

2 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

3 twig   

n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解

参考例句：

• He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。
• The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。

4 peppermint   

n.薄荷，薄荷油，薄荷糖

参考例句：

• Peppermint oil is very good for regulating digestive disorders.薄荷油能很有效地调节消化系统失调。
• He sat down,popped in a peppermint and promptly choked to death.他坐下来，突然往嘴里放了一颗薄荷糖，当即被噎死。

5 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》