【双语有声阅读】一双丝袜 A Pair of Silk Stockings

Little Mrs. Sommers one day found herself the unexpected¹ owner of fifteen dollars. It seemed to her a very large amount of money. The way it filled up her worn money holder² gave her a feeling of importance that she had not enjoyed for years. 

　　一天，身材娇小的萨默斯太太意外地捡到十五美元。这对她来说算是一笔可观的财富了。这些钱把萨默斯太太那破旧的钱夹撑得鼓鼓的，她觉得自己仿佛成了一位重要人物——她已经有许多年未曾体会过这种滋味了。

 

　　The question of investment³ was one she considered carefully. For a day or two she walked around in a dreamy state as she thought about her choices. She did not wish to act quickly and do anything she might regret. 

　　她要好好思量如何使用这笔钱。这一两天来，她一直恍恍惚惚，来回踱步，思考着各种选择。她可不愿意冲动行事，以免做出一些会让自己后悔的事情。

 

　　A dollar or two could be added to the price she usually paid for her daughter Janie’s shoes. This would guarantee they would last a great deal longer than usual. She would buy cloth for new shirts for the boys. Her daughter Mag should have another dress. And still there would be enough left for new stockings—two pairs per child. The idea of her little family looking fresh and new for once in their lives made her restless⁴ with excitement. 

　　只要再掏一两美元就能凑足她平时给女儿贾妮买鞋子的钱，这对鞋子一定比平常买的更耐穿。她可以给儿子们买布缝制新衬衫。女儿麦格也该买条裙子了。剩下的钱足够买几双新袜子——每个孩子两双。让全家人生平第一次打扮一新，这想法使她兴奋得坐立不安。

 

　　Mrs. Sommers knew the value of finding⁵ things for sale at reduced prices. But that day she was tired and a little bit weak. When she arrived at the large department store, she sat in front of an empty counter. She rested her hand upon the counter. 

　　萨默斯太太深知寻找降价销售的物品有多重要。但是那天她非常疲惫，也有点虚弱。她来到大型百货商店，坐在一个空柜台前，一只手搁在柜台上。

 

　　She wore no gloves. She slowly grew aware that her hand had felt something very pleasant to touch. She looked down to see that her hand lay upon a pile of silk stockings. A young girl who stood behind the counter asked her if she wished to examine the silky leg coverings. 

　　她没有戴手套。她慢慢意识到自己的手摸到了一些触感很舒服的东西。她低下头，看到自己的手正放在一堆丝袜上面。站在柜台后面的年轻女孩问她是否想看看这些丝质袜子。

 

　　She smiled as if she had been asked to inspect diamond jewelry⁶ with the aim of purchasing it. But she went on feeling the soft, costly⁷ items. Now she used both hands, holding the stockings up to see the light shine through them. 

　　她笑了，仿佛她要买的是钻石首饰，别人请她查看珠宝似的。她继续抚摸着这轻柔而昂贵的商品，用双手举起袜子，欣赏光线闪耀其间。

 

Mrs. Sommers chose a black pair and looked at them closely⁸. 

　　萨默斯太太挑了一双黑色的丝袜，仔细检查。

 

　　“A dollar and ninety-eight cents,” she said aloud. “Well, I will buy this pair.” 

　　“一美元九十八美分，”她大声说。“我要买这双。”

1 unexpected   

adj.想不到的，意外的

参考例句：

• I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
• His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。

2 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

3 investment   

n.投资，投资额；(时间、精力等的)投入

参考例句：

• It took two years before I recouped my investment.我用了两年时间才收回投资。
• The success of the project pivots on investment from abroad.这个工程的成功主要依靠外来投资。

4 restless   

adj.焦躁不安的；静不下来的，运动不止的

参考例句：

• He looks like a restless man.他看上去坐立不安。
• He has been very restless all day and he awoke nearly all last night.他一整天都心神不定，昨夜几乎一整夜没有合眼。

5 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

6 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

7 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

8 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。