英语美文背诵 通往广场的路不止一条(下)

We were like detectives, Mrs. Vidian and I. We put ourselves on the trail of any Armenians who lived in Paris. One friend led us to another. At last we tracked down women, each of whom could knit¹ the special stitch². Two weeks later the sweaters were finished. And the first shipment³ from the new house of Schiaparelli was on its way to the United States!

我和维迪安太太像侦探似地开始行动，我们追踪任何一位住在巴黎的亚美尼亚人。一个朋友把我们介绍给另一个朋友，就这样我们终于找到了20名亚美尼亚妇女，她们个个都会这种特殊的针法。两星期后，毛线衫都织好了，新开张的斯基亚帕雷利时装店第一批货物被发往美国！

From that day a steady stream of clothes and perfumes⁴ flowed from the house of Schiaparelli. I found the world of fashion gay⁵ and exciting, full of challenge and adventure. I shall never forget one showing which was really a challenge. Once again Father's advice helped me. I was busy getting ready to show my winter fashions. Then just 13 days before the presentation the sewing girls were called out on strike. I found myself left with one tailor and woman who was in charge of the sewing room! I was as gloomy⁶ as my models and salesgirls. "We'll never make it,"one of them cried.

从那天开始，一批批时装和香水源源不断地从新开张的时装店售出。我发现时装业充满竞争和冒险，令人愉快和兴奋。我永生难忘那一次真正充满挑战的服装展览，是爸爸的那条忠告再次帮助了我。我正忙着准备展览冬季时装，就在时装表演开始前13天，缝纫女工们被叫去参加罢工，我发现只剩下我自己、一个裁缝和一个缝纫车间的女主管！我像我的模特和女售货员一样沮丧，有一个女售货员哭道："我们绝对赶不上了！"

Here, I thought, is the test of all tests for Father's advice. Where is the way out this time? I wondered and worried. I was certain we would have to call off the presentation or else show the clothes unfinished. Then it dawned on me. Why not show the clothes unfinished?

我想，此时是对父亲的忠告最严峻的考验。这次的出路在哪儿呢？我满腹狐疑，心急如焚。我确信只有两条路可走：要么取消时装表演；要么展出没有完工的时装。就在这时，我茅塞顿开：为什么不把没有做完的衣服拿出来展览呢？

We worked hurriedly. And, exactly 13 days later, right on time, the Schiaparelli showing took place.

我们紧张匆忙地工作着。正好13天后，斯基亚帕雷利的时装展览准时开幕了。

What a showing it was! Some coats had no sleeves; others had only one. Many of our clothes were still in an early stage. They were only patterns made of heavy cotton cloth. But on these we pinned sketches⁷ and pieces of material. In this way we were able to show that what colors and textures⁸ the clothes would have when they were finished.

这是一次什么样的展览呀！有些上衣没有袖子，有的只有一只袖子，许多衣服还在初缝阶段。它们只是一些用厚棉布做成的衣服试样，但在这些试样上我们别上了衣服的草图和衣料，这样我们就能告诉人们这些衣服做成之后的颜色和质地。

All in all, the showing was different. It was so different that it was a great success. Our unusual showing caught the attention of the public, and orders for the clothes poured in.

总而言之，这次服装展别开生面，它太不同凡响了，竟取得了巨大的成功。不寻常的展览吸引了公众的注意，订单源源不断。

Father's wise words had guided me once again. There is more than one way to the square always.

父亲很有见地的那番话再次指引我度过了难关。通往广场的路的确不止一条。

1 knit   

vt.编织，密接，结合，皱眉；vi.编织，变得紧凑，愈合；n.编织

参考例句：

• She could knit up a baby's coat in an afternoon.她能在一个下午织好一件婴儿的衣服。
• Our letters enabled us to knit up our old friendship.通信使我们恢复了旧日的友谊。

2 stitch   

n.一针，疼痛，碎布条；v.缝合

参考例句：

• He had a stitch in the side.他胁部疼痛。
• Fold the fabric and stitch the two layers together.将布料对折，然后将两层缝在一起。

3 shipment   

n.装货，装载的货物

参考例句：

• The goods are done up in bundles for shipment.货物已打包以备装船。
• Please advise the date of shipment as soon as possible.请尽快通知装货日期。

4 perfumes   

n.香气( perfume的名词复数 )；芳香；香味；馨

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfumes and stimulant. 麝香被用作香料和兴奋剂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The odors pleasing to most human noses are used as perfumes. 这些使大多数人感到喜悦的气味，可用作香料。 来自辞典例句

5 gay   

adj.同性恋的；色彩鲜艳的；n.(男)同性恋者

参考例句：

• I don't know he was a gay person.我不知道他是同性恋者。
• Spring comes round to the earth again and everything looks fresh and gay.春回大地，万象更新。

6 gloomy   

adj.阴暗的，阴沉的，令人沮丧的，阴郁的

参考例句：

• A few faint gleams of sunshine lit up the gloomy afternoon.几束隐约的阳光使阴暗的下午有些明亮。
• When I saw their gloomy faces,I knew something was wrong.当我看到他们沮丧的脸时，我知道出事了。

7 sketches   

n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概

参考例句：

• The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
• You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 textures   

n.手感( texture的名词复数 )；质感；口感；（音乐或文学的）谐和统一感

参考例句：

• I'm crazy about fabrics textures and colors and designs. 我喜欢各式各样的纺织物--对它的质地，色彩到花纹图案--简直是入了迷。 来自辞典例句
• Let me clear up the point about the textures. 让我明确了一点有关的纹理。 来自互联网