while the elder, amongst whom was Tom, sat chatting about on one another's beds, with their jackets and waistcoats off. 大点的孩子们，包括汤姆，脱了外衣和马甲，坐在床上交谈着。

　　Poor little Arthur was overwhelmed with the novelty of his position. 新环境使可怜的小阿瑟感到不安。

　　The idea of sleeping in the room with strange boys had clearly never crossed his mind before, and was as painful as it was strange to him. 以前他从来没想过要和陌生的男孩子们睡在一个房间，因此既陌生，又痛苦。

　　He could hardly bear to take his jacket off; however, presently, with an effort, off it came, 他很难忍受脱下外衣；可是很快，一咬牙还是脱了下来，

　　and then he paused and looked at Tom, who was sitting at the bottom of his bed, talking and laughing. 然后停了一下，看了看汤姆，汤姆正坐在床脚，有说有笑的。

　　"Please, Brown," he whispered, "may I wash my face and hands?" “请问，布朗，”他低声说，“我可以洗洗脸和手吗？”

　　"Of course, if you like," said Tom, staring: that's your wash-hand stand under the window, second from your bed. “当然，要是你愿意，”汤姆盯着他说，窗子下面是你的洗手架，从你床边数第二个。

　　You'll have to go down for more water in the morning if you use it all. 如果你把水用光，明天早上你就得多打些水。

　　And on he went with his talk, while Arthur stole timidly from between the beds out to his wash-hand stand,  汤姆继续和别人说话，阿瑟羞怯地从床的间隙中走到洗手架，

　　and began his ablutions, thereby drawing for a moment on himself the attention of the room. 洗了起来，也吸引了房间里其他人的目光。

　　On went the talk and laughter. Arthur finished his washing and undressing, and put on his nightgown. 房间里依然有说有笑。阿瑟洗完后，脱了衣服，穿上了睡衣。

　　He then looked round more nervously than ever. 看着四周，他这时显得更紧张了。

　　Two or three of the little boys were already in bed, sitting up with their chins on their knees. 两三个小孩子已经膝盖顶着下巴坐在床上。

　　The light burned clear, the noise went on. 烛光明亮，房间里依然乱哄哄的。

　　It was a trying moment for the poor, little, lonely boy; 对可怜的小阿瑟来说，这可是一个考验他的时刻；

　　however, this time he did not ask Tom what he might or might not do, but dropped on his knees by his bedside, 可是，这次他没有问汤姆可以或不可以，他双腿跪在了床边，

　　as he had done every day from his childhood, to open his heart to Him who heareth the cry and beareth the sorrows of the tender child, and the strong man in agony. 就像他自孩提时开始每天做的那样，向聆听世人的恳求、为弱小的孩子和成年人承受苦恼和痛苦的主敞开了心扉。