《风语河岸柳》第5章给癞蛤蟆先生的教训(4)（打印版）

So Toad, fighting and shouting, was pulled upstairs by his two friends.

癞蛤蟆又打又叫，但还是被他俩朋友拉上了楼。

'It's for your own good, Toady, you know, 'said the Rat kindly.

这是为你好，蛤蟆兄，你知道，水鼠和善地说。当这种—这种疯狂过去时，

'We'll all have good times together again soon, when this—this madness has passed.'

我们又可以一起享受美好时光了。

'We'll take good care of you, Toad, 'added the Mole.'No more trouble with the police.

我们会好好照顾你的，蛤蟆，鼹鼠接着说。你不再会给警察找麻烦，不会再撞车，

No more crashes, and weeks in hospital, '

不再会几星期呆在医院了。

Then began a very tiring few weeks for the three friends. Day and night they guarded Toad, and one of them was always with him.

接下来三个朋友开始了几星期的辛苦行动。

They talked to him and tried to amuse him, hoping that he would forget his motor-car madness.

他们日夜看管着癞蛤蟆，并且总有一个人和他在一起。他们和他聊天，想方设法逗他开心，希望他会忘记他那驾车狂热。

But Toad did not seem to get better.

但是癞蛤蟆似乎并没有变好。

He often put the bed-room chairs together to look like a motor-car.

他时常把卧室里的椅子摆成汽车状，

Then he sat in the front one and pretended to drive, making terrible engine noises all the time.

然后他坐在前面的椅子上假装开车，还不停地发出刺耳的引擎声。

His friends tried to interest him in other things, but Toad just became sad and silent.

当他的朋友试着用别的事情以引起他的兴趣时，他却只是在那儿一言不发，显得很伤感。

One day the Rat was the guard for the morning. He went upstairs and found Toad still in bed, 'How are you today, old fellow?'he asked brightly.

一天早上，轮到水鼠看管癞蛤蟆。他走上楼看见癞蛤蟆仍躺在床上，便轻快地问：今天怎么样，老伙计？

A sad whisper came from me bed, 'Thank you so much, dear Ratty! But how are you, and the excellent Mole, and dear old Badger?'

从床上传来伤感的低低的回答声：非常感谢你，亲爱的阿鼠！不过你怎么样，还有极好的鼹鼠和亲爱的老獾？

'Fine, fine, 'replied the Rat. 'Badger and Mole, 'he added, perhaps not very sensibly, 'have gone out for a run round.

好，都好，水鼠答道。獾和鼹鼠，他也许不很明智地又补充说，已出去跑步了，

They'll be out until lunch-time, so you and I will spend a pleasant morning together. '

他们要到中饭时间才回来，所以就你和我将一起度过这个愉快的早上。