VOA慢速英语2020 米丽亚姆

Mrs. Henry Miller¹ had lived alone for several years. Her husband was dead. But he had left her a comfortable amount of money. He also had left her a nice apartment in New York City near the East River. There were three other apartments in the large brown building where Mrs. Miller lived with her bird, a yellow canary name Tommie. Mrs. Miller was 61 years old. She had no friends and no special interests. One evening in January, Mrs. Miller saw an advertisement² for a movie. It looked so interesting that Mrs. Miller decided³ to go to see it. There was a long line of people waiting to buy tickets for the movie. Mrs. Miller stood at the end of the line. Looking around her, Mrs. Miller noticed a little girl standing⁴ near the line. The child's hair was absolutely⁵ white, silver⁶ white in fact. The child was thin and delicate⁷. She wore a blue silk dress under her red velvet⁸ coat. Mrs. Miller felt strangely excited. And when the little girl looked at her, Mrs. Miller gave her a warm smile. The little girl walked over to her and said, "Would you do me a favor⁹? Would you buy a ticket for me? They won't let me go into the movies alone."

《米丽亚姆》。亨利·米勒太太一个人生活了很多年，她丈夫去世了。但他给她留下一大笔钱。他还在纽约市东河附近给她留下一套漂亮的公寓。米勒太太和一只叫汤米的黄色金丝雀住在一幢棕色的大房子里，另外还有三间公寓。米勒夫人61岁，她没有朋友，也没有特别的爱好。一月份的一个晚上，米勒太太看到一则电影广告，它看起来很有趣，米勒太太决定去看看。等候买电影票的人排了很长的队，米勒太太站在队伍的尽头。米勒太太环顾四周，发现一个小女孩站在队伍旁边。那个孩子的一头白发，事实上是银白色。她身材纤细，红色天鹅绒外套下穿了一件蓝色丝绸连衣裙。米勒太太感到莫名的激动。当小女孩看着她时，米勒太太给了她一个温暖的微笑。小女孩走到她跟前说：“你能帮我个忙吗？能给我买张电影票吗？他们不会让我一个人看电影。”

She handed Mrs. Miller the money and they stood together in the line. Mrs. Miller felt there were something strange about the little girl. Her eyes were gray and very large. But they did not seem like the eyes of a child. "What's your name, dear?" Mrs. Miller asked. "Miriam." The child replied. Mrs. Miller smiled "Why isn't that funny? That's my name too. I am Miriam Miller." The little girl was silent¹⁰. By this time, they had reached the ticket office. Mrs. Miller bought two tickets. She gave one to Miriam and said, "It was nice to meet you, but I must go now." Miriam just nodded¹¹ her head. The next week one evening after dinner, Mrs. Miller's doorbell rang. She opened the door. The little girl in the red coat was standing there. "Hello," said Miriam. Mrs. Miller did not know what to say. Miriam stepped into the apartment. She took off her red velvet coat and dropped it on the chair. The dress made a soft swishing sound as Miriam walked around the room. "What do you want?" Mrs. Miller asked, "And how did you know where I live?" Miriam laughed, "Let's talk about something else." She said. She walked over to the birdcage, which was covered by a piece of cloth¹². Mrs. Miller raised her voice, "Leave my bird alone." "All right." Miriam said, "But I am hungry." "Look," Mrs. Miller said, "If I prepare something for you to eat, will you be a good girl and go home?" "I promise." The little girl said.

她把钱递给米勒太太，她们站在一起排队。米勒太太觉得这个小女孩有点奇怪。她有一双灰色的大眼睛，但看起来不像是孩子的眼睛。“你叫什么名字，亲爱的？”米勒太太问。“米丽亚姆。”孩子回答。米勒太太笑了，“这难到不好笑吗？我也叫这个名字。我叫米丽亚姆·米勒。”小女孩没说话。这时，她们已经到了售票处。米勒太太买了两张票。她给了米丽亚姆一张票，说：“很高兴遇见你，但我现在必须走了。”米丽亚姆只是点点头。下周的一天晚上，在晚饭后，米勒太太的门铃响了。她打开门，穿红外套的小女孩站在门外。“你好，”米丽亚姆说。米勒太太不知道该说什么。米丽亚姆走进公寓，脱下她的红色天鹅绒外套，把它扔在椅子上。米丽亚姆在房间里走来走去，裙子发出轻柔的嗖嗖声。“你想干嘛？”米勒太太问：“你怎么知道我住在哪里？”米丽亚姆笑了，“我们谈谈别的事吧。”她说。她走到鸟笼前，鸟笼上盖着一块布。米勒太太提高嗓门说，“别碰我的鸟。”“好吧，”米丽亚姆说，“但我饿了。”“听着，”米勒太太说，“如果我给你准备点吃的，你会做个好女孩回家吗？”“我保证。”小女孩说。

Mrs. Miller's hands were shaking as she made the sandwich and put a glass of milk for Miriam. She kept asking herself who this little girl was and why she had come to her house. Mrs. Miller carried the food into the living room. The room was empty. Mrs. Miller began to feel a little frightened. She went into her bedroom. Her jewelry¹³ box was open and Miriam was looking at Mrs. Miller's jewels¹⁴. The child turned to the old woman looking deeply¹⁵ into her eyes. "I want this pearl¹⁶ necklace." She told her. "Put that back." Mrs. Miller ordered, "You can't have it. That necklace was a gift from my husband." "But I want it." Miriam insisted¹⁷, "It's beautiful. Give it to me." Mrs. Miller suddenly felt very weak. She felt if she was going to faint¹⁸. Miriam put on the pearl necklace and went into the living room. She ate the sandwich and drank the milk quickly. "That’s very nice." She said when she had finished the food. "But I wish I had some cookies or chocolates." Mrs. Miller sat on the sofa. Her face was very white and her eyes were staring¹⁹ into space. "You promise to leave if I made the sandwich." She said. Miriam picked up her coat and put it on. Then she walked to Mrs. Miller "Kiss me that night." She ordered. Mrs. Miller trembled²⁰ "Please." The old woman whispered²¹ "I, I do not want to." "All right." Miriam said, lifting in eyebrow²²."

米勒太太一边做三明治，一边给米丽亚姆倒了一杯牛奶，她双手在颤抖。她不停问自己，这个小女孩是谁，为什么来她家。米勒太太把食物端进客厅。房间里空荡荡的，米勒太太开始感到有点害怕。她走进卧室，她的首饰盒打开了，米丽亚姆正看着米勒太太的珠宝。孩子转向那个老妇人，深深地望着她的眼睛。“我想要这条珍珠项链。”她告诉她。“把它放回去，”米勒太太命令道，“你不能要它，那条项链是我丈夫送给我的礼物。”“但我想要它，”米丽亚姆坚持说，“它很漂亮，把它给我。”米勒太太突然感觉很虚弱，她觉得自己可能会晕倒。米丽亚姆戴上珍珠项链走进客厅。她吃了三明治，很快喝完了牛奶。“真好吃。”她吃完食物后说，“但我真希望能吃点饼干或巧克力。”米勒太太坐在沙发上。她脸色苍白，眼睛凝视着空旷的房子。“你答应过，我做三明治的话，你就离开。”她说。米丽亚姆拿起外套穿上。然后，她走到米勒太太跟前，命令道：“和我吻别。”。米勒太太颤抖着说：“请。”老妇人低声说：“我，我不想做。”“好吧，”米丽亚姆扬起眉毛说道。

She walked slowly to the door, turned and looked at Mrs. Miller. Then she was gone. Mrs. Miller spent the next day in bed. The day after that, Mrs. Miller woke up feeling much better. The sun was shining and when she opened her bedroom window. She discovered the weather felt almost like spring. The day was so beautiful. She decided to walk along the wide avenues²³ of New York's East Side. When she came to a big shop, something strange happened. Mrs. Miller could not stop her feet from carrying her inside the store. She spent ten dollars for a bag of chocolates and some cookies. The weather had changed again. By the time, Mrs. Miller came out of the big shop. Winter clouds through gray shadows²⁴ over the sun. A cold wind blew in the streets. Soon, snow began to fall. Mrs. Miller hurried home. As soon as she entered her apartment, she put the chocolates on a plate with the cookies. At exactly five o'clock, the doorbell rang. "Is that you?" Mrs. Miller called. "Of course." Answered Miriam. "Open the door." "Go away," Said Mrs. Miller. She sat down on the sofa. Mrs. Miller did not move for ten minutes. Then she walked quietly to the door and opened it a little bit. Miriam was sitting on a large box outside the door. She was holding a beautiful French doll.

她慢慢走到门口，转过身来看着米勒太太。然后她就走了。米勒太太第二天就躺在床上。随后的一天，米勒太太醒来时感觉好多了。她打开卧室的窗户，阳光明媚。她发现天气就像春天一样。这一天太美了，她决定沿着纽约东区宽阔的街道散步。她来到一家大商店时，发生了一件怪事。米勒太太控制不住自己走进一家店铺，她花了十美元买了一袋巧克力和一些饼干。天气又变了。那时，米勒太太从那家大商店走出来。冬天的云朵穿过太阳的灰色阴影，街上刮起了冷风。很快，开始下雪。米勒太太急忙回家。她一进公寓，就把巧克力和饼干放在盘子里。五点整时，门铃响了。“是你吗？”米勒太太喊道。“当然是。”米丽亚姆回答说，“开门。”“走开，”米勒太太说。她坐到沙发上，十分钟都没有动弹。然后，她悄悄走到门前，把门打开一点。米丽亚姆坐在门外的一个大箱子上，抱着一个漂亮的法国娃娃。

"Really," Miriam said, "I thought you never open this door. Help me get this box into your apartment. It's very heavy." Mrs. Miller felt as if she were in a dream as she carried the heavy box into her living room. Miriam sat on the sofa watching Mrs. Miller. She picked up a chocolate and put it into her mouth. "I will come to live with you." She said. Mrs. Miller's face turned into a mask²⁵ of ugly red lines. She began to cry and ran out of her apartment. She ran down the steps and began knocking loudly at the first door she came to. A short man with red hair opened the door. A young woman stood behind him. "Please," cried Mrs. Miller, "I am your neighbor. I live upstairs." She covered her face with her hands. "I know I am some crazy. But I am afraid of a little girl in my apartment. She won't leave. She has already stolen my pearl necklace. I just know she wants to do something terrible to me." "Calm down." The young woman said, "Harry²⁶ will go upstairs and take care of her." Mrs. Miller sat down. "You are very kind." She told the young woman, "and I am sorry to cause you any trouble." After a few minutes, they heard Harry coming down the stairs. Harry came into his apartment shaking his head. "Nobody is there." He said. Mrs. Miller stood up. "Did you see a large box or a doll?" "No man." Harry said slowly.

“真的，”米丽亚姆说，“我以为你永远不会开门，帮我把这个盒子拿进你的公寓。它很重。”米勒太太把那个沉重的箱子抬进起居室，感觉自己像在做梦。米丽亚姆坐在沙发上看着米勒太太，她拿起一块巧克力放进嘴里。“我要来和你一起住。”她说。米勒太太的脸变成了一副布满丑陋红线的面具。她哭了起来，跑出公寓。她跑下台阶，开始大声敲打遇到的第一户人家的门。一个红发的矮个子男人打开门，他身后站着一个年轻女子。“求你了，”米勒太太喊道，“我是你们的邻居。我住在楼上。”她用手捂着脸，“我知道我有点疯狂，但是我害怕我公寓里的那个小女孩。她不走了，她已经偷了我的珍珠项链。我只知道她想害我。”“冷静点，”年轻的女人说，“哈里会上楼去看看她。”米勒太太坐了下来，“你们真好。”她对年轻女说，“很抱歉给你们添麻烦。”几分钟后，她们听到哈里从楼梯上下来，他摇着头走进公寓。“屋里没人。”他说。米勒太太站起来，“你看到一个大盒子或是一个洋娃娃吗？”“没有人。”哈利慢慢地说。

Mrs. Miller went back to her apartment. The chocolates and cookies were still there. But the room was empty. Where was Miriam? Where was she? Mrs. Miller sat down. The room was dark and getting darker. Mrs. Miller closed her eyes and began thinking²⁷. Maybe there was no girl named Miriam. Maybe she had imagined everything like a dream. Mrs. Miller began to feel better. She was Mrs. Henry Miller. She lived in this apartment. She cooked her own meals. She owned canary. Mrs. Miller knew who she was. She felt safe and relaxed. Then she heard the songs coming from her bedroom. Someone was opening²⁸ and closing the drawers of her bureau²⁹. Mrs. Miller sat with her eyes closed tightly³⁰. She heard the soft swishing sound of a silk dress. The sound grew louder and louder until the walls of the apartment began to shake. Mrs. Miller opened her eyes. "Hello," said Miriam.

米勒太太回到自己的公寓，饼干和巧克力还在那儿。但是房间里什么也没有。米里亚姆在哪儿？她在哪儿？米勒太太坐下来。房间里一片漆黑，越来越黑。米勒太太闭上眼睛开始思考。也许没有一个叫米丽亚姆的女孩，也许一切都是她想象的梦。米勒太太开始感觉好些了。她是亨利·米勒夫人，她住在这间公寓里。她自己做饭，有一只金丝雀。米勒太太知道自己是谁，她感到安心又放松。然后，她听到卧室里传来歌声。有人在拉开又关上她的抽屉。米勒太太紧闭着眼睛坐着，她听到一件丝绸衣服轻柔的嗖嗖声。声音越来越大，公寓的墙壁都开始摇晃。米勒太太睁开眼睛。“你好，”米丽亚姆说。

1 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

2 advertisement   

n.广告，启事，广告宣传

参考例句：

• Please post up this advertisement for our concert in your shop window.请把这张我们音乐会的海报贴在贵店窗户上。
• I wish to insert an advertisement in your newspaper.我想在贵报上登一则广告。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 absolutely   

adv.绝对地；完全地

参考例句：

• The plane absolutely refused to start.这架飞机完全发动不起来。
• All the car parks are absolutely full.所有的停车场都停满了车。

6 silver   

adj.银色的，银的；n.银，银币，银器；vt.镀银，变成银白色

参考例句：

• I like taking a walk under the silver moon.我喜欢在银色的月光下散步。
• The family must come together for the parents' silver wedding.全家必须聚会庆祝父母的银婚。

7 delicate   

adj.巧妙的，敏感的；易损的，娇嫩的

参考例句：

• Be careful with those wine cups — they are very delicate.当心那些酒杯—它们很容易碎。
• The delicate handicraft works will not bear rough handling.精致的手工艺品经不起粗鲁的摆弄。

8 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

9 favor   

n.好感；赞同；好事；vt.赞同，喜爱；有利于

参考例句：

• She is out of favor with her employer.她失去了雇主的欢心。
• The new teacher finds favor in the eyes of the parents.那位新老师很受家长的欢迎。

10 silent   

adj.安静的，不吵闹的，沉默的，无言的；n.(复数)默剧

参考例句：

• Immediately on his beginning to speak,everyone was silent.他一讲话，大家顿时安静下来。
• The boys looked at the conjuror in silent wonder. 孩子们目瞪口呆地看着那魔术师。

11 nodded   

v.点头( nod的过去式和过去分词 )；打盹；打瞌睡；点头致意

参考例句：

• He nodded absently, his attention absorbed by the screen. 他专心注视着屏幕，只是心不在焉地点了点头。
• She nodded her head in agreement. 她点头表示同意。

12 cloth   

n.布；植物；衣料

参考例句：

• This kind of cloth washes very well.这种布料很好洗涤。
• We make cotton into cloth.我们把棉花织成布。

13 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。

14 jewels   

n.宝石，宝石饰物( jewel的名词复数 )；受珍视的人[物]；宝贝，手表的宝石轴承

参考例句：

• The family jewels are locked away in a safe. 家里的珠宝首饰都锁在保险柜里。
• The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。

15 deeply   

adv.深刻地，在深处，深沉地

参考例句：

• I do feel deeply the strength of the collective.我确实深深地感到了集体的力量。
• We're deeply honoured that you should agree to join us.您能同意加入我们，我们感到很荣幸。

16 pearl   

n.珍珠，珍珠母

参考例句：

• He bought his girlfriend a pearl necklace.他给他女朋友买了一条珍珠项链。
• The crane and the mother-of-pearl fight to death.鹬蚌相争。

17 insisted   

坚持

参考例句：

• Figlio, vai anche tu a vedere spesso il sangue? -insiste' il nonno. 他爷爷继续说：“我儿，你也常去卖血？”。 来自互联网

18 faint   

n.昏厥，昏倒；adj.微弱的，无力的，模糊的；vi.昏倒，变得微弱

参考例句：

• He felt faint at the sight of blood.他一见到血就发晕了。
• She threw me a faint smile.她对我微微一笑。

19 staring   

adj.目不转睛的；凝视的；显眼的；（毛发）竖立的v.凝视，瞪视( stare的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She lay on her back staring up at the ceiling. 她仰卧着凝视天花板。
• She was staring into space, her mouth slack. 她双唇微张，失神地望着前方。

20 trembled   

v.发抖( tremble的过去式和过去分词 )；焦虑；颤动；轻轻摇晃

参考例句：

• They all trembled at the prospect of an enemy invasion. 他们想到敌人可能入侵都不寒而栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The whole house trembled as the train went by. 火车开过时，整座房子都颤动了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 whispered   

adj.耳语的，低语的v.低声说( whisper的过去式和过去分词 )；私语；小声说；私下说

参考例句：

• She sidled up to me and whispered something in my ear. 她悄悄走上前来，对我耳语了几句。
• His ill luck has been whispered about the neighborhood. 他的不幸遭遇已在邻居中传开。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 eyebrow   

n.眉毛，眉

参考例句：

• Her eyebrow is well penciled.她的眉毛画得很好。
• With an eyebrow raised,he seemed divided between surprise and amusement.他一只眉毛扬了扬，似乎既感到吃惊，又觉有趣。

23 avenues   

n.林阴道( avenue的名词复数 )；大街；途径；手段

参考例句：

• The avenues of the city were crowded with people. 城里大街上挤满了人群。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Avenues radiate from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 在巴黎，街道以凯旋门为中心向四方伸展。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 shadows   

n.阴影( shadow的名词复数 )；影子；（坏）影响；形影不离的人[物]

参考例句：

• The afternoon shadows lengthened. 下午影子渐渐变长了。
• The children were having fun, chasing each other's shadows. 孩子们追逐着彼此的影子，玩得很开心。

25 mask   

n.屏蔽，面具，假面具，掩饰，石膏面像；vt.戴面具，掩饰，使模糊；vi.化装，戴面具，掩饰

参考例句：

• Who is wearing the mask?谁戴着面具呢？
• Why are you wearing a mask?你为什么要戴面具？

26 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

27 thinking   

n.思考，思想；adj.思考的，有理性的；vbl.想，思考

参考例句：

• All thinking men will protest against it.凡是有思想的人都会抗议这件事。
• Thinking is mainly performed with words and other symbols.思想主要是用言语和其他符号来表达的。

28 opening   

n.开始，口，穴，揭幕；adj.开始的

参考例句：

• Instead of opening the gate,we climbed over it.我们没有开门，而是从门顶上爬过去的。
• There was an opening in the wall.墙上有个洞。

29 bureau   

n.提供或收集消息的机构；局，司，处；署

参考例句：

• The weather bureau makes daily reports on weather conditions.气象局每天报告天气状况。
• The Tourist Bureau arranged everything for our journey to Rome.旅游局已为我们去罗马旅行准备了一切。

30 tightly   

adv.紧紧地，坚固地，牢固地

参考例句：

• My child holds onto my hand tightly while we cross the street.横穿马路时，孩子紧拉着我的手不放。
• The crowd pressed together so tightly that we could hardly breathe.人群挤在一起，我们几乎喘不过气来。