巴斯克威尔的猎犬 梅利琵宅邸的主人斯台普吞（1）

　　Chapter 7 - The Stapletons of Merripit House

　　第七章 梅利琵宅邸的主人斯台普吞

　　The fresh beauty of the following morning did something to efface¹ from our minds the grim

　　and gray impression which had been left upon both of us by our first experience of Baskerville

　　Hall. As Sir Henry and I sat at breakfast the sunlight flooded in through the high mullioned

　　windows, throwing watery² patches of colour from the coats of arms which covered them. The dark

　　panelling glowed like bronze in the golden rays, and it was hard to realize that this was indeed the

　　chamber³ which had struck such a gloom into our souls upon the evening before.

　　第二天早晨的清新美景， 多少消除了我们初见巴斯克维尔庄园时所产生的恐怖与阴郁的

　　印象。 当巴斯克维尔爵士和我坐下来吃早饭的时候， 阳光已由高高的窗棂中散射进来， 透过

　　装在窗上的盾徽形窗玻璃投射出一片片淡弱无力的色光， 深色的护墙板被金色的阳光照得发

　　出象青铜色的光辉； 要说这就是昨晚在我们的心灵上投以暗影的那个房间， 实在难以令人相

　　信。

　　"I guess it is ourselves and not the house that we have to blame!" said the baronet. "We were

　　tired with our journey and chilled by our drive, so we took a gray view of the place. Now we are

　　fresh and well, so it is all cheerful once more."

　　“我想这只能怪咱们自己， 而不能怪房子！” 准男爵说道，“那时， 咱们由于旅途劳顿，

　　乘车寒冷， 以致对这地方产生了不快的印象。 现在， 咱们的身心已经焕然一新， 所以又感到

　　很愉快了。”

　　"And yet it was not entirely⁴ a question of imagination," I answered. "Did you, for example,

　　happen to hear someone, a woman I think, sobbing⁶ in the night?"

　　“可是， 这还不仅仅是想象的问题，” 我回答道，“比如说吧， 您听到了有人——我想是

　　个妇女， ——在夜里哭泣吗？ ”

　　"That is curious, for I did when I was half asleep fancy that I heard something of the sort. I

　　waited quite a time, but there was no more of it, so I concluded that it was all a dream."

　　“真是奇怪， 我在半醒半睡的时候确实听到过哭声。 我等了很久， 可是再也听不到了，

　　因此我就肯定了那都是做梦。”

　　"I heard it distinctly, and I am sure that it was really the sob⁵ of a woman."

　　“我听得清清楚楚， 而且我敢肯定地说， 是女人的哭声。”

　　"We must ask about this right away." He rang the bell and asked Barrymore whether he could

　　account for our experience. It seemed to me that the pallid⁷ features of the butler turned a shade

　　paler still as he listened to his master's question.

　　“咱们得马上将这事问清楚。” 他摇铃叫来了 白瑞摩， 问他是否能对我们所听到的哭声

　　给以解释。 据我看来， 总管听到主人所问的问题之后， 苍白的面孔变得更加苍白了。

1 efface   

v.擦掉，抹去

参考例句：

• It takes many years to efface the unpleasant memories of a war.许多年后才能冲淡战争的不愉快记忆。
• He could not efface the impression from his mind.他不能把这个印象从心中抹去。

2 watery   

adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的

参考例句：

• In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
• Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 sob   

n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣

参考例句：

• The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
• The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。

6 sobbing   

<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的

参考例句：

• I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
• Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。

7 pallid   

adj.苍白的，呆板的

参考例句：

• The moon drifted from behind the clouds and exposed the pallid face.月亮从云朵后面钻出来，照着尸体那张苍白的脸。
• His dry pallid face often looked gaunt.他那张干瘪苍白的脸常常显得憔悴。