牛津书虫系列《大卫科波菲尔》Chapter4 附中英双语文本

4 David and his aunt
4 大卫和他的姨婆
So，after helping the Micawbers to pack their few clothes，and waving goodbye to them at the coach sta-tion on their way to Devon，I went to the warehouse for my last day at work．I did not tell anyone I would not be coming back the following week. In the evening I packed my case，and put the ten shillings in the little purse Peggotty had once given me．I looked around for someone to help me with my case， which was rather heavy for me, and saw a tall young man with a horse and cart passing by．
就这样，帮着米考伯夫妇整理好不多的衣物，把他们送到去往德文的马车站，与他们挥手告别后，我来到仓库干完了最后一天的活。我没有向任何人透露下星期将不再回来工作。晚上，我整理好自己的提箱，把10先令放进辟果提给我的小钱包里。我四处张望，希望有人能帮我提这个对我来说还太沉的箱子，这时过来一位赶马车的高个子青年。
‘Could you please take my case to the coach station？’ I asked him politely．
“您能帮我把这个箱子带到马车站吗？”我很礼貌地问道。
The young man put the case into his cart. Then， looking round quickly to make sure there were no witnesses， he pushed me roughly against the wall and took my purse out of my trembling hand. Before I could say a word， he had driven the horse and cart down the road and out of sight round the corner.I knew I would never see him， my case or my ten shillings again．
那青年人把箱子放到马车上，然后环顾四周，确信周围没有外人时，就狠狠地把我推倒在墙边，并把钱包从我发抖的手中夺走。我还没来得及叫喊，他已经驾着马车上路，一拐弯就不见了。我知道我再也见不着他了，再也见不着我的钱包和我那10个先令了。
I sat down on the pavement and cried. Now I had lost ev－erything I owned in the world， and had no money for the coach fare to Dover．In the end I decided I would have to walk there， and I started the long journey. It took me six days to cover the hundred kilometres， as I got tired very easily, and had to rest．I sold my jacket for a shilling，so that I could buy bread and milk on the way，and at night I slept in disused farm buildings or under trees．Sometimes I was afraid of the dangerous－looking beggars and thieves I met on the road，but I knew I had to keep going．As I walked，I thought of my mother's gentle，pretty face．I felt sure she would approve of what I was doing，and that encouraged me to continue．
我站在路边哭泣。我失去了我所有的东西，而且也没有了去多佛的路费。最后我决定步行到那儿，就开始了长途跋涉。100多公里的路程我走了6天时间，因为我走不多久就累了，只好休息下来。我把茄克衫卖了，换来一先令钱买路上吃的面包和奶酪。到晚上，我就睡在废旧农场的木屋里或者大树下。有时在路上遇上一些满脸凶相的乞丐和小偷让我很害怕，但我知道我必须继续走下去。我边走边想象我母亲慈爱、动人的脸，我肯定她会支持我的做法，这种想法激励着我继续前进。
But when I arrived in Dover，it seemed a much larger town than I had imagined．I spent a whole morning asking people if they knew where Miss Betsey Trotwood lived．Finally I found someone who recognized the name and showed me the way to her house．I stood at her front door，in the neat little garden，for a few moments，trembling with fear，and wondering what my aunt would think of me．My face and hands were dirty，my hair was unbrushed，and my clothes were torn and dusty．Perhaps she wouldn't even want to invite me into her house！
然而，当我走到多佛时才知道这个小镇比我相象得要大得多。我整整花了一上午时间打听贝茜·特拉伍德小姐的住处。最后，终于有一个人知道这个名字并指给我到她家的路。我在她门前的小花园里站了一会儿，害怕得直打哆嗦，不知道姨婆会怎么看我。我满脸污垢，两手肮脏不堪，头发蓬乱，衣眼又脏又破。或许她都不欢迎我进她的房子！
Just then a handsome but strict－looking grey－haired woman came out of the door towards me．I knew she must be my aunt．
正在此时，门口出现一位端庄、严肃的灰头发妇人，她向我走来，我想她肯定是我的姨婆。
‘Go away！'she said crossly．‘I don't allow anyone to walk on my grass！’
“走开！”她愤愤地说，“我不许任何人踩我的草地！”
‘Please，madam，’I said bravely，‘please，aunt…’
“求您，夫人，”我鼓足勇气说道，“求您，姨婆…”
‘WHAT？’cried Miss Betsey in great surprise．