吹小號的天鵝 第29期:求學生涯(3)

Mr. Beaver looked at his son as though he didn'tknow whether to believe him or not.

比弗先生看著他的兒子，似乎他不知道該不該相信他。

But he went into the house. In a few minutes hecame back.

可他還是進了屋。幾分鐘后他出來了。

"The warden says you can keep the young swan herefor a while if you can help him.

“執(zhí)法官說你可以收留這只小天鵝一段時間，如果你能幫他的話。

But sooner or later the bird will have to go back tothe Red Rock Lakes, where he belongs.

但這只鳥兒或遲或早總要放回紅石湖去，他是屬于那里的。

The warden said he wouldn't let just anybody have a young swan,

執(zhí)法官說他可不會讓隨便什么人收養(yǎng)一只小天鵝的，

but he'd let you have one because you understand about birds, and he trusts you. That's quitea compliment, son."

但你卻可以例外，因為你熟悉鳥類，他也信任你。這可是相當高的贊譽呀，兒子。“

Mr. Beaver looked pleased. Sam looked happy. Louis was greatly relieved.

比弗先生顯得很滿意。薩姆看上去幸福極了。路易斯大大松了一口氣。

After a while everyone went in to supper in the kitchen of the ranch house.

一會兒，大家都去牧場平房的廚房吃晚飯了。

Mrs. Beaver allowed Louis to stand beside Sam's chair.

比弗先生允許路易斯站在薩姆的椅子旁邊。

They fed him some corn and some oats, which tasted good.

他們喂他味美的玉米和燕麥。

When Sam was ready for bed, he wanted Louis to sleep in his room with him, but Mrs. Beaversaid no.

在薩姆準備上床睡覺的時候，他想要路易斯和他一起睡在臥室里，可比弗先生卻說不行。

"He'll mess up the room. He's no canary; he's enormous.

“他會把臥室弄亂的。他不是金絲雀;他的個頭太大了。

Put the bird out in the barn. He can sleep in one of the empty stalls; the horses won't mind."

讓這只鳥到谷倉去吧。他可以睡在一個空馬廄里：那些馬準不會介意的。”

Next morning, Sam took Louis to school with him. Sam rode his pony, and Louis flew along.

第二天早晨，薩姆領著路易斯一起去學校。

At the schoolhouse, the other children were amazed to see this great bird, with his long neck,bright eyes, and big feet.

薩姆騎著他的小馬，路易斯飛在旁邊。到了學校，別的孩子們看到這只長脖子，亮眼睛，大腳板的大鳥后都感到很驚奇。

Sam introduced him to the teacher of the first grade, Mrs. Hammerbotham, who was short andfat.

薩姆把他向矮胖的一年級老師哈默博瑟姆太太作了介紹。

Sam explained that Louis wanted to read and write because he was unable to make any soundwith his throat.

薩姆解釋說，路易斯不能用他的嗓子發(fā)聲，所以他想學會讀和寫。

Mrs. Hammerbotham stared at Louis. Then she shook her head.

哈默博瑟姆太太盯著路易斯。然后她搖搖頭。

"No birds!" she said. "I've got enough trouble."

“不要鳥類!”她說，“我的麻煩已經(jīng)夠多了。”

Sam looked disappointed."Please, Mrs. Hammerbotham," he said.

薩姆顯得很失望。“求你了，哈默博瑟姆太太，”他說，

"Please let him stand in your class and learn to read and write."

“請讓他站到你的班里學習讀寫吧。”

"Why does a bird need to read and write?" replied the teacher. "Only people need tocommunicate with one another."

“為什么一只鳥兒還需要讀寫?”這個老師回答，“只有人類才需要相互溝通。”

"That's not quite true, Mrs. Hammerbotham," said Sam, "if you'll excuse me for saying so.

“這話不完全對，哈默博瑟姆太太，”薩姆說，“如果你能原諒我這么說的話。

I have watched birds and animals a great deal. All birds and animals talk to one another--theyreally have to, in order to get along.

我觀察過很多的鳥類和動物。所有的鳥兒和動物都相互交談——為了能好好相處，他們真的必須如此。

Mothers have to talk to their young. Males have to talk to females, particularly in the spring ofthe year when they are in love."

母親必須要和她們的孩子交談。雄性動物必須要和雌性動物交談，特別是在每年的春天，他們在愛情之中的時候。”

"In love?" said Mrs. Hammerbotham, who seemed to perk up at this suggestion. "What do youknow about love?" Sam blushed.

“在愛情之中?”聽到這暗示后感到一驚的哈默博瑟姆太太說，“你對愛情都知道些什么?”薩姆臉紅了。