牛津書蟲系列 牙齒和爪子 The She-Wolf 母狼

The She-Wolf

母狼

To Leonard Bilsiter the real world was not very agreeableor interesting.He preferred to live in an 'unseen world'of his imagination.Children are often very good atthis，but they are happy in their own dream worlds and do nottry to make other people believe them.

對(duì)倫納德·比爾斯特來說現(xiàn)實(shí)世界不很愜意或有趣，他喜歡生活在想像中的“神秘世界”里。孩子們經(jīng)常擅于這樣，他們?cè)谧约旱膲艋檬澜缋锓浅？鞓?，并不想讓別人相信他們?？蓚惣{德·比爾斯特對(duì)任何愿意聽的人都大談“神秘世界”。

Leonard Bilsiter talked about'the unseen world'to anyone who would listen to him.Nothing very strange happened to Leonard，until one year he travelled by train across Eastern Europe.He had a long conversation with a Russian passenger，who talked about mag-ic and'hidden powers'in a most interesting way.Leonard lis-tened excitedly.He came home with many stories about the strange，dark mysteries which he called Siberian Magic.

倫納德沒碰到過什么奇特的事情，直到有一年他乘火車穿越東歐旅行。他同一個(gè)俄國乘客談了很長時(shí)間，這個(gè)人用很有趣的方式大談魔法和“隱秘的力量”。他帶回家很多關(guān)于奇怪、隱晦的魔法的故事，并把它們稱作“西伯利亞魔法”。

His aunt，Cecilia Hoops，was deeply interested in Leonard's Siberian Magic.When she told her friends about it('My dears，he took a garden vegetable and changed it into abird in front of my eyes!')，her friends realized that she also had a wonderful imagination.

他的姑媽，塞西莉亞·霍普斯，對(duì)倫納德的魔法很著迷。她告訴朋友“天哪，他在我眼前把花園里的一棵菜變成了一只鳥!”朋友們認(rèn)為她的想像力也真夠豐富的。

Leonard，together with his hidden powers，was invited toMary Hampton's house-party.Several other people were alsostaying in the house，and they all had to listen to Leonardtalking about the mysteries of the unseen world.

倫納德帶著他神秘的力量應(yīng)邀參加瑪麗·漢普頓的家庭聚會(huì)。屋里還有其他幾個(gè)人，都在聽倫納德講述神秘世界里的離奇故事。

'Do please change me into a wolf，Mr Bilsiter，'said MrsHampton during lunch on the day of his arrival.

“請(qǐng)你一定把我變成一只狼，比爾斯特先生，”漢普頓夫人在他來那天的午餐時(shí)說。

'My dear Mary，'said her husband.'What a strangeidea!'

“親愛的瑪麗，”她丈夫說，“你這念頭真奇怪!”

'A she-wolf，of course，'continued Mrs Hampton.'I don't want to change into a man as well as an animal!'

“當(dāng)然是一只母狼，”漢普頓夫人繼續(xù)說，“我不想變成一個(gè)男人或一頭牲畜!”

'We should not joke about the unseen world，'saidLeonard.

“我們不能拿神秘世界開玩笑，”倫納德說。

'Oh，I'm not joking，I promise you.But don't changeme into a wolf tonight.I want to play cards，and there are on-ly eight of us in the house today.I've invited some more peo-ple to come here tomorrow.Wait until tomorrow night.'

“哦，我不是在開玩笑，我向你保證。但是今晚別把我變成狼，我想玩牌，今天屋里只有我們8個(gè)人。我已經(jīng)邀請(qǐng)了更多的人明天來這兒，等到明天晚上。”

Leonard was not amused.'Mrs Hampton，you reallymust not laugh at these dark mysteries.They can be strongerand more dangerous than we realize.'

倫納德沒有覺得好笑。“漢普頓夫人，你真的不能嘲笑這些隱秘的離奇故事，它們比我們想像的更強(qiáng)大、更危險(xiǎn)。”

Clovis Sangrail listened silently to this conversation，andafter lunch he spoke to Lord Pabham in the smoking-room.

克洛維斯·桑格瑞爾不出聲地聽著。午餐后他在吸煙室對(duì)帕布漢姆勛爵說起此事。

'Tell me，Lord Pabham，'began Clovis.'Have you got ashe-wolf in your zoo at Pabham Park?A quiet，friendly she-wolf?'

“告訴我，帕布漢姆勛爵，”克洛維斯說。“帕布漢姆公園你的動(dòng)物園里有母狼嗎?一只安靜友好的母狼?”

'There's Louisa，'said Lord Pabham thoughtfully.'She's very quiet and gentle.Why do you ask?'

“有，叫路易莎，”帕布漢姆勛爵思索著說。“她很安靜溫順。你為什么問這個(gè)?”

'I'd like to borrow her tomorrow evening，'said Clovis lightly.'May I，please?'

“我明晚想借用她，”克洛維斯輕輕地說。“可以嗎?”

'Tomorrow night?'repeated Lord Pabham in surprise.

“明天晚上?”帕布漢姆驚奇地重復(fù)。

'Yes.Wolves usually sleep during the day，don't they?So a night-time journey won't hurt her.Could you ask one of your men to bring Louisa here when it is dark?Then he can take her quietly into the conservatory at the same time as MrsHampton leaves the dining-room.'

“是的，狼通常白天睡覺，不是嗎?因此白天的旅行不會(huì)傷害她。你能讓你的一個(gè)人在天黑后把她帶到這兒嗎?然后他可以在漢普頓夫人離開餐廳的時(shí)候悄悄把她帶進(jìn)暖房。”

Lord Pabham looked at Clovis in surprise.Then he smiled.'I understand!'he said.'You're going to try a little Siberian Magic.And has Mrs Hampton agreed to help you?''Mary has promised—if your she-wolf is quiet and gen-tle.'

帕布漢姆勛爵吃驚地看著克洛維斯，然后一笑。“我懂!”他說。“你要表演一個(gè)西伯利亞小魔法。漢普頓夫人同意幫你了嗎?”“瑪麗保證過——如果你的母狼安靜溫順。”

'Louisa won't give you any trouble，'said Lord Pabham.The next day several more guests arrived.Leonard Bil-siter enjoyed telling them all about Siberian Magic and hidden powers.He talked all through dinner.When the coffee arrivedat the end of the meal，Leonard's aunt spoke.

“路易莎不會(huì)給你們什么麻煩，”帕布漢姆勛爵說。第二天又來了幾個(gè)客人。倫納德津津樂道地給他們講西伯利亞魔法和神秘的力量。他整個(gè)晚餐都在講這些事。晚餐最后喝咖啡時(shí)，倫納德的姑媽開口了。

'Dear Leonard，'she said，'please show us your powers.Change something into another shape.'She turned to the oth-er guests.'He can do it if he wants to，'she told them.

“親愛的倫納德，”她說，“請(qǐng)給我們表演你的力量，把某件東西變成另外的形狀。”她轉(zhuǎn)向其他客人。“如果他愿意他會(huì)做到的。”她告訴他們。

'Oh，please show us，'said Mavis Pellington excitedly.'Well…'began Leonard.'If somebody will give me asmall coin…'

“哦，請(qǐng)表演給我們看，”梅維斯·佩林頓激動(dòng)地說。“這個(gè)……”倫納德開始說，“如果誰給我一枚小硬幣……”

'Oh，surely you aren't going to do stupid things withdisappearing coins?'said Clovis.'We want to see somethingreally surprising.'

“哦，你當(dāng)然不會(huì)用消失的硬幣做傻事吧?”克洛維斯說。“我們想看真正令人吃驚的事情。”

'That's right，'said Mary Hampton.'Why don't youchange me into a wolf? You promised!'She got up from thetable and walked into the conservatory with a bowl of fruit forher macaws.

“對(duì)，”瑪麗·漢普頓說。“你為什么不把我變成一只狼?你保證過!”她從桌旁站起身，端著喂她的鸚鵡的一碗水果走進(jìn)了暖房。

'I have already warned you，'said Leonard seriously.'Itis dangerous to joke about these things.'

“我已經(jīng)警告過你，”倫納德嚴(yán)肅地說，“開這些事情的玩笑是危險(xiǎn)的。”

'I don't believe you can do it!'laughed Mary from theconservatory.As she spoke，she disappeared behind a largegreen plant.

“我不信你會(huì)做這事!”瑪麗從暖房笑著說。說著話，她在一顆高大的綠色植物后面消失了。

'Mrs Hampton—'began Leonard seriously.Then anicy wind seemed to fill the dining-room，and at the same timeMrs Hampton's macaws began to scream.

“漢普頓夫人——”倫納德開始嚴(yán)肅起來。過后一陣寒風(fēng)吹進(jìn)餐室，同時(shí)漢普頓夫人的鸚鵡尖叫起來。

'What's wrong with those stupid birds，Mary?'askedher husband.Just then，a big grey wolf stepped out from be-hind the large green plant.

“那些笨鳥怎么回事，瑪麗?”她丈夫問。就在這時(shí)，一只大灰狼從高大的綠色植物后面走出來。

Leonard's aunt saw it first.'Leonard!'she screamed.'Bring Mrs Hampton back at once!We don't want a danger-ous wild animal in here!'

倫納德的姑媽最先看見。“倫納德!”她尖叫著。“立刻把漢普頓夫人變回來!我們不想有一只危險(xiǎn)的野獸在這兒!”

'I—I don't know how to bring her back，'said Leonardin a small，frightened voice.

“我——我不知道怎么把她變回來，”倫納德小聲害怕地說。

'Rubbish!'shouted Mr Hampton.'You changed my dear wife into a wolf. Now you must bring her back again!'

“胡說!”漢普頓先生叫嚷道。“你把我親愛的妻子變成了狼，現(xiàn)在你必須將她再變回來!”

'Please believe me，'said Leonard.'I didn't change your wife into a wolf.'

“請(qǐng)相信我，”倫納德說，“我沒有把你的妻子變成狼。”

'Then where is she，and how did that animal get into the conservatory?'asked Mr Hampton angrily.

“那么她在哪兒?那只動(dòng)物怎么進(jìn)暖房的?”漢普頓先生氣憤地問。

'Of course，we must believe you when you say that you didn't change Mrs Hampton into a wolf，'said Clovis politely.'But you must agree that it all looks very strange.'

“當(dāng)你說你沒有將漢普頓夫人變成狼時(shí)，我們當(dāng)然相信你，”克洛維斯禮貌地說，“但是你必須承認(rèn)這太奇怪了。”

'How can you stand there arguing，'cried Mavis Pelling-ton，'with a wild animal in the house?'

“房子里還有一只野獸，你們?cè)趺催€能站在那里爭來爭去?”梅維斯·佩林頓喊道。

'Lord Pabham，'began Mr Hampton，'you know a lotabout wild animals…'

“帕布漢姆勛爵，”漢普頓先生說，“你對(duì)動(dòng)物了解很多……”

'I buy all my animals，'said Lord Pabham.'I have nev-er found one in a conservatory before.But this is a wolf，I amsure of that.I think it's probably a North American she-wolf_'

“我的動(dòng)物都是買的，”帕布漢姆勛爵說。“我以前從沒在暖房見過?？蛇@是一只狼，我敢肯定。我想它可能是一只北美母狼—”

'Oh，who cares where it came from!'screamed Mavis，as the wolf came a few steps further into the room.'Can't you offer it some food，and take it away safely somewhere be-fore it bites somebody?'

“哦，誰管她是哪兒來的!”梅維斯尖叫著，這時(shí)狼又走進(jìn)房屋幾步。“你難道不能給它些食物，趁它還沒咬誰時(shí)把它帶到某個(gè)安全的地方嗎?”

'If this animal is really Mrs Hampton，'said Clovis，'she's just had an excellent dinner. She won't be interested infood.'

“如果這只動(dòng)物真的是漢普頓夫人，”克洛維斯說，“她剛吃過豐盛的晚餐，不會(huì)對(duì)食物感興趣。”

'Oh，Leonard，'cried his aunt，'can't you use your wonderful powers to change this terrible animal into something small and gentle，like a rabbit?'

“哦，倫納德，”姑媽嚷著，“你難道不能用你神奇的力量把這只可怕的動(dòng)物變成某個(gè)小巧溫順的動(dòng)物嗎?比如說一只兔子?”

'I don't think Mr Hampton would like that，'said Clovis.

“我想漢普頓先生不會(huì)喜歡，”克洛維斯說。

'You're right!'shouted Mr Hampton.'I forbid it!'

“對(duì)!”漢普頓先生叫嚷道。“我不準(zhǔn)這樣做!”

'All my wolves love sugar，'said Lord Pabham.'If youlike，I'll offer this one a piece.'He took a piece of sugar fromthe table and pushed it along the floor towards Louisa.She ateit quickly and then，clearly hoping for more sugar，she fol-lowed Lord Pabham out of the room.

“我所有的狼都喜歡糖，”帕布漢姆勛爵說。“如果你不反對(duì)的話，我會(huì)給這只狼一塊。”他從桌上拿起一塊糖，順著地板推給路易莎。她很快就吃完了，然后就跟著帕布漢姆勛爵出了屋，很明顯還想要糖。

The guests left the table thankfully and hurried into the conservatory.It was empty.Mrs Hampton had disappeared.

客人們非常感謝地離開桌子，急忙走進(jìn)暖房。暖房是空的，漢普頓夫人不見了。

'The door to the garden is locked on the inside!'saidClovis.(He had quickly turned the key while he was pretend-ing to try the lock.)

“通往花園的門是從里面鎖著的!”克洛維斯說。(他假裝試著開鎖時(shí)迅速轉(zhuǎn)動(dòng)了鑰匙。)

Everyone turned towards Leonard Bilsiter.

每個(gè)人都轉(zhuǎn)身對(duì)著倫納德·比爾斯特。

'If you have not changed my wife into a wolf，'said MrHampton，'will you please explain where she has gone? Clear-ly she could not go out through a locked door—so where isshe?'

“如果你沒有把我妻子變成狼，”漢普頓先生說，“那么你能解釋她去哪兒了嗎?很明顯她不會(huì)從一扇鎖著的門出去——所以她在哪兒?”

'I tell you，I had nothing to do with it!'repeatedLeonard again and again.But nobody believed him.

“我告訴你，我與此事無關(guān)!”倫納德一遍又一遍地重復(fù)著說，但是沒人相信他。

'I'm leaving，'said Mavis Pellington.'I refuse to stayanother hour in this house.'

“我要走了，”梅維斯·佩林頓說。“我再不愿在這房子里多呆一小時(shí)。”

Just then Mary Hampton entered the room.

這時(shí)瑪麗·漢普頓走了進(jìn)來。

'What happened?'she asked crossly.'Someone has beenplaying a stupid game with me.I found myself in the kitchen，eating sugar from Lord Pabham's hand.I hate stupid games，and my doctor has forbidden me to eat sugar.'

“怎么搞的?”她生氣地問。“有人在和我玩愚蠢的游戲。我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己在廚房里，吃帕布漢姆勛爵手上的糖。我恨這愚蠢的游戲，醫(yī)生不準(zhǔn)我吃糖。”

'Well，my dear…'began Mr Hampton.Mrs Hamptonlistened excitedly as he explained.

“好吧，親愛的……”漢普頓先生開始說。當(dāng)他解釋時(shí)，漢普頓夫人激動(dòng)地聽著。

'So you really did change me into a wolf，Mr Bilsiter?'cried Mrs Hampton.

“那么你真的把我變成了一只狼，比爾斯特先生?”漢普頓夫人喊道。

'No，no，'said Leonard.'It's all a mistake.' 'Actually，I did it，'said Clovis.'You see，I spent two years in Russia，and I know a little about Siberian Magic.Of course，I don't like to talk about it.But when other people talk a lot of rubbish about hidden powers，I like to show what Siberian Magic can really do… May I please have a drink?Ifeel a little tired now.'

“不，沒有，”倫納德說。“那只是個(gè)誤會(huì)。”“事實(shí)上，這是我做的，”克洛維斯說。“你知道，我在俄國呆了兩年，知道一些西伯利亞魔法。當(dāng)然我不喜歡談?wù)撍??？僧?dāng)人們說一大堆關(guān)于神秘力量的廢話時(shí)，我愿意顯示西伯利亞魔法倒底能做些什么……我可以來一杯嗎?我現(xiàn)在覺得有點(diǎn)累了。”

Leonard Bilsiter looked at Clovis with hate in his eyes.At that moment he wished strongly that he could change Clovisin to some small helpless animal，and then step on him very hard.

倫納德·比爾斯特用憤恨的眼神看著克洛維斯。就在這時(shí)他強(qiáng)烈地希望他能把克洛維斯變成某個(gè)矮小無助的動(dòng)物，然后狠狠地踩上幾腳。