《远大前程》第2章 抓住一名罪犯(1)

Chapter 2 Catching¹ a convict²

第2章 抓住一名罪犯

All that morning I was frightened that my sister would discover that I had stolen from her，but luckily she was so busy cleaning the house，and roasting³ the chickens for our Christmas lunch that she did not notice that I had been out，or that any food was missing⁴．

一上午，我一直害怕姐姐会发现我偷了她的东西，但是，幸运的是她只顾忙于打扫房间，为我们的圣诞节午饭准备烤鸡，并没有注意我出过门，也没发现少了任何吃的东西。

At half-past one our two guests arrived．

1点半钟，我们的两位客人到了。

Mr Wopsle had a large nose and a shining，bald forehead，and was the church clerk．

伍甫赛先生的鼻子很大，秃顶的额头闪闪发光，他是教堂里的办事员。

Mr Pumblechook， who had a shop in the nearest town，was a fat，middle-aged man witn a mouth like a fish，and staring eyes．

潘波趣先生，他在最近的镇上有一个商店，是一个长得体胖腰圆的中年人，有一副像鱼的嘴脸，贼溜溜的眼睛，

He was really Joe's uncle but it was Mrs Joe who called him uncle．

他是乔的亲舅舅，可是乔夫人却喊他舅舅。

Every Christmas Day he arrived with two bottles of wine，handing them proudly to my sister．

每年圣诞节，他都带两瓶葡萄酒来送给我姐姐，以显示他的阔气。

Oh Uncle Pumblechook！This is kind！she always replied．

噢，潘波趣舅舅您真是个好心人！她总是这样说。

It's no more than you deserve，was the answer every time．

这是一点小意思，每一次都是这种回答。

Sitting at table with these guests I would have felt uncomfortable even if I hadn't robbed⁵ my sister．

和这些客人们围桌而坐，即使我没偷姐姐的东西，我的心情也不好受，

Not only was Pumblechook's elbow in my eye，but I wasn't allowed to speak，and they gave me the worst pieces of meat．

不但潘波趣和我近在咫尺，而且不允许我说话，他们给我的是最不好的一块肉，

Even the chickens must have been ashamed⁶ of those parts of their bodies when they were alive．

甚至给的鸡块也是它们活着的时候身体最害臊的那部分。

And worse than that，the adults never left me in peace．

比这更坏的是大人们总是打搅我。

1 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

2 convict   

n.囚犯，罪犯；v.使...确信自己犯错，宣告...有罪，使...知罪

参考例句：

• I have all the evidence necessary to convict this young criminal now.我掌握一切必要的证据来给这个年轻犯人定罪。
• It was difficult to convict him of the falsity of his beliefs.难以使他认识到他信仰的虚假性。

3 roasting   

adj.用于烤炙[烘焙]的；燥热的，灼热的n.严厉批评；受到严厉批评v.烤，烘，焙( roast的现在分词 )；嘲讽；（对某人）非常生气，严厉批评

参考例句：

• a roasting hot day 酷热的一天
• The sun was roasting us. 太阳火辣辣地炙晒着我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

5 robbed   

v.抢夺( rob的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫；掠夺；使丧失

参考例句：

• Would you be able to identify the man who robbed you? 你能够认出那个抢你东西的人吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They stood looking on while the man was robbed. 正当那个人被抢劫时，他们却站在那儿袖手旁观。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 ashamed   

adj.感到惭愧，感到害臊，因为羞耻或勉强作某事

参考例句：

• He is ashamed to show his face at the club.他不好意思在俱乐部露脸。
• You ought to be ashamed of your foolish behaviour.你应当为自己的愚蠢行为而感到羞耻。