One day I happened to spill water on my apron, and I spread it out to dry before the fire which was flickering on the sitting-room hearth. The apron did not dry quickly enough to suit me, so I drew nearer and threw it right over the hot ashes. The fire leaped into life; the flames encircled me so that in a moment my clothes were blazing. I made a terrified noise that brought Viny, my old nurse, to the rescue. Throwing a blanket over me, she almost suffocated me, but she put out the fire. Except for my hands and hair I was not badly burned.
记得有一天，我不小心把围裙弄湿了，于是，我把围裙铺在客厅的壁炉边烘烤。湿围裙不会那么快就被烤干的，所以我就让它离火源更近一些，结果正好碰到了余烬。围裙一下子烧着了，火苗围绕在我身边，甚至连我的衣服都被引燃了。我惊慌失措的吵闹惊动了我的老保姆维妮，她急忙跑过来救我。维妮把一条毯子盖在我身上，我给憋得几近窒息，不过她还是把火给扑灭了。所以除了双手和头发被烧了一下外，我并无大碍。
About this time I found out the use of a key. One morning I locked my mother up in the pantry, where she was obliged to remain three hours, as the servants were in a detached part of the house. She kept pounding on the door, while I sat outside on the porch steps and laughed with glee as I felt the jar of the pounding. This most naughty prank of mine convinced my parents that I must be taught as soon as possible. After my teacher, Miss Sullivan, came to me, I sought an early opportunity to lock her in her room. I went upstairs with something which my mother made me understand I was to give to Miss Sullivan; but no sooner had I given it to her than I slammed the door to, locked it, and hid the key under the wardrobe in the hall. I could not be induced to tell where the key was. My father was obliged to get a ladder and take Miss Sullivan out through the window—much to my delight. Months after I produced the key.
就是在那个时候，我发现自己会使用钥匙了。一天早晨，我把母亲锁在了储藏室里，她被迫在里面待了三个小时，因为那时仆人们都出去干活了。母亲不停地敲打房门，我能感觉到敲击房门的震动声，可我却坐在走廊的台阶上咯咯地笑。这类令人头疼的恶作剧使我的父母意识到，我必须尽快接受教育。记得在我的老师苏立文小姐到来后，我还找了一个机会把她锁在了自己房间里。当时母亲领我上楼去见苏立文小姐，她想让我明白她要把我交给老师。可是没多久我就砰地一下把门关上，而且还上了锁。然后，我又把钥匙藏在了走廊里的衣橱里。家人并没有哄我交出钥匙。结果，我的父亲只得搬了一把梯子，把苏立文小姐从窗口接了出来。这出小把戏让我高兴了好一阵儿。几个月之后我才交出了钥匙。