名著阅读

“You heard what we were talking to Miss Scarlett about?”

“你听见我们和思嘉小姐的话了吗？”

“Nawsuh, Mist’ Brent! Huccome you think Ah be spyin’ on w’ite folks?”

“没有呀，布伦特先生！您怎么怀疑俺偷听白人老爷的话呢？”

“Spying, my God! You darkies know everything that goes on. Why, you liar, I saw you with my own eyes sidle round the corner of the porch and squat in the cape jessamine bush by the wall. Now, did you hear us say anything that might have made Miss Scarlett mad—or hurt her feelings?”

“我的上帝！偷听，你们这些小黑鬼什么事都知道。怎么，你这不是撒谎吗？我亲眼看见你偷偷走过走廊的拐角，蹲在墙边茉莉花底下呢。好，你听见我们说什么惹思嘉小姐生气----或者叫她伤心的话了吗？”

Thus appealed to, Teems gave up further pretense of not having overheard the conversation and furrowed his black brow.

他这一说，吉姆斯打消了假装不曾偷听的主意，皱着眉头回想起来。

“Nawsuh, Ah din’ notice y’all say anything ter mek her mad. Look ter me lak she sho glad ter see you an’ sho had missed you, an’ she cheep along happy as a bird, tell ‘bout de time y’all got ter talkin’ ‘bout Mist’ Ashley an’ Miss Melly Hamilton gittin’ mah’ied. Den she quiet down lak a bird w’en de hawk fly ober.”
　
“没什么，俺没听见您讲啥惹她生气的话。俺看她挺高兴见到你们，还嘁嘁喳喳像只小鸟儿乐个不停呢。后来你们谈论艾希礼先生和媚兰小姐的结亲的事，她才不作声了，像只雀儿看见老鹰打头上飞过一般。"

The twins looked at each other and nodded, but without comprehension.

哥儿俩面面相觑，同时点了点头，可是并不了解其中的奥妙。

“Jeems is right. But I don’t see why,” said Stuart. “My Lord! Ashley don’t mean anything to her, ‘cept a friend. She’s not crazy about him. It’s us she’s crazy about.”Brent nodded an agreement.

“吉姆说得对，但我不明白那究竟是为什么，”斯图尔特说。"我的上帝！艾希礼对她有什么意义？只不过是个朋友罢了。她感兴趣的只是我们，她对他不怎么感兴趣。"布伦特点点头表示同意。

词汇释义

1.sidle ['saidl] v. (偷偷地)侧身而行

If you sit at the back you can sidle out without anyone seeing you leave.
假如你坐在后面你可以溜出去而没人看见。

2.squat n. 蹲 adj. 蹲著的, 矮胖胖的 v. 蹲下, 坐

The old man squatted down by the fire.
老人蹲在炉火旁。

3.pretense [pri'tens] n. 藉口, 虚假, 伪装

It is merely a pretense.
这只是托词而已。

4.furrow n. 犁沟, 皱纹 v. 犁, 耕, （使）起皱纹

A deep furrow or ditch.
深沟一条深的沟或犁沟