5个孩子

1 Beautiful Children 1 漂亮的孩子 The house was about four kilometres from the station，but after only a minute or two the children began to ask，' Are we nearly there？'And every time they saw a house they said，' Oh， is this it？'But it never was. Then they came to the top of a hill， and there was a White house with a green garden and lots of fruit trees. ' Here we are！'Mother said. 他们的新家距车站大约四公里远，而每过一两分钟孩子们就开口问：“我们快到了吗？”而且他们每看到一幢房子都说：“哦，是这个吗？”可总不是。接着他们来到一个山顶，那儿有一幢带有绿色的花园和很多果树的白房子。“我们到了！”母亲说。 Everyone hurried to get out of the carriage—— Robert，Anthea， Jane， Cyril， and Martha， the nursemaid， with the baby. But Mother did not hurry. The children ran round the house and all through the garden to see what there was. But Mother stood and watched the driver while he carried the boxes into the house. 大家急忙下车——罗伯特、安西娅、简、西里尔，还有抱着婴孩的保姆马莎。可母亲不慌不忙。孩子们绕着房子跑，都穿过花园看看那里有什么。但是赶车人把箱子搬到房子里去时妈妈站着看着他。 The children loved the house. They knew immediately that they were going to be happy there. Mother did not like the house very much because it was old and there were no cup-boards. But it was deep in the country and after two years in London the children thought that it was wonderful. If you live in London and your family is not rich， you get bored because you cannot go to shops and theatres ，and people say，' Don't do this' and 'Don't go there. 'In the country you can go any-where and do anything. 孩子们喜欢这房子。他们马上就明白在那儿他们会很快活的。母亲不太喜欢这房子，因为它很旧，也没有柜子。可是这房子位于真正意义上的乡间；在伦敦住了两年之后，孩子们认为这一点太好了。要是住在伦敦可你的家庭又不富有，你就会觉得厌倦，因为你不能去商店和剧场，人们还会说“不许干这个”、“不许去那儿”的。在乡下你想去哪儿就去哪儿，想干什么就干什么。 The white house was on the hill， with a wood behind it and a gravel-pit on one side . It was at the gravel-pit， a week later，that the children found a fairy. Well， that was what it called itself. But it was different from other fairies. 这白房子位于小山上，后边有一片树林，在一边还有一个砾石坑。就是在这个砾石坑里孩子们一周之后发现了一个精灵。晤，它是这样称呼自己的，但是它和别的精灵可不一样。 It happened when Mother had to go and stay with Grand-mother，who was ill. Martha stayed with the children，of course. But the house was very quiet and empty. The children did not know what to do. Then Cyril said，' Let's go to the gravel-pit. ' 事情发生在母亲去探护祖母的时候，祖母病了。当然马莎留下来和孩子们在一起。可房子里静悄悄的，空荡荡的。孩子们不知道做些什么好。过了一会儿，西里尔说：“咱们去砾石坑吧。” The gravel-pit was very large， with grass and wild flowers round the sides at the top. When they got there， the children decided that they would go down into the pit to play in the sand. 砾石坑大极了，坑口四周长着青草和野花。孩子们到了那儿时，他们决定到坑里去玩沙子。 ' Let's dig a deep hole— perhaps we can get all the way down to Australia，'said Robert. “咱们挖个深深的洞——也许能一直挖到澳大利亚呢，”罗伯特说。 The others agreed and they all began to dig hard in the sand. But it was a very hot day. Baby went to sleep and Robert， Cyril， and Jane sat down to rest， but Anthea went on working on the hole. 别的孩于同意了，他们就都起劲地挖起沙来。可天气很热。小弟弟睡觉去了，罗伯特、西里尔和简坐下来休息，可安西娅继续挖着洞。 Suddenly she screamed. ' Cyril！ Come here！ Quick！There's something alive！'she cried. 突然她尖叫起来。“西里尔！到这儿来！快！有什么活的东西！”她叫道。 They all jumped up and hurried over to see what it was. 他们都跳起身来，急忙过去看是什么东西。 ' It's got feet，'Anthea said. ' And fur. Don't hurt it. I know this sounds stupid， but it said something. ' “它有脚，”安西亚说，“还有毛。别伤着它。我知道这话听起来有些蠢，可它说话了。” ' What did it say？' asked Cyril. “它说什么？”西里尔问。 'It said，“You leave me alone. ” “它说：'别来打搅我。'” The others just laughed， but the two boys began to move away more of the sand. Soon they could see that there really was something moving in the hole. 别的孩子只是笑，可那两个男孩开始挖开更多的沙子。很快他们就能看见洞里真有个东西在动。 Suddenly a hard little voice cried，' Leave me alone！' 突然一个刺耳的、细小的声音喊道：“别打搅我！” They all jumped back and no one spoke for a minute. Then Robert said，' But we want to see you. ' 他们都向后退了几步，一时谁也没说话。过了一会儿罗伯特说：“可是我们想看看你。” ' Yes， I wish you'd come out，'Anthea said. “是啊，我希望你出来。”安西娅说。 'Oh， well， if that's your wish，'the voice said， and the sand began to fly about everywhere. Then something brown and furry and fat fell out into the hole. ' I think I was asleep，'it said. “哦，好吧，如果那是你们的愿望的话，”那个声音说；沙子开始到处乱飞。一会儿一个褐色的、长着毛的、胖乎乎的东西从沙里飞落到洞中。“我想我刚才睡着了，”它说。 The children stood and looked at it. It really was very strange. It could move its eyes in and out on stalks， it had big ears and its body was fat and round and furry. Its legs and arms had soft fur all over them too， and it had hands and feet. 孩子们站着看着它。它的确长得很奇怪。它有一双伸缩自如的柄眼、一对大耳朵，身体又胖又圆，还毛绒绒的。它的胳膊和腿上也覆盖着柔毛，而它还长着手和脚。 ' What is it？' asked Jane. ' Shall we take it home？' “是什么呀？”简问道，“要不要把它带回家！” The thing turned its long eyes to look at her. ' Does she always say stupid things？'it said. 这东西转动它的柄眼看着她。“她老说蠢话吗？”它说。 ' She doesn't mean it，' Anthea said. ' Don't be afraid. We won't hurt you. ' “她不是那个意思。”安西娅说，“别怕，我们不会伤害你。” The little thing was angry. ' Hurt me！ 'it cried. ' I'm not afraid of you！' 这小东西生气了。“伤害我？！”它叫着，“我才不怕你们呢！” 'Oh， don't be angry，'said Anthea kindly. ' Tell us who you are. We really don't know. ' “哦，别生气，”安西娅和蔼地说，“告诉我们你是谁。我们真不知道。” 'You don't know？'it said. ' Don't you know a Psammead when you see one？' “你们不知道？”它说，“你们看到一个赛米德时难道会不认识？” 'A Sammyadd？ What's that？'Jane said . “赛米德？那是什么啊？”简说。 ' A sand-fairy， of course. Don't you know a sand-fairy when you see one？' “当然是沙精了。你们见到沙精会不认识？” It looked very unhappy， and Jane said，' Of course！ I can see that you're a sand-fairy now. ' 它显得很不高兴，简就说：“当然！现在我知道你是个沙精了。” And Robert said，'Well， I didn't know that you were a Psammead， but I can see that you are something very wonder-ful. Please talk some more to us. ' 罗伯特也说：“喔，我原来不知道你是赛米德，可现在我看得出你棒极了。请再跟我们说些话吧。” The Psammead looked a little happier when it heard that，and it said，'Well，you can talk to me ，if you want to. Per- haps I'll answer you and perhaps I won't. Now saysomething. ' 听到那个这个赛米德显得稍微高兴些了，它说：“好吧，如果你们愿意，你们可以和我说说话。我也许回答你们的问题，也许不回答。现在说什么吧。” At first the children could not think of anything to say，but then Robert asked，' How long have you lived here？' 开头孩子们想不出要说什么，然而不一会儿罗伯特就问：“你在这儿住多久了？” 'Oh，thousands of years，' the Psammead answered. “哦，几千年了吧，”赛米德回答说。 The children waited， but the Psammead was silent. 孩子们等赛米德往下说，但它不说话了。 ' Please tell us more，' Robert said. “请多告诉我们一些情况，”罗伯特说。 'Well， all right， then，'the Psammead said. ' There were lots of us then，' it went on. ' People sent their children out to look for Psammeads，and when they found us，we gave them a wish. ' “唔，行，那好，”赛米德说。“当初我们有许多人马呢，”它接着说。“人们打发孩子们去找赛米德，找到时我们就给他们实现一个愿望。” 'What happened to all the Psammeads， then？' Robert asked. “那后来赛米德都怎么样了？”罗伯特问。 'Well，if they get wet，they get ill and they usually die， and that's what happened. Most of them got wet and died. And I'm not going to tell you another thing. ' “噢，要是它们弄湿了自己，就会生病，常常会死的，事情就是那样。大部分赛米德弄湿了，死了。我不再告诉你们别的事了。” ' Oh，just one more question，please，'said Robert. ' Do you give wishes now？' “哦，请再回答一个问题，”罗伯特说，“你现在还帮人们实现愿望吗？” ' You've had one，'said the Psammead. ' You wished to see me，and here I am. ' “你们已经实现一个了。”赛米德说，“你们希望看到我，我就来了。” ' Oh， please. Just one more，' Anthea cried. “噢，求求你了。就再来实现一个愿望吧。”安西娅叫道。 ' Well， all right， but be quick！I'm tired of you！' “唔，那好吧，可是快点！你们真烦人！” It is very difficult to think of a really good wish， in just a second or two. Then Anthea remembered a wish of hers and Jane's. She knew that the boys wouldn't like it， but it was better than nothing. 一两秒内就想出一个好愿望真困难。接着安西娅记起了她和简的一个愿望。她知道男孩子们不会喜欢它，可总比没有强。 ' I wish we were all very， very beautiful，' she said. “我希望我们都非常非常漂亮，”她说。 The Psammead pushed out its long eyes and got bigger and fatter， and the children waited. Then it said，' I'm sorry. I haven't done this for a long time. I'll try again，butl can only do one wish a day for you. Do you agree to that？' 赛米德将双眼从眼眶伸出去好远，并变大变胖了，孩子们等待着。一会儿，它说：“对不起。我很久没这样做了。我再试一次，但是一天只能为你们实现一个愿望。你们同意吗？” ' Yes， oh yes！'the children cried. “同意，同意！”孩子们喊道。 ' But remember， the wish is only for a day，'said the Psammead. ' When the sun goes down，everything goes back to what it was. ' “但是记住，只能维持一个白天。”赛米德说，“太阳落下去时，一切就恢复原样了。” The Psammead slowly got bigger， then suddenly went small again. ' That's all right！'it said. At once it turned and went back into the sand at the bottom of the hole. 赛米德慢慢地大起来，然后突然又变小了。“好了！”它说。它马上转过身回到洞底的沙中去了。 The children stood there for a second， and then Anthea turned to speak to the others. But they were not there！ She was looking at three strangers— a girl with beautiful red hair and big blue eyes， and two very good-looking boys. Suddenly she understood. They had their wish. The strangers were Robert and Cyril and Jane—but now they were beautiful. Cyril's hair was golden now， and Robert's was black. 孩子们站了一下，然后安西娅转身去和其他的孩子说话。可他们不在了！她看见三个陌生人——一个长着漂亮的红头发和大大的蓝眼睛的女孩，还有两个很好看的男孩。她忽然明白了。他们的愿望实现了：陌生人就是罗伯特、西里尔和简——只是他们现在漂亮了。西里尔的头发现在是金色的了，罗伯特则是黑头发。 ' I liked you better before！'Robert cried angrily to his brother and sisters. 'Jane's hair looks like carrots， and Cyril looks really stupid with long golden hair. ' “我更喜欢你们原来的样子！”罗伯特生气地对他的姐弟们叫着，“简的头发像胡萝卜，西里尔长着金色长发的样子看起来真傻。” They went to find Baby， but he was just the same as he was before. 他们去找小弟弟，可他还是原来的样子。 ' Perhaps it's because he's young. He can't have wishes. We'll have to remember that next time，'Anthea said，and she held out her arms to him. But Baby's mouth turned down at the corners and then he began to cry loudly. He did not know them！ “也许是因为他大小了吧。他也不会希望要什么。下次我们得记住。”安西娅说着并向他伸出手臂。可小弟弟撇着嘴开始大哭起来。他不认识他们！ It took an hour to stop him crying and then， very tired and cross， they took him home. Martha， Baby's nursemaid， was waiting at the front door. She took Baby from them quickly： 花了一个小时才哄他不哭了。他们又累又气，把他带回家。小弟弟的保姆马莎正在前门等候。她很快地把孩子接过去。 ' Where are the others？'she asked. 'And who are you？' “别的孩子们在哪儿呢？”她问，“你们是谁？” ' we're us，of course，' Robert said. ' You don't know us be-cause we're beautiful. ' “我们就是我们，当然了。”罗伯特说，“你不认识我们是因为我们漂亮了。” ' And we're very hungry，'said Cyril，'and we want our lunch， please. ' “我们还非常饿，”西里尔说，“我们想要午饭，求求了。” ' Go away！'Martha screamed. ' Or I'll send for the police，'and she closed the door in their faces. “走开！”马莎叫道，“不然我要叫警察了。”她当着他们的面关上了门。 The children were very hungry by then， and they tried three times to get into the house—but Martha would not let them in. After a while they went and sat at the bottom of the garden to wait for the sun to go down. 'The wish will finish then， won't it？'Jane said. 那时孩子们已经非常饿了，他们三次试图进门——但是马莎每次都不让他们进去。过了一会儿，他们去坐在花园尽头，等太阳落下去。“到那会儿愿望就结束了，不是吗？”简说。 But the others didn't answer because no one was really sure. 其他人没有回答，因为谁也不敢肯定。 It was a terrible afternoon. They had no lunch， no tea， and they were tired， angry and afraid. It's true that they were all very beautiful，but that's not a lot of help when you'rs unhappy. In the end they fell asleep. 那个下午可真糟。他们没有午饭，没有茶点，还又累又气又害怕。他们确实都很漂亮，可人不高兴时漂亮也帮不了多大忙。最后他们睡着了。 It was nearly dark when they woke up. Anthea was the first to wake up and she looked at the others. They were no longer very beautiful. Everything was all right again. Happily， they all went back to the house. Of course， Martha was angry. 他们醒来时天都快黑了。安西娅第一个醒来，她看看其他孩子。他们不再很漂亮了。一切都恢复原样了。他们都高高兴兴地回屋了。当然，马莎很生气。 ' Where have you been all day？'she cried. “你们一整天到哪里去了？”她喊道。 It is not easy to explain a Psammead to an angry nursemaid，so the children didn't try. 对一个发怒的保姆解释清楚赛米德是什么可不是件容易的事，所以孩子们没试着解释。 'We met some beautiful children and we couldn't get away from them until it was nearly dark，'Anthea said. ' They were terrible， and we never want to see them again. ' “我们遇到了些漂亮孩子，直到天快黑才脱身。”安西娅说，“他们太可怕了，我们不想再见到他们。” And they never have. 他们实际上从来也没见过那几个孩子 2 The Children Wish to Be Rich 2 孩子们希望变得富有 The next morning Martha took Baby out with her and the children decided to go back to the gravel-pit to look for the Psammead again. At first they could not find it. 'Per-haps it wasn't really here，'Robert said . But they began to dig into the sand with their hands and suddenly they came to the brown furry body of the Psammead. It sat up and shook the sand out of its fur. 第二天早晨，马莎带着小弟弟出去了，孩子们决定回砾石坑那儿再去找赛米德。开头他们没有找到。“也许它不一定真在这里，”罗伯特说。可他们还是开始用手挖沙子，忽然他们触到了赛米德褐色的、毛绒绒的身体。它坐起来抖掉毛上的沙子。 ' How are you today？'Anthea asked. “你好吗？”安西娅问。 'Well，I didn't sleep very well，but thank you for asking，'the Psammead answered. “嗯，我没睡好，但谢谢你的问候。”赛米德回答。 ' Can you give wishes today？'Robert said. ' Because we'd like to have two，if we can. But one is a very little wish. ' “今天你能给人实现愿望吗？”罗伯特说，“因为如果可以的话我们想要实现两个愿望。不过有一个是非常小的愿望。” 'Well， all right，' said the Psammead， looking at Robert with its long eyes. ' Let's have the little wish first. ' “那么，好吧。”赛米德说，用它的柄眼看着罗伯特。“先来实现这个小愿望吧。” ' Martha mustn't know about the wishes，'Robert said. ' I mean， she mustn't see anything different about us. And can you do that for every wish on every day？' “不能让马莎知道愿望的事。”罗伯特说，“我的意思是她不能看出我们有什么变化。你能每天对每个愿望都这样办吗？” The Psammead went a little bigger and then went small again. ' I've done that，'it said. ' It was easy. What's the next wish？' 赛米德变大了一点儿，然后又变小了。“我把那个办好了。”它说，“这容易。下一个愿望是什么？” ' We wish，' said Robert slowly，' to be very rich. ' “我们希望，”罗伯特慢慢地说，“变得非常有钱。” ' How much money do you want？'asked the Psammead. 'It won't do you much good， of course，'it said quietly to itself. 'Well， how much—— and do you want it in gold or notes？' “你们想要多少钱？”赛米德问道。“这当然对你们没什么好处，”它在心里默念着。“好吧，要多少——还有，想要金子还是钞票？” 'Gold， please，'Robert said. 'Millions！' “请给我们金子，”罗伯特说，“几百万！” 'A full gravel-pit，all right？'said the Psammead，sounding bored. ' But get out before I begin， or you'll die underneath it. ' “满满一砾石坑，行了吧？”赛米德说，听起来它不耐烦了。“可在我开始之前先走开，不然你们会被压死的。” Its thin arms got very long and it began to move them about. The children were afraid， and ran as fast as they could up to the road. When they were there， they turned to look back. They had to close their eyes and open them again very slowly . The gravel-pit was full， right up to the top， with new，shining，gold coins！ 它把细胳膊变得很长并挥动起来。孩子们害怕了，尽快地跑到上边路上去。在那儿时他们扭头看了看。他们不得不闭上眼睛，再慢慢睁开。砾石坑满满的，到顶上都是闪闪发光的、崭新的金币！ The children stood with their mouths open， and no one said a word. 孩子们站着，嘴巴张着，谁也没说话。 Then Robert took one of the coins in his hand and looked at it. ' It's different from English money，'he said. 然后罗伯特将一块金币放在手里看着。“和英国钱不一样，”他说。 ' Well，it doesn't matter. It's gold，'said Cyril. 'Don't for-get that it will all go when the sun goes down. Come on！ Let's put as much as we can in our pockets and go and spend it. ' “唔，那没关系。是金的。”西里尔说，“别忘了太阳落下去的时候它们就都没了。快点儿！尽量往兜里装，然后去把它们花掉。” So they all put gold coins in their pockets and went off to the village. But the gold was heavy， and soon they were very tired and hot. They decided to get something to drink in the village and then go on to the town of Rochester. 所以他们都往兜里装金币，然后朝村子走去。可金子很沉，一会儿他们就又累又热。他们决定在村里买点喝的，然后再继续赶往罗彻斯特城去。 Cyril went into the shop and the others waited outside. But when Cyril came back with a bottle of lemonade， he said，' I had to pay with my real money. When they saw all the coins，they wouldn't change the gold. ' 西里尔走进商店，其他孩子在外边等着。可是当西里尔拿着一瓶柠檬汽水回来时，他说：“我得付我自己的真钱。他们看见所有这些金币时不肯找钱。” 'Well， I'll try to get something with the gold，'Anthea said. ' We need a horse and cart. Come on. ' “那我去试着用这金子买点东西。”安西娅说，“我们需要一辆马套二轮单马车。来吧。” Anthea went to talk to a man who had a horse and cart， and the others waited. After a few minutes she came back， looking very pleased with herself. ' I wasn't stupid like Cyril，' she said. ' I only took out one coin， not all of them，and the man said he'll drive us to Rochester and wait for us. ' 安西娅走过去和一个有马套二轮单马车的人谈起来，别的孩子等着。几分钟后她回来了，看起来很得意的样子。“我可不像西里尔那么傻。”她说，“我只拿出一块金币，而不拿出所有的金币，那个人说他把我们拉到罗彻斯特去并等着我们。” On the way to Rochester， they did not speak. They were making plans about how to spend their gold， and they did not want to talk in front of the driver. 在去罗彻斯特的路上他们没有讲话。他们着怎样花他们的金子，而且他们不想在赶车人面前谈论。 But when they arrived in Rochester， with about twelve hun-dred gold coins in their pockets， they found that it was very difficult to spend them. Anthea tried to buy a very nice hat， but the woman in the shop looked very strangely，first at the gold coins， then at Anthea. 可是当他们兜里装着大约一千两百块金币到了罗彻斯特时，他们发现要花掉这些金币很困难。安西妮想买一顶很漂亮的帽子，可店里的那个女人很奇怪地先看看金币，再看看安西娅。 ' I can't take that，'she said. ' It's not modern English money. ' “我不要那个。”她说，“这不是现行的英国货币。” They went from shop to shop， but no one wanted to take their gold. ' It's because our hands are dirty and we look untidy. People think we've stolen the gold，'Anthea said. 他们去了一个又一个商店，可是没有人要他们的金子。“这是因为我们的手脏，我们自己看起来也不整洁。人们认为这金子是我们偷的。”安西娅说。 And it was worse when they tried to buy a horse and car-riage. Cyril showed the man his gold， and the man called to his son，'Send for the police！' 当他们试图买一辆马套四轮马车时，事情就更糟了。西里尔把他的金币给那人看，那人朝他的儿子喊：“叫警察来！” ' It's our money，'said Cyril angrily. 'We're not thieves. ' “这是我们的钱，”西里尔气愤地说，“我们不是贼。” ' Where did you get it from then？'said the man. “那你从什么地方搞到它的？”那人说。 ' A sand-fairy gave it to us，'said Jane. ' He gives us a wish a day and they all come true. ' “一个沙精给我们的。”简说，“他每天为我们实现一个愿望，而且都实现了。” The man shook his head slowly. ' Oh dear， oh dear，'he said. 'Stealing， and then telling stories about it. ' 那人慢慢地摇摇头。“天啊，天啊，”他说，“偷东西，然后又编故事。” Just then a policeman arrived and when he heard about the gold， he said to the four children，'Come with me. I'm taking you to the police station！' 这时警察来了，听了金币的事他对这四个孩子说：“跟我走。我带你们去警察局！” The children were angry and unhappy， but the policeman walked along the road behind them and they couldn't escape. They held their heads down because they did not want anyone to see them， and suddenly Robert ran into someone. ' Robert，what have you done now？'a voice cried . It was Martha and Baby！ 孩子们很生气，很不快。可是警察沿路跟在他们后边，他们逃跑不了。他们低着头，因为不愿让别人看到。突然罗伯特撞到了人身上。“罗伯特，你们干什么去了？”一个声音喊道。原来是马莎和小弟弟！ The policeman explained everything to Martha， and Cyril had to take the gold out of his pocket and show it to her. 警察对马莎解释了这一切。西里尔只得从兜里拿出金子给她看。 ' I can't see anything—just two very dirty hands，' she said. ' There's no gold there. What are you talking about？' “我什么也没看见——只是两只脏手。”她说，“没有金子。你在说些什么呀？” And then the children remembered that Martha couldn't see the wishes. 于是孩子们记起马莎是看不出这些许愿的事的。 It was getting dark when they arrived at the police station. The policeman explained about the gold and the Inspector said，'Well ， let's see it. ' 到警察局时，天快黑了。警察解释了金子的事，巡长说：“好吧，让我们看看。” Cyril put his hands into his pockets— but they were empty！ The others put their hands into their pockets. They were empty， too！ Of course， all the fairy gold went when the sun went down！ 西里尔把手伸进兜里——可兜里是空的！其他孩子把手伸进兜里，也都是空的！当然了，太阳一落下山去所有这些变出来的金币就没有了！ ' How did they do that？'cried the policeman. “他们是怎么搞的？”那警察叫起来。 Martha was very angry with him. ' I told you that there wasn't any gold，'she shouted. ' You'll be in trouble for this. Saying that these poor little children are thieves！' 马莎很生他的气。“我告诉过你没有什么金子。”她喊道，“你会为此触霉头的。竟然说这些可怜的小孩子是小偷！” But she was very angry with the children too. ' What were you doing in town alone？'she said to them outside the police station. 可她也很生孩子们的气。“你们自己在城里干什么呢？”在警察局外她对他们说。 And she took them home and sent them to bed early. 她把孩子们带回家，早早地就叫他们睡觉了。 3 Wings 3 翅膀 The next day was very wet. It rained al