书虫二级《新森林的孩子们》：4、赫瑟斯顿先生的秘书
4．Secretary to Mr Hetherstone
4．赫瑟斯顿先生的秘书
When Edward arrived back at the cottage, Humphrey came out to meet him, and his face was unhappy.
当爱德华回到农舍时，汉弗莱出来迎接他，他一脸忧伤。
Oh Edward, Jacob is very ill. The girls are with him now. We think he's dying.'
“唉，爱德华，雅各布病得很厉害。女孩们现在正陪着他。我们觉得他快要死了。”
Edward hurried inside, and the four children stayed by Jacob's bedside all that day. In the evening Jacob spoke to them all very lovingly, one by one. Those were his last words, and a little later, he died.
爱德华匆忙走进屋里，四个孩子那天一整天都陪在雅各布的床边。晚上，雅各布对他们每个人都疼爱地一一作了嘱咐。那些是他最后的话，没过多久，他就死了。
The children cried for a long time because they dearly loved the good old man. The next morning they buried him under an oak tree behind the cottage, and they planted wild flowers above his body.
孩子们哭了很长时间，因为他们深深地爱着这位好心的老人。第二天早上，他们把雅各布埋到了农舍后面的一棵橡树下面，并且在他的坟上种上了野花。
We have lost a good friend,' said Edward. 'He saved us from the flames of Arnwood and he has looked after us since then, in his cottage. We must now look after ourselves, and try to be happy together.'
“我们失去了一位好朋友，”爱德华说，“他使我们免遭安伍德那场大火，从那以后他让我们住在他的农舍里，一直照顾我们。现在我们必须自己照顾自己了，而且要尽量高兴地在一起。”
Six weeks went by, and then Oswald Partridge came to visit them. 'How is the old man?' was his first question.
六个星期过去了，这时奥斯瓦尔德·帕特里奇来拜访他们了。“那位老伙计怎么样了？”他一来就问道。
We buried him six weeks ago,' replied Edward.
“我们六个星期前埋葬了他。”爱德华回答。
I'm sorry to hear it, ' said the forester. 'He was a good man. And how is your arm?'
“这让我很难过，”这个护林人说，“他是个好人。那你的胳膊怎么样了？”
Nearly well,' said Edward. 'Now, sit down, Oswald. Tell me, why didn't you visit us sooner?'
“差不多好了，”爱德华说，“现在，坐下吧，奥斯瓦尔德。告诉我，你为什么没有更早一点儿来看我们？”
In a word — murder. These terrible Roundheads have killed the King. A few days after the fire, Mr Hetherstone went to London. He told me to stay near his cottage to look after his daughter. In London he tried to stop the murder, but Cromwell and his men didn't listen to him. He came home yesterday, and told us all about it.'
“一句话——谋杀。这些可怕的圆颅党人杀害了国王。大火之后过了几天，赫瑟斯顿先生去了伦敦。他要我待在他的农舍附近，照顾他女儿。在伦敦，他试图阻止谋杀，但是克伦威尔和他的手下不听他的。他昨天回到家给我们讲了这一切。”
The King murdered !' cried Edward. 'How can they murder a King? Well, the time will come. If I cannot fight for the King, one day I shall fight against his murderers.'
“国王被杀害了！”爱德华大叫，“他们怎么能谋杀一个国王呢？好吧，时机会到来的。如果我不能为国王而战，总有一天我会找那些谋杀国王的凶手算账的。”
Oswald stayed to eat dinner at the cottage, and was very friendly with them all. He stayed the night and the next day Edward decided to tell him their secret.
奥斯瓦尔德留在农舍里吃了晚餐，他对他们全都非常友好。他在那儿过了夜，第二天爱德华决定把他们的秘密告诉他。
Colonel Beverley's children?' said Oswald. 'Well, this is happy news! And it's true, Edward, that you don't look like a forester's son. Mr Hetherstone thinks that too. He has asked me lots of questions about you, and he says that he will visit you himself to thank you for saving his daughter's life. But I'll keep your secret, and I shall be happy to help the Colonel's children.'
“贝弗利上校的孩子？”奥斯瓦尔德说，“啊，这是个好消息！而且，爱德华，你看起来确实不像一个护林人的儿子，赫瑟斯顿先生也这么认为。他问了我很多关于你的问题，他还说他会亲自来拜访你，感谢你救了他女儿。但是我会为你们保守秘密的，我很高兴能帮助上校的孩子们。”
Then can you tell me how much to pay for oatmeal and salt?' said Edward. 'And who will buy deer meat and pay well for it? You see,' he went on, 'now that Jacob is dead, I must go to Lymington myself to do these things.'
“那你能告诉我买燕麦片和盐需要多少钱吗？”爱德华问。“另外，有谁会买鹿肉，而且能出个好价钱呢？你知道，”他继续道，“现在雅各布去世了，我必须自己去利明顿做这些事情。”
Oswald told him the names of men who would buy deer meat — and ask no questions. 'But be careful, Edward. Mr Hetherstone would like to help you because you saved his daughter's life, but he cannot save you from the soldiers if they catch you killing the forest deer.'
奥斯瓦尔德告诉了他几个会买鹿肉的人的名字——什么问题都没问。“但是要小心，爱德华。赫瑟斯顿先生会愿意帮助你的，因为你救了他女儿，但是如果你杀森林里的鹿被士兵们抓住，他就救不了你了。”
During that summer Edward and Humphrey went hunting together when they needed meat. They kept a careful watch for strangers, but they knew the forest well now and could move as silently and as cleverly as the deer. Humphrey's farm was getting bigger all the time. With the vegetable gardens, and the chickens and cows and pigs, it was hard work for them all, but the children never went hungry — thanks to Jacob Armitage's teaching.
那个夏天，当他们需要肉的时候，爱德华和汉弗莱就一起去打猎。他们很警惕陌生人，但是他们现在对森林很熟悉了，行动起来能像鹿一样悄无声息而且灵敏。汉弗莱的农场一直在扩大。他们要照看菜园、鸡、牛和猪，这对于他们所有人来说都是很辛苦的工作，可孩子们从来没挨过饿——多亏了雅各布·阿米蒂奇的教导。
One day Humphrey was out in the forest, getting food for the pigs, and he found a Spanish gipsy boy lying on the ground. The boy was nearly dead from hunger and thirst, and Humphrey carried him back to the cottage. Alice and Edith looked after him, and when he was well again, they asked him to stay and work on the farm.
有一天，汉弗莱在森林里找猪食时，发现一个西班牙吉普赛男孩躺在地上。男孩又饿又渴，快要死了，汉弗莱把他带回了农舍。艾丽斯和伊迪丝照顾他，当他身体恢复后，他们要他留下来，在农场上干活。
The boy's name was Pablo and he was about fifteen years old. His English was not very good, and he had no friends, no family. He was happy to stay at the cottage.
男孩叫帕布洛，大概15岁了。他的英语不太好，没有朋友，也没有家人。他很高兴能留在农舍。
Lost in the forest. No food, no water. Nearly dead,' he explained. 'You save my life. Happy to work for you. Happy to have food and bed. Happy to have new friends.'
“在森林里迷了路。没有食物，没有水。就快死了，”他解释说，“你们救了我的命。很高兴为你们工作。很高兴有食物和床。很高兴有新朋友。”
* * *
* * *
It was nearly winter when Mr Hetherstone, with his daughter Patience, came to the cottage. At first Alice and Edith were afraid when they saw his tall hat, but he spoke kindly to them all. And Patience took Edward's hand and thanked him again and again for saving her life.
赫瑟斯顿先生和他女儿佩兴斯来农舍的时候已经快到冬天了。一开始，艾丽斯和伊迪丝看到他的高帽子时还有些害怕，但是他对他们所有人说话都很和善。佩兴斯拉着爱德华的手，一遍又一遍地感谢他救了自己。
Then Mr Hetherstone spoke to Edward. 'You saved my only child from the fire, Edward Armitage, and I thank you.'
然后赫瑟斯顿先生对爱德华说：“你从火中救了我唯一的孩子，爱德华·阿米蒂奇，我感谢你。”
Mr Hetherstone, I cannot understand you,' Edward said. 'You are a good man — but you are a friend of Cromwell, who has murdered the King!'
“赫瑟斯顿先生，我不理解您，”爱德华说，“您是个好人——但您却是克伦威尔一边的，是他杀害了国王！”
Edward, you are young and you can't remember the troubles in England because of King Charles. He never listened to Parliament, he did only what he wanted, and the people were very angry. They fought because they wanted to be free. But now Cromwell and his friends will listen to nobody. They have murdered the King, and they are worse than he ever was. One day the people of England will be free again. But for now we can't speak of these things openly — it's too dangerous.'
“爱德华，你年纪小，不记得国王查理给英国造成的问题。他从来不听议会的意见，只做自己想做的事，人民都很愤怒。人们作战是因为他们想要自由。但是现在克伦威尔和支持他的那帮人谁的话也不听，他们杀害了国王，他们比国王以前还坏。总有一天英国人民会再次自由的。但是现在我们不能公开说这些事——这太危险了。”
Thank you, sir,' said Edward quietly. 'I understand you better now. I'll try to be careful, because I want to fight against Cromwell when the time is right.'
“谢谢您，先生，”爱德华轻轻地说，“现在我能理解您多一点儿了。我会尽量小心的，因为我想等时机适当的时候反击克伦威尔。”
Mr Hetherstone looked kindly at Edward. 'Now, I want to help you. You know that you were born for better things than a forester's life. I would like you to be my secretary and live at my house. I will pay you and you can help your family. Don't answer me now. Talk to your brother about it first.'
赫瑟斯顿先生亲切地看着爱德华。“现在，我想帮助你。你知道，你生来就该拥有比护林人更好的生活。我希望你可以做我的秘书，住在我家。我会付给你酬劳，你可以帮助你的家人。现在别答复我，先和你弟弟商量一下。”
Alice and Edith made dinner, and they all ate together. Patience enjoyed the farm very much, and she liked Alice and Edith. 'We shall all be firends,' she said when they said goodbye. And she smiled her beautiful smile.
艾丽斯和伊迪丝做了晚饭，他们都在一起吃了饭。佩兴斯非常喜欢农场，也喜欢艾丽斯和伊迪丝。“我们大家都会成为朋友的。”他们道别时她说道，并且露出甜美的微笑。
Later, Edward talked to Humphrey. 'What shall I do? I want to be a soldier, not a secretary,' he said.
随后，爱德华和汉弗莱谈了这件事。“我该怎么办呢？我想成为一名士兵，而不是秘书。”他说。
You're too young,' said Humphrey. 'I like working on the farm, and now I have Pablo to help me. I know that you want to get out into the world, but for now you must take this job. Mr Hetherstone will be a good friend to us all.'
“你太年轻了，”汉弗莱说，“我喜欢在农场干活，而且现在我有帕布洛帮忙。我知道你想到外面的世界去，但是目前你必须接受这份工作。赫瑟斯顿先生会和我们都成为好朋友的。”
So Edward bought a black suit and a tall hat, kissed his sisters goodbye, and went to live in Mr Hetherstone's cottage. Every morning he wrote letters for Mr Hetherstone, and every afternoon he spent time with his daughter. He began to like Patience very much. Every week he rode across the forest to see his family. Sometimes Patience went with him, to visit Alice and Edith.
于是爱德华买了一套黑色礼服和一顶高帽子，与他的妹妹们吻别后，就搬到赫瑟斯顿先生家里去了。每天早上他替赫瑟斯顿先生草拟信件，下午就和他女儿待在一起。他开始非常喜欢佩兴斯了。他每周都骑马穿过森林回去看望他的家人，有时候佩兴斯和他一起去看望艾丽斯和伊迪丝。
And so a year and more went by. The next winter there was a lot of snow and travelling was difficult. But in the world outside, things were happening, and news came to Mr Hetherstone in the spring.
就这样一年多过去了。第二年冬天经常下雪，出行很困难。但是在外面的世界，发生了一些事情，消息是在春天传到赫瑟斯顿先生这里的。
The King's son has arrived in Scotland and is now King Charles Ⅱ,' he told Edward. 'He's coming south with his army to England, and I think the time is right for you to ride north and meet him. I'll give you letters to some friends who will help you.'
“国王的儿子已经到了苏格兰，现在是国王查理二世，”他告诉爱德华，“他正和他的军队往南向英格兰这边来，我想这是你骑马北上与他会合的适当时机了。我会为你写几封信给一些朋友，他们会帮你的。”
And so the next morning Edward said goodbye to Patience and kissed her hand. She cried to see him go. Then, with his father's sword by his side, Edward rode away on Mr Hetherstone's black horse, to fight for the King at last.
于是，第二天早上爱德华向佩兴斯告别，吻了她的手。她哭着目送他离开。就这样，爱德华把他父亲的剑带在身边，骑着赫瑟斯顿先生的黑马出发了，他终于能够去为国王而战了。
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