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书虫3级《小镇传奇》4. 暴风雨救了他

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2022年07月24日

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4. SAVED BY A STORM

When newly engaged people like Denry and Ruth want to go away on a summer holiday, there are many things to think about. A businessman, for example, who lives by collecting rents every week cannot go away easily for two. And a young woman who lives alone must always be careful about what other people think, so Ruth asked her friend Nellie Cotterill to go with her.

Ruth and Nellie took a room together at 26 St Asaph's Road, Llandudno. Denry took a room at number 28 St Asaph's Road. Who could want more?

Denry had never seen the sea before. As he walked along the beach in his best clothes, with the girls on either side of him, he thought it was all wonderful. He also saw fantastic possibilities for making money, because here were fifty thousand people, all on holiday, all wanting to do interesting things, and all with money to spend.

Denry thought about this a lot because he felt he was now a serious person. He had something to live for. He was very pleased and happy to be engaged to Ruth, although still a little surprised. What could this fine young lady see in him?

They had not discussed money at all, although Denry wanted to. It was clear that Ruth thought he was a rich man, and Denry was spending a lot of money. In fact, he could not move without paying for something. The pier, swimming, ice cream, chairs, fruit, boat trips, photographs, teas, coffees – even a short walk with Ruth was expensive.

Ruth had very little money, but it didn't worry her. She didn't know what money was, and she spent Denry's like water. The gentle, silent Nellie often asked to pay for something herself, but of course Denry couldn't let her. He liked Nellie Cotterill. She thought that he and Ruth were wonderful, and although she was a very quiet person, she was also very sensible.

At the end of the first week Denry was getting more and more worried about money. On the Monday morning he went back to Bursley to collect rents, and returned to Llandudno on Tuesday evening with his pockets full of rent money. Something had to happen, he thought. He didn't know what it was, but three months of engagement with Ruth Earp was going to leave him penniless.

*  *  *

He was saved by a storm at sea. They woke up on Wednesday morning to find the rain and wind crashing against the windows. The three walked down into the town, where they learnt that the town's lifeboat had gone out to a ship further along the coast. A second lifeboat (an old one, now owned by a fisherman) had gone out to a Norwegian ship, the Hjalmar, which was in difficulties just off Llandudno itself. Everyone in the town was watching the lifeboat save the sailors while the ship went down. Denry and the girls went onto the pier, and Denry even got his feet wet helping one or two of the Norwegian sailors from the lifeboat onto the pier. After that, he talked for a time to Cregeen, the owner of the lifeboat.

Denry got his feet wet helping the sailors from the lifeboat onto the pier.

It was a very exciting day, and it gave Denry an idea.

I'll write a report about all this for the Signal,' he said. This was the Five Towns daily newspaper.

Oh yes!' said Nellie. 'What a good idea!'

The next morning Denry was up early to send the report off by train. Then he and the girls walked into town – and spent more money. Everybody in the town was talking about the storm, the wreck of the Hjalmar and the wonderful rescue of all the Norwegian sailors by the lifeboat.

After a few minutes, Ruth turned to Denry.

I had the bill for our room this morning,' she said.

Oh!' he said. 'Did you pay it?'

Yes. But now I've almost no money left. We spent so much money while you were away in Bursley. You don't know how quickly money goes!' She waited a moment, then said, 'I suppose we'll have to go home.'

What a pity!' said Denry, sadly.

Of course, Ruth wanted Denry to say that he could pay for her to stay. But all he said was, 'What a pity!'

I think I'll go home this afternoon.'

I'm sorry,' said Denry.

At that moment a hand touched his arm. It was Cregeen.

Mr Machin. It's now or never. It's twenty-five pounds if you can pay today.'

Right!' said Denry. 'I'll see you this evening.'

Ruth pretended not to be interested in any of this.

*  *  *

Poor Nellie. She knew something was wrong, but she didn't know what it was. All she knew was that her holiday was coming to a sudden end. In the evening, the three of them walked to the station.

Where's your luggage?' Ruth asked Denry.

I'm not going. I've got business here.'

There was a bookshop in the station. Denry bought the Signal, which had just come in, and there was his report: 'Terrible Storm in North Wales – a report by Mr E. H. Machin of Bursley'. Denry was ready to explode with happiness, but he gave the newspaper calmly to Ruth.

She did not look at it. 'We'll read it on the train,' she said.

The bookshop also had a lot of souvenirs of Llandudno. Ruth wanted a glass plate with a picture of Great Orme Head on it, but the man in the shop said that they had sold out.

Couldn't you get one and send it to me?' said Ruth.

Oh yes,' said the man, taking out a book. 'What name?'

Ruth looked at Denry, in the way that a woman always looks at a man when she wants him to pay.

Rothschild,' said Denry. 'The millionaire.'

These words ended their engagement. The next day Denry received by post a ring in a box, with a short letter.

I only said "Rothschild"!' said Denry to himself. But secretly, he was pleased.

*  *  *

An hour later Denry met Cregeen, and was soon the owner of the old Llandudno lifeboat. He then went to find Simeon, an old sailor with a white beard. He had been in the lifeboat when they rescued the men on the Hjalmar.

I've got the boat,' said Denry. 'I'll give you two pounds for the week.'

All right,' said the old man. 'And I've seen three of those Norwegians. They don't speak English, but they understand about the money.'

Good,' said Denry. 'I'll see you tomorrow morning.'

At five o'clock the next morning a boat left Llandudno. There were six men rowing, three of them Norwegians. There was also a man with a white beard, and Denry. In twenty minutes they were at the wreck of the Hjalmar and Denry was feeling very ill. Twenty minutes more and he was happy to be back on land.

At ten o'clock that morning two Norwegian sailors were walking around the town giving little notices to everyone they met.

THE WRECK OF THE HJALMAR

FAMOUS RESCUE AT LLANDUDNO

Every day at 11, 12, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 o'clock the famous lifeboat which rescued the Norwegian sailors will visit the wreck of the Hjalmar. The lifeboat's captain is Simeon Edwards, one of the rescuers, and the lifeboat is rowed by three of the rescued Norwegians.

Return trip, 12 pence

On the first day, Denry made twelve pounds. That evening he received a packet in the post. It was from Nellie. There was a box of chocolates and a note which said: Thank you very much for the holiday. I hope you will like these. Nellie. Denry was very pleased by this. Ruth's young friend, he thought, was much more grateful than Ruth herself.

The boat trips out to the wreck became more and more popular. In the afternoons, Denry had to ask 25 pence – it was the only way to stop the big crowds that were waiting on the beach. Soon, he was making a hundred pounds a week. He was sorry the wreck had happened in August and not July. He was sorry there were not two or even forty Hjalmars.

The boat trips out to the wreck became more and more popular.

One day in September when business was beginning to slow down (he was down to fifty pounds a week), Denry had a very pleasant surprise. He met Nellie on the beach, and it was a fact that seeing her gave him a great feeling of happiness. She was with her father, Councillor Cotterill, and her mother. The Councillor was a builder who had become rich building cheap houses for the people of the Five Towns.

Well, young man!' said Councillor Cotterill.

He continued to call Denry 'young man' in a way that made Denry cross. 'I've made more money this summer than you have in a year,' he said silently to the Councillor's back.

You must have dinner with me one evening,' Denry said finally. 'At the Majestic.' The Majestic was the finest, and most expensive, hotel in Llandudno. Some of the waiters were French!

They agreed to go the next day. Then Mrs Cotterill remembered that Ruth was coming to stay with them for a few days.

Bring her along too!' said Denry.

The dinner was a great success. Denry had never arranged a dinner before, but it was easy. You just walked into the hotel in the morning and said what you wanted. The hotel arranged everything! And it was easy to meet a woman who had just broken off her engagement to you. You just said, 'Good afternoon, how are you?' and she said the same. Then you shook hands. And there you were, still alive.

After the meal, Denry walked back with the others to their hotel. Councillor Cotterill had stopped calling Denry 'young man'; he now called him 'my boy'.

That lifeboat. It was just an idea, my boy, just an idea.'

Yes,' said Denry, 'but I thought of it.'

The question is,' said the Councillor, 'can you think of any more ideas as good?'

Well,' said Denry, 'can you?'

When they reached the Cotterills' hotel, Ruth waited a moment while the others went in, and then turned to Denry:

I don't feel like sleeping at all. I suppose you wouldn't like to go for a walk?'

Well...'

I suppose you're very tired.'

No,' he replied. 'It's this moonlight I'm afraid of.'

A few days later the Cotterills and Ruth Earp went home, and Denry went with them. He had now sold the lifeboat and brought all his business in Llandudno to an end. He had very little luggage, but he did have a new hat-box. It was very heavy.

When Denry got home, he was pleased to see his mother again. She had often collected his rents for him during the summer, and had done it very well. He gave the hat-box to her, and she immediately dropped it.

I don't want any of your games, young man,' she said crossly. 'What's in it?'

Some pretty stones from the beach.'

She picked up the hat-box, opened it, and screamed. It fell to the floor with a crash and Mrs Machin was standing up to her ankles in money. She could see coins running all over the floor. At last they stopped moving, and then it was silent. Denry could hear his heart beating. For once in her life his mother could not find a word to say.

The hat-box fell to the floor with a crash.

For several days afterwards Mrs Machin was still picking up coins. The story of the money in the hat-box quickly went round the town. It was Denry's 'latest' and people talked about it for weeks afterwards.

* * *

discuss v. to talk about something with another person or a group in order to exchange ideas or decide something 谈论

pier n. a long platform built from the land into the sea, where people can walk or get on or off boats (伸向海中的)突堤码头

penniless adj. having no money 身无分文的

crash v. to hit something extremely hard, making a lot of noise 猛撞,猛击

lifeboat n. a boat that helps people who are in danger at sea 救生艇

wreck n. a ship that has been badly damaged in an accident(失事船舶等的)残骸

luggage n. the case, bags etc carried by someone who is travelling 行李

explode v. cause to burst with a violent release of energy 爆炸,爆发

souvenir n. something you keep to remember a place 纪念品

millionaire n. a person who has more than a million pounds, dollars etc 百万富翁

row v. to move a boat through water using oars (long pieces of wood with flat ends) 划船

packet n. a small container, usually made of paper, with several things of the same kind in it 小包,包裹

cross adj. angry or annoyed 生气的

feel like have an inclination for something or some activity 想要

ankle n. the joint between your foot and your leg 脚踝

go around become widely known and passed on (消息)流传

4. 暴风雨救了他

像邓瑞和露丝这种刚订婚的人出门度假消夏要考虑很多事情。比如说,一个靠每周收租为生的商人很难找出时间外出两周。而一个独居的年轻女士必须考虑别人的看法,因此露丝邀请了她的朋友内莉·科特里尔和她一同前往。

露丝和内莉住在位于兰迪德诺的圣阿萨夫路26号的一间屋里。邓瑞则住在圣阿萨夫路28号。还能有比这更好的安排吗?

邓瑞以前从没见过大海。当他穿着最体面的衣服漫步在海滩上,一边一个女孩相伴时,他觉得生活真是太美好了。他还发现了赚钱的大好时机,因为这里有五万人,这些人全都在度假,全都想做点好玩的事情,全都想把钱花掉。

关于此事,邓瑞考虑了很多,因为他认为自己现在是一个严肃的男人。他有了生活目标。跟露丝订婚他除了满足和幸福之外,还有那么点儿惊讶。这位高雅的年轻女士到底看上他什么了?

他们根本没讨论过钱的事,尽管邓瑞很想讨论。很明显露丝认定他是个有钱人,而邓瑞也在大把大把地花钱。事实上,他每走一步都要花钱。到码头啦、游泳啦、买冰激凌啦、租椅子啦、买水果啦、乘船旅行啦、照相啦、喝茶和咖啡啦——和露丝即便走上短短一段路都是十分昂贵的。

露丝没什么钱,但她毫不担心。她对钱没概念,花邓瑞的钱跟流水似的。温柔沉默的内莉常常主动要付些钱,但邓瑞当然不肯。他喜欢内莉·科特里尔。她觉得露丝和邓瑞都是好人,尽管她话不多,但非常明理。

第一周就要过去,邓瑞越来越担心钱不够用。周一早晨,他回伯斯利收租,周二晚上又来到兰迪德诺,口袋里装满了收来的租金。必须做点什么,他想。他还不知道要做什么,但跟露丝订婚三个月后,他已经快要身无分文了。

*  *  *

海上的一场风暴救了他。周三早上醒来时,他们发现狂风暴雨正狠狠抽打着窗户。他们三人走进镇里,得知镇上的那艘救生艇驶向了一艘停靠在海岸稍远处的大船。第二艘救生艇(旧的那个,现在归一个渔民所有)驶到了一艘挪威船“亚尔马号”那里,那艘船刚离开兰迪德诺就陷入了麻烦。镇上所有人都在看着救生艇营救那艘正在沉没的船上的水手。邓瑞和姑娘们赶到了码头上,邓瑞在帮一两个挪威水手从救生艇登上码头时,连自己的脚也打湿了。之后,他和救生艇的主人克里金聊了一会儿。

这是令人激动的一天,邓瑞有了个点子。

“我要给《信报》写篇报道,说说今天的事情。”他说。《信报》是五镇的日报。

“是啊!”内莉说,“多好的想法啊!”

第二天一早邓瑞早早起床,让火车把报道寄出。接着他和姑娘们走进镇里——又花了些钱。镇上所有的人都在谈论这场暴风雨、“亚尔马号”的残骸以及所有挪威水手被救生艇成功解救上岸的事。

过了几分钟,露丝转向邓瑞。

“今早他们送来了我们房间的账单。”她说。

“哦!”他说,“你付账了吗?”

“付了。但我手头快没钱了。你在伯斯利的时候,我们花销太大了。你不知道钱用得多快!”她停顿了一会儿,接着说,“我想我们得回家了。”

“真遗憾!”邓瑞神情哀伤地说。

露丝当然希望邓瑞说他会出钱让她留下来。可邓瑞说出口的只是“真遗憾!”

“我想今天下午就回家。”

“很遗憾。”邓瑞说。

就在那时一只手碰了碰他的胳膊。是克里金。

“梅钦先生。过了这个村就没这个店了。你今天要是能交钱,就收你25英镑。”

“好!”邓瑞说,“今晚我去找你。”

露丝假装对这一切都不感兴趣。

*  *  *

可怜的内莉。她知道有什么事不对劲,但她不知道到底怎么回事。她只知道她的假期突然要结束了。傍晚,他们三人朝火车站走去。

“你的行李呢?”露丝问邓瑞。

“我不走。我在这里还有公事。”

火车站有个书店。邓瑞买了份刚刚出版的《信报》,上面登载了他的报道:“北威尔士的可怕风暴——伯斯利镇E. H. 梅钦先生报道”。邓瑞内心兴奋得不能自已,但他还是平静地把报纸递给了露丝。

她看也没看一眼。“我们会在火车上看的。”她说。

书店里还有许多兰迪德诺的纪念品。露丝想买一个印有大奥姆角图片的玻璃盘子,但店里的人说已经卖完了。

“你就不能设法弄到一个,给我寄来吗?”露丝问。

“哦,可以。”店员说着拿出一个本子,“您的名字?”

露丝看着邓瑞,通常一个女人想让男人为她埋单时,就会用那种眼神。

“罗思柴尔德,”邓瑞说,“那个百万富翁。”

这些话终止了他们的婚约。第二天邓瑞收到邮局寄来的一个盒子,里面是枚戒指和一封短信。

“我仅仅说了句‘罗思柴尔德 '而已!”邓瑞心中暗想。但他暗地里很开心。

*  *  *

一小时后,邓瑞见到了克里金,并很快成为了那艘兰迪德诺老救生艇的新主人。接着他动身去找西米恩——一位白胡子的老水手,当人们营救“亚尔马号”上的人时,他就在救生艇上。

“我买下这船了。”邓瑞说,“我每周给你两英镑。”

“好的。”老水手说,“我已见过三个挪威水手。他们不会说英语,但说到钱他们就明白了。”

“好。”邓瑞说,“明早我来见你。”

第二天早上五点钟,一条船离开了兰迪德诺。一共有六个人划船,其中三个是挪威人,还有一位白胡子老人以及邓瑞。20分钟后他们到达“亚尔马号”残骸旁边,邓瑞晕船晕得厉害。又过了20分钟后他很高兴回到了陆地上。

那天上午十点钟,两个挪威水手走上街头,在镇上逢人便散发小传单。

“亚尔马号”残骸

著名的兰迪德诺大营救

每天11点、12点、下午2点、3点、4点、5点和6点,曾营救挪威水手的著名救生艇将前往“亚尔马号”残骸处。营救人员之一的西米恩·爱德华任救生艇的船长,3位获救的挪威人任水手。

往返船票:12便士

第一天,邓瑞就挣了12英镑。那天晚上,他收到一个包裹,是内莉寄来的。包裹里有一盒巧克力,并附有一张纸条,上面写着:谢谢你安排了这次度假。希望你喜欢这礼物。内莉。邓瑞对此感到很高兴。他觉得露丝的小伙伴远比露丝本人更懂得感恩。

乘船参观失事船残骸的活动越来越受欢迎。每到下午,邓瑞就得收费25便士,只有这样才能减少在岸上候船的汹涌客流。很快,他每周就能挣到100英镑。令他感到遗憾的是,船是在八月而不是七月出的事,而且只有一艘“亚尔马号”出事,而不是两艘或者四十艘。

九月的一天,当生意开始逐渐冷清下来时(他每周的收入降到了50英镑),邓瑞遇上一件令他十分惊喜的事。他在海滩上遇到了内莉,毋容置疑,见到她令他非常开心。她和父亲科特里尔议员以及母亲在一起。议员是一个建筑商,曾经靠给五镇居民建便宜的房子发过财。

“嘿,年轻人!”科特里尔议员叫道。

他一直管邓瑞叫“年轻人”,那种讲话方式让邓瑞很恼火。“我这个夏天挣的钱比你一年挣的都多。”他对着议员的背影暗暗说道。

“请你们务必赏光跟我一起共进晚餐。”邓瑞最后说,“在马杰斯蒂克饭店。”马杰斯蒂克饭店是兰迪德诺最好最贵的一家饭店,甚至有些服务员是法国人!

他们说好第二天去。然后,科特里尔夫人想起露丝要过来和他们呆几天。

“叫她一起来吧!”邓瑞说。

晚宴非常成功。邓瑞以前从没安排过晚宴,不过那其实很容易。你只需早上走进饭店,告诉他们你想要什么,饭店便会安排好一切!同一个刚跟你解除婚约的女人见面也很容易,只需说句:“下午好。最近好吗?”她也会说同样的话,接下来你们便会握手,就这样,你还活得好好的!

饭后,邓瑞陪他们走回宾馆。科特里尔议员已经不再叫邓瑞“年轻人”,他现在叫他“我的孩子”。

“那个救生艇,那只是个点子,我的孩子,只是个点子而已。”

“是的。”邓瑞说,“可那是我想出来的。”

“问题是,”议员说,“你能想出更多和这一样好的点子吗?”

“呃,”邓瑞说,“你能吗?”

当他们走到科特里尔家下榻的宾馆时,露丝等了一会儿,待其他人都进去后,转过身对邓瑞说:

“我一点都不困。我想你或许不想去散步?”

“呃……”

“我猜你一定很累了。”

“不累,”他答道,“我害怕的是这月色。”

几天后,科特里尔一家和露丝·厄普要回家了,邓瑞与他们同行。此时,他已经卖了救生艇,了结了他在兰迪德诺的所有生意。他几乎没有行李,但他带了个新的帽盒。盒子沉甸甸的。

邓瑞到家后,很高兴又见到了母亲。整个夏天,她常常替他收租金,而且干得非常不错。他递给她帽盒,她随即就把它扔在一边。

“我可不喜欢你的什么鬼把戏,年轻人。”她生气地说,“里面装的什么?”

“是从沙滩上捡的一些漂亮的石头。”

她捡起盒子,打开,然后尖叫起来。盒子掉到了地上,发出一声巨响,梅钦太太的脚踝都没在了钱币里。她看到钱币在地上到处滚动。最后它们终于停了下来,一切都恢复了平静。邓瑞能听到自己心跳的声音。他母亲生平第一次不知道该说什么才好。

之后连着好几天,梅钦太太都在捡拾硬币。帽盒里装钱的事情很快就传遍整个小镇。这是邓瑞的“最新消息”,人们谈论了好几个星期。

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