帕丁顿熊 · Sally

为你读英语美文·第280期 帕丁顿熊 · Sally 主播：Sally 坐标：广州 A Bear Called Paddington 节选 作者：Michael Bond Mr and Mrs Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform. 先生和布朗夫人第一次遇见小熊帕丁顿，是在火车站的站台上。 In fact, that was how he came to have such an unusual name for a bear, because Paddington was the name of the station. 事实上，这只小熊之所以会有这么个奇特的名字，还是这个站台的功劳呢，因为帕丁顿就是这个火车站的名字。 The Browns were waiting to meet their daughter, Judy, when Mr Brown noticed something small and furry near the LEFT LUGGAGE office. 布朗夫妇是来接女儿朱迪的，布朗先生注意到在遗留行李处有一个小小的、毛茸茸的东西。 “It looks like a bear,” he said. “看样子像是一只熊。”他说 “A bear?” repeated Mrs. Brown. “On Paddington Station? Don’t be silly, Henry. There can’t be!” “一只熊？在帕丁顿火车站？”布朗夫人说，“别犯傻了，亨利。那是不可能的！” But Mr. Brown was right. It was sitting on an old leather suitcase marked WANTED ON VOYAGE, and as they drew near it stood up and politely raised his hat. 布朗先生是对的。确实有一只小熊坐在一个破旧的手提箱上面，箱子写着大大的字：航海之用。他们走近后，小熊站了起来，并彬彬有礼地扬起帽子： “Good afternoon,” it said. “May I help you?” “下午好。”他说，“我能帮助你们吗？” “It’s very kind of you,” said Mr. Brown, “but as a matter of fact, we were wondering if we could help you?” “谢谢你。”布朗先生说，“呃……事实上，我们在想是否可以帮助你。” “You’re a very small bear,” said Mrs. Brown. “Where are you from?” “你是一只非常小的熊呢。”布朗夫人弯下身去，“你来自哪里？” The bear looked around carefully before replying. “Darkest Peru. I’m not really supposed to be here at all. I’m a stowaway.” 在答话之前，小熊小心翼翼地环顾了一下四周。“黑暗秘鲁。其实本来我不应该在这儿的——我是偷渡来的！” “You don’t mean to say you’ve come all the way from South America on your own?” exclaimed Mrs. Brown. “Whatever did you do for food?” “你不会是一个人从南美洲千里迢迢来到这里的吧？”布朗夫人惊叹，“你吃什么？” Unlocking the suitcase, the bear took out an almost empty glass jar. “I ate marmalade,” it said. “Bear like marmalade.” 小熊打开手提箱，拿出一个快要空了的玻璃罐。“我吃橙子酱，”他非常骄傲地说，“熊都喜欢橙子酱。” Mrs. Brown looked at the label around the bear’s neck. It said, quite simply, PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS BEAR. THANK YOU. 布朗夫人看到小熊脖子上戴着一个标签，上面很简洁地写着：请照顾这只熊。谢谢。 “Oh, Henry!” she cried. “We can’t leave him here all by himself. There’s no knowing what might happen to him. Can’t he come home and stay with us?” “噢，亨利。” 她转向丈夫，一脸恳求地说，”我们不能就这么把他丢在这儿。谁都不知道他会遇见什么事。他不能和我们一起住上一阵子吗？” “Stay with us?” repeated Mr. Brown nervously. He looked down at the bear. “Er, would you like that?” he asked. “That is, “he added hastily, “if you have nothing else planned.” “和我们一起住？”布朗先生有点紧张，他对于小熊说，“你愿意和我们住在一起吗？”他问道，“我是说，”他又匆忙地加上一句，“如果你没有别的安排的话。” “Oh, yes, “replied the bear. “I would like that very much. I’ve nowhere to go and everyone seems in such a hurry.” 小熊激动得跳了起来，他的帽子差点掉下来。“哦，太好啦！我非常高兴。我没有地方可以去，而且每个人都看起来好匆忙。” “That settles it” said Mrs. Brown. “Now, you must be thirsty after your journey. Mr Brown can get you some tea while I go and meet our daughter, Judy.” “那就这样定啦。”布朗太太说，“现在你一定饿了吧，布朗先生可以在我去见女儿朱迪的时候带你去吃点东西。” “But, Mary,” said Mr Brown. “We don’t even know his name.” “但是，玛丽，我们还不知道小熊的名字”布朗先生回答。 Mrs. Brown thought for a moment. “I know,” she said. “We’ll call him Paddington – after the station.” 布朗太太想了一会，她高兴地大声说道，“我知道了，我们是在帕丁顿火车站遇见你的，那就叫你帕丁顿吧！” “Paddington!” The bear tested it several times to make sure. “It sounds very important.” “帕丁顿！”小熊重复了好几遍，“听起来这很不错。”