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杨柳风 06

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(单词翻译)

Chapter Six More about Toad1

It was a beautiful day in early summer. The Mole2 and the Rat had been up since dawn. They had been very busy with the Rat’s boat. They were painting it and cleaning it. Now they were eating a late breakfast in the kitchen and discussing what they were going to do that day. Suddenly the doorbell rang.

“Oh, dear,” said the Rat. “Mole, I haven’t finished eating yet. Would you go and see who it is?”

After a minute Mole came running into the kitchen. He looked very surprised.

He said, “Mr. Badger3 is here!”

It was a very strange and wonderful thing that Badger would come to see them. Badger didn’t go to his friends’ houses very often. If they wanted to find him, they had to catch him walking around.

Badger walked into the room, looking very serious. The Rat was so surprised. He let his spoon fall on the table and sat there with an open mouth.

“The hour has arrived.” the Badger said loudly.

“What hour?” asked the Rat, looking at the clock.

“Whoes hour, you should say. It’s time for us to rescue Toad.” said the Badger. “It is summer now. We are all awake and ready for anything. It’s time for us to do something about Toad and his terrible cars. We must save Toad from himself.”

“I remember now. We’ll teach him to be a reasonable Toad.” cried the Mole happily.

The Badger sat down in a chair.

“This morning I heard some very disturbing news.” he said. “Toad has bought himself another large and extremely4 powerful5 car. I’m sure that at this minute he is busy dressing6 himself in those awful driving clothes. Normally7 he is a good-looking Toad, but those clothes make him look unnatural8. He looks like a human when he is driving the car. We’ve got to do something before it’s too late. You two animals will come with me to Toad Hall right now.”

“Badger, you’re absolutely right!” cried the Rat. He stood up. “Now is the time. We’ll rescue the poor unhappy Toad. He’ll be the best Toad ever, by the time we’re finish with him.”

Immediately the three animals walked to Toad Hall. Badger led the way. When they reached Toad’s house, the first thing they saw was a shining new car sitting outside. It was painted bright red. This was Toad’s favorite color. Toad was wearing his driving clothes. He was just about to get into the car when he saw his friends.

“Hello, friends,” he cried. “You’re just in time to come with me on a nice……, well, a nice……”

His voice faded9 when he saw the serious faces of his friends.

“Take him inside.” said the Badger to Mole and Rat.

Toad struggled and protested10.

When they were all inside the house, Badger said firmly to Toad, “Now, take those ridiculous11 clothes off, please.”

“I won’t!” said Toad loudly. “What is the meaning of this? I demand an explanation!”

“All right, then. Take the clothes off him, Mole and Rat.”

Mole and Rat had to hold Toad down and take his driving clothes off. Toad kicked and shouted all the while. When the clothes were finally off, they got Toad back on his feet again. Now he looked alike12 an ordinary Toad instead of a car driver. Now he didn’t seem so angry. He even laughed a little as if he understood the situation.

“Now then, Toad,” said Badger. “You knew this would happen. We are giving you lots of warnings13 about those cars. But you haven’t paid attention to us. You’ve continued to waste all the money your father had left you. You’re giving the rest of us animals a bad reputation14 in this area. The driving, the car accidents and the fights with the police must stop! I know that your independence is important, but we can’t let you hurt yourself anymore. Now, you are a good Toad in many ways, so I’ll try talking to you once more. Come with me into the living room. I have to tell you some very serious facts about yourself. We’ll see if you’re the same Toad when you come out.”

Badger, took Toad by the arm, went into the living room and closed the door.

“Oh, dear,” said Rat. “That’s no good. Talking to Toad won’t do anything. Toad would anything to get what he wants.”

Mole and Rat sat down in some comfortable chairs and waited. They heard Badger’s slow deep voice talking. Soon they heard Toad crying. Toad really was a kind animal with a good heart. Often he would agree with others for a little while.

After about forty-five minutes, the door opened. Badger and Toad came out. Toad certainly did look different. He looked tired and very upset.

“Sit down there, Toad.” said the Badger very gently. “My friends, I’m happy to tell you that Toad has realized his mistakes. He’s very sorry for all the trouble he has caused. He has promised to give up cars forever.”

“That’s very good news.” said Mole.

However, Rat wasn’t so sure. He stared at Toad closely15. He knew Toad very well. Although Toad looked very sad, Rat thought he might be pretending17.

“Was Toad serious? There is only one thing more to be done.” said Badger. “Toad, I would like you to tell our friends what you told me in the living room. First, are you sorry for what you’ve done? You see what a mistake it was to buy a car?”

There was a long, long silence. Toad looked around at each of his friends while they waited silently18. At last Toad spoke19.

“No,” he said with courage. “I’m not sorry. And it wasn’t a mistake at all. It was simply wonderful.”

“What?” cried the Badger. “You terrible little animal! Five minutes ago you told me that!”

“Oh, I would have said anything in that room.” said Toad. “When I’m alone with you, Badger, you can make me believe anything. But I’ve been thinking about it. I’ve discovered that I’m not sorry for anything I’ve done. So it would be useless to say that I am.”

“Then you wouldn’t promise never to drive a car again?” asked the Badger.

“That’s right.” said Toad. “But I do promise that I will get into the next car I see.”

“All right, then.” said Badger seriously. “I was afraid of this. Well, Toad, if we can’t persuade you by talking, then we’ll have to use force. You’ve often asked Mole, Rat and I to come and stay with you here at Toad Hall. Well, you are getting your wish. We are going to stay here and watch you until we have persuaded you. Mole and Rat, carry him upstairs and lock him in his room.”

So Mole and Rat carried the kicking and shouting Toad up to his room.

“It’s for your own good, Toad.” said Rat gently. “And come much fun you will have when you’ve changed your mind about cars.”

“We’ll take care of everything for you until you are better, Toad.” said Mole. “We’ll make sure your money is safe.”

“No more of those fights with the police, Toad.” said the Rat, as they pushed Toad into his room.

“And no more visits to the hospital.” said the Mole, as he locked the door.

They went down the stairs. They could hear Toad was shouting at them in his room. Then the three animals discussed the problem.

“It’s going to be a difficult situation.” said Badger. “We’ll have to stay here and watch him very carefully. He can’t be left alone for a minute. We’ll have to take turns watching him until he decides to be reasonable.

Each night Mole, Rat and Badger took turns sleeping in Toad’s room. They also took turns spending part of the day with him.

At first, Toad was very unpleasant20 to be around because he was so upset. He wouldn’t speak to any of his friends. He would sit in a chair and stare straight ahead. Sometimes he would even pretend16 to be driving a car.

But, after a while, Toad’s anger seemed to disappear. However, he became quiet and unhappy. Mole, Rat and Badger tried to think of things to interest him, but it did no good. They were all very worried.

One morning, it was Rat’s turn to spend time with Toad. Badger had spent the night with him. Now, Badger wanted to go for a long walk in the woods and visit his house.

“Toad’s still in bed.” Badger said to Rat. “He won’t talk very much. When I tried to talk to him, all he would say is ‘Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m sure I will feel better some day, dear Badger. It’s nothing.’ and things like that. I don’t know that he is talking about. Now, Rat, you’ll be careful. When Toad acts like this, he just might be trying to trick you. Toad is a very good actor. I know him very well. Well, time to go.”

The Badger left the house and Rat went in to see his friend. He found Toad lying in bed with his eye closed.

“Good morning, Toad.” he said cheerfully21. “How are you today?”

Toad didn’t say anything for a few minutes. Then Rat heard his weak voice.

“Thank you very much, Rat. It’s so nice of you to ask how I am. But first how are you and our friend Mole?”

“Well, right,” said the Rat, “Mole and Badger are going out today. They’ll be gone till lunchtime. So you and I will spend the day together. I’ll do my best to keep you happy. Now, be a good Toad and get out of bed. Don’t lie in bed on a nice day like this!”

“Dear kind Rat,” whispered22 Toad. “You don’t understand my condition. I won’t be getting out of bed today, maybe not ever again. But don’t worry about me. I hate to make trouble for my friends. I don’t think I will be a problem for you much longer.”

“Well, I hope not.” said Rat cheerfully. “You’ve been lots of trouble so far. I’m glad to hear it’s going to stop. It’s a beautiful summer. All the other animals are outside and enjoy themselves. We want to help you, Toad, but you are making us miss all the fun.”

“I know,” said Toad sadly. “You are tired of me. I must not ask you to do anything more for me. I’m too much trouble. I know.”

“Well, you know that we would do anything for you, if only you’d be a reasonable animal.” said Rat.

“Then, dear Rat, could I ask you to do one small thing? It might be the last thing I ever ask you.” whispered Toad. “Would you go to the village and find me a doctor? It might already be too late.”

“Why? What you want a doctor for?” asked Rat.

He stepped closer to the bed and examined Toad. He was lying there very still.

“Haven’t you noticed my illness?” said Toad. “But no, noticing things is too much trouble. Maybe tomorrow you might say ‘Oh, if only I had noticed. If only I had done something sooner.’ Don’t worry! Forget that I asked you.”

But Rat was really beginning to be worried about Toad.

“Listen here, Toad. I’ll get you a doctor if you really think you need one. But you can’t be as sick as that. Let’s talk about something else.”

“Dear friend, I’m afraid that talking will not help me anymore.” said Toad. “I don’t think that doctors can help me either. But we must try. Oh, when you are in the village, could you also get a lawyer? I think I will have to write my will very quickly.”

“A lawyer? Oh, no! He must be really sick. Maybe he’ll dye23.” said Rat to himself, as he ran out of the bedroom.

He didn’t forget to lock the door behind him, however.

When the Rat was outside he stopped to think for a moment.

“It’s best to be safe.” he thought. “Sometimes Toad thinks he is sick when he isn’t. But I’ve never heard him ask for a lawyer. If there is nothing the matter, the doctor will tell him so. But if he really is sick, I’d better hurry.”

So the Rat ran off to the village.

As soon as the Rat had left the bedroom, Toad had jumped out of bed. He watched Rat run off to the village. Toad laughed loudly. Then he dressed in his best clothes. He put lots of money in his pockets. Then he tied all the bed sheets together to make a kind of rope. He tied one end of the rope to the bedpost and then threw the rope out of the window.

Carefully, he climbed down the rope to the ground. He was outside and free. Quickly, he walked down the road in the opposite direction from the Rat. He was whistling24 happily.

Poor Rat had an unhappy time when Badger and Mole found out that Toad had escaped. The Badger did not understand why Rat had believed Toad’s story.

Even Mole, who was very loyal25 to Rat, said gently, “You’ve been a bit silly this time, Rat. Even I wouldn’t have believed him.”

“But he did it awfully26 well.” said the Rat sadly.

“Rat, what did I tell you? Never believe anything Toad says when he acts like that. It means27 he is out to trick you or he wants something.” said Badger. “But there is no good in talking about it. He’s escaped. He will be so proud of what he’s done. Who knows what he will do now! Fortunately for us, we are free now. We don’t have to waste any more of our summer watching him. But we should continue to sleep at Toad Hall for a while longer. The police might bring Toad back here any moment.”

The Badger said these wise words to his friends, but he did not know the future or how much time will pass before they saw Toad again.

Meanwhile, a very happy Toad walked along the road. He was very pleased with himself. He thought he was extremely smart for escaping.

“I was wonderful!” he said to himself. “Badger, Mole and Rat were too strong for me, but I was too smart for them. Poor Rat! I’m sure Badger will be angry at him. Rat has very good qualities but not much intelligence28. I must try to guide him in the future.”

As he walked to the nearest town, Toad continued to talk to himself in this vain29 way.

Soon Toad reached the town. He saw a restaurant called “The Red Lion”. He was very hungry after his long walk. He entered and asked for the restaurant’s most delicious lunch. He had been eating for a while when he heard a familiar sound.

It was the sound of a car.

Toad looked out of the window and saw a beautiful shining car next to the restaurant. In a few moments the car’s owners came into the restaurant and sat down to eat.

Toad’s heart was beating very fast. He was so excited. He listened to the car’s owners’ talk for a while. They were talking about how fast their car was and how well it ran. Finally Toad couldn’t sit there any longer.

“I’ll just go and look at it.” he thought.

He left the restaurant very quietly. The car stood next to the restaurant. No one was around. Toad walked around the car. He looked at it carefully.

After a moment he said, “How wonder is this kind of car starts easily!”

The next second Toad was in the driver seat of the car!

He didn’t know how it had happened. He grabbed30 the wheel. He saw the car key and turned it.

The engine started.

Toad didn’t stop to think that he was stealing another person’s car. When he heard the sound of the engine, Toad forgot about everything else. He could only think how much he loved cars.

Toad turned the wheel and drove31 the car away from the restaurant. He drove faster and faster. He didn’t care what would happen. He didn’t care where he was going. He was the old Toad again, Toad the Great!

But his happiness didn’t last. The policeman caught him about twenty miles away.

“Well, this is not a very simple problem.” said the policeman. “This Toad is guilty32 of stealing another person’s car. He’s also guilty of driving too fast. Also he was rude to the country police. Now, Mr. clerk, would you please answer this question? How long will this Toad stay in goal for these crimes33?”

The clerk thought for a minute.

“Well, sir, he must stay in goal for twenty years.”

“Excellent!” said the policeman and he looked at Toad.

Toad was sitting in a chair at the police station.

“Did you hear that, you bad little Toad? You’re going to goal for the next twenty years.”

Toad shouted and screamed, he even prayed, but it did not help. His hands were tied in chains. Then the policeman took Toad outside. Man, women and children saw him and laughed. The policeman took Toad away.

The goal was inside an old dark ugly castle. Toad was taking to this goal and thrown inside. The door slammed34 and the key turned in the lock. So Toad was a prisoner35 inside the strongest castle in all of England. He would not see the sun for twenty years.


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 toad oJezr     
n.蟾蜍,癞蛤蟆
参考例句:
  • Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
  • Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。
2 mole 26Nzn     
n.胎块;痣;克分子
参考例句:
  • She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
  • The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。
3 badger PuNz6     
v.一再烦扰,一再要求,纠缠
参考例句:
  • Now that our debts are squared.Don't badger me with them any more.我们的债务两清了。从此以后不要再纠缠我了。
  • If you badger him long enough,I'm sure he'll agree.只要你天天纠缠他,我相信他会同意。
4 extremely 2tJzAz     
adv.极其,非常,极度
参考例句:
  • The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了,我非看不可。
  • The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。
5 powerful E1Zzi     
adj.有力的,有权力的,强大的
参考例句:
  • The UN began to get more and more powerful.联合国开始变得越来越强大了。
  • Such are the most powerful voices of our times!这些就是我们时代的最有力的声音!
6 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
7 normally ln8zVb     
adv.正常地,通常地
参考例句:
  • I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
  • My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。
8 unnatural 5f2zAc     
adj.不自然的;反常的
参考例句:
  • Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗?
  • She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。
9 faded jtAzDQ     
a.褪了色的
参考例句:
  • All colour had faded from the sky. 天上的颜色都退去了。
  • a faded pair of blue jeans 一条退了色的蓝色牛仔裤
10 protested 024d7a2621b30761ab841fdd955c6836     
v.声明( protest的过去式和过去分词 );坚决地表示;申辩
参考例句:
  • He protested he was being cheated of his rightful share. 他提出抗议说他被人骗取了他依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Amy protested she was being cheated of her rightful share. 艾米提出抗议,说有人骗取了她依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 ridiculous RCTzv     
adj.荒谬的,可笑的;荒唐的
参考例句:
  • It is simply ridiculous to attempt such a thing.试图干这种事,简直可笑。
  • It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life.这是我有生以来听到的最为荒唐可笑的事。
12 alike kLUyz     
adj.同样的,相像的;adv.一样地;同程度地 
参考例句:
  • The twins are so alike that I can't tell which is which.这对双胞胎一模一样,我分辨不出谁是谁。
  • All stories seemed dreadfully alike,no matter who told them.看来,不管谁讲,故事都是千篇一律的。
13 warnings 3879149292f9af4469cec013785d6dfd     
n.发出警告( warning的名词复数 );征候;(解雇、辞职等的)预先通知;可引以为戒的事(或人)
参考例句:
  • Early warnings of rising water levels prevented another major catastrophe. 提前发出的洪水水位上涨警报防止了又一次的重大灾害。
  • Warnings were issued to people living downwind of the fire to stay indoors. 已经向住在火势下风处的人们发出不要出门的警告。
14 reputation 9BEz3     
n.名誉,声誉,声望,信誉
参考例句:
  • We are very anxious to keep up the reputation of the firm.我们对于保持公司的名誉非常急切。
  • He has not too good a reputation in the matter of honesty.就诚实而言,他的名声不太好。
15 closely XwNzIh     
adv.紧密地;严密地,密切地
参考例句:
  • We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
  • The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。
16 pretend 2Q4xj     
vt.假装,假托,装扮;vi.假装,装作
参考例句:
  • So you don't need to pretend,do you?所以你不必装假了,对吧?
  • Many people pretend that they understand modern art.许多人装着自己懂得现代艺术。
17 pretending 26a648f443b5c43f09bbc9ec3f1a2fcd     
v.假装( pretend的现在分词 );伪装;(尤指儿童)(在游戏中)装扮;自诩
参考例句:
  • He deceived her by pretending to be a famous movie star. 他冒充著名电影明星来骗她。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • "We have a mission to perform. Quit pretending." cried he angrily. 他生气地高喊一声:“我们有任务, 别装蒜。” 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
18 silently 6iDz4H     
adv.沉默地,无声地
参考例句:
  • She sat in the car,silently fuming at the traffic jam.她坐在汽车里,心中对交通堵塞感到十分恼火。
  • He didn't shout,he just glared at me silently.他没有喊叫,只是默默地怒视着我。
19 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
20 unpleasant jKRzC     
adj.使人不愉快的,使人厌恶的,煞风景的
参考例句:
  • A very unpleasant thing has happened.一件令人很不愉快的事发生了。
  • The kind advices are often unpleasant to the ear.好言常常不入耳。
21 cheerfully jUhyR     
adv.高兴地,愉快地
参考例句:
  • The train rolled cheerfully into the station.火车欢呼着驶进车站。
  • He takes our advice quite cheerfully.他欣然接受我们的劝告。
22 whispered ac3eda029cd72fefda0d32abc42aa001     
adj.耳语的,低语的v.低声说( whisper的过去式和过去分词 );私语;小声说;私下说
参考例句:
  • She sidled up to me and whispered something in my ear. 她悄悄走上前来,对我耳语了几句。
  • His ill luck has been whispered about the neighborhood. 他的不幸遭遇已在邻居中传开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 dye V8cy9     
n.染料,染色;v.染,染色
参考例句:
  • Black will dye over other colours.黑色能把大多数其他颜色盖住。
  • This material does not dye well.这料子染不好。
24 whistling 8398f61f1e724dfacd37b9176d0550b7     
n.吹笛,吹口哨,啸声v.吹口哨( whistle的现在分词 );鸣笛;呼啸着前进;空指望
参考例句:
  • The bomb exploded, sending shrapnel whistling through the trees. 炸弹爆炸了,弹片呼啸着穿过树林。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He came home for dinner whistling cheerfully. 他欢快地吹着口哨回家吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 loyal VAtxw     
adj.忠诚的,忠心的
参考例句:
  • He is a loyal friend.他是一位忠诚的朋友。
  • I judge him to be loyal.我认为他很忠诚。
26 awfully MPkym     
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
参考例句:
  • Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
  • I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
27 means 9oXzBX     
n.方法,手段,折中点,物质财富
参考例句:
  • That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
  • We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。
28 intelligence IbtzQ     
n.智力,聪明,智能;情报
参考例句:
  • He was a man of intelligence and of firmness of will.他是个聪明而又意志坚定的人。
  • He equals me in strength but not in intelligence.他和我力气相等,但智力不同。
29 vain qixwq     
adj.徒劳的,徒然的,无效的,空虚的,自负的
参考例句:
  • It was in vain that we tried to find his mother.我们百般设法找他的母亲,但毫无结果。
  • He's very vain of his abilities.他对于自己的能力很自负。
30 grabbed grabbed     
v.抢先,抢占( grab的过去式和过去分词 );(尤指匆忙地)取;攫取;(尤指自私、贪婪地)捞取
参考例句:
  • He was grabbed by two men and frogmarched out of the hall. 他被两个男人紧抓双臂押出大厅。
  • She grabbed the child's hand and ran. 她抓住孩子的手就跑。
31 drove brAxi     
vbl.驾驶,drive的过去式;n.畜群
参考例句:
  • He drove at a speed of sixty miles per hour.他以每小时60英里的速度开车。
  • They drove foreign goods out of the market.他们把外国货驱逐出市场。
32 guilty meBxq     
adj.犯罪的;有罪的;内疚的
参考例句:
  • There wasn't enough evidence to prove him guilty.没有充分的证据证明他有罪。
  • Really honest people are ofter made to feel guilty.真正老实的人常被弄得感到犯了罪似的。
33 crimes 0bd47a8787cff9913f6efe85aa8272bf     
n.罪,罪行,犯罪( crime的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The courts were empowered to impose the death sentence for certain crimes. 法院有权因某些罪行判处罪犯死刑。
  • The two crimes are apparently unconnected. 这两起犯罪显然没有关联。
34 slammed 84b5bc3c8d817ee0d99387e3bc3042be     
v.砰地关上(门或窗)( slam的过去式和过去分词 );用力一放;使劲一推;猛劲一摔
参考例句:
  • He slammed on the brakes and the car juddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车,汽车在剧烈震动中停下来。
  • He walked out of the room and slammed the door. 他走出房间,猛地关上了房门。
35 prisoner wQ9xC     
n.俘虏,囚犯,被监禁的人
参考例句:
  • The soldier reported that a prisoner was at large.士兵报告说一名囚犯在逃。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

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