Ch4-What Are You Good For

CHAPTER FOUR What Are You Good For? "Hi there!" Annie said cheerfully. Augusta's mother did not reply. She was staring at Jack's bare feet. Her expression made him sink down in his chair. "Do not blame Eliza or me, Mother," said Gertrude. "These are Augusta's friends, not ours."

第四章你擅长什么？ “大家好!”安妮高兴地说。 奥古斯塔的母亲没有回答。 她盯着杰克光着的脚。 她的表情使他瘫倒在椅子里。 “别怪伊丽莎和我，妈妈，”格特露说。 “他们是奥古斯塔的朋友，不是我们的。”

"I took pity on them, Mother," said Augusta. "They were wet and miserable." Her mother finally smiled. "Yes, daughter, I imagine they were. It's very nice to have pity for the poor, but dirty children should not be sitting in our parlor." "They were hungry, Mother," said Augusta. "Yes, and I see you have given them food," said her mother. "So it is time to take them out of the house now." Jack and Annie stood up. Jack was happy to leave. He felt like Augusta and her mother were talking about stray dogs or cats. But Augusta sat very still and just stared at her mother.

“我可怜他们，妈妈，”奥古斯塔说。 “他们又湿又惨。” 妈妈终于笑了。 “是的，女儿，我想是的。 同情穷人是很好的，但是肮脏的孩子不应该坐在我们的客厅里。” “他们饿了，妈妈，”奥古斯塔说。 “是的，我看到你给了他们食物，”她的母亲说。 “所以现在是时候把他们带出家门了。” 杰克和安妮站了起来。杰克高兴地离开了。 他觉得奥古斯塔和她母亲在谈论流浪狗或流浪猫。 但奥古斯塔静静地坐着，只是盯着她的母亲。

"Go on—get them out of here, Augusta," said Gertrude. "They are not clean! They might even have bugs in their hair." The mere mention of bugs made Jack's scalp itch. He and Annie both scratched their heads. "See!" said Gertrude. "Augusta…," her mother said in a stern voice. "Oh, all right! All right!" said Augusta, standing up. "I was trying to be kind! Come with me, please," she said to Jack and Annie. "I'll lead you down the lane a bit, at least past the sheepdogs." As Augusta started out of the room, her mother stopped her and pinched her shoulders. "Carry yourself straight, daughter," she said.

“走吧——把他们带出去，奥古斯塔，”格特露说。 “他们不干净！他们的头发里甚至可能有虫子。” 只要一提到虫子，杰克就头皮发痒。 他和安妮都挠了挠头。 “看！”格特露说。“奥古斯塔……”她母亲严厉地说。 “哦，好吧！”好吧！”奥古斯塔说着站了起来。 “我只是想做个好人！”请跟我来，”她对杰克和安妮说。 “我带你沿着小路走一段，至少经过那些牧羊犬。” 当奥古斯塔正要走出房间时，她的母亲拦住了她，捏了捏她的肩膀。 “别犯傻，女儿，”她说。

Jack couldn't imagine how the girl could carry herself any straighter. Augusta led Jack and Annie back down the dark hallway, through the fish-smelling kitchen, past the ancient butler sleeping by the fire and the three kitchen maids and the cook. Without a word, she grabbed her red cape and pulled it around her. "Where are you going, Miss Augusta?" asked Molly. "I have been ordered to send these poor children back out into the storm," Augusta said. Jack and Annie forced their feet into their stiff, wet socks and boots. Augusta held the door for them, then followed them outside, slamming the door shut behind her.

杰克无法想象这个女孩怎么能把自己打扮得更直一些。 奥古斯塔领着杰克和安妮回到黑暗的走廊，穿过散发着鱼腥味的厨房，经过睡在火炉边的老管家、三个女仆和厨师。 她二话没说，抓起自己的红斗篷，把它裹在身上。 “你要去哪儿，奥古斯塔小姐？”莫利问。 奥古斯塔说：“我奉命把这些可怜的孩子们送回暴风雨中。 杰克和安妮把脚塞进又硬又湿的袜子和靴子里。 奥古斯塔为他们扶着门，然后跟着他们走了出去，随手砰地关上了门。

Even though it was still rainy and windy, Jack felt much happier outside the Big House than inside it. He and Annie followed Augusta past the gates and out to the lane. Augusta walked stiffly, leading them like a mother duck. "What are we going to do about her?" Annie whispered to Jack. "I don't know," whispered Jack. "She doesn't seem very creative or imaginative to me." "Well, we have to inspire her! Come on!" said Annie. She and Jack hurried to catch up with Augusta.

尽管还在下雨，刮风，杰克觉得在大房子外面比在里面快乐得多。 他和安妮跟着奥古斯塔穿过大门，来到小路上。 奥古斯塔僵硬地走着，像鸭妈妈一样领着他们。 “我们该拿她怎么办？”安妮小声对杰克说。 “我不知道。”杰克小声说。 “在我看来，她似乎不太有创造力或想象力。” “好吧，我们得激励她！”来吧！”安妮说。 她和杰克急忙追赶奥古斯塔。

"Miss Augusta!" said Annie, walking alongside her. "Do you like to sing? Dance? Paint? Play a musical instrument? Anything creative like that?" "No," said Augusta. She sounded angry. Jack figured she must be mad at her mother for kicking them out of the Big House.

“奥古斯塔小姐！”安妮跟在她旁边说。 “你喜欢唱歌吗？”跳舞吗? 油漆吗?会演奏乐器吗？ 有这样的创意吗？”“不，”奥古斯塔说。 她听起来很生气。杰克想她一定是在生妈妈的气，因为她把他们赶出了大房子。