2 More means less

Chapter 2 More means less By the time Oliver was seven he was sleeping in a dormitory with fifty other starving boys. "I'm so hungry I could eat the boy in the next bed!" complained a tall, strong boy with wild, angry eyes.

奥利弗七岁的时候，和其他五十个饥饿的男孩一起睡在宿舍里。 “我太饿了，我可以吃掉隔壁床上的那个男孩！”一个高大强壮的男孩抱怨道，他的眼睛狂野而愤怒。

The boy in the next bed gulped. "We must have more food," he agreed, hastily. "Let's draw straws to decide who's going to ask Mr. Bumble." Oliver's heart was thumping as he reached out to draw his straw. He pulled it close. "Oh no!" he cried. "It's me." Supper, as usual, was gruel- a kind of thin watery porridge with a few lumps of gristle floating in it. The boys lined up in front of Mr. Bumble who stood at one end of the dining room, a huge apron tied around his fat belly, ladling a small spoonful into each boy's bowl. They returned to their tables to eat their food, packed on benches as tight as sardines, though not so plump. Their bowls never needed washing.

睡在隔壁床上的男孩喘着粗气。 “我们得再吃点东西。”他急忙同意了。 “我们抽签决定谁去请班布尔先生。” 奥利弗伸出手抽出稻草时，心怦怦直跳。 他把它拉近了。“哦，不！” “是我。”晚餐，像往常一样，是稀粥——一种薄薄的水汪汪的粥，上面漂浮着几块软骨。 班布尔先生站在饭厅的一头，胖胖的肚子上系着一条大围裙，男孩们在班布尔先生面前排成一排，给每个男孩的碗里舀了一小勺。 他们回到自己的桌子上吃东西，坐在像沙丁鱼一样紧的长凳上，虽然不那么丰满。 他们的碗从来不需要洗。

They were licked clean in seconds until they shone like polished china. The boys sitting near Oliver kicked him under the table. "Go on, Oliver." "Ask NOW." Shivering with fear, Oliver walked the length of the room. He clutched his bowl so tightly his knuckles gleamed white.

它们几秒钟就被舔得干干净净，直到像抛光的瓷器一样闪闪发光。 坐在奥利弗旁边的男孩子们在桌子底下踢他。 “说下去，奥利弗。”“问了。” 奥利弗吓得瑟瑟发抖，在房间里踱来踱去。 他紧紧地抓着碗，指关节都发白了。

A terrible silence descended, pierced by Oliver's slow echoing footsteps on the stone floor. He passed table after table of boys, their spoons laid down, their empty bowls in front of them. Each round-eyed boy stared at him expectantly as he went by. Oliver guessed what they were thinking- I'm glad it's him, not me. At last he reached Mr. Bumble, who looked down his nose at Oliver, as though he were an insect he wanted to squash. Oliver forced himself to speak. "Please sir, I want some more," he whispered "WHAT?" shouted Mr. Bumble. "Please sir, I want some more."

一阵可怕的寂静降临了，被奥利弗在石头地板上缓慢回响的脚步声打破了。 他走过一桌又一桌的男孩，他们放下勺子，面前放着空碗。 当他走过时，每个圆眼睛的男孩都期待地盯着他。 奥利弗猜到了他们在想什么——我很高兴是他，而不是我。 最后，他走到班布尔先生跟前，班布尔先生俯视着奥利弗，仿佛他是一只想要捏死的昆虫。 奥利弗强迫自己说话。 “求你了，先生，我还要一些。”他低声说。 “先生，请再给我一点。”

Mr. Bumble swelled like an evil giant. His eyes bulged with fury and his face went purple. "More? How DARE you! Wicked boy!" He seized Oliver, hit him with the gruel ladle and threw him into the coal cellar, locking the door. "Your punishment starts here," he bellowed. Oliver heard him stump up the steps, muttering as he went. "No one's ever asked for more before. Mark my words, he'll be a criminal when he grows up. That boy will hang!"

班布尔先生膨胀得像个邪恶的巨人。 他的眼睛因愤怒而鼓了起来，脸变得通红。 “更多吗?你怎么敢！邪恶的男孩!”他抓住奥利弗，用粥勺打他，把他扔进煤窖，锁上了门。 “你的惩罚从这里开始。”他吼道。 奥利弗听见他吃力地走上台阶，一边走一边咕哝着。 “以前从来没有人要求更多。 记住我的话，他长大后会是个罪犯。 那孩子会被绞死的！”

In the dark, sooty cellar, cobwebs stroked Oliver's face like creepy fingers, and rats scratched the walls. He crouched in a corner, pressing himself close to the wall. Its hard, cold surface felt almost protective in the lonely gloom. He stayed awake all night, dreading what would happen to him next.

在黑漆漆的地窖里，蜘蛛网像恐怖的手指一样抚摸着奥利弗的脸，老鼠在墙上挠来挠去。 他蹲在一个角落里，紧紧靠在墙上。 它坚硬冰冷的表面在孤独的黑暗中几乎起到了保护作用。 他整夜没睡，担心接下来会发生什么事。