4 The Children's Menu

The Children's Menu The orphanage was a squat, ugly building with cracked windows and peeling paintwork. There was a rusty sign at the top of the gates, which read INSTITUTE FOR GENTLEMANLY BOYS AND LADYLIKE LADIES. Ebenezer shuddered as he looked at the place, and he was shocked that anyone was expected to live there. He thought it was no wonder that the orphanage had so many

孤儿院是一栋又矮又丑的建筑，窗户开裂，油漆剥落。 大门顶上有一块生锈的牌子，上面写着“绅士男孩和淑女淑女学院”。 埃比尼泽看着这个地方，打了个寒颤，他很震惊居然有人会住在那里。 他觉得孤儿院有这么多孩子也就不足为奇了

children going spare. It was not the sort of place that attracted customers. As Ebenezer got out of his car, he was met by Miss Fizzlewick, the director of the orphanage. She was a tall, thin woman, with stern eyebrows and a wild tangle of gray curls at the top of her head. "Good morning," said Ebenezer.

孩子们闲着。这不是那种能吸引顾客的地方。 埃比尼泽下了车，孤儿院的院长菲兹乐维克小姐来迎接他。 她是一个又高又瘦的女人，眉毛严厉，头顶上有一团乱糟糟的灰色卷发。 “早上好，”埃比尼泽说。

Miss Fizzlewick flinched. "The correct greeting when meeting a lady for the first time is 'how do you do?' Now, are you bringing children, or looking to take one away?" "Take one away, please," answered Ebenezer. The twitchy beginnings of a smile formed at the corner of Miss Fizzlewick's lips. It had been several weeks since she had been able to get rid of a child. "You should have said sooner. Come on through!" she said. Miss Fizzlewick decided to show Ebenezer that she was now in a "friendly" mood by smiling at him. Her teeth were yellow and cracked, and her gums were an unhealthy shade of dark red.

菲兹乐维克小姐畏缩了一下。“第一次见到一位女士时，正确的问候应该是‘你好吗？’”现在，你是带孩子来，还是想带走一个？”“请拿走一个，”埃比尼泽回答说。 菲兹乐维克小姐的嘴角微微露出一丝微笑。 她已经好几个星期没有生过孩子了。 “你应该早点说的。 过来吧！”她说。 菲兹乐维克小姐决定对埃比尼泽微笑，让他知道她现在很“友好”。 她的牙齿又黄又裂，牙龈呈暗红色，不健康。

"As you can see, I keep a firm watch over this place," she said, as she led him into the building. "I believe it's impossible to raise well-behaved boys and good little girls unless everything is kept clean and tidy." Ebenezer laughed, because he thought this was a joke. The orphanage was dusty, dirty, and littered with cobwebs. "Is there something you find funny?" she asked. "Um, no. I was just thinking about something I saw on TV the other day," answered Ebenezer. Miss Fizzlewick flinched again. She didn't approve of modern technology. "Watching television is most ungentlemanly," she said. Miss Fizzlewick led Ebenezer into her office, which was guarded with a sign that

“正如你所看到的，我把这个地方看守得很严，”她说着，把他领进了大楼。 “我认为，除非一切保持干净整洁，否则是不可能培养出品行端正的男孩和乖女孩的。” 埃比尼泽笑了，因为他认为这是个玩笑。 孤儿院尘土飞扬，肮脏不堪，到处都是蜘蛛网。 “你觉得有什么好笑的吗？”她问。 “嗯,没有。我只是在想我前几天在电视上看到的东西，”埃比尼泽回答说。 菲兹乐维克小姐又退缩了。 她不赞成现代科技。 “看电视是最没有绅士风度的行为，”她说。 菲兹乐维克小姐把埃比尼泽领进了她的办公室，办公室里有一块牌子，上面写着

read NO CHILDREN UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY! The room was significantly less dirty, dusty, and cobwebby than the rest of the orphanage, and it was filled with all sorts of fabulous and beautiful things that weren't on display anywhere else. Miss Fizzlewick took a seat at her desk. It was hidden underneath a mountain of paper and teacups. "I'm very organized," she said with a serious face. Ebenezer didn't laugh this time. "Would you like anything to drink?" Ebenezer was thirsty, but he didn't believe that anyone who was so unorganized would be able to make a good cup of tea. "No, I'm fine, thanks," answered Ebenezer. "Good, good. Now let me just fill out the paperwork," said Miss Fizzlewick. She

除非绝对必要，否则禁止儿童入内！与孤儿院的其他地方相比，这个房间明显没有那么脏、尘土飞扬和布满蜘蛛网，里面堆满了各种各样的精美绝伦的东西，这些东西在其他任何地方都不会展出。 菲兹乐维克小姐在她的书桌旁坐下。 它被藏在一堆纸和茶杯下面。 “我很有条理，”她严肃地说。 埃比尼泽这次没有笑。 “你想喝点什么吗？”埃比尼泽很渴，但他不相信一个如此没有条理的人能泡出一杯好茶。 “不，我很好，谢谢，”埃比尼泽回答。 “好,很好。现在让我填一下表格。”菲兹乐威小姐说。 她