12 Just a Bit of Earth

CHAPTER 12 Just a Bit of Earth When Mary ran into her playroom, Martha was waiting. "I've seen Dickon!" Mary exclaimed. "He brought the garden set!" Martha had never seen the girl so excited. She asked, "Where is your garden to be?" Mary couldn't tell her about the secret garden, so she said, "I haven't got one yet." "Um," Martha said. "If I were you, I'd talk to Ben Weatherstaff. He'll find a place for

第十二章一小块土地当玛丽跑进她的游戏室时，玛莎正在等她。 “我看见狄肯了！”玛丽喊道。 “他带来了花园套装！”玛莎从未见过这个女孩如此兴奋。 她问：“你的花园在哪里？”玛丽不能告诉她秘密花园的事，所以她说：“我还没有。” “嗯，”玛莎说。“如果我是你，我就和本·威瑟斯塔夫谈谈。 他会找到一个地方的

your garden." Mary ate her lunch hungrily so she could hurry back to the garden and Dickon. But when she finished, Martha had some important news. Mr. Craven had come home and asked to see his niece. "But why?" Mary asked. Her face grew pale. "He didn't want to see me before." "It's because of Mother," Martha said. "She saw him in Thwaite village, and she spoke to him. He's leaving again tomorrow for Europe and won't be back till next fall." This made Mary feel better. If Mr. Craven went away, she'd have time to see the secret garden come alive. Mrs. Medlock opened the door in her best dress, looking a bit nervous. She told Mary to change her clothes and brush her hair. Then she took Mary to a part of the house she had never seen.

你的花园”。玛丽饿着肚子吃午饭，这样她就可以赶紧回到花园和狄肯身边。 但当她结束时，玛莎有一些重要的消息。 克雷文先生回家了，要求见他的侄女。 “但为什么?”玛丽问道。她的脸色变得苍白。 “他以前不想见我。” “那是因为妈妈，”玛莎说。 “她在斯韦特村见到了他，并对他说了话。 他明天又要动身去欧洲，要到明年秋天才回来。” 这让玛丽感觉好多了。 如果克雷文先生走了，她就有时间看到秘密花园活了起来。 梅德洛克太太穿着她最好的衣服开了门，看上去有点紧张。 她让玛丽换衣服，梳头发。 然后，她把玛丽带到她从未见过的房子的一部分。

They entered a large room where Mr. Craven was sitting in an armchair before the fire. He thanked Mrs. Medlock and dismissed her. Mary was surprised to see that he wasn't a hunchback, although he had crooked shoulders. "Come here," he said. Mary stood before him. He had dark eyes and black hair streaked with white. He wasn't ugly and could have been handsome if he didn't look so unhappy. "Are you well?" he asked. "Do the servants take good care of you?" "Yes," she answered.

他们走进一间大房间，克雷文先生正坐在壁炉前的一把扶手椅上。 他谢过梅德洛克太太，打发她走了。 玛丽惊讶地发现他不是驼背，尽管他的肩膀是弯曲的。 “过来，”他说。玛丽站在他面前。 他长着一双黑眼睛，黑头发中夹杂着白色。 他长得不丑，要不是看上去那么不开心，他本来会很帅的。 “你还好吗？”“仆人们把你照顾得好吗？”“是的，”她回答。

"You are very thin." "I'm getting fatter," Mary said in her stiff way. Mr. Craven rubbed his forehead. "I intended to get you a nursemaid or a governess." "Oh, please—no—" Mary stammered. "I'm too big for a nurse. And don't make me have a governess yet!" Mr. Craven looked away. To himself he said, "The Sowerby woman said she needs to get stronger before she has a governess."

“你很瘦。”“我越来越胖了，”玛丽僵硬地说。 克雷文先生揉了揉额头。 “我本来打算给你找个保姆或家庭教师的。” “哦，请不要——”玛丽结结巴巴地说。 “我对护士来说太大了。别让我请家庭教师！”克雷文先生把目光移开。 他对自己说：“索尔比家的女人说，她需要变得更强壮，才能请家庭教师。”

Mary heard the name and asked, "Is that Martha's mother?" "Yes," he replied. "Mrs. Sowerby said you should play outdoors and get sturdier." "She knows all about children," Mary said. "Yes. Mrs. Craven was very fond of her," he said. His voice softened when he mentioned his wife. "Now, tell me where you play." Mary gasped out, "Everywhere. I run and skip, but I don't do any harm!" "Don't look so frightened." He sounded worried. "You may do what you like. I'm your guardian, though a poor one for a child. I can't give you much attention, but I want you to be happy and comfortable. Is there anything you want? Toys, books, dolls?" Mary's voice trembled. She said softy, "Might I have a bit of earth?" Mr. Craven looked startled. "Earth? What

马利亚听见他的名字，就说：“这是马大的母亲吗？”“是的，”他回答。 “索尔比太太说你应该到户外去玩，让自己变得更强壮。” “她对孩子了如指掌，”玛丽说。 “是的。克雷文太太很喜欢她，”他说。 当他提到他的妻子时，他的声音变得柔和了。 “现在，告诉我你在哪里玩。” 玛丽喘着气说：“到处都是。 我又跑又跳，但我没有做任何伤害！”“别那么害怕。” 他听起来很担心。“你爱怎么做就怎么做。 我是你的监护人，虽然作为一个孩子，我是个可怜的监护人。 我给不了你太多的关注，但我希望你过得开心、舒服。 你需要什么吗？ 玩具、书、娃娃？”玛丽的声音颤抖着。 她温柔地说：“能给我一点土吗？”克雷文先生显得很吃惊。 “地球?什么

do you mean?" "A place to plant seeds—make them grow — watch them come alive," Mary said. "When I was in India," she explained, "I was always too ill and it was too hot, but here it's different." Mr. Craven stood up and crossed the room. He seemed to be deep in thought. When he spoke to her again, his eyes looked soft and kind. "You can have as much earth as you want," he said. He remembered his wife's love of things that grow. "When you see a bit of earth you want," he smiled, "you may take it, child. Make it come alive." Then he rang the bell for Mrs. Medlock. Mr. Craven spoke to the housekeeper. "This child needs to be stronger before she begins to have lessons," he said. "Give her simple, healthy food. Let her run in the

你的意思是？”“一个种下种子的地方——让它们生长——看着它们茁壮成长，”玛丽说。 “我在印度的时候，”她解释说，“我总是病得很重，而且天气太热，但这里不一样。” 克雷文先生站起来，穿过房间。 他似乎陷入了沉思。 当他再次对她说话时，他的眼睛显得温柔而亲切。 “你想要多少土就有多少土，”他说。 他想起了妻子对生长的东西的热爱。 “当你看到一块你想要的土时，”他微笑着说，“你可以拿走，孩子。 让它活起来。”然后他按铃叫梅德洛克太太。 克雷文先生对女管家说。 “这个孩子在开始上课之前需要变得更强壮，”他说。 “给她简单健康的食物。 让她在