长池村的故事（2级）(txt+pdf+epub+mobi电子书下载)

作者：托马斯·哈代

出版社：外语教学与研究出版社

格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT

长池村的故事（2级）试读：

内容简介

过去，人们很少到别的地方去。他们往往会在一个村子里住一辈子。村里的人都彼此熟识，连别人家里的父母、孩子，甚至祖辈都一清二楚——这样的地方恐怕没有什么秘密可言。

所以，当约翰·拉克兰的儿子旅居美国30年后重返长池村的时候，他知道许多人家肯定还住在那里。他在城里搭上去长池的马车，一路上向同行的乘客打听村里的新闻。

乘客们很乐意跟他说说村里的事情。托尼·凯茨和他那几位姑娘的故事很有趣——哦，没错，拉克兰先生一定得听听这个。另外，安德鲁和简，还有牧师和狐狸又是怎么回事？邮局女局长给拉克兰先生说了这段故事，接着学校的老师又给他讲了为什么教堂的乐队从20年前就不拉小提琴了。而且，拉克兰先生还记得妮蒂·萨金特吗？还记得啊，于是一位农夫的老婆波尔太太又说起了妮蒂是怎么把她叔叔的房子弄到手的……

TALES FROM LONGPUDDLE

In the old days,people did not move around so much.They often lived in the same village all their lives.Everybody knew everybody,knew their parents,their children,their grandparents,and probably knew all their secrets too.

So when John Lackland's son returns to the village of Longpuddle after thirty years in America,he knows he will find many of the same families there.In the town he catches the Longpuddle wagon,and on the way to the village he asks the other passengers for news.

The passengers are very happy to tell him stories.There's a good story about Tony Kytes and all his young women—oh yes,Mr Lackland must hear that one.And what about Andrew and Jane,and the parson and the fox?The postmistress tells Mr Lackland that story,and then the schoolteacher tells him why the church band stopped playing their fiddles in the church twenty years ago.And does Mr Lackland remember Netty Sargent?He does,and so Mrs Pawle,a farmer's wife,tells him what Netty had to do to get her uncle's house...

The Wagon to Longpuddle

It is now half-past three by the clock on the Town Hall,and the wagon will leave at four.Slowly,people begin to arrive and take their seats.First,two women climb up,and then a third,who is the postmistress at Longpuddle.At five minutes to four,more people arrive.There is Mr Profitt,the schoolteacher,and Christopher Twink,the builder,with his old father.Then come a farmer and his wife,and last of all,Mr Flaxton,the church clerk.

By now Burthen,the carrier,is getting the horses ready,and soon he climbs up to the driving seat.

'Is everybody here?'he asks the passengers.

The people who are not there do not reply,of course,and a minute or two later the wagon begins to move along the High Street.When it comes to the bridge over the river at the bottom end of the town,the postmistress suddenly calls out to the carrier.

'Mr Burthen,'she says.'There's a man calling you,over there by the corner.I think he wants you to stop for him.'

Burthen stops the wagon,and waits while the man comes towards them.'Now who's that,then?'he says.'That's not a Longpuddle man.'

'I've never seen him before,'says the schoolteacher.

Then the stranger arrives.'Can you take another passenger for Longpuddle?'he asks.

'We can take one more,'says the carrier.'Where are you from,sir?You're not from round here,are you?'

'I am,'says the stranger.'I was born at Longpuddle,and my father and grandfather before me.'

The postmistress is watching him with interest.'Oh!'she says suddenly.'I know who you are! You're John Lackland's son—he who went to America thirty years ago with his wife and family.'

'That's right,'says the stranger,smiling.'John Lackland was my father.And now I've come home to have a look at the old village,and find some old friends.Are the same families still living there?'

'Many of them are,'says the church clerk.'Which names do you remember?'

'There was a boy called Tony Kytes,I remember.'

'Oh yes,'says the clerk.'Tony Kytes is a married man now.Lives over at Mellstock,I think.'

'And he nearly got married to three women,'laughs the carrier.'There's a good story about Tony and all his young women.'

'Tell me about it,'says John Lackland's son.

And this is the carrier's story.

town hall a public building used for a town's local government 镇公所

clerk n.a lay officer of a church 教堂执事

stranger n.a person who is unfamiliar 陌生人

married adj.having a husband or wife 已婚的

去长池村的马车

这是秋天一个周六的下午，一个众所周知的小镇上，一辆运客的马车正停在大路上，就在镇公所门口，拉车的几匹马安静地等在那里，就着马粮袋吃东西。马车的一侧用黄色的大字写着“伯森，去往长池村的马车”。

这会儿，镇公所的大钟指到了3点半，马车准备4点出发。渐渐地，开始有人来搭车，各自找了座位安顿下来。最先上来的是两位妇人，接着上来的是长池村邮局的女局长。差5分4点的时候，又来了几位乘客，有学校教师普罗菲特先生，建筑工克里斯托弗·特温克和他的老爹。接着又来了一个农夫和他的老婆，最后来的是教堂执事弗拉克斯顿先生。

这个时候，车夫伯森正在给马做准备，不一会儿他自己也登上了车夫的座位。“都到齐了吗？”他问乘客们。

当然，没到的人也没办法回答他，于是一两分钟之后马车开始沿着大路出发了。马车走到镇子尽头的小河，正在过桥的时候，邮局女局长突然叫住了车夫。“伯森先生，”她说，“那边的拐角上有个人在叫你。我想他可能想让你等他一下。”

伯森停下马车，等那人赶过来。“那人是谁？”他说，“他不是长池村的人。”“我以前从没见过他。”学校教师说。

陌生人赶到马车跟前，问：“你们能再搭一个人去长池村吗？”“我们可以再搭一个人，”车夫说，“你是从哪儿来的，先生？你不是这附近的人，对吧？”“我是这儿的人，”陌生人说，“我就生在长池村，我的父亲和祖父也都生在那里。”

邮局女局长饶有兴趣地打量着他。“哦！”她突然说，“我知道你是谁了！你是约翰·拉克兰的儿子，他30年前带着老婆孩子去了美国。”“没错，”陌生人笑着说，“约翰·拉克兰是我父亲。现在我回家来看看老村子，拜访几位老朋友。过去的那些人家还住在那儿吧？”“许多人家都还在，”教堂执事说，“你都记得哪些名字？”“我记得过去有个男孩叫托尼·凯茨。”“哦，是的，”教堂执事说，“托尼·凯茨现在已经结了婚。我想他搬到麦尔斯托克去了。”“而且他差点儿娶了三个老婆，”车夫哈哈大笑起来，“托尼和他那几个姑娘可有一段儿不错的故事。”“跟我说说。”约翰·拉克兰的儿子说。

于是，车夫讲起了这个故事。

Tony Kytes Finds a Wife

But in the end he decided that Milly Richards was the girl for him.She was a nice,sweet little thing,and people soon said they were engaged to be married.

One Saturday Tony went to market,to do some business for his father,and he drove the wagon home in the afternoon.When he got to the hill just outside the town,he saw Unity Sallet by the side of the road.He knew Unity very well.Once,he nearly asked her to marry him—but then he got together with Milly.

When Tony came up to her in the wagon,Unity said,'My dear Tony,can I ride home with you?'

'Of course you can,my love,'said Tony.'I couldn't say no to you,could I?'

So Unity smiled,jumped up into the wagon and Tony drove on up the hill.

'Tony,'she said,in a soft little voice,'why did you leave me for that other girl?How is she better than I am?I'll be a fine wife,and a loving one,too.And you've known me for a long time,haven't you,Tony?'

'Yes,I have,'said Tony.'Yes,that's very true.'

'And—can you say I'm not pretty,Tony?'

He looked at her for a long while.'I really can't,'said he.'No,I think you're the prettiest girl in the world.'

'So I'm prettier than she is,am I?'

Luckily,before Tony could answer,he saw a girl's hat over the hedge round a turning in the road.He knew the hat very well—it was Milly's hat.

'Unity,'said Tony quickly,'here's Milly coming now.I'll be in terrible trouble if she sees you with me.Now,dearest Unity,we don't want any fighting or anything,do we?So will you lie down in the back of the wagon,under the tarpaulin?Just until Milly has passed?And I'll think about what you said,and perhaps I'll put a loving question to you,and not Milly.Nothing is decided yet between her and me,you know.'

So Unity lay down under the tarpaulin in the back of the wagon,and Tony drove on to meet Milly.

'My dear Tony!'Milly said crossly,when he came near.'How late you are!'

'Late?'said Tony.'Were you waiting for me?'

'Of course I was!'said Milly.'You asked me to meet you,to ride home with you.Don't you remember?'

'Oh dear!'said Tony.'Yes,yes,I did.I remember now.Oh dear—I mean,jump in then,Milly dear!'

So Milly climbed into the wagon and Tony drove on.They talked about this and that,and looked at the trees and the birds.Then they came to a house by the road,and looking out of an upstairs window was Hannah Jolliver.Now Hannah was a tall,good-looking girl,with long red hair.And Tony was in love with her for a long time—before Milly,and before Unity.

'My dear Milly,'he said,in a whisper,because he didn't want Unity to hear,'there's a young woman looking out of that window,who wanted to marry me.I'm afraid she's going to be angry,because she's found out that I'm going to marry you.And you're a prettier girl than she is.So,Milly,will you help me?'

'Of course,dearest Tony,'said Milly.

'Then will you hide under the empty sacks just here in the front of the wagon,behind the seat?She hasn't seen us yet,and then there won't be any angry words.'

'Well,all right,if it helps you,Tony,'said Milly.She didn't really want to,but she got down behind the seat and hid under the sacks.So there was Milly hiding in the front of the wagon,and Unity hiding in the back.

Tony drove on past the house,which was Hannah's uncle's house,and Hannah looked down from the window and called out to him.'Aren't you going to ask me to ride home with you?'

'Oh—yes,of course!'said Tony,who didn't know what to say.'But aren't you staying at your uncle's?'

'No,I'm not,'said Hannah.'Can't you see I've got my hat and coat on?How can you be so stupid,Tony?'

'Um,yes,um,then you must ride home with me,of course,'said Tony,who was beginning to feel hot and uncomfortable.So he stopped the wagon,while Hannah ran downstairs and got in beside him.

Tony drove on again,and then Hannah looked at him out of the corner of her eye.'This is nice,isn't it,Tony?'she said.'I like riding with you.'

Tony looked back into her eyes.'And I like riding with you,'he said after a while.Then he looked into her eyes again—a good,long,slow look.He began to like her more and more.And then he couldn't remember why he ever wanted to marry Milly or Unity.He moved nearer to Hannah on the seat,and they talked in soft little whispers.And after a time Tony said,'Ah,my sweet Hannah!'and took hold of her hand.

'I'm sorry that you're going to marry Milly,'Hannah said,'because I do like you very much,Tony dear.'

Tony gave a quick look behind him.'I haven't asked her the question yet,'he whispered,'and I'm not sure I will.I'm thinking about asking you.

'Ooooh! Leave Milly,and marry me!'cried Hannah loudly.'Oh,how wonderful!'

At this,there was a sudden little angry scream from behind the seat,and the tarpaulin at the back moved.

Hannah looked round.'Something's there,Tony! There's an animal in the back of the wagon!'

'No,no,'said Tony.'It's just empty sacks,and it's the wheels that make that little screaming sound.'

But he knew that he was in trouble,and he didn't know what to do next.Then the wagon came round a corner in the road and Tony saw his father in a field.His father held up his hand,and Tony saw his escape.

'Oh,Hannah,'he said,'can you hold the horse for a minute,while I go and find out what father wants?'

Hannah agreed,and Tony hurried into the field.

'What are you playing at,Tony?'said old Mr Kytes.

'What do you mean,father?'

'Well,if you're going to marry Milly Richards,do it.But don't go driving around the country with Jolliver's daughter.People will talk.You mustn't do it,boy.'

'Milly's there,too,father.'

'Milly?Where?'

'Under the sacks! Yes,and Unity Sallet is in there too,father,at the other end,under the tarpaulin.All three of them are in that wagon,and I don't know what to do! Which one shall I marry,father?'

'Which one of them did not ask to ride with you?'

'That was Milly,because I asked her.'

'Then marry Milly,she's the best—Hey,look!'

Tony looked round,and saw his wagon moving.He began to run across the field as fast as he could.

What was happening in the wagon?Milly,under the sacks,was the one who screamed.She began to move about,and then saw another woman's foot.So she moved along under the tarpaulin until she found Unity.

'And what are you doing here?'she asked angrily.

'I can ask you the same question,'said Unity.

'I'm engaged to be married to him,and I can—'

'Oh no,you're not,'said Unity.'He's going to have Hannah,not you.He said it just now—we heard him.'

When Hannah heard voices under the tarpaulin,she forgot the horse and turned round.The horse decided to go home,and moved off much too quickly.The wheels of the wagon went up on the side of the field,the wagon turned over,and all three girls fell out into the road.The horse looked round and stood still.

Nobody was hurt,but when Tony ran up,the three girls were all shouting and crying and screaming.

'Oh,don't be angry,my dears! Please don't!'said Tony.They did not stop crying and screaming,so he spoke more loudly.'I must do what's right,'he said.'I've asked Hannah to marry me,and she's agreed —'

'Oh no,I haven't!'said Hannah,really angry now.'You must think I'm soft in the head! I'm not marrying a man who keeps girls in the back of his wagon!'

Tony looked surprised.'So you won't marry me,Hannah?'he said.

'Never!'said Hannah,and she walked away.Perhaps she did still want him,but she didn't want to say so in front of the other girls.

Tony didn't know what to say next.Milly was crying her eyes out,and Tony's father thought that she was the best wife for him.But you never do what your father tells you to,do you?So Tony turned to Unity.

'Well,will you marry me,Unity dear?'he said.

'Marry something that Hannah Jolliver doesn't want?Not I!'said Unity.And she walked away too.

So then it was just Milly and Tony.Milly was still crying,and Tony stood there and looked at her.

'Well,here we are,'he said at last.'Just the two of us.We'll get married then,shall we,Milly?'

'If you like,Tony.You didn't really mean what you said to them?'

'Not a word of it!'said Tony.And then he kissed her,put the wagon back on the road,and they drove home.They went to see the parson the very next Sunday,and were married two Sundays later.*　*　*

At the end of his story the carrier turns to the postmistress.'They had a fine wedding,Mrs Weedle,didn't they?You were there,weren't you?'

'Oh yes,'says the postmistress.'Best wedding party for years.And I've been to a lot of them.We've had some strange weddings too.Do you remember Andrew Satchel and Jane Vallens a few years ago?'

'But they got married in a different village,'says the church clerk quickly.'Not in Longpuddle church.'

The carrier laughs.'It's all right,Mr Flaxton.We know it wasn't you.Go on,Mrs Weedle,tell our visitor about Andrew and Jane.'

'Yes,I remember the Satchel family,'I says John Lackland's son.'I'd like to hear that story.'

And this is the postmistress's story.

favourite n.someone who is liked and treated better than others 宠儿

engaged adj.having agreed to get married 已订婚的

loving adj.behaving in a way that shows you love someone 钟爱的

hedge n.a row of small bushes or trees growing close together,usually divide one field from another 树篱

tarpaulin n.（a sheet or cover of）heavy cloth specially treated so that water will not pass through it 防水油布

crossly adv.angrily 生气地

whisper n.soft speech produced without full voice 轻声说话

sack n.a large bag of strong,coarse material for holding objects in bulk 麻袋

uncomfortable adj.ill at ease; uneasy 不安的

scream n.a long,loud,piercing cry or sound 尖叫

escape n.avoiding（something dangerous or unpleasant） 逃避

still adv.without movement; motionlessly 不动地

soft in the head very stupid 很愚蠢的

cry one's eyes out be extremely sad and cry a lot 伤心痛哭

wedding n.the ceremony or celebration of a marriage 婚礼

托尼·凯茨讨老婆

我永远也忘不了托尼那张小圆脸，还有那双亮亮的黑眼睛。他不太爱笑，但很讨女人的喜欢。而且他也喜欢她们，哦，是的！这个星期你还见他跟这个姑娘走在一起，下个星期你又会看到他跟另一个姑娘好上了。

不过，最后他认为米利·理查兹最合适。她是个漂亮可人的小东西，人们很快就传言说他们已经订婚了。

一个星期六，托尼到集市去替他老爹办事，下午赶着马车往回走。刚到镇外的小山下，他就看到尤妮蒂·萨勒特在路边。他跟尤妮蒂很熟。以前他差点儿就向她求婚了——不过他后来又跟米利凑到了一起。

看托尼赶着马车过来，尤妮蒂说：“亲爱的托尼，我能搭你的马车回家吗？”“当然可以，亲爱的，”托尼说，“我可没法儿拒绝你，不是吗？”

于是，尤妮蒂笑着跳上了马车，托尼赶车上了小山。“托尼，”她轻声细气地说，“你为什么要离开我去找别的姑娘？她哪里比我好了？我会成为一个很好的妻子，还会非常爱你。而且你我已经认识很久了，不是吗，托尼？”“是啊，”托尼说，“是啊，你说得一点儿不错。”“而且——你能说我不漂亮吗，托尼？”

他望着她好一会儿。“我实在不能那么说，”他说，“不，我觉得你是世上最漂亮的姑娘。”“就是说我比她漂亮，对吧？”

幸运的是，托尼没等回答，就看见路拐弯处的树篱后面露出一个姑娘的帽子。他看着那帽子很眼熟——那是米利的帽子。“尤妮蒂，”托尼急忙说，“米利往这边来了。如果她看见你跟我在一起，那我的麻烦就大了。最亲爱的尤妮蒂，我们不想大吵一架或是发生别的什么事情，对吧？所以，你躲到车后面的防水油布底下，好不好？只要等到米利走过去就行了。我会考虑你说的事情，或许还会向你求婚，而不是米利。你知道，我和她的事儿还没定呢。”

于是，尤妮蒂躲到了马车后面的油布底下，而托尼则赶着车迎向米利。“亲爱的托尼！”等他走近，米利生气地说，“你怎么这么晚才来！”“晚？”托尼说，“你在等我吗？”“我当然在等你！”米利说，“你让我来跟你会合，一起坐车回家的。你不记得了？”“哦，天呐！”托尼说，“是的，是的，我是说过。我现在想起来了。哦，天呐——我是说，上车吧，亲爱的米利！”

于是米利上了马车，托尼继续赶路。他们东拉西扯地聊天，看着一路上的树和小鸟。这时，他们经过路旁的一座房子，汉娜·乔利沃正从楼上的窗子里望出来。汉娜是个漂亮的高个子姑娘，有一头红色的长发。而且托尼过去跟她好过很长一段时间——在米利和尤妮蒂之前。“亲爱的米利，”他小声说，因为他不想让尤妮蒂听见，“那个从窗子望出来的姑娘以前想和我结婚。我担心她会大发脾气，因为她知道我要跟你结婚，而且你又比她漂亮。米利，你愿意帮我个忙吗？”“当然，我最亲爱的托尼。”米利说。“那你能藏到车前面的空袋子底下吗？就在这儿，座位后面。她现在还没看到我们，你藏起来，我们就不用跟她撕破脸了。”“好吧，如果这能帮你的话，托尼。”米利说。她其实并不想这么做，但还是藏到了座位后面的袋子底下。这样一来，马车前面藏着米利，马车后面躲着尤妮蒂。

托尼赶着车经过那座房子，那是汉娜叔叔的家。这时，汉娜从窗子望下来，向他大声喊道：“你不打算邀请我跟你一起坐车回家吗？”“哦——是的，当然！”托尼不知道说什么才好，“你不打算住在你叔叔家吗？”“不，”汉娜说，“你没见我已经穿好外衣，戴好帽子了吗？你怎么这么蠢，托尼？”“嗯，是啊，嗯，那你当然得跟我一起坐车回家。”托尼说着，开始有点儿紧张和不自在了。他停下马车，等汉娜下楼，上车坐到他旁边。

托尼又赶车上路，汉娜从眼角瞅了瞅他。“这真不错，对吧，托尼？”她说，“我喜欢和你一起坐马车。”

托尼回头望着她的眼睛。过了一会儿，他说：“我也喜欢和你一起坐马车。”接着，他又看着她的眼睛——这是一段长久而深情的注视。他开始越来越喜欢她。到后来，他已经不记得自己当初怎么会想跟米利或尤妮蒂结婚了。他朝汉娜身边靠了靠，两个人轻声耳语起来。过了一会儿，托尼说：“啊，我可爱的汉娜！”说着握住了她的手。“你要跟米利结婚了，我很难过，”汉娜说，“因为我真的很喜欢你，亲爱的托尼。”

托尼很快地看了一眼身后。“我还没向她求婚呢，”他小声说，“而且我也不确定我会那么做。我现在想向你求婚。”“哦！离开米利吧，和我结婚！”汉娜大声说，“哦，这真太好了！”

这话刚一出口，座位后面就传出了生气的叫声，车后面的防水油布也动了动。

汉娜回头瞧了瞧。“那儿有东西，托尼！车后面有只什么动物！”“不，没有，”托尼说，“只有几只空袋子，那声音是轮子发出来的。”

不过他心里清楚自己的麻烦来了，却不知道该如何是好。这时，马车在路上拐了个弯，托尼看到他老爹正在田里。老爹朝他抬了抬手，托尼终于找到了开溜的机会。“哦，汉娜，”他说，“你能帮我拿一会儿缰绳吗？我去看看老爹有什么事。”

汉娜答应了，于是托尼急忙跑进了田里。“你在玩什么把戏，托尼？”老凯茨先生问。“您这是什么意思，爸爸？”“哦，如果你要娶米利·理查兹，那就快跟她结婚。但是别跟乔利沃的女儿坐着马车到处晃。人们会说闲话的。你可不能这么做，孩子。”“米利也在那儿，爸爸。”“米利？在哪儿？”“在袋子下面！是的，还有尤妮蒂·萨勒特，爸爸，她在马车另一头的防水油布底下。她们三个都在马车上，我不知道怎么办才好！我该跟谁结婚呢，爸爸？”“她们中哪一个没有要求搭你的车？”“米利没有，因为是我邀请她的。”“那就跟米利结婚，她是最好的一个——嘿，瞧！”

托尼回头，看见他的马车在走。他赶快穿过田地飞快地朝马车跑去。

马车上是怎么回事？是袋子下面的米利惊叫了一声。她开始四处挪动，看到了另一个女人的脚，于是顺着防水油布发现了尤妮蒂。“你在这儿干吗？”她生气地问。“我还要问你呢。”尤妮蒂说。“我和他订了婚，而且我可以——”“哦，不，你没有，”尤妮蒂说，“他要娶的是汉娜，不是你。他刚才说的——我们都听见了。”

这时，汉娜听到了防水油布下面有人说话，于是忘了看马，回头来看是怎么回事。那匹马决定自己回家，突然快跑起来。马车的轮子驶上了田地的斜坡，车子翻了，三个姑娘都跌到了路上。那匹马四下看了看，站住不动了。

虽然没有人受伤，可是等托尼跑过来的时候，三个姑娘已经又哭又叫地闹成了一团。“哦，别发火，亲爱的姑娘们！请别这样！”托尼说。她们还是不停地又哭又叫，所以他只好提高了声音。“我得说话算话，”他说，“我向汉娜求婚，而她也答应了——”“哦，不，我没答应！”汉娜说，她现在真的气坏了，“你以为我是傻瓜！我才不会跟在马车后面藏姑娘的男人结婚呢！”

托尼看起来很惊讶。“那你不想跟我结婚了，汉娜？”他说。“决不！”汉娜说完，头也不回地走了。可能她确实还想跟他结婚，但她不想在另外两个姑娘面前向他低头。

托尼不知道接下去该说什么。米利一个劲儿地哭，而托尼的老爹认为她是最适合他的一个。但你怎么会乖乖听老爹的话呢？所以，托尼转向了尤妮蒂。“好吧，你愿意和我结婚吗，亲爱的尤妮蒂？”他问。“和一个汉娜·乔利沃不想要的人结婚？我才不呢！”尤妮蒂说完，也走了。

现在就剩下了米利和托尼。米利还在哭，托尼站在那里看着她。“好了，事情就是这样了，”他最后说，“现在就剩了我们两个。我们结婚吧，好不好，米利？”“如果你愿意，托尼。你跟她们说那些话不是认真的吧？”“当然不是！”托尼说。他吻了吻她，又把马车弄回到大路上，一起坐车回家了。他们下个星期日去见了牧师，两个星期后就结婚了。*　*　*

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