He had been in the habit of going early to school, and staying to play after it was dismissed.
過去,他總是習慣于早早到學校,下課后留在學校玩耍。
The boys missed him, and their curiosity was excited when he would give no other reason for not coming to school earlier,
他的伙伴們都很想念他。當他對于沒法早到學校,
or staying after school, than that he was "wanted at home."
給出原因僅僅是“家里需要他”時,伙伴們的好奇心被激發(fā)了起來。
"I'll tell you," said Tom Barton, "I'll find him out, boys—see if I don't!"
“我會告訴你們的,”湯姆?巴頓說,“我會找到答案的,孩子們——看我會不會!”
So he called for Fred to go to school, and on his way to the side door walked lightly and somewhat nearer the kitchen window than was absolutely needful.
于是他打電話約弗雷德一起上學。在往旁門走時,他輕手輕腳地接近廚房的窗戶,這一動作絕對是有意為之而非出于需要。
Looking in, he saw Fred standing at the table with a dishcloth in his hand.
向屋內(nèi)看去,他看見弗雷德站在餐桌邊,手里拿著一塊抹布。
Of course he reported this at school, and various were the greetings poor Fred received at recess.
當然,他到學校公布了看到的一切。課間時,可憐的弗雷德收到了各種各樣的問候。
Well, you're a brave one to stay at home washing dishes.
嗨,你真有勇氣,能待在家刷盤子。
Girl boy! Pretty Bessie! Lost your apron, have n't you, Polly!
娘娘腔!漂亮的小貝西!是不是圍裙找不到啦,珀莉!
Fred was not wanting either in spirit or courage, and he was strongly tempted to resent these insults and to fight some of his tormentors.
弗雷德并不是缺乏志氣或勇氣,而且他對于這些侮辱性的話語表示出強烈的不滿,也很有沖動和刺頭們打上一架。
But his consciousness of right and his love for his mother helped him.
但正是他的正義感和對母親的愛幫了他。
While he was struggling for self mastery, his teacher appeared at the door of the schoolhouse.
正當他掙扎著控制自己的情緒時,老師出現(xiàn)在了教室門口。
Fred caught his eye, and it seemed to look, if it did not say, "Don't give up! Be really brave!"
弗雷德與老師目光相對,雖然他的眼神沒有說,但至少看起來是要說“不要放棄!要做到真正的堅強!”
He knew the teacher had heard the insulting taunts of his thoughtless schoolmates.
他知道老師已經(jīng)聽到了那些沒頭腦的同學們對他的侮辱和嘲笑了。
The boys received notice during the day that Fred must not be taunted or teased in any manner.
那天,男孩子們被告知,不許以任何方式嘲笑或取笑弗雷德。
They knew that the teacher meant what he said; and so the brave little boy had no farther trouble.
他們知道老師會說到做到的,所以勇敢的小男孩弗雷德沒再遇到任何麻煩。