One Saturday evening, between light and dark, a stranger from one of the coaches, asking for a barber, was directed by the hostler to the cellar opposite.
一個周六的晚上,天快擦黑了。一位從馬車上下來的陌生人想要理發(fā),原來,帶客人來的人就是他理發(fā)店對面的馬夫。
Coming in hastily, he requested to be shaved quickly, while they changed horses, as he did not like to violate the Sabbath.
匆忙走進(jìn)小店后,客人一邊將馬韁遞給馬夫,一邊催促理發(fā)匠盡快給他理發(fā),他可不想破了安息日規(guī)矩。
This was touching the barber on a tender chord.
這句話,觸動了理發(fā)匠心思,
He burst into tears; asked the stranger to lend him a half-penny to buy a candle, as it was not light enough to shave him with safety.
他不禁涕泗橫流。原來屋里太黑,他唯恐做起活來不穩(wěn)當(dāng),只有開口向客人先支借半便士買根蠟燭,
He did so, revolving in his mind the extreme poverty to which the poor man must be reduced.
客人照他的吩咐做了。理發(fā)匠貧困潦倒如此,讓來客思忖良久。
When shaved, he said, there must be something extraordinary in your history, which I have not now time to hear.
你的經(jīng)歷肯定與眾不同,理發(fā)完畢后,客人說道,我現(xiàn)在沒有時(shí)間,
Here is half a crown for you.
先付你兩個半便士,
When I return, I will call and investigate your case.
等會回來,我再找你好好聊聊。
What is your name? "William Reed," said the astonished barber.
你叫什么名字?“威廉.瑞德。”理發(fā)師告訴陌生人,心里有點(diǎn)吃驚。
"William Reed?" echoed the stranger: "William Reed? by your dialect you are from the West."
“威廉.瑞德?” 陌生人問道,“你的方言聽起來,好像西邊來的?”
Yes, sir, from Kingston, near Taunton.
不錯,先生,我老家在陶頓旁邊金斯敦。
"William Reed from Kingston, near Taunton? What was your father's name?" "Thomas." "Had he any brother?"
“來自陶頓旁邊金斯敦的威廉.瑞德,你父親叫什么?”“托馬斯。”“他有兄弟嗎?”
Yes, sir, one, after whom I was named; but he went to the Indies, and, as we never heard from him, we supposed him to be dead.
有,先生,他有一個兄弟,在我洗禮后,他便去了西印度群島,此后就再也沒有音訊了,我們覺得他已經(jīng)不在人世了。