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Chapter 17 "It is the Child!"
第17章 正是那个孩子
The next afternoon three members of the Large Family sat in the Indian gentleman's library, doing their best to cheer him up.
第二天下午，那“大家庭”的三个孩子坐在印度绅士的书房里，竭尽全力逗他高兴起来。
They had been allowed to come in to perform this office because he had specially invited them.
他们被允许进来执行这个任务，因为是他特别邀请他们来的。
He had been living in a state of suspense for some time, and today he was waiting for a certain event very anxiously.
这段时间里，他一直生活在忧虑不安之中，而今天他正万分焦急地等待着一件大事发生。
This event was the return of Mr. Carmichael from Moscow. His stay there had been prolonged from week to week.
这件大事就是卡迈克尔先生将从莫斯科归来。他在那里逗留的时间拖长了一个星期又一个星期。
On his first arrival there, he had not been able satisfactorily to trace the family he had gone in search of.
原来他刚到那里时，未能顺利地追踪到去寻觅的那户人家。
When he felt at last sure that he had found them and had gone to their house, he had been told that they were absent on a journey.
当他终于确信找到了线索并去到他们家，却被告知他们已外出旅行了。
His efforts to reach them had been unavailing, so he had decided to remain in Moscow until their return.
他见到他所作的努力落了空，于是决定留在莫斯科等他们回来。
Mr. Carrisford sat in his reclining chair, and Janet sat on the floor beside him. He was very fond of Janet.
这时卡里斯福特先生正坐在躺椅上，珍尼特坐在他旁边的地板上。他十分喜欢珍尼特。
Nora had found a footstool, and Donald was astride the tiger's head which ornamented the rug made of the animal's skin.
诺拉找到了一个脚凳来坐，唐纳德骑在那个用来装饰那条兽皮小地毯的老虎头上。
It must be owned that he was riding it rather violently.
他骑得可确实是真够威武的。
"Don't chirrup so loud, Donald," Janet said.
“别这么大声啧啧地催马了，唐纳德，”珍尼特说。
"When you come to cheer an ill person up you don't cheer him up at the top of your voice.
“你来逗病人开心，不是靠拚命提高嗓门乱叫的。
Perhaps cheering up is too loud, Mr. Carrisford?" turning to the Indian gentleman.
卡里斯福特先生，是不是闹腾得太响了？”她转向印度绅士问道。
But he only patted her shoulder.
但他只拍拍她的肩膀。
"No, it isn't," he answered. "And it keeps me from thinking too much."
“不，不好算太响，”他答道。“这样可以阻止我想得太多。”
"I'm going to be quiet," Donald shouted. "We'll all be as quiet as mice."
“我这就安静下来，”唐纳德喊道。“我们都要像小老鼠一样安静。”
"Mice don't make a noise like that," said Janet.
“小老鼠可不会像你那样叫，”珍尼特说。
Donald made a bridle of his handkerchief and bounced up and down on the tiger's head.
唐纳德用手帕卷成一条缰绳，骑在老虎头上上下颠簸着。
"A whole lot of mice might," he said cheerfully. "A thousand mice might."
“也许一大群老鼠会，”他欢快地说。“也许一千只老鼠会。”
