One day when I had lost my place in the class, I came home discouraged and fretful.
一天,因为考试不理想,我沮丧和烦躁地回到家里。
I went to my mother's chamber.
我走进母亲的房间。
She was paler than usual, but she met me with the same affectionate smile that always welcomed my return.
她比以前更显苍白,可是她一如往常带着亲切的微笑欢迎我回来。
Alas! when I look back through the lapse of thirteen years, I think my heart must have been stone not to have been melted by it.
唉!十三年后回忆起来,我想当时我的心可能是石头做的才没被融化。
She requested me to go downstairs and bring her a glass of water.
她叫我下楼取一杯水。
I pettishly asked her why she did not call a domestic to do it.
我怒气冲冲地说怎么不叫佣人去。
With a look of mild reproach, which I shall never forget if I live to be a hundred years old,
她略带责备地说,这种责备即使活一百岁我也不会忘记,
she said, "Will not my daughter bring a glass of water for her poor, sick mother?"
我的女儿不愿意给她生病的可怜母亲取杯水吗?
I went and brought her the water, but I did not do it kindly.
我心不甘情不愿地取来了水。
Instead of smiling, and kissing her as I had been wont to do, I set the glass down very quickly, and left the room.
我没有对她笑,也没有像往常一样亲吻她,我放下杯子就离开了房间。
After playing a short time, I went to bed without bidding my mother good night;
在玩了一阵后,我上床了,没有和母亲说晚安;
but when alone in my room, in darkness and silence, I remembered how pale she looked, and how her voice trembled when she said,
可是当我独自一人在安静漆黑的房间里,我想起她脸色多么苍白,她的声音是多么颤抖,我无法入睡。
"Will not my daughter bring a glass of water for her poor, sick mother?" I could not sleep.
她说“我的女儿不愿意给她生病的可怜母亲取杯水吗?”
I stole into her chamber to ask forgiveness.
我偷偷走进她的房间请求她原谅我。
She had sunk into an easy slumber, and they told me I must not waken her.
可她已经睡着了,人们告诉我不能惊醒她。