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He knew two dozen polite things to say when someone of importance came to the house, or when he went to weddings. He also knew how to talk French, how to beat the French boys at marbles, and how to spin a carrot on its pointed end as though it were a top. In fact, he was quite an accomplished young person.
他知道当重要人物来家里或参加婚礼时，有二十来句礼貌的话可说。他还知道怎样讲法语，怎样在弹珠游戏中打败法国人，怎样把一根胡萝卜的尖端当作陀螺一样旋转。事实上，他是一个很有成就的年轻人。
Once in a while he used to think. Being an Arab, he was never in a hurry. He did not in the least mind sitting still for an hour or two at a time, doing nothing at all but soaking in the sun, or watching the wind toss the olive branches about, or listening to the sleepy hum of the flies. And at these times thoughts flowed through his brain, as water flows in a river bed.
他偶尔会思考。作为一个阿拉伯人，他从不着急。他一点也不介意一次静坐一两个小时，什么也不做，只是沐浴在阳光下，或者看着风吹动橄榄枝，或者听着苍蝇昏昏欲睡的嗡嗡声。在这些时候，他的脑子里就像河床里的水一样流动着各种想法。
