White nights, and other stories — Page 3

就是这样，我们几乎会互相鞠躬，尤其是当我们都心情愉快的时候。

That is how it is that we almost bow to each other, especially when we are both in good humour.

前几天，我们有两天没见面，到第三天相遇时，我们竟然都伸手去触碰帽檐，但及时意识到，便放下了手，带着一种好奇的神情擦肩而过。

The other day, when we had not seen each other for two days and met on the third, we were actually touching our hats, but, realizing in time, dropped our hands and passed each other with a look of interest.

我对那些房子也很熟悉。

I know the houses too.

当我沿街而行时，它们仿佛从街道两旁向前涌来，从每一扇窗户里张望着我，几乎要开口说话：

As I walk along they seem to run forward in the streets to look out at me from every window, and almost to say:

'早上好！您好吗？我很好，感谢上帝，我打算在五月份加盖一层新楼。'

"Good-morning! How do you do? I am quite well, thank God, and I am to have a new storey in May,"

或者，'您好吗？我明天要重新装修了。'

or, "How are you? I am being redecorated to-morrow;"

或者，'我差点被烧毁，吓了我一大跳。'诸如此类。

or, "I was almost burnt down and had such a fright," and so on.

其中有些是我的至爱，有些是我的老朋友；有一栋今夏打算请建筑师来诊治一番。

I have my favourites among them, some are dear friends; one of them intends to be treated by the architect this summer.

我每天都会特意过去，看看那次'手术'是否顺利。上帝保佑！

I shall go every day on purpose to see that the operation is not a failure. God forbid!

但我永远不会忘记与一栋玲珑可爱的淡粉色小屋之间发生的那段往事。

But I shall never forget an incident with a very pretty little house of a light pink colour.

那是一栋多么迷人的小砖房啊，它是那样热情好客地望着我，又是那样骄傲地俯视着周围那些其貌不扬的邻居，每当我恰好路过，心里总会涌起一阵喜悦。

It was such a charming little brick house, it looked so hospitably at me, and so proudly at its ungainly neighbours, that my heart rejoiced whenever I happened to pass it.

就在上周，我突然走过那条街，望向我的老朋友时，却听到一声悲怨的呼喊：'他们把我涂成黄色了！'

Suddenly last week I walked along the street, and when I looked at my friend I heard a plaintive, "They are painting me yellow!"

那些恶棍！那些野蛮人！

The villains! The barbarians!