It was the silliest incident that brought Nannette into my life. I had been in my local supermarket and spent more than I should. When I reached the checkout girl I remarked, jokingly, that my money was all gone after I had paid for all the articles. On my way out through the main doors a girl suddenly appeared and asked me, that if I was really short of cash, she was willing to lend me some, in order for me to get home. I was very surprised and she was a rather attractive looking girl. Now, as it was hardly an everyday experience, having a gorgeous girl appear out of thin air and offer me money.
I quickly pulled myself together, "No. Yes thank you. But I was only joking; I do have some change indoors for my taxi fare. But please, would you let me take you for some tea and cakes, there's rather a nice restaurant quite close?"
"I'm sorry, I can't just now. I just don't have time. But I go to the town library every Thursday. I could meet you outside. Say at two o'clock? My name is Nannette by the way. What's yours?"
"Yes. Oh, my name is Edmond, but please call me Ed, most people do."
「哦，我叫艾德蒙，但是叫我艾德就行了，大家都這麼叫我。」
I held out my hand and grasped a small, delicate and very female hand. Then, after this most unconventional of introductions―she was gone. Just how I would have been able to pay for tea and cakes, considering my lack of funds, was a question I failed to consider in the excitement of the moment. But that is how I first met Nannette.
Our first meeting for tea was just a few days later. I was standing outside the library for ten minutes before she came running up sharp on two o'clock.
"Oh, hello Edmond, I mean, Ed. Do you know somewhere we can go? Have you been waiting long?"
「你好，艾德蒙，哦，不，艾德，你知道有什麼地方我們可以去嗎？你等了很久嗎？」
I noticed that she was carrying two rather large books. She seemed slightly breathless and she gave me the impression that she was somewhat 1)frail. Apart from the books she held an elegant and seemingly expensive, if a little old fashioned, handbag. She wore over her shoulders a short, black cloak or cape, edged with a delicate sky blue 2)motif.
"Yes. No, there is a rather good place about fifty yards away."
「是的。哦，不是，附近有家不錯的餐廳，離這大概五十碼左右。」
My words 3)stumbled out something like that in my attempt to answer her confused questioning. There was indeed a small establishment a little way off, a couple of paces down a side street. It was more like one of those numerous little refreshment places that one tends to see in small seaside towns; that are generally run by two 4)spinster sisters. 5)Gothic white script above the premises proclaimed: Black an White Tea Room.
We went in and sat by a small table set for two by the window. The place was completely empty and seemed unusually quite. The noise and traffic in the busy street outside was barely 6)distinguishable.
As I sat there for those first few moments with Nannette, I had a chance to really observe her. Her face was pale and her eyes were largish and a sort of amber colour. I would have said she was wearing little makeup if any at all. I could not help thinking that her face indicated some suffering or 7)adversity. There was something else, I was puzzled for a while, and then I recalled those words of Edgar Allen Poe: "There is nothing of Beauty that does not have some strangeness about it".
坐下來后，我有片刻的時間仔細打量蘭麗緹。她臉色蒼白，眼睛挺大的，琥珀色，幾乎完全沒有化妝。我總覺得她的臉掩藏著某種痛苦或者不幸，還有其他東西。一剎那間我覺得有點迷惑，想起了艾德加作者: jcais 時間: 2004-7-12 11:17
i read half way thru, can't really finish.
i don't get used to this kind british english.
in my life, nobody speaks or writes english like that.
just makes me feel unreal. sorry, but i tried.
the article is good though. 作者: 平安貝兒 時間: 2004-7-13 06:09
Dear Jcais, that is the way we learn English in China. Most of the readings in our textbooks are just like this one. And people like me do speak this kind of British English.
when people told me:"have you learnt your English in England?", i really don't know they praise me or just want to find out where the unreal way of speaking come from...
i do agree that this kind of reading gives people a feeling of unreal, but is it a good material to learn grammar and phrases?作者: jcais 時間: 2004-7-13 12:37
like i said, this article is good,
i just tried to explain the reason i couldn't finish the reading.
my english is purely american english, that's why i said i don't get used to it. u know, american english is quite different with british english in spelling, writing, and pronunciation too. not to mention phrases and slangs.
for example, our friend "montrealer" if he is from montreal, canada then u can compare his english with mine. that's typical british english Vs american english.
and i'm not saying which is better or worse, it's just a matter which one u r using, that is.
why i'm here?
i'm here just to provide my thoughts. if u like my thoughts, i'm glad u do. if u don't, fine, just ignore me.
for every question, there must be at least one answer. but do we know the answer?
for every quest, there must be at least one way to achieve it. but do we know how?
