斑点带子案 17离奇死亡(3)

"Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until lately lonelier than ever.

"从那以后，两年过去了，一直到最近，我的生活比以往更加孤单寂寞。

A month ago, however, a dear friend, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask my hand in marriage.

然而，一个月前，很荣幸有一位认识多年的亲密朋友向我求婚。

His name is Armitage -- Percy Armitage -- the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading.

他的名字叫阿米塔奇--珀西·阿米塔奇，是住在里丁附近克兰活特的阿米塔奇先生的二儿子。

My stepfather has offered no opposition¹ to the match, and we are to be married in the course of the spring.

我继父对这件婚事没有表示异议，我们商定在春天的时候结婚。

Two days ago some repairs were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom wall has been pierced,

两天前，这所房子西边的耳房开始进行修缮，我卧室的墙壁被钻了些洞，

so that I have had to move into the chamber² in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in which she slept.

所以我不得不搬到我姐姐丧命的那房间里去住，睡在她睡过的那张床上。

Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate,

昨天晚上，我睁着眼睛躺在床上，回想起她那可怕的遭遇，

I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which had been the herald³ of her own death.

在这寂静的深夜，我突然听到曾经预兆她死亡的轻轻的口哨声，

I sprang up and lit the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room.

我跳了起来，把灯点着，但是在房间里什么也没看到。

I was too shaken to go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was daylight I slipped down,

可是我实在是吓得魂不附体，再也不敢重新上床。我穿上了衣服，天一亮，我悄悄地出来，

got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead,

在邸宅对面的克朗旅店雇了一辆单马车，坐车到莱瑟黑德，

from whence I have come on this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your advice."

又从那里来到你这儿，唯一的目的是来拜访你并向你请教。"

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

3 herald   

vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎

参考例句：

• In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
• Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。