第四部分

 

Oliver in London

 

For some reason the Dodger did no want to enter London during daylight , so it was nearly eleven o'clock at inght when they got near the centre. Oliver had never seen a dirtier or more miserable place . The streets in this district were narrow and muddy , and there were terrible smells everywherer. Children wandered around even at this time of night , in and out of the many shops, playing and screaming. The pubs were ful of people fighting , and big, evil-looking men stood in doorways or at dark corners . Oliver almost wanted to run away, but just then the Dodger pushed opoen a door and pulled Oliver into a dark hall.

 

由于某些原因，插翅神偷不愿意在白天进伦敦，所以，他们到达市中心时，已经差不多是晚上11时了。奥利弗从未见过这私通龌龊、悲惨的地方。这个地区的街道狭窄泥泞，到处散发着熏人的臭气。临近半夜了，孩子们还在街头游逛着， 在街头的许多小铺子里进进出出，玩闹、尖叫着。小酒馆里挤满了打架的人。凶神恶煞般的大块头站在门口外黑暗的角落里。 奥利弗差点儿被吓跑了。就在这时，神偷推开一扇门，将奥利弗拽到一个昏暗的门厅里。

 

'Who's there?'a voice cried out.

 

'It's me ,' said the Dodger. The faint light of a candle appeared in the hall.

 

'Who's the other one?'

 

'A new friend.'

 

“是谁啊？”一个声音唤道德。

“是我”神偷说。门厅里出现了一丝微弱的蜡烛的光亮。

“另一个是谁啊？”

“一位新朋友。”

 

They went up some dark and broken stairs. Oliver could hardly see where he was going, but the Dodger seemet know the way,and  helped Oliver up. They entered a room with walls that wereblack with age and dirt. In front of the fire was a table with a candle stuck into a bottle of beer, and an old man, with a horribly ugly face and red hair, stood next to the fire cooking. He was wearing a dirty old coat and weemed to divide his attention between his cooking and a numbere of silk handkerchieves, which were hanging near the fire. There were severla rough beds in the room . Four of five boys, about the same age as the Artful Dodger, sat round the table, smoking and drinking like middle-aged men. They all looked up when the Dodger and Oliver entered.

 

他们踩着漆黑、破烂的楼梯走上去，奥利弗几乎什么也看不见，全靠神偷扶着他往前走，而神偷显得对这儿挺熟的。他们的墙又黑又脏。炉前的桌子上放了一瓶啤酒，瓶子口插着一节蜡烛。一位长着非常丑恶的脸和红头发的老人站在火炉旁煮饭。他穿了一件破旧、肮脏的大衣，好像一边煮沸着饭一边注意着挂钩在炉旁边的几条丝手帕。屋里摆着几张简陋的床。中五个插翅神偷年龄差不多的男孩子围坐在桌子旁，像中年人一样嘴里叼着烟，喝着酒。 神偷和奥利弗走进来时，他们抬起头来看着。