“Ily，” said he， “I notice theres three or four young fellers that have been callin to see you regular for quite a while. Is there any one of em you like better than another？”
“艾琳，”他说道，“我注意到最近以来经常有三四个年轻人来找你。他们中间有没有你特别喜欢的？”
“Why， pa，” she answered， “I like all of em very well. I think Mr. Cuninngham and Mr. Jacks and Mr. Harris are very nice young men. They are so frank and honest in everything they say to me. I havent known Mr. Vesey very long， but I think hes a very nice young man， hes so frank and honest in everything he says to me.”
“哎，爸爸，”她回答说，“他们几个我都很喜欢。我认为坎宁安先生、杰克斯先生和哈里斯先生都是极好的青年。他们无论对我说什么都是那么坦率，那么诚实。我认识维齐先生的时间不长，不过我认为他是个极好的青年。他无论对我说什么都是那么坦率，那么诚实。”
“Now， thats what Im gitting at.” says old Hinkle. “Youve always been saying you like people what tell the truth and dont go humbugging you with compliments and bogusbogus adj.<美>假的， 伪造的 talk. Now， suppose you make a test of these fellers， and see which one of em will talk the straightest to you.”
“是啊，我想说的正是这一点。”欣克尔老头说。“你说你一向喜欢说实话，不拿恭维和假话来诓你的人。你不妨考验一下这几个人，看谁对你最坦率。”
“But howll I do it， pa？”
“我怎么考验呢，爸爸？”
“Ill tell you how. You know you sing a little bit， Ily， you took music lessons nearly two years in Logansport. It wasnt long， but it was all we could afford then. And your teacher said you didnt have any voice， and it was a waste of money to keep on. Now， suppose you ask the fellers what they think of your singing， and see what each one of em tells you. The man that ll tell you the truth about it ll have a mighty lot of nerve， and ll do to tie to. What do you think of the plan？”
“我告诉你怎么做。你稍稍能唱些歌，艾琳，你在洛根斯波特学了将近两年的音乐。时间不算长，不过当时我们的财力也只能做到那样。你的老师说你的嗓子不行，继续学下去只是浪费金钱。你不妨问问那几个人，对你的歌唱是怎么评价的，听听他们每个人的说法。对你说实话的人肯定很有勇气，是可以把终身托付给他的人。你觉得这个办法怎么样？”
“All right， pa.” said Ileen. “I think its a good idea. Ill try it.”
“行，爸爸。”艾琳说。“我认为这是个好主意。我来试试。”
Ileen and Mr. Hinkle went out of the room through the inside doors. Unobserved， I hurried down to the station. Jacks was at his telegraph table waiting for eight oclock to come. It was Buds night in town， and when he rode in I repeated the conversation to them both. I was loyalloyal adj.忠诚的， 忠心的 to my rivals， as all true admirers of all Ileens should be.
艾琳和欣克尔先生从里面的门走出客厅。我乘没人看到，急忙赶到车站。杰克斯坐在电报桌旁等待八点钟到来。那晚巴德也要进城。等他骑马到达时，我便把刚才父女两人的对话复述给他们听。我对情敌是忠诚的，像艾琳那样的姑娘的所有爱慕者都应当这样。
Simultaneously the three of us were smitten by an uplifting thought. Surely this test would eliminate Vesey from the contestcontest n.论争， 竞赛 v.，争论， 争辩， 竞赛， 争夺. He， with his unctuousunctuous adj.油似的， 油质的， 松软肥沃的 flatteryflattery n.谄媚， 阿谀， 巴结， 奉承， 捧场话， 恭维话， 谄媚的举动， would be driven from the lists. Well we remembered Ileens love of frankness and honesty—how she treasured truth and candorcandor n.坦白， 直率 above vain compliment and blandishment.
我们三个人不约而同，都被一个振奋人心的想法弄得神魂颠倒。这个试验肯定会把维齐从竞争中淘汰掉。他同他那套甜言蜜语的奉承将会被一笔勾销。我们清楚地记得艾琳喜爱坦率和诚实——她多么珍视真实和直率，厌恶虚假的恭维和讨好。
Linking arms， we did a grotesquegrotesque adj.奇形怪状的， 奇异 n.奇形怪状的人(或物、图案等)， 奇异风格 dance of joy up and down the platform， singing Muldoon Was a Solid Man at the top of our voices.
我们挽着胳臂，高兴地在月台上乱蹦乱跳，扯直了嗓子唱着《马尔登是个老实人》
That evening four of the willow rockingchairs were filled besides the lucky one that sustained the trim figure of Miss Hinkle. Three of us awaited with suppressed excitement the application of the test. It was tried on Bud first.
那晚，除了那张承受着欣克尔小姐苗条身材的幸运的柳条摇椅之外，还有四张椅子上也坐着人。我们三个按捺着兴奋的心情，等待试验的开始。首先受试的是巴德。
“Mr. Cunningham，” said Ileen， with her dazzling smile， after she had sung When the Leaves Begin to Turn， “what do you really think of my voice？ Frankly and honestly， now， as you know I want you to always be toward me.”
“坎宁安先生，”艾琳唱完当叶子变黄的时候人凛然一笑说，“你确实对我的嗓子有什么评价？你可得坦率。说实话。你知道我要你永远这样对待我。”
Bud squirmed in his chair at his chance to show the sinceritysincerity n.诚挚， 真实， 真挚 that he knew was required of him.
巴德事先知道要求于他的是诚恳，现在有机会显示了，他坐在椅子上不禁扭动起来。
“Tell you the truth， Miss Ileen，” he said， earnestly， “you aint got much more voice than a weasel—just a little squeaksqueak n.尖叫声， 吱吱声， 机会 v.发出尖叫声， you know. Of course， we all like to hear you sing， for its kind of sweet and smoothing after all， and you look most as mighty well sitting on the pianostool as you do faced around. But as for real singing—I reckon you couldnt call it that.”
“说老实话，艾琳小姐，”他诚挚地说，“你的嗓子不比松鼠大多少——你知道，只能算吱吱叫。当然，我们都喜欢听你唱歌，因为你唱歌时毕竟还是甜美喜人的；再说，你坐在钢琴凳上同你脸朝我们坐着时一样优美。不过真说唱歌的话——我看你还算不上——
I looked closely at Ileen to see if Bud had overdone his frankness， but her pleased smile and sweetly spoken thanks assured me that we were on the right track.
我密切注视着艾琳，想知道巴德的坦率是不是过了火候；但是她愉快的微笑和可爱的道谢让我放了心。知道我们的路子走对了。
“And what do you think， Mr. Jacks？” she asked next. “Take it from me，” said Jacks， “you aint in the prima donnaprima donna n.歌剧中的女主角， 首席女歌手 class. Ive heard em warble in every city in the United States， and I tell you your vocal output dont go. Otherwise， youve got the grand opera bunch sent to the soap factory—in looks， I mean， for the high screechers generally look like Mary Ann on her Thursday out. But nix for the gargle work. Your epiglottisepiglottis n.［解］会厌 aint a real sidestepper—its footwork aint good.”
