Meanwhile, Atlantic and Pacific had been enjoying themselves even unto the verge1 of delirium2. In the course of their wanderings they had come upon a Chinaman bearing aloft a huge red silken banner crowned by a badger's tail. Everything young that had two legs was following him, and they joined the noble army of followers3. As they went on, other Chinamen with other banners came from the side-alleys4, and all at once the small procession thus formed turned a corner and came upon the parent body, a sight that fairly stunned5 them by its Oriental magnificence. It was the four thousandth anniversary of the birth of Yeong Wo, had the children realised it (and that may have been the reason that they awoke in a fever of excitement)--Yeong Wo, statesman, philanthropist, philosopher, and poet; and the great day had been chosen to dedicate the new temple and install in it a new joss, and to exhibit a monster dragon just arrived from China. The joss had been sitting in solemn state in his sanctum sanctorum for a week, while the priests appeased6 him hourly with plenteous libations of rice brandy, sacrifices of snow-white pigeons, and offerings of varnished7 pork. Clouds of incense8 had regaled his expansive mahogany nostrils9, while his ears of ivory inlaid with gold and bronze had been stimulated10 with the ceaseless clashing of gongs and wailings of Chinese fiddles11. Such homage12 and such worship would have touched a heart of stone, and that of the joss was penetrable13 sandalwood; so as the days of preparation wore away the smile on the teakwood lips of the idol14 certainly became more propitious15. This was greatly to the satisfaction of the augurs16 and the high priest; for a mighty17 joss is not always in a sunny humour on feast-days, and to parade a sulky god through the streets is a very depressing ceremony, foretelling18 to the initiated19 a season of dire20 misfortune. So his godship smiled and shook his plume21 of peacock feathers benignantly on Yeong Wo's birthday, and therefore the pageant22 in which Atlantic and Pacific bore a part was more gorgeous than anything that ever took place out of the Flowery Kingdom itself.
Fortune smiled upon the naughty creatures at the very outset, for Pacific picked up a stick of candy in the street, and gave half of it to a pretty Chinese maiden23 whose name in English would have been Spring Blossom, and who looked, in any language, like a tropical flower, in her gown of blue-and-gold-embroidered satin and the sheaf of tiny fans in her glossy24 black hair. Spring Blossom accepted the gift with enthusiasm, since a sweet tooth is not a matter of nationality, and ran immediately to tell her mother, a childish instinct also of universal distribution. She climbed, as nimbly as her queer little shoes would permit, a flight of narrow steps leading to a balcony; while the twins followed close at her heels, and wedged their way through a forest of Mongolian legs till they reached the front, where they peeped through the spaces of the railings with Spring Blossom, Fairy Foot, Dewy Rose, and other Celestial26 babies, quite overlooked in the crowd and excitement and jollity. Such a very riot of confusion there was, it seemed as if Confucius might have originally spelled his name with an s in the middle; for every window was black with pigtailed highbinders, cobblers, pork butchers, and pawnbrokers27. The narrow streets and alleys became one seething28 mass of Asiatic humanity; while the painted belles29 came out on their balconies like butterflies, sitting among a wealth of gaudy30 paper flowers that looked pale in comparison with the daubs of vermilion on their cheeks and the rainbow colours of their silken tunics31.
At last the pageant had gathered itself together, and came into full view in all its magnificence. There were pagodas33 in teakwood inlaid with gold; and resting on ebony poles, and behind them, on a very tame Rosinante decked with leopard34 skins and gold bullion35 fringes, a Chinese maiden dressed to represent a queen of Celestial mythology36. Then came more pagodas, and companies of standard-bearers in lavender tunics, red sashes, green and orange leggings and slippers37; more and more splendid banners, painted with dragons sprawling38 in distressed39 attitudes; litters containing minor40 gods and the paraphernalia41 they were accustomed to need on a journey like this; more litters bearing Chinese orchestras, gongs going at full blast, fiddles squeaking42, drums rumbling43, trumpets44 shrieking45, cymbals46 clashing,--just the sort of Babel that the twins adored.
And now came the chariot and throne of the great joss himself, and just behind him a riderless bay horse, intended for his imperial convenience should he tire of being swayed about on the shoulders of his twelve bearers, and elect to change his method of conveyance47. Behind this honoured steed came a mammoth48 rock-cod in a pagoda32 of his own, and then, heralded49 by a fusilade of fire-crackers, the new dragon itself, stretching and wriggling50 its monster length through one entire block. A swarm51 of men cleared the way for it, gesticulating like madmen in their zeal52 to get swimming-room for the sacred monster. Never before in her brief existence had Pacific Simonson been afraid of anything, but if she had been in the street, and had so much as caught the wink53 of the dragon's eye, or a wave of its consecrated54 fin55, she would have dropped senseless to the earth; as it was, she turned her back to the procession, and, embracing with terror-stricken fervour the legs of the Chinaman standing56 behind her, made up her mind to be a better girl in the future. The monster was borne by seventy-four coolies who furnished legs for each of the seventy-four joints57 of its body, while another concealed58 in its head tossed it wildly about. Little pigtailed boys shrieked59 as they looked at its gaping60 mouth that would have shamed a man-eating shark, at the huge locomotive headlights that served for its various sets of eyes, at the horns made of barber poles, and the moustache of twisted hogshead hoops61. Behind this baleful creature came other smaller ones, and more flags, and litters with sacrificial offerings, and more musicians, till all disappeared in the distance, and the crowd surged in the direction of the temple.
There was no such good fortune for the twins as an entrance into this holy of holies, for it held comparatively few besides the dignitaries, aristocrats62, and wealthy merchants of the colony; but there was still ample material for entertainment, and they paid no heed63 to the going down of the sun. Why should they, indeed, when there were fascinating opium64 dens65 standing hospitably66 open, where they could have the excitement of entrance even if it were followed by immediate25 ejectment? As it grew darker, the scene grew more weird67 and fairylike, for the scarlet68, orange, and blue lanterns began to gleam one by one in the narrow doorways69, and from the shadowy corners of the rooms behind them. In every shop were tables laden70 with Chinese delicacies,--fish, flesh, fowl71, tea, rice, whisky, lichee nuts, preserved limes, ginger72, and other sweetmeats; all of which, when not proffered73, could be easily purloined74, for there was no spirit of parsimony75 or hostility76 afloat in the air. In cubby-holes back of the counters, behind the stoves, wherever they could find room for a table, groups of moon-eyed men began to congregate77 for their nightly game of fan-tan, some of the players and onlookers78 smoking, while others chewed lengths of peeled sugar-cane.
In the midst of festivities like these the twins would have gone on from bliss79 to bliss without consciousness of time or place, had not hunger suddenly descended80 upon them and sleep begun to tug81 at their eyelids82, changing in a trice their joy into sorrow and their mirth into mourning. Not that they were troubled with any doubts, fears, or perplexities. True, they had wandered away from Eden Place, and had not the slightest idea of their whereabouts. If they had been a couple of babes in a wood, or any two respectable lost children of romance, memories of lullabies and prayers at mother's knee would have precipitated83 them at this juncture84 into floods of tears; but home to them was simply supper and bed. The situation did not seem complex to their minds; the only plan was, of course, to howl, and to do it thoroughly,--stand in a corner of the market-place, and howl in such a manner that there could be no mistake as to the significance of the proceeding85; when the crowd collected,--for naturally a crowd would collect,--simply demand supper and bed, no matter what supper nor which bed; eat the first, lie down in the second, and there you are! If the twins had been older and more experienced, they would have known that people occasionally do demand the necessities of life without receiving them; but in that case they would also have known that such a misfortune would never fall upon a couple of lost children who confide86 their woes87 to the public. There was no preconcerted plan between them, no system. They acted without invention, premonition, or reflection. It was their habit to scream, while holding the breath as long as possible, whenever the universe was unfriendly, and particularly when Nature asserted herself in any way; it was a curious fact that they resented the intervention88 of Nature and Providence89 with just as much energy as they did the discipline of their caretakers. They screamed now, the moment that the entertainment palled90 and they could not keep their eyes open without effort; and never had they been more successful in holding their breath and growing black in the face; indeed, Pacific, in the midst of her performance, said to Atlantic, 'Yours is purple, how is mine?'
A crowd did gather, inevitably91, for the twins' lungs were capable of a body of tone more piercing than that of a Chinese orchestra, and the wonder is that poor Lisa did not hear them as she sat shivering on the curbstone, miles away; for it was her name with which they conjured92.
The populace amused itself for a short space of time, watching the fine but misdirected zeal of the performance, and supposing that the parents of the chanting cherubs93 were within easy reach. It became unpleasant after a while, however, and a policeman, inquiring into the matter, marched the two dirty, weary little protestants off to a station near by,--a march nearly as difficult and bloody94 as Sherman's memorable95 'march to the sea'; for the children associated nothing so pleasant as supper and bed with a blue-coated, brass-buttoned person, and resisted his well-meant advances with might and main, and tooth and nail.
The policeman was at last obliged to confine himself to Atlantic, and called a brother-in-arms to take charge of Pacific. He was a man who had achieved distinction in putting down railroad riots, so he was well calculated for the task, although he was somewhat embarrassed by the laughter of the bystanders when his comrade called out to him, 'Take your club, Mike, but don't use firearms unless your life's in danger!'
The station reached, the usual examination took place. Atlantic never could tell the name of the street in which he lived, nor the number of the house. Pacific could, perhaps, but would not; and it must be said, in apology for her abnormal defiance96, that her mental operations were somewhat confused, owing to copious97 indulgence in strong tea, ginger, sugar-cane, and dried fish. She had not been wisely approached in the first place, and she was in her sulkiest and most combative98 humour; in fact, when too urgently pressed for information as to her age, ancestry99, and abiding-place, she told the worthy100 police-officer to go to a locality for which he felt utterly101 unsuited, after a life spent in the exaltation of virtue102 and the suppression of vice103. (The vocabulary of the twins was somewhat poverty-stricken in respect to the polite phrases of society, but in profanity it would have been rich for a parrot or a pirate.) The waifs were presently given to the care of the police matron, and her advice, sought later, was to the effect that the children had better be fed and put to bed, and as little trouble expended104 upon them as was consistent with a Christian105 city government.
'It is possible their parents may call for them in the morning,' she said acidly, 'but I think it is more than likely that they have been deserted106. I know if they belonged to me they'd be lost for ever before I tried to find them!' and she rubbed a black-and-blue spot on her person, which, if exposed, would have betrayed the shape, size, and general ground-plan of Pacific's boot.
收听单词发音 |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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varnished
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| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
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incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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fiddles
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| n.小提琴( fiddle的名词复数 )；欺诈；（需要运用手指功夫的）细巧活动；当第二把手v.伪造( fiddle的第三人称单数 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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penetrable
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| adj.可穿透的 | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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augurs
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| n.（古罗马的）占兆官( augur的名词复数 )；占卜师，预言者v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的第三人称单数 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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foretelling
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的现在分词 ) | |
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initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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pawnbrokers
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| n.当铺老板( pawnbroker的名词复数 ) | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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belles
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| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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tunics
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| n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍 | |
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pagoda
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| n.宝塔（尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔），（印度教或佛教的）塔式庙宇 | |
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pagodas
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| 塔，宝塔( pagoda的名词复数 ) | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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bullion
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| n.金条，银条 | |
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mythology
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| n.神话，神话学，神话集 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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45
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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cymbals
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| pl.铙钹 | |
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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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51
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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fin
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| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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aristocrats
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| n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 ) | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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purloined
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| v.偷窃( purloin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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parsimony
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| n.过度节俭，吝啬 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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congregate
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| v.(使)集合，聚集 | |
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onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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87
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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palled
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| v.（因过多或过久而）生厌，感到乏味，厌烦( pall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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cherubs
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| 小天使，胖娃娃( cherub的名词复数 ) | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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combative
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| adj.好战的；好斗的 | |
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ancestry
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| n.祖先，家世 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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101
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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102
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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103
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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