DOC《THEY waited patiently for what seemed a very long time, ...》

out of which they could dimly see other long tunnel-like passages branching, passages mysterious and without apparent end. But there were doors in the hall as well―stout oaken comfortable-looking doors. One of these the Badger flung open, and at once they found themselves in all the glow and warmth of a large fire-lit kitchen. 獾举着蜡烛,踢里趿拉走在前面,他俩紧随在后,互相会心地触触胳臂肘,表示有好事将临,走进了一条长长的幽暗的破败不堪的过道,来到一间中央大厅模样的房间.从这里,可以看到另一些隧道,是树枝状分岔出去,显得幽深神秘,望不到尽头.不过大厅里也有许多门――厚重的橡木门,看起来很安逸.獾推开了其中的一扇门,霎时间,他们发现自己来到了一间炉火通红暖意融融的大厨房. The floor was well-worn red brick, and on the wide hearth burnt a fire of logs, between two attractive chimney-corners tucked away in the wall, well out of any suspicion of draught. A couple of high-backed settles, facing each other on either side of the fire, gave further sitting accommodations for the sociably disposed. In the middle of the room stood a long table of plain boards placed on trestles, with benches down each side. At one end of it, where an arm-chair stood pushed back, were spread the remains of the Badger'

s plain but ample supper. Rows of spotless plates winked from the shelves of the dresser at the far end of the room, and from the rafters overhead hung hams, bundles of dried herbs, nets of onions, and baskets of eggs. It seemed a place where heroes could fitly feast after victory, where weary harvesters could line up in scores along the table and keep their Harvest Home with mirth and song, or where two or three friends of simple tastes could sit about as they pleased and eat and smoke and talk in comfort and contentment. The ruddy brick floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling;

the oaken settles, shiny with long wear, exchanged cheerful glances with each other;

plates on the dresser grinned at pots on the shelf, and the merry firelight flickered and played over everything without distinction. 地板是红砖铺的,已经踩得很旧,宽大的壁炉里,燃着木柴,两副很可爱的炉边,深深固定在墙里,冷风绝不会倒刮进来.壁炉两边,面对面摆着一对高背长凳,是专为喜好围炉长谈的客人准备的.厨房正中,立着一张架在支架上不曾上漆的木板长桌,两边摆着长凳.餐桌的一端,一张扶手椅已推回原位,桌上还摊着獾先生吃剩的晚餐,饭菜平常,但很丰盛.厨房的一端,柜橱上摆着一摞摞一尘不染的盘碟,冲人眨着眼;

头上的椽子上面,吊挂着一只只火腿,一捆捆干菜,一兜兜葱头,一筐筐鸡蛋.这地方,很适合凯旋归来的英雄们欢聚饮宴;

疲劳的庄稼汉好几十人围坐桌旁,开怀畅饮,放声高歌,来欢庆丰收;

而富有雅兴的二三好友也可以随便坐坐,舒心惬意地吃喝、抽烟、聊天.赭红的砖地,朝着烟雾缭绕的天花板微笑;

使用日久磨得锃亮的橡木长凳,愉快地互相对视;

食橱上的盘碟,冲着碗架上的锅盆咧嘴大笑;

而那炉欢畅的柴火,闪烁跳跃,把自己的光一视同仁地照亮了屋里所有的东西. The kindly Badger thrust them down on a settle to toast themselves at the fire, and bade them remove their wet coats and boots. Then he fetched them dressing-gowns and slippers, and himself bathed the Mole'

s shin with warm water and mended the cut with sticking-plaster till the whole thing was just as good as new, if not better. In the embracing light and warmth, warm and dry at last, with weary legs propped up in front of them, and a suggestive clink of plates being arranged on the table behind, it seemed to the storm-driven animals, now in safe anchorage, that the cold and trackless Wild Wood just left outside was miles and miles away, and all that they had suffered in it a half-forgotten dream. 和善的獾把他俩推到一张高背长凳上坐下,让他们向火,又叫他们脱下湿衣湿靴.他给他们拿来晨衣和拖鞋,并且亲自用温水给鼹鼠洗小腿,用胶布贴住伤口,直到小腿变得完好如初.在光和热的怀抱里,他们终于感到干爽暖和了.他们把疲乏的腿高高伸在前面,听着背后的餐桌上杯盘诱人的丁当声,这两只饱受暴风雪袭击的动物,现在稳坐在安全的避风港.他们刚刚摆脱的又冷又没出路的野林,仿佛已经离他们老远老远,他们遭受的种种磨难,似乎都成了一个几乎忘掉的梦. When at last they were thoroughly toasted, the Badger summoned them to the table, where he had been busy laying a repast. They had felt pretty hungry before, but when they actually saw at last the supper that was spread for them, really it seemed only a question of what they should attack first where all was so attractive, and whether the other things would obligingly wait for them till they had time to give them attention. Conversation was impossible for a long time;