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The Experiment
实验
In the last days of December, Dr Hall, the village priest, was working in his study when his servant entered the room, in great alarm.
12月末的一天，乡村牧师霍尔医生正在书房工作，突然仆人十分惊慌地进了屋。
'Oh, Dr Hall, sir,' she cried. 'What do you think? The poor Squire's dead!'
“噢，霍尔医生，”她叫道，“你说怎么的，那可怜的乡绅死了！”
'What? Squire Bowles? What are you saying, woman? 'replied the priest. 'I saw him only yesterday—'
“什么？乡绅鲍尔斯？你在说些什么呀？”牧师说，“我昨天还见到他了呢——”
'Yes, sir, I know, 'said the servant, 'but it's true. Mr Wickem, the clerk, has just brought the news on his way to ring the church bell. You'll hear it yourself in a moment. Listen! There it is. 'And sure enough, the bell then began to ring, long and slow, telling the people of the village that someone had died.
“是啊，先生，我知道，”仆人说，“可这的确是真的。教堂执事威克姆先生刚刚在去教堂敲钟的路上送来的信儿，一会儿您就会亲耳听到钟声。听！钟声响了。”果真如此，这时钟声开始响起来，声音悠长而缓慢，告诉村里人有人去世了。
Dr Hall stood up. 'This is terrible, 'he said. 'I must go up to the Hall at once. The Squire was so much better yesterday. It seems so sudden.'
霍尔医生站起身来。“太糟糕了，”他说，“我必须马上到他府上去一趟。他昨天好多了。这事儿似乎挺突然的。”
'Yes, sir,'agreed the servant.' Mr Wickem said that the poor Squire was taken ill very suddenly with a terrible pain. He died very quickly, and Wickem said they want him buried quickly too.'
“是的，先生，”仆人附和说，“威克姆先生说那可怜的乡绅突然发病，疼痛难忍，接着很快就死了。威克姆先生还说他们希望能很快把他葬了。”
'Yes, yes; well, I must ask Mrs Bowles herself of Mr Joseph, 'said the priest. 'Bring me my coat and hat, please. Oh, and tell Mr Wickem that I would like to see him when he has finished ringing the bell.' And he hurried off to the Hall.
“是啊，是啊。哦，我得去问问鲍尔斯太太本人或约瑟夫先生，”牧师说，“请把我的大衣和帽子拿来。对了，告诉威克姆先生敲完钟后我想见见他。”说完他便急匆匆地赶往乡绅府了。
