On a dark winter's day, a little girl sat in a cab with her father.

在一個陰沉的冬日，一個小女孩和她的父親坐在一輛計程車裡。

She stared out the window as the cab drove through foggy London.

當計程車駛過霧氣瀰漫的倫敦時，她凝視著窗外。

Sarah Crewe was only seven, but she seemed much older.

莎拉-克魯只有七歲，但她看起來要大得多。

She was always dreaming and thinking.

她總是在做夢和思考。

At that moment, she was thinking about her long trip from India.

此時此刻，她正想著從印度出發的長途旅行。

She had just arrived in London with her father.

她剛隨父親抵達倫敦。

It felt strange to travel from a hot, sunny place and arrive in a cold, dark one.

從一個炎熱、陽光明媚的地方來到一個寒冷、黑暗的地方，感覺很奇怪。

Soon the cab stopped in front of a big brick house.

很快，計程車在一座大磚房前停了下來。

A brass sign on the front door said, Miss Minchin's Boarding School for Young Ladies.

前門的銅牌上寫著 "米切思小姐女子寄宿學校"。

Papa, is this the place?

爸爸，是這裡嗎？

Sarah whispered.

莎拉低聲說道。

Yes, he replied.

是的，他回答道。

We have reached it at last.

我們終於到了。

Sarah's mother had died when Sarah was born.

莎拉的母親在莎拉出生時就去世了。

Sarah's father was an officer in the British Army.

莎拉的父親是英國陸軍軍官。

He was very rich and handsome and gave Sarah whatever she wanted.

他很有錢，也很英俊，莎拉想要什麼，他就給她什麼。

Sarah had lots of toys and clothes.

莎拉有很多玩具和衣服。

Servants took care of all her needs.

僕人們照顧著她的一切需求。

In India, she had only one worry.

在印度，她只有一個煩惱。

Her father believed that the climate in India wasn't healthy.

她的父親認為印度的氣候不利於健康。

So one day he would send her to school in England.

所以有一天他會送她去英國上學。

And now that day had come.

現在，這一天終於到來了。

Captain Crewe knocked on the door of the school.

克魯上尉敲響了學校的大門。

A servant answered and led them inside.

一個僕人應聲領他們進去。

Sarah looked around at the ugly sitting room with its heavy wooden furniture.

莎拉環顧了一下這個擺放著厚重木製傢俱的醜陋起居室。

I don't like it here, Papa, she said.

我不喜歡這裡，爸爸，她說。

But soldiers probably don't like going into battle either.

但阿兵哥們可能也不喜歡上戰場。

Captain Crewe laughed.

克魯上尉笑了。

Oh, Sarah, you say such wonderful things.

哦，莎拉，你說得太好了。

What will I do without you?

沒有你我該怎麼辦？

He swept her into his arms for a hug.

他把她攬入懷中擁抱。

A moment later, the headmistress, Miss Minchin, entered the room.

過了一會兒，校長米切思小姐走進了房間。

The headmistress had large fishy eyes and a large fishy smile.

女校長有一雙腥臭的大眼睛和一個腥臭的大笑容。

Sarah thought the woman looked just like her school.

莎拉覺得這個女人長得就像她的學校。

Tall, dull, ugly.

高大、呆板、醜陋。

Miss Minchin knew that Captain Crewe was rich.

米切思小姐知道克魯船長很有錢。

She tried to please him by praising Sarah.

她試圖通過讚美莎拉來取悅他。

What a beautiful child, the headmistress exclaimed.

多麼漂亮的孩子啊！女校長讚歎道。

But I'm not beautiful, Sarah thought.

但我並不漂亮，莎拉想。

Miss Minchin is making that up.

米切思小姐瞎編的

Sarah stood quietly near her father while he and the headmistress talked.

在父親和校長談話時，莎拉靜靜地站在父親身邊。

Because Sarah's father was very rich, Sarah would have many nice things at school.

因為莎拉的父親非常有錢，所以莎拉在學校會有很多好東西。

There would be a pretty bedroom and sitting room and a pony and carriage.

那裡有漂亮的臥室和起居室，還有小馬和馬車。

A maid would help her.

女僕會幫助她。

Sarah reads too much, Captain Crewe told the headmistress.

克魯上尉告訴校長，莎拉讀得太多了。

Make sure she goes outside.

確保她到外面去。

She should ride her pony or buy some new dolls.

她應該騎她的小馬，或者買一些新玩偶。

Oh, Papa, said Sarah.

哦，爸爸，莎拉說。

I don't need a lot of new dolls.

我不需要很多新娃娃。

I only need Emily.

我只需要艾米麗

Who's Emily, asked Miss Minchin.

米切思小姐問，艾米莉是誰？

Tell her, Sarah, Captain Crewe said, smiling.

告訴她，莎拉，克魯上尉微笑著說。

She's a special doll that Papa is going to buy for me, said Sarah.

莎拉說，她是爸爸要給我買的一個特別的娃娃。

She'll be my friend when Papa is in India.

爸爸在印度時，她會是我的朋友。

I'll talk to her about him.

我會跟她談談他的

Miss Minchin's large, fishy smile grew wider.

米切思小姐那碩大而腥臭的笑容越發燦爛了。

What an unusual child, she exclaimed loudly.

她大聲讚歎道，真是個不尋常的孩子。

She's such a darling girl.

她真是個可愛的女孩。

Yes, said Captain Crewe.

是的，克魯上尉說。

He pulled Sarah close.

他把莎拉拉到身邊。

She is truly a darling girl.

她真是個可愛的女孩。

Please take very good care of her for me, Miss Minchin.

請替我好好照顧她 米切思小姐

Oh, I will, the headmistress promised.

哦，我會的，校長保證。

Sarah stayed with her father at his hotel for several days.

莎拉和父親在他的酒店住了好幾天。

He bought her all kinds of expensive clothes, velvet dresses, fur coats, silk stockings.

他給她買了各種昂貴的衣服，天鵝絨連衣裙、皮草大衣、絲襪。

They searched many toy shops looking for Emily, but couldn't find her.

他們找了很多玩具店，但都沒有找到艾米麗。

She has to be a doll who can listen to me, Papa, explained Sarah.

她必須是個能聽我話的娃娃，爸爸，莎拉解釋道。

Most dolls don't really seem to hear.

大多數娃娃似乎都聽不見。

So they looked at big dolls and little ones, at dolls with black eyes and dolls with blue ones.

於是，他們看著大娃娃和小娃娃，看著黑眼睛的娃娃和藍眼睛的娃娃。

They looked at dolls with brown curls and golden braids, dolls in all kinds of clothing.

他們看著棕色捲髮和金色辮子的娃娃，穿著各式各樣衣服的娃娃。

But none of them was quite right.

但沒有一個是完全正確的。

Then one day, Sarah spotted a doll with golden brown hair and an intelligent expression.

後來有一天，莎拉發現了一個有著金棕色頭髮和聰明表情的娃娃。

Look, Papa, there's Emily, she cried.

看，爸爸，那是艾米麗，她哭了。

They went into the shop and bought the doll.

他們走進商店，買下了娃娃。

Then they went to a dressmaker to order a grand wardrobe for Emily.

然後，他們去找裁縫為艾米莉訂做了一個大衣櫃。

Finally, the day came when Captain Crew had to leave.

終於，船員船長不得不離開的那一天到來了。

He and Sarah were very sad.

他和莎拉都非常傷心。

From her window, Sarah watched him get into a cab.

莎拉從窗戶看著他上了一輛計程車。

Emily was by her side.

艾米莉就在她身邊。

Miss Minchin sent her sister, Miss Amelia, to check on Sarah.

米切思小姐派她的妹妹阿米莉亞小姐去看望莎拉。

Why is this door locked?

為什麼這扇門是鎖著的？

asked Miss Amelia.

阿米莉亞小姐問道。

I want to be alone, please, said Sarah softly.

我想一個人靜一靜，求你了，莎拉輕聲說道。

Miss Amelia went downstairs and told Miss Minchin about how Sarah was acting.

阿米莉亞小姐下樓告訴了米切思小姐莎拉的表現。

I've never seen such an odd child, said Miss Amelia.

阿米莉亞小姐說，我從沒見過這麼奇怪的孩子。

She has locked herself in her room, but she's not making any noise at all.

她把自己鎖在房間裡，但沒有發出任何聲音。

She's very spoiled, snapped Miss Minchin.

她被寵壞了 米切思小姐搶著說

I'm surprised she isn't cooking and screaming.

我很驚訝她沒有邊做飯邊尖叫。

All those new clothes are absolutely ridiculous.

所有這些新衣服都太可笑了。

Her father treats her like a little princess.

她的父親對待她就像對待小公主一樣。

A LITTLE PRINCESS CHAPTER TWO FIRST DAY OF CLASS The next morning, Sarah had a long talk with her doll, Emily, about her father.

小公主》 第二章 上課的第一天 第二天早上，莎拉和她的玩偶艾米麗聊了很久，談到了她的父親。

Papa is traveling on the sea now, said Sarah.

莎拉說，爸爸現在正在海上旅行。

Emily said nothing.

艾米莉什麼也沒說。

But Sarah was sure the doll was listening.

但莎拉確信娃娃在聽。

I believe that dolls have secrets, Sarah told her maid, Mariette.

莎拉告訴她的女僕瑪麗埃特，我相信洋娃娃都有祕密。

Perhaps Emily can read and walk and talk.

也許艾米莉能讀書、走路和說話。

But she only does those things when no one is watching her.

但她只在沒人看她的時候才做這些事。

Mariette smiled at Sarah.

瑪麗葉特對莎拉笑了笑。

It's time for school.

該上學了

Just a minute, please, Sarah replied.

請稍等，莎拉回答道。

She went to Emily and gave her a book.

她走到艾米莉身邊，給了她一本書。

You can read this while I'm in class, she said to the doll.

她對娃娃說，我上課的時候你可以看這個。

What an odd child, Mariette thought as she and Sarah went downstairs.

瑪麗特和莎拉下樓時想，這孩子真奇怪。

But Mariette knew she would like her new job as Sarah's maid.

但瑪麗葉知道，她會喜歡莎拉女僕的新工作。

Sarah was very kind and polite and had charming manners.

莎拉非常和藹可親，彬彬有禮，舉止迷人。

She's almost like a little princess, thought the maid.

女僕想，她幾乎就像個小公主。

By the time Sarah entered the classroom, everyone was talking about her.

當莎拉走進教室時，大家都在談論她。

She has so many fancy clothes, Lavinia Herbert whispered to her best friend, Jessie.

拉維尼婭-赫伯特悄悄告訴她最好的朋友傑西，她有好多漂亮衣服。

I passed her room last night.

昨晚我經過她的房間

Her maid was opening a suitcase full of lace petticoats.

她的女僕正在打開一個裝滿蕾絲襯裙的手提箱。

She's wearing one now.

她現在就戴著一個。

I saw it when she sat down.

她坐下來時我就看到了。

Lavinia was nearly 13 and thought of herself as almost grown up.

拉維尼婭快 13 歲了，她認為自己已經快長大了。

I heard Miss Minchin say it's absolutely ridiculous for a child to have such fancy clothes, she said.

我聽米切思小姐說過，一個孩子穿這麼華麗的衣服絕對是荒謬的，她說。

I agree with her.

我同意她的觀點。

My mother says that children should always dress simply.

我母親說，孩子們應該總是穿著簡單。

The two girls pretended to read their geography books.

兩個女孩假裝在看地理書。

But they were really sneaking looks at Sarah.

但他們真的在偷偷地看莎拉。

She's wearing silk stockings, whispered Jessie.

她穿著絲襪，傑西小聲說。

What tiny feet she has!

她的腳真小

I don't think she's pretty at all, Lavinia sniffed.

拉維尼婭吸了吸鼻子，我覺得她一點也不漂亮。

Her eyes are such a strange color.

她的眼睛顏色好奇怪。

But there's something about her that makes you keep looking at her, said Jessie.

傑西說，但她身上有一種東西，讓你一直盯著她看。

Her eyelashes are so dark and long and her eyes are almost green.

她的睫毛又黑又長，眼睛幾乎是綠色的。

Meanwhile, Sarah sat quietly watching the other girls who were still staring at her.

與此同時，莎拉靜靜地坐著，看著其他女孩還在盯著她看。

Young ladies, said Miss Minchin.

年輕的女士們，米切思小姐說。

I'd like to introduce you to your new classmate, Miss Sarah Crewe.

我向你們介紹你們的新同學 莎拉-克魯小姐

All the girls stood up and Sarah did too.

所有女孩都站了起來，莎拉也站了起來。

I expect you to be nice to Miss Crewe.

我希望你對克魯小姐好一點。

She's just come to London from India.

她剛從印度來到倫敦。

After lessons are over, you will have time to get acquainted with Sarah.

課程結束後，您將有時間和莎拉熟悉一下。

The girls bowed to Sarah, who curtsied in reply.

女孩們向莎拉鞠躬，莎拉則彎腰致意。

Come here, Sarah, said Miss Minchin as the other girls sat down.

過來，莎拉，當其他女孩坐下時，米切思小姐說。

Sarah obediently went to Miss Minchin's side.

莎拉順從地走到米切思小姐身邊。

Your father hired a French maid for you, said the headmistress.

校長說，你父親為你僱了一個法國女僕。

He must want you to learn French.

他一定想讓你學法語。

Sarah felt a little awkward.

莎拉覺得有點尷尬。

I think he just thought that I'd like Mariette, she replied politely.

我想他只是覺得我會喜歡瑪麗葉特，她禮貌地回答道。

Miss Minchin frowned.

米切思小姐皺起了眉頭。

You sound very spoiled.

聽起來你被寵壞了。

People don't always do things just to make you happy, Sarah.

人們做事情並不總是為了讓你開心，莎拉。

Your father clearly wants you to learn French.

你父親顯然希望你學習法語。

Sarah flushed, unsure of what to say.

莎拉麵紅耳赤，不知該說什麼好。

Her mother had been French.

她的母親是法國人。

Her father had loved her mother and had often spoken French to Sarah.

她的父親很愛她的母親，經常對莎拉說法語。

But Miss Minchin looked so mean.

但是米切思小姐看起來很凶

Sarah didn't know how to explain things to her.

莎拉不知道該如何向她解釋。

I've never actually studied French, Sarah began.

莎拉說，我從未真正學過法語。

But...

但是

Well, then it's time you started to study it, the headmistress said impatiently.

好吧，那你該開始學習了，女校長不耐煩地說。

Miss Minchin herself had never learned to speak French.

米切思小姐自己從未學過法語。

But this was an embarrassing secret that she didn't intend to share with anyone.

但這是一個尷尬的祕密，她不打算與任何人分享。

Here's our French teacher now, she added sharply.

我們的法語老師來了。

Everyone, take out your French books.

大家拿出你們的法語書

Monsieur Defarge looked like a nice, intelligent man.

德法日先生看上去是個聰明的好人。

When he saw Sarah, he smiled.

當他看到莎拉時，他笑了。

Is this a new pupil for me, madame?

這是我的新學生嗎，夫人？

he asked.

他問道。

Her father, Captain Crewe, is very eager for her to learn the language.

她的父親克魯上尉非常希望她能學會這門語言。

But I'm afraid that Sarah seems less eager to learn.

但我擔心莎拉似乎不太想學。

Miss Minchin replied with a frown.

米切思小姐皺著眉頭回答道。

Sarah rose in her seat, suddenly feeling a bit desperate.

莎拉從座位上站起來，突然感到有些絕望。

She felt sure that she could explain her situation to Monsieur Defarge.

她覺得自己有把握向德法日先生解釋自己的處境。

And she did exactly that, speaking to him in perfect French.

她正是這樣做的，用流利的法語和他交談。

Miss Minchin started quite violently, and then she glared at Sarah.

米切思小姐猛地站了起來，然後瞪著莎拉。

But Monsieur Defarge was already charmed by the girl who spoke his language so beautifully.

但德法日先生已經被這位語言如此優美的姑娘迷住了。

Ah, Miss Minchin, he said.

啊，米切思小姐，他說。

There isn't much I can teach Sarah.

我能教莎拉的不多

She hasn't studied French.

她沒學過法語。

She is French.

她是法國人。

Miss Minchin's cheeks flushed.

米切思小姐的臉頰紅了。

You should have told me, the headmistress snapped at Sarah.

你應該告訴我的，女校長對莎拉咆哮道。

I...

I...

I tried, said Sarah.

莎拉說，我試過了。

I guess I should have tried harder.

我想我應該更努力一些。

Lavinia and Jessie giggled from behind their French books.

拉維尼婭和傑西躲在法語書後面咯咯地笑著。

Sarah had made the headmistress look a bit foolish.

莎拉讓校長看起來有點傻。

Silence, young ladies, Miss Minchin rapped on her desk. And from that moment on, she began to dislike her new student.

安靜，年輕的女士們，米切思小姐敲了敲她的桌子。 從那一刻起，她開始不喜歡她的新學生了。

That first morning at school, Sarah noticed a plump blonde girl about the same age as Sarah.

上學的第一天早上，莎拉注意到一個和莎拉年齡相仿的金髮胖女孩。

The girl was chewing on the ribbon of her pigtail and staring at Sarah.

女孩咬著辮子上的絲帶，盯著莎拉看。

When Monsieur Defarge spoke to Sarah, the plump girl looked a little frightened.

當德法日先生對莎拉說話時，這個豐滿的女孩顯得有些害怕。

When Sarah replied in French, the girl gave a startled jump and turned red.

當莎拉用法語回答時，女孩嚇了一跳，臉漲得通紅。

Miss Minchin was still in a bad mood about Sarah's perfect French.

米切思小姐還在為莎拉的完美法語發愁。

Miss St.

聖小姐

John, stop chewing on your ribbon and sit up at once, he snapped.

約翰，別再咬你的絲帶了，馬上坐起來。

The girl gave another startled jump.

女孩又嚇了一跳。

Lavinia and Jessie giggled, and the girl turned redder than ever.

拉維尼婭和傑西咯咯笑了起來，女孩的臉變得更紅了。

Sarah's father often remarked on Sarah's soft heart.

莎拉的父親經常說莎拉心腸軟。

Sarah always wants to fight when she sees people in trouble, he liked to say.

他喜歡說，莎拉看到別人有麻煩時總想打架。

And that was certainly true now.

現在當然也是如此。

Those girls shouldn't laugh, thought Sarah.

莎拉想，那些女孩不應該笑。

That's mean.

太刻薄了

But Lavinia and Jessie continued to snicker when the girl spoke in French for Monsieur Defarge.

但當女孩用法語為德法日先生說話時，拉維尼婭和傑茜繼續竊笑。

Sarah felt sorry for this girl, who had such trouble saying the French words correctly.

莎拉為這個女孩感到難過，因為她很難正確地說出法語單詞。

The French lessons were obviously quite difficult for her.

法語課對她來說顯然相當困難。

When the morning's lessons were finally finished, the plump girl sat on a window seat, looking miserable.

上午的課程終於結束了，豐滿的女孩坐在靠窗的座位上，一臉愁容。

Sarah went over to her.

莎拉走過去。

What's your name?

你叫什麼名字？

asked Sarah.

莎拉問道。

The girl seemed amazed that Sarah was talking to her.

女孩似乎對莎拉跟她說話感到很驚訝。

My name is Ermengarde St.

我的名字是 Ermengarde St.

John, she replied.

她回答說："約翰。

Mine is Sarah Crewe.

我的名字是莎拉-克魯。

What a pretty name you have, exclaimed Sarah.

你的名字真好聽，莎拉驚呼道。

It sounds like a name from a story.

聽起來像是一個故事裡的名字。

I like your name too.

我也喜歡你的名字。

Where did you learn to speak French?

你在哪裡學會說法語的？

Ermengarde asked.

Ermengarde 問。

Oh, I've done it all my life, Sarah answered.

哦，我一輩子都在做這件事，莎拉回答道。

If you'd always heard French at home, you could do it too.

如果你在家裡一直聽法語，你也可以這樣做。

No, I don't think so, said Ermengarde sadly.

不，我不這麼認為，埃爾門加德悲傷地說。

I'm not very smart.

我不是很聰明。

Ermengarde explained that her father spoke seven or eight languages.

Ermengarde 解釋說，她的父親會說七八種語言。

He had a huge library filled with thousands of books, and couldn't understand why Ermengarde didn't do well in school.

他有一個巨大的圖書館，裡面有成千上萬本書，他不明白埃爾蒙加德為什麼學習成績不好。

He had told Miss Minchin that Ermengarde must be made to learn.

他告訴米切思小姐，必須讓厄門加爾學習。

But at school, Ermengarde was often in trouble or in tears.

但在學校，埃爾蒙加德經常惹麻煩或流淚。

You're smart, aren't you?

你很聰明，不是嗎？

Ermengarde said to Sarah.

Ermengarde 對 Sarah 說。

Sarah looked out the window into the dirty square.

莎拉望著窗外骯髒的廣場。

She could see some sparrows hopping along iron railings.