【导读】
威廉姆•卡洛斯•威廉姆斯(1883-1963)是美国著名意象派诗人，但他创作的短篇小说同样出色，经常与舍伍德•安德森(Sherwood Anderson)、海明威和D. H. 劳伦斯(Lawrence)这些作家相提并论。很多批评家认为威廉姆斯对现代短篇小说的贡献丝毫不亚于他对现代诗歌的贡献。他的小说语言平实晓畅，没有丝丝入扣的情节安排，而是通过细节描写和日常对话来展示人物性格，这些都是当代短篇小说的重要特征。
[1] They were new patients to me, all I had was the name, Olson. Please come down as soon as you can, my daughter is very sick.
When I arrived I was met by the mother, a big startled looking woman, very clean and apologetic who merely said, Is this the doctor? and let me in. In the back, she added. You must excuse us, doctor, we have her in the kitchen where it is warm. It is very damp here sometimes.
[1]他们是我的新病人，我所知道的只有名字，奥尔森。请尽快赶过来，我女儿病得厉害。
我到达时前来迎接的是母亲，一个大个子、脸色惊恐的女人，穿着干净，满脸歉意，只问我一句，是医生吗?就让我进屋了。在后屋，她又说。医生，您得原谅咱们，咱让她待在厨房，那儿暖和些。这地方有时湿气太重。
[2] The child was fully dressed and sitting on her father’s lap near the kitchen table. He tried to get up, but I motioned for him not to bother, took off my overcoat and started to look things over. I could see that they were all very nervous, eyeing me up and down distrustfully. As often, in such cases, they weren’t telling me more than they had to, it was up to me to tell them; that’s why they were spending three dollars on me.
那孩子穿得严严实实，坐在父亲膝上，挨着餐桌。父亲想站起来，但我示意他不必起身，然后脱去外套，开始检查。看得出，他们都很紧张，不信任似地上下打量我。在这种情况下，他们通常都是能不说话就不说话，应该由我来给他们说;这是他们向我支付3美元的理由。
[3] The child was fairly eating me up1 with her cold, steady eyes, and no expression to her face whatever. She did not move and seemed, inwardly, quiet; an unusually attractive little thing, and as strong as a heifer2 in appearance. But her face was flushed3, she was breathing rapidly, and I realized that she had a high fever. She had magnificent blonde hair, in profusion4. One of those picture children often reproduced in advertising leaflets and the photogravure5 sections of the Sunday papers.
那孩子眼神冷淡而坚定，脸上没有任何表情，一时让我不知所措。她一动不动，看起来内心很安静;小东西分外可爱，外表壮得像头小母牛。但她脸色猩红，呼吸急促，我知道她在发着高烧。她满头金发漂亮浓密，就像印在广告传单和星期天报纸照片栏目中的孩子。
[4] She’s had a fever for three days, began the father and we don’t know what it comes from. My wife has given her things, you know, like people do, but it don’t do no good. And there’s been a lot of sickness around. So we tho’t you’d better look her over and tell us what is the matter.
她发烧已经3天了，父亲开始说道，我们不知道从哪儿得的。我老婆给她吃了一些东西，嗯，就和别人一样，可一丁点用都没有。现在到处都是得病的人，所以我们希望您给她检查检查，告诉我们她到底怎么了。
[5] As doctors often do I took a trial shot6 at it as a point of departure7. Has she had a sore throat?
Both parents answered me together, No . . . No, she says her throat don’t hurt her.
Does your throat hurt you? added the mother to the child. But the little girl’s expression didn’t change nor did she move her eyes from my face.
Have you looked?
I tried to, said the mother, but I couldn’t see.
按照医生的惯常做法，我试探性地问了个问题作为开始。她嗓子痛吗?
父母两个齐声答道，没有……没有，她说嗓子不痛。
你嗓子痛吗?母亲又问了孩子一次。但是小女孩的表情纹丝不动，眼睛也一刻不离我的脸。
你们看过没有?
我想看，母亲回答，但没法看到。
[6] As it happens8 we had been having a number of cases of diphtheria9 in the school to which this child went during that month and we were all, quite apparently, thinking of that, though no one had as yet10 spoken of the thing.
[6] 那个月，我们碰巧在这个孩子的学校发现了很多例白喉病。很显然，我们三个都想到了这点，但现在为止谁也没挑明。
[7] Well, I said, suppose we take a look at the throat first. I smiled in my best professional manner and asking for the child’s first name I said, come on, Mathilda, open your mouth and let’s take a look at your throat.
Nothing doing.
Aw, come on, I coaxed11, just open your mouth wide and let me take a look. Look, I said opening both hands wide, I haven’t anything in my hands. Just open up and let me see.
[7] 好，我说，我们先来看看嗓子吧。我用最职业的方式微笑着问小孩的名字，然后说，来吧，玛蒂尔达，张开嘴，让我瞧瞧你的嗓子。
没有任何反应。
哦，来吧，我连哄带骗地说，把嘴张开些，我瞧瞧就可以了。你看，我摊开双手说，我手里什么也没有。你张开嘴，让我看一下就行啦。
[8] Such a nice man, put in the mother. Look how kind he is to you. Come on, do what he tells you to. He won’t hurt you.
At that I ground12my teeth in disgust. If only they wouldn’t use the word “hurt” I might be able to get somewhere. But I did not allow myself to be hurried or disturbed but speaking quietly and slowly I approached the child again.
多好的人啊，母亲插话道。瞧他对你多好。来吧，照他说的做，他不会弄疼你的。
这句话让我讨厌得直咬牙。他们要是不说“弄疼”这个词，我也许能做成点事。但眼下我不可匆忙，也不能心有旁骛，我慢声细语地再次转向孩子。
（转第二页）
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