13_It's_Only_Me
13 It's Only Me¶
After her husband had gone to work, Mrs. Richards sent her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom. She was too excited to do any housework that morning, for in the evening she would be going to a fancy-dress party with her husband. She intended to dress up as a ghost and as she had made her costume the night before, she was impatient to try it on. Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was very effective. After putting it on, Mrs. Richards went downstairs. She wanted to find out whether it would be comfortable to wear.
Just as Mrs. Richards was entering the dining-room, there was a knock on the front door. She knew that it must be the baker. She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the kitchen table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, Mrs. Richards quickly hid in the small storeroom under the stairs. She heard the front door open and heavy footsteps in the hall. Suddenly the door of the storeroom was opened and a man entered. Mrs. Richards realized that it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to read the meter. She tried to explain the situation, saying 'It's only me', but it was too late. The man let out a cry and jumped back several paces. When Mrs. Richards walked towards him, he fled, slamming the door behind him.
理查兹夫人等丈夫上班走后，把孩子送去上学，然后来到楼上自己的卧室。那天上午，她兴奋得什么家务活都不想做，因为晚上她要同丈夫一起参加一个化装舞会。她打算装扮成鬼的模样。头天晚上她已把化装服做好，这时她急于想试试。尽管化装服仅由一个被单制成，却十分逼真。理查兹夫人穿上化装服后下了楼，想看穿起来是否舒服。
理查兹夫人刚刚走进餐厅，前门就传来敲门声。她知道来者一定是面包师。她曾告诉过面包师，如果她不去开门，他可直接进来，把面包放在厨房的桌上。理查兹夫人不想吓唬这个可怜的人，便赶紧躲到了楼梯下的小储藏室里。她听见前门被打开，走廊里响起重重的脚步声。突然储藏室的门开了，一个男人走了进来。理查兹夫人这才想到一定是供电局来人查电表了。她说了声"是我，别怕！"然后想进行一番解释，但已来不及了。那人大叫了一声，惊退了几步。理查兹夫人朝他走去，只见他"砰"的一声关上门逃走了。
Words¶
- costume /kɑˈstum/ 服装
- costume /kɑˈstum/ 化妆服
- consisted /kənˈsɪstəd/ 由……组成
- sheet /ʃit/ 床单
- effective /ɪˈfɛktɪv/ 有效的
- baker /ˈbekɚ/ 糕点师
- bread /brɛd/ 面包
- read /rɛd/ the /ðə/ meter /ˈmitɚ/ 抄表
- paces /ˈpesɪz/ 步调
- fled /flɛd/ flee, 逃走
- slamming /ˈslæmɪŋ/ 砰地关上
Expressions¶
- consist of … 由……组成
- make yourself comfortable 让自己舒服些
- at your own pace 按照自己的节奏
- The pace of life 生活节奏
- fancy dress party 化妆舞会
- be impatient to do sth. 迫不及待地想做某事
- let out a cry 发出一声呼喊