Oliver Twist 雾都孤儿 - Chapter 5

Oliver, being left to himself in the undertaker's shop, set the lamp down on a workman's bench, and gazed timidly about him with a feeling of awe ¹ and dread ², which many people a good deal older than he will be at no loss to understand., ,An unfinished coffin ³ on black tressels, which stood in the middle of the shop, looked so gloomy and death-like that a cold tremble came over him, every time his eyes wandered in the direction of the dismal ⁴ object: from which he almost expected to see some frightful ⁵ form slowly rear its head, to drive him mad with terror., ,Against the wall were ranged, in regular array, a long row of elm boards cut in the same shape: looking in the dim light, like high-shouldered ghosts with their hands in their breeches pockets. Coffin-plates, elm-chips, bright-headed nails, and shreds ⁶ of black cloth, lay scattered ⁷ on the floor; and the wall behind the counter was ornamented ⁸ with a lively representation of two mutes in very stiff neckcloths, on duty at a large private door, with a hearse drawn ⁹ by four black steeds, approaching in the distance. The shop was close and hot., , ,The recess ¹² beneath the counter in which his flock mattress ¹³ was thrust, looked like a grave. Nor were these the only dismal feelings which depressed ¹⁴ Oliver. He was alone in a strange place; and we all know how chilled and desolate ¹⁵ the best of us will sometimes feel in such a situation. The boy had no friends to care for, or to care for him., ,The regret of no recent separation was fresh in his mind; the absence of no loved and well-remembered face sank heavily into his heart. But his heart was heavy, notwithstanding; and he wished, as he crept into his narrow bed, that that were his coffin, and that he could be lain in a calm and lasting ¹⁶ sleep in the churchyard ground, with the tall grass waving gently above his head, and the sound of the old deep bell to soothe ¹⁷ him in his sleep. Oliver was awakened ¹⁸ in the morning, by a loud kicking at the outside of the shop-door: which, before he could huddle ¹⁹ on his clothes, was repeated, in an angry and impetuous manner, about twenty-five times., ,The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。,We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办 。