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The journey was pleasant once she got over the shock of being strapped down for the take-off. As they went higher and higher she looked out at the very white, waspish cloud and thought of the wash tub and hoped her husband would remember to change his shirt while she was away.
飞机起飞前系上安全带的时候她有些惊慌，但此后一路都十分愉快。当飞机越飞越高的 时候，她向窗外望了望细细的白云，想到家里的洗衣盆，希望她不在的时候丈夫会记得换衬衣。
Claire met her mother at the airport and they kissed warmly, not having seen each other for over a year.
克莱尔到机场接她的母亲，她们一年多没有见面了，两人热情地亲吻。
"Have you stones in it?" Claire said, taking the suitcase. It was doubly secured with a new piece of binding twine. Her mother wore a black straw hat with clusters of cherries on both sides of the brim.
“你在里面装了石头吗？ ”克莱尔接过手提箱时说。那箱子用一条新的麻绳加固捆绑着。 她的母亲戴着一顶黑色草帽，帽檐两侧各有一串樱桃饰品。
"You were great to meet me," the mother said.
“你能来接我，太好了，”母亲说。
"Of course I'd meet you," Claire said, easing her mother right back on the taxi seat. It was a long ride and they might as well be comfortable.
“我当然会来接你，”克莱尔说，同时一面帮她母亲在出租车后面的座位上舒坦地坐好。到她的住处路程不短，她们最好还是坐得舒服些。
"I could have navigated," the mother said, and Claire said nonsense a little too brusquely. Then to make amends she asked gently how the journey was.
“我本来也可以乘船来的，”母亲说。克莱尔有些无礼地说了句“胡说”。为了弥补刚才的失礼，她马上又柔声地问母亲旅途怎么样。
"Oh I must tell you, there was this very peculiar woman and she was screaming."
“哦，我得给你说说，飞机上有个非常怪的女人，她一直高声尖叫。”
Claire listened and stiffened, remembering her mother's voice that became low and dramatic in a crisis.
克莱尔听着，身体突然绷紧了，她想起她母亲每次遇到危机的时候，说话的声音就会很低，很夸张。
"But otherwise?" Claire said. This was a holiday, not an expedition into the past.
“不过其他还好吧？”克莱尔说道，心想，这是在度假，不是在探索过去。
"We had tea and sandwiches. I couldn't eat mine, the bread was buttered."
“飞机上供应茶和三明治，但是我的那一份没法吃，因为面包上涂了黄油。”
"Still faddy?" Claire said. Her mother got bilious if she touched butter, fish, olive oil, or eggs.
“你还那么挑食啊？”克莱尔说道。她知道她母亲如果碰一下黄油、鱼、橄榄油或鸡蛋， 就会感到恶心得要吐。
