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"A clam for supper? a cold clam; is that what you mean, Mrs. Hussey?" says I, "but that's a rather cold and clammy reception in the winter time, ain't it, Mrs. Hussey?"
"一只蛤蜊当晚饭吃吗?一只冷蛤蜊;是这意思吗?胡赛太太?"我说;"不过,这么寒冬腊月,这样招待不是嫌太冷又太粘嗒嗒么,胡赛太太?"
But being in a great hurry to resume scolding the man in the purple shirt who was waiting for it in the entry, and seeming to hear nothing but the word "clam," Mrs. Hussey hurried towards an open door leading to the kitchen, and bawling out "clam for two," disappeared.
可是,由于胡赛太太急急忙忙地要再去骂那个站在门口等她叫骂的。身穿紫毛衬衫的人,她似乎只听到了一声"蛤蜊",便匆匆地朝那扇通到厨房的敞开着的门大声嚷起"两个人一只蛤蜊"后,就此不见踪影了。
"Queequeg," said I, "do you think that we can make out a supper for us both on one clam?"
"魁魁格,"我说,"你想我们两个人吃一只蛤蜊顶得了晚饭吗?"
However, a warm savory steam from the kitchen served to belie the apparently cheerless prospect before us. But when that smoking chowder came in, the mystery was delightfully explained. Oh! sweet friends, hearken to me. It was made of small juicy clams, scarcely bigger than hazel nuts, mixed with pounded ship biscuits, and salted pork cut up into little flakes! the whole enriched with butter, and plentifully seasoned with pepper and salt. Our appetites being sharpened by the frosty voyage, and in particular, Queequeg seeing his favourite fishing food before him, and the chowder being surpassingly excellent, we despatched it with great expedition: when leaning back a moment and bethinking me of Mrs. Hussey's clam and cod announcement, I thought I would try a little experiment. Stepping to the kitchen door, I uttered the word "cod" with great emphasis, and resumed my seat. In a few moments the savoury steam came forth again, but with a different flavor, and in good time a fine cod-chowder was placed before us.
不过,厨房里传来的那股又暖又香喷喷的蒸气,显然足以说明我们所认为的那种不妙的前景是错误的。总之,等到热气腾腾的杂烩一送来,那个谜就获得愉快的解答了。啊!亲爱的朋友们,请容我细细道来。这是用水汪汪的小蛤蜊做起来的东西,蛤蜊比榛子大不了多少,搀和着一些捣碎的硬面包和切成细片的咸肉;又加足了牛油,撒足了胡椒和盐。我们的胃本来已让冰冷的航程给饿慌了,尤其是魁魁格一看到面前摆着他所爱吃的鱼类食物,那杂烩本身又是如此精美绝伦,我们顿即把它打发了。我往后靠了一会儿,想到刚才胡赛太太的蛤蜊和鳘鱼的叫法,心想我不妨也来如法小试一番。我走到厨房门口,声气着重地叫出一声"鳘鱼"后,就回到我的座位上来。几分钟后,又闻到那股香喷喷的蒸气了,不过,香味跟刚才有点儿不同,这时,一份可口的鳘鱼杂烩已放在我们面前了。
