When and where it matters not now to relate—but once upon a time,
究竟什么时间、地点，现在看来似乎无关紧要——姑且算是从前吧，
as I was passing through a thinly peopled district of country, night came down upon me almost unawares.
当我走过一处人烟稀少的地区，不知不觉间，夜幕降临了。
Being on foot, I could not hope to gain the village toward which my steps were directed, until a late hour;
由于步行，我不可能指望找到一处乡镇或村庄。又过了一个小时，
and I therefore preferred seeking shelter and a night's lodging at the first humble dwelling that presented itself.
我急切地想找处地方过夜，没别的，最先撞见的地方，无论怎样粗鄙简陋，对付一晚足矣。
Dusky twilight was giving place to deeper shadows, when I found myself in the vicinity of a dwelling,
昏暗灯火来自深不可测的黑暗，我突然发现附近有户人家，
from the small uncurtained windows of which the light shone with a pleasant promise of good cheer and comfort.
从那扇光秃秃的窗口里，似乎感觉到灯火里透出喜悦的安详。
The house stood within an inclosure, and a short distance from the road along which I was moving with wearied feet.
屋子四周有栅栏，离我走的路很近，那时，我可真是走得太累了。
Turning aside, and passing through the ill-hung gate, I approached the dwelling.
走下路，跨过那扇歪扭的大门，我走向那处屋子。
Slowly the gate swung on its wooden hinges, and the rattle of its latch, in closing, did not disturb the air until I had nearly reached the porch in front of the house,
大门在木质铰链上慢慢晃动，门闩的吱呀声悄无声息，直到最后关门才发出轻微声响。待我走到房前走廊时，
in which a slender girl, who had noticed my entrance, stood awaiting my arrival.
才看到一位身材修长的姑娘站在那里，显然，刚才她听到了我的脚步。
A deep, quick bark answered, almost like an echo, the sound of the shutting gate,
门甫关上，旋即响起一声低沉的狗吠，
and, sudden as an apparition, the form of an immense dog loomed in the doorway.
一条体型硕大的狗幽灵般出现在我的身边。
At the instant when he was about to spring, a light hand was laid upon his shaggy neck, and a low word spoken.
就在它立马扑过来的刹那，一只手轻轻搭在那只狗毛发蓬松的脖颈。
"Go in, Tiger," said the girl, not in a voice of authority, yet in her gentle tones was the consciousness that she would be obeyed;
“虎子，进去，”姑娘低声说道，声音并不威严，但温柔中含有不得不服从的暗示，
and, as she spoke, she lightly bore upon the animal with her hand, and he turned away and disappeared within the dwelling.
与此同时，她轻轻地拍打那狗几下，于是那狗转身闪进屋内。
