On Monday morning seven lads, dressed in their Sunday clothes, with bright and happy faces, made their appearance at the Hall, each of them desiring to obtain the situation.
一个周一的早晨，七名少年穿上礼拜的衣服，脸上洋溢着开心幸福的笑容，聚集到那座庄园门口。人人都急切获得那个职位。
Now the old gentleman, being of a singular disposition,had prepared a room,
那性格怪异的老人早已备好一处房间，
in such a way that he might easily know if any of the young people who applied were given to meddle unnecessarily with things around them,
以待更好察看应聘少年的品行，检测他们是否安分守己，
or to peep into cupboards and drawers.
是否不窥探自己不该知道的东西。
He took care that the lads who were then at Elm Tree Hall should be shown into this room one after another.
他下令将那些站在榆树庄园里的少年逐一领进那处房间。
And first, Charles Brown was sent into the room, and told that he would have to wait a little.
查尔斯.布朗第一个被带进房间，有人告诉他，让他在房间里稍等片刻。
So Charles sat down on a chair near the door.
于是查尔斯在门边椅子上坐下，
For some time he was very quiet, and looked about him;
刚开始，他一声不吭，环顾四周，
but there seemed to be so many curious things in the room that at last he got up to peep at them.
房间里好玩东西实在诱惑太多，最后，他忍不住站起来到处查看。
On the table was placed a dish cover, and Charles wanted sadly to know what was under it, but he felt afraid of lifting it up.
一个盘子倒扣桌上，查尔斯急切想弄清盘子下究竟藏有什么东西，可又害怕将盘子掀开。
Bad habits are strong things; and, as Charles was of a curious disposition,
查尔斯的坏习惯看来根深蒂固，与好奇心不相上下，
he could not withstand the temptation of taking one peep. So he lifted up the cover.
他实在抵挡不住窥探一眼的诱惑，于是将盘子倒翻过来，
This turned out to be a sad affair; for under the dish cover was a heap of very light feathers;
这下够糟了，原来盘子下堆着一簇细小羽毛。
part of the feathers, drawn up by a current of air, flew about the room, and Charles, in his fright, putting the cover down hastily, puffed the rest of them off the table.
在气流的裹挟下，有的羽毛被吹开，忽悠悠到处乱飘。恐惧中的查尔斯匆忙将盘子盖上，还没忘记顺嘴吹走桌上剩下的细绒。
