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When and where it matters not now to relate—but once upon a time,
究竟什么時間、地點，現在看來似乎無關緊要——姑且算是從前吧，
as I was passing through a thinly peopled district of country, night came down upon me almost unawares.
當我走過一處人煙稀少的地區，不知不覺間，夜幕降臨了。
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處鄉鎮或村莊。又過了一個小時，
and I therefore preferred seeking shelter and a night's lodging at the first humble dwelling that presented itself.
我急切地想找處地方過夜，沒別的，最先撞見的地方，無論怎樣粗鄙簡陋，對付一晚足矣。
Dusky twilight was giving place to deeper shadows, when I found myself in the vicinity of a dwelling,
昏暗燈火來自深不可測的黑暗，我突然發現附近有戶人家，
from the small uncurtained windows of which the light shone with a pleasant promise of good cheer and comfort.
從那扇光禿禿的窗口里，似乎感覺到燈火里透出喜悅的安詳。
The house stood within an inclosure, and a short distance from the road along which I was moving with wearied feet.
屋子四周有柵欄，離我走的路很近，那時，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，跨過那扇歪扭的大門，我走向那處屋子。
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,
大門在木質鉸鏈上慢慢晃動，門閂的吱呀聲悄無聲息，直到最后關門才發出輕微聲響。待我走到房前走廊時，
in which a slender girl, who had noticed my entrance, stood awaiting my arrival.
才看到一位身材修長的姑娘站在那里，顯然，剛才她聽到了我的腳步。
A deep, quick bark answered, almost like an echo, the sound of the shutting gate,
門甫關上，旋即響起一聲低沉的狗吠，
and, sudden as an apparition, the form of an immense dog loomed in the doorway.
一條體型碩大的狗幽靈般出現在我的身邊。
At the instant when he was about to spring, a light hand was laid upon his shaggy neck, and a low word spoken.
就在它立馬撲過來的剎那，一只手輕輕搭在那只狗毛發蓬松的脖頸。
"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，進去，”姑娘低聲說道，聲音并不威嚴，但溫柔中含有不得不服從的暗示，
and, as she spoke, she lightly bore upon the animal with her hand, and he turned away and disappeared within the dwelling.
與此同時，她輕輕地拍打那狗幾下，于是那狗轉身閃進屋內。
