我们镇里的人谁也不清楚伯爵夫人是从什么地方来的,但她讲英语的口气使我们听得出来她不是地道的美国人。她住的房子很大,有很多仆人为她干活,所以我们知道她很有钱。但是从来也没有见任何朋友来和她共进晚餐。这一点她说得很明白,只要她在家,她就想一个人呆着,只有当她走出家门时,她才在公众面前露脸。对我们孩子来说,尽管她也是一个社会名流,但我们总有点怕她。伯爵夫人手里总拿着一根拐杖,这根拐杖既是她走路的帮手,又是她用来惩罚那些她认为应该惩罚的人的工具。确实有的时候,住在附近的多数孩子似乎也需要教训教训! 由于眼明腿快,我常能躲开她打过来的“惩罚棍”。但是有一天,当时我才13岁,为抄近路我穿过她家的 No one in our town knew exactly where the countess came from, but her tone of English made us hear that she was not an authentic American. She lived in a large house with many servants working for her, so we knew she was rich. But never met any friends to have dinner with her. She said very clearly that as long as she was at home, she wanted to be alone, and only when she was out of the house did she show her face before the public. For us children, although she is also a celebrity, but we are always a little scared of her. The Countess always had a cane in her hand, a walking aid for her and the tool she used to punish those she thought she should punish. Indeed, most children living nearby seem to need lessons as well! Due to the quick eyes and legs, I can often avoid the “punishing stick” she calls. But one day, when I was 13, I cut through the road and walked through her house