Little Mrs. Sommers one day found herself the unexpected owner of fifteen dollars. It seemed to her a very large amount of money. The way it filled up her worn money holder gave her a feeling of importance that she had not enjoyed for years.
一天，身材嬌小的薩默斯太太意外地撿到十五美元。這對她來說算是一筆可觀的財富了。這些錢把薩默斯太太那破舊的錢夾撐得鼓鼓的，她覺得自己仿佛成了一位重要人物——她已經有許多年未曾體會過這種滋味了。
The question of investment was one she considered carefully. For a day or two she walked around in a dreamy state as she thought about her choices. She did not wish to act quickly and do anything she might regret.
她要好好思量如何使用這筆錢。這一兩天來，她一直恍恍惚惚，來回踱步，思考著各種選擇。她可不愿意沖動行事，以免做出一些會讓自己后悔的事情。
A dollar or two could be added to the price she usually paid for her daughter Janie’s shoes. This would guaranteethey would last a great deal longer than usual. She would buy cloth for new shirts for the boys. Her daughter Mag should have another dress. And still there would be enough left for new stockings—two pairs per child. The idea of her little family looking fresh and new for once in their lives made her restlesswith excitement.
只要再掏一兩美元就能湊足她平時給女兒賈妮買鞋子的錢，這對鞋子一定比平常買的更耐穿。她可以給兒子們買布縫制新襯衫。女兒麥格也該買條裙子了。剩下的錢足夠買幾雙新襪子——每個孩子兩雙。讓全家人生平第一次打扮一新，這想法使她興奮得坐立不安。
Mrs. Sommers knew the value of finding things for sale at reduced prices. But that day she was tired and a little bit weak. When she arrived at the large department store, she sat in front of an empty counter. She rested her hand upon the counter.
薩默斯太太深知尋找降價銷售的物品有多重要。但是那天她非常疲憊，也有點虛弱。她來到大型百貨商店，坐在一個空柜臺前，一只手擱在柜臺上。
She wore no gloves. She slowly grew aware that her hand had felt something very pleasant to touch. She looked down to see that her hand lay upon a pileof silk stockings. A young girl who stood behind the counter asked her if she wished to examine the silky leg coverings.
她沒有戴手套。她慢慢意識到自己的手摸到了一些觸感很舒服的東西。她低下頭，看到自己的手正放在一堆絲襪上面。站在柜臺后面的年輕女孩問她是否想看看這些絲質襪子。
She smiled as if she had been asked to inspectdiamond jewelry with the aim of purchasing it. But she went on feeling the soft, costly items. Now she used both hands, holding the stockings up to see the light shine through them.
她笑了，仿佛她要買的是鉆石首飾，別人請她查看珠寶似的。她繼續(xù)撫摸著這輕柔而昂貴的商品，用雙手舉起襪子，欣賞光線閃耀其間。
Mrs. Sommers chose a black pair and looked at them closely.
薩默斯太太挑了一雙黑色的絲襪，仔細檢查。
“A dollar and ninety-eight cents,” she said aloud. “Well, I will buy this pair.”
“一美元九十八美分，”她大聲說。“我要買這雙。”
She handed the girl a five dollar bill and waited for her change and the wrapped box with the stockings. What a very small box it was! It seemed lost in her worn, old shopping bag.
她遞給售貨員一張五美元的鈔票，靜心等待找零和裝好襪子的包裝盒。這盒子真小啊！它在薩默斯太太那老舊的購物袋里仿佛不見了蹤影。
Mrs. Sommers then took the elevatorwhich carried her to an upper floor into the ladies’rest area. In an empty corner, she replaced her cotton stockings for the new silk ones.
薩默斯太太隨后搭乘電梯來到位于稍高樓層的女士休息區(qū)。在一個沒有人的角落，她脫下棉襪子，換上新買的絲襪。
