Lesson 13

After her husband had gone to work, Mrs. Richards sent her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom.
在她丈夫上班以后，理查兹夫人送孩子们去上学，然后上楼回到了卧室。
She was too excited to do any housework that morning, for in the evening she would be going to a fancy-dress party with her husband.
那天早上她太兴奋了，没做任何家务，因为那天晚上她将和丈夫一起去参加化装舞会。
She intended to dress up as a ghost and as she had made her costume the night before, she was impatient to try it on.
她打算装扮成一个鬼，由于她前一天晚上已经做好了服装，她迫不及待地想试穿它。
Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was very effective.
虽然这套服装仅仅由一条床单组成，但效果非常好。
After putting it on, Mrs. Richards went downstairs.
穿上衣服后，理查兹夫人走下了楼。
She wanted to find out whether it would be comfortable to wear.
她想弄清楚穿起来是否舒适。
Just as Mrs. Richards was entering the dining room, there was a knock on the front door.
正当理查兹夫人走进餐厅时，前门传来了敲门声。
She knew that it must be the baker.
她知道那一定是那个面包师。
She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the kitchen table.
她曾告诉过他，如果万一她没能来开门，就直接进来，把面包放在厨房的桌子上。
Not wanting to frighten the poor man, Mrs. Richards quickly hid in the small storeroom under the stairs.
由于不想吓到那个可怜的人，理查兹夫人迅速躲在了楼梯下的小储藏室里。
She heard the front door open and heavy footsteps in the hall.
她听到前门打开的声音，以及走廊里沉重的脚步声。
Suddenly the door of the storeroom was opened and a man entered.
突然，储藏室的门被打开了，一个男人走了进来。
Mrs. Richards realized that it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to read the metre.
理查兹夫人意识到，那一定是电力局来读电表的人。
She tried to explain the situation, saying 'It's only me', but it was too late.
她试图解释情况，说着“只有我”，但已经太晚了。
The man let out a cry and jumped back several paces.
这个男人发出一声尖叫，向后退了几步。
When Mrs. Richards walked towards him, he fled, slamming the door behind him.
当理查兹夫人走向他时，他逃跑了，并在身后砰地关上了门。