王子复仇记—小骗子华勒-2

After a few days, Whopper was playing with his marbles on the street near his house. The boy next door came out of his house. He was only two years old. He was watching Whopper's game.

Soon a man came along and went over to the boy. They were talking for some time.

Several minutes later, Whopper saw that the man was walking away with the little boy. But Whopper kept playing his game.

Suddenly he felt that someone was shaking his shoulder.

It was the mother of the little boy next door.

"Whopper," she asked, "where is my little boy now? Have you seen Peter? I'm looking for him."

"Oh, yes," answered Whopper. "I saw him just a while ago. A strange man was talking with him and he took your son away."

Peter's mother was very worried and cried, "A man? What did he look like?"

"He was big," answered Whopper. "He looked very strange. His face was covered with hair. And he had a big stick in his hand."

Peter's mother was very surprised at his words and shouted, "Oh, what shall I do?" She ran into the house. Whopper had told another lie.

He said to himself, "I have told a very exciting story. I have never told such an exciting story before."

At first Whopper was very pleased. But a few minutes later, Whopper remembered his promise to George. He decided that he had to tell the truth.

Slowly he went across the yard toward Peter's home. The yard was filled with people.

They were talking about Peter. When Whopper went near the people, they looked at him.

Whopper had a problem. He tried to tell the truth but it was very difficult for him.

Then he decided to tell the truth and went into Peter's house.

"Say," he said, "the strange man was not really so big."

Everybody in the yard stopped talking and listened to Whopper.

Whopper continued his story. "The man didn't carry a big stick. His face wasn't covered with hair," added Whopper.

Peter's mother came out of the house and exclaimed, "Oh! The man must be John. He is Peter's uncle."

Whopper was standing in the doorway.

Peter's mother turned to Whopper and said, "Why did you tell me a lie? Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

Whopper said nothing, but he thought, "I've told a lie again. I broke my promise. How foolish I am!"

Just then Peter and his uncle John came walking toward them.

One of the people cried, "Oh, Peter and the man are coming!"

Peter's mother jumped and ran up to them.

She held the child in her arms.

Peter was smiling. His uncle John was smiling, too.

几天后，华勃在他家附近街上玩弹珠。隔壁的小男孩走了出来。他才只有两岁大，正看着华勃玩。

过了不久，一名男子走来，到那小男孩身边。两个人便聊了一会儿。

几分钟后，华勃看到那名男子带着小男孩一起离开。但是华勃仍继续玩他的游戏。

突然间，他觉得有人在摇他的肩膀。

那是隔壁小男孩的妈妈。

她问道：『华勃，我的小宝贝在哪里？你有没有看到彼得？我在找他。』

华勃回答说：『有啊，我才看到他。一个陌生男子在跟他说话，然后就把你的儿子带走了。』

彼得的妈妈非常担心而大叫起来：『一名男子？他长得什幺样子？』

华勃回答说：『他长得很高大。看起来很奇怪。满脸都是胡子，手里拿着一根大棍子。』

彼得的妈妈听到这些话觉得很惊讶，大叫了起来：『哦，我该怎幺办？』接着跑进屋子里去。华勃又说谎了。

他自言自语道：『我刚讲了一个非常刺激的故事。我以前从来没有讲过这幺刺激的故事。』

起先华勃非常高兴。但是过了几分钟后，华勃想起对乔治的承诺。他决定他应该说出真相。

他慢慢地走过院子，往彼得的家走去。院子里到处都是人。

他们都在谈论彼得。当华勃走近时，每个人都看着他。

华勃碰到难题。他想说出真相，但是这对他而言却很困难。

然后，他决定还是要说出真相，便走进彼得家。

他说：『呃，那个陌生人并不是真的很高大。』

院子里的每个人都停下话来听华勃说话。

华勃继续又说：『那名男子没有拿一根大棍子，脸上也没有长满胡子。』

彼得的妈妈从屋子里走出来大叫：『哦！那一定是约翰。他是彼得的叔叔。』

华勃站在门口。

彼得的妈妈转向华勃说：『你为什幺对我说谎？为什幺不对我说实话？』

华勃一言不发，但心里想：『我又说谎了。我违背了自己的承诺。我真是傻啊！』

就在这时候，彼得和他的约翰叔叔向他们走过来。

群众中有个人叫道：『哦，彼得和那名男子正走过来了！』

彼得的妈妈跳起来向他们跑过去。

她把小男孩抱在怀里。

彼得面带微笑，他的约翰叔叔也是。