The Edge of the Mire · 泥沼邊緣 · The Hound of the Baskervilles · Traditional Mandarin · HSK 4

我們的馬車開進了荒野。外面的霧非常大，我們連三公尺外的地方都看不見。周圍的風景顯得很可怕，讓人心裡很不舒服。過了一會兒，我們終於從霧中看到了巨大的莊園。

管家巴裡曼走出來接我們。他看起來不太高興，而且動作很慢。我覺得他的態度有點複雜。莊園裡面非常暗，讓人感到特別孤獨。無論我們走到哪裡，巴裡曼都冷冷地看著我們。他好像完全不歡迎我們，讓我十分懷疑。

第二天早上，天氣好多了。亨利和我決定去附近走一走。我們很快就遇到了兩個人，他們是我們的鄰居。哥哥叫史坦普，妹妹叫貝麗爾。他們不但很熱情，而且對我們很客氣。史坦普指著前方的風景，表情變得非常嚴肅。他大聲地警告我們說：「你們千萬不要去那裡。」

「那裡是可怕的泥沼。」史坦普接著說。「如果你們在那裡迷路，就一定會死掉。」儘管這對鄰居很友善，泥沼的危險還是很真實。我點點頭，把這個警告記在心裡。

這時，我看到亨利一直笑著看著貝麗爾。貝麗爾是一位非常美麗的女孩，她也對亨利笑了。亨利走過去和她聊天，氣氛很快變得很浪漫。這真是一件複雜的事情。儘管亨利喜歡這位美麗的女孩，我還是有點擔心。

到了晚上，外面的天氣變得越來越冷。我們住在這個地方，感覺越來越孤獨。亨利非常高興，他還在想著早上的浪漫相遇。既然這裡這麼危險，我們晚上就不能去附近走動。如果有人在外面迷路，那就太可怕了。

突然，一聲極度可怕的叫聲傳進了莊園。那絕對是巨大動物的叫聲，而且非常大聲。聲音在荒野中不停地響著。我的身體完全不能動了，心裡只剩下恐懼。

語法 · Grammar

Concession with 儘管...還是...

儘管 + [Condition] ， [Subject] + 還是 + [Action / Result]

This structure expresses concession. It acknowledges a fact in the first clause ('even though'), but states that the outcome in the second clause remains unaffected ('still').

儘管這對鄰居很友善，泥沼的危險還是很真實。Even though this pair of neighbors is friendly, the danger of the mire is still very real.

儘管亨利喜歡這位美麗的女孩，我還是有點擔心。Even though Henry likes this beautiful girl, I am still a bit worried.

Unconditional statements with 無論...都...

無論 + [Condition / Question Word] + 都 + [Result]

Used to express that a result remains the same regardless of the condition ('no matter'). It is frequently paired with question words like 哪裡 (where), 誰 (who), or 什麼 (what).

無論我們走到哪裡，巴裡曼都冷冷地看著我們。No matter where we went, Barrymore looked at us coldly.

練習二 · Matching

Match each Chinese word to its English meaning.

1.莊園

2.泥沼

3.浪漫

4.恐懼

5.迷路

a.romantic

b.to get lost

c.manor / estate

d.fear / dread

e.mire / swamp

1-c · 2-e · 3-a · 4-d · 5-b

譯文 · Translation

Our carriage drove into the wilderness. The fog outside was very thick, and we couldn't even see places three meters away. The surrounding scenery looked quite scary, making one feel very uncomfortable inside. After a while, we finally saw the huge manor through the fog.

The butler Barrymore came out to receive us. He didn't look very happy, and his movements were very slow. I felt his attitude was a bit complex. The inside of the manor was very dark, making one feel especially lonely. No matter where we went, Barrymore looked at us coldly. He seemed to completely not welcome us, making me very suspicious.

The next morning, the weather was much better. Henry and I decided to go for a walk nearby. We soon met two people, who were our neighbors. The older brother was named Stapleton, and the younger sister was named Beryl. They were not only very warm, but also very polite to us. Stapleton pointed at the scenery ahead, and his expression became very serious. He loudly warned us, saying, "You absolutely must not go there."

"That is the terrifying mire," Stapleton continued. "If you get lost there, you will definitely die." Even though this pair of neighbors was very friendly, the danger of the mire was still very real. I nodded and kept this warning in mind.

At this moment, I saw Henry constantly smiling and looking at Beryl. Beryl was a very beautiful girl, and she also smiled at Henry. Henry walked over to chat with her, and the atmosphere quickly became very romantic. This was really a complicated matter. Even though Henry liked this beautiful girl, I was still a bit worried.

When evening arrived, the weather outside became colder and colder. Living in this place, we felt increasingly lonely. Henry was very happy; he was still thinking about the romantic encounter from the morning. Since it is so dangerous here, we cannot go walking nearby at night. If someone got lost outside, that would be too terrible.

Suddenly, an extremely terrifying cry carried into the manor. That was absolutely the cry of a huge animal, and it was very loud. The sound rang ceaselessly in the wilderness. My body became completely unable to move, and only fear was left in my heart.