Charlotte and Wilbur were alone. The families had gone to look for Fern. Templeton was asleep. Wilbur lay resting after the excitement and strain (紧张) of the ceremony. His medal still hung from his neck; by looking out of the corner of his eye he could see it.
"Charlotte," said Wilbur after a while, "why are you so quiet?"
"I like to sit still," she said. "I've always been rather quiet."
"Yes, but you seem specially so today. Do you feel all right?"
"A little tired, perhaps. But I feel peaceful. Your success in the ring this morning was, to a small degree, my success.
Your future is assured (确定). You will live, secure and safe, Wilbur. Nothing can harm you now. These autumn days will shorten (变短) and grow cold.
The leaves will shake loose from the trees and fall. Christmas will come, then the snows of winter.
You will live to enjoy the beauty of the frozen (冰冻的) world, for you mean a great deal to Zuckerman and he will not harm you, ever.
Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the pasture pond (草场池塘). Then song sparrow (百灵鸟) will return and sing, the frogs will awake, the warm wind will blow again.
All these sights and sounds and smells will be yours to enjoy, Wilbur--this lovely world, these precious (珍贵的) days..."
Charlotte stopped. a moment later a tear came to Wilbur's eye. "Oh, Charlotte," he said. "To think that when I first met you I thought you were cruel and bloodthirsty (嗜血的)!"
When he recovered from his emotion, he spoke again.
"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."
"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte. "That in itself is a tremendous (极好的) thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you.
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After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess (平常的), with all this trapping (捕捉) and eating flies.
By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a little (少量). Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."
"Well," said Wilbur. "I'm no good at making speeches. I haven't got your gift for words. But you have saved me, Charlotte, and I would gladly (高兴地) give my life for you--I really would."
"I'm sure you would. And I thank you for your generous (慷慨的) sentiments (感情)."
"Charlotte," said Wilbur. "We're all going home today. The Fair is almost over. Won't it be wonderful to be back home in the barn cellar again with the sheep and the geese? Aren't you anxious (渴望的) to get home?"
For a moment Charlotte said nothing. Then she spoke in a voice so low Wilbur could hardly (几乎不) hear the words.
"I will not (缩写为 won’t) be going back to the barn," she said.
Wilbur leapt to his feet (一跃而起). "Not going back?" he cried. "Charlotte, what are you talking about? "
"I'm done for," she replied. "In a day or two I'll be dead. I haven't even strength enough to climb down into the crate. I doubt if I have enough silk in my spinnerets to lower me to the ground."
Hearing this, Wilbur threw himself down in an agony of (一阵) pain and sorrow (悲伤). Great sobs (哭泣) racked (折磨) his body.
He heaved and grunted (绞动，起伏) with desolation (忧伤). "Charlotte," he moaned (悲叹). "Charlotte! My true friend!"
"Come now, let's not make a scene (吵闹)," said the spider. "Be quiet, Wilbur. Stop thrashing about (翻滚)!"
"But I can't stand (忍受) it," shouted Wilbur. "I won't leave you here alone to die. If you're going to stay here I shall stay, too."
"Don't be ridiculous (荒谬的)," said Charlotte. "You can't stay here. Zuckerman and Lurvy and John Arable and the others will be back any minute now, and they'll shove you into that crate and away you'll go.
Besides, it wouldn't make any sense for you to stay. There would be no one to feed you. The fair Grounds will soon be empty and deserted (荒芜的)."
Wilbur was in a panic (恐慌). he raced round and round the pen. Suddenly he had an idea--he thought of the egg sac and the five hundred and fourteen little spiders that would hatch (孵化) in the spring.
If Charlotte herself was unable to go home to the barn, at least (至少) he could take her children along.
Wilbur rushed to the front of his pen. He put his front feet up on the top board and gazed around (到处看). In the distance he saw the Arables and the Zuckermans approaching (接近). He knew he would have to act quickly.
"Where's Templeton?" he demanded.
"He's in that corner, under the straw, asleep," said Charlotte. Wilbur rushed over (冲过去), pushed his strong snout (鼻子) under the rat, and tossed (扔) him into the air.
"Templeton!" screamed (尖叫) Wilbur. "Pay attention!"
The rat, surprised out of the sound (充分的) sleep, looked first dazed (茫然的) then disgusted.
"What kind of monkeyshine (恶作剧) is this?" he growled. "Can't a rat catch a wink of sleep (一丝睡眠) without being rudely popped (扔) into the air?"
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"Listen to me!" cried Wilbur. "Charlotte is very ill. She only has a short time to live. She cannot accompany us home, because of her condition.
Therefore, it is absolutely (绝对地) necessary that I take her egg sac with me. I can't reach it, and I can't climb. You are the only one that can get it.
There's not a second to be lost. The people are coming--they'll be here in no time (立刻). Please, please, please, Templeton, climb up and get the egg sac."
The rat yawned (打哈欠). He straightened his whiskers (胡须). Then he looked up at the egg sac.
"So!" he said, in disgust. "So it's old Templeton to the rescue (营救)again, is it? Templeton do this, Templeton do that, Templeton please run down to the dump and get me a magazine clipping, Templeton please lend me a piece of string so I can spin a web."
"Oh, hurry!" said Wilbur. "Hurry up, Templeton!"
But the rat was in no hurry. He began imitating (模仿) Wilbur's voice. "So it's 'Hurry up, Temple,' is it?" he said.
"Ho, ho. and what thanks do I ever get for these services, I would like to know? Never a kind word for old Templeton, only abuse and wisecracks (讽刺) and side remarks (旁敲侧击). Never a kind word for a rat."
"Templeton," said Wilbur in desperation, "if you don't stop talking and get busy, all will be lost, and I will die of a broken heart. Please climb up!"
Templeton lay back in the straw. Lazily he placed his forepaws (前爪) behind his head and crossed his knees, in an attitude (态度) of complete relaxation.
"Die of a broken heart," he mimicked (模仿). "How touching! My, my! I notice that's always me you come to when in trouble. But I've never heard of anyone's heart breaking on my account. Oh, no. Who cares anything about old Templeton?"
"Get up!" screamed Wilbur. "Stop acting like a spoiled (被宠坏的) child！"
Templeton grinned (漏齿笑) and lay still. "Who made trip after trip to the dump?" he asked. "Why, it was old Templeton! Who saved Charlotte's life by scaring that Arable boy away with a rotten (腐烂的) goose egg?
Bless my soul, I believe it was old Templeton. Who bit your tail and got you back on your feet this morning after you fainted in front of the crowd? Old Templeton. Has it ever occurred to you that I'm sick of running errands (差使) and doing favors? What do you think I am, anyway, a rat-of-all-work?"
Wilbur was desperate (绝望的). The people were coming. And the rat was failing him. Suddenly he remembered Templeton's fondness (喜爱) for food.
"Templeton," he said, "I will make you a solemn (郑重的) promise. get Charlotte's egg sac for me, and from now on I will let you eat first, when Lurvy slops (喂) me.
I will let you have your choice of everything in the trough and I won't touch a thing until you're through."
The rat sat up. "You mean that?" he said.
"I promise. I cross my heart."
"All right, it's a deal," said the rat. He walked to the wall and started to climb. His stomach was still swollen from last night's gorge (暴食).
Groaning (呻吟) and complaining (抱怨), he pulled himself slowly to the ceiling. He crept along till he reached the egg sac.
Charlotte moved aside for him. She was dying, but she still had strength enough to move a little.
Then Templeton bared his long ugly teeth and began snipping (咬碎) the threads that fastened the sac to the ceiling. Wilbur watched from below.
"Use extreme (极度的) care!" he said. "I don't want a single one of those eggs harmed."
"Thith thtuff thticks in my mouth," complained the rat. "It'th worth than caramel candy (胶皮糖)."
