"Maybe," said Charlotte quietly. "However, I have a feeling I'm not going to see the results of last night's efforts.
I don't feel good at all. I think I'm languishing (渐渐衰弱), to tell you the truth."
Wilbur didn't understand the word "languish" and he hated to bother Charlotte by asking her to explain. But he was so worried he felt he had to ask.
"What does 'languishing' mean?"
"It means I'm slowing up, feeling my age. I'm not young any more, Wilbur. But I don't want you to worry about me. This is your big day today.
Look at my web--doesn't it show up well with the dew (露水) on it?"
Charlotte's web never looked more beautiful than it looked this morning. Each strand (线) held dozens of bright drops of early morning dew.
The light from the east struck (撞击) it and made it plain (清楚的) and clear.
It was the perfect piece of designing and building. In another hour or two, a steady (稳定的) stream (流) of people would pass by, admiring it, and reading it, and looking at Wilbur, and marveling (惊叹) at the miracle.
As Wilbur was studying the web, a pair of whiskers (胡须) and a sharp face appeared. Slowly Templeton dragged himself across the pen and threw himself down in a corner.
"I'm back," he said in a husky voice. "What a night!"
The rat was swollen (胀) to twice his normal size. His stomach was as big around as a jelly jar (果酱瓶子).
"What a night!" he repeated, hoarsely (沙哑地). "What feasting and carousing (欢宴)! A real gorge (狼吞虎咽)! I must have eaten the remains of thirty lunches.
Never have I seen such leavings, and everything well-ripened (熟透的) and seasoned (调过味的) with the passage of time and the heat of the day. Oh, it was rich, my friends, rich!"
"You ought to be ashamed (羞耻的) of yourself," said Charlotte in disgust. "It would serve you right if you had an acute (严重的) attack of indigestion (消化不良)."
"Don't worry about my stomach," snarled (咆哮) Templeton. "It can handle anything. And by the way, I've got some bad news.
As I came past that pig next door--the one that calls himself Uncle--I noticed a blue tag on the front of his pen. That means he has won first prize. I guess you're licked, Wilbur.
You might as well relax--nobody is going to hang any medal on you. Furthermore, I wouldn't be surprised if Zuckerman changes his mind about you.
Wait till he gets hankering (渴望) for some fresh pork and smoked ham (烟熏火腿) and crisp bacon (脆腌肉)! He'll take the knife to you, my boy."
"Be still (住嘴), Templeton!" said Charlotte. "You're too stuffed and bloated (浮肿的) to know what you're saying. Don't pay any attention to him, Wilbur!"
Wilbur tried not to think about what the rat had just said. He decided to change the subject.
"Templeton," said Wilbur, "if you weren't so dopey (迟钝的), you would have noticed that Charlotte has made an egg sac. She is going to become a mother.
For your information, there are five hundred and fourteen eggs in that peachy (桃色的) little sac."
"Is this true?" asked the rat, eyeing the sac suspiciously (怀疑地).
"Yes, it's true," sighed Charlotte.
"Congratulations!" murmured Templeton. "This has been a night!" He closed his eyes, pulled some straw over himself, and dropped off into a deep sleep. Wilbur and Charlotte were glad to be rid of him for a while.
At nine o'clock, Mr. Arable's truck rolled into the Fair Grounds and came to a stop at Wilbur's pen. Everybody climbed out.
"Look!" cried Fern. "Look at Charlotte's web! Look what it says!"
The grownups and the children joined hands and stood there, studying the new sign.
"'Humble,'" said Mr. Zuckerman. "Now isn't that just the word for Wilbur!"
Everyone rejoiced (庆祝) to find that the miracle of the web had been repeated. Wilbur gazed up lovingly into their faces. He looked very humble and very grateful (讨人喜欢的).
Fern winked (眨眼) at Charlotte. Lurvy soon got busy. He poured a bucket of warm slops (猪食) into the trough, and while Wilbur ate his breakfast Lurvy scratched (给…抓痒) him gently with a smooth stick.
"Wait a minute!" cried Avery. "Look at this!" he pointed to the blue tag on Uncle's pen. "This pig has won first prize already."
The Zuckermans and the Arables stared at the tag. Mrs. Zuckerman began to cry. Nobody said a word. They just stared at the tag. Then they stared at Uncle. Then they stared at the tag again.
Lurvy took out an enormous handkerchief (手帕) and blew his nose very loud--so loud, in fact, that the noise was heard by stableboys (马童) over at the horse barn.
"Can I have some money?" asked Fern. "I want to go out on the midway."
"You stay right where you are!" said her mother. Tears came to Fern's eyes.
"What's everybody crying about?" asked Mr. Zuckerman. "Let's get busy! Edith, bring the buttermilk!"
Mrs. Zuckerman wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. She went to the truck and came back with a gallon jar (加仑罐) of buttermilk.
"Bath time!" said Zuckerman, cheerfully. He and Mrs. Zuckerman and Avery climbed into Wilbur's pen. Avery slowly poured buttermilk on Wilbur's head and back, and as it trickled down (流下) his sides and cheeks, Mr. and Mrs. Zuckerman rubbed (涂抹) it into his hair and skin.
Passersby stopped to watch. Pretty soon quite a crowd had gathered. Wilbur grew beautifully white and smooth. The morning sun shone through his pink ears.
"He isn't as big as that pig next door," remarked one bystander, "but he's cleaner. That's what I like."
"So do I," said another man.
"He's humble, too," said a woman, reading the sign on the web.
Everybody who visited the pigpen had a good word to say about Wilbur. Everyone admired the web. And of course nobody noticed Charlotte.
Suddenly a voice was heard on the loud speaker (扬声器).
"Attention, please!" it said. “Will Mr. Homer Zukerman bring his famous pig to the judges’ booth in front of the grandstand.
A special award will be made there in twenty minutes. Everyone is invited to attend. Crate your pig, please, Mr. Zuckerman, and report to the judges’ booth promptly (立即地)!”
For a moment after this announcement (宣告), the Arables and the Zuckermans were unable to speak or move.
Then Avery picked up a handful of straw and threw it high in the air and gave a loud yell (喊叫).
The straw fluttered sown like confetti (五彩纸) into Fern's hair. Mr. Zuckerman hugged Mrs. Zuckerman. Mr. Arable kissed Mrs. Avery kissed Wilbur.
Lurvy shook hands with everybody. Fern hugged her mother. Avery hugged Fern. Mrs. Arable hugged Mrs. Zuckerman.
Up overhead, in the shadows on the ceiling (天花板), Charlotte crouched (蜷缩) unseen, her front legs encircling (围绕着) her sac.
Her heart was not beating as strongly as usual and she felt weary (疲倦的) and old, but she was sure at last that she had saved Wilbur's life, and she felt peaceful and contented.
"We have no time to lose!" shouted Mr. Zuckerman. "Lurvy, help with that crate (板条箱)!"
"Can I have some money?" asked Fern.
"You wait!" said Mrs. Arable. "Can't you see everybody is busy?"
"Put that empty buttermilk jar into the truck!" commanded Mr. Arable. Avery grabbed (抓起) the jar and rushed to the truck.
"Does my hair look all right?" asked Mrs. Zuckerman.
"Looks fine," snapped Mr. Zuckerman, as he and Lurvy set the crate down in front of Wilbur.
"You didn't even look at my hair!" said Mrs. Zuckerman.
"You're all right, Edith," said Mrs. Arable. "Just keep calm."
Templeton, asleep in the straw, heard the commotion (骚动) and awoke. He didn't know exactly what was going on, but when he saw the men shoving (推) Wilbur into the crate he made up his mind to go along.
He watched his chance and when no one was looking he crept into the crate and buried himself in the straw at the bottom.
"All ready, boys!" cried Mr. Zuckerman. "Let's go!" He and Mr. Arable and Lurvy and Avery grabbed the crate and boosted (推动) it over the side of the pen and up into the truck. Fern jumped aboard (在…上) and sat on top of the crate.
She still had straw in her hair and looked very pretty and excited. Mr. Arable started the motor. Everyone climbed in, and off they drove to the judge's booth in front of the grandstand (看台).
As they passed the Ferris wheel, Fern gazed up at it and wished she were in the topmost (最高的) car with Henry Fussy at her side.
"Special announcement!" said the loud speaker in a pompous (炫耀的) voice. "The management of the Fair takes great pleasure in presenting Mr. Homer L. Zuckerman and his famous pig.
The truck bearing this extraordinary (杰出的) animal is now approaching the infield. Kindly stand back and give the truck room to proceed (行进)!
In a few moments the pig will be unloaded in the special judging ring in front of the grandstand, where a special award will be made. Will the crowd please make way and let the truck pass.
Thank you."
