Rope

by Katherine Anne Porter

On the third day after they moved to the country he came walking back from the village carrying a basket of groceries and a twenty-four-yard coil of rope. She came out to meet him, wiping her hands on her green smock. Her hair was tumbled, her nose was scarlet with sunburn he told her that already she looked like a born country woman. His gray flannel shirt stuck to him, his heavy shoes were dusty. She assured him he looked like a rural character in a play.

他们搬到乡下的第三天，他从村上走回来，提着一篮吃的，还有一卷二十四码长的绳子。她一边在身上的绿罩衣上擦手，一边走出来接他。她的头发乱蓬蓬，鼻子给太阳晒得通红；他跟她说，她看起来已经像个土生土长的乡下女人了。他的灰色法兰绒衬衫紧紧地粘在身上，沉重的皮鞋上尽是尘土。她完全有把握地告诉他，他看上去好像戏剧中的乡巴佬角色。

Had he brought the coffee? She had been waiting all day long for coffee. They had forgot it when they ordered at the store the first day.

他带咖啡来了吗？她等咖啡已经等了整整一天了。他们第一天向食品铺订货的那会儿，把咖啡忘了。