"You needn't feel too badly, Wilbur,"she said."Not many creatures can spin webs. Even men aren't as good at it as spiders, although they think they're pretty good, and they'll try anything. Did you ever hear of the Queensborough Bridge?"
Wilbur shook his head."Is it a web?"
"Sort of," replied Charlotte. "But do you know how long it took men to build it? Eight whole years. My goodness, I would have starved to death waiting that long. I can make a web in a single evening."
"What do people catch in the Queensborough Bridge-bugs?" asked Wilbur.
"No," said Charlotte." They don’t catch anything. They just keep trotting back and forth across the bridge thinking there is something better on the other side.
If they'd hang head-down at the top of the thing and wait quietly, maybe something good would come along. But no-with men it’s rush, rush, rush, every minute. I’m glad I’m a sedentary (定栖的) spider."
"What does sedentary mean?" asked Wilbur.
"Means I sit still a good part of the time and don't go wandering all over creation.
I know a good thing when I see it, and my web is a good thing. I stay put and wait for what comes. Gives me a chance to think."
"Well, I’m sort of sedentary myself, I guess," said the pig. "I have to hang around here whether I want to or not. You know where I'd really like to be this evening?"
"Where?"
"In a forest looking for beechnuts (山毛榉坚果) and truffles (松露) and delectable (美味的) roots, pushing leaves aside with my wonderful strong nose, searching and sniffing along the ground, smelling, smelling, smelling…"
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"You smell just the way you are," remarked a lamb who had just walked in. I can smell you from here. You're the smelliest creature in the place."
Wilbur hung his head. His eyes grew wet with tears. Charlotte noticed his embarrassment (窘迫) and she spoke sharply to the lamb.
"Leave Wilbur alone!" she said. "he has a perfect right to smell (发出…气味), considering his surroundings.
You're no bundle of sweet peas yourself. Furthermore, you are interrupting a very pleasant conversation.
What were we talking about, Wilbur, when we were so rudely interrupted?"
"Oh, I don't remember," said Wilbur. "It doesn't make any difference. Let's not talk any more for a while, Charlotte. I'm getting sleepy.
You go ahead and finish fixing (修理) your web and I'll just lie here and watch you. It's a lovely evening." Wilbur stretched out on his side.
Twilight (黄昏) settled over Zuckerman's barn, and a feeling of peace. Fern knew it was almost suppertime but she couldn't bear to leave.
Swallows (燕子) passed on silent wings, in and out of the doorways, bringing food to their young ones. From across the road a bird sang "Whippoorwill, whippoorwill!"
Lurvy sat down under an apple tree and lit his pipe (烟斗); the animals sniffed the familiar smell of strong tobacco.
Wilbur heard the trill of the tree toad and the occasional slamming of the kitchen door. All these sounds made him feel comfortable and happy, for he loved life and loved to be a part of the world on a summer evening.
But as he lay there he remembered what the old sheep had told him. The thought of death came to him and he began to tremble with fear.
"Charlotte?" he said, softly.
"Yes, Wilbur?"
"I don’t want to die."
"Of course you don't," said Charlotte in a comforting voice.
"I just love it here in the barn," said Wilbur. "I love everything about this place."
"Of course you do," said Charlotte. "We all do."
The goose appeared, followed by her seven goslings. They thrust their little necks out and kept up a musical whistling, like a tiny troupe (一团) of pipers (风笛吹奏者).
Wilbur listened to the sound with love in his heart.
"Charlotte?" he said.
"Yes?" said the spider.
"Were you serious when you promised you would keep them from killing me?"
"I was never more serious in my life. I am not going to let you die, Wilbur."
"How are you going to save me?" asked Wilbur, whose curiosity was very strong on this point.
"Well," said Charlotte, vaguely, "I don't really know. But I'm working on a plan."
"That's wonderful," said Wilbur. "How is the plan coming, Charlotte? Have you got very far with it? Is it coming along pretty well?" Wilbur was trembling (发抖) again, but Charlotte was cool and collected (镇定的).
"Oh, it's coming all right,"she said, lightly."The plan is still in its early stages had hasn't completely shaped up yet, but I'm working on it."
"When do you work on it?" begged Wilbur.
"When I'm hanging head-down at the top of my web. That's when I do my thinking, because then all the blood is in my head."
"I'd be only too glad to help in any way I can."
"Oh, I'll work it out alone," said Charlotte. "I can think better if I think alone."
"All right,"said Wilbur."But don't fail to let me know if there's anything I can do to help, no matter how slight."
"Well," replied Charlotte, "you must try to build yourself up. I want you to get plenty of sleep, and stop worrying. Never hurry and never worry!
Chew your food thoroughly and eat every bit of it, except you must leave just enough for Templeton. Gain weight and stay well—that’s the way you can help. Keep fit, and don't lose your nerve. Do you think you understand?
"Yes, I understand," said Wilbur.
"Go along to bed, then, "said Charlotte. "Sleep is important."
Wilbur trotted over to the darkest corner of his pen and threw himself down. He closed his eyes. In another minute he spoke.
"Charlotte?" he said.
"Yes, Wilbur?"
"May I go out to my trough and see if I left any of my supper? I think I left just a tiny bit of mashed potato."
"Very well," said Charlotte. "But I want you in bed again without delay."
Wilbur started to race out to his yard.
"Slowly, slowly!" said Charlotte. "Never hurry and never worry!"
Wilbur checked himself and crept slowly to his trough. He found a bit of potato, chewed it carefully, swallowed it, and walked back to bed. He closed his eyes and was silent for a while.
"Charlotte?" he said, in a whisper.
"Yes?"
"May I get a drink of milk? I think there are a few drops of milk left in my trough."
"No, the trough is dry, and I want you to go to sleep. No more talking! Close your eyes and go to sleep!"
Wilbur shut his eyes. Fern got up from her stool and started for home, her mind full of everything she had seen and heard.
"Good night, Charlotte!" said Wilbur.
"Good night, Wilbur!"
There was a pause.
"Good night, Charlotte!"
"Good night, Wilbur!"
"Good night!"
"Good night!"
Day after day the spider waited, head-down, for an idea to come to her. Hour by hour she sat motionless (一动不动), deep in thought.
Having promised Wilbur that she would save his life, she was determined to keep her promise.
Charlotte was naturally patient. She knew from experience that if she waited long enough, a fly would come to her web; and she felt sure that if she thought long enough about Wilbur’s problem, and idea would come to her mind.
Finally, one morning toward the middle of July, the idea came. "Why, how perfectly simple!" she said to herself.
"The way to save Wilbur's life is to play a trick on Zuckerman. If I can fool a bug," thought Charlotte,"I can surely fool a man. People are not as smart as bugs."
Wilbur walked into his yard just at that moment.
"What are you thinking about, Charlotte?" he asked.
"I was just thinking," said the spider, "that people are very gullible."
"What does‘gullible‘ mean?"
"Easy to fool,"said Charlotte.
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"That's a mercy," replied Wilbur, and he lay down in the shade of his fence and went fast asleep. The spider, however, stayed wide awake, gazing affectionately at him and making plans for his future.
Summer was half gone. She knew she didn't have much time.
That morning, just as Wilbur fell asleep, Avery Arable wandered into the Zuckerman’s front yard, followed by Fern.
Avery carried a live frog (青蛙) in his hand. Fern had a crown of daisies in her hair. The children ran for the kitchen.
"Just in time for a piece of blueberry pie," said Mrs. Zuckerman.
"Look at my frog!" said Avery, placing the frog on the drainboard (晾干板) and holding out his hand for pie.
"Take that thing out of here!" said Mrs. Zuckerman.
"He's hot,"said Fern. "He's almost dead, that frog."
"He is not,"said Avery. "He lets me scratch him between the eyes. "The frog jumped and landed in Mrs. Zuckerman's dishpan full of soapy (含有肥皂的) water.
"You're getting your pie on you," said Fern. "Can I look for eggs in the henhouse, Aunt Edith?"
"Run outdoors, both of you! And don't bother the hens!"
"It's getting all over everything," shouted Fern. "His pie is all over his front."
"Come on, frog!" cried Avery. He scooped up his frog. The fog kicked, splashing soapy water onto the blueberry pie.
"Another crisis!" groaned Fern.
"Let's swing in the swing (秋千)!" said Avery.
