A Service of Love爱的牺牲作者介绍欧·亨利 (O.Henry)1862－ 1910，原名威廉·西德尼·波特（ William Sydney Porter ），美国著名小说家，与法国的莫泊桑、 俄国的契诃夫并称为世界三大短篇小说巨匠 他的短篇小说构思巧妙， 手法独特，以幽默的语言和出人意料的结局而闻名于世， 大多表现美国中下层人民的生活， 被誉为“美国生活的百科全书” 著名作品有：《最后一片藤叶》 (The Last Leaf) 、《警察与赞美诗》(The Cop and the Anthem) 、《麦琪的礼物》 (The Gift of the Magi) 等作品介绍《爱的牺牲》 讲述了一对怀有艺术梦想的夫妇， 在爱与信仰的精神支撑下共同为生活奋斗的故事乔·拉雷毕有绘画天赋，而他的妻子迪莉娅·拉雷毕热爱音乐为了维持生计和实现彼此的梦想，他们放下高雅的艺术追求， 一个去街头卖风景画， 另一个去教富家小姐音乐课，而现实中的身不由己， 却让两人演绎了一出阴差阳错的人间喜剧 如同欧· 亨利大多数以爱情为主题的作品相似， 该故事也选取了社会中最普通的大众作为主角， 从他们普通而琐碎日常生活中将“为爱牺牲”这个永恒而温馨的主题娓娓道来。
A Service of Love 爱的牺牲Duringallof the next week the Larrabeeshad anearlybreakfast.Joewasenthusiastic1 about some morning-effectsketches he was doing in Central Park,and Delia packed him off breakfasted,coddled2,praisedandkissedat7o'clock.Artisan engagingmistress.Itwas most times7 o'clock when he returnedin the evening.At the end of the week Delia, sweetlyproud butlanguid3,triumphantly4 tossedthreefive-dollarbillsonthe8x10接下来的一周， 拉雷毕夫妇每天一大早就吃饭 乔兴致勃勃地到中央公园去画几张晨光下的速写 七点钟吃完了早饭，迪莉娅与他拥抱、赞美、接吻之后，把他送出了家门。
艺术是一位迷人的情妇——他每晚回家时， 多半已经晚上七点钟了周末，迪莉娅觉得愉快而自豪，但却有些疲惫 她得意洋洋地掏出三张五块钱的钞票， 扔在 8 英尺宽、 10 英尺长的客厅中间的那张 8 英寸宽、 10 英寸长的桌子上有时候， ”她有些疲倦地说， “克蕾1234enthusiastic adj. 热心的 ;热情的 ;热烈的 ;狂热的coddle vt.悉心照料，娇惯languid adj.疲倦的 ; 没精打采的，呆滞的 ; 萧条的 ; 慢吞吞triumphantly dv.耀武扬威地，得意扬扬地(inches)centretableofthe8x10 (feet)flat parlour.Sometimes," she said, a little wearily,"Clementinatriesme.I'mafraidshedoesn't practice enough, and I have totell her the same things so often. Andthenshe alwaysdresses entirelyinwhite,and thatdoes getmonotonous5. ButGen. Pinkney is the dearest old man! Iwish you could know him, Joe. He es insometimes when I am with Clementina atthepiano--heisawidower 6 ,youknow--and stands there pullinghiswhitegoatee.'And how are thesemiquavers andthe demisemiquaversprogressing?'healways asks.”"I wish you could see the wainscoting inthat drawing-room, Joe! And thoseAstrakhan rug portieres. And Clementinahas such a funny little cough. I hope sheis stronger than she looks. Oh, I reallyam getting attached to her, she is sogentle and high bred. Gen. Pinkney's brother was once Minister to Bolivia."And then Joe, with the air of a Monte Cristo, drew forth a ten, a five, a two and a one--all legal tender notes--and laid them beside Delia's earnings."Sold that watercolor of the obelisk 7 to a man from Peoria," he announced overwhelmingly 8."Don't joke with me," said Delia, "not from Peoria!""All the way. I wish you could see him,门蒂娜真让我劳神。
我想她大概练习得不够，我只能反反复复地教她而且她总是穿着一身白， 越看越觉得单调不过平克尼将军倒是一个挺可爱的老人家！ 乔，你认识他的话该多好我教克蕾门蒂娜练钢琴的时候， 他有时会走进来， 站在那儿捋他的白胡子——他的老伴已经过世了 “十六分音符和三十二分音符学得怎么样啦？”他老是这样问你真该看看他们客厅里的护墙板，乔！还有那些阿斯特拉罕的门帘克蕾门蒂娜总是有点咳嗽 我希望她能比她看起来结实些真的，我越来越喜欢她了， 她又温柔， 又那么有教养平克尼将军的兄弟还曾经做过驻波利维亚的大使呢 ”接着， 乔带着一副基度山伯爵般的神气，掏出一张十元、一张五元、一张两元和一张一元的钞票， 把它们摊在了迪莉娅挣来的钱旁边——全都是合法的纸币那幅方尖碑水彩画卖给了一个从皮奥利亚来的人 ”他郑重其事地说别跟我开玩笑啦， ”迪莉娅说，“不会真是从皮奥利亚来的吧！ ”“确实是 你真该亲眼见见他， 迪莉，一个围着羊毛围巾的胖子 他刚从橱窗里看到那幅画的时候， 还以为是座风车呢他倒很大方，不由分说就把画买下了 他还另外预定了一幅拉克万纳货运车站的油画，打算带回去音乐课！呵，我想这里面还是有艺术成分的看你能坚持下去， 我真的很高兴， ” 迪莉娅热切地说。
“你一定会成功的，亲爱的三十三块钱！我们从来没有这么多钱可以花 今晚我们买牡蛎吃吧5678monotonous adj.枯燥无味的 ; （声音，话语）单调的，无抑扬顿挫的widower n.鳏夫obelisk n.方尖碑overwhelmingly adv.压倒地，无法抵抗地Dele. Fat man witha woollenmuffler anda quill toothpick. He saw the sketch inTinkle'swindowand thoughtitwas awindmill at first, he9was game, though,and boughtitanyhow. Heorderedanother--anoil sketch of theLackawannafreight10 depot--to take back with him.Music lessons! Oh, I guess Art is still in it.""I'm so glad you've kept on," said Delia,heartily. "You're bound to win, dear.Thirty-three dollars! We never had somuch to spend before. We'll have oystersto-night.""And filet mignon with champignons,"said Joe. "Where is the olive fork?"On the next Saturday evening Joe reachedhome first. He spread his $18 on the parlour table and washed what seemed to be a great deal of dark paint from his hands.Half an hour later Delia arrived, herright hand tied up in a shapeless bundle of wraps and bandages."How is this?" asked Joe after the usual greetings. Delia laughed, but not very joyously."Clementina," she explained, "insistedupon a Welsh rabbit after her lesson. Sheis such a queer 11 girl. Welsh rabbits at5 in the afternoon. The General was。