Old Bobbin and a New Stripe on the Loom - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

Nell stood beside the hand loom while Judson moved the foot pedal. The beater swung at a moderate pace and pressed each new row tight. Light from the high window lay across the growing cloth and the wood. Warm air met smooth wood, and a dusty wool smell rode the low thump. Marks of years showed on the treadle, and the beater’s edge looked polished.

Nell picked up an empty bobbin and began to wind by hand. Thick wool rasped over her fingers, and the bobbin turned with a murmur. She set it down and tried a thin thread that slid with a faint hiss. A loose loop caught on her thumb; she exhaled, then lifted another skein. This cotton felt cool and smooth, and the bobbin grew heavier and round. She lined the filled bobbins on the bench, three small wheels in a row. Her braid bobbed at her neck as she walked to the storeroom door. Short pieces of decking leaned inside along the wall by a basket. Her sleeve brushed one, and it tipped once, then settled against the others.

On a low shelf, she found an old bobbin wound with pale blue. Dust ringed its rim, and the first wrap near the edge looked almost gray. She carried it to Judson, and he set the thread into the shuttle. He pressed the pedal; some threads rose while others dropped and made a gap. The shuttle slid through, and the beater came forward with its steady knock. Across the fresh fabric, a sudden pale stripe showed from the aged blue. Judson kept the rhythm moderate, and more rows built up against that line. The beater pressed the next pass tight against the pale stripe.

Nell 站在手織機旁，Judson 踩動腳踏板。打緯桿以適中的速度擺動，並把每一列新緯線壓緊。高窗透進來的光鋪在正在增長的布面和木頭上。溫熱的空氣貼著光滑的木頭，羊毛的灰塵味伴著低低的咚聲。踏板上留下歲月的痕跡，而打緯桿的邊緣顯得發亮。

Nell 拿起一個空的線軸，開始用手繞線。粗厚的羊毛在她指間輕輕摩擦，線軸帶著低聲轉動。她放下它，又試了條細線，輕輕滑過並發出細微的嘶聲。一個鬆環勾住了她的拇指；她吐了一口氣，接著又提起一絞線。這團棉線摸起來涼而光滑，線軸變得更重也更飽滿。她把繞好的線軸排在長凳上，像三個排成一列的小輪子。她走向儲物間的門，脖子上的辮子晃了幾下。儲物間裡靠牆斜放著幾根露台地板的短木條，旁邊有個籃子。她的衣袖輕擦到其中一根，它往前晃了一下，又靠回其他木條。

在一個低層的架子上，她找到一個繞著淡藍色線的舊線軸。灰塵在邊緣圍成一圈，最外層的第一圈幾乎看起來發灰。她把它拿給 Judson，他把線安進梭子裡。他踩下踏板；有些經線升起，另一些下降，開出一道口。梭子滑了過去，而打緯桿向前來到，帶著穩定的敲擊聲。在新鮮的布面上，一道突然的淺色條紋從那退色的藍裡顯現。Judson 維持著適中的節奏，更多列緯線在那條線旁堆起來。打緯桿把下一道緯線緊緊壓在那道淺色條紋上。