"They tell me that you'd like to make a statue of me - is that correct, Miss Vinnie Ream？"
“他们告诉我你想做一座我的塑像——是吗，温妮·雷姆小姐？"
The deep, gentle voice helped calm the nervous girl. Asking a favor of the President of the United States was no casual matter, especially for a seventeen-year-old girl.
低沉温柔的声音帮助这个紧张的女孩平静下来。请美国总统帮忙并不是一件随便的事，尤其是对一个17岁的女孩来说。
"Yes, sir," she replied, her dark eyes meeting his. "I wouldn't have dared to ask you,but my teacher, Mr. Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner. "
“是的，先生，”她回答说，她的乌黑的眼睛和总统的眼光相遇。“我不敢问你，但我的老师米尔斯先生说我准备好了。我计划用一种可行的方式来做。”
President Lincoln smiled. "Painters, sculptors - they've all tried to make the best of this ordinary face,but I'm afraid there's not much hope. What did you have in mind, Miss Ream? A bust?"
林肯总统笑了，“画家、雕塑家，他们都试图充分利用这张普通的脸，但恐怕没有多大希望。雷姆小姐，你在想什么？半身像？"
Before Vinnie could say yes, the President hurried on, a shade of apology in his voice.
温妮还没来得及答应，总统很快又说话了，声音里带着一丝歉意。
"Of course - I shouldn't have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size. "
“当然，我不应该问。对于一个像你这样身材的年轻女性来说，全身像工程太大了。”
Vinnie's face turned red. She realized she looked like a child,with her tiny figure. "Small does not mean weak, sir," she defended herself. "I was born in the country of Wisconsin. I've driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay figure would not exhaust my strength-and that is what I intend to do!"
温妮的脸涨红了。她意识到自己身材娇小，看上去像个孩子。“小并不意味着弱，先生，”她为自己辩护，“我出生在威斯康星州。我赶过马队，提过水。制作了一个全身粘土像不会耗尽我的力量，这就是我打算做的！"
The President's eyes, brightened at her show of spirit. "Sorry, madam, I have underestimated you as I didn't know your background."
总统的眼睛因她的真诚表现而变得明亮起来，“对不起，女士，我低估了你，因为我不知道你的背景。”
But his smile faded as he rubbed his beard with bony fingers,in thought. "Miss Ream," he sighed,"I'd like to let you do it,but as you know,we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now？I hardly have a minute to myself."
但在沉思中，当他用瘦骨嶙峋的手指摩擦胡须时，他的笑容消失了。“雷姆小姐，”他叹了口气，“我很想让你做，但正如你所知，我们正处于一场战争之中。我现在怎么可能抽出时间来摆造型呢？我几乎没有一分钟的时间。”
Vinnie glanced around and noted the size of his office. "I work quickly," she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. "If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk."
温妮环顾四周，注意到了他的办公室的大小。“我工作很快，”她说。她指着窗户附近的角落，声音柔和而自信。“如果我把粘土带到这里，每天下午工作三个小时，你在办公桌旁时，我就能完成大部分工程。”
The President seemed to consider her idea seriously. He got up and shook Vinnie's hand warmly,"I've heard that you are a talented young woman, and I have found you charming and intelligent as well. I cannot make my decision immediately, but you will hear from me soon."
总统似乎认真考虑了她的想法。他站起来，热情地握了握温妮的手，“我听说你是一位才华横溢的年轻女子，我也发现你很迷人，很聪明。我不能马上做出决定，但你很快就会收到我的来信。”
The very next day, Vinnie received an invitation from the President.
就在第二天，温妮收到了总统的邀请。
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