一栋待售的住宅

An old man was childless and got sick frequently. Tired of loneliness, he decided to live in a rest home （养老院）. So he announced that his magnificent（宏伟的）house would be sold by auction（拍卖）. So many buyers came swarming to the auction that the price of his house was soon jacked up（提高，增加）from 80,000 to 100,000 pounds and it was still rising.

Sitting deep in a sofa, the old man looked justifiably （有道理的，有理由的） heavy hearted （心情沉重的）. If he had been in good health,he wouldn't have thought of selling the house where he had lived for the greater part of his life.A plainly-dressed （衣着朴素的） young man approached him, bent forward and whispered. "Sir, I am eager to buy your house but I only have 10,000 pounds."

"You know the base price is 80,000 pounds,"the old man said gently. "And now it has been raised to 100,000 pounds."Not depressed,the young man earnestly（诚挚的）said, "If you sell house, I promise you will live in it as usual and enjoy your happy life,drinking tea,reading newspaper and taking a walk with me every day. Please believe me I shall care for you with all my heart!" The old man nodded with a smile. He stood up, motioned（示意）to silence everyone present. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said patting（轻拍） the young man on his shoulder. "I announce the result of the auction. The young man is the new owner of the house!"

有位老人无儿无女，又体弱多病。他厌倦了孤独的生活，决定搬到养老院去。老人宣布将拍卖他豪华的住宅。购买者蜂拥而至参加拍卖。住宅从底价8万英镑很快被炒到 10万英镑，价钱还在不断攀升。

老人深陷在沙发里，满目忧郁。要是自己的健康状况好的话，他是不会考虑卖掉这栋陪他度过大半生的住宅的。一个衣着朴素的青年来到老人跟前，弯下腰，低声说：“先生，我也非常想买这栋住宅，可我只有1万英镑。”

“但是，它的底价是8万英镑，”老人淡淡地说道，“现在它已升到10万英镑了。”青年并不沮丧，真诚地说：“如果您把住宅卖给我，我保证会让您依旧生活在这里，过着快乐的生活。您每天和我一起喝茶、读报、散步……请相信我，我会全心全意地照顾您!”老人颔首微笑，他站起来，挥手示意大家安静下来。“女士们，先生们，我宣布拍卖结果，这栋住宅的新主人已经产生了，”老人拍着青年的肩膀说，“就是这个小伙子！”