My mother, who once referred to Manhattan as Babylon, sat with her arms folded, waiting for me to answer.

我的母亲，她曾经把曼哈顿比作巴比伦，她抱笼着双臂，坐在那里等我回答。

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My gifted townsman stood gloomily apart, with folded arms, and I could have wished that his curls and forehead had been more probable.

我那位有天才的同乡忧郁地站在旁边，交叉着双臂，我看他的鬈发和额角真该化妆得像一些才是。

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