Every afternoon, Vikram studies at the same table in the library. One seat across from him always has a red sweater on it. But no one ever sits there.
每天下午，维克拉姆都在图书馆的同一张桌子旁学习。他对面有一个座位，上面总放着一件红毛衣。可是从来没有人坐在那里。
At first, Vikram thinks someone forgot the sweater. But the same sweater appears every day, always on the same chair.
一开始，维克拉姆以为有人把毛衣忘在了那儿。可是同一件毛衣每天都出现，总是在同一把椅子上。
One day, he decides to ask the librarian about it.
有一天，他决定去问问图书管理员。
"Why does that chair always have a sweater on it?" he asks.
“为什么那把椅子上总放着一件毛衣？”他问。
The librarian smiles. "That's Beatrix's chair," she says. "She saves it for her friend Ulla every day."
管理员笑了笑。“那是贝娅特丽丝的椅子，”她说，“她每天都给她的朋友乌拉留着。”
That afternoon, a woman walks in. She places a red sweater on the chair. Vikram watches, curious.
那天下午，一位女士走了进来。她把一件红毛衣放在椅子上。维克拉姆好奇地看着。
"Excuse me," he says. "Is that seat for someone?"
“打扰一下，”他说，“这个座位是给别人留的吗？”
"Yes," Beatrix says. "My friend Ulla comes late because of her job. She walks slowly, so I save her a seat near the door."
“是的，”贝娅特丽丝说，“我的朋友乌拉因为工作总是来得晚。她走路很慢，所以我给她留一个靠近门口的座位。”
"That's kind of you," Vikram says.
“你真好心，”维克拉姆说。
A few minutes later, a woman with gray hair walks in slowly. She sits down in the saved chair. She smiles at Beatrix and thanks her quietly.
几分钟后，一位头发花白的女士慢慢地走了进来。她在留好的椅子上坐下，对贝娅特丽丝笑了笑，轻声道了谢。
Vikram goes back to his own table. Now he understands the empty chair. He no longer wonders about the sweater.
维克拉姆回到自己的桌子旁。现在他明白那把空椅子是怎么回事了。他不再纳闷那件毛衣了。
The next day, he waves at Beatrix when he walks in. She waves back.
第二天，他走进来时向贝娅特丽丝挥了挥手。她也挥手回应。
