且說甘媽媽剛要轉身，武伯南將他拉住，悄悄道：「倘若有人背著個小孩子，你可千萬把他留下。」婆子點頭會意。連忙出來，開了柴扉，一看誰說不是懷寶呢。
且说甘妈妈刚要转身，武伯南将他拉住，悄悄道：「倘若有人背着个小孩子，你可千万把他留下。」婆子点头会意。连忙出来，开了柴扉，一看谁说不是怀宝呢。
Now, Mother Gan was just turning to go when Wu Bonan caught hold of her and whispered, “If it’s someone with a little boy on his back, whatever you do, keep him here.” The old woman nodded; she understood. She hurried out and opened the wicker gate, and who should it be but Huai Bao!
他因背著鍾麟甚是吃力，而且鍾麟一路哭哭喊喊，合他要定了伯南哥哥咧。這懷寶百般的哄誘，惟恐他啼哭被人聽見。背不動時，放下來哄著走。這鍾麟自幼兒嬌生慣養，如何夤夜之間走過荒郊曠野呢，又是害怕，又是啼哭，總是要他伯南哥哥，把個懷寶磨了個吐天哇地，又不敢高聲，又不敢嗔嚇，因此耽延了工夫。所以武伯南艾虎後動身的倒先到了，他先動身的倒後到了。
他因背着钟麟甚是吃力，而且钟麟一路哭哭喊喊，合他要定了伯南哥哥咧。这怀宝百般的哄诱，惟恐他啼哭被人听见。背不动时，放下来哄着走。这钟麟自幼儿娇生惯养，如何夤夜之间走过荒郊旷野呢，又是害怕，又是啼哭，总是要他伯南哥哥，把个怀宝磨了个吐天哇地，又不敢高声，又不敢嗔吓，因此耽延了工夫。所以武伯南艾虎后动身的倒先到了，他先动身的倒后到了。
Carrying Zhong Lin on his back had been heavy going, and what was more, Zhong Lin had cried and wailed the whole way, insisting on his Brother Bonan. Huai Bao had coaxed and wheedled him every way he knew, terrified that the crying would be overheard. When he could carry him no further, he set him down and coaxed him along on foot. But Zhong Lin had been pampered and spoiled from the cradle: how was he to walk across wild, empty country in the dead of night? He was frightened, he cried, and all the time he wanted his Brother Bonan. He plagued Huai Bao half out of his wits, and Huai Bao dared neither raise his voice nor scold him, and so the time slipped away. That was why Wu Bonan and Ai Hu, who had set out later, got there first, and he, who had set out first, got there last.
甘婆道：「你又幹這營生！」懷寶道：「媽媽不要胡說。這是我親戚的小廝，被人拐去，是我將他救下，送還他家裡去。我是連夜走的乏了，在媽媽這裡歇息歇息，天明就走。可有地方麼？」甘婆道：「上房有客，業已歇下。現有廂房閒著，你可要安安頓頓的，休要招的客人犯疑。」懷寶道：「媽媽說的是。」說罷，將鍾麟背進院來。甘婆閉了柴扉，開了廂房，道：「我給你們取燈去。」懷寶來到屋內，將鍾麟放下。甘婆掌上了燈。
甘婆道：「你又干这营生！」怀宝道：「妈妈不要胡说。这是我亲戚的小厮，被人拐去，是我将他救下，送还他家里去。我是连夜走的乏了，在妈妈这里歇息歇息，天明就走。可有地方么？」甘婆道：「上房有客，业已歇下。现有厢房闲着，你可要安安顿顿的，休要招的客人犯疑。」怀宝道：「妈妈说的是。」说罢，将钟麟背进院来。甘婆闭了柴扉，开了厢房，道：「我给你们取灯去。」怀宝来到屋内，将钟麟放下。甘婆掌上了灯。
“So you’re at this game again!” said old Mrs. Gan. “Don’t talk nonsense, Mother,” said Huai Bao. “This is a servant boy of a kinsman of mine. Somebody carried him off, and I rescued him, and I’m taking him back home. I’ve been walking all night and I’m worn out. I’ll rest here at your place a while, Mother, and be off at daybreak. Have you got room?” “There are guests in the main room, already gone to bed,” said old Mrs. Gan. “The side room’s free. But you keep nice and quiet, and don’t give the guests cause for suspicion.” “Right you are, Mother,” said Huai Bao. With that he carried Zhong Lin into the yard on his back. Old Mrs. Gan shut the wicker gate and opened up the side room. “I’ll fetch you a lamp,” she said. Huai Bao went into the room and set Zhong Lin down, and old Mrs. Gan lit the lamp.