" Dogs in the empty condition showed no preferences."

“面对空罐子时，狗狗则未显示出偏好。”

She had hardly spoken when a sharp, firm ring at the door vibrated through the summer night. Catherine looked up at the clock; it marked a quarter-past nine—a very late hour for visitors, especially in the empty condition of the town.

她话音未落，一阵尖锐而坚定的敲门声响彻整个夏夜。凯瑟琳抬头看了看时钟；现在是九点一刻——对游客来说已经很晚了，尤其是在空荡荡的小镇上。