Translate the following passage into English
朋友来访，站在我的书橱前流连忘返，见他一副痴迷的样子，我故作豪爽地说：“喜欢看什么说就先拿去吧。”嘴上虽然这么说，其实心里还是很不情愿的，书像是自己的孩子，是生命的另一部分，生生被别人抱去，总是有点舍不得，朋友没有看出我的小算盘，只顾听了我的话，在书橱里挑三拣四地翻出几本书来，竟都是我喜欢的，时不时要拿出来读读的那种。但是泼出来的水是收不回来了，何况因为几本书，也显得太小家子气。
A friend of mine came to see me. He stood before my bookcase looking over the books. At the sight of him lingering before it with rapt attention, I pretended to be generous, “ Take any as you like.” I said that in spite of myself. Actually I was reluctant, for I regarded my books as my children, part of my life. How could I bear them being torn away from me. My friend took me at my word and began choosing books to his liking. Unfortunately his pick happened to be my favorites, those I’d like to read and reread now and then. But I couldn’t go back on my word, for what’s done can’t be undone. To regret for lending a few books would make me look narrow-minded.
