儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Orphan Train CHAPTER 2 Wiggin Place
时间:2018-12-31 作者:英语课 分类:105 The Mystery of the Orphan
“Has Kate ever tried solving the mystery, Grandfather?” Jessie wondered as they left the little town of Chillwire behind.
“Oh, she’s tried to figure it out, Jessie, but I think she gave up on it a long time ago. Kate puts all her energy—and her money—into restoring the old house. You see, she wants it to look the way it did in the olden days, when her grandmother grew up there. Actually, that’s the reason Kate started the bed and breakfast,” Grandfather told them as he turned onto a quiet country road. “She needed the extra money to fund her project.”
“It must be a lot of work,” Violet said thoughtfully, “taking care of a big house filled with guests.”
“Well, Kate hires someone to help out during the summer months,” explained Grandfather. “I don’t think she could do it alone.”
As they came to a white house with honey-colored trim around the windows and a peaked roof, Grandfather pulled into the driveway. A large sign on the front lawn read, “Wiggin Place—Bed and Breakfast.”
“We’re here!” cried Benny. “And look, there’s even a pond in the front yard!”
“What a great place to cool off.” Henry sounded just as excited as his little brother.
As they piled out of the car, Jessie looked around and said, “That must be Kate.”
A woman with gray streaks 1 in her dark hair was waving a hand high in the air as she hurried down the porch steps. Grandfather gave his good friend a hug.
“Kate, how do you manage to look younger every time I see you?” he asked.
“Never mind your flattery, James,” said Kate, with a twinkle in her eye. Then she turned her attention to the children. “I can’t believe I finally get to meet your wonderful family.”
Grandfather smiled proudly as he introduced Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny to Kate Crawford.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Jessie said politely, speaking for them all.
“I feel as if I know you already,” Kate told them, as she slipped her hands into the pockets of a dress splashed with sunflowers. “Your grandfather has told me all about your wonderful adventures. And just between us,” she added, “this place could use a little excitement.”
At that, Grandfather had to laugh. “Kate, there’s never a dull moment with my grandchildren around.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that!” Kate’s laughter was warm and bubbly.
Grandfather lifted the suitcases from the trunk of the car. Then he looked at his watch. “I don’t like rushing away, but I do have a business dinner to attend.”
Kate smiled. “Plenty of time to visit when you get back, James.”
Grandfather gave each of his grandchildren a hug. “I shouldn’t be more than a few days,” he told them. Then with a cheery honk 2 of the horn, he drove away.
The children waved good-bye, then followed Kate up the porch steps.
“You can unpack 3 before dinner,” Kate said.
“Oh, we can eat first if you want,” offered Benny. “If dinner’s ready, I mean.”
“Benny loves to eat,” Henry explained.
Kate laughed. “Then we’ll make a good team, Benny. It just so happens, I love to cook!”
“Oh, look!” Something had suddenly caught Violet’s eye. The others followed her gaze to a bronze plaque 4 hanging beside the front door. The inscription 5 on the plaque read: ETHAN CAPE 6 ONCE STAYED HERE.
“We’re very proud of our famous visitor,” said Kate, a smile in her voice. “Of course, I was just a young girl when Ethan Cape photographed my grandmother.”
Violet’s eyes widened. “Oh! You mean—”
Kate nodded as they went inside. “Yes, I met the great Ethan Cape just a few months before he died. Of course, at the time I was pretty young,” she added. “I didn’t know he was famous until I’d grown up.”
Jessie knew Violet was too shy to say anything, so she spoke 7 up for her. “Violet’s a photographer, too,” she informed Kate as they headed for the staircase.
“Topnotch,” Henry added. And Benny nodded.
“Oh?” Kate’s eyebrows 8 rose. Violet’s face got pink. “I still have a lot to learn,” she said. “But … I would love to see the photograph.”
Kate looked puzzled, but only for a moment. “Oh, you mean my grandmother’s photograph,” she said with a slow smile. “I’ll be happy to show it to you after dinner, Violet.”
Upstairs, Kate opened the door to a pretty room with rose-covered wallpaper and a four-poster bed that was just right for Jessie and Violet. Across the hall, a room with twin beds and blue-striped wallpaper was waiting for Henry and Benny.
“If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to speak up,” Kate was saying. Then she turned her attention to a middle-aged 9 man coming along the hallway. “Oh, Professor Brewer 10! Come and meet our new arrivals.”
The professor, who had a newspaper tucked under one arm, was very tall, with a little gray hair around a bald spot. As Kate introduced the Aldens, Henry reached out to shake hands. But the man looked away, turning to Kate.
“What’s the meaning of this?” he demanded. “There was nothing in your brochure about a pack of noisy kids running all over the place.”
Henry and Jessie exchanged a look. Why was the professor so unfriendly?
Kate’s smile disappeared for a second. “Now, Professor, you’re getting all worked up about nothing. The Aldens are wonderful children and I expect—”
“I expect peace and quiet!” the professor broke in sharply. Then he hurried away leaving the Aldens to stare after him.
Henry let out a low whistle. “What was that all about?”
“I don’t think the professor likes us very much,” Benny said in a small voice.
“I’m sure he likes you just fine, Benny,” Kate assured the youngest Alden. “The professor’s a bit of a loner, that’s all. I tried asking him a few questions when he first arrived. But he got very uncomfortable. He doesn’t seem to like talking about himself.” With a little shrug 11, she headed for the stairs. “Come down as soon as you finish unpacking,” she called back to them.
The children couldn’t help wondering if the professor would be any friendlier at dinner.
- streaks of grey in her hair 她头上的绺绺白发
- Bacon has streaks of fat and streaks of lean. 咸肉中有几层肥的和几层瘦的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- Don't honk the horn indiscriminately.不要乱鸣喇叭!
- While passing another vehicle,you must honk your horn.通过另一部车时必须鸣按喇叭。
- I must unpack before dinner.我得在饭前把行李打开。
- She said she would unpack the items later.她说以后再把箱子里的东西拿出来。
- There is a commemorative plaque to the artist in the village hall.村公所里有一块纪念该艺术家的牌匾。
- Some Latin words were engraved on the plaque. 牌匾上刻着些拉丁文。
- The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损,无法辨认了。
- He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。
- I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
- She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
- Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
- His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
- I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
- The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。
- Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
- I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职,做一名酿酒人。