儿童英语读物 The Mystery at the Crooked House CHAPTER 4 The Unfriendly Guest

On their way to the Crooked 1 House the next day, Benny suddenly cried out, “Oh, no! I forgot to bring it.” And he gave his forehead a smack 2 with the palm of his hand.



“Bring what, Benny?” asked Jessie. She was sure he had packed all of his warm winter clothes and his cracked pink cup.



“The mystery book I got for Christmas!” said Benny. “The one by Amelia Quigley Adams. And we were just getting to the best part, Jessie!”



“Oh, The Alphabet Mystery!” Jessie had been reading a chapter every night to her brother. “I meant to pack it, but I guess I forgot, too.”



“Don’t worry, Benny,” said Henry. “When Mrs. McGregor tells us the riddle 3, we’ll have our own mystery to solve.”



Violet put an arm around her younger brother. “And a treasure to find!” she added.



Mrs. McGregor was sitting up front beside Grandfather Alden. She looked over her shoulder and said, “You’re in luck, Benny! Amelia Quigley Adams was my favorite children’s author when I was growing up. There’s a whole collection of her books at the Crooked House. In fact, I have a signed copy of The Alphabet Mystery.”



Benny’s round face brightened. “Hooray for the Crooked House!”



At that moment, they passed a huge billboard 4 advertisement for the Sterling 5 Resort. Mrs. McGregor shook her head. “With advertising 6 like that, the Crooked House doesn’t stand a chance.”



As they turned off the main highway and drove along the lake, they caught a glimpse of the new resort through the trees. Mrs. McGregor went on, “Of course, a few people have remained loyal to the Crooked House. They still come out for their holidays. But my sister has always relied on new guests as well.”



Snowflakes were just starting to drift down when they came to a small sign advertising rooms to rent. The sign was nailed to a crooked post. The Aldens’ station wagon 7 turned into a long driveway piled high with snow on either side. At the end of the driveway was a big, old-fashioned cottage nestled among the trees. An evergreen 8 wreath decorated its crooked front door.



As Jessie got out of the car, she noticed a man in a hooded 9 black coat shoveling snow in the next driveway A young girl wearing a blue ski jacket was helping 12 him.



“Those windows really are lopsided!” said Henry as he opened the car door for Mrs. McGregor.



“Oh, yes,” said Mrs. McGregor, gazing fondly at her family home. “There isn’t a single window that’s straight. Some go this way and some go that!”



“And look!” cried Benny pointing. “The chimney’s crooked, too! It looks like that funny tower. The one that leans over.”



Grandfather Alden chuckled 13 as he lifted the suitcases out of the car. “I think you mean the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Benny.”



“Right.” Benny nodded. “The Leaning Tower of Pisa in, um ...”



“Italy,” finished Jessie.



“Never fear, Benny,” said Mrs. McGregor. “There’s no danger of the crooked chimney tumbling over. It always passes inspection 14.”



“What a wonderful home, Mrs. McGregor,” Violet said in a soft voice. “I can’t wait to draw a picture of it for you.”



Their housekeeper 15 was beaming proudly. “The property backs right onto the lake. You won’t have far to go for skating.”



Just then the front door of the Crooked House opened. A white-haired woman waved out to them. She looked a lot like Mrs. McGregor, only taller.



Mrs. McGregor waved back. “That’s my sister, Madeline!”



The man in the next driveway tossed his shovel 11 aside, then the young girl tossed hers aside, too, and they came rushing over.



“I’m Nick Spencer.” The man pushed the hood 10 of his coat back from his dark curly hair. “And this is my daughter, Clarissa.”



“We live just next door,” said Clarissa with a dimpled smile. She was about Violet’s age and was wearing a knit hat that matched her jacket. The breeze kept stirring the wisps of blond curls that framed her rosy 16 face.



“James Alden,” said Grandfather, putting a hand out to Nick. “And this is Mrs. McGregor and my grandchildren: Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny.”



“I must tell you, Mrs. McGregor,” said Nick, “we’re really going to miss your sister if the Crooked House is sold. We’ll never be able to repay her for all her kindness. She’s been like a grandmother to Clarissa and a good friend to me.”



Mrs. McGregor smiled. “My sister has always spoken highly of you, too. You teach history at the local high school, don’t you, Nick?”



Nick nodded and smiled. “History has always fascinated me. There’s something so mysterious about the past. You never know what treasures you’ll uncover when you start poking 17 about.”



Jessie and Henry exchanged looks. Was it just a coincidence that Nick had used the word treasure?



Nick and Clarissa helped Mrs. McGregor with her bags as they all trooped along a path through the snow, then stepped into a hallway cheerfully decorated with sprigs of evergreen and holly 18. While they breathed in the wonderful smell of home cooking, Mrs. McGregor gave her sister a warm hug. Then she introduced the Aldens.



“Welcome to the Crooked House!” said Madeline. “You must be hungry after that long drive. Will you and Clarissa join us for dinner, Nick?” she added. “You know there’s always plenty to go around.”



But Nick and Clarissa were already on their way out the door. “Thanks anyway Madeline,” said Nick. “We’ll have to take a rain check. We’ve got the driveway to finish, then we’re off to the library.” With a wave of his hand, he added, “Sure nice to meet everybody, though!”



Grandfather looked at his watch. “I’m afraid I’d better be going, too. I still have some business to take care of.”



“Grandfather doesn’t like to keep anyone waiting,” said Henry.



The children stood at the door and waved good-bye until the station wagon disappeared behind the trees. Then they took off their coats and boots and hung their knit hats on the hat tree by the door. After that, it wasn’t long before they were sitting down to a delicious dinner of meat loaf, baked potatoes, tossed salad, and creamed corn.



“Mmm,” said Benny. “This meat loaf tastes just like Mrs. McGregor’s!”



“I got the recipe from Madeline,” said Mrs. McGregor as she buttered a crusty roll. “My sister is the real cook in the family.”



“Nonsense!” argued Madeline. “You’re every bit the cook I am, Margaret.”



Benny’s eyes widened. “I think I’m going to like it here!”



“That’s for sure!” said Henry. “Two great cooks under one roof! That’s a dream come true for you, Benny.”



Jessie noticed there was an extra place at the table. She was just wondering about it when Madeline said, “We have a guest staying upstairs.”



Mrs. McGregor raised her eyebrows 19 in surprise. “Oh?”



Madeline nodded. “Yes, a young woman arrived the other day. Nola Rawlings. She’s staying in the blue room at the end of the hall.”



Mrs. McGregor looked hopeful. “Do you think business is improving?”



“Oh, I used to get my hopes up,” said Madeline with a sigh. “But I’ve been disappointed too many times. I know better now.”



Mrs. McGregor nodded. “I suppose you’re right. A guest every now and again isn’t enough.”



Just then a slim young woman with shoulder-length brownish-red hair came into the room. She was dressed in jeans and a gray sweater.



Madeline rose to greet her, then quickly introduced Mrs. McGregor and the Aldens. Nola Rawlings responded with a brisk nod as she slipped into the empty chair beside Henry.



Mrs. McGregor smiled warmly. “Are you enjoying your stay at Riddle Lake, Nola?”



The young woman didn’t answer right away. She placed a napkin carefully over her lap, then she looked over at the Aldens with a frown. “I’ve enjoyed it so far,” she finally said. “I came to Riddle Lake hoping to find peace and quiet.”



The children exchanged puzzled glances. Why was Nola so unfriendly?



Mrs. McGregor tried to change the subject. “By the way, Benny, that book you want is on a shelf in the living room. Isn’t it amazing about those mysteries by Amelia Quigley Adams? They’re just as popular now as they were in my day! Did you read them when you were growing up, Nola?” she added.



The young woman gave Mrs. McGregor a funny look. “Why do you ask?” she replied rather sharply.



“No reason, really,” said Mrs. McGregor in surprise. “I just wondered if you were a fan of Amelia Quigley Adams. When I was growing up—”



Nola broke in before Mrs. McGregor could finish. “I’ve heard of her, of course. But I’ve never read any of her books. Nor do I have any interest in the subject!”



Everyone seemed surprised by the young woman’s harsh tone. Jessie caught Henry’s eye. It was such a simple question. Why was Nola getting so upset?



When dessert was served, Madeline commented, “It’s nice to have so many people gathered around the table again. I’m just sorry that Nick and Clarissa couldn’t join us.”



“We’re looking forward to getting to know Clarissa better,” said Jessie, taking a bite of the delicious apple pie.



“Oh, you’re bound to run into her when you go out skating,” replied Madeline. “And just wait till you see the fancy twirls she can do!”



“Jessie is a good skater, too,” Violet said shyly, looking at her older sister with admiration 20.



“I’ve still got a lot to learn,” Jessie protested. “But I do enjoy it. I can’t wait to get out there.”



“Well, it’s a beautiful night for it,” said Madeline. “No reason you can’t go right after dinner.”



“There’s a very good reason we can’t go right after supper,” Benny stated firmly. “Mrs. McGregor’s going to tell us all about the riddle and the hidden treasure!”



The Aldens all nodded their agreement. Nobody noticed Madeline’s sudden frown. Or the look of shock on Nola Rawlings’s face.