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儿童英语读物 The Copycat Mystery CHAPTER 3 An Offer to Help

时间:2017-10-12 04:54来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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Gwen laughed. “As far as I know,” she said, “the farmhouse1 is not haunted2.”

Jake North sighed. “I guess that would be hoping for too much.”

Jessie caught Henry’s eye. Why would anyone want a house to be haunted?

“What I mean is, it would make a good newspaper story,” Jake said quickly. “Not much happens in a small town like Elmford. The most exciting story I’ve had to report so far was that they ran out of hot dogs at the local baseball game!”

Benny’s big eyes grew even rounder. “They ran out of hot dogs at a baseball game?!”

“You see, Jake?” said Aunt Jane, as everyone laughed. “What you don’t find interesting, somebody else might.”

Violet spoke3 up shyly. “Grandfather says it’s people who make a town interesting.”

The young man smiled a little. “I only wish my teachers at college were that easy to please.”

Henry looked surprised. “Oh, do you go to college?”

“I’m in the journalism4 program,” Jake told Henry. “I start my second year this fall. My uncle’s a writer and a poet. He pulled a few strings5 and got me a job working for the Elmford newspaper for the summer. It’s a chance for me to get some practical experience.”

“I am sorry we wasted your time today,” Gwen said when Jake checked his watch. “But we’re having an old-fashioned laundry demonstration6 tomorrow afternoon. If you could come back, I’m sure you’ll be able to take some interesting pictures.”

“I’ll make a note of it,” Jake told her. Then he waved good-bye.

As they watched Jake North drive away in his red sports car, Aunt Jane said, “Would you like to share a picnic lunch with us, Gwen? We’d certainly enjoy your company.”

The young woman looked pleased. “Actually, I packed a sandwich today,” she said. “But I’d love to join you. I’ll just bring my lunch along.”

When they were sitting around a picnic table by the creek7, Gwen thanked Benny again for finding the missing sign. “You really came to the rescue!” she said.

Benny beamed. “No problem,” he said with a grin8.

“I love this job,” Gwen went on, “but opening week hasn’t been easy.”

“Has anything else gone wrong?” Violet asked as she helped herself to one of Aunt Jane’s delicious egg salad sandwiches.

Gwen took a bite of her sandwich while she thought about the question. “The truth is,” she said at last, “there aren’t enough tour guides this week. Too many people went away on family vacations. I’m just grateful for my sister Sharon. And, of course, for Miss Pennink.”

Jessie poured some lemonade into Benny’s cracked pink cup. He often traveled with the pink cup he’d found while they were living in the boxcar. “What do the volunteers do?” she asked.

Gwen explained, “The museum doesn’t have enough money to hire guides, so we rely on volunteers to give the tours. They dress up in Victorian costumes and take visitors through the house, telling them about life in the olden days. It’s part of my job,” she told them, “to train the volunteers and to organize special events at the farmhouse. And, of course, to let people know the museum is open. It certainly doesn’t help,” she added, “when the farmhouse sign disappears.”

Benny looked a bit troubled as he took a bite of his pickle9. “There’s no such thing as ghosts, right?” he asked, thinking of what Jake had said.

“Don’t worry, Benny.” Henry put an arm around his brother. “A ghost didn’t move that sign.”

“But somebody did play a practical joke,” Benny insisted. “If it wasn’t the ghost of Horace Wagner, then who was it?”

Gwen took a sip10 of lemonade, then she shook her head. “I must admit, it’s a mystery.”

After lunch, Jessie was anxious to talk to her brothers and sister. “I have an idea,” she told them as they tossed11 paper napkins and watermelon rinds into a nearby trash can. “Can anybody guess what it is?”

Henry said, “You’re thinking we could help out at the farmhouse, right?”

“Exactly!” cried Jessie.

Violet seemed surprised. “You mean, as volunteer tour guides?”

“Yes,” said Jessie. “It would be fun!”

“It sure would!” agreed Benny.

Henry nodded. “I think that’s a terrific12 idea.”

“And we could solve a mystery,” added Benny. “The copycat mystery!”

Later, when Gwen heard their offer, her green eyes lit up. “Do you mean it?” she asked as they made their way back to the farmhouse. “I must warn you, it can be hard work.”

“Oh, you don’t know these children! There’s nothing they like better than hard work,” said Aunt Jane. “I had a hunch13 they’d want to help.”

“When do we start?” asked Benny, who always got straight to the point.

Gwen laughed. “How does tomorrow sound? I can take you on a tour of the farmhouse right now, if you like.”

“We’d like that very much!” replied Jessie, speaking for them all.

As they followed a path through a field of clover, Jessie noticed a small white cottage near the orchard14. “That must be where Draper Mills lives,” she said to Henry.

Henry nodded. “There he is now, looking out the front window. I think he sees us.” When Henry put a hand up to wave, the custodian15 yanked the curtains closed.

“He isn’t very friendly,” said Jessie.

“That’s for sure,” agreed Henry. “I guess we’d better keep out of his way while we’re working here.”

“Oh, dear!” said Gwen as they came out of the orchard. “It looks like the farmhouse is a lot busier now.”

Everyone followed her gaze to where a number of cars were parked.

“Why don’t we leave your tour until the morning,” she suggested. “That way I can spend more time with you and we can get started on your training.”

“We’ll be here bright and early,” promised Jessie.

As they rounded the farmhouse, Gwen waved to a girl of about fifteen who was standing16 on the porch17 talking to an older couple. The young girl looked very much like Gwen. She had the same fair hair and slim build, only she was much taller.

“Oh, it looks like Sharon’s back from the dentist,” said Gwen. And she waved for her to come over.

When Gwen’s sister raised her long skirts above her ankles to come down the porch steps, Violet noticed her socks. They were covered in burrs—just like Benny’s.

Sharon gave the Aldens a friendly smile. “Are you here for a tour?” she asked.

“Actually, I’ll be taking them on a special tour in the morning,” Gwen told her. “You see, the Aldens have offered to help us out this week. Isn’t that wonderful? As a matter of fact,” she added, “they’ve already been a help. Benny found the farmhouse sign! The Aldens happen to be first-class detectives.”

Sharon’s smiled faded. Suddenly she didn’t look so friendly. “We don’t have time to train new volunteers,” she said rather sharply18. “Aren’t we busy enough as it is?”

The children stared at her in disbelief. Why was Sharon getting upset?

Even Gwen seemed surprised by her sister. “We need all the help we can get. I thought you’d be pleased with such a kind offer.”

But Sharon did not look pleased at all.

“They won’t even know what to do!” she shot back. “It’s just going to be a waste of everybody’s time. I mean, what’s the point in—”

“Sharon!” Gwen broke in. “What’s gotten into you?”

“We’ll do a good job,” Benny promised. “Just wait and see!”

“And what happened to that reporter?” Sharon asked her sister, changing the subject. “I thought he was going to take pictures of the farmhouse.”

“There weren’t any visitors,” explained Gwen. “Mr. Mason didn’t want pictures of an empty farmhouse in the paper.”

Sharon frowned, then stormed away.

Gwen apologized for her sister’s behavior. “Sharon can be a bit difficult sometimes. But she really has a good heart.”

When the Aldens were walking back to the car with Aunt Jane, Henry let out a low whistle. “Gwen’s sister sure doesn’t want us helping19 out,” he said.

A frown crossed Benny’s round face. “It’s kind of funny she got so upset.”

Jessie didn’t think it was funny at all. “Can you believe how rude she was?”

“We will do a good job,” declared Benny. “Won’t we?”

“Sure we will,” said Henry. Then he added honestly, “At least, we’ll do our best. Nobody can ask more than that.”

Violet sighed. She was having second thoughts about working at the farmhouse. What if they had to talk in front of large tour groups?

As if reading her thoughts, Jessie said, “Don’t worry, Violet.” She knew that her sister was often shy and nervous around strangers. “I’ll ask Gwen if we can work together until you feel comfortable.”

Violet gave her sister a grateful smile. Jessie always knew just what to say to make her feel better. “Are you sure Gwen won’t mind?”

“Gwen will want you to feel comfortable,” Aunt Jane assured them.

Benny grinned. “I guess we really will find out what it was like in the olden days.”

“I think it will be a great experience,” said Aunt Jane. “And the farmhouse can really use your help,”

On the drive to their aunt’s, Benny said, “I wonder why Sharon was acting20 so weird21.”

Aunt Jane thought about this for a moment. Then she said, “I’m afraid Gwen and her sister don’t always see eye to eye.”

Benny made a face. “What does that mean?”

“It means they don’t always get along,” Henry told him.

“Oh,” said Benny.

“Gwen’s been like a mother to Sharon ever since their parents died a few years ago,” Aunt Jane explained. “But Sharon’s getting older. She wants to do things by herself. I think that causes problems between them sometimes.”

The Aldens looked at one another. They were each thinking how lucky they were to get along so well.

Aunt Jane sighed. “It’s a shame. Opening week is hard enough for Gwen without Sharon getting upset.”

“Well, we can’t do anything about Sharon,” Benny put in. “But if that copycat plays any more practical jokes, we’ll get to the bottom of it.”

“I’m sure you will, Benny,” said Aunt Jane. “I’m sure you will.”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 farmhouse kt1zIk     
n.农场住宅(尤指主要住房)
参考例句:
  • We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
  • We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。
2 haunted 5rEz4M     
adj.闹鬼的;受到折磨的;令人烦恼的v.“haunt”的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • There was a haunted look in his eyes. 他眼中透露出忧虑的神色。
  • The country is haunted by the spectre of civil war. 内战仿佛一触即发,举国上下一片恐慌。
3 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • 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。
4 journalism kpZzu8     
n.新闻工作,报业
参考例句:
  • He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师,可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
  • He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。
5 strings nh0zBe     
n.弦
参考例句:
  • He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上,随意地拨着吉他的弦。
  • She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
6 demonstration 9waxo     
n.表明,示范,论证,示威
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。
7 creek 3orzL     
n.小溪,小河,小湾
参考例句:
  • He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
  • People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
8 grin D6iyY     
n./vi.露齿而笑,咧嘴一笑
参考例句:
  • I know she is joking because she has a big grin on her face.我知道她是在开玩笑。因为她满脸笑容。
  • She came out of his office with a big grin on her face.她笑容满面地走出他的办公室。
9 pickle mSszf     
n.腌汁,泡菜;v.腌,泡
参考例句:
  • Mother used to pickle onions.妈妈过去常腌制洋葱。
  • Meat can be preserved in pickle.肉可以保存在卤水里。
10 sip Oxawv     
v.小口地喝,抿,呷;n.一小口的量
参考例句:
  • She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
  • Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。
11 tossed 1788eb02316d84175e2a5be1da07e7bf     
v.(轻轻或漫不经心地)扔( toss的过去式和过去分词 );(使)摇荡;摇匀;(为…)掷硬币决定
参考例句:
  • I tossed the book aside and got up. 我把书丢在一边,站了起来。
  • He angrily tossed his tools and would work no longer. 他怒气冲冲地扔下工具不肯再干了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 terrific 9pwwG     
adj.可怕的,极好的,非常的
参考例句:
  • The game was terrific.那场比赛棒极了。
  • Darren drove at a terrific speed.达伦以惊人的速度驾车。
13 hunch CdVzZ     
n.预感,直觉
参考例句:
  • I have a hunch that he didn't really want to go.我有这么一种感觉,他并不真正想去。
  • I had a hunch that Susan and I would work well together.我有预感和苏珊共事会很融洽。
14 orchard UJzxu     
n.果园,果园里的全部果树,(美俚)棒球场
参考例句:
  • My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
  • Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。
15 custodian 7mRyw     
n.保管人,监护人;公共建筑看守
参考例句:
  • Benitez believes his custodian is among the top five in world football.贝尼特斯坚信他的门将是当今足坛最出色的五人之一。
  • When his father died his uncle became his legal custodian.他父亲死后,他叔叔成了他的法定监护人。
16 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
17 porch ju9yM     
n.门廊,入口处,走廊,游廊
参考例句:
  • There are thousands of pages of advertising on our porch.有成千上万页广告堆在我们的门廊上。
  • The porch is supported by six immense pillars.门廊由六根大柱子支撑着。
18 sharply UiRziL     
adj.锐利地,急速;adv.严厉地,鲜明地
参考例句:
  • The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
  • Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。
19 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
20 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
21 weird bghw8     
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的
参考例句:
  • From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
  • His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
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