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儿童英语读物 The Finders Keepers Mystery CHAPTER 8 Hide-and-Seek

时间:2017-11-13 07:35来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

“We’ve only got a few more signs to take down and then we’ll be finished,” said Henry. He handed Jessie one of the yard sale posters they’d put up only a few days before.

“Good,” said Benny. “I’m tired.”

Just then, a familiar green van pulled up.

“I thought I’d find you somewhere around here,” Lina said, leaning out the van window. “I’m glad I caught you.”

“Hi,” said Benny.

“Is everything okay?” asked Jessie. “Did someone try to break in again?”

“No, nothing like that. Coral Weaver1 called and said she needed to talk to me about something important, something to do with the yard sale. I thought you might like to come along.”

“Yes,” said Henry instantly.

“We’ll get the rest of the signs later,” agreed Jessie, crumpling2 up the one she was holding and dropping it into the recycling can at the curb3.

The Aldens jumped into the van and headed for Coral’s store. The door was propped4 open, and Coral called from inside the store as they walked up, “Come in, come in.”

Coral was perched on one of the store’s comfy chairs, focusing on a small square of quilted fabric5 in her lap.

“Are you making a quilt?” Violet asked politely.

“A quilted cover for a pillow,” Coral said. “To protect it and keep all of the feathers from leaking out. It’s a gift for a friend.”

“What a nice gift,” said Lina.

Coral looked up. “Yes,” she said. She set her quilting work to one side. She took a deep breath.

“I have something I think you should see,” Coral said quietly. She got up and went to the back of the shop. When she returned, she was holding the old basket she’d bought at the yard sale.

“The scrap6 basket,” said Jessie.

“That’s right,” Coral said. “But it had more than scraps7 in it.”

“Treasure!” said Benny hopefully.

“Of a sort,” said Coral.

She reached into the basket and brought out a few folded sheets of yellow paper.

“More letters?” Lina said, her voice going up in excitement.

“No,” said Coral. “Look.”

Carefully, she unfolded the fragile papers and spread them out on a nearby table. The papers were full of lines and drawings, notes and sketches8.

“These papers were Hope’s,” Violet said. “Look, she signed her name in that corner.”

Lina looked bewildered. “What does all this mean?” she asked.

“It looks like… is it a quilting pattern?” Henry asked.

“Yes, a Wedding Ring quilt pattern,” said Coral. She pulled a book from the shelf by her chair and flipped9 it open. “Like this one.”

Lina was looking at Hope’s signature. “It’s dated,” she said. “This pattern has a date on it. It must be the pattern for Hope’s wedding quilt.”

“The missing quilt,” Violet said softly.

“I found it underneath10 the scraps, right after I got home,” said Coral. “I wanted to keep it. I thought how wonderful it would look hanging in my store, framed. But that would have been wrong. It belongs to you.”

Lina stared down at the pattern unfolded on the table in front of her. “Thank you,” she said.

They all stood silently for a minute, looking at the pattern. Then Lina spoke11 softly. “Everything but the quilt itself,” she said. “What happened to that quilt?”

A shadow fell across the open doorway12. They all looked up. Dirk Grey was standing13 there.

“Hello,” he said. “Coral, I saw your door was open and thought you might like a sweet roll for breakfast. I’m just taking a quick walk to the bakery.”

Coral, sounding surprised and pleased, said, “How nice. But no, thank you, I’ve had breakfast.”

Dirk nodded and turned away.

“That was thoughtful of him,” said Coral. “When he first opened up his shop, he wasn’t very friendly, but he’s been coming around. I think he’s even beginning to like quilts. He’s been so much more pleasant since he quit his job at the museum and started working in his shop full-time14.”

“Museum!” exclaimed Jessie.

“What museum?” asked Henry at almost the same time.

Looking startled, Coral said, “The State History Museum. Why?”

“Did he work on the quilt exhibits?” Violet asked.

“Oh, no,” Coral replied. “He worked in what I call the china department. But he quit last week.”

Henry said, “Will you excuse us for a minute, please? We’d like to catch up with Mr. Grey. We’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” said Lina. She was stroking the pattern as if it were an actual quilt.

As they hurried out of the shop, they heard Coral say, “So you think this was made into a wedding quilt?”

“Yes,” Lina answered. “Let me tell you the story.”

They didn’t hear the rest. They were running down the street after Dirk Grey. They caught up with him right outside the door of the coffee shop.

“Excuse me,” Jessie said breathlessly. “Excuse me, Mr. Grey?”

Dirk paused, raising his eyebrows15. “Yes?” he said.

“Why did you tell us you didn’t know Mr. Munsey?” Henry asked. “You worked at the museum together.”

Dirk frowned. “So what if I did?”

“So you must have known him,” Jessie said.

“We can ask Mr. Munsey,” said Violet, “if you won’t tell us.”

That made Dirk Grey frown harder. “Okay,” he snapped. “I know Mr. Munsey.” He started to turn away.

“Why didn’t you tell us the truth?” Benny asked.

The bouncy man didn’t look quite so bouncy as he turned back to face them. “Because Mr. Munsey and I don’t get along,” he snapped. “We’re not friends. We don’t like each other.”

“Oh,” said Benny.

“Have you talked to Mr. Munsey lately?” asked Jessie.

“No,” said Dirk Grey, “and if I’m lucky, I’ll never have to talk to him again. We had very different ideas about what a museum should exhibit. Okay?”

He spun16 around and walked into the coffee shop.

The Aldens didn’t try to follow.

“I think he’s telling the truth now, at least about not liking17 Mr. Munsey,” said Violet.

“Yes,” said Jessie. “And since Mr. Munsey and Mr. Grey don’t like each other, it’s not very likely that Mr. Munsey told him about the quilts.”

“Well, I’m sure he was looking for Lina’s quilts that day at the yard sale,” said Violet, “even though I don’t think he knows very much about them.”

“It’s enough that he knows they’re valuable,” Henry said. “Coral said he only stopped working at the museum last week. Maybe he overheard something before he left.”

Jessie nodded. “Yes,” she said slowly.

“Well, it’s not Coral,” said Violet as they walked back to the shop. “We know why she was acting18 so strangely when we visited her. It was because she’d just found the old quilt pattern and wasn’t sure what to do.”

“That leaves Dirk Grey, Regina Lott, and Mr. Munsey,” said Henry.

“And the hidden treasure,” Benny added.

When the Aldens entered the shop, Lina was getting ready to leave. “Thank you again,” she told Coral.

Coral nodded. “I’m glad to give you another part of your great-great-aunt’s story — even if I did have to give up that quilt pattern.” She picked up her quilting and waved them toward the door. “I’d better get to work on this pillow cover if I ever want to finish it,” she said, and waved them out the door.

“Well, you’ve certainly helped me solve a mystery,” said Lina.

“We have?” asked Violet.

“Yes! I know what kind of wedding quilt Aunt Hope made. I know it had lots of green in it, to match her eyes. I even have the pattern for it,” said Lina. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have any of that.”

The Aldens were glad that they had helped Lina. But they knew the biggest mystery was yet to be solved.

“Let’s have some tea and cookies at my house to celebrate,” Lina went on.

“Okay,” said Benny promptly19.

But the tea and cookies would have to wait. When they reached Lina’s house, two cars were parked out front.

“That’s Regina’s car,” said Jessie.

“And that’s Mr. Munsey on the porch,” said Benny.

“Regina’s on the porch, too,” reported Henry. “It looks like they’re arguing.”

The Aldens and Lina hopped20 out of the van and walked to the house.

“Why are you here?” Jessie blurted21 out.

“I drove up and saw this person snooping around the house. I thought she might be a burglar,” stated Mr. Munsey. “You’ve told a reporter about the quilts?”

“We didn’t tell her!” Benny said.

“Then who did?” demanded Mr. Munsey. “The more people who know about the quilts, the less safe it is for you to keep them in an old trunk in the attic22!”

“But…” Benny began. He stopped when Violet squeezed his arm. He looked up and she put her finger to her lips. “Oh,” said Benny. He knew Violet was reminding him that where they’d hidden the quilts was a secret.

“I’m a reporter. I find things out. It’s my job,” Regina said. She glanced at Lina. “And I had an appointment with Lina.”

“No, you didn’t,” Lina said. “Not today. I told you to call first.”

“So what?” Regina hissed23.

Mr. Munsey said, “It’s a good thing I decided24 to stop by here on my way home from the airport. Things are getting out of hand.”

“The airport?” Jessie asked.

“I’ve been at a conference in Canada,” said Mr. Munsey.

“When? When were you at the conference, I mean?” asked Jessie.

“Since last week. I left for it a couple of hours after I came here,” Mr. Munsey said impatiently.

“Did you see Dirk Grey before you left?” asked Henry.

Regina had gotten quiet and was listening intently.

“Dirk Grey! You haven’t told him about the quilts, have you?” Mr. Munsey said.

“We didn’t tell him, but we think he knows,” said Jessie.

“Worse than telling a reporter,” Mr. Munsey muttered.

Regina’s face had suddenly turned red.

“Oh, dear,” Mr. Munsey went on. “Dirk Grey. That spy. He must have overheard someone at the museum. Oh, dear.”

“You worked at the museum, too?” Regina asked.

“I’m an expert on textiles. I specialize in quilts,” said Mr. Munsey. “Oh, dear.”

“You’re a quilt expert?” asked Regina, holding out her microphone. “And in your expert opinion, are the quilts extremely valuable?”

That seemed to shake Mr. Munsey out of his mood. He gave Regina a cold look. He turned to Lina. “I’m going,” he said. “But I’ll be back.”

Mr. Munsey marched to his car and drove away.

“Okay, time for my story,” said Regina.

“Not now,” said Lina.

Regina’s sharp eyes focused on the large envelope Lina was clutching. Coral had put the quilt pattern in there for safekeeping.

“What’s that? More letters?” Regina asked.

“Not now,” said Lina, unlocking the door.

“But…” Regina said.

The Aldens followed Lina inside. Lina closed the door.

“Tomorrow,” Regina shouted from the porch.

After a long wait, they heard her car drive away.

“Tea,” said Lina, sounding a little tired. “And cookies.”

“Yes,” Benny agreed. “Cookies.”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 weaver LgWwd     
n.织布工;编织者
参考例句:
  • She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快,而且布的质量很好。
  • The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。
2 crumpling 5ae34fb958cdc699149f8ae5626850aa     
压皱,弄皱( crumple的现在分词 ); 变皱
参考例句:
  • His crumpling body bent low from years of carrying heavy loads. 由于经年累月的负重,他那皱巴巴的身子被压得弯弯的。
  • This apparently took the starch out of the fast-crumpling opposition. 这显然使正在迅速崩溃的反对党泄了气。
3 curb LmRyy     
n.场外证券市场,场外交易;vt.制止,抑制
参考例句:
  • I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
  • You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。
4 propped 557c00b5b2517b407d1d2ef6ba321b0e     
支撑,支持,维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。
  • This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。
5 fabric 3hezG     
n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织
参考例句:
  • The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
  • I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
6 scrap JDFzf     
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废
参考例句:
  • A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
  • Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。
7 scraps 737e4017931b7285cdd1fa3eb9dd77a3     
油渣
参考例句:
  • Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
  • A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。
8 sketches 8d492ee1b1a5d72e6468fd0914f4a701     
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概
参考例句:
  • The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
  • You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 flipped 5bef9da31993fe26a832c7d4b9630147     
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 ); 按(开关); 快速翻转; 急挥
参考例句:
  • The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转,撞毁了。
  • The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。
10 underneath VKRz2     
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面
参考例句:
  • Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
  • She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣,里面套着一条连衣裙。
11 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。
12 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
13 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。
14 full-time SsBz42     
adj.满工作日的或工作周的,全时间的
参考例句:
  • A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
  • I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作,我不知道她是如何对付的。
15 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • 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。
16 spun kvjwT     
v.纺,杜撰,急转身
参考例句:
  • His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
  • Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
17 liking mpXzQ5     
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢
参考例句:
  • The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
  • I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
18 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。
19 promptly LRMxm     
adv.及时地,敏捷地
参考例句:
  • He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
  • She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
20 hopped 91b136feb9c3ae690a1c2672986faa1c     
跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花
参考例句:
  • He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
  • He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车,向市区开去。
21 blurted fa8352b3313c0b88e537aab1fcd30988     
v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止,她已脱口而出。
  • He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相,说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
22 attic Hv4zZ     
n.顶楼,屋顶室
参考例句:
  • Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
  • What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理?
23 hissed 2299e1729bbc7f56fc2559e409d6e8a7     
发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 ); 发嘘声表示反对
参考例句:
  • Have you ever been hissed at in the middle of a speech? 你在演讲中有没有被嘘过?
  • The iron hissed as it pressed the wet cloth. 熨斗压在湿布上时发出了嘶嘶声。
24 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
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