儿童英语读物 Schoolhouse Mystery CHAPTER 15 The Last Song

What excitement there was in Port Elizabeth when the people heard about Freddy! It was hard for them to believe that the Money Man had cheated them. But when Mr. Carter¹ told them that just one of the old valentines was worth many dollars, they changed their minds.

“Oh, it seems wonderful to talk out loud again,” said Benny. “I don’t like to have people hiding and listening and whispering². Now I can yell³ if I want to.”

“It’s good to talk to you again, Mr. Carter,” said Henry, “and no Mr. Wilder-Smith.”

“What did you find out at Adams College, John?” asked Grandfather.

“They want to buy many of the coins,” said Mr. Carter. “And I found two collectors who want the rest. I am going to call on every family and pay them the right price for their coins.”

“What a job!” said Henry.

“All in a day’s work,” Mr. Carter said with a smile.

“What about the little things?” asked Jessie.

“I will give them all back,” said Mr. Carter. “An honest antique⁴ dealer⁵ will come up here a little later. The people can sell them or keep them, whatever they wish.”

“Mr. Willet did give Marie a red necklace,” said Benny slowly.

Mr. Carter smiled. “That necklace cost him twenty-five cents,” he said. “I guess you don’t need to worry about that.”

Violet⁶ said suddenly, “Maybe Miss Gray would like to sell her old books to an honest man. Nobody here reads them.”

“Right, Violet,” said Mr. Carter. “That’s exactly what she told me. But she said a lot more. She thought she was foolish to think anybody would read them. She plans to buy a whole library of colored picture books, stories, and other new books. The books will be for both children and grown-ups.”

“Good,” said Jessie. “She has changed, and now she’s really wonderful.”

The Aldens had planned to have a picnic for the school children on the last day. But no—the children wanted to go to school!

“What children!” said Violet. “I never saw any children like them anywhere.”

As the children were singing a last song, someone came in the back door. The children could hardly believe their eyes. They clapped without knowing it. They had seen Miss Gray only from a distance, but they knew who she was.

Henry said, “Miss Gray is going to be your teacher until a new one comes. And she will choose somebody to ring the bell.”

“We won’t say goodbye,” said Benny. “We hate to say goodbye. We never do, we just go.”

It was hard, but everyone did just go. Mr. Alden sat outside in the station wagon⁷. Miss Gray’s gardener took her home. The Aldens piled into the station wagon, and the school children waved and waved. Then the car rattled⁸ over the rocks and stones, and the Aldens were soon on their way home.

When they reached home, Benny called up his friend Max.

“Hello, Max! It’s me!”

“Oh, hi, Ben! How about adventures? Did you catch a thief or find hidden treasure?”

“Both!” said Benny. “Come over on your bike and we’ll tell you all about the thief and the money hidden in old socks.”

“Don’t try to fool me, Ben,” said Max. “You couldn’t find all that on such a dull island.”

“Well, we did,” said Benny. “It was so exciting that we could hardly pay attention to our schoolteaching.”

“Schoolteaching! Are you crazy?”

“No,” said Benny. “We did more than that. We met a famous author and we discovered two artists.”

“I don’t believe it,” said Max. But he always believed Benny Alden.

It was not long before Max leaned⁹ his bike against the front steps. The Aldens took turns telling him about the schoolhouse mystery.

“It’s too much,” said Max at last. “I’ve been up there two summers. And not a thing happened except that we ate our meals and went fishing. Not a thing! But, Mr. Alden, I thought you were going to take the family somewhere else this summer?”

“Well, so I am, Max,” said Grandfather. He winked¹⁰.

“Not much time left, sir.”

“There’s enough. There’s all of August and part of September,” said Mr. Alden.

“Almost time to go to the moon,” said Benny.

1 carter   

n.运货马车夫，赶大车的人；卡车司机

参考例句：

• Although fatigue shows readily on Carter, he bounces back quickly. 卡特虽然容易显出疲劳的样子，但他恢复得很快。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 whispering   

adj.耳语的，爱拨弄是非的v.低声说( whisper的现在分词 )；私语；小声说；私下说

参考例句：

• They were whispering endearments to each other. 他们彼此低声倾吐着爱慕之情。
• He could hear whispering and scuffling on the other side of the door. 他能听见门那边的低语声和窸窸窣窣的走动声。

3 yell   

vi./n.号叫，叫喊

参考例句：

• This gave them a chance to yell.这给了他们大声喊叫的机会。
• When his schoolmate made the last goal,the boy gave out with an untrammeled yell.那个男孩在他的同学踢进最后一球时不禁纵声欢呼。

4 antique   

adj.古时的，古代的；n.古物，古器，古玩

参考例句：

• The Sunday antique market is a happy hunting ground for collectors.周日的古董市场是收藏家的淘物乐园。
• I saw the vase in the window of an antique shop.我在一家古玩店的橱窗里看见了这个花瓶。

5 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

6 violet   

adj.紫色的；n.紫罗兰

参考例句：

• She likes to wear violet dresses.他喜欢穿紫色的衣服。
• Violet is the color of wisdom,peace and strength.紫色是智慧的，和平的和力量的颜色。

7 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

8 rattled   

慌乱的，恼火的

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里，窗户都格格作响。

9 leaned   

v.（使）倾斜，屈身( lean的过去式和过去分词 )；倚；依赖；使斜靠

参考例句：

• He leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. 他俯身向前，双手十字交错地紧握着。
• He leaned back, exulting at the success of his plan. 他向后一靠，为自己计划成功而得意扬扬。

10 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》