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“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 streaks1 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 honk2 of the horn, he drove away.
The children waved good-bye, then followed Kate up the porch steps.
“You can unpack3 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 plaque4 hanging beside the front door. The inscription5 on the plaque read: ETHAN CAPE6 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 spoke7 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 eyebrows8 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-aged9 man coming along the hallway. “Oh, Professor Brewer10! 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 shrug11, 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.
收听单词发音 |
1
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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2
honk
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| n.雁叫声，汽车喇叭声 | |
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3
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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plaque
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| n.饰板，匾，(医)血小板 | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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7
spoke
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| 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 | |
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8
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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10
brewer
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| n. 啤酒制造者 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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