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儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo CHAPTER 12 A Change of Heart

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Helen Brooks1 faced Edward Marlow.

“Hello, Helen,” Edward greeted her coolly.

“I hear your zoo has been having lots of problems,” Helen said. “You can’t keep the animals quiet if something is bothering them!”

“Yes,” Edward admitted. “But we’ve found the one responsible for the zoo’s troubles.”

“I knew something was going on,” she said smugly. “What I want to know is are these troubles really over?” She shook a red fingernail under Edward’s nose.

“The troubles are over,” Edward said calmly. Then he glared at her. “Except for you, Helen.”

Helen drew herself up and straightened her purple hat. “You don’t need to worry about me any longer.”

“What do you mean?” Henry asked. “Aren’t you trying to close Edward’s zoo?”

“Not anymore,” Helen said, lifting her chin and pressing her lips into a thin line.

Edward’s eyes opened wide. “You mean you’re not bringing this before the town council?”

“Actually, no,” Helen said, gazing down at her oversized purse. “You see, I had a talk with my fellow council members, and they informed me that they’d never vote to close the zoo. They said it gave too much pleasure to the people of Rosedale.” She met Edward’s eyes. “I know when I’m defeated.”

Edward grabbed Helen’s hand and shook it up and down. “Thank you! Thank you!”

“And you know I’ve often sat in my car in front of the zoo to see if I could find something wrong.” Helen managed a smile. “The only thing I saw were a lot of happy faces.”

“That’s great news, Miss Brooks,” Violet said shyly. “The zoo is really a wonderful place.”

Helen glanced at Violet. “Yes, it is, dear,” she murmured.

“I’m glad you don’t want to close the zoo,” Benny said, grinning at her.

“You know something,” Helen said. “I’m glad, too.”

They told Helen good-bye, and Grandfather said, “We’ve got to say good-bye, too.”

“Yes, Watch and Mrs. McGregor will wonder what happened to us,” Jessie said.

“I’m so glad you don’t have to worry about the zoo being closed,” Violet said, a smile lighting2 her pretty face.

“So am I!” Edward said emphatically.

“Surely you’ll be able to stay one more day,” Edward said.

“Yes, there are a few odds3 and ends I need to clean up in the yard,” Grandfather said. “Besides, I know my grandchildren would enjoy one more day at the zoo—a day without problems.”

“Yes, oh, yes,” Jessie said, bending down to scratch Scamper4 behind the ears.

“You bet we would,” Henry echoed.

Their last morning, over a breakfast of pancakes and sausages, Jessie asked Edward, “Do you think we could have a party tonight and invite Pat and David?”

“We want to make dinner for you one last time,” Violet said, smiling.

“That’s a splendid idea!” Edward said. “I’ll ask Pat and David today.”

“Should we ask anyone else?” Henry asked.

“Who would it be?” Benny wanted to know.

“Are you thinking of Helen Brooks?” Jessie said, her eyes twinkling.

Edward thought about it, then said, “Why not? Yesterday she made me very happy. And even though she doesn’t know it, she made the animals happy, also!” He rose. “I’ll see you children at the zoo.” And he went out the door.

The Aldens bought groceries and cooked all morning.

In the afternoon the children walked to the zoo for the last time. They visited each of the animals. Benny spent the longest time at the Monkey House. He laughed at Amos’s funny tricks, but when it was time to go, his smile vanished. Waving at Amos, he stepped away. “I’ll be back,” he promised.

That night, when everyone plus Pat, Helen Brooks, and David were seated at the candlelit table, the children served dinner.

David’s eyes grew big when he saw the dishes of delicious roast turkey, dressing5, mashed6 potatoes and gravy7, cranberry8 sauce, and buttered peas set on a white tablecloth9. Later, apple pie and ice cream was served for dessert.

Cleaning his plate, Edward leaned back with a contented10 look on his face. When Helen Brooks smiled, Benny thought she looked almost pretty. “You should smile more often,” he blurted11 out.

Helen’s mouth opened in astonishment12, then she winked13. “I know I should. When you were kind enough to invite me to dinner, I promised myself I’d be more pleasant.” Her blue dress brought out the blue of her eyes, and, as she carefully folded her napkin, she murmured, “I’m ashamed of the way I acted.” She glanced around the table. “I’m surprised you’re speaking to me.”

Everyone was pleased that the evening was such a happy occasion, and after the guests had left, the children, Edward, and Grandfather went into the living room. Edward settled into his easy chair next to his bookcase and cabinet. The children were proud of the cozy14 corner they had made for him.

Henry poured Grandfather and Edward another cup of coffee, then sat on the floor next to Jessie and Violet. Benny perched on the arm of Grandfather’s chair. They discussed the zoo and all the things that had happened to the animals. They talked about Mac Thatcher15 and poor kidnapped Amos, and Helen Brooks, and the fun they’d had.

Jessie, sitting cross-legged, glanced up at Edward. “We had a wonderful time!” “So did I,” Edward said, reaching down and stroking Scamper, who lay at his feet. “I’ll miss you when you leave, but I hope you’ll come back.”

“Oh, we will.” Grandfather laughed. “I need to check on the roses and new shrubs16.”

Benny yawned. “I’m sleepy,” he admitted.

“Yes, it’s time to go to bed,” Violet said, standing17 and stretching.

Grandfather said, “We’re leaving early, children, so get a good night’s sleep.”

It had been a wonderful vacation, full of fun and mystery, but now it was over and time to go home. They could hardly wait to tell Mrs. McGregor all about it.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 brooks cdbd33f49d2a6cef435e9a42e9c6670f     
n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时,狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了,今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
3 odds n5czT     
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别
参考例句:
  • The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
  • Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗?
4 scamper 9Tqzs     
v.奔跑,快跑
参考例句:
  • She loves to scamper through the woods of the forest.她喜欢在森林里的树林中穿梭嬉戏。
  • The flash sent the foxes scampering away.闪光惊得狐狸四处逃窜。
5 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
6 mashed Jotz5Y     
a.捣烂的
参考例句:
  • two scoops of mashed potato 两勺土豆泥
  • Just one scoop of mashed potato for me, please. 请给我盛一勺土豆泥。
7 gravy Przzt1     
n.肉汁;轻易得来的钱,外快
参考例句:
  • You have spilled gravy on the tablecloth.你把肉汁泼到台布上了。
  • The meat was swimming in gravy.肉泡在浓汁之中。
8 cranberry TvOz5U     
n.梅果
参考例句:
  • Turkey reminds me of cranberry sauce.火鸡让我想起梅果酱。
  • Actually I prefer canned cranberry sauce.事实上我更喜欢罐装的梅果酱。
9 tablecloth lqSwh     
n.桌布,台布
参考例句:
  • He sat there ruminating and picking at the tablecloth.他坐在那儿沉思,轻轻地抚弄着桌布。
  • She smoothed down a wrinkled tablecloth.她把起皱的桌布熨平了。
10 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
参考例句:
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
11 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》
12 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
13 winked af6ada503978fa80fce7e5d109333278     
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》
14 cozy ozdx0     
adj.亲如手足的,密切的,暖和舒服的
参考例句:
  • I like blankets because they are cozy.我喜欢毛毯,因为他们是舒适的。
  • We spent a cozy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。
15 thatcher ogQz6G     
n.茅屋匠
参考例句:
  • Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. 汤姆 - 索亚和撒切尔法官同乘一条小艇。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
  • Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. 撒切尔夫人几乎神经失常,还有波莉姨妈也是。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
16 shrubs b480276f8eea44e011d42320b17c3619     
灌木( shrub的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The gardener spent a complete morning in trimming those two shrubs. 园丁花了整个上午的时间修剪那两处灌木林。
  • These shrubs will need more light to produce flowering shoots. 这些灌木需要更多的光照才能抽出开花的新枝。
17 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。
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