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儿童英语读物 The Old Motel Mystery CHAPTER 9 Mr. Smiley

时间:2017-07-10 02:49来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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In the flickering1 candlelight the Aldens sat quietly at the table. The bank inspector2 would be there any minute. The thunder rumbled3 and the lightning flashed,

It wasn’t long before the pinch-faced man and Kay entered their room. Kay introduced them to Mr. Smiley. But he didn’t look very smiley, Benny thought. He looked more scowly. Mr. Smiley barely nodded as he snooped around the motel. He sniffed4 as he poked5 at a bed with his umbrella.

Kay winked6 at the children as Mr. Smiley walked into the kitchen. Henry gave Kay a thumbs-up sign. They heard the faucet7 run and the gas stove turn on.

Mr. Smiley came into the room and said, “I’ve seen enough, Mrs. Kingsley, to make an honest assessment8.” Glancing at the children, he again nodded coldly. Holding the door open for Kay, Mr. Smiley followed her out of the room.

Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew,” she said. “I’m glad that’s over!”

“Do you think Kay will get the loan?” Violet asked quietly.

“He looked too fussy9 to me,” Benny said, lifting his nose in the air, pretending to be Mr. Smiley.

Suddenly, the rain came down in torrents10. Henry rushed for a pot to place under the leak above where Benny’s bed used to be.

Jessie took down a game from the closet shelf. “This is a good day to play Monopoly,” she said.

“Yes, it is,” agreed Violet. “Isn’t it nice that Kay has all kinds of games and cards for tourists to check out?”

They played Monopoly for over an hour.

“The rain has stopped,” Jessie said.

Henry opened the door and drops of water fell from the roof. The dark sky, however, had changed to a light gray, and in the east was a rosy-pink streak11, which meant the sun might shine after all.

“Let’s go for a bike ride,” Benny said eagerly, pushing the board away. “Violet won.”

“Okay, Benny,” Violet answered. “We can stop at the store and buy bread.”

They all helped to put the game back neatly12.

Henry went outside and glanced up at Kay’s house. Mr. Smiley’s car was gone. Coming back in, he said, “Let’s swing around by Kay’s and see if she was given the bank loan.”

“Oh, yes,” Jessie said, holding up two crossed fingers for luck. “I hope.”

“And let’s call Grandfather,” Benny said.

“Oh, good, Benny,” Violet said. “We will.”

Wheeling out the bikes from the nearby shed, they pedaled single file up the narrow path to Kay’s house.

Kay and Aunt Jane were picking roses that grew near the house. The pink blossoms glistened13 with raindrops.

Aunt Jane turned and smiled. “Hi, children. Did you sleep well last night?”

“After Willie jumped off the roof,” Henry said, straddling his bike, “we were fine.”

Kay laughed. “My cat likes to roam at night.”

“Does he ever!” Jessie said. “Willie’s yellow eyes gave us quite a scare.”

“We were wondering what Mr. Smiley had to say,” Violet asked shyly.

Kay said in a deep voice like Mr. Smiley’s, “ ‘After much thought, I will recommend that you be granted a loan.’ ”

“Hurrah!” Benny yelled. Jessie laughed in delight at Kay’s imitation.

Now Kay’s voice was lighthearted. “I’ve already phoned Rolf, and he’s in Lyndale right now buying shingles15 to patch the roof. He’s also bringing fuses. He thinks someone stole the fuses from the fuse box and that’s what made the lights go out.”

“Good!” Benny said. “Now we can see, but who did it?”

“I wish we knew,” Kay said. “Too many things are happening!”

“Whoever it is, the person will be caught,” Violet said, trying to reassure16 Kay.

“When Rolf fixes the roof, no more rain will drip on my face,” Benny said, his face brightening.

Kay chuckled17. “That’s right, Benny. No more leaks in the roof.”

“May we call Grandfather?” Jessie asked.

“Please,” Kay answered, gesturing to the phone on the desk.

Jessie dialed the number and told Grandfather Alden what a good time they were having. Violet said hello and didn’t mention any of the mysterious goings on, for fear that he’d worry. Benny eagerly told him about the orange trees and the swimming pool.

After each Alden had talked to Mr. Alden, Henry went over to Kay. “Could we bring you anything?” he offered. “We’re biking to the store.”

Kay glanced at Jane, who shook her head. “I don’t think we need a thing, but thanks,” Kay said.

Cheerfully waving good-bye, the children biked down the muddy lane.

At the store, Jessie bought a loaf of bread. That errand over, they biked to the edge of Lyndale and back.

When they returned, Kay called to them, “Rolf is back with the shingles and has already replaced the missing fuses. He needs a little help with the shingles.”

Benny shouted. “I’ll help.”

“And so will I,” Henry volunteered.

“Wonderful,” Kay said. “I think he just needs someone to hand him the shingles.”

“What can we do?” Violet asked.

Kay smiled. “See all these geraniums? They need potting. I have window boxes stored in the bike shed.”

“Oh, what fun,” Jessie said. “We’ll plant the flowers in the boxes and put them on the windowsills of each motel unit.”

“Right,” Kay said.

“Won’t the red flowers be pretty against the white motel?” Violet said.

“I thought so,” Kay said. “If you’ll do that, Jane and I have a sewing project. You know the small round table by each bed. We’re going to make tablecloths18 to cover each one in all the units.”

“Aunt Jane is a beautiful seamstress,” Violet said.

Kay chuckled. “I know. She’s already hemmed19 a skirt for me.”

Rolf climbed the hill. “Hi, kids,” he called. “It’s good to see the sun again, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Benny said, looking up at the big man. “Henry and I will help you with the shingles!”

“Then let’s get started,” Rolf said. “My Jeep is parked below, filled with shingles. Come on, kids.” He hoisted21 Benny up on his shoulders.

“I’m a roofer today,” Rolf said with a grin, setting Benny on the ground. Rolf wore a cap, jeans, and a navy shirt and looked quite handsome. “Do you want to bring me a bundle of shingles from the Jeep, Henry, while I get the ladder?”

“Sure thing,” Henry said, eager to start.

The girls hauled out eight window boxes and filled them with potting soil from the bags that were lined up against the shed. Then they took the crimson22 geraniums and planted the first window box.

Rolf placed the ladder against the motel.

Benny shaded his eyes as Rolf climbed halfway23 up the ladder. “Will you stop the rain from dripping in my eyes?”

“I’m going to patch that very spot,” Rolf promised.

Shingles were stacked high in the back of the jeep.

Henry reached in for a stack but quickly pulled his hand away. Puzzled, he stared at his sticky fingers.

Benny, coming up behind Henry, also tried to lift a shingle14, but it was stuck fast.

“Ugh!” Benny said, wiping a thick black substance on the grass. “It won’t come off,” he wailed24. “What is it, Henry?”

“I think it’s tar20,” Henry said.

The shingles were ruined. Someone had poured tar all over them.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 flickering wjLxa     
adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的
参考例句:
  • The crisp autumn wind is flickering away. 清爽的秋风正在吹拂。
  • The lights keep flickering. 灯光忽明忽暗。
2 inspector q6kxH     
n.检查员,监察员,视察员
参考例句:
  • The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
  • The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
3 rumbled e155775f10a34eef1cb1235a085c6253     
发出隆隆声,发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 轰鸣着缓慢行进; 发现…的真相; 看穿(阴谋)
参考例句:
  • The machine rumbled as it started up. 机器轰鸣着发动起来。
  • Things rapidly became calm, though beneath the surface the argument rumbled on. 事情迅速平静下来了,然而,在这种平静的表面背后争论如隆隆雷声,持续不断。
4 sniffed ccb6bd83c4e9592715e6230a90f76b72     
v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说
参考例句:
  • When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣,吸了吸鼻子,擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 poked 87f534f05a838d18eb50660766da4122     
v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 );戳出;拨弄;与(某人)性交
参考例句:
  • She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
  • His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 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》
7 faucet wzFyh     
n.水龙头
参考例句:
  • The faucet has developed a drip.那个水龙头已经开始滴水了。
  • She turned off the faucet and dried her hands.她关掉水龙头,把手擦干。
8 assessment vO7yu     
n.评价;评估;对财产的估价,被估定的金额
参考例句:
  • This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
  • What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何?
9 fussy Ff5z3     
adj.为琐事担忧的,过分装饰的,爱挑剔的
参考例句:
  • He is fussy about the way his food's cooked.他过分计较食物的烹调。
  • The little girl dislikes her fussy parents.小女孩讨厌她那过分操心的父母。
10 torrents 0212faa02662ca7703af165c0976cdfd     
n.倾注;奔流( torrent的名词复数 );急流;爆发;连续不断
参考例句:
  • The torrents scoured out a channel down the hill side. 急流沿着山腰冲刷出一条水沟。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Sudden rainstorms would bring the mountain torrents rushing down. 突然的暴雨会使山洪暴发。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
11 streak UGgzL     
n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动
参考例句:
  • The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
  • Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹?
12 neatly ynZzBp     
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
参考例句:
  • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
  • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
13 glistened 17ff939f38e2a303f5df0353cf21b300     
v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Pearls of dew glistened on the grass. 草地上珠露晶莹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Her eyes glistened with tears. 她的眼里闪着泪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
14 shingle 8yKwr     
n.木瓦板;小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌);v.用木瓦板盖(屋顶);把(女子头发)剪短
参考例句:
  • He scraped away the dirt,and exposed a pine shingle.他刨去泥土,下面露出一块松木瓦块。
  • He hung out his grandfather's shingle.他挂出了祖父的行医招牌。
15 shingles 75dc0873f0e58f74873350b9953ef329     
n.带状疱疹;(布满海边的)小圆石( shingle的名词复数 );屋顶板;木瓦(板);墙面板
参考例句:
  • Shingles are often dipped in creosote. 屋顶板常浸涂木焦油。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The roofs had shingles missing. 一些屋顶板不见了。 来自辞典例句
16 reassure 9TgxW     
v.使放心,使消除疑虑
参考例句:
  • This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点,于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
  • The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。
17 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
18 tablecloths abb41060c43ebc073d86c1c49f8fb98f     
n.桌布,台布( tablecloth的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Champagne corks popped, and on lace tablecloths seven-course dinners were laid. 桌上铺着带装饰图案的网织的桌布,上面是七道菜的晚餐。 来自飘(部分)
  • At the moment the cause of her concern was a pile of soiled tablecloths. 此刻她关心的事是一堆弄脏了的台布。 来自辞典例句
19 hemmed 16d335eff409da16d63987f05fc78f5a     
缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 ); 包围
参考例句:
  • He hemmed and hawed but wouldn't say anything definite. 他总是哼儿哈儿的,就是不说句痛快话。
  • The soldiers were hemmed in on all sides. 士兵们被四面包围了。
20 tar 1qOwD     
n.柏油,焦油;vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于
参考例句:
  • The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
  • We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。
21 hoisted d1dcc88c76ae7d9811db29181a2303df     
把…吊起,升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
  • The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。
22 crimson AYwzH     
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色
参考例句:
  • She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
  • Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。
23 halfway Xrvzdq     
adj.中途的,不彻底的,部分的;adv.半路地,在中途,在半途
参考例句:
  • We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路,天就黑了。
  • In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上,最忌讳的是有始无终。
24 wailed e27902fd534535a9f82ffa06a5b6937a     
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句
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