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儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Runaway Ghost CHAPTER 9 Saved by the Bell

时间:2017-11-10 06:15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)

“The answer to the riddle1 is one,” Benny called back as he rounded the corner, racing2 for Shadowbox. “And Buttercup has the number one on her bell!”

“You think the answer to the riddle has something to do with Buttercup?” Violet asked, running right behind him.

“I’m sure of it,” Benny said. “We just have to … oh, no!” Benny stopped suddenly at the top of the driveway.

“What?” Jessie asked, trying to catch her breath.

“The riddle leads us straight to Buttercup,” Benny explained, “but Buttercup isn’t around anymore. And that means — ”

“We’ve come to another dead end,” finished Violet.

Just then, they heard a familiar voice drifting out the open window of Shadowbox. It was Grandfather!

Benny rushed inside, arms outstretched. Grandfather was standing3 in the hallway with Fran. He laughed and returned the hug.

“Grandfather, you’re back!” Jessie hugged him, too.

“I finished my work sooner than expected,” Grandfather told them, embracing Violet and Henry. Then everyone was talking at once.

“I bought a ghost cookie cutter,” Benny told him.

“We played croquet on the back lawn last night,” Jessie said.

“Fran showed us how to press flowers,” Violet was saying.

“We’ve been trying to solve a mystery,” added Henry.

Grandfather chuckled4. “Sounds like you’ve been busy.”

As they sat down to lunch, Fran turned to Grandfather. “Let’s do something special tonight. How does a picnic supper in the park sound? A local group’s performing in the band shell.”

Grandfather thought an outdoor concert sounded great. So did everyone else.

“You know, it’s been ages since I’ve seen Nelson,” Grandfather said. “Why not invite him along tonight?”

It took Fran a moment to answer, but when she did, she was smiling. “That’s exactly what I’ll do, James. Thanks to Violet,” she added, “I’ve come to realize how little time Nelson and I spend together these days.”

“Maybe we could invite Reese and her mother, too,” suggested Jessie.

“Yes, I might as well mend all my bridges.” Fran nodded. “Oh, and I must remember to phone Lottie. She can meet us at the park after work.”

Benny swallowed a bite of his ham sandwich. “And we can bring the croquet set along, too.” He sounded excited.

After lunch, Grandfather went upstairs to take a nap. The children cleared the table while Fran made her phone calls. Cora accepted Fran’s invitation eagerly. So did Nelson. Lottie was the only one who had other plans. The Aldens couldn’t help wondering if her plans had anything to do with Rally Jensen, the art collector.

When the kitchen was spic and span, the children joined Fran in her workroom. Fran passed out heavy stationery5, folded in half. “The flowers are very delicate, so handle them carefully,” she advised.

Violet decided6 on a border of purple pansies on the front of her card. Henry made a zigzag7 design with goldenrod and the dark green tendrils of a morning glory. Jessie draped red velvet8 ribbon through a wreath of creamy elder blossoms. And Benny used bright yellow buttercups to form the letter B.

They were just finishing when Grandfather poked9 his head into the room. “So this is where everyone’s hiding.”

The children smiled proudly as Grandfather oohed and aahed over their greeting cards.

“I bet you didn’t know your grandchildren were so talented, did you, James?” Fran said, her eyes shining.

At that, Grandfather had to laugh. “Fran, my grandchildren never cease to amaze me!”

“I guess we’ll never find the treasure.” Benny sighed as he added a spoonful of mayonnaise to the potato salad. “Not without Buttercup to lead us to it.”

The four Alden children were busy in the kitchen. They had offered to prepare the picnic supper while Grandfather and Fran sat outside and chatted about old times.

“I wish the runaway10 ghost would give us a clue,” Benny added.

Henry looked up. “Wait a minute!” he said. “You might be onto something, Benny.”

“Ghosts don’t exist, Henry,” Violet said. “Remember?”

“Yes, but Fran’s painting of the runaway ghost is real,” explained Henry.

“Of course!” Jessie said. She jumped out of her seat and gave Henry a high five. “Maybe that’s where the third riddle is leading us!” The four Aldens made a beeline for Fran’s living room.

No one spoke11 for a moment as they stared up at the bell around Buttercup’s neck. Then Violet said, “Fran’s hunch12 was right. The mystery really is connected to Buttercup.”

“I don’t understand,” Benny said. “Where’s the treasure?”

Violet looked thoughtful. “Maybe the painting is the treasure,” she said.

Henry shook his head. “I doubt it. Fran says the painting’s not worth very much.”

“There must be something we’re not seeing,” insisted Violet.

“Maybe Lottie was right,” Jessie suggested.

“About what?” Benny asked.

“About the mystery just being a parlor13 game,” said Jessie. “Maybe Anne just made it up to entertain her children, and there isn’t a real treasure at the end.”

“And maybe the clues just lead to the painting of their treasured pet,” Henry said slowly, figuring it out as he talked.

“Then Buttercup’s the treasure?” Benny looked confused.

Henry shrugged14 a little. “It’s beginning to look that way.”

But Violet wasn’t so sure. She had a nagging15 feeling there was more to it than that. Could the answer lie somewhere in the painting itself?

“Wow, there sure are a lot of people here,” Benny said as he looked around the park.

Everyone was enjoying the beautiful evening. But no one was enjoying it more than the Aldens and their friends. With the band playing nearby, they ate their supper and talked and joked. Even Nelson, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, was all smiles. People said hello as they passed, and many of them knew Fran and Nelson by name.

After they had finished eating, Grandfather headed over to the covered stage to listen to the music with Cora and Reese. Fran went for a stroll along the creek16 with her son. Henry, Jessie, and Benny started a game of croquet.

Violet decided to sit it out. She wanted to look at the gallery brochures she’d brought with her. She thumbed through them quickly, then settled on one about great American artists. The painting on the cover of the brochure caught her attention. “Hey, look!” she called to the others. “Here’s a painting of a croquet game!”

Benny, Jessie, and Henry crowded around to study the picture. Three young ladies in hats and long dresses were playing croquet. A young man in a brown jacket and beige trousers was on one knee, placing a croquet ball on the grass. He was wearing a straw hat, and he had a mustache.

Benny giggled17. “They’re dressed just like the people in Fran’s photo of Homer.”

“I guess that was the style back then,” Henry said.

Violet leaned in for a closer look at the people’s faces. Then she gasped18. “That’s them!” she said.

“Who?” asked Jessie.

“That’s Selden and Anne!” Violet said, excitedly. “They look just like that in the missing photograph.”

Jessie took another look at the painting. “Now that you mention it,” she said, “that man does look a lot like Selden.”

“And see the lady in the background?” put in Violet. “The one in the brown dress? She sure looks like Anne, don’t you think?”

“Why isn’t Homer in the painting?” Benny wanted to know. “He was in the photograph.”

Henry, who was sprawled19 out on the blanket, propped20 himself up on one elbow. “This is getting stranger and stranger. What does it say in the brochure, Violet?”

Violet couldn’t help laughing at herself. “I never thought to read the article.” As she quickly scanned the brochure, she came across something that made her eyes widen.

“What is it?” Henry asked.

“Well, maybe this is just a weird21 coincidence,” Violet began, “but the artist who painted this was named Winslow Homer!”

Everyone was so surprised that no one said anything for a minute. Then Benny asked, “Are you sure Homer wasn’t his first name?”

“Quite sure, Benny,” said Violet. “It says that Winslow Homer painted the Croquet Scene in 1866.”

“That’s the same year The Runaway Ghost was painted,” Henry pointed22 out.

“Fran said she doesn’t know much about Selden’s friend,” Jessie said after a moment’s thought. “Maybe she just assumed Homer was his first name, since that’s what Selden called him.”

“That makes sense,” agreed Henry. “Homer was a common first name in the olden days.”

“I can’t believe it.” Violet’s eyes were huge. “Selden’s friend was the great American artist, Winslow Homer!”

Jessie put one hand up to her mouth. “Homer’s not in that Croquet Scene because … he was painting it!”

“Then … that means — ” began Benny.

Henry cut in. “It means Fran’s painting is worth a fortune!”

“I just wish we could compare this picture with the missing photograph,” Violet said. “Then we would know for sure if it’s really Selden and Anne in the Croquet Scene.”

“Let’s look for it when we get back,” Henry said. “Maybe we have sharper eyes than Fran.”

“We’ll never find it,” said Benny. “Somebody stole it.”

“Well, we ought to try to prove it before we tell Fran,” Jessie said. “Remember what Nelson said about getting her hopes up.”

The others agreed.

When the concert ended, Fran invited everyone back to Shadowbox for dessert. It was already dark when they joined the streams of people leaving the park.

Back at Shadowbox, everyone followed Fran to the living room. She flipped23 on a light switch and light filled the cheery room. Fran stepped through the doorway24, then she stopped abruptly25 when she noticed someone sitting in one of the buttercup-patterned chairs.

It was Lottie. She was holding a large, flat package wrapped in brown paper on her lap, and there was a suitcase beside her chair. Violet wondered how long the young artist had been sitting all alone in the dark.

“Lottie?” said Fran. “Is everything all right?”

“I’m afraid I have to leave,” Lottie answered nervously26. “There’s been a … a family emergency.”

“Oh, dear!” cried Fran.

“Is there anything we can do?” asked Violet.

“Do you need a ride to the airport?” offered Nelson.

Lottie shook her head as she got up. “A friend of mine agreed to give me a lift.”

Everyone offered their sympathy — everyone except Benny. He wasn’t paying attention. He was staring at the painting above the fireplace. It was exactly as it had always been, Shadowbox peeking27 out from among the trees and Buttercup grazing nearby. And yet, the youngest Alden was sure there was something wrong. When he took a step closer to the painting, he noticed what it was.

The number one was missing from Buttercup’s bell!


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 riddle WCfzw     
n.谜,谜语,粗筛;vt.解谜,给…出谜,筛,检查,鉴定,非难,充满于;vi.出谜
参考例句:
  • The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
  • Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。
2 racing 1ksz3w     
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的
参考例句:
  • I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
  • The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。
3 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。
4 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。
5 stationery ku6wb     
n.文具;(配套的)信笺信封
参考例句:
  • She works in the stationery department of a big store.她在一家大商店的文具部工作。
  • There was something very comfortable in having plenty of stationery.文具一多,心里自会觉得踏实。
6 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。
7 zigzag Hf6wW     
n.曲折,之字形;adj.曲折的,锯齿形的;adv.曲折地,成锯齿形地;vt.使曲折;vi.曲折前行
参考例句:
  • The lightning made a zigzag in the sky.闪电在天空划出一道Z字形。
  • The path runs zigzag up the hill.小径向山顶蜿蜒盘旋。
8 velvet 5gqyO     
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的
参考例句:
  • This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
  • The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
9 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》
10 runaway jD4y5     
n.逃走的人,逃亡,亡命者;adj.逃亡的,逃走的
参考例句:
  • The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
  • He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。
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 hunch CdVzZ     
n.预感,直觉
参考例句:
  • I have a hunch that he didn't really want to go.我有这么一种感觉,他并不真正想去。
  • I had a hunch that Susan and I would work well together.我有预感和苏珊共事会很融洽。
13 parlor v4MzU     
n.店铺,营业室;会客室,客厅
参考例句:
  • She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
  • Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店?
14 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 nagging be0b69d13a0baed63cc899dc05b36d80     
adj.唠叨的,挑剔的;使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评(某人)( nag的现在分词 );不断地烦扰或伤害(某人);无休止地抱怨;不断指责
参考例句:
  • Stop nagging—I'll do it as soon as I can. 别唠叨了—我会尽快做的。
  • I've got a nagging pain in my lower back. 我后背下方老是疼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 creek 3orzL     
n.小溪,小河,小湾
参考例句:
  • He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
  • People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
17 giggled 72ecd6e6dbf913b285d28ec3ba1edb12     
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The girls giggled at the joke. 女孩子们让这笑话逗得咯咯笑。
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
18 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
19 sprawled 6cc8223777584147c0ae6b08b9304472     
v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词);蔓延;杂乱无序地拓展;四肢伸展坐着(或躺着)
参考例句:
  • He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
  • He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。
20 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。
21 weird bghw8     
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的
参考例句:
  • From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
  • His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
22 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
23 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。
24 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。
25 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地,出其不意地
参考例句:
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
26 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
27 peeking 055254fc0b0cbadaccd5778d3ae12b50     
v.很快地看( peek的现在分词 );偷看;窥视;微露出
参考例句:
  • I couldn't resist peeking in the drawer. 我不由得偷看了一下抽屉里面。
  • They caught him peeking in through the keyhole. 他们发现他从钥匙孔里向里窥视。 来自辞典例句
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