儿童英语读物 神秘农场 Mystery Ranch Chapter 7 兄弟俩来到农场

Two days passed before Maggie finally spoke¹ her mind. She was feeling much better now with three delicious meals a day. And she enjoyed having someone to talk to.

Maggie and the two girls were sitting on the back steps, enjoying the cool evening breeze². The dinner dishes were done, and the first stars had come out over the ranch³.

“Maybe I haven’t any right to ask,” Maggie began. “But I wonder what your grandfather is going to do about your aunt. She needs some care all the time. You girls can’t stay here all summer.”

“Maybe we can,” said Violet⁴ softly⁵. “We love it here, and I think Aunt Jane is used⁶ to having us now.”

“There is one thing that’s missing⁷, though,” said Jessie.

“Yes, I know,” said Violet. “We both miss the boys.”

Violet looked very sad.

“Maybe Aunt Jane would let the boys come, too,” said Jessie. “Then it would be perfect.” She looked at her sister.

“Let’s ask her tomorrow,” Violet said.

The two girls went upstairs to bed.

Next morning Jessie took a fine breakfast into her aunt’s room. The little lady began to eat, and Jessie sat down beside the bed.

“We miss Henry and Benny, Aunt Jane,” she began. “Couldn’t we ask them to come for a few days? I’m sure Grandfather would let them come if you were willing⁸.”

“Well,” said her aunt, “I’d agree to that.”

The little lady looked up from her breakfast.

“But I don’t want to see James, remember that!” she said.

“Grandfather is really very nice when you get to know him,” said Jessie.

Aunt Jane gave a short laugh. “Don’t forget that I knew your grandfather long before you did. If these two boys turn out like him, back they go!”

Jessie was sorry to hear her aunt talk like that. She did not answer. It was the best thing she could have done. Miss Jane was beginning to love the smiles on these two young faces.

What could she say to make Jessie happy again? she wondered.

“Tell Benny to bring his dog,” she said.

What a smile came over Jessie’s face! She did not say that Watch was not Benny’s dog, but hers.

She said, “Oh, that’s wonderful! Watch will love this ranch! And we’ll keep him out of your room, I promise.”

“Well, don’t promise that,” said Aunt Jane. “I like dogs in my room if they are good dogs.”

“Watch is a wonderful dog,” said Jessie. “He saved our lives once.” said Jessie, holding Watch by a strap⁹. “I’ll keep Watch with me.”

The boys followed Violet into the bedroom. Aunt Jane was almost sitting up against her pillows¹⁰. Her blue eyes were very bright.

“Hello, Aunt Jane,” said Benny, going over to the bed. “I’m Benny. And aren’t you a cute little lady!”

Aunt Jane was taken by surprise. She almost smiled.

“And I suppose you are Henry,” she said.

“Yes. We are sorry you are sick,” Henry answered. He hardly knew what to say to this strange woman.

“Who said I was sick?” asked Aunt Jane. “Well, you certainly don’t look like your grandfather.”

“No, I’m afraid not,” said Henry.

“No need to be afraid about that,” answered Aunt Jane. “I’m glad you don’t look like him. And where’s that big dog I’ve heard about?”

“Jessie, bring in Watch,” called Henry.

Everyone watched to see what the dog would do. He walked over to the bed and looked at the little old woman. Then he sat down and put out his paw¹¹.

“He wants to shake hands!” cried Benny, delighted¹². “Shake hands with him, Aunt Jane! You don’t want to hurt his feelings.”

For a minute, the children thought their aunt was angry. But to their surprise, she sat up and shook hands with the dog.

“Good dog,” she said, lying back again.

Watch threw back his head and looked at Jessie. His mouth was open.

“Oh, Aunt Jane, he’s laughing!” cried Benny. “He likes you!”

“Well, well,” said Aunt Jane. “I’m glad the dog likes me, at least. You can go now and eat. And shut the door when you leave. I’m very tired from all the excitement¹³.”

The children went back into the kitchen and sat around the table, talking.

“Isn’t Aunt Jane a surprise?” asked Jessie.

“She certainly is,” said Henry, “but I like her.”

Jessie said, “Just guess what I think. Which one of us will do the most to make Aunt Jane well again?”

And three voices answered together, “Watch!”

1 spoke   

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。

2 breeze   

n.微风；轻而易举的事；vi.来去匆匆，急速走

参考例句：

• A little breeze is blowing in from the window.微风从窗户里吹进来。
• The clouds are pale and a light breeze is blowing.云淡风轻。

3 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

4 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。

5 softly   

adv.柔和地，静静地，温柔地

参考例句：

• He speaks too softly for her to hear.他讲话声音太轻，她听不见。
• She breathed her advice softly.她低声劝告。

6 used   

adj.用旧了的，旧的；习惯于…；过去惯/经常

参考例句：

• I used to work until nearly 6:00 o'clock each day.我过去常常工作到6:00左右。
• He used to walk anywhere from two to five miles an hour.他过去经常一小时走二至五英里。

7 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

8 willing   

adj.愿意的，自愿的，乐意的，心甘情愿的

参考例句：

• We never lack food and clothing if we're willing to work.如果我们愿意工作,就不会缺吃少穿。
• He's quite willing to pay the price I ask.他很愿意照我的要价付钱。

9 strap   

n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎

参考例句：

• She held onto a strap to steady herself.她抓住拉手吊带以便站稳。
• The nurse will strap up your wound.护士会绑扎你的伤口。

10 pillows   

n.枕头( pillow的名词复数 )；用作枕头的东西

参考例句：

• She lay back against the pillows. 她半躺半坐靠在枕头上。
• He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 paw   

n.手掌，手爪；v.以蹄扒地，笨拙地使用，费力地前进

参考例句：

• He served as a cat's paw.他充当爪牙。
• Don't paw at everything you see.别见什么摸什么。

12 delighted   

adj.非常高兴的；愉快的；欣慰

参考例句：

• Everybody was delighted to see her.大家见到她都很高兴。
• I was delighted to hear the news of your success.听到你成功了的消息时我非常高兴。

13 excitement   

n.刺激；兴奋；激动

参考例句：

• His voice rose in excitement.他激动得声音提高了。
• He opened the door and ran out in great excitement.他打开门，非常激动地跑了出去。