《神奇树屋》 第四十三册 Leprechaun In Late Winter 03 Miss Augusta

　　Jack¹ and Annie looked at each other,Augusta!

The girl put down her baskets, and took off her wet cape,Did you do leave your cakes to the poor, miss Augusta? AskedMolly.

Yes. Molly. Said Augusta.

I visited 7 cottages today,7? In this weather?

Yeah.

An angel miss Augusta. Said molly. Always so kind to the poor.

It’s my duty, molly. The girl said. to help those less fortunate thanmyself.

Her gaze rested on Jack and Annie,And who are these poor children?

They are looking for work, miss. Said the cook. But I am afraid thatsorry creatures not good for anything. I was just sending themaway.

Oh, surly, we must not turn them so quickly, cook. Said Augusta.

How tired and miserable² they look!

Jack didn’t think they looked thatWe’re tired and miserable, Annie said.

Her voice sounded sad, her shoulder shrugged,Oh, brother! Jack thought.

Annie was really acting³ on her part.

My poor dears, you must both come from the parlor⁴ rest of bit? SaidAugusta.

We’ll like that. Annie said pitifully.

Follow me. Said Augusta.

Miss Augusta, surely you’lltake these dirty children into the parlor?

Said the cook.

We must be always be kind to the poor. Cook. No matter how dirtything they are. Said Augusta. We should give them something todrink if they are thirsty, and something to eat if they are hungry.

You are too kind miss Augusta. Said molly, shaking her head.

Well at least make them take off their fussy⁵ boots. Said the cook.

Jack and Annie put off their boots and socks, and set them by thedoor. Their feet were red and raw looking, Augusta took twopearled potatoes from the bowl, and pot them into her pocket, thenshe picked up a lit candle from the hoss,Come, let me take you to the parlor. She said to Jack and Annie.

Thanks. Augusta. Said Annie.

Show some more respect. The cook called after Annie. call hermiss Augusta.

Sorry. Said Annie, thanks. Miss Augusta.

Jack rowed his eyes.

Why should we call her miss?

Augusta didn’t look like she was any older than he was.

Holding her flicking⁶ candle, Augusta led Jack and Annie out of thekitchen, the wooden floor quaked as they walked barefoot to anarrow hallway.

How are we ever going to inspire this strange serious girl?

Wondered Jack. She acts as if she’s already a grownup, and treatsAnnie and me as babies.

We will sit here, children. Said Augusta.

She directed Jack and Annie into a large room with heavy curtainsand dark furniture. The pale teenager girl who answered the frontdoor, sat on a sofa, knitting⁷. Another teenager girl knitted⁸ beside her.

They scared then they saw Jack and Annie,What are you doing? Augusta? Asked the pale girl. Why are youbring those two into the parlor?

I invited them to take a rest. Said Augusta.

She turned to Jack and Annie,Pay no attention to my sisters. She said.

Please, sit down.

Augusta! Have you gonemad? Said the girl, chewed, you can notinvite these two rug orphans⁹ in here! Mother will be furious¹⁰. SaidAugusta’s other sister.

They are falsie, they are not even wearing shoes.

Jack looked down at his muddy clothes and cold red feet.

Cook and me removed their muddy shoes in the kitchen, oblizer.

Eliezer. Augusta said.

I only wish I had nice dry shoes to give them. Sit down, children.

She said to Jack and Annie. again.

Jack and Annie slowly sat down.

You’re going to get into trouble, Augusta. Saidgirl chewed.

Mother will never approve, said Lisa.

Both sisters shook their heads as they went back to their knitting.

Augusta ignored her sisters, and walked to a silver teapot on thesideboard,Would you like some hot tea, poor dears? She asked Jack andAnnie.

Yes. Miss Augusta. Said Annie.

Jack nodded. Hot tea sounded good. He still felt chilled¹¹ from thecold wind and rain. There was fireplace¹² in the jewelry¹³ parlor. But nofire was lit. everything in the room seemed too dark and gloomy¹⁴.

Except for a few books on the table. As Augusta poured tea intofancy china cups, Jack leaned closer to get a better look to thebooks. One was titled: the plays of William Shakespeare. The otherwas called thetales of king Arthur. Jack smiled to himself, seeingthose books’ titles made him a litter more comfortable.

Augusta carried cups of tea to Jack and Annie, then she pulled thepotatoes out of her pocket, and gave one to each of them.

Thank you, miss Augusta. Said Annie.

Jack took a sip¹⁵ of tea, but it was too hot and bitter to drink. He tooka bite of his potato, but it was too hot to chew.

So miss Augusta, what do you like to do around here? Annie asked.

What inspires you?

Augusta looked puzzled.

I do not know what you mean. She said.

What about reading books? Said Jack have you read all thosebooks?

He pointed¹⁶ to the tales of king author. Arthur, and plays of WilliamShakespeare.

Those books belong to my brothers. Said Augusta, the time is notcome for Augusta to read such books. Said her sister who arechewed.

Not until she’s older. Said her sister Eliza.

Why? Asked Jack.

Mother says the tales of king Arthur and plays of Shakespeare arenot for young ladies. Said Augusta.

Really? Said Jack.

Yes. But I’m afraid I sometimes pick my brothers’ books. Augustasaid to Jack and Annie in a low voice. I love stories. I rememberevery stories I read or hear,I love stories too. Said Annie.

And l love books.

The two elder sisters smiles.

Keeps driving my dear. Said Eliza. Perhaps one day you will learnto read.

I already know how to read, said Annie. Jack and I read lots ofbooks.

She pointed to the books on the table, in fact we know tons of talesof king Arthur. And we go and see plays of Shakespeare with ourparents. And one time we even acted in a play by Shakespeare. Amidnight’s summer dream. ..

It was acted at our school. Jack broke in. before Annie could tellthem, that she and Jack actually met Shakespeare himself.

A midnight’s summer dream? Said Augusta.

She looked surprised,Don’t listen to them, Augusta, said girl chewed.

I dare these children have ever been to school. Much less haveacted in a play by William Shakespeare .

I suspect you are quite right. Said the girl chewed.

A tall woman was standing¹⁷ in the doorway¹⁸ of the parlor. She wore along black silk dress, and stood very straight, there was an icy lookon her face, as she stared at Jack and Annie,Oh! Mother! Said Eliza.

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

3 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

4 parlor   

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？

5 fussy   

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。

6 flicking   

（尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等）

参考例句：

• He helped her up before flicking the reins. 他帮她上马，之后挥动了缰绳。
• There's something flicking around my toes. 有什么东西老在叮我的脚指头。

7 knitting   

n.编结物；接合，联合；[外科]骨愈合v.（使）愈合( knit的现在分词)；编结，编织；（使）紧密地结合；织平针

参考例句：

• Weaving and knitting are traditional cottage industries. 编织和针织是传统的家庭手工业。
• manipulative skills such as typing and knitting 诸如打字、编织这样的技能

8 knitted   

v.（使）愈合( knit的过去式和过去分词 )；编结；（使）紧密地结合；织平针

参考例句：

• I knitted this cardigan myself. 我自己织的这件开襟毛衣。
• Our two nations are knitted together by common concerns. 共同关心的问题使我们两国团结一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

10 furious   

adj.狂怒的，暴怒的，强烈的，激烈的

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• His wife was furious with him.他妻子对他大发雷霆。

11 chilled   

adj. 冷却的, 冷藏的，冷冻了的 动词chill的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He felt totally chilled. 他感觉完全放松了下来。
• Rain chilled the glittering pageant. 雨使华丽的庆典大为逊色。

12 fireplace   

n.壁炉，炉灶

参考例句：

• The fireplace smokes badly.这壁炉冒烟太多。
• I think we should wall up the fireplace.我想应该封住壁炉。

13 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

14 gloomy   

adj.阴暗的，阴沉的，令人沮丧的，阴郁的

参考例句：

• A few faint gleams of sunshine lit up the gloomy afternoon.几束隐约的阳光使阴暗的下午有些明亮。
• When I saw their gloomy faces,I knew something was wrong.当我看到他们沮丧的脸时，我知道出事了。

15 sip   

v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量

参考例句：

• She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
• Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。

16 pointed   

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。

17 standing   

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。

18 doorway   

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。