The Glenwood Gleaner2 apologized in its next issue for the trashy report of Dorothy’s lunch-counter experience, and attributed the error to a new reporter, who had gotten in conversation with some of the “new pupils,” the combination resulting in what seemed to the reporter to be a “good story.” But he was not acquainted with the exclusiveness of the territory where the paper circulated.
One matter remained unexplained. How did the paper get Dorothy’s picture off Tavia’s dresser? On this question the paper and its editor had nothing to say.
In spite of the shock that the reading of the article caused Dorothy, when she recovered her poise3 she was almost relieved that it was all about106 herself, and had nothing to do with her father’s business. It was this last which caused her the most severe anxiety.
But now two letters had come from home. Each was from Major Dale, Dorothy’s father, and each was in a cheerful strain, one even inclosing a five dollar note for “some extras she might need.” So that Dorothy was now comparatively happy. Her old-time smile had come back to her, and she was willing, and ready, to take part in all the school affairs, whether in the regular, or improvised4 course.
To-day there was only half the usual amount of study to be finished, and, of course, in the other part of the day, there were to be so many things done that each girl planned about what would normally fit into a week’s time. Tavia, Cologne and Ned had much whispering to do, and they did not seem to want Dorothy to guess its purport5.
The village post-office was not far from the school, but, as the mail was always delivered at the hall, the girls only went over there for recreation and post cards. On this half-holiday, however, it seemed that Tavia had much business at the post-office. She had been down twice, once for each mail, and besides this she made a trip somewhere else to parts unknown to Dorothy.
“I got it,” Dorothy heard her tell Ned. “Now if we can manage the rest.”
107 After that the two girls disappeared in the direction of the stables, where Jacob was busy with the bus and horses.
Dorothy felt very much like following them, for she knew, of old, Tavia’s proclivities6 for mischief7, but the way Ned looked at her as they said: “We’ll be back directly, Dorothy,” debarred that attempt.
Perhaps an hour passed, and the girls did not return. Then Dorothy walked to the stable.
“Good afternoon, Jacob,” she said pleasantly, to the man who was polishing harness. “I thought some of the girls came up this way.”
“They did, miss, but it was them two that I can’t watch, so I told them I was busy in a way that meant they were not welcome,” replied Jacob. “Them two are always up to some mischief. Not but they’re jolly enough, and good company, but sometimes I’m afraid they’ll steal out after dark and hitch8 up a team. I believe they would!”
“Oh hardly that,” said Dorothy, laughing, “but I can’t imagine where they have gone, for I have been at the other path, and they could not have gotten out through the big gate.”
“Likely they would find a hole in the fence somewhere,” he said. “But that they are gone is all I care about. Would you like to see the little white dog? The one we picked up on the108 road? I call him Ravelings, for he is just like a spool9 of white silk unraveled.”
“Yes, I would like to see him,” Dorothy replied. “I suppose you are so careful of him you don’t let him run too far from your sight.”
“I don’t dare to, for he’s a valuable dog. I may get him in at the show in November,” and the man led the way to the corner that was fixed10 up for Ravelings.
There was a box, with the side cut down, and in this was a bed of perfectly11 fresh straw. Then, beside the bed, was a white dish of milk, and some crackers12; in fact the dog had quite a little home of his own in Jake’s stable.
“He’s in hiding, I suppose,” said Jacob, searching about under the straw. “But he’s a rascal13—I ought to call him Rascal, instead of Ravelings, I guess.”
He whistled, pulled all the straw out, looked in every corner, but no little white dog appeared. A sudden fear overcame Dorothy. What if the girls had taken the dog?
“Do you ever let anyone take him out?” she asked timidly.
“Never, but once I let that Tavia girl. Of course, I did sort of half give him to her, but I claim him now, as I’ve brought him up, and no little time I had curing the lame14 leg that some car went over, too.”
109 “He does not seem to be here,” Dorothy said finally. “It might be that Tavia and Edna took him out just for fun. I am sure if they did, however, they will bring him back all right.”
Jacob shook his head, and refused to talk. His pet, his chum, really, was gone. “Could he have been stolen?” he was thinking.
“The grain man was in here to-day,” he said finally, “but I’ve known him for years.”
“I’ll just run along, and see if I can find the girls,” Dorothy offered. “If I find Ravelings I’ll let you know at once, Jacob.”
The hostler shook his head. Evidently he feared he had lost his pet.
Dorothy turned to the roadway. She must find Edna and Tavia, and learn if they had taken that little dog.
Along the leaf-strewn roads she met numbers of the other students. She feared to ask them if they had seen Tavia, for it was now not easy to tell friend from foe15, and the least hint of suspicion might lead to unpleasant gossip.
Once she stopped and called, for she was almost sure she had heard Edna’s bubbling laugh, but no answer was sent back. On towards the village she hurried. Yes, there they were, coming along, heads very close together, but there was no Ravelings in sight.
Dorothy drew a breath of relief. She was glad110 they had played no trick on poor Jacob, for he was a good friend to the girls, and always willing to take a message to town, or to do any little service that often meant much to them.
“Where have you been?” Dorothy confronted Tavia and Edna.
“To the post-office,” replied Tavia innocently.
Edna was laughing. This made Dorothy suspicious.
“One would think it was Valentine’s day,” she said. “Whose birthday is it, Tavia?”
“Nobody’s. But you know, Doro, I did owe a lot of letters, and I’ve now gotten them off my mind—my poor, over-burdened mind!” she sighed, mockingly.
“Do you girls know anything about the little white dog?” Dorothy asked bluntly.
“Not a thing,” replied Tavia, before Edna could speak.
“Well, did you know anything about him an hour ago?” persisted Dorothy, realizing that Tavia might be “hanging” on what she termed a technical truth.
“Oh, that’s different. Yes, we did see him about that time,” replied Tavia calmly.
“Now Tavia,” said Dorothy severely16, “if you have done anything with that little dog there will be trouble. You know how much Jacob thought of him.”
111 “Dost not remember, Dorothy Dale, that thou didst suggest that I advertise that ‘dorg,’ and find the weeping and wailing17 kid who dropped him out of the auto18?” and Tavia stepped up on a big stone to make her remarks more impressive. “Well, I have done so, and behold19 the chink!”
She held in her hand a five dollar bill!
“Tavia! Is it possible?”
“Not only, but probable. I asked Jake if I could do so and he absolutely refused. Now that dog was mine temporarily, and the owner’s permanently20. He’s off our hands now and if you give us away to Jake, Doro, woe21 unto you!”
“Tavia, I cannot believe it! And you helped her, Edna?”
“We found the real owner, and I do not see why she shouldn’t have her dog,” replied Edna, without raising her eyes.
“How do you know she was the real owner?” continued Dorothy.
“You should have seen the dog fly to her,” replied Tavia. “Say, Doro, if you are worried I’ll buy Jake a new pipe, and give it to him for conscience money. But he must never know about Ravelings. What do you suppose his mistress called him? ‘Cyrus,’ because, she told us, he was the sun of her life. Likely she would have died without the sun if I had not restored him to her.”
Dorothy looked troubled. She fully22 realized112 what a time there would be when it was found out that the dog was gone.
“Did you advertise it?” she asked, as they now walked back toward the school.
“It’s such a pretty story, Doro, that I want to give it to you whole. Besides,” and Tavia lowered her voice, “echoes have ears.”
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收听单词发音
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1
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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2
gleaner
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| n.拾穗的人；割捆机 | |
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3
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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4
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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5
purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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6
proclivities
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| n.倾向，癖性( proclivity的名词复数 ) | |
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7
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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8
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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9
spool
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| n.（缠录音带等的）卷盘（轴）；v.把…绕在卷轴上 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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11
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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12
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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13
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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14
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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15
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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16
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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17
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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18
auto
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| n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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19
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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20
permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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21
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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22
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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