Rhoda allowed herself to be dissuaded1, but not without misgiving2. As she lunched with Penny at the Dolman Cafe, she painted a gloomy picture of what lay before her.
“You don’t understand how it is,” she said, slowly stirring a cup of hot chocolate. “I really haven’t a good reason for refusing to consent to the adoption4. If I had one scrap5 of evidence against Mr. Coaten it would be different.”
“Can’t you write to Texas and inquire about him and his friend?”
“I did,” Rhoda admitted. “The answer came back that Mr. Coaten was unknown at the address he gave the Breens.”
“I should think that would be sufficient reason for distrusting him.”
[159]
“Oh, Mr. Coaten explained it by saying that his family just moved to a new house, and that he inadvertently had given me the wrong address.”
“Did you ask for the second one, Rhoda?”
“Yes, he gave it to me. So far I’ve not had time for a reply.”
“My advice is to stall for time,” Penny said. “If we have even a few days more we may dig up some information. However, I’ll confess I haven’t an idea at the moment.”
“Mr. Coaten will be furious because I didn’t keep the appointment,” Rhoda sighed. “He’s certain to come to the trailer camp tonight and demand an explanation.”
“Just tell him you changed your mind and refuse to say anything more. I wish I could talk to him.”
“So do I,” declared Rhoda with emphasis. “Why not take dinner with us tonight—if you can stand our brand of hospitality.”
“Well, I don’t know,” Penny hesitated. “Louise and I plan to go to Mrs. Marborough’s place directly after school—”
“Oh, I wish I could go with you!” Rhoda declared impulsively6. “I never have had an opportunity to finish my sketch7. Mrs. Marborough is such an interesting character, too.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” laughed Penny. “You’re welcome to come along. I think Mrs. Marborough will be willing to share our secret with you.”
“Secret?”
[160]
“No questions now, please,” Penny requested, capturing both luncheon8 checks. “We must hurry or we’ll be late for school.”
Having assured Mrs. Marborough that she would disclose nothing about the lost pearl necklace, she could not honorably share the adventure with her friend. However, it was her hope and belief that the widow would be willing to allow Rhoda to aid in the exciting search of the premises9.
Penny’s surmise10 proved entirely11 correct. Later that afternoon when the three girls called at Rose Acres, Mrs. Marborough scarcely noticed that Rhoda was an uninvited member of the party. At once she began talking of the missing pearls, which to the satisfaction of Louise and Penny, necessitated12 a complete explanation.
“Imagine finding a tunnel leading from the old wishing well to the house!” Rhoda cried in delight. “Take me through it! Show me everything!”
“Perhaps you can find the pearls,” Penny laughed. “So far Louise and I have failed.”
“They’re supposed to be hidden somewhere near the old wishing well,” Louise contributed. “That’s the only real clue we have.”
“I suppose you looked under the flagstones?”
“I did that many days ago,” answered Mrs. Marborough. “In fact, I don’t think there’s a single place I haven’t searched.”
“The roof of the well?” Rhoda suggested.
[161]
“We never once thought of that place!” Louise exclaimed. “But how could the necklace be secreted13 there?” She frowned as she stared at the steep-pitched, shingled14 covering which formed a protection over the well.
“It’s worth looking at anyhow!” Penny declared. “I’ll get a ladder if I can find one.”
“In the woodshed,” directed Mrs. Marborough.
Penny soon returned carrying a dust-laden step-ladder which had not seen service in many years. Bracing15 it against the well, she mounted and began to inspect the roof.
“Find anything?” inquired Rhoda impatiently.
“Two birds’ nests. There seems to be a hole under the edge of the roofing—”
Penny broke off as she ran her hand into the narrow opening.
“Yes, there is something here!” she exclaimed a moment later. “It feels like a tiny box!”
Mrs. Marborough and the two girls waited tensely, hardly daring to hope. Penny withdrew her hand from the hole, triumphantly16 holding up a small leather case.
“This isn’t it?” she asked.
“Oh, yes, yes!” Mrs. Marborough cried. “It is the old jewel case. The pearls must be inside!”
In her haste to climb down from the ladder, Penny missed one of the steps. Rhoda seized her arm saving her from a hard fall. Recovering her breath, Penny politely offered the jewel case to Mrs. Marborough.
[162]
With the three girls clustered about her, the mistress of Rose Acres ceremoniously opened the lid. In a nest of yellowed silk lay a string of matched pearls, so beautiful and lustrous17 that no one could find words to admire it.
“The famous Marborough pearls,” the widow murmured at last. “This necklace brought only unhappiness to our family. Now, however, they shall serve a useful purpose!”
The girls gazed at Mrs. Marborough expectantly, waiting for her to continue:
“I shall sell the pearls,” she said quietly. “They represent a small fortune, and by disposing of them I’ll be well-provided for in my old age. It won’t be necessary for me to pinch and skrimp. I’ll be able to hold my head up in society—live like a human being again instead of a recluse18.”
Realizing that she was revealing a great deal, Mrs. Marborough snapped shut the jewel case and smiled at the girls.
“I never should have found the pearls by myself. To tell you that I am grateful scarcely expresses my feelings. You’ve saved me from poverty.”
“Rhoda did it,” Penny declared, giving full credit to the trailer-camp girl. “Louise and I never would have thought of searching the roof of the well.”
“Do come inside,” Mrs. Marborough invited gaily19. “We’ll have tea in my kitchen. It’s not much to offer, but I did bake a little sponge cake this morning.”
[163]
No longer ashamed of the barren condition of the old mansion20, the widow led the girls through the great empty rooms. By daylight, notwithstanding the stained condition of the walls, the house seemed more elegant than ever. There was a large fan-shaped window of stained glass which Penny had not noticed before, and dozens of candle holders21 attached to the walls.
“How gorgeous this place would look if all the candles could be lighted at one time,” she remarked admiringly.
“And if the house had a little furniture in it,” added Mrs. Marborough. “You know, a few days ago I did a very foolish thing.”
Louise glanced quickly at Penny but said nothing.
“I was a bit hard pressed for money,” the widow resumed. “On an impulse I sold all my furniture to Mr. Butterworth. Do you suppose he will sell it back to me?”
“He should,” declared Penny.
“I like Riverview for I was born here,” Mrs. Marborough went on, talking as if to herself. “By selling the pearls I can refurnish the house, have the grounds restored to their original beauty, and live as I formerly22 did!”
“Oh, I do hope you decide to stay here,” Penny said eagerly.
[164]
Mrs. Marborough started a fire in the kitchen stove and put a kettle of water on to boil. Soon the tea was ready, and was served with generous slices of yellow sponge cake.
“I suppose everyone in Riverview considers me a crotchety old woman,” Mrs. Marborough remarked presently. “I haven’t been very friendly because I didn’t want folks to know I had sold my furniture. Some days ago a group of women came to see me about opening the house for some sort of Festival—”
“Pilgrimage Week,” Penny supplied.
“I turned them down, not because I wasn’t eager to help, but because I couldn’t let folks know all my furniture was gone. I wonder if they would still care to include Rose Acres in the tour of houses?”
“Oh, Mrs. Marborough, it would practically save the Festival!” Penny cried. “A cheap Indian show is coming to town the same week. I know for a fact that the Festival tickets aren’t selling very well.”
“Everyone wants to see Rose Acres,” Louise added enthusiastically.
“If I can re-purchase my furniture, I’ll be glad to open the house to the public,” Mrs. Marborough said, her eyes twinkling as she gazed directly at Penny. “That was the wish you made at the well, I believe?”
“Oh, it was! And you’ll make it come true!”
“It’s little enough to do in return for the favor you have bestowed23 upon me.”
[165]
“Nothing will please me more than to see this old house in all its glory!” Penny declared enthusiastically. “May we light all the candles at one time?”
“If you like.”
“And wouldn’t it be fun to hold a grand ball here with everyone dressed in colonial costume!” Penny went on. “Can’t you just see the place with beaux and their ladies dancing a quadrille?”
“I’ll talk to the members of the Festival Committee tomorrow,” Mrs. Marborough promised. “My first call, however, will be upon Mr. Butterworth.”
Long shadows were falling, and the girls soon arose to depart. During the walk into Riverview, Rhoda became rather sober and Penny shrewdly guessed that she had forgotten about the Marborough pearls and was thinking of the dreaded24 interview with Mr. Coaten.
“You’re really afraid to meet that man aren’t you?” she asked curiously25.
“Not exactly afraid,” Rhoda responded. “He’ll be waiting though, I’m sure. I just don’t know what to tell him.”
“Will it be easier for you if I go with you to the camp?”
“Oh, I wish you would, Penny!” Rhoda said gratefully.
Louise soon parted with her friends, and the two girls went on to the trailer camp. Mrs. Breen immediately informed them that Mr. Coaten had called earlier in the afternoon and expected to return again.
[166]
“I hope you didn’t make trouble about signing the papers,” she said severely26. “He acted quite upset.”
“I broke our appointment,” Rhoda responded briefly27. “So far I’ve not made up my mind what to do.”
There followed a lengthy28 argument in which Mrs. Breen assured the girl that she was making a serious mistake by antagonizing such a kind, generous man as Mr. Coaten. Penny took no part in the conversation, although she readily could see how difficult had become Rhoda’s position.
“You’ll have to stay to dinner now,” Rhoda whispered to her. “Mr. Coaten is certain to come, and I can’t stand against them all.”
Penny had no desire to remain for a meal, but feeling that she should support her friend, accepted the invitation. Ted3 soon came home from working at Judge Harlan’s office, and he too expressed displeasure because his sister had broken the appointment with Mr. Coaten.
During dinner the subject was studiously avoided. Somewhat to Penny’s disapproval29, Rhoda began to tell the Breens about everything that had occurred at Rose Acres. At mention of the pearl necklace, Ted’s fork clattered30 against his plate and he forgot to eat.
“You actually found a string of pearls?” he asked incredulously. “Real ones?”
[167]
“They must be worth many thousand dollars,” Rhoda assured him. “Mrs. Marborough intends to sell them and use the money to remodel31 her place.”
Ted was about to ask another question, then seemed to reconsider.
“More stew32?” Mrs. Breen asked as an awkward silence fell.
“No thanks, Mom,” he answered. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll skip out. I have a date uptown with a fellow.”
Mrs. Breen made no reply and the boy left the trailer. Penny thought that she too should be leaving, but before she could speak, there came a light tap on the door. Mr. Breen thrust his head out the open window.
“It’s Mr. Coaten,” he announced in a hoarse33 whisper. “What are you going to tell him Rhoda?”
“I don’t know,” she answered, gazing helplessly at Penny.
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收听单词发音
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1
dissuaded
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| 劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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5
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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7
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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8
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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9
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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11
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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12
necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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14
shingled
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| adj.盖木瓦的；贴有墙面板的v.用木瓦盖(shingle的过去式和过去分词形式) | |
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15
bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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16
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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17
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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18
recluse
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| n.隐居者 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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20
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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21
holders
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| 支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物 | |
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22
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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23
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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25
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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28
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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29
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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30
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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31
remodel
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| v.改造，改型，改变 | |
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32
stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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33
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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