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CHAPTER XII
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"My dears," said Mrs. Vaughan; she had just left Island Cottage and she was seated outside the pioneer hut beside the camp-fire with the four beside her. "Yes, there has been a thorough disinfection, and Dr. Greig says it is quite safe for me to see you out of doors. Tell me about it. And Jan, how pale you look."
 
"It was—last night, seeing the old man, he looked so ill, so dreadful when he came through the door." Jan's voice trembled.
 
"It was only just in time, you see, Mother," Robin1 spoke2; "in five more minutes he wouldn't have had the strength even to call or rap again. He was in dreadful pain, it was his heart."
 
"Yes, dear, Dr. Greig has told me; he is there still, and I have just seen him." Mrs. Vaughan spoke slowly.
 
"How he came there we don't know a bit,—how he knew of the secret door; for it must be one, and it must lead somewhere. He—well he asked for Dad, said that he was dying and that he had a confession3 to make, and," Peter stopped for a minute, "then Robin went off for Dr. Greig."
 
"That was right." Mrs. Vaughan looked up. "You ask me who he is, and about his confession. It is a long story, some of which you have heard before from Brownie, but you must know it. Does it make things any plainer to you if I tell you that the old man who is dying at the Cottage is called Mitchell?"
 
"Mitchell!" The boys looked at each other. "We've heard the name—didn't Brownie—?"
 
"It's the name of the gamekeeper before Hooker," exclaimed Jan suddenly.
 
"Yes. Mitchell, long ago, was your grandfather's head keeper; he was unsatisfactory, and so was dismissed. Hooker was given his situation and his cottage by Uncle Derrick's request, and for that reason Mitchell bore a grudge4 against the two—not only on account of his dismissal, but the Cottage had become necessary to him owing to some underhand work that he had been carrying on there for some time. For a year at least before his dismissal he had been making false money, which had been circulated through the county; he had discovered a secret smugglers' passage leading from the east wing, under the Island, to the other side of the river, which opened also into one of the rooms in his cottage, and in this secret place his coining was carried on.
 
"Even after Hooker came into possession of the Cottage, Mitchell still carried on this work; he felt secure in his underground shelter; and it was not until the false money had been detected and inquiries5 began to be put on foot that he feared arrest. Then he paid back the grudge that he had nursed for months against Uncle Derrick and young Hooker; he managed to enter by night, unseen, through the secret entrance into the Cottage; there he left some part of his coining plant, which would be indisputable evidence against the person in whose possession it might be found. He wrote an anonymous6 letter to the Police Headquarters suggesting that they should search Hooker's cottage, and the deed was done. Brownie has told you how Uncle Derrick and Hooker were arrested, and——" Mrs. Vaughan stopped.
 
"But how do you know this?" Robin asked hoarsely7.
 
"Mitchell has confessed to Dr. Greig in the presence of old Brown. I have read the confession which was made last night. Fifteen years have passed since his first attempts at coining, and it seems that he thought he would attempt the same thing again. For some weeks now, so he says, he has worked in the underground passage. Last night he was suddenly seized with a dreadful heart attack—for years he has been the victim of heart disease—and, not having strength to get through the passage to the other side of the river, he tried to make his way through into the Cottage for help, as he knew it was his last chance. He is dying and he has confessed; God will be merciful to him, and will help us to think mercifully of him too."
 
"Oh, Mother, and poor Uncle Derrick." Jan's voice shook.
 
"Listen," Mrs. Vaughan spoke again, "I have other news for you. Last night a letter came from Father; he has delayed his coming for a few hours so that I might read his letter first. He is not coming alone, children, he is bringing with him a friend—an officer of the Australian contingent8, who has won the V.C. under circumstances of extraordinary bravery. This officer, it was, who at the risk of his life stayed beside his wounded orderly, whom he would not leave though enemy fire was raining around them for a day and a night. His right arm is gone"—Mrs. Vaughan's voice shook—"but his orderly's life was saved."
 
"Mother," Jan spoke breathlessly, "Uncle Derrick is the Australian officer, he—is."
 
"And Hooker's the orderly," said Peter very gruffly.
 
"Look," broke in Robin suddenly; and on the other side of the river a little group of three was seen to be approaching the boat that would take them over to the Island. Major Vaughan was there; with him a tall, one-armed officer, and, behind them a little, came the form of another soldier. "Oh, Mother," said Peter, "Oh!"
 
But no one else could say a word; for it was all too wonderful ... Uncle Derrick had come home.
 
THE END

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 robin Oj7zme     
n.知更鸟,红襟鸟
参考例句:
  • The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
  • We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟,知道春天要到了。
2 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。
3 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白,供认,承认
参考例句:
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。
4 grudge hedzG     
n.不满,怨恨,妒嫉;vt.勉强给,不情愿做
参考例句:
  • I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
  • I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。
5 inquiries 86a54c7f2b27c02acf9fcb16a31c4b57     
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听
参考例句:
  • He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释,等候进一步调查。
  • I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
6 anonymous lM2yp     
adj.无名的;匿名的;无特色的
参考例句:
  • Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
  • The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。
7 hoarsely hoarsely     
adv.嘶哑地
参考例句:
  • "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
  • Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
8 contingent Jajyi     
adj.视条件而定的;n.一组,代表团,分遣队
参考例句:
  • The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
  • Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。


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