小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Frank Hunter's Peril » CHAPTER XVI. AN ADVENTURE IN LONDON.
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
CHAPTER XVI. AN ADVENTURE IN LONDON.
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
 The next day Sharpley took advantage of Mr. Tarbox's temporary absence from the hotel to hurry Frank off to the London train.
"I hope we have seen the last of that intrusive1 Yankee," said Sharpley to our hero, when they were fairly installed in the railway carriage.
"I should like to have bidden him good-by," said Frank.
"You can associate with him as much as you like after we have parted company," said Sharpley. "But, for my part, I don't want to see anything of him."
"I wonder what makes him so prejudiced," thought Frank. "It can't be because he is a Yankee, for I am a Yankee, myself, and yet he takes the trouble of looking after me."
[143]
Sharpley was not very social. He bought a paper, and spent most of the time in reading.
But Frank did not find the time hang heavily upon his hands. He was in England, that was his glad thought. On either side, as the train sped along, was spread out a beautiful English landscape, and his eyes were never tired of watching it.
To Sharpley there was no novelty in the scene. He had enough to think of in his past life—enough to occupy his mind in planning how to carry out his present wicked designs upon the life of the innocent boy at his side.
At last they reached London, and drove in a hansom to a quiet hotel, located in one of the streets leading from the Strand3, a business thoroughfare well known to all who have ever visited the great metropolis4.
"How long are we going to stay in London, Colonel Sharpley?" asked Frank.
"Two or three days. I can't tell exactly how long."
"That will be rather a short time to see so large a city," returned [144] Frank, considerably5 disappointed.
"I am in a hurry to go to the continent," was the reply. "We can stop here longer on our return."
With this Frank was forced to be content, though he would have preferred to remain in London long enough now to see the principal objects of interest.
There was, he could not help remarking, a considerable difference in Colonel Sharpley's manner from that which he exhibited when he first called upon his step-father. Then he was very social and agreeable; now he was taciturn, and at times sullen6 and irritable7. Whatever the reason might be, the change was very marked.
"Perhaps he has some business that annoys him," thought Frank, charitably. "I will give him as little trouble as possible. But for his kind offer, I should not have my present chance of seeing foreign countries."
The next morning Sharpley said:
"Frank, you must wander around by yourself, as I have business to attend to."
[145]
"All right, sir," said Frank.
In fact, he was rather pleased with the idea of finding his own way in the great city of which he had heard so much, and which he had just entered as a stranger. He felt a little like the celebrated8 explorer, Dr. Livingstone, as he set out to explore a region as new and blind to him as the mysterious tracts9 of Central Africa to the older traveler. But he had this advantage over the eminent10 doctor, that, whereas the latter had no maps or charts to guide him, he was able for the small sum of an English shilling, or about twenty-five cents, to obtain a map of London.
When his eye glanced for the first time over the labyrinth11, he felt bewildered and lost, but after a short time he made up his mind what course to take, and found his way to Charing12 Cross, and from thence to Piccadilly, Rupert Street, and the parks.
Time flew by, and in the delight of the ever-recurring novelty, he found that it was two o'clock.
He stepped into a pastry-cook's to get some lunch.
[146]
Then he hailed a passing stage, and rode a long distance, but whether he was near or far from his hotel he could not tell.
He decided13 to leave the stage, and inquire in some shop near by where he was, and then, by examining his map, ascertain14 the most direct course to his hotel.
As he reached the sidewalk, a little girl of ten years, apparently16, with a thin, sad face, fixed17 her eyes upon him. She said nothing, but there was a mute appeal in her look which Frank, who was by nature compassionate18, could not resist.
"What is the matter, little girl?" he asked.
"Mother is sick, and we have nothing to eat," answered the little girl, sorrowfully.
"Have you no father?"
"He has gone away."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"Has your mother been sick long?"
"She made herself sick working so hard to buy us bread."
"Then you are not the only child," inquired Frank.
[147]
"I have a little sister, four years old."
"How old are you?"
"I am ten."
"What is your name?"
"Alice Craven."
The announcement of her name made Frank start.
"What!" he exclaimed, for, except his step-father, he had never till now met anyone by that name.
"Alice Craven," answered the little girl, supposing he had not understood aright.
"Where does your mother live?" asked Frank.
"In Hurst court."
"Is it far from here?"
"Only about five minutes' walk."
"I will go with you," said Frank, with sudden resolution, "and if I find your mother is as badly off as you say, I will give you something."
"Come, then, sir; I will show you the way."
Frank followed the little girl till he found himself in a miserable19 court, shut in by wretched tenements20. Alice entered one of the [148] dirtiest of these, and Frank followed her up a rickety staircase to the fourth floor. Here, his guide opened a door and led the way into a dark room, almost bare of furniture, where, upon a bed in the corner, lay a wan2, attenuated21 woman. Beside her sat the little girl of four to whom Alice had referred.
"Mother," said Alice, "here is a kind young gentleman, who has come to help us."
"Heaven bless him!" said the woman, feebly. "We are in dire15 want of help."
"How long have you been sick?" asked Frank, compassionately22.
"It is long since I have been well," answered the invalid23, "but I have been able to work till two weeks since. For two weeks I have earned nothing, and, but for the neighbors, I and my two poor children would have starved."
"Is your husband dead?"
"I do not know. He left me three years ago, and I have never seen him since."
"Did he desert you?" asked Frank, indignantly. "Did he leave you to shift for yourself?"
[149]
"He promised to come back, but he has never come," said the woman, sighing.
"Your little girl tells me your name is Craven."
"Yes, sir. That is my husband's name."
"I know a gentleman by that name."
"Where?" asked the invalid, eagerly.
"In America. But it cannot be your husband," he added, quickly, not caring to excite hope in the poor woman's breast, only to be succeeded by disappointment, "for he has a wife there. I didn't know but it might be your husband's brother."
"My husband had no brother," said the woman, sinking back, her momentary24 hope extinguished. "Oh, if he only knew how hard it has been for me to struggle for food for these poor children, he would surely come back."
Frank's heart was filled with pity. He drew from his pocket two gold sovereigns, and placed them in the hands of Alice.
"It won't last you long," he said, "but it will give you some relief."
"Bless you, bless you!" said the invalid, gratefully. "It will keep us [150] till I am well again and can work for my children. What is your name, generous, noble boy?"
"Frank Hunter," said our hero, modestly; "but don't think too much of what I have done. I shall fare no worse for parting with this money."
"I will remember you in my prayers," said Mrs. Craven. "So young and so generous!"
"Give me your address, Mrs. Craven, and when I am in London again I will come and see you."
"No. 10 Hurst Court," said the invalid.
"I will put it down."
Frank now left the court, and, as it was late, hailed a cab, and was soon set down in front of his hotel.
"Where have you been so long," asked Sharpley. "It is past three o'clock."
"I went about seeing the sights," said Frank. "I saw the parks, and Buckingham Palace, and Regent Street; but I have just left a poor woman who was very destitute25, whom I visited in her miserable room. Oddly enough, her name was Craven."
[151]
"Craven," repeated Sharpley, his attention at once roused.
"Yes; she had two children, the oldest, Alice, a girl of ten."
"Great Heaven!" ejaculated Sharpley.
Frank looked at him in surprise.
"I daresay they were humbugs26," said Sharpley. "Did you give them any money?"
"Two sovereigns; but I am sure they were not humbugs."
"'A fool and his money are soon parted,'" sneered27 Sharpley. "Where did you find them?"
"No. 10 Hurst Court."
"I advise you not to be so ready to part with your money the next time. I'll wager28 they are imposters."
"What cursed chance brought him in contact with these people?" said Sharpley to himself after Frank had left him to arrange his toilet. "He little dreams that the woman he has relieved is the true wife of the man who has married his mother."

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 intrusive Palzu     
adj.打搅的;侵扰的
参考例句:
  • The cameras were not an intrusive presence.那些摄像机的存在并不令人反感。
  • Staffs are courteous but never intrusive.员工谦恭有礼却从不让人感到唐突。
2 wan np5yT     
(wide area network)广域网
参考例句:
  • The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。
3 strand 7GAzH     
vt.使(船)搁浅,使(某人)困于(某地)
参考例句:
  • She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.她把一缕散发夹到了耳后。
  • The climbers had been stranded by a storm.登山者被暴风雨困住了。
4 metropolis BCOxY     
n.首府;大城市
参考例句:
  • Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
  • He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。
5 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
6 sullen kHGzl     
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的
参考例句:
  • He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
  • Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐,因为昨晚没睡好。
7 irritable LRuzn     
adj.急躁的;过敏的;易怒的
参考例句:
  • He gets irritable when he's got toothache.他牙一疼就很容易发脾气。
  • Our teacher is an irritable old lady.She gets angry easily.我们的老师是位脾气急躁的老太太。她很容易生气。
8 celebrated iwLzpz     
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的
参考例句:
  • He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
  • The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
9 tracts fcea36d422dccf9d9420a7dd83bea091     
大片土地( tract的名词复数 ); 地带; (体内的)道; (尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的)短文
参考例句:
  • vast tracts of forest 大片大片的森林
  • There are tracts of desert in Australia. 澳大利亚有大片沙漠。
10 eminent dpRxn     
adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的
参考例句:
  • We are expecting the arrival of an eminent scientist.我们正期待一位著名科学家的来访。
  • He is an eminent citizen of China.他是一个杰出的中国公民。
11 labyrinth h9Fzr     
n.迷宫;难解的事物;迷路
参考例句:
  • He wandered through the labyrinth of the alleyways.他在迷宫似的小巷中闲逛。
  • The human mind is a labyrinth.人的心灵是一座迷宫。
12 charing 188ca597d1779221481bda676c00a9be     
n.炭化v.把…烧成炭,把…烧焦( char的现在分词 );烧成炭,烧焦;做杂役女佣
参考例句:
  • We married in the chapel of Charing Cross Hospital in London. 我们是在伦敦查令十字医院的小教堂里结的婚。 来自辞典例句
  • No additional charge for children under12 charing room with parents. ☆十二岁以下小童与父母同房不另收费。 来自互联网
13 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
14 ascertain WNVyN     
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清
参考例句:
  • It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
  • We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。
15 dire llUz9     
adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的
参考例句:
  • There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
  • We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了,但是我们渡过了困难。
16 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
17 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
18 compassionate PXPyc     
adj.有同情心的,表示同情的
参考例句:
  • She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
  • The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。
19 miserable g18yk     
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。
20 tenements 307ebb75cdd759d238f5844ec35f9e27     
n.房屋,住户,租房子( tenement的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Here were crumbling tenements, squalid courtyards and stinking alleys. 随处可见破烂的住房、肮脏的庭院和臭气熏天的小胡同。 来自辞典例句
  • The tenements are in a poor section of the city. 共同住宅是在城中较贫苦的区域里。 来自辞典例句
21 attenuated d547804f5ac8a605def5470fdb566b22     
v.(使)变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 );(使)变薄;(使)变小;减弱
参考例句:
  • an attenuated form of the virus 毒性已衰减的病毒
  • You're a seraphic suggestion of attenuated thought . 你的思想是轻灵得如同天使一般的。 来自辞典例句
22 compassionately 40731999c58c9ac729f47f5865d2514f     
adv.表示怜悯地,有同情心地
参考例句:
  • The man at her feet looked up at Scarlett compassionately. 那个躺在思嘉脚边的人同情地仰望着她。 来自飘(部分)
  • Then almost compassionately he said,"You should be greatly rewarded." 接着他几乎带些怜悯似地说:“你是应当得到重重酬报的。” 来自辞典例句
23 invalid V4Oxh     
n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的
参考例句:
  • He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
  • A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。
24 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
参考例句:
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
25 destitute 4vOxu     
adj.缺乏的;穷困的
参考例句:
  • They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
  • They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。
26 humbugs f8d2e6e2e5d71beeef8302837e2a25ad     
欺骗( humbug的名词复数 ); 虚伪; 骗子; 薄荷硬糖
参考例句:
27 sneered 0e3b5b35e54fb2ad006040792a867d9f     
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
  • It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
28 wager IH2yT     
n.赌注;vt.押注,打赌
参考例句:
  • They laid a wager on the result of the race.他们以竞赛的结果打赌。
  • I made a wager that our team would win.我打赌我们的队会赢。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533