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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Jed, the Poorhouse Boy » CHAPTER XXXV. MRS. AVERY'S STORY.
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CHAPTER XXXV. MRS. AVERY'S STORY.
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 The detective crossed the street, walked up a tiny footpath1 and rang the bell of the small house.
 
Mrs. Avery came to the door, a gentle-faced little woman with white hair. She looked inquiringly at the visitor.
 
"Mrs. Avery, I believe?" said the man in drab.
 
"That is my name."
 
"I would like the favor of a few words with you, madam."
 
"Come in then," and she led the way to a modest sitting-room2.
 
"My husband," she said, introducing him to a kindly3 old man, as white-haired as herself.
 
"My name is Fletcher," said the visitor, "and I have come to you for information. But first, am I right in my belief that you[Pg 314] were once in charge of the Scranton poorhouse?"
 
"Yes, sir. My husband and I had charge of it for fifteen years. We should have been there now, but for Squire4 Dixon, the new Overseer of the Poor, who wanted the place for some friends of his, Mr. and Mrs. Fogson."
 
"I have had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Fogson," said Fletcher with a smile. "I am sure, now that I have seen you both, that the change was for the worse."
 
"I fear that the poor people are very shabbily treated," said Mrs. Avery gravely. "It makes me feel very badly, but what can I do? Squire Dixon sustains them, and he has everything to say. But you say you want some information. I shall be glad to tell you what I can."
 
"I want information touching5 a boy, now perhaps sixteen years of age, bearing the name of Jed Gilman."
 
Mr. and Mrs. Avery immediately showed signs of interest.
 
"He has left the poorhouse," said Mr. Avery.
 
"So I am told."
 
[Pg 315]
 
"Do you inquire as a friend of the poor boy?" asked Mrs. Avery.
 
"Emphatically his friend. But first tell me, what kind of a boy is he?"
 
"A fine, manly6, spirited lad, warm-hearted and attractive."
 
The detective looked pleased, but surprised.
 
"That doesn't correspond with what Mrs. Fogson told me," he said.
 
"I suppose not. She and her husband tried to bully7 Jed and overwork him, till he was compelled to run away. I don't know where he is now."
 
"But I do. He is at Bar Harbor, in the company of a rich gentleman from New York, and I believe employed on his yacht."
 
"I am thankful to hear it."
 
"But what I wish to learn are the circumstances attending his being placed at the poorhouse. I suppose you remember them?"
 
"Oh yes, as well as if it were yesterday, though it is fourteen years since."
 
"Go on, madam, I am all interest."
 
"It was a cold evening in November," began Mrs. Avery reflectively, "and I was[Pg 316] about to lock up, though it was but nine o'clock, for we kept early hours at the poorhouse, when there was a knock at the door. I opened it and saw before me a young woman of dark hair and complexion8, holding by the hand a pretty boy of about two years of age.
 
"'Can you give me and my boy a night's lodging9?' she asked.
 
"We often had such applications, and never sent away a decent-looking person. So I said yes readily enough and the two entered. They seemed hungry, and though it was late for us I gave them some bread and milk, of which the child in particular partook heartily10. I asked the young woman some questions but she was very close-mouthed.
 
"'Wait till morning,' she said. 'The boy and I are very tired.'
 
"I asked no more but gave them a bed, and I suppose they both slept well. I was able to give them a small room to themselves.
 
"In the morning when I entered I found only the boy. The young woman had gone, but pinned to the child's clothing was this note:
 
[Pg 317]
 
"'I am obliged to leave the boy with you for the present. I hope you will take care of him. His name is Jed Gilman. Some time he will probably be called for. Don't try to find me for it will be useless.'
 
"That was all. Mr. Avery and myself were dumfounded, but we had taken a fancy to the boy and resolved to keep him. There was some difficulty about it, for he was not legally entitled to be brought up at the town's cost. However, Mr. Avery and I agreed to pay part of the expense for the first year, and after that he was looked upon as one of the regular inmates11 and cared for as such."
 
"And the young woman never called again?"
 
"Never."
 
"Nor sent you any message, oral or written?"
 
"Never."
 
"Was there any article of dress, or any ornament12, left with the child that might help to identify it?"
 
"Yes. Wait here a minute and I will show you something which I have carefully preserved from that day to this."

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 footpath 9gzzO     
n.小路,人行道
参考例句:
  • Owners who allow their dogs to foul the footpath will be fined.主人若放任狗弄脏人行道将受处罚。
  • They rambled on the footpath in the woods.他俩漫步在林间蹊径上。
2 sitting-room sitting-room     
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室
参考例句:
  • The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
  • Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。
3 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
4 squire 0htzjV     
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅
参考例句:
  • I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
  • The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。
5 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
6 manly fBexr     
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地
参考例句:
  • The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
  • He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务,并希望别人效之。
7 bully bully     
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮
参考例句:
  • A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
  • The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
8 complexion IOsz4     
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格
参考例句:
  • Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
  • Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
9 lodging wRgz9     
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍
参考例句:
  • The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
  • Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?
10 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
11 inmates 9f4380ba14152f3e12fbdf1595415606     
n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 ornament u4czn     
v.装饰,美化;n.装饰,装饰物
参考例句:
  • The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
  • She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。


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