We left Mr Sudberry and his children in the nearly dry bed of a mountain-torrent, indulging the belief that matters were as bad as could be, and that, therefore, there was no possibility of their getting worse.
A smart shower of rain speedily induced them to change their minds in this respect. Seeking shelter under the projecting ledge1 of a great cliff, the party stood for some time there in silence.
“You are cold, my pet,” said Mr Sudberry.
“Just a little, papa; I could not help shuddering,” said Lucy, faintly.
“Suppose I try to kindle4 a fire,” said George, swinging the bundle containing Jacky off his shoulder, and placing it in a hollow of the rocks.
“Well, suppose you try.”
George proceeded to do so; but on collecting a few broken twigs5 he found that they were soaking wet, and on searching for the match-box he discovered that it had been left in the provision-basket, so they had to content themselves with a sip6 of brandy all round—excepting Jacky. That amiable7 child was still sound asleep; but in a few minutes he was heard to utter an uneasy squall, and then George discovered that he had deposited part of his rotund person in a puddle8 of water.
“Come, let us move on,” said Mr Sudberry, “the rain gets heavier. It is of no use putting off time, we cannot be much damper than we are.”
Again the worthy9 man was mistaken; for, in the course of another hour, they were all so thoroughly10 drenched11, that their previous condition might have been considered, by contrast, one of absolute dryness.
Suddenly, a stone wall, topped by a paling, barred their further progress. Fred, who was in advance, did not see this wall—he only felt it when it brought him up.
“Here’s a gate, I believe,” cried George, groping about. It was a gate, and it opened upon the road! For the first time for many hours a gleam of hope burst in upon the benighted12 wanderers. Presently a ray of light dazzled them.
“What! do my eyes deceive me—a cottage?” cried Mr Sudberry.
“Ay, and a witch inside,” said George.
“Why, it’s old—no, impossible!”
“Yes, it is, though—it’s old Moggy’s cottage.”
“Hurrah!” cried Fred.
Old Moggy’s dog came out with a burst of indignation that threatened annihilation to the whole party; but, on discovering who they were, it crept humbly13 back into the cottage.
“Does she never go to bed?” whispered George, as they approached and found the old woman moping over her fire, and swaying her body to and fro, with the thin dirty gown clinging close to her figure, and the spotlessly clean plaid drawn14 tightly round her shoulders.
“Good-evening, old woman,” said Mr Sudberry, advancing with a conciliatory air.
“Alas! you are right; here have we been lost on the hills, and wandering all night; and glad am I to find your fire burning, for my poor daughter is very cold and much exhausted16. May we sit down beside you?”
“What’s that?” asked Moggy, sharply, as George deposited his dirty wet bundle on the floor beside the fire opposite to her.
The bundle answered for itself; by slowly unrolling, sitting up and yawning violently, at the same time raising both arms above its head and stretching itself. Having done this, it stared round the room with a vacant look, and finally fixed18 its goggle19 eyes in mute surprise on Moggy.
The sight of this wet, dirty little creature acted, as formerly20, like a charm on the old woman. Her face relaxed into a smile of deep tenderness. She immediately rose, and taking the child in her arms carried him to her stool, and sat down with him in her lap. Jacky made no resistance; on the contrary, he seemed to have made up his mind to submit at once, and with a good grace, to the will of this strange old creature—to the amazement21 as well as amusement of his relations.
The old woman took no further notice of her other visitors. She incontinently became stone deaf; and apparently22 blind, for she did not deign23 to bestow24 so much as a glance on them, while they circled close round her fire, and heaped on fresh sticks without asking leave. But she made up for this want of courtesy by bestowing25 the most devoted26 attentions on Jacky. Finding that that young gentleman was in a filthy27 as well as a moist condition, she quietly undressed him, and going to a rough chest in a corner of the hut drew out a full suit of clothing, with which she speedily invested him. The garb28 was peculiar—a tartan jacket, kilt, and hose; and these seemed to have been made expressly for him, they fitted so well. Although quite clean, thin, threadbare, and darned, the appearance of the garments showed that they had been much-worn. Having thus clothed Jacky, the old woman embraced him tenderly, then held him at arm’s-length and gazed at him for a few minutes. Finally, she pushed him gently away and burst into tears—rocking herself to and fro, and moaning dismally29.
Meanwhile Jacky, still perfectly30 mute and observant, sat down on a log beside the poor old dame31, and stared at her until the violence of her grief began to subside32. The other members of the party stared too—at her and at each other—as if to say, “What can all this mean?”
At last Jacky began to manifest signs of impatience33, and, pulling her sleeve, he said—
Old Moggy smiled, rose, went to the chest again, and returned with a handful of sweetmeats, with which Jacky at once proceeded to regale35 himself, to the infinite joy of the old woman.
Mr Sudberry now came to the conclusion that there must be a secret understanding between this remarkable36 couple; and he was right. Many a time during the last two weeks had Master Jacky, all unknown to his parents, made his way to old Moggy’s hut—attracted thereto by the splendid “lollipops” with which the subtle old creature beguiled37 him, and also by the extraordinary amount of affection she lavished38 upon him. Besides this, the child had a strong dash of romance in his nature, and it was a matter of deep interest to him to be a courted guest in such a strange old hovel, and to be fondled and clothed, as he often was, in Highland39 costume, by one who scowled40 upon everyone else—excepting her little dog, with which animal he became an intimate friend. Jacky did not trouble himself to inquire into the reason of the old woman’s partiality—sufficient for him that he enjoyed her hospitality and her favour, and that he was engaged in what he had a vague idea must needs be a piece of clandestine41 and very terrible wickedness. His long absences, during these visits, had indeed been noticed by his mother; but as Jacky was in the habit of following his own inclinations42 in every thing and at all times, without deigning43 to give an account of himself; it was generally understood that he had just strayed a little farther than usual while playing about.
While this was going on in Moggy’s hut, George had been despatched to inform Mrs Sudberry of their safety. The distance being short, he soon ran over the ground, and burst in upon his mother with a cheer. Mrs Sudberry sprang into his arms, and burst into tears; Mrs Brown lay down on the sofa, and went into quiet hysterics; and little Tilly, who had gone to bed hours before in a condition of irresistible44 drowsiness45, jumped up with a scream, and came skipping down-stairs in her night-gown.
“Safe, mother, safe!”
“And Jacky?”
“Safe, too, all of us.”
“Oh! I’m so thankful.”
“No, not all of us,” said George, suddenly recollecting46 Peter.
“Poor Peter,” began George.
“Please, sir, I’ve bin48 found,” said a meek49 voice behind him, at which George turned round with a start—still supporting his mother.
Mrs Brown, perceiving the ludicrous nature of the remark, began to grow violent on the sofa, and to kick a little. Then Mrs Sudberry asked for each of the missing ones individually—sobbing between each question—and at each sob50 Tilly’s sympathetic bosom51 heaved, and Mrs Brown gave a kick and a subdued52 scream. Then George began to tell the leading features of their misfortunes rapidly, and Mrs Brown listened intently until Mrs Sudberry again sobbed53, when Mrs Brown immediately recollected54 that she was in hysterics, and recommenced kicking.
“But where are they?” cried Mrs Sudberry, suddenly.
“I was just coming to that—they’re at old Moggy’s hut, drying themselves and resting.”
“Oh! I’ll go down at once. Take me there.”
Accordingly, the poor lady threw on her bonnet55 and shawl and set off with George for the cottage, leaving Mrs Brown, now relieved from all anxiety, kicking and screaming violently on the sofa, to the great alarm of Hobbs, who just then returned from his fruitless search.
“My son, my darling!” cried Mrs Sudberry, as she rushed into the cottage, and clasped Jacky in her arms. She could say no more, and if she had said more it could not have been heard, for her appearance created dire56 confusion and turmoil57 in the hovel. The lost and found wanderers started up to welcome her, the little dog sprang up to bark furiously and repel58 her, and the old woman ran at her, screaming, with intent to rescue Jacky from her grasp. There was a regular scuffle, for the old woman was strong in her rage, but George and Fred held her firmly, though tenderly, back, while Mr Sudberry hurried his alarmed spouse59 and their child out of the hut, and made for home as fast as possible. Lucy followed with George almost immediately after, leaving Fred to do his best to calm and comfort the old woman. For his humane60 efforts Fred received a severe scratching on the face, and was compelled to seek refuge in flight.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
flask
|
|
| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
kindle
|
|
| v.点燃，着火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
twigs
|
|
| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
sip
|
|
| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
puddle
|
|
| n.(雨)水坑，泥潭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
drenched
|
|
| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
benighted
|
|
| adj.蒙昧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
humbly
|
|
| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
scowl
|
|
| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
furtive
|
|
| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
goggle
|
|
| n.瞪眼，转动眼珠，护目镜；v.瞪眼看，转眼珠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
formerly
|
|
| adv.从前，以前 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
deign
|
|
| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
bestow
|
|
| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
bestowing
|
|
| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
filthy
|
|
| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
dismally
|
|
| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
dame
|
|
| n.女士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
subside
|
|
| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
lollipops
|
|
| n.棒糖，棒棒糖( lollipop的名词复数 )；（用交通指挥牌让车辆暂停以便儿童安全通过马路的）交通纠察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
regale
|
|
| v.取悦，款待 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
beguiled
|
|
| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
lavished
|
|
| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
highland
|
|
| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
clandestine
|
|
| adj.秘密的，暗中从事的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
inclinations
|
|
| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
deigning
|
|
| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
drowsiness
|
|
| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
recollecting
|
|
| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
bin
|
|
| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
sob
|
|
| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
sobbed
|
|
| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
recollected
|
|
| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
bonnet
|
|
| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
dire
|
|
| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
turmoil
|
|
| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
repel
|
|
| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
spouse
|
|
| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
humane
|
|
| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |