XXIII A SECRET

Miss Kitty Cat was behaving in the strangest manner. She came into the kitchen and hovered¹ about the feet of Farmer Green's wife, mewing and looking up at Mrs. Green as if she had something special to tell her.

 

"What is it, Kitty?" Mrs. Green asked her. "Are you hungry?"

 

But Miss Kitty Cat soon showed that she wasn't hungry, for she wouldn't touch anything that Mrs. Green offered her.

 

"Well, you'll have to run away, anyhow," Mrs. Green told her. "I can't take a step with you right under my feet."

 

Though Miss Kitty Cat trotted² towards the door, she soon made it plain that she didn't intend to leave the kitchen unless her mistress went with her. She came back and twitched³ Mrs. Green's apron⁴ gently with her claws. Then she ran to the doorway⁵ again and called to Mrs. Green.

 

It seemed to Miss Kitty Cat that she couldn't have said more clearly that she wanted to lead Mrs. Green somewhere. But still Mrs. Green didn't quite understand.

 

"Scat!" she cried, just a bit impatiently. "I've too much to do to be bothered this morning. I suppose you've caught a mouse and want to show it to me. You'll have to bring it here, for I haven't any time to waste to-day."

 

Miss Kitty Cat felt somewhat hurt. She went out and sat on the doorstep and looked in at Farmer Green's wife. Now and then she gave a plaintive⁶ mew. But Mrs. Green wouldn't pay any attention to her.

 

"Dear me!" said Miss Kitty. "Mrs. Green is busier than ever this morning."

 

Old dog Spot had been watching Miss Kitty's actions. And now, as she started towards the barn, he sidled up to her, wagging his tail to show her that he wanted to have a few friendly words with her.

 

"If Mrs. Green won't come with you, I'll be glad to," he offered. "Just lead the way and I'll follow."

 

"You?" Miss Kitty Cat exclaimed with scorn. "You needn't think I'd take you where I want Mrs. Green to come. You needn't think I'd show you what I want her to see."

 

"Ho!" cried old Spot. "I don't know how you're going to stop me from following you."

 

"I do," said Miss Kitty firmly. "If you try to tag along after me where I'm going I'll soon make you wish you had minded your own affairs."

 

There was a look in her eyes that old Spot did not like. It reminded him of the time when he cornered Miss Kitty in the barn, soon after she arrived at the farm. He remembered that his nose still bore the marks of her sharp claws.

 

"Well, well!" he said. "I was only joking. I'm too busy to bother with you, anyhow. I have a little matter to attend to in the pasture. There's a Woodchuck up there that's getting too bold."

 

Then he trotted off, trying to look as important as possible, so that no one would think he was afraid of Miss Kitty Cat.

 

"Good!" Miss Kitty cried, as she watched him while he started up the lane.

 

"I'm glad he's out of the way. It would be awkward if I had to fight him while I'm doing what I'm going to do."

1 hovered   

鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
• A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。

2 trotted   

小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
• Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。

3 twitched   

vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Her lips twitched with amusement. 她忍俊不禁地颤动着嘴唇。
• The child's mouth twitched as if she were about to cry. 这小孩的嘴抽动着，像是要哭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 apron   

n.围裙；工作裙

参考例句：

• We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
• She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。

5 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

6 plaintive   

adj.可怜的，伤心的

参考例句：

• Her voice was small and plaintive.她的声音微弱而哀伤。
• Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里，一位老太太伤心地哭起来。