小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Hurrah for Peter Perry! » CHAPTER IX "UNA AND THE LION"
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
CHAPTER IX "UNA AND THE LION"
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。

 
"YOUR being so quick-witted saved him, sir; she'd have gored1 him to death—or, at any rate, injured him seriously, but for you!"
 
The speaker was Moses Lee, who had left his horse's head and run forward to the assistance of the boys when he had realised the peril2 of their position. It had taken the cow barely a minute to free her head from Tom's coat, but by that time the gipsy had been at hand, and by cracking his whip had driven her on. Now, cow, sheep-dogs, and drovers were all once more out of sight, and Moses was addressing Tom, who had picked a hazel-stick and was trying to catch Tim in order to chastise3 him, whilst Peter, who had risen to his feet, was standing4, white, trembling, and bewildered, beside the hedge from which he had fallen. Bounce crouched5 close beside him, conscious that he was in disgrace.
 
"It's no good, sir," Moses continued, as Tim, having allowed his master to come close to him, tucked his tail between his legs and slunk guiltily away; "he's not going to let you catch him—not he! Look at his manner. He knows he's done wrong and has offended you. Poor little beast! He was no more to blame than the other dog. I saw how it was—what with the cow bellowing6, and the sheep-dogs barking, and the drovers shouting they both lost their heads for once in a way."
 
"I hope it will be only for once in a way," Tom said, with a menacing gesture at Tim, who, at some dozen yards distance, had paused and was looking back at him. "Yes, that's right, Peter, put Bounce on the leash7 again. You aren't hurt, are you?"
 
"Oh, no!" Peter answered. "It was nothing of a fall, really."
 
"Thank goodness the cow didn't touch you!" cried Tom, fervently8. "It was a near shave she didn't though."
 
"A very near shave," agreed the gipsy, seriously.
 
"Please tell me exactly what happened," said Peter, turning his sightless eyes upon Moses.
 
The man explained, again praising Tom for his quick-wittedness, by which he had been greatly struck.
 
When he had finished his tale Peter exclaimed, "Oh, Tom, how can I thank you? Really, then, you saved me from being gored by the cow! Oh, how brave you are!"
 
"Oh, nonsense, nonsense!" said Tom, hastily. "Why, Peter, what's the matter. Don't look so shocked. It's all over—the danger, I mean. Why, you're shaking like a leaf. Don't be so silly. We'd better go on. Where's my coat?"
 
"Here, sir," replied the gipsy, picking it up from the ground; "but I don't think you can wear it—it's torn right through the back where the cow's horn went through it."
 
"Never mind. I'll carry it, if I can't wear it. Fortunately, it's an old one, so if it can't be mended there's not much harm done. Where's that wicked Tim? Oh, gone on to your caravan9, I see, and Zingra's got hold of him! Are you going to stop at Hatwell Green?"
 
"Yes, sir; we've come back for the Fair."
 
"Oh, then, I shall see you again! Come along, Peter. I suppose there's no chance of that cow coming back?"
 
"Not in the least, I should say, sir," the gipsy answered. "The drovers told me she gave them the slip at the cross-roads, but depend upon it they'll take good care she doesn't do that again."
 
Both boys looked relieved on hearing this. They stopped at the caravan to exchange greetings with Mrs. Lee and Zingra, but Tom hurried Peter on when the gipsy woman, who had been at the back of the caravan, and consequently had not witnessed the scene with the cow, began to ask questions about the torn coat he was carrying.
 
"You're coming to tea with Aunt Harriet and me, aren't you?" asked Peter, when, out of sight of the caravan, Tom permitted him to slacken speed.
 
"I was," Tom answered. "Miss Perry asked me, as you know, and Father said I might, but I can't now—I must go straight home."
 
"Oh, why?"
 
"I can't have tea with your aunt wearing no coat."
 
"Oh, but I'll lend you one of mine! You mustn't go home! You won't object to wear one of my coats, will you? No? Oh, then, that's all right. Is Tim following us?"
 
"Yes—little beast!"
 
"Do forgive him now, Tom! Call him up to you, and make friends with him."
 
Tom laughed and obeyed. He assured Tim he wouldn't hurt him, whereupon the little dog bounded up to him, and was petted and forgiven. After that Bounce was forgiven, too.
 
Peter would have lent Tom the very best coat he possessed10, but Tom declined it, and insisted on borrowing an old one, in which, he declared, he would be far more comfortable. It fitted him very well, for he and the blind boy were much of a size, so that Miss Perry did not notice it was her nephew's till Peter drew her attention to it, and explained what had happened. She said little then, but her look was eloquent11 of the deepest gratitude12 as it rested on her young visitor, and when, a short while after tea, Mr. Burford called for his son, she drew him apart from the boys and talked to him earnestly for a long while.
 
"What was Miss Perry saying to you, Father?" Tom inquired, with his customary curiosity as, later, he and Mr. Burford walked home together. "Was it about our adventure this afternoon?"
 
Mr. Burford assented14. "She wishes to give you a new coat," he replied, smiling. "I said 'No' at first, but my refusal seemed to hurt her, so I felt obliged to say 'Yes.' She considers you behaved very pluckily15 this afternoon, Tom, and I agree with her. I am pleased my boy showed true grit—kept his head and did not run away."
 
"I never thought of running away," Tom answered, colouring; "but, oh, I was awfully16, awfully frightened! Peter is so helpless in his blindness, you know! It was horrible to see the cow make for him! I hadn't time to say even a little prayer, but it was in my heart, I think, and I just tore off my coat—and, oh, wasn't I thankful I made such a good shot and threw it right over the cow's head! Then Moses Lee came up with his whip and drove the cow on. Oh, dear me, how stupid I've been! I forgot to speak to the gipsies about little Grace Lee!"
 
"Who is little Grace Lee?" inquired Mr. Burford.
 
Tom explained, telling all he knew concerning the child and the Sordellos. "And it crossed my mind that she might be related to Moses Lee," he said in conclusion; "anyway, there'd be no harm in asking him; I shall be sure to see him again."
 
"You say you heard the woman—this Mrs. Sordello—strike the little girl, and use very bad language?" said Mr. Burford, interested and concerned.
 
"Yes, Father, I did. She called her 'a white-faced little coward,' and swore at her dreadfully; then she struck her—any one outside the caravan could have heard, but no one was there except me."
 
"What had the little girl done to anger Mrs. Sordello? You have not found out that?"
 
"No, Father; that is, Max Sordello said she had disobeyed and defied his wife, but I believe he was telling lies!"
 
Mr. Burford looked doubtful. "You cannot prove that," he said. "If he spoke17 the truth, the child deserved punishment, I dare say, though not such harsh treatment as she received—nothing would justify18 that. If a policeman had been in your position he would no doubt have interfered19 and summoned the woman for using bad language, but if you told a policeman all you've told me you couldn't prove it, and—well, in short, you can't do anything in the matter, my boy."
 
"It's dreadful to think such a little girl should be treated so badly!" Tom cried in indignant accents, "a little girl no bigger than our Nellie! I am sure Max Sordello and his wife are cruel to her! I believe they are wicked people! Oh, Father, do wait a minute and see what is being pasted on that hoarding20; I believe it's a bill about the menagerie!"
 
They had reached a large hoarding surrounding an unfinished building, upon which a bill-sticker was busily at work. He was standing on a short ladder, and glanced down with a smile as Tom and Mr. Burford stopped to watch him, revealing a good-natured, rubicund21 face.
 
"This is something in your line, I guess, young gentleman," he remarked, addressing Tom, whilst he indicated a flaring22 poster on which was represented a lion jumping through a hoop23. "All boys love a wild-beast show, I know," he continued, "and you may take my word for it that 'Dumbell's World-famed Menagerie' is well worth seeing."
 
"You have seen it, then, I suppose?" said Mr. Burford.
 
The bill-sticker nodded assent13. "At Birmingham last year," he replied; "this is the first time it's been here. It's the best show of wild animals on tour. The chief attraction, of course, is the performing lions—as gentle as lambs, or—" nodding his head meaningly— "whipped curs; their trainer, Max Sordello, has them well in hand, anyway. They say he trains them by kindness, but who's to know, eh?"
 
He pasted on another bill, one representing a lion with a little girl clad in a scarlet24 frock and wearing a wreath of flowers standing beside him, her arms around his neck, her face hidden in his tawny25 mane, and then surveyed it gravely. "I shouldn't like my little gell to do that," he said, "no, not for a thousand pounds! See what's printed under that bill? 'Una and the lion.'"
 
"Is the little girl really called Una?" asked Tom eagerly.
 
"Maybe, sir," answered the bill-sticker, "I don't know. She's Max Sordello's child, I'm given to understand; she's been appearing in public with the lions for months, but never yet with Hero—that lion there; they say he's forest-bred. She's to make her first appearance with him next week, on Monday at the Fair, so we shall all have an opportunity of seeing her."
 
Tom was staring hard at the picture of the little girl in the scarlet frock; there was a strong suspicion in his mind that this "Una," who was considered to be the lion-trainer's child, was actually Grace Lee, and when, a few minutes later, he moved on with his father, he told him what he thought.
 
 
"Yes, very likely you're right," agreed Mr. Burford; "I think so myself."
 
"What a plucky26 little thing she must be!" cried Tom, excitedly. "You'll let me go and see her performance with the lions on Monday, won't you, Father?"
 
"I hardly know," Mr. Burford answered hesitatingly; "I don't altogether approve of that sort of entertainment, because I don't believe that lions can be trained by kindness, especially forest-bred animals. And it's terrible to think that a child's life should be risked to amuse the public and for gain; it never ought to be allowed. I begin to see, Tom, that those Sordellos may have been prompted by a selfish motive27 when they adopted that little orphan— no doubt she adds considerably28 to the lion-trainer's earnings29."
 
"Yes, of course," Tom agreed. His face had become very thoughtful and grave. "Poor little girl," he said, pityingly; "I wonder if she is afraid of the lions? I know Nellie would be in her place."
 
Then the conversation turned upon Nellie, and in talking of his dearly loved sister Tom forgot every one else for the time. Later his thoughts reverted30 to Grace Lee, and he went to bed with the determination to visit Hatwell Green on the morrow, and tell the gipsies all about her.
 
"One thing is quite certain," he said to himself, "and that is that she's very miserable31. I never saw any little girl with such an unhappy face before. And she seemed so frightened! I wonder what she was afraid of? I shall try to find out!"

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 gored 06e2f8539ee9ec452c00dba81fa714c1     
v.(动物)用角撞伤,用牙刺破( gore的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was gored by a bull. 他被公牛顶伤。
  • The bull gored the farmer to death. 公牛用角把农夫抵死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 peril l3Dz6     
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物
参考例句:
  • The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
  • The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。
3 chastise XbCyt     
vt.责骂,严惩
参考例句:
  • My father used to chastise my brothers with whips.父亲过去常以鞭打惩罚我的兄弟。
  • Should I applaud my husband or chastise him?我是该称赞还是责罚我的丈夫呢?
4 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
5 crouched 62634c7e8c15b8a61068e36aaed563ab     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
  • The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身,准备猛扑。
6 bellowing daf35d531c41de75017204c30dff5cac     
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的现在分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫
参考例句:
  • We could hear he was bellowing commands to his troops. 我们听见他正向他的兵士大声发布命令。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He disguised these feelings under an enormous bellowing and hurraying. 他用大声吼叫和喝采掩饰着这些感情。 来自辞典例句
7 leash M9rz1     
n.牵狗的皮带,束缚;v.用皮带系住
参考例句:
  • I reached for the leash,but the dog got in between.我伸手去拿系狗绳,但被狗挡住了路。
  • The dog strains at the leash,eager to be off.狗拼命地扯拉皮带,想挣脱开去。
8 fervently 8tmzPw     
adv.热烈地,热情地,强烈地
参考例句:
  • "Oh, I am glad!'she said fervently. “哦,我真高兴!”她热烈地说道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • O my dear, my dear, will you bless me as fervently to-morrow?' 啊,我亲爱的,亲爱的,你明天也愿这样热烈地为我祝福么?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
9 caravan OrVzu     
n.大蓬车;活动房屋
参考例句:
  • The community adviser gave us a caravan to live in.社区顾问给了我们一间活动住房栖身。
  • Geoff connected the caravan to the car.杰弗把旅行用的住屋拖车挂在汽车上。
10 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
11 eloquent ymLyN     
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的
参考例句:
  • He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩,胜过最好的演说家。
  • These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。
12 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激,感谢
参考例句:
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
13 assent Hv6zL     
v.批准,认可;n.批准,认可
参考例句:
  • I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
  • The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。
14 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
15 pluckily f456b1f7f188159a24a79bb3c11e7ed4     
adv.有勇气地,大胆地
参考例句:
  • He was Brentford's defensive star in pluckily holding out the determined Reading raids for long periods. 他是布伦特福德队的防守明星,长期坚持抗击雷丁队的猛攻。 来自互联网
  • A crushing setback, pluckily overcome, is a good plot motif to carry the yarn forward. 如果你的公司曾遭受过一次毁灭性的打击,但你的勇气让公司度过了难关,那么这个情节也很不错,能推动故事的发展。 来自互联网
16 awfully MPkym     
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
参考例句:
  • Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
  • I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
17 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。
18 justify j3DxR     
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护
参考例句:
  • He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
  • Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗?
19 interfered 71b7e795becf1adbddfab2cd6c5f0cff     
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉
参考例句:
  • Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 hoarding wdwzA     
n.贮藏;积蓄;临时围墙;囤积v.积蓄并储藏(某物)( hoard的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • After the war, they were shot for hoarding. 战后他们因囤积而被枪决。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Actually he had two unused ones which he was hoarding up. 其实他还藏了两片没有用呢。 来自英汉文学
21 rubicund dXOxQ     
adj.(脸色)红润的
参考例句:
  • She watched the colour drain from Colin's rubicund face.她看见科林原本红润的脸渐渐失去了血色。
  • His rubicund face expressed consternation and fatigue.他那红通的脸显得又惊惶又疲乏。
22 flaring Bswzxn     
a.火焰摇曳的,过份艳丽的
参考例句:
  • A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls. 墙壁上装饰着廉价的花纸。
  • Goebbels was flaring up at me. 戈塔尔当时已对我面呈愠色。
23 hoop wcFx9     
n.(篮球)篮圈,篮
参考例句:
  • The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
  • The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。
24 scarlet zD8zv     
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的
参考例句:
  • The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
  • The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了,深红的颜色变成了绯红,绯红又变为浅红。
25 tawny tIBzi     
adj.茶色的,黄褐色的;n.黄褐色
参考例句:
  • Her black hair springs in fine strands across her tawny,ruddy cheek.她的一头乌发分披在健康红润的脸颊旁。
  • None of them noticed a large,tawny owl flutter past the window.他们谁也没注意到一只大的、褐色的猫头鹰飞过了窗户。
26 plucky RBOyw     
adj.勇敢的
参考例句:
  • The plucky schoolgirl amazed doctors by hanging on to life for nearly two months.这名勇敢的女生坚持不放弃生命近两个月的精神令医生感到震惊。
  • This story featured a plucky heroine.这个故事描述了一个勇敢的女英雄。
27 motive GFzxz     
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的
参考例句:
  • The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
  • He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
28 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。
29 earnings rrWxJ     
n.工资收人;利润,利益,所得
参考例句:
  • That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
  • Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。
30 reverted 5ac73b57fcce627aea1bfd3f5d01d36c     
恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 ); 重提; 回到…上; 归还
参考例句:
  • After the settlers left, the area reverted to desert. 早期移民离开之后,这个地区又变成了一片沙漠。
  • After his death the house reverted to its original owner. 他死后房子归还给了原先的主人。
31 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。


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