They were not, however, overcome by a sense of physical fear. The old people seemed slightly crazy to them, but harmless. They slept a little, late in the afternoon, and finally were awakened3 by their captor’s summons to supper.
Again they had a wonderful meal placed before them. The woman, it would seem, was ashamed of her husband’s actions, and was doing everything she could to make it up to them. In spite of herself, Marjorie felt a sort of liking4 for her.
“I suppose you may as well tell us your name,” remarked Marjorie, as she spread some delicious peach preserves upon the tempting5 hot muffin in her hand.
“Our name is Higgins,” replied the woman, lowering her eyes. “And yours?”
127 “I am Miss Wilkinson, as you know, and my friend is Miss Hammer.”
There was a silence for a few moments while they ate. Both girls realized that even now the scouts were probably eating something like canned salmon6 and beans, while they enjoyed a chicken dinner; but they said nothing. Marjorie made up her mind not to utter a word of praise of Mrs. Higgins’s cooking.
“It’s evident,” she remarked sarcastically7, “that you people never had any children!”
A faint flush spread over the woman’s face, and then a tear came to her eye. But she looked down hastily at her plate to hide her embarrassment8.
“No, we never did,” she replied. “But how did you know?”
“No mother or father could be so cruel!” answered Marjorie cuttingly.
The thrust hit deep; the older woman was silenced. The girl had touched the tenderest chords of her heart, and now she was fully9 ashamed. She would have abandoned the whole project had she dared, she was so completely on her prisoners’ side. But she was afraid of the old man; he might do something desperate to them all if she went back on her word. And even now she realized that she too was a prisoner, just as much as the girls were, and in her own house!
“What do you think can be keeping him?” asked128 Frieda, refusing to dignify10 such a contemptible11 creature with a name.
“I don’t know,” replied the woman. “Perhaps the telephone is out of order. Or maybe he’s took sick.”
Fresh peach ice-cream and a wonderful chocolate cake failed to produce any sort of comment on the part of the girls. Marjorie thought she had never tasted such delicious cooking in her life, but still she said nothing. Mrs. Higgins sighed; she so seldom had anyone to cook for, and it would have meant so much to her to have her efforts appreciated.
“I think there are some games in the table drawer in the parlor,” she told the girls, as they rose from the table. “You’re welcome to play with ’em.”
Frieda went in and got them, but Marjorie went straight to her room. Throwing herself upon the bed, she sobbed12 bitterly.
“Why do you ’spose old Higgins isn’t back?” she asked, as Frieda entered their bedroom.
“Probably he couldn’t get your father,” said the other. “Are you sure he would be home?”
Marjorie thought for a moment, and then started to weep afresh.
“No, he wouldn’t!” she exclaimed. Then, brokenly, “Mama and papa were going away this morning for a week-end party, and Jack13 is camping. Oh, Frieda!” Her voice died in a wail14 of woe15.
Frieda sat down beside Marjorie and drew her129 head to her shoulder. She let her cry for a minute or so, and then tried to calm her.
“Nothing awful can happen, Marjorie,” she said, soothingly16. “We’ll only miss a few days of good time at the most. For something is sure to happen—the real Margie Wilkinson that they are looking for will turn up, or old Higgins will reach your father by phone, and he’ll come hot-foot himself—or the scouts will send a rescue party, or——”
Marjorie smiled faintly through her tears.
“You are a great comfort, Frieda. I don’t know what I’d ever do without you. I suppose there are worse things than missing the meet and a few days at Silvertown; but oh, I was so eager to go!”
“Of course you were! Well, let’s don’t worry yet—why there are four whole days left, and it only takes two to get there. My, wasn’t that wonderful chocolate cake, though? I could almost love old lady Higgins for that!”
“I hate her!” cried Marjorie, vehemently17. “She’s just as much to blame as the old man!”
“Maybe not; maybe he rules her completely. Some men do, you know!”
“Well, I’m never going to get married, then!” announced Marjorie. “In fact, I hate all men!”
“Come, this won’t get us anywhere,” interrupted Frieda; “let’s play flinch18, and try to forget it.”
The girls played until nearly nine o’clock, and then decided19 to go to bed. Worn out from the130 mental strain, they felt grateful for the comfortable bed, and soon fell asleep, clasping each other’s hands. There is nothing so effective in cementing a friendship as a common misfortune.
They slept late the next morning, and were awakened by a knock at their door. It proved to be Mrs. Higgins, with a tray.
“Good morning, girls,” she said cheerily; “how are you today?”
Both girls suppressed their natural inclination20 to say something pleasant, and Frieda, with a suggestion of her old rudeness, asked,
“Is that old man back yet?”
Mrs. Higgins shook her head sadly.
“Not yet, Miss. Mebbe the telephone’s broke. Is your pap likely to be home, Miss Wilkins?”
“No, he and mother went on a week-end motor trip. Of course he won’t be able to get them!”
“Why didn’t you tell him that?”
She set the tray on a table by the window. The breakfast—fresh peaches with cream, hot biscuits, eggs, and fragrant21 coffee—certainly looked inviting22. Marjorie eyed it critically.
“As a matter of fact, I forgot,” she replied, icily.
“Well, more’s the pity for you! If I know Mr. Higgins, he’ll stay right on the job till he gets an answer. If that’s the case, you needn’t hope to get away till your parents come back.”
Marjorie’s eyes flashed in anger.
131 “You’re wicked, cruel people!” she cried; “and when my father hears about it, he’ll have you put in prison! So there!”
“But he can’t!” objected Mrs. Higgins. “We’re only tryin’ to help the police catch a runaway23 gal24. That’s obeyin’ the law, ain’t it—not breakin’ it!”
Marjorie was silent, and the woman opened the door and went out. The girls turned to their breakfast.
“I wish I were dead!” exclaimed Marjorie. “I won’t eat her old food!” Then suddenly, with a flash of inspiration, “Frieda, let’s go on a hunger strike—like the woman suffragists did! They wouldn’t dare let us die.”
“But in the meantime the meet would be over,” objected Frieda, proceeding25 to the table, and pouring cream over her peaches. “No, Marjorie, that won’t do. But we’ll think of a better plan. Come, eat your peaches.”
Her companion, however, did not stir from the bed. Frieda carried her own peaches over to the window and sat upon the broad sill to eat them. Gazing idly out, she noticed a slender lattice which led up to the window, and an arbor26 underneath27. That was the solution of their problem! Her eyes lighted up with the discovery.
“Marj!” she whispered, excitedly. “There’s a lattice and an arbor just outside our window! We can easily escape!”
132 The other girl was out of bed in an instant, looking eagerly out of the window. Frieda was right; the structure, frail28 though it was, looked sufficiently29 strong to support their slender weight.
“Let’s do it right away, Frieda!” proposed Marjorie. “Oh, you are a trump30!” She seized her companion, and hugged her in ecstasy31.
“Sh!” cautioned the other. “No, I’d love to go right away, but I really think we better wait till dark. Won’t it be wonderful to give the old man the slip?”
“Perfect!” agreed Marjorie. “Gracious, Frieda, it just seems as if I couldn’t wait!”
“Well, you must! And let’s stuff all the food we can, for most likely there isn’t any left in our canoes, and we have no money. Are you good for a two-day fast?”
“I’m good for anything, if we only get away! And, believe me, I’ll stuff!”
The girls dressed, and spent the morning wandering about the house and looking at some old books and magazines, the latter of which had evidently been current during Mrs. Higgins’s youth. They asked continually for news of her husband, but always received a negative reply. They managed to look annoyed and to preserve, in the presence of their captor, the same sullen32 attitude which they had assumed at the beginning.
At noon they ate a particularly hearty33 meal, and133 then retired34 to their room to take a nap. For they felt that the chances were that they would get little sleep that night. It was while they were lying down, and just beginning to doze35 off, that Miss Phillips and Ethel came in search of them and held the conversation with Mrs. Higgins through the window. But they were utterly36 unconscious of the whole proceeding.
They awakened a little before six, just in time to get ready for supper. Again they ate heartily37 and inquired with concern for the old man.
“You needn’t expect to see ’im before Monday or Tuesday, or whenever your pap comes home,” Mrs. Higgins repeated; “for I know he’ll stick to the end. They’s a nice hotel at Besley, and he has cronies there; in fact, he often goes off fer several days at a time!”
“And leaves you all alone?” demanded Marjorie indignantly. “Men are beasts, aren’t they?” she added.
“Some is,” sighed Mrs. Higgins; “the fact is, I’m quite o’ that mind meself about the old man!”
The girls went to their rooms after supper, announcing their intention of going to bed early. Mrs. Higgins, too, decided to turn in as soon as the dishes were done. Marjorie was just on the point of offering to help when she reconsidered her idea, and decided it would be wisest to let things stay as they were.
134 Marjorie and Frieda watched the sunset and the deepening twilight38 from their window, and kept a sharp look out for Mr. Higgins. When it was finally quite dark, and they had heard the stairs creak as Mrs. Higgins went to bed, and all was still in the house, they cut the netting of the window with Frieda’s scout1 knife, and prepared to descend39. Frieda went first.
With the end of the bed sheet tied around her waist, she put one foot upon the lattice. Then, finding that it supported her weight, she descended40 cautiously step by step. Fortunately for her, and for her companion as well, both girls wore sneakers. It was a more difficult matter for Marjorie to follow, for she had no sheet to protect her. But knowing that Frieda, who was heavier, had arrived safely, she made the descent boldly. In a moment they were on the ground together.
Free at last!
They stopped to untie41 the sheet and hide it behind a bush, and then hurried noiselessly on. Their sneakers allowed them to advance rapidly, and in absolute silence. In a short time they reached the water’s edge. But here they encountered difficulty: the canoe was gone!
“Of course,” whispered Marjorie, “we might have known the miserable42 wretch43 would think of that. Never mind, we’ll beat him all the same! Let’s swim across! I know there’s a path on the oppo135site shore and we’ll be less likely to be caught!”
Fortunately, the night was warm, and the girls felt no shock as they plunged44 into the dark water. They were both exceptionally good swimmers; otherwise the weight of their clothes might have seriously retarded45 their progress.
“I’ve never been in swimming at night before,” remarked Marjorie, as she made her way rapidly through the water.
“Oh, I have, heaps of times,” said Frieda.
“Do you ’spose we’ll take cold?” asked the other, a minute later.
“Not if we walk fast. And let’s—I’m not a bit tired, are you?”
“I should hope not, after this afternoon’s sleep. Let’s hurry, and not lose a minute!”
They found that the path was plainly visible in the moonlight; and they walked as fast as they could, glancing nervously46 over their shoulders now and again, as if in fear of pursuit.
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收听单词发音
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1
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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3
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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4
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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6
salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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7
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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dignify
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| vt.使有尊严；使崇高；给增光 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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12
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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13
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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14
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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15
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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16
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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17
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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18
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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19
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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20
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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21
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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24
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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arbor
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| n.凉亭；树木 | |
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27
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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28
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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29
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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30
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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31
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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32
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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33
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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34
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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35
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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36
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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37
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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38
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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39
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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40
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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41
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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42
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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43
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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44
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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45
retarded
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| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
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46
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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