Jack2 and Jill had the bad taste to approve of fogs. They were “ripping,” they declared. “So adventurous3 and jolly! Yesterday, when I was walking to school, a hansom drove on the pavement beside me. Think of that!” cried Jill in a tone of triumph. “The horse’s nose nearly touched my shoulder, and an old lady near me shrieked4 like anything. It was sport!”
Jack was rather envious5 of the hansom episode, but had had his own share of amusement. “I followed Johnston all the way home, and chaffed him with a pebble6 in my mouth to disguise my voice. He was nearly mad with rage, and whenever he turned round I simply bent7 double, and he went for another fellow, and there was no end of a game.”
“But how did it happen that you could see him when he couldn’t see you?” queried8 Jill, when Jack was forced to admit that he had made mistakes more than once; but it only added to the sport to see the consternation9 of innocent pedestrians10 when an accusing voice suddenly hissed11 in their ears, “Who sneaked12 the indiarubber from Smith’s desk?”
The twins were happily constituted to enjoy all things, and from their conversation it would have appeared that to be hopelessly lost in a fog would be the climax13 of earthly joy; but Betty hated the gloom of the long days, when the gas burned steadily14 from breakfast to bedtime, and was nervous about trusting herself alone in the streets. In her leisure moments she devoted15 herself to the preparation of Christmas presents, and turned over the contents of her scrap-drawers, debating how to make a dozen handsome articles with the least possible expenditure16. It is to be feared that Betty’s gifts were arranged more to suit her own convenience than the tastes of the recipients17. “This will make a book-cover for Jill. I don’t suppose she’ll ever use it, but it’s not big enough for anything else, so she’ll just have to like it!” This was the spirit in which she assorted18 her materials, and set to work thereon. Not the ideal attitude by any means, but one must make allowances for a girl with a small allowance and a large family connection, and must also enter it to the credit of this particular damsel that she grudged19 no work which could beautify the simple background. Poor Betty! For two whole gloomy afternoons did she work at a spray of roses on a linen20 work-bag, and on the third day a feeble gleam of sunlight showed itself, and lo, the roses were a harlequin study in pinks and orange!
“Is it at all trying? Is it enough to make you pitch the whole thing into the fire?” she demanded dramatically of the chairs and tables, as the horrible discovery burst upon her, and she proceeded to snap at the silk with her sharp little scissors, and viciously tear away the stitches. “Shan’t bother to fill them in any more! They’ll just have to do in outline, and if she doesn’t like it she can do the other thing!” she grunted22 under her breath; but that was only the impulse of the moment, and when it came to action each stitch was put in as carefully as before.
“What are you sewing away at those old things for?” Jill demanded, coming into the room and seating herself easily on the edge of the table. “It’s much easier to buy match-boxes and needle-books. You can get beauties for sixpence three-farthings at the Christmas bazaars23, and it saves no end of fag. You can give me safety-pins if you like, for my clothes are all coming to pieces, and my pins disappear like smoke. Mary eats them, I believe! What are you going to give mother?”
“Can’t think! She wants a palm for the drawing-room, but a nice one costs half a guinea, and I couldn’t possibly scrape together more than three and six.”
Jill pondered, swinging her feet to and fro. “Five more Saturdays at fourpence each,—one and eight-pence, and I’ve got about two shillings in hand. No! I couldn’t possibly offer to join. I wish we could have managed it, for the drawing-room doesn’t look half furnished, and a big palm would have made a fine effect, but we can’t, so there’s an end of that!”
A gasp24 of suppressed nervousness sounded from the end of the room, and Pam’s voice said with the usual funny little squeak25, “I’ve got sixpence with a hole in it. I’ll join, Betty! Do get mother a palm! She wants it so badly. We saw one in a shop window yesterday, and she said it was just the thing for our room!”
“Sorry, Pam, but it can’t be done. They are a frightful26 price in the shops, and even old ‘All a-growing all a-blowing’ has none under seven and six. Perhaps when her birthday comes round we can manage it, but at Christmas there are so many presents to buy that one can’t afford big things.”
“I want to get it now,” squeaked27 Pam obstinately28, while Jill jumped down from the table and turned to the door.
“I’m going out! Can’t afford to waste holiday afternoons. Why don’t you put away that stupid work and come too?”
“Where are you going? A walk?”
“Rather not! Am I a Pampered29 Pet to promenade30 up and down? Jack and I are going to have some fun in the Square. I’m not going to tell you what it is, but you can come too if you like.”
Betty raised her head and peered out of the window. Black railings, black trees, sodden31 grass, paths strewn with decaying leaves, a fast-failing light. She gave a shudder32 of distaste and sank back in her chair.
“Thanks! I prefer the fire. I can’t understand you, Jill, going in for an exam, and wasting every spare moment you get! When I went in, I stewed33 every Saturday afternoon the whole term, and never dreamed of going out.”
“Yes, and got plucked for your pains!” retorted Jill brutally34. Poor Betty! She had passed so well in everything but that fatal arithmetic, which made all the difference between success and failure. The figures would not add up, the lines danced before her eyes, she could not remember the simplest table. It was cruel to rake up that old sore. She pressed her lips together and sat in offended dignity, while Jill skipped to the door, tossing her pretty pert head.
“I shall take care of my health and my nerves, and not have them breaking down just when I need them most. If the worst comes to the worst, I shall be no worse off than you were yourself, and I shall have had my fun!”
She ran downstairs into the hall, where Jack was awaiting her with a brown-paper parcel tucked under his arm, and together they crossed the road to the nearest gate, and let themselves into the garden with a heavy key.
“The other corner is the best,” Jack cried, leading the way forward at an eager pace, “more traffic, and thicker bushes. I spotted35 the exact place yesterday. Have you got the reel in your pocket all right?”
“Yes, yes! And you must give me my turn, Jack. It’s only fair, because you wouldn’t let me have a parcel of my own on the other side.”
“Of course not! You wouldn’t expect to find two lost parcels within a few yards of each other, would you? You want to give the whole show away!” cried Jack in indignant schoolboy fashion. “Now don’t talk so much, but creep between these bushes when nobody is passing. There’s room for us both, and I can get a pull at the string between these branches. We’ll have a rehearsal36 now, and see how it works.” He crawled forward on the dank earth, in easy unconcern for the knees of his trousers, dropped the daintily-wrapped parcel on to the centre of the pavement, and crept back to his place, holding in his hand the end of a long black thread.
They crouched37 together behind the bushes, as mischievous38 a Jack and Jill as have been known since the world began, giggling39 with anticipated glee, nudging each other violently at the sound of approaching footsteps, and peering eagerly through their loopholes to see what manner of prey40 was about to fall into their hands.
First, a fine lady walking gingerly along, both hands occupied in keeping her skirt from contact with the greasy41 pavement. She looked at the parcel with blank indifference42, and passed quietly on her way. The twins gasped43 with stupefaction. Could such things be? Was it possible that a human creature could be so surfeited44 with the good things of this world, that she could behold45 an unopened parcel lying on the ground, and feel no curiosity to discover what was inside? Imagination refused to picture such a position!
“Mad!” was Jack’s scornful explanation. “Mad as a March hare! Ought to be shut up out of the way. Walked straight over the string too. Hope to goodness she hasn’t broken it!”
A flick46 to the end of the string proved that this fear was unfounded, and the twins composed themselves for another period of waiting. Pedestrians seemed to prefer the pavement by the houses instead of that darker one overshadowed by the trees of the gardens, and several moments elapsed before a brisk footstep announced the approach of a tall, well set-up man clad in a light overcoat. His eye lit on the parcel, he bent his head and stretched out a hand to raise it up. Instantly Jack gave a flick to the string, to which the parcel responded by jumping an inch or two farther along the pavement. The brown-coated man straightened himself, gave a funny little grunt21, half amused, half-angry, and strode on his way. He had been a boy himself!
The next victim was an old woman carrying a pile of parcels, and breathing heavily from fatigue47, but although over-laden, she was evidently nothing loath48 to add to her burden. The twins could hear her surprised exclamation49, and see the hitch50 of the shoulders with which she freed her right arm for the attack. Down she bent, panting louder than before, until, even as her envious fingers approached the prize, it leapt into the air, and as by some magic process disappeared from sight. Jack was bursting with pride at his own adroitness51, and Jill nudged in enthusiastic approval. This came of fishing by the river-banks in the last summer holidays, and gaining dexterity52 in the art of casting lines! It was wonderful how useful such accomplishments53 were at times. The bewildered face of the disappointed treasure-seeker was almost too much for the conspirators54, and had she not been too much engrossed55 in her own thoughts she must certainly have heard the splutterings which not even the handkerchief stuffed between Jill’s lips could entirely56 drown. With a sigh she went on her way, wondering if eyesight were about to fail, as the culmination57 of her troubles.
After this came an errand-boy, whistling as he walked. He made a pounce58 at the parcel, and when it disappeared had no difficulty in understanding the phenomenon.
“Ho, you would, would you?” he cried, and picking up a handful of stones, sent them flying in among the bushes with such force that the twins congratulated themselves on escaping without injury.
They learnt a lesson from this experience, and henceforth made a rule of allowing all boys to pass by when they practised this particular pastime. By this time Jill was shivering in her shabby coat, and beginning to cast longing59 glances across the Square to the lighted schoolroom window. Anticipations60 of tea and hot buttered toast—the Saturday afternoon treat of years’ standing—made her present position seem unattractive, and she proposed an immediate61 adjournment62 home.
Jack, however, was not yet satisfied with his achievements.
“We haven’t had what I call a real proper rise out of anyone yet. Just once more, and then we’ll run for it,” he protested, and Jill shivered, and yielded to his superior will.
She had not long to wait. In less than five minutes a slow, measured tread was heard in the distance, and presently an elderly gentleman hove in sight, portly, well-dressed, and walking with a certain stiffness and deliberation which would have secured for him the sympathetic consideration of people of his own age. Jack and Jill, however, had no thought for such uninteresting subjects as rheumatism63; they nudged each other delightedly, and waited in breathless silence to see what would happen next.
Tramp, tramp, tramp came the slow approach, and then a sudden halt—the halt they knew so well—followed by something like a stifled64 groan65 as the victim stiffly bent forward to examine the treasure-trove. His gloved hand had nearly closed on the parcel when Jack adroitly66 flicked67 it a few inches away. He bent still farther, with another gasping68 effort, and then, even as the parcel again moved onward69, there came a loud, startled cry, and the horrified70 twins beheld71 their victim fall forward on his face, and lie helpless on the ground.
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1
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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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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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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8
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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11
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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12
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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13
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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14
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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15
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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16
expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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17
recipients
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| adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器 | |
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18
assorted
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| adj.各种各样的，各色俱备的 | |
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19
grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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20
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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21
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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22
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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23
bazaars
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| （东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场 | |
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24
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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25
squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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26
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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27
squeaked
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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28
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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29
pampered
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| adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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31
sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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32
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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33
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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34
brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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36
rehearsal
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| n.排练，排演；练习 | |
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37
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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39
giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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40
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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41
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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42
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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43
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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44
surfeited
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| v.吃得过多( surfeit的过去式和过去分词 )；由于过量而厌腻 | |
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45
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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46
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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47
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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48
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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49
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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50
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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51
adroitness
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52
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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53
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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54
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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55
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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56
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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57
culmination
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| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
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58
pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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59
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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60
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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61
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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62
adjournment
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| 休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期 | |
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63
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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64
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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65
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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66
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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67
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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68
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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69
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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70
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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71
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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