The steps belonged to a fine mansion1 with handsome columns on either side of the entrance and an ornate balcony above. Everything suggested that the neighborhood was the home of wealth and aristocracy. Even the lad on the steps fitted perfectly2 into the picture. His rather small, slight figure was dressed in a natty3 brown suit, while a cap—a very large checkered4 cap—rested jauntily5 on his neatly6 brushed hair. Victor Collins’ features[10] were well proportioned, although the curves were rather too dainty, perhaps, to suit the idea of some critical lads.
Victor was becoming impatient. Impatience7 was one of his principal characteristics. Waiting is tedious. So Victor tilted8 his cap far back, the process revealing two frowning lines on his forehead which, considering his age, should never have existed.
Fortunately for the lad’s peace of mind, however, the vigorous honk9, honk of a motor car, rising above all other sounds in the street, suddenly caused his gaze to become centered upon the approaching machine.
Running down the steps he reached the curb11 just as a big touring car swung up alongside and came to a stop.
“All ready, Victor?” called the chauffeur12, a broad-shouldered, healthy-looking lad, leaping to the ground.
There was no answer, because at the same instant three other boys, with much noise and laughter, began climbing out.
The youngest was very tall and thin, and[11] this was accentuated13 by the stoutness14 of a broadly smiling lad who stood close beside him. The fourth member of the group, a slender, sandy-haired boy, appeared to be about sixteen. His broad forehead and delicately chiseled15 features suggested fine intellect.
The first three, Bob Somers, Tom Clifton and Dave Brandon, were members of the Rambler Club, who, having made a house-boat trip up the Hudson, had reached Chicago en route to Wisconsin. Charlie Blake, their companion, a classmate, often referred to as the “grind,” on account of his studious habits, was on a visit to his friend, Victor Collins.
It naturally followed that the Ramblers, happening to be in Chicago at the same time, received an invitation to visit the Collins mansion. And it also followed that, as the Ramblers were going to have the use of a seven passenger touring car, Victor Collins was more than pleased to meet them.
Mr. Somers, Bob’s father, having motored to Chicago on business, returned by train, leaving the car at a garage, so that the boys might use it for the remainder of the journey to Kingswood, Wisconsin, their home.
[12]When Victor Collins learned of this intention he instantly announced a determination to go with the crowd as far as Kenosha.
“You see,” he explained to Bob Somers, “my Uncle Ralph lives there; and he owns the dandiest motor yacht your eyes ever looked upon. He’s invited me to take a trip to Milwaukee. Talk about sport!”
So the morning had come when Victor’s anticipations16 were about to be realized.
“You’re all as brown as a bunch of street cleaners,” he remarked, after salutations had been exchanged. “I don’t believe that sun-tinting will ever wear off, either. Hello, Hannibal, hello!”
He turned and faced the house.
A very dignified18 colored man, wearing an immaculately clean apron19, had opened the door and was standing20 with a large suit case in his hand.
“Bring it down and chuck it into the car,” commanded Victor.
“An awful lot of stuff for a short trip,” remarked Tom. “You ought to throw out half.”
“Fade away,” retorted Victor. “There’s another one coming.”
[13]“Mercy!” snickered Tom. “Why don’t you bring a department store along?”
Hannibal made short work of depositing the heavy suit cases in the tonneau. Then, grinning broadly, he drew forth21 a letter and handed it to Charlie Blake.
“It am just come, suh,” he explained.
“The handwriting spells Kirk Talbot’s name as loud as those checks on Victor’s cap, fellows,” cried Blake.
Bob did, and smiled.
“I’m sorry that he and Nat Wingate won’t be back in the school this term,” he remarked. “By the way, Dave, we’ll have to hustle23 to catch up with our studies.”
“Don’t mention it, Bob. Just think of how the doors of that school are yawning for us even now.”
“Go ahead, Charlie, read that letter out loud,” cried Tom.
Blake was soon smiling broadly.
“‘Dear Charlie:—
“‘Your last effusion is lying on my desk. So you are actually going to meet Bob Somers and his chums! Say, don’t those chaps manage to have the finest time ever, with their aeroplanes, house-boats, automobiles26 and a dash of cowboy life in between!
“‘And you are going to motor back to Kingswood with them! That’s great.
“‘But I’ve got a bit of news which ought to make Bob Somers sit up and take notice. Nat Wingate and I have formed a football team. Yes, it’s true. There’s a lot of good material going to waste here in town. And the high school team has had its own way so long it’s time somebody took them down a peg27. And though we really hate to do it those chaps are in for the worst drubbing of their career, and we’re even talking about a ball nine next spring.’”
[15]“Just a few moments, Vic,” laughed Charlie, resuming:
“‘Now that Nat Wingate has gone those high school chaps are like an army without a general.’”
“Huh!” remarked Tom, frowning slightly.
“‘Now, Charlie, here’s what Nat and I think. Bob Somers and his Rambler crowd may be pretty good at bowling29 over grizzlies30, collecting panther skins, or busting31 bronchos, but when it comes to either football or baseball——’”
“Well, I like that!” broke in Tom indignantly.
“Prepare yourself for the worst,” laughed Charlie. “Listen to this:
“‘I guess they are simply out of the running?’”
“Did you ever, Bob Somers!” cried Tom. “The nerve of him!”
“Oh, don’t worry. I guess the high school eleven can take care of any crowd he brings,” said Bob.
“There are some pretty good baseball players, though, in Kingswood,” said Tom. “I guess it’s up to us to take hold next[16] spring and put a little ginger32 into our crowd.”
“You haven’t quite the shape for a ball player, Clifton,” remarked Victor, with a critical stare.
“For goodness’ sake, finish that letter, Blake,” continued Victor, with a grin.
“‘I hear that the Kingswood High has a chance to get an athletic34 field,’” read Charlie. “‘Mr. Rupert Barry owns a large plot of ground which ought to make a dandy ball park. But, so far, it is only a rumor35, and maybe a silly one, at that. You would think so if you saw some of the playing the K. H. S. has done recently.
“‘Tell Bob Somers what I said. Good-bye and good luck.
“‘Your old chum,
“‘Kirk.’”
“A nice long letter,” drawled Dave.
“Is that all you have to say about it?” demanded Tom.
“Well, Tom,” said Dave, slowly, “your suggestion needs consideration.”
[17]“You haven’t quite the shape for a ball player either, Brandon,” said Victor.
“Goodness—Dave’s turn now!” snickered Tom. “What kind of a figure must a ball tosser have, anyway?”
“Somers is about right,” answered Victor, calmly. “But a chap that is either all bones or all fat won’t do.”
“We’ll show you some day,” snapped Tom, hotly.
Baseball was a rather sore subject with Charlie Blake. He had tried it the season before, but lack of confidence in himself speedily caused him to drop out of the game.
Some of the boys who were not of a very considerate nature concluded that Charlie had a yellow streak36, and, at this point, Bob Somers earned Blake’s everlasting37 gratitude38 by sticking manfully to him.
“Say,” remarked the latter, rather dolefully, “I’m sorry I didn’t make good on the nine last year. I certainly tried hard enough.”
“A nice thing to waste all this time,”[18] grunted40 Victor. “We ought to be burning up some of those country roads.”
“That’s right,” laughed Bob Somers. “Pile in, fellows.”
His eyes sparkled as they ran over the graceful41 lines of the big touring machine. It was finished in a deep, rich red, relieved by touches of darker color. Polished lamps, steering42 gear and levers, in places, shot back the rays of the early morning sun.
It was something to feel that they were actually in possession of such a magnificent car—theirs to command, theirs to take them where they willed, and theirs to defy distance, time, and railroads.
Mrs. Collins was looking out of a second story window.
An instant later, Victor, from his place on the rear cushion, shouted:
“Good-bye, mother!”
“Have you all those warm wraps and the umbrella I told you to take?” she called.
“Yes, mother!”
“And that bottle of beef tea, and your raincoat?”
“Yes, mother!”
[19]“And will you be sure to use the cough medicine in case you catch cold?”
“Yes, mother!”
“Well, do be careful, Victor. And don’t fail to send a card home this afternoon.”
Victor promised, his face glowing with anticipation17.
“We are going to have a ripping time, mother!” he shouted. “Hooray! Let her whizz, Somers!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
natty
|
|
| adj.整洁的，漂亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
checkered
|
|
| adj.有方格图案的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
jauntily
|
|
| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
honk
|
|
| n.雁叫声，汽车喇叭声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
joyfully
|
|
| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
curb
|
|
| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
chauffeur
|
|
| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
accentuated
|
|
| v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
stoutness
|
|
| 坚固，刚毅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
chiseled
|
|
| adj.凿刻的，轮廓分明的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
anticipations
|
|
| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
anticipation
|
|
| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
hustle
|
|
| v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
automobiles
|
|
| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
peg
|
|
| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
bowling
|
|
| n.保龄球运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
grizzlies
|
|
| 北美洲灰熊( grizzly的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
busting
|
|
| 打破，打碎( bust的现在分词 )； 突击搜查（或搜捕）； （使）降级，降低军阶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
ginger
|
|
| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sniffed
|
|
| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
athletic
|
|
| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
rumor
|
|
| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
streak
|
|
| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
sarcasm
|
|
| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
grunted
|
|
| （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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
steering
|
|
| n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |