CHAPTER VIII NIGHT

The women were too busy to take any notice of the children when they returned except to ask them if they had a good swim.

 

“I feel like reading,” Maida said with a determined¹ air. She marched into the library. “There’s a book here I haven’t read for a long time, At the Back of the North Wind.” She went on as though talking to herself. “It’s one of the loveliest stories I ever read. I don’t know but what it’s my favorite of all. I feel like reading it now. It’s so cool ... there’s a great beautiful woman in it ... the North Wind....” Her voice melted into silence, as her hand seized a worn brown book. She dropped into one of the big chairs; seemed to forget entirely² about her companions.

 

The others—partly because there seemed nothing else to do—followed her example.

 

“Oh, here’s A Journey to the Centre of the Earth!” Dicky announced joyously³. “I haven’t seen it since Maida took it to Europe.” He absorbed himself in the big thick volume.

 

 

Rosie and Laura contented⁴ themselves respectively with Little Men and Little Women, and Harold began for the third time Kidnapped. But Arthur found a newly published book describing the exploration of Africa in a flying machine. He pored over it; gradually became absorbed.

 

It had been late afternoon when they returned. Nearly an hour drifted by. That coolness, which announces the approach of dusk, set in.

 

“Well,” Maida said at last, breathing a long relieved sigh, “I’ve got rid of my temper. If I hadn’t taken a book when I did, I’m sure I’d have burst into pieces. If everybody has read all he wants to, let’s try the tennis court.”

 

They tried the tennis court (although only Maida and the two Lathrops played tennis) but to such good effect and with so great a fascination⁵ that they returned to it after supper. Arthur, as was to be expected with his coolness and game sense, progressed rapidly under Harold’s instructions. The others found it the most difficult thing they had ever attempted. They were hot and tired when finally approaching dark made it impossible for them to see the balls.

 

 

They adjourned⁶ to the Tree Room where, in hammock and chairs, they talked and talked.

 

Gradually the talk grew desultory⁷; sank to an occasional silence.

 

“I was rummaging⁸ about in the barn early this morning,” Arthur said out of the reflective quiet in which he had long been immersed, “and I found all kinds of things in a big chest—base-balls and bats; foot-ball stuff and boxing gloves. Do you know how to box, Harold?”

 

“No,” Harold replied, “never tried it.”

 

“Want to learn?” Arthur inquired. “I’ll teach you. I’d like the practice.”

 

“Sure,” Harold said. “When will we begin?”

 

“To-morrow,” Arthur responded.

 

“What do you want to practice boxing for, Arthur?” Rosie asked curiously⁹.

 

“Oh I thought I might need it sometime,” Arthur answered evasively. He smiled into the dark.

 

“Say!” Rosie burst out suddenly, “did anybody besides me get sun-burned to-day?”

 

“Well, I didn’t mention it,” Laura answered sleepily, “but I feel as if my face were on fire.”

 

“Oh! Oh!” Maida exclaimed contritely¹⁰.[Pg 94] “I forgot to warn you to be sure to wear hats this first day or two. Are you burnt, Arthur?”

 

“To a cinder,” Arthur declared, “but I’ve been burnt before. I don’t mind it so very much.”

 

“And you Dicky?” Maida went on.

 

Dicky’s answer was a grimace¹¹.

 

“And Harold?” Maida continued in a despairing voice.

 

“I shall be one big blister¹² to-morrow,” Harold prophesied¹³ grimly.

 

“Oh my goodness!” wailed¹⁴ Maida futilely¹⁵. “It’s all my fault. Well it’s half-past eight,” she added after a pause. “According to rules we can sit up until nine, but I’m going to bed now. I never was so tired in all my life.”

 

“I’m falling asleep where I am,” Rosie admitted, “and as for Laura, she is asleep.”

 

This was the first day at the Little House.

 

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 joyously   

ad.快乐地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She opened the door for me and threw herself in my arms, screaming joyously and demanding that we decorate the tree immediately. 她打开门，直扑我的怀抱，欣喜地喊叫着要马上装饰圣诞树。
• They came running, crying out joyously in trilling girlish voices. 她们边跑边喊，那少女的颤音好不欢快。 来自名作英译部分

4 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

5 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

6 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。

7 desultory   

adj.散漫的，无方法的

参考例句：

• Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.不要让讨论变得支离破碎，成为没有明确方向的漫谈。
• The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn.警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。

8 rummaging   

翻找，搜寻( rummage的现在分词 )； 海关检查

参考例句：

• She was rummaging around in her bag for her keys. 她在自己的包里翻来翻去找钥匙。
• Who's been rummaging through my papers? 谁乱翻我的文件来着？

9 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

10 contritely   

参考例句：

11 grimace   

v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭

参考例句：

• The boy stole a look at his father with grimace.那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。
• Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。

12 blister   

n.水疱；(油漆等的)气泡；v.(使)起泡

参考例句：

• I got a huge blister on my foot and I couldn't run any farther.我脚上长了一个大水泡，没办法继续跑。
• I have a blister on my heel because my shoe is too tight.鞋子太紧了，我脚后跟起了个泡。

13 prophesied   

v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She prophesied that she would win a gold medal. 她预言自己将赢得金牌。
• She prophesied the tragic outcome. 她预言有悲惨的结果。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 wailed   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句

15 futilely   

futile（无用的）的变形； 干

参考例句：

• Hitler, now ashen-gray, futilely strained at his chains. 希特勒这时面如死灰，无可奈何地死拽住身上的锁链不放。 来自名作英译部分
• Spinning futilely at first, the drivers of the engine at last caught the rails. 那机车的主动轮起先转了一阵也没有用处，可到底咬住了路轨啦。