Chapter Seven BETTER NEWS

Chapter Seven BETTER NEWS
　　"Do you think we'd better slip down after the Sticks have gone to bed and get some food out of thelarder again?" said Dick, when no supper appeared that evening.
　　Julian didn't feel inclined to sneak² down and confront Mr. Stick again. Not that he was afraid of him,but the whole thing was so unpleasant. This was their house, the food was theirs - so why should theyhave to beg for it, or take it on the sly? It was ridiculous.
　　"Come here, Timothy!" said Julian. The dog left George's side and went to Julian, looking up at theboy inquiringly. "You're going to come with me and persuade dear kind Mrs. Stick to give us the bestthings out of the larder¹!" said Julian, with a grin.
　　The others laughed, cheering up at once.
　　"Good idea!" said Dick. "Can we all come and see the fun.""Better not," said Julian. "I can manage fine by myself."He went down the passage to the kitchen. The radio was going inside, so no one in the kitchen heardJulian till he was actually standing³ inside the door. Then Edgar looked up and saw Timothy as well asJulian.
　　Edgar was scared of the big dog, who was now growling⁵ fiercely. He went behind the kitchen sofaand stayed there, eyeing Timmy fearfully.
　　"What do you want?" said Mrs. Stick, turning off the radio.
　　"Supper," said Julian, pleasantly. "Supper! The best things out of the larder - bought with my uncle'smoney, cooked on my aunt's stove with gas she pays for - yes, supper! Open the larder door and let'ssee what there is in there."
　　"Well, of all the nerve!" began Mr. Stick, in amazement⁶.
　　"You can have a loaf of bread and some cheese," said Mrs. Stick, "and that's my last word.""Well, it isn't my last word," said Julian, and he went to the larder door. Timmy, keep to heel!
　　Growl⁴ all you like, but don't bite anybody - yet!"Timmy's growls⁷ were really frightful⁸. Even Mr. Stick put himself at the other end of the room.
　　As for Stinker, he was nowhere to be seen. He had gone into the scullery at the very first growl, andwas now shivering behind the wringer.
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　　Mrs. Stick's mouth went into a hard straight line. "You take the bread and cheese and clear out,"she said.
　　Julian opened the larder door, whistling softly, which annoyed Mrs. Stick more than anything else.
　　"My word!" said Julian, admiringly. "You do know how to stock a larder, I must say, Mrs.
　　Stick. A roast chicken! I thought I smelt⁹ one cooking. I suppose Mr. Stick killed one of our chickenstoday. I thought I heard a lot of squawking. And what fine tomatoes! Best to be got from the village,I've no doubt. And oh, Mrs. Stick - what a perfectly¹⁰ marvellous treacle¹¹ tart¹²! I must say you're a goodcook, I really must."
　　Julian picked up the chicken, the dish of tomatoes, and then balanced the plate with the treacle tart onthe top.
　　Mrs. Stick yelled at him.
　　"You leave them things alone! That's our supper! You leave them there.""You've made a little mistake," said Julian, politely. It's our supper! We've had very little to eat today,and we could do with a good supper. Thanks awfully¹³!""Now look "ere!" began Mr. Stick, angrily, furious at seeing his lovely supper walking away.
　　"You surely don't want me to look at you again," said Julian, in a tone of amazement. "What for?
　　Have you shaved yet - or washed? I'm afraid not. So, if you don't mind I think I'd rather not look atyou."
　　Mr. Stick was speechless. He was not ready with his tongue at any time, and a boy like Julian tookhis breath away, and left him with nothing to say except his favourite "Now, look 'ere!""Put those things down," said Mrs. Stick sharply. "What do you think we're going to have for oursupper if you walk off with them? you tell me that!""Easy!" said Julian. "Let me offer you our supper - bread and cheese, Mrs. Stick, bread and cheese!"Mrs. Stick made an angry noise, and started to go after Julian with her hand raised. But Timothyimmediately leapt at her, and his teeth snapped together with a loud click.
　　"Oh!" howled Mrs. Stick. "That dog of yours nearly took my hand off! The brute¹⁴! I'll do for him oneday, you see if I don't."
　　"You had a good try today, didn't you?" said Julian, in a quiet voice, fixing his eyes straight on thewoman's face. "That's a matter for the police, isn't it? Be careful, Mrs. Stick. I've a good mind to go tothe police tomorrow."
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　　Just as before, the mention of the police seemed to frighten Mrs. Stick. She cast a look at her husbandand took a step backward. Julian wondered if the man had done something wrong and was hidingfrom the police. He never seemed to put a foot out of doors.
　　The boy went up the passage triumphantly¹⁵. Timmy followed at his heels, disappointed that he hadn'tbeen able to get a nibble¹⁶ at Stinker. Julian marched into the sitting-room¹⁷, and set the dishes carefullydown on the table.
　　"What ho!" he said. "Look what I've got - the Sticks' own supper!" Then he told the others all thathad happened, and they laughed loudly.
　　"How do you think of all those things to say?" said Anne, admiringly. "I don't wonder you makethem feel wild, Ju. It's a good thing we've got Timmy to back us up.""Yes, I shouldn't feel nearly so bold without Timmy," said Julian.
　　It was a very good supper. There were knives and forks in the sideboard, and the children made dowith fruit plates from the sideboard too, rather than go and get plates from the kitchen. There wasbread over from their tea, so they were able to make a very good meal. They enjoyed it thoroughly¹⁸.
　　"Sorry we can't give you the chicken bones, Tim," said George, "but they might split inside you andinjure you. You can have all the scraps¹⁹. See you don't leave any for Stinker!"Timmy didn't. With two or three great gulps²¹ he cleared his plate, and then sat waiting for any scrapsof treacle tart that might descend²² his way.
　　The children felt cheerful after such a good meal. They had completely eaten the chicken.
　　Nothing was left except a pile of bones. They had eaten all the tomatoes too, finished the bread, andenjoyed every scrap²⁰ of the treacle tart.
　　It was late, Anne yawned, and then George yawned too. "Let's go to bed," she said. "I don't feel likehaving a game of cards or anything."
　　So they went to bed, and as usual Timothy lay heavily on George's feet. He lay there awake for sometime, his ears cocked to hear noises from below. He heard the Sticks go up to bed. He heard doorsclosing. He heard a whine²³ from Stinker. Then all was silence. Timmy dropped his head on to hispaws and slept - but he kept one ear cocked for danger. Timothy didn't trust the Sticks any more thanthe children did!
　　The children awoke very early in the morning. Julian awoke first. It was a marvellous day. Julianwent to the window and looked out. The sky was a very pale blue, and rosy-pink clouds floated 33about it. The sea was a clean blue too, smooth and calm. Julian remembered what Anne often said -she said that the world in the early morning always looked as if it had come back fresh from thelaundry - so clean and new and fresh!
　　The children all bathed before breakfast, and this time they were back at half-past eight, afraid thatGeorge's father might telephone early again. Julian saw Mrs. Stick on the stairs and called to her.
　　"Has my uncle telephoned yet?"
　　"No," said the woman, in a surly tone. She had been hoping that the telephone would ring while thechildren were out, then, as she had done the day before, she could answer it, and get a few words infirst.
　　"We'll have breakfast now, please," said Julian. "A. good breakfast, Mrs. Stick. My uncle might askus what we'd had for breakfast, mightn't he? You never know."Mrs. Stick evidently thought that Julian might tell his uncle if she gave them only bread and butterfor breakfast, so very soon the children smelt a delicious smell of bacon frying. Mrs. Stick brought ina dish of it garnished²⁴ with tomatoes. She banged it down on the table with the plates.
　　Edgar arrived with a pot of tea and a tray of cups and saucers.
　　"Ah, here is dear Edgar!" said Julian, in a tone of amiable²⁵ surprise. "Dear old spotty-face!""Garn!" said Edgar, and banged down the teapot. Timmy growled²⁶, and Edgar fled for his life.
　　George didn't want any breakfast. Julian put hers back in the warm dish and put a plate over it.
　　He knew that she was waiting for news. If only the telephone would ring - then she would know ifher mother was really better or not.
　　It did ring as they were halfway²⁷ through the meal. George was there before the bell had stoppedpealing. She put the receiver to her ear. "Father! Yes, it's George. How's Mother?"There was a pause as George listened. All the children stopped eating and listened in silence, waitingfor George to speak. They would know by her next words if the news was good or not.
　　"Oh - oh, I'm so glad!" they heard George say. "Did she have the operation yesterday? Oh, you nevertold me! But it's all right now, is it? Poor Mother! Give her my love. I do want to see her.
　　Oh Father, can't I come?"
　　Evidently the answer was no. George listened for a while, then spoke²⁸ a few more words and saidgood-bye.
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　　She ran into the sitting-room. "You heard, didn't you?" she said, joyfully²⁹. "Mother's better. She'll getall right now, and will be back home soon - in about ten days. Father won't come back till he bringsher home. It's good news about Mother - but I'm afraid we can't get rid of the Sticks."

1 larder   

n.食物贮藏室，食品橱

参考例句：

• Please put the food into the larder.请将您地食物放进食物柜内。
• They promised never to raid the larder again.他们答应不再随便开食橱拿东西吃了。

2 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

3 standing   

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。

4 growl   

v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣

参考例句：

• The dog was biting,growling and wagging its tail.那条狗在一边撕咬一边低声吼叫，尾巴也跟着摇摆。
• The car growls along rutted streets.汽车在车辙纵横的街上一路轰鸣。

5 growling   

n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼

参考例句：

• We heard thunder growling in the distance. 我们听见远处有隆隆雷声。
• The lay about the deck growling together in talk. 他们在甲板上到处游荡，聚集在一起发牢骚。

6 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

7 growls   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• The dog growls at me. 狗向我狂吠。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The loudest growls have echoed around emerging markets and commodities. 熊嚎之声响彻新兴的市场与商品。 来自互联网

8 frightful   

adj.可怕的；讨厌的

参考例句：

• How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
• We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。

9 smelt   

v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼

参考例句：

• Tin is a comparatively easy metal to smelt.锡是比较容易熔化的金属。
• Darby was looking for a way to improve iron when he hit upon the idea of smelting it with coke instead of charcoal.达比一直在寻找改善铁质的方法，他猛然想到可以不用木炭熔炼，而改用焦炭。

10 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

11 treacle   

n.糖蜜

参考例句：

• Blend a little milk with two tablespoons of treacle.将少许牛奶和两大汤匙糖浆混合。
• The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweet.啜饮蜜糖的苍蝇在甜蜜中丧生。

12 tart   

adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇

参考例句：

• She was learning how to make a fruit tart in class.她正在课上学习如何制作水果馅饼。
• She replied in her usual tart and offhand way.她开口回答了，用她平常那种尖酸刻薄的声调随口说道。

13 awfully   

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。

14 brute   

n.野兽，兽性

参考例句：

• The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
• That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。

15 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

16 nibble   

n.轻咬，啃；v.一点点地咬，慢慢啃，吹毛求疵

参考例句：

• Inflation began to nibble away at their savings.通货膨胀开始蚕食他们的存款。
• The birds cling to the wall and nibble at the brickwork.鸟儿们紧贴在墙上，啄着砖缝。

17 sitting-room   

n.（BrE）客厅，起居室

参考例句：

• The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
• Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

18 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

19 scraps   

油渣

参考例句：

• Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
• A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。

20 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

21 gulps   

n.一大口（尤指液体）( gulp的名词复数 )v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的第三人称单数 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住

参考例句：

• He often gulps down a sob. 他经常忍气吞声地生活。 来自辞典例句
• JERRY: Why don't you make a point with your own doctor? (George gulps) What's wrong? 杰瑞：你为啥不对你自个儿的医生表明立场？有啥问题吗？ 来自互联网

22 descend   

vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降

参考例句：

• I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
• We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。

23 whine   

v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣

参考例句：

• You are getting paid to think,not to whine.支付给你工资是让你思考而不是哀怨的。
• The bullet hit a rock and rocketed with a sharp whine.子弹打在一块岩石上，一声尖厉的呼啸，跳飞开去。

24 garnished   

v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her robes were garnished with gems. 她的礼服上装饰着宝石。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Serve the dish garnished with wedges of lime. 给这道菜配上几角酸橙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

26 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

28 spoke   

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。

29 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。