Chapter One A LETTER FOR GEORGE

　　Chapter One A LETTER FOR GEORGE
　　ANNE was trying to do some of her prep. in a corner of the common-room when her cousinGeorge came bursting in.
　　George was not a boy; she was a girl called Georgina, but because she had always wanted to be aboy she insisted on being called George. So George she was. She wore her curly hair cut short,and her bright blue eyes gleamed angrily now as she came towards Anne.
　　'Anne! I've just had a letter from home - and what do you think? Father wants to go and live onmy island to do some special work - and he wants to build a sort of tower or something in thecastle yard!' The other girls looked up in amusement, and Anne held out her hand for the letterthat George was waving at her. Everyone knew about the little island off Kirrin Bay thatbelonged to George. Kirrin Island was a tiny place with an old ruined castle in the middle of it:
　　the home of rabbits and gulls¹ and jackdaws.
　　It had underground dungeons², in which George and her cousins had had one or two amazingadventures. It had once belonged to George's mother, and she had given it to George - andGeorge was very fierce where her precious Kirrin Island was concerned! It was hers. Nobodyelse must live there, or even land there without her permission.
　　And now, dear me, here was her father proposing to go to her island, and even build some sort ofworkshop there! George was red with exasperation³.
　　'It's just like grown-ups; they go and give you things, and then act as though the things weretheirs all the time. I don't want Father living on my island, and building nasty messy sheds andthings there.'
　　'Oh George - you know your father is a very famous scientist, who needs to work in peace,' saidAnne, taking the letter. 'Surely you can lend him your island for a bit?'
　　'There are plenty of other places where he can work in peace,' said George. 'Oh dear - I was sohoping we could go and stay there in the Easter holls - take our boat there, and food andeverything, just like we've done before. Now we shan't be able to if Father really does go there.'
　　Anne read the letter. It was from George's mother.
　　'My darling George, 'I think I must tell you at once that your Father proposes to live on KirrinIsland for some little time in order to finish some very important experiments he is making. He3
　　will have to have some kind of building erected⁴ there - a sort of tower, I believe. Apparently⁵ heneeds a place where he can have absolute peace and isolation⁶, and also, for some reason, wherethere is water all round him. The fact of being surrounded by water is necessary to hisexperiment. 'Now, dear, don't be upset about this. I know that you consider Kirrin Island is yourvery own, but you must allow your family to share it, especially when it is for something asimportant as your father's scientific work. Father thinks you will be very pleased indeed to lendhim Kirrin Island, but I know your funny feelings about it, so I thought I had better write and tellyou, before you arrive home and see him installed there, complete with his tower.'
　　The letter then went on about other things, but Anne did not bother to read these. She looked atGeorge.
　　'Oh, George! I don't see why you mind your father borrowing Kirrin Island for a bit! I wouldn'tmind my father borrowing an island from me - if I was lucky enough to have one!'
　　'Your father would talk to you about it first, and ask your permission, and see if you minded,'
　　said George, sulkily. 'My father never does anything like that. He just does exactly as he likeswithout asking anybody anything. I really do think he might have written to me himself. He justputs my back up.'
　　'You've got a back that is very easily put up, 'George,' said Anne, laughing. 'Don't scowl⁷ at melike that. I'm not borrowing your island without your gracious permission.
　　But George wouldn't smile back. She took her letter and read it again gloomily. 'To think that allmy lovely holiday plans are spoilt!' she said. 'You know how super Kirrin Island is at Easter time- all primroses⁸ and gorse and baby rabbits. And you and Julian and Dick were coming to stay,and we haven't stayed together since last summer when we went caravanning.'
　　'I know. It is hard luck!' said Anne. 'It would have been wizard to go and stay on the island theseholls. But perhaps your father wouldn't mind if we did? We needn't disturb him.'
　　'As if living on Kirrin Island with Father there would be the same as living there all byourselves,' said George, scornfully. 'You know it would be horrid⁹.'
　　Well, yes - Anne didn't think on the whole that Kirrin Island would be much fun with UncleQuentin there. George's father was such a hot-tempered, impatient man, and when he was in themiddle of one of his experiments he was quite unbearable¹⁰. The least noise upset him.
　　'Oh dear - how he will yell at the jackdaws to keep quiet, and shout at the noisy gulls!' said Anne,beginning to giggle¹¹.
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　　'He won't find Kirrin quite so peaceful as he imagines!' George gave a watery¹² sort of smile. Shefolded up the letter and turned away.
　　'Well, I think it's just the limit,' she said. 'I wouldn't have felt so bad if only Father had asked mypermission.'
　　'He'd never do that!' said Anne. 'It just wouldn't occur to him. Now George, don't spend the restof the day brooding over your wrongs, for goodness' sake. Go down to the kennels¹³ and fetchTimmy. He'll soon cheer you up.'
　　Timothy was George's dog, whom she loved with all her heart. He was a big brown mongrel dog,with a ridiculously long tail, and a wide mouth that really seemed to smile. All the four cousinsloved him. He was so friendly and loving, so lively and amusing, and he had shared so verymany adventures with them all. The five of them had had many happy times together.
　　George went to get Timmy. Her school allowed the children to keep their own pets. If it hadn'tallowed this, it is quite certain that George would not have gone to boarding-school! She couldnot bear to be parted from Timmy for even a day.
　　Timmy began to bark excitedly as soon as she came near. George lost her sulky look and smiled.
　　Dear Timmy, dear trustable Timmy - he was better than any person! He was always on her side,always her friend whatever she did, and to Timmy there was no one in the world so wonderful asGeorge.
　　They were soon going through the fields together. George talked to Timmy as she always did.
　　She told him her father borrowing Kirrin Island. Timmy listened every word she said as if heunderstood everything. Timmy knew when George was upset. He would not leave his mistress'sside, not even when a rabbit shot his path. He gave her hand a few little licks every now and bythe time that George was back at school again she felt much better. She took Timmy into schoolwith smuggling¹⁴ him in at a side door. Dogs were not allowed in the school building, but George,like her father, often did exactly as she liked.
　　She hurried Timmy up to her dormitory. He scuttled¹⁵ under her bed quickly and lay down. His tailthumped the floor gently. He knew what this meant. George wanted the comfort of his nearnessthat night! He would be able to jump on her bed, when lights were out, and snuggle into thecrook of her knees. His brown eyes gleamed with delight.
　　'Now, lie quiet,' said George, and went out of the room to join the other girls. She found Anne,who was busy writing a letter to her brothers, Julian and Dick, at their boarding-school.
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　　'I've told them about Kirrin Island, and your father wanting to borrow it,' she said. 'Would youlike to come and stay with us, George, these holls, instead of us coming to Kirrin? Then youwon't feel cross all the time because your father is on your island.'
　　'No thanks,' said George, at once. 'I'm going home. I want to keep an eye on Father! I don't wanthim blowing up Kirrin Island with one of his experiments. You know he's messing about withexplosives now, don't you?'
　　'Ooooh - atom bombs, or things like that?' said Anne.
　　'I don't know,' said George. 'Anyway, quite apart from keeping an eye on Father and my island,we ought to go and stay at Kirrin to keep Mother company. She'll be all alone if Father's on theisland. I suppose he'll take food and everything there.'
　　'Well, there's one thing, we shan't have to creep about on tiptoe and whisper, if your father isn't atKirrin Cottage!' said Anne. 'We can be as noisy as we like. Do cheer up, George!'
　　But it took George quite a long time to get over the fit of gloom caused by her mother's letter.
　　Even having Timmy on her bed each night, till he was discovered by an angry teacher, did notquite make up for her disappointment.
　　The term ran swiftly on to its end. April came in, with sunshine and showers. Holidays camenearer and nearer! Anne thought joyfully¹⁶ of Kirrin, with its lovely sandy beach, its blue sea, itsfishing-boats and its lovely cliffside walks.
　　Julian and Dick thought longingly¹⁷ of them too. This term both they and the girls broke up on thesame day. They could meet in London and travel down to Kirrin together. Hurrah¹⁸! The day cameat last. Trunks were piled in the hail. Cars arrived to fetch some of the children who lived fairlynear. The school coaches drew up to take the others down to the station. There was a terrificnoise of yelling and shouting everywhere. The teachers could not make themselves heard in thedin.
　　'Anyone would think that every single child had gone completely mad,' said one of them toanother. 'Oh, thank goodness, they're getting into the coaches. George! Must you rush along thecorridor at sixty miles an hour, with Timmy barking his head off all the time!'
　　'Yes, I must, I must!' cried George. 'Anne, where are you? Do come and get into the coach. I'vegot Timmy. He knows it's holidays now. Come on, Tim!'
　　Down to the station went the singing crowd of children. They piled into the train.
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　　'Bags I this seat! Who's taken my bag? Get out, Hetty, you know you can't bring your dog in herewith mine.
　　They fight like anything. Hurrah, the guard's blowing his whistle! We're off!' The engine pulledslowly out of the station, its long train of carriages behind it, filled to bursting with girls off fortheir holidays. Through the quiet countryside it went, through small towns and villages, and atlast ran through the smoky outskirts¹⁹ of London.
　　'The boys' train is due in two minutes before ours,' said Anne, leaning out of the window, as thetrain drew slowly into the London station. 'If it was punctual, they might be on our platform tomeet us. Oh look, George, look - there they are!' George hung out of the window too. 'Hie,Julian!' she yelled. 'Here we are! Hie, Dick; Julian!'

1 gulls   

n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A flock of sea gulls are hovering over the deck. 一群海鸥在甲板上空飞翔。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The gulls which haunted the outlying rocks in a prodigious number. 数不清的海鸥在遥远的岩石上栖息。 来自辞典例句

2 dungeons   

n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The captured rebels were consigned to the dungeons. 抓到的叛乱分子被送进了地牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He saw a boy in fetters in the dungeons. 他在地牢里看见一个戴着脚镣的男孩。 来自辞典例句

3 exasperation   

n.愤慨

参考例句：

• He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。
• She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。

4 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

5 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

7 scowl   

vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容

参考例句：

• I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
• The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色，清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。

8 primroses   

n.报春花( primrose的名词复数 )；淡黄色；追求享乐（招至恶果）

参考例句：

• Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare. 兰花和报春花这类野花越来越稀少了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The primroses were bollming; spring was in evidence. 迎春花开了，春天显然已经到了。 来自互联网

9 horrid   

adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的

参考例句：

• I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
• The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。

10 unbearable   

adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的

参考例句：

• It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
• The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。

11 giggle   

n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说

参考例句：

• Both girls began to giggle.两个女孩都咯咯地笑了起来。
• All that giggle and whisper is too much for me.我受不了那些咯咯的笑声和交头接耳的样子。

12 watery   

adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的

参考例句：

• In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
• Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

13 kennels   

n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场

参考例句：

• We put the dog in kennels when we go away. 我们外出时把狗寄养在养狗场。
• He left his dog in a kennels when he went on holiday. 他外出度假时把狗交给养狗场照管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

15 scuttled   

v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走

参考例句：

• She scuttled off when she heard the sound of his voice. 听到他的说话声，她赶紧跑开了。
• The thief scuttled off when he saw the policeman. 小偷看见警察来了便急忙跑掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 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。

17 longingly   

adv. 渴望地 热望地

参考例句：

• He looked longingly at the food on the table. 他眼巴巴地盯着桌上的食物。
• Over drinks,he speaks longingly of his trip to Latin America. 他带着留恋的心情，一边喝酒一边叙述他的拉丁美洲之行。

18 hurrah   

int.好哇，万岁，乌拉

参考例句：

• We hurrah when we see the soldiers go by.我们看到士兵经过时向他们欢呼。
• The assistants raised a formidable hurrah.助手们发出了一片震天的欢呼声。

19 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。