Chapter Two BACK AT KIRRIN COTTAGE

　　Chapter Two BACK AT KIRRIN COTTAGE
　　JULIAN, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy went straightaway to have buns and ginger-beer at thestation tearoom. It was good to be all together again. Timmy went nearly mad with joy at seeingthe two boys. He kept trying to get on to their knees.
　　'Look here, Timmy, old thing, I love you very much, and I'm jolly glad to see you,' said Dick,'but that's twice you've upset my ginger-beer all over me. Has he behaved himself this term,George?'
　　'Fairly well,' said George, considering. 'Hasn't he, Anne? I mean - he only got the joint¹ out of thelarder once - and he didn't do so much harm to that cushion he chewed - and if people will leavetheir galoshes all over the place, nobody can blame Timmy for having a good old game withthem.'
　　'And that was the end of the galoshes, I suppose,' said Julian, with a grin. 'On the whole, Timmy,you have a rather poor report. I'm afraid our Uncle Quentin will not award you the usual half-crown we get for good reports.'
　　At the mention of her father, George scowled³.
　　'I see George has not lost her pretty scowl²,' said Dick, in a teasing voice, 'Dear old George! Weshouldn't know her unless she put on that fearsome scowl half a dozen times a day!'
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　　'Oh, she's better than she was,' said Anne, hurrying to George's defense⁴ at once.
　　George was not so touchy⁵ as she had once been, when she was being teased. All the same, Anneknew that there might be sparks flying over her father taking Kirrin Island these holidays, andshe didn't want George to fly into a temper too soon!
　　Julian looked at his cousin. 'I say, old thing, you're not going to take this business of KirrinIsland too much to heart, are you?' he said. 'You've just got to realize that your father's aremarkably clever man, one of the finest scientists we've got - and I think that those kind offellows ought to be allowed as much freedom as they like, for their work. I mean - if UncleQuentin wants to work on Kirrin Island for some peculiar⁶ reason of his own, then you ought tobe pleased to say "Go ahead,' Father!"
　　George looked a little mutinous⁷ after this rather long speech; but she thought a great deal ofJulian, and usually went by what he said. He was older than any of them, a tall, good lookingboy, with determined⁸ eyes and a strong chin. George scratched Timmy's head, and spoke⁹ in alow voice. 'All right. I won't go up in smoke about it, Julian. But I'm frightfully disappointed. I'dplanned to go to Kirrin Island ourselves these holls.'
　　'Well, we're all disappointed,' said Julian. 'Buck-up with your bun, old thing. We've got to getacross London and catch the train for Kirrin. We shall miss it if we don't look out.'
　　Soon they were in the train for Kirrin. Julian was very good at getting porters and taxis. Annegazed admiringly at her big brother as he found them all corner-seat a carriage. Julian did knowhow to tackle things!
　　Do you think I've grown, Julian?' she asked him. 'I hope I'd be as tall as George by the end of thisterm too!'
　　Well - I should think you might be a quarter of an inch more than last term,' said Julian. 'Youcan't catch us up - you'll always be the smallest! But I like you small.'
　　'Look at Timmy, putting his head out of the window usual!' said Dick. 'Timmy, you'll get asmoke-grit in your eye. Then George will go quite mad with grief and think you're going blind!'
　　Woof,' said Timmy, and wagged his tail. That was the nice part about Timmy. He always knewwhen he was being spoken to, even if his name was not mentioned he answered at once.
　　Aunt Fanny was at the station to meet them in the trap. The children flung themselves on her, forthey were very fond of her. She was kind and gentle, and did best to keep her clever, impatienthusband from find too much fault with the children.
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　　'How is Uncle Quentin?' asked Julian, politely, when they were setting off in the trap.
　　'He's very well,' said his aunt. 'And terribly excited really, I've never known him to be so thrilledas he has been lately. His work has been coming along very successfully.'
　　'I suppose you don't know what's his latest experiment?' said Dick.
　　'Oh no! He never tells me a word,' said Aunt Fanny 'He never tells anyone except his colleagues,of course. I do know it's important and I know, of course that the last step the experiment has tobe made in air with water all around. Don't ask me 'Look! There's Kirrin Island!' They hadrounded a corner, and had come in. Guarding the entrance of it was the curious little islandtopped by the old ruined castle. The sun shone down on the blue sea, and the island looked mostenchanting.
　　George looked earnestly at it. She was looking for the building, whatever it was, that her fathersaid he needed for his work. Everyone looked at the island, seeking the same thing. They saw iteasily enough! Rising from castle, probably from the castle yard, was a tall, thin tower, ratherlike a lighthouse. At the top was a glass-enclosed room, which glittered in the sun.
　　"Oh Mother!" I don't like it! It spoils Kirrin Island,' said George, in dismay.
　　'Darling, it can come down when your father has finished his work,' said her mother. 'It's a veryflimsy, temporary thing. It can easily be pulled down. Father promised me he would scrap¹⁰ it assoon as his work was done. He says you can go across and see it, if you like. It's really ratherinteresting.'
　　'Ooooh - I'd love to go and see it,' said Anne, at once. 'It looks so queer. Is Uncle Quentin allalone on Kirrin Island, Aunt Fanny?'
　　'Yes. I don't like him to be alone,' said her aunt. 'For - one thing I am sure he doesn't get hismeals properly, and for another, I'm always afraid some harm might come to him when he'sexperimenting - and if he's alone, how would I know if anything happened to him?'
　　'Well, Aunt Fanny, you could always arrange for him to signal to you each morning and night,couldn't you?' said Julian, sensibly. 'He could use that tower easily. He could flash a signal toyou in the morning, using a mirror, you know -- heliographing that he was all right -- and atnight he could signal with a lamp. Easy!'
　　'Yes. I did suggest that sort of thing,' said his aunt. 'I said I'd go over with you all tomorrow, tosee him and perhaps, Julian dear, you could arrange something of the sort with your uncle? Heseems to listen to you now.'
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　　'Gracious! Do you mean to say Father wants us to invade his secret lair¹¹, and actually to see hisstrange tower?' asked George, surprised. 'Well -- 'I don't think I want to go. After all, it's myisland and it's horrid¹² to see someone else taking possession of it.'
　　'Oh, George, don't begin all that again,' said Anne, with a sigh. 'You and your island! Can't youeven lend it to your own father! Aunt Fanny, you should have seen George when your lettercame. She looked so fierce that I was quite scared!'
　　Everyone laughed except George and Aunt Fanny. She looked distressed¹³. George was always sodifficult! She found fault with her father, and got up against him time after time but dear me,how very, very like him she was, with her scowls¹⁴, her sudden temper, and her fierceness! If onlyGeorge was as sweet-tempered and as easy going as these three cousins of hers!
　　George looked at her mother's troubled face, and felt ashamed of herself. She put her hand on herknee, and said - 'It's all right, Mother! I won't make a fuss. I'll try and keep my feelings to myself,really I will. I know. Father's work is important. I'll go with you to the island tomorrow.'
　　Julian gave George a gentle clap on the back. 'Good old George! She's actually learned, not onlyto give in, but to give in gracefully¹⁵! George, you're more like a boy than ever when you act likethat.'
　　George glowed. She liked Julian to say she was like a boy. She didn't want to be petty and cattyand bear malice¹⁶ as so many girls did. But Anne looked a little indignant.
　　'It isn't only boys that can learn to give in decently, and things like that,' she said. Heaps of girlsdo. Well, I jolly well hope I do myself!'
　　'My goodness, here's another fire-brand!' said Aunt Fanny, smiling. 'Stop arguing now, all of you- here's Kirrin Cottage. Doesn't it look sweet with all the primroses¹⁷ in the garden, and thewallflowers coming out, and daffodils peeping everywhere?'
　　It certainly did. The four children and Timmy tore in the front gate, delighted to be back. Theyclattered into the house, and, to their great delight, found Joanna, the old cook there. She hadcome back to help for the holidays. She beamed at the children, and fondled Timmy when heleapt round her, barking.
　　'Well, there now! Haven't you all grown again? How big you are, Master Julian taller than I am, Ideclare. And little Miss Anne, why, she's getting quite big.'
　　That pleased Anne, of course. Julian went back to the front door to help his aunt with the smallbags in the trap. The trunks were coming later. Julian and Dick took everything upstairs.
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　　Anne joined them, eager to see her old bedroom again. Oh, how good it was to be in KirrinCottage once more! She looked out of her windows. One looked on to the moor¹⁸ at the back. Theother looked sideways on to the sea. Lovely! Lovely! She began to sing a little song as she undidher bag.
　　'You know,' she said to Dick, when he brought George's bag in, 'you know, Dick, I'm really quitepleased that Uncle Quentin has gone to Kirrin Island, even if it means we won't be able to gothere much! I feel much freer in the house when he's away. He's a very clever man and he can beawfully nice but I always feel a bit afraid of him.'
　　Dick laughed. 'I'm not afraid of him - but he's a bit of a wet blanket in a house, I must say, whenwe're here for the holidays. Funny to think of him on Kirrin Island all alone.'
　　A voice came up the stairs. 'Come down to tea, children, because there are hot scones²⁰ for you,just out of the oven.'
　　'Coming, Aunt Fanny!' called Dick. 'Hurry, Anne. I'm awfully¹⁹ hungry. Julian, did you hear AuntFanny calling?'
　　George came up the stairs to fetch Anne. She was pleased to be home, and as for Timmy, he wasengaged in going round every single corner of the house, sniffing²¹ vigorously.
　　'He always does that!' said George. 'As if he thought that there might be a chair or a table thatdidn't smell the same as it always did. Come on, Tim. Tea-time!'
　　'Mother, as Father isn't here, can Timmy sit beside me on the floor? He's awfully well-behavednow,' asked George to her mother.
　　'Very well,' said her mother, and tea began.
　　What a tea! It looked as if it was a spread for a party of twenty. Good old Joanna! She must havebaked all day. Well, there wouldn't be much left when the Five had finished!

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 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。

3 scowled   

怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He scowled his displeasure. 他满脸嗔色。
• The teacher scowled at his noisy class. 老师对他那喧闹的课堂板着脸。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 touchy   

adj.易怒的；棘手的

参考例句：

• Be careful what you say because he's touchy.你说话小心，因为他容易生气。
• He's a little touchy about his weight.他对自己的体重感到有点儿苦恼。

6 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

7 mutinous   

adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变

参考例句：

• The mutinous sailors took control of the ship.反叛的水手们接管了那艘船。
• His own army,stung by defeats,is mutinous.经历失败的痛楚后，他所率军队出现反叛情绪。

8 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。

9 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。

10 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。

11 lair   

n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处

参考例句：

• How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's lair?不入虎穴，焉得虎子？
• I retired to my lair,and wrote some letters.我回到自己的躲藏处，写了几封信。

12 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。

13 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

14 scowls   

不悦之色，怒容( scowl的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All my attempts to amuse the children were met with sullen scowls. 我想尽办法哄这些孩子玩儿，但是他们总是满脸不高兴。
• Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in. 1. 愁眉苦脸只会把人推开，而微笑却把人吸引过来。

15 gracefully   

ad.大大方方地；优美地

参考例句：

• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

16 malice   

n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋

参考例句：

• I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
• There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。

17 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

18 moor   

n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊

参考例句：

• I decided to moor near some tourist boats.我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
• There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor.沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。

19 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。

20 scones   

n.烤饼，烤小圆面包( scone的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• scones and jam with clotted cream 夹有凝脂奶油和果酱的烤饼
• She makes scones and cakes for the delectation of visitors. 她烘制了烤饼和蛋糕供客人享用。 来自辞典例句

21 sniffing   

n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；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：

• We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。
• They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》