Chapter 7 Mr. ANDREWS COMES HOME

　　Chapter 7 Mr. ANDREWS COMES HOME
　　They all sat down to dinner. There was a big meat-pie, a cold ham, salad, potatoes in theirjackets, and homemade pickles¹. It really was difficult to know what to choose.
　　'Have some of both,' said Mrs. Andrews, cutting the meat-pie. 'Begin with the pie and go on withthe ham. That's the best of living on a farm, you know - you do get plenty to eat.'
　　After the first course there were plums and thick cream, or jam tarts² and the same cream.
　　Everyone tucked in hungrily.
　　'I've never had such a lovely dinner in my life,' said Anne, at last. 'I wish I could eat some morebut I can't. It was super, Mrs. Andrews.'
　　'Smashing,' said Dick. That was his favourite word these holidays. 'Absolutely smashing.'
　　'Woof,' said Timmy, agreeing. He had had a fine plateful of meaty bones, biscuits and gravy³, andhe had licked up every crumb⁴ and every drop. Now he felt he would like to have a snooze in thesun and not do a thing for the rest of the day.
　　The children felt rather like that, too. Mrs. Andrews handed them a chocolate each and sent themout of doors. 'You go and have a rest now,' she said. 'Talk to Jock. He doesn't get enoughcompany of his own age in the holidays. You can stay on to tea, if you like.'
　　'Oh, thanks,' said everyone, although they all felt that they wouldn't even be able to manage abiscuit. But it was so pleasant at the farm that they felt they would like to stay as long as theycould.
　　'May we borrow one of Biddy's puppies to have with us?' asked Anne.
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　　'If Biddy doesn't mind,' said Mrs. Andrews, beginning to clear away. 'And if Timmy doesn't eat itup!'
　　'Timmy wouldn't dream of it!' said George at once. 'You go and get the puppy, Anne. We'll finda nice place in the sun.'
　　Anne went off to get the puppy. Biddy didn't seem to mind a bit. Anne cuddled the fat little thingagainst her, and went off to the others, feeling very happy. The boys had found a fine placeagainst a haystack, and sat leaning against it, the sun shining down warmly on them.
　　'Those men of yours seem to take a jolly good lunch-hour off,' said Julian, not seeing any ofthem about.
　　Jock gave a snort. 'They're bone lazy. I'd sack the lot if I were my stepfather. Mum's told himhow badly the men work, but he doesn't say a word to them. I've given up bothering. I don't paytheir wages - if I did, I'd sack the whole lot!'
　　'Let's ask Jock about the spook-trains,' said George, fondling Timmy's ears. 'It would be fun totalk about them.'
　　'Spook-trains? Whatever are they?' asked Jock, his eyes wide with surprise. 'Never heard ofthem!'
　　'Haven't you really?' asked Dick. 'Well, you don't live very far from them, Jock!'
　　'Tell me about them,' said Jock. 'Spook-trains - no, I've never heard of one of those.'
　　'Well, I'll tell you what we know,' said Julian. 'Actually we thought you'd be able to tell us muchmore about them than we know ourselves.'
　　He began to tell Jock about their visit to the deserted⁵ railway yard, and Wooden-Leg Sam, andhis peculiar⁶ behaviour. Jock listened, enthralled⁷.
　　'Coo! I wish I'd been with you. Let's all go there together, shall we?' he said. 'This was quite anadventure you had, wasn't it? You know, I've never had a single adventure in all my life, noteven a little one. Have you?'
　　The four children looked at one another, and Timmy looked at George. Adventures! What didn'tthey know about them? They had had so many.
　　'Yes. We've had heaps of adventures - real ones - smashing ones,' said Dick. 'We've been downin dungeons⁸, we've been lost in caves, we've found secret passages, we've looked for treasure -well, I can't tell you what we've done! It would take too long.'
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　　'No, it wouldn't,' said Jock eagerly. 'You tell me. Go on. Did you all have the adventures? LittleAnne, here, too?'
　　'Yes, all of us,' said George. 'And Timmy as well. He rescued us heaps of times from danger.
　　Didn't you, Tim?
　　'Woof, woof,' said Timmy, and thumped⁹ his tail against the hay.
　　They began to tell Jock about their many adventures. He was a very, very good listener. His eyesalmost fell out of his head, and he went brick-red whenever they came to an exciting part.
　　'My word!' he said at last. 'I've never heard such things in my life before. Aren't you lucky? Youjust go about having adventures all the time, don't you? I say - do you think you'll have one here,these hols?'
　　Julian laughed. 'No. Whatever kind of adventure would there be on these lonely moorlands?
　　Why, you yourself have lived here for three years, and haven't even had a tiny adventure.'
　　Jock sighed. That's true. I haven't.' Then his eyes brightened again. 'But see here - what aboutthose spook-trains you've been asking me about? Perhaps you'll have an adventure with those?'
　　'Oh, no, I don't want to,' said Anne, in a horrified¹⁰ voice. 'An adventure with spook-trains wouldbe simply horrid¹¹.'
　　'I'd like to go down to that old railway yard with you and see Wooden-Leg Sam,' said Jocklongingly. 'Why, that would be a real adventure to me, you know - just talking to a funny oldman like that, and wondering if he was suddenly going to throw cinders¹² at us. Take me with younext time you go.'
　　'Well - I don't know that we meant to go again,' said Julian. 'There's really nothing much in hisstory except imagination - the old watchman's gone peculiar in the head through being alonethere so much, guarding a yard where nothing and nobody ever comes. He's just rememberingthe trains that used to go in and out before the line was given up.'
　　'But the shepherd said the same as Sam,' said Jock. 'I say - what about going down there onenight and watching for a spook-train!'
　　'NO!' said Anne, in horror.
　　'You needn't come,' said Jock. 'Just us three boys.'
　　'And me,' said George at once. 'I'm as good as any boy, and I'm not going to be left out. Timmy'scoming, too.'
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　　'Oh, please don't make these awful plans,' begged poor Anne. 'You'll make an adventure come, ifyou go on like this.'
　　Nobody took the least notice of her. Julian looked at Jock's excited face. 'Well,' he said, 'if we dogo there again, we'll tell you. And if we think we'll go watching for spook-trains, we'll take youwith us.'
　　Jock looked as if he could hug Julian. 'That would be terrific,' he said. 'Thanks a lot. Spook-trains! I say, just suppose we really did see one! Who'd be driving it? Where would it comefrom?'
　　'Out of the tunnel, Wooden-Leg Sam says,' said Dick. 'But I don't see how we'd spot it, except bythe noise it made, because apparently¹³ the spook-trains only arrive in the dark of the night. Neverin the daytime. We wouldn't see much, even if we were there.'
　　It was such an exciting subject to Jock that he persisted in talking about it all the afternoon. Annegot tired of listening, and went to sleep with Biddy's puppy in her arms. Timmy curled up byGeorge and went to sleep too. He wanted to go for a walk, but he could see that there was nohope with all this talking going on.
　　It was tea-time before any of them had expected it. The bell rang, and Jock looked mostsurprised.
　　'Tea! Would you believe it? Well, I have had an exciting afternoon talking about all this. Andlook here, if you don't make up your minds to go spook-train hunting I'll jolly well go off bymyself. If only I could have an adventure like the kind you've had, I'd be happy.'
　　They went in to tea, after waking Anne up with difficulty. She took the puppy back to Biddy,who received it gladly and licked it all over.
　　Julian was surprised to find that he was quite hungry again. 'Well,' he said, as he sat down at thetable, 'I didn't imagine I'd feel hungry again for a week - but I do. What a marvellous tea, Mrs.
　　Andrews. Isn't Jock lucky to have meals like this always!'
　　There were home-made scones¹⁴ with new honey. There were slices of bread thickly spread withbutter, and new-made cream cheese to go with it. There was sticky brown gingerbread, hot fromthe oven, and a big solid fruit cake that looked almost like a plum pudding when it was cut, itwas so black.
　　'Oh dear! I wish now I hadn't had so much dinner,' sighed Anne. 'I don't feel hungry enough toeat a bit of everything and I would so like to!'
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　　Mrs. Andrews laughed. 'You eat what you can, and I'll give you some to take away, too,' shesaid. 'You can have some cream cheese, and the scones and honey - and some of the bread Imade this morning. And maybe you'd like a slab¹⁵ of the gingerbread. I made plenty.'
　　'Oh, thanks,' said Julian. 'We'll be all right tomorrow with all that. You're a marvellous cook,Mrs. Andrews. I wish I lived on your farm.'
　　There was the sound of a car coming slowly up the rough track to the farmhouse¹⁶, and Mrs.
　　Andrews looked up. 'That's Mr. Andrews come back,' she said. 'My husband, you know, Jock'sstepfather.'
　　Julian thought she looked a little worried. Perhaps Mr. Andrews didn't like children and wouldn'tbe pleased to see them sitting round his table when he came home tired.
　　'Would you like us to go, Mrs. Andrews?' he asked politely. 'Perhaps Mr. Andrews would like abit of peace for his meal when he comes in - and we're rather a crowd, aren't we?'
　　Jock's mother shook her head. 'No, you can stay. I'll get him a meal in the other room if he'd likeit.'
　　Mr. Andrews came in. He wasn't in the least like Anne or the others had imagined him to be. Hewas a short, dark little man, with a weak face and a nose much too big for it. He looked harassedand bad-tempered¹⁷, and stopped short when he saw the five children.
　　'Hallo, dear,' said Mrs. Andrews. 'Jock's got his friends here today. Would you like a bit of tea inyour room? I can easily put a tray there.'
　　'Well,' said Mr. Andrews, smiling a watery¹⁸ kind of smile, 'perhaps it would be best. I've had aworrying kind of day, and not much to eat.'
　　'I'll get you a tray of ham and pickles and bread,' said his wife. 'It won't take a minute. You goand wash.'
　　Mr. Andrews went out. Anne was surprised that he seemed so small and looked rather stupid.
　　She had imagined someone big and burly, strong and clever, who was always going about doinggrand deals and making a lot of money. Well, he must be cleverer than he looked, to makeenough money to give Mrs. Andrews all she needed for her farm.
　　Mrs. Andrews bustled¹⁹ about with this and that, laying a tray with a snow-white cloth, and platesof food. Mr. Andrews could be heard in the bathroom, splashing as he washed. Then he camedownstairs and put his head in at the door. 'My meal ready?' he asked. 'Well, Jock - had a goodday?'
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　　'Yes, thanks,' said Jock, as his stepfather took the tray from his mother and turned to go. 'Wewent all round the farm this morning - and we talked and talked this afternoon. And oh, I say - doyou know anything about spook-trains, sir?'
　　Mr. Andrews was just going out of the door. He turned in surprise. 'Spook-trains? What are youtalking about?'
　　'Well, Julian says there's an old deserted railway yard a good way from here, and spook-trainsare supposed to come out of the tunnel there in the dark of night,' said Jock. 'Have you heard ofthem?'
　　Mr. Andrews stood stock still, his eyes on his stepson. He looked dismayed and shocked. Thenhe came back into the room and kicked the door shut behind him.
　　'I'll have my tea here after all,' he said. 'Well, to think you've heard of those spook-trains! I'vebeen careful not to mention them to your mother or to you, Jock, for fear of scaring you!'
　　'Gee!' said Dick. 'Are they really true then? They can't be.'
　　'You tell me all you know, and how you know about it,' said Mr. Andrews, sitting down at thetable with his tray. 'Go on. Don't miss out a thing. I want to hear everything.'
　　Julian hesitated. 'Oh - there's nothing really to tell, sir - just a lot of nonsense.'
　　'You tell it me!' almost shouted Mr. Andrews. 'Then I'll tell you a few things. And I tell you, youwon't go near that old railway yard again - no, that you won't!'

1 pickles   

n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱

参考例句：

• Most people eat pickles at breakfast. 大多数人早餐吃腌菜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I want their pickles and wines, and that.' 我要他们的泡菜、美酒和所有其他东西。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

2 tarts   

n.果馅饼( tart的名词复数 )；轻佻的女人；妓女；小妞

参考例句：

• I decided to make some tarts for tea. 我决定做些吃茶点时吃的果馅饼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They ate raspberry tarts and ice cream. 大家吃着木莓馅饼和冰淇淋。 来自辞典例句

3 gravy   

n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快

参考例句：

• You have spilled gravy on the tablecloth.你把肉汁泼到台布上了。
• The meat was swimming in gravy.肉泡在浓汁之中。

4 crumb   

n.饼屑，面包屑，小量

参考例句：

• It was the only crumb of comfort he could salvage from the ordeal.这是他从这场磨难里能找到的唯一的少许安慰。
• Ruth nearly choked on the last crumb of her pastry.鲁斯几乎被糕点的最后一块碎屑所噎住。

5 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

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 enthralled   

迷住，吸引住( enthrall的过去式和过去分词 )； 使感到非常愉快

参考例句：

• The child watched, enthralled by the bright moving images. 这孩子看着那明亮的移动的影像，被迷住了。
• The children listened enthralled as the storyteller unfolded her tale. 讲故事的人一步步展开故事情节，孩子们都听得入迷了。

8 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

9 thumped   

v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Dave thumped the table in frustration . 戴夫懊恼得捶打桌子。
• He thumped the table angrily. 他愤怒地用拳捶击桌子。

10 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

11 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。

12 cinders   

n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道

参考例句：

• This material is variously termed ash, clinker, cinders or slag. 这种材料有不同的名称，如灰、炉渣、煤渣或矿渣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rake out the cinders before you start a new fire. 在重新点火前先把煤渣耙出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 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。

14 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

15 slab   

n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上

参考例句：

• This heavy slab of oak now stood between the bomb and Hitler.这时笨重的橡木厚板就横在炸弹和希特勒之间了。
• The monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab.这座纪念碑由两根垂直的柱体构成，它们共同支撑着一块平板。

16 farmhouse   

n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房）

参考例句：

• We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
• We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。

17 bad-tempered   

adj.脾气坏的

参考例句：

• He grew more and more bad-tempered as the afternoon wore on.随着下午一点点地过去，他的脾气也越来越坏。
• I know he's often bad-tempered but really,you know,he's got a heart of gold.我知道他经常发脾气，但是，要知道，其实他心肠很好。

18 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。

19 bustled   

闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促

参考例句：

• She bustled around in the kitchen. 她在厨房里忙得团团转。
• The hostress bustled about with an assumption of authority. 女主人摆出一副权威的样子忙来忙去。