Chapter 1 A WEEK'S HOLIDAY

Chapter 1 A WEEK'S HOLIDAY
'Where's the map?' said Julian. 'Is that it, George? Good! Now - where shall we spread it?'
'On the floor,' said Anne. 'A map is always easiest to read on the floor. I'll push the table out of theway.'
'Well, be careful, for goodness' sake,' said George. 'Father's in his study, and you know whathappened before when someone pushed the table right over!'
Everyone laughed. George's father so often came pouncing¹ out of his study if any sudden noise wasmade when he was working.
The table was pushed out of the way and the big map unfolded and spread out over the floor.
Timmy was surprised to see the four children kneeling down around it, and barked, imagining thiswas some kind of new game.
'Be quiet, Timmy!' said Dick. 'You've got into trouble once this morning already for making a row.
And stop brushing my face with your tail.'
'Wuff,' said Timmy and lay down heavily on the map.
'Get up, idiot,' said Dick. 'Don't you know we're in a hurry? We want to trace our route to BillycockHill...'
'Billycock Hill - what a lovely name!' said Anne. 'Is that where we're going?'
'Yes,' said Julian, poring over the map. 'It's near some caves we want to see - and there's a ButterflyFarm not far off, and...'
'A Butterfly Farm!' said George, surprised. 'Whatever's that?'
'Just what it sounds like!' said Dick. 'A farm for butterflies! Toby, a friend of ours at school, told meabout it. He lives quite near it and he says it's a most interesting place - they breed butterflies- and moths³, too - from eggs, and sell them to collectors.'
'Do they really?' said Anne. 'Well, I must say I used to enjoy keeping caterpillars⁴ and seeing whatthey turned into - it was like magic to see a lovely butterfly or moth² creep out of the chrysalis. But afarm for them - can we really go and see it?'
'Oh, yes - Toby says the men who run it are very decent about showing anyone round,' said Julian.
'Apparently⁵ Billycock Hill is a good place for rare butterflies, too - that's why they've got their farmthere. They rush about with nets half the time - and at night they go moth-hunting.'
2'It sounds exciting,' said Dick. 'Well, what with caves to see, and a butterfly farm, and Toby to visit,and...'
'And just Five together again on a sunny week's holiday!' said George, giving Timmy a sudden thumpof joy. 'Hurrah⁶ for Whitsun - and thank goodness our two schools had a week's holiday at the sametime!'
The four cousins sprawled⁷ on the floor, looking with great interest at the map, following out a routewith their fingers. As they traced out the way, there came an angry noise from the study, whereGeorge's father was at work.
'Who's been tidying my desk? Where are those papers I left here? Fanny, Fanny - come here!'
'He wants Mother - I'll get her,' said George. 'No, I can't - she's gone shopping.'
'Why can't people leave my papers alone?' came her father's voice again. 'Fanny! FANNY!'
Then the study door was flung open and Mr. Kirrin came striding out, muttering to himself. He didn'tsee the four children on the floor, and fell right over them.
Timmy barked in delight and leapt at him, thinking that for once in a way George's father wasactually having a game with them!
'Oooh!' said George, as her father's hand came over her face. 'Don't! What are you doing, Father?'
'Uncle Quentin - sorry you fell over us!' said Julian. 'Shut up, Timmy - this isn't a game!'
He helped his uncle up and waited for the explosion. His uncle brushed himself down and glared atJulian. 'Have you got to lie on the floor? Get down, will you, Timmy? Where's your mother, George?
Get up, for goodness' sake! Where's Joan? If she's been tidying my desk again I'll give her notice!'
Joan the cook appeared at the doorway⁸, wiping her floury hands on her apron⁹. 'Whatever's all thisnoise about?' she began. 'Oh, sorry, sir - I didn't know it was you. I...'
'Joan - have you been tidying my desk again?' almost shouted George's father.
'No, sir. Have you lost something? Never you mind, sir, I'll come along and find it,' said Joan, whowas used to Mr. Kirrin's ways. 'Pick up that map, you four - and put the table back. Stop barking,Timmy. George, take him out for goodness' sake, or your father will go mad.'
'He's only excited because we're all together again,' said George, and took Timmy into the garden.
The others followed, Julian folding up the map, grinning.
'We ought to put Uncle Quentin into a play,' said Dick. 'He'd bring the house down! Well - do we 3know the way, Julian? And when do we start?'
'Here's Mother,' said George as someone came to the front gate with a basket.
Julian ran to open it. He was very fond of his kindly¹⁰, pleasant-faced aunt. She smiled round at themall.
'Well - have you decided¹¹ where to go - and what to take with you? You'll be able to camp out thisbeautiful weather - what a lovely Whitsun it's going to be!'
'Yes,' said Julian, taking his aunt's basket from her and carrying it indoors. 'We're going to BillycockHill, and as our friend Toby lives at the bottom of it, at Billycock Farm, he's going to lend us all thecamping gear we need.'
'So we shan't need to load our bikes with tents and mattresses¹² and things,' said Dick.
'Oh - good!' said his aunt. 'What about food? You can get it at Toby's farm, I suppose?'
'Rather! We shan't feed there, of course,' said Julian. 'But we shall buy any eggs or milk or bread weneed - and Toby says the strawberries are already ripening¹³!'
Aunt Fanny smiled. 'Well, I needn't worry about your meals, then. And you'll have Timmy with you,too, so he'll look after you all. Won't you, Timmy? You won't let them get into any trouble, will you?'
'Woof,' said Timmy, in his deepest voice, and wagged his tail. 'Woof.'
'Good old Tim,' said George, patting him. 'If it wasn't for you we'd never be allowed to go off somuch on our own, I bet!'
'Uncle Quentin's a bit on the war-path, Aunt Fanny,' said Dick. 'He wants to know who's been tidyinghis desk. He came rushing out of the study, didn't see us lying on the floor round our map- and fell right over us.'
'Oh dear - I'd better go and find out what papers he's lost now,' said his aunt. 'I expect he forgot thathe had a tidying fit on last night, and tidied his desk himself. He's probably put a lot of his mostprecious papers into the waste-paper basket!'
Everyone laughed as Mrs. Kirrin hurried into the study.
'Well, let's get ready,' said Julian. 'We won't need to take much, as old Toby's going to help us.
Macs, of course - and don't forget yours, Timmy! And jerseys¹⁴. And one or two maps.'
'And torches,' said Anne, 'because we want to explore those caves. Oh, and let's take our swimsuits incase we find somewhere to bathe. It's warm enough!'
'And candles and matches,' said George, slapping the pocket of her shorts. 'I've got those. I got 4Joan to give me three boxes. And let's take some sweets.'
'Yes. That tin of humbugs,' said Julian. 'And I vote we take our little portable radio!'
'Oh, yes - that's a good idea,' said Anne, pleased. 'We can hear our favourite programmes then -and the news. I don't suppose we shall be able to buy newspapers.'
'I'll get out the bikes from the shed,' said Julian. 'Dick, get the sandwiches from Joan - she said she'dmake us some, because we shan't get to Toby's farm till after our dinner-time - and I bet we'll behungry!'
'Wuff,' said Timmy, who knew that word very well.
'He says remember biscuits for him,' said Anne with a laugh. 'I'll go and get some now, Tim -though I expect you can share meals with the dogs at Billycock Farm.'
Joan had two large packets of sandwiches and cake ready for them, and two bottles of orangeade.
'There you are,' she said, handing them over. 'And if you get through all those you'll no longer feelhungry. And here are Timmy's biscuits - and a bone.'
'You're a brick, Joan,' said Dick, and put his arm round her to give her one of the sudden hugs sheliked. 'Well, you'll soon be rid of us - a whole week at Whitsun - isn't that luck - and with suchglorious weather, too.'
'Buck¹⁵ up!' called Julian. 'I've got the bikes - and no one's had a puncture¹⁶, for a change. Bring my mac,Dick.'
In three minutes everything was packed into the bicycle baskets, or strapped¹⁷ at the back. Timmymade sure that his biscuits and bone were packed by sniffing¹⁸ at each basket until he came to the smellhe was hoping for. Then he wagged his tail and bounded round excitedly. The Five were togetheragain - and who knew what might happen? Timmy was ready for anything!
'Good-bye, dears,' said Mrs. Kirrin, standing¹⁹ at the gate to see them go. 'Julian, take care of the girls -and Tim, take care of everyone!'
Uncle Quentin suddenly appeared at the window. 'What's all the noise about?' he began impatiently.
'Oh - they're off at last, are they? Now we'll have a little peace and quiet! Good-bye- and behave yourselves!'
'Grown ups always say that,' said Anne as the Five set off happily, ringing their bells in farewell.
'Hurrah - we're off on our own again - yes, you too, Timmy. What fun!'

1 pouncing   

v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击）

参考例句：

• Detective Sun grinned and, pouncing on the gourd, smashed it against the wall. 孙侦探笑了，一把将瓦罐接过来，往墙上一碰。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• We saw the tiger pouncing on the goat. 我们看见老虎向那只山羊扑过去。 来自互联网

2 moth   

n.蛾，蛀虫

参考例句：

• A moth was fluttering round the lamp.有一只蛾子扑打着翅膀绕着灯飞。
• The sweater is moth-eaten.毛衣让蛀虫咬坏了。

3 moths   

n.蛾( moth的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The moths have eaten holes in my wool coat. 蛀虫将我的羊毛衫蛀蚀了几个小洞。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The moths tapped and blurred at the window screen. 飞蛾在窗帘上跳来跳去，弄上了许多污点。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 caterpillars   

n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带

参考例句：

• Caterpillars eat the young leaves of this plant. 毛毛虫吃这种植物的嫩叶。
• Caterpillars change into butterflies or moths. 毛虫能变成蝴蝶或蛾子。 来自辞典例句

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 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。

7 sprawled   

v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
• He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。

8 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

9 apron   

n.围裙；工作裙

参考例句：

• We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
• She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。

10 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 mattresses   

褥垫，床垫( mattress的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The straw mattresses are airing there. 草垫子正在那里晾着。
• The researchers tested more than 20 mattresses of various materials. 研究人员试验了二十多个不同材料的床垫。

13 ripening   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成

参考例句：

• The corn is blossoming [ripening]. 玉米正在开花[成熟]。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• When the summer crop is ripening, the autumn crop has to be sowed. 夏季作物成熟时，就得播种秋季作物。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 jerseys   

n.运动衫( jersey的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The maximum quantity of cotton jerseys this year is about DM25,000. 平方米的羊毛地毯超过了以往的订货。 来自口语例句
• The NBA is mulling the prospect of stitching advertising logos onto jerseys. 大意：NBA官方正在酝酿一个大煞风景的计划——把广告标志绣上球服！ 来自互联网

15 buck   

n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃

参考例句：

• The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
• The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。

16 puncture   

n.刺孔，穿孔；v.刺穿，刺破

参考例句：

• Failure did not puncture my confidence.失败并没有挫伤我的信心。
• My bicycle had a puncture and needed patching up.我的自行车胎扎了个洞，需要修补。

17 strapped   

adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 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》

19 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。