W ith the feeling of Columbus setting out to discover a new world, Miss Marple passed over the bridge, continued onto the path and within four minutes was actually in Aubrey Close.
Of course Miss Marple had seen the Development from the Market Basing Road, that is, had seen from afar itsCloses and rows of neat well-built houses, with their television masts and their blue and pink and yellow and greenpainted doors and windows. But until now it had only had the reality of a map, as it were. She had not been in it and ofit. But now she was here, observing the brave new world that was springing up, the world that by all accounts wasforeign to all she had known. It was like a neat model built with child’s bricks. It hardly seemed real to Miss Marple.
The people, too, looked unreal. The trousered young women, the rather sinister-looking young men and boys, theexuberant bosoms1 of the fifteen-year-old girls. Miss Marple couldn’t help thinking that it all looked terribly depraved.
Nobody noticed her much as she trudged2 along. She turned out of Aubrey Close and was presently in DarlingtonClose. She went slowly and as she went she listened avidly3 to the snippets of conversation between mothers wheelingprams, to the girls addressing young men, to the sinister-looking Teds4 (she supposed they were Teds) exchanging darkremarks with each other. Mothers came out on doorsteps calling to their children who, as usual, were busy doing allthe things they had been told not to do. Children, Miss Marple reflected gratefully, never changed. And presently shebegan to smile, and noted5 down in her mind her usual series of recognitions.
That woman is just like Carry Edwards—and the dark one is just like that Hooper girl—she’ll make a mess of hermarriage just like Mary Hooper did. Those boys—the dark one is just like Edward Leeke, a lot of wild talk but noharm in him—a nice boy really—the fair one is Mrs. Bedwell’s Josh all over again. Nice boys, both of them. The onelike Gregory Binns won’t do very well, I’m afraid. I expect he’s got the same sort of mother….
She turned a corner into Walsingham Close and her spirits rose every moment.
The new world was the same as the old. The houses were different, the streets were called Closes, the clothes weredifferent, the voices were different, but the human beings were the same as they always had been. And though usingslightly different phraseology, the subjects of conversation were the same.
By dint6 of turning corners in her exploration, Miss Marple had rather lost her sense of direction and had arrived atthe edge of the housing estate again. She was now in Carrisbrook Close, half of which was still “under construction.”
At the first floor window of a nearly finished house a young couple were standing7. Their voices floated down as theydiscussed the amenities8.
“You must admit it’s a nice position, Harry9.”
“Other one was just as good.”
“This one’s got two more rooms.”
“And you’ve got to pay for them.”
“Well, I like this one.”
“You would!”
“Ow, don’t be such a spoilsport. You know what Mum said.”
“Your Mum never stops saying.”
“Don’t you say nothing against Mum. Where’d I have been without her? And she might have cut up nastier thanshe did. She could have taken you to court.”
“Oh, come off it, Lily.”
“It’s a good view of the hills. You can almost see—” She leaned far out, twisting her body to the left. “You canalmost see the reservoir—”
She leant farther still, not realizing that she was resting her weight on loose boards that had been laid across the sill.
They slipped under the pressure of her body, sliding outwards10, carrying her with them. She screamed, trying to regainher balance.
“Harry—”
The young man stood motionless—a foot or two behind her. He took one step backwards—Desperately, clawing at the wall, the girl righted herself. “Oo!” She let out a frightened breath. “I near as nothingfell out. Why didn’t you get hold of me?”
“It was all so quick. Anyway you’re all right.”
“That’s all you know about it. I nearly went, I tell you. And look at the front of my jumper, it’s all mussed.”
Miss Marple went on a little way, then on impulse, she turned back.
Lily was outside in the road waiting for the young man to lock up the house.
Miss Marple went up to her and spoke11 rapidly in a low voice.
“If I were you, my dear, I shouldn’t marry that young man. You want someone whom you can rely upon if you’rein danger. You must excuse me for saying this to you—but I feel you ought to be warned.”
She turned away and Lily stared after her.
“Well, of all the—”
Her young man approached.
“What was she saying to you, Lil?”
Lily opened her mouth—then shut it again.
“Giving me the gipsy’s warning if you want to know.”
She eyed him in a thoughtful manner.
Miss Marple in her anxiety to get away quickly, turned a corner, stumbled over some loose stones and fell.
A woman came running out of one of the houses.
“Oh dear, what a nasty spill! I hope you haven’t hurt yourself?”
With almost excessive goodwill12 she put her arms round Miss Marple and tugged13 her to her feet.
“No bones broken, I hope? There we are. I expect you feel rather shaken.”
Her voice was loud and friendly. She was a plump squarely built woman of about forty, brown hair just turninggrey, blue eyes, and a big generous mouth that seemed to Miss Marple’s rather shaken gaze to be far too full of whiteshining teeth.
“You’d better come inside and sit down and rest a bit. I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
Miss Marple thanked her. She allowed herself to be led through the blue-painted door and into a small room full ofbright cretonne-covered chairs and sofas.
“There you are,” said her rescuer, establishing her on a cushioned armchair. “You sit quiet and I’ll put the kettleon.”
She hurried out of the room which seemed rather restfully quiet after her departure. Miss Marple took a deepbreath. She was not really hurt, but the fall had shaken her. Falls at her age were not to be encouraged. With luck,however, she thought guiltily, Miss Knight14 need never know. She moved her arms and legs gingerly. Nothing broken.
If she could only get home all right. Perhaps, after a cup of tea—The cup of tea arrived almost as the thought came to her. Brought on a tray with four sweet biscuits on a little plate.
“There you are.” It was placed on a small table in front of her. “Shall I pour it out for you? Better have plenty ofsugar.”
“No sugar, thank you.”
“You must have sugar. Shock, you know. I was abroad with ambulances during the war. Sugar’s wonderful forshock.” She put four lumps in the cup and stirred vigorously. “Now you get that down, and you’ll feel as right as rain.”
Miss Marple accepted the dictum.
“A kind woman,” she thought. “She reminds me of someone—now who is it?”
“You’ve been very kind to me,” she said, smiling.
“Oh, that’s nothing. The little ministering angel, that’s me. I love helping15 people.” She looked out of the window asthe latch16 of the outer gate clicked. “Here’s my husband home. Arthur—we’ve got a visitor.”
She went out into the hall and returned with Arthur who looked rather bewildered. He was a thin pale man, ratherslow in speech.
“This lady fell down—right outside our gate, so of course I brought her in.”
“Your wife is very kind, Mr.—”
“Badcock’s the name.”
“Mr. Badcock, I’m afraid I’ve given her a lot of trouble.”
“Oh, no trouble to Heather. Heather enjoys doing things for people.” He looked at her curiously17. “Were you onyour way anywhere in particular?”
“No, I was just taking a walk. I live in St. Mary Mead18, the house beyond the Vicarage. My name is Marple.”
“Well, I never!” exclaimed Heather. “So you’re Miss Marple. I’ve heard about you. You’re the one who does allthe murders.”
“Heather! What do you—”
“Oh, you know what I mean. Not actually do murders—find out about them. That’s right, isn’t it?”
Miss Marple murmured modestly that she had been mixed-up in murders once or twice.
“I heard there have been murders here, in this village. They were talking about it the other night at the Bingo Club.
There was one at Gossington Hall. I wouldn’t buy a place where there’d been a murder. I’d be sure it was haunted.”
“The murder wasn’t committed in Gossington Hall. A dead body was brought there.”
“Found in the library on the hearthrug, that’s what they said?”
Miss Marple nodded.
“Did you ever? Perhaps they’re going to make a film of it. Perhaps that’s why Marina Gregg has boughtGossington Hall.”
“Marina Gregg?”
“Yes. She and her husband. I forget his name—he’s a producer, I think, or a director—Jason something. ButMarina Gregg, she’s lovely, isn’t she? Of course she hasn’t been in so many pictures of late years—she was ill for along time. But I still think there’s never anybody like her. Did you see her in Carmenella. And The Price of Love, andMary of Scotland? She’s not so young anymore, but she’ll always be a wonderful actress. I’ve always been a terrificfan of hers. When I was a teenager I used to dream about her. The big thrill of my life was when there was a big showin aid of the St. John Ambulance in Bermuda, and Marina Gregg came to open it. I was mad with excitement, and thenon the very day I went down with a temperature and the doctor said I couldn’t go. But I wasn’t going to be beaten. Ididn’t actually feel too bad. So I got up and put a lot of makeup19 on my face and went along. I was introduced to herand she talked to me for quite three minutes and gave me her autograph. It was wonderful. I’ve never forgotten thatday.”
Miss Marple stared at her. “I hope there were no—unfortunate aftereffects?” she said anxiously.
Heather Badcock laughed.
“None at all. Never felt better. What I say is, if you want a thing you’ve got to take risks. I always do.”
She laughed again, a happy strident laugh.
Arthur Badcock said admiringly. “There’s never any holding Heather. She always gets away with things.”
“Alison Wilde,” murmured Miss Marple, with a nod of satisfaction.
“Pardon?” said Mr. Badcock.
“Nothing. Just someone I used to know.”
Heather looked at her inquiringly.
“You reminded me of her, that is all.”
“Did I? I hope she was nice.”
“She was very nice indeed,” said Miss Marple slowly. “Kind, healthy, full of life.”
“But she had her faults, I suppose?” laughed Heather. “I have.”
“Well, Alison always saw her own point of view so clearly that she didn’t always see how things might appear to,or affect, other people.”
“Like the time you took in that evacuated20 family from a condemned21 cottage and they went off with all ourteaspoons,” Arthur said.
“But Arthur!—I couldn’t have turned them away. It wouldn’t have been kind.”
“They were family spoons,” said Mr. Badcock sadly. “Georgian. Belonged to my mother’s grandmother.”
“Oh, do forget those old spoons, Arthur. You do harp22 so.”
“I’m not very good at forgetting, I’m afraid.”
Miss Marple looked at him thoughtfully.
“What’s your friend doing now?” asked Heather of Miss Marple with kindly23 interest.
Miss Marple paused a moment before answering.
“Alison Wilde? Oh—she died.”
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收听单词发音
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1
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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2
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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3
avidly
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| adv.渴望地，热心地 | |
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teds
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| vt.翻晒（ted的第三人称单数形式） | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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8
amenities
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| n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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outwards
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| adj.外面的，公开的，向外的；adv.向外；n.外形 | |
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11
spoke
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| 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 | |
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12
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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13
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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16
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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makeup
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| n.组织；性格；化装品 | |
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20
evacuated
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| 撤退者的 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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23
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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