Chapter 4 TINKER HAS A WONDERFUL IDEA
Mrs. Kirrin had appeared during the row, and sighed when she heard her husband shouting. Oh deardear - these scientists who liked to do wonderful things for the world - and yet often made their ownfamilies unhappy! She smiled at George's angry face, and took her arm.
'Come into the living-room, dear, and bring the others with you. We'll have to decide what can bedone. Your father really is doing wonderful work, you know - and I must say that Tinker andMischief and Timmy don't help very much! All right, all right, George - I know it isn't Timmy's fault- but he does have a very loud bark, you know!'
She took the five children and Timmy into the living room. The monkey, scared at the shouting hadgone into hiding and was nowhere to be seen. Mrs. Kirrin called to Joanna.
'Joanna - come and help us to discuss what's to be done. This kind of thing can't go on.'
They all sat down, looking rather solemn. Timmy flopped² down under the table, and put his nose onhis paws. Where was that little monkey who had given him his biscuit?
The discussion began. George spoke³ first, most indignantly.
'Mother, this is our home. Why do we have to go away just because Father wants this scientist friendto stay with him? I have to do holiday homework, and I don't make a row every time 14Father bangs a door when I'm studying. But if I so much as...'
'That will do, George,' said her mother. 'You ought to understand your father better than you seem to.
You are both exactly the same - impatient, short-tempered, bangers-of-doors, and yet both so kindtoo! Now - let's see if we can find a way out.'
'I only wish we could stay at my home,' said Julian, feeling awkward. 'But it's all shut up now that myparents have gone away.'
'Can't we take tents over to Kirrin Island?' said George. 'Yes, Mother, yes - I know what you're goingto say - it's only the beginning of April, and it's far too cold and all the rest of it, and...'
'The forecast for the weather is very bad,' said her mother. 'Rain, rain, nothing but rain. You can'tpossibly go and camp in the pouring rain - and row to and fro getting drenched⁴ each day -I'd have you all in bed with bronchitis before three days had gone - and then what should we do!'
'All right, Mother - have you any good suggestions?' said George, still cross. 'Hey - what's thatmonkey doing?' said Dick, suddenly. 'Stop him!'
'He's only poking

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1 mischief
n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹
参考例句：
Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。 He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

2 flopped
v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅
参考例句：
Exhausted, he flopped down into a chair. 他筋疲力尽，一屁股坐到椅子上。 It was a surprise to us when his play flopped. 他那出戏一败涂地，出乎我们的预料。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 drenched
adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体）
参考例句：
We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. 我们遇上了暴雨，淋得浑身透湿。 The rain drenched us. 雨把我们淋得湿透。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 poking
n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢
参考例句：
He was poking at the rubbish with his stick. 他正用手杖拨动垃圾。 He spent his weekends poking around dusty old bookshops. 他周末都泡在布满尘埃的旧书店里。

6 poker
n.扑克；vt.烙制
参考例句：
He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌，把钱都输光了。 I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了，可以玩些花样。

7 astonishment
n.惊奇，惊异
参考例句：
They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。 I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

8 perfectly
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。 Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

9 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。

10 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。

11 crumpled
adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire. 她把那封信揉成一团扔进了火里。 She flattened out the crumpled letter on the desk. 她在写字台上把皱巴巴的信展平。

12 wreck
n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难
参考例句：
Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。 No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。

13 wretches
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋
参考例句：
The little wretches were all bedraggledfrom some roguery. 小淘气们由于恶作剧而弄得脏乎乎的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 The best courage for us poor wretches is to fly from danger. 对我们这些可怜虫说来，最好的出路还是躲避危险。 来自辞典例句

14 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。

15 gasp
n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说
参考例句：
She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。 The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。

16 binoculars
n.双筒望远镜
参考例句：
He watched the play through his binoculars.他用双筒望远镜看戏。 If I had binoculars,I could see that comet clearly.如果我有望远镜，我就可以清楚地看见那颗彗星。