Helping Himself
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CHAPTER XXV — ANXIOUS INQUIRIES

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 After a while Grant learned the particulars about Herbert's disappearance1. He had gone out to play in the street about three o'clock in the afternoon. Generally he waited for Grant to return-home, but during his absence he had found other companions. When his father returned home, he inquired of the housekeeper2: “Where is Herbert?”
“He went out to play,” said Mrs. Estabrook, indifferently.
“In the street?”
“I believe so.”
“He ought to be in by this time.”
“Probably he went to walk with some of his companions. As he had no watch, he might not know that it is so late.”
This seemed very plausible3 to Mr. Reynolds.
“Yes,” he said; “Herbert seems lost without Grant. He will be glad to see him back.”
To this Mrs. Estabrook did not reply. She had learned, to her cost, that it would not be politic4 to speak against Grant, and she was not disposed to praise him. She seldom mentioned him at all.
The dinner bell rang, and still Herbert had not returned. His father began to feel anxious.
“It is strange that Herbert remains5 so long away,” he said.
“I shouldn't wonder if he had gone to Central Park on some excursion,” returned the housekeeper calmly.
“You think there is nothing wrong?” asked the broker6, anxiously.
“How could there be here, sir?” answered Mrs. Estabrook, with unruffled demeanor7.
This answer helped to calm Mr. Reynolds, who ordered dinner delayed half an hour.
When, however, an hour—two hours—passed, and the little boy still remained absent, the father's anxiety became insupportable. He merely tasted a few spoonfuls of soup, and found it impossible to eat more. The housekeeper, on the contrary, seemed quite unconcerned, and showed her usual appetite.

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1 disappearance ouEx5     
n.消失，消散，失踪
参考例句：
  • He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
  • Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。
2 housekeeper 6q2zxl     
n.管理家务的主妇，女管家
参考例句：
  • A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
  • She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。
3 plausible hBCyy     
adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的
参考例句：
  • His story sounded plausible.他说的那番话似乎是真实的。
  • Her story sounded perfectly plausible.她的说辞听起来言之有理。
4 politic L23zX     
adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政
参考例句：
  • He was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage.他很聪明，不会与这么重要的人争吵。
  • The politic man tried not to offend people.那个精明的人尽量不得罪人。
5 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
6 broker ESjyi     
n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排
参考例句：
  • He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
  • I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。
7 demeanor JmXyk     
n.行为；风度
参考例句：
  • She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
  • The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。
8 malice P8LzW     
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。
9 condemned condemned     
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
  • The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。
10 mischief jDgxH     
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。
11 agitated dzgzc2     
adj.被鼓动的，不安的
参考例句：
  • His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
  • She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。
12 lark r9Fza     
n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏
参考例句：
  • He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了。
  • She lived in the village with her grandparents as cheerful as a lark.她同祖父母一起住在乡间非常快活。
13 tranquil UJGz0     
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的
参考例句：
  • The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。
  • The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。
14 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同
参考例句：
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
15 Ford KiIxx     
n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过
参考例句：
  • They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
  • If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

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