-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
They'd been very sweet, really, letting her lead her own life, not understanding in the least why she wanted to live in Chelsea in the way she did, but accepting it. That was due to Em of course. Grandfather would have kicked up no end of a row.
Sarah had no illusions about her grandfather's attitude. It was not his doing that Desmond had been asked to stay at Kings Lacey. That was Em, and Em was a darling and always had been.
When Desmond had gone to fetch his car, Sarah popped her head into the drawing-room again.
"We're going over to Market Ledbury," she said. "We thought we'd have a drink there at the White Hart."
"Well, dear," she said, "I'm sure that will be very nice. David and Diana have gone for a walk, I see. I'm so glad. I really think it was a brainwave on my part to ask Diana here. So sad being left a widow so young - only twenty-two - I do hope she marries again soon."
Sarah looked at her sharply. "What are you up to, Em?"
"It's my little plan," said Mrs Lacey gleefully. "I think she's just right for David. Of course I know he was terribly in love with you, Sarah dear, but you'd no use for him and I realise that he isn't your type. But I don't want him to go on being unhappy, and I think Diana will really suit him."
"What a matchmaker you are, Em," said Sarah.
"I know," said Mrs Lacey. "Old women always are. Diana's quite keen on him already, I think. Don't you think she'd be just right for him?"
"I shouldn't say so," said Sarah. "I think Diana's far too - well, too intense, too serious. I should think David would find it terribly boring being married to her."
"Well, we'll see," said Mrs Lacey. "Anyway, you don't want him, do you, dear?"
"No, indeed," said Sarah, very quickly. She added, in a sudden rush, "You do like Desmond, don't you, Em?"
"I'm sure he's very nice indeed," said Mrs Lacey.
"Grandfather doesn't like him," said Sarah.
"Well, you could hardly expect him to, could you?" said Mrs Lacey reasonably, "but I dare say he'll come round when he gets used to the idea. You mustn't rush him, Sarah dear. Old people are very slow to change their minds and your grandfather is rather obstinate3."
"I don't care what Grandfather thinks or says," said Sarah. "I shall get married to Desmond whenever I like!"
"I know, dear, I know. But do try and be realistic about it. Your grandfather could cause a lot of trouble, you know. You're not of age yet. In another year you can do as you please. I expect Horace will have come round long before that."
"You're on my side aren't you, darling?" said Sarah. She flung her arms round her grandmother's neck and gave her an affectionate kiss.
"I want you to be happy," said Mrs Lacey. "Ah! there's your young man bringing his car round. You know, I like these very tight trousers these young men wear nowadays. They look so smart only, of course, it does accentuate4 knock knees."
Yes, Sarah thought, Desmond had got knock knees, she had never noticed it before...
"Go on, dear, enjoy yourself," said Mrs Lacey.
She watched her go out to the car, then, remembering her foreign guest, she went along to the library. Looking in, however, she saw that Hercule Poirot was taking a pleasant little nap, and smiling to herself, she went across the hall and out into the kitchen to have a conference with Mrs Ross.
"Come on, beautiful," said Desmond. "Your family cutting up rough because you're coming out to a pub? Years behind the times here, aren't they?"
"Of course they're not making a fuss," said Sarah, sharply as she got into the car.
"What's the idea of having that foreign fellow down? He's a detective, isn't he? What needs detecting here?"
"Oh, he's not here professionally," said Sarah. "Edwina Morecombe, my godmother, asked us to have him. I think he's retired5 from professional work long ago."
"Sounds like a broken-down old cab horse," said Desmond.
Desmond laughed scornfully. "Such a lot of tripe7, that sort of thing," he said. "How you can stand it I don't know."
Sarah's red hair was tossed back and her aggressive chin shot up.
"You can't, baby. Let's cut the whole thing tomorrow. Go over to Scarborough or somewhere."
"I couldn't possibly do that."
"Why not?"
"Oh, it would hurt their feelings."
"Oh, bilge! You know you don't enjoy this childish sentimental9 bosh."
"Well, not really perhaps, but..." Sarah broke off. She realised with a feeling of guilt10 that she was looking forward a good deal to the Christmas celebration. She enjoyed the whole thing, but she was ashamed to admit that to Desmond. It was not the thing to enjoy Christmas and family life. Just for a moment she wished that Desmond had not come down here at Christmas time. In fact, she almost wished that Desmond had not come down here at all. It was much more fun seeing Desmond in London than here at home.
In the meantime the boys and Bridget were walking back from the lake, still discussing earnestly the problems of skating. Flecks11 of snow had been falling, and looking up at the sky it could be prophesied12 that before long there was going to be a heavy snowfall.
"It's going to snow all night," said Colin. "Bet you by Christmas morning we have a couple of feet of snow."
"Good lord," said Colin. "I haven't made a snow-man since - well, since I was about four years old."
"I don't believe it's a bit easy to do," said Bridget. "I mean, you have to know how."
"We might make an effigy14 of M. Poirot," said Colin. "Give it a big black moustache. There is one in the dressing-up box."
"I don't see, you know," said Michael thoughtfully, "how M. Poirot could ever have been a detective. I don't see how he'd ever be able to disguise himself."
"I know," said Bridget, "and one can't imagine him running about with a microscope and looking for clues or measuring footprints."
"I've got an idea," said Colin. "Let's put on a show for him!"
"What do you mean, a show?" asked Bridget.
"Well, arrange a murder for him."
"What a gorgeous idea," said Bridget. "Do you mean a body in the snow - that sort of thing?"
"Yes. It would make him feel at home, wouldn't it?"
"I don't know that I'd go as far as that."
"If it snows," said Colin, "we'll have the perfect setting. A body and footprints - we'll have to think that out rather carefully and pinch one of Grandfather's daggers16 and make some blood."
They came to a halt and oblivious17 to the rapidly falling snow, entered into an excited discussion.
"There's a paintbox in the old schoolroom. We could mix up some blood - crimson-lake, I should think."
"Crimson-lake's a bit too pink, I think," said Bridget. "It ought to be a bit browner."
"Who's going to be the body?" asked Michael.
"I'll be the body," said Bridget quickly.
"Oh, look here," said Colin, "I thought of it."
"Oh, no, no," said Bridget, "it must be me. It's got to be a girl. It's more exciting. Beautiful girl lying lifeless in the snow."
"Beautiful girl! Ah-ha," said Michael in derision.
"I've got black hair, too," said Bridget.
"What's that got to do with it?"
"If you wear red pyjamas, they won't show the bloodstains," said Michael in a practical manner.
"But they'd look so effective against the snow," said Bridget, "and they've got white facings, you know, so the blood could be on that. Oh, won't it be gorgeous? Do you think he will really be taken in?"
"He will if we do it well enough," said Michael. "We'll have just your footprints in the snow and one other person's going to the body and coming away from it - a man's, of course. He won't want to disturb them, so he won't know that you're not really dead. You don't think," Michael stopped, struck by a sudden idea. The others looked at him. "You don't think he'll be annoyed about it?"
"Oh, I shouldn't think so," said Bridget, with facile optimism. "I'm sure he'll understand that we've just done it to entertain him. A sort of Christmas treat."
"I don't think we ought to do it on Christmas Day," said Colin reflectively. "I don't think Grandfather would like that very much."
"Boxing Day then," said Bridget.
"Boxing Day would be just right," said Michael.
"And it'll give us more time, too," pursued Bridget. "After all, there are a lot of things to arrange. Let's go and have a look at all the props19."
They hurried into the house.
III
The evening was a busy one. Holly20 and mistletoe had been brought in in large quantities and a Christmas tree had been set up at one end of the dining-room. Everyone helped to decorate it, to put up the branches of holly behind pictures and to hang mistletoe in a convenient position in the hall.
"We've always done it," said Sarah, defensively.
"What a reason!"
"Sarah my sweet, you can't!"
"Well, not not really perhaps but I do in a way."
"Who's going to brave the snow and go to midnight mass?" asked Mrs Lacey at twenty minutes to twelve.
"Not me," said Desmond. "Come on, Sarah."
With a hand on her arm he guided her into the library and went over to the record case.
"There are limits, darling," said Desmond. "Midnight mass!"
"Yes," said Sarah. "Oh yes."
With a good deal of laughter, donning of coats and stamping of feet, most of the others got off. The two boys, Bridget, David and Diana set out for the ten minutes' walk to the church through the falling snow. Their laughter died away in the distance.
"Midnight mass!" said Colonel Lacey, snorting. "Never went to midnight mass in my young days. Mass, indeed! Popish, that is! Oh, I beg your pardon, M. Poirot."
Poirot waved a hand. "It is quite all right. Do not mind me."
"Matins is good enough for anybody, I should say," said the colonel.
"Proper Sunday morning service. 'Hark the herald24 angels sing,' and all the good old Christmas hymns25. And then back to Christmas dinner. That's right, isn't it, Em?"
"Yes, dear," said Mrs Lacey. "That's what we do. But the young ones enjoy the midnight service. And it's nice, really, that they want to go."
"Sarah and that fellow don't want to go."
"Well, there dear, I think you're wrong," said Mrs Lacey. "Sarah, you know, did want to go, but she didn't like to say so."
"Beats me why she cares what that fellow's opinion is."
"She's very young, really," said Mrs Lacey placidly26. "Are you going to bed, M. Poirot? Good night. I hope you'll sleep well."
"And you, Madame? Are you not going to bed yet?"
"Not just yet," said Mrs Lacey. "I've got the stockings to fill, you see. Oh, I know they're all practically grown up, but they do like their stockings. One puts jokes in them! Silly little things. But it all makes for a lot of fun."
"You work very hard to make this a happy house at Christmas time," said Poirot. "I honour you."
He raised her hand to his lips in a courtly fashion.
"Hm," grunted27 Colonel Lacey, as Poirot departed. "Flowery sort of fellow. Still he appreciates you."
Mrs Lacey dimpled up at him. "Have you noticed, Horace, that I'm standing1 under the mistletoe?" she asked with the demureness28 of a girl of nineteen.
Hercule Poirot entered his bedroom. It was a large room well provided with radiators29. As he went over toward the big four-poster bed he noticed an envelope lying on his pillow. He opened it and drew out a piece of paper. On it was a shakily printed message in capital letters.
"DON'T EAT NONE OF THE PLUM PUDDING. ONE AS WISHES YOU
WELL."
IV
Christmas dinner took place at 2 p.m. and was a feast indeed. Enormous logs crackled merrily in the wide fireplace and above their crackling rose the babel of many tongues talking together. Oyster31 soup had been consumed, two enormous turkeys had come
and gone, mere32 carcasses of their former selves. Now, the supreme33 moment, the Christmas pudding was brought in, in state!
Old Peverell, his hands and his knees shaking with the weakness of eighty years, permitted no one but himself to bear it in. Mrs Lacey sat, her hands pressed together in nervous apprehension34. One Christmas, she felt sure, Peverell would fall down dead. Having either to take the risk of letting him fall down dead or of hurting his feelings to such an extent that he would probably prefer to be dead than alive, she had so far chosen the former alternative. On a silver dish the Christmas pudding reposed35 in its glory. A large football of a pudding, a piece of holly stuck in it like a triumphant36 flag and glorious flames of blue and red rising round it. There was a cheer and cries of "Ooh-ah."
One thing Mrs Lacey had done: prevailed upon Peverell to place the pudding in front of her so that she could help it rather than hand it in turn round the table. She breathed a sigh of relief as it was deposited safely in front of her. Rapidly the plates were passed round, flames still licking the portions.
"Wish, M. Poirot," cried Bridget. "Wish before the flame goes. Quick, Gran darling, quick."
Mrs Lacey leant back with a sigh of satisfaction. Operation Pudding had been a success. In front of everyone was a helping37 with flames still licking. There was a momentary38 silence all round the table as everyone wished hard.
There was nobody to notice the rather curious expression on the face of M. Poirot as he surveyed the portion of pudding on his plate.
"Don't eat none of the plum pudding." What on earth did that sinister39 warning mean? There could be nothing different about his portion of plum pudding from that of everyone else! Sighing as he admitted himself baffled - and Hercule Poirot never liked to admit himself baffled - he picked up his spoon and fork.
"Hard sauce, M. Poirot?"
Poirot helped himself appreciatively to hard sauce.
"Swiped my best brandy again, eh, Em?" said the colonel good- humouredly from the other end of the table. Mrs Lacey twinkled at him.
"Mrs Ross insists on having the best brandy, dear," she said. "She says it makes all the difference."
"Well, well," said Colonel Lacey, "Christmas comes but once a year and Mrs Ross is a great woman. A great woman and a great cook."
"She is indeed," said Colin. "Smashing plum pudding, this. Mmmm." He filled an appreciative40 mouth.
Gently, almost gingerly, Hercule Poirot attacked his portion of pudding. He ate a mouthful. It was delicious! He ate another. Something tinkled41 faintly on his plate. He investigated with a fork. Bridget, on his left, came to his aid.
"You've got something, M. Poirot," she said. "I wonder what it is."
"Oooh," said Bridget, "it's the bachelor's button! M. Poirot's got the bachelor's button!"
Hercule Poirot dipped the small silver button into the finger-glass of water that stood by his plate, and washed it clear of pudding crumbs43.
"It is very pretty," he observed.
"That means you're going to be a bachelor, M. Poirot," explained Colin helpfully.
"That is to be expected,"
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
defiance
|
|
| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
obstinate
|
|
| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
accentuate
|
|
| v.着重，强调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
tripe
|
|
| n.废话，肚子, 内脏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
defiantly
|
|
| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
guilt
|
|
| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
flecks
|
|
| n.斑点，小点( fleck的名词复数 )；癍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
prophesied
|
|
| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
effigy
|
|
| n.肖像 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
giggled
|
|
| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
daggers
|
|
| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
oblivious
|
|
| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
pyjamas
|
|
| n.（宽大的）睡衣裤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
props
|
|
| 小道具； 支柱( prop的名词复数 )； 支持者； 道具； （橄榄球中的）支柱前锋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
holly
|
|
| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
archaic
|
|
| adj.(语言、词汇等)古代的，已不通用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
sneer
|
|
| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
tiresome
|
|
| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
herald
|
|
| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
hymns
|
|
| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
placidly
|
|
| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
grunted
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
demureness
|
|
| n.demure（拘谨的，端庄的）的变形 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
29
radiators
|
|
| n.（暖气设备的）散热器( radiator的名词复数 )；汽车引擎的冷却器，散热器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
oyster
|
|
| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
reposed
|
|
| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
triumphant
|
|
| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
appreciative
|
|
| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
tinkled
|
|
| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
raisins
|
|
| n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
crumbs
|
|
| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
购买
在百度中搜索