【英文读物】Monitress Merle.docx

《【英文读物】Monitress Merle.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《【英文读物】Monitress Merle.docx（120页珍藏版）》请在淘文阁 - 分享文档赚钱的网站上搜索。

1、【英文读物】Monitress MerleNO I A Last BatheThe warm, mellow September sunshine was streaming over the irregular roofs and twisted chimneys of the little town of Chagmouth, and was glinting on the water in the harbour, and sending gleaming, straggling, silver lines over the deep reflections of the shippin

2、g moored by the side of the jetty. The rising tide, lapping slowly and gently in from the ocean, was floating the boats beached on the shingle, and was gradually driving back the crowd of barefooted children who had ventured out in search of mussels, and was sending them, shrieking with mirth, scamp

3、ering up the seaweed-covered steps that led to the fish market. On the crag-top above the town the corn had been cut, and harvesters were busy laying the sheaves together in stooks. The yellow fields shone in the afternoon light as if the hill were crowned with gold.Walking along the narrow cobbled

4、path that led past the harbour and up on to the cliff, Mavis and Merle looked at the scene around with that sense of rejoicing proprietorship with which we are wont to revisit the pet place of our adoption. It was two whole months since they had been in Chagmouth, and as they both considered the lit

5、tle town to be the absolute hub of the universe it was really a great event to find themselves once more in its familiar streets. They had spent the summer holidays with their father and mother in the north, and had come back to Durracombe just in time for the reopening of school. On this first Satu

6、rday after their return to Devonshire they had motored with Uncle David to his branch surgery at Chagmouth, and were looking forward to several hours of amusement while he visited his patients at the sanatorium.Readers who have followed the adventures of Mavis and Merle Ramsay in A Fortunate Term wi

7、ll remember that the sisters, on account of Maviss health, had come to live with their great-uncle Dr. Tremayne at Durracombe, where they attended school daily at The Moorings. Dr. Ramsay, their father, had decided shortly to leave his practice at Whinburn and go into partnership with Dr. Tremayne,

8、but the removal to Devonshire could not take place till nearly Christmas, so the girls were to spend another term in sole charge of Uncle David, Aunt Nellie, and Jessop the elderly housekeeper, an arrangement which, though they were sorry to be parted from their parents, pleased them uncommonly well

9、. It was a favourite excursion of theirs to accompany their uncle on Saturdays when he motored to visit patients at Chagmouth. On these occasions they would have lunch and tea with him at Grimbals Farm, where he had his surgery, and would spend the intervening time on the seashore or wandering along

10、 the cliffs. To-day, tempted by the brilliant sunshine, they had brought their bathing costumes, towels, and tea-basket, and meant to secure the last dip of the holidays in case the weather should change and further mermaiding should prove impossible. They chatted briskly as they climbed the path up

11、 the cliff.Too bad Bevis has gone back to school! I thought we should just have seen him before he went!And Tudor too! I met Babbie, while you were inside Carlyons shop buying chocs, and she told me Tudor started yesterday, and Gwen went last Tuesday to a boarding-school near London. It was decided

12、quite in a hurry because there happened to be a vacancy for her. Its a very fashionable school where they take the girls out to theatres and concerts and all sorts of places. Gwens fearfully thrilled to go. They wanted to send her there before, only they couldnt get her in. Somebody else has left un

13、expectedly though, so there was a cubicle at liberty for her.It will just suit Gwen! But shell miss her riding. She nearly lived on Taffys back as a rule. Wont it be very lonely for Babbie all by herself with a governess? Will she come to school for French and dancing as usual?Shes coming to The Moo

14、rings altogether. Theyre going to motor her over every day, and fetch her back at four. Shes quite pleased about it. She always liked The Moorings much better than Gwen did.And The Moorings, from all reports, is going to be an utterly different school this term!So I suppose! Hope it wont be too much

15、 changed, thats all! A new teacher, hot from a High School, means a new broom that will sweep very clean. It strikes me those nice do-as-you-please lessons with Miss Fanny will be dreams of the past, and we shall have to set our brains to work and swat! Ugh! Its not a particularly delirious prospect

16、!Mavis laughed.Dont wrinkle your forehead into quite so many kinks! You look about forty! she objected. It maynt turn out as hard as you expect. Anyhow, dont let us spoil the last Saturday of the holidays with thinking about it. I want to enjoy this afternoon thoroughly. I feel as if Id been away fr

17、om Chagmouth for years and years. Isnt it priceless to see it again? Have a chocolate! Or would you rather take a piece of toffee?The two girls had been mounting steadily as they talked, and were now walking along a narrow track which led along the top of the cliffs. Below them lay the gorgeous-hued

18、 crags of the rugged coast and a great expanse of sea, silver at the horizon, blue at mid-distance, and deep metallic green where it touched the shore. Innumerable sea-birds wheeled and screamed below, and the incoming tide lapped with little white waves over the reefs of rocks, and submerged the po

19、ols where gobies were darting about, and sea-anemones were stretching out crimson or green tentacles, and scurrying crabs were hiding among masses of brown oar-weed. Above and beyond was a network of brambles, where ripe blackberries hung in such tempting clusters that it was hardly in human nature

20、to resist them, and Merle, with purple-stained fingers, loitered and lingered to enjoy the feast.If youre not quick the tide will have turned and it wont be half so nice to bathe! urged Mavis impatiently. Do hurry up now, and you can absolutely gorge on blackberries as we come back, if you want to.

21、Ill promise to wait for you then.Right-o! Im coming! Though I must just get that one big beauty! There! I wont eat a single one more till Ive had my dip. We must be close to the cove now. Ill run if you like!The bathing-place for which the girls were bound was a sandy creek among the rocks. A hundre

22、d years ago it had been a favourite spot for smugglers to land contraband goods, and a series of steps cut in the cliff testified to its former use. Nowadays it was commonly deserted, and in the early part of the summer, when Mavis and Merle had been wont to visit it, they had had it all to themselv

23、es. They had gone there so often and found it untenanted that they had come to regard it as their private property, and, in consequence, they were most unreasonably annoyed, when climbing down the steps, to hear sounds of laughter rising up from below.Whos in our cove? demanded Merle sharply, somewh

24、at as FatherBruin asked the immortal question, Whos sleeping on my bed?All the world, I should say! replied the aggrieved voice of Mavis, who was in front and had first view of the scene beneath. The place is an absolute seaside resort. Never saw so many people in my life before! Where do they all c

25、ome from?The little cove, their cove, which in June had been so delightfully secluded and retired, was undoubtedly invaded by quite a number of visitors. Children were paddling or scampering along the sands, wet heads were bobbing in and out of the water, every rocky crevice was in use as a dressing

26、-room, picnic parties were taking tea on the rocks, and a circle of boys and girls were playing a noisy game at the brink of the waves. Very ruefully Mavis and Merle descended to swell the throng. It was not at all the sort of bathe which they had anticipated, and, had there been another available s

27、pot within reach, they would have utterly disdained it.Shall we go on to Yellow Head? ventured Merle hesitatingly.There isnt time. The tide would be out before we got there, and its a perfect tangle of oar-weed unless the waters high. Never mind! Therell be elbow-room in the sea at any rate. Theres

28、a corner here where we can undress. Come along! O-o-h! Theres some one else inside!Illustration: WERE JUST READY! YOU CAN COME IN IF YOU LIKE!Were just ready! You can come in if you like! proclaimed a voice, as two girls in navy bathing costumes and rubber caps issued from behind a rock, and running

29、 swiftly down the sand plunged into the water.Availing themselves of the opportunity Mavis and Merle took temporary possession of the naiads dressing-room, and in the course of a few minutes more were revelling in a swim. The red rubber caps of the girls who preceded them were plainly to be seen som

30、e distance from the shore, where their owners were apparently having a race towards a rock that jutted from the waves.Oh, they mustnt go out there! Theres an awful current! Bevis warned us about it! gasped Mavis, swimming securely with one foot on the ground. Cant we stop them? Shout, Merle!Hello, t

31、here! Ahoy! Come back! yelled Merle, who possessed stronger lungs than her sister. They dont hear me! Coo-oo-ee! Thats done it, thank goodness! Comebackyouregoingtogetintoacurrent!The two red caps, warned in time of their danger, turned and swam into safer waters. They did not venture so far again f

32、rom the shore, but frolicked with some companions, trying to make wheels and to perform various other feats of agility, which were generally failures and ended in a splash. They were so long about it that Mavis and Merle went from the water first and had time to dress quite leisurely before the othe

33、rs, shaking out wet fair hair, followed to the crevice among the rocks.The Ramsays took their picnic basket, and, climbing a short way up the steps, settled themselves upon a grassy platform which afforded a good view of the cove below. They liked this vantage-ground better than the sands, and began

34、 to spread out the cups and saucers and parcels of cakes which Jessop had packed for them, congratulating themselves upon having a spot at least fairly apart. But they were not destined to spend that afternoon in solitary state. They had scarcely opened their basket when three heads came bobbing up

35、the steps, shamelessly invaded their platform, and also began to unpack tea-cups.Merle, who did not like other people to trespass upon her rights, frowned and turned her back upon them, and probably each little party would have taken its meal separately had not an unforeseen and utterly untoward acc

36、ident happened. Mavis knocked their thermos flask with her elbow and sent it spinning over the cliff. Here was a pretty business! Their tea was gone, and the flask, if they found it, would be utterly smashed.Its not worth climbing down to pick it up! lamented Mavis contritely.Im so sorry, Merle! It

37、was horribly clumsy of me!Do have some of ours! suggested one of the strangers sympathetically.Weve heaps! Two flasks; and thats more than we shall drink ourselves.You might just as well!I say, it was awfully decent of you to call to us not to go on to those rocks! put in another. We didnt know abou

38、t the current.The third girl made no remark, but she smiled invitingly and held out one of their flasks.So it came about that Mavis and Merle moved nearer and joined the others, so that they formed one party. For a few minutes they sat in polite silence, taking in the items of their neighbours appea

39、rance. When the Ramsays compared notes afterwards they decided that they had never before seen three such pretty girls. The two who had worn the red bathing caps were evidently sisters, for they had the same clear-cut features, fair complexions, cupid mouths, and beautiful dark-fringed eyes. Their c

40、ompanion, whose brown hair was drying in the breeze, was a complete contrast, with her warm brunette colouring and quick vivacious manner, like an orchid between two roses, as Mavis described her later. It was she who spoke firstquite a conventional inquiry but decidedly to the point.Are you staying

41、 in Chagmouth? she asked.Weve only come over for the day from Durracombe, answered Merle.The three strangers looked immediately interested.Durracombe! Why, were going to start school there next week!Never at The Moorings! gasped Merle excitedly.Thats the place! Do you go there too? Oh! I say! Do tel

42、l us all aboutit! Weve been just crazy to know what its like. You two look sports!What are your names? Are the rest of the school jolly, and is MissPollard nice?With such a common interest as The Moorings to talk about, the ice was completely broken, and the five girls were soon chatting in friendly

43、 fashion.Mavis and Merle, having given a few details about themselves and how they often motored over to Chagmouth with Dr. Tremayne, drew in turn some information from their new acquaintances. The two fair-haired girls, aged respectively fourteen and thirteen, were Beata and Romola Castleton, and t

44、heir father, an artist, had lately removed from Porthkeverne in Cornwall, and had taken a house at Chagmouth. Their friend Fay Macleod, a year older than Beata, was an American, whose father had come to Europe in search of health, and being attracted to Chagmouth by his love of sketching, had settle

45、d there temporarily for a rest-cure, and was enjoying the quiet and beauty of the quaint place and its surrounding scenery.I suppose youll all be weekly boarders? ventured Mavis, when Fay had finished her communications.No, were to be day-girls. Six of us from Chagmouth are joining in a car and moto

46、ring every morning and being fetched back at fourourselves, Nan and Lizzie Colville, and Tattie Carew. It will be rather a squash to cram six of us into Vicarys car! Weve named it the sardine-tin already. I hope nobody else will want to join us!Babbie Williams is to be a day-girl this term. She live

47、s over there atThe Warren.We havent room for her.Shes going in their own car.Thats good news for the sardines! I was thinking some of us would have to ride on the footboard or the luggage-carrier. Is Babbie fair, with bobbed hair? Then Ive seen her in church. Seven of us from Chagmouth! We ought to

48、make quite a clique in the school!Oh, we dont want any cliques, said Merle quickly. We had enough of that sort of thing when Opal was there. Miss Pollard told mother that the new mistress, Miss Mitchell, is going to reorganise everything, and bring it up to date, so I expect we shall find a great many changes when we start again. Have you been at school before?Romola and I went to The Gables at Porthkeverne, replied Beata. We loved it, and we were dreadfully sorry to leave. Fay, of course, has b