閱讀理解之記敘文（原卷版）-2023年中考英語(yǔ)一模試題分項(xiàng)匯編（江蘇專(zhuān)用）

專(zhuān)題05閱讀理解之記敘文

（2023?江蘇淮安??？家荒＃〦veryboywantstofindtreasure.AndTomwasnodifferent.Onesummerday

TomtoldHuckabouthisidea.

"Wherecanwelookfortreasure?"askedHuck.

"It'shiddenonislands,underdeadtrees,butmostlyunderthefloorsinhaunled（鬧鬼的）houses.^^

“Whohidesit?”

“Robbers（劫匪）.Youcanfindaboxwithahundreddollarsinit,orachestfullofdiamonds（鉆石）

So,onSaturdayafternoontheboyswenttolookfortreasureatthehauntedhouseonCardiffHill.Itwasa

quietandlonelyplace.Andtheboyslookedateachotherinfear.Theyenteredquietly,andexploreddownstairs.

Therewerecobwebs（蜘蛛網(wǎng)）everywhereandeverythingwasoldandbroken.Thentheythrewtheirtoolsina

cornerandwalkedupstairs,buttherewasnothingthere.Theywerejustabouttogodownstairsandstartdigging

whenTomstopped.

“Whatisit?”whisperedHuck,goingwhitewithfear.

“Keepstill!There?ssomeonedownstairs!”

Theboyslaydown,lookingthroughtheholesinthewoodenfloor.Thereweretwomendownstairs.Onewas

anoldSpaniard（西班牙人）inawidehat.Theotherwasdirtyandunpleasant-looking.Theboysshookwithfear.

ThentheSpaniardspoke.ItwasIndianJoe.TomandHuckfeltevenmorefrightened.

Themensatdownonthefloorandate.Theythenlaydownandfellasleep.Whenthetwomenwokeup,the

strangersaid,"It'stimeforustomove,partner.Whatwillwedowiththe$650fromtherobbery?^^

“Let'skeep$30eachandleavetheresthere.^^

ThedirtymanwenttotheEreplace（壁爐）andmovedastone.Thenheliftedoutabagfullofmoneyand

tookoutsomecoins.

Thetwoboysforgotalltheirfears.Therewasrealtreasuredownstairs.

—AdaptedfromtheAdventuresofTomSawyer

1.ExceptTomandHuck,howmanypeoplearementionedinthepassage?

A.1.B.2.C.3.D.4.

2.AccordingtoTom,whatmaynotbeincludedinthehiddentreasure?

A.Dollars.B.Diamonds.C.Golds.D.Silvers.

3.HowdidTomandHuckfeelwhentheyfoundthetwomendownstairs?

A.Worried.B.Excited.C.Afraid.D.Happy.

4.WhichofthefollowingisTRUEaccordingtothepassage?

A.TomthoughtSpaniardslikedhidingtreasure.B.Thetwomangotthe$650throughrobbery.

C.Thetwomantookthe$650away.D.Thetwomenhidthemoneyunderthefloor.

5.Whydidn'tTomandHuckfeelfrightenedatlast?

A.Thetwomanmadefriendswiththem.B.Theirattentionwascaughtbythemoney.

C.Theyleftthehouseandranaway.D.Theydecidedtofightwiththetwoman.

（2023?江蘇無(wú)錫?江蘇省錫山高級(jí)中學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)學(xué)校?？家荒＃〨rowingup,Ithoughtmathclasswas

somethingtobeendured,notenjoyed.Idislikedmemorizingformulas（公式）andtakingtests,allfbrthedullgoal

ofgettingagoodgrade.OneofmyteacherstoldmymotherthatIwas“slow”.Butmyproblemwasn'twithmath

itself.Infact,whenatopicseemedparticularlyinteresting,Iwouldgotothelibraryandreadmoreaboutit.

Byhighschool,noonetoldmethatIcouldbecomeaprofessionalmathematician.WhatIwantedtodothen

wastoplaycollegefootball.MygoalwastogetanathleticscholarshiptoattendaBigTenschool.

Thechancesofthathappeningwereverylow.Butthatdidn'tstopmycoachesfromencouragingmeto

believeIcouldreachmygoal,andpreparingandpushingmetoworkforit.Theymadevideotapesofmy

performancesandsentthemtocollegecoachesaroundthecountry.Intheend,aBigTenschool,PennState,did

offermeascholarship.

Iwishmathteachersweremorelikefootballcoaches.Studentsareinfluencedbymorethanjustthequality

ofalessonplan.Theyalsoreacttothepassionoftheirteachersandtheengagementoftheirpeersandtheytryto

achieveasenseofpurpose.Theygetadvantagesfromdetailedandexactinstructionsandconstantfeedback（反

饋）.

UntilIgottocollege,Ididn'treallyknowwhatmathematicswas.Istillthoughtofitaslaborious（耗時(shí)費(fèi)力

的）calculations.ThenmyprofessorhandedmeabookandsuggestedthatIshouldthinkaboutaparticular

problem.Itwasn'teasy,butitwasattractive.Myprofessorkeptgivingmeproblems,andIkeptchasingthem,

eventhoughIcouldn'talwayssolvethemimmediately.ThemathematicalresearchIwasdoinghadlittlein

commonwithwhatIdidinmyhighschoolclassrooms.Instead,itwasclosertothemathandlogicpuzzlesIdid

onmyownasaboy.Itgavemethesamesenseofwonderandcuriosity,anditrewardedcreativity.Iamnowa

Ph.Dcandidate（候選人）inmathematicsattheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology.

6.Whydidthewriterthinkmathclassinschoolwas“somethingtobeendured^^beforeenteringcollege?

A.Becausehewasn'tinterestedinmath.

B.Becausehismathteachersdidn'tcaretopushhim.

C.Becausehewastoosmartandtalentedformathclass.

D.Becausehewastraininghardforanathleticscholarship.

7.Wecanconcludethatafterenteringcollege,thewriter.

A.wasbusylookingformathproblemstosolve

B.studiedonhisownjustashewasinhighschool

C.metwithlaboriouscalculationsinhisstudies

D.begantorealizewhatmathematicsreallyis

8.Whatisthebesttitleforthetext?

A.InterestisthebestteacherB.Bethebest—youcanmakeit

C.Math,taughtlikefootballD.Onceyourteacher,alwaysyourteacher

（2023?江蘇無(wú)錫?無(wú)錫市天一實(shí)驗(yàn)學(xué)校?？家荒＃￤henmysonfinallystartedschoolaroundtheageof

four,IfeltasthoughI'dbeenpromoted（晉級(jí)）tothenewpositionofSchoolParent.Itwasanunexpectedly

challengingrole,onewithoutadditionalbenefits,oraraiseforthatmatter.

Asadirectresultofstartingschool,therewasthesurprisinglyunpleasantchangestoourschedule

（time-table）.Asparents,wewereill-preparedforthetroubledtimewehadtryingtogetusedtothepracticeof

school.

Gonewerethecarefreedayswithoutplansandplentyoftimetokill.Thisincludedplayingimaginarygames

indoorsorhangingaroundoutsidewhenevertheweatherturnednice.Gettingtoschoolontimemeantbecoming

the'hotmess'mumwhowereoftenseeninmovies.Iwasrushingkidsoutthedoor,forgettinglunchboxesand

losingcarkeys.

Asahugemorningperson,Itriedmybesttoensurethatschoolmorningsremainedcalmandslow-paced.I

preparedasmuchaspossiblethenightbefore.Butitstillfeltlikewewereinarush,whichIreallyhated.

Thetrick.Ilaterdiscovered,wastocoverupmyfeelingofanxiety.Ichantedtomyself4tDonotrushhim,no

onelikestoberushed“whilehelpinghimgetthroughhismorningroutineandtasksinatimelymanner.Whatever

frustration（沮喪）Ifellabouthowslowhewasmoving,Iwouldn'tlethimknowit.Ievendidn'tallowanyonein

ourhousetosayphraseslike,“Hurryup,we'regoingtobelate!”O(jiān)urcommongoal,wasnotjusttogetourson

outthedoorintimeforschool,butmoreimportantlyprovethatmorningscanberelaxedandenjoyable,rather

thanahomblestarttotheday.

Ofcoursebythetimesummerholidaycame,ourfamilyhadgrownwiseenough.Inwhatfeltlikethe

'longestshortesttime',wewentfromanxiousandconfiiscd,tocalmandconfidentonceagain.Wewerefarmore

preparedtohaveasmootherstarttothenewschoolyear.

9.Whatdoweknowabouttheauthorfromthefirstparagraph?

A.Shelikedhernewposition.B.Shegotapromotionatwork.

C.Shemadegoodpreparations.D.Shehadtofacethechallenge.

10.Whichwordissimilarinmeaningtotheunderlinedwords“hotmess"inparagraph3?

A.disorganizedB.busyC.confidentD.hard-working

11.Whatisthetextmainlyabout?

A.Growthofkids.B.Experienceasaschoolparent.

C.Newlifeinschool.D.Adviceonlifestylechange.

（2023?江蘇宿遷?統(tǒng)考一模）二（＜

Oneday,Frankwaswalkingwithhismotheroutside.Whentheycametoaprettygarden,hecalledtohis

motherandsaid,“Mother,IwishIcouldopenthegateandwalkin.^^

Thegardener,beingnear,heardwhatFranksaid,andkindlyinvitedhimandhismothertocomeintothe

garden.

Frank'smotherthankedtheman.Turningtoherson,shesaid,“Frank,ifItakeyoutowalkinthisgarden,

youmusttakecarenottomeddlewith（舌L動(dòng)）anythinginit.”

Frankwalkedalongthepathsandlookedateverything,buttouchednothing.Hewascarefulthathisclothes

shouldnotbrushthetopsoftheflowersincasehemightbreakthem.

ThegardenerwasverypleasedwithFrankbecausehewassocarefulnottomaketrouble.Heshowedhimthe

seeds（種子）andtoldhimwhattheflowersandplantswere.

WhileFrankwasadmiringthebeautyofaflower,aboycametothegate.Findingitlocked,heshookithard.

Butitwouldnotopen.Thenhesaid,“Letmein.Letmein.Willyounotletmeinthisgarden?^^

“No,"saidthegardener.UIwillnotletyouin,forwhenIletyouinyesterday,youmeddledwithmyflowers,

andevenpickedsomefruit.Idonotletboysintomygardenwhomeddlewiththeplants.^^

Ashamed,theboywalkedawayslowly.

Seeingthis,Frankfelthowmuchhappieraboymaybebynotmeddlingwiththatwhichdoesnotbelongto

him.

12.Whatcanwelearnfromthestory?

A.ThegardenerknewFrank'smotherverywell.

B.ThegardenerwasunwillingtoletFrankin.

C.Frankhadvisitedthegardenthedaybefore.

D.Themotherwasstrictwithherson.

13.Howdidthegardenerreact（反應(yīng)）toFrank'sbehaviorinthegarden?

A.HewasveryhappywithFrank.B.HewantedFranktobrushhisflowers.

C.HethoughtFrankwasatroublemaker.D.HeaskedFranktobemorecareful.

14.Astheotherboyleft,he.

A.hatedFrankverymuchB.gotangrywiththegardener

C.realizedhisownproblemsD.meddledwithmoreplants

15.WhatlessonmightFranklearnfromtheotherboy?

A.Don'tcompareyourselftoothers.B.Goodmannersareveryimportant.

C.Neverbelieveinalittleboy.D.ListeningtoMomisneverwrong.

ThatnightthewindandtherainwokeMaryup.

“Horrid（非常討厭的）rain!”shesaid.“ItcamebecauseitknewIdidn'twantit.”

Thensheheardanothernoise.Itwasthestrangecryingsound.Shegotoutofbed,pickedupthecandleand

wentoutintothelong,darkcorridor（走廊）outsideherroom.Asshefollowedit,thesoundbecamelouderand

louder.Finally,shearrivedatadoor.Sheopeneditquietlyandwentin.Theroomwaslargeandfullofbeautiful

oldfurniture.Therewasafireinthefireplaceandacandlenexttoabigbed.Initshecouldseeaboyandhewas

crying.Hehadawhiteface,longdarkhairandbiggreyeyes.Helookedillbuthewasn'tcryingbecausehewas

inpain.

Marywenttowardsthebed.Theboyturnedhisheadandstared（注視）ather.

“Whoareyou?”hewhispered.44Areyouaghost?^^

“NoJMaryanswered,"Areyouaghost?^^

Hestaredatherwithhisbigeyes.

“No,"hereplied.<€IamColin.ColinCraven.Whoareyou?”

“IamMaryLennox.MrCravenismyuncle.^^

“He'smyfather/9saidtheboy.

“Yourfather!Ididn'tknowthathehadason!”shoutedMary."Whywereyoucrying?”

“Iwassadandmyheadhurt.^^

“Didtheservants（4bA）tellyouaboutme?^^askedMary.

“No,becausetheyknowthatIdon'twanttoseepeople.^^

“Whynot?”

“PeopletalkaboutmebecauseI'malwaysill.Idon'tlikeit.Myfatherdoesn'tlikeiteither.ButI'mgoingto

die.IfIlive,I'mprobablygoingtobeahunchback（駝背的人）likehim.^^

“Doesyourfathercomeandseeyou?”

“Hedoesn'twanttoseeme.^^

“Whynot?^^Maryaskedagain.

“MymotherdiedwhenIwasbom.Hefeelssadwhenhelooksatme.Ithinkhealmosthatesme.”

“Hehatesthegardenbecauseshedied,^^saidMary,halfspeakingtoherself.

“Whatgarden?”theboyasked.

“Oh,justagardensheliked,“Marysaid.

Thenshesaidquickly,"Doyoualwaysstayinbed?”

“Yes.ButadoctorfromLondonsaidImustgooutinthefreshair.Ihatefreshair.”

“Oh,"saidMary.

MarylearnedalotaboutColin.MarybegantounderstandthatColinwasspoilt.Hisfathergavehim

everythingheaskedfbr.AndColinneverhadtodoanythingifhedidn'twanttodoit.

“EveryonehastodowhatIwant,“Colinsaid.UIgetillifTmangry.,,

——TakenfromTheSecretGarden

16.WhichwordscanbeusedtodescribeMary'sfeelingsaftershewokeupthatnight?

A.Unhappybutcurious.B.Tiredandbored.

C.Angryandafraid.D.Surprisedandexcited.

17.Theunderlinedword“spoilt“means

A.獨(dú)立的B.被寵壞的C.膽小的D.溫和的

18.WecanlearnthatColinisMary's

A.brotherB.uncleC.doctorD.cousin

19.Whatcanweleamfromthepassage?

A.Colin'sservantslikedhim.B.MarywokeupbecauseofColin'scrying.

C.Colinseldomcommunicatedwithothers.D.MrCravendidn9tlikehisMary.

（2023?江蘇無(wú)錫?統(tǒng)考一模）Jadavhasplantedtreesfbrmanyyears.Today,Jadav^forestislargerthanthe

nearbynationalpark.Thoughhehashadlittleeducation,heknowsalotabouttheenvironment.

Backin1979,therewastheworstsummerinAssam.Floods（洪水）washedthousandsofsnakesoutoftheir

homesandtheydiedfromtheheat.Jadavwasverysad.Hewenttothevillagersforhelp.Theelderssaidthat

growingbamboomighthelp.

Asalittleboy,Jadavbeganplantingbambooalongthesandbar（沙堤）.Hespenthisdaysontheplants.There

wasnobodyhelpinghim.Noonewasinterested.

Itwasnoteasy,bulJadavmadeit.HehasgrownalargeforesttheMolaiForest.

HehascreatedaforestaloneforthewildlifeinAssam,India.It'shometothousandsoftreesandmany

animalslikedeerandelephants.

"Everythingwedomakesadifferencetotheenvironment.Ifweplantmoretrees,wewillsolvetheproblem

ofglobalwarming,saidJadav.Nowhestilllivesintheforestandtreatsthetreesandanimalslikehischildren.

20.Whathappenedinthesummerof1979inAssam,India?

A.Lotsofsnakesdiedfromtheheat.

B.Theforestwascutdown.

C.Manytreeswereplanted.

D.Anewforestwascreated.

21.Theunderlinedsentence"ItwasnoteasybutJadavmadeit."inParagraph4means.

A.Jadavmadeaneasydecision.B.Jadaymadeadifficultdecision.

C.Jadavsucceededinaneasywork.D.Jadavsucceededinadifficultwork.

22.Whatcanweknowfromthepassage?

A.Jadavreceivedgoodeducationwhenhewasyoung.

B.Jadavgotsadtoseepeoplelosetheirchildrenbecauseofthefloods.

C.Jadavhasplantedtreesfbrafewyearsandhisforestissmall.

D.Jadavthinkstheproblemofglobalwarmingcanbesolvedbyplantingmoretrees.

（2023?江蘇無(wú)錫??？家荒＃?/p>

a

Don'tbesomodest.Ibetyouspentalongtimeb

workingonit.Iwouldn'tsaythat.There'splentyofopenspace.Thanks,ifs

Acoupleofmonths.Ihadsomehelpfromakindofyoutosayso.ButIstillthinkitcouldbebetter.

friend.Shehasaverygoodeye.

c

Youtwomakeagoodpair.Letmeknowifyoud

decidetoopenaninteriordesigncompany.（內(nèi)Keiko,yourlivingroommlookswonderful!Doyoureally

部）thinkso?I'mworriedit'stoocrowded-youknow,toomuch

Idoubtthatwillhappen,butifwedo,youcanfurniture.

beourfirstcustomer!

23.Inwhichorderdidthestoryhappen?

A.a-b-c-dB.d-b-a-cC.c-d-b-aD.d-b-c-a

24.Whatdoes"Shehasaverygoodeye"mean?

A.Shedoesn'tneedglasses.B.Shecanonlyseewithoneeye.

C.Sheneedspeopletohelpherseethings.D.Shedoeswellindesigningthings.

25.Whatdoesthewomanthinkaboutopeningacompany?

A.Shedoesn'tthinkitispossible.B.She'sveryinterestedintheidea.

C.Shewantsthemantobeherpartner.D.Shethinksthere'sagoodchanceitwillhappen.

（2023?江蘇無(wú)錫??？家荒＃癚uickly,Dorothy,"sheshouted.“Gotothecellar（地窖）

AuntEmrantothedoorofthecellarandopenedit.DorothypickedupTotoandrantothecellardoor.Before

shecouldclimbdowntheladderintothecellar,agreatcyclone（龍卷風(fēng)）pickedupthehouse.Itturneditround

androundandroundandthencarriedithighintothesky.

Itwasnotverydark.Dorothyfeltasifshewereridingthroughthesky.SheheldontoTotoandclimbed

underherbed,whereshestayedforseveralhours.Then,althoughthehousewasstillmoving,shefellasleep.

Whenshewokeup,shedidnotknowhowmuchlater,thehousewasontheground.Itwasinafieldfullof

flowers,andtherewerehundredsofbeautifullycoloredbirdsflyingaboutandsinging.Notfaraway,therewasa

streamwithclear,freshwater.

Dorothywasstillunderherbed.Shegotupandleftthehouse.Shewassurprisedtoseethreelittlemenanda

littlewomanwalkingtowardher.Theywereverystrangelydressed.Themen'sclotheswerewhiteandhadlittle

starsalloverthem.

WhentheysawDorothy,theywalkeduptoherandbowed（鞠躬）.

"WelcometothelandoftheMunchkins,^^oneofthelittlemensaid."WethankyouforkillingtheWicked

WitchoftheEast.Nowourpeoplearefree.^^

"I'mafraidyouaremakingamistake,Dorothysaid."Ididn'tkillanywitch.^^

“Yourhousedid,^^oneofthelittlemensaid."Look!”

Hepointedtothehouse.Dorothysawtwofeetstickingoutfromunderit.

“Oh!”Dorothyshouted."Thehousefellonher.WhatcanIdo?”

“Thereisnothingtodo,“thelittlewomansaid."TheWickedWitchoftheEastisdead,andthe

Munchkinsarethankfiiltoyou.”

“AreyouaMunchkin?”Dorothyasked.

“No,butIamtheirfriend,thelittlewomansaid.“IamtheWitchoftheNorth.?”

FromTheWonderfulWizardofOz

byL.FrankBaumContents

26.WhichofthefollowingwordscanbestdescribeDorothy?

A.Kindbutimpatient.B.Braveandcalm.C.Slowbutorganized.D.Smartandcurious.

27.Whichchaptermightthispassagebelongto?

A.TheJourneytotheGreatOzB.TheRoadthroughtheForest

C.TheCycloneD.TheLandoftheMunchkins

28.Whatcanweinferfromthestory?

A.ThelandoftheMunchkinsmustbeagreatplacetolive.

B.DorothyhadtobeaMunchkinbecauseshekilledtheirleader.

C.ThelittlemankilledtheWickedWitchoftheNorthbymistake.

D.TheWickedWitchoftheEastusedtocontrolthelandoftheMunchkins.

（2023?江蘇徐州?統(tǒng)考一模）

Characters:Peter;Wendy,Slightly,Nibs,thetwins

Wheneveryonewasready,Peterknockedonthedoorgently.Thedooropenedslowly,andaladycameout.It

wasWendy.Theboysalltookofftheirhats"WhereamI?"Wendyasked.

Ofcourse,Slightlywasthefirsttogetawordin.

“Wendylady,“hesaidquickly,uwebuiltthishouseforyou.”

fctOh,pleasesayyoulikeit!”criedNibs.

“Whatalovely,lovelyhouse,"Wendysaid.Theboysweredelighted.46Weareyourchildren.^^saidthetwins.

Theyallloweredtheirkneesandheldouttheirarms.

“Oh,Wendylady,pleasebeourmother!theycriedinunion.

“Iwouldloveto,“saidWendy,"butyouseeIamonlyalittlegirl.Ihavenoexperienceofbeingamother.^^

""saidPeter."Wejustneedanicemotherlyperson.^^

"Oh,really?”Wendysaid.4tIthinkthatisexactlywhatIam.^^

“Itis.Itis!"theyallcried.

"Verywell,^^shesaid,“Iwilldomybest.Comeinsidenowyounaughtychildren.Ithinkthere'sjustenough

timefbrmetofinishthestoryofCinderellabeforeIputyoutobed.”

Theywentin,andthatwasthefirstofthemanyjoyfuleveningstheyhadwithWendy.Byandbyshemade

themcomfortableinthebigbedintheirhomeunderthetrees.Butsheherselfsleptthatnightinthelittlehouse.

Peterkeptwatchingoutsidewithasword（劍），becausethepirates（海盜）couldbehearddrinkingfaraway,andthe

wolvesweregoingaboutforfood.Thelittlehouselookedverywarmandsafeinthedarkness.Aftersometime,

Peterfellasleep,andallwasstillandquietintheNeverland.

（adaptedfromPeterPan）

29.Whichofthefollowingisthemostsuitablefortheblank（空格）？

A.It'sreallyapity.B.It'smypleasure.

C.Thatdoesn'tmatter.D.I'msorrytohearthat.

30.Accordingtothispassage,Peteris.

A.politeandbraveB.curiousandcreative

C.patientandpracticalD.modestandconfident

31.Whatcanweleamfromthepassage?

A.Therewaspossibledangeraroundthehouse.

B.ThechildrendislikedthestorytoldbyWendy.

C.Peterfellasleepafterhedrovethepiratesaway.

D.Wendywasunwillingtobethechildren'smother.

（2023?江蘇南京?統(tǒng)考一模）KnowingthatMrs.Mallardsufferedfromahearttrouble,greatcarewastaken

totellherasgentlyaspossiblethenewsofherhusband'sdeath.

ItwashersisterJosephinewhotoldher,inbrokensentences.Herhusband'sfriendRichardswasthere,too.

Hehadbeeninthenewspaperofficewhennewsoftherailroaddisasterwasreceived,withBrentlyMallard's

nameleadingthelistof“killed”.Hehadonlytakenthetimetomakesureofitstruthbyasecondtelegram,and

hurriedtosendthesadmessage.

Shedidnothearthestoryasmanywomenhaveheardthesame.Sheweptatonce,withwildabandonment

（拋棄），inhersister'sarms.Whenthestormofsadnesshadspentitselfshewentawaytoherroomalone.

Therestood,facingtheopenwindow,acomfortablearmchair.Intothisshesank,tiredfromaphysical

exhaustionthatheldherbodyandseemedtoreachintohersoul.

Shecouldseeintheopensquarebeforeherhousethetopsoftreesthatwereallaquiver（顫抖的,興奮的）

withthenewspringlife.Thedeliciousbreathofrainwasintheair.Thenotesofadistantsongwhichsomeone

wassingingreachedher,andcountlesssparrowsweretwitteringintheeaves（屋檐）.

Therewassomethingcomingtoherandshewaswaitingforit,fearfully.Whatwasit?Itwastoohardto

name.Butshefeltit,comingoutofthesky,reachingtowardherthroughthesounds,thesmells,thecolorthat

filledtheair.

Nowherchestroseandfellviolently.Shewasbeginningtorecognizethisthingthatwasapproachingto

possessher,andshewastryingveryhardtobeatitbackwithherwill.Whenshegaveuptrying,alittlewhispered

wordescapedherlips.Shesaiditoverandoverunderthebreath:"free,free,:free!”

Shedidnotstoptoaskifitwasextremejoythatheldher.Sheknewthatshewouldweepagainwhenshesaw

thekind,gentlehandsfoldedindeath;thefacethathadneverlookedatherexceptwithlove,grayandd