英語閱讀一講義

1一、Mainpoints

1）Whatmadetheboythinkthathewasgoingtodie?

2）Whydidtheboykeeptightcontroloverhimselfthroughouttheday?

Essentialwordsandphrases

1）shiver（v）因恐懼、寒冷等而顫抖，哆嗦

2）miserable（a）悲慘的，可憐的

3）prescribe（v）開（藥方）

4）covey（n）一小群，一隊

5）thermometer（n）溫度計

6）slack（a）懈怠的，無精打采的

7）detachfrom分開某物，對漠然置之

8）keepfrom克制不做某事

9）takeiteasy放松，不要放在心上

10）commenceto開始做某事

11）livewith接受并忍受某事物

12）gazeat凝視，注視

以下詞匯能夠正確讀出，知道其表意即可：

1.purgative瀉藥，通便的；2.influenza流行性感冒；3.pneumonia肺炎

4.lightheaded眩暈的5.setter蹲伏獵狗

二、Difficultpointsontext

1）Helaystillinthebedandseemedverydetachedfromwhatwasgoingon.

2）Itwasabright,coldday,thegroundcoveredwithasleetthathadfrozensothatitseemedasifallthebaretrees,thebushes,thecutbrushandallthegrassandthebaregroundhadbeenvanishedwithice.

3）Comingoutwhileyouwerepoisedunsteadilyontheicy,springybrushtheymadedifficultshooting.

三、TEXT

Summaryonthetext：Thestoryisaboutanincidentthathappensbetweenafatherandhisson.Thesmallboy’smisunderstandingofthedifferenceinmeasuringtemperatureonaFahrenheitandaCelsiusScalecauseshimtobelievethatheisdyingofahighfever.Hespendsadaybravelywaitingtodiebeforehisfatherdiscoversandcorrectshismistake.

ADay’sWait

HecameintotheroomtoshutthewindowswhilewewerestillinbedandIsawhelookedill.Hewasshivering,hisfacewaswhite,andhewalkedslowlyasthoughitachedtomove.

“What'sthematter,Schatz?”

“I'vegotaheadache.”

“Youbettergobacktobed.”

“No.I'mallright.”

“Yougotobed.I'llseeyouwhenI'mdressed.”

ButwhenIcamedownstairshewasdressed,sittingbythefire,lookingaverysickandmiserableboyofnineyears.WhenIputmyhandonhisforeheadIknowhehadafever.

“Yougouptobed,”Isaid,“you'resick.”

“I'mallright,”hesaid.

Whenthedoctorcamehetooktheboy'stemperature.“Whatisit?”Iaskedhim.

1.takeone’stemperature量體溫

“Onehundredandtwo.”

Downstairs,thedoctorleftthreedifferentmedicinesindifferentcoloredcapsuleswithinstructionsforgivingthem.Onewastobringdownthefever,anotherapurgative,thethirdtoovercomeanacidcondition.Thegermsofinfluenzacanonlyexistinanacidcondition,heexplained.Heseemedtoknowallaboutinfluenzaandsaidtherewasnothingtoworryaboutifthefeverdidnotgoaboveonehundredandfourdegrees.Thiswasalightepidemicoffluandtherewasnodangerifyouavoidedpneumonia.

BackintheroomIwrotetheboy'stemperaturedownandmadeanoteofthetimetogivethevariouscapsules.

2.writedown/makeanoteof/putdown記下，寫下

3.variousallkindsof

動詞：vary名詞variety

“Doyouwantmetoreadtoyou?”

“Allright.Ifyouwantto,”saidtheboy.Hisfacewasverywhiteandthereweredarkareasunderhiseyes.Helaystillinthebedandseemedverydetachedfromwhatwasgoingon.

4.lielay—lainlying（躺著）

lielied—liedlying（撒謊）

laylaid—laidlaying（放置）IreadaloudfromHowardPyle'sBookofPiratesbutIcouldseehewasnotfollowingwhatIwasreading.

“Howdoyoufeel,Schatz?”Iaskedhim.

“Justthesame,sofar,”hesaid.

IsatatthefootofthebedandreadtomyselfwhileIwaitedforittobetimetogiveanothercapsule.Itwouldhavebeennaturalforhimtogotosleep,butwhenIlookeduphewaslookingatthefootofthebed,lookingverystrangely.

5.atthefootof在…腳下，在…尾部

“Whydon'tyoutrytosleep?I'llwakeyouupforthemedicine.”

“I'dratherstayawake.”

6.wouldrather寧愿

Afterawhilehesaidtome,“Youdon'thavetostayinherewithme,Papa,ifitbothersyou.”

“Itdoesn'tbotherme.”

“No,Imeanyoudon'thavetostayifit'sgoingtobotheryou.”

Ithoughtperhapshewasalittlelightheadedandaftergivinghimtheprescribedcapsulesateleveno'clockIwentoutforawhile.

PartI.Theboywassick,depressedandgavesomeunusualreactionstomycare.

Itwasabright,coldday,thegroundcoveredwithasleetthathadfrozensothatitseemedasifallthebaretrees,thebushes,thecutbrushandallthegrassandthebaregroundhadbeenvarnishedwithice.ItooktheyoungIrishsetterforalittlewalkuptheroadandalongafrozencreek,butitwasdifficulttostandorwalkontheglassysurfaceandthereddogslippedandslitheredandIfelltwice,hard,oncedroppingmygunandhavingitslideawayovertheice.

7.glassy象玻璃一樣的

8.havesb/sthdo使某人/某物做某事

havesthdone使…被做某事

WeflushedacoveyofquailunderahighclaybankwithoverhangingbrushandIkilledtwoastheywentoutofsightoverthetopofthebank.Someofthecoveylitintrees,butmostofthemscatteredintobrushpilesanditwasnecessarytojumpontheice-coatedmoundsofbrushseveraltimesbeforetheywouldflush.Comingoutwhileyouwerepoisedunsteadilyontheicy,springybrushtheymadedifficultshootingandIkilledtwo,missedfive,andstartedbackpleasedtohavefoundacoveyclosetothehouseandhappythereweresomanylefttofindonanotherday.

PartII.Ididn’tthinktoomuchabouthisreactionsandwentouthunting.

Atthehousetheysaidtheboyhadrefusedtoletanyonecomeintotheroom.

“Youcan'tcomein,”hesaid;“Youmustn'tgetwhatIhave.”

IwentuptohimandfoundhiminexactlythepositionIhadlefthim,white-faced,butwiththetopsofhischeeksflushedbythefever,staringstill,ashehadstared,atthefootofthebed.

1.with+n+…表伴隨

Helikessleepingwithhiseyesopen.

Heisstandingtherewithhisarmscrossed

Itookhistemperature.

“Somethinglikeahundred,”Isaid.Itwasonehundredandtwoandfour-tenths.

“Itwasahundredandtwo,”hesaid.

“Whosaidso?”

“Thedoctor.”

“Yourtemperatureisallright,”Isaid.“It'snothingtoworryabout.”

“Idon'tworry,”hesaid,“butIcan'tkeepfromthinking.”

2.keepfrom使…不能

“Don'tthink,“Isaid.“Justtakeiteasy.”

3.takeiteasy放松

“I'mtakingiteasy,”hesaidandlookedstraightahead.Hewasevidentlyholdingtightontohimselfaboutsomething.

“Takethiswithwater.”

“Doyouthinkitwilldoanygood?”

4.dogood/harmto對…有好處/壞處

“Ofcourseitwill.”

IsatdownandopenedthePiratebookandcommencedtoread,butIcouldseehewasnotfollowing,soIstopped.

5.commenceto開始做

“AboutwhattimewillitbebeforeIdie?”

“Youaren'tgoingtodie.What'sthematterwithyou?”

“Oh,yes,Iam.Iheardhimsayahundredandtwo.”

“Peopledon'tdiewithafeverofonehundredandtwo.That'sasillywaytotalk.”

“Iknowtheydo.AtschoolinFrancetheboystoldmeyoucan'tlivewithforty-fourdegrees.I'vegotahundredandtwo.”

6.livewithsb:livetogetherwithsb

livewithsth:enduresth

“YoupoorSchatz,”Isaid.“PooroldSchatz.It'slikemilesandkilometers.Youaren'tgoingtodie.That'sadifferentthermometer.Onthatthermometerthirty-sevenisnormal.Onthiskindit'sninety-eight.”

“Areyousure?”

“Absolutely,”Isaid.“It'slikemilesandkilometres.Youknow,likehowmanykilometerswemakewhenwedoseventymilesinthecar.”

“Oh,”hesaid.

Buthisgazeatthefootofthebedrelaxedslowly.Theholdoverhimselfrelaxedtoo,finally,andthenextdayitwasveryslackandhecriedveryeasilyatlittlethingsthatwereofnoimportance.

7.beof+n.=adj.

四、Exercise

Someofthesestatementsaretrue（T）,andsomearefalse（F）,canyoutellwhicharetrueandwhytheothersarenot?

（T）1.Thetimeofdaywasearlyinthemorningatthebeginningofthestory.

（F）2.Theboypretendedtobelisteningattentivelywhilehisfatherwasreadingtohim.

（T）3.Theboypreferredtostayawakebecausehethoughttherewouldn'tbetoomuchtimeleftforhim.

（T）4.Thefatherdidnotrealizewhattheboywasreallythinkingaboutandwentouthuntinginthewoods.

（T）5.Theauthordescribedthehuntingsceneforthereasonthatitdivertsthereader'sattentionsothattheboy'srealthoughtswillbeagreatersurprisewhentheyarerevealed.

（T）6.Thechildkepttightcontroloverhimselfthroughoutthedaybecausehethoughthewasgoingtodieandhemustshowcourageinthefaceofdeath.

（F）7.Theboyrefusedtoletanyonecomeintotheroombecausehecomplainedthattheydidnotunderstandhisterribletensioninside.

（T）8.WhatledtheboytothinkthathewasgoingtodiewasthathemistooktheFahrenheitscalefortheCelsiusone.

（T）9.Thefathermadeananalogybetweenthedifferenceoftwothermometersandthatofmilesandkilometers.

（F）10.Thenextdaytheboycriedeasilyattriflingmatters.Thereasonforthisisprobablythatasaspoiltboy,heoftencomplainedaboutunimportantthings.

Useeachofthefollowingtermsinasentence

1.tobringdown

2.tokeepfrom

3.toprescribe

4.wouldrather

5.toflush

6.tobother

7.tobedetachedfrom

8.tomake

9.somethinglike

10.toholdtightontooneself

B.Readthetextbelow.Usethewordincapitalsattheendofsomeofthelinestoformawordthatfitsinthespaceinthesameline.Thereisanexampleatthebeginning.

TheDeathClock

Therewasasectionrelatedtodeathduringthefirstfullcast（0）rehearsalonApril18.Directoraskedtheactorstowriteanobituary（訃告）andinventthedateofdeath,thewayofdeathandwhowritestheobituary.Aftertheyfinishedwritingit,theywereaskedtousetheobituaryandcreateashortperformance.Iwassittingaside,watchingandobservingallthe14different（1）performancesofdeath.Andyet,Iwasimpressedbytheactor’s（2）variouswaysofdealingwithdeath:sadness,humors,silence,narrative,surprisingand（3）shocking.

Afewdayslateraftertherehearsal,inasharing.thoughtsectionofanotherweekdayrehearsal,oneofthecastssaidthatshewassoscarywritingherownobituaryandshekeptaskingherself:"WhyamIwritingthis?WhatamIwriting?"Iunderstoodthiskindofdeathphobia（恐懼）.

Whatweareunabletounderstandworriesus,andthisfearsus.Wefearbecausewearenotfamiliarwithitlikethesunrisingandsetting.Weareafraidbecauseweare（4）unabletodetermineandcontrolitlikewedrivethecar.Thisiswhydeathscaresus--weknownothingaboutwhathappensbeforethe（5）existenceofourlifeandwhathappensafterwedie.Whatweknowis:weareborn,wegrow,wedie,andwemustdie.

Deathisoneofthe（6）closecompanionsofallofus.DeathhasaccompaniedmesinceIwasborn.Ifirstlearnedtheworddeath,inMandarinwhenIwasinstandardtwo,soWang,（7）indicatingtheendofalife.WhenIstartedmynewspaperreadinghabit,Iwaseducatedbythenewspaperreportsthatwewereborninthesamewaybutwewilldieinvariousways:murder,accident,illness,disaster,war,terrorismattackandmany（8）unpredictableways.Theonlysimilarityis:weareallcertificatedwhenwearebornandwhenwedie,andwearerecognizedbyacertificationofbirthanddeath.Wehavetoadmittherealityof"Everythingthathasabeginninghasanend',astheOracle（先知）ofTheMatrix3（電影名）says.

QUESTIONSFORDISCUSSIONS&APPRECIATION

1.Inwhosepointofviewisthestorytold?

Theboy’sfather.

2.Whatisthepurposeoftheauthorinwritingaboutthedoctor'svisit?

Thedoctortoldtheboy’stemperaturewhichcausedhismisunderstanding.

3.Whatconclusioncanyoudrawfromthehuntingsceneaboutthefather'scharacterandhisinfluenceuponhisson?

Thefatherisverytough,verycalmandpositivewhichinfluenceshisson.

4.Whatdoesthetitleofthestoryprobablymean?

Theboyhadthoughthewoulddieandhewaitedforawholedayforthecomingofdeath.

5.Whatisthethemeofthestory?

Theauthordepictedalittleherowhoiscalmandtoughinfaceofdeaththoughit’scausedbyhismisunderstanding.

6.Hemingwayoftenthoughtofcourageasaperson'sabilitytobecalmandcontrolledinthefaceofdeath.Whatdoyouthinkofsuchadefinitionofcourage?

Weagreewithhispointofview.（需要學生自己去發(fā)揮一些）

7.Hemingwayisnotedforwritingshort,simplesentences.Lookatthetextcloselyanddecidewhetherthisistrueofthelanguageinthisstory.

Exceptsomelongandcomplicatedsentences,thelanguageinthisstoriesgenerallyissimpleandshort,soitisatypicalHemingwaystyle.

8.Thestoryisbuiltaroundthemisunderstandingbetweenthefatherandhislittleson.Canyoufindsomeexamplesinwhichthefatherandhissonareeachthinkingofdifferentthingsintheconversation?

（參見教材原文）

SPEEDReading

AttitudeisEverything

Jerrywasthekindofguyyoulovetohate.Hewasalwaysinagoodmoodandalwayshadsomethingpositivetosay.Whensomeonewouldaskhimhowhewasdoing,hewouldreply,"IfIwereanybetter,Iwouldbetwins!"

Hewasauniquemanagerbecausehehadseveralwaiterswhohadfollowedhimaroundfromrestauranttorestaurant.ThereasonthewaitersfollowedJerrywasbecauseofhisattitude.Hewasanaturalmotivator.Ifanemployeewashavingabadday,Jerrywastheretellingtheemployeehowtolookonthepositivesideofthesituation.

Seeingthisstylereallymademecurious,soonedayIwentuptoJerryandaskedhim,"Idon'tgetit!Youcan'tbeapositivepersonallofthetime.Howdoyoudoit?"Jerryreplied,"EachmorningIwakeupandsaytomyself,Jerry,youhavetwochoicestoday.Youcanchoosetobeinagoodmoodoryoucanchoosetobeinabadmood.Ichoosetobeinagoodmood.Eachtimesomethingbadhappens,IcanchoosetobeavictimorIcanchoosetolearnfromit.Ichoosetolearnfromit.Everytimesomeonecomestomecomplaining,clanchoosetoaccepttheircomplainingorIcanpointoutthepositivesideoflife.Ichoosethepositivesideoflife."

"Yeah,right,it'snotthateasy,"Iprotested.

"Yesitis,"Jerrysaid."Lifeisallaboutchoices.Whenyoucutawayallthejunk,everysituationisachoice.Youchoosehowyoureacttosituations.Youchoosehowpeoplewillaffectyourmood.Youchoosetobeinagoodmoodorbadmood.Thebottomline=It'syourchoicehowyoulivelife."

IreflectedonwhatJerrysaid.Soonthereafter,Ilefttherestaurantindustrytostartmyownbusiness.Welosttouch,butIoftenthoughtabouthimwhenImadeachoiceaboutlifeinsteadofreactingtoit.

Severalyearslater,IheardthatJerrydidsomethingyouareneversupposedtodoinarestaurantbusiness;heleftthebackdooropenonemorningandwasheldup（攔劫）atgunpointbythreearmedrobbers.Whiletryingtoopenthesafe（保險柜）,hishand,shakingfromnervousness,slippedoffthecombination（暗碼鎖）.Therobberspanickedandshothim.

Luckily,Jerrywasfoundrelativelyquicklyandrushedtothelocaltrauma（外傷）center.After18hoursofsurgeryandweeksofintensivecare,Jerrywasreleasedfromthehospitalwithfragmentsofthebulletsstillinhisbody.

IsawJerryaboutsixmonthsaftertheaccident.WhenIaskedhimhowhewas,hereplied,“l(fā)fIwereanybetter,I'dbetwins.Wanttoseemyscars?”

Ideclinedtoseehiswounds,butdidaskhimwhathadgonethroughhismindastherobberytookplace.

"ThefirstthingthatwentthroughmymindwasthatIshouldhavelockedthebackdoor,"Jerryreplied."Then,asIlayonthefloor,IrememberedthatIhadtwochoices_.Icouldchoosetolive,orIcouldchoosetodie.Ichosetolive."

"Weren'tyouscared?Didyouloseconsciousness?"Iasked.

Jerrycontinued,"Theparamedics（護理人員）weregreat.TheykepttellingmeIwasgoingtobefine.ButwhentheywheeledmeintotheemergencyroomandIsawtheexpressionsonthefacesofthedoctorsandnurses,Igotreallyscared.Intheireyes,Iread,‘He'sadeadman.’IknewIneededtotakeaction."

"Whatdidyoudo?"Iasked.

"Well,therewasabig,burly（魁偉的、結實的）nurseshoutingquestionsatme,"saidJerry."Sheaskedif1wasallergic（過敏的）toanything.“Yes,”Ireplied.Thedoctorsandnursesstoppedworkingastheywaitedformyreply;Itookadeepbreathandyelled,‘Bullets!’Overtheirlaughter,Itoldthem,‘Iamchoosingtolive.OperateonmeasifIamalive,notdead.’"

Jerrylivedthankstotheskillofhisdoctors,butalsobecauseofhisamazingattitude.Ilearnedfromhimthateverydaywehavethechoicetolivefully.

Attitude,afterall,iseverything

Decidetheanswerthatbestcompletesthefollowingstatementsaccordingtotheinformationprovidedinthetext.

1.Jerrywasamotivatorbynature,becauseofA

[A]hispositiveattitudetowardslife

[B]hisgoodpersonality

[C]hissenseofhumor

[D]histolerancewithhisemployees

2.AccordingtoJerry,lifeisallaboutchoices.Bysayingthis,hemeantthat

[A]everysituationisachoiceD

[B]peoplechoosehowtheyreacttosituations

[C]peoplechoosehowotherswillaffecttheirmood

[D]it'syourchoicehowyoulivelife

3.ThefirstthingthatwentthroughJerry'smindwhentherobberytookplace

wasthatC

[A]helayonthefloorandrememberedhisfamouschoices

[B]arestaurantmanagershouldhaveneveropenedhisbackdoor

[C]heshouldnothaveforgottentolockthebackdoor

[D]hewasshotbecauseofhisnervousness

4.Intheemergencyroom,JerrywasscaredbecauseB

[A]hewasatalossastowhatchoiceheshouldmake:toliveortodie

[B]theexpressionsonthefacesofthedoctorsandnursestoldhimhewasdying

[C]thedoctorsandnursesstoppedoperatingonhim

[D]thedoctorsandnurseswereoperatingasifheweredead

5.ThetitleofthispassageisintendedtoconveythemessagethatＣ

[A]wealwayshavetwochoicestomakeeverymorning

[B]wehavetomakethechoiceofhowtolivefullyeveryday

[C]itisyourattitudethatleadsyoutotherightchoiceoflife

[D]howyoulivelifeisthechoiceyouhavetoembraceallthetime

Ⅱ.Decidewhetherthefollowingstatementsaretrue（T）orfalse（F）accordingtotheinformationgiveninthetext.

（T）1.Jerryalwayspointedoutthepositivesideoflifeifsomeonecametohimcomplaining.

（T）2.Accordingtothenarrator,Jerrywasapositivepersonallthetime.

（T）3.WhenthenurseaskedJerryifhewasallergictoanything,Jerrywasstillinagoodmoodandkeptasenseofhumor.

（T）4.Jerrysurvivednotonlybecauseoftheskillsofhisdoctors,butalsoofhisamazingattitude.

（T）5.Jerry'slifephilosophyisbasedonthebeliefthateverythingstartswiththerightattitude.2一、Mainpoints

"TheOpenWindow''isSaki'smostpopularshortstory.Saki'switisattheheightofitspowerinthisstoryofaspontaneouspracticaljokeplayeduponavisitingstranger.ThepracticaljokerecursinmanyofSaki'sstories,but"TheOpenWindow''isperhapshismostsuccessfulandbestknownexampleofthetype.Sakidramatizesheretheconflictbetweenrealityandimagination,demonstratinghowdifficultitcanbetodistinguishbetweenthem.NotonlydoestheunfortunateMr.Nuttelfallvictimtothestory'sjoke,butsodoesthereader.ThereaderisatfirstinclinedtolaughatNuttelforbeingsogullible.However,thereader,too,hasbeentakeninbySaki'sstoryandmustcometotherealizationthatheorsheisalsoinclinedtobelieveawell-toldandinterestingtale.

二、Essentialwordsandphrases

Words:

1）annoy使生氣，使煩惱

2）affect影響

3）tremble顫抖

4）relief緩解，救助

5）scarcity短缺，不足

6）muddy泥濘的，粘滿了泥巴的

7）sympathetic同情的，憐憫的

8）extraordinary不一般的，非凡的

9）graveyard墓地

10）creature生物，通常指動物

Phrases

（1）gothrough經(jīng)歷，經(jīng)受

（2）anumberof許多，大量

（3）makeastatement敘述，聲名

（4）apologizefor因道歉，就道歉

（5）onthematterof就來說，在方面

（6）loseone’snerve失去勇氣，嚇倒了

（7）makeup虛構，杜撰

三、Summaryonthetext:

"TheOpenWindow"brilliantlyportrayshowone'snerveaffectshis/herpersonality.AsFramtonembarksonatripintendedasa"nervecure,"hefindshimselfinanunfamiliarsituationthatultimatelyhasanegativeeffectonhisseeminglynervouspersonality.

四、Difficultpointsontext

1.Youmusttrytobearmycompany.

2.Hewassupposedtobegoingthroughacureforhisnerves,buthedoubtedwhetherthesepolitevisitstoanumberoftotalstrangerswouldhelpmuch.

3.Youwillloseyourselfdownthereandnotspeaktoalivingsoul,andyournerveswillbeworsethaneverthroughloneliness.

4.Buttherewassomethingofamanintheroom.

5.Somehow,inthisrestfulcountryplace,sorrowsseemedfaraway.

6.Herethechild’svoicelostitscalmsoundandbecamealmosthuman.

7.Hemadeagreateffort,whichwasonlypartlysuccessful,toturnthetalkontoamorecheerfulsubject.

8.Framtontrembledslightlyandturnedtowardstheniecewithalookintendedtoshowsympatheticunderstanding.

五、TEXT

"Myauntwillcomedownverysoon,Mr.Nettle,"saidaverycalmyoungladyoffifteenyearsofage;"meanwhileyoumusttrytobearmycompany."

FramptonNettletriedtosaysomethingwhichwouldpleasetheniecenowpresent,withoutannoyingtheauntthatwasabouttocome.Hewassupposedtobegoingthroughacureforhisnerves,buthedoubtedwhetherthesepolitevisitstoanumberoftotalstrangerswouldhelpmuch.

"Iknowhowitwillbe,"hissisterhadsaidwhenhewaspreparingtogoawayintothecountry;"youwillloseyourselfdownthereandnotspeaktoalivingsoul,andyournerveswillbeworsethaneverthroughloneliness.IshalljustgiveyoulettersofintroductiontoallthepeopleIknowthere.Someofthem,asfarasIcanremember,werequitenice."

FramptonwonderedwhetherMrs.Sappleton,theladytowhomhewasbringingoneofthelettersofintroduction,oneoftheniceones.

"Doyouknowmanyofthepeopleroundhere?"askedtheniece,whenshethoughtthattheyhadsatlongenoughinsilence.

"Hardlyone,"saidFrampton."Mysisterwasstayinghere,youknow,aboutfouryearsago,andshegavemelettersofintroductiontosomeofthepeoplehere."

Hemadethelaststatementinasadvoice.

"Thenyouknowalmostnothingaboutmyaunt?"continuedthecalmyounglady.

"Onlyhernameandaddress;"Framptonadmitted.HewaswonderingwhetherMrs.Sappletonwasmarriedperhapsshehadbeenmarriedandherhusbandwasdead.Buttherewassomethingofamanintheroom.

"Hergreatsorrowcamejustthreeyearsago,"saidthechild."Thatwouldbeafteryoursister'stime."

"Hersorrow?"askedFrampton.Somehow,inthisrestfulcountryplace,sorrowsseemedfaraway.

"YoumaywonderwhywekeepthatwindowwideopenonanOctoberafternoon,"saidtheniece,pointingtoalongwindowthatopenedlikeadoorontothegrassoutside.

"Itisquitewarmforthetimeoftheyear,"saidFrampton;"buthasthatwindowgotanythingtodowithyouraunt'ssorrow?"

"Outthroughthatwindow,exactlythreeyearsago,herhusbandandhertwoyoungbrotherswentofffortheirday'sshooting.Theynevercameback.Incrossingthecountrytotheshooting-groundtheywereallthreeswallowedinabog.Ithadbeenthatterriblewetsummer,youknow,andplacesthatweresafeinotheryearsbecamesuddenlydangerous.Theirbodieswereneverfound.Thatwastheworstpartofit."Herethechild'svoicelostitscalmsoundandbecamealmosthuman."Poorauntalwaysthinksthattheywillcomebacksomeday,theyandthelittlebrowndogthatwaslostwiththem,andwalkinatthatwindowjustastheyusedtodo.Thatiswhythewindowiskeptopeneveryeveningtillitisquitedark.Poordearaunt,shehasoftentoldmehowtheywentout,herhusbandwithhiswhitecoatoverhisarm,andRonnie,heryoungestbrother,singingasong,ashealwaysdidtoannoyher,becauseshesaiditaffectedhernerves.Doyouknow,sometimesonquieteveningslikethis,Ialmostgetastrangefeelingthattheywillallwalkinthroughthewindow--"

Shestoppedandtrembled.ItwasarelieftoFramptonwhentheauntcamebusilyintotheroomandapologizedforbeinglate.

"IhopeVerahasbeenamusingyou?"shesaid.

"Shehasbeenveryinteresting,"saidFrampton.

"Ihopeyoudon'tmindtheopenwindow,"saidMrs.Sappletonbrightly;"myhusbandandbrotherswillbehomesoonfromshooting,andtheyalwayscomeinthisway.They'vebeenshootingbirdstodaynearthebog,sothey'llmakemypoorcarpetsdirty.Allyoumendothatsortofthing,don'tyou?"

Shetalkedoncheerfullyabouttheshootingandthescarcityofbirds,andthehopesofshootinginthewinter.ToFramptonitwasallquiteterrible.Hemadeagreateffort,whichwasonlypartlysuccessful,toturnthetalkontoamorecheerfulsubject.Hewasconsciousthathishostesswasgivinghimonlyapartofherattention,andhereyeswerefrequentlylookingpasthimtotheopenwindowandthegrassbeyond.Itwascertainlyunfortunatethatheshouldhavepaidhisvisitonthissorrowfulday.

"Thedoctorsagreeinorderingmecompleterest,noexcitementandnobodilyexercise,"saidFrampton,whohadthecommonideathattotalstrangerswanttoknowtheleastdetailofone'sillnesses,theircauseandcure."Onthematteroffood,theyarenotsomuchinagreement,"hecontinued.

"No?"saidMrs.Sappletoninatiredvoice.Thenshesuddenlybrightenedintoattention--butnottowhatFramptonwassaying.

"Heretheyareatlast!"shecried."Justintimefortea,anddon'tthey

Lookasiftheyweremuddyuptotheeyes!"

Framptontrembledslightlyandturnedtowardstheniecewithalookintendedtoshowsympatheticunderstanding.Thechildwaslookingoutthroughtheopenwindowwithfearinhereyes.WithashockFramptonturnedroundinhisseatandlookedinthesamedirection.

Intheincreasingdarknessthreefigureswerewalkingacrossthegrasstowardsthewindowtheyallcarriedgunsundertheirarms,andoneofthemhadalsoawhitecoathungoverhisshoulders.Atiredbrowndogkeptcloseattheirheels.Noiselesslytheydrewneartothehouse,andthenayoungvoicestartedtosinginthedarkness.

Framptonwildlyseizedhishatandstick;heranoutthroughthefrontdoorandthroughthegate.Henearlyranintoamanonabicycle.

"Hereweare,mydear,"saidthebearerofthewhitecoat,cominginthroughthewindow;"fairlymuddy,butmostofit'sdry.Whowasthatwhoranoutaswecameup?"

"Amostextraordinaryman,aMr.N