Chapter 9 Chapter 8 Mrs Corey
"Two pounds of sausage--the best pork," said Aunt Mary. "Yes, give it to me, we're busy."
The butcher was wearing a blue and white apron, very polite, a fat man with a round body and red skin, very like a sausage like the one he sold.He leaned on the dry board and looked at Aunt Mary with admiration.Then he winked brightly at Jane and Michael. "Busy?" he said to Aunt Mary. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wish you'd come in and talk. We really like company, you know.
We don't have a chance to chat with a beautiful lady like you... 21..." He stopped talking because he saw the face of Maria Yi, the expression on her face was terrible, the butcher wished there was someone on the ground Holes can be drilled in.
"Oh, well..." His win was redder than usual. "Of course, you're busy. Did you say two pounds of the best pork? I'll give it to you right away." He quickly pulled down a long rope that hung from one end of the shop to the other. About three-quarters of a yard down. Bend like a wreath, wrap first in white paper and then in brown paper, and pass the anvil to Aunt Mary." What more? "He asked, still red and waiting.
"No more." Aunt Mary sniffed proudly—she took the sausage, and quickly turned the heavy cart around.Push the cart out of the butcher shop.The butcher knew he had offended her, but she looked in the window as she went, and saw reflected in the glass her new shoes, a pair of shiny brown suede with two buttons, and they were very pretty.
Jane and Michael followed her.I don't know when she will finish shopping, but seeing her face, I don't dare to ask.Aunt Mary looked around on the street, as if she was thinking about something.Then she made up her mind and said hastily: "Fresh Fish Shop 2"
As she spoke she turned the empty cart towards the shop next to the butcher's.
"A coal fish, a pound and a half of halibut, a pint of prawns, a lobster. And my aunt talks so fast. Only the people who pay her can understand what she says.
The fish seller was different from the butcher seller in that he was tall and thin; it seemed that he had no front, but only two profiles.His face was full of sorrow, which gave people the impression that he had either just cried or was about to cry.Jane said it was because he had a trouble in his heart that surrounded him from the tip.Michael thought it must have been his mother who fed him bread and water all the time while he was nursing, and he still couldn't get it out of his mind.
"Anything else?" the fish seller asked in a hopeless tone, and he knew from the voice that he was sure that he would not want anything more.
"Not today," said Miss Mary.
The fish seller shook his head sadly, not surprised at all, he knew that there would be no more business.She sniffed lightly, packed her things, and put them in the empty car.
"The weather is bad," he said, looking at the sky.Wiping his eyes with his hand, "it looks like there won't be any summer... of course, we never thought there would be. You don't look fancy," he said to Aunt Mary. Who is fancy one...,..."
Aunt Feng Li raised her head and said, "Mind your own business." She said angrily, and walked towards the door at once.Push the stroller so alive.It landed on a bag of mite.
"As he said!" Jane and Michael said as they saw her and looked down at their shoes.She's wearing those new brown leather shoes with two buttons and they're not fancy—see what he says" That's what they heard her think.On the sidewalk outside, she stopped to look at the shopping list and check off what she had already bought.Michael stood there alternately in two ways. "Aunt Mary, are we never going home?" he asked sullenly.
Aunt Mary turned to look at him with a look of disgust.
"Maybe." She said simply.Michael watched her fold the list and hated himself for asking that question too much.
"You're glad you can go home first," she said proudly, "we're going to buy gingerbread,"
Michael scowled.It would be great if he could restrain himself from talking!He didn't know that the last item on the list was gingerbread.
"That's over there, Aunt Mary pointed in the direction of Cherry Tree Alley." "As long as you don't get lost." She seemed to think of it, and added another sentence.
"No no, Aunt Mary, I'm sorry 2 I really didn't mean it that way. I--oh-- Aunt Mary, I'm sorry--" Michael cried.
"Let him come, Aunt Mary I'" said Jane. "As long as you let him go with us, I will push the heavy cart."
Aunt Mary sniffed. "If it wasn't Friday."
She said to Michael with a sullen face, "You went home in a blink of an eye. What a blink of an eye""
She pushed John and Barbara on.Jane and Michael knew she was showing mercy.As I followed along, I wondered what she meant by Friday.Suddenly Jane realized that she was going the wrong way.
"Aunt Mary, I remember you said to buy gingerbread...but this road is not going to the shop where we often go to buy gingerbread...she just opened her mouth and stopped talking when she saw Aunt Mary's face. "Is it me to buy it or you to buy it?" Aunt Mary replied.
"It's you." Jane said softly.
*Really?I thought it was you," said Aunt Mary with a sneer.
She turned the heavy truck a little with one hand, turned a corner, and stopped suddenly—Jane and Michael stopped abruptly behind, "Having arrived at the door of a very strange shop they had never seen before. It was a small shop. very dark.There is a field of colored tree colored paper hanging in the window, and the shelf is very old~ A small box and a small box of fruit are left.Very stale licorice sticks and bunches of very dry very hard apples.There was a wide wicket between the windows, and Aunt Mary pushed the heavy cart through, and Jane and Michael followed her.
When they entered the store, they vaguely saw glass counters on three sides.There is a counter with rows and rows of thought-provoking dry teas, and each ginger is decorated with gold stars.The whole shop seemed to be subdued with a thin light—Jane and Michael looked around to see what kind of people were receiving them, and it was strange that Aunt Mary shouted: "Fanny! Annie! You knocked on her in Ruerhe His voice seemed to echo on the dark walls of the shop's entrance.
As soon as she called, two people stood up behind the counter to hold Aunt Mary's hand.Jane and Michael had never seen anyone that big—the two tall women said, sprawling over the counter. ""How are you? "Voice as loud as they are—they're holding hands with Heng and Michael." Hello, you're... two." Michael paused, wondering who these two big ladies were—"I'm Fanny," a She said, "My rheumatism is still the same, thank you for asking." She said very sadly, as if she was not used to people greeting her so politely.
"Hello . . . , . . . said Jane very politely to the other sister. The lady held Jane's hand in her big hand for almost a minute.
"I am Anne," she told them, also sadly, "beauty is beauty in action,"
Jane and Michael felt that the two sisters were very selective in their speech, but before they had time to wonder, Miss Fanny and Miss Anne had already stretched out their long hands to the baby carriage, and each held hands with the twins, who were so frightened that they cried.
"Okay, okay 1 what's the matter, what's the matter? A thin and clear voice came from the back of the shop. Hearing this voice, Fanny and Annie's already melancholy faces became even more sad. Uncomfortable, Jane and Michael seemed to sense that the two big sisters wished they were smaller and less conspicuous.
"What's the fuss?'" cried a strange squeaky voice, nearer f. Now the lady shopkeeper appeared at the end of the counter.She was as small as her voice, and the children thought she was older than anything in the world, with wisps of hair and legs like matchsticks.Wrinkled.Even so, she approached lightly and cheerfully, as if she were still a young girl.
"Hahaha... so weird? I bet it's Mary, Poppins and John and Barbara from the Banks. How... and Jane and Michael? What a happy event ZW promises I haven't been this surprised since Columbus discovered America,... Really not 1'"
She came to welcome them, smiling gaily, dancing on her lace-up feet.She ran to the buggy, rocked it gently, and curled her dry, thin fingers at John and Barbara until they both stopped crying.start laughing. "That's all right IM," she said with a jovial giggle. That's when she did a terrific thing. She snapped off two fingers, one for each of Jo's and Barbara. The weirdest thing was where the fingers snapped off Immediately the fingers grew again. Jane and Michael saw clearly—"It's just maltose.There is no harm in eating. ' said the old lady to Aunt Mary.
"Mrs. Corey, whatever you give them will be good for them," answered Aunt Mary with the most amazing civility.
"What a shame," Michael couldn't help saying. "Not mints."
"Well, sometimes it is," said Mrs. Corey cheerfully. "It's also delicious. I often lick my fingers when I have insomnia at night. It's very good for digestion o-""
"What value will it be next?" Jane asked, looking at Mrs. Corey's fingers with great interest. "Aha!" said Mrs. Corey, "that's exactly the problem. I never know what candies they're next. I'm just lucky, my dear, as William the Conqueror's mother advised him not to conquer England When I heard him answer what my mother said."
"Then you must be very old," sighed Jane enviously, wondering if she could remember as many things as Mrs. Corey.
Mrs. Corey threw her little head back and laughed shrilly.
"Old? She says I'm just a baby compared to my grandma. She's old if she's old. But I'm not young either. I remember when the world started and I was in my teens. God, I can Let me tell you, that's really exciting!"
She stopped talking.Eyes on the children.
"My God, I just talked and talked, and I didn't ask what you want? I think, my dear;" "She turned to Aunt Mary as if she knew her well," I think you are doing it for ginger. Here comes the pie'"
"Exactly, Mrs. Corey," said Aunt Mary politely.
"Very well. Have Fanny and Anne given it to you?" she said, looking at Jane and Michael.
Jane shook her head.Two muffled voices came from behind the counter.
"Not yet, mother," said Fanny sheepishly.
"We're going to, mother—" Miss Anne whispered fearfully.
Mrs. Corey stood up straight, looked fiercely at her two tall daughters, and then spoke in a terrible, soft and fierce voice.
"Giving it? Sniff. Really 1 Very interesting _ I ask you. Annie, who asked you to give my gingerbread to someone?
"'Nobody gave, Mom. I didn't. I just wanted to--'"
"You just wanted to thank you very much. But please don't even think about it, I'll think about it]" said Mrs. Corey in her thin, scary voice.
Then she let out a piercing giggle.
"Look at her 1 look at her] Cowardly chick! Cry baby!" she shrieked, pointing a gnarled finger at her daughter.
Jane and Michael turned to see big tears streaming down Miss Anne's big sad face.But they didn't want to say anything, because Mrs. Corey was small.But it made them feel smaller and frightened. As soon as Mrs. Corey looked away, Jane took the opportunity to hand her handkerchief to Miss Anne. His eyes returned to her through the thousand handkerchiefs.
"And you, Fanny—I suppose you do too?" The thin voice turned now to the other daughter.
"Mother, I haven't," said Miss Fanny tremblingly.
"Hmph! You too l open that counter!"
Miss Fanny opened the glass case in a frightened panic.
"Well, my darling," said Mrs. Corey, changing her tone.She smiled and beckoned to Jane and Michael so sweetly that they came for Count William the Conqueror (IOZ7-IO87) who had been a duke of France, and the King of England died in IO66.No female succession, q nobleman Harold became king.William invaded England by sea on the pretext that the former king had crossed the country.Defeat Harron.Make yourself king.
She felt ashamed of this.I think she is a good person after all. "Aren't you here, my little lamb? It's specially made, I learned it from Alfred the Great@. I remember he was a screaming master. Although he did burn the cake once. How much do you take?"
Jane and Michael looked at Aunt Mary.
"One four," she said, "twelve in total, a dozen."
"I'll make the cook's dozen—thirteen," said Mrs. Cory cheerfully.
So Jane and Michael took thirteen gingerbread cookies, each with a paper-collared gold star on it.He 0 ] Each of them has a big stick of Jiang Hong, who is fragrant and dark.Michael couldn't help biting off a corner of the pie.
"Is it delicious?" Mrs. Corey asked, and he nodded, and she lifted her skirts and danced a few highland steps for joy.
"Well, well, well, well!" she cried in her thin voice.Then she went to the cashier, and Seung immediately became serious. "But don't forget. I didn't give it for free. I had to pay. Threepence a person."
Aunt Mary opened her purse and took out three threepence pieces.Give Jane and Michael one each.
Well,' said Mrs. Corey, 'stick them to my clothes! S stick all the money on there. "
They took a closer look at her long black dress.That's right, it's full of pence, like a fruit-peddler's coat is full of pearl buttons.
"Come here, put it on," Mrs. Corey said again.Happy to wait,.Shaking hands desperately, "Don't worry, it won't fall off." Aunt Mary stepped forward and pressed her threepence coin onto Mrs. Corey's collar.
Losing and Michael felt strange, so it was actually posted.
So they did the same, and Jane took the coin over her right shoulder, and Michael pressed the coin onto the glued hem, and they stuck too—"That's weird, said V Jane.
"Not at all, dear," said Mrs. Corey, giggling. "Or not as strange as I can think of. ?." Aunt Mary blinked hard. Go, Mrs. Corey," said Aunt Mary, "and we'll have custard for lunch. , I have to rush home to bake.Mrs Nabri. ——… hope——l). ,\-"Isn't it wise to pour vegetables?'" Mrs. Corey interrupted her. "Not smart!" Aunt Mary said contemptuously, "That's not enough,"
"Ah," said Mrs. Finchley, putting a finger to her nose, and then she said: "Well, my dear Miss Mary, I'm glad you're here. I'm sure my two daughters Just as happy." She nodded in the direction of her two tall, grim-faced daughters. "You'll be bringing Jane and Michael and the twins again soon, have you got the gingerbread?" she said, turning to Michael and Jane.
They nodded, and Mrs. Corey approached them with a curious, serious look, full of inquiry.
"I don't know what you do with these paper stars?" she said dreamily.
"Sniff, we'll keep them," said Jane, "we've always done that,"
"Oh, you keep them!" I don't know where you keep them? "
Mrs. Corey's eyes were half closed, and she looked more questioning.
"Here," said Jane, ""mine are in the top left drawer.Cover with a handkerchief….
"Mine are on the bottom shelf of the closet, in a shoebox," Michael said.
"The upper left drawer and the shoe cabinet in the closet," Mrs. Corey thought as if trying to remember these two sentences, and then she looked at Aunt Mary for a long time, and nodded slightly.Aunt Mary also nodded slightly to answer her.It was as if they had exchanged a secret.
"Well," said Mrs. Corey cheerfully, ""very interesting.You know how happy I am to hear that you kept my star.I have to remember this.You know, I can remember everything, even what Guy Fawkes had for dinner once a Sunday.Goodbye now, goodbye.goodbye""
Mrs. Corey's voice seemed to grow softer, and somehow Jane and Michael were on the sidewalk beside Aunt Mary who was looking at her shopping list again.
They turned to look behind.
"What's the matter, Jane," said Michael in surprise. "It's not there."
"I also saw that''the store isn't there_" Xiao said, looking behind him all the time.
They were right.The shop was not there, not even a shadow.
"How strange!" said Jane. "No," said Michael, "a gingerbread ain't bad."
They just ate gingerbread, which came in shapes like people, flowers, teapots, and so on.How strange this thing is, they are simply amazed.
By the time they recalled this matter, it was already night and it was closed @Alfred the Great (about 848-gOO> was King Silux of England in the Middle Ages.
@Guy Fox CIS7O——1606＞．A British conspirator who was executed in 6O6 for planning to blow up the Parliament and assassinate the King of England.Light, everyone thought they were fast asleep.
"Jane, Jane!" whispered Michael. "I heard someone walking on tiptoe on the stairs - one or two, listen""
"Shhhhhh!" He Cong said from the bed, she also heard the footsteps.
Now the door opened with a soft click, and someone entered the room.It's Aunt Mary.She put on her hat and coat.The look of getting ready to go out.
She moved nimbly around the room.Jane and Michael watched her with squinted eyes, motionless.
She went to Wudougen first, opened the top drawer, and closed it again after a while.Then she tiptoed to the big wardrobe, opened the door, stooped over and wondered whether to put something in or take something out (they couldn't tell).With a click, the cabinet door closed quickly, and Aunt Mary hurried out of the room.
Michael sat up in bed.
"I don't know. Maybe she forgot gloves and shoes..." Jane suddenly interrupted herself. "Michael, listen to me"
Michael listened.Below—in the garden, it seemed—they heard voices chattering, very earnest, very excited.
Jane jumped out of bed, greeted Michael - and they slipped barefoot to the window to look down.
In the alley outside there are shadows of a villain and two giants.
"It's Mrs. Corey, Miss Tian Fangyong and Miss Anne. Jane whispered.
That's right, it's them.It's a bunch of weirdos.Mrs. Corey was looking through the fence gate No. 17.Miss Fanny leaned on two long ladders with her big shoulders, and Miss Anne held a big bucket of what looked like glue in one hand, and a big brush in the other.
Jane and Michael hid behind the curtain and heard them speak clearly.
"She's late!" said Mrs. Corey, angrily.
"Perhaps," said Miss Fanny, steadying the ladder on her shoulders.Said timidly, "There is a child who is sick, she can't...,..." and couldn't come out in time. "Annie finished her sister's words nervously.
"Speaking of Mrs. Corey, Jane and Michael distinctly heard her whispering," said Mrs. Cory, "the strutting giraffe," they knew, referring to her two hapless daughters. "Hush! Mrs. Corey suddenly tilted her head like a bird and listened.
It was the soft opening and closing of the front door, the sound of footsteps in the path.Aunt Mary came with her basket on her arm, and Mrs Corey waved to her with a smile.The contents of the basket seemed to be dimly glowing mysteriously.
"Come on! Come on! We're going to be late," said Mrs. Corey, taking Miss Mary by the arm. "Be smart, you l. She's going before she goes to sleep, and Miss Bonnie and Miss Anne are following, and they Trying to be clever, but not able. They stooped with their heavy loads and stomped their mother and Aunt Mary. Jane and Michael watched the four of them walk down Cherry Tree Lane and turn left. Up the hill at once. At the top of the hill, they stopped - there were no houses there, only grass and wood bushes. Miss Anne put down her bucket of glue, and Miss Fanny lowered the ladder from her shoulders to straighten it up. She gave a hand, Anne Miss hold on.
What are they going to do? said Michael, staring at him dumbfounded.
But Jane didn't need to answer, because he himself saw what they were doing.
As soon as Miss Fanny and Miss Anne had placed the two ladders, one on the ground and the other in the sky, Mrs Corey held up her skirts and held her brush in the other.Holding the bucket of glue in one hand, she stepped on the ladder and climbed up one ladder, and Aunt Mary carried the basket and climbed up the other ladder.
It was then that Jane and Michael saw a most startling sight - as soon as Mrs. Corey reached the top of the ladder, she brushed back the glue.Started to brush in the sky and waited until she finished, Aunt Mary took out a shiny thing from the basket and stuck it on the place where the ascites had been brushed.She took it away.They saw her sticking the stars of the cake in the sky.As soon as each star is pasted, it starts to shine golden light - "It is our thick use I" and Er Duo remembers it without being outstanding after tearing it down.Mad at us—she thought we were asleep, came in and took them!But Jane didn't speak.She watched Mrs. Corey apply glue in the sky, and Maria looked at the stars on the ground. One place was covered with glue, and Miss Fontaine and Miss Anne moved the ladder to another place.
Finally it's all posted.Aunt Mary swung the basket upside down so Mrs. Corey could see that there were no stars in it.Then they came down from the ladder, and it was Miss Fanny shaking the ladder again. Miss Anne saw the empty bucket, and they went down the mountain together. When they reached the alley, they stood and talked for a while; , and hurried back to the alley, Mrs. Corey danced softly in her wide leather shoes.Elegantly holding up her skirt, the two tall daughters who followed behind her disappeared on the other side.The garden door slammed.Footsteps rustled on the path.The front door opened and closed softly.Now they heard Aunt Mary come softly up the stairs, past the nursery door on tiptoe, to her roommate with John and Barbara.
As soon as the sound of her footsteps disappeared, Jane and Michael looked at each other, and without saying a word, went to the upper left drawer above Wudou.Inside was Jane's Yizheng handkerchief. "Didn't I tell you?" Michael said.
Then they went to the big wardrobe to see the box.It's empty inside. "But how can this be done? And why should it be done?" said Michael, sitting down by his bed and looking at Jane.
Jane didn't speak, she sat next to him with her knees hugged, thinking and thinking.Finally she threw her hair back and straightened herself to her feet.
"But I want to know," she said. "Are the stars made of gold paper, or are the gold paper stars?" "
Her questions were not answered, and she did not wait for them.She knew that there were more people who could answer her correctly than Michael did...