儿童英语读物 The Mystery at Peacock Hall CHAPTER 5 Inside the Old Desk

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Henry rushed over when he saw Violet having trouble.

“What happened?” he asked, pushing the stand upright.

“Somebody knocked into me,” Violet explained. “And I fell into this.”

“Did you see who ran into you?” Henry asked.

She shook her head. “No, but whoever it was whispered, ‘Mind your own business.’ And I smelled lavender. Like Heather wears.”

Henry scanned the room. Since he was taller, he could see over racks and dividers. But the gift shop was packed with customers.

“I don’t see Heather. Are you sure it was her?”

“No, I’m not. The voice could have been anybody,” Violet said. “But Heather is the only person I know who wears lavender. She told us this morning she wears it all the time.”

Jessie and Benny made their way across the crowded room. Henry quickly told them what was going on.

“Would Heather follow us to Monticello?” Jessie wondered.

“You told her we were coming here,” Benny reminded her.

“That’s right, I did.” Jessie frowned. “Even if Heather did bump into Violet, why would she tell Violet to mind her own business? She doesn’t even know us.”

“Maybe she knows Cousin Althea,” Violet said. “Her stand is just across the field.”

“Heather did give us directions to Peacock Hall,” Henry added. “She must know the way to Althea’s house very well.”

Jessie gave him a nudge. “Here comes Althea now. Let’s not tell her about this. She’s worried enough about paying her taxes.”

They drove back to Peacock Hall. Grandfather’s station wagon¹ was parked in the driveway.

“Grandfather is back already,” Henry remarked. “I thought he’d be gone all day.”

“Maybe he has good news!” Benny said, leaping out of Althea’s old car.

But he didn’t.

“I’m sorry,” James Alden reported to Althea. “I wasn’t able to get you an extension. You must pay your back taxes by Friday no later than five o’clock.”

Althea raked her fingers through her white curls. She looked so pale, Jessie fetched her a glass of water.

“Thank you, dear.” Althea gratefully sipped² the cool drink. “And thank you, James. I know you’ve done all you can. I guess I was hoping for a miracle.”

“I’m not finished yet,” Grandfather assured her. “I still have a few more people to see.”

Althea gave a weak smile. “Don’t worry. They’ll have to carry me out. That’s the only way I’m leaving!”

“Is anybody hungry?” Benny said suddenly.

Violet laughed. “Hint, hint!”

Grandfather laughed, too. “As a matter of fact, I’m starving. Let’s all go into town and have supper.”

They piled into Grandfather’s rental³ car and drove into Charlottesville. Althea pointed⁴ out sights along the way.

“That’s the University of Virginia,” she said. “Mr. Jefferson founded the University and designed the buildings.”

Grandfather pulled the car into the parking lot of a restaurant. “Is this where we’re eating?” Jessie asked. “The College Inn?”

“I’ve had lunch here,” Grandfather said. “The food is very good.”

“It is good,” Althea agreed, smiling her thanks as Henry opened the door for her.  They have terrific ice cream. Did you know Mr. Jefferson served ice cream at Monticello? In those days, ice cream was a real treat.”

Inside, Benny sat down and asked the waitress, “You don’t have peas here, do you?”

“Only if you want them,” the waitress replied, grinning.

“Not really,” Benny said. “Did Thomas Jefferson build this building, too?” He was afraid he’d have to eat peas if Mr. Jefferson had founded the College Inn restaurant.

“Not to my knowledge, honey,” the waitress said in her soft drawl. “What’ll you folks have this evening?”

The children ordered hamburgers, french fries, and milk. Grandfather and Althea decided⁵ on large Greek salads and iced tea.

“We’ll have some of Mr. Jefferson’s famous ice cream for dessert,” Althea said, teasing Benny.

“Good idea,” Benny said. Ice cream tasted better than peas any day.

Jessie glanced around the room. College students drew up extra chairs to the small tables. She wondered what interesting subjects they were talking about.

Then her gaze fell on a familiar pair. Jessie stiffened⁶ when she recognized Marlene Sanders with Roscoe Janney.

Althea saw them, too. “What is my great-nephew doing with that real estate woman?”

“Real estate woman?” Jessie asked. “Do you know her?”

At that moment, Roscoe spotted⁷ the Aldens and his great-aunt. He stood up, tossed a few bills on the table, and left the restaurant.

“What’s with him?” Henry wanted to know.

“Good question,” Althea said. “Roscoe has never been this rude to me before. I wonder —”

If Roscoe Janney was suddenly shy, Marlene Sanders was not. She fixed⁸ her lipstick⁹, rubbed some lotion¹⁰ on her hands, then closed her purse. Wearing a phony smile, she came over to their table.

“Mrs. Randolph,” she greeted. “Mr. Alden.” She didn’t look at the Alden children. “Althea, have you thought over my offer?”

Althea raised her chin. “Ms. Sanders, I have no intention of selling Peacock Hall to your firm.”

Marlene shook her head. “You’re making a big mistake. We’ve made you a very generous offer. I know for a fact your taxes are due Friday and you don’t have the money.”

“You don’t know everything about my business affairs,” Althea stated.

“Well, I do know that on Saturday Peacock Hall will be auctioned¹¹ and my company will pick it up for a song. And you won’t have a dime¹².” With that, Marlene Sanders stalked away.

“That woman almost makes me forget I’m a lady,” Althea said.

“She’s not very nice,” Violet agreed, remembering the way the real estate woman had acted at Heather’s stand that morning. She thought she caught a whiff of a sweet fragrance¹³. But the smell of a pizza at the next table was stronger.

Grandfather asked Althea, “Have you considered her offer?”

“As if I’d sell to a company that would turn Peacock Hall into a golf course!” Althea shuddered¹⁴. “I’d rather be thrown out in the street first.”

“But,” Grandfather pointed out, “Ms. Sanders’s firm will probably buy Peacock Hall anyway.”

“Roscoe made an offer, too,” Althea said. “But he’s not a Randolph. I just hate going against my husband’s wishes.”

“Maybe you won’t have to,” said Jessie. “We still have three more days.”

The Aldens had solved many mysteries. Jessie knew a lot could happen in three days. If only they had one clue about the secret of Peacock Hall!

Althea smiled. “I’m so glad you all are here. It means the world to me.”

“We’re glad to help,” said Grandfather.

After dinner, they drove back to Peacock Hall. Since the sun was down, the peacocks were quiet. It was too early to go to bed. Henry called his sisters and brother into an emergency meeting.

“We can’t afford to waste a minute,” he said. “Let’s hunt for the treasure now.”

“Good idea,” Violet agreed, “Grandfather and Cousin Althea are playing checkers.”

“Let’s finish the second floor,” Jessie said, leading the way up the long staircase. “We still have those back rooms to search.”

The back rooms were down the hall from the bedrooms the Aldens were using. The windows were smaller and the furniture was older. One room seemed to be used for storage. It contained several trunks, dressers, and desks.

The children decided to search that room first. They each chose a piece of furniture and began pulling out drawers and checking for secret panels.

Benny sneezed as he opened a trunk.

“We should have cleaned in here first,” Jessie murmured. “Benny, be careful with those old clothes. They could be valuable.”

Benny held up a long blue satin gown. “Is this the treasure?” He wrinkled his nose at the funny smell. “It stinks¹⁵, if it is.”

Jessie giggled¹⁶. “Those are mothballs. The smell is supposed to keep moths¹⁷ from eating holes in stored clothes.”

“That is a pretty dress,” Violet remarked. “Do you think it’s worth a lot of money?”

Henry glanced over at the pile of clothing around Benny’s ankles. “I doubt the whole trunkful is worth nine thousand dollars. Though a drama company might like to buy those outfits¹⁸ for costumes.”

Jessie jiggled at a stubborn catch on the desk by the window. The drawer wouldn’t pull free. She tugged¹⁹ harder. It wasn’t locked, just rusted²⁰ shut with time.

Suddenly the drawer yanked loose, sending Jessie backward. She landed on the floor with a thump²¹.

“Are you okay?” asked Henry.

“I’m fine.” She glanced at the empty drawer and sighed. “All that for nothing!”

“Maybe not.” Benny was staring at a square of yellow paper fluttering to the floor.