爱情与金钱.docx

1、爱情与金钱Love or Money?1ChapterThe Clarkson family lived in the country near Cambridge, about half a mile from the nearest village and about a mile from the river. They had a big, old house with a beautiful garden, a lot of flowers and many old trees.One Thursday morning in July, Jackie came in from the

2、 garden. She was a tall, fat woman, thirty years old. It was the hottest day of the year, but she wore a warm brown skirt and yellow shirt. She went into the kitchen to get a drink of water. Just then the phone rang.Cambridge 1379, Jackie said.Hello. This is Diane. I want to talk to MotherMother isn

3、t here, Jackie said. Shes at the doctors.Why? Whats wrong?Nothings wrong, Jackie said. Why are you telephoning? You are going to come this weekend? Mother wants everyone to be here.Yes, I want to come, Diane said. Im phoning because I have no money for the train ticket.No money! Mother is always giv

4、ing you money!This phone call is very expensive, Diane said coldly. Tell Mother please. I need the money.Jackie put the phone down. She took a cigarette from her bag and began to smoke. She felt angry because her sister always asked for money. Diane was twenty years old, the youngest in the family.

5、She lived in London, in one room of a big house. She wanted to be a singer. She sang very well but she could never get work.Jackie went back into the kitchen and began to make some sandwiches. Just then the back door opened, and her mother came in.Its very hot! Molly said. She took off her hat and p

6、ut it down on the table. She was a tall, dark woman with beautiful eyes.Two big, black dogs came into the kitchen after her and ran across to her. She sat down and put her hands on their heads.Jackie put the sandwiches on the table. Mother, she said. Diane phoned. She wants money for her train ticke

7、t.Molly closed her eyes for a minute. Then she stood up. This afternoon I want you to get the house ready for the weekend, she said, Oh, and please go to the village later and get my tablets.Yes, Mother, Jackie said.Molly went to the door.Mother, please wait a minute, Jackie said. Peter Hobbs came h

8、ere this morning. Hes very angry with you about that letter. He lost his job, you know. Why did you write to his office? He wants to talk to you about it.Well, I dont want to talk to him, Molly said. She opened the door.But Mother, you dont understand. Hes seventeen, and it was his first job. Hes ve

9、ry, very angry. He says he says hes going to kill you!Molly did not answer. She went out of the room and closed the door.2ChapterIt was seven oclock on Saturday evening. Jackie stood at the window. A car drove slowly up to the front door and stopped. A tall man with white hair got out. It was Albert

10、, the husband of Mollys sister.Heres Uncle Albert, Jackie said. Always late.She went out of the room and opened the front door. Albert came in and went at once to Molly.Oh, dear. Im very late. I am sorry, Albert said. Fifty years old today! What a wonderful dress!Molly did not smile. Thank you, Albe

11、rt. Were all getting older. Tonight she wore a long black dress, and the two black dogs sat at her feet. Everyone is here now. Lets go in to dinner, she said.Everyone stood up and went to the table.The table looks nice, Jackie. What wonderful flowers! Diane said. She was a beautiful girl, with long

12、black hair and dark blue eyes. She wore a long red dress.Albert sat down next to Roger. Roger was Mollys son, her second child. He lived in Cambridge, in an expensive house.Someone called Peter stopped me down the road, Albert said. Who is he? Hes very angry with you, Molly.Thats Peter Hobbs, from t

13、he house across the road, Jackie said quickly. She looked across the table at Molly. He lost his job last week and hes angry with everyone.Its Molly he doesnt like, Albert said.Molly said nothing. Everyone began to eat.How is Aunt Annie? Jackie asked.Shes much worse now, Albert said. She stays in be

14、d all the time. She needs a nurse twenty-four hours a day.I am sorry, Molly said.Albert stopped eating and looked at Molly. Its very difficult and very expensive, you know. Annie feels very unhappy because you dont visit her, Molly. She loves you very much. You are her little sister, you know.Molly

15、closed her eyes for a minute. I know that, Albert. I am fifty years old, but I am always her little sister. Well, we can talk about it later.Albert laughed. Oh yes, we can talk later. Its always later with you, Molly. Always tomorrow. Never today.Jackie watched her mother. Her mother was angry with

16、Albert. Molly never liked talking about her sister Annie and she did not like visiting her because she was very ill.Thats a beautiful dress, Diane. Is it new? Jackie asked.Thank you, Jackie. Yes, its new, and very expensive. I got it on Wednesday, Diane said. She smiled at Jackie.All your things are

17、 expensive, Jackie said. She remembered the phone call on Thursday about the train ticket.I dont like cheap things, Diane said. And Im going to need more money soon. I want to go to America. Can you help me, Roger?Oh no, Roger said. Nobody wants to help you, Diane. You dont like working, we all know

18、 that, but we all want you to get a job.Diane laughed. It doesnt matter, Roger. I dont need your help. Mother always helps me. Mother loves me best. She suddenly smiled, a quick, beautiful smile. But her eyes were cold.Jackie looked at her mother. Mollys face was white. Jackie did not understand. Wa

19、s her mother afraid of Diane? Jackie wanted her mother to be happy today.Would you like some more meat, Uncle Albert? Jackie asked. Roger, can you give everyone some more to drink?Roger got up and began to give more wine to everyone. This is god wine, he said.Molly smiled for the first time. Yes, yo

20、ur father loved this wine. He often drank it.Yes, Albert said, and looked at Molly. Expensive, too.Would you like to meet Mr Briggs this weekend, Roger? Jackie asked quickly. Hes the new man at the farm. He wants to meet you.Briggs? Briggs? Molly said, suddenly angry. Dont talk to me about that man.

21、 I dont like him. He wants half my garden for his farm. He needs more land, he says. I dont want him in my house. Hes always dirty and he has bad teeth.Jackie stood up and got her bag. Excuse me, I want a cigarette.Cigarettes! Always a cigarette in your mouth, Molly said. I dont like it. Cigarettes

22、arent good for you.Jackie began to smoke. She felt angry but she said nothing. She wanted her mother to be happy this evening, but it was very difficult.Roger drank some more wine. Well, Mother, perhaps Mr Briggs is right. The garden is very big, you know, he said. Its a lot of work for you. The hou

23、se is big, too. Youre fifty now. You need to be more careful.Roger! I dont need a nurse, you know! I work in the garden every day；I feel happy there. Molly stood up. I know you all want my money. You come here for a free dinner, you dont want to see me. You dont love me. You want my house, and my mo

24、ney. Well, you can all wait. Nobody is getting more money from me, not before I die!Dont say that, Mother! Jackie cried.Molly walked across the room to the door. I feel ill now. Im going upstairs to bed.Molly left the room. Nobody moved.One day Im going to kill that woman, Diane said quietly.Roger l

25、ooked at Diane but said nothing. Albert moved his head slowly up and down. Ill! Shes angry, thats all, he said. Molly always gets angry about money. Why cant she be good to her sister? Annies going to die soon. Molly knows that.Jackie finished her cigarette and stood up. Would everyone like some cof

26、fee? Come into the kitchen and lets drink it there.3ChapterEarly next morning the house was quiet. Suddenly there was a cry from the room next to Rogers, his mothers room. Roger opened his eyes and looked at the clock. It was nearly seven oclock. He got out of bed and opened the door quietly. At the

27、 same time the door of his mothers room opened and Diane came out. Her face was very white.Roger! Its Mother! I brought a cup of coffee for her and I found her dead. Shes dead . . . dead in her bed, she cried.Roger went quickly to the door of his mothers room and looked in. The window was open but t

28、he room was warm. Molly was on the bed, one hand under her head. Roger went across to the bed and put his hand on her arm. It was cold. On the little table next to the bed was a hot cup of coffee and an empty cup.Im going to call the doctor, Diane said.Shes dead, Roger said slowly. His face, too, wa

29、s white. Mother is dead!Diane walked across the room to the door. Im going to phone the doctor, she said again.Wait a minute! Roger called. Lets tell the family first.Family! Nobody loved Mother! Diane went out and ran downstairs.Roger slowly went downstairs after her and stood by the telephone.Dr P

30、ratt, this is Diane Clarkson. Its my mothershes dead. Can you come quickly?Diane put the phone down. It isnt true, Roger! Mothers dead! Daddy died last winter, and now Mother. Diane began to cry.Dont cry, Diane, Roger said. Lets go upstairs and tell Uncle Albert and Jackie.No! You tell them! Nobody

31、loved Mother. You arent sorry. Look at you! You want her money. Thats all.Roger suddenly wanted to hit Diane. Be quiet! he said. What about you? You didnt love Mother. You wanted her money, too. Dont forget that!Its true, Diane said. Oh, I cant stay in this house. Im going out. Im going to the river with the dogs.No, Roger said. The doctors coming and I want you here.Diane said nothing. She went into the kitchen and at once the dogs got up and came to her. Beautiful dogs! Daddy loved you and Mother loved you. Now Im going to love you. She open