阅读理解
After
a while attention to Tom ended, and the usual school murmur(嗡嗡读书声) rose upon the boring air once more. Now the boy began to steal secret
glances(偷看) at the girl. She noticed it, made a face at
him and gave him the back of her head for the space of a minute. When she slowly
faced around again, an apple lay before her. She pushed it away. Tom gently put
it back. She pushed it away again, but with less animosity(敌意). Tom patiently returned it to its place. Then she let it remain. Tom
wrote on his paper, "Please take it. I got more." The girl glanced at
the words, but made no sign.
Now the
boy began to draw something on the paper, hiding his work with his left hand. For
a time the girl refused to notice, but her human curiosity soon began to show itself
by hardly noticeable(明显的) signs. The boy worked on,
seemingly not aware. The girl made some non-committal(含糊的) efforts to see, but the boy did not display that he was aware of it.
At last she couldn't bear it and whispered: "Let me see it."
Tom partly
uncovered the picture of a house with some smoke rising from the chimney(烟囱). Then the girl's interest began to fasten itself upon the work and
she forgot everything else. When it was finished, she gazed a moment, then whispered:
"It's
nice! Draw a man."
The artist
created a man in the front yard. She was satisfied, and whispered:
"It's a beautiful man—now draw me in it."
Tom drew
an hour-glass(沙漏) as the body, a full moon as her head and
some arms added to it. The girl said:
"It's
ever so nice. I wish I could draw. No one has ever taught me that."
"It's
easy," whispered Tom, "I'll teach you."
"Oh,
will you? When?"
"At
noon. Do you go home for dinner?"
"I'll
stay if you will."
"Good,
that's a deal. What's your name?"