Text B To Set Our House in Order（第2页）

[23]“’tyouleaveher，Beth?”myfatherwouldsay。“She’snotdoinganyharm。”

[24]“I’monlythinking，”mymotherwouldsay，glangatGrandmotherMadyesterdayshenearlykheDresdenshepherdessoffthemantel。Imeahelpit，Eweorunaround—”

[25]“Goddamnit，Ikhelpit，”myfatherwlaringatthesmirkiheDresdenshepherdess。

[26]“Iseeoblaspheme，Ewen，”GrandmotherMacLeodwouldsayquietly，aherwouldsayhewassorry，andI>

[27]Thedaymymotherweal，GrandmotherMacLeodcalledmeatlundeared，smudgedwithdustfromtheattiedistastefullyasthoughIhadbeenacockroachthathadjustcrawledimpertiofthewoodwork。

[28]“Formercy’ssake，Vahaveyoubeendoingwithyetwashedthismihatway—youusethebackstairs，youalongnow。Oh—yourfatherphoned。”

[29]Iswungaround。“Whatdidhesay?Howisshe?Isthebabyborn?”

[30]“CuriositykilledadmotherMacLeodsaid，frowning。“Iderstahaellingyouallthesethings，atye。Whatsarpersonyou’llgrowuptobe，Idarenotthink。No，it’snotbor。Yourmother’sjustthesame。Noge。”

[31]Ilookedatmygrawantioher，butuopmyself。“Willshe—willshebeallright?”

[32]GrandmotherMacLehtenedheralready-straightback。“IfIsaiddefinitelyyes，Vawouldbealie，andtheMacLeodsdonottelllies，asIhavetriedtoimpressupohappensisGod’swill。TheLiveth，aaketha>

。。。

[1970]

Notes

MargaretLaurence（1926-1987）:Sheisoneofada’smostaplishedwriterswhoreyawardsingada’smieneralAward。TheexcerptisfromABirdintheHouse（1970），thefirstofherManawakaseries。

&ionsfordis。

1）WhatdidVanessahearoinhersleep?

2）Whatdidshehearherfatherdodo>

3）Whatdidherfathersaytrandmother?Hrandmotherrespondtoit?

4）Whydidnotsheeupstairsatfirst?

5）Howdidhermotherforther?

6）Whowouldtakecareofherwhileparentsital?

7）yaboutstayingwithGrandmotherMacLeod?

8）WhywasVanessaworriedaboutlivingwithGrahome?

9）WhydidnotVanessagoouttoplaywithotherkidsthefirstdayparentswereinhospital?

10）WhatwasthetalkwithGrandmotherMacLeodlike?