Hilary Smith belonged to a good family. But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had. He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison. He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.
Hilary did not like Australia and Australia did not like Hilary. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work. The thought of neither of these gave him any pleasure. Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world. He possessed an aunt.
She was his father’s only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family. Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done. It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman. Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with trade. Of course as soon as she became “Mrs Parks”, her brother considered her dead. Later on, Mr. Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother’s opinion.
Hilary discovered his aunt’s address. Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill. So Hilary’s star shone again. When he was feeling honest, he could talk attractively. He frequently visited his aunt’s house; and soon he was living comfortably in the building which the profits of trade had provided.
One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness. Hilary was very worried. Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it. There was only one thing that could save him: her will.
“Will?” she said, “yes, I have made one. That was when I was a girl and had not much money. I left all my money to some religious people.”
“Didn’t you make another will when you were married?” Hilary asked.
His aunt shook her head. “No,” she said in a low voice, “There was no need. When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations.”
On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law. It told him what he already believed. When a woman is married, an earlier will loses its value. A new will must be made. If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation. Hilary knew that he was his aunt’s only relation. His future was safe.
After a few months had passed, Hilary’s problems became serious. He badly needed money. He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers. They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible.
Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all. In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds. Hilary was now very angry. He began to wonder about a new problem. Was it kind to want his aunt to live any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer. So she was going to make a new will. Hilary thought she might leave all her money to someone else. Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.
One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine. The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever.
“Thank you,” his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look. “I want, more than anything, to sleep, and never to wake up again. Is that what you wish, Hilary? I have given you your chance. Don’t blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do. Sick people get these ideas, you know. One thing I ought to explain to you. Mr. Parks never married me. He already had a wife and couldn’t marry again. That made your foolish father very angry with me… Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favor. If I die tonight, you’ll get nothing… No, Hilary, don’t try to take the glass away. If you do that, I shall know; and I don’t want to know. Good night, Hilary.”
Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank.
小题1:From the story, we learn that Hilary’s aunt was ______.| A．bad-tempered and lonely | B．kind-hearted and wise | | C．careless about money | D．cruel to her nephew |
小题2:Why did Hilary’s father consider his aunt dead?| A．Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage. | | B．Because she married a businessman. | | C．Because she broke away from the family for a better life. | | D．Because he thought she was a shame to the family. |
小题3:The underlined sentence “He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman” in Paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______.| A．was determined to put his aunt’s life to an end | | B．decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer | | C．made up his mind to take good care of his aunt | | D．would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people |
小题4:Which of the following is the focus of the story?| A．Hilary’s aunt’s money. | B．Hilary Smith’s debts. | | C．The intended murder. | D．Hilary’s aunt’s marriage. |
小题5:Which part of what Hilary’s aunt said finally might make Hilary frustrated?| A．She wanted to sleep and never to wake up again. | | B．She never got married to Mr. Parks. | | C．Mr. Parks had a wife. | | D．She would make a new will tomorrow. |
小题6:Which detail from the story is the climax（高潮）of the story?| A．Hilary escaped from the prison. | | B．Hilary quarreled with his aunt about ten pounds. | | C．Hilary’s aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her. | | D．Hilary’s aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else. |
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