Alice froze, back to bed.

Silence. Another roar of laughter from the men downstairs. Either her mother was asleep already- or

pretending to be.

As Alice hurried down the long staircase. the smooth wood of the banister felt like polished bronze under her small hands. She stopped in the doorway of the study, transfixed by the sight of her father.

002

爱丽丝拉开卧室的门，窗边素雅的蕾丝窗帘呼呼地飘了起来。她蹑手蹑脚地走向大厅，犹如一个身穿白色睡衣的幽灵。经过母亲的房间时，脚下的地板咯吱作响。

爱丽丝僵住了，等着母亲勒令她回房睡觉。

然而，什么声音也没有。这时楼下又传来一阵大笑。母亲要么已经睡着了--要么就是假装睡着了。

爱丽丝急匆匆地走下长长的楼梯，她的小手拂过光滑的木质楼梯扶手，像摸着抛过光的青铜一样。她在书房门口停了下来，呆呆地看着父亲。

I stern adj. 严厉的,严肃的;苛刻的2transfixv 使呆住,使不能动弹