1 Chapter
The 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 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 Mother．'
'Mother isn't here，'Jackie said．'She's at the doctor's．'
'Why？What's Wrong？'
'Nothing's 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．'I'm phoning because I have no money for the train ticket．'
'No money！Mother is always giving you money！'