The Hidden Staircase Chapter III Part 3



Cerita sebelumnya Chapter III Part 2

"Please promise me that you'll be careful."

“Berjanjilah pada ku kamu akan hati-hati.”

"Of course," Nancy replied.

“Baiklah, sahut Nancy.

Turning to her father, she said, "Pretend I've said the same thing to you about being careful."

Kepada ayahnya, Nancy berkata, “Katakanlah aku bilang hal yang sama kepada ayah tentang berhati-hati.

The lawyer chuckled and pounded his chest. "You know me. I can be pretty tough when the need arises."

Ayah Nancy terkikik dan menepuk dadanya. “Nancy tahu ayah. Aku bisa jadi cukup tangguh ketika saat penting tiba.

Early the next morning Nancy drove her father to the airport in her blue convertible.

Keesokan pagi harinya Nancy mengantar ayahnya ke aiport  dengan mobil birunya.

Just before she kissed him good-by at the turnstile, he said, "I expect to return on Wednesday, Nancy.

Sesaat sebelum Nancy mengecup perpisahan pada ayahnya, ayahnya berkata,”Aku harap kembali hari rabu, Nancy.

Suppose I stop off at Cliffwood and see how you're making out?"

Mungkin aku mampir di Cliffwood dan melihat bagaimana penyelidikan mu?”

"Wonderful, Dad! I'll be looking for you."

“Senang sekali, Dad! Aku akan menanti kehadiran mu.”

As soon as her father left, Nancy drove directly to Helen Coming's home.

Setelah kepergiaan ayahnya, Nancy berkendara langsung ke rumah Helen Coming.

The pretty, brunette girl came from the front door of the white cottage, swinging a suitcase.

Gadis cantik berambut coklat itu muncul dari pintu depan cottage putih, menenteng sebuah koper.

She tossed it into the rear of Nancy's convertible and climbed in. "I ought to be scared," said Helen.

Dia letakkan koper itu ke belakang mobil Nancy dan memasuki mobil. “Aku seharusnya takut, “kata Helen.

"Goodness only knows what's ahead of us. But right now I'm so happy nothing could upset me."

“Hanya Tuhan yang tahu apa yang akan menimpa kita. Tapi saat ini Aku sungguh bahagia tidak ada yang akan mengecewakanku.

 "What happened?" Nancy asked as she started the car.

“Apa yang terjadi?” Tanya Nancy sambil menghidupkan mobil.

"Did you inherit a million?"

“Apa kamu mendapat warisan jutaan?”

"Something better than that," Helen replied.

“Sesuatu yang lebih baik daripada itu,” balas Helen.

"Nancy, I want to tell you a big, big secret. I'm going to be married!"

“Nancy, aku mau katakana sesuatu yang sangat, sangat rahasia. Aku akan menikah!”

Nancy slowed the car and pulled to the side of the street. Leaning over to hug her friend, she said, "Why, Helen, how wonderful!

Nancy memperlambat laju mobilya dan menepi. Memeluk temannya itu, dan berkata, “Kok bisa, Helen, betapa senangnya!

Who is he? And tell me all about it. This is rather sudden, isn't it?"

Siapa calon suamimu? Dan katakana semuanya padaku. Ini cukup tiba-tiba, kan?”

"Yes, it is," Helen confessed.

“Iya, betul,” Helen mengakui.

"His name is Jim Archer and he's simply out of this world. I'm a pretty lucky girl. I met him a couple of months ago when he was home on a short vacation. He works for the Tristam Oil Company and has spent two years abroad. Jim will be away a while longer, and then be given a position here in the States."

“Namanya Jim Archer dan dia orang yang sangat sederhana. Aku gadis yang beruntung. Aku bertemu dia beberapa bulan lalu ketika dia pulang ke sini untuk liburan singkat. Dia bekerja di perusahaan minyak Tristam dan telah tinggal di luar negeri dua tahun. Jim akan di sana sedikit lebih lama, dan kemudian akan diberikan posisi di sini.”

As Nancy started the car up once more, her eyes twinkled.

Nancy menghidupkan mobilnya sekali lagi, matanya bersinar-sinar.

"Helen Corning, have you been engaged for two months and didn't tell me?"

“Helen Corning, benarkah kamu sudah bertunangan selama dua bulan dan tidak berkata apapun padaku?”

Helen shook her head. "Jim and I have been corresponding ever since he left. Last night he telephoned from overseas and asked me to marry him." Helen giggled.

Helen menggelengkan kepalanya. “Aku dan Jim sudah saling berkabar sejak dia pergi. Tadi malam dia telepon dari luar negeri dan memintaku untuk menikah dengannya.” Helen terkikik.

"I said yes in a big hurry. Then he asked to speak to Dad. My father gave his consent but insisted that our engagement not be announced until Jim's return to this country."

“Aku menerimanya dengan cepat. Kemudian dia meminta untuk berbicara pada ayah. Ayahku memberikan restunya tapi bersikeras bahwa pertunangan kami jangan diumumkan sampai Jim kembali ke sini.”

The two girls discussed all sorts of delightful plans for Helen's wedding and before they knew it they had reached the town of Cliffwood.

Kedua gadis itu mendiskusikan berbagai rencana yang menyenangkan untuk pernikahan Helen dan mereka telah tiba di kota Cliffwood sebelum mereka menyadari.

"My great-grandmother's estate is about two miles out of town," Helen said.

“Tempat tinggal nenek buyutku kira-kira 2 mil dari kota ini, “kata Helen.

"Go down Main Street and turn right at the fork."

“Lewat jalan utama dan belok kanan di pertigaan.

Ten minutes later she pointed out Twin Elms, From the road one could see little of the house. A high stone wall ran along the front of the estate and beyond it were many tall trees.

10 menit kemudian Helen menunjuk Twin Elms, dari jalan bisa terlihat sedikit rumah itu. Dinding tinggi berbatu mengitari perkebunanan dan selebihnya ada banyak pepohonan tinggi.

Nancy turned into the driveway which twisted and wound among elms, oaks, and maples. Presently the old Colonial home came into view.

Nancy berkendara menuju jalan yang berliku dan melewati pohon elm, pohon oak dan pohon maple. Segera rumah tua bergaya colonial sudah terlihat.

Helen said it had been built in 1785 and had been given its name because of the two elm trees which stood at opposite ends of the long building.

Kata Helen rumah tersebut dibangun tahun 1785 dan sebutan rumah itu karena dua pohon elm yang ada di seberang ujung bangunan panjang.

They had grown to be giants and their foliage was beautiful. The mansion was of red brick and nearly all the walls were covered with ivy. There was a ten-foot porch with tall white pillars at the huge front door.

Kedua pohon itu tumbuh besar dan dedaunnya indah. Rumah besar berbata merah dan hampir semua dindingnya tertutup tanaman Ivy. Di sana ada 10 kaki beranda dengan pilar putih tinggi di depan pintu yang besar sekali.

"It's charming!" Nancy commented as she pulled up to the porch.

“Sunggu menawan!” komentar Nancy sambil naik ke beranda.

"Wait until you see the grounds," said Helen.

“Tunggu saja sampai kamu lihat halamannya,” sahut Helen.

"There are several old, old buildings. An icehouse, a smokehouse, a kitchen, and servants' cottages."

“Di sana ada beberapa  yang tua, bangunan tua. Rumah es, rumah asap, dapur dan tempat tinggal pelayan.”

"The mansion certainly doesn't look spooky from the outside," Nancy commented.

“Rumah besar itu benar-benar tidak terlihat seram dari luar,” komentar Nancy.

At that moment the great door opened and Aunt Rosemary came outside.

Pada saat itu pintu besar terbuka dan bibi Rosemary keluar.

To be continued

(Bersambung)

Comments

Popular Posts