An Adventure on Island Rock
露西·莫德·蒙哥馬利 / Lucy Maud Montgomery
露西·莫德·蒙哥馬利（Lucy Maud Montgomery，1874—1942），加拿大作家。露西是個才華橫溢的多產作家，創作了500多篇短篇故事、詩和小說，其中最著名的作品《清秀佳人》讓她一舉成名。
"Who was the man I saw talking to you in the hayfield？ " asked Aunt Kate， as Uncle Richard came to dinner.
"Bob Marks， " said Uncle Richard briefly. "I' ve sold Laddie to him."
Ernest Hughes， the twelve-year-old orphan boy whom Uncle "boarded and kept" for the chores he did， suddenly stopped eating.
"Oh， Mr. Lawson， you' re not going to sell Laddie！ " he cried chokely.
Uncle Richard stared at him. Never before， in the five years that Ernest had lived with him， had the quiet little fellow spoken without being spoken to， much less ventured to protest against anything Uncle Richard might do.
"Certainly I am. " answered the latter curtly. "Bob offered me twenty dollars for the dog， and he' s coming after him next week."
"Oh， Mr. Lawson， " said Ernest， rising to his feet， his small， freckled face crimson. "Oh， don' t sell Laddie！ Please， Mr. Lawson， don' t sell him！ "
"What nonsense is this？ " said Uncle Richard sharply. He was a man who brooked no opposition from anybody， and who never changed his mind when it was once made up.
"Don' t sell Laddie！ " pleaded Ernest miserably. "He is the only friend I have got. I can' t live if Laddie goes away. Oh， don't sell him， Mr. Lawson！ "
"Sit down and hold your tongue. " said Uncle Richard sternly. "The dog is mine， and I shall do with him as I think fit. He is sold， and that is all there is about it. Go on with your dinner."