Three days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay receivedan anonymous letter.

The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of £1,000. ^假设现在

in safe hands ^{很安全（得到很好的照顾）}

• Don't worry about the children. They are in safe hands. 
• You can be sure your children are in good hands. ^{得到妥善照顾}
• I am afraid that nuclear weapons could fall into the wrong hands. ^{落入恶人之手}

a ransom of £1,000 ^赎金

• In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of £ 1,000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel.
• a reward of £ 1,000 ^酬金
• a fund of £ 1,000 ^基金
• a debt of £ 1,000 ^债务
• an investment of £ 1,000 ^投资
• a scholarship of £ 1,000 ^奖学金

Mrs. Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door.

instruct sb. to do ^{指示某人做某事(上级对下级、详细告知步骤、做法)}

• A doctor will often instruct patients to exercise.  ^{医生将经常嘱咐病人要锻炼身体。}
• Last year a journalist had been instructed by a well-known magazine to write an article on the president's palace in a new African republic.

At first, she decided to go to the police, but fearing that she would never see Rastus again —the letter had made that quite clear— she changed her mind.

fear ^{v.害怕、担心}

介词短语做原因状语

make sth. clear / explicit ^{使某事清楚/明确}

•  Possible side effects must be made clear / explicit.
• Could you clarify your remarks? ^{clarify v.使清楚}
• clarify one's position ^{表明某人的立场}

The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs. Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word.

the next / following / succeeding morning ^{（过去的）第二天早上}

• the morning after ^{第二天早上}

keep one's word / promise ^{信守诺言(单数)}

• break one's word / promise ^{失言（不用lose）}
• He is a man of his word. ^{他是一个守信之人}
• She is a woman of her word. ^{她是一个守信之人}

Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening.

sure enough ^{果然、不出所料}

• The man took heart and, sure enough, on New Year's Eve he was able to hobble along to a party.

He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk.

The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done.

were astounded ^呆若木鸡

• When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman.
• When he went outside half an hour later, he was astonished to find that the little black lamb was almost white.
• He was astonished at what he found.
• A short time ago, villagers were astonished to learn that the ghost of Endley had died.

Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!

非谓语动词如果是习语（固定搭配）不考虑逻辑主语

• Strictly speaking, the whale isn't a fish. ^严格的说
• Judging from his face, he must be ill. ^从...判断
• To make a long story short, he wanted money, and tried to get it without working. ^长话短说
• The team has lost the last two games and, to make matters worse, two of its best players are injured. ^{更糟糕的是...}

动词 → 介词

in more ways than one ^{（习语）不止一个方面的}

Known to millions, far and wide, for his book 'A Brief History of Time', Stephen Hawking was a star scientist in more ways than one.