I sit down to give you an undeniable proof of my considering your desires as indispensable orders. Ungracious then as the task may be, I shall recall to view those scandalous stages of my life, out of which I emerg’d, at length, to the enjoyment1 of every blessing2 in the power of love, health, and fortune to bestow3; whilst yet in the flower of youth, and not too late to employ the leisure afforded me by great ease and affluence4, to cultivate an understanding, naturally not a despicable one, and which had, even amidst the whirl of loose pleasures I had been tost in, exerted more observation on the characters and manners of the world than what is common to those of my unhappy profession, who looking on all thought or reflection as their capital enemy, keep it at as great a distance as they can, or destroy it without mercy.
Hating, as I mortally do, all long unnecessary preface, I shall give you good quarter in this, and use no farther apology, than to prepare you for seeing the loose part of my life, wrote with the same liberty that I led it.
Truth! stark6, naked truth, is the word; and I will not so much as take the pains to bestow the strip of a gauze wrapper on it, but paint situations such as they actually rose to me in nature, careless of violating those laws of decency7 that were never made for such unreserved intimacies8 as ours; and you have too much sense, too much knowledge of the ORIGINALS themselves, to sniff9 prudishly and out of character at the PICTURES of them. The greatest men, those of the first and most leading taste, will not scruple10 adorning11 their private closets with nudities, though, in compliance12 with vulgar prejudices, they may not think them decent decorations of the staircase, or salon13.
This, and enough, premised, I go souse into my personal history. My maiden14 name was Frances Hill. I was born at a small village near Liverpool, in Lancashire, of parents extremely poor, and, I piously15 believe, extremely honest.
My father, who had received a maim16 on his limbs that disabled him from following the more laborious17 branches of country-drudgery18, got, by making of nets, a scanty19 subsistence, which was not much enlarg’d by my mother’s keeping a little day-school for the girls in her neighbourhood. They had had several children; but none lived to any age except myself, who had received from nature a constitution perfectly20 healthy.
My education, till past fourteen, was no better than very vulgar; reading, or rather spelling, an illegible21 scrawl22, and a little ordinary plain work composed the whole system of it; and then all my foundation in virtue23 was no other than a total ignorance of vice24, and the shy timidity general to our sex, in the tender stage of life when objects alarm or frighten more by their novelty than anything else. But then, this is a fear too often cured at the expence of innocence25, when Miss, by degrees, begins no longer to look on a man as a creature of prey26 that will eat her.
My poor mother had divided her time so entirely27 between her scholars and her little domestic cares, that she had spared very little of it to my instruction, having, from her own innocence from all ill, no hint or thought of guarding me against any.
I was now entering on my fifteenth year, when the worst of ills befell me in the loss of my tender fond parents, who were both carried off by the small-pox, within a few days of each other; my father dying first, and thereby28 hastening the death of my mother; so that I was now left an unhappy friendless orphan29 (for my father’s coming to settle there was accidental, he being originally a Kentishman). That cruel distemper which had proved so fatal to them, had indeed seized me, but with such mild and favourable30 symptoms, that I was presently out of danger, and, what I then did not know the value of, was entirely unmark’d. I skip over here an account of the natural grief and affliction which I felt on this melancholy31 occasion. A little time, and the giddiness of that age dissipated, too soon, my reflections on that irreparable loss; but nothing contributed more to reconcile me to it, than the notions that were immediately put into my head, of going to London, and looking out for a service, in which I was promised all assistance and advice from one Esther Davis, a young woman that had been down to see her friends, and who, after the stay of a few days, was to return to her place.
As I had now nobody left alive in the village who had concern enough about what should become of me to start any objections to this scheme, and the woman who took care of me after my parents; death rather encouraged me to pursue it, I soon came to a resolution of making this launch into the wide world, by repairing to London, in order to SEEK MY FORTUNE, a phrase which, by the bye, has ruined more adventurers of both sexes, from the country, than ever it made or advanced.
Nor did Esther Davis a little comfort and inspirit me to venture with her, by piquing33 my childish curiosity with the fine sights that were to be seen in London: the Tombs, the Lions, the King, the Royal Family, the fine Plays and Operas, and, in short, all the diversions which fell within her sphere of life to come at; the detail of all which perfectly turn’d the little head of me.
Nor can I remember, without laughing, the innocent admiration34, not without a spice of envy, with which we poor girls, whose church-going clothes did not rise above dowlass shifts and stuff gowns, beheld35 Esther’s scowered satin gowns, caps border’d with an inch of lace, taudry ribbons, and shoes belaced with silver: all which we imagined grew in London, and entered for a great deal into my determination of trying to come in for my share of them.
The idea however of having the company of a townswoman with her, was the trivial, and all the motives36 that engaged Esther to take charge of me during my journey to town, where she told me, after her manner and style, “as how several maids out of the country had made themselves and all their kin5 for ever: that by preserving their VIRTUE, some had taken so with their masters, that they had married them, and kept them coaches, and lived vastly grand and happy; and some, may-hap, came to be Duchesses; luck was all, and why not I, as well as another?”; with other almanacs to this purpose, which set me a tip-toe to begin this promising37 journey, and to leave a place which, though my native one, contained no relations that I had reason to regret, and was grown insupportable to me, from the change of the tenderest usage into a cold air of charity, with which I was entertain’d even at the only friend’s house that I had the least expectation of care and protection from. She was, however, so just to me, as to manage the turning into money of the little matters that remained to me after the debts and burial charges were accounted for, and, at my departure, put my whole fortune into my hands; which consisted of a very slender wardrobe, pack’d up in a very portable box, and eight guineas, with seventeen shillings in silver; stowed up in a spring-pouch, which was a greater treasure than ever I had yet seen together, and which I could not conceive there was a possibility of running out; and indeed, I was so entirely taken up with the joy of seeing myself mistress of such an immense sum, that I gave very little attention to a world of good advice which was given me with it.
Places, then, being taken for Esther and me in the London waggon38, I pass over a very immaterial scene of leavetaking, at which I dropt a few tears betwixt grief and joy; and, for the same reasons of insignificance39, skip over all that happened to me on the road, such as the waggoner’s looking liquorish on me, the schemes laid for me by some of the passengers, which were defeated by the vigilance of my guardian40 Esther; who, to do her justice, took a motherly care of me, at the same time that she taxed me for her protection by making me bear all travelling charges, which I defrayed with the utmost cheerfulness, and thought myself much obliged to her into the bargain.
She took indeed great care that we were not over-rated, or imposed on, as well as of managing as frugally41 as possible; expensiveness was not her vice.
It was pretty late in a summer evening when we reached London-town, in our slow conveyance43, though drawn44 by six at length. As we passed through the greatest streets that led to our inn, the noise of the coaches, the hurry, the crowds of foot passengers, in short, the new scenery of the shops and houses, at once pleased and amazed me.
But guess at my mortification45 and surprize when we came to the inn, and our things were landed and deliver’d to us, when my fellow traveller and protectress, Esther Davis, who had used me with the utmost tenderness during the journey, and prepared me by no preceding signs for the stunning46 blow I was to receive, when I say, my only dependence47 and friend, in this strange place, all of a sudden assumed a strange and cool air towards me, as if she dreaded48 my becoming a burden to her.
Instead, then, of proffering49 me the continuance of her assistance and good offices, which I relied upon, and never more wanted, she thought herself, it seems, abundantly acquitted50 of her engagements to me, by having brought me safe to my journey’s end; and seeing nothing in her procedure towards me but what was natural and in order, began to embrace me by way of taking leave, whilst I was so confounded, so struck, that I had not spirit or sense enough so much as to mention my hopes or expectations from her experience, and knowledge of the place she had brought me to.
Whilst I stood thus stupid and mute, which she doubtless attributed to nothing more than a concern at parting, this idea procured51 me perhaps a slight alleviation52 of it, in the following harangue53: That now we were got safe to London, and that she was obliged to go to her place, she advised me by all means to get into one as soon as possible; that I need not fear getting one; there were more places than parish-churches; that she advised me to go to an intelligence office; that if she heard of any thing stirring, she would find me out and let me know; that in the meantime, I should take a private lodging54, and acquaint her where to send to me; that she wish’d me good luck, and hoped I should always have the grace to keep myself honest, and not bring a disgrace on my parentage. With this, she took her leave of me, and left me, as it were, on my own hands, full as lightly as I had been put into hers.
Left thus alone, absolutely destitute55 and friendless, I began then to feel most bitterly the severity of this separation, the scene of which had passed in a little room in the inn; and no sooner was her back turned, but the affliction I felt at my helpless strange circumstances burst out into a flood of tears, which infinitely56 relieved the oppression of my heart; though I still remained stupefied, and most perfectly perplex’d how to dispose of myself.
One of the waiters coming in, added yet more to my uncertainty57 by asking me, in a short way, if I called for anything? to which I replied innocently: “No.” But I wished him to tell me where I might get a lodging for that night. He said he would go and speak to his mistress, who accordingly came, and told me drily, without entering in the least into the distress58 she saw me in, that I might have a bed for a shilling, and that, as she supposed I had some friends in town (here I fetched a deep sigh in vain!) I might provide for myself in the morning.
‘Tis incredible what trifling59 consolations60 the human mind will seize in its greatest afflictions. The assurance of nothing more than a bed to lie on that night, calmed my agonies; and being asham’d to acquaint the mistress of the inn that I had no friends to apply to in town, I proposed to myself to proceed, the very next morning, to an intelligence office, to which I was furnish’d with written directions on the back of a ballad61 Esther had given me. There I counted on getting information of any place that such a country girl as I might be fit for, and where I could get into any sort of being, before my little stock should be consumed; and as to a character, Esther had often repeated to me that I might depend on her managing me one; nor, however affected62 I was at her leaving me thus, did I entirely cease to rely on her, as I began to think, good-naturedly, that her procedure was all in course, and that it was only my ignorance of life that had made me take it in the light I at first did.
Accordingly, the next morning I dress’d myself as clean and as neat as my rustic63 wardrobe would permit me; and having left my box, with special recommendation, with the landlady64, I ventured out by myself, and without any more difficulty than can be supposed of a young country girl, barely fifteen, and to whom every sign or shop was a gazing trap, I got to the wish’d-for intelligence office.
It was kept by an elderly woman, who sat at the receipt of custom, with a book before her in great form and order, and several scrolls65, ready made out, of directions for places.
I made up then to this important personage, without lifting up my eyes or observing any of the people round me, who were attending there on the same errand as myself, and dropping her curtsies nine-deep, just made a shift to stammer66 out my business to her.
Madam having heard me out, with all the gravity and brow of a petty minister of State, and seeing at one glance over my figure what I was, made me no answer, but to ask me the preliminary shilling, on receipt of which she told me places for women were exceedingly scarce, especially as I seemed too slight built for hard work; but that she would look over her book, and see what was to be done for me, desiring me to stay a little till she had dispatched some other customers.
On this I drew back a little, most heartily67 mortified68 at a declaration which carried with it a killing69 uncertainty that my circumstances could not well endure.
Presently, assuming more courage, and seeking some diversion from my uneasy thoughts, I ventured to lift up my head a little, and sent my eyes on a course round the room, wherein they met full tilt70 with those of a lady (for such my extreme innocence pronounc’d her) sitting in a corner of the room, dress’d in a velvet71 mantle72 (nota bene, in the midst of summer), with her bonnet73 off; squab-fat, red-faced, and at least fifty.
She look’d as if she would devour74 me with her eyes, staring at me from head to foot, without the least regard to the confusion and blushes her eyeing me so fixedly75 put me to, and which were to her, no doubt, the strongest recommendation and marks of my being fit for her purpose. After a little time, in which my air, person and whole figure had undergone a strict examination, which I had, on my part, tried to render favourable to me, by primming76, drawing up my neck, and setting my best looks, she advanced and spoke77 to me with the greatest demureness78:
“Sweet-heart, do you want a place?”
“Yes, and please you” (with a curtsy down to the ground).
Upon this she acquainted me that she was actually come to the office herself to look out for a servant; that she believed I might do, with a little of her instructions; that she could take my very looks for a sufficient character; that London was a very wicked, vile79 place; that she hoped I would be tractable80, and keep out of bad company; in short, she said all to me that an old experienced practitioner81 in town could think of, and which was much more than was necessary to take in an artless inexperienced country-maid, who was even afraid of becoming a wanderer about the streets, and therefore gladly jump’d at the first offer of a shelter, especially from so grave and matron-like a lady, for such my flattering fancy assured me this new mistress of mine was; I being actually hired under the nose of the good woman that kept the office, whose shrewd smiles and shrugs82 I could not help observing, and innocently interpreted them as marks of her being pleased at my getting into place so soon; but, as I afterwards came to know, these BELDAMS understood one another very well, and this was a market where Mrs. Brown, my mistress, frequently attended, on the watch for any fresh goods that might offer there, for the use of her customers, and her own profit.
Madam was, however, so well pleased with her bargain, that fearing, I presume, lest better advice or some accident might occasion my slipping through her fingers, she would officiously take me in a coach to my inn, where, calling herself for my box, it was, I being present, delivered without the least scruple or explanation as to where I was going.
This being over, she bid the coachman drive to a shop in St. Paul’s Churchyard, where she bought a pair of gloves, which she gave me, and thence renewed her directions to the coachman to drive to her house in —— street, who accordingly landed us at her door, after I had been cheer’d up and entertain’d by the way with the most plausible83 flams, without one syllable84 from which I could conclude anything but that I was, by the greatest good luck, fallen into the hands of the kindest mistress, not to say friend, that the varsal world could afford; and accordingly I enter’d her doors with most compleat confidence and exultation85, promising myself that, as soon as I should be a little settled, I would acquaint Esther Davis with my rare good fortune.
You may be sure the good opinion of my place was not lessen’d by the appearance of a very handsome back parlour, into which I was led and which seemed to me magnificently furnished, who had never seen better rooms than the ordinary ones in inns upon the road. There were two gilt86 pierglasses, and a buffet87, on which a few pieces of plates, set out to the most shew, dazzled, and altogether persuaded me that I must be got into a very reputable family.
Here my mistress first began her part, with telling me that I must have good spirits, and learn to be free with her; that she had not taken me to be a common servant, to do domestic drudgery, but to be a kind of companion to her; and that if I would be a good girl, she would do more than twenty mothers for me; to all which I answered only by the profoundest and the awkwardest curtsies, and a few monosyllables, such as “yes! no! to be sure!”
Presently my mistress touch’d the bell, and in came a strapping88 maid-servant, who had let us in. “Here, Martha,” said Mrs. Brown —”I have just hir’d this young woman to look after my linen89; so step up and shew her her chamber90; and I charge you to use her with as much respect as you would myself, for I have taken a prodigious91 liking92 to her, and I do not know what I shall do for her.”
Martha, who was an arch-jade, and, being used to this decoy, had her cue perfect, made me a kind of half curtsy, and asked me to walk up with her; and accordingly shew’d me a neat room, two pair of stairs backwards93, in which there was a handsome bed, where Martha told me I was to lie with a young gentlewoman, a cousin of my mistress’s, who she was sure would be vastly good to me. Then she ran out into such affected encomiums on her good mistress! her sweet mistress! and how happy I was to light upon her! that I could not have bespoke94 a better; with other the like gross stuff, such as would itself have started suspicions in any but such an unpractised simpleton, who was perfectly new to life, and who took every word she said in the very sense she laid out for me to take it; but she readily saw what a penetration95 she had to deal with, and measured me very rightly in her manner of whistling to me, so as to make me pleased with my cage, and blind to the wires.
In the midst of these false explanations of the nature of my future service, we were rung for down again, and I was reintroduced into the same parlour, where there was a table laid with three covers; and my mistress had now got with her one of her favourite girls, a notable manager of her house, and whose business it was to prepare and break such young fillies as I was to the mounting-block; and she was accordingly, in that view, allotted96 me for a bed-fellow; and, to give her the more authority, she had the title of cousin conferr’d on her by the venerable president of this college.
Here I underwent a second survey, which ended in the full approbation97 of Mrs. Phoebe Ayres, the name of my tutoress elect, to whose care and instructions I was affectionately recommended.
Dinner was now set on table, and in pursuance of treating me as a companion, Mrs. Brown, with a tone to cut off all dispute, soon over-rul’d my most humble98 and most confused protestations against sitting down with her LADYSHIP, which my very short breeding just suggested to me could not be right, or in the order of things.
At table, the conversation was chiefly kept up by the two madams, and carried on in double-meaning expressions, interrupted every now and then by kind assurance to me, all tending to confirm and fix my satisfaction with my present condition: augment99 it they could not, so very a novice100 was I then.
It was here agreed that I should keep myself up and out of sight for a few days, till such cloaths could be procured for me as were fit for the character I was to appear in, of my mistress’s companion, observing withal, that on the first impressions of my figure much might depend; and, as they well judged, the prospect101 of exchanging my country cloaths for London finery, made the clause of confinement102 digest perfectly well with me. But the truth was, Mrs. Brown did not care that I should be seen or talked to by any, either of her customers, or her DOES (as they call’d the girls provided for them), till she had secured a good market for my maidenhead, which I had at least all the appearances of having brought into her LADYSHIP’S service.
To slip over minutes of no importance to the main of my story, I pass the interval103 to bed-time, in which I was more and more pleas’d with the views that opened to me, of an easy service under these good people; and after supper being shew’d up to bed, Miss Phoebe, who observed a kind of reluctance104 in me to strip and go to bed, in my shift, before her, now the maid was withdrawn105, came up to me, and beginning with unpinning my handkerchief and gown, soon encouraged me to go on with undressing myself; and, still blushing at now seeing myself naked to my shift, I hurried to get under the bedcloaths out of sight. Phoebe laugh’d and was not long before she placed herself by my side. She was about five and twenty, by her most suspicious account, in which, according to all appearances, she must have sunk at least ten good years; allowance, too, being made for the havoc107 which a long course of hackneyship and hot waters must have made of her constitution, and which had already brought on, upon the spur, that stale stage in which those of her profession are reduced to think of SHOWING company, instead of SEEING it.
No sooner then was this precious substitute of my mistress’s laid down, but she, who was never out of her way when any occasion of lewdness108 presented itself, turned to me, embraced and kiss’d me with great eagerness. This was new, this was odd; but imputing109 it to nothing but pure kindness, which, for aught I knew, it might be the London way to express in that manner, I was determin’d not to be behind hand with her, and returned her the kiss and embrace, with all the fervour that perfect innocence knew.
Encouraged by this, her hands became extremely free, and wander’d over my whole body, with touches, squeezes, pressures, that rather warm’d and surpriz’d me with their novelty, than they either shock’d or alarm’d me.
The flattering praises she intermingled with these invasions, contributed also not a little to bribe110 my passiveness; and, knowing no ill, I feared none, especially from one who had prevented all doubt of her womanhood by conducting my hands to a pair of breasts that hung loosely down, in a size and volume that full sufficiently111 distinguished112 her sex, to me at least, who had never made any other comparison . . .
I lay then all tame and passive as she could wish, whilst her freedom raised no other emotions but those of a strange, and, till then, unfelt pleasure. Every part of me was open and exposed to the licentious113 courses of her hands, which, like a lambent fire, ran over my whole body, and thaw’d all coldness as they went.
My breasts, if it is not too bold a figure to call so two hard, firm, rising hillocks, that just began to shew themselves, or signify anything to the touch, employ’d and amus’d her hands a-while, till, slipping down lower, over a smooth track, she could just feel the soft silky down that had but a few months before put forth114 and garnish’d the mount-pleasant of those parts, and promised to spread a grateful shelter over the seat of the most exquisite115 sensation, and which had been, till that instant, the seat of the most insensible innocence. Her fingers play’d and strove to twine116 in the young tendrils of that moss117, which nature has contrived118 at once for use and ornament119.
But, not contented120 with these outer posts, she now attempts the main spot, and began to twitch121, to insinuate122, and at length to force an introduction of a finger into the quick itself, in such a manner, that had she not proceeded by insensible gradations that inflamed124 me beyond the power of modesty125 to oppose its resistance to their progress, I should have jump’d out of bed and cried for help against such strange assaults.
Instead of which, her lascivious126 touches had lighted up a new fire that wanton’d through all my veins127, but fix’d with violence in that center appointed them by nature, where the first strange hands were now busied in feeling, squeezing, compressing the lips, then opening them again, with a finger between, till an “Oh!” express’d her hurting me, where the narrowness of the unbroken passage refused it entrance to any depth.
In the meantime, the extension of my limbs, languid stretchings, sighs, short heavings, all conspired128 to assure that experienced wanton that I was more pleased than offended at her proceedings129, which she seasoned with repeated kisses and exclamations130, such as “Oh! what a charming creature thou art! . . . What a happy man will he be that first makes a woman of you! . . . Oh! that I were a man for your sake! . . . with the like broken expressions, interrupted by kisses as fierce and fervent131 as ever I received from the other sex.
For my part, I was transported, confused, and out of myself; feelings so new were too much for me. My heated and alarm’d senses were in a tumult132 that robbed me of all liberty of thought; tears of pleasure gush’d from my eyes, and somewhat assuaged133 the fire that rag’d all over me.
Phoebe, herself, the hackney’d, thorough-bred Phoebe, to whom all modes and devices of pleasure were known and familiar, found, it seems, in this exercise of her art to break young girls, the gratification of one of those arbitrary tastes, for which there is no accounting134. Not that she hated men, or did not even prefer them to her own sex; but when she met with such occasions as this was, a satiety135 of enjoyments136 in the common road, perhaps too, a secret bias137, inclined her to make the most of pleasure, wherever she could find it, without distinction of sexes. In this view, now well assured that she had, by her touches, sufficiently inflamed me for her purpose, she roll’d down the bed-cloaths gently, and I saw myself stretched nak’d, my shift being turned up to my neck, whilst I had no power or sense to oppose it. Even my glowing blushes expressed more desire than modesty, whilst the candle, left (to be sure not undesignedly) burning, threw a full light on my whole body.
“No!” says Phoebe, “you must not, my sweet girl, think to hide all these treasures from me. My sight must be feasted as well as my touch . . . I must devour with my eyes this springing BOSOM138 . . . Suffer me to kiss it . . . I have not seen it enough . . . Let me kiss it once more . . . What firm, smooth, white flesh is here! . . . How delicately shaped! . . . Then this delicious down! Oh! let me view the small, dear, tender cleft139! . . . This is too much, I cannot bear it! . . . I must . . . I must . . .” Here she took my hand, and in a transport carried it where you will easily guess. But what a difference in the state of the same thing! . . . A spreading thicket140 of bushy curls marked the full-grown, complete woman. Then the cavity to which she guided my hand easily received it; and as soon as she felt it within her, she moved herself to and fro, with so rapid a friction141 that I presently withdrew it, wet and clammy, when instantly Phoebe grew more composed, after two or three sighs, and heart-fetched Oh’s! and giving me a kiss that seemed to exhale142 her soul through her lips, she replaced the bed-cloaths over us. What pleasure she had found I will not say; but this I know, that the first sparks of kindling143 nature, the first ideas of pollution, were caught by me that night; and that the acquaintance and communication with the bad of our own sex, is often as fatal to innocence as all the seductions of the other. But to go on. When Phoebe was restor’d to that calm, which I was far from the enjoyment of myself, she artfully sounded me on all the points necessary to govern the designs of my virtuous144 mistress on me, and by my answers, drawn from pure undissembled nature, she had no reason but to promise herself all imaginable success, so far as it depended on my ignorance, easiness, and warmth of constitution.
After a sufficient length of dialogue, my bedfellow left me to my rest, and I fell asleep, through pure weariness from the violent emotions I had been led into, when nature (which had been too warmly stir’d and fermented145 to subside146 without allaying147 by some means or other) relieved me by one of those luscious148 dreams, the transports of which are scarce inferior to those of waking real action.
We breakfasted, and the tea things were scarce removed, when in were brought two bundles of linen and wearing apparel: in short, all the necessaries for rigging me out, as they termed it, completely.
In the morning I awoke about ten, perfectly gay and refreshed. Phoebe was up before me, and asked me in the kindest manner how I did, how I had rested, and if I was ready for breakfast, carefully, at the same time, avoiding to increase the confusion she saw I was in, at looking her in the face, by any hint of the night’s bed scene. I told her if she pleased I would get up, and begin any work she would be pleased to set me about. She smil’d; presently the maid brought in the tea-equipage, and I had just huddled149 my cloaths on, when in waddled150 my mistress. I expected no less than to be told of, if not chid151 for, my late rising, when I was agreeably disappointed by her compliments on my pure and fresh looks. I was “a bud of beauty” (this was her style), “and how vastly all the fine men would admire me!” to all which my answer did not, I can assure you, wrong my breeding; they were as simple and silly as they could wish, and, no doubt, flattered them infinitely more than had they proved me enlightened by education and a knowledge of the world.
Imagine to yourself, Madam, how my little coquette heart flutter’d with joy at the sight of a white lute-string, flower’d with silver, scoured152 indeed, but passed on me for spick-and-span new, a Brussels lace cap, braided shoes, and the rest in proportion, all second-hand153 finery, and procured instantly for the occasion, by the diligence and industry of the good Mrs. Brown, who had already a chapman for me in the house, before whom my charms were to pass in review; for he had not only, in course, insisted on a previous sight of the premises154, but also on immediate32 surrender to him, in case of his agreeing for me; concluding very wisely that such a place as I was in was of the hottest to trust the keeping of such a perishable155 commodity in as a maidenhead.
The care of dressing106, and tricking me out for the market, was then left to Phoebe, who acquitted herself, if not well, at least perfectly to the satisfaction of every thing but my impatience156 of seeing myself dress’d. When it was over, and I view’d myself in the glass, I was, no doubt, too natural, too artless, to hide my childish joy at the change; a change, in the real truth, for much the worse, since I must have much better become the neat easy simplicity157 of my rustic dress than the awkward, untoward158, taudry finery that I could not conceal159 my strangeness to.
Phoebe’s compliments, however, in which her own share in dressing me was not forgot, did not a little confirm me in the first notions I had ever entertained concerning my person; which, be it said without vanity, was then tolerable to justify160 a taste for me, and of which it may not be out of place here to sketch161 you an unflatter’d picture.
I was tall, yet not too tall for my age, which, as I before remark’d, was barely turned of fifteen; my shape perfectly straight, thin waisted, and light and free, without owing any thing to stays; my hair was a glossy162 auburn, and as soft as silk, flowing down my neck in natural buckles163, and did not a little set off the whiteness of a smooth skin; my face was rather too ruddy, though its features were delicate, and the shape a roundish oval, except where a pit on my chin had far from a disagreeable effect; my eyes were as black as can be imagin’d, and rather languishing164 than sparkling, except on certain occasions, when I have been told they struck fire fast enough; my teeth, which I ever carefully perserv’d, were small, even and white; my bosom was finely rais’d, and one might then discern rather the promise, than the actual growth, of the round, firm breasts, that in a little time made that promise good. In short, all the points of beauty that are most universally in request, I had, or at least my vanity forbade me to appeal from the decision of our sovereign judges the men, who all, that I ever knew at least, gave it thus highly in my favour; and I met with, even in my own sex, some that were above denying me that justice, whilst others praised me yet more unsuspectedly, by endeavouring to detract from me, in points of person and figure that I obviously excelled in. This is, I own, too strong of self praise; but should I not be ungrateful to nature, and to a form to which I owe such singular blessings165 of pleasure and fortune, were I to suppress, through and affectation of modesty, the mention of such valuable gifts?
Well then, dress’d I was, and little did it then enter into my head that all this gay attire166 was no more than decking the victim out for sacrifice, whilst I innocently attributed all to mere167 friendship and kindness in the sweet good Mrs. Brown; who, I was forgetting to mention, had, under pretence168 of keeping my money safe, got from me, without the least hesitation169, the driblet (so I now call it) which remained to me after the expences of my journey.
After some little time most agreeably spent before the glass, in scarce self-admiration, since my new dress had by much the greatest share in it, I was sent for down to the parlour, where the old lady saluted170 me, and wished me joy of my new cloaths, which she was not asham’d to say, fitted me as if I had worn nothing but the finest all my life-time; but what was it she could not see me silly enough to swallow? At the same time, she presented me to another cousin of her own creation, an elderly gentleman, who got up, at my entry into the room, and on my dropping a curtsy to him, saluted me, and seemed a little affronted171 that I had only presented my cheek to him; a mistake, which, if one, he immediately corrected, by glewing his lips to mine, with an ardour which his figure had not at all disposed me to thank him for; his figure, I say, than which nothing could be more shocking or detestable: for ugly, and disagreeable, were terms too gentle to convey a just idea of it.
Imagine to yourself a man rather past threescore, short and ill-made, with a yellow cadaverous hue172, great goggling173 eyes that stared as if he was strangled; and out-mouth from two more properly tusks174 than teeth, livid-lips, and breath like a jake’s: then he had a peculiar175 ghastliness in his grin that made him perfectly frightful176, if not dangerous to women with child; yet, made as he was thus in mock of man, he was so blind to his own staring deformities as to think himself born for pleasing, and that no woman could see him with impunity177: in consequence of which idea, he had lavish’d great sums on such wretches178 as could gain upon themselves to pretend love to his person, whilst to those who had not art or patience to dissemble the horror it inspir’d, he behaved even brutally179. Impotence, more than necessity, made him seek in variety the provocative181 that was wanting to raise him to the pitch of enjoyment, which too he often saw himself baulked of, by the failure of his powers: and this always threw him into a fit of rage, which he wreak’d, as far as he durst, on the innocent objects of his fit of momentary182 desire.
This then was the monster to which my conscientious183 benefactress, who had long been his purveyor184 in this way, had doom’d me, and sent for me down purposely for his examination. Accordingly she made me stand up before him, turn’d me round, unpinn’d my handkerchief, remark’d to him the rise and fall, the turn and whiteness of a bosom just beginning to fill; then made me walk, and took even a handle from the rusticity185 of my gait, to inflame123 the inventory186 of my charms: in short, she omitted no point of jockeyship; to which he only answer’d by gracious nods of approbation, whilst he look’d goats and monkies at me: for I sometimes stole a corner glance at him, and encountering his fiery187, eager stare, looked another way from pure horror and affright, which he, doubtless in character, attributed to nothing more than maiden modesty, or at least the affectation of it.
However, I was soon dismiss’d, and reconducted to my room by Phoebe, who stuck close to me, not leaving me alone and at leisure to make such reflections as might naturally rise to any one, not an idiot, on such a scene as I had just gone through; but to my shame be it confess’d, such was my invincible188 stupidity, or rather portentous189 innocence, that I did not yet open my eyes to Mrs. Brown’s designs, and saw nothing in this titular190 cousin of hers but a shocking hideous191 person which did not at all concern me, unless that my respect to all her cousinhood.
Phoebe, however, began to sift192 the state and pulses of my heart towards this monster, asking me how I should approve of such a fine gentleman for a husband? (fine gentleman, I suppose she called him, from his being daubed with lace). I answered her very naturally, that I had no thoughts of a husband, but that if I was to choose one, it should be among my own degree, sure! So much had my aversion to that wretch’s hideous figure indisposed me to all “fine gentlemen,” and confounded my ideas, as if those of that rank had been necessarily cast in the same mould that he was! But Phoebe was not to be beat off so, but went on with her endeavours to melt and soften193 me for the purposes of my reception into that hospitable194 house: and whilst she talked of the sex in general, she had no reason to despair of a compliance, which more than one reason shewed her would be easily enough obtained of me; but then she had too much experience not to discover that my particular fix’d aversion to that frightful cousin would be a block not so readily to be removed, as suited the consummation of their bargain, and sale of me.
Mother Brown had in the mean time agreed the terms with this liquorish old goat, which I afterwards understood were to be fifty guineas peremptory195 for the liberty of attempting me, and a hundred more at the compleat gratification of his desires, in the triumph over my virginity: and as for me, I was to be left entirely at the discretion196 of his liking and generosity197. This unrighteous contract being thus settled, he was so eager to be put in possession, that he insisted on being introduc’d to drink tea with me that afternoon, when we were to be left alone; nor would he hearken to the procuress’s remonstrances198, that I was not sufficiently prepared and ripened199 for such an attack; that I was too green and untam’d, having been scarce twenty-four hours in the house: it is the character of lust200 to be impatient, and his vanity arming him against any supposition of other than the common resistance of a maid on those occasions, made him reject all proposals of a delay, and my dreadful trial was thus fix’d, unknown to me, for that very evening.
At dinner, Mrs. Brown and Phoebe did nothing but run riot in praises of this wonderful cousin, and how happy that woman would be that he would favour with his addresses; in short my two gossips exhausted201 all their rhetoric202 to persuade me to accept them: “that the gentleman was violently smitten203 with me at first sight . . . that he would make my fortune if I would be a good girl and not stand in my own light . . . that I should trust his honour . . . that I should be made for ever, and have a chariot to go abroad in . . .,” with all such stuff as was fit to turn the head of such a silly ignorant girl as I then was: but luckily here my aversion had taken already such deep root in me, my heart was so strongly defended from him by my senses, that wanting the art to mask my sentiments, I gave them no hopes of their employer’s succeeding, at least very easily, with me. The glass too march’d pretty quick, with a view, I suppose, to make a friend of the warmth of my constitution, in the minutes of the imminent204 attack.
Thus they kept me pretty long at table, and about six in the evening, after I was retired205 to my own apartment, and the tea board was set, enters my venerable mistress, follow’d close by that satyr, who came in grinning in a way peculiar to him, and by his odious206 presence confirm’d me in all the sentiments of detestation which his first appearance had given birth to.
He sat down fronting me, and all tea time kept ogling207 me in a manner that gave me the utmost pain and confusion, all the marks of which he still explained to be my bashfulness, and not being used to see company.
Tea over, the commoding old lady pleaded urgent business (which indeed was true) to go out, and earnestly desir’d me to entertain her cousin kindly208 till she came back, both for my own sake and her’s; and then with a “Pray, sir, be very good, be very tender of the sweet child,” she went out of the room, leaving me staring, with my mouth open, and unprepar’d, by the suddenness of her departure, to oppose it.
We were now alone; and on that idea a sudden fit of trembling seiz’d me. I was so afraid, without a precise notion of why, and what I had to fear, that I sat on the settee, by the fire-side, motionless, and petrified209, without life or spirit, not knowing how to look or how to stir.
But long I was not suffered to remain in this state of stupefaction: the monster squatted210 down by me on the settee, and without farther ceremony or preamble211, flings his arms about my neck, and drawing me pretty forcibly towards him, oblig’d me to receive, in spite of my struggles to disengage from him, his pestilential kisses, which quite overcame me. Finding me then next to senseless, and unresisting, he tears off my neck handkerchief, and laid all open there to his eyes and hands: still I endur’d all without flinching212, till embolden’d by my sufferance and silence, for I had not the power to speak or cry out, he attempted to lay me down on the settee, and I felt his hand on the lower part of my naked thighs213, which were cross’d, and which he endeavoured to unlock . . . Oh then! I was roused out of my passive endurance, and springing from him with an activity he was not prepar’d for, threw myself at his feet, and begg’d him, in the most moving tone, not to be rude, and that he would not hurt me:—”Hurt you, my dear?” says the brute214; “I intend you no harm . . . has not the old lady told you that I love you? . . . that I shall do handsomely by you?” “She has indeed, sir,” said I; “but I cannot love you, indeed I can not! . . . pray let me alone . . . yes! I will love you dearly if you will let me alone, and go away . . . “ But I was talking to the wind; for whether my tears, my attitude, or the disorder215 of my dress prov’d fresh incentives216, or whether he was not under the dominion217 of desires he could not bridle219, but snorting and foaming220 with lust and rage, he renews his attack, seizes me, and again attempts to extend and fix me on the settee: in which he succeeded so far as to lay me along, and even to toss my petticoats over my head, and lay my thighs bare, which I obstinately221 kept close, nor could he, though he attempted with his knee to force them open, effect it so as to stand fair for being master of the main avenue; he was unbuttoned, both waistcoat and breeches, yet I only felt the weight of his body upon me, whilst I lay struggling with indignation, and dying with terror; but he stopped all of a sudden, and got off, panting, blowing, cursing, and repeating “old and ugly!” for so I had very naturally called him in the heat of my defence.
The brute had, it seems, as I afterwards understood, brought on, by his eagerness and struggle, the ultimate period of his hot fit of lust, which his power was too short liv’d to carry him through the full execution of; of which my thighs and linen received the effusion.
When it was over he bid me, with a tone of displeasure, get up, saying that he would not do me the honour to think of me any more . . . that the old bitch might look out for another cully . . . that he would not be fool’d so by e’er a country mock modesty in England . . . that he supposed I had left my maidenhead with some hobnail in the country, and was come to dispose of my skin-milk in town, with a volley of the like abuse; which I listened to with more pleasure than ever fond woman did to protestations of love from her darling minion218: for, incapable222 as I was of receiving any addition to my perfect hatred223 and aversion to him, I look’d on this railing as my security against his renewing his most odious caresses224.
Yet, plain as Mrs. Brown’s views were now come out, I had not the heart or spirit to open my eyes to them: still I could not part with my dependence on that beldam, so much did I think myself her’s, soul and body: or rather, I sought to deceive myself with the continuation of my good opinion of her, and chose to wait the worst at her hands sooner than be turn’d out to starve in the streets, without a penny of money or a friend to apply to: these fears were my folly225.
Whilst this confusion of ideas was passing in my head, and I sat pensive42 by the fire, with my eyes brimming with tears, my neck still bare, and my cap fall’n off in the struggle, so that my hair was in the disorder you may guess, the villain’s lust began, I suppose, to be again in flow, at the sight of all that bloom of youth which presented itself to his view, a bloom yet unenjoy’d, and of course not yet indifferent to him.
After some pause, he ask’d me, with a tone of voice mightily226 softened227, whether I would make it up with him before the old lady returned and all should be well; he would restore me his affections, at the same time offering to kiss me and feel my breasts. But now my extreme aversion, my fears, my indignation, all acting228 upon me, gave me a spirit not natural to me, so that breaking loose from him, I ran to the bell and rang it, before he was aware, with such violence and effect as brought up the maid to know what was the matter, or whether the gentleman wanted any thing; and before he could proceed to greater extremities229, she bounc’d into the room, and seeing me stretch’d on the floor, my hair all dishevell’d, my nose gushing230 out blood, which did not a little tragedize the scene, and my odious persecutor231 still intent of pushing his brutal180 point, unmoved by all my cries and distress, she was herself confounded and did not know what to say.
As much, however, as Martha might be prepared and hardened to transactions of this sort, all womanhood must have been out of her heart, could she have seen this unmov’d. Besides that, on the face of things, she imagined that matters had gone greater lengths than they really had, and that the courtesy of the house had been actually consummated232 on me, and flung me into the condition I was in: in this notion she instantly took my part, and advis’d the gentleman to go down and leave me to recover myself, and “that all would be soon over with me . . . that when Mrs. Brown and Phoebe, who were gone out, were return’d, they would take order for every thing to his satisfaction . . . that nothing would be lost by a little patience with the poor tender thing . . . that for her part she was . . . frighten’d . . . she could not tell what to say to such doings . . . but that she would stay by me till my mistress came home.” As the wench said all this in a resolute233 tone, and the monster himself began to perceive that things would not mend by his staying, he took his hat and went out of the room, murmuring, and pleating his brows like an old ape, so that I was delivered from the horrors of his detestable presence.
As soon as he was gone, Martha very tenderly offered me her assistance in any thing, and would have got me some hartshorn drops, and put me to bed; which last, I at first positively234 refused, in the fear that the monster might return and take me at that advantage. However, with much persuasion235, and assurances that I should not be molested236 that night, she prevailed on me to lie down; and indeed I was so weakened by my struggles, so dejected by my fearful apprehensions237, so terror-struck, that I had not power to sit up, or hardly to give answers to the questions with which the curious Martha ply’d and perplex’d me.
Such too, and so cruel was my fate, that I dreaded the sight of Mrs. Brown, as if I had been the criminal and she the person injur’d; a mistake which you will not think so strange, on distinguishing that neither virtue nor principles had the least share in the defence I had made, but only the particular aversion I had conceiv’d against the first brutal and frightful invader238 of my tender innocence.
I pass’d then the time till Mrs. Brown’s return home, under all the agitations239 of fear and despair that may easily be guessed.
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收听单词发音
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1
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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2
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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3
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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affluence
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| n.充裕，富足 | |
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5
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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7
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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8
intimacies
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| 亲密( intimacy的名词复数 )； 密切； 亲昵的言行； 性行为 | |
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9
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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10
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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adorning
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| 修饰，装饰物 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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13
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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14
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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15
piously
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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16
maim
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| v.使残废，使不能工作，使伤残 | |
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17
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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18
drudgery
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| n.苦工，重活，单调乏味的工作 | |
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19
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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20
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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21
illegible
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| adj.难以辨认的，字迹模糊的 | |
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22
scrawl
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| vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写 | |
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23
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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24
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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25
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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26
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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27
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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30
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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32
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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33
piquing
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的现在分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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34
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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35
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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40
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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41
frugally
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| adv. 节约地, 节省地 | |
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42
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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43
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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44
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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45
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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46
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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47
dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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48
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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49
proffering
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的现在分词 ) | |
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50
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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51
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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52
alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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53
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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54
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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55
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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56
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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57
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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58
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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59
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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60
consolations
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| n.安慰，慰问( consolation的名词复数 )；起安慰作用的人（或事物） | |
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61
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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62
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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63
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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64
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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65
scrolls
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| n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕 | |
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66
stammer
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| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
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67
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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68
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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69
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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70
tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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71
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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72
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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73
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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74
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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75
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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76
primming
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| v.循规蹈矩的( prim的现在分词 )；整洁的；（人）一本正经；循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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77
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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78
demureness
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| n.demure（拘谨的，端庄的）的变形 | |
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79
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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80
tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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81
practitioner
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| n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者 | |
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82
shrugs
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| n.耸肩（以表示冷淡，怀疑等）( shrug的名词复数 ) | |
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83
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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84
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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85
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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86
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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87
buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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88
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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89
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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90
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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91
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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92
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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93
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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94
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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95
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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96
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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98
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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99
augment
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| vt.(使)增大，增加，增长，扩张 | |
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100
novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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101
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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102
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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103
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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104
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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105
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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106
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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107
havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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108
lewdness
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| n. 淫荡, 邪恶 | |
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109
imputing
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的现在分词 ) | |
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110
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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111
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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112
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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113
licentious
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| adj.放纵的，淫乱的 | |
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114
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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115
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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116
twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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117
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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118
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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119
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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120
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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121
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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122
insinuate
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| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
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123
inflame
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| v.使燃烧；使极度激动；使发炎 | |
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124
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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126
lascivious
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| adj.淫荡的，好色的 | |
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127
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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128
conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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129
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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130
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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131
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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132
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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133
assuaged
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| v.减轻( assuage的过去式和过去分词 )；缓和；平息；使安静 | |
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134
accounting
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| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
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135
satiety
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| n.饱和；(市场的)充分供应 | |
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136
enjoyments
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| 愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 )； 令人愉快的事物； 享有； 享受 | |
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137
bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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138
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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139
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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140
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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141
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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142
exhale
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| v.呼气，散出，吐出，蒸发 | |
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143
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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144
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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145
fermented
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| v.（使）发酵( ferment的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰 | |
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146
subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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147
allaying
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的现在分词 ) | |
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148
luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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149
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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150
waddled
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| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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151
chid
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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152
scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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153
second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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154
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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155
perishable
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| adj.（尤指食物）易腐的，易坏的 | |
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156
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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157
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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158
untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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159
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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160
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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161
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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162
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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163
buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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164
languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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165
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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166
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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167
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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168
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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169
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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170
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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171
affronted
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| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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172
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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173
goggling
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| v.睁大眼睛瞪视， （惊讶的）转动眼珠( goggle的现在分词 ) | |
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174
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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175
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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176
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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177
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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178
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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179
brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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180
brutal
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|
| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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181
provocative
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| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
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182
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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183
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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184
purveyor
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| n.承办商，伙食承办商 | |
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185
rusticity
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| n.乡村的特点、风格或气息 | |
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186
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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187
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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188
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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189
portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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190
titular
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| adj.名义上的，有名无实的；n.只有名义（或头衔）的人 | |
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191
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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192
sift
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| v.筛撒，纷落，详察 | |
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193
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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194
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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195
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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196
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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197
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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198
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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199
ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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200
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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201
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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202
rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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203
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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204
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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205
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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206
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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207
ogling
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| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的现在分词 ) | |
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208
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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209
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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210
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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211
preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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212
flinching
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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213
thighs
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| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
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214
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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215
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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216
incentives
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| 激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机 | |
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217
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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218
minion
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| n.宠仆；宠爱之人 | |
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219
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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220
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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221
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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222
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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223
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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224
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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225
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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226
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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227
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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228
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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229
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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230
gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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231
persecutor
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| n. 迫害者 | |
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232
consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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233
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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234
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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235
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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236
molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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237
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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238
invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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239
agitations
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| （液体等的）摇动( agitation的名词复数 )； 鼓动； 激烈争论； （情绪等的）纷乱 | |
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