The betrothal5 of Rosa grew out of the soothing6 of his year of mental distress7 by his fast friend and old college companion, Drood: who likewise had been left a widower8 in his youth. But he, too, went the silent road into which all earthly pilgrimages merge9, some sooner, and some later; and thus the young couple had come to be as they were.
The atmosphere of pity surrounding the little orphan10 girl when she first came to Cloisterham, had never cleared away. It had taken brighter hues11 as she grew older, happier, prettier; now it had been golden, now roseate, and now azure12; but it had always adorned13 her with some soft light of its own. The general desire to console and caress14 her, had caused her to be treated in the beginning as a child much younger than her years; the same desire had caused her to be still petted when she was a child no longer. Who should be her favourite, who should anticipate this or that small present, or do her this or that small service; who should take her home for the holidays; who should write to her the oftenest when they were separated, and whom she would most rejoice to see again when they were reunited; even these gentle rivalries15 were not without their slight dashes of bitterness in the Nuns’ House. Well for the poor Nuns in their day, if they hid no harder strife16 under their veils and rosaries!
Thus Rosa had grown to be an amiable17, giddy, wilful18, winning little creature; spoilt, in the sense of counting upon kindness from all around her; but not in the sense of repaying it with indifference19. Possessing an exhaustless well of affection in her nature, its sparkling waters had freshened and brightened the Nuns’ House for years, and yet its depths had never yet been moved: what might betide when that came to pass; what developing changes might fall upon the heedless head, and light heart, then; remained to be seen.
By what means the news that there had been a quarrel between the two young men overnight, involving even some kind of onslaught by Mr. Neville upon Edwin Drood, got into Miss Twinkleton’s establishment before breakfast, it is impossible to say. Whether it was brought in by the birds of the air, or came blowing in with the very air itself, when the casement20 windows were set open; whether the baker21 brought it kneaded into the bread, or the milkman delivered it as part of the adulteration of his milk; or the housemaids, beating the dust out of their mats against the gateposts, received it in exchange deposited on the mats by the town atmosphere; certain it is that the news permeated22 every gable of the old building before Miss Twinkleton was down, and that Miss Twinkleton herself received it through Mrs. Tisher, while yet in the act of dressing23; or (as she might have expressed the phrase to a parent or guardian24 of a mythological25 turn) of sacrificing to the Graces.
Miss Landless’s brother had thrown a bottle at Mr. Edwin Drood.
Miss Landless’s brother had thrown a knife at Mr. Edwin Drood.
A knife became suggestive of a fork; and Miss Landless’s brother had thrown a fork at Mr. Edwin Drood.
As in the governing precedence of Peter Piper, alleged26 to have picked the peck of pickled pepper, it was held physically27 desirable to have evidence of the existence of the peck of pickled pepper which Peter Piper was alleged to have picked; so, in this case, it was held psychologically important to know why Miss Landless’s brother threw a bottle, knife, or fork-or bottle, knife, and fork — for the cook had been given to understand it was all three — at Mr. Edwin Drood?
Well, then. Miss Landless’s brother had said he admired Miss Bud. Mr. Edwin Drood had said to Miss Landless’s brother that he had no business to admire Miss Bud. Miss Landless’s brother had then ‘up’d’ (this was the cook’s exact information) with the bottle, knife, fork, and decanter (the decanter now coolly flying at everybody’s head, without the least introduction), and thrown them all at Mr. Edwin Drood.
Poor little Rosa put a forefinger29 into each of her ears when these rumours30 began to circulate, and retired32 into a corner, beseeching33 not to be told any more; but Miss Landless, begging permission of Miss Twinkleton to go and speak with her brother, and pretty plainly showing that she would take it if it were not given, struck out the more definite course of going to Mr. Crisparkle’s for accurate intelligence.
When she came back (being first closeted with Miss Twinkleton, in order that anything objectionable in her tidings might be retained by that discreet34 filter), she imparted to Rosa only, what had taken place; dwelling35 with a flushed cheek on the provocation36 her brother had received, but almost limiting it to that last gross affront37 as crowning ‘some other words between them,’ and, out of consideration for her new friend, passing lightly over the fact that the other words had originated in her lover’s taking things in general so very easily. To Rosa direct, she brought a petition from her brother that she would forgive him; and, having delivered it with sisterly earnestness, made an end of the subject.
It was reserved for Miss Twinkleton to tone down the public mind of the Nuns’ House. That lady, therefore, entering in a stately manner what plebeians38 might have called the school-room, but what, in the patrician39 language of the head of the Nuns’ House, was euphuistically, not to say round-aboutedly, denominated ‘the apartment allotted40 to study,’ and saying with a forensic41 air, ‘Ladies!’ all rose. Mrs. Tisher at the same time grouped herself behind her chief, as representing Queen Elizabeth’s first historical female friend at Tilbury fort. Miss Twinkleton then proceeded to remark that Rumour31, Ladies, had been represented by the bard42 of Avon — needless were it to mention the immortal43 Shakespeare, also called the Swan of his native river, not improbably with some reference to the ancient superstition44 that that bird of graceful45 plumage (Miss Jennings will please stand upright) sang sweetly on the approach of death, for which we have no ornithological46 authority — Rumour, Ladies, had been represented by that bard — hem28! —
‘who drew
The celebrated47 Jew,’
as painted full of tongues. Rumour in Cloisterham (Miss Ferdinand will honour me with her attention) was no exception to the great limner’s portrait of Rumour elsewhere. A slight fracas48 between two young gentlemen occurring last night within a hundred miles of these peaceful walls (Miss Ferdinand, being apparently49 incorrigible50, will have the kindness to write out this evening, in the original language, the first four fables51 of our vivacious52 neighbour, Monsieur La Fontaine) had been very grossly exaggerated by Rumour’s voice. In the first alarm and anxiety arising from our sympathy with a sweet young friend, not wholly to be dissociated from one of the gladiators in the bloodless arena53 in question (the impropriety of Miss Reynolds’s appearing to stab herself in the hand with a pin, is far too obvious, and too glaringly unladylike, to be pointed55 out), we descended56 from our maiden57 elevation58 to discuss this uncongenial and this unfit theme. Responsible inquiries59 having assured us that it was but one of those ‘airy nothings’ pointed at by the Poet (whose name and date of birth Miss Giggles60 will supply within half an hour), we would now discard the subject, and concentrate our minds upon the grateful labours of the day.
But the subject so survived all day, nevertheless, that Miss Ferdinand got into new trouble by surreptitiously clapping on a paper moustache at dinner-time, and going through the motions of aiming a water-bottle at Miss Giggles, who drew a table-spoon in defence.
Now, Rosa thought of this unlucky quarrel a great deal, and thought of it with an uncomfortable feeling that she was involved in it, as cause, or consequence, or what not, through being in a false position altogether as to her marriage engagement. Never free from such uneasiness when she was with her affianced husband, it was not likely that she would be free from it when they were apart. To-day, too, she was cast in upon herself, and deprived of the relief of talking freely with her new friend, because the quarrel had been with Helena’s brother, and Helena undisguisedly avoided the subject as a delicate and difficult one to herself. At this critical time, of all times, Rosa’s guardian was announced as having come to see her.
Mr. Grewgious had been well selected for his trust, as a man of incorruptible integrity, but certainly for no other appropriate quality discernible on the surface. He was an arid61, sandy man, who, if he had been put into a grinding-mill, looked as if he would have ground immediately into high-dried snuff. He had a scanty62 flat crop of hair, in colour and consistency63 like some very mangy yellow fur tippet; it was so unlike hair, that it must have been a wig64, but for the stupendous improbability of anybody’s voluntarily sporting such a head. The little play of feature that his face presented, was cut deep into it, in a few hard curves that made it more like work; and he had certain notches65 in his forehead, which looked as though Nature had been about to touch them into sensibility or refinement66, when she had impatiently thrown away the chisel67, and said: ‘I really cannot be worried to finish off this man; let him go as he is.’
With too great length of throat at his upper end, and too much ankle-bone and heel at his lower; with an awkward and hesitating manner; with a shambling walk; and with what is called a near sight — which perhaps prevented his observing how much white cotton stocking he displayed to the public eye, in contrast with his black suit — Mr. Grewgious still had some strange capacity in him of making on the whole an agreeable impression.
Mr. Grewgious was discovered by his ward68, much discomfited69 by being in Miss Twinkleton’s company in Miss Twinkleton’s own sacred room. Dim forebodings of being examined in something, and not coming well out of it, seemed to oppress the poor gentleman when found in these circumstances.
‘My dear, how do you do? I am glad to see you. My dear, how much improved you are. Permit me to hand you a chair, my dear.’
Miss Twinkleton rose at her little writing-table, saying, with general sweetness, as to the polite Universe: ‘Will you permit me to retire?’
‘By no means, madam, on my account. I beg that you will not move.’
‘I must entreat70 permission to move,’ returned Miss Twinkleton, repeating the word with a charming grace; ‘but I will not withdraw, since you are so obliging. If I wheel my desk to this corner window, shall I be in the way?’
‘Madam! In the way!’
‘You are very kind. — Rosa, my dear, you will be under no restraint, I am sure.’
Here Mr. Grewgious, left by the fire with Rosa, said again: ‘My dear, how do you do? I am glad to see you, my dear.’ And having waited for her to sit down, sat down himself.
‘My visits,’ said Mr. Grewgious, ‘are, like those of the angels — not that I compare myself to an angel.’
‘No, sir,’ said Rosa.
‘Not by any means,’ assented71 Mr. Grewgious. ‘I merely refer to my visits, which are few and far between. The angels are, we know very well, up-stairs.’
Miss Twinkleton looked round with a kind of stiff stare.
‘I refer, my dear,’ said Mr. Grewgious, laying his hand on Rosa’s, as the possibility thrilled through his frame of his otherwise seeming to take the awful liberty of calling Miss Twinkleton my dear; ‘I refer to the other young ladies.’
Miss Twinkleton resumed her writing.
Mr. Grewgious, with a sense of not having managed his opening point quite as neatly73 as he might have desired, smoothed his head from back to front as if he had just dived, and were pressing the water out — this smoothing action, however superfluous74, was habitual75 with him — and took a pocket-book from his coat-pocket, and a stump76 of black-lead pencil from his waistcoat-pocket.
‘I made,’ he said, turning the leaves: ‘I made a guiding memorandum77 or so — as I usually do, for I have no conversational78 powers whatever — to which I will, with your permission, my dear, refer. “Well and happy.” Truly. You are well and happy, my dear? You look so.’
‘Yes, indeed, sir,’ answered Rosa.
‘For which,’ said Mr. Grewgious, with a bend of his head towards the corner window, ‘our warmest acknowledgments are due, and I am sure are rendered, to the maternal79 kindness and the constant care and consideration of the lady whom I have now the honour to see before me.’
This point, again, made but a lame80 departure from Mr. Grewgious, and never got to its destination; for, Miss Twinkleton, feeling that the courtesies required her to be by this time quite outside the conversation, was biting the end of her pen, and looking upward, as waiting for the descent of an idea from any member of the Celestial81 Nine who might have one to spare.
Mr. Grewgious smoothed his smooth head again, and then made another reference to his pocket-book; lining82 out ‘well and happy,’ as disposed of.
‘“Pounds, shillings, and pence,” is my next note. A dry subject for a young lady, but an important subject too. Life is pounds, shillings, and pence. Death is —’ A sudden recollection of the death of her two parents seemed to stop him, and he said in a softer tone, and evidently inserting the negative as an after-thought: ‘Death is not pounds, shillings, and pence.’
His voice was as hard and dry as himself, and Fancy might have ground it straight, like himself, into high-dried snuff. And yet, through the very limited means of expression that he possessed83, he seemed to express kindness. If Nature had but finished him off, kindness might have been recognisable in his face at this moment. But if the notches in his forehead wouldn’t fuse together, and if his face would work and couldn’t play, what could he do, poor man!
‘“Pounds, shillings, and pence.” You find your allowance always sufficient for your wants, my dear?’
Rosa wanted for nothing, and therefore it was ample.
‘And you are not in debt?’
Rosa laughed at the idea of being in debt. It seemed, to her inexperience, a comical vagary84 of the imagination. Mr. Grewgious stretched his near sight to be sure that this was her view of the case. ‘Ah!’ he said, as comment, with a furtive85 glance towards Miss Twinkleton, and lining out pounds, shillings, and pence: ‘I spoke86 of having got among the angels! So I did!’
Rosa felt what his next memorandum would prove to be, and was blushing and folding a crease87 in her dress with one embarrassed hand, long before he found it.
‘“Marriage.” Hem!’ Mr. Grewgious carried his smoothing hand down over his eyes and nose, and even chin, before drawing his chair a little nearer, and speaking a little more confidentially88: ‘I now touch, my dear, upon the point that is the direct cause of my troubling you with the present visit. Othenwise, being a particularly Angular man, I should not have intruded90 here. I am the last man to intrude89 into a sphere for which I am so entirely91 unfitted. I feel, on these premises92, as if I was a bear — with the cramp93 — in a youthful Cotillon.’
His ungainliness gave him enough of the air of his simile94 to set Rosa off laughing heartily95.
‘It strikes you in the same light,’ said Mr. Grewgious, with perfect calmness. ‘Just so. To return to my memorandum. Mr. Edwin has been to and fro here, as was arranged. You have mentioned that, in your quarterly letters to me. And you like him, and he likes you.’
‘I like him very much, sir,’ rejoined Rosa.
‘So I said, my dear,’ returned her guardian, for whose ear the timid emphasis was much too fine. ‘Good. And you correspond.’
‘We write to one another,’ said Rosa, pouting96, as she recalled their epistolary differences.
‘Such is the meaning that I attach to the word “correspond” in this application, my dear,’ said Mr. Grewgious. ‘Good. All goes well, time works on, and at this next Christmas-time it will become necessary, as a matter of form, to give the exemplary lady in the corner window, to whom we are so much indebted, business notice of your departure in the ensuing half-year. Your relations with her are far more than business relations, no doubt; but a residue97 of business remains98 in them, and business is business ever. I am a particularly Angular man,’ proceeded Mr. Grewgious, as if it suddenly occurred to him to mention it, ‘and I am not used to give anything away. If, for these two reasons, some competent Proxy99 would give you away, I should take it very kindly100.’
Rosa intimated, with her eyes on the ground, that she thought a substitute might be found, if required.
‘Surely, surely,’ said Mr. Grewgious. ‘For instance, the gentleman who teaches Dancing here — he would know how to do it with graceful propriety54. He would advance and retire in a manner satisfactory to the feelings of the officiating clergyman, and of yourself, and the bridegroom, and all parties concerned. I am — I am a particularly Angular man,’ said Mr. Grewgious, as if he had made up his mind to screw it out at last: ‘and should only blunder.’
Rosa sat still and silent. Perhaps her mind had not got quite so far as the ceremony yet, but was lagging on the way there.
‘Memorandum, “Will.” Now, my dear,’ said Mr. Grewgious, referring to his notes, disposing of ‘Marriage’ with his pencil, and taking a paper from his pocket; ‘although. I have before possessed you with the contents of your father’s will, I think it right at this time to leave a certified101 copy of it in your hands. And although Mr. Edwin is also aware of its contents, I think it right at this time likewise to place a certified copy of it in Mr. Jasper’s hand —’
‘Not in his own!’ asked Rosa, looking up quickly. ‘Cannot the copy go to Eddy102 himself?’
‘Why, yes, my dear, if you particularly wish it; but I spoke of Mr. Jasper as being his trustee.’
‘I do particularly wish it, if you please,’ said Rosa, hurriedly and earnestly; ‘I don’t like Mr. Jasper to come between us, in any way.’
‘It is natural, I suppose,’ said Mr. Grewgious, ‘that your young husband should be all in all. Yes. You observe that I say, I suppose. The fact is, I am a particularly Unnatural103 man, and I don’t know from my own knowledge.’
Rosa looked at him with some wonder.
‘I mean,’ he explained, ‘that young ways were never my ways. I was the only offspring of parents far advanced in life, and I half believe I was born advanced in life myself. No personality is intended towards the name you will so soon change, when I remark that while the general growth of people seem to have come into existence, buds, I seem to have come into existence a chip. I was a chip — and a very dry one — when I first became aware of myself. Respecting the other certified copy, your wish shall be complied with. Respecting your inheritance, I think you know all. It is an annuity104 of two hundred and fifty pounds. The savings105 upon that annuity, and some other items to your credit, all duly carried to account, with vouchers106, will place you in possession of a lump-sum of money, rather exceeding Seventeen Hundred Pounds. I am empowered to advance the cost of your preparations for your marriage out of that fund. All is told.’
‘Will you please tell me,’ said Rosa, taking the paper with a prettily107 knitted brow, but not opening it: ‘whether I am right in what I am going to say? I can understand what you tell me, so very much better than what I read in law-writings. My poor papa and Eddy’s father made their agreement together, as very dear and firm and fast friends, in order that we, too, might be very dear and firm and fast friends after them?’
‘Just so.’
‘For the lasting108 good of both of us, and the lasting happiness of both of us?’
‘Just so.’
‘That we might be to one another even much more than they had been to one another?’
‘Just so.’
‘It was not bound upon Eddy, and it was not bound upon me, by any forfeit109, in case —’
‘Don’t be agitated110, my dear. In the case that it brings tears into your affectionate eyes even to picture to yourself — in the case of your not marrying one another — no, no forfeiture111 on either side. You would then have been my ward until you were of age. No worse would have befallen you. Bad enough perhaps!’
‘And Eddy?’
‘He would have come into his partnership112 derived113 from his father, and into its arrears114 to his credit (if any), on attaining115 his majority, just as now.’
Rosa, with her perplexed116 face and knitted brow, bit the corner of her attested117 copy, as she sat with her head on one side, looking abstractedly on the floor, and smoothing it with her foot.
‘In short,’ said Mr. Grewgious, ‘this betrothal is a wish, a sentiment, a friendly project, tenderly expressed on both sides. That it was strongly felt, and that there was a lively hope that it would prosper118, there can be no doubt. When you were both children, you began to be accustomed to it, and it has prospered119. But circumstances alter cases; and I made this visit to-day, partly, indeed principally, to discharge myself of the duty of telling you, my dear, that two young people can only be betrothed120 in marriage (except as a matter of convenience, and therefore mockery and misery) of their own free will, their own attachment121, and their own assurance (it may or it may not prove a mistaken one, but we must take our chance of that), that they are suited to each other, and will make each other happy. Is it to be supposed, for example, that if either of your fathers were living now, and had any mistrust on that subject, his mind would not be changed by the change of circumstances involved in the change of your years? Untenable, unreasonable122, inconclusive, and preposterous123!’
Mr. Grewgious said all this, as if he were reading it aloud; or, still more, as if he were repeating a lesson. So expressionless of any approach to spontaneity were his face and manner.
‘I have now, my dear,’ he added, blurring124 out ‘Will’ with his pencil, ‘discharged myself of what is doubtless a formal duty in this case, but still a duty in such a case. Memorandum, “Wishes.” My dear, is there any wish of yours that I can further?’
Rosa shook her head, with an almost plaintive125 air of hesitation126 in want of help.
‘Is there any instruction that I can take from you with reference to your affairs?’
‘I— I should like to settle them with Eddy first, if you please,’ said Rosa, plaiting the crease in her dress.
‘Surely, surely,’ returned Mr. Grewgious. ‘You two should be of one mind in all things. Is the young gentleman expected shortly?’
‘He has gone away only this morning. He will be back at Christmas.’
‘Nothing could happen better. You will, on his return at Christmas, arrange all matters of detail with him; you will then communicate with me; and I will discharge myself (as a mere72 business acquaintance) of my business responsibilities towards the accomplished127 lady in the corner window. They will accrue128 at that season.’ Blurring pencil once again. ‘Memorandum, “Leave.” Yes. I will now, my dear, take my leave.’
‘Could I,’ said Rosa, rising, as he jerked out of his chair in his ungainly way: ‘could I ask you, most kindly to come to me at Christmas, if I had anything particular to say to you?’
‘Why, certainly, certainly,’ he rejoined; apparently — if such a word can be used of one who had no apparent lights or shadows about him — complimented by the question. ‘As a particularly Angular man, I do not fit smoothly129 into the social circle, and consequently I have no other engagement at Christmas-time than to partake, on the twenty-fifth, of a boiled turkey and celery sauce with a — with a particularly Angular clerk I have the good fortune to possess, whose father, being a Norfolk farmer, sends him up (the turkey up), as a present to me, from the neighbourhood of Norwich. I should be quite proud of your wishing to see me, my dear. As a professional Receiver of rents, so very few people do wish to see me, that the novelty would be bracing130.’
For his ready acquiescence131, the grateful Rosa put her hands upon his shoulders, stood on tiptoe, and instantly kissed him.
‘Lord bless me!’ cried Mr. Grewgious. ‘Thank you, my dear! The honour is almost equal to the pleasure. Miss Twinkleton, madam, I have had a most satisfactory conversation with my ward, and I will now release you from the incumbrance of my presence.’
‘Nay, sir,’ rejoined Miss Twinkleton, rising with a gracious condescension132: ‘say not incumbrance. Not so, by any means. I cannot permit you to say so.’
‘Thank you, madam. I have read in the newspapers,’ said Mr. Grewgious, stammering133 a little, ‘that when a distinguished134 visitor (not that I am one: far from it) goes to a school (not that this is one: far from it), he asks for a holiday, or some sort of grace. It being now the afternoon in the — College — of which you are the eminent135 head, the young ladies might gain nothing, except in name, by having the rest of the day allowed them. But if there is any young lady at all under a cloud, might I solicit136 —’
‘Ah, Mr. Grewgious, Mr. Grewgious!’ cried Miss Twinkleton, with a chastely-rallying forefinger. ‘O you gentlemen, you gentlemen! Fie for shame, that you are so hard upon us poor maligned137 disciplinarians of our sex, for your sakes! But as Miss Ferdinand is at present weighed down by an incubus’— Miss Twinkleton might have said a pen-and-ink-ubus of writing out Monsieur La Fontaine — ‘go to her, Rosa my dear, and tell her the penalty is remitted138, in deference139 to the intercession of your guardian, Mr. Grewgious.’
Miss Twinkleton here achieved a curtsey, suggestive of marvels140 happening to her respected legs, and which she came out of nobly, three yards behind her starting-point.
As he held it incumbent141 upon him to call on Mr. Jasper before leaving Cloisterham, Mr. Grewgious went to the gatehouse, and climbed its postern stair. But Mr. Jasper’s door being closed, and presenting on a slip of paper the word ‘Cathedral,’ the fact of its being service-time was borne into the mind of Mr. Grewgious. So he descended the stair again, and, crossing the Close, paused at the great western folding-door of the Cathedral, which stood open on the fine and bright, though short-lived, afternoon, for the airing of the place.
‘Dear me,’ said Mr. Grewgious, peeping in, ‘it’s like looking down the throat of Old Time.’
Old Time heaved a mouldy sigh from tomb and arch and vault142; and gloomy shadows began to deepen in corners; and damps began to rise from green patches of stone; and jewels, cast upon the pavement of the nave143 from stained glass by the declining sun, began to perish. Within the grill-gate of the chancel, up the steps surmounted144 loomingly by the fast-darkening organ, white robes could be dimly seen, and one feeble voice, rising and falling in a cracked, monotonous145 mutter, could at intervals146 be faintly heard. In the free outer air, the river, the green pastures, and the brown arable147 lands, the teeming148 hills and dales, were reddened by the sunset: while the distant little windows in windmills and farm homesteads, shone, patches of bright beaten gold. In the Cathedral, all became gray, murky149, and sepulchral150, and the cracked monotonous mutter went on like a dying voice, until the organ and the choir151 burst forth152, and drowned it in a sea of music. Then, the sea fell, and the dying voice made another feeble effort, and then the sea rose high, and beat its life out, and lashed153 the roof, and surged among the arches, and pierced the heights of the great tower; and then the sea was dry, and all was still.
Mr. Grewgious had by that time walked to the chancel-steps, where he met the living waters coming out.
‘Nothing is the matter?’ Thus Jasper accosted154 him, rather quickly. ‘You have not been sent for?’
‘Not at all, not at all. I came down of my own accord. I have been to my pretty ward’s, and am now homeward bound again.’
‘You found her thriving?’
‘Blooming indeed. Most blooming. I merely came to tell her, seriously, what a betrothal by deceased parents is.’
‘And what is it — according to your judgment155?’
Mr. Grewgious noticed the whiteness of the lips that asked the question, and put it down to the chilling account of the Cathedral.
‘I merely came to tell her that it could not be considered binding156, against any such reason for its dissolution as a want of affection, or want of disposition157 to carry it into effect, on the side of either party.’
‘May I ask, had you any especial reason for telling her that?’
Mr. Grewgious answered somewhat sharply: ‘The especial reason of doing my duty, sir. Simply that.’ Then he added: ‘Come, Mr. Jasper; I know your affection for your nephew, and that you are quick to feel on his behalf. I assure you that this implies not the least doubt of, or disrespect to, your nephew.’
‘You could not,’ returned Jasper, with a friendly pressure of his arm, as they walked on side by side, ‘speak more handsomely.’
Mr. Grewgious pulled off his hat to smooth his head, and, having smoothed it, nodded it contentedly158, and put his hat on again.
‘I will wager159,’ said Jasper, smiling — his lips were still so white that he was conscious of it, and bit and moistened them while speaking: ‘I will wager that she hinted no wish to be released from Ned.’
‘And you will win your wager, if you do,’ retorted Mr. Grewgious. ‘We should allow some margin160 for little maidenly161 delicacies162 in a young motherless creature, under such circumstances, I suppose; it is not in my line; what do you think?’
‘There can be no doubt of it.’
‘I am glad you say so. Because,’ proceeded Mr. Grewgious, who had all this time very knowingly felt his way round to action on his remembrance of what she had said of Jasper himself: ‘because she seems to have some little delicate instinct that all preliminary arrangements had best be made between Mr. Edwin Drood and herself, don’t you see? She don’t want us, don’t you know?’
Jasper touched himself on the breast, and said, somewhat indistinctly: ‘You mean me.’
Mr. Grewgious touched himself on the breast, and said: ‘I mean us. Therefore, let them have their little discussions and councils together, when Mr. Edwin Drood comes back here at Christmas; and then you and I will step in, and put the final touches to the business.’
‘So, you settled with her that you would come back at Christmas?’ observed Jasper. ‘I see! Mr. Grewgious, as you quite fairly said just now, there is such an exceptional attachment between my nephew and me, that I am more sensitive for the dear, fortunate, happy, happy fellow than for myself. But it is only right that the young lady should be considered, as you have pointed out, and that I should accept my cue from you. I accept it. I understand that at Christmas they will complete their preparations for May, and that their marriage will be put in final train by themselves, and that nothing will remain for us but to put ourselves in train also, and have everything ready for our formal release from our trusts, on Edwin’s birthday.’
‘That is my understanding,’ assented Mr. Grewgious, as they shook hands to part. ‘God bless them both!’
‘God save them both!’ cried Jasper.
‘I said, bless them,’ remarked the former, looking back over his shoulder.
‘I said, save them,’ returned the latter. ‘Is there any difference?’
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nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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4
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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5
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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6
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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7
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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8
widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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9
merge
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| v.(使)结合，(使)合并，(使)合为一体 | |
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10
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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11
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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12
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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13
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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14
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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15
rivalries
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| n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 ) | |
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16
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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17
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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18
wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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19
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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20
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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21
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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22
permeated
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| 弥漫( permeate的过去式和过去分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
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23
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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24
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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25
mythological
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| adj.神话的 | |
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26
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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27
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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28
hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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29
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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30
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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31
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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32
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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33
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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34
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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35
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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36
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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37
affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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38
plebeians
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| n.平民( plebeian的名词复数 )；庶民；平民百姓；平庸粗俗的人 | |
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39
patrician
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| adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官 | |
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40
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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41
forensic
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| adj.法庭的，雄辩的 | |
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42
bard
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| n.吟游诗人 | |
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43
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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44
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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45
graceful
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|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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46
ornithological
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| adj.鸟类学的 | |
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47
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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48
fracas
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| n.打架；吵闹 | |
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49
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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50
incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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51
fables
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| n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说 | |
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52
vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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53
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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54
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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55
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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56
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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57
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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58
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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59
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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60
giggles
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| n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 )；傻笑；玩笑；the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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61
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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62
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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63
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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64
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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65
notches
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| n.（边缘或表面上的）V型痕迹( notch的名词复数 )；刻痕；水平；等级 | |
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66
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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67
chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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68
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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69
discomfited
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|
| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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70
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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71
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
mere
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|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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73
neatly
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|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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74
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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75
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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76
stump
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|
| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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77
memorandum
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|
| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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78
conversational
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|
| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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79
maternal
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|
| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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80
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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81
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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82
lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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83
possessed
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|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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84
vagary
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| n.妄想，不可测之事，异想天开 | |
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85
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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86
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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87
crease
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|
| n.折缝，褶痕，皱褶；v.(使)起皱 | |
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88
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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89
intrude
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|
| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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90
intruded
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|
| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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91
entirely
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|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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92
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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93
cramp
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| n.痉挛；[pl.](腹)绞痛；vt.限制，束缚 | |
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94
simile
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| n.直喻，明喻 | |
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95
heartily
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|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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96
pouting
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的现在分词 ) | |
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97
residue
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| n.残余，剩余，残渣 | |
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98
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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99
proxy
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| n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人 | |
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100
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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101
certified
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| a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的 | |
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102
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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103
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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104
annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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105
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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106
vouchers
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| n.凭证( voucher的名词复数 )；证人；证件；收据 | |
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107
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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108
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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109
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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110
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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111
forfeiture
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| n.（名誉等）丧失 | |
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112
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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113
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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114
arrears
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| n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作 | |
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115
attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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116
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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117
attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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118
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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119
prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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120
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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121
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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122
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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123
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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124
blurring
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|
| n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分 | |
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125
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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126
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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127
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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128
accrue
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| v.(利息等)增大，增多 | |
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129
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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130
bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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131
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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132
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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133
stammering
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的现在分词 ) | |
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134
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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135
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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136
solicit
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| vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意) | |
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137
maligned
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| vt.污蔑，诽谤（malign的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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138
remitted
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| v.免除（债务），宽恕( remit的过去式和过去分词 )；使某事缓和；寄回，传送 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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140
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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143
nave
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| n.教堂的中部；本堂 | |
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144
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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145
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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146
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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147
arable
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| adj.可耕的，适合种植的 | |
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148
teeming
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| adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注 | |
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149
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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150
sepulchral
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| adj.坟墓的，阴深的 | |
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151
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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152
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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153
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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154
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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155
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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157
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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158
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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159
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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160
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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161
maidenly
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| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
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delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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