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Chapter 8. — Special Constable Peter Wacks
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THE Bowden Vigilance Society was a great success from the very first, and within a few days the adjoining suburbs of Croydon and Kilkenny asked to come in under our wing. It was quite convenient for us to take them, for many of our streets and roads overlapped1, and we soon had a fine wide organisation2, working easily and without friction3 throughout.

We were, of course, as I took care we should be, quite free from any trouble at night, and it soon became a proud boast with us that while the inhabitants of other townships and suburbs cowered4 shiveringly behind closed doors directly dusk had fallen — we went about our nightly avocations5 and amusements in a perfectly6 normal manner.

The Adelaide ‘Advertiser’ sent down a Special Commission to investigate and make known our methods, and the next morning, in a long three-column article, spoke7 most highly of the efficiency and thoroughness of our organisation. It described the perfect system of patrols we had initiated8, the remarkable9 way in which all our arrangements dovetailed into one another, and it pointed10 significantly to the security and safety our districts had enjoyed, from the very first moment we had taken things in hand.

The article made an immense impression on the city, and were were inundated11 with enquiries from other districts.

I was asked repeatedly to speak at hastily summoned public meetings and nearly always complied with the requests.

Rather to my astonishment12 still, I found I was a first-class public speaker; indeed, I was more than that — I was an orator13.

No matter how important and how influential14 were the other speakers on a platform, no one could quite so please the public as did I.

Big men of the city got up on their legs and with laborious15 notes made ponderous16 heavy speeches of the council chamber17 style. They bored their audiences to stiffness, and it would have been quite possible to photograph the relieved look on the faces of the crowd as they sat down.

But when I got up I always made things hum. I was light and easy to listen to, and spoke quite clearly so that everyone could hear. There was no hesitation18 at all in my manner, and I had no difficulty in choosing my words. I could reel off sentence after sentence as smoothly19 and as evenly as if I had previously20 written it all down. My audiences soon got warmed up. I could make them laugh, and I could make them cry. They would clap and stamp until the dust rose from the floor in clouds and then, with one quick turning of my tongue, I would bring so deep a hush21 into the hall that it could be almost felt. Their faces would grow still and stiff, their eyes would hang on every movement of my lips, and they would sit like statues, carved in stone.

I could play on all their feelings and hand out the sob-stuff or the burning words, just as I chose. When it at last came to the peroration22, I would sometimes wind them up to such a pitch of enthusiasm that they would break into my last sentences with a hoarse23 storm of cheers, so as to make it quite impossible for me to conclude what I had intended to say.

The Lord Mayor remarked feelingly one night, “If ever the hour has produced the man — today has given us Peter Wacks.”

In less than three weeks all the suburbs of Adelaide had got their Vigilance Societies. Prospect24 and Unley came in last of all. For a few days they turned up their noses and would have nothing to do with us. On two consecutive25 nights, however, they each had their share of trouble, with the result that they very quickly and very humbly26 came to heel.

In due course all the local Vigilance Societies were affiliated27 together and I was elected President and Patrol Inspector-inChief.

A rich resident placed a fine car at my disposal so that, as I thought fit, I could visit all the Vigilance Society centres in turn and see nothing was being neglected for the public safety.

The days sped by and looking back down the newspaper files of the time, one can see plainly that the horror of the city was widening and deepening in intensity28.

The crimes undoubtedly29 were fewer in number and their occurrence was more irregular and spasmodic now, but still the fear of sudden death was over all, and gradually, too, the dreadful feeling was eating into men’s minds that the murderer would never be found out.

Murder, too, was not the only thing to be dreaded30 now. Fires had taken to breaking out in altogether totally unexpected quarters and the railways and bridges had now to be guarded.

My mentality31 at this time is very difficult for me to analyse. As Chairman of the Vigilance Society I had most thoroughly32 and most efficiently33 organised the city patrols; as maniac34 under the influence of the drug, I was doing my utmost to bring all this elaborate machinery36 to nothing.

It was like some devilish kind of sport to me. I could work only on the darkest nights now, and even then I had to take terrible risks in getting about.

Any pedestrian by himself at night was always an object of suspicion and liable to be stopped and searched at any moment.

This, I knew, would have been quite fatal for me, for I still always carried with me my incriminating bar of iron.

One night, late, I was prowling somewhere round St. Peters and espied37 three men coming down the road in my direction.

I dodged38 into a garden to avoid them, but unfortunately a wretched little pom started yapping and the men stopped when they came up.

“I would swear I saw someone in front of us,” remarked one of them meditatively39, “and if I did, he disappeared about here. Just flash your lamp will you, Josh? Yes, just over by that tree.”

I stood motionless where I was in the shadows, and should probably have escaped detection altogether, if the dog hadn’t seen me and rushed down.

I am always quick in my decisions and it was my quickness alone that saved me then.

I had vaulted40 over into the road quite five seconds before any of the men had realised what had happened, and was well away before they even thought to sound their whistles.

I ran down the road like a hare, but, unfortunately for me, it was a bad place to be chased in. There were villas41 almost on every side and no vacant lands with any chance of hiding if systematic42 search were to be made.

I intended to slip over into the Botanic Garden and chance it among the trees, but just where I was intending to get over, I heard voices and saw lights flashing, and so had to run on. My pursuers were still clamoring and whistling behind me.

The worst of it was that I was now running hard towards the city and any moment the police or patrols might appear and block my way.

Just when I reached the corner wall of Government House, I heard answering whistles in front of me, and saw the lights of two bicycles coming down towards me. As they came under a lamp I saw they were two of the cycle police.

Things were getting desperate, for I was almost exhausted44 with the long run.

I must get over into the Governor’s garden, I told myself. There was no help for it, although it was almost the last place I should have wished to take refuge in. It was the best guarded house in Adelaide, I knew, and there were always heaps of police within call.

I pulled myself up quickly by the thick strands45 of ivy46 and lay panting on the top of the wall. The ivy was thick and high there, and for the moment I was completely hidden in the shadow of a big tree.

My pursuers met the two policemen a few yards from where I lay, and the latter at once got off their machines.

“Seen him?” gasped47 one of my pursuers. “He can’t have got by here.”

“Seen who?” asked one of the policemen quickly. “What are you running after?”

“A man we caught hiding in a front garden. He ran like hell, directly we turned the light on him.”

“What was he doing in the garden?” went on the policeman judicially48.

“We don’t know, but he cut directly we saw him, so he couldn’t have been up to any good.”

“Where did you lose him then — come on, be quick.”

“Well,” panted the man, still out of breath, “if he didn’t pass you, he must have got over the Governor’s wall here.”

“Why the devil didn’t you say that before?” cut in the policeman roughly. “Now look here — you help us, and we’ll catch him sure. Two of you run down along the wall there, and see that he doesn’t escape from that end, and you sir,” to the third man, “go back to the main entrance and tell the sergeant49 you’ll see there exactly what you’ve told us — that an unknown man’s gone into the Vice-regal garden. Be quick — don’t make a noise now; we’ll wait here in case he tries to bolt back the same way he came, which he probably will do.”

Off went the three men as they were bid, and the policemen were left alone. They propped50 their bicycles against a tree and crept stealthily to the corner angle of the wall.

“Not a sound, Billy,” I heard one say. “He’ll be somewhere close here. If he hears nothing maybe he’ll pop over again. He knows he can’t get away inside.”

They knelt down under the ivy and craning their necks out cautiously, expectantly regarded the long length of wall that lay round the corner.

Their backs were now turned to me, and I didn’t hesitate a second. I dropped softly down from the wall, landing without a sound in the flower bed just underneath51.

For a moment I lay prone52, and then finding my descent had passed quite unnoted, wriggled53 slowly and softly towards the tree, against which the two bicycles were still leaning.

I tried to make out which was the smaller one, but in the dark they seemed both about the same size, and I had to chance not being able to ride the one I was going to select. Lying flat on my stomach, I reached out and felt for the valve caps of the one I was going to leave. They were dreadfully hard to turn and it seemed ages before I at last heard the gentle hissing54 of the air escaping from the tyres.

To make doubly sure, I reached up to the wallet just below the saddle, and abstracting an adjustable56 wrench57, thoroughly loosened the nuts holding the front wheel into the fork.

Then I rose up suddenly and, still without a sound, started to trundle the other bicycle along the stretch of grass running down alongside the path.

I counted on getting at least fifty yards start before I should be noticed, and I was not far wrong. Indeed, I might have sneaked58 off altogether, if it had not been for kicking against a stone.

I knew instantly they had heard me, for there was a shout and a damn, followed by a scuttling59 over the gravel60 path; the sound of a bicycle falling down and then — more damns.

But I had leaped on to the machine I had taken and was flying for my life back along the road where I had been chased. No one came after me. There was apparently61 no pursuit at all; I had evidently put the other bicycle clean out of action. I could not have wished for a luckier or more easy escape.

Having gone about half a mile, I turned off into a by-road and put out my light. Then I made off towards home, as quick as I could. I was twice challenged that night, but, happily, both times I had got well by my challengers, before they had caught sight of me, and as they were both times on foot, I, of course, got easily away again.

About a mile from home I knew of a long disused gravel pit, at the back of a small wood. Hardly anyone ever went there because it was supposed to be infested62 with snakes. At the bottom it was covered with a rank undergrowth that had been undisturbed for years. I chanced the snakes and cautiously carrying the bicycle down over the rather steep side, hid it carefully where I should easily be able to find it again. I had thought, when riding home, that it might come in useful on future occasions.

The next day all sorts of rumors63 were going about the city. The Governor had been attacked — an attempt had been made to get at his two children — a policeman had been killed in Government House — the murderer had been chased in the garden, &c.

There were many contradictions and explanations in the course of the afternoon, and most of the incidents that had been reported were later strenuously64 denied. But stripped of all gossip and exaggeration, at bottom, it was clear something had happened at Government House and the public were profoundly moved.

That the assassin should have had the audacity65 to penetrate66 into the Vice-regal garden, and, moreover, that having done so and his presence having become known, he should have been able to baffle and defy the police, struck the public significantly as a very terrible and incomprehensible thing.

The whole police organisation must be rotten, they said, and once and for all, special constables68 must be sworn in.

Pressure was brought on the Government from all sides, the Governor himself was reported as having vigorously spoken his own mind, and, in the end the authorities gave way.

At first they spitefully intended altogether to ignore our organisation, and just published a bare announcement that special constables would be sworn in in the usual way with no reference at all to the Vigilance Societies that already existed.

But I wasn’t having anything like that.

At once I got our head-quarters committee together and a great public meeting was arranged for the next night. We invited representatives of the Government, of the City Council, and of the police authorities to be present, and I publicly stated pertinently69 that reasons must be forthcoming from them why our organisation should not be adopted en bloc43.

In view of the state of public opinion, they all thought it wise to accept the invitation, and, when evening came, the platform was crowded with the big-wigs of the city and the State. The Premier70 came in person, and the Lord Mayor and a fair sprinkling of the alderman and councillors were also there, and last, but not least, Major Young, the Chief Commissioner71 of the Adelaide Police.

I was introduced to the last just before the meeting opened. He was a fine, tall, good-looking man and gave me a careless, but very politely frigid72 bow. I knew that he credited much of the ill-favor in which the police undoubtedly then were to the remarks I had been continually making about them.

I didn’t know whether our guests by turning up in force expected to take a rise out of me, but if they did they were very much mistaken.

I was in the chair and I never for one moment let any of them forget it.

I rose to a storm of cheers and opened my remarks at once by saying I was quite sure the great audience then before me had not been gathered together in any spirit of antagonism73 to one another. Rather had they come in a friendly spirit of patriotism74 and loyalty75 to determine exactly what was the best for the care and safely of the dear city that they all loved so well.

They cheered appreciatively at this, and I went on to describe the peculiar76 situation that had arisen amongst us. One Man — most probably, only one man — was defying the community. He was setting at naught77 all those laws that they had framed for mutual78 safety. He was destroying the peace of the city and was making a nightly shambles79 of our roads and streets. He had been doing it now for over six weeks, and who he was, and where he was, and where he came from, were just as much secrets today as they were when he first started on his ghastly game.

As they were all aware, his cunning had been too great for the police. It was easy, I knew, to blame the police, but we must remember they were being called upon to face very unusual circumstances.

We must not, for a moment, be too hasty in discrediting80 the great efforts they had undoubtedly made to effect the arrest of the malefactor81. But — and here I dropped my voice impressively, and spoke slowly and deliberately82 — while we must be kind and charitable in our thoughts towards those who were doing their utmost to carry out their appointed duties, at an admittedly very difficult time, we must have no pity whatsoever83 for any official blindness or red tapeism that refused to take advantage of one single thing that would make for the safety of the city. Otherwise, there would be placed round the neck of those willing and anxious to help a halter too heavy and too grievous to be borne.

They cheered enthusiastically here, and I gave them two instances as showing the inability of the police to cope with the present danger, owing to the paucity84 of their numbers. The first, when Policeman Holthusen was killed on the park lands, and the second, only two nights gone, when the unknown man escaped, so easily, from the Vice-regal gardens.

“Policeman Holthusen, gentlemen,” I cried, “died almost in his comrades’ arms, and the assassin, surprised and seen, seen, mark you, escaped without the very slightest difficulty through what should have been one of the most carefully guarded suburbs of the city; and that with lights flashing and with whistles blowing for assistance in all directions. Then the night before last — what do we have here? An unknown prowler, hiding and disturbed in a main road garden in St. Peters, is chased for upwards85 of a mile by three unofficial pursuers.

“The fugitive86 runs for safety, not towards lonely parklands, not towards the outskirts87 of the city — but right to the very heart of the city itself, just as if he were sure of there shaking off his pursuers. Well — after running as I say for over a mile — he sees two policemen coming up on bicycles, and is, no doubt, considerably88 surprised by their totally unexpected appearance”— the hall rocked with laughter here —“he climbs over, and takes refuge in the Governor’s garden. The police confer with the man’s pursuers and learn from them where he has gone, and take all the immediate89 measures possible to them to apprehend90 him. Well, what was the result? Not only did they fail to catch him, but he actually borrowed one of the policemen’s bicycles and went off without, I believe, even condescending91 to say good-night.

“Now, gentlemen, North terrace is one of the few places that is not under the protection of our Vigilance patrols. We have always understood Government House and its immediate neighborhood to be so strongly guarded as to render it quite unnecessary for us to take them under our special control. Had we done so, however, last night’s happening would have been quite impossible. The instant the first whistle sounded it would have been picked up in every direction by our patrols and a cordon92 would have been at once formed.

“Of course, we do not know who was this unknown man who climbed so quickly in and out of the Vice-regal garden. He may have been only an ordinary harmless pedestrian, frightened for the moment out of his wits and common sense. I say he may have been, but from the cunning of his movements, from his resource — do you know he actually stopped to let the wind out of the tyres of the other bicycle, before mounting the one he got away with — and from his general reckless disregard of danger, I am strongly of opinion that the man who got away last night is the very man we have been looking for all these weeks.”

I went on, that with dangers such as now threatened us it was indisputable that we had not enough police. Some of us had recognised it weeks ago — officialdom was recognising it today.

They asked us now for special constables and the whole question was in a nutshell.

Were the authorities to obtain these special constables from the single and spasmodic swearing in of individuals, a proceeding93 that might entail94 days and weeks of delay, or were they to take advantage of an already highly organised body and obtain all that they required in a single minute and by a single sweep of the pen?

Surely we deserve some consideration and some thanks from the authorities — nay95, more — surely we deserve some honor and some respect, too. For had we not anticipated, by at least a month, the tardy96 movement they were now making today?

Instead of asking generally for special constables, the more statesmanlike and dignified97 proceeding on the part of the authorities would have been to have taken over the Vigilance Society en bloc and so give us at once the official status we had been asking for all these weeks. And it would be no favor they would be granting us either. We should be turning over to them a going concern — an organisation that had been tested and in whose structure every man was dovetailed. We had no misfits amongst us.

I spoke for about twenty minutes, and there was no question, but that I carried the entire meeting with me. Indeed, they cheered for so long that at last I had to stand up and appeal for silence.

The Premier was the next to speak. He was an old parliamentary hand and a suave98, cynical99 master of craft. Never, perhaps, were his powers shown to greater advantage than in his reply to me.

An election was shortly coming on; it was necessary to keep every vote for his side, and he saw unmistakably the direction in which public opinion was set. So he just drifted along with the current, as if all the time that had been the one precise direction in which he had intended to go. He agreed entirely100 with me that they had better take over the existing organisation we had formed. Obviously, it was the only thing to do, and if that were the sole reason for calling the meeting tonight then — shrugging his shoulders — we might just as well not have called it at all. A word, either in his ear, or in the ear of the Chief Commissioner of the Police, would have been quite sufficient. At the same time — and here he smiled and bowed most politely to me — if the meeting had not been called, speaking for himself, he would have missed one of the greatest treats of oratory101 he had enjoyed for a long time. He only wondered where I had been hiding the great gifts that I undoubtedly possessed102 in so remarkable a degree.

As I say, the Premier’s speech was a very crafty103 one, but it gave as all we wanted and put the meeting on excellent terms with itself.

Two other speakers followed, and then someone called for the Chief Commissioner of the Police. The Chief had been sitting the whole time, as if very bored, crossing and uncrossing his legs, and continually taking out his watch to look at the time. Apparently he was not over-anxious to speak, for at first he smiled coldly and shook his head, when the audience asked for him.

But the calls becoming more insistent104 and the Premier leaning round and whispering something, he came forward to comply with the request.

Now he was no fool; anyone could see that by looking at him, and his speech was quite a little model, in its way.

He said he was a soldier, and a policeman, and always averse105 to talking about his work. Just now, his work was very unpleasant and he was quite aware he was most unpopular. But then, policemen were always unpopular, it was just part of their calling to be unpopular. One-half of the world was always wanting the other half to be locked up, and they offended some people when they took them up and offended others when they didn’t. They were in for a bad time, anyway. If things were going all right, people looked upon them as unnecessary and a needless expense. If things went wrong, everybody blamed them and asked, “What the devil are the police doing?”

Speaking for himself, if anyone wanted to take on his job they were welcome to. He got more kicks than halfpence every day. As to the Vigilance Societies, he should be most happy to have them to work under him, but — here he squared his jaw106 and looked very sternly at me — anybody who was sworn in as a special constable67 would have to sink his individuality and be amenable107 to discipline in the usual way. Let them, please, remember that.

He resumed his seat without having made many friends, but he left behind him the impression of being a strong and capable man.

I met him next day at luncheon108 at Government House. I learned afterwards that the Governor had purposely arranged the meeting in order to soften109 down any antagonism there might be between us. There was also present Sir Bartle Elkin — the great mental expert — perhaps the greatest authority on diseases of the mind that the Commonwealth110 has ever produced. He was a long-faced, lean, clean-shaven man with the abstract dreamy look that is so often seen on the faces of those placed over the care of the insane. Our main topic of conversation was, of course, the terror that was hanging over the city, and I enjoyed the discussion in a strange, impersonal111 sort of way.

The Governor asked me presently, if I had formed any decided112 opinions as to the kind of man the malefactor was.

I hesitated for a moment, and he went on smilingly.

“Come, Mr. Wacks, you must surely have some idea in your own mind as to the personality of the man against whom you have built up that fine organization of yours.”

“Well, sir,” I replied cautiously, “I regard him, as I suppose we all do, as a madman of a kind.”

“What do you mean ‘of a kind’?”

“Well, he can’t be mad always, he can’t carry about him any sign of his madness, for instance, or he would have been spotted113 long ago.”

“Exactly, Mr. Wacks,” broke in Sir Bartle, “and that’s where our difficulty lies. Probably if the man were here with us at this table today, he would be just like you and me, or our friend here, the Chief Commissioner of the Police. No one would possibly be able to certify114 him as insane.”

“I have often mildly speculated too, Sir Bartle,” I continued coolly, “as to whether, indeed, he might not be a member of my own troop.”

“Most possibly so, Mr. Wacks,” smiled back the great specialist thoughtfully, “indeed, you yourself might be he. In fact, and I know you won’t mind my saying so — to me, as a mental student, you yourself exhibit many of the characteristics that this gentleman who is so troubling us today must possess.”

“Oh, come, doctor,” interrupted the Governor laughingly, “I can’t have you putting down all the trouble to Mr. Wacks — at my own table, too.”

“No, no, not for a moment, my lord — I didn’t say that. What I meant was — our friend here has shown himself to be suddenly the possessor of characteristics as totally unexpected as all the characteristics of the man we are looking for. An unknown quantity a few weeks ago, today Mr. Wacks is easily the second most interesting personality in the State. I was at the meeting last night, and it struck me then that exactly as some unknown force acting55 on the mentality of one man has given us a secret, a hidden criminal, so another unknown force acting on the mentality of another man — in this case Mr. Peter Wacks — has given us a fine organiser and a great orator. I know Mr. Wacks will forgive me the comparison, but as I say, as a very humble115 student of the workings of the mind, both men exhibit to me the same wonderful new-born qualities of power — ability and resource. One, of course, using these qualities for the well-being116 of the community — the other for its harm. You follow me, don’t you, Mr. Wacks?”

“Oh yes,” I assented117 laughing, “you mean I am under suspicion.”

“Not at all — not at all, but you are a surprise to us, just as the other man is, but happily in a very different way.”

“Well, it seems to me,” said the Commissioner of the Police, looking highly amused, “that at any rate I shall have to keep my eye on our friend here.”

We all laughed good naturedly. I felt quite at ease, notwithstanding the dangerous turn the conversation had taken. It didn’t seem to trouble me in the least. As far as I was concerned, they might have been talking about another man.

“What puzzles me,” went on Sir Bartle meditatively, “what I don’t understand is how the madman has managed to maintain his anonymity118 for so long. How it is these dreadful bouts119 of mania35, extending for over six weeks now, have not wholly broken down his mind and so betrayed him. In his lucid120 intervals121, he must go back very completely to a state of mental quietness, or his brain must have generally given way long before now.

“Then, if he does go back to comparative sanity122 in the intervals between his paroxysms — what is it that stirs him up again?”

“What are the stimuli123 that bring him, almost nightly, to a state of mania? Is it a drug? I know of nothing that could keep up its effect for so long. It is quite beyond me.”

We were all silent from different motives124, and after a few moments the great specialist went on:—

“One thing I do notice now — the violence of his mania seems rather to be fading away.”

“Fading away, is it?” growled125 the Chief Commissioner. “I haven’t seen any fading away. That affair up at Gilberton last Sunday was as bad as anything we have had — quite.”

“Oh — I was referring, rather, to the frequency of the attacks, not to their violence when they actually occur. Look here; it’s just over six weeks since these crimes started and the man has had, say, twenty-seven nights when the moon allowed him to carry on his dreadful work. Twenty-seven nights when he could work in darkness, between half-past eight and eleven. I believe all his attacks have taken place between those hours — haven’t they?”

“Yes, that’s so,” replied the Chief resignedly. “He’s been always most particular to finish in time so that he could catch his tram or his train — confound him.”

“Well, in the first fourteen of these favorable nights we hear of him on eleven occasions — in the last thirteen favorable nights, he troubles us upon only seven, and in the last six nights, only twice. You see my point, Chief, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes, I follow you there, Sir Bartle, but what do you argue from that?”

“Well — I am wondering if by any chance his mania is beginning to exhaust itself, and that after a few days everything may die down, and we may hear nothing more of him. It’s quite possible.”

“Do you mean to say,” frowned the Chief Commissioner, “that he may suddenly subside126 to normal life again, and that we may hear nothing further of him?”

“Quite possible, at any rate for a time, until his mania may perhaps break out again.”

“The saints preserve us!” ejaculated the Chief. “I want to live a few years longer. The early grave business is not in my line.”

“Well, we ought to know soon now — it will be seven weeks on Tuesday since the first manifestation127 began.

“No it was earlier than that, doctor,” said the Chief, shaking his head; “we know now they began on the Monday.”

“But surely poor old Bentley was killed on the Tuesday.”

“Yes, but on the Monday something else happened.”

We all looked interestedly at the Chief. He evidently enjoyed our puzzled looks, for it was quite a minute before he went on.

“Yes, Mr. Wacks, here, didn’t know everything, although I may say frankly128 that I have been surprised several times by what he does know. What happened on the Monday was this. A man in Bowden had seven rabbits killed. No — you needn’t laugh. I firmly believe their killing129 was the work of this same hand.

“Someone, in the middle of the night, went into this man’s garden, opened seven rabbit hutches, killed seven rabbits and put them all back, one by one, just as he had found them. We have gone most carefully into the matter and can conceive of no earthly reason for it at all. It was just as insane and purposeless as all these later crimes — and in the manner of its execution, it is quite on all fours with them.”

“This is most interesting, Major. I ought to have been told of it before. Give me the details most minutely now.”

I sat silent in great astonishment, and for the first time for many weeks there flashed through my mind the possibility that I might be found out. I dropped my eyes to think. I had quite forgotten about Boulter and his rabbits, and it positively130 amazed me that anyone had so wonderfully grasped the significance of their deaths. It must be Meadows, of course. I must look after him — lately, I had never given him a thought.

I intently regarded the Doctor and the Chief as they discussed the matter. How very, very different were their faces, I thought, and yet — and yet I fancied I could see the cold, clear, icy reasoning in them both. The power to push away the lines of thought not wanted, and sink like a plummet131 to the very bottom rock of facts.

I was a fool, I told myself. They had evidently been throwing a wide net around, and all the time I had never given a thought to the possibilities of what they might drag in. I must be careful.

I went back to the office that afternoon rather depressed132. I longed for the time when I could get home and fly again to the paste.

The next day it was, of course, in all the morning papers that Sir Bartle Elkin, the Chief Commissioner of the Police, and I had lunched with the Governor at Government House. It was very amusing to feel the almost awed133 respect they now had for me in the office. Even the hated Waller was subdued134 in his manner when he spoke to me, and there was always quite a hush when I gave orders or spoke to them. They had really become very proud of me, and, I knew, referred to me outside the office, as “Our Peter Wacks.”

The firm, too, were very pleased with the position I now occupied in the public eye. Old Mr. Winter had had me up to dinner in his big mansion135, in the most select part of North Adelaide, and his daughter from the first had made quite a fuss of me.

She was a woman of about thirty, and, unused though I was to the ways of her sex, I could not but help noticing the interest she at once took in me. Of a strong, independent nature herself — a woman who, in the ordinary way, was not much attracted by men — I must have struck some chord in her that brought out the inherent longing136 of every woman to be the care and fond desire of some one man.

Anyhow, she was most nice to me, and in a tactful friendly way made me feel at once at my ease. There were nine of us at table, and I joined naturally and unrestrainedly in all the talk that went on.

During dinner the conversation happened to turn on chess, and I told them all about Captain Barker and the many games I had had with him.

A keen looking, hawk-faced man, who, I learned afterwards, was Professor of Mathematics at the Adelaide University, was most interested, and asked me what sort of game the old man played.

“Oh,” I replied, “he was in a way a really marvellous player. He had quite a natural genius for the game.”

“And yourself,” queried137 the Professor smiling, “I should say you would be a devout138 disciple139?”

“Well, I can play,” I admitted, “but I have met so few really good players that I hardly exactly know my strength.”

“Or your weakness,” smiled back the Professor. “Well, I must give you a game — I rather fancy myself, you know.”

“Don’t take him on, Mr. Wacks,” advised Miss Winter, shaking her head emphatically. “He’s a very hard nut to crack, and by far the best player here.”

But I felt quite confident, and when, later on in the evening, the Professor set out the chessmen, I sat down to the board without any qualms140 at all.

“If you don’t mind I’ll take first move,” he said, “and, of course, we must play quickly. I just want to get some idea of what your old sea captain’s teaching was worth.”

Everyone stood round to watch the game.

He opened at once with a most slashing141 attack, and in the first few moves boldly made the sacrifice of a pawn142. I wasn’t in the slightest degree nonplussed143, however, but met his onslaught patiently, and with the perfect confidence of later reprisals144. After 10 moves he was thinking harder than I, and after 15 I could feel his attack had weakened right away. He began to hesitate in making his moves, but I was ready always on the instant with my replies.

He looked up soon, and smilingly asked what I thought of the prospects145 of the game.

“No, don’t hesitate, Mr. Wacks, give me your honest opinion. Remember, I am trying to test your knowledge of the game.”

“Well,” I replied bluntly, rather nettled146 with his patronising air, “you haven’t a chance at all. You are a pawn down, your attack has failed, and in half a dozen moves at most your position will be so cramped147 that you’ll have to sacrifice a piece to get elbow room.”

He thought for a minute. “Quite true — quite true,” he slowly remarked at length. “It’s as you say, I’ll give you this game. Now you open, please. Perhaps I’ll have better luck this time.”

I opened in exactly the same way as he had done and at once offered the sacrifice of a pawn. He screwed up his face to an amused grimace148. “You’re cruel, sir, very cruel,” he remarked; “it’s just like smacking149 a naughty child.”

He took the pawn, however, and started to follow the line of defence that I had adopted in the previous game. But I varied150 the attack considerably, and, playing strongly and fearlessly, in a few moves offered the sacrifice of a piece. For a long time he hesitated — so long that old Mr. Winter banteringly implored151 him to buck152 up. Then he suddenly whipped off his knight153 with a jerk, and, leaning back in his chair, looked round complacently154 as if quite assured that he had at last done a good thing. Three moves later however, he had got both his hands on to his forehead, and it was my turn to assume the pose of all things going well.

He didn’t wait very long this time, but looked across to me, with quite a sad smile.

“Well, Master,” he said with a fine exaggeration of disappointment, “what do you think of the game now?”

“Mate in three,” I replied laconically155, “or you lose your queen.” He downed his king with a little bow and got up from the table.

“You’re quite a player, Mr. Wacks,” he said, “a fine player. I don’t deny I’m chagrined156 a bit, and I confess I feel very humble. I dare say in a match I should give you a better game than I’ve given you now, but still you’re stronger than I in every way. Speaking off-hand, I should say you’re quite good enough to play in a Masters’ tourney; I know something about the game, too; for five years I took on all comers in Sydney.”

Miss Winter was quite delighted that I had beaten the Professor, and in saying good-bye, hoped I should often come up now. She said I must give her some lessons in chess.

A few days later I was called into the private office of the firm, and given the post of general secretary to the Company.

It meant a tremendous boost for me, for the salary was nearly three times what I had been receiving in the invoice157 room.

“We pride ourselves as a firm in being enterprising, Wacks,” laughed Mr. William, “and it would be hardly up to our principles to keep any gentleman of such organising ability as yours in the lowly position of a clerk in the invoice room.”

When I told Lucy that night of what had happened she threw her arms round my neck in delighted surprise.

“Oh, Peter dear, I’m so happy,” she said. “Everything seems so different to me now since you love me. When I wake up in the morning I hear the birds calling to me through the window, and all day long I want to sing. I’m always thinking about you and just longing for the time when I shall be all yours.”

I strained her to me passionately158, but somewhere deep down in my subconscious159 mind there was something stirring that made me feel uneasy, and part afraid. Was I beginning to think?

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 overlapped f19155784c00c0c252a8b4dba353c5b8     
_adj.重叠的v.部分重叠( overlap的过去式和过去分词 );(物体)部份重叠;交叠;(时间上)部份重叠
参考例句:
  • His visit and mine overlapped. 他的访问期与我的访问期有几天重叠。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Our visits to the town overlapped. 我们彼此都恰巧到那小城观光。 来自辞典例句
2 organisation organisation     
n.组织,安排,团体,有机休
参考例句:
  • The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
  • His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。
3 friction JQMzr     
n.摩擦,摩擦力
参考例句:
  • When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后,他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
  • Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体,并使其停止。
4 cowered 4916dbf7ce78e68601f216157e090999     
v.畏缩,抖缩( cower的过去式 )
参考例句:
  • A gun went off and people cowered behind walls and under tables. 一声枪响,人们缩到墙后或桌子底下躲起来。
  • He cowered in the corner, gibbering with terror. 他蜷缩在角落里,吓得语无伦次。
5 avocations ced84b6cc413c20155f985ee94d0e492     
n.业余爱好,嗜好( avocation的名词复数 );职业
参考例句:
  • Most seem to come from technical avocations, like engineering, computers and sciences. 绝大多数人原有技术方面的爱好,比如工程、计算机和科学。 来自互联网
  • In terms of avocations, there is hardly anything in common between Jenny and her younger sister. 就业余爱好而言,珍妮和她妹妹几乎没什么共同之处。 来自互联网
6 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
7 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
8 initiated 9cd5622f36ab9090359c3cf3ca4ddda3     
n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始,创始,启蒙,介绍加入
参考例句:
  • He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
  • The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。
9 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
10 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
11 inundated b757ab1facad862c244d283c6bf1f666     
v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 );(洪水般地)涌来;充满;给予或交予(太多事物)使难以应付
参考例句:
  • We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
  • We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
13 orator hJwxv     
n.演说者,演讲者,雄辩家
参考例句:
  • He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩,胜过最好的演说家。
  • The orator gestured vigorously while speaking.这位演讲者讲话时用力地做手势。
14 influential l7oxK     
adj.有影响的,有权势的
参考例句:
  • He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
  • He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。
15 laborious VxoyD     
adj.吃力的,努力的,不流畅
参考例句:
  • They had the laborious task of cutting down the huge tree.他们接受了伐大树的艰苦工作。
  • Ants and bees are laborious insects.蚂蚁与蜜蜂是勤劳的昆虫。
16 ponderous pOCxR     
adj.沉重的,笨重的,(文章)冗长的
参考例句:
  • His steps were heavy and ponderous.他的步伐沉重缓慢。
  • It was easy to underestimate him because of his occasionally ponderous manner.由于他偶尔现出的沉闷的姿态,很容易使人小看了他。
17 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
18 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
19 smoothly iiUzLG     
adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地
参考例句:
  • The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作,所以工作进展顺利。
  • Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。
20 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
21 hush ecMzv     
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静
参考例句:
  • A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
  • Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去!
22 peroration qMuxD     
n.(演说等之)结论
参考例句:
  • As he worked his way from ethos and logos to the pathos of peroration,he bade us think of the connection between deprivation and belligerence,and to do something about it.当他在演讲中从道义和理念,转到结尾处的感伤时,他请我们考虑贫困与好战的关系,并为此做些什么。
  • He summarized his main points in his peroration.他在结束语中总结了他的演讲要点。
23 hoarse 5dqzA     
adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的
参考例句:
  • He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
  • He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动,嗓子都喊哑了。
24 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
25 consecutive DpPz0     
adj.连续的,联贯的,始终一贯的
参考例句:
  • It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
  • The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。
26 humbly humbly     
adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地
参考例句:
  • We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
  • "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的,先生,”约翰恭顺地说道。
27 affiliated 78057fb733c9c93ffbdc5f0ed15ef458     
adj. 附属的, 有关连的
参考例句:
  • The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
  • All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。
28 intensity 45Ixd     
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度
参考例句:
  • I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
  • The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。
29 undoubtedly Mfjz6l     
adv.确实地,无疑地
参考例句:
  • It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
  • He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
30 dreaded XuNzI3     
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)
参考例句:
  • The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
  • He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》
31 mentality PoIzHP     
n.心理,思想,脑力
参考例句:
  • He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
  • Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。
32 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
33 efficiently ZuTzXQ     
adv.高效率地,有能力地
参考例句:
  • The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
  • Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。
34 maniac QBexu     
n.精神癫狂的人;疯子
参考例句:
  • Be careful!That man is driving like a maniac!注意!那个人开车像个疯子一样!
  • You were acting like a maniac,and you threatened her with a bomb!你像一个疯子,你用炸弹恐吓她!
35 mania 9BWxu     
n.疯狂;躁狂症,狂热,癖好
参考例句:
  • Football mania is sweeping the country.足球热正风靡全国。
  • Collecting small items can easily become a mania.收藏零星物品往往容易变成一种癖好。
36 machinery CAdxb     
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构
参考例句:
  • Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗?
  • Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。
37 espied 980e3f8497fb7a6bd10007d67965f9f7     
v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日,她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了,她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子,现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句
38 dodged ae7efa6756c9d8f3b24f8e00db5e28ee     
v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 );回避
参考例句:
  • He dodged cleverly when she threw her sabot at him. 她用木底鞋砸向他时,他机敏地闪开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He dodged the book that I threw at him. 他躲开了我扔向他的书。 来自《简明英汉词典》
39 meditatively 1840c96c2541871bf074763dc24f786a     
adv.冥想地
参考例句:
  • The old man looked meditatively at the darts board. 老头儿沉思不语,看着那投镖板。 来自英汉文学
  • "Well,'said the foreman, scratching his ear meditatively, "we do need a stitcher. “这--"工头沉思地搔了搔耳朵。 "我们确实需要一个缝纫工。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
40 vaulted MfjzTA     
adj.拱状的
参考例句:
  • She vaulted over the gate and ran up the path. 她用手一撑跃过栅栏门沿着小路跑去。
  • The formal living room has a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. 正式的客厅有一个壁炉和拱形天花板。
41 villas 00c79f9e4b7b15e308dee09215cc0427     
别墅,公馆( villa的名词复数 ); (城郊)住宅
参考例句:
  • Magnificent villas are found throughout Italy. 在意大利到处可看到豪华的别墅。
  • Rich men came down from wealthy Rome to build sea-side villas. 有钱人从富有的罗马来到这儿建造海滨别墅。
42 systematic SqMwo     
adj.有系统的,有计划的,有方法的
参考例句:
  • The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
  • The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。
43 bloc RxFzsg     
n.集团;联盟
参考例句:
  • A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
  • There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。
44 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
45 strands d184598ceee8e1af7dbf43b53087d58b     
n.(线、绳、金属线、毛发等的)股( strand的名词复数 );缕;海洋、湖或河的)岸;(观点、计划、故事等的)部份v.使滞留,使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Twist a length of rope from strands of hemp. 用几股麻搓成了一段绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She laced strands into a braid. 她把几股线编织成一根穗带。 来自《简明英汉词典》
46 ivy x31ys     
n.常青藤,常春藤
参考例句:
  • Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
  • The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。
47 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
48 judicially 8e141e97c5a0ea74185aa3796a2330c0     
依法判决地,公平地
参考例句:
  • Geoffrey approached the line of horses and glanced judicially down the row. 杰弗里走进那栏马,用审视的目的目光一匹接一匹地望去。
  • Not all judicially created laws are based on statutory or constitutional interpretation. 并不是所有的司法机关创制的法都以是以成文法或宪法的解释为基础的。
49 sergeant REQzz     
n.警官,中士
参考例句:
  • His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
  • How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹?
50 propped 557c00b5b2517b407d1d2ef6ba321b0e     
支撑,支持,维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。
  • This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。
51 underneath VKRz2     
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面
参考例句:
  • Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
  • She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣,里面套着一条连衣裙。
52 prone 50bzu     
adj.(to)易于…的,很可能…的;俯卧的
参考例句:
  • Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
  • He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。
53 wriggled cd018a1c3280e9fe7b0169cdb5687c29     
v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等)
参考例句:
  • He wriggled uncomfortably on the chair. 他坐在椅子上不舒服地扭动着身体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A snake wriggled across the road. 一条蛇蜿蜒爬过道路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
54 hissing hissing     
n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The steam escaped with a loud hissing noise. 蒸汽大声地嘶嘶冒了出来。
  • His ears were still hissing with the rustle of the leaves. 他耳朵里还听得萨萨萨的声音和屑索屑索的怪声。 来自汉英文学 - 春蚕
55 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
56 adjustable vzOzkc     
adj.可调整的,可校准的
参考例句:
  • More expensive cameras have adjustable focusing.比较贵的照相机有可调焦距。
  • The chair has the virtue of being adjustable.这种椅子具有可调节的优点。
57 wrench FMvzF     
v.猛拧;挣脱;使扭伤;n.扳手;痛苦,难受
参考例句:
  • He gave a wrench to his ankle when he jumped down.他跳下去的时候扭伤了足踝。
  • It was a wrench to leave the old home.离开这个老家非常痛苦。
58 sneaked fcb2f62c486b1c2ed19664da4b5204be     
v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 );偷偷溜走;(儿童向成人)打小报告;告状
参考例句:
  • I sneaked up the stairs. 我蹑手蹑脚地上了楼。
  • She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch. 她偷偷看了一眼手表。
59 scuttling 56f5e8b899fd87fbaf9db14c025dd776     
n.船底穿孔,打开通海阀(沉船用)v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 );快跑,急走
参考例句:
  • I could hear an animal scuttling about in the undergrowth. 我可以听到一只动物在矮树丛中跑来跑去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • First of all, scuttling Yu Lung (this yuncheng Hejin) , flood discharge. 大禹首先凿开龙门(今运城河津市),分洪下泄。 来自互联网
60 gravel s6hyT     
n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石
参考例句:
  • We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
  • More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。
61 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
62 infested f7396944f0992504a7691e558eca6411     
adj.为患的,大批滋生的(常与with搭配)v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 );遍布于
参考例句:
  • The kitchen was infested with ants. 厨房里到处是蚂蚁。
  • The apartments were infested with rats and roaches. 公寓里面到处都是老鼠和蟑螂。
63 rumors 2170bcd55c0e3844ecb4ef13fef29b01     
n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷
参考例句:
  • Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
64 strenuously Jhwz0k     
adv.奋发地,费力地
参考例句:
  • The company has strenuously defended its decision to reduce the workforce. 公司竭力为其裁员的决定辩护。
  • She denied the accusation with some warmth, ie strenuously, forcefully. 她有些激动,竭力否认这一指责。
65 audacity LepyV     
n.大胆,卤莽,无礼
参考例句:
  • He had the audacity to ask for an increase in salary.他竟然厚着脸皮要求增加薪水。
  • He had the audacity to pick pockets in broad daylight.他竟敢在光天化日之下掏包。
66 penetrate juSyv     
v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解
参考例句:
  • Western ideas penetrate slowly through the East.西方观念逐渐传入东方。
  • The sunshine could not penetrate where the trees were thickest.阳光不能透入树木最浓密的地方。
67 constable wppzG     
n.(英国)警察,警官
参考例句:
  • The constable conducted the suspect to the police station.警官把嫌疑犯带到派出所。
  • The constable kept his temper,and would not be provoked.那警察压制着自己的怒气,不肯冒起火来。
68 constables 34fd726ea7175d409b9b80e3cf9fd666     
n.警察( constable的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn. 警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。 来自辞典例句
  • There were also constables appointed to keep the peace. 城里也有被派来维持治安的基层警员。 来自互联网
69 pertinently 7029b76227afea199bdb41f4572844e1     
适切地
参考例句:
  • It is one thing to speak much and another to speak pertinently. 说得多是一回事,讲得中肯又是一回事。
  • Pertinently pointed out the government, enterprises and industry association shall adopt measures. 有针对性地指出政府、企业和行业协会应采取的措施。
70 premier R19z3     
adj.首要的;n.总理,首相
参考例句:
  • The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
  • He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。
71 commissioner gq3zX     
n.(政府厅、局、处等部门)专员,长官,委员
参考例句:
  • The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
  • He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。
72 frigid TfBzl     
adj.寒冷的,凛冽的;冷淡的;拘禁的
参考例句:
  • The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨,他在下面呆不了太长时间。
  • She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。
73 antagonism bwHzL     
n.对抗,敌对,对立
参考例句:
  • People did not feel a strong antagonism for established policy.人们没有对既定方针产生强烈反应。
  • There is still much antagonism between trades unions and the oil companies.工会和石油公司之间仍然存在着相当大的敌意。
74 patriotism 63lzt     
n.爱国精神,爱国心,爱国主义
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。
75 loyalty gA9xu     
n.忠诚,忠心
参考例句:
  • She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
  • His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
76 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
77 naught wGLxx     
n.无,零 [=nought]
参考例句:
  • He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
  • I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。
78 mutual eFOxC     
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的
参考例句:
  • We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
  • Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
79 shambles LElzo     
n.混乱之处;废墟
参考例句:
  • My room is a shambles.我房间里乱七八糟。
  • The fighting reduced the city to a shambles.这场战斗使这座城市成了一片废墟。
80 discrediting 4124496afe2567b0350dddf4bfed5d5d     
使不相信( discredit的现在分词 ); 使怀疑; 败坏…的名声; 拒绝相信
参考例句:
  • It has also led to the discrediting of mainstream macroeconomics. 它还使得人们对主流宏观经济学产生了怀疑。
81 malefactor S85zS     
n.罪犯
参考例句:
  • If he weren't a malefactor,we wouldn't have brought him before you.如果他不是坏人,我们是不会把他带来见你的。
  • The malefactor was sentenced to death.这个罪犯被判死刑。
82 deliberately Gulzvq     
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地
参考例句:
  • The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
  • They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。
83 whatsoever Beqz8i     
adv.(用于否定句中以加强语气)任何;pron.无论什么
参考例句:
  • There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
  • All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样,你就怎样对人。
84 paucity 3AYyc     
n.小量,缺乏
参考例句:
  • The paucity of fruit was caused by the drought.水果缺乏是由于干旱造成的。
  • The results are often unsatisfactory because of the paucity of cells.因细胞稀少,结果常令人不满意。
85 upwards lj5wR     
adv.向上,在更高处...以上
参考例句:
  • The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
  • The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。
86 fugitive bhHxh     
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者
参考例句:
  • The police were able to deduce where the fugitive was hiding.警方成功地推断出那逃亡者躲藏的地方。
  • The fugitive is believed to be headed for the border.逃犯被认为在向国境线逃窜。
87 outskirts gmDz7W     
n.郊外,郊区
参考例句:
  • Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
  • They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。
88 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
89 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
90 apprehend zvqzq     
vt.理解,领悟,逮捕,拘捕,忧虑
参考例句:
  • I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
  • Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。
91 condescending avxzvU     
adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的
参考例句:
  • He has a condescending attitude towards women. 他对女性总是居高临下。
  • He tends to adopt a condescending manner when talking to young women. 和年轻女子说话时,他喜欢摆出一副高高在上的姿态。
92 cordon 1otzp     
n.警戒线,哨兵线
参考例句:
  • Police officers threw a cordon around his car to protect him.警察在他汽车周围设置了防卫圈以保护他。
  • There is a tight security cordon around the area.这一地区周围设有严密的安全警戒圈。
93 proceeding Vktzvu     
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报
参考例句:
  • This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
  • The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。
94 entail ujdzO     
vt.使承担,使成为必要,需要
参考例句:
  • Such a decision would entail a huge political risk.这样的决定势必带来巨大的政治风险。
  • This job would entail your learning how to use a computer.这工作将需要你学会怎样用计算机。
95 nay unjzAQ     
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者
参考例句:
  • He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的,不,应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
  • Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章,不,应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。
96 tardy zq3wF     
adj.缓慢的,迟缓的
参考例句:
  • It's impolite to make a tardy appearance.晚到是不礼貌的。
  • The boss is unsatisfied with the tardy tempo.老板不满于这种缓慢的进度。
97 dignified NuZzfb     
a.可敬的,高贵的
参考例句:
  • Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中,他始终沉默以保持尊严。
  • He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
98 suave 3FXyH     
adj.温和的;柔和的;文雅的
参考例句:
  • He is a suave,cool and cultured man.他是个世故、冷静、有教养的人。
  • I had difficulty answering his suave questions.我难以回答他的一些彬彬有礼的提问。
99 cynical Dnbz9     
adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的,不信世道向善的
参考例句:
  • The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大,他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
  • He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。
100 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
101 oratory HJ7xv     
n.演讲术;词藻华丽的言辞
参考例句:
  • I admire the oratory of some politicians.我佩服某些政治家的辩才。
  • He dazzled the crowd with his oratory.他的雄辩口才使听众赞叹不已。
102 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
103 crafty qzWxC     
adj.狡猾的,诡诈的
参考例句:
  • He admired the old man for his crafty plan.他敬佩老者的神机妙算。
  • He was an accomplished politician and a crafty autocrat.他是个有造诣的政治家,也是个狡黠的独裁者。
104 insistent s6ZxC     
adj.迫切的,坚持的
参考例句:
  • There was an insistent knock on my door.我听到一阵急促的敲门声。
  • He is most insistent on this point.他在这点上很坚持。
105 averse 6u0zk     
adj.厌恶的;反对的,不乐意的
参考例句:
  • I don't smoke cigarettes,but I'm not averse to the occasional cigar.我不吸烟,但我不反对偶尔抽一支雪茄。
  • We are averse to such noisy surroundings.我们不喜欢这么吵闹的环境。
106 jaw 5xgy9     
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训
参考例句:
  • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
  • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
107 amenable pLUy3     
adj.经得起检验的;顺从的;对负有义务的
参考例句:
  • His scientific discoveries are amenable to the laws of physics.他在科学上的发现经得起物理定律的检验。
  • He is amenable to counsel.他这人听劝。
108 luncheon V8az4     
n.午宴,午餐,便宴
参考例句:
  • We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
  • I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。
109 soften 6w0wk     
v.(使)变柔软;(使)变柔和
参考例句:
  • Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
  • This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
110 commonwealth XXzyp     
n.共和国,联邦,共同体
参考例句:
  • He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
  • Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。
111 impersonal Ck6yp     
adj.无个人感情的,与个人无关的,非人称的
参考例句:
  • Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远,没有人情味。
  • His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。
112 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
113 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
114 certify tOozp     
vt.证明,证实;发证书(或执照)给
参考例句:
  • I can certify to his good character.我可以证明他品德好。
  • This swimming certificate is to certify that I can swim one hundred meters.这张游泳证是用以证明我可以游100米远。
115 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低
参考例句:
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
116 well-being Fe3zbn     
n.安康,安乐,幸福
参考例句:
  • He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
  • My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福,却被误解为多管闲事。
117 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
118 anonymity IMbyq     
n.the condition of being anonymous
参考例句:
  • Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. 为了姓名保密,书中的人用的都是化名。
  • Our company promises to preserve the anonymity of all its clients. 我们公司承诺不公开客户的姓名。
119 bouts 2abe9936190c45115a3f6a38efb27c43     
n.拳击(或摔跤)比赛( bout的名词复数 );一段(工作);(尤指坏事的)一通;(疾病的)发作
参考例句:
  • For much of his life he suffered from recurrent bouts of depression. 他的大半辈子反复发作抑郁症。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • It was one of fistiana's most famous championship bouts. 这是拳击界最有名的冠军赛之一。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
120 lucid B8Zz8     
adj.明白易懂的,清晰的,头脑清楚的
参考例句:
  • His explanation was lucid and to the point.他的解释扼要易懂。
  • He wasn't very lucid,he didn't quite know where he was.他神志不是很清醒,不太知道自己在哪里。
121 intervals f46c9d8b430e8c86dea610ec56b7cbef     
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
参考例句:
  • The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴,有阵雨。
  • Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
122 sanity sCwzH     
n.心智健全,神智正常,判断正确
参考例句:
  • I doubt the sanity of such a plan.我怀疑这个计划是否明智。
  • She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
123 stimuli luBwM     
n.刺激(物)
参考例句:
  • It is necessary to curtail or alter normally coexisting stimuli.必需消除或改变正常时并存的刺激。
  • My sweat glands also respond to emotional stimuli.我的汗腺对情绪刺激也能产生反应。
124 motives 6c25d038886898b20441190abe240957     
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
  • His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。
125 growled 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3     
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说
参考例句:
  • \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
126 subside OHyzt     
vi.平静,平息;下沉,塌陷,沉降
参考例句:
  • The emotional reaction which results from a serious accident takes time to subside.严重事故所引起的情绪化的反应需要时间来平息。
  • The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon.围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。
127 manifestation 0RCz6     
n.表现形式;表明;现象
参考例句:
  • Her smile is a manifestation of joy.她的微笑是她快乐的表现。
  • What we call mass is only another manifestation of energy.我们称之为质量的东西只是能量的另一种表现形态。
128 frankly fsXzcf     
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说
参考例句:
  • To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
  • Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
129 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财
参考例句:
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
130 positively vPTxw     
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实
参考例句:
  • She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
  • The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
131 plummet s2izN     
vi.(价格、水平等)骤然下跌;n.铅坠;重压物
参考例句:
  • Mengniu and Yili have seen their shares plummet since the incident broke.自事件发生以来,蒙牛和伊利的股票大幅下跌。
  • Even if rice prices were to plummet,other brakes on poverty alleviation remain.就算大米价格下跌,其它阻止导致贫困的因素仍然存在。
132 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
参考例句:
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
133 awed a0ab9008d911a954b6ce264ddc63f5c8     
adj.充满敬畏的,表示敬畏的v.使敬畏,使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The audience was awed into silence by her stunning performance. 观众席上鸦雀无声,人们对他出色的表演感到惊叹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I was awed by the huge gorilla. 那只大猩猩使我惊惧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
134 subdued 76419335ce506a486af8913f13b8981d     
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
  • I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
135 mansion 8BYxn     
n.大厦,大楼;宅第
参考例句:
  • The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
  • The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
136 longing 98bzd     
n.(for)渴望
参考例句:
  • Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
  • His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
137 queried 5c2c5662d89da782d75e74125d6f6932     
v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 );询问
参考例句:
  • She queried what he said. 她对他说的话表示怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • \"What does he have to do?\" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事?”琴向觉民问道,她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
138 devout Qlozt     
adj.虔诚的,虔敬的,衷心的 (n.devoutness)
参考例句:
  • His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
  • The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。
139 disciple LPvzm     
n.信徒,门徒,追随者
参考例句:
  • Your disciple failed to welcome you.你的徒弟没能迎接你。
  • He was an ardent disciple of Gandhi.他是甘地的忠实信徒。
140 qualms qualms     
n.不安;内疚
参考例句:
  • He felt no qualms about borrowing money from friends.他没有对于从朋友那里借钱感到不安。
  • He has no qualms about lying.他撒谎毫不内疚。
141 slashing dfc956bca8fba6bcb04372bf8fc09010     
adj.尖锐的;苛刻的;鲜明的;乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 );鞭打;割破;削减
参考例句:
  • Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句
  • He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手,不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句
142 pawn 8ixyq     
n.典当,抵押,小人物,走卒;v.典当,抵押
参考例句:
  • He is contemplating pawning his watch.他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
  • It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。
143 nonplussed 98b606f821945211a3a22cb7cc7c1bca     
adj.不知所措的,陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The speaker was completely nonplussed by the question. 演讲者被这个问题完全难倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I was completely nonplussed by his sudden appearance. 他突然出现使我大吃一惊。 来自《简明英汉词典》
144 reprisals 1b3f77a774af41369e1f445cc33ad7c3     
n.报复(行为)( reprisal的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • They did not want to give evidence for fear of reprisals. 他们因为害怕报复而不想作证。
  • They took bloody reprisals against the leaders. 他们对领导进行了血腥的报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》
145 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
146 nettled 1329a37399dc803e7821d52c8a298307     
v.拿荨麻打,拿荨麻刺(nettle的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • My remarks clearly nettled her. 我的话显然惹恼了她。
  • He had been growing nettled before, but now he pulled himself together. 他刚才有些来火,但现在又恢复了常态。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
147 cramped 287c2bb79385d19c466ec2df5b5ce970     
a.狭窄的
参考例句:
  • The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤,但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
  • working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作
148 grimace XQVza     
v.做鬼脸,面部歪扭
参考例句:
  • The boy stole a look at his father with grimace.那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。
  • Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。
149 smacking b1f17f97b1bddf209740e36c0c04e638     
活泼的,发出响声的,精力充沛的
参考例句:
  • He gave both of the children a good smacking. 他把两个孩子都狠揍了一顿。
  • She inclined her cheek,and John gave it a smacking kiss. 她把头低下,约翰在她的脸上响亮的一吻。
150 varied giIw9     
adj.多样的,多变化的
参考例句:
  • The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
  • The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。
151 implored 0b089ebf3591e554caa381773b194ff1     
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
  • She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。
152 buck ESky8     
n.雄鹿,雄兔;v.马离地跳跃
参考例句:
  • The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
  • The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。
153 knight W2Hxk     
n.骑士,武士;爵士
参考例句:
  • He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
  • A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。
154 complacently complacently     
adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地
参考例句:
  • He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
  • "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装,"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
155 laconically 09acdfe4bad4e976c830505804da4d5b     
adv.简短地,简洁地
参考例句:
  • "I have a key,'said Rhett laconically, and his eyes met Melanie's evenly. "我有钥匙,"瑞德直截了当说。他和媚兰的眼光正好相遇。 来自飘(部分)
  • 'says he's sick,'said Johnnie laconically. "他说他有玻"约翰尼要理不理的说。 来自飘(部分)
156 chagrined 55be2dce03734a832733c53ee1dbb9e3     
adj.懊恼的,苦恼的v.使懊恼,使懊丧,使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • I was most chagrined when I heard that he had got the job instead of me. 当我听说是他而不是我得到了那份工作时懊恼极了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He was [felt] chagrined at his failure [at losing his pen]. 他为自己的失败 [遗失钢笔] 而感到懊恼。 来自辞典例句
157 invoice m4exB     
vt.开发票;n.发票,装货清单
参考例句:
  • The seller has to issue a tax invoice.销售者必须开具税务发票。
  • We will then send you an invoice for the total course fees.然后我们会把全部课程费用的发票寄给你。
158 passionately YmDzQ4     
ad.热烈地,激烈地
参考例句:
  • She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿,也能爱得一往情深。
  • He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。
159 subconscious Oqryw     
n./adj.潜意识(的),下意识(的)
参考例句:
  • Nail biting is often a subconscious reaction to tension.咬指甲通常是紧张时的下意识反映。
  • My answer seemed to come from the subconscious.我的回答似乎出自下意识。


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