DE QUINCEY.
I was glad when spring came, when the trees began to bud, the grass to grow, the flowers to bloom; for, of all the seasons, I like it best, — this wonderful resurrection of life and sweetness!
Thursia is a fine city, — not only in its costly4 and architecturally and aesthetically5 perfect buildings, public and private, but in its shaded avenues, its parks, lawns, gardens, fountains, its idyllic6 statues, and its monuments to greatness.
Severnius took pains to exhibit all its attractions to me, driving with me slowly through the beautiful streets, and pointing out one conspicuous7 feature and another. Of course there were some streets which were not beautiful, but he avoided those as much as possible, — as I have done myself when I have had friends visiting me in New York. It is a compliment to your guest to show him the best there is and to spare him the worst.
But often, too, we took long walks through fields and woods. When Elodia accompanied us, which she did a few times, the whole face of nature smiled, and I thought Paleveria the most incomparably charming country I had ever seen. Her presence gave importance to everything, — the song of a bird, the opening of a humble8 little flower, the babbling9 of water. But other things absorbed most of her time, — we only got the scraps10, the remnants. When she was with us she relaxed, as though we were in some sort a recreation. She amused herself with us just as I have seen a busy father amuse himself with his family for an hour or so of an evening. And I think we really planned our little theatricals11 of evening conversation for her, — at least I did. I saved up whatever came to me of thought or incident to give to her at the dinner table. And she appreciated it; her mind bristled12 with keen points, upon which any ideas let loose were caught in a flash. The sudden illumination of her countenance13 when a new thing, or even an old thing in a new dress, was presented to her, was of such value to me that I found myself laying traps for it, inventing stories and incidents to touch her fancy.
Besides her banking14 interests, over which she kept a close surveillance, she had a great many other matters that required to be looked after. As soon as the weather was fine enough, and business activities in the city began to be redoubled, especially in the matter of real estate, she made a point of driving about by herself to inspect one piece of property and another, and to make plans and see that they were carried out according to her ideas. And she was just as conscientious15 in the discharge of her official duties. She was constantly devising means for the betterment of the schools, both as to buildings and methods of instruction. I believe she knew every teacher personally, — and there must have been several thousand, — and her relations with all of them were cordial and friendly. Her approbation16 was a thing they strove for and valued, — not because of her official position and the authority she held in her hands, but because of a power which was innate17 in herself and that made her a leader and a protector.
But I was too selfish to yield my small right to her society, — the right only of a guest in her house, — to these greater claims with absolute sweetness and patience.
“Why does she take all these things upon herself?” I asked of Severnius.
“Because she has a taste for them,” he replied. “Or, as she would say, a need of them. It is an internal hunger. It is her nature to exert herself in these ways.”
“I cannot believe it is her nature; it is no woman’s nature,” I retorted. “It is a habit which she has cultivated until it has got the mastery of her.”
“Perhaps,” returned Severnius, who was never much disposed to argue about his sister’s vagaries18 — as they seemed to me.
“All this is mannish,” I went on. “There are other things for women to do. Why does she not give her time and attention to the softer graces, to feminine occupations?”
“I see,” he laughed; “you want her to drop these weighty matters and devote herself to amusing us! and you call that ‘feminine.”
I joined in his laugh ruefully.
“Perhaps I am narrow, and selfish, too,” I admitted; “but she is so charming, she brings so much into our conversations whenever we can entice19 her to spend a moment with us.”
“Yes, that is true,” he answered. “She gleans20 her ideas from a large and varied21 field.”
“I do not mean her ideas, so much as — well, as the delicious flavor of her presence and personality.”
“Her presence and her personality would not have much flavor, my friend, if she had no ideas, I am thinking.”
“O, yes, they would,” I insisted. “They are the ether in which our own thoughts expand and take shape and color. They are the essence of her supreme22 beauty.”
He shook his head. “Beauty is nothing without intelligence. What is the camellia beside the rose? Elodia is the rose. She has several pleasing qualities that appeal to you at one and the same time.”
This was rather pretty, but a man’s praises of his sister always sound tame to me. “She is adorable!” I cried with fervor23. We were walking toward a depot24 connected with a great railway. For the first time I was to try the speed of a Marsian train. Severnius wanted me to visit the city of Frambesco, some two hundred miles from Thursia, in another state.
After a short, ruminating25 silence I broke out again:
“We don’t even have her company evenings, to any extent. What does she do with her evenings?”
“Who? O, Elodia! Why, she goes to her club. For recreation, you know.”
“That is complimentary26 to you and me,” I said coolly.
He brought his spectacles to bear upon me somewhat sharply.
“Don’t you think you are a little unreasonable27?” he demanded. “You have curious ideas about individual liberty! Now, we hold that every soul shall be absolutely free, — that is, in its relations to other souls; it shall not be coerced28 by any other. It is as though souls were stars suspended in space, each moving in its appointed orbit. No one has the right to disturb the poise29 and equilibrium30 of another, not even the one nearest it. That is a Caskian idea, by the way; about the only one Elodia is enamored of. These souls, or spheres, are extremely sensitive; and they may, and do, exert a tremendous influence, one upon another, — but without violence.”
“Your meaning is clear,” I said coldly. “My powers of attraction in this case are feeble. Is the club you speak of composed entirely31 of women?”
“Certainly.”
“Do not the men here have clubs?”
“O, yes; I belong to one, though I do not often attend. I will take you to visit it, — I wonder I had not thought of it before! But those things are disturbing; we scientists like to keep our minds clear, like the lenses of our telescopes.”
“Is Elodia’s club a literary one!” I asked, though I was almost sure it was not.
“O, no; it is for recreation purely32, as I said. The same kind of a club, I suppose, that you men have. Of course, they have the current literature, which they skim over and discuss, so as to keep themselves informed about what is going on in the world. It is the only way you can keep up with the times, I think, for no one can read everything. They have games and various diversions. Elodia’s clubhouse is furnished with elegant baths, for women have an extraordinary fondness for bathing. And they have a gymnasium, — you notice what splendid figures most of our women have! — and of course a wine cellar.”
“Severnius!” I cried. “You don’t mean to tell me that these women have wines in their clubhouse?”
“Why, yes,” said he.
“And it is tolerated, allowed, nobody objects?”
“O, yes, there are plenty of objectors,” he replied. “There is a very strong anti-intoxicant element here, but it has no actual force and exerts but little influence in — in our circles.”
Severnius was too modest a man to boast of belonging to the upper class of society, but that was what “our circles” meant.
“But do not the male relatives of these women object, — their husbands, fathers, brothers?”
“No, indeed, why should they? We do the same things they do, without demur33 from them.”
“But they should be looking after their domestic affairs, their children, their homes.”
“My dear sir! they have servants to attend to those matters.”
It seemed useless to discuss these things with Severnius, his point of view concerning the woman question was so different from mine. Nevertheless, I persisted.
“Tell me, Severnius, do women on this planet do everything that men do?”
“They have that liberty,” he replied, “but there is sometimes a difference of tastes.”
“I am glad to hear it!”
“For instance, they do not smoke. By the way, have a cigar?” He passed me his case and we both fired up. There is a peculiarly delightful34 flavor in Marsian tobacco.
“They have a substitute though,” he added, removing the fragrant35 weed from his lips to explain. “They vaporize.” “They what?”
“They have a small cup, a little larger than a common tobacco pipe, which they fill with alcohol and pulverized37 valerian root. This mixture when lighted diffuses38 a kind of vapor36, a portion of which they inhale39 through the cup-stem, a slender, tortuous40 tube attached to the cup. The most of it, however, goes into the general air.”
“Good heavens!” I cried, “valerian! the most infernal, diabolical41 smell that was ever emitted from any known or unknown substance.”
“It is said to be soothing42 to the nerves,” he replied.
“But do you not find it horribly disagreeable, unbearable43?” I suddenly recollected44 that, in passing through the upper hall of the house, I had once or twice detected this nauseating45 odor, in the neighborhood of Elodia’s suite47 of rooms.
“Yes, I do,” he answered, “when I happen to come in contact with it, which is seldom. They are careful not to offend others to whom the vapor is unpleasant. Elodia is very delicate in these matters; she is fond of the vapor habit, but she allows no suggestion of it to cling to her garments or vitiate her breath.”
“It must be a great care to deodorize herself,” I returned, with ill-concealed contempt.
“That is her maid’s business,” said he.
“It is not injurious to health?” I asked.
“Quite so; it often induces frightful48 diseases, and is sometimes fatal to life even.
“And yet they persist in it! I should think you would interfere49 in your sister’s case.”
“Well,” said he, “the evils which attend it are really no greater than those that wait upon the tobacco habit; and, as I smoke, I can’t advise with a very good grace. I have a sort of blind faith that these good cigars of mine are not going to do me any harm, — though I know they have harmed others; and I suppose Elodia reasons in the same friendly way with her vapor cup.”
The train stood on the track ready to start. I was about to spring up the steps of the last car when Severnius stopped me.
“Not that one,” he said; “that is the woman’s special.”
I stepped back, and read the word Vaporizer, — printed in large gilt50 letters, — bent51 like a bow on the side of the car.
“Do you mean to tell me, Severnius,” I exclaimed, “that the railroad company devotes one of these magnificent coaches exclusively to the use of persons addicted52 to the obnoxious53 habit we have been speaking of?”
“That is about the size of it,” he returned, — he borrowed the phrase from me. “Come, make haste, or we shall be left; the next car is the smoker54; we’ll step into that and finish these cigars, after which I’ll show you what sumptuous55 parlor56 coaches we have.”
As we mounted to the platform I could not resist glancing into the Vaporizer. There were only two or three ladies there, and one of them held in her ungloved hand the little cup with the tortuous stem which my friend had described to me. From it there issued a pale blue smoke or vapor, and oh! the smell of it! I held my breath and hurried after Severnius.
“That is the most outrageous57, abominable58 thing I ever heard of!” I declared, as we entered the smoker and took our seats.
“O, it is nothing,” he returned, smiling; “you are a very fastidious fellow. I saw you look into that car; did you observe the lady in blue?”
“I should think I did! she was in the act,” I replied. “And I recognized her, too; she is that Madam Claris you introduced me to in the Auroras’ Temple, is she not?”
“Yes; but did you notice her cup?”
“Not particularly.”
“It is carved out of the rarest wood we have, — wood that hardens like stone with age, — and has an indestructible lining59 and is studded with costly gems60; the thing is celebrated61, an heirloom in Claris’ family. They like to sport those things, the owners of them do. They are a mark of distinction, — or, as they might say in some of your countries, a patent of nobility.”
“I suppose, then, that only the rich and the aristocratic ‘vaporize’?”
“By no means; whatever the aristocracy do, humble folk essay to imitate. These vapor cups are made in great quantities, of the commonest clay, and sold for a penny apiece.”
“Then it must be a natural taste, among your women?” said I.
“No, no more than smoking is among men. They say it is nauseating in the extreme, at first, and requires great courage and persistence62 to continue in it up to the point of liking63. There is no doubt that it becomes very agreeable to them in the end, and that it is almost impossible to break the habit when once it is fixed64.”
“And what do they do with their cups, — I mean, how do they carry them about when they are not using them?” I asked.
“Put them in a morocco case, the same as you would a meerschaum, and drop them into a fanciful little bag which they wear on the arm, suspended by a chain or ribbon.”
Frambesco could not compare with Thursia either in size or beauty; and it had a totally different air, a kind of swagger, you might say. I felt the mercury in my moral barometer65 drop down several degrees as we walked about the streets amid much filth66, and foul67 odors, and unsightly spectacles.
I made the natural comments to my friend, and he replied that neither Frambesco nor any other city on the continent could hold a candle to Thursia, where the best of every thing was centered.
We observed a great many enormous placards posted about conspicuously68, announcing a game of fisticuffs to take place that afternoon in an amphitheatre devoted69 to such purposes; and we decided70 to look in upon it. I think it was I who suggested it, for I had no little curiosity about the “tactics” of the manly71 art in that country, having seen Sullivan and several other famous hitters in our own.
Severnius had considerable difficulty in procuring72 tickets, and finally paid a fabulous73 price to a speculator for convenient seats. The great cost of admission of course kept out the rabble74, and, in a way, it was an eminently75 respectable throng76 that was assembled, — I mean in so far as money and rich clothes make for respectability. But there was an unmistakable coarseness in most of the faces, or if not that, a curiosity which bordered on coarseness. I was amazed to see women in the audience; but this was nothing to the horror that quivered through me like a deadly wound, when the combatants sprang into the arena77 and squared off for action. For they, too, were women, — women with tender, rosy78 flesh; with splendid dark eyes gleaming with high excitement. Their long, fair hair was braided and twisted into a hard knot on top of the head. They wore no gloves. Ah, a woman’s hands are soft enough without padding! — I thought.
They went at it in scientific fashion and were careful to observe the etiquette79 of the game; it was held “foul” to attack the face. In fact it was more of a wrestling than a sparring match, — a test of strength, prowess, agility80. But I recoiled81 from it with loathing82, and feeling myself grow sick and faint, I muttered something to Severnius and rushed out of the place. He followed me, of course; the performance was quite as distasteful to him as to me, the only difference being that he was familiar with the idea and I was not.
As I passed out, I observed that many of the women were vaporizing and many of the men smoking. I suppose it was, in part, the intolerable abomination of these commingled83 smells that affected84 me, for I experienced a physical as well as moral nausea46. I did not get over it for hours, and I was as glad as a child when it came time to take the train back to Thursia.
My disgust was so great that I could not discuss the matter with Severnius, as I was wont85 to discuss other matters with him. There was one thing for which I was supremely86 thankful, — that Elodia was not there.
A few days later, the subject accidentally came up, and I had the satisfaction of hearing her denounce the barbarity as emphatically as I could denounce it, — and more sweepingly87, for she included male fighters in her condemnation88, and I was unable to make her see that that was quite another matter.
点击收听单词发音
1 ecstasies | |
狂喜( ecstasy的名词复数 ); 出神; 入迷; 迷幻药 | |
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2 corked | |
adj.带木塞气味的,塞着瓶塞的v.用瓶塞塞住( cork的过去式 ) | |
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3 pint | |
n.品脱 | |
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4 costly | |
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 | |
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5 aesthetically | |
adv.美地,艺术地 | |
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6 idyllic | |
adj.质朴宜人的,田园风光的 | |
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7 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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8 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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9 babbling | |
n.胡说,婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 );作潺潺声(如流水);含糊不清地说话;泄漏秘密 | |
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10 scraps | |
油渣 | |
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11 theatricals | |
n.(业余性的)戏剧演出,舞台表演艺术;职业演员;戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 );剧场的;炫耀的;戏剧性的 | |
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12 bristled | |
adj. 直立的,多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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13 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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14 banking | |
n.银行业,银行学,金融业 | |
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15 conscientious | |
adj.审慎正直的,认真的,本着良心的 | |
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16 approbation | |
n.称赞;认可 | |
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17 innate | |
adj.天生的,固有的,天赋的 | |
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18 vagaries | |
n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 );异想天开;异常行为;难以预测的情况 | |
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19 entice | |
v.诱骗,引诱,怂恿 | |
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20 gleans | |
v.一点点地收集(资料、事实)( glean的第三人称单数 );(收割后)拾穗 | |
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21 varied | |
adj.多样的,多变化的 | |
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22 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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23 fervor | |
n.热诚;热心;炽热 | |
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24 depot | |
n.仓库,储藏处;公共汽车站;火车站 | |
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25 ruminating | |
v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 );反复考虑;反刍;倒嚼 | |
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26 complimentary | |
adj.赠送的,免费的,赞美的,恭维的 | |
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27 unreasonable | |
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的 | |
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28 coerced | |
v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 );强迫;(以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段)控制;支配 | |
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29 poise | |
vt./vi. 平衡,保持平衡;n.泰然自若,自信 | |
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30 equilibrium | |
n.平衡,均衡,相称,均势,平静 | |
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31 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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32 purely | |
adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
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33 demur | |
v.表示异议,反对 | |
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34 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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35 fragrant | |
adj.芬香的,馥郁的,愉快的 | |
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36 vapor | |
n.蒸汽,雾气 | |
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37 pulverized | |
adj.[医]雾化的,粉末状的v.将…弄碎( pulverize的过去式和过去分词 );将…弄成粉末或尘埃;摧毁;粉碎 | |
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38 diffuses | |
(使光)模糊,漫射,漫散( diffuse的第三人称单数 ); (使)扩散; (使)弥漫; (使)传播 | |
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39 inhale | |
v.吸入(气体等),吸(烟) | |
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40 tortuous | |
adj.弯弯曲曲的,蜿蜒的 | |
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41 diabolical | |
adj.恶魔似的,凶暴的 | |
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42 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
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43 unbearable | |
adj.不能容忍的;忍受不住的 | |
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44 recollected | |
adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45 nauseating | |
adj.令人恶心的,使人厌恶的v.使恶心,作呕( nauseate的现在分词 ) | |
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46 nausea | |
n.作呕,恶心;极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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47 suite | |
n.一套(家具);套房;随从人员 | |
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48 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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49 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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50 gilt | |
adj.镀金的;n.金边证券 | |
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51 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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52 addicted | |
adj.沉溺于....的,对...上瘾的 | |
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53 obnoxious | |
adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的 | |
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54 smoker | |
n.吸烟者,吸烟车厢,吸烟室 | |
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55 sumptuous | |
adj.豪华的,奢侈的,华丽的 | |
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56 parlor | |
n.店铺,营业室;会客室,客厅 | |
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57 outrageous | |
adj.无理的,令人不能容忍的 | |
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58 abominable | |
adj.可厌的,令人憎恶的 | |
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59 lining | |
n.衬里,衬料 | |
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60 gems | |
growth; economy; management; and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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61 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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62 persistence | |
n.坚持,持续,存留 | |
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63 liking | |
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢 | |
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64 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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65 barometer | |
n.气压表,睛雨表,反应指标 | |
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66 filth | |
n.肮脏,污物,污秽;淫猥 | |
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67 foul | |
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规 | |
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68 conspicuously | |
ad.明显地,惹人注目地 | |
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69 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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70 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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71 manly | |
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地 | |
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72 procuring | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的现在分词 );拉皮条 | |
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73 fabulous | |
adj.极好的;极为巨大的;寓言中的,传说中的 | |
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74 rabble | |
n.乌合之众,暴民;下等人 | |
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75 eminently | |
adv.突出地;显著地;不寻常地 | |
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76 throng | |
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集 | |
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77 arena | |
n.竞技场,运动场所;竞争场所,舞台 | |
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78 rosy | |
adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 | |
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79 etiquette | |
n.礼仪,礼节;规矩 | |
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80 agility | |
n.敏捷,活泼 | |
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81 recoiled | |
v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 );退缩;报应;返回 | |
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82 loathing | |
n.厌恶,憎恨v.憎恨,厌恶( loathe的现在分词);极不喜欢 | |
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83 commingled | |
v.混合,掺和,合并( commingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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85 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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86 supremely | |
adv.无上地,崇高地 | |
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87 sweepingly | |
adv.扫荡地 | |
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88 condemnation | |
n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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