S the elevator in the big building was taking Rayburn Miller1 up to the offices of the Southern Land and Timber Company, many reflections passed hurriedly through his mind.
"You are going to get the usual cold shoulder from Wilson," he mused2; "but he 'll put it up against something about as warm as he's touched in many a day. If you don't make him squirm, it will be only because you don't want to."
Wilson was busy at his desk looking over bills of lading, receipts, and other papers, and now and then giving instructions to a typewriter in the corner of the room.
"Ahl how are you, Miller?" he said, indifferently, giving the caller his hand without rising. "Down to see the city again, eh?"
Rayburn leaned on the top of the desk, and knocked the ashes from his cigar with the tip of his little finger.
"Partly that and partly business," he returned, carelessly.
"Two birds, eh?"
"That's about it. I concluded you were not coming up our way soon, and so I decided3 to drop in on you."
"Yes, glad you did." Wilson glanced at the papers on his desk and frowned. "Wish I had more time at my disposal. I'd run up to the club with you and show you my Kentucky thoroughbreds, but I realty am rushed, to-day particularly."
"Oh, I haven't a bit of time to spare myself! I take the afternoon train home. The truth is, I came to see you for my clients, the Bishops5."
"Ah, I see." Wilson's face clouded over by some mechanical arrangement known only to himself. "Well, I can' t realty report any progress in that matter," he said. "All the company think Bishop4's figures are away out of reason, and the truth is, right now, we are over head and ears in operations in other quarters, and—well, you see how it is?"
"Yes, I think I do." Miller smoked a moment. "In fact, I told my clients last month that the matter was not absorbing your attention, and so they gave up counting on you."
Wilson so far forgot his pose that he looked up in a startled sort of way and began to study Miller's smoke-wrapped profile.
"You say they are not—have not been counting on my company to—to buy their land?"
"Why, no," said Miller, in accents well resembling those of slow and genuine surprise. "Why, you have not shown the slightest interest in the matter since the day you made the loan, and naturally they ceased to think you wanted the land. The only reason I called was that the note is payable6 to-day, and—"
"Oh yes, by Jove! that was careless of me. The interest is due. I knew it would be all right, and I had no idea you would bother to run down for that. Why, my boy, we could have drawn7 for it, you know."
Miller smiled inwardly, as he looked calmly and fixedly8 through his smoke into the unsuspecting visage upturned to him.
"But the note itself is payable to-day," he said, closely on the alert for a facial collapse10; "and, while you or I might take up a paper for twenty-five thousand dollars through a bank, old-fashioned people like Mr. and Mrs. Bishop would feel safer to have it done by an agent. That's why I came."
Miller, in silent satisfaction, saw the face of his antagonist11 fall to pieces like an artificial flower suddenly shattered.
"Pay the note?" gasped12 Wilson. "Why—"
Miller puffed13 at his cigar and gazed at his victim as if slightly surprised over the assumption that his clients had not, all along, intended to avail themselves of that condition in their contract.
"You mean that the Bishops are ready to—" Wilson began again on another breath—"to pay us the twenty-five thousand dollars?"
"And the interest for six months," quietly added Miller, reaching for a match on the desk. "I reckon you've got the note here. I don't want to miss my train."
Wilson was a good business man, but his Puritanical14 training in New England had not fitted him for wily diplomacy15; besides, he had not expected to meet a diplomat16 that day, and did not, even now, realize that he was in the hands of one. He still believed that Miller was only a half-educated country lawyer who had barely enough brains and experience to succeed as a legal servant for mountain clients. Hence, he now made little effort to conceal17 his embarrassment18 into which the sudden turn of affairs had plunged19 him. In awkward silence he squirmed in his big chair.
"Of course, they can take up their note to-day if they wish," he said, with alarmed frankness. "I was not counting on it, though." He rose to his feet. Miller's watchful20 eye detected a certain trembling of his lower lip. He thrust his hands into his pockets nervously21; and in a tone of open irritation22 he said to the young man at the typewriter: "Brown, I wish you'd let up on that infernal clicking; sometimes I can stand it, and then again I can' t. You can do those letters in the next room."
When the young man had gone out, carrying his machine, Wilson turned to Miller. "As I understand it, you, personally, have no interest in the Bishop property?"
"Oh, not a dollar!" smiled the lawyer. "I'm only acting23 for them."
"Then"—Wilson drove his hands into his pockets again—"perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me if the Bishops are on trade with other parties. Are they?"
Miller smiled and shook his head. "As their lawyer, Mr. Wilson, I simply couldn't answer that question."
The blow was well directed and it struck a vulnerable spot.
"I beg your pardon," Wilson stammered24. "I did not mean to suggest that you would betray confidence." He reflected a moment, and then he said, in a flurried tone, "They have not actually sold out, have they?"
Miller was silent for a moment, then he answered: "I don't see any reason why I may not answer that question I don't think my clients would object to my saying that they have not yet accepted any offer."
A look of relief suffused25 itself over Wilson's broad face.
"Then they are still open to accept their offer to me?"
Miller laughed as if highly amused at the complication of the matter.
"They are bound, you remember, only so long as you hold their note."
"Then I tell you what to do," proposed Wilson. "Go back and tell them not to bother about payment, for a few days, anyway, and that we will soon tell them positively26 whether we will pay their price or not. That's fair, isn't it?"
"It might seem so to a man personally interested in the deal," admitted Miller, as the introduction to another of his blows from the shoulder; "but as lawyer for my clients I can only obey orders, like the boy who stood on the burning deck."
Wilson's face fell. The remote clicking of the typewriter seemed to grate upon his high-wrought nerves, and he went and slammed the partly opened door, muttering something like an oath. On that slight journey, however, he caught an idea.
"Suppose you wire them my proposition and wait here for a reply," he suggested.
Miller frowned. "That would do no good," he said. "I'm sorry I can' t explain fully27, but the truth is this: I happen to know that they wish, for reasons of their own, to take up the note you hold, and that nothing else will suit them."
At this juncture28 Wilson lost his grip on all self-possession, and degenerated29 into the sullen30 anger of sharp and unexpected disappointment.
"I don't feel that we are being fairly treated," he said. "We most naturally assumed that your clients wanted to—to extend our option on the property for at least another six months. We assumed that from the fact that we had no notification from them that they would be ready to pay the note to-day. That's where we feel injured, Mr. Miller."
Rayburn threw his cigar into a cuspidor; his attitude of being a non-interested agent was simply a stroke of genius. Behind this plea he crouched31, showing himself only to fire shots that played havoc32 with whatever they struck.
"I believe my clients did feel, I may say, honor bound to you to sell for the price they offered; but—now I may be mistaken—but I'm sure they were under the impression, as I was, too, that you only wanted the property provided you could build a railroad from Dar-ley to it, and—"
"Well, that's true," broke in Wilson. "That's quite true."
"And," finished Miller, still behind his inevitable33 fortification, "they tell me that you have certainly shown indifference34 to the project ever since the note was given. In fact, they asked me pointedly35 if I thought you meant business, and I was forced, conscientiously36, to tell them that I thought you seemed to have other fish to fry."
Wilson glared at the lawyer as if he wanted to kick him for a stupid idiot who could not do two things at once—work for the interests of his clients and not wreck37 his plans also. It had been a long time since he had found himself in such a hot frying-pan.
"So you think the thing is off," he said, desperately38, probably recalling several purchases of land he had made in the section he had expected to develop. "You think it's off?"
"I hardly know what to say," said Miller. "The old gentleman, Mr. Bishop, is a slow-going old-timer, but his son is rather up to date, full of energy and ambition. I think he's made up his mind to sell that property."
Wilson went to his desk, hovered39 over it like a dark, human cloud, and then reluctantly turned to the big iron safe against the wall, obviously to get the note. His disappointment was too great for concealment40. With his fat, pink hand on the silver-plated combination-bolt he turned to Miller again.
"Would you mind sitting down till I telephone one or two of the directors?"
"Not at all," said Miller, "if you 'll get me a cigar and the Constitution. The Atlanta baseball team played Mobile yesterday, and I was wondering—"
"I don't keep track of such things," said Wilson, coming back to his desk, with an impatient frown, to ring his call-bell for the office-boy.
"Oh yes, I believe football is your national sport," said Miller, with a dry smile. "Well, it's only a difference between arms and legs—whole bones and casualties."
Wilson ordered the cigar and paper when the boy appeared, and, leaving the lawyer suddenly, he went into the room containing the telephone, closing the door after him.
In a few minutes he reappeared, standing41 before Miller, who was chewing a cold cigar and attentively42 reading. He looked up at Wilson abstractedly.
"Bully43 for Atlanta!" he said. "The boys made ten runs before the Mobiles had scored—"
"Oh, come down to business!" said the New-Eng-lander, with a ready-made smile. "Honestly, I don't believe you drowsy44 Southerners ever will get over your habit of sleeping during business hours. It seems to be bred in the bone."
Miller laughed misleadingly. "Try to down us at a horse-race and we 'll beat you in the middle of the night. Hang it all, man, you don't know human nature, that's all! How can you expect me, on my measly fees, to dance a breakdown45 over business I am transacting46 for other people?"
"Well, that may account for it," admitted Wilson, who seemed bent47 on being more agreeable in the light of some fresh hopes he had absorbed from the telephone-wires. "See here, I've got a rock-bottom proposal to make to your people. Now listen, and drop that damned paper for a minute. By Jove! if I had to send a man from your State to attend to legal business I'd pick one not full of mental morphine."
"Oh, you wouldn't?" Miller laid down the paper and assumed a posture48 indicative of attention roused from deep sleep. "Fire away. I'm listening."
"I already had authority to act for the company, but I thought it best to telephone some of the directors." Wilson sat down in his chair and leaned towards the lawyer. "Here's what we will do. The whole truth is, we are willing to plank49 down the required one hundred thousand for that property, provided we can lay our road there without incurring50 the expense of purchasing the right of way. Now if the citizens along the proposed line want their country developed bad enough to donate the right of way through their lands, we can trade."
There was a pause. Then Miller broke it by striking a match on the sole of his boot. He looked crosseyed at the flame as he applied51 it to his cigar. "Don't you think your people could stand whatever value is appraised52 by law in case of refusals along the line?"
"No," said Wilson. "The price for the land is too steep for that. Your clients have our ultimatum53. What do you say? We can advertise a meeting of citizens at Springtown, which is about the centre of the territory involved, and if all agree to give the right of way it will be a trade. We can have the meeting set for to-day two weeks. How does that strike you?"
"I'd have to wire my clients."
"When can you get an answer?"
Miller looked at his watch. "By five o' clock this afternoon. The message would have to go into the country."
"Then send it off at once."
A few minutes after five o' clock Miller sauntered into the office. Wilson sat at his desk and looked up eagerly.
"Well?" he asked, almost under his breath.
The lawyer leaned on the top of the desk. "They are willing to grant you the two weeks' time, provided you sign an agreement for your firm that you will purchase their property at the price named at the expiration54 of that time."
"With the provision," interpolated Wilson, "that a right of way is donated."
"Yes, with that provision," Miller nodded.
"Then sit down here and write out your paper."
Miller complied as nonchalantly as if he were drawing up a bill of sale for a worn-out horse.
"There you are," he said, pushing the paper to Wilson when he had finished.
Wilson read it critically. "It certainly is binding," he said. "You people may sleep during business hours, but you have your eyes open when you draw up papers. However, I don't care; I want the Bishops to feel secure. They must get to work to secure the right of way. It will be no easy job, I 'll let you know. I've struck shrewd, obstinate55 people in my life, but those up there beat the world. Noah couldn't have driven them in the ark, even after the Flood set in."
"You know something about them, then?" said Miller, laughing to himself over the implied confession56.
Wilson flushed, and then admitted that he had been up that way several times looking the situation over.
"How about the charter?" asked Miller, indifferently.
"That's fixed9. I have already seen to that."
"Then it all depends on the right of way," remarked the lawyer as he drew a check from his pocket and handed it to Wilson. "Now get me that note," he said.
Wilson brought it from the safe.
"Turning this over cuts my option down to two weeks," he said. "But we 'll know at the meeting what can be done."
"Yes, we 'll know then what they can do with you," said Miller, significantly, as he put the cancelled note in his pocket and rose to go.
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1
miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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payable
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| adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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13
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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14
puritanical
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| adj.极端拘谨的；道德严格的 | |
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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diplomat
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| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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degenerated
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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43
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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44
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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45
breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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46
transacting
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的现在分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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47
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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48
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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49
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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50
incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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51
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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52
appraised
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| v.估价( appraise的过去式和过去分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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53
ultimatum
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| n.最后通牒 | |
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54
expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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55
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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56
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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