4Clarence could stand it no longer. With his neck stretched far out of his stall window, the colt lifted up his voice and whinnied remonstrance8.
“O Amanda! Why are we still prisoners, and the sun half-way up the roof of heaven? It is an outrage9, Amanda. Come quickly and let us out.”
Reginald—the round fat one with the tight kink in his tail—stood on his hind-legs inside the barnyard fence under the colt’s nose, and voiced his personal grievance10 in short sharp squeaks11.
“Let me out, let me out, let me out! My trough is empty. My flattened12 belly13 cleaves14 to my backbone15.”
On either side of him were Mrs. Cowslip and Gustavius, with their heads over the fence and their noses in the air.
“Amanda, O Amanda!” bawled16 the bull-calf17, 5while his mother—she of the liquid eyes and the crumpled18 horn—lowed her gentle reminder:—
“Good, kind Amanda, this yard is barren; in the pasture the long grass is luscious19. Amanda, O Amanda!”
And William, the big-horned and bearded one, butted21 foolishly at the hinges of the barnyard gate.
The others gave no heed22 to William’s puerile23 devices. He was only an addle-pated goat anyway, devoid24 of reasoning power and puffed25 up with vanity. They put their noses together and considered the matter, the bull-calf wrinkling his yellow muzzle26 at Clarence’s ear and dropping now and then a superfluous27 comment. Ordinarily the colt, having an exalted28 sense of his own superiority, would have indulged in no such familiarity with a placid29 old cow and her lubberly calf; but it was plain that the present 6occasion was one demanding the sinking of the individual in the organization. So Clarence patiently reviewed the situation, inviting30 their suggestions.
To go back to the events of the early morning. Why had that two-legged tyrant31, who always responded so promptly32 to the vulgar name of Gabe whenever Amanda hailed him from the kitchen door, harnessed the mare33 and driven off, leaving them deprived of their customary liberty, and without a word of explanation? The act was contrary to the Professor’s most sacred principle of equity34 for all living creatures, whether having four legs or only two.
“And yet just now you led us in our supplications to Amanda,” observed Mrs. Cowslip. “Why did you not remind the Professor of our—”
“Ah!” broke in Gustavius, “you can trust 7the Professor to understand the needs of a bull-calf.”
“You don’t have to ask the Professor twice when you want your back scratched,” grunted35 Reginald, his tail kinking tighter than ever with delicious memories.
“The Professor has a large, round, and most inviting stomach,” commented William. “Never before have I spared such a stomach. Yet never have I felt the slightest inclination36 to butt20 the Professor.”
Mrs. Cowslip turned her mild eyes inquiringly on the colt. “I suggest,” she said, “that we remind the Professor—”
“My gracious!” interrupted Clarence with impatience37. “Can’t you fellows remember anything over-night? The Professor drove off behind my mother yesterday morning. There was a box beside him in the wagon38. He wore his high hat. Mother came home without him. 8There’s nobody left in the house but Amanda and that two-legged Gabe.”
Just then Gustavius tossed his immature39 horns and bellowed:—
“Amanda! Amanda!”
With an apron40 over her head and a tin pail on her arm, Amanda had come into view beyond the angle of the barn.
“She’s going to the strawberry-patch over beyond the orchard41,” said Clarence, excitedly. “Quick! Now, all together!”
Amanda had not the hardihood to ignore the resulting chorus of appeals to her. But she passed quickly on out of sight, after turning long enough to wave her hand and answer:—
“Jest be patient, you critters. Gabe’ll ’tend to you when he gits home.”
The colt nearly burst with indignation.
“That settles it,” he shrieked42, lashing43 out with his heels so that there was a great clatter44 9of things loose in the barn. Then he drew back his lips, baring his teeth, and began snapping at the latch-string of the barn-door, which was just beyond his reach.
“It’s a pity,” said Mrs. Cowslip. “I’ve seen your mother let herself in that way many a time, when she was full of grass and eager for her midday nap.”
“If I was only out of here, I could reach that string,” grunted Reginald, with one thought for the colt and two for himself.
“Oh, we know all about you,” retorted Clarence with exasperation45. “If you could get out you’d scoot for those artichokes down by the brook and never look behind you, you fat, selfish, kink-tailed little beast.”
“Just you try me,” urged the pig, for he had great confidence in the colt’s resources.
Once more their noses were close together, while Clarence instructed them in the details of 10a desperate effort designed to gain freedom for them all.
To contend with the smug incredulity of those millions of human kind who spend their lives in little brick-and-mortar boxes set one on top of another in long double rows is the fate of all chroniclers of the important aspects of nature. But truth is mighty46 and will prevail. Let us therefore proceed calmly with the facts.
When Clarence had repeated his instructions several times, Reginald gave three sharp, intelligent grunts47 and ran straight to the barnyard gate. With his stiffened48 snout he began furiously attacking the hard earth beneath the lower bar.
“Not there, you idiot!” squealed49 the colt. “The other end. The other end, where the iron hinges are!”
Reginald stood corrected. While the dirt flew from under the hinged end of the gate, Gustavius 11galloped foolishly around the yard with his tail aloft, and William, with a coolly calculating eye on those hinges, backed away slowly, with significance understood by all the other conspirators50. Mrs. Cowslip looked on benignantly. Presently the pig got his sturdy shoulders under the gate and heaved with all his might. William, with head down, leaped to the assault. The crash of his horns on those hinges re?choed between orchard and wooded hills. But the gate was raised only an inch or two, and Reginald stuck fast. His squeals51 as he struggled would have melted a heart of stone. William backed away for another assault. It was while he was in mid-air that Clarence shrilled:—
“Not the hinges! The pig, the pig!”
William understood. This time all the weight behind his horns landed with a resounding52 smack53 on Reginald’s inviting posterior. In the midst of heart-rending squeals the gate rose in the air 12and the barnyard prisoners looked out on liberty. Instantly Reginald was off in the direction of the artichokes.
“Stop!” shrieked Clarence. “As I’m a thoroughbred, you shall feel my heels among your spareribs!”
Reginald looked back, and seeing immediate54 menace in the lowered horns of Mrs. Cowslip and Gustavius, turned about, ran to the barn-door, stood on his hind-legs, seized with his teeth the leather string at which the colt was frantically55 snapping, gave one sharp pull—and the deed was done. If Amanda, a moment later, had looked up from her strawberry-picking, she would have seen, circling over the half-lawn, half-pasture between the barn and the house, all tails in the air, a triumphant56 procession consisting of one yearling colt, one cow with a crumpled horn, one bull-calf, one he-goat making short stiff-legged jumps with horns lowered, and 13one pig bringing up the rear with a tail now so tightly kinked that it lifted his hind-quarters clear of the ground at every second leap.
But Amanda’s mind was glued on strawberries; and for the present other matters of moment require us, too, to leave the escaped prisoners to their own devices.
Half a mile away the Poet and his sister sat on a boulder57 beside the road. It was a semi-public road winding58 around the foot of a wooded hill. Behind them, a mile away, was the railway station. That mile had been mostly uphill, and the Poet did not love physical exercise. He was tall and lean, with a geometrical figure composed mainly of acute angles. When in a state of repose59, it resembled a carpenter’s pocket rule which protested at being entirely60 shut up. The Poet’s sister, on the contrary, was mainly curves—those delicate, subtle curves 14that deny the presence of bones, yet repel61 any suggestion of fat. She was young; not too young—just young enough to have won the crowning glory of spinsterhood. She had quantities of red hair, the kind of red hair that always goes with that astonishingly transparent62 skin underneath63 which scattering64 amber65 freckles66 come and go over-night. There was one now on the side of her nose, which had a becomingly mirthful tilt67 at the end. Her lips were full at the centre, carmine68, and with finely shaped corners which could not by any possibility be drawn69 downward. She wore a solid pair of calfskin boots, with military heels which looked small while being ample in size. Her dark walking-skirt barely reached the interesting spot where her bootlaces were tied. Her waist, of a soft, cream-tinted material, left her neck and throat bare—for which the Lord be praised!—and a shapeless, yet shapely, fluffy70 white 15thing resting on the coils of her hair seemed to absorb warmth from them. In short, you will make no mistake when you keep your mind fixed71 on the Poet’s sister.
“Just around the next turn of the road, George,” she was saying, “our little summer Elysium will burst upon your view.”
The Poet mopped the long, solemn countenance72 that was belied73 by his eyes and his manner of speech.
“Galatea, I have observed that most things elysian in this life are generally just around the corner. I am not impatient. I can wait. In fact, I should prefer to have that first view burst upon me while I am comfortably seated in the spring wagon of—What did I understand you to say the gentleman’s name was, Galatea?”
“He is called Gabe.”
“Doubtless a corruption74 of Gabriel. I wonder if Gabriel blows his trumpet75 for breakfast?”
16Galatea’s lips parted in a musical ripple76 of laughter. The sight would have caused a dentist to pass on, with misgivings77 about his future. The Poet merely remarked:—
“Galatea, are you sure we brought our toothbrushes?” Whereupon the dentist would have been heartened by the sight of a tiny point of gold shining out of the crown of her left bicuspid.
“George, you lazy thing, come on. It’s only half a mile further. Gabriel probably missed us at the station, and has returned by the main road.”
“Oh, well, if all roads lead to Elysium, I suppose it’s no use waiting here.”
Slowly the Poet’s angles adjusted themselves to the upright position, and he strode on beside his sister.
“So you really like the place, Galatea?”
“It’s lovely—just the spot to give you inspiration, 17George. I shall expect great things of you, dear.”
“Will it inspire me to reduce the rhythm of Anacreon to ragtime78, do you think?”
“O George! And there are the Professor’s pets, you know—Mrs. Cowslip, Clarence, Reginald, Gustavius, and William. I told you about them. The Professor has the most wonderful knack79 of understanding domestic animals and making them understand him. Really, they look upon him as one of themselves. The Professor says we do our domestic animal pets great injustice when we overlook their loyalty81 and intelligence, refusing to meet them half-way in friendly companionship. Why, with only a little encouragement they develop the most remarkable82 emotions, almost human in their complexity83; while their powers of expression develop correspondingly. Positively84 the Professor and his cow, and colt, and pig, 18and bull-calf,—William the goat, Napoleon the dog, and Cleopatra the mare were away the day I called to arrange about the lease for the summer,—are just one big happy family.”
Galatea’s cheeks were flushed with enthusiasm. The Poet’s eyes twinkled, but his face remained long and solemn.
“What name does the pig answer to?”
“Reginald; but he’s a nice, clean pig.”
“Yes, of course, being a member of the Professor’s family. By the way, did you have an opportunity to note Reginald’s table manners?”
“O George, how perfectly85 absurd!”
“Not necessarily. I give way to no man in my determination to do justice to my fellow creatures, irrespective of the number of legs with which they are equipped. As the Professor has left us in undisputed possession for the next six months, there’s no telling what we may accomplish. What sort of voice has Reginald?”
19“George, I shan’t tell you another thing!”
“There, there. It merely occurred to me that, as neither you nor I nor Arthur sings—By the way, Galatea, I suppose Arthur will run over occasionally in his new automobile86, the lucky beggar?”
“I lay claim to no advance information respecting Arthur’s intentions,” answered the Poet’s sister, in cool, even tones. The flapping brim of her headgear was between the Poet’s eyes and her cheek, suddenly turned pink.
“Oh, well, I was only thinking what a boon87 Arthur’s banjo and my guitar would turn out to be if the pig should develop a romantic tenor88 voice. By Jove, Galatea! If that’s the place, I apologize for everything.”
They had reached the turn of the road that overlooked their summer Elysium. The Poet distributed his joints89 over another roadside boulder, while Galatea stood by his side, and 20gave his attention to the charming scene in detail.
“Really, a fine, rambling90 old house surrounded by shaded verandas91 below, and not too near the road. A stone-walled inclosure of half a dozen acres sloping down to a pretty brook that flows under the lower wall just below the barn—a comfortable red barn; a barn that isn’t red is only half a barn. A kitchen-garden and an orchard, and the rest pasture that is neat enough for a lawn. What romps92 we shall have, Galatea, with the colt and the bull-calf! What’s that vine-covered affair reared against the west gable of the house? Oh, a water-tank. Just so; there’s a pipe connecting underground with the brook, and that wind-wheel on the barn roof does the pumping. Good! I anticipate the luxury of an occasional tub. I was afraid Elysium was like Germany—lots of romance and no bathtubs. Galatea, we shall do—we shall 21do beautifully. But I say, what’s that funny-looking thing on the peak of the house roof?”
“Isn’t it the chimney?”
“It looks to me like a saw-horse.”
They walked on. After passing through a grove93 of chestnuts94, they had a nearer and better view of the house.
“No, it isn’t a saw-horse,” said the Poet. “It moves. Did you see it?”
Galatea looked embarrassed.
“Galatea, the thing on our roof looks to me uncommonly95 like a billy-goat. Galatea, it is a billy-goat—I can make out his whiskers.”
“Yes,” Galatea admitted reluctantly, “it must be William.”
“Very well, I foresee trouble for William. I am quite willing to collaborate96 with the Professor and take William to my bosom97 on equal terms as a brother, but no billy-goat shall be 22the man higher up in my family. William has got to get down off that roof.”
Presently they turned in at the gate—and then the Poet doubled up like a jack-knife. Galatea plumped down on the grass and laughed till she cried. A nice clean fat pig, with a sort of Elizabethan ruffle98 about his neck, raised himself on his forelegs and sat at a little distance from Galatea, grunting99 mild inquiries100 respecting the object of her call. The ruffle was explained by the presence of several other articles of feminine wearing apparel scattered101 about on the grass, evidently undergoing the bleaching102 process. In making a selection for his own adornment103, the pig had not been quite discreet104. A sleek105 and motherly cow, with one crumpled horn, lay in the soft earth of a tulip-bed, chewing her cud. Her total lack of humor was manifest in the complacent106 glances which she bestowed107 upon her offspring, a reckless-looking 23bull-calf, which wore a peach-basket unnecessarily on one of his hind-legs. This scene of domestic contentment was further enhanced when a saucy108 yearling colt put his head out through the kitchen window and shook it knowingly at the intruders, as much as to say:—
“Go away, strangers. We are at home, and you ought to be.”
And then the colt, the cow, the bull-calf, the pig wearing the improvised109 ruffle, and the goat from his perch110 on the roof, united in a glance of intense astonishment111 at the girl seated on the grass. Why was she swaying her body up and down in that foolish fashion, while her hands beat the air aimlessly and her throat emitted incomprehensible gurgles, like the bull-calf with a turnip112 stuck in his gullet?
“Oh dear, oh dear!” choked Galatea. “Amanda’s stepped out somewhere, and Bos, 24Equus and Co. are in full charge. The cow chewing her cud in the tulip-bed—oh dear, oh dear! The bull-calf picking up stray peach-baskets, and the colt in the kitchen—oh dear, oh dear! The pig wearing one of Amanda’s—ha! ha! he! he!—one of Amanda’s newest aramatums for a collar! Slap me on the back, George; I shall die—oh dear, oh dear! And the goat overlooking things from the roof! Come and fan me, George. Oh dear, oh dear!”
But the Poet had recovered his accustomed solemnity of visage. He stood with arms folded, contemplating113 the goat.
“Bos, Equus and Co. are plainly within their rights,” he said, “excepting the goat. The roof of our house is not a proper place for any member of our family, two-legged or otherwise. William, come down from there!”
The goat wrinkled his nose at the Poet. It was as though he had said:—
25“Why should I waste words on a stranger and an interloper?”
“Come down, William. Come down, or I’ll assert the last remnant of my authority as a two-legged person.”
William stamped his foot on the shingles114 in a manner plainly hostile. The Poet picked up a good-sized cobble-stone.
“William, for the last time I warn you. Come down!”
The goat backed up two or three steps and shook his horns.
“Very well, William, your blood be on your own head”; and the Poet threw the cobble-stone.
Now, as is well known, a goat has only one really vulnerable spot, namely, his curved and bony nose. Furthermore, a goat’s nose—like the beard of the prophet—is sacred. Therefore, when the cobble-stone, flying straight 26from the Poet’s incautious hand, struck William forcibly upon his most honored feature, the situation became grave. Stopping only to make one grimace115 of anguish116, partly physical but mainly of his outraged117 soul, he ran to the west gable, leaped down upon the water-tank, thence to the woodshed roof, and from there one leap landed him on the ground. Measuring with his inflamed118 and malevolent119 eye his distance from the Poet, he began backing slowly, with portent120 that could not be misunderstood.
“O George, he’s going to butt you!” screamed Galatea. “Sit down! sit down!”
But the Poet stood gazing at William like one fascinated. Having backed to a distance satisfactory to his nice discrimination in such matters, the goat lowered his nose and launched himself forward straight as an arrow aimed for the lank121, concave surface which indicated 27the Poet’s stomachic region. Perhaps it was the goat’s waning122 enthusiasm over a mark so little inviting,—at any rate the impact of his horns was only sufficient to cause the Poet to sit down with promptness.
“O George, did he hurt you?” asked Galatea anxiously. “I told you to sit down.”
“I believe I took your advice, Galatea,” said the Poet, looking about him in a dazed manner.
The goat was slowly backing again. There was a look in his eye which said more plainly than words:—
“Perchance you’ve had enough? If not, there’s more where that came from.”
“Don’t get up, George,” said Galatea. “Don’t move. Sit where you are and he’ll go away.”
“I’ve no intention of getting up,” answered the Poet. “I’m perfectly comfortable where I am, thank you. Besides, I’m not one of those 28low-spirited, truckling persons who insist on standing80 in the presence of a superior.”
The cow, the bull-calf, the pig in his ruffle, and the colt looking out of the kitchen window, were regarding the spectacle with evident satisfaction. The goat, as though satisfied that his wounded honor had been sufficiently123 avenged124, began slowly consuming one of the white garments bleaching on the grass.
In her excitement Galatea’s hat had escaped from its fastening and fallen to the ground. Just now the sun shone through the branches of an old cherry tree, converting her loosened coils of dark red hair into a scarlet125 taunt126 which the bull-calf could not ignore. With hind-legs wide apart, because of the peach-basket, he was pawing the earth with his forefeet and uttering adolescent bellows127 of rage.
“Do you think, dear, that he means me?” asked the girl anxiously, starting to rise.
29“Yes, dear, it’s your turn,” replied the Poet complacently128.
“But I’m—I’m sitting down.”
“It’s that red badge of provocation129 you carry about under your hat, Galatea. Why in thunder did you take it off? Look out! He’s coming!”
The Poet rose, intending to intercept130 the bull-calf, whose progress was somewhat impeded131 by the peach-basket; but, noticing the goat backing away for another assault, he sat down again.
“Quick, Galatea! The cherry tree!”
There was a comfortable branch at about the height of a man’s shoulder, with a wooden bench under it. With the bellowing132 bull-calf close at her heels, Galatea ran to the bench and—not without a generous display of striped hose—swung herself up to the branch, leaving the enemy pawing the earth innocuously below.
30“Galatea,” remarked the Poet solemnly, “I always said that those striped ones of yours were unlucky. Do you remember?”
“Shut up, George!” Galatea tucked her little boots under her on the branch, smoothed out her walking-skirt, and leaned against the trunk of the tree with the manner of a young lady accustomed to the usages of the very best society. George had the indecency to laugh.
“George, if I were a full-grown man I wouldn’t sit on the grass the whole afternoon just because of a poor, innocent little billy-goat.”
“Galatea, if I were a perfectly proper, highly educated and accomplished133 young lady just out of Vassar, I wouldn’t roost in a cherry tree just because of an innocently inquiring bull-calf.”
Then they both laughed.
Just then the colt whinnied long and joyously134.
31“Giddap,” sounded a voice from the road.
A sleek-coated young bull-terrier, very much alert, bounded down the path and stopped suddenly, as though divided between astonishment and indignation at the sight of the cow in the tulip-bed.
“That must be Napoleon,” said Galatea. “Gabriel is returning.”
A spring-wagon, loaded with trunks and boxes, and drawn by an extremely well-fed bay mare, whose driver, stoop-shouldered and sunburnt, perspired135 uncomfortably in his Sunday clothes, came into view on the driveway beyond the cherry tree, and stopped.
“How do you do, Gabriel?” said Galatea, smiling upon him from the cherry tree.
“Pleased to meet you, Gabriel,” said the Poet affably, from his seat on the grass.
For at least a minute the man in the wagon 32gazed upon the scene in silence, slowly opening and closing his mouth. Then he jumped down, remarking:—
“Jumpin’ Jehosephat! Sic’em, Napoleon!”
The terrier jumped for Mrs. Cowslip’s nose. She rose from the tulip-bed, but stood at bay. There was a great clatter of hoofs136 in the kitchen, and the colt ran out through the open door and began kicking up his heels gleefully under his mother’s nose. The bull-calf, the goat, and the pig arrayed themselves, as for an argument, beside the cow.
“Amanda!” bawled Gabriel. And then to the Poet: “Be you folks hurt, or only skeered? I must a’ missed ye, waitin’ for t’ other train.”
“We’re only scared, I think,” answered the Poet, rising cautiously, with one eye on the goat. Galatea slid down from her perch and joined them.
33“Darn the critters!” said Gabriel. “It’s all Amanda’s fault. Of course she had to go trapsin’ off somewhere. Amanda! O Amanda!”
Amanda appeared in the edge of the orchard, with a tin pail in her hand, indicating with a wave of her apron that she was coming as fast as she could with her heaping pail of strawberries.
“I locked ’em up,” said Gabriel. “But, laws, ’t aint no use lockin’ up critters edicated by a college perfessor.”
“Fer th’ land sakes!” ejaculated Amanda, arriving breathlessly and taking in the whole scene at a glance.
The pig went up to her, grunting amiably137 in his white ruffle.
“You shameless critter!” said Amanda, with her face aflame, as she tore the indecorous garment from Reginald’s neck.
“Ha! ha! ho! ho! ho!” laughed Gabriel. 34“Serves ye right, Amanda, for goin’ off an’ leavin’ edicated critters loose around th’ house.”
“Shoo!” said Amanda, waving her apron at Mrs. Cowslip, who merely gave her a mild look of reproach.
“Git back to th’ barn, all of ye,” commanded Gabriel, with no better result.
“Say it, Gabe,” said Amanda, stamping her foot.
“No,” answered Gabriel, “I mustn’t. It keeps their feelin’s hurt for a hull138 day. Th’ Perfessor wouldn’t like it.”
“I don’t care, Gabe, you jest say it.”
“Say what?” asked the Poet, overcome with curiosity.
“W’y,” explained Gabriel, “ye see, it’s th’ Perfessor’s idee that these critters are jest as good as he is. Ekel rights for man an’ beast, he calls it. You bet they’re willin’, consarn 35’em! It’s only when they want to run th’ hull place that he resorts to extreme measures, as he says. Then he shouts a queer, heathen word at ’em, an’ they sneak139 off like a dog caught suckin’ eggs.”
Out of regard for the Professor’s feelings Gabriel proceeded with such comparatively mild measures as flicking140 Mrs. Cowslip with his whip, and trying ineffectually to push the bull-calf toward the barn. The colt danced about, nipping at him with bared teeth. But it was Reginald who brought things to a climax141. The pig, escaping the teeth of the terrier, ran between Gabriel’s legs, sending him sprawling142 on his back.
“Say it, Gabe,” called out Amanda.
“You bet I’ll say it!” Gabriel replied, rising and confronting the four-footed mutineers, now grouped as though conscious that they had carried matters a trifle too far. Throwing 36out his chest, Gabriel thundered the single word:—
“ABRACADABRA!”
The effect was magical. The Poet and his sister could hardly believe their eyes. Instantly, with head drooping143 in the most dejected manner, the colt started toward the barn, followed by Mrs. Cowslip and the bull-calf, their tails now drooping and sorrowful. Next went the goat with conscience-smitten mien144, and at the end of the melancholy145 file was the pig, squealing146 plaintively147, all the kink out of his tail.
“Wait a bit, this won’t do at all!” suddenly exclaimed the Poet, with more excitement in his voice than his sister had ever before noted148.
“Do ye want to be a friend to th’ critters?” inquired Gabriel.
“I’m going to be a brother to them,” said the Poet.
“And I’m going to be a sister to them, poor 37things!” said Galatea. “Didn’t the Professor have some word with which he expressed his forgiveness, and his love, with a gentle reproof149 and warning to be more careful in the future?” she added, looking at Gabriel with soft appeal in her eyes.
“Sartin’, sartin’.” Gabriel scratched his head. “I can’t jest remember. It begun the same, with a-b ab—”
“Of course,” broke in the Poet. “The canonical150 form of pronouncing absolution.”
He ran after the delinquents151, calling them by name: “O Mrs. Cowslip! Clarence! Gustavius! William! Reginald!”
They stopped and looked back penitently152. Galatea ran to her brother’s side. He held out his hands and cried:—
“ABSOLVO!”
“Absolvo, absolvo!” echoed Galatea.
Cheerfully, but with subdued153 spirits, Bos, 38Equus and Co. gathered about their new friends, accepting their forgiveness with various tokens of gratitude154. The pig lay down at Galatea’s feet, grunting contentedly155, while the colt brushed her cheek with his velvet156 muzzle. The Poet felt a warm nose in his hand, and was not amazed to find it was his late enemy’s, the goat’s.
“Well, darn my skin!” said Gabriel.
“Galatea, I think we shall do very well—very well indeed,” said the Poet.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
injustice
|
|
| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
arrogant
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
fragrance
|
|
| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
brook
|
|
| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
grasshoppers
|
|
| n.蚱蜢( grasshopper的名词复数 )；蝗虫；蚂蚱；（孩子）矮小的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
remonstrance
|
|
| n抗议，抱怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
outrage
|
|
| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
grievance
|
|
| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
squeaks
|
|
| n.短促的尖叫声，吱吱声( squeak的名词复数 )v.短促地尖叫( squeak的第三人称单数 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
flattened
|
|
| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
belly
|
|
| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
cleaves
|
|
| v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
backbone
|
|
| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
bawled
|
|
| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
calf
|
|
| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
crumpled
|
|
| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
luscious
|
|
| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
butt
|
|
| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
butted
|
|
| 对接的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
puerile
|
|
| adj.幼稚的，儿童的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
devoid
|
|
| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
puffed
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
muzzle
|
|
| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
superfluous
|
|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
placid
|
|
| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
inviting
|
|
| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
tyrant
|
|
| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
mare
|
|
| n.母马，母驴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
equity
|
|
| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
grunted
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
inclination
|
|
| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
wagon
|
|
| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
immature
|
|
| adj.未成熟的，发育未全的，未充分发展的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
orchard
|
|
| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
lashing
|
|
| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
exasperation
|
|
| n.愤慨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
grunts
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
stiffened
|
|
| 加强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
squealed
|
|
| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
conspirators
|
|
| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
squeals
|
|
| n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
resounding
|
|
| adj. 响亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
smack
|
|
| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
triumphant
|
|
| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
boulder
|
|
| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
repel
|
|
| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
transparent
|
|
| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
underneath
|
|
| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
scattering
|
|
| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
amber
|
|
| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
freckles
|
|
| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
tilt
|
|
| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
carmine
|
|
| n.深红色，洋红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
fluffy
|
|
| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
belied
|
|
| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
corruption
|
|
| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
trumpet
|
|
| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
ripple
|
|
| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
misgivings
|
|
| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
ragtime
|
|
| n.拉格泰姆音乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
knack
|
|
| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
loyalty
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
complexity
|
|
| n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
automobile
|
|
| n.汽车，机动车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
boon
|
|
| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
tenor
|
|
| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
joints
|
|
| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
rambling
|
|
| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
verandas
|
|
| 阳台，走廊( veranda的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
romps
|
|
| n.无忧无虑，快活( romp的名词复数 )v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的第三人称单数 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
chestnuts
|
|
| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
uncommonly
|
|
| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
collaborate
|
|
| vi.协作，合作；协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
ruffle
|
|
| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
grunting
|
|
| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
bleaching
|
|
| 漂白法，漂白 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
adornment
|
|
| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
discreet
|
|
| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
sleek
|
|
| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
complacent
|
|
| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
saucy
|
|
| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
improvised
|
|
| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
perch
|
|
| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
turnip
|
|
| n.萝卜，芜菁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
shingles
|
|
| n.带状疱疹；（布满海边的）小圆石( shingle的名词复数 )；屋顶板；木瓦（板）；墙面板 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
grimace
|
|
| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
outraged
|
|
| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
inflamed
|
|
| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
malevolent
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
portent
|
|
| n.预兆；恶兆；怪事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
lank
|
|
| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
waning
|
|
| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
avenged
|
|
| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
taunt
|
|
| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
bellows
|
|
| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
complacently
|
|
| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
provocation
|
|
| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
intercept
|
|
| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
impeded
|
|
| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
bellowing
|
|
| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
joyously
|
|
| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
perspired
|
|
| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
hoofs
|
|
| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
amiably
|
|
| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
hull
|
|
| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
sneak
|
|
| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
flicking
|
|
| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
climax
|
|
| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
sprawling
|
|
| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
drooping
|
|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
squealing
|
|
| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
plaintively
|
|
| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
reproof
|
|
| n.斥责，责备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
canonical
|
|
| n.权威的；典型的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
delinquents
|
|
| n.（尤指青少年）有过失的人，违法的人( delinquent的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
penitently
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
subdued
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
154
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
contentedly
|
|
| adv.心满意足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |