But Ethel possessed13 the thing itself. To her the accessories were but absurdities—unnecessary and wanton, means whereby to emphasize a natural loveliness.
There should have been a glimmer14 of pure white light from the back of a hair brush, lying on the dressing table. Ethel had loved the purity of that ivory surface. She had loved it so much that she refused to have it broken by the superimposition upon it of initials wrought16 cleverly in silver or gold or platinum17. That brush meant so much to her! Night by night, she toiled18 with it. After she had undone19 the masses of her bronze-gold hair, she worked over them, with a sybaritical, meticulous20 care.
She was used to sitting in negligée and having her maid brush the strands21. That brushing made the hair resplendent.... Now, Ethel looked—there was no dressing table—no mirror—nothing, of the sort that she was accustomed to see when she awoke in the morning.
She thought again of her own bedroom at home. She was minded to take her bath, which must be drawn22 and waiting.... And then, suddenly, that blank wall there before her eyes hammered upon her consciousness.
She was stricken with a curious sense of horror in this instant of realization24 that she was in some unknown place—absolutely apart from the dear, familiar things of home.
For a few horrid25 instants that shock of a vague terror pressed upon her like a destroying incubus26.
A moment later, recollection thronged27 upon her. She remembered everything—the coming to the yacht, the fall, the wrenched28 ankle, the arrival of the physician, the almost dainty pain of the needle thrust into her flesh. And then Ethel began to think that it would be pleasant to be an invalid29 on board the yacht for a long time. It would need only a judicious30 selection of guests to make a voyage the most agreeable of diversions.
Just then she was startled into a new emotion. She realized the rhythmic31 beating of the engines.... The yacht was already under way.
For a little, Ethel was too stunned32 by the shock of surprise to take action. To her, it was inconceivable that the yacht should be thus voyaging. It should be still lying at anchor in the North River. Her father could have given no orders for its sailing. She had not. There was no one else with authority to command the movements of the craft. It should be lying at anchor in its berth33.... But it was not. There was the pulse from the engines, the gentle swing of the hull34 to prove that a journey was begun. A journey—whither or wherefore she could not even guess.
Ethel put her feet out of the berth, and winced35 with pain from the movement of the injured ankle. But she set her teeth in grim determination, and stood up, putting her weight on the sound foot. Then she hobbled to the port, and looked out. She saw the highlands of New Jersey36 slipping gently past. She recognized the lightship. There was no longer room for doubt. The yacht had put to sea.
Ethel remained staring out of the port-hole for a long hour, during which the New Jersey coast unrolled a panorama37 of varied38 loveliness. And throughout all that hour, the girl was in a maze39 of wonder over this thing that had befallen. She could make no guess as to the meaning of it all. She found herself dazed by the unexpected situation. Yet, a certain instinct warned her of danger. She did not in the least understand the nature of the peril40, the cause of it, the effect. But somehow a subconscious41 intelligence guided her to the realization that this inexplicable42 situation was fraught43 with portents44 of evil. Her fear sharpened when she found that the door of the stateroom was locked from the outside.
Moving with care that she might not cause herself more pain by strain in the injured ankle, she looked for and found a pencil and a sheet of paper, on which she scribbled45 a note to her lover.
"Mr. Roy Morton,
"Birchwood Camp,
"Nahassane, N. Y.
"Dearest Roy:
"I fell and injured my ankle and concluded to stay aboard The Isabel under the care of Dr. Garnet. I awoke this morning and to my surprise, found the yacht headed down the New Jersey coast. I tried to go on deck. I found I had been locked in my stateroom.... Boat still headed south. Come to my rescue!
"I am going to place this note in a face-powder can. I see ahead a fisherman's boat. It is near enough for me to attract its attention. I shall throw the can near the boat, with the hope that the fisherman will open it and find this note. We are heading toward the Delaware Capes46.
"Love to you and father,
"Ethel Marion."
She folded the note and scrawled47 a few words on the outside very hurriedly, for they were now almost abreast48 the fleet of fishing yawls.
"Mr. Fisherman, I am a prisoner on my own yacht. Please help me and telegraph this letter to Mr. Morton's address." She crammed49 the bit of paper into the can from which she had emptied the powder. She thrust her head out of the port and uttered a shrill50 cry to attract the attention of the fisherman. Then she threw the can with all force toward the nearest boat.
Ethel watched in a mood of half hope, half despair. She saw the can fall into the sea. But one of the fishermen also observed the container of her message as it was thrown into the water. Ethel, watching with strained eyes, perceived the figure of a man in oilskins who suddenly thrust a boat-hook overboard, fished with it for a moment, then drew alongside the tin can, bent51 over, and picked it out of the water.... The girl thrilled with relief over the success of her attempt to send news of the trouble come upon her.
Nevertheless, there was, there could be, no immediate52 effect of the message. The engine of the yacht throbbed53 steadily54, carrying her moment by moment further from home and lover and father and friends, to a destination unknown—a destination fraught by imagination with unguessed horrors.
Suddenly, Ethel forgot all the difficulties of this strange situation in a realization of the fact that she was hungry—atrociously hungry! It dawned upon her that she had not eaten a single morsel55 of food since the luncheon56 of the previous day. She realized then that she was entirely57 dependent upon her unknown captor, even for food to keep her body alive.
The distraught girl thought of the locked stateroom door, and was made frantic58 by the fact that she was thus shut in, a prisoner. She stared longingly59 at the small, round port-hole. She regarded that swinging window of heavy plate glass with an anxiety of desire that thrilled through every atom of her blood. She wondered: Could she by any chance thrust her slender body through that narrow aperture61? She even went so far as to measure the width of the disc—comparing the space to her own slender breadth of shoulders.
She thought that it might be possible for her to thrust her lithe62 form through the meager63 opening. She believed that she could push her body through the port-hole. She dared to hope that she might thus escape. Down below was the runway used by the sailors. It seemed to her that the matter of escape would be simple.
Her hunger urged Ethel to make the desperate attempt. She was sure that could she once reach the runway she would be safe from detection on the part of the one directing the course of the craft from the pilot-house. She had heard no noise from the galley64, which was near her room. She was certain that it was unoccupied, and that she could slip into it unnoticed, there to satisfy her longing60 for food from the abundant supply of canned goods. Then, after relieving her hunger, she could determine her future conduct. She might decide to act the brave part by showing herself and demanding to know the cause of her confinement65; or she might return in the way by which she had come to the stateroom, with a supply of food, and thus await developments.
The distracted girl took a full hour for consideration of the matter. Betimes, she was bold to the point of desperation; betimes, she was flaccid with despair, helpless before the mysterious horrors of her situation. But at last courage rose in her, became dominant66. She resolved to make the attempt at a descent through the opening. Now, she was not in the least intimidated67 by the very real danger of being unable to secure safe footing upon the narrow runway. The deck below was without a solid rail. It had only the light hand rail with an open space beneath, through which her body might easily plunge68 into the sea. Moreover, the peril of the exploit was increased for her by the fact of her injured ankle, which must make her footing awkward and unsteady at the best.
Ethel found some comfort on a final examination of the injured ankle. The swelling69 from the sprain71 had lessened72 very perceptibly. She discovered, too, that now she could bend the joint73 a little without experiencing the excruciating pain which such movement had produced before she lost consciousness from the effect of the opiate. The fact that the injury was not so severe as she had thought and that she could at least depend upon the hurt member for some support, painful though it might be, heartened her anew. Without further pause for reasonings pro1 and con23, she began to force her body through the opening.
The berth was so located that by placing her sound foot upon the edge of it she was able to thrust the upper part of her body out of the port-hole. But this aid would not serve for the remainder of the progress. To get her hips74 through, she would have to depend on being able to seize the hand rail and thus pull herself outward and downward. She had no fear of being caught midway and held fast, for her measurements had proved that her shoulders were a trifle broader than her hips. The danger would lie in getting a firm grip with her hands on the rail and in the subsequent swinging down of her body to the tiny width of the runway. Now, as she lunged forward, she held her hands outstretched, as if she were about to dive into the sea. In this moment of stress she thanked God for the strictness with which her father had insisted on athletic75 training. She knew that her eye was keen and accurate, that her muscles were strong, ready with instant response to the commands of will.
But, to her dismay, Ethel found that, notwithstanding measurements, her shoulders would not pass through the opening. She writhed76 in fruitless endeavor until she was exhausted77 by the strain. Finally, she gave up the attempt and drew back into the cabin, utterly78 downcast by her failure. Then, when she was somewhat refreshed, she tested the accuracy of her measurements. To her astonishment she found that she had made no mistake. The port-hole was in fact a little wider than her shoulders. For a time she was puzzled by the mystery of it all. Then, suddenly, understanding came to her. She realized that the outstretching of her arms had caused a lifting and consequent broadening of the shoulders. Once again hope filled her. She repeated her attempt, but now with arms dropped close to her sides. She thrilled with delight as her shoulders slid easily through the opening.
Then, in the next instant, the joy vanished. In its place came stark79 terror. For she found herself held motionless, when half way through the port-hole, with her arms bound fast by the pressure. She struggled violently, but to no avail. She was caught prisoner with a ruthless firmness that could not be escaped. Her frantic strivings did not budge80 her body the fraction of an inch either forward or backward. Indeed, it seemed that her futile81 endeavors to free herself only succeeded in wedging her more securely. She fancied that her own physical violence was causing her body to swell70 so that it should be gripped more fiercely by the unyielding circumference82 of the window. There flashed on her a memory of how once she had tried on a friend's ring, had tried it on a finger too large; of how she had pushed it down easily enough over the joint; of how she could not push it back again. She remembered how the finger had swiftly swollen83 until the ring was deep sunken in the reddened flesh. Now, she imagined her body, caught within the metal rim15 of the port-hole, was thus reddened and swollen. Her plight84 filled her with anguish85. The dread86 of it made her forget in this new, overmastering fear all that she had so greatly dreaded87 hitherto.... Her voice broke in a scream:
"Help! Oh, help! Help!"
Almost instantly, as her voice ceased, Ethel heard the sound of hurrying feet on the deck above. She twisted her neck to look upward, and saw the pleasantly smiling face of Doctor Gifford Garnet, as he peered over the hurricane rail. In that moment of relief, the girl welcomed the familiar countenance88 of the family physician. She had no thought for the cunning smile that answered to her anguished89 appeal. She realized only that here was one to succor90 her in her extremity91. She called out to him imploringly92:
"Oh, Doctor, help me please. I am caught here. My body is swelling, I think. You must get me out at once or I shall die. Oh, hurry!"
The Doctor grinned at her with sardonic93 enjoyment94 of her predicament. But his bland95 words soothed96 her alarm:
"I come to your rescue with all speed, Miss Ethel. Never fear, little one, you will soon be quite safe. I hasten to relieve your suffering."
He vanished. Then, a few seconds later, she saw him making his way along the runway. She did not see the hypodermic syringe he carried in his left hand. She did not understand even when he came to her, and put his two hands to her shoulders as if to help her. She felt the sting of pain in her right arm, but thought it no more than the twinge of a strained muscle. Doctor Garnet deftly97 slipped the hypodermic syringe into his pocket without the girl's observing it. He spoke98 to her gently, encouragingly, awaiting the action of the drug. Then, a few moments later, Ethel's lids drooped99, her form grew limp, her head lolled to the slight swaying of the yacht. She was held now in a clutch more terrible and more relentless100 than that of the metal band about her body. She was the hapless prisoner of morphia. Dr. Garnet stared into the face of the unconscious girl for a long half minute, with a curious gloating in his gaze. Then, abruptly101, he strode away, and as he went he chuckled102 softly, with infinite relish103 over some evil jest known only to himself.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
pro
|
|
| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
walnut
|
|
| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
cleanse
|
|
| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
lotion
|
|
| n.洗剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
pervasive
|
|
| adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
fragrance
|
|
| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
medley
|
|
| n.混合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
attained
|
|
| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
glimmer
|
|
| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
rim
|
|
| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
platinum
|
|
| n.白金 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
toiled
|
|
| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
undone
|
|
| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
meticulous
|
|
| adj.极其仔细的，一丝不苟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
strands
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
22
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
con
|
|
| n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
realization
|
|
| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
incubus
|
|
| n.负担；恶梦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
thronged
|
|
| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
wrenched
|
|
| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
invalid
|
|
| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
judicious
|
|
| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
rhythmic
|
|
| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
stunned
|
|
| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
berth
|
|
| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
hull
|
|
| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
winced
|
|
| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
jersey
|
|
| n.运动衫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
panorama
|
|
| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
maze
|
|
| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
subconscious
|
|
| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
inexplicable
|
|
| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
fraught
|
|
| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
portents
|
|
| n.预兆( portent的名词复数 )；征兆；怪事；奇物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
scribbled
|
|
| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
capes
|
|
| 碎谷； 斗篷( cape的名词复数 )； 披肩； 海角； 岬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
scrawled
|
|
| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
abreast
|
|
| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
crammed
|
|
| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
throbbed
|
|
| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
luncheon
|
|
| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
frantic
|
|
| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
longingly
|
|
| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
aperture
|
|
| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
lithe
|
|
| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
meager
|
|
| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
galley
|
|
| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
confinement
|
|
| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
dominant
|
|
| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
intimidated
|
|
| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
plunge
|
|
| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
swelling
|
|
| n.肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
sprain
|
|
| n.扭伤,扭筋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
lessened
|
|
| 减少的，减弱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
joint
|
|
| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
hips
|
|
| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
athletic
|
|
| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
writhed
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
stark
|
|
| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
budge
|
|
| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
futile
|
|
| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
circumference
|
|
| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
swollen
|
|
| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
plight
|
|
| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
dreaded
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
88
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
anguished
|
|
| adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
succor
|
|
| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
imploringly
|
|
| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
sardonic
|
|
| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
bland
|
|
| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
soothed
|
|
| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
deftly
|
|
| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
spoke
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
99
drooped
|
|
| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
relentless
|
|
| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
relish
|
|
| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |