Although from Addie Marchmont's description he believed that he had little cause to fear a rival in Hemstead, still he awaited his coming with a trace of anxiety. But when the seemingly overgrown, awkward student stepped upon the scene, all his fears vanished. The fastidious Lottie, whose eye had grown so nice and critical that she could refuse the suit of many who from their wealth and position thought it impossible to sue in vain, could never look upon this Western giant in a way other than she proposed,—the ridiculous subject of a practical joke. True, he had proved himself no fool in their table-talk, but mere15 intellectuality and moral excellence16 counted for little in De Forrest's estimation when not combined with wealth and external elegance17. The thought that the "giant" might have a heart, and that Lottie's clever seeming might win it, and the consequent mortification18 and suffering, did not occasion a moment's care. Unconsciously De Forrest belonged to that lordly class which has furnished our Neros, Napoleons, and tyrants19 of less degree, even down to Pat who beats his wife. These, from their throne of selfishness, view the pain and troubles of others with perfect unconcern. Therefore, believing that his personal interests were not endangered by so unpromising a man as Hemstead, even Lottie did not look forward to the carrying out of the practical joke with more zest20 than he. If the unsuspicious victim could only be inveigled21 into something like love, its awkward display might become comical in the extreme. Therefore, he gave but careless heed22 to his game, and keen glances to Lottie's side-play. But as the other conspirators23 were acting24 in much the same manner he was able to hold his own.
Hemstead looked grave, as cards were brought out, but without remark he sat down with his aunt at a table on the opposite side of the hearth25. Lottie perched on a chair a little back of them, so that while she saw their side faces they must turn somewhat to see her. When they did so she was quietly stitching at her fancy-work, but the rest of the time was telegraphing with her brilliant eyes all sorts of funny messages to the party opposite, so that they were in a state of perpetual giggle26, not in keeping with whist.
Mr. Dimmerly soon bustled27 in, and, looking wistfully at the game in progress, was about to propose that they form one likewise at their table, for an evening without cards was to him a mild form of purgatory28. But Lottie anticipated him. Giving a signal to the others and drawing down her face to portentous29 length, she said to Hemstead, "I fear you do not approve of cards."
"You are correct, Miss Marsden," he replied, stiffly.
As he turned away, she glanced at the card-players with a look of horror, as if they were committing sacrilege, and Harcourt had to improvise30 another poor joke to account for their increasing merriment.
But Mr. Dimmerly looked at his nephew in dismay and some irritation31. "What under heaven can I now do, this long evening," he thought, "but gape32 and talk theology?"
But Lottie, in the purpose to draw out and quiz her victim, continued: "Really, Mr. Hemstead, you surprise me. Cards are the staple33 amusement of a quiet evening in New York. I fear I have been doing wrong all my life without knowing it."
"If you did not know you were wrong, you were not very guilty," he replied, smiling.
"Yes, but now I do know, or at least from one who will be an authority on such matters—pardon me—who is one now, I am assured that this old custom is wrong. In questions of right and wrong, I suppose a minister should guide."
"No, Miss Marsden, that is not Protestantism. Your conscience, instructed by the Bible, should guide."
"But I see no more harm in whist than in a sleigh-ride."
"Perhaps your conscience needs instruction."
"O, certainly, that is it! Please instruct it."
He turned quickly, but saw a face serious enough for an anxious seat in an old-time revival34.
"Yes," said Mr. Dimmerly, testily35. "My conscience needs instruction also. What harm is there in a quiet game of whist?"
"Well, I do not know that there is anything wrong in a 'quiet game of cards,' per se" commenced Hemstead, didactically.
"'Per' who?" asked Lottie, innocently.
Just then the party at the other table seemed to explode, but they made it appear as if the cause came from themselves.
"Yes, yes, nephew, speak English. You may find some reasons in
Latin, but none in English, the only language of sound sense."
"Well," resumed Hemstead, somewhat confused, "I do not know that a quiet game such as you would play here would be wrong in itself. But the associations of the game are bad, and your example might be injurious."
"The associations bad!" said Lottie, lifting her eyebrows36. "Cards are associated in my mind with father, mother, and quiet home evenings."
"I have chiefly seen them played by rough characters, and in questionable37 places," he replied quickly.
"I'm sorry you visit such places," she replied in a tone of rebuke38.
Even Mr. Dimmerly and his sister laughed at this remark, as coming from Lottie, while the others were almost convulsed. Bel managed to gasp39 out, as a blind, "Mr. Harcourt, if you don't behave yourself and play fair, I'll throw down my hand."
But straightforward40 Hemstead increased difficulties by saying, a little stiffly, "I hope, Miss Marsden, that you do not suppose that one of my calling would frequent places of improper41 resort."
"No, indeed," she replied quickly, "and therefore I was the more surprised when you spoke42 of witnessing something in 'questionable places.'"
He turned to her with a look in which perplexity and annoyance43 were mingled44, and said hastily: "It is different with a man from a lady. A man is more out in the world, and, no matter how careful, cannot help catching45 glimpses of the evil substratum of society. One cannot help passing through a smoking-car occasionally, or—"
"Good heavens!" exclaimed Lottie, as if startled. "Is a smoking-car a 'questionable place'? Mr. De Forrest," she continued sharply, "did you not spend half an hour in the smoking-car coming up?"
"Yes," he replied faintly.
"You surprise me, sir," she said severely46. "Mr. Hemstead declares it is a 'questionable place.' I hope hereafter you will have more regard for your reputation."
"Please do not mistake me," said Hemstead, with increasing annoyance; "I did not mean to assert any moral qualities of smoking-cars, though with then filth47 and fumes48 there would be no question in your mind about them whatever, Miss Marsden. What I meant to say was, that in such places as smoking-cars, hotel lobbies, and through the open doors of saloons, are caught glimpses of a life which we all should unite in condemning49 and loathing50; and what I have seen has always led me to connect cards with just that kind of life. Moreover, gambling51—that fearful and destructive vice—is almost inseparable from cards."
"How experiences differ!" said Lottie, reflectively. "I have had but few glimpses of the life you describe so graphically52. With the bits of pasteboard that you have seen chiefly in coarse, grimy hands, I associate our cosey sitting-room53 at home, with its glowing grate and 'moon-light lamp,' as we call it, for father's eyes are weak. Even now," she continued, assuming the look of a rapt and beautiful sibyl, that was entrancing to Hemstead as well as De Forrest—"even now I see papa and mamma and old-fashioned Auntie Jane, and poor invalid54 Jennie, all gathered at home in our sacred little snuggery where father permits no visitors to come."
The look she had assumed became genuine, and her eyes suddenly moistened as the scene called up became real and present to her. With all her faults she had a warm heart, and loved her kindred sincerely.
But this touch of truth and feeling served her mischievous55 purpose better than she thought, for it convinced the honest-minded Hemstead that she was just what she seemed, and his sympathy went out to her at once as a well-meaning, true-hearted girl.
He was a little taken aback, however, when Lottie, ashamed of her feeling, said brusquely, "As to gambling with cards, we no more thought of it than sending to a corner grocery for a bottle of whiskey, and taking from it a drink all around between the games."
"O Lottie!" laughed her aunt, "what an absurd picture you suggest! The idea of your stately mother taking a drink from a bottle of whiskey!"
"It is no more strange to me," persisted Lottie, gravely, "than Mr. Hemstead's associations. Of course I know that bad and vulgar people play cards, but they also drive horses and walk the streets, and do other things which it is perfectly56 proper for us to do."
"I admit, Miss Marsden, that education and custom make a great difference. I have always been taught to look upon cards with great abhorrence57. What may be right for you would be wrong for me."
"No," said positive Lottie, "that will not satisfy me. A thing is either right or wrong. If you can prove to me that a quiet game of cards is wrong, I won't play any more—at least I ought not," she added hastily. "Because some vulgar and fast people gamble with them is nothing. You will take a sleigh-ride with us to-morrow, and yet loud jockeys bet and gamble over horses half the year."
Hemstead sprang up. His ungainliness disappeared, as was ever the case when he forgot himself in excitement.
"Miss Marsden," he said, "what you say sounds plausible58, but years ago I saw the mangled59 corpse60 of a young suicide. He was an adept61 at cards, and for aught I know had learned the game as your brother might, at home. But away among strangers at the West that knowledge proved fatal. He was inveigled into playing by some gamblers, staked all his own money, then that committed to his trust. Having lost everything but life, he threw that also down the abyss. He might have been living to-day if he had known as little about cards as I do."
His manner was so earnest, the picture called up so sad and tragic62, that even Lottie's red cheek paled a little, and the gigglers became quiet. She only said, "He was very weak and foolish. I can't understand such people."
"But the world is largely made up of the weak and foolish, who need safeguards rather than temptations. And history would seem to prove that even the wisest and best are at times 'weak and foolish.' I think the knowledge of card-playing can result in no harm to you, shielded as you will be, but it might to your brother. Miss Marsden," asked he, abruptly63, "do you know how many professional gamblers there are in the world?"
"No."
"I do not remember the estimated number accurately64, but it is very large. They often revel65 in wealth, but they do not make it out of each other. It is from the unwary, the 'weak and foolish' who think they can win money by playing a fair game. They are permitted to win just enough to turn their heads, and then are robbed. Remorse66, despair, and suicide too often follow. Cards are the usual means employed in these great wrongs. I should be sorry to see a young brother of mine, who was soon to face the temptations of the world, go away with a knowledge that has been the ruin of so many."
This was bringing the question home to Lottie in a way that she did not expect. Her heedless, wilful67, impulsive68 brother, the dear torment69 of her life, was just the one an artful knave70 could mislead. For a moment or two she sat silent and thoughtful. All awaited her answer save Mr. Dimmerly, who, without his whist, had dropped off into a doze71, as was his wont72. Then her decided73 character asserted itself, and she spoke sincerely for the moment.
"I do not believe in the safety of ignorance. If a young man is weak and bad enough to gamble, he will do it with something else, if not cards. From what I hear, men bet and gamble with all uncertainties74. The most innocent things are carried to vulgar and wicked excess. You can't shield one from without if lacking the will and power to say, No! I think it will be safer and wiser in the end, if a thing is right fer se, as you say, to do it, and if wrong not to do it. To me, a game of cards is no more than a game of checkers, or a stroll in a garden."
In his eagerness to reply, Hemstead took a step forward and trod upon, not a lady's dress this time, but the tail of Mrs. Marchmont's pet dog. As may be imagined, his tread was not fairy-like, and there was a yelp75 that awoke the echoes. Mr. Dimmerly started out of his sleep, with a snort like the blast of a ram's hom before Jericho, and, pushing his gold spectacles to the top of his bald head, stared in bewilderment at the forms convulsed with merriment around him.
Even Hemstead joined in the laugh, though inwardly inclined to anathematize his big feet. Lottie retreated from further discussion by saying:
"I have heard that theologians were inclined to be dogmatic in controversy76, and I fear that you are no exception, Mr. Hemstead. So, since I have had the last word, with your permission, I retire 'of the same opinion still.'"
"I submit," he rejoined, good-naturedly. "In any case my answer would have been CURTAILED77"
"Ha, ha!" chimed out Lottie's laugh. "That is better than your logic78."
"Frank! that you should call this dear little creature a cur!" said
Mrs. Marchmont, comforting her still whining79 pet.
"What DISCOURTESY!" said Lottie.
"What is the matter with you all?" asked Mr. Dimmerly, rising. "From talking Latin you have got on something that I understand as well as Choctaw. Lottie, I hope you are not argued out of one of our best old English customs. I have inherited whist from a dozen generations. So, nephew, with your leave or your frown, I must have my game."
"I cannot say, uncle, that Mr. Hemstead has argued very much, but two very painful TALES have been presented in an imPRESSIVE manner. You see how moved auntie and Fido are still over one of them. But come, Mr. Hemstead, you have discharged your duty. If they play whist all night and commit suicide in the morning, your skirts are clear. Shake off the dust of your feet at them, and take a promenade80 in the hall with me. Cousin Julian" (with emphasis on the word cousin), "your conscience is as tough and elastic81 as Mr. Hemstead's is tender. You haunt smoking-cars and other questionable places; so, without serious moral harm, you can gratify uncle."
Mrs. Marchmont, who had listened with polite weariness to the latter part of the discussion, now took part in the game as quietly as she would pour tea at the head of the table. The aunt and nephew had lived in such different atmospheres that they could scarcely understand each other, and both harbored thoughts that were hardly charitable, as is usually the case in regard to those actions which have no moral qualities in themselves, and after all must be decided by each one's conscience. To Mrs. Marchmont, with her antecedents, a game of whist was one of the most innocent ants of her life.
But Hemstead was too well pleased with Lottie's arrangement to grieve deeply over what, to his conscience, was wrong, and soon forgot uncle, aunt, and cousin, and even the unlucky lap-dog, whose dismal82 howl had so discomfited83 him a moment before. Just such a luminary84 as Lottie Marsden had never appeared above his horizon, and her orbit seemed so eccentric that as yet he could not calculate it; but this element of uncertainty85 made observation all the more interesting. The wide old hall, without the embarrassment86 of observant eyes, was just the place to learn something more definite of one who thus far had dazzled and puzzled, while she gained his strong interest. True, Addie and Mr. Harcourt were walking before them, but seemed so absorbed in each other as not to notice them. He felt a curious thrill when a little hand lighted, like a snow-flake, upon his arm, but soon increased its pressure with a sort of cousinly confidence. He looked inquiringly into the face turned up to him as they passed under the lamp, and thought, "In its guileless beauty it reminds me of the clear mountain lakes that I have seen in this region."
His figure was true, but not as he understood it; for Lottie's face, like the lake, would then reflect anything that happened upon the margin87 of her thoughts, while her heart remained hidden. He thought he saw herself, but in truth only false and vanishing images. Still, like the mirroring water, her skilful88 feigning89 could make the images seem very real. Hemstead, with his boundless90 faith in woman, believed all he saw, and hoped still more.
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1
parlor
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n.店铺,营业室;会客室,客厅 | |
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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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3
demure
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adj.严肃的;端庄的 | |
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4
mischief
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n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 | |
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fascination
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n.令人着迷的事物,魅力,迷恋 | |
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6
enjoyment
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n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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7
piquant
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adj.辛辣的,开胃的,令人兴奋的 | |
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8
crave
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vt.渴望得到,迫切需要,恳求,请求 | |
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9
belle
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n.靓女 | |
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10
subservient
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adj.卑屈的,阿谀的 | |
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creed
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n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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noose
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n.绳套,绞索(刑);v.用套索捉;使落入圈套;处以绞刑 | |
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13
accomplished
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adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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14
awakening
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n.觉醒,醒悟 adj.觉醒中的;唤醒的 | |
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15
mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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16
excellence
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n.优秀,杰出,(pl.)优点,美德 | |
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17
elegance
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n.优雅;优美,雅致;精致,巧妙 | |
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18
mortification
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n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
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19
tyrants
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专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 ); 暴君似的人; (古希腊的)僭主; 严酷的事物 | |
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20
zest
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n.乐趣;滋味,风味;兴趣 | |
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21
inveigled
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v.诱骗,引诱( inveigle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
heed
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v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心 | |
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23
conspirators
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n.共谋者,阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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24
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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hearth
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n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面 | |
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26
giggle
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n.痴笑,咯咯地笑;v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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27
bustled
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闹哄哄地忙乱,奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 ); 催促 | |
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28
purgatory
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n.炼狱;苦难;adj.净化的,清洗的 | |
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29
portentous
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adj.不祥的,可怕的,装腔作势的 | |
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30
improvise
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v.即兴创作;临时准备,临时凑成 | |
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31
irritation
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n.激怒,恼怒,生气 | |
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32
gape
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v.张口,打呵欠,目瞪口呆地凝视 | |
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33
staple
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n.主要产物,常用品,主要要素,原料,订书钉,钩环;adj.主要的,重要的;vt.分类 | |
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34
revival
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n.复兴,复苏,(精力、活力等的)重振 | |
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testily
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adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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36
eyebrows
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眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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37
questionable
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adj.可疑的,有问题的 | |
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38
rebuke
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v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise | |
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39
gasp
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n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说 | |
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40
straightforward
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adj.正直的,坦率的;易懂的,简单的 | |
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41
improper
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adj.不适当的,不合适的,不正确的,不合礼仪的 | |
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42
spoke
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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 | |
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43
annoyance
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n.恼怒,生气,烦恼 | |
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44
mingled
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混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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45
catching
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adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
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46
severely
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adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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47
filth
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n.肮脏,污物,污秽;淫猥 | |
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48
fumes
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n.(强烈而刺激的)气味,气体 | |
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49
condemning
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v.(通常因道义上的原因而)谴责( condemn的现在分词 );宣判;宣布…不能使用;迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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50
loathing
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n.厌恶,憎恨v.憎恨,厌恶( loathe的现在分词);极不喜欢 | |
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51
gambling
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n.赌博;投机 | |
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52
graphically
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adv.通过图表;生动地,轮廓分明地 | |
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53
sitting-room
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n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 | |
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54
invalid
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n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的 | |
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55
mischievous
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adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 | |
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56
perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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57
abhorrence
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n.憎恶;可憎恶的事 | |
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58
plausible
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adj.似真实的,似乎有理的,似乎可信的 | |
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59
mangled
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vt.乱砍(mangle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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60
corpse
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n.尸体,死尸 | |
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61
adept
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adj.老练的,精通的 | |
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62
tragic
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adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的 | |
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63
abruptly
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adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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64
accurately
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adv.准确地,精确地 | |
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65
revel
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vi.狂欢作乐,陶醉;n.作乐,狂欢 | |
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66
remorse
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n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
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67
wilful
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adj.任性的,故意的 | |
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impulsive
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adj.冲动的,刺激的;有推动力的 | |
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69
torment
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n.折磨;令人痛苦的东西(人);vt.折磨;纠缠 | |
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70
knave
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n.流氓;(纸牌中的)杰克 | |
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71
doze
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v.打瞌睡;n.打盹,假寐 | |
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72
wont
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adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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73
decided
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adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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74
uncertainties
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无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 ); 不确定; 变化不定; 无把握、不确定的事物 | |
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75
yelp
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vi.狗吠 | |
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76
controversy
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n.争论,辩论,争吵 | |
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77
curtailed
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v.截断,缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
logic
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n.逻辑(学);逻辑性 | |
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79
whining
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n. 抱怨,牢骚 v. 哭诉,发牢骚 | |
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80
promenade
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n./v.散步 | |
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81
elastic
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n.橡皮圈,松紧带;adj.有弹性的;灵活的 | |
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82
dismal
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adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 | |
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83
discomfited
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v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词);使狼狈;使挫折;挫败 | |
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84
luminary
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n.名人,天体 | |
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85
uncertainty
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n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
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86
embarrassment
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n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫 | |
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87
margin
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n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘 | |
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88
skilful
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(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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89
feigning
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假装,伪装( feign的现在分词 ); 捏造(借口、理由等) | |
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90
boundless
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adj.无限的;无边无际的;巨大的 | |
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