“Previous to me coming here,” Irene sometimes explained in the minute and a half given to conversation whilst clearing breakfast, “I was in a business establishment. Two year I put in there, I did, and then my ’ealth give p. 182way. Otherwise I should never have dreamt of going into domestic service. I’ve been used to ’aving my evenings to myself!”
By chance, it was ascertained6 that the time which elapsed after leaving school had been devoted7 to a mineral water manufactory: this discovery reflected no credit upon any of the boarders, being indeed the result of a chance remark made by her on seeing a two-horse cart belonging to the firm go through the square. A closer reticence8 was shown in regard to her family; Irene did, however, convey, at times, a hint that the members had seen better and more prosperous days, and that distinguished9 ancestors would betray signs of restlessness did they become aware that she occupied a position that brought in but ￡12 a year, giving freedom only on Thursday evening and alternate Sunday afternoons. “But we never know what’s in store for us,” she remarked, with a touch of fatalism. “It’s all ordained10, I suppose. What I mean to say is, everything’s planned out, only that we don’t know it. Just as well, perhaps.”
Her appearance in the earlier days gave no signal of noble birth. She wore the corkscrew curls fashionable in her neighbourhood, and her efforts in hairdressing ceased at about half-way to the back of her head; the rest being a casual knot insecurely tied. Many things go awry11 in this world, but few were p. 183so unlucky as Irene’s apron12, which appeared to be the sport and play of chance, going to various points of the compass, sometimes becoming fixed13 due west. She seemed to have a prejudice against safety pins. With her, hooks and eyes lived indiscriminately, and never as precise, well-ordered couples. On first assuming the white cap (against the use of which she made desperate opposition), she wore it rakishly over one eye, and being reproved, answered lightly that this was one of those matters which would be forgotten a hundred years hence. A girl more completely furnished with the easy platitudes14 that turn away wrath15 surely never existed. In generous mood, she gave them away by the dozen.
“One ’alf of the world doesn’t know how the other ’alf lives; it’s a poor ’eart that never rejoices; there’s none so blind as them that won’t see; a bird in the ’and’s worth two in the bush; and that’s all about it!”
You must not assume that Irene gave up a large amount of her time to conversation. She started work at twenty to seven in the morning, and if half-past four in the afternoon found her ready (in her own phrase) to pop upstairs and change, she counted she had scored a victory. After tea came duties of a more leisurely16 nature such as ironing, and later still—if luck favoured—a brief opportunity for the study of literature, from which she came in such a dazed, confused state of p. 184mind, that for the subsequent twenty minutes she could only give answers that possessed17 a conspicuous18 amount of incoherence. Those who have seen her with a number of “The Belgravia Novelette” report that her lips moved silently as she read the lines, that her features indicated, unconsciously, the emotions affecting each character: when a lady had to reject the advances of some unwelcome suitor (a frequent occurrence in the world of fiction where Mr. A., liking19 Miss B., finds this converted into ardent20 love when she announces she hates him with a hate that can never die), then Irene’s face showed stern and uncompromising decision: when a landscape artist proclaimed an affection he had hitherto concealed21, her eyes half closed, and her head went gently to and fro.
It is likely the pictures which accompanied these agreeable stories had some influence, although the fact that the people always wore evening dress prevented Irene from imitating every detail. The corkscrew curls, brought forward at each side of the face from a definite and decided22 parting, were brushed back. Irene was observed one night at about eight, on her return from commissariat duties in connection with next morning’s breakfast, staring earnestly at the head which, in a window, revolved23 slowly, vanishing and re-appearing with a fixed, haughty24 smile. A youth came up and made some remarks.
p. 185“Don’t you address conversation to any one what you haven’t been introduced to,” she ordered, warmly.
“Carry your parcel for you?”
“Thanks,” replied Irene, “but I don’t want to lose it.”
The youth, declining to take this as a repulse25, followed, and Irene’s mistress reproved her for entering the house at the front door when the area gate was open. The very next day a fresh and daring experiment was made by fixing a white collar around the neck, and this was succeeded in the evening by a pair of cuffs26. She seemed pleased with the general effect, and hastened to answer some knocks and rings at the front door instead of compelling every caller to repeat the summons. One of these she received with great curtness27.
“No, the name don’t live here.”
“Beg pardon!” said a youth’s deep voice. “Perhaps I’ve got it wrong.”
“Quite likely. Judging from your appearance.”
“Doing any shopping to-night, miss?”
Her mistress appealed to her by name, and she closed the door, explaining a few minutes later that she could not help feeling sorry for the poor fellows who had to sell combs and hair-brushes; at the same time, they had no right to annoy people who had work to do beside answering knocks. Later, her mistress p. 186asked her to refrain from singing. Irene’s voice would never have taken her to the concert platform, but her theory of music was so excellent that it may be worth while to give some particulars here. When affairs of the world went crooked28, with her mistress temporarily short in temper, streets becoming muddy directly that the front step had been whitened, disaster on the stairs with a breakfast tray, then Irene selected airs of the cheeriest description, bursting into:
“When Jones, my friend, came round to me,
He said, ‘Will you go on the spree?’
I answered ‘Yes, of course I will,
That is, if you will pay the bill.’”
and other songs of a rollicking nature. On the other hand, when the world went smoothly29 and nothing happened of a contrary nature and her mistress had given her an egg with her tea, then Irene’s voice came lugubriously30 up from the basement:
“Oh I ne’er shall see my loved one any mower31,
For I’m leaving her and Britain’s gallant32 shower,
Though my tears are gently falling, yet I hear her voice a-calling,
But I ne’er shall see my loved one any mower.”
Changes had, as mentioned, been coming over the girl, but they proved more obvious at the period when the young man referred p. 187to adopted the procedure of waiting outside the house of an evening, sometimes offering three stamps with the foot, sometimes giving a whistle, sometimes playing on the railings a mandoline solo, sometimes, after a wait of three-quarters of an hour, affecting in an ostentatious way to leave—when all other plans had failed—and bringing Irene up the steps of the area at a run, and with a call of “Hi!”
The interesting detail about the acquaintance was the perfect and complete decision arrived at without delay, by Irene. Other girls, in like case, would probably have assumed an attitude of indifference33 in speaking of their young man; might have suggested that they would require much persuasion34 before consenting to give their hand; would certainly have conveyed the impression that the capture of their heart was a task not easily effected. Irene, from a fortnight after the meeting outside the hairdresser’s shop, made no attempt to hide the fact that she fully35 intended to marry Mr. Easter. I have often wondered whether he made a formal proposal, or whether it was assumed on both sides that this could be taken for granted: there are some matters on which one cannot interrogate36 a lady, and, if she does not give the information spontaneously, the particulars have to be guessed. In other respects, there seemed no reason to complain p. 188of want of candour. Irene chaffed herself quite openly. If she forgot to furnish a cup and saucer with a spoon:
“That’s the worst of being in love!”
If she omitted to place the toast-rack on the breakfast table:
“Sooner I get married and settled down the better for all parties!”
Irene, on the Sunday afternoon when he proposed to take her for the first time to see his people, started out looking like a composite photograph, for every lady in the boarding-house, from her mistress in the basement upward, had made some loan or gift, and many of the adornments had a familiar appearance. No one could blame her for opening the striped parasol, although the sun was absent; a muff carried by the other hand and wrist showed that no weather would find her unprepared. Young Easter stood at the corner of the first turning, and, in his case, a necktie showed a vivacious37 spirit of adventure. A row of white caps watched from area railings as they met, noted38 that a bowler39 hat was lifted, polite offer to carry the muff, consultation40 regarding the method of conveyance41. They went off arm-in-arm, Irene tripping in the effort to keep step, and any one, starting out five minutes later, could have followed the scent42, and tracked both to the destination by the combined odour of lavender-water and eau de cologne.
p. 189“Oh yes,” reported Irene, the next day, “I can always make myself at ’ome with strangers. The old lady—his mother—seemed inclined to be a bit stand-offish at the start, but I said something pleasant about the jam and after that—well, you can generally get over ’em with a little artfulness. Tact43 is everything in this world. Besides, civility costs nothing. At any, rate, he seemed satisfied.”
A new independence of manner appeared, but only on Friday mornings, and this was probably due to the increased conceit44 effected by young Easter’s compliments of the night before. Her curtness towards messengers from shops on these occasions was painful to regard: postmen offering remarks as she knelt at the steps in the early hours went on with the abashed45 air of those who have incurred46 severe reproof47.
A dramatic shock came when the month’s notice had nearly expired, that must have reinforced the girl’s confidence in “The Belgravia Novelette,” and its amazing habit of altering the situation by the wave of a fairy wand. She made a slight blunder by reading the letter without any exhibition of an agonised mind, but a moment’s consideration remedied this, and, if all I heard was true, she eventually overdid48 the tragic49 intensity50 required.
“Oh heavens!” she murmured brokenly. “Oh my! Oh dear! Has it come to this? p. 190What is there to live for now? Oh! I think I shall go out of my mind!”
“Be quiet, child!” ordered her mistress, sharply. “You’ll make yourself ill if you go on like this.”
“Oh, go away and leave me to die. Oh, only leave me alone! Frank, Frank!”
“If you carry on in this fashion,” declared her mistress, “I shall simply take you by the shoulders and give you a thorough good shaking. That’s what I shall give to you, miss!”
“Read it, ma’am, read it, read it!”
Her mistress, having complied with this request, assured her that, so far as she could understand, the letter contained important news, but nothing to justify51 the hysterical52 outburst. Irene, recovering partial serenity53 of manner, explained, and the other, reading the letter again, admitted there was something in the girl’s view, and that the fact of young Easter being taken into partnership54 by an uncle whose health was failing, might well result in the breaking off of the engagement; the two found common ground in condemning55 the variability of man, and the pernicious influence of success upon some minds. The girl gave a brief rehearsal56 of her share in the interview that was to take place that evening, from which it appeared that young Easter would have little to do but listen, to mumble57 ineffective excuses, to retire finally p. 191carrying the knowledge that Irene would not now consent to marry him, though he should come to her on hands and knees.
“Let him ’ave it straight, I will!” cried Irene. “They can’t play about and make a fool of me. May think they can, but I’ll jolly soon let ’em know they’ve made a mistake. Shan’t talk much, mind you, but what I do say will go right ’ome. Least said, soonest mended!”
It was expected she would return within twenty minutes after leaving the house; instead, ten o’clock struck as her knock came, and this was not her usual single knock, but represented the music of a triumphant58 dance. The fault for imagining disaster she imputed59 to her mistress, who seemed to lack the gift of comprehending a well and clearly expressed letter. Mr. Easter had no idea of backing out of the engagement; on the contrary, he wished her, in the new circumstances, to make some more elaborate investments at certain of the best shops in the neighbourhood, and this represented his uncle’s desire as well as his own.
Irene’s mistress tells me she had given up all thoughts and hopes of seeing her again when, being away in the north of London, and desiring to return with all despatch60, she managed by standing61 in front of a conveyance to stop it. Passengers on the left reluctantly made room: the young woman next to whom p. 192she sat begged pardon coldly, and carefully shielded skirts. Recognition came.
“What a very small world it is!” said Irene, in a high voice. “How most extraordinary you and I should run across each other again! And tell me,” condescendingly, “you are getting on pretty well? So glad! What a great convenience these motor omnibuses must be to poor people; I suppose you often travel in them. Do you know, I couldn’t get a taxi when I wanted one just now, couldn’t get one for love or money. My husband will be so annoyed when I tell him about it. I get out here. Three At Homes to go to. Goodbye!”
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1
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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adamant
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| adj.坚硬的，固执的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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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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platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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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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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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curtness
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| n.简短；草率；简略 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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lugubriously
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mower
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| n.割草机 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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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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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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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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interrogate
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| vt.讯问，审问，盘问 | |
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vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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bowler
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| n.打保龄球的人，（板球的）投（球）手 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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48
overdid
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去式 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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51
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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52
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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53
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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54
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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55
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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56
rehearsal
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| n.排练，排演；练习 | |
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57
mumble
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| n./v.喃喃而语，咕哝 | |
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58
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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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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