One of these that faced Matthias framed a shimmering9 sky of stars and the still black shield of the Sound, on which the fixed10 and undeviating glare of a remote light-house was reflected darkly, a long unwavering way of light; he thought of a tall wax candle burning amid the sanctified shadows of some vast and dark and still cathedral....
They were ten at table: from Helena's right, Pat Atherton (Tankerville's partner), a Mrs. Majendie, Marbridge, a Mrs. Cardrow, Tankerville at the head; on his right, Mrs. Pat Atherton, Matthias, Venetia Tankerville, Majendie. The latter and his wife were almost strangers to Matthias, having arrived only the previous afternoon: but he thought them as pleasant and handsome people as any of those with whom the Tankervilles liked to fill their house. The Athertons were old friends; he had known them well, long before Helena dreamed of marrying Tankerville. Marbridge was an indifferently familiar figure in the ways of his life; they frequented the same clubs, and of late he had begun to encounter the older man more and more frequently in his theatrical11 divagations. Remained Mrs. Cardrow, a widow, the acquaintance of a week's standing12. Cardrow had been in some way connected with the enterprises of Messrs. Tankerville & Atherton; how, Matthias didn't remember; a man of whom rumour13 said little that was good until it began to say De mortuis.... He had killed himself for no accountable reason. His widow seemed to have survived bereavement14 with amazing grace.
Matthias admired her greatly. Women, he knew—Helena in their number—mistrusted her for no cause perceptible to him. He liked her, thought her little less than absolutely charming. So, evidently, did Marbridge, whose attitude toward her this evening was a little more noticeably attentive15 than ever before. He seemed to exert himself to interest and divert. His black eyes snapped. As he talked his heavy body swayed slightly from the hips16, lending an accent to his animation17. His laugh was frequent and infectious.
She was a woman who smiled more than she laughed. She smiled now, inscrutably, her beautiful, insolent18 eyes half veiled with demure19 lashes20, her face turned to Marbridge, her chin a trifle high, bringing out the clear strong lines of her throat and shoulders, which had the texture21, the pallor, and the firmness of fine ivory. Her eyes, when she chose to discover them, were brown, her eyebrows22 almost black, her hair dull gold, the gold of the candelabrum—the gold of artifice23, on the word of Helena.
Perhaps it was to this odd colouring—ivory and brown, black and gold—that Mrs. Cardrow owed most of her strange and provoking quality. But there was something else, something one could not define: at once stimulating24 and elusive25; less charm than allure26; nameless; that attracted and repelled27....
These were thoughts set stirring by a dozen semi-curious glances at the woman, in pauses in his conversation with Venetia. Matthias was in fact indifferent to Mrs. Cardrow. But he was tremendously interested in Venetia. It could hardly be otherwise—since his talk with Helena. He was to marry Venetia. Amazing thought!
She was adorable. Of the other women, none compared with Mrs. Cardrow: even Helena's beauty paled in contrast. But Venetia was to Mrs. Cardrow as dawn to noon. One looked at Venetia and thought of a still sea at daybreak, mobile to the young and fitful airs, radiant with sunlight, breathless with apprehension28 of the long, golden hours to come. One looked at Mrs. Cardrow and thought—of Woman. Venetia was dark, and the other fair; Venetia was by no means a child, Mrs. Cardrow not yet thirty. The gulf29 that set them apart was not so much of years as of caste: they lived and thought on different levels, mental if not social. Matthias liked to think Venetia of the higher order.
He was to marry her. Incredible!
And tonight her eyes were warm and kind for him, and all for him. He could not see that there was anything of self-interest in the infrequent glances she cast at those who sat opposite, playing their time-old game with such engaging candour. If she had thought much of Marbridge, surely she must have betrayed some little pique30 or chagrin31. She was not blind; neither was she patient and prone32 to self-effacement. Matthias had known her long enough to have garnered33 vivid memories of her resentment34 of slights, whether real or fancied. She was unique and wonderful in many ways, but (he told himself in a catch-phrase of the hour) she was essentially35 human. He could not have cared for a woman without temper: he cared intensely for this girl-woman whose rare loveliness seemed almost exotic in its singular scheme, whose skin, fine of texture and colourless as milk-white satin, was splashed with lips of burning scarlet36, whose eyes of deepest violet were luminous37 in the shadow of hair of the richness and lustre38 of burnished39 bronze ... luminous and kind to him: he dared to hope greatly of their sympathy.
Through dinner she had entertained him with a mirthful, inconsecutive narrative40 of the adventures of the day. Now, as ices were served, her interest swerved41 suddenly and found a new object in himself.
"Why did you run away last night?"
"You really noticed it?"
Light malice42 trembled on her lips: "Not till this morning."
"You were so busy"—an imperceptible nod indicated Marbridge—"I felt myself becoming ornamental43. Whereas, utility's my proudest attribute. So I left you dancing, and skipped by the light of the moon."
"Not really?"
"I assure you—"
"Put out with me, I mean?"
He sought her eyes again and found them veiled and downcast. "Not the least in the world."
"Then, again, why—?"
"I wanted to get back to work. Besides, I had a little business with a manager."
And so he had; but until this moment he had forgotten it.
"Play business?"
"I'm afraid I know no other."
"Is something new to be produced?"
Matthias nodded: "Goes into rehearsal45 in August. A melodrama46 I wrote some time ago—'The Jade47 God.'"
"Who produces it?"
"Rideout."
"Who's he?"
"A foolish actor: played a sketch48 of mine in vaudeville49 for a couple of years and, because that got over, thinks this piece must."
"But it will, won't it?"
"I hope so; but I'm glad it's not my money."
"And where will you open?"
"Heaven and the Shuberts only know. Rideout books through the Shuberts, you understand."
"I'm afraid I don't."
"The Shuberts are the Independents—the opposition50 to the Syndicate headed by Klaw and Erlanger. You see, the theatres of this country are practically all controlled by one or the other combination. If you want booking for your show, you've got to take sides—serve God or Mammon."
"And which is which?"
"The difference is imperceptible to the innocent bystander."
"But you'll let us know—?"
"If we open within motoring distance of Town—rather!"
Tankerville, edging his plump little body forward on his chair, man?uvred his round and sun-scorched51 face in vain attempts to catch his wife's eye past the intervening candelabrum. Helena, however, divined his desire.
"Coffee in the card-room, George?"
"Please!" Tankerville bleated52 plaintively53.
There was a concerted movement from the table.
Venetia lingered with Matthias.
"It's auction54, tonight. Shall you play?"
"'Fraid I'll have to. So will you. Helena—you know—"
"Of course. We must. Only"—she sighed, petulant—"I'd rather not. I'd rather talk to you."
"Heroic measures!" he laughed. "But—consolation note!—we're two over two full tables. Therefore we'll have to cut in and out. That'll give us some time to ourselves."
"Yes," she agreed: "but it'll be just our luck to be disengaged at different times."
He paused in amused incredulity. "Do you really want to talk to me as badly as all that?"
She nodded, curtaining her eyes.
"Very much," she said softly.
They entered the card-room and were summoned to different tables. Matthias cut and edged Mrs. Cardrow out by a single pip. How Venetia fared he did not learn, more than that she was to play while Marbridge was to stay out the first rubber.
He played even less intelligently than usual, with a mind distracted. Venetia's new attitude, pleasant as had been all their association, was a development of disconcerting suddenness; or else he had been witless and blind beyond relief. And yet—how could he say? He was so frequently misled by faculties55 befogged with dreaming, that overlooked when they did not flatly deny the obvious: it was possible that Helena had been more wise than he.
A sense of strain handicapped his judgment56; whether atmospheric57 or bred of his own emotion, he could not tell. And yet, plumbing58 the deeps of his humour, he discovered nothing there more exacting59 than bewilderment, more exciting than hope. On the other hand, he could fix upon nothing in the bearing of these amiable60 people to lead him to believe that the feeling of tensity to which he was susceptible61 was not the creation of his own fancy. They played with a certain abandon of enjoyment62, absorbed in their diversion....
Looking past Venetia, at the other table—Venetia slim and tall and worshipful in a wonderful black gown that rendered dazzling the whiteness of her flesh—he could see Mrs. Cardrow and Marbridge at the piano in the drawing-room. The woman sat all but motionless, white arms alone moving graciously in the half-light as her deft63 hands wandered over the key-board. Marbridge, his arms folded, lounged over the piano, his back to the card-room. The eloquent64 movements of his round, dark head, its emphatic65 nods and argumentative waggings, seemed to indicate that he was bearing the burden of their talk; but the music, hushed though it was, covered his accents. The woman was looking up into his face with an expression of quick, pleased interest, her lips, half-parted, smiling.
It did not occur to Matthias to wonder about the substance of their conversation. But for a sure clue to the intrigue66 of Venetia's heart—and his own—he would have given worlds.
Throwing down his cards, Tankerville announced with satisfaction: "Game—rubber. Jack67, you go out—praise the Saints! You've cost Mrs. Pat close onto fifteen dollars, more shame to you!"
"Sorry!" Matthias smiled cheerfully, rising. "You would have me play."
"Hearkening and repentance68!" retorted Tankerville. "Next time I marry, you can bet your sweet life I'm going to pick out a family of sure-'nough bridgers.... Call Mrs. Cardrow, will you now, like a good fellow."
But Mrs. Cardrow had already left the piano. Matthias held a chair for her, and then, since the rubber at the other table was not yet decided69, strolled to a window.
The night tempted70 him. Almost unconsciously he stepped out upon the terrace and wandered to the parapet.
Abstractedly he lighted a cigarette. When the tobacco was aglow71 he held the match from him at arm's-length over the abyss. Its flame burned as steadily72 as though protected, flickering73 out only when, released, it fell. No night ever more still than this: land and water alike spellbound in breathless calm; even on the brow of that high foreland where Tankerville had builded him his lordly pleasure home, no hint of movement in the air! And yet Matthias was conscious of nothing resembling oppression—exhilaration, rather. He smiled vaguely74 into the darkness.
From far below, echoing up from the placid75 waters of Port Madison as from a sounding-board, came the tinkle-tinkle of a banjo and the complaint of a harmonica. When these were silent the wailing76 of violins was clearly audible, bridging a distance of over a mile across the harbour, from the ball-room of the country club. Far out upon the Sound the night boat for Boston trudged77 along like a slow-winging firefly; and presently its wash swept inshore to rouse the beach below to sibilant and murmurous78 protest. In the east the vault79 of night was pallid80, azure81 and silver, with the promise of the reluctant moon.
A hand fell gently upon his arm: Venetia's. He had not been aware of her approach, yet he was not startled. He turned his head slowly, smiling. She said softly: "Don't say anything—wait till it rises."
They waited in silence. Her hand lingered upon his arm; and that last, he knew, was trembling. The nearness of her person, the intimacy82 of her touch, weighed heavily upon his senses.
An edge of golden light appeared where the skies came down to the sea; hesitated; increased. That wan44 and spectral83 light, waxing, lent emphasis to the rare and delicious wonder of her loveliness, to the impregnable mystery of her womanhood. He regarded her with something near awe84, with keen perception of his unworthiness: as a spirit from Heaven had stooped to commune with him. She lived; breathed; the hand upon his arm was warm and strong.... Incredible!
The gibbous disk swung clear of the horizon and like some strange misshapen acrobat85 climbed a low-lying lattice-work of clouds. The girl turned away to a huge willow86 basket-chair. Matthias found its fellow and drew near to her. He struggled to speak; he fancied that she waited for him to speak; but his mind refused to frame, his tongue to utter, aught but the stalest of banalities.
"No dew tonight," he hazarded at length, shame-faced.
After an instant of silence she laughed clearly and gently. "O romantic man!" she said. "Now that you have, shattered the spell—if you please, a cigarette."
He supplied this need; held a match; delayed holding it when it had served its purpose, enraptured87 with the refulgent88 wonder of that cameo of sweet flesh and blood set against the melting shadows, silver and purple and blue.
With a second low, light laugh, she bent89 forward and daintily extinguished the flame with a single puff90.
"I don't wish to be stared at...."
"Pardon," he said mechanically, startled. "But ... why?"
"Perhaps I'm afraid you may see too much...."
"Impossible!" he declared with conviction.
"Odd as it may sound," she said in a mocking voice, "I have my secrets."
Her back was to the moon, her face a pallid oval framed in ebony, illegible91; but the moonlight was full upon his face, and she who would might read. His disadvantage was obvious. It wasn't fair....
Lounging, she crossed her knees, puffed92 thrice and cast the cigarette into the gulf. Abruptly93 she sat forward, studying him intently. He was disturbed with a singular uneasiness.
"Jack," said Venetia very quietly, "is it true that you love me?"
"Good lord!" he cried, sitting up.
"Is it true?"
He blinked. His head was whirling. He said nothing; sank back; quite automatically puffed with such fury that in a trice he had reduced the cigarette to an inch of glowing coal; scorched his fingers and threw it from him.
Then he gasped94 stupidly: "Venetia!"
"Is it true?"
She had not moved. The question had the force of stubborn purpose through its very monotony, a monotony of inflexion no less than of repetition. Her accents were both serious and sincere. She was in earnest; she meant to know.
"But, Venetia—"
"Or have you been just making believe, all this long time?"
"It—I—why—of course it's true!" he stammered95 lamely96.
"Then why haven't you ever told me so?"
There sounded reproach, not unkindly, but real. He shook his wits together.
"How could I guess you'd care to know?"
"Do you know me so little as to think I'd resent it, if I happened not to care?"
"I—don't know—didn't think of it that way. In fact—you've knocked me silly!"
"But why? Because I've been straightforward97? Dear boy!"—she lifted a hand to him: he took it in trembling—"you're twenty-seven, I'm twenty-three. We know one another pretty well: we know ourselves—at least slightly. Why can't we face things—facts—as man and woman, not as children? What's the good of make-believe? If this thing lies between us, let's be frank about it!"
He hesitated, doubting, searching her face. Her look was very sweet and kind. Of a sudden he cried "Venetia!" came to his knees beside her chair, snatched her hand and crushed it between his own, to his lips.
"I love you—I've always loved you!..."
He felt the velvet98 of her lips, her breath, upon his forehead; and made as if to clasp her to him. But she slipped back, straightening an arm to fend99 him off.
"No," she whispered—"not now—not here. Dear boy, get up! Think—this moonlight—anybody might see—"
"I love you!"
"I know and, dear, I'm glad—so glad! But—you made me ask you!"
"I couldn't help that, Venetia: I was—afraid; I hardly dared to dream—of this. You were—you are—above, beyond—"
Gently her hand sealed his mouth.
"Dear, silly boy! Get up. If you won't, I must."
Releasing her hand, he rose. His emotion shook him violently. At discretion100, he dropped back into his chair. He looked about him a little wildly, his glance embracing all the weird101 fantasy of the night: the cold, inaccessible102, glittering vault of stars, the malformed and sardonic103 moon, the silken bosom104 of the Sound, the lace and purple velvet draperies of the land. Down on the harbour the banjo and harmonica were ragging to tatters a sentimental105 ballad106 of the day. From the house came a burst of laughter—Tankerville exultant107 in some successful stratagem108 at cards.
His gaze returned to Venetia. She sat without moving, wrapped in the exquisite109 mystery of her enigmatic heart, bewitching, bewildering, steadfastly110 reading him with eyes veiled and inscrutable in liquid shadow.
Muttering—"Preposterous!"—he dropped his head between his hands. "I'm mad—mad!" he groaned111.
Without stirring, she demanded: "Why?"
He shook his head free. "To have—owned up—let this come to pass. I love you: but that's all I dare say to you."
"Isn't it, maybe, enough for me?"
"I mean—I'm mad to marry you. But how can I ask you to have me? What have I to offer you? The position of wife to a poverty-stricken, half-grown playwright112! It's out of reason...."
"But possibly—am I not the one to judge of that?"
"No: I won't have you marry a man unable to provide for you in the way to which you've been educated. It's a point of honour—"
"But I have—"
"You must understand: I've got to be able—able!—to humour your every whim. With things that way—what of your own you choose to spend on yourself won't count. The issue is my ability to give you everything."
"But that will come—"
"When? I can't promise—I hardly dare hope—"
"This new play isn't your only hope?"
"No—"
"Success or failure, you'll keep on?"
"Certainly...."
"Then it's only a question of time."
"But you—how can I ask you to wait?"
"There's no necessity—"
"But it must be." He rose, unable to remain still. "Give me six months: I've got another piece of work under way—and others only waiting their turn. In six months I can—"
"No!"
The monosyllable brought him up sharply. He stared. Her white arms, radiant in that clear, unearthly light, lifted toward him.
"If you want me, dear," she said in a voice tense with emotion—"it must be now—soon! To wait—six months—I—that's im—"
The beautiful modulations of Helena Tankerville's voice interrupted.
Standing in one of the windows to the card-room, she said simply: "An exquisite night."
Then, coming out upon the terrace and seeing Venetia and Matthias, she moved toward them.
"Oh, there you are, Jack. You're wanted indoors."
Matthias, unable quickly to regain113 his poise114, said nothing. Venetia answered for him, calmly:
"He can't come."
"What, dear?"
"I say, he can't come, Helena. He's engaged."
"Engaged!"
Recovering, Helena bore down upon them with a little call of delight.
"Not really!... O my dears! I'm so glad!"
She gathered Venetia into her arms.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
whim
|
|
| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
rite
|
|
| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
mellow
|
|
| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
alabaster
|
|
| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
yearned
|
|
| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
ardently
|
|
| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
flicker
|
|
| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
shimmering
|
|
| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
theatrical
|
|
| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
rumour
|
|
| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
bereavement
|
|
| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
attentive
|
|
| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
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： |
|
|
|
|
17
animation
|
|
| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
insolent
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
demure
|
|
| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
lashes
|
|
| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
texture
|
|
| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
artifice
|
|
| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
stimulating
|
|
| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
elusive
|
|
| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
allure
|
|
| n.诱惑力，魅力；vt.诱惑，引诱，吸引 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
repelled
|
|
| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
gulf
|
|
| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
pique
|
|
| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
chagrin
|
|
| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
prone
|
|
| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
garnered
|
|
| v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
essentially
|
|
| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
luminous
|
|
| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
lustre
|
|
| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
burnished
|
|
| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
narrative
|
|
| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
swerved
|
|
| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
malice
|
|
| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
ornamental
|
|
| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
wan
|
|
| (wide area network)广域网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
rehearsal
|
|
| n.排练，排演；练习 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
melodrama
|
|
| n.音乐剧；情节剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
jade
|
|
| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
sketch
|
|
| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
vaudeville
|
|
| n.歌舞杂耍表演 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
opposition
|
|
| n.反对，敌对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
scorched
|
|
| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
bleated
|
|
| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的过去式和过去分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
plaintively
|
|
| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
auction
|
|
| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
faculties
|
|
| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
atmospheric
|
|
| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
plumbing
|
|
| n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
exacting
|
|
| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
susceptible
|
|
| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
deft
|
|
| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
eloquent
|
|
| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
emphatic
|
|
| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
intrigue
|
|
| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
repentance
|
|
| n.懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
aglow
|
|
| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
flickering
|
|
| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
placid
|
|
| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
wailing
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
trudged
|
|
| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
murmurous
|
|
| adj.低声的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
79
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
pallid
|
|
| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
azure
|
|
| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
intimacy
|
|
| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
spectral
|
|
| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
acrobat
|
|
| n.特技演员，杂技演员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
willow
|
|
| n.柳树 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
enraptured
|
|
| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
refulgent
|
|
| adj.辉煌的，灿烂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
puff
|
|
| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
illegible
|
|
| adj.难以辨认的，字迹模糊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
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： |
|
|
|
|
93
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
lamely
|
|
| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
straightforward
|
|
| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
fend
|
|
| v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
discretion
|
|
| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
inaccessible
|
|
| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
sardonic
|
|
| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
ballad
|
|
| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
exultant
|
|
| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
stratagem
|
|
| n.诡计，计谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
steadfastly
|
|
| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
playwright
|
|
| n.剧作家，编写剧本的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |