Donaldson saw the girl's eyes upon him. They were confident with an instinct that is woman's sixth sense. A man has not lived until he has seen that look in a woman's eyes. Nor has a man suffered until he realizes that he must disappoint that look. Donaldson had never been in an automobile5 in his life. He knew no more how to control one than he did an a?roplane. And the arc-lights were flashing by at the rate of one every four seconds—and a madman at the wheel—and a woman's eyes upon him.
Donaldson was naturally a man of some courage, but it is doubtful if under ordinary conditions this situation would not have brought the cold sweat to his brow. As it was, he was conscious of only two emotions; an appreciation6 of the grim humor which had called upon him so early in his week to fulfill7 his oath, and a grinding resentment8 at the Fate which had thrust him into a position where he should show so impotent before those eyes. As far as personal fear went, it was nil9. He was as oblivious10 to possible pain, possible death, as though he were now merely recalling a dream. Such contingencies11 had been decided12 the moment he swallowed the scarlet13 syrup14. Fear had been annihilated15 in him because the most he had to lose was this next six days. He was too good a gambler to resent, in a fair game, the turn of the cards against him.
He stepped past her and out upon the running board, feeling his way along to the empty seat. The machine swayed dizzily. The wind tore off his hat and tugged16 at his coat, nearly dragging him to the ground which flowed beneath him as smoothly17 as a fly belt. He could not have made that distance yesterday with the assurance of to-day. He swung himself into the empty seat.
He had but one thing in mind; he knew that these big machines, in spite of their tremendous power, were as nicely adjusted as watches. They had their vital spots, their hearts. If only he could find this vulnerable place! At his feet he saw a small wooden box fastened to the dash-board. He did not know what it was, but on a blind chance he kicked it again and again until it splintered beneath his heels. The machine swerved18 across the road and he fought with the crazed man for the possession of the wheel. He was strong and he had this much at heart, but the other had the super-human strength of the crazed. Even as they struggled the machine began to slow down and within a few hundred yards came to a standstill. In destroying the coil box he had reached the heart.
The driver turned upon him, but Donaldson managed to secure a good grip and dragged the fellow to the ground. The latter was up in a minute and faced him with that gleam of devilish hatred19 that marks the foiled maniac20. The girl started to separate the two men, but it was unnecessary; she saw the murder fade from her companion's face before the calm untroubled gaze of the other. She saw his strained body relax, she saw his fists unclench, and she saw him shrink back to her side trembling in fright. The demon21 in him had been quelled22 by the unflinching eyes of the sane23 man.
There was, luckily, no gathering24 of a crowd, for no one had witnessed the struggle in the machine. A few steps beyond, the blue and red lights of a drugstore stained the sidewalk. The girl seized the man's arm and turned to Donaldson.
"He is my brother," she explained. "We must leave the machine and get him home at once. Can we order a cab from somewhere?"
"At the drugstore we can telephone for one and also reach your garage."
"Would you mind attending to it?" she asked anxiously. "We will wait here,—in the car."
He hesitated.
"I don't like to leave you here alone," he said.
"I shall be quite safe—really."
"But in the drugstore it is warmer, and—"
"No, no," she broke in hurriedly. "I—I would much rather not."
Without further parley25 he took the address of the garage where the machine had been hired, and walked on to the drugstore. He was back again in five minutes, relieved to find her safe and the brother still quiet. While waiting for the cab it occurred to him that he should also have telephoned for a physician to meet them when they reached the house. But Miss Arsdale objected at once to this.
"I think we had better not. But if you would—it's asking a great deal of you—if you yourself would ride back with us."
"I had intended to do that," he assured her.
The cab arrived within a few minutes, and she gave an address off Riverside Drive. It took half an hour to make the run. On the journey the three remained silent save for a few commonplaces, for conversation seemed to have a disquieting26 effect upon young Arsdale. The lighted houses flashed past the carriage windows in the soft spring dark, looking like specks27 of gold upon black velvet28. A certain motherliness pervaded29 the night; there was a suggestion of birth everywhere. Donaldson responded to it with a growing feeling of anticipation30. Sitting here confronting this girl he was swept back to a primal31 joy of things, to a sense of new worlds. He felt for a moment as though back again with her in that gypsy kingdom into which the music had borne them.
The cab swung from the boulevard and, after following for a few moments a somewhat tortuous32 course among side streets, stopped before an iron gate which stretched across the drive leading to the house. Either side of the gate a high hedge extended. The three stepped out and Donaldson paused a moment before dismissing the cabby. The girl saw his hesitancy and in her turn seemed rapidly to revolve33 some question in her own mind. A quick motion on the part of her brother determined34 her. In the shadow of the house he began to show ill-boding symptoms.
"I wonder if—if you would come in for a minute," she asked in an undertone.
Without answer he dismissed the driver and followed her through a small gate in the hedge, down a short walk, to a brown-stone house with its entrance on a level with the ground. The house was unlighted and the lower windows were covered with wooden shutters35. In the midst of its brilliantly lighted neighbors it looked severe and inhospitable. The girl drew a key from her purse and, opening the door, stepped inside and switched on the lights. Donaldson found himself in a large, cheerful looking hall finished in Flemish oak. A broad Colonial staircase led from the end and swung upstairs in a graceful36 turn which formed a landing. The floor was covered with rugs which he recognized as of almost priceless value. Several oil portraits in heavy frames ornamented37 the walls. It took but a glance to see that they were of the same family and to recognize in all their thin faces an expression that he had caught in young Arsdale himself—a haunting fear as of some family tragedy. Through an uncurtained door to the right opened what appeared to be a library, while to the left—Donaldson turned his back for a moment upon Arsdale. And the man, freed from the eyes, threw himself upon Donaldson's shoulder. The woman shouted a warning, but it was too late. She clutched at her brother's clothes, pulling with all her strength, crying,
"Ben! Ben!"
Donaldson slipped upon the polished floor and Arsdale, throwing his arm about his victim's neck, secured a very effective strangle hold. It looked bad for Donaldson. On the smooth waxed floor he could secure no purchase by which to regain38 his feet and he could not reach the fellow with either fist. He was as helpless as though he had the Old Man of the Mountain upon his back. The world began to swim before his eyes; the cries of the girl to sound in the distance. Then he smelled the biting aroma39 of spirits of ammonia and felt the clutch upon his throat loosen. He broke free, got upon his feet and found Arsdale rubbing his smarting eyes while the girl stood over him, frightened at what she had done, with the empty bottle in her hand.
"I've blinded him!" she cried, drawing back in horror.
"Thanks. You 've also prevented him from killing40 me."
"Don't say that—not kill!"
"But the man is n't responsible."
"That is true, but—even when he is like this he would n't do any harm."
His throat was still sore from the press of the fellow's fingers, but he nodded politely.
Donaldson perceived that she was fighting off a fear. It made the danger seem even more imminent41. He had noted42 with surprise that no servants had appeared. This gave a particularly uncanny atmosphere to the big house, making it look as deserted43 as though empty of furniture.
"We must get him upstairs and into bed," she said. "Will you help him?"
The man was choking and writhing44 upon the floor in his pain. Donaldson stooped and wiped off his eyes. Then he placed his arm about him and half dragged and half carried him up the stairs as she led the way. She preceded them up two flights, switching on the lights at each landing, and entered a small, simply furnished room in the middle of the house,—a room, Donaldson was quick to note, having only a skylight for a window. Here he dashed cold water into the man's face and placed him on the bed. As soon as the pain subsided45, Miss Arsdale administered two spoonfuls of a darkish brown medicine which seemed to have instantly a quieting effect.
It was the sight of the bottle that again recalled to Donaldson the fact of his own peculiar46 position in life. Even at the risk of appearing rude, he was forced to look at his watch. It was a few minutes after eleven o'clock. Well, what of it? Had not these hours been full—had he not had more of real living than during the entire last decade? He had faced death twice, he had met a woman, and he now stood at the threshold of a mystery that seemed to demand him. There was no other interest in his life to occupy him—nothing to prevent him from throwing himself heart and soul into the case, lending what aid was possible to this woman. Furthermore, he was clear of all selfish interests; he need bother himself with no queries47 of what this might be worth to him. But it was worth something, it was worth something to have a woman look at him as this girl had done—with unquestioning trust in a crisis.
She glanced up as he replaced his watch.
"Oh," she exclaimed, "I must detain you no longer!"
"My time is absolutely yours," he reassured48 her. "I was merely curious to know how old I have grown."
She did not understand.
"I 'm eleven hours old."
Again she did not understand, but in turning to care for her brother she ceased to puzzle over the enigma49. Shortly afterwards the patient closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Immediately the girl led the way on tiptoe from the room. She locked the door behind her and preceded Donaldson downstairs.
Once below there seemed nothing for him to do but to leave, but, quite aside from the fact that he felt himself to be really needed here, he was as reluctant to depart as a man is to awake from a pleasant dream. She had picked up a white silk Japanese shawl and thrown it about her shoulders.
He turned to her with the question,
"Is there nothing more I can do for you? Is there no one I may summon to help you?"
"I can manage very well now, thank you."
"But you can't stay here alone with the boy in this condition."
"Why not?"
Her reply came like a rebuke50 of his impetuous presumption51.
"It is hardly safe for you," he declared more quietly.
"It is perfectly52 safe," she answered evenly.
"I suppose there are servants in the house upon whom you can call," he hazarded.
She looked a bit embarrassed.
"If I should need any one there is my old housekeeper53, Marie," she answered.
Marie was upstairs, sick in bed with rheumatism54, too feeble to move without help. But to confess this fact to him would be almost to force him to stay. As welcome a relief as it would be to have him remain until she had administered the medicine once more, she shrank from placing him in a position where he would have no alternative.
She roused herself from the temptation and extended her hand.
"Thank you is a weak phrase for all you 've done," she said.
"It is enough."
He took the hand but he did not say good night. So she withdrew it, her cheeks a bit redder, her eyes, a trick they had when brilliant, growing silver.
He had been studying her keenly, and now removing his overcoat, he said decidedly,
"I shall stay a little longer."
She seemed to hesitate a moment, meeting his eyes quite frankly55. Then, with a little sigh of relief she stepped into the library.
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收听单词发音
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1
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scrambles
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| n.抢夺( scramble的名词复数 )v.快速爬行( scramble的第三人称单数 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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7
fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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nil
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| n.无，全无，零 | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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12
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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13
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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14
syrup
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| n.糖浆，糖水 | |
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15
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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16
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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18
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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22
quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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24
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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26
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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27
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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28
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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29
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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31
primal
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| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
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32
tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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33
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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36
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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aroma
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| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
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40
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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41
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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42
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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43
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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44
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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45
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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46
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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47
queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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48
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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49
enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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50
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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51
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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52
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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53
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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54
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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55
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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