A lovely, child-like face was raised to the speaker.
"I do not know. I have a vague idea that anything requiring secrecy2 must be wrong. Is it not so?"
He laughed.
"No, sweet. What would the great diplomatists of the world say to such a theory? Rather try to believe that what is stolen is sweet."
She smiled, but the anxious expression still lingered on her lovely young face. He noticed it.
"As a rule, Marion, you are quite right. Concealments are odious3. But there are exceptions—this is one—I love you; but I am only a poor artist, struggling to make a name. You, sweet, are rich and beautiful. From your high estate you smile upon me as a queen might smile on a subject. You are a true heroine. You are content 'to lose the world for love.'"
"I am content," said the girl, with a little sigh of supreme4 happiness; "but I wish it were all open and straightforward5. I wish you would go to my guardian7 and tell him you love me. Then tell Miss Carleton. Indeed, she would not be angry."
"Do you know what would happen if I did as you advise, Marion?" he asked.
"Nothing would happen," she replied; "and they would be pleased to see me happy."
"You have to learn some of the world's lessons yet," he said. "If I were to go to Lord Ridsdale and say to him, 'My Lord, I love your ward6 and she loves me,' do you know what he would do?"
"No," she replied, slowly.
"He would send for you at once, and take such measures as would prevent me from ever seeing you again. If I were to tell him, Marion, we should be parted forever. Could you bear that, darling?"
"No," she replied, "I could not, Allan. If you think so, we—we will keep our secret a little longer."
"Thank you," he said, gratefully, kissing the little white hand clasped in his. "I knew you would not be cruel, Marion. You are so heroic and grand—so unlike other girls; you would not darken my solitary8 life for an absurd scruple—you would not refuse to see me, when the sight of you is the only sunbeam that cheers my life."
The beautiful face brightened at his words.
"You will write to me, Marion—and, darling, my heart lives on your words—they are ever present with me. When I read one of your letters it seems to me your voice is whispering, and that whisper makes the only music that cheers my day. Tell me in your letters once, and once again, that you will be my wife, that you will love me, and never care for any one else."
"I have told you so," she said; "but if the words please you, I will tell you over and over again, as you say. You know I love you, Allan."
"I know you are an angel!" cried the young man. "In all the wide world there is none like you."
Then he clasped the little white hands more tightly in his own, and whispered sweet words to her that brought a bright flush to her face and a love light to her eyes. She drooped9 her head with the coy, pretty shyness of a bird, listening to words that seemed to her all poetry and music.
It was a pretty love scene. The lovers stood at the end of an old-fashioned orchard10; the fruit hung ripe on the trees—golden-brown pears and purple plums, the grass under foot was thick and soft, the sun had set, the dew was falling, and the birds had gone to rest.
The girl, standing11 under the trees, with downcast, blushing face and bright, clear eyes, was lovely as a poet's dream. She was not more than seventeen, and looked both young and childlike for that age. She had a face fair as a summer's morning, radiant with youth and happiness. Greuze might have painted her and immortalized her. She had a delicate color that was like the faint flush one sees inside a rose. She had eyes of the same beautiful blue as the purple heartsease, and great masses of golden-brown hair that fell in rich waves on her neck and shoulders.
She was patrician12 from the crown of her dainty head to the little feet; the slender, girlish figure was full of grace and symmetry, the white, rounded throat and beautiful shoulders were fit models for a sculptor13. She had pretty white hands, with a soft, rose-leaf flush on the fingers. She was a lovely girl, fair, high-bred and elegant, and she gave promise of a most superb and magnificent womanhood. Such was Marion Arleigh on this June evening. The young man by her side was handsome after a certain style; the impression his face left upon every one was that he was not to be trusted; his dark eyes were not frank and clear, the thin lips were shrewd, with lines about them that betokened14 cruelty; it was a face from which children shrank instinctively16, and women as a rule did not love. They stood side by side under the shade of an elder tree. Plainly as patrician was written on her beautiful face and figure, plebeian17 was imprinted18 on his. He was tall, but there was no high-bred grace, no ease of manner, no courteous19 dignity such as distinguishes the true English gentleman. His face expressed passion, but half a dozen meaner emotions were there as well. None were perceptible to the girl by his side. She thought him perfection and nothing else.
How comes Marion Arleigh, the heiress of Hanton, ward of Lord Ridsdale, one of the proudest men in England, and pupil of Miss Carleton, to be alone in the sweet, soft eveningtide with Allan Lyster, whose name was not of the fairest repute among men?
If Lord Ridsdale had known it, his anger would have been without bounds; if Miss Carleton had guessed it, she would have been too shocked ever to have admitted Miss Arleigh in her doors again. How came she there? It was the old story of girlish imprudence, of girlish romance and folly20, of a vivid imagination and bright, warm poetical21 fancy wrongly influenced and led astray. Much may be forgiven her, for lovely Marion Arleigh, one of the richest heiresses in England, was an orphan22. No mother's love had taught her wisdom. She had no memory of a mother's gentle warning, or sweet and tender wisdom. Her mother died when she was born, and her father, John Arleigh, of Hanton, did not long survive his wife. He left his child to the care of Lady Ridsdale—his sister—but she died when Marion was four years old, and Lord Ridsdale, not knowing what better to do, sent his little ward to school. He thought first of having a governess at home for her; that would have necessitated23 a chaperon, and for that he was not inclined.
"Send her to school," was the advice given him by all his lady friends, and Lord Ridsdale followed it, as being the safest and wisest plan yet suggested to him. She was sent first to a lady's school at Brighton, then to Paris, with Lady Livingstone's daughters, then to Miss Carleton's, and Miss Carleton was by universal consent considered the most efficient finishing governess in England.
Marion was very clever; she was romantic to a fault; she idealized everything and every one with whom she came into contact. She had a poet's soul, loving most dearly all things bright and beautiful; she was very affectionate, very impressionable, able, generous with a queenly lavishness25, truthful26, noble. Had she been trained by a careful mother, Marion Arleigh would have been one of the noblest of women; but the best of school training cannot compensate27 for the wise and loving discipline of home. She grew up a most accomplished28 and lovely girl; the greatest fault that could be found with her was that she was terribly unreal. She knew nothing of the practical part of life. She idealized every one so completely that she never really understood any one.
Lord Ridsdale wondered often what he was to do with this beautiful and gifted girl when her school days were ended.
"She must be introduced to the world then," he thought; "and I fervently29 hope she'll soon be married."
But as her coming to Ridsdale House would cause so great an alteration30 in his way of life, he deferred31 that event as long as it was possible to do so.
When Adelaide Lyster came as a governess-pupil to Miss Carleton's school Marion Arleigh was just sixteen. Miss Lyster was not long before she knew the rank and social importance of her beautiful young pupil.
"When you have the world at your feet," she would say to her sometimes, "I shall ask you a favor."
"Ask me now!" said Marion, and then Miss Lyster told her how she had a brother—a genius—an artist—whose talent equaled that of Raphael, but that he was unknown to the world and had no one to take an interest in his fortunes.
"One word from you when you are a great lady will be of more value to my brother than even the praise of critics," she would say; and Miss Arleigh, flattered by the speech, would promise that word should be spoken. Adelaide Lyster spent long hours in talking of her brother—of his genius, his struggles, his thirst for appreciation33; the portrait she drew of him was so beautiful that Marion Arleigh longed to know him. Her wish was gratified at last. The drawing master who for many years had attended the school died, and Adelaide besought34 Miss Carleton to engage her brother. The astute35 lady was at first unwilling36. Allan Lyster was young, and she did not think a young master at all suitable. But Adelaide represented to her that, although young, he was highly gifted—he could teach well, and his terms were lower than most masters.
"There could be no danger," she said, "Miss Carleton's pupils were all rich and well born—the young artist poor and unknown. They were all educated with one idea, namely, that the end and aim of their existence was to marry well, was to secure a title, if possible—diamonds, an opera box, a country house and town mansion37. With that idea engraven so firmly on heart, soul and mind, it was not possible that there could be any danger in receiving a few drawing lessons from a penniless, unknown artist like Allan Lyster."
So Miss Carleton, for once laying aside her usual caution, engaged him, and Adelaide Lyster told her favorite pupil as soon as the engagement was made. The governess-pupil had laid her plans well. On her first entrance into that high school where every girl had either riches, beauty or high birth, Adelaide Lyster had sworn to herself to make the best use of her opportunities, and to secure wealth at least for this her beloved brother. Allan should marry one of the girls, and then his fortune in life would be made. After passing them all in review she decided38 on Marion Arleigh. Not only was she the wealthiest heiress, but in her case there were no parents to interfere39—no father with stern refusal, no mother with tearful pleadings. When she was of age she could please herself—marry Allan, if he would persuade her to do so, and then he would be master of all her wealth. She began her management of the somewhat difficult business with tact24 and diplomacy40 worthy41 of a gray-headed diplomatist. She spoke32 so incessantly42 of her brother—praising his genius, his great gifts—that Marion could not help thinking of him. She studied the character of this young heiress, and played so adroitly43 upon her weakness that Marion Arleigh, in her sweet girlish simplicity44, had no chance against her.
When Allan Lyster came, to all outward appearances no one could have been more reserved; he rarely addressed his pupils, never except on matters connected with the lesson. He never looked at them. Miss Carleton flattered herself that she had found a treasure. Allan was not only the cheapest master she had ever had, but he was also a model of discretion45. Yet none the less had he adopted his sister's ideas and made up his mind to woo and win Marion Arleigh.
"It is well worth your while to try," said his sister. "There are no parents to interfere; she will be her own mistress the very day she is of age."
"But she is only about seventeen now," said Allan; "there will be so long to wait."
"The prize is well worth waiting for. Half the peers in England would be proud and thankful to win it. If you play your cards well, Allan, in one way or another you must succeed. Let me tell you the most important thing to do."
"What is that?" he asked, looking admiringly into his sister's face.
"Persuade her to write to you, and mind that her letters to you contain a promise of marriage. Do you see the importance of that?"
"You are a clever woman, Adelaide; with you to help me I cannot fail."
And he did not fail. Adelaide had arranged her plans too skillfully for that. She began by saying how much Allan admired Marion; then, seeing the idea was not displeasing46 to the young heiress, she gradually told her how he was certain to die of love for her.
If a wise mother had trained the girl, she would have been less susceptible47; as it was, the notion of a handsome young artist dying for her was not at all unpleasant. She was seventeen, and had never had a lover. Other girls had talked about their flirtations; nothing of the kind had ever occurred to her. True, whenever she went out she could not help noticing how men's eyes lingered on her face; but that one should love her—love her so dearly as to die for her, was to her romantic imagination strange as it was beautiful. Adelaide Lyster could play upon her feelings and emotions skilfully48 as she played upon the chords of a piano.
"I was saying to Allan yesterday how sorry I am that he ever came to Miss Carleton's. What do you think he said?"
"I cannot tell," replied Miss Arleigh, her beautiful young face flushing as she spoke.
"He said, ah! that he would rather love you unhappily than be blessed with the love of a queen; he would rather look upon your face once than gaze for years on the loveliest of all created women. How he worships you! Are all men of genius destined49 to love unhappily, I wonder?"
"Is he so very unhappy?" asked the young lady, sadly.
"Yes; I do not believe he knows what peace or rest is. He never sleeps or enjoys himself as other people do."
"Why not?" asked the girl, to whom this flattery was most sweet and pleasant.
"His life is one long thought of you. If you were poor, he would not mind; there would be some hope of winning you; he would not let any other barrier than riches stand before him—that is one that honorable men cannot climb."
"I do not see it," said Miss Arleigh.
"Because you do not know the world. You are so noble in mind yourself, you do not even understand want of nobility in others. Do you not know that there are many people who would pretend to love you for the sake of your fortune?"
"I wish I had no fortune," said the young girl, wistfully. "How shall I know, Adelaide, when any one loves me for myself?"
"When they are, like Allan, willing to die rather than to own their love; willing to suffer everything and anything rather than be suspected of fortune-hunting."
"No one could suspect your brother Allan of that."
"No one who knows him. But, Miss Arleigh, what would your guardian, Lord Ridsdale, say—what would Miss Carleton say—if Allan went to them, as I know he wants to do, and asked permission to work for you, to try and win you? Listen to me—I am telling you the truth. They would not be content with insult, with dismissing him ignominiously50, but they would mar1 his future. You do not know the power vested in the hands of the rich and mighty51. An artist must court public opinion, and if one in the position of Lord Ridsdale was his determined52 enemy and foe53, he could expect nothing but ruin."
"That is not fair," said the heiress, thoughtfully.
"Then again, if you were to tell Miss Carleton, she would dismiss my brother, she would complain of him, she would ruin him as completely as it was in human power to do so. The world is not generous; it is only noble souls that believe in noble souls. Such people as those would always persist in considering Allan a fortune-hunter and nothing more."
All of which arguments Miss Lyster intended to impress upon her pupil's mind, for this one great object of keeping Allan's wooing a secret. If that could be until Miss Arleigh was twenty-one, and then she could be persuaded into marrying him, their fortunes were made.
That was her chief object. She knew Miss Arleigh was naturally frank, open and candid54; that she had an instinctive15 dislike of all underhand behavior; that she could never be induced to look with favor on anything mean; but if the romance and generous truth of her character could be played upon, they were safe.
She had the gift of eloquence55, this woman who so cruelly betrayed her trust. She talked well, and the most subtle and clever of arguments came to her naturally. Her words had with them a charm and force that the young could not resist. Let those who misuse56 such talents remember they must answer to the Most High God for them. Adelaide Lyster used hers to betray a trust, that ought to have been held most sacred. She cared little how she influenced Marion's mind. She cared little what false notions, what false philosophy, what wrong ideas, she taught her, provided only she could win her interests, her liking57 and love for Allan.
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1
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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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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patrician
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| adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官 | |
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sculptor
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| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
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betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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plebeian
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| adj.粗俗的；平民的；n.平民；庶民 | |
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imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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poetical
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| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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lavishness
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| n.浪费，过度 | |
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truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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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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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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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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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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51
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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53
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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56
misuse
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| n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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