Playing a little bit of quiet harmony, reading a little, musing2 a little, half an hour had passed, and I was leaning my back against the frame of the open window. Mr. Chandos had come across the grass unheard by me, and took me by surprise.
I turned, and stammered3 forth4 "Yes." His tones were cautious and low, as though he feared eavesdroppers, though no one was within hearing; or could have been, without being seen.
"You accused me of wandering out there last night," he began, sitting on the stone ledge5 of the window outside, his face turned to me, "and I rashly denied it to you. As it is within the range of possibility that you may see me there again at the same ghostly hour, I have been deliberating whether it may not be the wiser plan to impart to you the truth. You have heard of sleepwalkers?"
"Yes," I replied, staring at him.
"What will you say if I acknowledge to being one?"
Of course I did not know what to say, and stood there like a statue, looking foolish. The thought that rushed over my heart was, what an unhappy misfortune to attend the sensible and otherwise attractive Mr. Chandos.
"You see," he continued, "when you spoke6, I did not know I had been out, and denied it, really believing you were mistaken."
"And do you positively7 walk in your sleep, sir?--go out of your room, out of the locked doors of the house, and pace the grounds?" I breathlessly exclaimed.
"Ay. Not a pleasant endowment is it? Stranger things are heard of some who possess it: they spirit themselves on to the roofs of houses, to the tops of chimneys, and contrive8 to spirit themselves down again, without coming to harm. So far as I am aware, I have never yet attempted those ambitious feats9."
"Does Lady Chandos know of this?"
"Of course. My mother saw me last night, I find: she felt unable to sleep, she says, thinking of poor Mrs. Freeman, and rose from her bed. It was a light night, and she drew aside her curtains and looked from the window. But for her additional testimony10, I might not have believed you yet, Miss Hereford."
"You seemed to be making for her apartments, sir--for the little door in the laurel walk."
"Did I?" he carelessly rejoined. "What freak guided my steps thither11, I wonder? Did you see me come back again?"
"No, sir. I did not stay much longer at the window."
"I daresay I came back at once. A pity you missed the sight a second time," he continued, with a laugh that sounded very much like a forced one. "Having decorated myself with a cloak and broad hat, I must have been worth seeing. I really did not know that I had a cloak in my dressing-closet, but I find there is an old one."
He sat still, pulling to pieces a white rose and scattering12 its petals13 one by one. His eyes seemed to seek any object rather than mine; his dark hair, looking in some lights almost purple like his eyes, was impatiently pushed now and again from his brow. Altogether, there was something in Mr. Chandos that morning that jarred upon me--something that did not seem true.
"I cannot think, sir, how you could have gone down so quietly from your room. For the first time since I have been in your house--for the first time, I think, in my whole life--I sat up reading last night, and yet I did not hear you; unless, indeed, you descended14 by some egress15 through the east wing."
"Oh, you don't know how quiet and cunning sleepwalkers are; the stillness with which they carry on their migrations16 is incredible," was his rejoinder. "You must never be surprised at anything they do."
But I noticed one thing: that he did not deny the existence of a second door. In spite of his plausible17 reasoning, I could not divest18 myself of the conviction that he had not left his chamber19 by the entrance near mine.
"Is it a nightly occurrence, sir?"
"What--my walking about? Oh dear, no! Months and years sometimes elapse, and I have nothing of it. The last time I 'walked'--is not that an ominous20 word for the superstitious21?--must be at least two years ago."
"And then only for one night, sir?"
"For more than one," he replied, a strangely-grave expression settling on his countenance22. "So, if you see me again, Miss Hereford, do not be alarmed, or think I have taken sudden leave of my senses."
"Mr. Chandos, can nothing be done for you? To prevent it, I mean."
"Nothing at all."
"If--if Lady Chandos, or one of the men-servants were to lock you in the room at night?" I timidly suggested.
"And if I--finding egress stopped that way--were to precipitate23 myself from the window, in my unconsciousness, what then, Miss Hereford?"
"Oh, don't talk of it!" I said, hiding my eyes with a shudder24. "I do not understand these things: I spoke in ignorance."
"Happily few do understand them," he replied. "I have given you this in strict confidence, Miss Hereford; you will, I am sure, regard it as such. No one knows of it except my mother; but she would not like you to speak of it to her."
"Certainly not. Then the servants do not know it?"
"Not one: not even Hill. It would be most disagreeable to me were the unpleasant fact to reach them; neither might they be willing to remain in a house where there was a sleepwalker. The last time the roving fit was upon me, some of them unfortunately saw me from the upper window; they recognised me, and came to the conclusion, by some subtle force of reasoning, explainable only by themselves, that it was my 'fetch,' or ghost. It was the first time I had ever heard of ghosts of the living appearing," he added, with a slight laugh.
"Do you think they saw you last night?" was my next question.
"I hope not," he replied, in a tone meant to be a light one; but that, to my ear, told of ill-concealed anxiety.
"But--Mr. Chandos!--there are no windows in the servants' part of the house that look this way!" I exclaimed, the recollection flashing on me.
"There is one. That small Gothic window in the turret26. The fear that some of them may have been looking out is worrying my mother."
"It is that, perhaps, that has made Lady Chandos ill."
"Yes; they took me for my own ghost," he resumed, apparently27 not having heard the remark. "You now perceive, possibly, why I have told you this Miss Hereford? You would not be likely to adopt the ghostly view of the affair, and might have spoken of what you saw in the hearing of the servants, or of strangers. You have now the secret: will you keep it?"
"With my whole heart, sir," was my impulsive28 rejoinder. "No allusion29 to it shall ever pass my lips." And Mr. Chandos took my hand, held it for a moment, and then departed, leaving me to digest the revelation.
It was a strange one and I asked myself whether this physical infirmity, attaching to him, was the cause of what had appeared so mysterious at Chandos. That it might account for their not wishing to have strangers located at Chandos, sleeping in the house, was highly probable. Why! was not I myself an illustration of the case in point? I, a young girl, but a week or so in the house, and it had already become expedient30 to entrust31 me with the secret! Oh, yes! no wonder, no wonder that they shunned32 visitors at Chandos! To me it seemed a most awful affliction.
As I quitted the oak parlour and went upstairs, Hill stood in the gallery.
"Lady Chandos is up, I understand, Hill?"
"Well, I don't know where you could have understood that," was Hill's rejoinder, spoken in a sullen33 and resentful tone. "My lady up, indeed! ill as she is! If she's out of her bed, in a week hence it will be time enough. I don't think she will be."
I declare that the words so astonished me as to take my senses temporarily away, and Hill was gone before I could speak again. Which of the two told the truth, Mr. Chandos or Hill? He said his mother was up; Hill said she was not, and would not be for a week to come.
Meanwhile Hill had traversed the gallery, and disappeared in the west wing, banging the green-baize door after her. I stood in deliberation. Ought I, or ought I not, to proffer34 a visit to Lady Chandos?--to inquire if I could do anything for her. It seemed to me that it would be respectful so to do, and I moved forward and knocked gently at the green-baize door.
There came no answer, and I knocked again--and again; softly always. Then I pushed it open and entered. I found myself in a narrow passage, richly carpeted, with a handsome oak door before me. I gave a stout35 knock at that, and the green-baize door made a noise in swinging to. Out rushed Hill. If ever terror was implanted in a woman's face, it was so then in hers.
"Heaven and earth, Miss Hereford! Do you want to send me into my grave with fright?" ejaculated she.
"I have not frightened you! What have I done?"
"Done? Do you know, Miss, that no soul is permitted to enter these apartments when my lady is ill, except myself and Mr. Chandos? I knew it was not he; and thought--I thought--I don't know what I did not think. Be so good, Miss, as not to serve me so again."
Did she take me for a wild tiger, that she made all that fuss? "I wish to see Lady Chandos," I said, aloud.
"Then you can't see her, Miss," was the peremptory36 retort.
"That is, if it be agreeable to her to receive me," I continued, resenting Hill's assumption of authority.
"But it is not agreeable, and it never can be agreeable," returned Hill, working herself up to a great pitch of excitement. "Don't I tell you, Miss Hereford, my lady never receives in these rooms? Perhaps, Miss, you'll be so good as to quit them."
"At least you can take my message to Lady Chandos, and inquire whether----"
"I can't deliver any message, and I decline to make any inquiries," interrupted Hill, evidently in a fever of anxiety for my absence. "Excuse me, Miss Hereford, but you will please return by the way you came."
Who should appear next on the scene but Lady Chandos! She came from beyond the oak door, as Hill had done, apparently wondering at the noise. I was thunderstruck. She looked quite well, and wore her usual dress; but she went back again at once, and it was but a momentary37 glimpse I had of her. Hill made no ceremony. She took me by the shoulders as you would take a child, turned me towards the entrance, and bundled me out; shutting the green-baize door with a slam, and propping38 her back against it.
"Now, Miss Hereford, you must pardon me; and remember your obstinacy39 has just brought this upon yourself. I couldn't help it; for to have suffered you to talk to my lady to-day would have been almost a matter of life or death."
"I think you are out of your mind, Hill," I gasped40, recovering my breath, but not my temper, after the summary exit.
"Perhaps I am, Miss; let it go so. All I have got to say, out of my mind or in my mind, is this: never you attempt to enter this west wing. The rooms in it are sacred to my lady, whose pleasure it is to keep them strictly41 private. And intrusion here, after this warning, is what would never be pardoned you by any of the family, if you lived to be ninety years old!"
"Hill, you take too much upon yourself," was my indignant answer.
"If I do, my lady will correct me; so do not trouble your mind about that, Miss Hereford. I have not been her confidential42 attendant for sixteen years to be taught my duty now. And when I advise you to keep at a distance from these apartments, Miss, I advise you for your own good. If you are wise, you will heed43 it: ask Mr. Chandos."
She returned within the wing, and I heard a strong bolt slipped, effectually barring my entrance, had I felt inclined to disobey her; but I never felt less inclined for anything in my life than to do that. Certainly her warning had been solemnly spoken.
Now, who was insane?--I? or Lady Chandos? or Hill? It seemed to me that it must be one of us, for assuredly all this savoured of insanity44. What was it that ailed45 Lady Chandos? That she was perfectly46 well in health, I felt persuaded; and she was up and dressed and active; no symptom whatever of the invalid47 was about her. Could it be that her mind was affected48? or was she so overcome with grief at the previous night's exploits of Mr. Chandos as to be obliged to remain in retirement49? The latter supposition appeared the more feasible--and I weighed the case in all its bearings.
But not quite feasible, either. For Hill appeared to be full mistress of the subject of the mystery, whatever it might be, and Mr. Chandos had said she had no suspicion of his malady50. And, besides, would it be enough to keep Lady Chandos in for a week? I dwelt upon it all until my head ached; and, to get rid of my perplexities, I went strolling into the open air.
It was a fine sunshiny day, and the blue tint51 of the bloom upon the pine trees looked lovely in the gleaming light. I turned down a shady path on the left of the broad gravel52 drive, midway between the house and the entrance-gates. It took me to a part of the grounds where I had never yet penetrated53, remote and very solitary54. The path was narrow, scarcely admitting of two persons passing each other, and the privet hedge on either side, with the overhanging trees, imparted to it an air of excessive gloom. The path wound in its course; in turning one of its angles, I came right in the face of some one advancing; some one who was so close as to touch me: and my heart leaped into my mouth. It was Mr. Edwin Barley55.
"Good morning, young lady."
"Good morning, sir," I stammered, sick almost unto death, lest he should recognise me; though why that excessive dread56 of his recognition should be upon me, I could not possibly have explained. He was again trespassing57 on Chandos; but it was not for me, in my timidity, to tell him so; neither had I any business to set myself forward in upholding the rights of Chandos.
"All well at the house?" he continued.
"Yes, thank you. All, except Lady Chandos. She keeps her room this morning."
"You are a visitor at Chandos, I presume?"
"For a little time, sir."
"So I judged, when I saw you with Harry58 Chandos. That you were not Miss Chandos, who married the Frenchman, I knew, for you bear no resemblance to her: and she is the only daughter of the family. I fancied they did not welcome strangers at Chandos."
I made no answer; though he looked at me with his jet-black eyes as if waiting for it; the same stern, penetrating59 eyes as of old. How I wished to get away! but it was impossible to pass by him without rudeness, and he stood blocking up the confined path.
"Are you a confidential friend of the family?" he resumed.
"No, sir; I am not to be called a friend at all; quite otherwise. Until a few days ago, I was a stranger to them. Accident brought me then to Chandos, but my stay here will be temporary."
"I should be glad to make your acquaintance by name," he went on, never taking those terrible eyes off me. Not that the eyes in themselves were so very terrible; but the fear of my childhood had returned to me in all its force--a very bugbear. I had made the first acquaintance of Mr. Edwin Barley in a moment of fear--that is, he frightened me. Unintentionally on his own part, it is true, but with not less of effect upon me. The circumstances of horror (surely it is not too strong a word) that had followed, in all of which he was mixed up, had only tended to increase the feeling; and woman-grown though I was now, the meeting with him had brought it all back to me.
"Will you not favour me with your name?"
He spoke politely, quite as a gentleman, but I felt my face grow red, white, hot, and cold. I had answered his questions, feeling that I dared not resist; that I feared to show him aught but civility; but--to give him my name; to rush, as it were, into the lion's jaws60! No, I would not do that; and I plucked up what courage was left me.
"My name is of no consequence, sir. I am but a very humble61 individual, little more than a schoolgirl. I was brought here by a lady, who, immediately upon her arrival, was recalled home by illness in her family, and I am in daily expectation of a summons from her; after which I daresay I shall never see Chandos or any of its inmates62 again. Will you be kind enough to allow me to pass?"
"You must mean Miss Chandos--I don't recollect25 her married name," said he, without stirring. "I heard she had been here: and left almost as soon as she came."
I bowed my head and tried to pass him. I might as readily have tried to pass through the privet hedge.
"Some lady was taken away ill, yesterday," he resumed. "Who was it?"
"It was Mrs. Freeman."
"Oh! the companion. I thought as much. Is she very ill?"
"It was something of a fit, I believe. It did not last long."
"Those fits are ticklish63 things," he remarked. "I should think she will not be in a state to return for some time, if at all."
He had turned his eyes away now, and was speaking in a dreamy sort of tone; as I once heard him speak to Selina.
"They will be wanting some one to fill Mrs. Freeman's place, will they not?"
"I cannot say, I'm sure, sir. The family do not talk of their affairs before me."
"Who is staying at Chandos now?" he abruptly64 asked.
"Only the family."
"Ah! the family--of course. I mean what members of it."
"All; except Madame de Mellissie and Sir Thomas Chandos."
"That is, there are Lady Chandos, her son, and daughter-in-law. That comprises the whole, I suppose--except you."
"Yes, it does. But I must really beg you to allow me to pass, sir."
"You are welcome now, and I am going to turn, myself. It is pleasant to have met an intelligent lady; and I hope we often shall meet, that I may hear good tidings of my friends at Chandos. I was intimate with part of the family once, but a coolness arose between us, and I do not go there. Good-day."
He turned and walked rapidly back. I struck into the nearest side walk I could find that would bring me to the open grounds, and nearly struck against Mr. Chandos.
"Are you alone, Miss Hereford? I surely heard voices."
"A gentleman met me, sir, and spoke."
"A gentleman--in this remote part of the grounds!" he repeated, looking keenly at me, as a severe expression passed momentarily across his face. "Was it any one you knew?"
"It was he who came into the broad walk, and whom you ordered out--the new tenant65. He is gone now."
"He! I fancied so," returned Mr. Chandos, the angry flush deepening. And it seemed almost as though he were angry with me.
"I found out the walk by accident, sir, and I met him in it. He stopped and accosted66 me with several questions, which I thought very rude of him."
"What did he ask you?"
"He wished to know my name, who I was, and what I was doing at Chandos; but I did not satisfy him. He then inquired about the family, asking what members of it were at home."
"And you told him?"
"There was no need to tell him, sir, for he mentioned the names to me; yourself, Lady, and Mrs. Chandos."
"Ethel! he mentioned her, did he! What did he call her?--Mrs. Chandos?"
"He did not mention her by name, sir; he said 'daughter-in-law.'" I did not tell Mr. Chandos that the designation made an impression upon me, establishing the supposition that Mrs. Chandos was a daughter-in-law.
"And pray what did he call me?"
"Harry Chandos."
"Well, now mark me, Miss Hereford. That man accosted you to worm out what he could of our everyday life at home. His name is Barley--Edwin Barley. He is a bitter enemy of ours, and if he could pick up any scrap67 of news or trifle of fact that he could by possibility turn about and work so as to injure us, he would do it."
"But how could he, sir?" I exclaimed, not understanding.
"His suspicions are no doubt aroused that--that--I beg your pardon, Miss Hereford," he abruptly broke off, with the air of one who has said more than he meant to say. "These matters cannot interest you. You--you did not tell Mr. Barley what I imparted to you this morning, touching69 myself?"
"Oh, Mr. Chandos, how can you ask the question? Did I not promise you to hold it sacred?"
"Forgive me," he gently said. "Nay70, I am sorry to have pained you."
He had pained me in no slight degree, and the tears very nearly rose in my eyes. I would rather be beaten with rods than have my good faith slighted. I think Mr. Chandos saw something of this in my face.
"Believe me, I do not doubt you for a moment; but Edwin Barley, in all that regards our family, is cunning and crafty71. Be upon your guard, should he stop you again, not to betray aught of our affairs at Chandos, the little daily occurrences of home life. A chance word, to all appearance innocent and trifling72, might work incalculable mischief73 to us, even ruin. Will you remember this, Miss Hereford?"
I promised him I would, and went back to the house, he continuing his way. At the end of the privet walk a gate led to the open country, and I supposed Mr. Chandos had business there. As I reached the portico74 a gentleman was standing68 there with the butler, asking to see Lady Chandos. It was Mr. Jarvis, the curate.
"My lady is sick in bed, sir," was Hickens's reply, his long, grave face giving ample token that he held belief in his own words.
"I am sorry to hear that. Is her illness serious?"
"Rather so, sir, I believe. Mrs. Hill fears it will be days before her ladyship is downstairs. She used to be subject to dreadful bilious75 attacks; I suppose it's one of them come back again."
The curate gave in a card, left a message, and departed. So it appeared that Hill was regaling the servants with the same story that she had told me. I could have spoken up, had I dared, and said there was nothing the matter with the health of Lady Chandos.
At six o'clock I went down to dinner, wondering who would preside. I have said that no ceremony was observed at Chandos, the everyday life was simple in the extreme. Since the departure of Emily de Mellissie we had sat in the oak-parlour, and all the meals were taken there. In fact, there was nobody to sit but myself. Lady Chandos had been mostly in the west wing; Mr. Chandos out, or in his study; Mrs. Chandos I never saw. The servants were placing the soup on the table. In another moment Mr. Chandos came in.
"A small company this evening, Miss Hereford; only you and I," he laughed, as we took our seats.
"Is Lady Chandos not sufficiently76 well to dine, sir?" I asked.
"She will eat something, no doubt. Hill takes care of her mistress. I met her carrying up the tray as I came down."
"I hope I am not the cause of your dining downstairs," I rejoined, the unpleasant thought striking me that it might be so. "Perhaps, but for me, you would take your dinner with Lady Chandos?"
"Nothing of the sort, I assure you. Were it not for you, I should sit here in a solitary state, and eat my lonely dinner with what appetite I might. And a solitary dinner is not good for the digestion77, the doctors tell us. Did any one call while I was out, Hickens?"
"Only Mr. Jarvis, sir. I think he wanted to see my lady about the new schools. He was very particular in asking what was the matter with her, and I said I thought it might be one of those old bilious attacks come on again. My lady had a bad one or two at times, years ago, sir, you may remember."
"Ay," replied Mr. Chandos: but it was all the comment he made.
"Is Lady Chandos subject to bilious attacks?" I inquired of Mr. Chandos.
"Not particularly. She has been free from them latterly."
"Did you know, sir," continued Hickens, "that we have had news of Mrs. Freeman?"
"No. When did it come? I hope it's good."
"Not very good, sir. It came half an hour ago. She had another fit to-day in the forenoon, and it's certain now that she wont78 be able to come back here for a long while, if she is at all. The relation that she is with wrote to Mrs. Hill, who took up the note to my lady. Hill says, when she left her there were symptoms of a second attack coming on."
Mr. Chandos leaned back for a moment in his chair, forgetful that he was at dinner, and not alone. He was in a reverie; but, as his eye fell on me, he shook it off, and spoke.
"Her not returning will prove an inconvenience to Mrs. Chandos."
"I am afraid it will, sir," rejoined Hickens, who had fancied himself addressed; though, in point of fact, Mr. Chandos had but unconsciously spoken aloud his thoughts. Hickens had been a long while in the family, was a faithful and valued servant, consequently he thought himself at liberty to talk in season and out of season. "I warned Mrs. Chandos's maid, sir, not to tell her mistress about Mrs. Freeman's being worse," he went on. "It would do no good, and only worrit her."
Mr. Chandos slightly nodded, and the dinner then proceeded in silence. At its conclusion, Mr. Chandos, after taking one glass of wine, rose.
"I must apologize for leaving you alone, Miss Hereford, but I believe my mother will expect me to sit with her. Be sure you make yourself at home; and ring for tea when you wish for it."
"Shall you not be in to tea, sir?"
"I think not. At all events, don't wait."
Dreary79 enough was it for me, sitting in that great solitary room--not solitary in itself; but from want of tenants80.
I went and stood at the window. The wax-lights were burning, but nothing but the muslin curtains was before the windows. There was no one to overlook the room; comers to the house did not pass it; the servants had no business whatever in the front; and very often the shutters81 were not closed until bedtime. It was scarcely yet to be called dark: the atmosphere was calm and clear, and a bright white light came from the west. Putting on a shawl, I went quietly out.
It was nearly, for me, as dreary out of doors as in. All seemed still; no soul was about; no voices were to be heard; no cheering lights gleamed from the windows. I was daring enough to walk to the end and look up at the west wing; a slight glimmering82, as of fire, sparkled up now and again in what I had understood was Lady Chandos's sitting-room83. Back to the east wing, and looked at the end of that. Plenty of cheerful blaze there, both of fire and candle; and, once, the slight form of Mrs. Chandos appeared for a minute at the window, looking out.
I passed on to the back of the house, by the servants' ordinary path, round the east wing. It was a good opportunity for seeing what the place was like. But I did not bargain for the great flood of light into which I was thrown on turning the angle. It proceeded from the corner room; the windows were thrown wide open, and some maid-servants were ironing at a long board underneath84. Not caring that they should see me, I drew under the cover of a projecting shed, that I believe belonged to the brewhouse, and took a leisurely85 survey. Plenty of life here; plenty of buildings; it seemed like a colony. Lights shone from several windows of the long edifice--as long as it was in front. The entrance was in the middle; a poultry-yard lay at the other end; a pasture for cows opposite; the range of stables could be seen in the distance.
Harriet and Emma were the two maids ironing; Lizzy Dene, a very dark young woman of thirty, with a bunch of wild-looking black curls on either side her face, sat by the ironing-stove, doing nothing. Why they added her surname, Dene, to her Christian86 name in speaking of her, I did not know, but it seemed to be the usual custom. These three, it may be remembered, have been mentioned as the housemaids. Another woman, whom I did not recognise, but knew her later for the laundry-maid, was at the back, folding clothes. They were talking fast, but very distinctly, in that half-covert tone which betrays the subject to be a forbidden one. The conversation and the stove's heat were alike wafted87 to me through the open window.
"You may preach from now until to-morrow morning," were the first words I heard, and they came from Harriet; "but you will never make me believe that people's ghosts can appear before they die. It is not in nature's order."
"His appears. I'll stand to that. And what's more, I'll stand to it that I saw it last night!" cried Lizzy Dene, looking up and speaking in strong, fierce jerks, as she was in the habit of doing. "I sat up in the bedroom sewing. It's that new black silk polka of mine that I wanted to finish, and if I got it about downstairs, Madam Hill would go on above a bit about finery. Emma got into bed and lay awake talking, her and me. Before I'd done, my piece of candle came to an end, and I thought I'd go into Harriet's room and borrow hers. It was a lovely night, the moon shone slantways in at the turret window, and something took me that I'd have a look out. So I went up the turret stairs and stood at the casement88. I'd not been there a minute before I saw it--the living image of Mr. Chandos!--and I thought I should have swooned away. Ask Emma."
"Well, I say it might have been Mr. Chandos himself, but it never was his ghost," argued Harriet.
"You might be a soft, but I daresay you'd stand to it you are not," retorted Lizzy. "Don't I tell you that in the old days we saw that apparition89 when Mr. Harry was safe in his bed? When we knew him to be in his bed with that attack of fever he had? I saw it twice then with my own eyes. And once, when Mr. Harry was miles and miles away--gone over to that French place where Miss Emily was at school--it came again. Half the household saw it; and a fine commotion90 there was! Don't tell me, girl! I've lived in the family seven years. I came here before old Sir Thomas died."
There was a pause. Harriet, evidently not discomfited91, whisked away her iron to the stove, changed it, and came back again before she spoke.
"I don't know anything about back times; the present ones is enough for me. Did you see this, Emma, last night?"
"Yes I did," replied Emma, who was a silent and rather stupid-looking girl, with a very retreating chin. "Lizzy Dene came rushing back into the room, saying the ghost had come again, and I ran after her up to the turret window. Something was there, safe enough."
"Who was it like?"
"Mr. Chandos. There was no mistaking him: one does not see a tall, thin, upright man like him every day. There was his face, too, and his beautiful features quite plain; the moon gave a light like day."
"It was himself, as I said," coolly contended Harriet.
"It was not," said Lizzy. "Mr. Chandos would no more have been dancing in and out of the trees in that fashion, like a jack-in-the-box, than he'd try to fly in the air. It was the ghost at its tricks again."
"But the thing is incredible," persisted Harriet. "Let us suppose, for argument's sake, that it is Mr. Chandos's ghost that walks, what does it come for, Lizzy Dene?"
"I never heard that ghosts stooped to explain their motives92. How should we know why it comes?"
"And I never heard yet that ghosts of live people came at all," continued Harriet, in recrimination. "And I don't think anybody else ever did."
"But you know that's only your ignorance, Harriet. Certain people are born into the world with their own fetches or wraiths93, which appear sometimes with them, sometimes at a distance, and Mr. Chandos must be one. I knew a lady's-maid of that kind. While she was with her mistress in Scotland, her fetch used to walk about in England, startling acquaintances into fits. Some people call 'em doubles."
"But what's the use of them?" reiterated94 Harriet; "what do they do? That's what I want to know."
"Harriet, don't you be profane95, and set up your back against spirituous things," rebuked96 Lizzy Dene. "There was a man in our village, over beyond Marden, that never could be brought to reverence97 such; he mocked at 'em like any heathen, saying he'd fight single-handed the best ten ghosts that ever walked, for ten pound a side, and wished he could get the chance. What was the awful consequences? Why that man, going home one night from the beer-shop, marched right into the canal in mistake for his own house-door, and was drowned."
Emma replenished98 the stove, took a fresh iron, singed99 a rag in rubbing it, and continued her work. The woman, folding clothes at the back, turned round to speak.
"How was the notion first taken up--that it was Mr. Chandos's fetch?"
"This way," said Lizzy Dene, who appeared from her longer period of service in the family to know more than the rest. "It was about the time of Sir Thomas's death; just before it, or after it, I forget which now. Mr. Harry--as he was mostly called when he was younger--was ill with that low fever; it was said something had worried him and brought the sickness on. My lady, by token, was poorly at the same time, and kept her rooms; and, now that I remember, Sir Thomas was dead, for she wore her widow's caps. At the very time Mr. Harry was in his bed, this figure, his very self, was seen at night in the grounds. That was the first of it."
"If there's one thing more deceptive100 than another, it's night-light," meekly101 observed the woman.
"The next time was about two years after that," resumed Lizzy, ignoring the suggestion. "Mr. Harry was in France, and one of the servants stopped out late one evening without leave: Ph[oe]by it was, who's married now. She had missed the train and had to walk, and it was between twelve and one when she got in, and me and Ann sitting up for her in a desperate fright lest Mrs. Hill should find it out. In she came, all in a fluster102, saying Mr. Harry was in the pine-walk, which she had come across, as being the nearest way, and she was afraid he had seen her. Of course, we thought it was Mr. Harry come home, and that the house would be called up to serve refreshments103 for him. But nothing happened; no bells were rung, and to bed we went. The next morning we found he had not come home, and finely laughed at Ph[oe]by, asking her what she had taken to obscure her eyesight--which made her very mad. Evening came, and one of them telegraph messages came over the sea to my lady from Mr. Harry, proving he was in the French town. But law! that night, there he was in the dark pine-path again, walking up and down it, and all us maids sat up and saw him. My lady was ill again then, I remember; she does have bad bouts104 now and then."
"Do you mean to say you all saw him?" questioned Harriet.
"We all saw him, four or five of us," emphatically repeated Lizzy. "Hickens came to hear of it, and called us all the simpletons he could lay his tongue to. He told Hill--leastways we never knew who did if he didn't--and didn't she make a commotion! If ever she heard a syllable105 of such rubbish from us again, she said, we should all go packing: and she locked up the turret-door, and kept the key in her pocket for weeks."
"You see, what staggers one is that Mr. Chandos should be alive," said Harriet. "One could understand if he were dead."
"Nothing that's connected with ghosts, and those things, ought to stagger one at all," dissented106 Lizzy.
"According to you, Lizzy Dene, the ghost only appears by fits and starts."
"No more it does. Every two years or so. Any way it has been seen once since the time I tell you of when Mr. Chandos was abroad, which is four years ago, and now it's here again."
"One would think you watched for it, Lizzy!"
"And so I do. Often of a moonlight night, I get out of bed and go to that turret-window."
Some one came quickly down the path at this juncture107, brushing by me as I stood in the shade. It was the still room maid. She had a bundle in her hand, went on to the entrance, and then came into the ironing-room. Hill followed her in; but the latter remained at the back, looking at some ironed laces on a table, and not one of the girls noticed her presence. The still-room maid advanced to the ironing-board, let her bundle fall on it, and threw up her arms in some excitement.
"I say, you know Mrs. Peters, over at the brook108! Well--she's dead."
"Dead!" echoed the girls, pausing in their work. "Why it was not a week ago that she was here."
"She's dead. They were laying her out when I came by just now. Some fever, they say, which took her off in no time; a catching109 fever, too. A mortal fright it put me in, to hear that; I shouldn't like to die yet awhile.
"If fever has broke out in the place, who knows but it's fever that has taken my lady!" exclaimed Emma, her stupid face alive with consternation110: and the rest let their irons drop on their stands. "All our lives may be in jeopardy111."
"Your places will be in greater jeopardy if you don't pay a little more attention to work, and leave off talking nonsense," called out the sharp voice of Mrs. Hill from the background. The servants started round at its sound, and the irons were taken up again.
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1
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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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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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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12
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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migrations
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| n.迁移，移居( migration的名词复数 ) | |
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17
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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18
divest
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| v.脱去，剥除 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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23
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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24
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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25
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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27
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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28
impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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29
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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30
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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31
entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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32
shunned
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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36
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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38
propping
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| 支撑 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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40
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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41
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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42
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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43
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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44
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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45
ailed
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| v.生病( ail的过去式和过去分词 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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46
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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47
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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48
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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49
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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50
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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51
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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52
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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53
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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54
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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55
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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56
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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57
trespassing
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| [法]非法入侵 | |
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58
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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59
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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60
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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61
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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62
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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63
ticklish
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| adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理 | |
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64
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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65
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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66
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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67
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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68
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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69
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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70
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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71
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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72
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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73
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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74
portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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75
bilious
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| adj.胆汁过多的；易怒的 | |
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76
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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digestion
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| n.消化，吸收 | |
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78
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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79
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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81
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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82
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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83
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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84
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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85
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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86
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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87
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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89
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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90
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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91
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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92
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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93
wraiths
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| n.幽灵( wraith的名词复数 )；（传说中人在将死或死后不久的）显形阴魂 | |
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94
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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96
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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98
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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99
singed
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
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100
deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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101
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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102
fluster
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| adj.慌乱，狼狈，混乱，激动 | |
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103
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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104
bouts
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| n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作 | |
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105
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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106
dissented
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| 不同意，持异议( dissent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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108
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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109
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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110
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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111
jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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