It has been said already that the beggar class in Oneiria enjoyed peculiar1 and extensive privileges. It was a factor in the Oneirian polity, that one would hardly have expected to find, and its existence would be hard to explain were it not for a passage in a memoir2, which the founder3 left behind him, as an exposition of the motives4 which led him to adopt some of the more unusual provisions of the constitution. The style is no less crabbed5 and tortuous6 than it is usual to find at the time, but it is none the less interesting as giving us a glimpse into the old knight's habit of thought.
"Forasmuch," it runs, "as the riches of this world have been bestowed7 on us, not for each man's ease and delight, which is the seedbed of sloth8 and gluttony, but rather for the perfecting of our natures by charity and almsgiving, whereby we are made partakers of all Christian9 virtue10; so at the first I was[Pg 65] shrewdly exercised how this medicine should be furnished for men's souls in a state where none should want. The [missing word] which fears at last brought me to draw into one body all the useless and most outlandish of my people, to whom all manner of work should be forbidden, that a guild12 of beggars might be made, to be a receptacle for all that was imperfectable in the community, whereby, as it appeared to me, I could make such men, as were otherwise useless and noxious13 to the state, useful citizens in respect that they would serve as a whetstone to the virtue of the rest, and, as it were, lay up for my garden a dung-heap or midden, which though itself is stinking14 and full of corruption15, yet being dug in in season, bringeth up a plenteous growth of most sweet flowers and wholesome16 herbs."
The dung-heap commenced on these philosophical17 lines grew amazingly, and on the whole to the general health and cleanliness. Everything that had gone bad in the state drained into it by a natural process, and the resulting mass of human garbage which had collected at the time of which we are speaking thoroughly18 deserved the evil reputation it had earned. Yet no one thought of interfering19 with it. A quarter of the city and a secluded20 valley into which it sloped away had been assigned to the guild by the founder, and as long as it did not exceed its boundaries it was allowed to go on gathering21, festering and growing. A [Pg 66]certain number of the beggars were permitted to exercise their profession at the palace gates, otherwise it was all kept out of sight. Private people congratulated themselves on the excellent social drainage it afforded, and lived as if they did not know of its existence. They avoided the subject, gave their annual alms, and enjoyed the virtue so purchased till the time came round for laying in another stock. As for the government, it behaved in much the same way as the citizens. Every year it handed its donation from the central fund to the "Emperor" of the guild, as he was called, and suffered him to make and administer his own laws within the liberties without any inquiry22 or interference. It was whispered that some of these laws were of the most barbarous kind, and when people remembered what a conglomeration23 of nationalities, both savage24 and civilised, the guild represented, they, as a rule, changed the conversation, as if they were afraid to think what loathsome25 poisons might have been produced by the fermenting26 together of so much heterogeneous27 matter.
It was only natural then that Kophetua should wend his way to the beggars' quarter. It had been instituted by the founder for the increase of virtue, and he determined28 to seek in the reeking29 dung-heap for the elements to make fertile the soul he felt so barren within him. Moreover, as soon as the idea suggested itself, he began to see very clearly[Pg 67] that the dung-heap had grown to a great wrong that was worthy30 of his best efforts to put right. He even confessed to himself that he had been aware of this for a long time, but either from cowardice31 or indolence he had refused to allow his dreaming to stiffen32 into a purpose. He always dismissed the idea almost before it was conceived, and fell back again into his old colourless life with its never-changing round of banalities and affectation. With each relapse his selfishness and cynicism grew more hard. It only wanted one great effort to stir his barren soul, and one brave grapple with sin and hideousness34, to make all his heroism35 spring up in a harvest of golden grain. He knew that well enough in his better moments, yet he dreamed the dream and awoke, and was selfish and cynical36 and indolent still.
But now he was aroused at last. He was ashamed to think whose voice it was that had awakened37 him. He wished it had been any other. Still, he strode on under the shadow of the houses with a lighter38 heart than he had known for many years. And yet it was not without misgiving39 that he plunged40 into the liberties of St. Lazarus, as the beggars' quarter was called. It had an evil name, and his life had been so smooth that except in the chase he had never known what danger was. Strange tales were told of what had befallen men who had unwarily entered the quarter, and it was with a [Pg 68]beating heart that he passed the great "Beggars' Gate."
He was no sooner past the barrier, however, than he saw before him a sight which drove everything else from his mind. Hurrying up the street in front of him was an ungainly, limping figure, which it was impossible to mistake. That gait could be none but Turbo's. What could it mean? Where could he be going? Kophetua drew closer under the shadow of the houses and followed.
Turn after turn the Chancellor41 took till he seemed to be seeking the very bowels42 of the liberty, and Kophetua began to feel it would be hard to find his way out again. Every now and then they passed a beggar, but the King only drew his hat more closely down and hurried on. At last Turbo stopped at a little door in what seemed the wall of a court or garden, and after looking round stealthily to see if he were followed he entered. Kophetua walked quickly to the door, which the Chancellor had carefully closed after him. Once there, he knew he had made no mistake, and understood at last the strange interest his Chancellor always took in the beggars at the palace gate.
"Nay43, my pretty lump of foulness45, do not avoid me," he heard Turbo's mocking voice say; "I have found you alone this time, and you must come perforce."
"Stand back! stand back!" gasped46 a[Pg 69] woman's voice; "I will cry out and alarm them."
"You dare not, foul44 sweetheart," said Turbo; "you know too well the penalty when one of you is found with one of us. Nay, do not struggle so. There's no escape to-night."
There was a low choking cry of horror, and Kophetua burst open the door. At first he saw no one. He found himself in a little court behind a dilapidated house. Across the end where he stood ran a verandah in deep shadow. The noise of his entrance had hushed every sound. He could see nothing nor hear anything but his beating heart, when suddenly he was aware that a dark shadow had glided47 out of the verandah and had slipped by him through the door. Then in the far end he heard a low moan, and saw as he approached what seemed a heap of dirty rags lying in a corner, but he knew directly it was the lifeless form of a woman.
She did not move when he touched her, so he carried her out and laid her down in the bright moonlight to see what ailed48 her. Very tenderly he rested her head on his knee and bent49 over the motionless form to feel for life in it.
It was not without disgust that he did so, for it was only a beggar-girl he could see now, and she was no cleaner than her kind. Her face and hands were covered with dirt,[Pg 70] her thick dark hair was matted and unkempt, and the rags that covered her were filthy50 beyond description. Yet her face looked so pale and careworn51 and delicate that he forgot all her foulness in his pity, and tried his best to revive her.
At last she sighed deeply, and opened her eyes. They were large and dark and trustful, and they looked straight up into his with a strange wonder; so long and earnestly did she gaze at him with her far-off look, that he felt a sort of fascination52 coming over him, and began to think how every one said the beggars were half of them witches. It was a great relief to see a dreamy smile lighting53 up her wan11 face. She stretched up her hands to him, and then dropped them as though she was too weak or too happy for anything but to lie as she was.
"Are you the great God?" she whispered, "or only an angel?"
"Lie still, child, a little," he said tenderly; "I am only human like yourself."
"Only a man!" she whispered with increasing wonder in her great dark eyes. "I thought I was dead and lay in God's lap. They say I shall, some day when my misery54 is done; but if you are a man, He will be too beautiful for me. Let me lie here a little where I am and dream again."
She closed her eyes, but they seemed still to look at him. He could not forget them. It was like a spell. He could not think of[Pg 71] anything but them, and he let her lie while he gathered his straying thoughts.
"Are you better?" he asked, when she moved again. "Try and sit up. I cannot stay here long."
"Ah! I remember," she said, with a shudder55. "It was you who came in when he seized me, and I prayed for help, and then,—then I forget. Yes, you must go away and leave me."
"But I must see you in the house first."
"No, no; I cannot go in to-night. Father was angry and beat me when I came in, and said I must stay on the stones all night because I had brought nothing home. I could not help it. They pushed me when Trecenito scattered56 the alms at the gate, and I could get none. And yet if I stay here, perhaps the man will come back."
"Do you know who it was?"
"Yes, the ugly man that I saw at the palace window. He followed me here once before and tried to make me go with him. But father came out, and he ran away. Oh, he is very wicked," she said, with another shudder. "He is not like you." She lay back again peacefully on Kophetua's knee, and closed her eyes as if she would swoon again, but a noise in the house disturbed her almost directly. "It is father. Fly, fly for your life!" she cried, starting up.
As she spoke57, a tall beggar rushed out from the verandah with a long knife in his[Pg 72] hand and made straight at Kophetua. The girl with a wild cry threw herself before the man and clasped his knees, crying again, "Fly, fly for your life!" and ere he well knew what he was doing, Kophetua had availed himself of the respite58 and was running down the street. He had not gone far, however, before he began to think what a bad beginning he was making to run away just as the danger commenced. Then those trusting eyes seemed to be looking at him again and calling him back. So he stopped, determined to return and rescue her from her father's fury. But now he was aware he had entirely59 lost his way. Still he would not give up his purpose, and cursing himself for his cowardice, wandered through street after street, it seemed for hours, and was then as far as ever from finding what he sought. Exhausted60 with his efforts, from time to time he sat down to rest and think which direction could be right. Many beggars passed him, but he dared not speak to one. Again and again he started up and walked on once more. His blood was up, and he was determined not to leave the girl to her fate. He knew life would be unendurable if he returned without redeeming61 his cowardice.
At last, at the end of a narrow lane, he emerged into a square where was a building larger than any he had seen before, and all ablaze62 with light. Many beggars were going into it, and, hardly knowing why, he joined[Pg 73] himself to one of the tattered63 groups and went in too.
He found himself directly in a great hall surrounded by a filthy crowd. At first he could see nothing but the smoke-blackened roof and the torches that flared64 all round. But presently in an eddy65 of the throng66 he was carried beside a rough wooden table on which men were standing67. One of them looked down, and holding out a grimy hand invited him to get up beside him. Once there, he could see all over the great chamber68. All round the walls was a mass of beggars packed close on floor and forms and tables, and dressed in every tattered costume under heaven, from east to west. Arab and Jew, Frank and Berber, all were there and every hybrid69 between, and the lurid70 torchlight lit up a pile of faces as evil as sin itself.
At the further end was a raised platform, supporting a great high-backed chair which was ablaze with gilding71 and colour lately renewed. It formed the strangest contrast to the dirt and gloom and rottenness with which it was surrounded, but even stranger was the incongruity72 of its occupant. For upon it sat a little brown wizened73 man, so old that he hardly seemed alive, except in his restless eyes. His long white hair and beard straggled thinly over him and formed his only covering, except for a filthy waist-cloth, and a chaplet of gold-pieces which served for a crown. He was not sitting in[Pg 74] the European manner, but had drawn74 up his skinny brown legs on to the gilded75 seat, and was squatting76 like an Oriental. Indeed, the whole scene savoured rather of the East than the West. The architecture was Moorish77, and the tawdry throne was framed in a horseshoe arch. Turbans were more numerous than any other head-dress, and the front rows of the throng squatted78 on the dirty floor watching unmoved the scene that was being enacted79 before them.
Yet it was moving enough. In the midst before the throne was an open grave, newly dug in the mud floor. Beside it two men were stripping as though for a fight. As soon as they were ready they stood up knife in hand and salaamed80 to the Emperor, for such Kophetua knew he must be. Then came a shrill81 sound from the throne, like the voice of a heron, and every murmur82 was hushed.
"Know all men," it cried, "why the High Court of St. Lazarus sits to-night. It sits for treason to the ancient guild; it sits on one who is unchaste with the Gentiles. It sits on Penelophon, daughter of Ramlak. To-night she was found in the arms of her lover who came from the city. It is sin worthy of death. It is worthy the worst of deaths. Yet Dannok her brother maintains the charge is false, and will do battle for his sister with him on whom the lot of blood has fallen, the champion of St. Lazarus."
[Pg 75]
Kophetua's heart sank within him as the monotonous83 words fell slowly on his ear. Something told him that Penelophon must be the girl he had come to rescue; but how to do it now! With terrible anxiety he watched the combatants take their places opposite each other. Behind each of them were two others, each armed, like the champions, with long knives. It was an awful scene to one who had lived the life of Kophetua, where all that was ugly or painful had long been refined away. The heat and stench made him feel sick and weak, so that the open grave and the knives, and the brown old Emperor crouching84 in the gilded throne, seemed to weigh him down like a horrible dream.
"Let Penelophon be brought forth85 to stand her trial!"
The shrill voice died away again. A door opened by the da?s, there was a movement in the throng, and breathless with dread86 Kophetua watched to see what would come. The crowd opened, and his life seemed to freeze up with horror. He tried to cry out, but no sound came. He shut his eyes to keep out the sight; but it was useless, he could not choose but look. There, between two hideous33 hags, walked what seemed the corpse87 of the girl he had tried to save. He knew her again though she was so changed. They had washed her clean as the body that is laid out for burial; they had wrapped her[Pg 76] in grave-clothes, and her luxuriant dark hair hung down, combed and silky, over the white shroud88 like a pall89. Yet he knew her. That wan face, the dark, trusting eyes he could never forget. It was she whom he had tried to befriend. It was she whom he had deserted90. This was the end of his first attempt. She was to die the worst of deaths. She was to be buried alive!
And all depended on the skill of the stripling who was already sparring before the champion of St. Lazarus. They were long before they closed, and Kophetua watched breathlessly. Suddenly they were together and there was a flash and clink of steel, and the lad sprang back. On his shoulder was a streak91 of blood; but before the King had well seen it, the two men behind leaped upon the wounded boy and plunged their knives into his back. Such was the fierce law of combat in the liberties of St. Lazarus. The first blood showed the right, and death was the portion of him who fought for the wrong.
It was over, and Penelophon must die. Without ceremony the seconds seized her brother's naked body and threw it into the open grave. Then the two hags began to drag their charge to it in her turn. She looked round wildly, her eyes staring with terror. Kophetua, in his intense anxiety, had worked himself to the front; and their eyes met. She started, and her horror[Pg 77] changed to the look of wonder he had seen when first her eyes opened and gazed into his. He knew she was thinking her guardian92 angel was come again. It was more than he could bear. Forgetting everything, he leaped down into the open space, tore her from the hags, and stood with the shroud-clad figure in his arms, bidding her fear nothing.
"It is the Gentile lover," proclaimed the same monotonous cry of the shrivelled Emperor. "He has come to lie in the same grave with his shameless love. Seize him, and make ready!"
"You dare not!" cried Kophetua, as he threw back his cloak and hat. "Stand back! See! It is I, Kophetua the King."
There was a murmur of "Trecenito" through the throng, and the men who were come to obey the Emperor's orders fell back.
"We know no king in the liberties but the Emperor," droned the old man, quite undisturbed. "Seize him, and prepare him for the grave!"
"Stand back!" cried poor Kophetua, "you dare not lay hands on me. Think what your fates will be when my people hear of it."
"They will never hear of it," chanted the Emperor. "No one saw you come hither."
"Yes, Turbo, my Chancellor, saw me," cried the King, growing alarmed.
"And he wishes your death, that he may reign93 in your stead," the voice droned on[Pg 78] without a change of note. "Seize them, and put them together in Limbo94 for a foretaste of the narrower chamber that is to come, while the grave-clothes are prepared and another grave is dug; for now the dead shall lie alone. Away with them now, and fear not. The Emperor is greater than the King, and Sultan Death than both."
He ended in a shrill scream of mocking laughter, while Kophetua was seized and hurried along, powerless to resist. While the devilish merriment still rang out they thrust him in at the door whence the beggar-maid had been brought. Her they pushed in after him, and the door closed with a hollow clang.
As soon as Kophetua could collect his thoughts sufficiently95 to look about him, he found himself shut in a narrow chamber, in every way adapted for a prison. One small window, about his own height from the ground, was the only outlet96 to the open air, and it was heavily barred. The moonlight streamed through it and poured a flood of silvery light about a stone bench in a recess97 on the opposite side. There his eyes rested at last immovably; for there sat the beggar-maid swathed in her shroud, and shining so white and ghostly in the moonbeams that she seemed no living thing. She sat upright, gazing before her with her wondering eyes as though she only half understood what had happened.
[Pg 79]
And Kophetua wondered too—wondered to see how beautiful she was now her foulness was washed away. He knew the face well; where had he seen it? It must have been in his dreams. So he stood in the deep shadow watching and wondering and listening to the click of the spade and mattock, as the beggars dug the grave he was to share with the living corpse before him. It was indeed, as the Emperor had said, a foretaste of the tomb.
Presently she turned her dark gaze on him. It was terrible to see the death-like thing looking at him, and he shuddered98, but her soft voice reassured99 him.
"I knew my angel would come down and save me again," she murmured. "When will you take me away? I am ready to go now; Dannok is dead, and I have no one left."
Poor child! he dared not speak and break her dream. He only watched her still, and then it flashed on him what face it was. It was in the old picture in his library he had seen it, the same wan delicate features, the same black hair waving so smooth and even over the snowy forehead. He had often wondered how a painter could have chosen such a face to fascinate a king. Now he saw it in the flesh he wondered no longer, but gazed his fill, and listened to the click of the grave-diggers.
"Must we wait very long?" murmured[Pg 80] the beggar-maid again. "I am very weary, and crave100 for rest."
"My child, my child!" cried Kophetua, unable any longer to restrain himself, "I cannot save you. It is I that have ruined you, and we are going to lie side by side in the same dark grave."
As he spoke he went to her, and in spite of his half-superstitious awe101 of the ghostly figure he took her in his arms, as though he would kiss away the new horror from her face; but he started back immediately, pale as herself. The click of spade and mattock had ceased, heavy footsteps sounded at the door, and the key rattled102 in the lock.
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1
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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memoir
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| n.[pl.]回忆录，自传；记事录 | |
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Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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crabbed
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| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sloth
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| n.[动]树懒；懒惰，懒散 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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guild
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| n.行会，同业公会，协会 | |
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noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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conglomeration
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| n.团块，聚集，混合物 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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fermenting
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heterogeneous
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| adj.庞杂的；异类的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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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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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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stiffen
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| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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hideousness
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heroism
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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45
foulness
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| n. 纠缠, 卑鄙 | |
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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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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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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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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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careworn
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| adj.疲倦的，饱经忧患的 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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57
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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58
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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59
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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redeeming
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| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
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ablaze
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| adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的 | |
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tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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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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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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hybrid
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| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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76
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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salaamed
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| 行额手礼( salaam的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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88
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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limbo
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| n.地狱的边缘；监狱 | |
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95
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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96
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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98
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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99
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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100
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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101
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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102
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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