Some of the sign boards, though many were washed clean by heavy rains and snow-storms, displayed here and there a well painted cake, a pair of Suwarrow boots, or a coat and pair of inexpressibles, with the inscription7 "tailor, from Paris;" then again a hosier's shop, exhibited hats and gloves, stockings and night-caps, with the superscription: "Arsenieff Philipoff, foreign merchant;" on another house might be seen a very large sign-board with a billiard-table painted upon it, and two players in dress-coats, such as the dramatis personae wear in an after-piece, when they enter as "guests," upon the stage. The players on this sign-board were represented in the act of aiming at a ball with their cues, their arms slightly bent9 backwards10 and rather ill-shaped legs, as if they had been in the act of making an unsuccessful attempt at an entrechat. Under this billiard-table was written in large characters: "And here is the establishment."
Here and there a man or woman was hawking11 wares12 about the street, or selling them at a stand, such as nuts, apples, soap, and cakes—which bore a striking resemblance to soap; then again a coffee and tea-shop, or eating-house, with a large sign board outside, with an enormous fish on it, in the back of which a gigantic fork was stuck, like an harpoon13 in a whale. Most frequent of all were the double-headed and swarthy looking Imperial eagles spreading their protecting wings over the entrance of the numerous taverns14 with the laconic15 inscription, "dram-shop." The pavement was in a bad condition everywhere. The curiosity of Pavel Ivanovitch Tchichikoff, the Councillor of State, went even so far as to honour with a minute inspection16 the public garden of the town; he found the trees very scrubby and scantily17 planted, taking feeble root, leaning for support against three posts in the shape of a triangle, and very neatly18 painted with green oil-colour.
Although these trees were not much higher than common reeds, yet they were mentioned and described in the newspapers on the occasion of the last illumination of the town in the following exceedingly complimentary19 style: "Thanks to the munificence20 and protection of our Governor-General, our town is being rapidly embellished21, and has again been endowed with an additional ornament—a public garden—full of shady and broad-leaved trees, spreading their protecting branches against the oppressive heat of the day, and it is very gratifying indeed, to witness how loudly the hearts of the good citizens beat, and their tears of gratitude22 flow in acknowledgment and gratitude towards our Lord-Lieutenant and Governor."
After asking the policeman on duty the nearest way to the parish-church, the town-hall, and the residence of the Lord-Lieutenant, Tchichikoff went to take a walk near the river, which flowed through the centre of the town; on his road thither23 he happened to pass a lamp-post, from which he tore off a play-bill, which was flapping loosely; no doubt with the intention of reading it with more leisure, when at home; he looked attentively25 at a lady of rather elegant appearance who was passing along the wood pavement the other side of the street, and who was followed by a little page in a military livery, carrying a large bundle in his hands; once again he cast a long and general glance around him as if with the intention of familiarizing his memory with the position of place and streets, and then went straight home to his room, slightly assisted by the ever attentive24 head-waiter, during the process of getting up-stairs.
Having had tea, he sat down before a table and ordered a wax candle, produced the torn off play-bill from his pocket, and bringing it closer to the light, he began to read it, slightly closing his right eye. However, there was nothing remarkable26 in the play-bill: one of Shakespeare's dramas was to be performed; the part of Hamlet was allotted27 to a Mr. Matchaloff, and that of Ophelia, to Miss Assenkova, the other dramatis personae were of indifferent reputation, and for that reason less interesting; nevertheless, Tchichikoff read them all, and got even as far down the list as the price of the pit and gallery, and discovered that the bill had been printed in the governmental printing-office of the town.
When he had perused28 the whole, he turned the bill and examined the other side of it, to see if there was by chance something more to read, but finding nothing, he wiped his eyes and folded the bill carefully together, and then deposited it in his mahogany travelling box, into which he was accustomed to put anything, and everything he could lay hold of. The day, we imagine, was concluded with a plate of cold veal29 and ham, a bottle of sour Crimea-wine, and in a sound night's rest—all in one breath—as we express ourselves in some of the extensive towns of the broad Russian Empire.
The whole of the following day was devoted30 to paying visits. Tchichikoff went out to pay his devoirs to all the important officers and employés of the town. With hat in hand, he waited upon the Lord-Lieutenant, who, on closer inspection, proved to bear a great resemblance to Tchichikoff himself, for he was neither too stout31 nor too thin; but he wore the decoration for merit of St. Anne round his neck, and it was whispered about that he might shortly be honoured with a presidential star; however, he was a good-natured man, and even sometimes found leisure and pleasure to assist his lady in embroidering32 upon canvass33.
Tchichikoff next went to present himself to the Vice-Governor, the Procurator, the Presiding Magistrate34, the Commissary of Police, the Public Contractor-General, the Inspectors36 of the Imperial manufactories—our memory fails us, and we regret it; but in excuse we may state that it is rather difficult to remember the different grades of the all-powerful of this wicked world; it will therefore suffice to say, that our traveller displayed an unusual activity as regarded the visits he paid on that particular day. We will conclude a notice of them, by stating that he even went so far in the marks of his civilities, as not to forget to pay his compliments to the Inspector35 of the Surgical37 division and the Town-architect. When he had performed all these obligations, he was still sitting and musing38 in his britchka, and meditating39 whether he had not omitted any one; but really, there were no more officers of the crown to whom he could have shown his attentions.
In his conversation with these omnipotent40 personages, he contrived41, very cleverly, too, to say to each of them separately something either laudatory42 or complimentary. To the Lord-Lieutenant he insinuated43 the flattering observation, that the entrance into his Lord-Lieutenancy was like that into Paradise, and that the roads were everywhere even and smooth as velvet44, and that those governments which appoint so trustworthy managers merit the highest praise. To the Commissary of Police he expressed his admiration45 of the watchfulness46 and the civility of the policemen under his orders, and in his conversation with the Vice-Governor and the Presiding Magistrate, who had no higher rank than simply "councillors of state," he made an adroit47 mistake by addressing them twice as "your excellency," which of course pleased and flattered them amazingly.
The results of his praiseworthy attentions were, that the Lord-Lieutenant immediately honoured him with an invitation for that same day to an evening party en famille, whilst the other officers of the crown invited him, the one to dinner, another to a game of whist, a third asked him, as a favour, to come and take a cup of tea, and so forth48.
About himself, our friend Tchichikoff obviously avoided saying much, and if he spoke49 of himself at all, it was but in very general terms indeed, and with an undeniable modesty50; his conversation, in such instances, assumed rather more of a learned phraseology and expression. Thus he would remark, for instance, that he was the most insignificant51 worm that crept over the surface of this world of trouble and deception52, and therefore quite unworthy to be an object of particular notice; that he had seen much, and acquired a great deal of experience during his life; that he had struggled and suffered in the service for the just cause; that he had many enemies, some of them even capable of preying53 on his very vitals; and that now, exhausted54 by fruitless contests, he was longing55 for tranquillity56, and in search of a modest corner, where he might pass the remainder of his career in quiet and retirement57; and, finally, that in passing through this beautiful town, he considered it to be his bounden duty to testify his respect and admiration to the magistrates58 of the place by waiting upon them. This was about all that the élite of Smolensk could learn touching59 the strange face that had arrived within the walls of the town, and which strange face did not fail to show itself that very same evening at the réunion of the Lord-Lieutenant.
The preparations for this evening party occupied our hero considerably60 above two hours, for he devoted such unusual care and attention to his toilette as, we venture to say, is perhaps seldom witnessed. Having enjoyed a short but sound after-dinner nap, he ordered fresh water to be brought in to him; he then began to wash very carefully both his cheeks, using soap very freely, and putting his tongue against each of them in turn—to tighten61 the skin, no doubt; then, taking the towel from off the shoulder of the officious head-waiter, he commenced rubbing and drying his full face, beginning from behind his ears, yet he did not do so without sneezing twice, and directly into the face of the clever head-waiter.
Having performed this operation, he took up his position before the looking-glass to adjust his shirt-front, and to abbreviate63 two hairs which protruded64 from his nostrils65, and soon after he was shining in his glory and a dress coat of light coffee-brown colour with bronze buttons.
Thus tastefully and elegantly attired66, he seated himself in his own carriage, and drove off through the interminable and dimly-lighted streets. The house of the Lord-Lieutenant, however, was illuminated67 as if for a regular ball; all the carriages that arrived had their lights; two gendarmes68 were maintaining order in the entrance-hall; in the distance were heard the loud yells of coachmen and footmen—in a word, all was as it ought to be. On entering the reception-room and salon69, Tchichikoff was obliged to close his eyes for a moment, for the brilliancy of the lamps and lights, and the dresses and toilette of the ladies, were literally70 bewildering. All was one blaze of light. Black dress-coats were flying about in all directions, separately and in heaps, as flies will do around a sugar-loaf in the middle of a hot day in July, when the grumbling71 old housekeeper72 is cutting it into square, sparkling pieces before an open window; little children, if any, will gather around her, and watch with intense interest and curiosity the movements of her bony hand, raising in measured time the active hammer, whilst the airy brigade of flies, carried along by a whispering zephyr73, approach her fearlessly as conquerors74, and, taking advantage of the rays of the sun, which dazzle and dim her sight, besiege75 the tempting76 bits in small and large divisions. As they have been already abundantly nourished by the dainties of a fine summer, and at each flight desert some rich meal for another, they do not descend77 upon the sugar to feed, but come there with the intention of showing themselves, of parading up and down upon the sweet heaps, of rubbing their fore8 or hind62 legs against one another, or of performing the same process with their airy wings, and again stretching them out, and scratching their little heads, then turn round and fly away, only to return again, after joining a new and perhaps more numerous detachment.
Tchichikoff had not yet recovered from similar effects and reflections, when he found himself surrounded and soon after arm-in-arm with the Lord-Lieutenant, who introduced him at once to his lady. But even here our new guest did not lose his countenance78; he said something complimentary, suitable to the circumstance, and very à propos for a man of his—the middle age—of a rank neither too exalted79 nor too insignificant. When the dancers took up their positions for a first set of quadrilles, the non-dancers were obliged to fall back towards the wall. Tchichikoff was among them, and did as they did by putting his arms behind him à la Napoléon, and for about two minutes he appeared to pay the greatest attention to what was passing before him.
Many of the ladies were dressed with good taste, and in the latest fashion, while others again displayed robes and jewels, such as could only be got in the shops of a provincial town. The gentlemen also, here as elsewhere, could be divided into two distinct classes: to the first belonged those who were tall, slender and thin, and who are always found buzzing around the fair sex; some of them even were of the same description as those we are wont80 to see in the salons81 at St. Petersburg; they wore their whiskers in the same studied and carefully-brushed manner, or had the oval of their faces carefully and neatly shaved; they were familiar with the same easy manners in presence of ladies, and they also spoke French fluently; they knew how to amuse and make the ladies laugh whether they liked it or not, just exactly as the fashionables do in the imperial capital.
The second class was composed of bulky and stout men, such as our friend Tchichikoff, that is to say, of the middle size, who could neither be called too stout or too slender. This latter description of gentlemen was always anxiously engaged in avoiding too close a proximity82 with the fair sex, and looking about right and left with the intention of espying83, if possible, whether the servants of their host had not already prepared a green cloth table for a game of whist. Their faces were round as a full moon; upon some of them pimples84 and warts85 were visible; others again displayed the marks of small-pox; and as for their hair, they did not wear it in curls, brushed à la Titus, or cut à la diable m'emporte, as the French call it; their hair was neatly arranged or smoothly86 brushed down; and as for their features, they were rather round and strongly marked. Such men as we have described were the right honourable87 dignitaries of the town of Smolensk.
It is a curious fact that men of such frame know better how to manage their little affairs in this world of trouble and disappointment than those who are tall, slender or thin. Slender men are appointed in Russia—perhaps also elsewhere—as special commissioners88, or are generally selected for such an office; they are to be met with, here, there and everywhere, somehow or another. Their existence is rather too easy, airy, and not at all calculated to be depended upon. Stout men, on the contrary, never accept doubtful or ambiguous appointments. They all grasp at something more substantial; and if they take up a position in life, it always proves to be a safe and a profitable one, and though the foundation may sometimes shake under their weight, they themselves are not to be unseated. They hate outward display and refinements89; their coats may perhaps not be of the best fit or the latest fashion like those of the slender gentlemen, but in compensation, their money bags are filled with the blessings90 of providence91.
The slender man may, after three or four years of extravagance, not have a single serf to mortgage at the Imperial Bank, whilst the stout man's glance is calm and satisfied, for somehow or another, he has saved sufficient to buy a modest cottage in some snug92 corner of the town, of course in the name of his wife—this attracts less attention, and is done for greater safety; for, in another snug corner of the same town we find another comfortable house belonging to the same stout man; also, at a later date, he builds a villa93 in the environs, and finally makes the acquisition of a whole estate with all its appurtenances.
Thus then the stout man, having served God and the Emperor, and gained universal esteem94, retires from public service, leaves town for his estate, and becomes a farmer, a landowner, a real Russian gentleman, a regular, what we call in Russia, bread and salt man—he lives and he lives well indeed. But when he has done living, then come again his slender heirs; and in the Russian fashion, they spend in a race all the wealth, goods and chattels95 of their stout parent.
点击收听单词发音
1 provincial | |
adj.省的,地方的;n.外省人,乡下人 | |
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2 edifices | |
n.大建筑物( edifice的名词复数 ) | |
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3 hue | |
n.色度;色调;样子 | |
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4 diffused | |
散布的,普及的,扩散的 | |
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5 everlasting | |
adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的 | |
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6 huddled | |
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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7 inscription | |
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文 | |
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8 fore | |
adv.在前面;adj.先前的;在前部的;n.前部 | |
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9 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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10 backwards | |
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地 | |
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11 hawking | |
利用鹰行猎 | |
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12 wares | |
n. 货物, 商品 | |
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13 harpoon | |
n.鱼叉;vt.用鱼叉叉,用鱼叉捕获 | |
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14 taverns | |
n.小旅馆,客栈,酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
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15 laconic | |
adj.简洁的;精练的 | |
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16 inspection | |
n.检查,审查,检阅 | |
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17 scantily | |
adv.缺乏地;不充足地;吝啬地;狭窄地 | |
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18 neatly | |
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地 | |
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19 complimentary | |
adj.赠送的,免费的,赞美的,恭维的 | |
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20 munificence | |
n.宽宏大量,慷慨给与 | |
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21 embellished | |
v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 );装饰;修饰;润色 | |
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22 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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23 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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24 attentive | |
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的 | |
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25 attentively | |
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 | |
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26 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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27 allotted | |
分配,拨给,摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28 perused | |
v.读(某篇文字)( peruse的过去式和过去分词 );(尤指)细阅;审阅;匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览(某篇文字) | |
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29 veal | |
n.小牛肉 | |
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30 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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32 embroidering | |
v.(在织物上)绣花( embroider的现在分词 );刺绣;对…加以渲染(或修饰);给…添枝加叶 | |
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33 canvass | |
v.招徕顾客,兜售;游说;详细检查,讨论 | |
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34 magistrate | |
n.地方行政官,地方法官,治安官 | |
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35 inspector | |
n.检查员,监察员,视察员 | |
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36 inspectors | |
n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 );(英国公共汽车或火车上的)查票员;(警察)巡官;检阅官 | |
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37 surgical | |
adj.外科的,外科医生的,手术上的 | |
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38 musing | |
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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39 meditating | |
a.沉思的,冥想的 | |
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40 omnipotent | |
adj.全能的,万能的 | |
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41 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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42 laudatory | |
adj.赞扬的 | |
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43 insinuated | |
v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 );巧妙或迂回地潜入;(使)缓慢进入;慢慢伸入 | |
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44 velvet | |
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
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45 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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46 watchfulness | |
警惕,留心; 警觉(性) | |
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47 adroit | |
adj.熟练的,灵巧的 | |
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48 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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49 spoke | |
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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50 modesty | |
n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素 | |
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51 insignificant | |
adj.无关紧要的,可忽略的,无意义的 | |
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52 deception | |
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计 | |
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53 preying | |
v.掠食( prey的现在分词 );掠食;折磨;(人)靠欺诈为生 | |
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54 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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55 longing | |
n.(for)渴望 | |
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56 tranquillity | |
n. 平静, 安静 | |
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57 retirement | |
n.退休,退职 | |
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58 magistrates | |
地方法官,治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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59 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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60 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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61 tighten | |
v.(使)变紧;(使)绷紧 | |
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62 hind | |
adj.后面的,后部的 | |
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63 abbreviate | |
v.缩写,使...简略,缩短 | |
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64 protruded | |
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65 nostrils | |
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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66 attired | |
adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服,使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67 illuminated | |
adj.被照明的;受启迪的 | |
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68 gendarmes | |
n.宪兵,警官( gendarme的名词复数 ) | |
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69 salon | |
n.[法]沙龙;客厅;营业性的高级服务室 | |
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70 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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71 grumbling | |
adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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72 housekeeper | |
n.管理家务的主妇,女管家 | |
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73 zephyr | |
n.和风,微风 | |
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74 conquerors | |
征服者,占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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75 besiege | |
vt.包围,围攻,拥在...周围 | |
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76 tempting | |
a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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77 descend | |
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
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78 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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79 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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80 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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81 salons | |
n.(营业性质的)店( salon的名词复数 );厅;沙龙(旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所);(大宅中的)客厅 | |
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82 proximity | |
n.接近,邻近 | |
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83 espying | |
v.看到( espy的现在分词 ) | |
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84 pimples | |
n.丘疹,粉刺,小脓疱( pimple的名词复数 ) | |
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85 warts | |
n.疣( wart的名词复数 );肉赘;树瘤;缺点 | |
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86 smoothly | |
adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地 | |
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87 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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88 commissioners | |
n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 );长官;委员;政府部门的长官 | |
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89 refinements | |
n.(生活)风雅;精炼( refinement的名词复数 );改良品;细微的改良;优雅或高贵的动作 | |
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90 blessings | |
n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福 | |
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91 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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92 snug | |
adj.温暖舒适的,合身的,安全的;v.使整洁干净,舒适地依靠,紧贴;n.(英)酒吧里的私房 | |
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93 villa | |
n.别墅,城郊小屋 | |
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94 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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95 chattels | |
n.动产,奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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