On the Sunday after the fatal division,—the division which the Duchess would not allow to have been fatal,—she came across him somewhere in the house. She had hardly spoken to him since he had come into her room that night and told her that all was over. She had said that she was unwell and had kept out of sight; and he had been here and there, between Windsor and the Treasury17 Chambers18, and had been glad to escape from her ill-humour. But she could not endure any longer the annoyance19 of having to get all her news through Mrs. Finn,—second hand, or third hand, and now found herself driven to capitulate. "Well," she said; "how is it all going to be? I suppose you do not know or you would have told me?"
"There is very little to tell."
"Mr. Monk20 is to be Prime Minister?" she asked.
"I did not say so. But it is not impossible."
"Has the Queen sent for him?"
"Not as yet. Her Majesty21 has seen both Mr. Gresham and Mr. Daubeny as well as myself. It does not seem a very easy thing to make a Ministry just at present."
"Why should not you go back?"
"I do not think that is on the cards."
"Why not? Ever so many men have done it, after going out,—and why not you? I remember Mr. Mildmay doing it twice. It is always the thing when the man who has been sent for makes a mess of it, for the old minister to have another chance."
"But what if the old minister will not take the chance?"
"Then it is the old minister's fault. Why shouldn't you take the chance as well as another? It isn't many days ago since you were quite anxious to remain in. I thought you were going to break your heart because people even talked of your going."
"I was going to break my heart, as you call it," he said, smiling, "not because people talked of my ceasing to be minister, but because the feeling of the House of Commons justified22 people in so saying. I hope you see the difference."
"No, I don't. And there is no difference. The people we are talking about are the members,—and they have supported you. You could go on if you chose. I'm sure Mr. Monk wouldn't leave you."
"It is just what Mr. Monk would do, and ought to do. No one is less likely than Mr. Monk to behave badly in such an emergency. The more I see of Mr. Monk, the higher I think of him."
"He has his own game to play as well as others."
"I think he has no game to play but that of his country. It is no use our discussing it, Cora."
"Of course I understand nothing, because I'm a woman."
"You understand a great deal,—but not quite all. You may at any rate understand this,—that our troubles are at an end. You were saying but the other day that the labours of being a Prime Minister's wife had been almost too many for you."
"I never said so. As long as you didn't give way no labour was too much for me. I would have done anything,—slaved morning and night,—so that we might have succeeded. I hate being beat. I'd sooner be cut in pieces."
"There is no help for it now, Cora. The Lord Mayor, you know, is only Lord Mayor for one year, and must then go back to private life."
"But men have been Prime Ministers for ten years at a time. If you have made up your mind, I suppose we may as well give up. I shall always think it your own fault." He still smiled. "I shall," she said.
"Oh, Cora!"
"I can only speak as I feel."
"I don't think you would speak as you do, if you knew how much your words hurt me. In such a matter as this I should not be justified in allowing your opinions to have weight with me. But your sympathy would be so much to me!"
"When I thought it was making you ill, I wished that you might be spared."
"My illness would be nothing, but my honour is everything. I, too, have something to bear as well as you, and if you cannot approve of what I do, at any rate be silent."
"Yes;—I can be silent." Then he slowly left her. As he went she was almost tempted23 to yield, and to throw herself into his arms, and to promise that she would be soft to him, and to say that she was sure that all he did was for the best. But she could not bring herself as yet to be good-humoured. If he had only been a little stronger, a little thicker-skinned, made of clay a little coarser, a little other than he was, it might all have been so different!
Early on that Sunday afternoon she had herself driven to Mrs. Finn's house in Park Lane, instead of waiting for her friend. Latterly she had but seldom done this, finding that her presence at home was much wanted. She had been filled with, perhaps, foolish ideas of the necessity of doing something,—of adding something to the strength of her husband's position,—and had certainly been diligent24 in her work. But now she might run about like any other woman. "This is an honour, Duchess," said Mrs. Finn.
"Don't be sarcastic25, Marie. We have nothing further to do with the bestowal26 of honours. Why didn't he make everybody a peer or a baronet while he was about it? Lord Finn! I don't see why he shouldn't have been Lord Finn. I'm sure he deserved it for the way in which he attacked Sir Timothy Beeswax."
"I don't think he'd like it."
"They all say so, but I suppose they do like it, or they wouldn't take it. And I'd have made Locock a knight27;—Sir James Locock. He'd make a more knightly28 knight than Sir Timothy. When a man has power he ought to use it. It makes people respect him. Mr. Daubeny made a duke, and people think more of that than anything he did. Is Mr. Finn going to join the new ministry?"
"If you can tell me, Duchess, who is to be the new minister, I can give a guess."
"Mr. Monk."
"Then he certainly will."
"Or Mr. Daubeny."
"Then he certainly won't."
"Or Mr. Gresham."
"That I could not answer."
"Or the Duke of Omnium."
"That would depend upon his Grace, If the Duke came back, Mr. Finn's services would be at his disposal, whether in or out of office."
"Very prettily29 said, my dear. I never look round this room without thinking of the first time I came here. Do you remember, when I found the old man sitting there?" The old man alluded30 to was the late Duke.
"I am not likely to forget it, Duchess."
"How I hated you when I saw you! What a fright I thought you were! I pictured you to myself as a sort of ogre, willing to eat up everybody for the gratification of your own vanity."
"I was very vain, but there was a little pride with it."
"And now it has come to pass that I can't very well live without you. How he did love you!"
"His Grace was very good to me."
"It would have done no great harm, after all, if he had made you Duchess of Omnium."
"Very great harm to me, Lady Glen. As it is I got a friend that I loved dearly, and a husband that I love dearly too. In the other case I should have had neither. Perhaps I may say, that in that other case my life would not have been brightened by the affection of the present Duchess."
"One can't tell how it would have gone, but I well remember the state I was in then." The door was opened and Phineas Finn entered the room. "What, Mr. Finn, are you at home? I thought everybody was crowding down at the clubs, to know who is to be what. We are settled. We are quiet. We have nothing to do to disturb ourselves. But you ought to be in all the flutter of renewed expectation."
"I am waiting my destiny in calm seclusion31. I hope the Duke is well?"
"As well as can be expected. He doesn't walk about his room with a poniard in his hand,—ready for himself or Sir Orlando; nor is he sitting crowned like Bacchus, drinking the health of the new Ministry with Lord Drummond and Sir Timothy. He is probably sipping32 a cup of coffee over a blue-book in dignified33 retirement34. You should go and see him."
"I should be unwilling35 to trouble him when he is so much occupied."
"That is just what has done him all the harm in the world. Everybody presumes that he has so much to think of that nobody goes near him. Then he is left to boody over everything by himself till he becomes a sort of political hermit36, or ministerial Lama, whom human eyes are not to look upon. It doesn't matter now; does it?" Visitor after visitor came in, and the Duchess chatted to them all, leaving the impression on everybody that heard her that she at least was not sorry to be relieved from the troubles attending her husband's late position.
She sat there over an hour, and as she was taking her leave she had a few words to whisper to Mrs. Finn. "When this is all over," she said, "I mean to call on that Mrs. Lopez."
"I thought you did go there."
"That was soon after the poor man had killed himself,—when she was going away. Of course I only left a card. But I shall see her now if I can. We want to get her out of her melancholy37 if possible. I have a sort of feeling, you know, that among us we made the train run over him."
"I don't think that."
"He got so horribly abused for what he did at Silverbridge; and I really don't see why he wasn't to have his money. It was I that made him spend it."
"He was, I fancy, a thoroughly38 bad man."
"But a wife doesn't always want to be made a widow even if her husband be bad. I think I owe her something, and I would pay my debt if I knew how. I shall go and see her, and if she will marry this other man we'll take her by the hand. Good-bye, dear. You'd better come to me early to-morrow, as I suppose we shall know something by eleven o'clock."
In the course of that evening the Duke of St. Bungay came to Carlton Terrace and was closeted for some time with the late Prime Minister. He had been engaged during that and the last two previous days in lending his aid to various political man[oe]uvres and ministerial attempts, from which our Duke had kept himself altogether aloof39. He did not go to Windsor, but as each successive competitor journeyed thither40 and returned, some one either sent for the old Duke or went to seek his counsel. He was the Nestor of the occasion, and strove heartily41 to compose all quarrels, and so to arrange matters that a wholesome42, moderately Liberal Ministry might be again installed for the good of the country and the comfort of all true Whigs. In such moments he almost ascended43 to the grand heights of patriotism44, being always indifferent as to himself. Now he came to his late chief with a new project. Mr. Gresham would attempt to form a Ministry if the Duke of Omnium would join him.
"It is impossible," said the younger politician, folding his hands together and throwing himself back in his chair.
"Listen to me before you answer me with such certainty. There are three or four gentlemen who, after the work of the last three years, bearing in mind the manner in which our defeat has just been accomplished45, feel themselves disinclined to join Mr. Gresham unless you will do so also. I may specially46 name Mr. Monk and Mr. Finn. I might perhaps add myself, were it not that I had hoped that in any event I might at length regard myself as exempt47 from further service. The old horse should be left to graze out his last days, Ne peccet ad extremum ridendus. But you can't consider yourself absolved48 on that score."
"There are other reasons."
"But the Queen's service should count before everything. Gresham and Cantrip with their own friends can hardly make a Ministry as things are now unless Mr. Monk will join them. I do not think that any other Chancellor49 of the Exchequer50 is at present possible."
"I will beseech51 Mr. Monk not to let any feeling as to me stand in his way. Why should it?"
"It is not only what you may think and he may think,—but what others will think and say. The Coalition52 will have done all that ought to have been expected from it if our party in it can now join Mr. Gresham."
"By all means. But I could give them no strength. They may be sure at any rate of what little I can do for them out of office."
"Mr. Gresham has made his acceptance of office,—well, I will not say strictly53 conditional54 on your joining him. That would hardly be correct. But he has expressed himself quite willing to make the attempt with your aid, and doubtful whether he can succeed without it. He suggests that you should join him as President of the Council."
"And you?"
"If I were wanted at all I should take the Privy55 Seal."
"Certainly not, my friend. If there were any question of my return we would reverse the offices. But I think I may say that my mind is fixed56. If you wish it I will see Mr. Monk, and do all that I can to get him to go with you. But for myself,—I feel that it would be useless."
At last, at the Duke's pressing request, he agreed to take twenty-four hours before he gave his final answer to the proposition.
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1
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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repudiated
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| v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务） | |
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repudiation
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| n.拒绝；否认；断绝关系；抛弃 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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10
acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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11
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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13
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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19
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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20
monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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24
diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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25
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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bestowal
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| 赠与，给与； 贮存 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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30
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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32
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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38
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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39
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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40
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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41
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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42
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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43
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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45
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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46
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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47
exempt
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| adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者 | |
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48
absolved
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| 宣告…无罪，赦免…的罪行，宽恕…的罪行( absolve的过去式和过去分词 )； 不受责难，免除责任 [义务] ,开脱（罪责） | |
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49
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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50
exchequer
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| n.财政部；国库 | |
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51
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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52
coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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53
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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54
conditional
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| adj.条件的，带有条件的 | |
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55
privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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56
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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