Prosperous and changed! Yes; no doubt about that. Up that staircase, hitherto untrodden save by merchants'-clerks leaving bills for acceptance or notices of bills due; by stags with sham16 prospectuses17 of never-to-be-brought-out companies; or by third-rate City solicitors18 giving the quasi-respectability of their names to impotent semi-swindles, which, though they would never see the light, yet afforded the means for creating an indisputable and meaty bill of costs;--up that staircase now came heavy magnates of the City, directors of the Bank of England, with short ill-made Oxford19-mixture trousers, and puckered20 coats, and alpaca umbrellas; or natty21 stockbrokers22, most of them a trifle horsy in garb23, all with undeniable linen24, and good though large jewelry25, carefully-cultivated whiskers, and glossy26 boots. In the little waiting-room might be found an Irish member of Parliament; the managing director of a great steam-shipping company; a West-end dandy, with a letter of introduction from some club acquaintance with a handle to his name, who idiotically imagined that that handle would serve as a lever to raise money out of Robert Streightley; a lawyer or two; and, occasionally the bronzed captain of a steamer arrived with news from the Pacific; or some burnt and bearded engineer fresh from the inspection27 of a silver mine in Central America. A long purgatory28, for the most part, did these gentlemen spend in the little waiting-room, or in the clerk's room beyond it, where they were exposed to the sharp fusillade of Mr. Fowler's eyes and the keen glances of the two young men who assisted him. The only people who were shown by the messenger at once into Mr. Streightley's presence were the City editors of the various newspapers, and a very prettily-appointed young gentleman, wise withal beyond his years, who occasionally drove down to Bullion Lane from Downing Street in a hansom cab, and who was private secretary to the Chancellor30 of the Exchequer31.
Robert Streightley had done all this by his own talent and exertion--"on his own hook," as the Stock Exchange men phrased it. The keenness of his business intellect was astounding32. He seemed to sift33 a proposition as it was being laid before him; and as soon as the proposer ceased speaking, Robert Streightley closed with or pooh-poohed the offer, with incontrovertible reasons for his decision. He spoke34 out plainly and boldly before the oldest and the youngest who sought his advice; he was neither deferential35 nor patronising; and never sought to please--simply for the sake of pleasing--any of his clients. The young men looked up to him in wonder, and spoke of him over mid-day chops and sherry as a "cool card," a "long-headed chap," "just about one," and in other complimentary36 slangisms. The older men scarcely knew what to make of him; they hated him for his daring and success, for the dashing manner in which he was passing them all in the race for wealth and distinction; and they would have well liked to have shrugged37 their shoulders and hinted about his being "fast," and "going ahead," and finally making a grand smash of it; but they had no pretext38. So long as Robert Streightley's business relations were thoroughly sound and wholesome39 it would have been against that esprit de corps40 which largely prevails among City men to breathe a word against him; and as for his private life, they could scarcely bring a charge of reckless extravagance against a man who went home to a seventy-pound-a-year house at Brixton in the "Paragon42" omnibus, and there indulged in the dissipation of a "meat-tea" in the society of his mother and sister. So they found another vent41 for their spleen, and talked of him as a "doosid close-fisted fellow," a "mean narrow-minded hunks," and a "niggardly43 screw." He merited none of these appellations44. He was a straightforward45, honourable46 business-man, bred in a narrow circle, which his own innate47 business habits were narrowing year by year. As a boy he had had instilled48 into him the value of money and the secret of money-getting; as a young man the whole scope of his faculties49 had been directed to this end. Such little fancy as he possessed--and with such a father the smallness of that fancy could be easily divined--had been ruthlessly eradicated50, and all the nascent51 tendencies of his mind had been directed into one strong channel of fact. That Jack52 had ever found giants to slay53, that glass slippers54 were ever worn by cinder-wenches, or pumpkins55 could by any possibility become carriages, were fictions not to be found in Bonnycastle and ignored by Walkinghame; but that two and two made four, or that a talent of silver hid in a napkin remained an unproductive talent of silver, whereas a hundred pounds invested in Consols produced yearly three pounds as interest to its holder56, were as demonstrable as the light and heat of the sun at noonday.
He lived but for his business, nothing else. He was in his office at ten o'clock, and he never left it, save on some business errand, until six. He never took a holiday except on Christmas-day and Good Friday, when the newspapers proclaimed all business suspended; he never dined out save twice or thrice a-year at the anniversary banquets of the directors of some of those companies in which his stake was large. His enemies wronged him when they said he had no heart. He had sincerely grieved for the old father who had brought him up and loved him deeply in his own peculiar57 way; his purse-strings were always at the command of those good Samaritans on the Stock Exchange who do so much in such a quiet and unassuming manner; and the clergyman at Brixton knew he might always count upon Mr. Streightley for a handsome subscription58 to any charity brought under his notice. His manner was odd and brusque, arising partly from his preoccupation, partly from his having never mixed in society; but there was nothing pretentious59 or vulgar, fast or underbred in him: he might have been thought an oddity; he never could have been set down for a snob60.
See him now as he sits at his desk, poring over his diary, a tall strongly-built man, with long limbs lacking in due amount of muscular development from want of exercise. With a high forehead, a head prematurely61 bald, but surrounded with a thick fringe of brown hair, with sharp gray eyes looking out from overhanging brows, a thinly-cut aquiline62 nose, and rather full lips. He has a full whisker, after the ordinary respectable "mutton-chop" outline, and might, if he so pleased, have a large beard, as you can tell by the dark-blue outline round his chin; but Robert Streightley would as soon think of coming up to town outside the Paragon omnibus in a turban as of committing any such unbusiness-like atrocity63 as growing a beard. One other person is in the room with him just now--Mr. Fowler, his chief clerk, known in the City as Downy Fowler; an old gentleman, who is looked upon as the essence of knowingness, and to whom the fortunes of Streightley and Son are not a little attributable. When this is hinted at, old Mr. Fowler smiles enigmatically; but only in strictest confidence, and to one or two very old friends, declares that, whatever he might have been to the old gentleman, he does not pretend to hold a candle to Mr. Robert, "whose head, my dear sir, is something won-der-ful!" A short sleek64 gray-headed man, Mr. Fowler; with a high-collared coat much too long in the sleeves, a waistcoat with traces of bygone snuff-pinches lingering in the creases65, gray trousers, and gaiter boots. A silent little man, rarely speaking, but in the habit of calling his principal's attention to matters under consideration, such as letters, invoices66, and share-lists, with his pointed29 forefinger67. That forefinger was at work at the very moment when they are first presented to reader. It rested on an entry in the diary, and Mr. Fowler looked up into his principal's face inquiringly.
"Well?" said Robert Streightley, "I see. Markwell, 1350l.; Baxter, 870l.; Currie and Tull, 340l.; Guyon, 180l. 17s. 3d.; Banks, 97l. 6s. Total, 2888l. 3s. 3d.--paid to us by Davidson--due to-day--what of that?"
Mr. Fowler did not answer, but placed his forefinger more decidedly on one of the items of the account.
"O, I see," said Streightley; "Guyon's acceptance! Ay, ay; I recollect68 now. You called my attention to that, and declared that it was doubtful at the time that Davidson paid it in. Of course you made inquiries69?"
Mr. Fowler nodded.
"And they were unsatisfactory? Well, that's no matter to us. The usual notice has been served, of course? Very well, we look to Davidson; but let Boswell's people have the usual instructions to proceed. So Tierra del Fuegos stand the same, do they? All right then; hold on. Ocean Marine70 have gone up; so that advance to Walton and Pycroft is well covered. Let Brattle step round to--well, what is it, Brattle?" this to the junior clerk, who, after knocking at the door, entered the room.
"A lady, sir, to speak with you," said Mr. Brattle, in whom his brother lunch-convives at the Bay Tree would scarcely have recognised the youth who now stood blushing before his principal.
"A lady to speak with me?"
"With Messrs. Streightley and Son, sir, she said, and in private, sir."
"Must be some mistake," said Robert Streightley. "Never mind. Show the lady in through the private door, Mr. Brattle. Leave me, Fowler, and don't let any one in till I ring."
If Mr. Fowler could have expressed astonishment71, he would have done so, for never had woman entered that sanctum since he had been connected with Streightley and Son. But his training did not admit of any such vagary72; so he retired73 without a word, and the door closed behind him as Mr. Brattle admitted the visitor into Robert Streightley's presence.
Robert Streightley, who had been pretending to be absorbed in the diary, looked up, and carefully scrutinised his visitor. She was a girl of about twenty, above the ordinary height, slightly and gracefully74 built. She threw up her veil as she entered, without the smallest sign of coquetry, and showed a strikingly-handsome face, very pale, with greenish-gray eyes, delicate Grecian nose, small white forehead, over which her dark-brown hair was drawn76 in flat bands, short upper lip, and small rounded chin. She was dressed in a dark-brown silk, with a black-lace cloak; and Streightley--usually unobservant of such things--noticed the wonderful fit of her lavender gloves. Streightley rose as she entered, and pointing to the usual client's chair, begged her to be seated. She bowed, and seated herself. Then there was a little pause, and Robert said, "You wished to see me, I believe?"
"You are Messrs. Streightley and Son?" said the lady interrogatively, in a musical but slightly timid voice.
"I am Mr. Streightley, the representative of the firm."
"That is what I wished to know," she replied a little haughtily77. "Of course I--what I would ask is--I am not accustomed to business terms--You are the--the person--who sent this?"
She laid her parasol on the table as she spoke, and took from the purse which she carried in her hand a small printed paper. Glancing at it, Robert Streightley saw that it was an ordinary commercial document, intimating to Edward Scrope Guyon, of 110 Queen Anne Street, that a bill for 180l. 17s. 3d., drawn on him by Davidson Brothers, lay due at Streightley and Son's, 48 Bullion Court, Lombard Street. As he returned it to her he said, "It is quite right; it was sent out by this house. It is the usual notice given in such cases, stating where the money is to be paid."
She was very pale as she said, "It means then that money--that the amount named--must be paid?"
"It does indeed."
"And at once?"
"This is the day for payment," said Streightley. Then noticing her deadly pallor, and the trembling of her lips, he said: "May I ask how this came into your hands?"
With a visible effort at self-control, the young lady replied: "I--I should have mentioned it before. I am Miss Guyon, daughter of Mr. Guyon, to whom that paper is addressed."
"Ye-es! I think I understand; and he has sent you here to----"
"My father is not in the habit of sending me about on his business-errands, sir!" interrupted Miss Guyon, flushing scarlet79 (Robert thought that in his life he had never seen any thing so lovely as she looked, with heightened colour, swelling80 nostril81, and curved lip.) "Mr. Guyon is out of town on--on very important and pressing business; and as he will not be back until late at night, I thought it best to come here to explain his absence, which will account for the money not being ready."
"Which will account for the money not being ready!" repeated Mr. Streightley absently. "O, of course, of course. Pray do not say another word about it, Miss Guyon. I am very sorry that you should have had the trouble of coming here, except that it--it has procured82 me the--the great pleasure of seeing you!" (Robert had never before paid a woman a compliment, and was horribly awkward in his first attempt) "I'll call on Mr. Guyon to-morrow morning about eleven, and----"
The word "bill" was in itself always disagreeable to her; but she had no idea but that this was an ordinary tradesman's account, and thought Robert Streightley was the tradesman to whom it was owing.
"Ye-es!" said he; "I'll bring the bill with me, and----"
"There is nothing more to be said, I think," interrupted Miss Guyon. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Miss Guyon. Permit me to see you downstairs."
She did not speak; but he construed85 a very slight bow into a gesture of assent, and proceeded down the staircase. Arrived at the door he called the cabman, who was slumbering86 on his box; but the man's movements being slow, Streightley opened the cab-door himself, and bareheaded held it as Miss Guyon, with just the style of acknowledgment that she would have given to the shop-walker who handed her a chair at a linendraper's, passed in. Old Mr. Pommylow, chairman of the West India Plantation87 Company, who was crossing the street at the time, gave him a great nod and a sly wink88; and made them all laugh at the Board five minutes afterwards, by telling them he'd seen Bob Streightley "doing the polite to a doosid fine gal89."
She was gone; but Robert Streightley still stood on the pavement, gazing after the cab that had carried her off. Then, after a minute, he turned slowly round and retraced90 his steps up the staircase, pondering over the interview.
After remaining for about half-an-hour in a brown study, he touched the small handbell by which he was accustomed to summon Mr. Fowler, and, without raising his head, said to that worthy91 gentleman when he entered:
"Give me that acceptance we were speaking of, please."
"Guyon's acceptance do you men, sir?"
"Mr. Guyon's, if you please," said Streightley rather sternly, the familiarity jarring on his ear.
"Will you want the others, sir?" asked the old man. "Markwell's and Banks's are paid; but they haven't sent about the others yet."
"Only Mr. Guyon's, thank you, Fowler. I--I want to make a few inquiries about it."
"I don't expect you'll hear much good of the acceptor, sir," said old Fowler with twinkling eyes. "I suspect it's one of Davidson's private discounts, and we know what they are--he, he!" and the old gentleman laughed quietly.
"Let me have the letters, if you please, Mr. Fowler, and any thing else there may be for signature. I shall be going soon."
"Going, sir!" said old Fowler in the greatest astonishment. He had never known Mr. Robert leave before six o'clock since he had been in the business, and now it was only four.
"Yes! I'm not very well. I think I want a little fresh air, so I shall go and get it. And I shall probably not be here till twelve to-morrow, Mr. Fowler."
"Very well, sir." He said it most mechanically. If the equestrian92 statue of the Duke of Wellington had descended93 from its pedestal and cantered up Threadneedle Street, Mr. Fowler would have been scarcely more astonished.
Mr. Robert Streightley went in search of fresh air through Holborn and Oxford Street to the West-end. He so rarely quitted the City, he was so seldom out any where in the daylight, that the bright sun and the splendid shops, the pleasure-seeking crowds idling through the streets, the handsome carriages, and the general life and bustle94 amazed, and under any other circumstances would have amused him. Even now he felt that he was wasting his life, letting his days pass by without any adequate enjoyment95, and he determined96 that to a certain extent he would remedy that for the future by curtailing97 the hours devoted98 to his business, which had hitherto had his every energy. At the Regent Circus he paused and asked his way to Queen Anne Street; for he had determined to see the house where dwelt his lovely visitor of the morning. How lovely she was, and how confused and ridiculous she must have thought him; how different in manner to those with whom she was in the habit of associating; and how delightfully99 ignorant she was of all business-matters! He wondered whether he should see her the next day when he called on her father. He would like to see her again, he thought; and what would he not give to be able to talk to her, and to get her to talk to him unreservedly, as no doubt she did to--to those of her own class! Yes, there was some good in his money and his business, after all. They had brought him in contact with this lovely girl; and in his transactions with her father he might perhaps be able to get to know her on other terms than those of mere100 business acquaintance. That was the house, No. 110, with traces of her presence in the lovely flowers in the balcony, and in the splendid Indian work-box standing101 on the gilt102 table in the drawing-room window. A handsome house, looking like the expenditure103 of two thousand a-year at least, Streightley thought to himself; the expenditure, mind, not the income,--his business education had taught him to look at those matters in their right light; and he remembered what Fowler had said about Mr. Guyon, and knew that the old clerk never spoke at random104. A carriage was at the door of No. 110; and a footman standing by it said to his mistress as Streightley passed, "Not at home, my lady. Ridin' with Miss Wentworths and the Major in the Park." Not at home! that of course meant the lady of the house. But was there a Mrs. Guyon, or did the young lady whom he had seen do the honours of her father's house? He should imagine so; for she had come alone, and mentioned nothing of her mother. Riding in the Park, eh? Then he might have a chance of seeing her again! The Park was free to all, any one might go there, and--and the Major! who was the Major? Robert Streightley's spirits fell to zero again, as he remembered Miss Guyon's manner to him that morning, and reflected how wide was the gulf105 between them.
He asked his way to the Park, and took up his position by the railings near the Achilles statue, gazing round him in wonder at all he saw and heard. The easy familiarity of the conversation between the ladies in the carriages, or on the chairs, and the gentlemen attendant on them was very different from the prim106 politeness of Peckham, or the boisterous107 bonhomie of Brixton; and he was particularly struck with the general acquaintance that nine-tenths of the people lounging about seemed to have with each other. Robert felt painfully out of his sphere; he imagined that he was stared at as an interloper. For a long time he could not muster108 up courage to take his place at the railings, until he saw two carpenters returning from work in their flannel109 jackets, stop for a minute to look at the passing pageant110, and take up their position at the railings, next to an old gentleman with a very blue coat; and a very red face, who turned round and muttered something about "d--d impudence," which delighted the carpenters immensely. When they moved off, with grins at the old gentleman which reduced him to the verge111 of apoplexy, Robert slipped into the place they had left vacant, and remained there for some time, gazing in wonder at all he saw, and wishing--O, how fervently112 wishing!--to see her again.
At last his perseverance113 was rewarded. In the midst of a large cavalcade114 which came sweeping115 out of the Row, turning their horses' heads towards the Marble Arch, sat Miss Guyon, looking, in her neat hat, with her hair drawn off her face and gathered into a large knot behind, even more lovely than she had looked in the morning. Streightley's heart beat hard, and his mouth grew dry as he recognised her. As she rode past, her glance fell upon him, but she did not take the smallest notice of him; merely shifting her whip as she held out her pretty little gauntleted hand to a young man riding between her and the railings, and who, as he lifted his hat in adieu, said, "Will you be at the Opera to-night?"
She replied, "At the Opera! O yes; box No. 70. Shall we see you?"
"Delighted!" he replied, bowing low, and turning his horse's head. "Good day, Major!" and as the old gentleman on the other side of Miss Guyon acknowledged his salute116, the young man turned his horse's head and rode away.
"At the Opera! she was going to the Opera!" Robert Streightley found himself vaguely117 repeating these words as he hurried down Piccadilly. He left the Park so soon as the cavalcade of which Miss Guyon formed part had passed out of sight. Good heavens, how lovely she was! how unlike any thing he had ever seen before! how elegant and graceful75! He remembered noticing how closely her dark-blue riding-habit fitted her, and he could see the pretty dogskin gauntlet as she put out her hand to--Ay, who was that she shook hands with? Not the Major; he was the old gentleman. Who was that who asked her if she were going to the Opera and--? What on earth was it to him? he was nothing to Miss Guyon; very probably he should never see her again, and--Yes. He stopped suddenly in his hurried walk. Yes; he would see her again, and that night too. He had never been to the Opera; but any one could go there by paying; and, if he could not speak to her, he should at least be able to gaze upon her lovely face. He was a fool, and was losing his senses. What would they say in the City if they knew of this egregious118 folly119? Here was a man of six-and-thirty running about, like a schoolboy in his calf-love, after a girl whom he had only seen that morning, and had scarcely spoken to! It was very ridiculous, he acknowledged, and he would give it up. He would just call on Mr. Guyon in the way of business in the morning because he had promised to do so, and the affair would be at an end. But he thought he would go to the Opera that night. You see, he had never been there, and had often wanted to know what the place was like.
He went into a well-known dining establishment and had some dinner, and--an unusual thing with him--drank a pint120 of wine. He had learned of the waiter what time the Opera commenced; and as soon as the clock-hands reached half-past seven he hurried off and presented himself at the pit entrance, where, on account of his morning costume, he was refused admittance. He was told, however, that there would be no obstacle to his admission into the amphitheatre; and he accordingly climbed into that wild region, and there secured a front seat. He had hired a glass from the check-taker, and with it he now proceeded to scan the house, as yet cold and nearly, empty. Miss Guyon was not there. The opera commenced, and still she did not arrive. Streightley, plying121 his glass at two minutes' intervals122, at length saw her advance to the front of a box on the first tier and take the seat with her back to the stage. With her was the lady whom he had seen in the carriage at the door in Queen Anne Street; and they had scarcely been seated ten minutes before they were joined by the young man who had been of Miss Guyon's party in the Park. Streightley recognised him in an instant, and hated him for his easy manners and his good looks; for he was a good-looking young fellow of six-and-twenty, with fair hair parted in the middle, regular features, and brilliant teeth. Other men visited the box during the evening, but this young fellow only went away once, and then Streightley saw him in the stalls with his glass rivetted on Miss Guyon, who, as he also remarked, attracted a great deal of attention. Then he returned to the box and remained there during the rest of the evening, until nearly the close of the opera, indeed, when Streightley saw the party preparing to move. Robert instantly seized his hat, and rushing downstairs arrived at the door in time to hear loud shouts of "Lady Henmarsh's carriage stops the way!" and to see the visitor of the morning on the arm of an old gentleman, and Miss Guyon closely escorted by the fair-haired equestrian. As she stepped into the carriage Miss Guyon looked up at her attendant cavalier with a smile that Robert Streightley would at that instant have sacrificed all his wealth to have had directed at him. He was mad with rage and jealousy123, and could have struck down the simpering fool, who muttered something inaudible under his breath, and raised his hat as the carriage drove off.
What had he said in return for that look? That Robert Streightley could never know. Who was he who created the first pang124 of jealousy that had ever rankled125 in Streightley's heart? That he would learn at once; he would follow the man, and see where he lived, and learn who he was.
The young man lit a cigar and strolled leisurely126 eastward127. Following him at a little distance, Streightley never took his eyes from him, saw him stop at the Temple gate, and reached the door as it closed behind him. To the porter Mr. Streightley gave the name of an acquaintance who resided in Brick Court, and on being admitted saw his quarry128 just ahead of him. He needed caution now, for theirs were the only footsteps that echoed through the courts; but the young man, without looking round, made his way to Crown-Office Row, and entered one of the end houses nearest the river. Streightley entered after him, and remained at the bottom of the staircase listening to his ascending129 footsteps, which paused when they reached the topmost story; and then the listener heard the grating of a key in a lock, and afterwards the clanging of a closing door. He waited a few minutes, and then crept softly to the highest story, where were two sets of chambers130. One set, as announced by a painted tin placard, was to let; over the other were painted the names of Mr. Gordon Frere and Mr. Charles Yeldham.
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transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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bullion
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| n.金条，银条 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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curtailed
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| v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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eldest
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thoroughly
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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supplicated
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hazardous
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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grudging
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| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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sham
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| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
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prospectuses
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| n.章程，简章，简介( prospectus的名词复数 ) | |
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solicitors
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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puckered
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natty
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stockbrokers
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garb
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linen
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jewelry
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glossy
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inspection
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purgatory
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29
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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31
exchequer
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| n.财政部；国库 | |
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32
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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33
sift
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| v.筛撒，纷落，详察 | |
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34
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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35
deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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37
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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38
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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39
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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40
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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41
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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42
paragon
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| n.模范，典型 | |
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43
niggardly
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| adj.吝啬的，很少的 | |
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44
appellations
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| n.名称，称号( appellation的名词复数 ) | |
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45
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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46
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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47
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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48
instilled
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| v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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50
eradicated
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| 画着根的 | |
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51
nascent
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| adj.初生的，发生中的 | |
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52
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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53
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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54
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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55
pumpkins
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| n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊 | |
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56
holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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57
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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58
subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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59
pretentious
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| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
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60
snob
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| n.势利小人，自以为高雅、有学问的人 | |
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61
prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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62
aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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63
atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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64
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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65
creases
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的第三人称单数 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹 | |
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66
invoices
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| 发票( invoice的名词复数 )； （发货或服务）费用清单； 清单上货物的装运； 货物的托运 | |
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67
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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68
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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70
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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71
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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72
vagary
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| n.妄想，不可测之事，异想天开 | |
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73
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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74
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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75
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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76
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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78
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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79
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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80
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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81
nostril
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| n.鼻孔 | |
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82
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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83
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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84
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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85
construed
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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86
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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87
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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88
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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90
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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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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92
equestrian
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| adj.骑马的；n.马术 | |
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93
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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94
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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95
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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96
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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97
curtailing
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| v.截断，缩短( curtail的现在分词 ) | |
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98
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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99
delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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100
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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101
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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102
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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103
expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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104
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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105
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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106
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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107
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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108
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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109
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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110
pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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111
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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112
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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113
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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114
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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115
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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116
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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117
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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118
egregious
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| adj.非常的，过分的 | |
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119
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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120
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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121
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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122
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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123
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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124
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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125
rankled
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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126
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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127
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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128
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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129
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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130
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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