“Yes.” Mrs. Hull unconsciously tightened5 her grasp on David Curtis’ hand. His firm clasp helped her to keep her self-control. “But I did not intentionally6 stab him. It was an accident.”
Lucille walked unsteadily over to her mother. “Dearest,” she stammered7. “You must be mad!” Then as she caught Mrs. Hull’s pathetic, pleading eyes, she turned in sudden frenzy8 to Coroner Penfield. “I tell you she is mad—mad, and unaccountable for what she is saying.”
“Hush, Lucille, be quiet, dear.” Mrs. Hull turned in appeal to Leonard McLane. “Calm her, doctor, until I finish what I have to say.”
McLane led the unstrung, half frantic9 girl out of the library, the startled servants making way for them. As they reached the door Gerald Armstrong tried to stop Lucille, but on meeting her look of loathing10 he cowered11 back and covered his face with his shaking hands.
With murmured thanks she sank down just as Anne approached and, dropping on her knees, put her arms around Mrs. Hull.
“Excuse me, Coroner Penfield.” Mrs. Hull had some difficulty in controlling her voice, as she blinked away the tears which persisted in filling her eyes and half blinding her. “And you also, Inspector Mitchell. Have a little patience and I will tell you my unhappy story of Sunday night, and then go with you.” She sighed deeply.
“My husband has met with financial reverses during the past two months,” she went on. “I knew something of his affairs, but he did not take me entirely14 into his confidence. It was about midnight on Sunday, Julian had retired15 early and I was about to go upstairs, when Gerald came to see me and told me that their firm was virtually ruined. He suggested that I see John Meredith and ask his aid.
“I am a home body, and starting again at the bottom, with a small house, little money and no servants held no particular terrors for me, but as I thought of my husband and his pride in his business integrity; Lucille, accustomed to every luxury, and her social ambitions; and of the people who had trusted my husband and who might be ruined through his bankruptcy16, I pocketed my pride and told Gerald that I would see John.” Mrs. Hull paused, then continued more slowly:
“Gerald said that I must go to Ten Acres immediately, in spite of the hour; that unless he had a check for fifty thousand dollars, or its equivalent in cash, the firm could not open its doors on Monday morning.” Again Mrs. Hull sighed. “I believed him and he brought me out in his car. It was after midnight and Gerald admitted me into the house through the north door, to which he had a latch17 key. He would not come upstairs, but told me that he had tied a piece of twine18 to John’s door knob so that I could make no mistake in the room.”
“But why all this secrecy19?” demanded Mitchell. “Why didn’t you telephone and make an appointment for the next morning?”
“Because I knew that my husband and John were not on good terms,” she responded. “They had had a dispute a week before. I was not sure that my husband would approve of my asking a favor of John, nor was I at all sure that John would see me if I asked for an appointment. I knew John’s habit of reading in bed half the night.” She hesitated and looked at Penfield. “May I have a glass of water?”
There was a pause as Damason dashed out of the room, to return an instant later, goblet20 in hand. Mrs. Hull drank thirstily, then, returning the empty glass, she laid her hand on Anne’s shoulder as the girl knelt beside her.
“I found John Meredith sitting up in bed, with a dressing21 gown thrown over his shoulders, reading. My unexpected appearance astounded22 him. He heard what I had to say very patiently, then slipping his hand under his pillow, drew out a key.
“‘I have about one hundred thousand dollars in cash in my safe here,’ he said. ‘I intended to reinvest it, but will gladly accommodate Julian with a loan to tide him over. Will fifty thousand be sufficient?’” Mrs. Hull paused, overcome by emotion, and the others waited in silence for her to continue.
“In my nervousness, while explaining my errand to John, I had picked up a sharp knife which lay on the open book by his side, and which he had evidently used to cut its leaves.” Mrs. Hull stopped, her eyes darkened in horror, as in imagination she lived the scene over again. “I have a malady23 of the heart, and the suspense24 and John’s generous promise of financial aid proved too great a tax. My head swam, I felt myself reeling forward—I had remained standing25—and threw out my left hand, in which I still grasped the knife. John looked up, jerked back his head and held up his hands to catch me. I swayed toward him, my left hand swept downward and the knife slashed26 his throat.” Mrs. Hull broke down utterly. When she looked up Curtis was holding a glass to her lips.
“I am almost through my story, gentlemen,” she gasped. “The horror of what I had done brought me to my senses and I fled from the room, intending to get assistance. I ran down the hall, made the wrong turning, and becoming completely confused went down the back stairs and from there into the reception hall. I still carried the knife. In a revulsion of feeling I threw it in one of the fern boxes and going to the north door, slipped outside and over to Gerald’s motor, parked near the entrance to Ten Acres.”
“Was Armstrong waiting in the car for you?” asked Curtis quickly.
“No. I had just strength enough to climb into the car and then I must have fainted,” answered Mrs. Hull. “When I came to myself we were almost home. Julian was in his room sound asleep and no one heard me.” With an effort she got to her feet and loosened Anne’s tender clasp. “That is all,” she stated. “But please do not think me utterly despicable—I never knew until just now that Anne was suspected of killing29 her uncle, or I would have given myself up to the police.”
“Cousin Claire, it was an accident,” declared Anne loyally. “Surely, Inspector Mitchell, you cannot charge Mrs. Hull with murder?”
Mitchell shook his head. “Mrs. Hull must come with me to Headquarters and tell her story to the authorities. There’s manslaughter to consider—”
“Wait!” Curtis’ imperative30 tones interrupted the inspector. “Before you proceed further—” In his earnestness Curtis drew a step nearer and stumbled over a footstool. He involuntarily flung out his hand and caught hold of the person standing by him. “Mrs. Hull, the wound which you accidentally inflicted31 did not cause John Meredith’s death.”
A cry broke from Mrs. Hull and she swayed on her feet, while the others in the room gazed at the blind surgeon in stupefied silence.
“I assisted at the post-mortem examination,” continued Curtis, speaking with slow distinctness. “My fingers are my eyes and they detected a superficial downward gash32 on Meredith’s throat just above the point where the larger blood vessels33 were severed34.”
“I didn’t kill John—thank God! Oh, thank God!” she gasped. “Doctor, you mean—?”
“That when you fled in terrified horror from the bedroom pursued by Meredith, he was followed by a witness of the scene. This witness,” Curtis turned his head slowly, his sightless eyes sweeping36 the room, “caught up with Meredith as the latter fell, half unconscious, at the head of the staircase, and bending down cut Meredith’s throat.”
In the tense silence Anne heard her mother’s sudden intake37 of breath. Turning slightly she saw that Mrs. Meredith sat watching Curtis in deadly fascination38, unconscious apparently39 that her fingers were twitching40 convulsively about her scented41 handkerchief. Inspector Mitchell’s aggressive voice brought Anne’s attention back to the others.
“Who was this witness?” he demanded.
“The man who planned the interview—Gerald Armstrong.”
“You lie, d—mn you; you lie!” he stammered, through lips grown white and shaking. “You have no proof—”
“Tut! your face gives you away,” declared Mitchell, pointing to Armstrong’s convulsed features as the latter cowered back at his approach. “Let go, Doctor Curtis.”
Slowly Curtis released his hold. “Your pulse betrayed your emotion, Armstrong, when I announced that I knew there were two wounds on Meredith’s throat,” he stated. “Believing yourself entirely safe from suspicion after Mrs. Hull’s confession43, the shock was more than your nerves could stand.”
“It’s a lie—a lie—” Armstrong reiterated44 through dry lips as his hunted gaze swept the room. His sudden dash for the library window was blocked by Detective Sergeant45 Brown and the uplifted razor was knocked from his hand. A minute more and he stood staring stupidly at a pair of handcuffs dangling47 from his wrists.
“A handy weapon,” exclaimed Brown, picking it up. “So the razor did the trick as far as Meredith was concerned, eh, Armstrong?”
Before Curtis could speak, Anne turned and faced Coroner Penfield.
“I did go to Uncle John’s room late Sunday night,” she said. “Mother had told me of his plan to have me marry Doctor Curtis.” She avoided looking at Curtis. “And I went to ask him to reconsider. At first Uncle John was very bitter and said many harsh things,” she hesitated and colored painfully as she met her mother’s unfriendly glance. “Years ago when they first went into business, my father and Uncle John were junior partners in the firm of ‘Turner and Waterman’ stockbrokers—”
An exclamation50 from Curtis interrupted her. “The firm failed,” he said, “and my father, Dan Curtis, who had intrusted his financial affairs to it, went down in the crash. He committed suicide—”
“So Uncle John told me,” admitted Anne softly. “He said my father as well as he had never gotten over his tragic51 death. They tried vainly to locate your mother and aid her financially, but she—”
“Returned to her parents in Canada,” interjected Curtis. “I was brought up in the wilds of the far Northwest and taught by the trappers not to depend upon sight alone, but to use my hearing and my reasoning faculties52 to gauge53 my sense of direction. It has proved invaluable54 training for my present condition,” touching55 his sightless eyes. “Shortly after my mother’s death I went to McGill Institute and worked my way through college. The rest of my career you already know.”
“Uncle John learned of your parentage and went at once to Walter Reed Hospital,” went on Anne. “He took an instant liking56 to you and invited you here.” Again Anne’s white cheeks crimsoned57. “He hit upon the plan of our marriage as an act of restitution58.”
“Very thoughtful of him,” remarked Mrs. Meredith dryly, feeling that she had been in the background quite long enough. Her sensations at the rapid progress of events had been beyond speech. “Continue your story, Anne.”
“I left Uncle John in anger.” Anne’s voice was slightly husky, the emotional strain was telling upon her. “But I could not sleep. I felt that I must tell him that I agreed to his plan.” She bit her lip and partly turned her back on Curtis. “As I got to his room I met Uncle John and his ghastly appearance horrified59 me. Staggering past me, he thrust a key into my hand, saying in a whisper: ‘Keep this, Anne.’ But in pronouncing my name his voice rose, as he added: ‘I’ve caught you, you devil.’ Ruffles60, the parrot, took up his cry as Uncle John disappeared up the dimly lighted corridor. Completely dazed by the situation, I hesitated, then started to follow him, when a handkerchief was thrust under my nose and I was carried into Uncle John’s bedroom—”
“By Gerald Armstrong,” stated Curtis. He turned in the direction of the silent figure hunched61 in a chair. “Why did you use Anne’s handkerchief to chloroform her?”
Armstrong stirred and glanced up in sullen62 rage. His evident intention of not answering was changed by Brown’s peremptory63 tug64 at the handcuffs.
“The handkerchief, as well as Meredith’s razor, was lying by a bottle of chloroform on Meredith’s bureau near the window by which I entered,” he admitted, squirming about in his seat so as to avoid Mrs. Hull’s gaze. “I thought Anne had seen me in her uncle’s bedroom. As she lost consciousness I raced down the hall and caught Meredith”—he sucked in his breath and a shudder65 shook him—“never mind the details. I got back to the bedroom—”
“And chloroformed the parrot also?” asked Curtis.
“Yes. I was afraid the infernal bird would awaken66 the household. I had overheard Mrs. Hull’s interview with Meredith, having slipped up the back stairs to my bedroom and from there along the balcony to Meredith’s open window. I heard him speak of the money in the safe and went in to get the key of his secret compartment67 as he staggered into the hall, evidently in pursuit of Mrs. Hull. It came to me in a flash that if I took the money Mrs. Hull would be suspected, and, God! how I needed money!” His voice rose and cracked. “I knew our firm was going to the wall and with one hundred thousand dollars in cash I could get out of the country. I searched Meredith’s body”—another shudder shook Armstrong and he drew his coat sleeve across his forehead to wipe away the beads68 of moisture—“then I searched his bedroom. Where did you conceal69 the key, Anne?”
“In the cuff46 of my dressing gown,” answered Anne. “When I regained70 consciousness my one idea was to follow Uncle John, and I went down the corridor and found his body.” She looked at Penfield. “I did catch my hair in that button, trying to find out if Uncle John was alive. And later you caught me trying to remove the hair.”
“Why didn’t you take me into your confidence?” asked Penfield, and at his tone of kindly71 solicitude72 Anne’s eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid,” she admitted. “I realized that you suspected me of killing Uncle John and I did not know how to clear myself.”
“One more question,” and Penfield closed his notebook. “How did your fingerprints73 get on the scalpel?”
“I found the knife under the ferns and laid it back,” she explained. “I thought that Uncle John had gone out of his mind and killed himself and concluded he had thrown the knife through the banisters.”
Penfield rose and buttoned his sack coat. “I must congratulate you, Doctor Curtis, upon your clever handling of this case,” he said. “But for you Mrs. Hull would be under arrest, charged with a most heinous74 crime.”
“How can I express myself!” she began incoherently. “The mental anguish77 I have endured believing that I caused John’s death—Doctor, how can I thank you?”
“Don’t please!” Curtis begged in embarrassment78. “I never suspected you. But I did think your daughter, Lucille, had been incited79 to rob Meredith and was guilty of the greater crime also. I had been told by Meredith that her engagement to Armstrong was an affair of long standing. He also told me that there were rumors80 in the city of the firm of ‘Hull and Armstrong’ being under financial stress, and that he was morally certain, although without proof, that it had been Armstrong’s crooked81 methods which threatened to swamp Colonel Hull.” Curtis paused and cleared his throat.
“When you told of having stabbed Meredith,” he continued, “I realized that such a gash, while it would bleed profusely82, was not necessarily fatal, and my thoughts turned to Armstrong. He could have witnessed the scene unknown to you.” Curtis paused again. “I knew that he was standing here by me, and under pretense83 of keeping my balance, I held my fingers over his pulse as I tried out my theory.”
“Clever work, Doctor!” declared Inspector Mitchell admiringly. “But what put you on Miss Lucille Hull’s trail?”
“Gretchen’s statement to me this morning that Lucille was her ‘young Mees,’ and my recollection of the maid’s behavior at the inquest. Mrs. Hull’s voice is sometimes similar in intonation84 to that of her daughter, which accounts for Gretchen’s mistake in the identity of the woman under her window,” replied Curtis. “But it was Susanne who gave me a clue to the whereabouts of Meredith’s carefully concealed85 safe. I would like to speak to Susanne.”
“Why were you in Mr. Meredith’s bedroom?” asked Curtis. “And why were you on your knees?”
“If it please Monsieur,” began Susanne, twisting her apron87 in some embarrassment as she met Mrs. Meredith’s stern glance, “I heard Madame Meredith talk much to herself about a key and Monsieur John’s wealth being under lock and key in his room. So, Monsieur, I went early this morning to his old bedroom to look for zat key—to return it to Madame” with calm assurance. “And I search on my knees for eet.”
“I had the key until last night,” admitted Anne.
“When I took it from you—” broke in Curtis.
“You!” But Anne’s exclamation was drowned in a deeper cry from Armstrong.
“So you beat me to it!” he cried. “I followed Anne’s car, hoping for a chance to get it from her.”
“You were the masked man?” Light burst upon Anne as Curtis turned his head questioningly from one to the other.
“Yes. I drove by and parked my car on the left fork of the road when I saw you had stopped,” explained Armstrong. “I improvised88 a mask out of the lining89 of my coat. I suspected, Curtis, that Anne had given you the key, and was putting up a game of bluff90 when she claimed it was missing; so I used the monkey to see if you were awake before I entered your bedroom last night. You got a strangle hold on his paw, Curtis, and I took the only way of getting him free,” with an ugly glance at Jocko, sitting curled up in comparative comfort in the big armchair.
“Did you have the monkey in my room yesterday, Armstrong?”
“Non, Monsieur, it was I,” broke in Susanne. “I had carried him from Mademoiselle Anne’s bedroom. Jocko does not like ze parrot. He escape me down the corridor and run in your room. Before I get him he soil your counterpane and later I change it.” Leonard McLane, who had entered the library unobserved some moments before, smiled involuntarily.
“So much for that mystery,” he exclaimed. “What about the white hairs around the button on Meredith’s jacket, Curtis?”
“I saw Fernando an hour ago,” answered the blind surgeon. “He confessed that he had lied as to their color and stole them from my wallet, thinking to protect Anne. He admitted that you, Armstrong, cut the string from my door knob and intimidated91 him into lying about it. Fernando is not a courageous92 soul! He overheard your conversation with Jim Nolan, the notorious confidence man, alias93 Frank Elliott.”
Armstrong rose with such abruptness94 that he overturned his chair.
“I’m going,” he announced.
“With me,” and Detective Sergeant Brown was by his side, revolver in hand. Armstrong blanched95 and bit his lip. With shoulders sagging96 and head bent97 he accompanied Inspector Mitchell and Brown from the library. Escorted by the two men and Coroner Penfield, he slunk through the reception hall and out of the house, Susanne and Damason, their curiosity still unsatisfied, in their wake. Mrs. Hull, at a whispered word from McLane, also hurried from the room.
Curtis turned and took several restless steps up and down. He still had a most unpleasant duty to perform.
“Mrs. Meredith,” he began, pausing near her, “did you turn out the light in the corridor on Sunday night just after I discovered John Meredith’s dead body?”
“I did,” answered Anne, before her mother could reply. “I had some insane notion, after I found poor Uncle John, that I must slip back to my bedroom unseen, so I turned off the light. I met mother just at the entrance of our boudoir.”
“Wait, Anne, I have a confession to make.” Nothing could be more suave98 and apparently tranquil99 than Mrs. Meredith’s voice and manner. It had just occurred to her astute100 mind that the blind surgeon might be a person to propitiate101. She saw Anne’s face of distress102, Curtis’ slight, cynical103 smile, and met Leonard McLane’s questioning glance with supreme104 audacity105. “I saw Doctor Curtis and Sam leave John’s bedroom and rush down the corridor. Much surprised by their conduct, I entered my brother-in-law’s bedroom. On the bed I saw several papers. I took the prenuptial agreement, Anne, that I might safeguard your interests—”
Anne turned deadly white. “Mother!”
“It is safely put away,” she went on, paying not the slightest attention to Anne. “When it is required I will produce it.”
“And the codicil106 to Meredith’s will,” stated Curtis swiftly. “You have that also—denial is useless,” as she attempted to speak. “Both documents must be given to Hollister to-day, madam. If you wish I will hand them to him with the one hundred thousand dollars in cash, the inference being that they were placed in the safe by Meredith.”
“Very well, I will give them to you, on condition—”
“No conditions, madam,” with stern emphasis. “I have no intention of pressing the subject further. So far as you are concerned, it will never be mentioned by me.”
“Nor by me,” was the audacious retort, as Mrs. Meredith swept by Curtis and left the room.
McLane broke the ensuing pause by walking over to the chair and lifting Jocko in his arms. “I’ll take care of this little fellow, Anne,” he said. “Lucille is resting quietly in her room with her mother and Gretchen is looking after her. Colonel Hull’s injury in his motor accident last night comprised a broken arm and a collar bone. I’ll see you both later,” and he discreetly107 vanished.
Curtis fumbled108 with his cane109 in unhappy silence. He had solved the problem surrounding John Meredith’s mysterious death, but like many another gratified desire it brought a bitter pang110 to his heart. He was in honor bound to release Anne from her promise to marry him. But how could he leave with his passionate love for her untold111? Love had made no count of the hours of their short acquaintance. Anne had crept into his heart to be enshrined forever. Was it obligatory112 that he leave her in silence? The minutes lengthened113 as pride warred fiercely with love.
“Anne,” he stopped suddenly before where she sat, watching him with deep attention, “I cannot in honor hold you to your promise. Your uncle’s plan that we marry as an act of restitution was unjust to you. I honor you highly, I esteem114 your friendship—” He kept his voice calm by an effort of will. “Without a career, I feel that I have no right to ask you to share your life with me. I am not worthy115—”
Worthy? Could mortal man be so blind? Was this calm, kindly friendship to be all that he could offer her starving heart? Her lonely childhood, her mother’s cruel neglect had reached their culmination116. Was this man, who had protected her in her hour of need, who had won her heart by his chivalry117 and courage in the face of adversity, to pass out of her life? She raised her eyes, and had Curtis been able to read their longing118 appeal, his stubborn pride would have yielded.
Anne rose slowly to her feet and rested both hands upon his shoulders.
“Dave,” she whispered, with lips that trembled even as she smiled, “I can’t release you from your promise, because—” she faltered119, “because—”
He was holding her in close embrace. At last barriers of false pride were set aside.
“My dear, dear Anne,” he stammered. “Tell me, sweetheart, because—”
“I love you,” and Anne, glancing shyly upward into his transfigured face, knew that she had reached her happy haven120 at last.
The End
The End
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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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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petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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intentionally
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| ad.故意地，有意地 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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astounded
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malady
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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standing
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slashed
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coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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stimulant
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killing
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imperative
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inflicted
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gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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vessels
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severed
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agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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intake
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| n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口 | |
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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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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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40
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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41
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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42
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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43
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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44
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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46
cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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47
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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48
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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49
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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50
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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51
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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52
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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53
gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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54
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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55
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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56
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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57
crimsoned
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| 变为深红色（crimson的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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58
restitution
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| n.赔偿；恢复原状 | |
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59
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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60
ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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61
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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62
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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63
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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64
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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65
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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66
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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67
compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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68
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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69
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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70
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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71
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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72
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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73
fingerprints
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| n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 ) | |
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74
heinous
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| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
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75
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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76
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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77
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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78
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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79
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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81
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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82
profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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83
pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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84
intonation
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| n.语调，声调；发声 | |
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85
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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86
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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87
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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88
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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89
lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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90
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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91
intimidated
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| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
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92
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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93
alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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94
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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95
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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96
sagging
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| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
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97
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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98
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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99
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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100
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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101
propitiate
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| v.慰解，劝解 | |
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102
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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103
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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104
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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105
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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106
codicil
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| n.遗嘱的附录 | |
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107
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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108
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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109
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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110
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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111
untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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112
obligatory
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| adj.强制性的，义务的，必须的 | |
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113
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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115
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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116
culmination
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| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
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117
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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118
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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119
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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120
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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