Marvellous, marvellous time! so short in its duration, but leaving such an indelible impress on the memory! A charming period, a hasheesh-dream impossible ever to be renewed, a prolonged intoxication11 scarcely capable of realisation in one's sober moments. A thing of once, which gone never comes again, but leaves behind it remembrances which, while they cause the lips to curl at their past folly12, yet give the heart a twinge in the reflection that the earnestness which outbalanced the folly, the power of entering into and being swayed by them, the youth--that is it, after all; confess it!--the youth is vanished for ever and aye. What and where was the glamour13, the power of which you dimly remember but cannot recall? Put aside the claret-jug, and, with your feet on the fender, as you sit alone, try and analyse that bygone time. The form comes clearly out of the mist: the dark-brown banded hair, the quiet earnest eyes the slight lissome14 figure and delicate hands; and with them a floating reminiscence of a violet perfume, a subtle, delicate essence, which made your heart beat with extra vigour15 even before your eyes rested on what they longed for. Kisses and hand-clasps and ardent16 glances were the current coin of those days; one of either of the former missed, say at parting for the night, for instance, made you wretched; one of the latter shot in a different direction sent you to toss sleepless17 all night on your bed, and to rise with the face of a murderer, and with something not very different from the mind of one. There were heartaches in those days, real, dead, dull pains, sickening longings19, spasms20 of hope and fear; dim dread21 of missing the prize on the attainment22 of which the whole of life was set, a psychical23 state which would be as impossible to your mind now as would the early infantile freshness to your lined cheek, or the curling locks of boyhood to your grizzled pate24. It is gone, clean gone. Perhaps it snapped off short with a wrench25, leaving its victim with a gaping26 wound which the searing-iron of time has completely cicatrised; perhaps it mellowed27 down into calm, peaceful, conjugal28, and subsequently paternal29 affection. But tell me not, O hard-hearted and worldly-minded bachelor, intent on the sublimation30 of self, and cynically31 enough disposed to all that is innocent and tender,--tell me not, O husband, however devoted32 to your wife, however proud of your offspring,--tell me not that a regret for that vanished time does not sometimes cross your mind, that the sense of having lost the power of enjoying such twopenny happiness, ay, and such petty misery33, does not cost you an occasional pang34. It still goes on, that tragi-comedy, the same as ever, though the actors be different, though our places are now in the cushioned gallery among the spectators instead of on the stage, and we witness the performance, not with envy, not with admiration35, but with a strange feeling of bewilderment that such things once were with us,--that the dalliance of the puppets, and the liquid jargon36 which they speak, once were our delight, and that we once had the pass-key to that blissful world whose pleasures and whose sorrows now alike fail to interest us.
So in the thorough enjoyment37 of this new-found happiness, in all tranquillity38 and repose39, as in a calm haven40 after tempest, three or four days passed over Barbara and Churchill. Their secret was their own, and was doubly dear for being known but to themselves. No one suspected it. Churchill joined the shooting-party on two occasions; but as he had previously been in the habit of detaching himself after luncheon41, no one remarked his doing so now, and no one knew that the remainder of the day until dinner-time was spent with Barbara alone. After dinner Barbara would sometimes sing, and then Churchill would hover42 round the piano, perhaps with more empressement than he had previously shown (because, though fond, as every man of any sensitiveness must be, of music, he was by no means an enthusiast43, and was racked wofully with smothered44 yawns during the performance of any elaborate piece), yet by no means noticeably. And during all the time each had the inward satisfaction of knowing that their words and actions were appreciated by the other, and that the "little look across the crowd," as Owen Meredith says, was full of meaning to and thoroughly45 understood by the person it was intended to reach. At length, about the fourth day after the proceedings46 at the stile, their conversation took a more practical turn. They had been wandering slowly along, and had at length stopped to rest on a grass-covered bank which was screened from the sight of the distant house by a thick belt of evergreens47, while far away in front of them stretched a glorious prospect48 of field and woodland. As sometimes happens in October, the sun seemed to have recovered his old July force, and blazed so fiercely that they were glad to sit under the friendly shade. Barbara had removed the glove from her right hand, and sat looking down at her lover, who lay by her side, idly tracing the course of one of the violet veins49 in the little hand which rested in his own broad palm. Suddenly he looked up and said:
"Darling, this lotus-eating is rapidly coming to an end. It would be sweet enough, thus 'propped50 on beds of amaranth and moly,' to remain and dream away the time together; but there's the big world before us, and my holiday is nearly finished."
"And you must go back to town?" and the little fingers tightened51 round his, and the shapely head was bent52 towards his face.
"Yes, pet; must. But what of that? When I go, it is but to prepare for thee, my heart's darling; but to set things straight for your reception. You're determined53, child, to share my lot at once? You've reflected on what I said the other night, about waiting a year to see whether--"
"No, Frank, no! those long engagements are utterly54 hateful. There will you be, I suppose" (and she glanced slyly at him), "moping by yourself, and there shall I be with another round of that horrible season before me, thinking of you, longing18 for you, and yet having to undergo all the detestable nonsense of balls and parties and fêtes, which I so thoroughly despise--for what? At the end to find ourselves a year older, and you perhaps a few pounds richer. As though riches made happiness!" said poor Barbara, who, since she had come to what are called years of discretion55, had never known what it was to have a whim56 unindulged.
"My child," said he, "have you never heard of the philosopher who, when told that poverty was no crime, rejoined, 'No; no crime; but it's deuced inconvenient'? Recollect58, furnished lodgings59 in Mesopotamia, hack60 cabs to ride in, no Parker to dress your hair, no Rotten Row--by Jove, when I think of it, I feel almost inclined to rush off and never see you again, so horrible is the change to which holding to me must lead you!" and a dark shadow passed across his face.
"Do you?" asked Barbara, bending so closely over him that he felt her warm breath on his cheek; "do you?" she repeated with such a dash of earnest in her jesting tone that Churchill thought it necessary to slip his arm round her, and press his lips to her forehead in reassurance61. "Why, you silly boy, you forget that when I was a child at home with papa, I knew what poverty was; such poverty as would make what you speak of wealth by comparison. Besides, shall we not be together to share it? And you'll buy me a--what do they call it?--a cookery book, and I'll learn all kinds of housekeeping ways. I can do some things already; Guérin, the Morrisons' chef--who was a little struck with me, I think, sir--showed Clara Morrison and me how to make an omelette; and Maurice Gladstone--my cousin Maurice, you know; when we were staying at Sandgate, he was quartered at Shorncliffe--taught me to do bashawed lobster62, and he says my bashawed lobster is as good as Sergeant63 Pheeny's. And you know all the Guards are mad to get asked to sup with Sergeant Pheeny, who's a lawyer, you know, and not a soldier-sergeant."
And she stopped quite out of breath.
"'You know' and 'you know,'" said Churchill, mocking her; "I do know Sergeant Pheeny, as it happens, and his bashawed lobster, and that dish and omelettes will doubtless be our staple64 food; and you shall cook it, and clean the saucepans afterwards, you little goose. However, I tell you candidly65, darling, though it sounds selfish, I dare not run the risk of losing you, even with all these difficulties before us. As you say, we shall share them together, and--"
"Now, not another word!" said Barbara, placing her hand upon his lips; "there are to be no difficulties, and all is to be arranged at once. And I think the first thing to be done is for me to speak to my aunt."
"Ay," said Churchill, with rather a dolorous66 expression of face; "I am afraid that will be what your friend Captain Lyster would call a 'teaser.' Talking about no difficulties--we shall find one there!"
"I do not think so. I am sure, Frank, my aunt has shown special politeness to you."
"Yes, darling, politeness of a certain kind to people in my position. Don't frown; I have long since dropped that distinction as between ourselves. But I mean so far as the outer world is concerned, to people in my position--authors, artists, and 'professional people' of all kinds--mixing in society, there are always two distinct varieties of politeness. One, which seems to say, 'You are not belonging to nous autres; you are not a man of family and position; but you bring something which is a distinction in its way, and which, so far as this kind of acquaintance goes, entitles you to a proper reception at our hands.' The other, which says as plainly, 'You don't eat peas with your knife, or wipe your lips with the back of your hand; you're decently dressed, and will pass muster68; while at the same time you're odd, quaint67, amusing, out of the common run, and you present at my house a sort of appanage to my position.' I think Miss Lexden belongs to the latter class, Barbara."
"I am afraid that old feeling of class-prejudice is a monomania with you," said Barbara, a little coldly: "however, I will see my aunt, and bring matters to an issue there at once."
"All luck go with you, child! There is one chance for us. The old proverb says, 'Femme savante est toujours galante.' Miss Lexden is a clever woman; perhaps has had her own love-affairs, and will feel pity for ours. But, Barbara, in case she should be antagonistic--violently, I mean--you will not--"
"Monsieur," said Barbara, with a little inflated69 moue, "la garde meurt, mais ne se rend70 pas, as Cambronne did not say. No, no; trust in me. And now give me your arm, and let us go home."
It was a point of honour with old Miss Lexden to have the best room in every house where she visited; and so good was her system of tactics, that she generally succeeded. Far away in northern castles, where accommodation was by no means on a par3 with the rank of their owners, duchesses had been worse lodged71 and infinitely72 worse attended to than this old commoner, whose bitter tongue and incapacity for reticence73 did her yeoman's service on all possible occasions; not that she was ever rude, or even impolite, or said any thing approaching to actual savagery74; but she had a knack76 of dropping hints, of firing from behind a masked battery of complacency, and of roughly rubbing "raws," which was more effective than the most studied attacks. As spent balls, when rolling calmly along, as innocuous, apparently77, as those "twisters" of Hillyer's, which evade78 the dexterous79 "dip" of the longstop on the smooth short sward of the Oval, have been known, when attempted to be stopped, to take off a foot, so did old Miss Lexden's apparently casual remarks, after to all appearance missing their aim, tear and wound and send limping to the rear any one who rashly chanced to answer or gainsay80 her. Women, with that strange blundering upon the right so often seen among them, seemed to guess the diabolical81 power of the old lady's missiles, and avoided them with graceful82 ease, making gentle détours, which led them out of harm's way, or cowering83 for shelter in elegant attitudes under projecting platitudes84; but men, in their conscious self-strength, would often stand up to bear the brunt of an argument, and always came away worsted from the fight. So that old Miss Lexden generally had her own way amongst her acquaintance, and one important part of her own way was the acquisition of the greatest comfort wherever she stayed.
Of course, in an easy, regulated household like that of Sir Marmaduke Wentworth, there was no need of special strategy. Years ago, on her first visit, she had selected her apartments, and had had them reserved for her ever since. Pleasant apartments they were, large, airy, and with a glorious look-out across the garden over the surrounding downs. When the windows were open, as they always were when practicable during Miss Lexden's tenancy,--for the old lady was a great lover of fresh air,--the rooms were filled with the perfume of the flowers, occasionally mixed with fresh, healthy sea-smell. These had been the state-rooms in the Grange, in bygone times; and when Miss Lexden first came there, there was a huge bed, with nodding plumes85 at the foot, and a great canopy86, and high-backed solemn chairs, and a big wardrobe like a family mausoleum but the old lady had all these cleared away, and persuaded Sir Marmaduke to refurnish the rooms with a suite87 of light maple88 and moss-rosebud chintz, with looking-glass let into the panels of the wardrobe, and snug89 little low chairs scattered90 about; and then with a chintz paper, and water-colour drawings in light frames, the place was so changed that the old housekeeper91, who had been in the family for years, scarcely knew it again, and was loud in her lamentations over the desecration92.
Miss Lexden was a lazy old lady, who always breakfasted in bed, and when staying on a visit at a country house generally remained the greater portion of the day in her room. She was accustomed to say with great freedom that she did not amuse the young people and they certainly did not amuse her, and that she hated all old people except herself. She was a great correspondent of all kinds of people, wrote lengthy93 epistles in very excellent French to all kinds of refugees, who were perpetually turning up in different parts of Europe, and working the oracle94 for their own purposes; wrote lengthy epistles to American statesmen on the slavery question, to English lecturers on subjects of political economy, and to her special friends on all points of domestic scandal. I fear that, with the exception of the last, her correspondence was not much regarded, as she never sent to refugees any thing but her blessing95 and her prayers; and these, even though coming from an English miladi, were not discountable at any Geld-wechsel Comptoir on the Continent. But her Chronique Scandaleuse was delicious; it was bold in invention, full in detail, and always written in the most pointed96 and epigrammatic style. There were people who obtained autumn invitations, on the sheer strength of their being recipients97 of Miss Lexden's correspondence. Extracts from her letters were read publicly at the breakfast-table, and created the greatest delight. "Good as a book, by Jove!" was a frequent comment on them; "full of humour, and that kind of thing; sort of thing that fellow writes and people pay money for, by Jove! ought to send it to Punch, that she ought." (For it is a thing to be noted98, that if the aristocracy of this great country ever permit themselves to be amused, they invariably think that the thing which amused them, no matter of what kind it be, ought to be sent to Punch.) Miss Lexden also was a great reader of French novels; she subscribed99 regularly to Rolandi's, and devoured100 all that sound sense, morality, philosophy, and extensive knowledge of the world, which yearly issued from the Parisian publishers. In bygone times she had laughed heartily101 over the farcical humour of M. Paul de Kock; now that her palate had somewhat dulled. Fortune had sent her the titillating102 works of M. Gustave Flaubert, M. Xavier de Montepin, M. Ernest Feydeau, and others of that modern school which delights in calling a spade a spade, with the broad theories of M. Proudhon to be her political guide, and the casuistries of M. Renan for her Sunday reading. She read all, but liked the novels best; and had been seen to weep over a yellow-covered volume in which an elegant marquis, all soul and black eyes, a membre du Jockei-Club, and altogether an adorable person, had to give satisfaction to a brute103 of a husband who objected to being dishonoured104.
With one of these yellow-covered volumes on her lap, Miss Lexden was sitting placidly105 in the easiest of chairs at the open window on the afternoon when Barbara and Churchill held the conversation just narrated107. She was a pleasant-looking old lady, with a fat, wrinkleless, full face, like an old child, with a shiny pink-and-white complexion108, and with hair which defied you to tell whether it had been wonderfully well preserved, or admirably dyed, arranged under a becoming cap. She was dressed in a rich brown moiré-antique silk, and with a black-lace shawl thrown over her ample shoulders; her fat, pudgy little hands, covered with valuable rings, were crossed over the book on her lap; and she was just on the point of dropping off into a placid106 slumber109, when there came a knock at the door, immediately upon which Barbara entered the room.
"Well, Barbara," said the old lady, stifling110 a yawn; "is it time to dress? I've done nothing since luncheon but read this ridiculous book, and I was very nearly dropping asleep, and I've no notion of the time; and Withers111 is always gadding112 about in this house with that steward113, and never comes near me till the last moment."
"It is quite early, aunt; scarcely six o'clock yet; and I came up to you on purpose to have a quiet cause with you before you dressed. I think I have news which will keep you awake. You've not asked me of my flirtations lately."
"My dear child, why should I ask? I interested myself about Lord Hinchenbrook because he was the parti of the season, and because to have carried him off from that odious115 doll, that Miss Musters116, as you could easily, would have been a triumph to us both; but you refused. I interested myself about young Chaldecott because our families had long been intimate, and the largest property in Yorkshire is worth interesting oneself about; but you refused. You know your own mind best, Barbara, and I know that you have too much good sense and real notion of what is right to do a foolish thing; so I leave you to yourself, and don't worry you with any questions."
"Thanks, aunt, for your good opinion," said Barbara, playing with a sprig of scarlet117 geranium which she had taken from a vase on the table; "but I shall give you no further trouble. I am going to be married."
"Sir Charles Chaldecott has written?" said the old lady, putting aside the book, and sitting upright in her chair; "has written; and you--?" and in her anxiety Miss Lexden smiled so unguardedly that, for the first time in her life, the gold-settings of her false teeth were seen by a looker-on.
"I--we shall not hear any more of Sir Charles Chaldecott, aunt," said Barbara hesitatingly; "no; I am going to be married to a gentleman now staying in this house."
Miss Lexden's face fell; the gold teeth-settings disappeared from view entirely118; and she shrugged119 her shoulders as she said, "Very well, my dear; I feared something of the sort. If you like to settle on three thousand a year, and to take a man whose constitution is ruined by the Indian climate, I can only say--it is your affair."
Barbara bit her lips to avoid betraying a smile as she replied, "You are wrong again, aunt. Captain Lyster has never done me the honour of an offer." Then seriously, "I am going to be married to Mr. Churchill."
"What?" shrieked120 the old lady, surprised out of all decorum; "what?" Then, after an instant's pause, "I beg your pardon, Barbara; did I not understand you to say that you were going to be married to Mr. Churchill, the--the gentleman now staying in this house?"
"You did so understand me, aunt, and it is the fact."
"Then," said Miss Lexden, in rather a low, flat key, "I'll trouble you to ring the bell for Withers. It must be time for me to dress for dinner."
Barbara looked astonished, and would have spoken; but her aunt had risen from her chair and turned her back on her, moving towards the dressing-table. So she mechanically rang the bell, and left the room.
With the result of this conversation Churchill was made acquainted as he and Barbara bent together over a large stereoscope in the drawing-room before dinner. In a few hurried words, interspersed121 with ejaculations of admiration at the views, uttered in a much louder tone, Barbara conveyed to her lover that their project would meet with no assistance from her aunt, even if that old lady did not actively122 and violently oppose it. Churchill shrugged his shoulders on hearing this, and looked somewhat serious and annoyed; but as she rose to go in to dinner, Barbara pressed his hand, and looking into her face, he saw her eyes brighten and her lip curl with an expression of triumph, and he recognised in an instant that her energy had risen at the prospect of opposition123, and that her determination to have her own way had strengthened rather than lessened124 from her aunt's treatment.
There was an accession to the dinner-table that day in the person of Mr. Schr?der, a German long resident in England, and partner in the great house of Schr?der, Stutterheim, Hinterhaus, and Company, bankers and brokers125, which had branches and ramifications126 in all the principal cities of the world. No one would have judged Gustav Schr?der to have been a keen financier and a consummate127 master of his business from his personal appearance. He was between fifty-five and sixty years old, heavy and dull-looking, with short, stubbly, iron-gray hair, dull boiled eyes, and thin dry lips, which he was constantly sucking. He was clumsy in his movements, and very taciturn; but though he spoke little, even to Miss Townshend, by whom he was seated, he seemed to derive128 intense satisfaction in gazing at her with a proprietorial129 kind of air, which nearly goaded130 Lyster, sitting directly opposite to them, to desperation. Upon his evidently uncomfortable state Captain Lyster was rallied with great humour by old Miss Lexden, who, however much she may have been inwardly annoyed, showed no signs of trouble. She opined that Captain Lyster must be in love; that some shepherdess on the neighbouring downs, some Brighton poissarde, must have captivated him, and she was delighted at it, and it would do him good; and in spite of Lyster's protestations--which, however, he soon gave up when he found he had the trouble of repeating them--the old lady launched out into a very unusual tirade131 on her part in favour of early marriages, of love-matches made for love's sake alone, which frequently turned out the happiest, "didn't they, Mr. Churchill?" At which question, Churchill, who was dreamily looking across the table, and thinking how artistically132 Barbara's head was posed on her neck, and what a lovely ear she had, stammered133 an inarticulate and inappropriate reply.
But when dinner was over, and the post-prandial drink finished, and the coffee consumed in the drawing-room, and the "little music" played, and the ladies had retired134 to rest (Barbara, in her good night to Churchill, giving one reassuring135 hand-pressure, and looking as saucily136 triumphant137 as before), and the men had exchanged their dress coats for comfortable velvet138 lounging-jackets, and had, in most cases, dispensed139 with their white cravats140; when Sir Marmaduke had nodded his farewell for the night, Churchill, instead of joining the party in the smoke-room, made his way to the old gentleman's quarters, and knocked at the dressing-room door. Bidden to come in, he found Sir Marmaduke in his dressing-gown and slippers141, seated before a fire (for the evenings were beginning to be chilly), with a glass of cold brandy-and-water on a little table at his right hand, and the evening paper on his knee.
"Holloa!" was the old gentleman's salutation; "what's in the wind now? There must be something the matter when a young fellow like you, instead of joining in the nonsense downstairs, comes to hunt out an old fogey like me. What is it?"
"Business, Sir Marmaduke," commenced Churchill; "I want five minutes' business talk with you."
"God bless my soul!" growled142 Sir Marmaduke; "business at this time of night, and with me! You can't talk without something to drink, you know. Here, Gumble; another tumbler and the brandy for Mr. Churchill. Why don't you talk to Stone, my dear fellow? he manages all my business, you know."
"Yes, yes, Sir Marmaduke; but this is for you, and you alone. I came to tell you that I am going to be married."
"Ay, ay! no news to me, though you think it is. What's his name, Beresford, told us all about it. Well, well, deuced risky143 business; wish you well through it, and all that kind of thing. Don't congratulate you, because that's all humbug144. But why specially145 announce it to me?"
"Simply because it is your due. I met the lady in this house, and the first introduction was through you. I don't know what nonsense Mr. Beresford may have been spreading, but the real fact is that I am going to be married to Barbara Lexden. Now you see my motive146."
"I'm obliged to you, sir," said the old man, rising from his chair, and extending his hand; "you've acted like a gentleman, by Jove! like a gentleman and a man of honour. God bless my soul! how I recollect your father, Frank, and how like you are to him! And so you're going to marry little Barbara! not little Barbara now, though. How time flies! A good girl, sir; and a deuced fine girl, too, for the matter of that. What does her aunt say to that? She meant her for much higher game than you, young fellow. What does her aunt say? Does she know of it?--Does Miss Lexden know of it? I'll wager147 there'll be 'wigs148 upon the green,' as poor Dick Burke used to say, when she hears of it."
"Miss Lexden has heard of it, sir," said Churchill, smiling; "and I'm afraid she did not receive the news very auspiciously149; but we shall endeavour to gain her consent, and if we fail--well, we must do without it. And now I won't keep you from your paper any longer. I thought it my duty to tell you, and having done so, I'll say good night."
"One minute, Frank Churchill; wait one minute. I'm a queer, useless old fellow--an old brute, I often think, for I'm not unconscious of the strange life I lead, and the odd--but, however, that's neither here nor there. Your father and I were boon150 companions--a wild, harum-scarum chap he was--and such company--and I've a regard for you, which is strengthened by your conduct to-night. My old cousin, Miss Lexden--well, she's an old lady, you know, and she meant Barbara for a marquis, at least; and then old women hate to be disappointed, you know, and she'll be savage75, I've no doubt. But when you're once married, she won't be difficult to deal with, and so far as I can help you, I will. And now, God bless you, and good night; and--give Barbara a kiss for me in the morning."
About the same time, another conversation on the same great topic was going on under the same roof. Barbara had scarcely been five minutes in her room, and had been leaning thoughtfully, with her arms upon the window-sill, gazing out into the moonlit park, and utterly oblivious151 of Parker, who was preparing the instrument of torture for her mistress's hair, when Withers arrived with a message that Miss Lexden wished to speak to her niece. Obedient to the summons, Barbara crossed the landing, and found the old lady, resplendent in a dark-blue cashmere dressing-gown, seated before her fire. Withers dismissed pro6 tem., Miss Lexden said:
"I'll not detain you long, Barbara. I merely wished to know whether what you said this evening about your intended marriage with Mr. Churchill was jest or earnest."
"Thorough earnest," replied Barbara, regarding her stedfastly.
"As to marriage, I mean?" asked the old lady; "not as to a temporary flirtation114, which, faute de mieux, with a pleasant man in a dull country house, is well enough, and not likely to tell against one's interests. But as to marriage?"
"What I said before, aunt," said Barbara slowly, never dropping her eyes, "I repeat. Mr. Churchill has done me the honour to ask me to become his wife. I have consented, and I mean to keep my word."
"Very well," said Miss Lexden, drawing a long breath; "I only wished to know. You are your own mistress, and control your own actions, of course. You have made your choice, and will abide152 by it. I don't seek to influence you one jot153. But, recollect one thing: if I were to see you with broken health, with broken spirits, ill-used, deserted154, starving--as is likely enough, for I know these people--I would not lift one finger to help you, after your degradation155 of me. I have said it, and you know I keep my word. That is all; we will have no quarrel, and give no occasion for shoulder-shrugs and scandal. The sooner your arrangements permit of your quitting my house, the better pleased I shall be. Now, good night. Withers, I am ready now. See Miss Lexden to her room. Good night, dear."
The old lady proffered156 her enamelled cheek, against which Barbara laid the tip of her nose. And so the aunt and niece separated for the night.
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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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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fervent
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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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saccharine
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| adj.奉承的，讨好的 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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poetical
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intoxication
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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lissome
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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16
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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17
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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18
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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19
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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20
spasms
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| n.痉挛( spasm的名词复数 )；抽搐；（能量、行为等的）突发；发作 | |
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21
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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22
attainment
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| n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣 | |
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23
psychical
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| adj.有关特异功能现象的；有关特异功能官能的；灵魂的；心灵的 | |
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24
pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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25
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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26
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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27
mellowed
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| （使）成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 )； 使色彩更加柔和，使酒更加醇香 | |
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28
conjugal
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| adj.婚姻的，婚姻性的 | |
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29
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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30
sublimation
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| n.升华，升华物，高尚化 | |
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31
cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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32
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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33
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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34
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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35
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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36
jargon
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| n.术语，行话 | |
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37
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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38
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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39
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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40
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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41
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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42
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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43
enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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44
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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45
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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46
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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47
evergreens
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| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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48
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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49
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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50
propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
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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52
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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53
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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54
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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55
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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56
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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57
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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58
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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59
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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60
hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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61
reassurance
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| n.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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62
lobster
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| n.龙虾，龙虾肉 | |
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63
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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64
staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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65
candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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66
dolorous
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| adj.悲伤的；忧愁的 | |
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67
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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68
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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69
inflated
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| adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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70
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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71
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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72
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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73
reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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74
savagery
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| n.野性 | |
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75
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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76
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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77
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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78
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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79
dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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80
gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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81
diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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82
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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83
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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84
platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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85
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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86
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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87
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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88
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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89
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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90
scattered
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|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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91
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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92
desecration
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| n. 亵渎神圣, 污辱 | |
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93
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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94
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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95
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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96
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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97
recipients
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|
| adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器 | |
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98
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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99
subscribed
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| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
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100
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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101
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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102
titillating
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| adj.使人痒痒的； 使人激动的，令人兴奋的v.使觉得痒( titillate的现在分词 )；逗引；激发；使高兴 | |
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103
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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104
dishonoured
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| a.不光彩的，不名誉的 | |
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105
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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106
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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107
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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109
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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110
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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111
withers
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| 马肩隆 | |
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112
gadding
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| n.叮搔症adj.蔓生的v.闲逛( gad的现在分词 )；游荡；找乐子；用铁棒刺 | |
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113
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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114
flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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115
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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116
musters
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的第三人称单数 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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117
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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118
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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119
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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120
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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121
interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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122
actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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123
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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124
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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125
brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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126
ramifications
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| n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 ) | |
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127
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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128
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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129
proprietorial
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| adj.所有（权）的 | |
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130
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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131
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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132
artistically
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| adv.艺术性地 | |
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133
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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134
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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135
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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136
saucily
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| adv.傲慢地，莽撞地 | |
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137
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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138
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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139
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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140
cravats
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| n.（系在衬衫衣领里面的）男式围巾( cravat的名词复数 ) | |
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141
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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142
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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143
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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144
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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145
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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146
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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147
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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148
wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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149
auspiciously
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| adv.吉利； 繁荣昌盛； 前途顺利； 吉祥 | |
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150
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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151
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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152
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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153
jot
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| n.少量；vi.草草记下；vt.匆匆写下 | |
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154
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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155
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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156
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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