"Old English inn on a desolate6 moor," said another. "Bright fire of coals in the coffee room, sporting prints, yellow old newspaper cutting framed on the mantelpiece describing gruesome murder committed in the house in 1760. Terrible night of storm—sleet tingling7 on the panes8; crimson9 curtains fluttering in the draught10; roads crusted with ice; savoury fumes11 of roast goose, plum pudding, and brandy. Pretty chambermaid in evident anxiety about something; guest tries to kiss her in the corridor; she's too distrait12 to give the matter proper attention. She has heard faint agonized13 cries above the howling of the gale——"
"I like the sound of hymns," ventured a third. "Frosty vestibule of fashionable church, rolling thunders of the organ, fringes of icicles silvered by moonlight, poor old Salvation14 Army Santa Claus shivering outside and tinkling15 his pathetic little bell. Humane16 note: those scarlet17 Christmas robes of the Army not nearly as warm as they look. Hard-hearted vestryman, member of old Knickerbocker family, always wears white margins18 on his vest, suddenly touched by compassion19, empties the collection plate into Santa's bucket. Santa hurries off to the S.A. headquarters crying 'The little ones will bless you for this.' Vestryman accused of having pocketed the collection, dreadful scandal, too proud to admit what he had done with it——"
[21]"Christmas Eve in the Ambrose Channel," cried a fourth. "A blizzard20 blowing. The pilot boat, sheathed21 with ice, wallowing in the teeth of the blinding storm, beats her way up to the lee of the great liner. The pilot, suddenly taken ill, lies gasping22 on the sofa of the tiny cabin. Impossible for him to take the great liner into port; 2,000 passengers eager to get home for Christmas. But who is this gallant23 little figure darting24 up the rope ladder with fluttering skirts? The pilot's fourteen-year-old daughter. 'I will take the Nausea25 to her berth! I've spent all my life in the Bay, and know every inch of the channel.' Rough quartermaster weeps as she takes the wheel from his hands. 'Be easy in your mind, Captain,' she says; 'but before the customs men come aboard tell me one thing—have you got that bottle of Scotch26 for my Daddy?'"
"Big New York department store," insisted the fifth. "Beautiful dark-haired salesgirl at the silk stocking counter. Her slender form trembles with fatigue27, but she greets all customers with brave, sweet courtesy. Awful crush, every one buying silk stockings. Kindly28 floorwalker, sees she is overtaxed, suggests she leave early. Dark girl refuses; says she must be faithful to the Christmas spirit; moreover, she daren't face the evening battle on the subway. Handsome man comes to the counter to buy. Suddenly a scream, a thud, horrified29 outcries. Hold back the crowd! Call a physician! No good; handsome man, dead, murdered. Dark-haired girl, still holding the fatal hat-pin, [22]taken in custody30, crying hysterically31 'When he gave me his name, I couldn't help it. He's the one who has caused all the trouble!' Floorwalker reverently32 covers the body with a cloth, then looks at the name on the sales slip. 'Gosh,' he cries, aghast, 'it's Coles Phillips!'"
The gathering33 broke up, and the five men strolled out into the blazing August sunshine. The sultry glow of midsummer beat down upon them, but their thoughts were far away. They were five popular authors comparing notes on the stories they were writing for the Christmas magazines.

点击
收听单词发音

1
smoker
![]() |
|
n.吸烟者,吸烟车厢,吸烟室 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
shrieking
![]() |
|
v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
gale
![]() |
|
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
standing
![]() |
|
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
berth
![]() |
|
n.卧铺,停泊地,锚位;v.使停泊 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
desolate
![]() |
|
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
tingling
![]() |
|
v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
panes
![]() |
|
窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
crimson
![]() |
|
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10
draught
![]() |
|
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11
fumes
![]() |
|
n.(强烈而刺激的)气味,气体 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12
distrait
![]() |
|
adj.心不在焉的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13
agonized
![]() |
|
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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14
salvation
![]() |
|
n.(尤指基督)救世,超度,拯救,解困 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15
tinkling
![]() |
|
n.丁当作响声 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16
humane
![]() |
|
adj.人道的,富有同情心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17
scarlet
![]() |
|
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18
margins
![]() |
|
边( margin的名词复数 ); 利润; 页边空白; 差数 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19
compassion
![]() |
|
n.同情,怜悯 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20
blizzard
![]() |
|
n.暴风雪 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21
sheathed
![]() |
|
adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的;覆盖的;铠装的;装鞘了的v.将(刀、剑等)插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 );包,覆盖 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22
gasping
![]() |
|
adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23
gallant
![]() |
|
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24
darting
![]() |
|
v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25
nausea
![]() |
|
n.作呕,恶心;极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26
scotch
![]() |
|
n.伤口,刻痕;苏格兰威士忌酒;v.粉碎,消灭,阻止;adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27
fatigue
![]() |
|
n.疲劳,劳累 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28
kindly
![]() |
|
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29
horrified
![]() |
|
a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30
custody
![]() |
|
n.监护,照看,羁押,拘留 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31
hysterically
![]() |
|
ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32
reverently
![]() |
|
adv.虔诚地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33
gathering
![]() |
|
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |