A certain uneasiness, however, disturbed the mind of Lesable: the aunt had not wished to assure her heritage to Cora by any definitive2 act. She had, however, consented to swear "before God" that her will was made and deposited with Ma?tre Belhomme, the notary3. She had promised, moreover, that her entire fortune should revert4 to her niece on one sole condition. Being pressed to reveal this condition she refused to explain herself, but averred5 with a little amiable6 smile that it was very easy of fulfillment.
Notwithstanding these explanations and the stubbornness of the pious8 old woman, Lesable thought he ought to have further assurance; but, as the young woman pleased him greatly, his desire triumphed over his incertitude9, and he yielded to the determined10 efforts of Cachelin.
Now he was happy, notwithstanding that he was always tormented11 by a doubt, and he loved his wife, who had in nowise disappointed his expectations. His life flowed along, tranquil13 and monotonous14. He became, in several weeks, perfectly15 inured16 to his new position of married man, and he continued to be the same faithful and accomplished17 employee as formerly18.
A year rolled away. The first of the year came round again. He did not receive, to his great surprise, the promotion19 on which he had counted. Maze20 and Pitolet alone passed to the grade above, and Boissel declared confidentially21 to Cachelin that he had promised himself to give his two fellow-clerks a good thrashing at the main entrance before everybody. But he did nothing.
For a whole week Lesable did not sleep a wink22 because of the anguish23 he felt at not having been promoted, despite his zeal24. He had been working like a dog; he had filled the place of the assistant-chief, M. Rabot, who had been in the hospital of Val-de-Grace for nine months; he had been coming to the office at half past eight every morning, remaining until half past six in the evening. What more could they ask? If they could not appreciate such faithful service he would do like the others, that was all. To everyone according to his deserts. How could M. Torchebeuf, who had always treated him like a son, have sacrificed him thus? He wanted to get at the bottom of the thing. He would go to the chief and have an explanation with him.
On Monday morning, therefore, before the arrival of his comrades, he knocked at the door of that potentate25.
A sharp voice cried: "Come in!" He entered.
Seated before a great table strewn with papers, his little body bent26 over a writing-pad which his big head almost touched, M. Torchebeuf was busily writing. On seeing his favorite employee he said cheerfully: "Good morning, Lesable; you are well?"
The young man replied: "Good morning, dear master, I am very well; and you?"
The chief ceased writing and turned about in his revolving27 chair. His frail28, slender body, clad in a black surtout of severe cut, seemed ridiculously disproportioned to the great leather-covered chair. The brilliant rosette of an officer of the Legion of Honour, a hundred times too large for the small body which it decorated, burned like a live coal upon his narrow chest. His skull29 was of considerable size, as though the entire development of the individual had been at the top, after the manner of mushrooms.
His chin was pointed12, his cheeks hollow, his eyes protruding30, and his great bulging31 forehead was surmounted32 with white hair which he wore thrown backward.
M. Torchebeuf said: "Sit down, my friend, and tell me what brings you here."
Toward all the other clerks he displayed a military brusqueness, considering himself to be their captain, for the ministry33 was to him as a great vessel34, the flag-ship of all the French fleet.
Lesable, somewhat moved, a little pale, stammered35: "Dear master, I come to ask you if I have been lacking in any way."
"Certainly not, my dear fellow; why do you ask me such a question?"
"Because I was a little surprised at not receiving my promotion this year, as in former years. Allow me to finish my explanation, dear master, and pardon my audacity36. I know that I have obtained from you exceptional favours and unlooked-for advantages. I know that promotions37 are only made, as a general thing, every two or three years; but permit me to remind you that I furnish the bureau with nearly four times the amount of work of an ordinary employee, and at least twice as much time. If, then, you put in the balance the result of labor38 and the renumeration, you will certainly find the one far outweighs39 the other."
He had carefully prepared this speech, which he judged to be excellent.
M. Torchebeuf, surprised, hesitated before replying. At length he said in a rather cool tone: "Although it is not admissible, on principle, that these subjects should be discussed between chief and employee, I am willing to reply for this once to your question regarding your very meritorious40 services.
"I proposed your name for promotion as in preceding years. The chief, however, crossed out your name on the ground that by your marriage your fortune was assured. You are to come into an inheritance such as your modest colleagues can never hope to possess. Is it not, therefore, just to take into consideration the condition of each one? You will be rich, very rich. Three hundred francs more per year will be as nothing to you, whereas this little increase will count for a great deal in the pockets of the others. There, my friend, you have the reason why you remain stationary41 this year."
That evening at dinner he was disagreeable to his wife. She, however, was gay and pleasant as usual. Although she was of an even temper, she was headstrong, and when she desired anything greatly she never yielded her point. She possessed43 no longer for him the sensual charm of the early days, and although he still looked upon her with the eye of desire, for she was fresh and charming, he experienced at times that disillusion44 so near to estrangement45 which soon comes to two beings who live a common life. The thousand trivial or grotesque46 details of existence, the loose toilettes of the morning, the common linen47 robe-de-chambre, the faded peignoir, for they were not rich, and all the necessary home duties which are seen too near at hand in a poor household—all these things took the glamour48 from marriage and withered49 the flower of poetry which, from a distance, is so attractive to lovers.
Aunt Charlotte also rendered herself as disagreeable as possible. She never went out, but stayed indoors and busied herself in everything which concerned the two young people. She wished everything conducted in accordance with her notions, made observations on everything, and as they had a horrible fear of offending her, they bore it all with resignation, but also with a suppressed and ever-increasing exasperation50.
She went through their apartment with her slow, dragging step, constantly saying in her sharp, nasal voice: "You ought to do this; you certainly ought to do that."
When the husband and wife found themselves alone together, Lesable, who was a perfect bundle of nerves, would cry out: "Your aunt is growing intolerable. I won't stand her here any longer, do you hear? I won't stand it!" And Cora would reply tranquilly51: "What do you want me to do?" Then flying into a passion he would say: "It is dreadful to have such a family!"
And she, still calm, would reply: "Yes, the family is dreadful, but the inheritance is good, isn't it? Now don't be an imbecile. You have as much interest as I in managing Aunt Charlotte."
Then he would be silent, not knowing what to say.
The aunt now harried52 them unceasingly on the subject of a child. She pushed Lesable into corners and hissed53 in his face: "My nephew, I intend that you shall be a father before I die. I want to see my little heir. You cannot make me believe that Cora was not made to be a mother. It is only necessary to look at her. When one gets married, my nephew, it is to have a family—to send out little branches. Our holy mother, the Church, forbids sterile54 marriages. I know very well that you are not rich, and that a child causes extra expense. But after me you will want for nothing. I want a little Lesable, do you understand? I want him."
When, after fifteen months of marriage, her desire was not yet realized, she began to have doubts and became very urgent; and she gave Cora in private advice—practical advice, that of a woman who has known many things in her time, and who has still the recollection of them on occasion.
But one morning she was not able to rise from her bed, feeling very unwell. As she had never been ill before, Cachelin ran in great agitation55 to the door of his son-in-law: "Run quickly for Dr. Barbette," he said, "and you will tell the chief, won't you, that I shall not be at the office to-day."
Lesable passed an agonizing56 day, incapable57 of working himself, or of giving directions to the other clerks. M. Torchebeuf, surprised, remarked: "You are somewhat distraught to-day, M. Lesable." And Lesable answered nervously58: "I am greatly fatigued59, dear master; I have passed the entire night at the bedside of our aunt, whose condition is very serious."
The chief replied coldly: "As M. Cachelin is with her I think that should suffice. I cannot allow my bureau to be disorganized for the personal reasons of my employees."
Lesable had placed his watch on the table before him, and he waited for five o'clock with feverish60 impatience61. As soon as the big clock in the grand court struck he hurried away, quitting the office, for the first time, at the regular hour.
He even took a cab to return home, so great was his anxiety, and he mounted the staircase at a run. The nurse opened the door; he stammered: "How is she?"
"The doctor says that she is very low."
Could she, by any chance, be going to die?
He did not dare to go into the sick woman's chamber63 now, and he asked that Cachelin, who was watching by her side, be called.
His father-in-law appeared immediately, opening the door with precaution. He had on his dressing-gown and skullcap, as on the pleasant evenings which he passed in the corner by the fire; and he murmured in a low voice: "It's very bad, very bad. She has been unconscious since four o'clock. She even received the viaticum this afternoon."
Then Lesable felt a weakness descending64 into his legs, and he sat down.
"Where is my wife?"
"She is at the bedside."
"What is it the doctor says? Tell me exactly."
"He says it is a stroke. She may come out of it, but she may also die to-night."
"Do you need me? If not, I would rather not go in. It would be very painful to me to see her in this state."
"No, go to your own apartment. If there is anything new I will call you at once."
Lesable went to his own quarters. The apartment seemed to him changed—it was larger, clearer. But, as he could not keep still, he went out onto the balcony.
They were then in the last days of July, and the great sun, on the point of disappearing behind the two towers of the Trocadéro, rained fire on the immense conglomeration65 of roofs.
The sky, a brilliant shining red at the horizon, took on, higher up, tints66 of pale gold, then of yellow, then of green—a delicate green flecked with light; then it became blue—a pure and fresh blue overhead.
The swallows passed like flashes, scarcely visible, painting against the vermilion sky the curved and flying profile of their wings. And above the infinite number of houses, above the far-off country, floated a rose-tinted cloud, a vapour of fire toward which ascended67, as in an apotheosis68, the points of the church-steeples and all the slender pinnacles69 of the monuments. The Arc de Triomphe appeared enormous and black against the conflagration70 on the horizon, and the dome71 of the Invalides seemed another sun fallen from the firmament72 upon the roof of a building.
Lesable held with his two hands to the iron railing, drinking in the air as one drinks of wine, feeling a desire to leap, to cry out, to make violent gestures, so completely was he given over to a profound and triumphant73 joy. Life seemed to him radiant, the future full of richness! What would he do? And he began to dream.
A noise behind him made him tremble. It was his wife. Her eyes were red, her cheeks slightly swollen74: she looked tired. She bent down her forehead for him to kiss; then she said: "We are going to dine with papa so that we may be near her. The nurse will not leave her while we are eating."
He followed her into the next apartment.
Cachelin was already at table awaiting his daughter and his son-in-law. A cold chicken, a potato salad, and a compote of strawberries were on the buffet75, and the soup was smoking in the plates.
They sat down at table. Cachelin said: "These are days that I wouldn't like to see often. They are not gay." He said this with a tone of indifference76 and a sort of satisfaction in his face. He set himself to eat with the appetite of a hungry man, finding the chicken excellent and the potato salad most refreshing77.
But Lesable felt his stomach oppressed and his mind ill at ease. He hardly ate at all, keeping his ear strained toward the next room, which was as still as though no one was within it. Nor was Cora hungry, but silent and tearful she wiped her eyes from time to time with the corner of her napkin. Cachelin asked: "What did the chief say?" and Lesable gave the details, which his father-in-law insisted on having to the last particular, making him repeat everything as though he had been absent from the ministry for a year.
"It must have made a sensation there when it became known that she was sick." And he began to dream of his glorious re-entry when she should be dead, at the head of all the other clerks. He said, however, as though in reply to a secret remorse78: "It is not that I desire any evil to the dear woman. God knows I would have her preserved for many years yet, but it will have that effect all the same. Father Savon will even forget the Commune on account of it."
They were commencing to eat their strawberries, when the door of the sick-room opened. The commotion79 among the diners was such that with a common impulse all three of them sprang to their feet, terrified. The little nurse appeared, still preserving her calm, stupid manner, and said tranquilly:
"She has stopped breathing."
Cachelin, throwing his napkin among the dishes, sprang forward like a madman; Cora followed him, her heart beating; but Lesable remained standing7 near the door, spying from a distance the white spot of the bed, scarcely visible by the light of the dying day. He saw the back of his father-in-law as he stooped over the couch, examining but disturbing nothing; and suddenly he heard his voice, which seemed to him to come from afar—from very far off—the other end of the world, one of those voices which pass through our dreams and which tell us astonishing things. Cachelin said: "It is all over. She is dead." He saw his wife fall upon her knees and bury her face in the bedclothes, sobbing80. Then he decided81 to go in, and, as Cachelin straightened himself up, the young man saw on the whiteness of the pillow the face of Aunt Charlotte, so hollow, so rigid82, so pale, that with its closed eyes it looked like the face of waxen figure.
He asked in a tone of anguish: "Is it over?"
Cachelin, who was gazing at his sister, too, turned towards Lesable, and the two men looked at each other.
"Yes," replied the elder, wishing to force his face into an expression of sorrow, but the two understood one another at a glance, and without knowing why, instinctively83, they shook hands, as though each would thank the other for a service rendered.
Then, without losing any time, they quickly occupied themselves with the offices required by the dead.
Lesable undertook to fetch the doctor, and to discharge as quickly as possible the most urgent errands.
He took his hat and ran down the staircase, in haste to be in the street, to be alone, to breathe, to think, to rejoice in solitude84 over his good fortune.
When he had attended to his errands, instead of returning he went across to the boulevard, possessed with a desire to see the crowds, to mingle85 in the movement of the happy life of the evening. He felt like crying out to the passers-by: "I have fifty thousand francs a year," and he walked along, his hands in his pockets, stopping before the show-windows, examining the rich stuffs, the jewels, the artistic86 furniture, with this joyous87 thought: "I can buy these for myself now."
Suddenly he stopped in front of a mourning store and the startling thought came into his mind: "What if she is not dead? What if they are mistaken?"
And he quickly turned homeward with this doubt troubling his mind.
On entering he demanded: "Has the doctor come?"
Cachelin replied: "Yes, he has confirmed the death, and is now writing the certificate."
They re-entered the death-chamber. Cora was still weeping, seated in an armchair. She wept very gently, without noise, almost without grief now, with that facility for tears which women have.
As soon as they were all three alone in the room Cachelin said in a low voice: "Now that the nurse has gone to bed, we might look around to see if anything is concealed88 in the furniture."
The two men set about the work. They emptied the drawers, rummaged89 through the pockets, unfolded every scrap90 of paper. By midnight they had found nothing of interest. Cora had fallen asleep, and she snored a little, in a regular fashion. César said: "Are we going to stay here until daybreak?" Lesable, perplexed91, thought it was the proper thing. Then the father-in-law said: "In that case let us bring in armchairs;" and they went out to get the two big, soft easy-chairs which furnished the room of the young married couple.
An hour later the three relatives slept, with uneven92 snorings, before the corpse93, icy in its eternal immobility.
They awakened94 when, at daybreak, the little nurse entered the chamber. Cachelin immediately said, rubbing his eyes: "I have been a little drowsy95 for the last half hour."
Lesable, who was now sitting very upright, declared: "Yes, I noticed it very plainly. As for me, I have not lost consciousness for a second; I just closed my eyes to rest them."
Cora went to her own room.
Then Lesable asked with apparent indifference:
"When do you think we should go to the notary's to find out about the will?"
"Why—this morning if you wish."
"Is it necessary that Cora should accompany us?"
"That would be better, perhaps, since she is in fact the heir."
"In that case I shall go and tell her to get ready."
Lesable went out with a quick step.
The office of Ma?tre Belhomme was just opening its doors when Cachelin, Lesable and his wife presented themselves in deep mourning, with faces full of woe96.
The notary at once appeared and, greeting them, bade them sit down. Cachelin spoke97 up: "Monsieur, you remember me: I am the brother of Mlle Charlotte Cachelin. These are my daughter and my son-in-law. My poor sister died yesterday; we will bury her to-morrow. As you are the depositary of her will, we come to ask you if she has not formulated98 some request relative to her inhumation, or if you have not some communication to make to us."
The notary opened a drawer, took out an envelope from which he drew a paper, and said:
"Here, Monsieur, is a duplicate of the will, the contents of which I will make you acquainted with immediately. The other document, exactly similar to this, is to remain in my hands." And he read:
"I, the undersigned, Victorine-Charlotte Cachelin, here express my last wishes:
"I leave my entire fortune, amounting to about one million one hundred and twenty thousand francs, to the children who will be born of the marriage of my niece Céleste-Coralie Cachelin, the possession of the income to go to the parents until the majority of the eldest99 of their descendants.
"The provisions which follow regulate the share which shall fall to each child, and the share remaining to the parents until their death.
"In the event of my death before my niece has an heir, all my fortune is to remain in the hands of my notary, for the term of three years, for my wish above expressed to be complied with if a child is born during that time.
"But in the case of Coralie's not obtaining from Heaven a descendant during the three years following my death, my fortune is to be distributed, by the hands of my notary, among the poor and the benevolent100 institutions contained in the following list."
There followed an interminable series of names of communities, of societies, of orders, and of instructions.
Then Ma?tre Belhomme politely placed the paper in the hands of Cachelin, who stood speechless with astonishment101.
The notary thought he ought to add something by way of explanation to his visitors.
"Mlle Cachelin," said he, "when she did me the honour to speak to me for the first time of her project of making her will according to this plan, expressed to me the great desire which she had to see an heir of her race. She replied to all my reasoning by a more and more positive expression of her wishes, which were based, moreover, on a religious sentiment, she holding every sterile union to be the sign of divine malediction102. I have not been able to modify her intentions in the least. Believe me, I regret this fact exceedingly." Then he added, smiling at Coralie: "But I do not doubt that the desideratum of the deceased will be quickly realized."
And the three relatives went away, too bewildered to think of anything.
Side by side they walked home, without speaking, ashamed and furious, as though they had robbed each other. All of Cora's grief, even, had suddenly disappeared, the ingratitude103 of her aunt driving away all disposition104 to weep.
"Pass me that paper, that I may read it with my own eyes." Cachelin handed him the document and the young man began to read. He had stopped on the footpath106 and, jostled by the passers-by, he stood there scanning the words with his piercing and practical eye. The two others waited a few steps in front, still silent.
Then he handed back the paper, saying:
"There is nothing to be done. She has tricked us beautifully."
Cachelin, who was irritated by the failure of his hopes, replied:
"It was for you to have a child, damn it! You knew well enough that she wanted it long ago."
On entering they found a crowd of people awaiting them, those whose calling brings them where a corpse is. Lesable went to his room, not wishing to be bothered, and César spoke roughly to all of them, crying out to them to leave him in peace, demanding that they get through with it as quickly as possible, thinking that they were very long in relieving him of the dead.
Cora, shut up in her room, made no sound, but after an hour Cachelin came and rapped on the door of his son-in-law.
"I come, my dear Léopold," said he, "to submit some reflections to you, for it is necessary to come to some understanding. My opinion is that we should give her a befitting funeral in order to give no hint at the Ministry of what has happened. We will arrange about the expense. Besides, nothing is lost. You have not been married very long, and it would be too great a misfortune if you had no children. You must set about it, that's all. And now to business. Will you drop in at the Ministry after a while? I am going to address the envelopes for the death announcements."
Lesable grudgingly108 agreed that his father-in-law was right, and they sat down face to face, each at an end of a long table, to fill in the black-bordered cards.
Then they lunched. Cora reappeared, indifferent as though nothing of what had passed concerned her, and she ate a good deal, having fasted the evening before.
As soon as the meal was finished she returned to her room. Lesable left to go to the Ministry, and Cachelin installed himself on the balcony, his chair tilted109 back, in order to enjoy a pipe.
The broad sun of a summer day fell perpendicularly110 upon the multitude of roofs, some of which were pierced with windows which blazed as with fire and threw back the dazzling rays which the sight could not sustain.
And Cachelin, in his shirt-sleeves, looked, with his eyes blinking under this stream of light, upon the green hillocks far, far away beyond the great city, beyond the dusty suburbs. He thought of how the Seine flowed there, broad, calm, and fresh, at the foot of hills which had trees on their slopes, and how much better it would be to be lying on one's stomach in that greenery on the bank of the river, gazing into the water, than to be sitting on the burning lead of his balcony. And an uneasiness oppressed him, the tormenting111 thought, the grievous sensation of their disaster, of that unfortunate, unexpected thing, so much more bitter and brutal112 because the hope had been so ardent113 and so long-lived; and he said aloud, as people do in time of great trouble of mind, in the uprooting114 of a fixed115 idea: "Damned old witch!"
Behind him in the bedroom he heard the movements of those who were busying themselves with the preparations for the funeral, and the continuous noise of the hammer which nailed up the coffin116. He had not looked at his sister since his visit to the lawyer.
But little by little the warmth, the gaiety, the clear charm of this beautiful day penetrated117 to his mind and his soul, and he thought that things were not so desperate. Why should his daughter not have a child? She had not been married two years yet! His son-in-law appeared vigorous, well built, and in good health, although small. They would have a child, and then besides, by Jupiter, they had to!
Lesable furtively118 entered the Ministry and slunk to his room. He found on the table a paper bearing these words: "The chief wants you." He made a gesture of impatience. He felt a revolt against this yoke119 which had again fallen on his back; then a sudden and violent desire to succeed seized him. He would be chief in his turn, and soon; he would then go higher still. Without removing his frock-coat he went at once to M. Torchebeuf. He presented himself with one of those solemn faces which one assumes on sad occasions. But there was something more—an expression of sincere and profound sorrow, that involuntary dejection which a deep disappointment leaves upon the features.
The head of the chief was bent over his papers. He raised it suddenly, and said in a sharp tone: "I have needed you all morning. Why have you not come?"
Lesable replied: "Dear master, we have had the misfortune to lose my aunt. Mademoiselle Cachelin, and I have just come to ask you to attend the funeral, which will take place to-morrow."
The frown on the brow of M. Torchebeuf immediately disappeared, and he replied with a touch of consideration: "That alters the case, my dear friend. I thank you and give you the day, for you must have a great deal to attend to."
But Lesable, desiring to show his zeal, said:
"Thanks, dear master, everything is finished, and I expected to remain here until the regular hour for closing."
And he returned to his desk.
The news soon spread, and his fellows came from all the departments to bring him their congratulation rather than their condolences, and also to see how he bore himself. He endured their speeches and their looks with the resigned appearance of an actor, and also with a tact120 which astonished them.
"He conducts himself very well," said some.
"Well he may," added others; "he ought to be content—lucky dog!"
Maze, more audacious than any of them, asked with the careless air of a man of the world: "Do you know exactly the amount of the fortune?"
Lesable replied in a perfectly disinterested121 tone: "No, not precisely122. The will says about twelve hundred thousand francs. I know that, as the notary was obliged to make us acquainted immediately with certain clauses relative to the funeral."
It was the general opinion that Lesable would not remain in the Ministry. With an income of sixty thousand francs one does not remain a quill-driver. One is somebody and can be something according to one's inclination123.
Some thought that he was aiming at the Cabinet; others believed that he thought of the Chamber of Deputies. The chief was expecting to receive his resignation to transmit to the head of the department.
The entire Ministry came to the funeral, which was thought to be very meagre. But the word was around: "It is Mlle Cachelin herself who wished it so. It was in the will."
On the very next day Cachelin was at his post, and Lesable, after a week of indisposition, also returned, a little pale but assiduous and zealous124 as formerly. One would have said that nothing unlooked-for had happened to them. It was only remarked that they ostentatiously smoked very large cigars, that they talked of consols, railways, of stocks and shares, like men who have scrip in their pockets, and it became known, in a short time, that they had rented a country-house in the neighbourhood of Paris, in which to spend the summer season.
"They are miserly like the old woman," they said. "It runs in the family. Birds of a feather flock together. But it doesn't look well to retain a clerkship with such a fortune."
In a short time the matter was forgotten. They were rated and judged.
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1 tenant | |
n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用 | |
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2 definitive | |
adj.确切的,权威性的;最后的,决定性的 | |
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3 notary | |
n.公证人,公证员 | |
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4 revert | |
v.恢复,复归,回到 | |
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5 averred | |
v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 );证实;证明…属实;作为事实提出 | |
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6 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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7 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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8 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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9 incertitude | |
n.疑惑,不确定 | |
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10 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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11 tormented | |
饱受折磨的 | |
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12 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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13 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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14 monotonous | |
adj.单调的,一成不变的,使人厌倦的 | |
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15 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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16 inured | |
adj.坚强的,习惯的 | |
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17 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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18 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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19 promotion | |
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传 | |
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20 maze | |
n.迷宫,八阵图,混乱,迷惑 | |
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21 confidentially | |
ad.秘密地,悄悄地 | |
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22 wink | |
n.眨眼,使眼色,瞬间;v.眨眼,使眼色,闪烁 | |
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23 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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24 zeal | |
n.热心,热情,热忱 | |
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25 potentate | |
n.统治者;君主 | |
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26 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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27 revolving | |
adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想 | |
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28 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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29 skull | |
n.头骨;颅骨 | |
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30 protruding | |
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的现在分词 );凸 | |
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31 bulging | |
膨胀; 凸出(部); 打气; 折皱 | |
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32 surmounted | |
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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33 ministry | |
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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34 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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35 stammered | |
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36 audacity | |
n.大胆,卤莽,无礼 | |
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37 promotions | |
促进( promotion的名词复数 ); 提升; 推广; 宣传 | |
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38 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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39 outweighs | |
v.在重量上超过( outweigh的第三人称单数 );在重要性或价值方面超过 | |
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40 meritorious | |
adj.值得赞赏的 | |
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41 stationary | |
adj.固定的,静止不动的 | |
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42 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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43 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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44 disillusion | |
vt.使不再抱幻想,使理想破灭 | |
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45 estrangement | |
n.疏远,失和,不和 | |
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46 grotesque | |
adj.怪诞的,丑陋的;n.怪诞的图案,怪人(物) | |
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47 linen | |
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
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48 glamour | |
n.魔力,魅力;vt.迷住 | |
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49 withered | |
adj. 枯萎的,干瘪的,(人身体的部分器官)因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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50 exasperation | |
n.愤慨 | |
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51 tranquilly | |
adv. 宁静地 | |
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52 harried | |
v.使苦恼( harry的过去式和过去分词 );不断烦扰;一再袭击;侵扰 | |
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53 hissed | |
发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 ); 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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54 sterile | |
adj.不毛的,不孕的,无菌的,枯燥的,贫瘠的 | |
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55 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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56 agonizing | |
adj.痛苦难忍的;使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦;折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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57 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
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58 nervously | |
adv.神情激动地,不安地 | |
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59 fatigued | |
adj. 疲乏的 | |
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60 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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61 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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62 agitated | |
adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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63 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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64 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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65 conglomeration | |
n.团块,聚集,混合物 | |
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66 tints | |
色彩( tint的名词复数 ); 带白的颜色; (淡色)染发剂; 痕迹 | |
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67 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68 apotheosis | |
n.神圣之理想;美化;颂扬 | |
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69 pinnacles | |
顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 ); 顶点; 尖顶; 小尖塔 | |
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70 conflagration | |
n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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71 dome | |
n.圆屋顶,拱顶 | |
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72 firmament | |
n.苍穹;最高层 | |
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73 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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74 swollen | |
adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 | |
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75 buffet | |
n.自助餐;饮食柜台;餐台 | |
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76 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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77 refreshing | |
adj.使精神振作的,使人清爽的,使人喜欢的 | |
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78 remorse | |
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
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79 commotion | |
n.骚动,动乱 | |
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80 sobbing | |
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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81 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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82 rigid | |
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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83 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
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84 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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85 mingle | |
vt.使混合,使相混;vi.混合起来;相交往 | |
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86 artistic | |
adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的 | |
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87 joyous | |
adj.充满快乐的;令人高兴的 | |
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88 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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89 rummaged | |
翻找,搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 ); 已经海关检查 | |
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90 scrap | |
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废 | |
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91 perplexed | |
adj.不知所措的 | |
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92 uneven | |
adj.不平坦的,不规则的,不均匀的 | |
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93 corpse | |
n.尸体,死尸 | |
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94 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
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95 drowsy | |
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的 | |
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96 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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97 spoke | |
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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98 formulated | |
v.构想出( formulate的过去式和过去分词 );规划;确切地阐述;用公式表示 | |
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99 eldest | |
adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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100 benevolent | |
adj.仁慈的,乐善好施的 | |
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101 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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102 malediction | |
n.诅咒 | |
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103 ingratitude | |
n.忘恩负义 | |
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104 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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105 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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106 footpath | |
n.小路,人行道 | |
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107 shrugged | |
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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108 grudgingly | |
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109 tilted | |
v. 倾斜的 | |
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110 perpendicularly | |
adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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111 tormenting | |
使痛苦的,使苦恼的 | |
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112 brutal | |
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的 | |
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113 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
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114 uprooting | |
n.倒根,挖除伐根v.把(某物)连根拔起( uproot的现在分词 );根除;赶走;把…赶出家园 | |
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115 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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116 coffin | |
n.棺材,灵柩 | |
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117 penetrated | |
adj. 击穿的,鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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118 furtively | |
adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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119 yoke | |
n.轭;支配;v.给...上轭,连接,使成配偶 | |
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120 tact | |
n.机敏,圆滑,得体 | |
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121 disinterested | |
adj.不关心的,不感兴趣的 | |
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122 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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123 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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124 zealous | |
adj.狂热的,热心的 | |
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