“We are na fou’
We’re nat that fou’,
But just a droppie in our ee.
The cock may craw,
The day may daw’,
[159]
A knock on the door interrupted his song.
“Weel, who is it?” he called impatiently.
“Open the door,” replied a female voice eagerly.
“A lassie,” exclaimed John in amazement10. “Oh, Robbie, ye devil.” He swung open the door and stood back to allow the gorgeously dressed lady to enter the room. Her dress of rich purple brocaded silk, cut in the extreme of fashion, rustled11 stiffly over the polished floor. Her head with its powdered wig12 was held haughtily13 erect14 as she surveyed the room with sparkling black eyes that nervously15 took in her surroundings, through the tiny holes in the black mask which concealed16 her face.
“Weel, what may ye be wantin’ wi’ Mr. Burns?” asked John cautiously. He had been bothered to death with answering the questions of the silly women who flocked to the parlors18 of the inn in hopes of seeing their idol19.
The lady turned on him sharply. “None of your business, my good man,” she retorted haughtily. “How dare you question me, sirrah?”
John was quite taken aback by the imperious tones, but he still had his suspicions. “Weel, I thought perhaps ye were one o’ the artless bonnie wenches who were here last night wi’ the lads makin’ merry till the wee sma’ hours. If ye are——” he paused significantly.
[160]
She flashed him an angry look. “Make your mind easy on that score, my good fellow,” she retorted icily. “I have called to interview Mr. Burns on an important matter. Is he at home?”
“Aye; he is in there asleep,” replied John, pointing to a door beside the large book cabinet, which nearly occupied one side of the room.
“Asleep!” she repeated incredulously. “Lud, he retires uncommon21 early for a gallant22,” and there was a note of disappointment in her deep contralto voice.
“Early is it?” said John, with a knowing smile. “Faith, he hasna been up this day.”
“What?” she ejaculated in horror. “Not all day? Then you must awaken23 him immediately. I must have speech with him at once,” and she spread her voluminous draperies over the wide lounge and calmly seated herself. “Do you hear?” she cried impatiently, as John made no move.
“I hae excellent hearin’, mum,” replied John carelessly, “but I ken20 when I’m well off, an’ I hae nae desire to feel the toe o’ Robert’s boot.”
“A pest on your stubbornness, fool,” she cried angrily, springing to her feet.
“An’ I hae my doubts o’ a lass who comes to a mon’s lodgings24 at night,” continued John, resenting her impatience25. “It’s na respectable.”
She looked him over insolently26, then shrugged27 her shoulders. “I protest, landlord,” she replied, in[161] a mocking tone, “I am quite respectable, even if I am here unchaperoned. But, Lud, I like not conventionalities, and this adventure suits my madcap spirit well.” She walked to the door of the sleeping chamber28 and was about to open it, when his voice arrested her.
“An’ ye can leave my inn,” continued John, now thoroughly33 aroused. “We are respectable, if ye are na.”
“Peace, fool!” she exclaimed furiously. “I am Lady Glen——” she stopped and bit her lips angrily at the indiscreet slip of her tongue. Suddenly a daring thought entered her mind. One glance at his face told her that he had not caught the name. To think was to act with my lady. Then she continued glibly34, “I am Lady Nancy Gordon, daughter of the Duke of Gordon, of Gordon Castle. It will be all over town in a day,” she thought with malicious35 satisfaction.
John staggered back as though he had been shot. “Ye Lady Nancy?” he gasped in amazement. “Oh, my lady, I ask your pardon.”
“’Tis not easily granted, numskull,” replied the imperious beauty, her black eyes flashing dangerously. The sound of a carriage rolling over the cobble stones suddenly arrested her attention. For[162] a moment she listened intently, then, with a startled exclamation36, she turned to John and said in a frightened whisper, “’Fore heaven! if it should be my husband—my father, I mean, in pursuit of me.” She ran hastily to the window from where a view of the street could be obtained and threw open the casement37.
“It would serve ye right, my lady,” said John to himself.
“Great heavens! ’tis my uncle, Sir William Creech!” she gasped. Then she said aloud, “Landlord, ’tis my father, as I feared! Oons! what a scrape I’m in.” She closed the shutter38 hastily.
“’Twill ruin your reputation to be found here at night, my lady,” cried John concernedly, trotting39 nervously to the window.
“O Lud,” she replied airily, “I’m not concerned over my reputation, ’tis already torn to ribbons by my dear friends. ’Tis my—my father’s wrath2 I fear. He is like to do some mischief40.” An imperious knocking sounded on the door below.
“He has found ye, lassie,” cried old John excitedly. “Go down to him; dinna let him find ye here in Robbie’s chamber. Ye ken the blame will all fall on the lad,” and he sought to escort her to the door, but she evaded41 his outstretched hand with laughing unconcern.
“Nay42, nay, my good fellow. I protest, I will not see him,” she exclaimed, with reckless abandon.[163] She would keep up the impersonation till the end. Another such chance to blast her enemy’s reputation would not come to her in a lifetime, she thought wickedly. “Listen,” she cried impetuously. “My father, the Duke of Gordon, while he admires the poetry of Mr. Burns, does not admire the man himself, consequently he did not send him an invitation to attend the masked ball which is given at Gordon Castle to-night,” she explained glibly. “’Twas a monstrous43 insult to the Bard44 of Scotland, and I told my father so, and that I would not countenance45 it. Then I stole away, as I thought, unobserved, and came here to induce Mr. Burns to return with me. Once inside the castle my father will be forced to receive him graciously. Now, hurry, landlord, tell him to dress and we’ll slip out quietly, and, with your connivance46, elude47 my—father’s vigilance.” She watched him narrowly to note the effect of her story.
“My lady,” replied John proudly, “the lad goes to Athol Castle to-night, so ye had better gang hame wi’ your father.” She gave a quick start of delighted satisfaction. So he was going after all. If she had only known that and felt sure of it, she might have spared herself this nerve-racking experiment, she thought impatiently.
The pounding had kept up incessantly48, and now a stern, commanding voice called out for the landlord.
“He’s calling me,” said John nervously; “ye’d[164] better go doon an’ explain a’ to him,” he told her pleadingly.
“Landlord, where the devil are you?” They could hear the heavy tread of feet walking about the rooms below.
“O Lud, he seems most angry, doesn’t he?” she said in a subdued50 voice. She had suddenly grown tired of the deception51, and was eager now to get away. “I—I think perhaps ’twould be best if he—er—my father didn’t find me here after all,” she admitted. “I—I really dare not face his anger.” She jumped up quickly, all her bravado52 vanished. “Get me out of this place, landlord, quick, quick!” she gasped, clinging to him. Oh, why had she come? Sir William would make such a disagreeable scene if he found her here.
“Into that room wi’ ye!” cried John quickly, pointing to a small door in the opposite side of the room; “an’ I’ll get your father out o’ the house.”
“Why couldn’t the old fossil have stayed at home?” she said to herself angrily. “This promised to be such a romantic adventure, landlord,” she said aloud, poutingly53. “And now ’tis all spoiled. Plague take it. Hurry, landlord, and get my—father away, for I must return to the ball before my absence is noticed.” She went into the room, her heart filled[165] with apprehension54, and closed the door, which John promptly55 locked.
“Thank the Lord,” he muttered with a sigh of relief. “I breathe easier.” Going to the door leading to the hall, he listened for a moment. From below came the sound of clinking glasses. He closed the door quickly. The coast was clear now. His guidwife was waiting on the customer. He hurried across the room and was about to release his prisoner, when he heard the door of Robert’s chamber open. He turned quickly and found his lodger yawning in the doorway56.
“Well, John Anderson, my Jo John,” said he lazily, “what’s all the row here, eh?”
John looked up guiltily. “Are ye up, laddie?” he stammered.
“Nay, John, I’m walkin’ round in my bed,” retorted Robert dryly. “Dinna ye think it’s time for me to be up?” he asked. “What’s the matter, mon? stand still, ye make me dizzy.”
John was uneasily walking up and down, casting surreptitious glances at the door of the room which held the fair captive. “Oh, Johnny, my Jo John,” laughed Robert as he caught sight of the old man’s lugubrious57 countenance, “ye’ve been drinkin’ too much Usqubaugh.”
“Too much what, Robbie?” he asked nervously.
“Usqubaugh. Dinna ken what that is? It’s whisky, whisky, whisky.”
[166]
“Oh, I ken, laddie,” replied John, smiling grimly. “Ye needna’ repeat it; one whisky is enough.”
“Not for me,” laughed Robert, slapping him on the shoulder. “Ye dinna ken my capacity.” The noise of a chair overturning in the next room arrested his attention.
“What’s that?” he asked quickly.
“It’s n—nothing,” stammered John.
“There’s somebody in that room,” exclaimed Rob, putting his ear to the crack in the door. “I hear her walking around.”
“Nay, nay, Rob, it’s nobody,” protested John, pushing him away.
“Oh, oh, John Anderson, my Jo John!” cried Rob, pointing an accusing finger at the flushed, embarrassed face of the old man, “I’m on to ye.”
“For shame, Robbie, an’ me wi’ an old wife below stairs,” he answered indignantly.
“Nay, nay, lad!” remonstrated59 John, holding him back. “Wait, I’ll tell ye who it is.”
“Ah, I knew it,” ejaculated Rob triumphantly60. “Who is it?”
“The Bailie? what’s he doing in there?”
“Weel, he—he came to arrest ye for debt,” glibly lied the old man. “So I told him to wait in there[167] till ye came hame, an’ noo he’s my prisoner; that’s a’, Robbie.”
Rob grasped his hand gratefully. “Ye’re a true friend, John Anderson. Let me see, how much do I owe him?”
John backed quickly away from him. “Nay, nay, laddie!” he said decidedly. “I havena anither penny.”
“Neither have I,” laughed Rob ruefully. “So I’ll leave ye to get him out the best way ye can; he’s your prisoner, not mine. I’d like to pitch him down stairs. Come on, John, between us we ought to manage the old Shylock.”
“Nay, nay, Robbie,” he retorted dryly. “Take my word for it, we’d hae our hands full.”
“Weel, I’ll get into the rest of my clothes, for I’m due in society,” yawned Rob, going to his room. “Get rid of him, John; do what ye like with him; he’s no friend of mine,” and he went in and closed the door behind him.
John softly followed him to the door and turned the key in the lock. “I’ll take nae chances,” he said grimly.
“Good-evening,” said a sweet voice timidly. He turned around and with a gasp30 of astonishment beheld62 a young girl standing63 in the doorway. Suddenly he gave a great start. Could his eyes deceive him? Was that beautiful creature in the long white opera cloak, her golden locks piled in a gorgeous[168] mass high upon her little head, really the barefooted lass he had seen only a few days ago, in her short skirt of plaid?
“Mary Campbell, is it yoursel’, lass?” he finally gasped.
“Aye, ’tis really me,” laughed Mary happily. “I’m goin’ to the ball at Athol Castle with Mrs. Dunlop. I wanted Robbie to see me in my gown before I went, so Mrs. Dunlop left me here, while she drove over to pick up Mrs. McLehose; then she’ll return for me. Where is Robbie, John?”
“About Robbie?” she asked anxiously.
“Aye, there’s the devil to pay here, Mary.” The old man’s face looked gloomy and perturbed65. “There’s a—a lady in that room.”
“A—a lady!” gasped Mary in amazement, looking at the door of Robbie’s chamber.
“Aye, Lady Nancy Gordon hersel’.”
“Then it’s true,” cried Mary, sinking into a chair, a great fear tugging66 at her heart. “It’s true, then, all the stories I hear, that Robert is be—bewitched wi’ her. I wouldna’ believe it before. Mrs. Dunlop says it isna’ true, that Robbie hasna’ changed, but noo what can I think? Oh, laddie, oh, laddie!” and she sank back pale and trembling.
“There, lassie, Robert doesna’ care a penny for that lass,” he said tenderly. “She is only a heartless[169] coquette, o’er fond of adventure,” and he laid his wrinkled hand caressingly67 on the golden head. “Noo look here, Mary, ye mustna’ expect Robert to be an angel all the time. He thinks only of ye, and he loves ye just as fondly, e’en if he does smile and make love to the ladies who throw themsel’s at his feet. He would lose his popularity, ye ken. ’Tis only an amusin’ pastime, lassie, an’ but gives him inspiration for his poetry, so dinna’ take it to heart. Ye ken Rob is highly sensitive, a most temperamental lad, who is very susceptible68 to the charms of the fair sex, but whist, Mary, he isn’t marrying any of them. There is only one lassie who will be his wife noo, and she’s nae far away from me this moment.” And he nodded his head sagely69.
“Why dinna’ they leave him alone?” sighed Mary disconsolately70. “’Tis very unmaidenly in them to seek for his favor so openly.”
“Noo, lassie,” said John seriously, “we maun get Lady Nancy out o’ this scrape, for the house is watched noo by her father, who suspects her presence here.”
He walked up and down the room for a few moments plunged71 in deep thought. All at once his face brightened.
“I have thought o’ a scheme, lassie,” he said suddenly. “Let Lady Nancy take this long cloak of yours; ’twill cover her o’er entirely72; then she can[170] walk boldly out past her father; he will think ’tis ye, Mary, and will na’ stop her. Ye’re both of a height,” and he regarded her with anxious eyes.
“Why should I help her?” said Mary, her heart still heavy and sore.
“For Robbie’s sake,” pleaded John. “Her father will blame the lad for it all; perhaps he will shoot him, and he an innocent man. Why, lassie, he doesna’ even ken the lass is in the house.”
“Doesna’ ken it?” repeated Mary, smiling incredulously. “Why, John, Robert isna’ blind. If she is in his room——”
“But she isna’ in his room, Mary,” interrupted John. “She’s in there, scared to death,” and he pointed73 to the door opposite.
“Oh!” comprehended Mary with a sigh of relief. “That’s different. I’ll help her noo, John,” and she jumped eagerly to her feet, her face flushed and earnest.
“That’s the girlie,” replied John heartily74. Going to the door, he opened it and whispered to Lady Nancy to come out.
“Lud, I thought you were never coming,” she flashed as she hastily entered the room. She stopped short upon seeing Mary.
“This lady will help ye get away,” said John, looking angrily at the bogus Lady Nancy.
“Mary quickly divested75 herself of her mantle76 and threw it about the bare shoulders of the disdainful lady.”
“Where have I seen that face before?” Lady Glencairn asked herself nervously, looking closely[171] into Mary’s flushed, innocent face, that reminded her so guiltily of Lady Nancy Gordon herself.
Mary quickly divested herself of her mantle and threw it about the bare shoulders of the disdainful lady, who hastily drew the large hood77 over her elaborate court wig, entirely concealing78 it within its voluminous folds.
With a quick careless word of thanks to Mary, she walked to the door, and calling to John, who was quietly turning the key in Robert’s door, to show her the way out, she swiftly left the room, and with wildly beating heart, passed her uncle at the outer door, and mingled79 her presence with the stream of gallant courtiers and laughing, gayly-dressed ladies that wended its boisterous80 way along the crowded thoroughfare.
点击收听单词发音
1 proprietor | |
n.所有人;业主;经营者 | |
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2 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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3 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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4 sitting-room | |
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 | |
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5 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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6 lodger | |
n.寄宿人,房客 | |
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7 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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8 irate | |
adj.发怒的,生气 | |
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9 barley | |
n.大麦,大麦粒 | |
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10 amazement | |
n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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11 rustled | |
v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12 wig | |
n.假发 | |
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13 haughtily | |
adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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14 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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15 nervously | |
adv.神情激动地,不安地 | |
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16 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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17 stammered | |
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18 parlors | |
客厅( parlor的名词复数 ); 起居室; (旅馆中的)休息室; (通常用来构成合成词)店 | |
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19 idol | |
n.偶像,红人,宠儿 | |
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20 ken | |
n.视野,知识领域 | |
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21 uncommon | |
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的 | |
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22 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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23 awaken | |
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起 | |
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24 lodgings | |
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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25 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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26 insolently | |
adv.自豪地,自傲地 | |
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27 shrugged | |
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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28 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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29 brazen | |
adj.厚脸皮的,无耻的,坚硬的 | |
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30 gasp | |
n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说 | |
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31 gasped | |
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 | |
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32 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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33 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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34 glibly | |
adv.流利地,流畅地;满口 | |
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35 malicious | |
adj.有恶意的,心怀恶意的 | |
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36 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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37 casement | |
n.竖铰链窗;窗扉 | |
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38 shutter | |
n.百叶窗;(照相机)快门;关闭装置 | |
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39 trotting | |
小跑,急走( trot的现在分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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40 mischief | |
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 | |
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41 evaded | |
逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出 | |
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42 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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43 monstrous | |
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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44 bard | |
n.吟游诗人 | |
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45 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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46 connivance | |
n.纵容;默许 | |
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47 elude | |
v.躲避,困惑 | |
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48 incessantly | |
ad.不停地 | |
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49 wringing | |
淋湿的,湿透的 | |
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50 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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51 deception | |
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计 | |
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52 bravado | |
n.虚张声势,故作勇敢,逞能 | |
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53 poutingly | |
adv.撅嘴 | |
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54 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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55 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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56 doorway | |
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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57 lugubrious | |
adj.悲哀的,忧郁的 | |
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58 chuckled | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59 remonstrated | |
v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 );告诫 | |
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60 triumphantly | |
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 | |
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61 faltered | |
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃 | |
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62 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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63 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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64 dressing | |
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
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65 perturbed | |
adj.烦燥不安的v.使(某人)烦恼,不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66 tugging | |
n.牵引感v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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67 caressingly | |
爱抚地,亲切地 | |
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68 susceptible | |
adj.过敏的,敏感的;易动感情的,易受感动的 | |
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69 sagely | |
adv. 贤能地,贤明地 | |
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70 disconsolately | |
adv.悲伤地,愁闷地;哭丧着脸 | |
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71 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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72 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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73 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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74 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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75 divested | |
v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 );脱去(衣服);2。从…取去…;1。(给某人)脱衣服 | |
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76 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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77 hood | |
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖 | |
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78 concealing | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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79 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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80 boisterous | |
adj.喧闹的,欢闹的 | |
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