But no matter, so he found his boy. Being a soldier, he did not go at his task in a random3 way, but set to work, first of all, to arrange his campaign.
What would the boy naturally do? Where would he naturally go? Well—argued Miles—he would naturally go to his former haunts, for that is the instinct of unsound minds, when homeless and forsaken4, as well as of sound ones. Whereabouts were his former haunts? His rags, taken together with the low villain5 who seemed to know him and who even claimed to be his father, indicated that his home was in one or another of the poorest and meanest districts of London. Would the search for him be difficult, or long? No, it was likely to be easy and brief. He would not hunt for the boy, he would hunt for a crowd; in the centre of a big crowd or a little one, sooner or later, he should find his poor little friend, sure; and the mangy mob would be entertaining itself with pestering6 and aggravating7 the boy, who would be proclaiming himself King, as usual. Then Miles Hendon would cripple some of those people, and carry off his little ward8, and comfort and cheer him with loving words, and the two would never be separated any more.
So Miles started on his quest. Hour after hour he tramped through back alleys9 and squalid streets, seeking groups and crowds, and finding no end of them, but never any sign of the boy. This greatly surprised him, but did not discourage him. To his notion, there was nothing the matter with his plan of campaign; the only miscalculation about it was that the campaign was becoming a lengthy10 one, whereas he had expected it to be short.
When daylight arrived, at last, he had made many a mile, and canvassed11 many a crowd, but the only result was that he was tolerably tired, rather hungry and very sleepy. He wanted some breakfast, but there was no way to get it. To beg for it did not occur to him; as to pawning12 his sword, he would as soon have thought of parting with his honour; he could spare some of his clothes—yes, but one could as easily find a customer for a disease as for such clothes.
At noon he was still tramping—among the rabble13 which followed after the royal procession, now; for he argued that this regal display would attract his little lunatic powerfully. He followed the pageant14 through all its devious15 windings16 about London, and all the way to Westminster and the Abbey. He drifted here and there amongst the multitudes that were massed in the vicinity for a weary long time, baffled and perplexed17, and finally wandered off, thinking, and trying to contrive18 some way to better his plan of campaign. By-and-by, when he came to himself out of his musings, he discovered that the town was far behind him and that the day was growing old. He was near the river, and in the country; it was a region of fine rural seats—not the sort of district to welcome clothes like his.
It was not at all cold; so he stretched himself on the ground in the lee of a hedge to rest and think. Drowsiness presently began to settle upon his senses; the faint and far-off boom of cannon19 was wafted20 to his ear, and he said to himself, “The new King is crowned,” and straightway fell asleep. He had not slept or rested, before, for more than thirty hours. He did not wake again until near the middle of the next morning.
He got up, lame21, stiff, and half famished22, washed himself in the river, stayed his stomach with a pint23 or two of water, and trudged24 off toward Westminster, grumbling25 at himself for having wasted so much time. Hunger helped him to a new plan, now; he would try to get speech with old Sir Humphrey Marlow and borrow a few marks, and—but that was enough of a plan for the present; it would be time enough to enlarge it when this first stage should be accomplished26.
Toward eleven o’clock he approached the palace; and although a host of showy people were about him, moving in the same direction, he was not inconspicuous—his costume took care of that. He watched these people’s faces narrowly, hoping to find a charitable one whose possessor might be willing to carry his name to the old lieutenant—as to trying to get into the palace himself, that was simply out of the question.
Presently our whipping-boy passed him, then wheeled about and scanned his figure well, saying to himself, “An’ that is not the very vagabond his Majesty27 is in such a worry about, then am I an ass—though belike I was that before. He answereth the description to a rag—that God should make two such would be to cheapen miracles by wasteful28 repetition. I would I could contrive an excuse to speak with him.”
Miles Hendon saved him the trouble; for he turned about, then, as a man generally will when somebody mesmerises him by gazing hard at him from behind; and observing a strong interest in the boy’s eyes, he stepped toward him and said—
“You have just come out from the palace; do you belong there?”
“Yes, your worship.”
“Know you Sir Humphrey Marlow?”
The boy started, and said to himself, “Lord! mine old departed father!” Then he answered aloud, “Right well, your worship.”
“Good—is he within?”
“Yes,” said the boy; and added, to himself, “within his grave.”
“Then say Miles Hendon, son of Sir Richard, is here without—I shall be greatly bounden to you, my good lad.”
The boy looked disappointed. "The King did not name him so,” he said to himself; “but it mattereth not, this is his twin brother, and can give his Majesty news of t’other Sir-Odds-and-Ends, I warrant.” So he said to Miles, “Step in there a moment, good sir, and wait till I bring you word.”
Hendon retired31 to the place indicated—it was a recess32 sunk in the palace wall, with a stone bench in it—a shelter for sentinels in bad weather. He had hardly seated himself when some halberdiers, in charge of an officer, passed by. The officer saw him, halted his men, and commanded Hendon to come forth33. He obeyed, and was promptly34 arrested as a suspicious character prowling within the precincts of the palace. Things began to look ugly. Poor Miles was going to explain, but the officer roughly silenced him, and ordered his men to disarm35 him and search him.
“God of his mercy grant that they find somewhat,” said poor Miles; “I have searched enow, and failed, yet is my need greater than theirs.”
Nothing was found but a document. The officer tore it open, and Hendon smiled when he recognised the ‘pot-hooks’ made by his lost little friend that black day at Hendon Hall. The officer’s face grew dark as he read the English paragraph, and Miles blenched36 to the opposite colour as he listened.
“Another new claimant of the Crown!” cried the officer. "Verily they breed like rabbits, to-day. Seize the rascal37, men, and see ye keep him fast whilst I convey this precious paper within and send it to the King.”
He hurried away, leaving the prisoner in the grip of the halberdiers.
“Now is my evil luck ended at last,” muttered Hendon, “for I shall dangle38 at a rope’s end for a certainty, by reason of that bit of writing. And what will become of my poor lad!—ah, only the good God knoweth.”
By-and-by he saw the officer coming again, in a great hurry; so he plucked his courage together, purposing to meet his trouble as became a man. The officer ordered the men to loose the prisoner and return his sword to him; then bowed respectfully, and said—
“Please you, sir, to follow me.”
Hendon followed, saying to himself, “An’ I were not travelling to death and judgment39, and so must needs economise in sin, I would throttle40 this knave41 for his mock courtesy.”
The two traversed a populous42 court, and arrived at the grand entrance of the palace, where the officer, with another bow, delivered Hendon into the hands of a gorgeous official, who received him with profound respect and led him forward through a great hall, lined on both sides with rows of splendid flunkeys (who made reverential obeisance43 as the two passed along, but fell into death-throes of silent laughter at our stately scarecrow the moment his back was turned), and up a broad staircase, among flocks of fine folk, and finally conducted him into a vast room, clove44 a passage for him through the assembled nobility of England, then made a bow, reminded him to take his hat off, and left him standing45 in the middle of the room, a mark for all eyes, for plenty of indignant frowns, and for a sufficiency of amused and derisive46 smiles.
Miles Hendon was entirely47 bewildered. There sat the young King, under a canopy48 of state, five steps away, with his head bent49 down and aside, speaking with a sort of human bird of paradise—a duke, maybe. Hendon observed to himself that it was hard enough to be sentenced to death in the full vigour50 of life, without having this peculiarly public humiliation51 added. He wished the King would hurry about it—some of the gaudy52 people near by were becoming pretty offensive. At this moment the King raised his head slightly, and Hendon caught a good view of his face. The sight nearly took his breath away!—He stood gazing at the fair young face like one transfixed; then presently ejaculated—
“Lo, the Lord of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows on his throne!”
He muttered some broken sentences, still gazing and marvelling53; then turned his eyes around and about, scanning the gorgeous throng54 and the splendid saloon, murmuring, “But these are real—verily these are real—surely it is not a dream.”
He stared at the King again—and thought, “Is it a dream . . . or is he the veritable Sovereign of England, and not the friendless poor Tom o’ Bedlam55 I took him for—who shall solve me this riddle56?”
A sudden idea flashed in his eye, and he strode to the wall, gathered up a chair, brought it back, planted it on the floor, and sat down in it!
A buzz of indignation broke out, a rough hand was laid upon him and a voice exclaimed—
“Up, thou mannerless clown! would’st sit in the presence of the King?”
The disturbance57 attracted his Majesty’s attention, who stretched forth his hand and cried out—
“Touch him not, it is his right!”
The throng fell back, stupefied. The King went on—
“Learn ye all, ladies, lords, and gentlemen, that this is my trusty and well-beloved servant, Miles Hendon, who interposed his good sword and saved his prince from bodily harm and possible death—and for this he is a knight58, by the King’s voice. Also learn, that for a higher service, in that he saved his sovereign stripes and shame, taking these upon himself, he is a peer of England, Earl of Kent, and shall have gold and lands meet for the dignity. More—the privilege which he hath just exercised is his by royal grant; for we have ordained59 that the chiefs of his line shall have and hold the right to sit in the presence of the Majesty of England henceforth, age after age, so long as the crown shall endure. Molest him not.”
Two persons, who, through delay, had only arrived from the country during this morning, and had now been in this room only five minutes, stood listening to these words and looking at the King, then at the scarecrow, then at the King again, in a sort of torpid60 bewilderment. These were Sir Hugh and the Lady Edith. But the new Earl did not see them. He was still staring at the monarch61, in a dazed way, and muttering—
“Oh, body o’ me! this my pauper62! This my lunatic! This is he whom I would show what grandeur63 was, in my house of seventy rooms and seven-and-twenty servants! This is he who had never known aught but rags for raiment, kicks for comfort, and offal for diet! This is he whom I adopted and would make respectable! Would God I had a bag to hide my head in!”
Then his manners suddenly came back to him, and he dropped upon his knees, with his hands between the King’s, and swore allegiance and did homage64 for his lands and titles. Then he rose and stood respectfully aside, a mark still for all eyes—and much envy, too.
“Strip this robber of his false show and stolen estates, and put him under lock and key till I have need of him.”
The late Sir Hugh was led away.
There was a stir at the other end of the room, now; the assemblage fell apart, and Tom Canty, quaintly67 but richly clothed, marched down, between these living walls, preceded by an usher68. He knelt before the King, who said—
“I have learned the story of these past few weeks, and am well pleased with thee. Thou hast governed the realm with right royal gentleness and mercy. Thou hast found thy mother and thy sisters again? Good; they shall be cared for—and thy father shall hang, if thou desire it and the law consent. Know, all ye that hear my voice, that from this day, they that abide69 in the shelter of Christ’s Hospital and share the King’s bounty70 shall have their minds and hearts fed, as well as their baser parts; and this boy shall dwell there, and hold the chief place in its honourable71 body of governors, during life. And for that he hath been a king, it is meet that other than common observance shall be his due; wherefore note this his dress of state, for by it he shall be known, and none shall copy it; and wheresoever he shall come, it shall remind the people that he hath been royal, in his time, and none shall deny him his due of reverence72 or fail to give him salutation. He hath the throne’s protection, he hath the crown’s support, he shall be known and called by the honourable title of the King’s Ward.”
The proud and happy Tom Canty rose and kissed the King’s hand, and was conducted from the presence. He did not waste any time, but flew to his mother, to tell her and Nan and Bet all about it and get them to help him enjoy the great news.
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1
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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pickpockets
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| n.扒手( pickpocket的名词复数 ) | |
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3
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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5
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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pestering
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| 使烦恼，纠缠( pester的现在分词 ) | |
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7
aggravating
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| adj.恼人的，讨厌的 | |
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8
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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10
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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11
canvassed
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| v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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12
pawning
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| v.典当，抵押( pawn的现在分词 )；以（某事物）担保 | |
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13
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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14
pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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15
devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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16
windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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17
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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18
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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20
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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22
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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23
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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24
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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25
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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26
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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27
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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28
wasteful
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| adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的 | |
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29
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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30
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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31
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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32
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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33
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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34
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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35
disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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36
blenched
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| v.（因惊吓而）退缩，惊悸( blench的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变白，（使）变苍白 | |
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37
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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38
dangle
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| v.(使)悬荡，(使)悬垂 | |
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39
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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40
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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41
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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42
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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43
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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44
clove
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| n.丁香味 | |
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45
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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46
derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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47
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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48
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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49
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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50
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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51
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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52
gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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53
marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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54
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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55
bedlam
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| n.混乱，骚乱；疯人院 | |
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56
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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57
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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58
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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59
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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60
torpid
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| adj.麻痹的，麻木的，迟钝的 | |
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61
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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62
pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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63
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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64
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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65
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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66
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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67
quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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68
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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69
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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70
bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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71
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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72
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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