The agitation1 she had undergone, rendered Kate Nickleby unable to resume her duties at the dressmaker’s for three days, at the expiration2 of which interval3 she betook herself at the accustomed hour, and with languid steps, to the temple of fashion where Madame Mantalini reigned4 paramount5 and supreme6.
The ill-will of Miss Knag had lost nothing of its virulence7 in the interval. The young ladies still scrupulously8 shrunk from all companionship with their denounced associate; and when that exemplary female arrived a few minutes afterwards, she was at no pains to conceal9 the displeasure with which she regarded Kate’s return.
‘Upon my word!’ said Miss Knag, as the satellites flocked round, to relieve her of her bonnet10 and shawl; ‘I should have thought some people would have had spirit enough to stop away altogether, when they know what an incumbrance their presence is to right-minded persons. But it’s a queer world; oh! it’s a queer world!’
Miss Knag, having passed this comment on the world, in the tone in which most people do pass comments on the world when they are out of temper, that is to say, as if they by no means belonged to it, concluded by heaving a sigh, wherewith she seemed meekly11 to compassionate12 the wickedness of mankind.
The attendants were not slow to echo the sigh, and Miss Knag was apparently13 on the eve of favouring them with some further moral reflections, when the voice of Madame Mantalini, conveyed through the speaking-tube, ordered Miss Nickleby upstairs to assist in the arrangement of the show-room; a distinction which caused Miss Knag to toss her head so much, and bite her lips so hard, that her powers of conversation were, for the time, annihilated14.
‘Well, Miss Nickleby, child,’ said Madame Mantalini, when Kate presented herself; ‘are you quite well again?’
‘A great deal better, thank you,’ replied Kate.
‘I wish I could say the same,’ remarked Madame Mantalini, seating herself with an air of weariness.
‘Are you ill?’ asked Kate. ‘I am very sorry for that.’
‘Not exactly ill, but worried, child—worried,’ rejoined Madame.
‘I am still more sorry to hear that,’ said Kate, gently. ‘Bodily illness is more easy to bear than mental.’
‘Ah! and it’s much easier to talk than to bear either,’ said Madame, rubbing her nose with much irritability15 of manner. ‘There, get to your work, child, and put the things in order, do.’
While Kate was wondering within herself what these symptoms of unusual vexation portended17, Mr. Mantalini put the tips of his whiskers, and, by degrees, his head, through the half-opened door, and cried in a soft voice—
‘Is my life and soul there?’
‘No,’ replied his wife.
‘How can it say so, when it is blooming in the front room like a little rose in a demnition flower-pot?’ urged Mantalini. ‘May its poppet come in and talk?’
‘Certainly not,’ replied Madame: ‘you know I never allow you here. Go along!’
The poppet, however, encouraged perhaps by the relenting tone of this reply, ventured to rebel, and, stealing into the room, made towards Madame Mantalini on tiptoe, blowing her a kiss as he came along.
‘Why will it vex16 itself, and twist its little face into bewitching nutcrackers?’ said Mantalini, putting his left arm round the waist of his life and soul, and drawing her towards him with his right.
‘Oh! I can’t bear you,’ replied his wife.
‘Not—eh, not bear me!’ exclaimed Mantalini. ‘Fibs, fibs. It couldn’t be. There’s not a woman alive, that could tell me such a thing to my face—to my own face.’ Mr. Mantalini stroked his chin, as he said this, and glanced complacently18 at an opposite mirror.
‘Such destructive extravagance,’ reasoned his wife, in a low tone.
‘All in its joy at having gained such a lovely creature, such a little Venus, such a demd, enchanting19, bewitching, engrossing20, captivating little Venus,’ said Mantalini.
‘See what a situation you have placed me in!’ urged Madame.
‘No harm will come, no harm shall come, to its own darling,’ rejoined Mr Mantalini. ‘It is all over; there will be nothing the matter; money shall be got in; and if it don’t come in fast enough, old Nickleby shall stump21 up again, or have his jugular22 separated if he dares to vex and hurt the little—’
‘Hush!’ interposed Madame. ‘Don’t you see?’
Mr. Mantalini, who, in his eagerness to make up matters with his wife, had overlooked, or feigned23 to overlook, Miss Nickleby hitherto, took the hint, and laying his finger on his lip, sunk his voice still lower. There was, then, a great deal of whispering, during which Madame Mantalini appeared to make reference, more than once, to certain debts incurred24 by Mr Mantalini previous to her coverture; and also to an unexpected outlay25 of money in payment of the aforesaid debts; and furthermore, to certain agreeable weaknesses on that gentleman’s part, such as gaming, wasting, idling, and a tendency to horse-flesh; each of which matters of accusation26 Mr. Mantalini disposed of, by one kiss or more, as its relative importance demanded. The upshot of it all was, that Madame Mantalini was in raptures27 with him, and that they went upstairs to breakfast.
Kate busied herself in what she had to do, and was silently arranging the various articles of decoration in the best taste she could display, when she started to hear a strange man’s voice in the room, and started again, to observe, on looking round, that a white hat, and a red neckerchief, and a broad round face, and a large head, and part of a green coat were in the room too.
‘Don’t alarm yourself, miss,’ said the proprietor29 of these appearances. ‘I say; this here’s the mantie-making consarn, an’t it?’
‘Yes,’ rejoined Kate, greatly astonished. ‘What did you want?’
The stranger answered not; but, first looking back, as though to beckon30 to some unseen person outside, came, very deliberately31, into the room, and was closely followed by a little man in brown, very much the worse for wear, who brought with him a mingled32 fumigation33 of stale tobacco and fresh onions. The clothes of this gentleman were much bespeckled with flue; and his shoes, stockings, and nether34 garments, from his heels to the waist buttons of his coat inclusive, were profusely35 embroidered36 with splashes of mud, caught a fortnight previously—before the setting-in of the fine weather.
Kate’s very natural impression was, that these engaging individuals had called with the view of possessing themselves, unlawfully, of any portable articles that chanced to strike their fancy. She did not attempt to disguise her apprehensions37, and made a move towards the door.
‘Wait a minnit,’ said the man in the green coat, closing it softly, and standing38 with his back against it. ‘This is a unpleasant bisness. Vere’s your govvernor?’
‘My what—did you say?’ asked Kate, trembling; for she thought ‘governor’ might be slang for watch or money.
‘Mister Muntlehiney,’ said the man. ‘Wot’s come on him? Is he at home?’
‘He is above stairs, I believe,’ replied Kate, a little reassured39 by this inquiry40. ‘Do you want him?’
‘No,’ replied the visitor. ‘I don’t ezactly want him, if it’s made a favour on. You can jist give him that ‘ere card, and tell him if he wants to speak to me, and save trouble, here I am; that’s all.’
With these words, the stranger put a thick square card into Kate’s hand, and, turning to his friend, remarked, with an easy air, ‘that the rooms was a good high pitch;’ to which the friend assented41, adding, by way of illustration, ‘that there was lots of room for a little boy to grow up a man in either on ‘em, vithout much fear of his ever bringing his head into contract vith the ceiling.’
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After ringing the bell which would summon Madame Mantalini, Kate glanced at the card, and saw that it displayed the name of ‘Scaley,’ together with some other information to which she had not had time to refer, when her attention was attracted by Mr. Scaley himself, who, walking up to one of the cheval-glasses, gave it a hard poke42 in the centre with his stick, as coolly as if it had been made of cast iron.
‘Good plate this here, Tix,’ said Mr. Scaley to his friend.
‘Ah!’ rejoined Mr. Tix, placing the marks of his four fingers, and a duplicate impression of his thumb, on a piece of sky-blue silk; ‘and this here article warn’t made for nothing, mind you.’
From the silk, Mr. Tix transferred his admiration43 to some elegant articles of wearing apparel, while Mr. Scaley adjusted his neckcloth, at leisure, before the glass, and afterwards, aided by its reflection, proceeded to the minute consideration of a pimple44 on his chin; in which absorbing occupation he was yet engaged, when Madame Mantalini, entering the room, uttered an exclamation45 of surprise which roused him.
‘Oh! Is this the missis?’ inquired Scaley.
‘It is Madame Mantalini,’ said Kate.
‘Then,’ said Mr. Scaley, producing a small document from his pocket and unfolding it very slowly, ‘this is a writ46 of execution, and if it’s not conwenient to settle we’ll go over the house at wunst, please, and take the inwentory.’
Poor Madame Mantalini wrung47 her hands for grief, and rung the bell for her husband; which done, she fell into a chair and a fainting fit, simultaneously48. The professional gentlemen, however, were not at all discomposed by this event, for Mr. Scaley, leaning upon a stand on which a handsome dress was displayed (so that his shoulders appeared above it, in nearly the same manner as the shoulders of the lady for whom it was designed would have done if she had had it on), pushed his hat on one side and scratched his head with perfect unconcern, while his friend Mr. Tix, taking that opportunity for a general survey of the apartment preparatory to entering on business, stood with his inventory49-book under his arm and his hat in his hand, mentally occupied in putting a price upon every object within his range of vision.
Such was the posture50 of affairs when Mr. Mantalini hurried in; and as that distinguished51 specimen52 had had a pretty extensive intercourse53 with Mr Scaley’s fraternity in his bachelor days, and was, besides, very far from being taken by surprise on the present agitating54 occasion, he merely shrugged55 his shoulders, thrust his hands down to the bottom of his pockets, elevated his eyebrows56, whistled a bar or two, swore an oath or two, and, sitting astride upon a chair, put the best face upon the matter with great composure and decency57.
‘What’s the demd total?’ was the first question he asked.
‘Fifteen hundred and twenty-seven pound, four and ninepence ha’penny,’ replied Mr. Scaley, without moving a limb.
‘The halfpenny be demd,’ said Mr. Mantalini, impatiently.
‘By all means if you vish it,’ retorted Mr. Scaley; ‘and the ninepence.’
‘It don’t matter to us if the fifteen hundred and twenty-seven pound went along with it, that I know on,’ observed Mr. Tix.
‘Not a button,’ said Scaley.
‘Well,’ said the same gentleman, after a pause, ‘wot’s to be done—anything? Is it only a small crack, or a out-and-out smash? A break-up of the constitootion is it?—werry good. Then Mr. Tom Tix, esk-vire, you must inform your angel wife and lovely family as you won’t sleep at home for three nights to come, along of being in possession here. Wot’s the good of the lady a fretting58 herself?’ continued Mr. Scaley, as Madame Mantalini sobbed59. ‘A good half of wot’s here isn’t paid for, I des-say, and wot a consolation60 oughtn’t that to be to her feelings!’
With these remarks, combining great pleasantry with sound moral encouragement under difficulties, Mr. Scaley proceeded to take the inventory, in which delicate task he was materially assisted by the uncommon61 tact62 and experience of Mr. Tix, the broker63.
‘My cup of happiness’s sweetener,’ said Mantalini, approaching his wife with a penitent64 air; ‘will you listen to me for two minutes?’
Mr. Mantalini, who had doubtless well considered his part, no sooner heard these words pronounced in a tone of grief and severity, than he recoiled66 several paces, assumed an expression of consuming mental agony, rushed headlong from the room, and was, soon afterwards, heard to slam the door of an upstairs dressing-room with great violence.
‘Miss Nickleby,’ cried Madame Mantalini, when this sound met her ear, ‘make haste, for Heaven’s sake, he will destroy himself! I spoke67 unkindly to him, and he cannot bear it from me. Alfred, my darling Alfred.’
With such exclamations68, she hurried upstairs, followed by Kate who, although she did not quite participate in the fond wife’s apprehensions, was a little flurried, nevertheless. The dressing-room door being hastily flung open, Mr. Mantalini was disclosed to view, with his shirt-collar symmetrically thrown back: putting a fine edge to a breakfast knife by means of his razor strop.
‘Ah!’ cried Mr. Mantalini, ‘interrupted!’ and whisk went the breakfast knife into Mr. Mantalini’s dressing-gown pocket, while Mr. Mantalini’s eyes rolled wildly, and his hair floating in wild disorder69, mingled with his whiskers.
‘Alfred,’ cried his wife, flinging her arms about him, ‘I didn’t mean to say it, I didn’t mean to say it!’
‘Ruined!’ cried Mr. Mantalini. ‘Have I brought ruin upon the best and purest creature that ever blessed a demnition vagabond! Demmit, let me go.’ At this crisis of his ravings Mr. Mantalini made a pluck at the breakfast knife, and being restrained by his wife’s grasp, attempted to dash his head against the wall—taking very good care to be at least six feet from it.
‘Compose yourself, my own angel,’ said Madame. ‘It was nobody’s fault; it was mine as much as yours, we shall do very well yet. Come, Alfred, come.’
Mr. Mantalini did not think proper to come to, all at once; but, after calling several times for poison, and requesting some lady or gentleman to blow his brains out, gentler feelings came upon him, and he wept pathetically. In this softened70 frame of mind he did not oppose the capture of the knife—which, to tell the truth, he was rather glad to be rid of, as an inconvenient71 and dangerous article for a skirt pocket—and finally he suffered himself to be led away by his affectionate partner.
After a delay of two or three hours, the young ladies were informed that their services would be dispensed72 with until further notice, and at the expiration of two days, the name of Mantalini appeared in the list of bankrupts: Miss Nickleby received an intimation per post, on the same morning, that the business would be, in future, carried on under the name of Miss Knag, and that her assistance would no longer be required—a piece of intelligence with which Mrs. Nickleby was no sooner made acquainted, than that good lady declared she had expected it all along and cited divers73 unknown occasions on which she had prophesied74 to that precise effect.
‘And I say again,’ remarked Mrs. Nickleby (who, it is scarcely necessary to observe, had never said so before), ‘I say again, that a milliner’s and dressmaker’s is the very last description of business, Kate, that you should have thought of attaching yourself to. I don’t make it a reproach to you, my love; but still I will say, that if you had consulted your own mother—’
‘Well, well, mama,’ said Kate, mildly: ‘what would you recommend now?’
‘Recommend!’ cried Mrs. Nickleby, ‘isn’t it obvious, my dear, that of all occupations in this world for a young lady situated75 as you are, that of companion to some amiable76 lady is the very thing for which your education, and manners, and personal appearance, and everything else, exactly qualify you? Did you never hear your poor dear papa speak of the young lady who was the daughter of the old lady who boarded in the same house that he boarded in once, when he was a bachelor—what was her name again? I know it began with a B, and ended with g, but whether it was Waters or—no, it couldn’t have been that, either; but whatever her name was, don’t you know that that young lady went as companion to a married lady who died soon afterwards, and that she married the husband, and had one of the finest little boys that the medical man had ever seen—all within eighteen months?’
Kate knew, perfectly77 well, that this torrent78 of favourable79 recollection was occasioned by some opening, real or imaginary, which her mother had discovered, in the companionship walk of life. She therefore waited, very patiently, until all reminiscences and anecdotes80, bearing or not bearing upon the subject, had been exhausted81, and at last ventured to inquire what discovery had been made. The truth then came out. Mrs. Nickleby had, that morning, had a yesterday’s newspaper of the very first respectability from the public-house where the porter came from; and in this yesterday’s newspaper was an advertisement, couched in the purest and most grammatical English, announcing that a married lady was in want of a genteel young person as companion, and that the married lady’s name and address were to be known, on application at a certain library at the west end of the town, therein mentioned.
‘And I say,’ exclaimed Mrs. Nickleby, laying the paper down in triumph, ‘that if your uncle don’t object, it’s well worth the trial.’
Kate was too sick at heart, after the rough jostling she had already had with the world, and really cared too little at the moment what fate was reserved for her, to make any objection. Mr. Ralph Nickleby offered none, but, on the contrary, highly approved of the suggestion; neither did he express any great surprise at Madame Mantalini’s sudden failure, indeed it would have been strange if he had, inasmuch as it had been procured82 and brought about chiefly by himself. So, the name and address were obtained without loss of time, and Miss Nickleby and her mama went off in quest of Mrs. Wititterly, of Cadogan Place, Sloane Street, that same forenoon.
Cadogan Place is the one slight bond that joins two great extremes; it is the connecting link between the aristocratic pavements of Belgrave Square, and the barbarism of Chelsea. It is in Sloane Street, but not of it. The people in Cadogan Place look down upon Sloane Street, and think Brompton low. They affect fashion too, and wonder where the New Road is. Not that they claim to be on precisely83 the same footing as the high folks of Belgrave Square and Grosvenor Place, but that they stand, with reference to them, rather in the light of those illegitimate children of the great who are content to boast of their connections, although their connections disavow them. Wearing as much as they can of the airs and semblances84 of loftiest rank, the people of Cadogan Place have the realities of middle station. It is the conductor which communicates to the inhabitants of regions beyond its limit, the shock of pride of birth and rank, which it has not within itself, but derives85 from a fountain-head beyond; or, like the ligament which unites the Siamese twins, it contains something of the life and essence of two distinct bodies, and yet belongs to neither.
Upon this doubtful ground, lived Mrs. Wititterly, and at Mrs. Wititterly’s door Kate Nickleby knocked with trembling hand. The door was opened by a big footman with his head floured, or chalked, or painted in some way (it didn’t look genuine powder), and the big footman, receiving the card of introduction, gave it to a little page; so little, indeed, that his body would not hold, in ordinary array, the number of small buttons which are indispensable to a page’s costume, and they were consequently obliged to be stuck on four abreast86. This young gentleman took the card upstairs on a salver, and pending87 his return, Kate and her mother were shown into a dining-room of rather dirty and shabby aspect, and so comfortably arranged as to be adapted to almost any purpose rather than eating and drinking.
Now, in the ordinary course of things, and according to all authentic88 descriptions of high life, as set forth89 in books, Mrs. Wititterly ought to have been in her boudoir; but whether it was that Mr. Wititterly was at that moment shaving himself in the boudoir or what not, certain it is that Mrs. Wititterly gave audience in the drawing-room, where was everything proper and necessary, including curtains and furniture coverings of a roseate hue90, to shed a delicate bloom on Mrs. Wititterly’s complexion91, and a little dog to snap at strangers’ legs for Mrs. Wititterly’s amusement, and the afore-mentioned page, to hand chocolate for Mrs. Wititterly’s refreshment92.
The lady had an air of sweet insipidity93, and a face of engaging paleness; there was a faded look about her, and about the furniture, and about the house. She was reclining on a sofa in such a very unstudied attitude, that she might have been taken for an actress all ready for the first scene in a ballet, and only waiting for the drop curtain to go up.
‘Place chairs.’
The page placed them.
‘Leave the room, Alphonse.’
The page left it; but if ever an Alphonse carried plain Bill in his face and figure, that page was the boy.
‘I have ventured to call, ma’am,’ said Kate, after a few seconds of awkward silence, ‘from having seen your advertisement.’
‘Yes,’ replied Mrs. Wititterly, ‘one of my people put it in the paper—Yes.’
‘I thought, perhaps,’ said Kate, modestly, ‘that if you had not already made a final choice, you would forgive my troubling you with an application.’
‘Yes,’ drawled Mrs. Wititterly again.
‘If you have already made a selection—’
‘Oh dear no,’ interrupted the lady, ‘I am not so easily suited. I really don’t know what to say. You have never been a companion before, have you?’
Mrs. Nickleby, who had been eagerly watching her opportunity, came dexterously94 in, before Kate could reply. ‘Not to any stranger, ma’am,’ said the good lady; ‘but she has been a companion to me for some years. I am her mother, ma’am.’
‘I assure you, ma’am,’ said Mrs. Nickleby, ‘that I very little thought, at one time, that it would be necessary for my daughter to go out into the world at all, for her poor dear papa was an independent gentleman, and would have been at this moment if he had but listened in time to my constant entreaties96 and—’
‘Dear mama,’ said Kate, in a low voice.
‘My dear Kate, if you will allow me to speak,’ said Mrs. Nickleby, ‘I shall take the liberty of explaining to this lady—’
‘I think it is almost unnecessary, mama.’
And notwithstanding all the frowns and winks97 with which Mrs. Nickleby intimated that she was going to say something which would clench98 the business at once, Kate maintained her point by an expressive99 look, and for once Mrs. Nickleby was stopped upon the very brink100 of an oration28.
‘What are your accomplishments101?’ asked Mrs. Wititterly, with her eyes shut.
Kate blushed as she mentioned her principal acquirements, and Mrs. Nickleby checked them all off, one by one, on her fingers; having calculated the number before she came out. Luckily the two calculations agreed, so Mrs Nickleby had no excuse for talking.
‘You are a good temper?’ asked Mrs. Wititterly, opening her eyes for an instant, and shutting them again.
‘I hope so,’ rejoined Kate.
‘And have a highly respectable reference for everything, have you?’
Kate replied that she had, and laid her uncle’s card upon the table.
‘Have the goodness to draw your chair a little nearer, and let me look at you,’ said Mrs. Wititterly; ‘I am so very nearsighted that I can’t quite discern your features.’
Kate complied, though not without some embarrassment102, with this request, and Mrs. Wititterly took a languid survey of her countenance103, which lasted some two or three minutes.
‘I like your appearance,’ said that lady, ringing a little bell. ‘Alphonse, request your master to come here.’
The page disappeared on this errand, and after a short interval, during which not a word was spoken on either side, opened the door for an important gentleman of about eight-and-thirty, of rather plebeian104 countenance, and with a very light head of hair, who leant over Mrs Wititterly for a little time, and conversed105 with her in whispers.
‘Oh!’ he said, turning round, ‘yes. This is a most important matter. Mrs Wititterly is of a very excitable nature; very delicate, very fragile; a hothouse plant, an exotic.’
‘Oh! Henry, my dear,’ interposed Mrs. Wititterly.
‘You are, my love, you know you are; one breath—’ said Mr. W., blowing an imaginary feather away. ‘Pho! you’re gone!’
The lady sighed.
‘Your soul is too large for your body,’ said Mr. Wititterly. ‘Your intellect wears you out; all the medical men say so; you know that there is not a physician who is not proud of being called in to you. What is their unanimous declaration? “My dear doctor,” said I to Sir Tumley Snuffim, in this very room, the very last time he came. “My dear doctor, what is my wife’s complaint? Tell me all. I can bear it. Is it nerves?” “My dear fellow,” he said, “be proud of that woman; make much of her; she is an ornament106 to the fashionable world, and to you. Her complaint is soul. It swells107, expands, dilates—the blood fires, the pulse quickens, the excitement increases—Whew!”’ Here Mr. Wititterly, who, in the ardour of his description, had flourished his right hand to within something less than an inch of Mrs. Nickleby’s bonnet, drew it hastily back again, and blew his nose as fiercely as if it had been done by some violent machinery108.
‘You make me out worse than I am, Henry,’ said Mrs. Wititterly, with a faint smile.
‘I do not, Julia, I do not,’ said Mr. W. ‘The society in which you move—necessarily move, from your station, connection, and endowments—is one vortex and whirlpool of the most frightful109 excitement. Bless my heart and body, can I ever forget the night you danced with the baronet’s nephew at the election ball, at Exeter! It was tremendous.’
‘I always suffer for these triumphs afterwards,’ said Mrs. Wititterly.
‘And for that very reason,’ rejoined her husband, ‘you must have a companion, in whom there is great gentleness, great sweetness, excessive sympathy, and perfect repose110.’
Here, both Mr. and Mrs. Wititterly, who had talked rather at the Nicklebys than to each other, left off speaking, and looked at their two hearers, with an expression of countenance which seemed to say, ‘What do you think of all this?’
‘Mrs. Wititterly,’ said her husband, addressing himself to Mrs. Nickleby, ‘is sought after and courted by glittering crowds and brilliant circles. She is excited by the opera, the drama, the fine arts, the—the—the—’
‘The nobility, my love,’ interposed Mrs. Wititterly.
‘The nobility, of course,’ said Mr. Wititterly. ‘And the military. She forms and expresses an immense variety of opinions on an immense variety of subjects. If some people in public life were acquainted with Mrs Wititterly’s real opinion of them, they would not hold their heads, perhaps, quite as high as they do.’
‘Hush, Henry,’ said the lady; ‘this is scarcely fair.’
‘I mention no names, Julia,’ replied Mr. Wititterly; ‘and nobody is injured. I merely mention the circumstance to show that you are no ordinary person, that there is a constant friction111 perpetually going on between your mind and your body; and that you must be soothed112 and tended. Now let me hear, dispassionately and calmly, what are this young lady’s qualifications for the office.’
In obedience113 to this request, the qualifications were all gone through again, with the addition of many interruptions and cross-questionings from Mr. Wititterly. It was finally arranged that inquiries114 should be made, and a decisive answer addressed to Miss Nickleby under cover of her uncle, within two days. These conditions agreed upon, the page showed them down as far as the staircase window; and the big footman, relieving guard at that point, piloted them in perfect safety to the street-door.
‘They are very distinguished people, evidently,’ said Mrs. Nickleby, as she took her daughter’s arm. ‘What a superior person Mrs. Wititterly is!’
‘Do you think so, mama?’ was all Kate’s reply.
‘Why, who can help thinking so, Kate, my love?’ rejoined her mother. ‘She is pale though, and looks much exhausted. I hope she may not be wearing herself out, but I am very much afraid.’
These considerations led the deep-sighted lady into a calculation of the probable duration of Mrs. Wititterly’s life, and the chances of the disconsolate115 widower116 bestowing117 his hand on her daughter. Before reaching home, she had freed Mrs. Wititterly’s soul from all bodily restraint; married Kate with great splendour at St George’s, Hanover Square; and only left undecided the minor118 question, whether a splendid French-polished mahogany bedstead should be erected119 for herself in the two-pair back of the house in Cadogan Place, or in the three-pair front: between which apartments she could not quite balance the advantages, and therefore adjusted the question at last, by determining to leave it to the decision of her son-in-law.
The inquiries were made. The answer—not to Kate’s very great joy—was favourable; and at the expiration of a week she betook herself, with all her movables and valuables, to Mrs. Wititterly’s mansion120, where for the present we will leave her.
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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virulence
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| n.毒力，毒性；病毒性；致病力 | |
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scrupulously
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| adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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irritability
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| n.易怒 | |
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vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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portended
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| v.预示( portend的过去式和过去分词 )；预兆；给…以警告；预告 | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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engrossing
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| adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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21
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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22
jugular
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| n.颈静脉 | |
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23
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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24
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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25
outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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26
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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27
raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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28
oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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29
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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30
beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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31
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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32
mingled
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| 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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33
fumigation
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| n.烟熏，熏蒸；忿恨 | |
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34
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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35
profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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36
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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37
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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38
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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39
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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40
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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41
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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43
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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44
pimple
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| n.丘疹，面泡，青春豆 | |
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45
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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46
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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47
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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48
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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49
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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50
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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51
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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52
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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53
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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54
agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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55
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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56
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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57
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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58
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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59
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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60
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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61
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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62
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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63
broker
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| n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排 | |
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64
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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65
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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66
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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67
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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68
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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69
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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70
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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71
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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72
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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73
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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74
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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76
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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77
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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78
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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79
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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80
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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81
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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82
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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83
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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84
semblances
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| n.外表，外观（semblance的复数形式） | |
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85
derives
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| v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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86
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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87
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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88
authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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89
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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90
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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91
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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92
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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93
insipidity
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| n.枯燥无味，清淡，无精神；无生气状 | |
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94
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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95
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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96
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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97
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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98
clench
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| vt.捏紧（拳头等），咬紧（牙齿等），紧紧握住 | |
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99
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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100
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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101
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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102
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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103
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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104
plebeian
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| adj.粗俗的；平民的；n.平民；庶民 | |
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105
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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106
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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107
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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108
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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109
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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110
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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111
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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112
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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113
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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114
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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115
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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116
widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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117
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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118
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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119
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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120
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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