One sign alone gave him his cue. It was the silence.
He had hoped forlornly for an outburst of fanatical cheering. That would have meant that the day was won, that his selection stood, that the coming year, in spite of these troublous opening days, would not, after all, be lean. No sound whatever came. The hush5 was ominous6. For just that minute he stood, a lonely figure, at his open study window. Then the answer reached him in a way that was unmistakable.
The night was suddenly broken by a roar of clashing voices, a riotous7 outburst of fierce cries, then the whole assembly was in sudden movement. He strained his eyes for a clear sight of what was happening, tried all he knew to catch the sense of all the clamour. No set phrase reached him. All he could properly distinguish here and there in the turmoil8 was the sound of his own name shouted again and 111again as if in passionate9 loyalty10 by many voices that he could not recognise.
But it was evidence enough. The last resort of discipline had failed. The school had been irremediably snubbed. And, as he waited, there came to him an almost dreaded11 thought. The school would still not take it. He read this as the message of that chaotic12 shouting. They were coming for him. The Head had dragged him from his high estate and the school would not lie down that night until they had hoisted13 him up again, if only to see him enthroned upon their shoulders as a little tin god, idolised and ten times as strongly established as their captain now than ever before, whatever the Head might have to say.
It came to Rouse as a fear.
He imagined himself hatefully in the limelight, a puffed-up and imaginary hero without just cause. He had some inkling now as to the temper of the school and he knew what it would mean.
He listened again. They were certainly coming towards him. Above the lasting15 din16 he could still hear his own name shouted ever and again. He looked round his study nervously17, suddenly spotted18 the lofty cupboard, darted19 into it and shut the door gingerly behind him.
Two minutes later the clatter20 of a great stampede was breaking the peace of Morley’s. He crouched21 in his hiding-place and scarcely dared to breathe. Soon the forerunners22 were pounding up the stairs and along the passage shouting his name in turn as they came, with a desperate affection that would not be denied.
The door of his study flew open and he heard them tumble in one after the other, and finally cry the news back to those behind.
“He isn’t here. He’s gone!”
This meant no ending to the uproar23. He heard 112the message passed to those on the road outside, in high-pitched voices that clamoured for ideas as to where he could be hiding. Then those below, realising that they would now be foremost in the search, turned excitedly, scrunching24 the gravel25 underfoot, and made off towards the school again. But those who were in the house intended first to make a proper job of it, while they were here, and he heard them running like a pack of hounds into the common room, and down to the dining-hall below, whilst all the time they shouted for him pleadingly, hoping against vain hope that he would answer and produce himself at last.
Then, in the end, they seemed resolved that he was nowhere there, and off they set in a stern chase after the body of the hunt, racing26 across the open spaces towards the school again.
He heard the placid27 tones of Mr Morley feebly remonstrating28, then threatening angrily, and towards the end entreating29 with them, but he was brushed aside by mere30 strength of numbers and left in the hall of his house shouting mildly after them to show their common-sense and keep the peace.
All this Rouse could hear and understand, and when the house seemed quiet again he very cautiously opened the cupboard door and stretched himself. Next moment he received the surprise of his life. The light was suddenly switched on and revealed him. At the same time Terence Nicholson spoke31.
“Come out,” said he. “Come along out, there’s a good fellow.”
For a fleeting32 space Rouse was absolutely nonplussed33 and he could only stare. Then he recovered himself with a miraculous34 effort, brushed his clothes with his hand and stepped daintily out of the cupboard.
“Absolutely NO deception,” he observed. “Any 113gentleman in the audience is fully14 at liberty to come up and examine both the lady and the box.” He paused. “Nobody? I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your very kind attention.” He bowed, paused again, rendered the National Anthem35 as a cornet solo, cried: “Pass out quickly, please!” and finally stepped up to Terence, who was regarding him with an affectionate pity and faced him defiantly36.
“Now, how did you know I was in that cupboard?” said he. “And how on earth did you come into this room without my hearing you?”
“Elementary,” said Terence, “my jolly old Dr Watson. I came in with the mob. When they ran out again I stayed here and slipped behind the door. Nobody missed me, and as soon as they’d cleared off I simply waited for you to come out. You see, old boy, there’s always something wrong with your schemes. The light from the passage, for example, shone directly upon the cupboard door, and it lit up with strange distinctness a tuft of your coat which was protruding37 through the slit38 between the door and the cupboard.”
Rouse regarded his coat critically.
“A nice piece of material, too,” said he. “Try the feel of it, sir.”
Terence smiled grimly.
“As soon as I saw you were apparently39 not here, though, I of course looked towards that cupboard first.”
“Thinking,” said Rouse gently, “to reach yourself a piece of pie so soon as the place was clear. I’m inclined to think, young Nicholson, that you were as surprised as I was.”
“The Head’s given his answer.”
“What is it?”
Terence told him.
Rouse looked him through and through, the while his expression slowly changed from one of puzzled misunderstanding to one of set resignation.
He asked no questions. He just thought it out for himself whilst Terence watched him. It was no use saying: “What do you mean?” The words were an explanation in themselves. At last, however, he spoke. His face was a little drawn43 and his eyes shone with an almost feverish44 light, but his voice was natural.
“Roe?” said he brightly. “Not young Roe, the son of old Roe?”
Terence nodded.
“Soft Roe, I expect,” continued Rouse, “the son of hard Roe.”
There came a brief silence. Terence was clearly disinclined for mere frivolity45. He sat down at the table and supported his chin with both hands.
Rouse gazed at him fondly.
“What an awful shame it is that all this trouble is about me. If only you’d been the one, what a difference it would have made now. So far as Rugger is concerned I do certainly believe I could have made a real success of things, but instead of that you see what’s happening. Within twenty-four hours I shall be looked to to lead a revolution. And,” he added forcefully, “if you can imagine for one moment the buffoon46 I should look strutting47 at the head of a mutinous48 procession in a red nightcap, beating the air with a piece of old iron, you can see at once how impossible it’s going to be. I tell you frankly49, Nick, I shall be no good at it at all....” He paused. “If only it had been you all the fuss was about, nobody could have preached rebellion from the top of an egg-box with greater vehemence50 than I. No paid agitator51 could ever 115be a more successful firebrand. I should have thoroughly52 had my heart in the thing. As it is, I’m merely going to feel an unutterable fool from start to finish. I’ve taken to blushing already—and any advertisement will tell you what an awkward habit that is.” He sighed. “Besides,” he added, “what line are we going to adopt? Do you suppose the fellow wants to come here? If he’s anything of a man at all he’ll be fed up to the teeth at leaving Wilton to come here like this. Supposing he refuses to take it on. What then?”
“The Head didn’t speak as though there was any chance of him refusing to take it on,” said Terence. “He seems to have him pretty securely under his thumb.”
Rouse shook his head gloomily.
“I’d far rather keep out of this. I’m beginning to feel unpleasantly like a man trying to get elected for Parliament. Every time I say anything decent to a chap I wonder whether he thinks I’m only saying it so as to get his vote. I’ve a very strong desire to slide away quietly and hide under a leaf.”
“I know,” said Terence; “it isn’t for you to head a revolution. But if they need someone to show ’em the way they haven’t got far to look. If they want a leader—there’s me. I know you better than anyone else.... I’m captain of cricket, too, and I know what’s wanted in the fellow that skippers the school. That’s why I know what they’ve missed in losing you. And this madman—who is he?—a stranger to the school—a miserable53 outcast—whose first week’s work has been to trample54 down all the school traditions and snub six hundred fellows with a snap of his fingers. He’ll have to give in. Now that I come to think of it, I shouldn’t be surprised if Toby fights on our side himself. All I can say is that if he does the new Head’s well beaten from the start.”
116“Let’s go out for a stroll,” said Rouse. “No one will go to bed yet awhile, and that horde55 of savages56 will be coming back after me in a minute. We will escape into the night.”
They moved out of the study and down the corridor slowly and in silence. There was still an uncanny quiet about the house. Their footsteps echoed from end to end of the passage.
“Seems queer, doesn’t it?” said Terence. “Like being at school in holiday time.”
But on the floor below they heard voices. They were not distinct but they were undoubtedly57 excited. It seemed that three or four people must be debating some dark point behind the closed door of a study. Then turning a corner they came unexpectedly upon the figure of Bobbie Carr, his back against the wall, his thoughts evidently far away. His eyes were fixed1 absent-mindedly on the study door, and at first he did not hear footsteps. Looking up suddenly and noticing who came, he shot into an attitude of alertness and watched them uncertainly. They stopped and smiled at him.
“Were you responsible for any of that hullabaloo outside?” demanded Rouse. “Was that you calling out my name about ten minutes ago?”
“I did cheer a bit,” admitted Bobbie. “Everyone’s looking for you. They want to chair you round the school. They’re thinking of burning an effigy58 of the Head too. Only they can’t find anything suitable to burn.”
Terence slowly nodded his head. Next moment he had turned sharply. The sound of those high-pitched voices had broken out anew. There was no doubt now whence they came. They came from Coles’ study, and one of the most prominent amongst them was the voice of Coles. He was addressing his friends as “Gentlemen!” with a peculiar59 frequency; also his voice had a froggy croak60.
117Rouse turned his head and looked queerly at the door, glanced once at Terence and finally bent61 a questioning eye on Bobbie.
“Are you ... waiting for Coles?”
Bobbie looked at them, in turn, in evident distress62, and made no answer. So they waited a moment, looked once again towards the door, and then proceeded thoughtfully upon their way.
Outside Morley’s they turned behind the house and strolled slowly under the trees. Here was a point of vantage from which they could dimly see the school; the still turbulent ranks of rebels arm-in-arm were goose-stepping proudly up and down before the Head’s room, waiting as if for news that Rouse had been unearthed63, and all at once Terence found himself distracted by an unexpected turn of events. It was the sound of cautious footsteps on the gravel, and when he saw who was passing he laid a hand upon Rouse’s arm and silently drew him round. Then, with a finger upon his lips, he pointed64 with the other hand towards the wall of Morley’s.
It was none other than Henry Hope, and he was making his way laboriously65 alongside the wall. Now and again he looked up at the windows and paused as if guided by the increasing sounds of revelry that came from the only occupied study in all the building.
Neither of the two who watched him as he moved was quite clear what he was about, but the sight was exceedingly diverting, and a slow and puzzled smile came into Rouse’s countenance66.
“It’s Coles he’s after,” whispered Terence, after careful observation. “What’s he going to do?”
“Heave a brick at his window, perchance,” said Rouse, hoarse67 with delight. “He’s got an idea that Coles has some mysterious kind of hold over that kid Carr, and he says the way to find out what it is is to get a hold on Coles. He’s starting by getting a 118hold on the drain-pipe, you see. I hope he won’t let go. I shouldn’t at all like to see our Henry a mere splash of vermilion on the gravel path. Fancy having to clean up Henry with a spade....”
His voice trailed away into silence.
Slowly, and with considerable difficulty, Henry laboured up the pipe. Once he paused and seemed to be grunting68 out a prayer for the strength with which to continue. He looked down dizzily, then up again, and finally, after a battle with his nerves, continued the perilous69 ascent70. At last he came opposite Coles’ window. He reached out a hand like that of some family ghost, clutched the window-ledge, and drew himself up to a moderately secure position. The moment had clearly come for the dénouement.
Henry was the master-detective in his element. He pulled his cap furtively71 over one eye. Then he raised his hand and rapped three times upon the window-pane. There came a sharp silence in the room, and afterwards a sudden scuffle over chairs. Evidently Henry was to be rewarded. Somebody could be heard coming to the window. Henry gritted72 his teeth. He was going to see inside that room. He was going to get a hold on Coles. He became absolutely tense with expectation. Assuredly Coles would never dare to push him off the pipe. Coles was not prepared to commit a horrid73 murder. Also his rear was safe from attack. Coles could not kick him. The only possibility was that Coles might run out of the house and throw pebbles74. He was going to risk this. He would have seen inside the room anyway.
When at last the blind was slowly lifted, those within sustained a terrible shock. Henry had thrust his face against the window so that his nose was flatly upturned, hideous75 and blue, against the glass. The row of faces that confronted him, the faces of Coles’ cronies, all slowly backed terror-stricken before 119the alarming apparition76, till only the face of Coles was left, livid with fury and flushed with spirits flowing from a teapot. He slowly pushed up the window, then his face came forward telescopically on the end of a long neck until his beak-like nose was almost touching77 Henry’s cheeks.
Henry quailed79. Coles was too terrible for words. Nevertheless he peered over the tops of his spectacles resolutely80 into the study, and at last, still trying to be brave, he spoke in a deep voice:
“I wanted to see inside your study. Thank you very much, I’ve seen all I want to see.”
Coles lifted his fist to strike, but realising the danger of a blow he suddenly altered his mind and adopted a novel form of revenge that had never come into Henry’s reckoning.
He called his friends forward.
“You see this,” said he, “a kid here spying—the kid Hope! I want you to remember this.” He turned to Henry. “You know what happened to Peeping Tom, don’t you? He tried to spy and he was sent blind—blind, I tell you. We shall try the effect of that upon you.”
He slowly stretched out his hands till they reached Henry’s face, and Henry was powerless to resist. With considerable delight he slowly unhooked Henry’s glasses from his ears and withdrew them from Henry’s face. He held them in his fingers with an air of fastidious disgust, looking at them and at Henry, and in the end he whirled his arm like a lasso-king and let them go. They flew into the night, and he heard them break on the gravel path into a hundred pieces. Then he shook his fist in Henry’s face.
“Now,” said he, “see whatever you like, and when you’re tired slide down—and look out for the bump at the bottom.”
120He withdrew his head with a wrathful jerk, pulled down the blind again, and after a moment Henry heard his voice coming from within again.
“Now, gentlemen,” it was saying, “I think I’ll just go downstairs and meet him.”
For a moment Henry hung impotently where he was, a veritable monkey on a stick. He looked downwards81. He could see nothing. The night was dark, and without his glasses he could scarcely distinguish the fingers upon his hand. He felt for a grip. At last in utter misery82 and despair he began to slip awkwardly down the pipe, and even as he went he heard Coles come out of the house and shout to him:
“You may as well hurry up. The longer you stay there the worse it will be for you when you get to the bottom.”
Henry looked down again. He could still distinguish nothing. He could only feel his way. As his feet touched the ground Coles would leap upon him out of the night. He would never see him coming. He would be unable to protect himself in any way. Above all, he would have to stagger to bed afterwards without his glasses. He would not even be able to find the frames. Only the really short-sighted can understand what misery was his just then.
He went down stiffly, hand over hand, trying to keep his lips from trembling. At last he felt the gravel under his feet, released his hold of the drain-pipe and stood upright. From out the darkness Coles spoke.
“Now,” said he, “you can make ready for the biggest hiding you ever had.”
Henry backed against the wall and tried to make out Coles’ expression by screwing up his eyes till only little bead83 points of watery84 blue were showing. It was no good. Coles was merely a vast blur85 121blotting out all hope. He felt a large hand upon his collar.
“Now,” said Coles.
And then, dramatically, there came from under the trees a sharp command.
“Let him alone!”
Henry shot to his full height, galvanised into hysterical86 delight. Glasses or no glasses, he knew that for the voice of Rouse.
He was saved.
Coles spun87 on his heel. Two forms were bearing down upon him out of the gloom, and he prepared for battle. He felt brave and bold, if a trifle uncertain upon his feet. He shot his cuffs88 and stretched out both hands ready to grasp these intruders in a bear-like hug. His face was flushed and excited, his temper was nearing boiling point. After a struggle he found his voice.
“Who is that?” he demanded. “Who’s that? Come out and face me here! Come out from under those trees, you creepy, crawly spies. Come out into the open!”
They came slowly towards him. As they drew near to Coles he recognised them suddenly, and his voice cracked in a scream of anger.
“W—what! YOU! Was it you sent this beastly little creature shinning up that drain-pipe? He’s spying for you, is he? Well, of all the rotten, low-down swine! D—d—d’you mean to say——”
“The only thing I mean to say,” said Rouse, “is that I perceive you to be tight.”
Coles bounded forward.
“That’s not where I am,” said Rouse. “You want to aim here.”
For a while they watched him with keen interest. Finally, as he spun round for the fifth time, Terence reached out and pushed him over.
“It’s the cold air doing it,” said Rouse, peering at him distastefully. “I should advise you to go in.”
Next moment Coles had scrambled92 to his feet again and was staring up at his window and shouting for assistance.
“Hi! Hi! Come down here. There’s a gang of them and they’re setting about me!”
Henry turned wretchedly to Rouse.
“My glasses,” said he. “Did you see them fall? D’you know where they are? I should very much like the frames. I’ll have to find the frames.”
Rouse made a few light passes over his hand, drew his cap from his head and held it over his outstretched hand. At last he slowly raised it by the tassel93. The frames lay in his open palm.
“There they are, sir,” said he. “The same that you saw this gentleman throw into the audience.... Am I right, sir?”
He turned sharply. There had come a sudden clatter of feet upon the stairs of Morley’s and a handful of strangely excited young men were tumbling pell-mell out of the door. Nobody had noticed Coles. He appeared to have been merely waiting for aid. Yet at the sound of approaching friends he took courage again. He fixed Rouse with a watery eye, then he leaped viciously upon him from behind. His feet were intertwined with Rouse’s legs. There was a short sharp struggle. Next moment Rouse was free and had turned, judged his distance, and struck accurately94 and with full force. The blow took Coles on the cheek-bone and was altogether too much for him. He threw up his hands, spun sideways and fell on his back. And as he lay he moaned softly to himself:
123“Come on, oh, come on, you chaps! They’re all setting about me ... all of them.”
The chaps answered with a shout of allegiance and sprang upon his assailants. There were four of them, and the first ran into Terence’s straight left and recoiled95 with his hands to his face. The next seized Rouse in his arms and, loudly shouting, endeavoured to secure a ju-jitsu hold upon his neck. Rouse braced96 himself, wrenched97 away an arm and hit downwards with all his strength at the other’s chin.
The move was eminently98 successful, but it was too late. The last members of the party had come up, and one had sprung on to his back and was bearing him down. The other had almost got him by the ankles when Terence came down on top of him with the full weight of his body, and he met the gravel with his face.
Then, loud above the scuffling and the angry cries of those upon the ground, there sounded a deep-pitched angry bay. It was the sound of Henry in distress.
“Oh! Oh! I can’t see! I can’t see a thing! Who shall I hit? Where are they? What shall I do? I can’t see.”
“Well, have a look at the ground then,” shouted an angry young man, and with a violent push from the rear sent him headlong on to his face, where he lay stiffly still and only bellowed100 the louder.
“Who shall I hit, Terence, who shall I hit?”
The end came as abruptly101 as the start. They were suddenly all upon their feet and staring at each other.
“What on earth are you playing at?” demanded somebody. “What’s it all about anyway?”
“It’s about them,” cried Coles, walking forward like a somnambulist. “They’re spies.”
He lifted a hand and pointed at them stiffly.
Rouse made a gesture of appeal.
“If you fellows aren’t as bad as he is, take him in. He doesn’t look at all nice.”
124He saw them looking at one another almost sheepishly, some even dazedly, then one of them heaved a sigh and reached out a courteous102 and helping103 hand towards Coles. The others gathered round. There was a slow and stately forward move.... Up the steps they went with their sorry leader, and out of sight into the house. Thus Rouse and Terence were left alone, each with a friendly hand upon Henry’s shoulder, as out of the darkness there came a small and shadowy form, and the weary voice of Bobbie Carr was wafted104 towards them upon the breeze.
“Can I do anything to help?” he was saying. “What is it? Can I do anything to help?”
“Yes,” said he, “you can. You can take Brighteyes to bed. He can’t see very plainly where he’s going.”
Bobbie came up to Henry and looked at him.
“What’s the matter, Hope?”
“It’s my glasses,” said Henry. “All I’ve got left is the frames.” He sighed lugubriously106. “It doesn’t matter,” said he. “I’ve got a hold on Coles anyway, and it may be very useful.”
It was his farewell. Without another word he suffered himself to be led away into the house.
It was after the two who still remained had wandered on, skirting the school in order to save Rouse from his friends, that they met Toby. He was standing42 outside Seymour’s, smoking a pipe and talking to the house master. He came up to them and strolled side by side along the roadway until at last Terence said:
“It means rebellion, and if they want me to, I’m going to lead it.”
Eventually he answered:
“Yes, of course. I don’t see how you can do 125anything else. There isn’t much doubt that by a step like this the Head has put himself outside the pale. The only thing is what line you ought to take.”
“Why, a rebellion,” said Terence again.
“If by a rebellion you mean making a cock-shy of the school, old son, I’m not sure that we shan’t be doing ourselves more harm than good. It doesn’t take much imagination to see what that will lead to. Sport—work—reputation—everything busted—and over the chaos108 of it all the villain109 sitting with a cheerful smile, whilst you take note what you’ve done for yourselves. We want to keep our dignity. We want to carry on so that any outsider who hears of this and can weigh both sides will have no doubt who was in the right. And, particularly, we want to fight as the Grey Man would have us fight.”
The changed expression on Terence’s face showed that he considered himself rebuked111 by one of the few men from whom he could take a rebuke110 in kindly112 spirit.
“What do you think we ought to do about it, then?”
“Listen,” said Toby, “and if an Old Boy may be allowed his say I will tell you.”
It was two minutes later when Rouse looked up with a start. Whilst he had been listening to that philosophical113 counsel Toby had shrewdly been guiding his footsteps towards the school. They had turned a corner, and now all three stopped short. They were on top of a vast, impatient throng114.
“Go to them,” said Toby. “They’ve had their night out and when they’ve had you a bit p’r’aps they’ll go to bed without smashing anything. And if I were you I should tell them what you’re going to do. Let them into the secret. They’ll feel more 126satisfied then.” He gave Rouse a final pat on the back, then slipped away.
For a brief space Rouse stood stock-still. Then through a break in the dark veil of the skies the moon flashed her bull’s-eye upon him and he stood revealed—just as Terence had discovered him making his exit from the cupboard.
There came a loud, delighted bellow99 from the nearest group and it was too late for escape. Rouse darted frantically115 to a flank, but he was held by a high wall and he turned and waited for them helplessly. From every possible direction his beloved followers116 bore down. They closed in and would not be denied. There came a scuffle in the dark, then he was lifted up and at last he could be seen in his rightful place, perched upon the shoulders of those nearest to him and clutching a tuft of hair in each hand for support.
A stately concourse formed up on either side and slowly surged forward, taking new shape as they ranged themselves formally outside the stained-glass windows and broke into song.
They had hoped that the Head would presently appear. No sound that he could even hear their chanting of allegiance was forthcoming.
Finally it occurred to them that he might not be there and the next best thing was clearly a grand procession round the school.
The bearers turned unsteadily about and moved away.
As they went, to the crashing music of the Harley song, watching them go stood Terence, still where Rouse had left him, with a smile of satisfaction about his lips.
There also watched the new Headmaster, who, unknown to any, had been peering crossly at them with one straining eye through a chink in the heavy curtains.
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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gist
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| n.要旨；梗概 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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loyalty
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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chaotic
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| adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
forerunners
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| n.先驱( forerunner的名词复数 )；开路人；先兆；前兆 | |
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23
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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24
scrunching
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| v.发出喀嚓声( scrunch的现在分词 )；蜷缩；压；挤压 | |
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25
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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26
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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27
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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28
remonstrating
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的现在分词 )；告诫 | |
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29
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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30
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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31
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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32
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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33
nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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35
anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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36
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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37
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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38
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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39
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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40
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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41
roe
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| n.鱼卵；獐鹿 | |
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42
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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43
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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44
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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45
frivolity
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| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
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46
buffoon
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| n.演出时的丑角 | |
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47
strutting
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| 加固，支撑物 | |
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48
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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49
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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50
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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51
agitator
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| n.鼓动者；搅拌器 | |
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52
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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53
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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54
trample
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| vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯 | |
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55
horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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56
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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57
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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58
effigy
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| n.肖像 | |
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59
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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60
croak
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| vi.嘎嘎叫，发牢骚 | |
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61
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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62
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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63
unearthed
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| 出土的（考古） | |
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64
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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65
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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66
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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67
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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68
grunting
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| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
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69
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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70
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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71
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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72
gritted
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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73
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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74
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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75
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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76
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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77
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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78
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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81
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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82
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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83
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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84
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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85
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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86
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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87
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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88
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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89
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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90
babbled
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| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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91
dazedly
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| 头昏眼花地，眼花缭乱地，茫然地 | |
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92
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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93
tassel
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| n.流苏，穗；v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须 | |
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94
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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95
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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96
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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97
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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98
eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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99
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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100
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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101
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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102
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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103
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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104
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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105
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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106
lugubriously
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107
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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108
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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109
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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110
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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111
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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112
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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113
philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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114
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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115
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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116
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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