"Look at your friend, Mr. What's-his-name, of some queer place, like Sir Walter Scott's novels," he whispered to Gertrude. "The idea of coming on a brief visit to Paradise, and troubling your head about foreign politics and the money-market! There he goes--Prussia, indeed! What a combination of ideas--Bochum Dollfs and the Deane!"
Gertrude laughed. The pleasant unaffected gaiety of his manner pleased her. She had not been prepared to find George Ritherdon so light of heart, so ready to be amused, and to acknowledge it. She knew that he was younger than his chum Robert Meredith; but she had fancied there would be some resemblance between them, when she should come to know them better, in a few days' close association with them. But there was no resemblance; the friendship between them, the daily companionship had brought about no assimilation, and there was one circumstance which set Gerty thinking and puzzling to find out why it should be so. She had known Robert Meredith for years; her acquaintance with George Ritherdon was of the slightest; and yet, when the day after the ball came in its turn to a conclusion, and she once again set her mind to the task of "thinking it over," she felt that she knew more of George Ritherdon, had seen more certain indications of his disposition3, and could divine more of his life than she knew, had seen, or could divine in the case of Robert Meredith. The girl was of a thoughtful speculative4 turn of mind, an observer of character, and imaginative. She pondered a good deal upon the subject, and constantly recurred5 to her first thought. "How odd it is that I should feel as if I could tell at once how Mr. Ritherdon would act in any given case, and I don't feel that in the least about Robert Meredith!"
"I was horribly ill-treated last night," George said, after he and Gertrude had exchanged ideas on the subject of newspapers in vacation time. "You ask me to a ball. Miss Baldwin, and then don't give me a dance. I call it treacherous6 and inhospitable."
"I couldn't help it," said Gerty earnestly, with perfect simplicity8. "I had to 'dance down the set,' as they say in the country dances--to begin at the beginning of the table of precedence, and go on to the end."
"A very unfair advantage for the fogeys," said George Ritherdon, not without having made sure that none of Gertrude's partners of last night were at the table.
"The Honourable9 Dort would be grateful if he heard you, Ritherdon," observed Meredith.
"I suppose one couldn't reasonably call _him_ a fogey," returned George.
Gertrude laughed; but Eleanor said sharply,
"No, he is only a fool."
Meredith was seated next her, and while the others went on talking, he said to her in a low tone,
"Do you think him a fool? I don't. He knows the value of first impressions, and being early in the field, or I am much mistaken."
If Robert Meredith had made a similar remark to Gertrude, she would simply have looked at him with her grave gray eyes, in utter ignorance of his meaning; but Nelly understood him perfectly10.
"He _is_ an admirer of Gerty's," she said.
"Not at all. Not that it matters whether I do or not; but Gerty does not either. I daresay Lord and Lady Gelston think it would be a very good thing."
"No doubt they do. Nothing more suitable could be devised; and as people of their class usually believe that human affairs are strictly12 regulated according to their convenience, and look upon Providence13 as a kind of confidential14 and trustworthy agent, more or less adroit15, but entirely16 in their interests, no doubt they have it all settled comfortably. There was the complacent17 ring of such a plan in that pompous18 old donkey's bray19 last night, and a kind of protecting mother-in-law-like air about the old woman, which I should not have liked had I been in your sister's place."
Eleanor's cheek flushed; the tone, even more than the words, told upon her.
"What detestable impertinence!" she said. "The idea of people who are held to be nobler than others making such calculations, and condescending20 to such meanness for money!"
"Not in the least surprising; as you will find when you know the world a little better. That the wind should be tempered to the shorn lambs of the aristocracy by the intervention21 of commoner people's money, they regard as a natural law; and as they are the most irresponsible, they are the most shameless class in society. As to their condescending to meanness for money, you don't reflect--as, indeed, how should you?--that money is the object which best repays such condescension22."
There was a dubious23 look in Nelly's face. The young girl was flattered and pleased that this handsome accomplished24 man of the world--who was so much more _her_ friend, in consequence of their association in London, than her sister's--should talk to her thus, giving her the benefit of his experience; and yet there might be something to be said, if not for Mr. Dort's parents, for Mr. Dort himself. Her colour deepened, as she said timidly,
"How well _you_ must know the world, to be able to discern people's motives25 and see through their schemes so readily! But perhaps Mr. Dort really cares for Gertrude."
"Perhaps he does. She is a nice girl; and if her fortune and position don't spoil her, any man might well 'care for her,'as you call it, for herself. But the disinterestedness26 of Mr. Dort is not affected2, to my mind, by the fact that the appendage27 to the fortune he is hunting does not happen to be disagreeable. Supposing she had not the fortune, or supposing she lost it, would Mr. Dort care for--that is, marry--your sister then?"
"I don't suppose he would," said Eleanor thoughtfully.
"And I am sure he would not," said Meredith. Then, as there was a general rising and dispersion of the company, he added in a whisper, and with a glance beneath which the girl's eyes fell, "The privilege of being loved for herself is the proudest any woman can boast, and cannot be included in an entail29."
"Mr. M'llwaine wants to see you for half an hour, Gertrude, before he returns to Glasgow," said Haldane Carteret to his niece as she was leaving the breakfast-room, accompanied by Nelly and two young ladies who formed part of the "staying company" at the Deane.
"Does he?" said Gertrude. "What for? It won't take me half an hour to bid him good-bye."
"Business, my dear, business." said her uncle. "You are a woman of business now, you know, and must attend to it."
"I wonder how often I have had notice of that fact," said Gerty. "I will go to Mr. M'llwaine now, uncle; but you must come too, please.--And, Nelly, will you take all the people to the croquet-ground? I will come as soon as I can."
Gertrude went away with her uncle, and Nelly led the way to an anteroom, in which garden-hats and other articles of casual equipment were to be found.
"It is to be hoped Captain Carteret will not keep on reminding Miss Baldwin of her duties and dignities," whispered Meredith to Eleanor, as the party assembled on the terrace. "It will be embarrassing if he does, though she carries it off well, with her pretty air of unconsciousness."
Eleanor said nothing in answer, but her face darkened, and the first sentence she spoke30 afterwards had a harsh tone in it.
The day was very fine, the summer heat was tempered by a cool breeze, and the glare of the sun was softened31 by flitting fleecy clouds. The group collected on the beautifully-kept croquet-ground of the Deane was as pretty and as picturesque32 as any which was to be seen under the summer sky that day. Mrs. Haldane Carteret, who was by no means "a frisky33 matron," but who enjoyed unbroken animal spirits and much better health than she could have been induced to acknowledge, was particularly fond of croquet, which, as her feet and ankles were irreproachable34, was not to be wondered at. She was an indefatigable35, a perfectly good-humoured player, and owed not a little of her popularity in the neighbourhood to her ever-ready willingness to get up croquet-parties at home, or to go out to them.
Haldane too was not a bad or a reluctant player; and, on the whole, the Deane held a creditable place in the long list of country houses much devoted36 to this popular science.
Miss Congreve and her sister "perfectly doated on" croquet, and all the young men were enthusiasts37 in the art, except George Ritherdon, who played too badly to like it, and had never gotten over the painful remembrance of having once caused a young lady, whose face was fairer than her temper, to weep tears of spite and wrathfulness by his blunders in a "match."
"How long is this going to last?" George asked Meredith, when the game was fairly inaugurated, and the animation38 of the party proved how much to their taste their proceedings39 were.
Meredith did not answer until he had watched with narrow and critical interest the stroke which Nelly was then about to make. When the ball had rolled through the hoop40, and it was somebody else's turn, he said,
"Until such time as, having breakfasted at twelve with the prospect41 of dining at seven, we can contrive42 to fancy that we want something to eat, I suppose."
"Well, then, as I don't play, and cannot flatter myself I shall be missed, I shall go in, write some letters, and have a stroll. You will tell Miss Baldwin I don't play croquet, if she should do me the honour to remark my absence?"
"Certainly," said Meredith; and as George turned away, he said to Eleanor,
"I will tell your sister, if she likes, that George does not play croquet or any other game."
She looked up inquiringly.
"No," he said; "he is the most thoroughly43 honest--indeed, I might say the only thoroughly honest--man, who has not any brains, of my acquaintance. _He_ won't lay siege to the heiress, and have no eyes for anybody else, no matter how superior; and yet a little or a good deal of money would be as valuable to George as to most men, I believe."
"I thought Mr. Ritherdon seemed very much taken with Gertrude," said Nelly, who had ceased for the moment to perform the mystic evolutions of the noble game--in a confidential tone, into which she had unconsciously dropped when speaking to Meredith.
"No doubt, so he is; but if she imagines he is going to be an easy conquest--to propose and be rejected--she will be mistaken."
A little while ago, and who would have dared to speak in such a tone of her sister to Eleanor Baldwin? Whom would she have believed, who should have told her that she could have heard unmoved insinuations almost amounting to accusations44 of that sister's vanity, pride, and coquetry? The sweet poison of flattery was taking effect, the deadly plant of jealousy45 was taking ready root.
"I suppose," she said, "every man who comes to the house will be set down as a _pretendant_ of Gertrude's--that is to be expected. If any man of our acquaintance has real self-respect, he will keep away."
"Indeed!" said Meredith. "Would you make no exceptions to so harsh a rule?--not in favour of those to whom Miss Baldwin would be nothing, except your sister?"
"Nelly, Nelly, what are you about? You are moonstruck, I think!" exclaimed Mrs. Haldane Carteret, whose superabundant alertness could not brook46 an interval47 in the game; and Eleanor was absolved48 by this direct appeal from any necessity to take notice of the words spoken by Meredith.
No immediate49 opportunity of again addressing Eleanor arose, so Meredith divided his attentions, in claiming her due share of which Mrs. Carteret was very exacting50, among the party in general, which was shortly reinforced by the arrival of a number of visitors from the "contagious51 countries," and, conspicuous52 among them, Mr. Dort. This honourable young gentleman, though all his parents and friends could possibly desire, in point of fashion, was perhaps a little less than people in general might have desired in point of brains. Indeed, he possessed53 as little of that important ingredient in the composition of humanity as was at all consistent with his keeping up his animal life and keeping himself out of an idiot asylum54.
In appearance he was rather prepossessing; for he had a well-bred not-too-pretty face, "nice" hair (and a capital valet, who rarely received his wages), a tolerably good figure, and better taste in dress than is usually combined with fatuity55. He never talked much, which was a good thing for himself and his friends. He had a dim kind of notion that he did not get at his ideas, or at any rate did not put them in words, with quite so much facility as other people did, and so, actuated by a feeble gleam of common sense, he remained tolerably silent in general. As he naturally enjoyed the aristocratic privilege of not being required to exert himself for anybody's good or convenience, he experienced no sort of awkwardness or misgiving56 when, on making a call, after the ordinary greeting of civilised life (with all the _r_'s eliminated, and all the words jumbled57 together), he remained perfectly silent, in contemplation of the chimneypiece, except when a dog was present, then he pulled its ears, until the conclusion of his visit. He was very harmless, except to tradespeople, and not unamiable--rather cheerful and happy indeed than otherwise, though his habitual58 expression was one of vapid59 discontent. He would have made it sardonic60 if he could, but he couldn't; he had too little nose and not enough moustache for that, and his strong-minded mamma had advised him to give it up.
"I know your cousin Adolphus does it," Lady Gelston said indulgently; "but just consider his natural advantages. Don't do it, Matthew; you _can't_ sneer61 with an upper lip like yours; and, besides, why _should_ you sneer?"
"There's something in that, ma'am, certainly," returned her admiring son, with his usual deliberation. "I really don't see why I should; because, you see, I ain't clever enough for people to expect it:" which was the cleverest thing the Honourable Matthew had ever said, up to that period of his existence.
The young ladies in the neighbourhood rather liked Mr. Dort. He was a good deal in Scotland, chiefly because he found an alarming scarcity62 of ready money was apt to set in, after he had made a comparatively short sojourn63 in London, and each time this happened he would remark to his friends, in the tone and with the manner of a discoverer,
"And there are things one must have money for, don't you know? one can't tick for everything--cabs, and waiters, and so on, don't you know?"
This unhappy perversity64 of circumstances brought the Honourable Matthew home to his ancestral castle earlier, and caused him to remain there longer, than was customary with the territorial65 magnates; and Lord and Lady Gelston were, also for sound pecuniary66 reasons, all-the-year-rounders, and very good neighbours with every family entitled to that distinction. The young ladies, then, liked Mr. Dort. He was useful, agreeable, and "safe." Now this peculiar67-sounding qualification was one which, however puzzling to the uninitiated, was thoroughly understood in the neighbourhood, and its general acceptation made things very pleasant.
The young ladies might like Mr. Dort, and Mr. Dort might and did like the young ladies, without any risk of undue68 expectations being excited, or female jealousies69 and rivalries70 being aroused. Every one knew that Mr. Dort's parents intended their son to marry an heiress, and that Mr. Dort himself was quite of their opinion. When the appointed time and the selected heiress should come, the young ladies were prepared to give up Mr. Dort with cheerfulness. Perhaps they hoped the chosen heiress might be ugly, and certainly they hoped she would "behave properly to the neighbourhood," but there their single-minded cogitations stopped. A good deal of the feudal71 spirit lingered about the Gelston precincts, and if the son of the lord and the lady, the heir of the undeniably grand, if rather out-at-elbows, castle, had been a monk72, or a married man, he could hardly have been more secure from a design on the part of any young lady to convert herself into the Honourable Mrs. Dort.
The pleasantest unanimity73 of feeling prevailed in the community respecting him, and all the married ladies declared they "quite felt for dear Lady Gelston," in her natural anxiety to "have her son settled." Her son was not particularly anxious about it himself, but then it was not his way to be particularly anxious about anything but the "sit" of his garments, and the punctuality of his meals, and this indifference74 was normal. Local heiresses were not plentiful75 in the vicinity of Gelston, but Lady Gelston did not trust to the home supply. She had long ago enlisted76 the sympathies and the services of such of her friends as enjoyed favourable77 opportunities for "knowing about that sort of thing," and who either had no sons, or such as were happily disposed of. She was a practically-minded woman, and fully28 alive to the advantage of securing as many resources as possible.
Lady Gelston would have been perfectly capable of the insolence78 of considering her son's success in the case of the local heiresses--_par excellence_, Miss Baldwin--perfectly indubitable, but of the folly79 she was not capable. He would have a very good chance, she felt convinced, and she was determined80 he should try it as soon as it would be decently possible for him to do so.
"Matt is not the only young man of rank she will meet, even here," said the lady, when she condescended81 to explain her views to her acquiescent82 lord.
Who, be it observed, was quite as well convinced of the advantages of the alliance, and quite as anxious it should take place, as his wife; but who preferred repose83 to action, gave her ladyship credit for practical ability and a contrary taste, and entertained a general idea that scheming in all its departments had better be left to a woman.
"Matt's chance will be before she goes to London," continued her ladyship; "and I really think it is a good one. She likes him, and that goes a great way with a girl"--said as if she were gently compassionating84 a weakness--"and I think the Carterets are sensible people, likely to see their own advantage in her marrying into a family who are on good terms with them, and can make it worth their while to behave nicely. Then there's the advantage to _her_ of the connection. Our son, my dear, living _here_, is a better match for her than Lord Anybody's son, living elsewhere, and unconnected with her people. Really, nothing could be more--more providential, I really consider it, for her." And Lady Gelston nodded approvingly, as if the power alluded85 to had been present, and could have appreciated the polite encouragement.
"Well, my dear, you seem to have taken everything into consideration, and I have no doubt you are right. I hope _they_ will see it in the same light."
"I hope so; but if they don't--and that's why I am anxious Matt should not lose time"--Lady Gelston had a trick of parenthesis--"I shall see about that Treherne girl--Mrs. Peile's niece, you know. Lady John Tarbett sent me a very satisfactory account of her the other day. And by the bye, that reminds me I must go and answer her letter."
Had Lady Gelston been conscious that all her acquaintances were thoroughly aware of the projects which she cherished in reference to Gertrude Baldwin, she would not have been in the least annoyed. The matter presented itself to her mind in a practical common-sense aspect, much as his designs with regard to the "middle-aged86 lady" presented themselves to the mind of Mr. Peter Magnus. "Husband on one side, wife on the other;" fortune on one side, rank on the other; mutual87 accommodation, excellent arrangement for all parties--a little condescending on the part of the Honourable Matthew perhaps, but then the girl was really very rich, and that was all about it. Any one ordinarily clear-sighted, and with any knowledge of the world at all, must recognise the advantages to all parties. If the Carterets and Miss Baldwin were insensible to them--well, it would be provoking, but there were other heiresses, and certain conditions of heiress-ship were tolerably frequent, in which an Honourable Matthew would be a greater prize than to Miss Meriton Baldwin of the Deane.
When Mr. Dort made his appearance on the Deane croquet-ground, there was not an individual present who did not know that he was there with a definite purpose, and in obedience88 to the orders of Lady Gelston, and they all watched his proceedings with curiosity. The fates were not propitious89 to the Honourable Matthew, who had been preparing, on his way, certain pretty speeches, which he flattered himself would be effective, and would help towards "getting it over," which was his periphrastic manner of alluding90, in his self-communings, to the proposal appointed to be made to Miss Baldwin. Gertrude was not present, and everybody was intent upon croquet.
"Where is your sister?" he asked Eleanor, after they had exchanged good-morrows, and agreed that the ball of the previous night had been a successful festivity.
"I really cannot tell you," she replied; "she ought to have been here long ago; but no doubt she will come now."
And then he retired94 modestly to a garden-seat and softly repeated the phrases, which he began to find it desperately95 difficult to retain in his memory.
Robert Meredith had adhered with some tenacity96 to the croquet-party, and had been a witness to this little scene. The amusement, just a little dashed with pique97, which Eleanor displayed did not escape him.
"He is an original, certainly," said Meredith, "which, for the sake of humanity, it is to be hoped will not be extensively copied. I fancy he will propose to-day."
"Very likely," said Nelly; "every one knows he, or his mother, has intended it for a long time. In fact, Gerty rather wants to have it over, as Mr. Dort is not a bad creature, and the sooner he understands that, though she has no notion of marrying him, he may come here all the same, the pleasanter it will be for all parties."
"Of course she _has_ no notion of marrying him?"
"Mr. Meredith, you are insulting! Gerty marry Matt Dort--an idiot like that!"
"An idiot with an old title and a castle to match, in not distant perspective, combination of county influence, &c. &c. &c.," said Meredith, smiling; "not so very improbable, after all."
"So Lady Gelston thinks," replied Nelly; "and won't it be a sell--the slang is delightfully98 expressive--when she finds it is not he."
"And wouldn't it be a sell for her ladyship if it were? thought Meredith.
"I suppose it will, indeed." was his reply. "Though all this is very amusing, I fancy I should consider it very humiliating if I were a woman. I cannot see anything enviable in a position which exposes one to such barefaced99 speculation100."
"Nonsense!" returned Eleanor, with a forced smile; "depend on it, if you were a woman, you would like very well to be in Gertrude's position, and have every one making much of you."
"Here is Gertrude at last," said Mrs. Haldane Carteret, and all the party looked in the direction of the house. There was Gertrude, coming along the terrace, and with her George Ritherdon, supporting on his arm Mr. Dugdale.
"Let us go and meet them," said Eleanor, "and tell Gerty to put the Honourable Matthew out of pain as soon as possible."
"He is to be here this evening, I suppose," said Meredith, as they moved off the croquet-ground.
"Yes," answered Eleanor; "Lady Gelston carefully provided for that last night--not that it was necessary, for he would have invited himself, and come under any circumstances."
When Eleanor and Meredith joined Miss Baldwin and her escort, George Ritherdon said to his friend:
"I will ask you to take my place. I find the post-hour here is horribly early, and I must really let my mother know where I am."
"What on earth have you been doing?" said Meredith, as he offered his arm to Mr. Dugdale. "You went away two hours ago to write letters, you said."
"I think we are to blame," said Gerty. "Mr. Ritherdon found us in the morning room--found uncle James and me, I mean--and we got talking, as Miss Congreve says, and--"
"And I had an opportunity of finding out how much Ritherdon is to be liked," interposed Mr. Dugdale, George being now out of hearing. "I congratulate you on your companion, Robert."
Meredith replied cordially, and the party advanced towards the lawn. The two girls preceded Mr. Dugdale and Meredith, and as the sound of their voices reached the latter, he correctly divined that they were amusing themselves at the expense of Mr. Dort. On the approach of Miss Baldwin, the Honourable Matthew promptly102 abandoned the garden bench, from which no blandishments had previously103 availed to entice104 him, and repeated the phrases which had occasioned him so much trouble, with very suspicious glibness105, to the undisguised amusement of the two girls. Mr. Dort was not in the least abashed106. He had no sense of humour and not a particle of bashfulness, and, if he had reasoned on the subject at all, would have imputed107 their hilarity108 to the natural propensity109 of women to giggle110, rather than have entertained any suspicion that he had made himself ridiculous. But he never reasoned, and he was always perfectly comfortable.
The afternoon passed merrily away, and a pleasant dinner-party succeeded. George Ritherdon had become quite a popular person before the promised dance--not at all splendid, in comparison with the ball of the preceding evening--began, and he confided111 to Meredith his surprise at finding himself "getting on so well," he who was such a bad hand at "society business."
Gertrude gave him several dances that evening--Miss Congreve thought rather too many,--and she gave Mr. Dort one, and a tolerably prolonged audience in the ante-room, after which it was generally observed that the expression of discontent habitual to his features was more marked than usual. He left the Deane long before the party broke up, and found his lady mother still up, and ready to receive his report of proceedings.
"I haven't got on at all," replied the Honourable Matthew. "She said 'No' almost before I'd asked her, and was so infernally pleasant about it, that, hang it! I couldn't get up anything like the proper thing under the circumstances,--you know, mother,--the 'may not time--can you not give me a hope?' business."
"Excessively provoking," said Lady Gelston, turning very red in the face, and speaking in a tone which was the peculiar aversion of her son: "she is a stupid perverse113 girl, and I'm certain you mismanaged the affair."
"No, I didn't," said the Honourable Matt; "there ain't much management about it, that I can see. I said, 'Will you marry me?'--that's flat, I think,--and she said, 'Certainly not;' _that's_ flat, I think;--a perfect flounder, in my opinion."
"Well, well, it can't be helped," said Lady Gelston, with a glance at her son which might have meant that she had arrived at a comprehension of what a fool he really was. "There, go away, and let me get to bed. It's too bad; but there's no help for it. We must only try elsewhere." she continued, as if speaking to herself.
"Stop a bit, mother," interposed the Honourable Matt, without the least impatience114 or any change of expression, "I want to consult you about something. Don't you think what I particularly want is ready money--money that isn't tied up, I mean--not the entail business, don't you know, but the other thing?"
"I think you want money in any way and in any quantity in which it can be had," returned Lady Gelston impatiently. "How can you ask such foolish questions?"
"I'm not. I heard all about Nelly Baldwin's money to-night. Captain Carteret was talking about it to old Largs, and he's so deaf that the Captain had to roar all the particulars; and I'll tell you what, mother,--by Jove, I'll go in for Nelly."
Robert Meredith and George Ritherdon were to remain a week at the Deane. The three days which succeeded their arrival were passed in the ordinary pleasurable pursuits of a luxurious115 and hospitable7 country-house, and were unmarked by any events which made themselves at all conspicuous. Nevertheless they were days with a meaning, an epoch116 with a history, and their course included two incidents. The sisters had a quarrel, which they kept strictly to themselves; and George Ritherdon received a long letter, which he read with profound amazement117, which he promptly destroyed, and concerning whose contents he said not a word to any one.
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scantily
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| adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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honourable
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perfectly
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ardent
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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confidential
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adroit
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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complacent
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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bray
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| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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21
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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disinterestedness
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appendage
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| n.附加物 | |
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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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29
entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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30
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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31
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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32
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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33
frisky
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| adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地 | |
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34
irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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enthusiasts
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| n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 ) | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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39
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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40
hoop
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| n.（篮球）篮圈，篮 | |
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41
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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46
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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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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absolved
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| 宣告…无罪，赦免…的罪行，宽恕…的罪行( absolve的过去式和过去分词 )； 不受责难，免除责任 [义务] ,开脱（罪责） | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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51
contagious
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| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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fatuity
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| n.愚蠢，愚昧 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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jumbled
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| adj.混乱的；杂乱的 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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vapid
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| adj.无味的；无生气的 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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perversity
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| n.任性；刚愎自用 | |
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territorial
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| adj.领土的，领地的 | |
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pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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jealousies
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| n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 )；妒羡 | |
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rivalries
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| n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 ) | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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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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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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80
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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81
condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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82
acquiescent
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| adj.默许的，默认的 | |
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83
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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84
compassionating
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| v.同情（compassionate的现在分词形式） | |
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85
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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87
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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88
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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89
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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90
alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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91
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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92
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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96
tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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97
pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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98
delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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99
barefaced
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| adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的 | |
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100
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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101
mallet
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| n.槌棒 | |
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102
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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103
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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104
entice
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| v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿 | |
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105
glibness
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| n.花言巧语；口若悬河 | |
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106
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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109
propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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110
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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111
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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112
terse
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| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
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113
perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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114
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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115
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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116
epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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117
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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