“Scale ‘im, an’ ye’ll find he’s a half better. Clear es a bottle o’ gin, an’ flawless es the pope! Tommy Dartmoor, ye’re in luck, s’ welp me never ef ye ain’t, an’ that’s a brilliant yer can show the polis an’ not get time fer.”
Tommy Dartmoor, who owed his surname to a crown establishment within the restraining walls of which he had once enjoyed a temporary residence, growled1 out a recommendation to “stow that,” and then added, “Boys, we’ll wet this. Trek2 to Werstein’s.”
Forthwith a crowd of dirty, tanned diggers turned their heads in the direction of Gustav Werstein’s American Bar, and walked toward it as briskly as the heat and their weariness would admit of. The Israelite saw them coming, straightened himself out of the half-doze in which he had passed the baking afternoon, stopped down the tobacco in the porcelain4 bowl of his long-stemmed pipe with stumpy forefinger5, and, twisting a cork6 off his corkscrew, stood in readiness.
“Name yer pizons, boys, an’ get outside ‘em, wishin’ all good luck to R’yal Straight; R’yal Straight bein’ the name o’ this yer stone given by Thomas D. Hesquire, original diskiverer an’ present perprietor.”
The orders were given,—bass at five shillings a bottle, champagne7 (nee gooseberry) at five pounds, Cape8 smoke at two shillings per two fingers,—and, at a given signal, there was an inarticulate roar from dusty throats, an inversion9 of tumblers over thirsty mouths, and a second inversion over the ground to show that all the contents had disappeared.
Satan, the one cat and only domestic pet of the camp, saw that there was a general treat going on, and bustling10 up for his drink took a can of condensed milk at six shillings. Other diggers came trooping in as the news spread, and Tommy Dartmoor, who was rapidly becoming mellow11, for he drank half a tumbler of raw whisky with every one who nodded to him, stood them refreshments12 galore, while the greasy13 Jew began to see visions of his adopted fatherland in the near distance.
So the Kaffirs, except those who had supplies of their own, kept sober and peaceful, while the higher order of the human race at Big Stone Hole, after the manner of their kind, began to squabble. It was natural for them to do so, perhaps, for the weather was so hot, and the liquors, for the most part, more so; and under these circumstances men do not always cast about them long for a casus belli. One or two minor16 brawls17 opened the ball, and Herr Gustav, scenting18 battle in the air, drew from a locker19 a card, which he balanced against the bottles on a shelf above his head. It read thus:
GENTS IS REKESTED TO SHOOT
CLEAR OF THE BARR-KEP.
BROKIN GLAS MAY BE PADE FOR
AT COST PRISE.
and had been written for the German by a gentleman who had had some experience in Forty Rod Gulch20, Nevada. The action elicited21 a contemptuous laugh from one or two of the new hands, but the oldsters began shifting sundry22 articles which depended from their belts into positions from which they might be handled at the shortest notice; and the black cat, more wise than any of them, having drunk his fill, stalked solemnly out into the security of the darkness.
The sun went down,—went out with a click, some one declared,—and, as no twilight23 interposed between daylight and darkness in the country which Big Stone Hole ornamented24, Herr Gustav lit his two paraffin-lamps. Neither boasted more than a one-inch wick, and, as their glasses were extremely smoky, the illumination was not brilliant; but it sufficed to show the flushed, angry faces of a couple of men standing26 in the centre of the room, with all the others clustered round, watching eagerly. One was the Scholar. The other was a burly giant, whose missing left little finger caused him to be nicknamed the Cripple. About what they had originally fallen out was not clear to any one, to themselves least of all. As the case stood when the second lamp was lit, Scholar had called Cripple a something-or-other liar28, and Cripple, who was not inventive, had retorted by stigmatising Scholar as another. Further recriminations followed, and their pistols were drawn29; but as the audience had a strong objection to indiscriminate shooting, by which it was not likely to benefit, the belligerents30 were seized. No one was unsportsmanlike enough to wish to stop the fight, and Jockey Bill, giving voice to the general wish of the meeting, proposed that the gents be fixed31 up agin’ a couple o’ posts outside, where they might let daylight into each other without lead-poisoning casual spectators.
The motion was acted on, and after rectifying32 a slight omission33 on the Cripple’s part—he had forgotten to put caps on the nipples of his revolver—the pair of them were seated upon upturned barrels some ten yards apart, each with a lamp at his feet, and told to begin when they saw fit to do so. The swarthy, bearded diggers grouped themselves on either side, and the cat, emerging from his retreat, scrambled34 on to the shoulder of one of them, fully35 as curious as the rest to “see the shootin’.” It was a weird36 sight,—dust, scorched37 grass, empty tins, rude hovels, piles of debris38, African moonlight,—yet, except, perhaps, in the eyes of the newest comers, there was nothing strange in it. The others were too wrapped up in what was going to take place to see anything quaint39 in their every-day surroundings. There was no theatre in the camp. The little impromptu40 drama riveted41 all attention.
But before the duel42 commenced, a galloping43 horse, which had approached over the grassy44 veldt unnoticed during the excitement, drew up with a crash between the two combatants, and its rider, raising his hand to command attention, cried:
“Boys, there’s a white woman comin’!”
“A white woman!” was chorused in various tones of disbelief. “What, here? White woman comin’ here, Dan?”
And then some one inquired if she was a Boer.
“Boer—no,” replied Dan; “English—English as I am; leastways Englisher, bein’ Amurrican-born myself. Overtook her et Hottentot Drift. Thort I’d spur on an’ tell yer. We’d do wi’ a clean-up, some on us.”
Dan spoke45 indistinctly, as a bullet had lately disarranged some of his teeth; but his words had a wonderful effect.
Each man began instinctively46 to tidy himself. The would-be duellists, forgetting their quarrel, stuck the revolvers in their belts and followed the general example. The Cripple hied him to the store, and after breaking down the door abstracted the only blacking-brush in the camp,—putting down a sovereign on the counter in exchange for it,—and set to polishing his high boots as if a fortune depended on their brightness. The Scholar bought Herr Gustav’s white shirt for a fiver, threatening to murder its owner if he did not render it up. And Partridge, a good man from Norfolk, with a regrettable weakness for shooting other people’s game, induced a friend to denude48 him of his flowing locks by means of a clasp-knife and a hunk of wood, as no scissors were procurable49.
The wardrobes of Big Stone Hole were stocked more with a view to strict utility than variety or ornamentation, and the slender resources of the store utterly50 gave out under the sudden strain that was put upon them. In every direction grimy, unkempt men might be seen attempting to beautify themselves. Here was one enduring agonies from a razor that would scarcely whittle51 a stick; here another recalling the feel of a cake of soap; there a great fellow pulling faces as he struggled to get the teeth of a comb into his shock of hair; there another brushing the clay from his moleskin trousers with a tuft of stiff grass.
It seemed to these men ages since they had last seen a woman in the flesh,—Kaffir women don’t count; they are not women, merely Kaffirs,—and, with the natural instinct of males of every species, they set about pluming53 their feathers.
These operations, though speedy as might be, were necessarily prolonged, for most of the men required several buckets of water over the head before they felt fit for such unaccustomed exercises, and they were scarcely finished before the creaking of wheels and the cries of the voorlooper as he urged his oxen announced that the wagon55 was within earshot. Up it came, the great tilt56 gleaming white in the moonlight, and every eye was fixed expectantly on the dark chasm57 within. The driver, puffed58 up with his own importance, cracked his long whip and deigned59 not to notice the men whom he usually greeted with a friendly hail, and the Hottentot boy ahead, imitating his master, vouchsafed60 no explanation. With more deathly slowness than usual did the lumbering61 vehicle crawl along until the tired cattle pulled up before the door of the American Bar. Then there was a rush and a bit of a scuffle for the honour of handing the woman out. The Cripple was the fortunate man, and, after assisting her to the ground, waved his tattered62 hat toward the gleaming open doorway63. But he did not speak. Words were beyond him. Indeed, the diggers, who were none of them particularly remarkable64 for taciturnity as a general thing, seemed, with one exception, to be stricken dumb. But the Scholar proved himself equal to the occasion, and with courtly phrase bade the new-comer welcome to the camp. He had always been a popular man among women in his palmier days, though openly holding rather a poor opinion of them; and as the one before him now was neat of speech and comely65 of form, he was not at all averse66 to enjoying her society and conversation.
“I should be much obliged if you would direct me to a hotel,” she said, after taking a look around the cheap gaudiness67 of the saloon.
“I’m sorry to say that we have no hotel here as yet, Miss—er—?”
“Musgrave. Miss Mary Musgrave”—with a little bow. “But I heard that a German had started a hotel here.”
“No; there is nothing but this. That”—pointing to Herr Gustave, who was regarding the newcomer with an evil eye—“that is the German.”
Miss Musgrave appeared distressed68.
“The lady may have my place,” chorused three eager voices, and every man in the room repeated the offer.
She thanked them with a pretty smile and one comprehensive bow, and looked up at the Scholar for help.
“I would offer you my hut if it were not such a wretched one. But, as it is, I should advise you to take this man’s”—and he pointed70 to Tommy Dartmoor.
“Why, mine’s twenty carats better than hisn!” exclaimed the Cripple.
“And mine better ‘n either,” growled Dan.
“Mine’s the best of the lot.”
“No, it isn’t; mine is,” yelled others, till there was a general roar, which caused Miss Musgrave to look frightened and shrink nearer to the Scholar, and that gentleman to raise his hand for silence.
“Look here,” said he, “we’ll pick out the twelve best, and their owners can cut with one another from a pack of cards.”
After some discussion twelve were settled upon, but the number was immediately raised to thirteen to prevent Jockey Bill disgracing the camp by shooting before a lady. A pack of cards was placed on the bar, and each man chose one, holding his selection face downward till all were ready. Then the Scholar said, “Turn,” and there were exhibited five aces25, two kings, a queen, three knaves71, and two smaller cards. This was awkward, to say the least of it, and, while sarcastic72 laughter rippled73 among the spectators, there was an instinctive47 movement of right hands toward the back of the belt on the part of each of the thirteen.
But the Scholar’s voice, full of remonstrance74, said, “Boys, you’re being looked at,” and there was a regretful sigh or two, but no bloodshed.
Miss Musgrave gazed inquiringly from one to another, and the Scholar, laying his hand on her arm, whispered something in her ear. She smiled, whispered back, and was answered, and then, stripping off a pair of well-fitting fawn75 gloves, she took the cards in a pretty little white hand, and dealt out one to each of the competitors with charming clumsiness.
“Ain’t touched a keard afore, bless her,” whispered Euchre Buck54, giving his neighbor Dan a nudge in the ribs76 to call attention to this wonderful piece of girlish innocence77. “Square a deal es George Washington mought ha’ made.” Then, as the greasy pasteboards were turned up, and his neighbour was handed the ace14 of clubs, he raised his voice and yelled out, “Bully for you, Dan! Cut away an’ clar yer cabin out.”
Away scampered78 Dan out into the darkness, with the rest of the crew at his heels. Their home comforts were very small, poor fellows; but each gave of his best, though the gifts were often incongruous enough. In half an hour the cabin was fitted out with a small cracked looking-glass, two combs, an old hair-brush,—still wet from the wash,—a pail, a frying-pan, three kettles, two three-legged stools, and so many blankets that some were requisitioned to carpet the floor. The whole crowd accompanied Miss Musgrave to her door and gave her a cheer by way of good-night. She bowed to them, smiling her thanks, and looking, as they thought, entrancingly lovely as she stood there, with the pale moonbeams falling full on her.
Then she turned to go in, but as Euchre Buck stepped forward with an admonishing79 cough, she waited and looked round at him.
“Miss,” said he, holding out a big revolver in his hard fist, “you take this yer gun, an’ ef any one whistles, or otherwise disturbs you, let a hole into him straight away, an’ we’ll see him buried decent.”
But Miss Musgrave courteously80, and with profuse81 thanks, refused the offer, and, saying that she had perfect confidence in all who were around her, gave Euchre Buck a bewitching smile, went inside, and closed the door after he.
Then the diggers returned to Gustav Werstein’s American Bar and discussed the new arrival.
“I known Noomarket an’ Hascot an’ Hepson, an’ all the places where swells82 goes in England,” said Jockey Bill, enthusiastically; “but never one come there as pretty as she, stop my license83 if ther’ did.”
“Grand eyes, hain’t she?” said Tommy Dartmoor. “Regular fust-water ‘uns. Here’s to ‘em!”
“And-a-hoof! See it peep below her gownd. S’ welp me ef it wer’ es big as my ‘bacca-box!”
“An’ ‘er close, gentlemen! Made to measure, every thread on ‘em, I allow.”
“She’s a lady, boys,” exclaimed he who had offered to see after a funeral, “a reg’lar slap-up, high-toned, blow-yer-eyes-don’t-touch-me lady; an’ as she sees fit to do the civil to this fellar”—striking himself on the chest—“he’s just going to drop his professional name, an’ arsk yer to call him Mister Samuel K. Gregson, Esquire. Play on that.”
Next morning the inhabitants of Big Stone Hole were startled by reading this announcement outside the cabin which Dan had resigned to Miss Musgrave:
SINGING AND MUSIC TAUGHT.
LITERARY WORK DONE.
It was printed on a card, which was affixed84 to the door by means of a drawing-pin, and from within came the sound of a contralto voice singing to a guitar accompaniment. One by one the male residents of Big Stone Hole drew near to that iron-roofed hut and stopped to listen; but after commenting on the innovation in gleeful whispers—for guitar had never twanged in that part of Africa before—they moved on to their work. No consideration could cause them to neglect that. They might fritter away the dull, rough gems85 when they had found them, but the lust27 of handling diamonds once was the strongest passion they knew. And so the day’s toil86 was not curtailed87; but at the conclusion Miss Musgrave had an application for instruction in music from every man in the camp, with one exception. This one defaulter was Euchre Buck. He owned to having no ear for music—thereby exhibiting more honesty than many of the others—and confessed to knowing only two tunes88, one of which was “Hail Columbia,” and the other—wasn’t; and so he said he wanted some “literary work done.” He proposed to Miss Musgrave that she should write a history of his life at half a guinea a page, thereby—cute Yankee that he was—thinking to appropriate the whole of her time.
But embarrassed by all these calls upon her, and obviously unable to satisfy each of them, Miss Musgrave turned for help to the Scholar, whom she appeared to regard as her special adviser89; and he, promising90 a solution of the difficulty in half an hour, drew off the whole crowd to the American Bar, where the question was thrashed out in all its points.
It was clearly evident that Miss Musgrave could not surrender to each individual the whole of her evening, even if any one had been willing to let his neighbor monopolise it, which no one was; and therefore it was necessary to formulate91 some scheme by which her talents might be distributed over a larger area. But what the scheme should be was not settled all in a minute. One man wanted to hear her sing, another to hear her talk, another was willing to give five pounds an hour for the privilege of talking to her. After a lengthened92 discussion, which was excited throughout, and at times verged93 on the warlike, it was decided94 to effect a compromise—subject, of course, to Miss Musgrave’s inclinations95; and a deputation was sent to learn her views on the subject.
There was no assembly-room in the place, excepting Werstein’s saloon,—which, of course, was not available for such a purpose,—and so it was proposed to her, with much humility96, that she should take up her position in the evenings on a chair outside her hut, and there discourse97 such vocal98 and instrumental music as she saw fit, interlarding the same with friendly conversation. What was she to talk about? Anything—absolutely anything. They didn’t mind what it was, so long as they heard her voice. Five shillings, the committee had decided, was to be paid by every man who came within earshot. And any one who wanted a free list was requested to argue the matter out with Euchre Buck.
This call upon her powers seemed to take Miss Musgrave aback.
“I have never sung in public,” she pleaded, rather nervously99. “Indeed, my voice is not good enough for it; really it isn’t. Only I thought I could teach a little perhaps, and that is why I came here. You see, mother, is an invalid100, and we were so very poor that—”
“Miss,” broke in Jockey Bill, “call it ten bob a ‘ead, an’ just ‘um to us.”
“Oh no, Mr. William, it was not the money that I thought about; indeed, five shillings would be far too much. But if you think that I should be able to amuse you at all, I would do my very best—believe me, I would.”
“Miss,” growled Dan, with a clumsy endeavour to chase away her diffidence, “all we asks is fer you to sit near us fer a spell. Ef you sings or plays, we’d be proud; ef you just looks an’ talks, we’d be pleased.”
So in the end Miss Musgrave yielded to the wishes of the community, and the nightly conclave101 in the American Bar became so much a thing of the past that Gustav Werstein was heard to threaten another emigration. The songs were to the diggers new, and yet not new. There was nothing of the music-hall type about them; they were nearly all old-fashioned ditties. She sang to them of “Barbara Allen” and “Sally in our Alley”; she gave them “Cheer, Boys, Cheer,” and called for a chorus; she sang “The Message,” “The Arrow and the Song”; and she brought back memories of other days when Africa was to them a mere52 geographical102 expression—of days when that something had not happened which had sent them away from home.
Sunday came, the fifth day after her arrival, and it differed from the usual Sabbath of Big Stone Hole. Sunday had been observed before by the biggest drinking bout15 of the week, and a summary settlement of the previous six days’ disputes. Now, to the huge surprise of the Kaffirs, and to the still greater surprise of themselves, these diamond-diggers sang hymns103 at intervals104 during the day, and refrained from indulging in the orthodox carouse105 till after Miss Musgrave had retired106 for the night. It was a wonderful change.
During the next week a fall of earth took place in Tommy Dartmoor’s claim. Two Kaffirs were killed; and when the proprietor107 himself was extricated108 from the debris of blue clay which held him down, he was found to have a broken arm, besides other serious injuries.
“Don’t let on to her,” he managed to gasp109 out to his rescuers, wishing to spare Miss Musgrave’s nerves a shock.
But she saw the men bearing him to his hut, joined them, and insisted on being installed as sole nurse forthwith.
Twenty other men would willingly have broken an arm for such a reward; and the recklessness displayed during the next few days was something awful. But she saw that too,—little escaped those big blue eyes,—and, ascribing it to drink, gave a pretty strong lecture on the bibulous110 habits of Big Stone Hole, at her next concert.
There was an earnest meeting in the American Bar that night, at which the following motion was put and carried unanimously: “On and after this date, any drunken man is liable to be shot at sight, unless his friends can prove that he has dug over three carats of diamonds during the day.” And then, like other reformers, they went on to more sweeping111 measures: “Only knife-fighting to take place in the camp. All disputes with pistols, unless of a very pressing nature, to be settled out of earshot of Dan’s house.” There were even some hints of appointing a closing-time for the saloon—“it would make the place so much more like home.” But the promoter eventually withdrew his suggestion, as it was justly felt that such a motion would interfere112 with the liberty of the subject too much. But a storm of cheers burst forth3 when it was proposed to transfer the diamond-safe from Werstein’s keeping to a corner of the new goddess’s shrine113.
Even Satan, the cat, joined in the general adoration114, and, more favoured than the rest, enjoyed at times a chaste115 salute116 from Miss Musgrave’s ripe-red lips.
Never, in so short a space of time, had a community been more changed for the better than was that of Big Stone Hole. Never had woman’s humanising influence made itself more clearly felt. The azure117 cloud of blasphemy118 that hung over the workings and the rest of the camp was replaced again by the normal dust. Each man tried to beautify the inside of his shanty119 to the best of his means and ideas, for there was no knowing when the only “she” would take it into her pretty, capricious head to pay a call. In this latter line the Scholar had a decided pull. Education had taught him taste; necessity, handiness; and by aid of the two he transformed his rude dwelling120 into something approaching the rooms in which he used to dawdle121 away the happy hours, time ago. It was partly drawing-room, partly curiosity-shop. Cups, saucers, and spoons appeared as if by magicians’ call, and one blazing afternoon the news flashed round the diamond-pits that Miss Musgrave was “taking afternoon tea with the Scholar.” But when the Scholar saw the dismay his simple act had spread around him, he dissipated it with a kindly122 laugh and a few reassuring123 words.
“Don’t mind me, boys. I was only doing the civil in a purely124 platonic125 manner. Miss Musgrave is nothing to me, nor am I anything to her. Heaven forbid! I’m too hard a bargain for any girl. If any one of you marries her I’ll act as his best man if he asks me to, and wish him every felicity without a thought of regret.”
“Bully for the Scholar!” yelled the delighted crowd; and Miss Musgrave’s smiles were more sought after than ever.
So things went on day after day, week after week, till Miss Musgrave became little short of an autocratic empress. But still she showed no signs of taking unto herself a consort126; she kept all men at a cousinly distance, and those who felt intimate enough to address her as “Miss Mary” accounted themselves uncommonly127 fortunate. Thus the little machine of state worked perfectly128 harmoniously129, and Big Stone Hole was as steady and prosperous a settlement as need be.
Had these diggers refreshed their minds by looking back for historical parallels, they might have been prepared in some degree for Miss Musgrave’s exit from among them, but as none of them indulged in such retrospections the manner of it took the camp somewhat by surprise.
It was first discovered in this wise. Work was over for the day. The Kaffirs had been searched and had returned to their kraal. Pipes were being lit after the evening meal, and a picturesque130 assembly was grouping itself in an expectant semicircle on the sun-baked turf in front of Miss Musgrave’s dwelling. She was usually outside to welcome the first comers, and her absence naturally formed the staple131 topic of conversation. Digger after digger arrived, threw himself down, and joined in the general wonderment as to why Miss Mary wasn’t there, and at last some one hazarded a suggestion that she “must be asleep.” There was a general epidemic132 of noisy coughing for a full minute, and then silence for another, but no sound from within the hut.
After the etiquette134 to be followed had been strictly135 discussed, and a rigid136 course of procedure set down, the Scholar got up and knocked at the door. He received no answer, and so knocked again—knocked several times, in fact, and then rattled137 the handle vigorously, but without result.
“Better open it,” said a voice.
And he did so; and after looking inside, announced:
“She’s not there.”
At this moment Dan came up.
“My ole mar’ ‘s gone,” he said; “an’ she ain’t stampeded, neither, but was stole. Tote-rope’s been untied138, an’ saddle an’ bridle139 took as well.”
There was uncomfortable silence, which the Scholar broke by a low, long-drawn whistle.
“Boys,” said he, “let’s look inside the safe.”
The three men who held the keys brought them up, the bolts were shot, and the massive door swung back. There was every man’s little sack with his name on it; but somehow or other the sacks looked limper than of yore. Each one was eagerly clutched and examined, and many a groan140 and not a few curses went up on the still night air as it was found that every sack save Dan’s had been relieved of the more valuable part of its contents.
So much heart-breaking labour under the burning sun thrown away for nothing; the dreary141 work to commence afresh, almost from the beginning! Had the thief been any ordinary one, the denunciation would have been unbounded; but no one lifted his tongue very loudly against Mary Musgrave. Yet mounted men were despatched on the three trails to bring back the booty if possible, and the rest moved dejectedly toward their old club. The greasy Jew did not attempt to conceal142 his exultation143. He served his customers with his wicked old face glowing with smiles, and when a moment’s breathing-time came he observed:
“We all ‘az hour lettle surbrizes in dis wairld, an’ I most confaiss I am asdonished myself to lairn that Mess Mosgrave is a thief—” But here a crashing among the glassware announced that Tommy Dartmoor had begun shooting with his left hand, and Herr Gustave sputtered144 out from behind the fingers he held before his face, “Ach Gott! I say nozzing more!”
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收听单词发音
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1
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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trek
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| vi.作长途艰辛的旅行；n.长途艰苦的旅行 | |
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3
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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7
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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8
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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inversion
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| n.反向，倒转，倒置 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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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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brawls
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| 吵架，打架( brawl的名词复数 ) | |
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18
scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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gulch
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| n.深谷，峡谷 | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
aces
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| abbr.adjustable convertible-rate equity security (units) 可调节的股本证券兑换率；aircraft ejection seat 飞机弹射座椅；automatic control evaluation simulator 自动控制评估模拟器n.擅长…的人( ace的名词复数 )；精于…的人；（ 网球 ）（对手接不到发球的）发球得分；爱司球 | |
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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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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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28
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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29
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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30
belligerents
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| n.交战的一方（指国家、集团或个人）( belligerent的名词复数 ) | |
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31
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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32
rectifying
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| 改正，矫正( rectify的现在分词 )； 精馏； 蒸流； 整流 | |
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33
omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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34
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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35
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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36
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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37
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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38
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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39
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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40
impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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41
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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42
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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43
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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44
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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45
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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46
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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47
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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48
denude
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| v.剥夺；使赤裸 | |
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49
procurable
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| adj.可得到的，得手的 | |
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50
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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51
whittle
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| v.削（木头），削减；n.屠刀 | |
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52
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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53
pluming
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| 用羽毛装饰（plume的现在分词形式） | |
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54
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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55
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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56
tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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57
chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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58
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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59
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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61
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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62
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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63
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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64
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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65
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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66
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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67
gaudiness
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| n.华美，俗丽的美 | |
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68
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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69
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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70
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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71
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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72
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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73
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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74
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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75
fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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76
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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77
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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78
scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
admonishing
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| v.劝告( admonish的现在分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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80
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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81
profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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82
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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83
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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84
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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85
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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86
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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87
curtailed
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| v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
tunes
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| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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89
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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90
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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91
formulate
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| v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述 | |
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92
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
verged
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| 接近，逼近（verge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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94
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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95
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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96
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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97
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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98
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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99
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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100
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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101
conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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102
geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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103
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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104
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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105
carouse
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| v.狂欢；痛饮；n.狂饮的宴会 | |
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106
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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107
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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108
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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110
bibulous
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| adj.高度吸收的，酗酒的 | |
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111
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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112
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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113
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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114
adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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115
chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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116
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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117
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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118
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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119
shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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120
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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121
dawdle
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| vi.浪费时间；闲荡 | |
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122
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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123
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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124
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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125
platonic
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| adj.精神的；柏拉图（哲学）的 | |
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126
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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127
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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128
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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129
harmoniously
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| 和谐地，调和地 | |
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130
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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131
staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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132
epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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133
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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134
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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135
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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136
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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137
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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138
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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139
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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140
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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141
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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142
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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143
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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144
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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