One morning Helene was arranging her little library, the various books of which had got out of order during the past few days, when Jeanne skipped into the room, clapping her hands.
"A soldier, mamma! a soldier!" she cried.
"What? a soldier?" exclaimed her mother. "What do you want, you and your soldier?"
But the child was in one of her paroxysms of extravagant1 delight; she only jumped about the more, repeating: "A soldier! a soldier!" without deigning2 to give any further explanation. She had left the door wide open behind her, and so, as Helene rose, she was astonished to see a soldier--a very little soldier too--in the ante-room. Rosalie had gone out, and Jeanne must have been playing on the landing, though strictly3 forbidden to do so by her mother.
"What do you want, my lad?" asked Helene.
The little soldier was very much confused on seeing this lady, so lovely and fair, in her dressing4-gown trimmed with lace; he shuffled5 one foot to and fro over the floor, bowed, and at last precipitately6 stammered7: "I beg pardon--excuse--"
But he could get no further, and retreated to the wall, still shuffling8 his feet. His retreat was thus cut off, and seeing the lady awaited his reply with an involuntary smile, he dived into his right-hand pocket, from which he dragged a blue handkerchief, a knife, and a hunk of bread. He gazed on each in turn, and thrust them all back again. Then he turned his attention to the left-hand pocket, from which were produced a twist of cord, two rusty10 nails, and some pictures wrapped in part of a newspaper. All these he pushed back to their resting-place, and began tapping his thighs11 with an anxious air. And again he stammered in bewilderment:
"I beg pardon--excuse--"
But all at once he raised his finger to his nose, and exclaimed with a loud laugh: "What a fool I am! I remember now!"
He then undid12 two buttons of his greatcoat, and rummaged13 in his breast, into which he plunged14 his arm up to the elbow. After a time he drew forth15 a letter, which he rustled16 violently before handing to Helene, as though to shake some dust from it.
"A letter for me! Are you sure?" said she.
On the envelope were certainly inscribed17 her name and address in a heavy rustic18 scrawl19, with pothooks and hangers20 tumbling over one another. When at last she made it all out, after being repeatedly baffled by the extraordinary style and spelling, she could not but smile again. It was a letter from Rosalie's aunt, introducing Zephyrin Lacour, who had fallen a victim to the conscription, "in spite of two masses having been said by his reverence21." However, as Zephyrin was Rosalie's "intended" the aunt begged that madame would be so good as to allow the young folks to see each other on Sundays. In the three pages which the letter comprised this question was continually cropping up in the same words, the confusion of the epistle increasing through the writer's vain efforts to say something she had not said before. Just above the signature, however, she seemed to have hit the nail on the head, for she had written: "His reverence gives his permission"; and had then broken her pen in the paper, making a shower of blots22.
Helene slowly folded the letter. Two or three times, while deciphering its contents, she had raised her head to glance at the soldier. He still remained close to the wall, and his lips stirred, as though to emphasize each sentence in the letter by a slight movement of the chin. No doubt he knew its contents by heart.
"Then you are Zephyrin Lacour, are you not?" asked Helene.
He began to laugh and wagged his head.
"Come in, my lad; don't stay out there."
He made up his mind to follow her, but he continued standing23 close to the door, while Helene sat down. She had scarcely seen him in the darkness of the ante-room. He must have been just as tall as Rosalie; a third of an inch less, and he would have been exempted24 from service. With red hair, cut very short, he had a round, freckled25, beardless face, with two little eyes like gimlet holes. His new greatcoat, much too large for him, made him appear still more dumpy, and with his red-trousered legs wide apart, and his large peaked cap swinging before him, he presented both a comical and pathetic sight--his plump, stupid little person plainly betraying the rustic, although he wore a uniform.
Helene desired to obtain some information from him.
"You left Beauce a week ago?" she asked.
"Yes, madame!"
"And here you are in Paris. I suppose you are not sorry?"
"No, madame."
He was losing his bashfulness, and now gazed all over the room, evidently much impressed by its blue velvet26 hangings.
"Rosalie is out," Helene began again, "but she will be here very soon. Her aunt tells me you are her sweetheart."
To this the little soldier vouchsafed27 no reply, but hung his head, laughing awkwardly, and scraping the carpet with the tip of his boot.
"Then you will have to marry her when you leave the army?" Helene continued questioning.
"Yes, to be sure!" exclaimed he, his face turning very red. "Yes, of course; we are engaged!" And, won over by the kindly29 manners of the lady, he made up his mind to speak out, his fingers still playing with his cap. "You know it's an old story. When we were quite children, we used to go thieving together. We used to get switched; oh yes, that's true! I must tell you that the Lacours and the Pichons lived in the same lane, and were next-door neighbors. And so Rosalie and myself were almost brought up together. Then her people died, and her aunt Marguerite took her in. But she, the minx, was already as strong as a demon31."
He paused, realizing that he was warming up, and asked hesitatingly:
"But perhaps she has told you all this?"
"Yes, yes; but go on all the same," said Helene, who was greatly amused.
"In short," continued he, "she was awfully32 strong, though she was no bigger than a tomtit. It was a treat to see her at her work! How she did get through it! One day she gave a slap to a friend of mine--by Jove! such a slap! I had the mark of it on my arm for a week! Yes, that was the way it all came about. All the gossips declared we must marry one another. Besides, we weren't ten years old before we had agreed on that! And, we have stuck to it, madame, we have stuck to it!"
He placed one hand upon his heart, with fingers wide apart. Helene, however, had now become very grave. The idea of allowing a soldier in her kitchen somewhat worried her. His reverence, no doubt, had given his sanction, but she thought it rather venturesome. There is too much license34 in the country, where lovers indulge in all sorts of pleasantries. So she gave expression to her apprehensions35. When Zephyrin at last gathered her meaning, his first inclination36 was to laugh, but his awe37 for Helene restrained him.
"Oh, madame, madame!" said he, "you don't know her, I can see! I have received slaps enough from her! Of course young men like to laugh! isn't that so? Sometimes I pinched her, and she would turn round and hit me right on the nose. Her aunt's advice always was, 'Look here, my girl, don't put up with any nonsense!' His reverence, too, interfered38 in it, and maybe that had a lot to do with our keeping up sweethearting. We were to have been married after I had drawn39 for a soldier. But it was all my eye! Things turned out badly. Rosalie declared she would go to service in Paris, to earn a dowry while she was waiting for me. And so, and so--"
He swung himself about, dangling40 his cap, now from one hand now from the other. But still Helene never said a word, and he at last fancied that she distrusted him. This pained him dreadfully.
"You think, perhaps, that I shall deceive her?" he burst out angrily. "Even, too, when I tell you we are betrothed41? I shall marry her, as surely as the heaven shines on us. I'm quite ready to pledge my word in writing. Yes, if you like, I'll write it down for you."
Deep emotion was stirring him. He walked about the room gazing around in the hope of finding pen and ink. Helene quickly tried to appease42 him, but he still went on:
"I would rather sign a paper for you. What harm would it do you? Your mind would be all the easier with it."
However, just at that moment Jeanne, who had again run away, returned, jumping and clapping her hands.
Through the open doorway44 one could hear the panting of the maid as she climbed up the stairs laden45 with her basket. Zephyrin started back into a corner of the room, his mouth wide agape from ear to ear in silent laughter, and the gimlet holes of his eyes gleaming with rustic roguery. Rosalie came straight into the room, as was her usual practice, to show her mistress her morning's purchase of provisions.
"Madame," said she, "I've brought some cauliflowers. Look at them! Only eighteen sous for two; it isn't dear, is it?"
She held out the basket half open, but on lifting her head noticed Zephyrin's grinning face. Surprise nailed her to the carpet. Two or three seconds slipped away; she had doubtless at first failed to recognize him in his uniform. But then her round eyes dilated46, her fat little face blanched47, and her coarse black hair waved in agitation48.
"Oh!" she simply said.
But her astonishment49 was such that she dropped her basket. The provisions, cauliflowers, onions, apples, rolled on to the carpet. Jeanne gave a cry of delight, and falling on her knees, began hunting for the apples, even under the chairs and the wardrobe. Meanwhile Rosalie, as though paralyzed, never moved, though she repeated:
"What! it's you! What are you doing here? what are you doing here? Say!"
Then she turned to Helene with the question: "Was it you who let him come in?"
Zephyrin never uttered a word, but contented50 himself with winking51 slily. Then Rosalie gave vent33 to her emotion in tears; and, to show her delight at seeing him again, could hit on nothing better than to quiz him.
"Oh! go away!" she began, marching up to him. "You look neat and pretty I must say in that guise52 of yours! I might have passed you in the street, and not even have said: 'God bless you.' Oh! you've got a nice rig-out. You just look as if you had your sentry-box on your back; and they've cut your hair so short that folks might take you for the sexton's poodle. Good heavens! what a fright you are; what a fright!"
Zephyrin, very indignant, now made up his mind to speak. "It's not my fault, that's sure! Oh! if you joined a regiment53 we should see a few things."
They had quite forgotten where they were; everything had vanished--the room, Helene and Jeanne, who was still gathering54 the apples together. With hands folded over her apron55, the maid stood upright in front of the little soldier.
"Is everything all right down there?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, excepting Guignard's cow is ill. The veterinary surgeon came and said she'd got the dropsy."
"If she's got the dropsy, she's done for. Excepting that, is everything all right?"
"Yes, yes! The village constable56 has broken his arm. Old Canivet's dead. And, by the way, his reverence lost his purse with thirty sous in it as he was a-coming back from Grandval. But otherwise, things are all right."
Then silence fell on them, and they looked at one another with sparkling eyes, their compressed lips slowly making an amorous57 grimace58. This, indeed, must have been the manner in which they expressed their love, for they had not even stretched out their hands in greeting. Rosalie, however, all at once ceased her contemplation, and began to lament59 at sight of the vegetables on the floor. Such a nice mess! and it was he who had caused it all! Madame ought to have made him wait on the stairs! Scolding away as fast as she could, she dropped on her knees and began putting the apples, onions, and cauliflowers into the basket again, much to the disgust of Jeanne, who would fain have done it all herself. And as she turned, with the object of betaking herself into her kitchen, never deigning another look in Zephyrin's direction, Helene, conciliated by the healthy tranquillity60 of the lovers, stopped her to say:
"Listen a moment, my girl. Your aunt has asked me to allow this young man to come and see you on Sundays. He will come in the afternoon, and you will try not to let your work fall behind too much."
Rosalie paused, merely turning her head. Though she was well pleased, she preserved her doleful air.
"Oh, madame, he will be such a bother," she declared. But at the same time she glanced over her shoulder at Zephyrin, and again made an affectionate grimace at him. The little soldier remained for a minute stock-still, his mouth agape from ear to ear with its silent laugh. Then he retired61 backwards62, with his cap against his heart as he thanked Helene profusely63. The door had been shut upon him, when on the landing he still continued bowing.
"Is that Rosalie's brother, mamma?" asked Jeanne.
Helene was quite embarrassed by the question. She regretted the permission which she had just given in a sudden impulse of kindliness65 which now surprised her. She remained thinking for some seconds, and then replied, "No, he is her cousin."
"Ah!" said the child gravely.
Rosalie's kitchen looked out on the sunny expanse of Doctor Deberle's garden. In the summer the branches of the elms swayed in through the broad window. It was the cheeriest room of the suite66, always flooded with light, which was sometimes so blinding that Rosalie had put up a curtain of blue cotton stuff, which she drew of an afternoon. The only complaint she made about the kitchen was its smallness; and indeed it was a narrow strip of a place, with a cooking-range on the right-hand side, while on the left were the table and dresser. The various utensils67 and furnishings, however, had all been so well arranged that she had contrived68 to keep a clear corner beside the window, where she worked in the evening. She took a pride in keeping everything, stewpans, kettles, and dishes, wonderfully clean; and so, when the sun veered69 round to the window, the walls became resplendent, the copper70 vessels71 sparkled like gold, the tin pots showed bright discs like silver moons, while the white-and-blue tiles above the stove gleamed pale in the fiery72 glow.
On the evening of the ensuing Saturday Helene heard so great a commotion73 in the kitchen that she determined74 to go and see what was the matter.
"What is it?" asked she: "are you fighting with the furniture?"
"I am scouring75, madame," replied Rosalie, who, sweating and dishevelled, was squatting76 on the tiled floor and scrubbing it with all the strength of her arms.
This over, she sponged it with clear water. Never had the kitchen displayed such perfection of cleanliness. A bride might have slept in it; all was white as for a wedding. So energetically had she exerted her hands that it seemed as if table and dresser had been freshly planed. And the good order of everything was a sight to see; stewpans and pots taking rank by their size, each on its own hook, even the frying-pan and gridiron shining brightly without one grimy stain. Helene looked on for a moment in silence, and then with a smile disappeared.
Every Saturday afterwards there was a similar furbishing, a tornado77 of dust and water lasting78 for four hours. It was Rosalie's wish to display her neatness to Zephyrin on the Sunday. That was her reception day. A single cobweb would have filled her with shame; but when everything shone resplendent around her she became amiable79, and burst into song. At three o'clock she would again wash her hands and don a cap gay with ribbons. Then the curtain being drawn halfway80, so that only the subdued81 light of a boudoir came in, she awaited Zephyrin's arrival amidst all this primness82, through which a pleasant scent83 of thyme and laurel was borne.
At half-past three exactly Zephyrin made his appearance; he would walk about the street until the clocks of the neighborhood had struck the half-hour. Rosalie listened to the beat of his heavy shoes on the stairs, and opened the door the moment he halted on the landing. She had forbidden him to ring the bell. At each visit the same greeting passed between them.
"Is it you?"
"Yes, it's me!"
And they stood face to face, their eyes sparkling and their lips compressed. Then Zephyrin followed Rosalie; but there was no admission vouchsafed to him till she had relieved him of shako and sabre. She would have none of these in her kitchen; and so the sabre and shako were hidden away in a cupboard. Next she would make him sit down in the corner she had contrived near the window, and thenceforth he was not allowed to budge84.
"Sit still there! You can look on, if you like, while I get madame's dinner ready."
But he rarely appeared with empty hands. He would usually spend the morning in strolling with some comrades through the woods of Meudon, lounging lazily about, inhaling85 the fresh air, which inspired him with regretful memories of his country home. To give his fingers something to do he would cut switches, which he tapered86 and notched87 with marvelous figurings, and his steps gradually slackening he would come to a stop beside some ditch, his shako on the back of his head, while his eyes remained fixed88 on the knife with which he was carving89 the stick. Then, as he could never make up his mind to discard his switches, he carried them in the afternoon to Rosalie, who would throw up her hands, and exclaim that they would litter her kitchen. But the truth was, she carefully preserved them; and under her bed was gathered a bundle of these switches, of all sorts and sizes.
One day he made his appearance with a nest full of eggs, which he had secreted90 in his shako under the folds of a handkerchief. Omelets made from the eggs of wild birds, so he declared, were very nice--a statement which Rosalie received with horror; the nest, however, was preserved and laid away in company with the switches. But Zephyrin's pockets were always full to overflowing91. He would pull curiosities from them, transparent92 pebbles93 found on the banks of the Seine, pieces of old iron, dried berries, and all sorts of strange rubbish, which not even a rag-picker would have cared for. His chief love, however, was for pictures; as he sauntered along he would seize on all the stray papers that had served as wrappers for chocolate or cakes of soap, and on which were black men, palm-trees, dancing-girls, or clusters of roses. The tops of old broken boxes, decorated with figures of languid, blonde ladies, the glazed94 prints and silver paper which had once contained sugar-sticks and had been thrown away at the neighboring fairs, were great windfalls that filled his bosom95 with pride. All such booty was speedily transferred to his pockets, the choicer articles being enveloped96 in a fragment of an old newspaper. And on Sunday, if Rosalie had a moment's leisure between the preparation of a sauce and the tending of the joint97, he would exhibit his pictures to her. They were hers if she cared for them; only as the paper around them was not always clean he would cut them out, a pastime which greatly amused him. Rosalie got angry, as the shreds98 of paper blew about even into her plates; and it was a sight to see with what rustic cunning he would at last gain possession of her scissors. At times, however, in order to get rid of him, she would give them up without any asking.
Meanwhile some brown sauce would be simmering on the fire. Rosalie watched it, wooden spoon in hand; while Zephyrin, his head bent99 and his breadth of shoulder increased by his epaulets, continued cutting out the pictures. His head was so closely shaven that the skin of his skull100 could be seen; and the yellow collar of his tunic101 yawned widely behind, displaying his sunburnt neck. For a quarter of an hour at a time neither would utter a syllable102. When Zephyrin raised his head, he watched Rosalie while she took some flour, minced103 some parsley, or salted and peppered some dish, his eyes betraying the while intense interest. Then, at long intervals104, a few words would escape him:
"By Jove! that does smell nice!"
The cook, busily engaged, would not vouchsafe28 an immediate105 reply; but after a lengthy106 silence she perhaps exclaimed: "You see, it must simmer properly."
Their talk never went beyond that. They no longer spoke107 of their native place even. When a reminiscence came to them a word sufficed, and they chuckled108 inwardly the whole afternoon. This was pleasure enough, and by the time Rosalie turned Zephyrin out of doors both of them had enjoyed ample amusement.
"Come, you will have to go! I must wait on madame," said she; and restoring him his shako and sabre, she drove him out before her, afterwards waiting on madame with cheeks flushed with happiness; while he walked back to barracks, dangling his arms, and almost intoxicated109 by the goodly odors of thyme and laurel which still clung to him.
During his earlier visits Helene judged it right to look after them. She popped in sometimes quite suddenly to give an order, and there was Zephyrin always in his corner, between the table and the window, close to the stone filter, which forced him to draw in his legs. The moment madame made her appearance he rose and stood upright, as though shouldering arms, and if she spoke to him his reply never went beyond a salute110 and a respectful grunt111. Little by little Helene grew somewhat easier; she saw that her entrance did not disturb them, and that their faces only expressed the quiet content of patient lovers.
At this time, too, Rosalie seemed even more wide awake than Zephyrin. She had already been some months in Paris, and under its influence was fast losing her country rust9, though as yet she only knew three streets--the Rue30 de Passy, the Rue Franklin, and the Rue Vineuse. Zephyrin, soldier though he was, remained quite a lubber. As Rosalie confided112 to her mistress, he became more of a blockhead every day. In the country he had been much sharper. But, added she, it was the uniform's fault; all the lads who donned the uniform became sad dolts113. The fact is, his change of life had quite muddled114 Zephyrin, who, with his staring round eyes and solemn swagger, looked like a goose. Despite his epaulets he retained his rustic awkwardness and heaviness; the barracks had taught him nothing as yet of the fine words and victorious115 attitudes of the ideal Parisian fire-eater. "Yes, madame," Rosalie would wind up by saying, "you don't need to disturb yourself; it is not in him to play any tricks!"
Thus the girl began to treat him in quite a motherly way. While dressing her meat on the spit she would preach him a sermon, full of good counsel as to the pitfalls116 he should shun117; and he in all obedience118 vigorously nodded approval of each injunction. Every Sunday he had to swear to her that he had attended mass, and that he had solemnly repeated his prayers morning and evening. She strongly inculcated the necessity of tidiness, gave him a brush down whenever he left her, stitched on a loose button of his tunic, and surveyed him from head to foot to see if aught were amiss in his appearance. She also worried herself about his health, and gave him cures for all sorts of ailments119. In return for her kindly care Zephyrin professed120 himself anxious to fill her filter for her; but this proposal was long-rejected, through the fear that he might spill the water. One day, however, he brought up two buckets without letting a drop of their contents fall on the stairs, and from that time he replenished121 the filter every Sunday. He would also make himself useful in other ways, doing all the heavy work and was extremely handy in running to the greengrocer's for butter, had she forgotten to purchase any. At last, even, he began to share in the duties of kitchen-maid. First he was permitted to peel the vegetables; later on the mincing122 was assigned to him. At the end of six weeks, though still forbidden to touch the sauces, he watched over them with wooden spoon in hand. Rosalie had fairly made him her helpmate, and would sometimes burst out laughing as she saw him, with his red trousers and yellow collar, working busily before the fire with a dishcloth over his arm, like some scullery-servant.
One Sunday Helene betook herself to the kitchen. Her slippers123 deadened the sound of her footsteps, and she reached the threshold unheard by either maid or soldier. Zephyrin was seated in his corner over a basin of steaming broth64. Rosalie, with her back turned to the door, was occupied in cutting some long sippets of bread for him.
"There, eat away, my dear!" she said. "You walk too much; it is that which makes you feel so empty! There! have you enough? Do you want any more?"
Thus speaking, she watched him with a tender and anxious look. He, with his round, dumpy figure, leaned over the basin, devouring124 a sippet with each mouthful of broth. His face, usually yellow with freckles125, was becoming quite red with the warmth of the steam which circled round him.
"Heavens!" he muttered, "what grand juice! What do you put in it?"
"Wait a minute," she said; "if you like leeks--"
However, as she turned round she suddenly caught sight of her mistress. She raised an exclamation126, and then, like Zephyrin, seemed turned to stone. But a moment afterwards she poured forth a torrent127 of excuses.
"It's my share, madame--oh, it's my share! I would not have taken any more soup, I swear it! I told him, 'If you would like to have my bowl of soup, you can have it.' Come, speak up, Zephyrin; you know that was how it came about!"
The mistress remained silent, and the servant grew uneasy, thinking she was annoyed. Then in quavering tones she continued:
"Oh, he was dying of hunger, madame; he stole a raw carrot for me! They feed him so badly! And then, you know, he had walked goodness knows where all along the river-side. I'm sure, madame, you would have told me yourself to give him some broth!"
Gazing at the little soldier, who sat with his mouth full, not daring to swallow, Helene felt she could no longer remain stern. So she quietly said:
"Well, well, my girl, whenever the lad is hungry you must keep him to dinner--that's all. I give you permission"
Face to face with them, she had again felt within her that tender feeling which once already had banished128 all thoughts of rigor129 from her mind. They were so happy in that kitchen! The cotton curtain, drawn half-way, gave free entry to the sunset beams. The burnished130 copper pans set the end wall all aglow131, lending a rosy132 tint133 to the twilight134 lingering in the room. And there, in the golden shade, the lovers' little round faces shone out, peaceful and radiant, like moons. Their love was instinct with such calm certainty that no neglect was even shown in keeping the kitchen utensils in their wonted good order. It blossomed amidst the savory135 odors of the cooking-stove, which heightened their appetites and nourished their hearts.
"Mamma," asked Jeanne, one evening after considerable meditation136, "why is it Rosalie's cousin never kisses her?"
"And why should they kiss one another?" asked Helene in her turn. "They will kiss on their birthdays."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
extravagant
|
|
| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
deigning
|
|
| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
shuffled
|
|
| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
precipitately
|
|
| adv.猛进地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
shuffling
|
|
| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
rust
|
|
| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
rusty
|
|
| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
thighs
|
|
| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
Undid
|
|
| v. 解开, 复原 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
rummaged
|
|
| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
rustled
|
|
| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
inscribed
|
|
| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
rustic
|
|
| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
scrawl
|
|
| vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
hangers
|
|
| n.衣架( hanger的名词复数 )；挂耳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
reverence
|
|
| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
blots
|
|
| 污渍( blot的名词复数 )； 墨水渍； 错事； 污点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
exempted
|
|
| 使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
freckled
|
|
| adj.雀斑；斑点；晒斑；（使）生雀斑v.雀斑，斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
vouchsafed
|
|
| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
vouchsafe
|
|
| v.惠予，准许 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
rue
|
|
| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
demon
|
|
| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
vent
|
|
| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
license
|
|
| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
apprehensions
|
|
| 疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
inclination
|
|
| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
interfered
|
|
| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
dangling
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
betrothed
|
|
| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
appease
|
|
| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
tune
|
|
| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
dilated
|
|
| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
blanched
|
|
| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
winking
|
|
| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
guise
|
|
| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
constable
|
|
| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
amorous
|
|
| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
grimace
|
|
| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
lament
|
|
| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
tranquillity
|
|
| n. 平静, 安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
backwards
|
|
| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
profusely
|
|
| ad.abundantly | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
broth
|
|
| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
kindliness
|
|
| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
suite
|
|
| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
utensils
|
|
| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
contrived
|
|
| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
veered
|
|
| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
vessels
|
|
| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
scouring
|
|
| 擦[洗]净，冲刷，洗涤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
squatting
|
|
| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
tornado
|
|
| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
lasting
|
|
| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
primness
|
|
| n.循规蹈矩，整洁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
83
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
budge
|
|
| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
inhaling
|
|
| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
tapered
|
|
| adj. 锥形的，尖削的，楔形的，渐缩的，斜的 动词taper的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
notched
|
|
| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
carving
|
|
| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
secreted
|
|
| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
overflowing
|
|
| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
transparent
|
|
| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
pebbles
|
|
| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
glazed
|
|
| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
enveloped
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
joint
|
|
| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
shreds
|
|
| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
tunic
|
|
| n.束腰外衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
syllable
|
|
| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
minced
|
|
| v.切碎( mince的过去式和过去分词 )；剁碎；绞碎；用绞肉机绞（食物，尤指肉） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
intervals
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
lengthy
|
|
| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
intoxicated
|
|
| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
salute
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
grunt
|
|
| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
confided
|
|
| 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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
dolts
|
|
| n.笨蛋，傻瓜( dolt的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
114
muddled
|
|
| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
pitfalls
|
|
| （捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
shun
|
|
| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
ailments
|
|
| 疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
professed
|
|
| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
replenished
|
|
| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
mincing
|
|
| adj.矫饰的；v.切碎；切碎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
slippers
|
|
| n. 拖鞋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
devouring
|
|
| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
freckles
|
|
| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
banished
|
|
| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
rigor
|
|
| n.严酷，严格，严厉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
burnished
|
|
| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
aglow
|
|
| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
tint
|
|
| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
twilight
|
|
| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
savory
|
|
| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
meditation
|
|
| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |