Mr. Taggett, in spite of the excellent subjection under which he held his nerves, caught his breath at these words, and a transient pallor overspread his face as he followed the pointing of Richard's finger. If William Durgin had testified falsely on that point, if he had swerved1 a hair's-breadth from the truth in that matter, then there was but one conclusion to be drawn2 from his perjury3. A flash of lightning is not swifter than was Mr. Taggett's thought in grasping the situation. In an instant he saw all his carefully articulated case fall to pieces in his hands. Richard crossed the narrow room, and stood in front of him.
"Mr. Taggett, do you know why William Durgin lied? He lied because it was life or death with him! In a moment of confusion he had committed one of those simple, fatal blunders which men in his circumstances always commit. He had obliterated4 the spots on his clothes with red paint, when he ought to have used blue!"
"That is a very grave supposition."
"It is not a supposition," cried Richard. "The daylight is not a plainer fact."
"You are assuming too much, Mr. Shackford."
"I am assuming nothing. Durgin has convicted himself; he has fallen into a trap of his own devising. I charge him with the murder of Lemuel Shackford; I charge him with taking the chisel5 and the matches from my workshop, to which he had free access; and I charge him with replacing those articles in order to divert suspicion upon me. My unfortunate relations with my cousin gave color to this suspicion. The plan was an adroit6 plan, and has succeeded, it seems."
Mr. Taggett did not reply at once, and then very coldly: "You will pardon me for suggesting it, but it will be necessary to ascertain7 if this is the cask which Durgin hoped, and also if the head has not been repainted since."
"I understand what your doubt implies. It is your duty to assure yourself of these facts, and nothing can be easier. The person who packed the meat--it was probably a provision dealer8 named Stubbs--will of course be able to recognize his own work. The other question you can settle with a scratch of your penknife. You see. There has been only one thin coat of paint laid on,--the grain of the wood is nearly distinguishable through it. The head is evidently new; but the cask itself is an old one. It has stood here these ten years."
Mr. Taggett bent9 a penetrating10 look on Richard. "Why did you refuse to answer the subpoena11, Mr. Shackford?"
"But I haven't refused. I was on my way to Justice Beemis's office when you knocked. Perhaps I am a trifle late," added Richard, catching12 Mr. Taggett's distrustful glance.
"The summons said two o'clock," remarked Mr. Taggett, pressing the spring of his watch. "It is now after three."
"After three!"
"How could you neglect it,--with evidence of such presumable importance in your hands?"
"It was only a moment ago that I discovered this. I had come here from Mr. Perkins's office. Mr. Perkins had informed me of the horrible charge which was to be laid at my door. The intelligence fell upon me like a thunder-clap. I think it unsettled my reason for a while. I was unable to put two ideas together. At first he didn't believe I had killed my cousin, and presently he seemed to believe it. When I got out in the street the sidewalk lurched under my feet like the deck of a ship; everything swam before me. I don't know how I managed to reach this house, and I don't know how long I had been sitting in a room up-stairs when the recollection of the subpoena occurred to me. I was standing14 here dazed with despair; I saw that I was somehow caught in the toils15, and that it was going to be impossible to prove my innocence16. If another man had been in my position, I should have believed him guilty. I stood looking at the cask in the corner there, scarcely conscious of it; then I noticed the blue paint on the head, and then William Durgin's testimony17 flashed across my mind. Where is he?" cried Richard, turning swiftly. "That man should be arrested!"
"I am afraid he is gone," said Mr. Taggett, biting his lip.
"Do you mean he has fled?"
"If you are correct--he has fled. He failed to answer the summons to-day, and the constable18 sent to look him up has been unable to find him. Durgin was in the bar-room of the tavern19 at eight o'clock last night; he has not been seen since."
"He was not in the yard this morning. You have let him slip through your fingers."
"So it appears, for the moment."
"You still doubt me, Mr. Taggett?"
"I don't let persons slip through my fingers."
Mr. Taggett flushed, as if Richard had read his secret thought. Durgin's flight, if he really had fled, had suggested a fresh possibility to Mr. Taggett. What if Durgin were merely the pliant22 instrument of the cleverer man who was now using him as a shield? This reflection was precisely23 in Mr. Taggett's line. In absconding24 Durgin had not only secured his own personal safety, but had exonerated25 his accomplice. It was a desperate step to take, but it was a skillful one.
"He had an accomplice?" repeated Mr. Taggett, after a moment. "Who was it?"
"Torrini!"
"The man who was hurt the other day?"
"Yes."
"You have grounds for your assertion?"
"He and Durgin were intimate, and have been much together lately. I sat up with Torrini the night before last; he acted and talked very strangely; the man was out of his head part of the time, but now, as I think it over, I am convinced that he had this matter on his mind, and was hinting at it. I believe he would have made disclosures if I had urged him a little. He was evidently in great dread26 of a visit from some person, and that person was Durgin. Torrini ought to be questioned without delay; he is very low, and may die at any moment. He is lying in a house at the further end of the town. If it is not imperative27 that I should report myself to Justice Beemis, we had better go there at once."
Mr. Taggett, who had been standing with his head half bowed, lifted it quickly as he asked the question, "Why did you withhold28 Lemuel Shackford's letter?"
"It was never in my possession, Mr. Taggett," said Richard, starting. "That paper is something I cannot explain at present. I can hardly believe in its existence, though Mr. Perkins declares that he has had it in his hands, and it would be impossible for him to make a mistake in my cousin's writing."
"So I was told. I don't understand it."
"That explanation will not satisfy the prosecuting30 attorney."
"I have only one theory about it," said Richard slowly.
"What is that?"
"I prefer not to state it now. I wish to stop at my boarding-house on the way to Torrini's; it will not be out of our course."
Mr. Taggett gave silent acquiescence31 to this. Richard opened the scullery door, and the two passed into the court. Neither spoke32 until they reached Lime Street. Mrs. Spooner herself answered Richard's ring, for he had purposely dispensed33 with the use of his pass-key.
"I wanted to see you a moment, Mrs. Spooner," said Richard, making no motion to enter the hall. "Thanks, we will not come in. I merely desire to ask you a question. Were you at home all day on that Monday immediately preceding my cousin's death?"
"No," replied Mrs. Spooner wonderingly, with her hand still resting on the knob. "I wasn't at home at all. I spent the day and part of the night with my daughter Maria Ann at South Millville. It was a boy," added Mrs. Spooner, quite irrelevantly34, smoothing her ample apron35 with the disengaged hand.
"Then Janet was at home," said Richard. "Call Janet."
A trim, intelligent-looking Nova Scotia girl was summoned from the basement kitchen.
"Janet," said Richard, "do you remember the day, about three weeks ago, that Mrs. Spooner was absent at South Millville?"
"Yes," replied the girl, without hesitation36. "It was the day before"--and then she stopped.
"Exactly; it was the day before my cousin was killed. Now I want you to recollect13 whether any letter or note or written message of any description was left for me at this house on that day."
Janet reflected. "I think there was, Mr. Richard,--a bit of paper like."
"Who brought the paper?" demanded Richard.
"It was one of the Murphy boys, I think."
"Did you hand it to me?"
"No, Mr. Richard, you had gone out. It was just after breakfast."
"You gave it to me when I came home to dinner, then?"
"No," returned Janet, becoming confused with a dim perception that something had gone wrong and she was committing herself.
"I remember, I didn't come home. I dined at the Slocums'. What did you do with that paper?"
"I put it on the table in your room up-stairs."
Mr. Taggett's eyes gleamed a little at this.
"And that is all you can say about it?" inquired Richard, with a fallen countenance38.
Janet reflected. She reflected a long while this time. "No, Mr. Shackford: an hour or so afterwards, when I went up to do the chamber39-work, I saw that the wind had blow the paper off of the table. I picked up the note and put it back; but the wind blew it off again."
"What then?"
"Then I shut up the note in one of the big books, meaning to tell you of it, and--and I forgot it! Oh, Mr. Richard, have I done something dreadful?"
"Dreadful!" cried Richard. "Janet, I could hug you!"
"Oh, Mr. Richard," said Janet with a little coquettish movement natural to every feminine thing, bird, flower, or human being, "you've always such a pleasant way with you."
Then there was a moment of dead silence. Mr. Spooner saw that the matter, whatever it was, was settled.
"You needn't wait, Janet!" she said, with a severe, mystified air.
"We are greatly obliged to you, Mr. Spooner, not to mention Janet," said Richard; "and if Mr. Taggett has no questions to ask we will not detain you."
Mrs. Spooner turned her small amiable40 orbs41 on Richard's companion. That silent little man Mr. Taggett! "He doesn't look like much," was the landlady's unuttered reflection; and indeed he did not present a spirited appearance. Nevertheless Mrs. Spooner followed him down the street with her curious gaze until he and Richard passed out of sight.
Neither Richard nor Mr. Taggett was disposed to converse42 as they wended their way to Mitchell's Alley43. Richard's ire was slowly kindling44 at the shameful45 light in which he had been placed by Mr. Taggett, and Mr. Taggett was striving with only partial success to reconcile himself to the idea of young Shackford's innocence. Young Shackford's innocence was a very awkward thing for Mr. Taggett, for he had irretrievably committed himself at head-quarters. With Richard's latent ire was mingled46 a feeling of profound gratitude47.
"The Lord was on my side," he said presently.
"He was on your side, as you remark; and when the Lord is on a man's side a detective necessarily comes out second best."
"Really, Mr. Taggett," said Richard, smiling, "that is a handsome admission on your part."
"I mean, sir," replied the latter, slightly nettled48, "that it sometimes seems as if the Lord himself took charge of a case."
"Certainly you are entitled to the credit of going to the bottom of this one."
"I have skillfully and laboriously49 damaged my reputation, Mr. Shackford."
"I am very sorry," he said good-naturedly.
"No, I beg of you!" exclaimed Mr. Taggett. "Any expression of friendliness51 from you would finish me! For nearly ten days I have looked upon you as a most cruel and consummate52 villain53."
"I know," said Richard. "I must be quite a disappointment to you, in a small way."
Mr. Taggett laughed in spite of himself. "I hope I don't take a morbid54 view of it," he said. A few steps further on he relaxed his gait. "We have taken the Hennessey girl into custody55. Do you imagine she was concerned?"
"Have you questioned her?"
"Yes; she denies everything, except that she told Durgin you had quarreled with the old gentleman."
"I think Mary Hennessey an honest girl. She's little more than a child. I doubt if she knew anything whatever. Durgin was much too shrewd to trust her, I fancy."
As the speakers struck into the principal street, through the lower and busier end of which they were obliged to pass, Mr. Taggett caused a sensation. The drivers of carts and the pedestrians56 on both sidewalks stopped and looked at him. The part he had played in Slocum's Yard was now an open secret, and had produced an excitement that was not confined to the clientele of Snelling's bar-room. It was known that William Durgin had disappeared, and tdhat the constables57 were searching for him. The air was thick with flying projectures, but none of them precisely hit the mark. One rumor58 there was which seemed almost like a piece of poetical59 justice,--a whisper to the effect that Rowland Slocum was suspected of being in some way mixed up with the murder. The fact that Lawyer Perkins, with his green bag streaming in the wind, so to speak, had been seen darting60 into Mr. Slocum's private residence at two o'clock that afternoon was sufficient to give birth to the horrible legend.
"Mitchell's Alley," said Mr. Taggett, thrusting his arm through Richard's, and hurrying on the escape the Stillwater gaze. "You went there directly from the station the night you got home."
"How did you know that?"
"I was told by a fellow-traveler of yours,--and a friend of mine."
"By Jove! Did it ever strike you, Mr. Taggett, that there is such a thing as being too clever?"
"It has occurred to me recently."
"Here is the house."
Two sallow-skinned children, with wide, wistful black eyes, who were sitting on the stone step, shyly crowded themselves together against the door-jamb to make passage-way for Richard and Mr. Taggett. Then the two pairs of eyes veered61 round inquiringly, and followed the strangers up the broken staircase and saw one of them knock at the door which faced the building.
Richard's hasty tap bringing no response, he lifted the latch62 without further ceremony and stepped into the chamber, Mr. Taggett a pace or two behind him. The figure of Father O'Meara slowly rising from a kneeling posture63 at the bedside was the first object that met their eyes; the second was Torrini's placid64 face, turned a little on the pillow; the third was Brigida sitting at the foot of the bed, motionless, with her arms wrapped in her apron.
"He is dead," said the priest softly, advancing a step towards Richard. "You are too late. He wanted to see you, Mr. Shackford, but you were not to be found."
Richard sent a swift glance over the priest's shoulder. "He wanted to tell me what part he had played in my cousin's murder?" said Richard.
"God forbid! the wretched man had many a sin on his soul, but not that."
"Not that!"
"No; he had no hand in it,--no more than you or I. His fault was that he concealed65 his knowledge of the deed after it was done. He did not even suspect who committed the crime until two days' afterwards, when William Durgin"--
Richard's eyes lighted up as they encountered Mr. Taggett's. The priest mistook the significance of the glances.
"No," said Father O'Meara, indicating Brigida with a quick motion of his head, "the poor soul does not understand a word. But even if she did, I should have to speak of these matters here and now, while they are fresh in my mind. I am obeying the solemn injunctions of the dead. Two days after the murder William Durgin came to Torrini and confessed the deed, offering to share with him a large sum in gold and notes if he would hide the money temporarily. Torrini agreed to do so. Later Durgin confided67 to him his plan of turning suspicion upon you, Mr. Shackford; indeed, of directly charging you with the murder, if the worst came to the worst. Torrini agreed to that also, because of some real or fancied injury at your hands. It seems that the implement68 which Durgin had employed in forcing the scullery door--the implement which he afterwards used so mercilessly--had been stolen from your workshop. The next morning Durgin put the tool back in its place, not knowing what other disposition69 to make of it, and it was then that the idea of shouldering the crime upon you entered his wicked heart. According to Torrini, Durgin did not intend to harm the old gentleman, but simply to rob him. The unfortunate man was awakened70 by the noise Durgin made in breaking open the safe, and rushed in to his doom71. Having then no fear of interruption, Durgin leisurely72 ransacked73 the house. How he came across the will, and destroyed it with the idea that he was putting the estate out of your possession--this and other details I shall give you by and by."
Father O'Meara paused a moment. "After the accident at the mill and the conviction that he was not to recover, Torrini's conscience began to prick74 him. When he reflected on Miss Slocum's kindness to his family during the strike, when he now saw her saving his wife and children from absolute starvation, he was nearly ready to break the oath with which he had bound himself to William Durgin. Curiously75 enough, this man, so reckless in many things, held his pledged word sacred. Meanwhile his wavering condition became apparent to Durgin, who grew alarmed, and demanded the stolen property. Torrini refused to give it up; even his own bitter necessities had not tempted76 him to touch a penny of it. For the last three days he was in deadly terror lest Durgin should wrest77 the money from him by force. The poor woman, here, knows nothing of all this. It was her presence, however, which probably prevented Durgin from proceeding78 to extremities79 with Torrini, who took care never to be left alone."
"I recollect," said Richard, "the night I watched with him he was constantly expecting some one. I supposed him to be wandering in his mind."
"He was expecting Durgin, though Torrini had every reason for believing that he had fled."
Mr. Taggett leaned forward, and asked, "When did he go,--and where?"
"He was too cunning to confide66 his plans to Torrini. Three nights ago Durgin came here and begged for a portion of the bank-note; previously80 he had reclaimed81 the whole sum; he said the place was growing too warm for him, and that he had made up his mind to leave. But Torrini held on to the money, having resolved that it should be restored intact to you. He promised Durgin, however, to keep his flight secret for three or four days, at the end of which time Torrini meant to reveal all to me at confession82. The night you sat with him, Mr. Shackford, he was near breaking his promise; your kindness was coals of fire on his head. His agony, lest he should die or lose his senses before he could make known the full depth of Durgin's villainy, must have been something terrible. This is the substance of what the poor creature begged me to say to you with his dying regrets. The money is hidden somewhere under the mattress83, I believe. A better man than Torrini would have spent some of it," added Father O'Meara, waving a sort of benediction84 in the direction of the bed.
Richard did not speak for a moment or two. The wretchedness and grimness of it all smote85 him to the heart. When he looked up Mr. Taggett was gone, and the priest was gently drawing the coverlet over Torrini's face.
Richard approached Father O'Meara and said: "When the money is found, please take charge of it, and see that every decent arrangement is made. I mean, spare nothing. I am a Protestant, but I believe in any man's prayers when they are not addressed to a heathen image. I promised Torrini to send his wife and children to Italy. This pitiful, miserable86 gold, which cost so dear and is worth so little, shall be made to do that much good, at least."
As Richard was speaking, a light footfall sounded on the staircase outside; then the door, which stood ajar, was softly pushed open, and Margaret paused on the threshold. At the rustle87 of her dress Richard turned, and hastened towards her.
"It is all over," he said softly, laying his finger on his lip. Father O'Meara was again kneeling by the bedside.
"Let us go now," whispered Richard to Margaret. It seemed fit that they should leave the living and the dead to the murmured prayers and solemn ministration of the kindly88 priest. Such later services as Margaret could render to the bereaved89 woman were not to be wanting.
At the foot of the stairs Richard Shackford halted abruptly90, and, oblivious91 of the two children who were softly chattering92 together in the doorway93, caught Margaret's hand in his.
"Margaret, Torrini has made a confession that sets at rest all question of my cousin's death."
"No; it was William Durgin, God forgive him!"
"William Durgin!" The young girl's fingers closed nervously95 on Richard's as she echoed the name, and she began trembling. "That--that is stranger yet!"
"I will tell you everything when we get home; this is no time or place; but one thing I must ask you now and here. When you sat with me last night were you aware that Mr. Taggett firmly believed it was I who had killed Lemuel Shackford?"
"Yes," said Margaret.
"That is all I care to know!" cried Richard; "that consoles me!" and the two pairs of great inquisitive96 eyes looking up from the stone step saw the signorina standing quite mute and colorless with the strange gentleman's arms around her. And the signorina was smiling!
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1
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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9
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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10
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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subpoena
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| n.（法律）传票；v.传讯 | |
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12
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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13
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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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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15
toils
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| 网 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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curbed
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| v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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absconding
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| v.（尤指逃避逮捕）潜逃，逃跑( abscond的现在分词 ) | |
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exonerated
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| v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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28
withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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30
prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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32
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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33
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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irrelevantly
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| adv.不恰当地，不合适地；不相关地 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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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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38
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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41
orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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42
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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43
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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44
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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46
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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50
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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57
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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58
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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poetical
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| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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veered
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| 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 | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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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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68
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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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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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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71
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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reclaimed
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| adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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83
mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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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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89
bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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91
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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92
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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93
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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94
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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95
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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96
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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