It was Will Locke's fate to vibrate between drudgery11 and dreaming; always tending more inevitably12 towards the latter, and lapsing13 into more distant, absorbing trances, till he became more and more fantastic and unearthly, with his thin light hair, his half-transparent cheek, and his strained eyes. To prophesy14 on cardboard and canvas, in flower and figure, with monster and star, crescent and triangle, in emerald green and ruby15 red and sea blue, in dyes that, like those of the Bassani, resembled the clear shining of a handful of jewels, to prophesy in high art, to be half pitied, half derided16, and to starve: was that Will Locke's duty?
Will thought so, in the most artless, unblemished, unswerving style; and he was a devout17 fellow as well as a gifted one. He bowed to revelation, and read nature's secrets well before he forsook19 her for heaven, or rather Hades. He devoted20 himself to the sacrifice; he did not grudge21 his lust22 of the eye, his lust of the flesh, his pride of life. He devoted Dulcie, not without pangs23; and he devoted his little sickly children pining and dying in St. Martin's Lane. He must follow his calling, he must fulfil his destiny.
Dulcie was not quite such an enthusiast24; she did love, honour, and obey Will Locke, but she was sometimes almost mad to see him such a wreck25. It had been a sent evil, and she had looked down into the gulf26; but she had missed the depths. She had never seen its gloomy, dark, dreary27 nooks, poor lass! in her youthful boldness and [Page 153]lavishness; and our little feminine Curtius in the scoured28 silk, with the powdered brown curls, had not merely to penetrate30 them in one plunge31, but had to descend32, stumbling and groping her way, and starting back at the sense of confinement33, the damp and the darkness. Who will blame her that she sometimes turned her head and looked back, and stretched up her arms from the desert to the flesh-pots of Egypt? She would have borne anything for her husband; and she did work marvels34: she learned to engrave35 for him, coloured constantly with her light, pliant36 fingers, and drew and painted from old fresh memories those articles of stoneware for the potteries37. She clothed herself in the cheapest and most lasting38 of printed linen39 sacques and mob caps, and hoods40 and aprons41, fed herself and him and the children on morsels42 wellnigh miraculously43. She even swallowed down the sight of Clary in her cut velvet44 and her own coach, whose panel Sam Winnington himself had not thought it beneath him to touch up for Clary's delectation and glory. If Will would only have tarried longer about his flowers and bees, and groves45 and rattlesnakes: if he had even stopped short at faces like those of Socrates, Cæsar, Cleopatra, Fair Rosamond—what people could understand with help—and not slid off faster and more fatally into that dim delirium46 of good and evil, angels and archangels, the devil of temptation and the goblin of the flesh, the red fiend of war, and the pale spirit of peace!
The difference which originated at Will and Dulcie's marriage had ended in alienation47. Dulcie thought that Sam Winnington would have bridged it over at one time, [Page 154]if Will would have made any sign of meeting his overtures48, or acknowledged Sam's talents and fortune: nay49, even if Will had refrained from betraying his churlish doubts of Sam's perfect deserts.
But no, this Will would not deign50 to do. The gentle, patient painter, contented51 with his own estimation of his endowments, and resigned to be misjudged and neglected by the world, had his own indomitable doggedness. He would never flatter the world's low taste for commonplace, and its miserable52 short-sightedness; he would never pay homage53 to Sam Winnington which he did not deserve—a man very far from his equal—a mere29 clever portrait-painter, little better than a skilled stonemason. Thus Sam Winnington and Will Locke took to flushing when each other's names were mentioned—sitting bolt upright and declining to comment on each other's works, or else dismissing each other's efforts in a few supremely54 contemptuous words. Certainly the poor man rejected the rich not one whit55 less decidedly than the rich man rejected the poor, and the Mordecais have always the best of it. If we and our neighbours will pick out each other's eyes, commend us to the part of brave little Jack56, rather than that of the belligerent57 Giant, even when they are only eyeing each other previous to sitting down to the ominous58 banquet.
But this was a difficulty to Dulcie, as it is to most women. No one thinks of men's never showing a malign59 influence in this world; it is only good women who are expected to prove angels outright60 here below. But it does seem that there is something more touching61 in their having [Page 155]to stifle62 lawful63 instincts, and in their being forced to oppose and overcome unlawful passions—covetousness, jealousy64, wrath65, "hatred66, malice67, and all uncharitableness."
Dulcie, with the sharpness of her little face, divested68 of all its counterbalancing roundness—a keen, worn little face since the day it had smiled so confusedly but generously out of the scurvy69 silk in the church at Redwater—was a sweet-looking woman under her care-laden air. Some women retain sweetness under nought70 but skin and bone; they will not pinch into meanness and spite; they have still faith and charity. One would not wonder though Dulcie afforded more vivid glimpses of il Beato's angels after the contour of her face was completely spoilt.
You can fancy the family room in St. Martin's Lane, some five or six years after Will Locke and Dulcie were wed18, with its strange litter of acids and aquafortis, graving tools and steel plates. Will and Dulcie might have been some of the abounding71 false coiners, had it not been for the colours, the canvas, and the vessels72 from the potteries, all huddled73 together without attention to effect. Yet these were not without order, for they were too busy people to be able to afford to be purely74 disorderly. They could not have had the curtain less scant75, for the daylight was precious to them; they had not space for more furniture than might have sufficed a poor tradesman or better sort of mechanic; only there were traces of gentle birth and breeding in the casts, the prints and portfolios76, the Dutch clock, and the great hulk of a state-bed hung with the perpetual dusky yellow damask, which served as a nursery for the poor listless little children.
[Page 156]Presently Dulcie looked after the sops77, and surreptitiously awarded Will the Benjamite's portion, and Will ate it absently with the only appetite there; though he, too, was a consumptive-looking man—a good deal more so than when he attracted the pity of the good wife at the "Nine Miles Inn." Then Dulcie crooned to the children of the milk-porridge she would give them next night, and sang to them as she lulled78 them to sleep, her old breezy, bountiful English songs, "Young Roger came tapping at Dolly's window," and "I met my lad at the garden gate," and brushed their faces into laughter with the primroses79 and hyacinths she had bought for Will in Covent Garden Market. Will asked to see them in the spring twilight80, and described the banks where they grew, with some revival81 of his early lore82, and added a tale of the fairies who made them their round tables and galleries, which caused the eldest83 child (the only one who walked with Dulcie in his little coat to the church where he was christened) to open his heavy eyes, and clap his hot hands, and cry, "More, father, more." Will and Dulcie looked gladly into each other's eyes at his animation84, and boasted what a stamping, thundering man he would yet live to be—that midge, that sprite, with Dulcie's small skeleton bones, and Will's dry, lustreless85, fair hair!
Anon while Dulcie was still rocking one of these weary children moaning in its sleep, Will must needs strike a light to resume his beloved labours; but first he directed his candle to his canvas, and called on Dulcie to contemplate86 and comprehend, while he murmured and raved87 to her of the group of fallen men and women crouching88 in [Page 157]the den—of the wind of horror raising their hair,—of the dawn of hope bursting in the eastern sky, and high above them the fiendish crew, and the captains of the Blessed still swaying to and fro in the burdened air, and striking deadly blows for supremacy89. And Dulcie, open-eyed and open-mouthed as of old, looked at the captives, as if listening to the strife90 that was to come, and wellnigh heard the thunder of the captains and the shouting, while her eye was always eagerly pointed91 to that pearly streak92 which was to herald93 the one long, cool, calm, bright day of humanity. No wonder Dulcie was as demented as Will, and thought it would be a very little matter though the milk-porridge were sour on the morrow, or if the carrier did not come with the price in his pocket for these sweet pots, and bowls, and pipkins: she believed her poor babies were well at rest from the impending94 dust, and din6, and danger; and smiled deep, quiet smiles at Clary—poor Clary, with her cut velvet, her coach, and her black boy. Verily Will and Dulcie could afford to refer not only pleasantly but mercifully, to Sam Winnington and Clary that night.
"It is contemptible95 to lose sight of the sublimity96 of life even to enjoy perfect ease and happiness." That is a very grand saying; but, oh dear! we are poor creatures; and though Dulcie is an infinitely97 nobler being now than then, the tears are fit to start into our eyes when we remember the little brown head which "bridled98 finely," the little feet which pranced99 lightly, and the little tongue which wagged, free from care, in the stage waggon100 on the country road yon clear September day.
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1 bowers | |
n.(女子的)卧室( bower的名词复数 );船首锚;阴凉处;鞠躬的人 | |
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2 soften | |
v.(使)变柔软;(使)变柔和 | |
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3 mortar | |
n.灰浆,灰泥;迫击炮;v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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4 prosper | |
v.成功,兴隆,昌盛;使成功,使昌隆,繁荣 | |
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5 triumphantly | |
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 | |
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6 din | |
n.喧闹声,嘈杂声 | |
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7 livelihood | |
n.生计,谋生之道 | |
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8 apprehend | |
vt.理解,领悟,逮捕,拘捕,忧虑 | |
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9 snail | |
n.蜗牛 | |
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10 snails | |
n.蜗牛;迟钝的人;蜗牛( snail的名词复数 ) | |
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11 drudgery | |
n.苦工,重活,单调乏味的工作 | |
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12 inevitably | |
adv.不可避免地;必然发生地 | |
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13 lapsing | |
v.退步( lapse的现在分词 );陷入;倒退;丧失 | |
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14 prophesy | |
v.预言;预示 | |
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15 ruby | |
n.红宝石,红宝石色 | |
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16 derided | |
v.取笑,嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17 devout | |
adj.虔诚的,虔敬的,衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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18 wed | |
v.娶,嫁,与…结婚 | |
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19 forsook | |
forsake的过去式 | |
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20 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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21 grudge | |
n.不满,怨恨,妒嫉;vt.勉强给,不情愿做 | |
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22 lust | |
n.性(淫)欲;渴(欲)望;vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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23 pangs | |
突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 ); 悲痛 | |
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24 enthusiast | |
n.热心人,热衷者 | |
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25 wreck | |
n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难 | |
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26 gulf | |
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂 | |
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27 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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28 scoured | |
走遍(某地)搜寻(人或物)( scour的过去式和过去分词 ); (用力)刷; 擦净; 擦亮 | |
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29 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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30 penetrate | |
v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解 | |
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31 plunge | |
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲 | |
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32 descend | |
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
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33 confinement | |
n.幽禁,拘留,监禁;分娩;限制,局限 | |
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34 marvels | |
n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 );令人惊奇的事物(或事例);不平凡的成果;成就v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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35 engrave | |
vt.(在...上)雕刻,使铭记,使牢记 | |
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36 pliant | |
adj.顺从的;可弯曲的 | |
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37 potteries | |
n.陶器( pottery的名词复数 );陶器厂;陶土;陶器制造(术) | |
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38 lasting | |
adj.永久的,永恒的;vbl.持续,维持 | |
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39 linen | |
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
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40 hoods | |
n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 );头巾;(汽车、童车等的)折合式车篷;汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 );头巾;(汽车、童车等的)折合式车篷;汽车发动机罩 | |
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41 aprons | |
围裙( apron的名词复数 ); 停机坪,台口(舞台幕前的部份) | |
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42 morsels | |
n.一口( morsel的名词复数 );(尤指食物)小块,碎屑 | |
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43 miraculously | |
ad.奇迹般地 | |
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44 velvet | |
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
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45 groves | |
树丛,小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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46 delirium | |
n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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47 alienation | |
n.疏远;离间;异化 | |
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48 overtures | |
n.主动的表示,提议;(向某人做出的)友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 );(歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的)序曲,前奏曲 | |
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49 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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50 deign | |
v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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51 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
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52 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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53 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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54 supremely | |
adv.无上地,崇高地 | |
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55 whit | |
n.一点,丝毫 | |
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56 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
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57 belligerent | |
adj.好战的,挑起战争的;n.交战国,交战者 | |
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58 ominous | |
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 | |
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59 malign | |
adj.有害的;恶性的;恶意的;v.诽谤,诬蔑 | |
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60 outright | |
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的 | |
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61 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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62 stifle | |
vt.使窒息;闷死;扼杀;抑止,阻止 | |
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63 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
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64 jealousy | |
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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65 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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66 hatred | |
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 | |
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67 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
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68 divested | |
v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 );脱去(衣服);2。从…取去…;1。(给某人)脱衣服 | |
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69 scurvy | |
adj.下流的,卑鄙的,无礼的;n.坏血病 | |
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70 nought | |
n./adj.无,零 | |
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71 abounding | |
adj.丰富的,大量的v.大量存在,充满,富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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72 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 | |
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73 huddled | |
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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74 purely | |
adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
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75 scant | |
adj.不充分的,不足的;v.减缩,限制,忽略 | |
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76 portfolios | |
n.投资组合( portfolio的名词复数 );(保险)业务量;(公司或机构提供的)系列产品;纸夹 | |
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77 sops | |
n.用以慰藉或讨好某人的事物( sop的名词复数 );泡湿的面包片等v.将(面包等)在液体中蘸或浸泡( sop的第三人称单数 );用海绵、布等吸起(液体等) | |
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78 lulled | |
vt.使镇静,使安静(lull的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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79 primroses | |
n.报春花( primrose的名词复数 );淡黄色;追求享乐(招至恶果) | |
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80 twilight | |
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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81 revival | |
n.复兴,复苏,(精力、活力等的)重振 | |
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82 lore | |
n.传说;学问,经验,知识 | |
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83 eldest | |
adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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84 animation | |
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作 | |
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85 lustreless | |
adj.无光泽的,无光彩的,平淡乏味的 | |
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86 contemplate | |
vt.盘算,计议;周密考虑;注视,凝视 | |
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87 raved | |
v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 );愤怒地说;咆哮;痴心地说 | |
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88 crouching | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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89 supremacy | |
n.至上;至高权力 | |
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90 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
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91 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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92 streak | |
n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动 | |
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93 herald | |
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎 | |
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94 impending | |
a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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95 contemptible | |
adj.可鄙的,可轻视的,卑劣的 | |
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96 sublimity | |
崇高,庄严,气质高尚 | |
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97 infinitely | |
adv.无限地,无穷地 | |
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98 bridled | |
给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 ); 控制; 昂首表示轻蔑(或怨忿等); 动怒,生气 | |
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99 pranced | |
v.(马)腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100 waggon | |
n.运货马车,运货车;敞篷车箱 | |
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