The room, large, low-roofed, with small, peaked windows, had not been built in modern times. The furniture was almost in keeping: roomy settees, broad, plain, ribbed-back chairs, with faded worked covers, the task of fingers crumbled6 into dust, heavy bookcases loaded with proportionably ponderous7 or curiously8 quaint9 volumes, and mirrors, with their frames like coffins10 covered with black velvet11 and relieved by gilding12.
The only fresh and fragrant14 thing in the room—ay, or in the house, where master and mistress and servants were old and withered—was a young girl seated on a window-seat, her hands lightly crossed, watching the white clouds in the July sky, white, though nothing else is so in Glasgow, where the air is heavy with perpetual smoke and vapour.
That girl, too broad-browed and large-eyed for mere16 youthful beauty, but with such an arch, delicate, girlish mouth and chin as betokened17 her a frank, unsophisticated, merry child after all, was Leslie Bower20, the young daughter and only child of an erudite and venerated21 professor.
Leslie had no brothers and no sisters, and in a sense she had neither father nor mother, for Professor Bower was the son, husband, and father of his books, and he had so mighty22 a family of these, ancient and modern, that he had very little time or attention to spare for ties of the flesh. He was a mild, absent, engrossed23 old man, flashing into energy and genius in his own field of learning, but in the world of ordinary humanity a body without a soul.
[Page 213]Professor Bower married late in life a timid, shrinking English wife, who, removed from all early ties, and never mingling25 in Glasgow society, lapsed26 into a stillness as profound as his own.
Dr. Bower took little notice of his child; what with duties and studies, he had no leisure; he read in his slippered27 morning gown, he read at meals, he read by his evening lamp; probably, if Mrs. Bower would have confessed it, he kept a volume under his pillow. No wonder he was a blear-eyed, poking28, muttering old man, for he was much more interested in Hannibal than in Bonaparte, and regarded Leslie, like the house, the yearly income, the rector, the students, the janitors29, as one of many abstract facts with which he troubled himself as little as possible.
Mrs. Bower cared for Leslie's health and comfort with scrupulous30 nervous exactness, but she was incapable31 of any other demonstration32 of regard. She was as shy and egotistical as poor Louis XVI., and perhaps it would have demanded as tragic33 a domestic revolution to have stirred her up to lively tenderness. Leslie might have been as dubious34 as Marie Antoinette of the amount of love entertained for her by her nearest kin24, but curiously, though affectionate and passionate35 enough to have been the pure and innocent child of some fiery36 Jocobin, she had not vexed37 herself about this mystery. One sees every day lush purple and rose-flowered plants growing in unaccountable shade; true, their associates are pale and drooping38, and the growth of the hardier39 is treacherous40, and may distil41 poison, but the evil principle is gradual, and after conditions have been confirmed and matured.
[Page 214]The stronger portion of Leslie's nature, which required abundant and invigorating food, was slow of development; the lighter42 side flourished in the silent, dull house, where nothing else courted the sunbeam. In her childhood and girlhood, Leslie had gone out to school, and although always somewhat marked and individual in character, she had companions, friends, sufficient sympathy and intercourse43 for an independent, buoyant nature at the most plastic period of its existence. This stage of life was but lately left behind; Leslie had not long learnt that now she was removed from classes and masters, and must in a great measure confine her acquaintances to those who returned her visits at her father's house; and as visitors put mamma and papa about, and did not suit their habits, she must resign her little world, and be almost as quiet and solitary44 as her elders. Leslie had just begun to sigh a little for the old thronged45, bustling46 class-rooms which she had lightly esteemed47, and was active by fits and starts in numerous self-adopted occupations which could put former ones out of her head, and fill up the great blanks in her time and thoughts, for she was not inclined to sit down under a difficulty, and instinctively48 battled with it in a thousand ways.
Thus Leslie had her flower-painting—few natural flowers she saw, poor girl—card boxes, worsted vases, eggshell baskets, embroidery49 pieces, canary bird, and books—the last greedily devoured50. She did not assist her mother, because although their household was limited, Mrs. Bower's quiet, methodical plans were perfect, and she gently declined all interference with her daily round. Neither did [Page 215]Leslie work for her father, because the professor would as soon have employed her canary bird. She was not thoughtful and painstaking51 for the poor, because, though accustomed to a species of almsgiving, she heard nothing, saw nothing of nearer or higher association with her neighbours. Yet there was capacity enough in that heart and brain for good or for evil.
So Leslie sat there, pausing in her sewing, and gazing idly at the sky, with a girl's quick pensiveness52 and thick-coming fancies, as she mused53.
How blue it was yonder! What glorious clouds! yet the world below was rather stupid and tiresome54, and it was hard to say what people toiled55 so arduously56 for. There were other lands and other people: should she ever see them? Surely, for she was quite young. She wished they could go in summer 'down the water,' out of this din13 and dust, to some coast village or lonely loch between lofty purple mountains, such as she had seen when with Mrs. Elliot; papa might spare a few weeks, people no richer did; they had no holidays, and it was so hot and close, and always the same. But she supposed she must be contented57, and would go away to cool and compose herself in the crypt of their own cathedral. How grand it was; how solemn the aisles58 and arches on every side, like forest trees; and then the monuments—what stories she invented for them! St. Mungo's Well! St. Mungo, austere59, yet beneficent; with bare feet, cowled head, scarred back, and hardest of all, swept and garnished60 heart, with his fruitful blessing61, 'Let Glasgow flourish.' What would St. Mungo think now of the city of the tree, the fish, and the bell?
[Page 216]This hoar, venerable, beautiful feat62 of art was to the imprisoned63 Glasgow girl as St. Paul's to such another isolated64 imaginative nature.
There was a knock at the street-door; a very decided65 application of the queer, twisted knocker. Leslie roused herself: not a beggar's tap that; none of the janitors; and this was not Dr. Murdoch's or Dr. Ware66's hour: the girl was accurate in taps and footsteps. Some one was shown in; a man's voice was heard greeting "Dr. Bower," before the study door was closed. Leslie started up with pleased surprise,—"Hector Garret of Otter67! he will come upstairs to see us; he will tell us how the country is looking; he will bring news from Ferndean," and for the next hour she sat in happy, patient expectation.
Mrs. Bower, a fair, faded, grave woman, came into the room, and sat down with her needlework in the other window.
"Mamma," exclaimed Leslie, "do you know that Hector Garret of Otter is downstairs with papa?"
"Yes, Leslie."
"He never fails to ask for us; don't you think we'll see him here by-and-by?"
"I do not know; it depends upon his engagements."
"I wonder what brings him to Glasgow just now; he must find it so much more agreeable at home," with a little sigh.
"Leslie, I don't think you have anything to do with that."
"No, certainly; Hector Garret and I are two very different persons."
[Page 217]"Leslie!"
"Well, mamma."
"I wish you would not say Hector Garret; it does not sound proper in a girl like you."
"I suppose it does not. He must have been a grown-up man when I was a child. I have caught the habit from papa, but I have not the least inclination68 to use the name to his face."
"I should think not, Leslie;" and the conversation dropped.
Presently the stranger entered deliberately69; a tall, fair, handsome man of eight-and-thirty or forty, with one of those cold, intellectual, statuesque faces in which there is a chill harmony, and which are types of a calm temperament70, or an extinct volcano. Perhaps it was that cast of countenance71 which recommended him to the Bowers72; yet Leslie was dark, bright, and variable.
The visitor brought a gift in his hand—a basket of flowers and summer fruit, of which Leslie relieved him, while she struggled in vain to look politely obliged, and not irrationally73 elated.
"So kind of you to trouble yourself! Such a beautiful flower—wild roses and hawthorn74 too—I like so much to have them, though they wither15 very soon. I dare say they grew where
'Fairies light
On Cassilis Downans dance.'
(Burns was becoming famous, and Leslie had picked up the lines somewhere.) And the strawberries, oh, they must be from Ferndean."
[Page 218]The bearer nodded and smiled.
"I knew it by instinct," and Leslie began eating them like a tempted75 child, and stained her pretty lips. "Those old rows on each side of the summer-house where papa first learnt his lessons—I wonder if there are jackdaws there still: won't you have some?"
"No, thank you. What a memory you have, Miss Bower!"
"Ferndean is my Highland77 hill. When papa is very stiff and helpless from rheumatism78, he talks of it sometimes. It is so long ago; he was so different then."
Mr. Garret and Mrs. Bower exchanged a few civil words on his journey, the spring weather, the state of the war, like two taciturn people who force their speeches; then he became Leslie's property, sat down beside her, watched her arranging her flowers, helped her a little, and spoke79 now and then in answer to her questions, and that was sufficient.
Hector Garret was particularly struck this evening with the incongruity80 of Leslie's presence in the Professor's dry, silent, scholastic81 home, and with her monotonous82, shaded existence, and her want of natural associations and fitting companionship. He pondered upon her future; he was well acquainted with her prospects83; he knew much better than she did that the money with which his father had bought up the mortgages on Ferndean, and finally the estate itself, was drained and scattered84 long ago, and that the miserable85 annuity86 upon which the Professor rested peacefully as a provision for his widow and child, died with the former. It was scarcely credible88 that a man should [Page 219]be so regardless of his own family, but the echo of the mystic, sublime89 discourses90 of the Greek porches, the faint but sacred trace of the march of vast armies, and the fall of nations, caused Leslie to dwindle91 into a mere speck92 in the creation. Of course she would be provided for somehow: marry, or make her own livelihood93. Socrates did not plague himself much about the fate of Xantippe: Seneca wrote from his exile to console his mother, but the epistles were for the benefit of the world at large, and destined94 to descend95 to future generations of barbarians96.
What a frank, single-hearted young girl she seemed to Hector Garret—intelligent, capable of comprehending him in a degree, amusing him with her similes97 and suggestions; pretty, too, as one of those wild roses or pinks that she prized so highly, though she wore a sober, green, flowered silk dress. He should like to see her in a white gown. He supposed that was not a convenient town wear. Pope had unmasked women, but he could not help thinking that a fresh, simple, kind young girl would be rather a pleasant object of daily encounter. She would grow older, of course. That was a pity; but still she would be progressing into an unsophisticated, cordial, contented woman, whom servants would obey heartily—to whom children would cling. Even men had a gush98 of tenderness for these smiling, unobtrusive, humble100 mothers; and best so in the strain and burden of this life.
Leslie knew nothing of these meditations101. She only understood Hector Garret as a considerate friend, distinguished102 personally, and gifted mentally—for her father set great store upon him—but, unlike the gruff or eager ser[Page 220]vants to whom she was accustomed, condescending103 to her youth and ignorance, and with a courtesy the nearest to high-breeding she had ever met. She was glad to see Hector Garret, even if he did not bring a breath of the country with him. She parted from him with a sense of loss—a passing sadness that hung upon her for an hour or two, like the vapour on the river, which misses the green boughs104 and waving woods, and sighs sluggishly105 past wharfs106 and warehouses107.
It was a still greater surprise to Leslie when Hector Garret came again the next evening. He had never been with them on two successive days before. She supposed he had gone back to Ayrshire, although he had not distinctly referred to his speedy return. But he was here, and Leslie entertained him as usual.
"Should you not like to see Ferndean?" inquired Hector Garret.
"Don't speak of it," Leslie cautioned him, soberly; "it would be far too great happiness for this world."
"Why, what sort of dismal108 place do you think the world?"
"Too good a place for you and me," Leslie answered evasively, and with a touch of fun.
"But this is the very season for Ferndean and Otter, when the pasture is gay as a garden, and you can have boating every day in the creeks109, more sheltered than the moorland lochs."
The tears came into Leslie's eyes.
"I think it is unkind of you, Mr. Garret, to tempt76 me with such pictures," she answered, half pettishly110.
[Page 221]"I mean to be kind," he responded quickly. "I may err19, but I can take refuge in my intentions. You may see Ferndean and Otter, if you can consent to go there, and dwell there as a grave man's friend and wife."
Leslie started violently, and the blood rushed over her face.
"I beg your pardon, Sir, but you don't mean it?"
"I do mean it, Leslie, as being the best for both of us; and I ask you plainly and directly to marry me: if you agree, I hope and trust that you will never regret it."
Leslie trembled very much. She said afterwards that she pinched her arm to satisfy herself that she was awake, but she was not quite overcome.
"I was never addressed so before. I do not know what to say. You are very good, but I am not fit."
He interrupted her—not with vows111 and protestations, but resolutely112 and convincingly.
"I am the best judge of your fitness,—but you must judge for yourself also. I am certain of your father's and mother's acquiescence113, so I do not mention them. But do not hurry; take time, consult your own heart; consider the whole matter. I will not press for your decision. I will wait days, weeks. I will go down to Otter in the meantime, if you prefer it. But if you do say yes, remember, dear Leslie, you confer upon me the greatest boon114 that a woman can bestow115 on a man, and I think I am capable of appreciating it."
He spoke with singular impartiality116, but without reassuring117 his hearer. Leslie looked helplessly up to him, excited and distressed118.
[Page 222]He smiled a little, and sighed a brief sigh.
"You are not satisfied. You are too candid119 and generous. You wish me to take my refusal at once. You feel that I am too old, too dull to presume—"
"Oh, no, no," Leslie exclaimed, seeing herself convicted of terrible selfishness and conceit120, while her heart was throbbing121 even painfully with humility122 and gratitude123. "You have done me a great honour, and if you would not be disappointed—if you would bear with me—if you are not deceiving yourself in your nobleness—I should be so happy to go to Ferndean."
He thanked her eloquently125, and talked to her a little longer, kindly126 and affectionately, and then he offered to seek her father; and left her to her agitated127 reflections. What a fine, dignified128 man he looked! Could it be possible that this was her lot in life? And the very sun which had risen upon her planning a walk with Mary Elliot next week, was yet streaming upon her poor pots of geraniums on the dusty window-sill. She quitted her seat, and began to walk quickly up and down.
"Leslie, you are shaking the room." Mamma had been in the further window with her sewing all the time.
Leslie stole behind the brown window-curtain, fluttering her hand among the folds.
"Leslie, you are pulling that curtain awry129."
"I cannot help it, mamma."
"Why not, child? Are you ill?"
"Yes—no, mamma. I don't know what to think—I can't think. But Hector Garret has asked me to be his wife."
[Page 223]Mrs. Bower's needle dropped from her fingers. She stared at her daughter. She rose slowly.
"Impossible, Leslie," she observed.
Leslie laughed hysterically130.
"Yes, indeed. It was very strange, but I heard every word."
"Are you certain you are not mistaken?"
Mrs. Bower had never so cross-examined her daughter in her life; but Leslie was not disturbed or vexed by her incredulity.
"Quite certain. I know it was only yesterday that you scolded me for taking liberties with his name; but he was perfectly131 serious, and he has gone to tell papa."
Mrs. Bower gazed wistfully on Leslie, and a faint red colour rose in her cheek, while she interlaced her fingers nervously132.
"Leslie," she asked again, in a shaking voice, "do you know what you are doing?"
Leslie looked frightened.
"Is it so very terrible, mamma? I should possibly have married some day—most girls mean to do it; and only think of Ferndean and Otter. Besides, there is nobody I could like so well as Hector Garret, I am quite sure, although I little guessed he cared so much for me;" and Leslie's eye's fell, and a sunny, rosy133 glow mantled134 over her whole face, rendering135 it very soft and fair.
"I see it is to be, Leslie. May it be for your welfare, my dear;" and her mother stooped abruptly136, and kissed the young, averted137 cheek.
Leslie was awed138. She dreaded139 that her father would be [Page 224]equally moved, and then she did not know how she could stand it. But she might have spared herself the apprehension140; for when the Professor shuffled141 in he sat down as usual, fumbled142 for his spectacles, looked round with the most unconscious eye, observed that "Ware" had that day exceeded in his lecture by twenty minutes—"a bad practice," (Dr. Bower was himself notoriously unpunctual,) and took not the slightest notice of any event of greater importance, until Leslie's suspense143 had been so long on the rack that it began to subside144 into dismay, when glancing up for a moment, he observed parenthetically, as he turned a page—"Child! you have my approval of a union with Hector Garret—an odd fancy, but that is no business of ours,"—dropped his eyes again on his volume, and made no further allusion145 to the subject for the rest of the evening—no, nor ever again, of his own free will. Hector Garret assailed146 him on preliminaries, his wife patiently waylaid147 and besieged148 him for the necessary funds, acquaintances congratulated him—he was by compulsion drawn149 more than once from roots and æsthetics; but left to himself, he would have assuredly forgotten his daughter's wedding-day, as he had done that of her baptism.
Leslie recovered from the stunning150 suddenness of her fate, and awoke fully87 to its brightness. To go down to Ayrshire and dwell there among hills and streams, and pure heather-scented air, like any shepherdess; to be the nearest and dearest to Hector Garret:—already the imaginative, warm-hearted girl began to raise him into a divinity.
Leslie was supremely151 content, she was gay and giddy even with present excitement; with the pretty bustle152 of [Page 225]being so important and so occupied—she whose whole time lately had been vacant and idle—so willing to admire her new possessions, so openly elated with their superiority, and not insensible to the fact that all these prominent obtrusive99 cares were but little superfluous153 notes of the great symphony upon which she had entered, and whose infinitely154 deeper, fuller, higher tones she would learn well, by-and-by.
Leslie Bower was the personification of joy, and no one meddled155 with her visions. Hector Garret was making his preparations at Otter; and when Leslie sang as she stitched, and ran lightly up and down, only the servants in the kitchen laid their heads together, and confided156 to each other that "never did they see so daffin' a bride; Miss Leslie should ken18 that a greetin' bride's a happy bride!" But no one told Leslie—no one taught her the tender meaning of the wise old proverb—no one warned her of the realities of life, so much sadder, so much holier, purer, more peaceful than any illusion. Her mother had relapsed into her ordinary calmness, rather wounding Leslie's perceptions when she allowed herself to think of it, for she did not read the lingering assiduity that was so intent it might have been employed upon her shroud157. And there was no one else—no; Leslie was quite unaware158 that her gladness was ominous159.
Only the shadow of a warning crossed Leslie's path of roses, and she disregarded it. Her confidence in Hector Garret and in life remained unbounded.
Leslie had gone to the best known of her early companions, her cup brimming over in the gracious privilege of [Page 226]begging Mary Elliot to be her bridesmaid. The Elliots had been kind to her, and had once taken her to their cheerful country-house; and now Mary was to witness the ceremony, and Hector Garret had said that she might, if she pleased, pay Leslie a long visit at Otter.
Mary Elliot was a little older, a little more experienced in womanly knowledge than Leslie.
"How strange it sounds that you should be married so soon, Leslie, from your old house, where we thought you buried. We believed that you must lead a single life, unless your father made a pet of one of his students: and then you must have waited until he left college."
"It is the reverse. I have no time to lose," nodded Leslie; "only Hector Garret is not old-looking. I don't believe that he has a grey hair in his head. He is a far handsomer man than Susan Cheyne's sister's husband."
"I know it; he was pointed124 out to me in the street. Is he very fond of you, Leslie?"
"I suppose—a little, or he would not have me."
"Does he flatter you, pretend that you are a queen, say all manner of fine things to you? I should like to be enlightened."
"No, no, Mary; real men are not like men in books—and he is not foolish."
"But it is not foolish in a lover. They are all out of their senses—blinded by admiration160 and passion."
"Perhaps; but Hector Garret is a clever man, only he speaks when he is spoken to, and does not forget you when out of sight. And do you know, I have been used to clever people, and decidedly prefer to look up to a man?"
[Page 227]"What does he call you, Leslie?"
"Why, Leslie, to be sure, or Miss Bower. You would not have him say Mrs. Garret yet?" And Leslie covered her face and laughed again, and reddened to the tips of her fingers.
"Not 'Bonnie Leslie,' 'Jewel,' 'Angel,'" jested Mary, thrilling at the echo of a certain low, fluttered voice, that had sounded in her own ears and would wilfully161 repeat, "Winsome162 Mary," "Little Woman," "Witch!"
"No," Leslie replied, with honest frankness, "that would be speaking nonsense; and if Hector Garret thinks nonsense that is bad enough."
"Do you remember how we talked sometimes of our husbands?"
"Yes, I do. They were all to be heroes."
"And you were to be courted on bended knees. Yes, Leslie, solicited163 again and again; and when you yielded at last, it should be such an act of grace that the poor fellow would be half mad with delight."
"I was mad myself. I was full of some song or bit of poetry. I tell you again, Mary, if you have not found it out for yourself, real life is not like a book. Hector Garret is not the man to beg and implore164, and wait patiently for a score of years. I wish you saw how he manages his strong horse. He sits, and does not yield a hair's breadth. Though it paws and rears, he just holds its head tight and pats its neck. Now, I want him to check and guide me. I have been left a great deal to myself. Papa and mamma are not young, and it appears to me that a single child is not enough to draw out the sympathies of a staid, silent [Page 228]couple. They have been very kind to me all my life, and I ought to be glad that they will not miss me much. But although it was wrong, I have often felt a little forlorn, and been tempted to have bad, discontented thoughts all by myself. However, that is over, and I hope I'm going to be a good and sensible woman now. And, Mary, I am so anxious to have your opinion upon my crimson165 pelisse, because mamma does not profess4 to be a judge; and I cannot be certain that it is proper merely on a mantua-maker's word and my own taste. I would like to do Hector Garret credit; not that I can really do so in any eyes but his own."
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trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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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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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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coffins
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| n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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wither
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| vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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err
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| vi.犯错误，出差错 | |
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bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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venerated
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| 敬重（某人或某事物），崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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engrossed
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kin
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mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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lapsed
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| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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slippered
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| 穿拖鞋的 | |
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poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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janitors
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| n.看门人( janitor的名词复数 )；看管房屋的人；锅炉工 | |
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30
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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31
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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32
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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33
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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36
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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38
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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39
hardier
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| 能吃苦耐劳的，坚强的( hardy的比较级 )； （植物等）耐寒的 | |
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40
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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41
distil
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| vt.蒸馏；提取…的精华，精选出 | |
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42
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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43
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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44
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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45
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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47
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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48
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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49
embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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50
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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51
painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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52
pensiveness
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| n.pensive（沉思的）的变形 | |
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53
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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54
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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55
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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56
arduously
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| adv.费力地，严酷地 | |
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57
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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58
aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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59
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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60
garnished
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| v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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62
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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63
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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65
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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66
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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67
otter
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| n.水獭 | |
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68
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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69
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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70
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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71
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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72
bowers
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| 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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73
irrationally
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| ad.不理性地 | |
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74
hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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75
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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76
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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77
highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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78
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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79
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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80
incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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81
scholastic
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| adj.学校的，学院的，学术上的 | |
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82
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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83
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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84
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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85
miserable
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|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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86
annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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87
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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88
credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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89
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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90
discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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91
dwindle
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| v.逐渐变小（或减少） | |
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92
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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93
livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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94
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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95
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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96
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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97
similes
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| （使用like或as等词语的）明喻( simile的名词复数 ) | |
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98
gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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99
obtrusive
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| adj.显眼的；冒失的 | |
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100
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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101
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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102
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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103
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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104
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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105
sluggishly
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| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
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106
wharfs
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| 码头，停泊处 | |
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107
warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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108
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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109
creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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110
pettishly
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111
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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112
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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113
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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114
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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115
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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116
impartiality
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| n. 公平, 无私, 不偏 | |
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117
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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118
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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119
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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120
conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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121
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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122
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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123
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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124
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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125
eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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126
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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127
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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128
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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129
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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130
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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131
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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132
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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133
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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134
mantled
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| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
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135
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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136
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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137
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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138
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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139
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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140
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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141
shuffled
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| 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 | |
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142
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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143
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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144
subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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145
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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146
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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147
waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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148
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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149
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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150
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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151
supremely
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| adv.无上地，崇高地 | |
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152
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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153
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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154
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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155
meddled
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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156
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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157
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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158
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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159
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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160
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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161
wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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162
winsome
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| n.迷人的，漂亮的 | |
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163
solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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164
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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165
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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