Kitty was too unsettled and anxious to stay quiet for a single moment. She fidgeted Alice, who was busily engaged preparing her lessons for the following day.
"Kitty," she said, when that erratic10 young person had jumped up to lean her body half out of the window for the twentieth time, "if you cannot sit still yourself, you ought to have some thought for me. What am I to do if you keep rushing to the window and back again to your seat every couple of minutes?"
"I am looking for Elma," said Kitty.
"For Elma Lewis? Do you expect her to-night?"
"Yes, and on a matter of vital importance. Oh, don't talk to me please,
Alice. If she doesn't come soon, I believe my heart will burst."
"That is exactly like one of your exaggerated statements," said Alice.
"People's hearts don't burst. Oh, if you only would stay quiet."
"I believe that's herself turning round the corner," cried Kitty, bending out so far now that it was a wonder she was not overbalanced.
"Really, Kitty, you make my heart stand still," said Alice. "You will fall out if you are not careful. Oh, for goodness' sake, don't stoop out any further."
"It's not her," said Kitty, popping in her head. "I was only stooping far enough to catch a glimpse of her boots. Elma always wears such horrid11 shabby boots; and her feet are too large. By the way, Alice, what do you think of these shoes; do you like them with straps12 across, and little rosettes?"
"I don't like anything in the way of dress at the present moment," said Alice. "I want quiet and peace. It is impossible for me to do anything while you fidget as you do."
Kitty jumped with a bang into the nearest chair; opened a novel, and tried to read it upside down.
"If she isn't in time I won't be able to send the letter to-night and then—Alice, do you mind my interrupting you for a moment? What time does the last post go?"
"The pillar outside the gate is cleared at twelve," said Alice.
"It is only nine now. You don't happen to be able to tell me when a letter, cleared at twelve, would reach Castle Malone?"
"I cannot tell you. Forgive me, Kitty, I cannot stay in the room any longer. I am going to our bedroom."
Alice gathered up her books, and swept out of tho room. When she reached the bedroom she shut and locked the door.
Kitty was now left alone in the drawing-room, for Mr. and Mrs. Denvers were spending the evening out. She was glad of this, as she could lean as far out of the window as she dared, and there was no one to shout at her. She could also pace up and down the room, which she presently did with the rapidity and eagerness of a young tigress.
Oh, to be back again at Castle Malone! What was Laurie doing now?
Suppose Paddy Wheel-about really told her father about Laurie!
Squire14 Malone was extremely kind to Kitty; there was no saying what he would not do for Kitty were she in trouble; but Laurie and Pat were different matters. He had fits of severity-with them—only fits, mind you; for he was too Irish in his character, too generous-hearted, ever to keep his anger long; but in these fits he often made strange resolves, and when these resolves were made, as a rule, he carried them out. He was too proud to change his mind. If once he decided15 that the boys were to go to school to England, to school they must go—to "prison," Kitty termed it. Tears rose in her bright eyes, they rolled down her cheeks. Oh, why was not Elma in time? How dreadful, how dreadful if she (Kitty) missed the twelve-o'clock post! She was in this state of fret16 and worry, when Fred entered the room. Fred hated all girls, with the exception of Kitty Malone. He could not be said by this time to hate her, for he admired her very much indeed. The moment she saw him she called out to him to come in.
"Ah, then, Fred, it is you. Come along in," she cried; "you'll be a drain of a comfort—not much, but still a drain. Oh, Fred, it's I who am in the trouble entirely17. You wouldn't think it to look at me, but I am."
"Dear me, Kitty I am sorry," said Fred. "What's up? Has Alice been teasing you as usual?"
"Oh, bother Alice! as if I minded her little pinpricks. It's that darling Laurie in Ireland. He has got into trouble, the broth of a boy that he is."
She then related what had occurred in connection with Paddy
Wheel-about's coat.
"And the poor old coat is in the bottom of the lake," she added, "and the lake is feet deep in mud just at the bottom, and anything that falls with a weight into it would sink and sink. Oh, they will never find the coat till the day of judgment18, and it full of beautiful money! And Paddy Wheel-about has lost the little grain of sense he ever possessed19, and Laurie will be sent to one of those prisons."
"To prison?" cried Fred; "but surely your father—"
"Oh, I mean a school—it's all the same. Don't interrupt me, Fred. When my mind is full I must rattle20 off the speech somehow."
"And he wants you to send him ten pounds?"
"Yes."
"And have you got ten pounds to send him?"
"To be sure I have—I have ten pounds ten. I am an awful girl for spending money. I bought a whole pound's worth of chocolate yesterday. I only wish I had the money now instead; but poor little Agnes Moore and the other girls in my class, they do love chocolate, and they quite seem to fatten21 them. I bought the chocolates, and I have got ten shillings in my pocket."
"But you showed me a whole purseful of gold the other day," said Fred.
"Well, it's gone, Fred, and it isn't gone; but I know who could help me to find it if I could catch a sight of her."
"And who is that?" asked Fred.
"Elma Lewis."
"Elma Lewis! Do you like her?"
"I can't say that I like her—no I don't think I do; but she would help me, if I could only get to see her."
"Then, do you want me to go to her house and tell her so?"
"Why, Fred, that's a splendid idea. You are a jewel, a darling, a duck!
Let me fetch my hat, and you and I will go together."
"But I don't know my lessons yet. It is that beastly German. I have pages to translate. It is such rot."
"Oh, what does the German matter? Think of the misery poor Laurie is in.
Just stay where you are, Fred; I'll be back in a minute."
Kitty dashed upstairs, two or three steps at a time, and thundered a loud tattoo22 on the locked door of Alice's bedroom.
"You cannot come in, whoever you are," cried Alice from within.
"Yes, but I must, Alice, aroon; let me in, jewel that you are. I want my hat, and gloves and jacket, nothing else. Do, for goodness' sake, let me in, Alice, asthore!"
But Alice was obdurate23. Once let Kitty in, she would never be able to get rid of her again, and her lessons must be learned. They were specially24 difficult and required all her attention.
"Then if you won't," cried Kitty, whose quick temper was beginning to rise, "at least fling the things out of the window."
"You know you must not go out at this hour."
"If you won't give them to me," said Kitty, "I'll go without them."
"You are not to have them; you are not to go out. It isn't right," called Alice, who felt strong in the cause of virtue25.
Kitty rattled26 violently on the handle for a moment longer, and then rushed downstairs again to where Fred was waiting.
"I can't get my hat," she said; "but it doesn't matter. I'll go as I am."
Now Kitty's dress was more picturesque27 than suitable. She had on a crimson28 blouse and a skirt bedizened with many ribbons and frills. The blouse had only elbow sleeves and was cut rather low in the neck. Nothing could be more becoming to the dancing eyes, the rose-bloom cheeks, the head of dark hair.
"Lend me a cap of yours, Fred, there's a darling," called Kitty, "and we'll be off. Alice is in one of her tantrums, and she won't let me into our room nor give me my hat and jacket. If your mother were there it would be all right."
Fred only thought that Kitty looked remarkably29 pretty. It did not occur to him as at all queer that she should want to walk a couple of miles in this erratic dress. He went downstairs, accommodated her with a small cap which bore the college coat of arms in front, and the two were soon hurrying along the roads at a rapid rate in the direction of Elma's house.
There were two ways to Elma's home. One way was by crossing a wide common, cutting off a certain corner, walking down a by-street, and so, by a series of short cuts, reaching Constantine Road. By the other and slightly longer way you had to pass an open thoroughfare in the center of which blazed, with its shining lights and its gay exterior30, a large public-house called the "Spotted31 Leopard32." Now the "Spotted Leopard" was by no means a nice place to pass at night. Men considerably33 the worse for drink were apt to linger about the doors. Gossiping and idle fellows would congregate34 just by this special corner, ready to take up any bit of fun or nonsense which might be coming, meaning no special mischief35, but being decidedly disagreeable to meet at night.
Fred was as careless a schoolboy as could be found in the length and breadth of Great Britain; Kitty was equally reckless, perhaps more so, if that were possible. That special evening Fred decided that they would not take the short cut across the common.
"A beastly lonely place at this hour of night," he said, "and the road is so uneven36 and there are no lamps. We'll go round by the 'Spotted Leopard'. You don't mind, do you, Kit1?"
"Never a bit," answered Kitty. "Come along, Fred; stretch your legs. I must get to see Elma Lewis to-night as quickly as possible."
Fred walked fast, and Kitty laughed and talked and danced by his side. Now that she was in action she forgot her fears; her volatile37 spirits rose once again to a height. She entertained Fred with numerous stories relating to Paddy Wheel-about, Laurie, and Pat, and invited him to come to Castle Malone for the whole of the summer holidays, assuring him that the fishing would be splendid, the cycling superb, the riding such as would make your eyes water, and the shooting and the hunting when that season began all that could stimulate38 the least ambitious of boys. And when Kitty spoke39 she was apt to illustrate40 her words, dancing now in front of her companion, now keeping by his side, now lingering a little behind him, all the time gesticulating with eyes and lips and gay motions. She was like a restive41 young colt—beautiful, excitable. The boy felt that he had never had such a charming companion before.
All went well, and Kitty's bizarre dress, her hair tossed wildly over her head and hanging partly down her shoulders, her little feet encased in the shoes with the rosettes and steel buckles42, the frills on her gay skirt, her bare arms, failed to attract any special attention. But when they got into the neighborhood of the "Spotted Leopard," a blaze of light fell full across her. She was a remarkable43 enough figure to be out at this hour, and when joined to the somewhat peculiar44 spectacle, the wild-looking boys—for they were little more—who had congregated45 round this special corner, saw the college cap on her head, they made a rush forward and the next moment had surrounded her.
They began to laugh and to make facetious46 remarks. It was all done in a second. Kitty stood stock still as if some one had shot her. He gay manner ceased on the instant, she drew herself erect47, and the next moment aimed a blow straight from the shoulder at the nearest of the men, knocking him over as completely as though he had been a ninepin; then taking hold of Fred's arm—who had come to her rescue, although the poor lad had not the least idea what to do—marched away, her face as crimson as her gay silk blouse.
"Well, Kitty, you did that splendidly," he said.
"The impertinent wretches48! Don't speak to me about them," answered Kitty. But just then she came face to face with a more serious obstacle. This was no less a person than Miss Worrick herself.
Now if there was a prim49 mistress in the whole length and breadth of England, it was Matilda Worrick. She liked girls to be neatly50 dressed; she could not bear to see them out at what she called inclement51 hours. She would have thought it the height of impropriety for Kitty and Fred to walk together at such an hour; but when in addition to this Kitty went out in a dress which Miss Worrick would have thought very unsuitable for home, when she wore a boy's college cap on her head, and when she had so far distinguished52 herself as to have been for a moment the center of a lot of low noisy, rough men, Miss Worrick felt that the moment had come for her to interfere53. She grasped Kitty Malone firmly by the arm.
"What are you doing, Miss Malone?" she said. "How dare you be out at this hour?"
"How dare you interfere?" answered Kitty, who, excited already, could not for a moment brook54 Miss Worrick's interference.
"I shall march you straight home," said the mistress. "If Miss Sherrard knew of this she would expel you from the school. You are a very wicked girl. Fred Denvers, you can go home or go on with your walk, just as you like, but I have charge of Miss Malone; she belongs to the Middleton School, and I must see her home before I go a step further."
Poor Kitty felt staggered.
"I really meant no harm," she said. "I cannot imagine what you are talking about. I could not get my hat and jacket, and as it was most important that I should see Elma Lewis, Fred promised to take me to her house. Please don't ask me to return now with you, Miss Worrick, I really cannot come."
But Miss Worrick was inexorable. She grasped Kitty very firmly by the arm, turned abruptly55 in the direction of home, and walked forward with a firm step. There was no help for it; Kitty Malone must accompany her. They soon found themselves back again at the Denvers' house. Mr. and Mrs. Denvers were out, but Miss Worrick inquired for Alice.
"Ask Miss Alice to come to me immediately," she said to the servant.
The girl looked pityingly at Kitty, who was a prime favorite with her, and then went away to fulfill56 her errand.
The instant Alice got this somewhat startling message, she forgot her lesson, unlocked her bedroom door, and flew downstairs as fast as she could. Miss Worrick was standing57 in the center of the drawing-room. Kitty was leaning up against one of the window-curtains. Kitty's face was red, her hair was tossed in wild confusion, and her dark eyes seemed to flash fire.
"Alice," said Miss Worrick, coming straight up to Alice when she appeared. "I must ask you to take charge of Kitty Malone."
"Why so?" asked Alice in some astonishment58.
"Just do what I say. Your father and mother are out. Kitty is not to return to school to-morrow until she hears from Miss Sherrard. In the absence of your parents I put her in your charge, Alice. She has behaved disgracefully, and I shall have the great pain of reporting what I have just witnessed to our head-mistress to-morrow."
So saying, Miss Worrick walked quickly out of the room and out of the house.
"Well, thank goodness, she's gone—the old cat!" cried Kitty.
"Now, Kitty what have you done?" said Alice. "Oh, this is terrible! Fresh scrapes! We seem to live in constant hot water. What is the matter now, you headstrong and dreadful girl?"
"Nothing is the matter," replied Kitty, "absolutely nothing. It is all a storm in a teacup. But if any one is to blame you are the one."
"I?" cried Alice. "What next?"
"Well, you are. You would not give me my hat and jacket. I have a nice plain hat and a jacket to match. I should have put them on if you had not locked our bedroom door, and prevented my coming into the room, which is just as much mine as yours. As it was imperative59 for me to see Elma Lewis immediately, I asked Fred if he would walk round with me to her house, and I wore his college cap. When we were passing the 'Spotted Leopard' a lot of rough, rude boys rushed out and began to make impertinent remarks about my dress. I just gave one of them a black eye and knocked him over. The next moment I found myself under the fire of Miss Worrick's anger."
"And small wonder," said Alice. "Kitty, what is to be done? Before you came here I thought myself a respectable girl—all we Middleton girls did; and now for such a fearful thing to happen. Why, it will be all over the place in the morning. They will talk of it everywhere. Oh, Kitty, you have disgraced me for ever."
Here Alice burst into tears.
"Good gracious!" cried Kitty, "what are you crying about? I did nothing; it was the rude men, or boys, or whatever you like to call them, who were to blame."
"You did nothing, going out in that dress?" cried Alice—"that red blouse, and your arms bare, and with Fred's college cap on your head. I should not be a bit surprised if Fred were expelled; he will certainly get into an awful scrape. Oh dear! oh dear!"
"I cannot imagine what you are talking and crying about," said Kitty. "But there; I have got a headache, and am going to bed. I suppose there is no chance of my—Oh, poor Laurie! What a wicked girl Elma Lewis is!"
Kitty rushed up to her room. Not that she was frightened—that was not her way; but she saw that disagreeable things might be pending13. In the meantime her most anxious thoughts were for Laurie. What would happen if she could not send him the money by an early post?
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1
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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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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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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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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8
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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9
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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13
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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fatten
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| v.使肥，变肥 | |
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tattoo
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| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
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obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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congregate
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| v.(使)集合，聚集 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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stimulate
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| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
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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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illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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50
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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51
inclement
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| adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的 | |
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52
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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53
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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54
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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55
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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56
fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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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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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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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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