Amongst these ladies Miss Mackenzie was reckoned as head. She was a tall, strong-minded woman, with iron-gray hair, false teeth, a prominent nose, and small steel-gray eyes. Miss Mackenzie was between sixty and seventy years of age; she always dressed in the severest and most old-fashioned manner, and wore her iron-gray hair in ringlets on each side of her head. She was an excellent woman of business, and was dreaded3 not only by the schoolgirls, but also by one or two of the ladies of the committee; those who most feared her were the two Misses Scott and Miss Jane Smyth. Mrs. Ross was a fashionable woman who went a good deal into London society, talked about the Great Shirley School to her different friends, and was considered an expert on the subject of girls' education. Mrs. Ross had a husband and a beautiful home; she dressed remarkably4 well, and was looked down on in consequence by Miss Mackenzie. Mrs. Naylor was the oldest of the governors. She was a little, wizened5 lady with a face like a russet apple, a kindly6 smile, and a sweet voice.
It was the custom of the governors to meet four times a year as a matter of course, and as a matter of expediency7 they met about as many times again. But a sudden meeting to be convened8 within forty-eight hours' notice was almost unheard of in their experience.
When they were all seated round the table Miss Mackenzie, who was chairwoman, took out the agenda and read its contents aloud. These were brief enough:
"To inquire into the insurrection amongst the foundationers, and in particular to cause full investigation9 to be made with regard to the Irish girl, Kathleen O'Hara."
"This is really very astonishing," said Miss Mackenzie, turning to the other governors. "An insurrection amongst the foundationers! Had we not better summon Miss Ravenscroft, who will tell us what she means?"
A clerk who attended the meetings (also a woman) went away now to summon Miss Ravenscroft. She appeared in a few minutes, was asked to seat herself, and was requested to give a full explanation. This she did very briefly10.
"At the beginning of the term," she said, "a girl of the name of Kathleen O'Hara joined our number. She was eccentric and untrained. She came from the south-west of Ireland. I had her examined, and found that she knew extremely little. We were forced to put her into much too low a class for her years and general appearance."
"Well," said Miss Smyth, "that, after all, isn't a crime. I don't quite understand."
"If you will kindly resume your story we shall be obliged, Miss Ravenscroft," said Miss Mackenzie.
Miss Ravenscroft did resume it. She traced Kathleen's conduct from the first day of her arrival to the present hour. Short as the time was—not more than six weeks—she had worked havoc11 in the school. Her influence was altogether felt amongst the foundationers. They crowded round her at all hours; a glance from her eyes was sufficient to compel them to do exactly what she wished. They ceased to be attentive12 to their lessons; they were often discovered in school in a state of semi-drowsiness; they were rebellious13 and impertinent to their teachers—in short, they were in a state of insurrection.
"And you trace this disgraceful state of things to the advent14 of the Irish girl?" said Miss Mackenzie.
"I am sorry to say, Miss Mackenzie, that I do. When I noticed that Kathleen O'Hara had a disturbing influence over the girls I caused further inquiries15 to be made, and I then made a discovery which distressed16 me very much. My eyes were first opened by the fact that one of our teachers picked up off the floor, just where a certain Clara Sawyer, one of the best and most promising17 of the foundationers, was sitting, a small locket, evidently a badge. She brought it to me, and I now hand it to you ladies for inspection18."
The little silver heart-shaped badge was passed from one lady to another. The Misses Scott thought it pretty and quaint19. Miss Jane Smyth murmured the words "Wild Irish Girls" under her breath. Mrs. Ross pushed it away from her as though it was beneath notice. Mrs. Naylor said:
"Very pretty; quite touching20, isn't it? Heart-shaped. I always think that such a sweet emblem21, don't you, Miss Mackenzie?"
But Miss Mackenzie, with a sniff22, took up the little talisman23 and turned it from right to left.
"'Wild Irish Girls,'" she said aloud. "What can this mean?"
"I can throw some light on the subject, but not much," said Miss Ravenscroft. "It is quite evident that a society calling itself by this name exists, and that it has been instituted and formed altogether by Kathleen O'Hara, who has induced a great number—I should say fully24 half—of the foundationers to join her. They meet, I have discovered, at night; their rendezvous25 being, up to the present, a certain quarry26 a short distance out of town. What they do at their meetings I cannot tell, but I believe they are very riotous27, with singing and dancing and sports of all sorts. Of course, as you know, Miss Mackenzie, such proceedings28 are altogether prohibited in our school."
"But this takes place out of school," said Mrs. Naylor.
"Mrs. Naylor, I should be much obliged if you would allow Miss Ravenscroft to continue," said Miss Mackenzie.
Miss Ravenscroft did continue.
"Putting aside that question," she said, "the effect on the girls is most disastrous29. They are completely out of my control, and I know for a fact that they do not care to please any one except Kathleen O'Hara."
"Of course our duty is plain," said Miss Mackenzie. "We must get the ringleader into custody30, so to speak, and either bind31 her over to break up the society, and so keep the peace, or expel her from the school."
"She is a difficult girl to deal with," said Miss Ravenscroft. "She has a great deal that is good in her; she is handsome and rich, very affectionate, and full of spirit."
"But what has a girl who is handsome and rich to do in a school like the Great Shirley?" asked Mrs. Ross.
"That is the curious part of it. Kathleen's mother was educated in this school, and she made up her mind that her daughter should never go to any other. Kathleen lives with the Tennants. I should be sorry if she were expelled; there is so much that is good in her. It would be a pity to harden her or hold her up to public disgrace. I hope some other way may be discovered of bringing her to order."
"You are quite right. Miss Ravenscroft," said Miss Smyth. "I never did hold with the severe hardening process."
"Certainly in the case of Kathleen it would do no good," said Miss Ravenscroft.
"But what do you propose to do, then?" said Miss Mackenzie. "You have not, I presume, asked us to come here without having some plan in your head."
"The first thing to do is to get hold of all possible facts," said Miss Ravenscroft. "Now, there is one girl in the school who could tell us—a charming girl, a new girl—for she also only joined this term—but in all respects the opposite of Kathleen O'Hara. She for a short time belonged to the rebels, as I must call the Wild Irish Girls, but she saw the folly32 of her conduct and left them. She could tell us all about them if she liked, and help us to bring the insurrection to an end."
"Then that is capital," said Miss Mackenzie in a tone of enjoyment33. "Have the girl summoned, please, Miss Ravenscroft."
Miss Ravenscroft turned to the clerk, who went away at once in search of Ruth. Ruth came in looking very white, her face dogged, her usual beauty and charm of manner having quite deserted34 her. She wore her little school-apron35 and she kept folding it between her fingers as she stood in the presence of her judges.
"Your name?" said Miss Mackenzie.
"Ruth Craven."
"Your age?"
"I am fourteen."
"Where do you live?"
"In No. 2 Willow36 Cottages."
"Oh, I know," said Miss Mackenzie, looking with more approval at the child. "I have often met your grandfather. You live with him and his wife, don't you?"
"Yes, madam."
"And you have been admitted here as a foundationer?"
"Yes, madam."
"In what class is Ruth Craven, Miss Ravenscroft?"
"Ruth is a very diligent37 pupil. She is in the third remove," replied Miss Ravenscroft, looking with kindly eyes at the child.
Ruth just glanced at her teacher, and then lowered her eyes. Her beautiful little face was beginning to have its usual effect upon most of the ladies present. Some of the stony38 despair had left it; the color came and went in her cheeks. She ceased to fiddle39 with her apron, and clasped her two little white hands tightly together.
"My child," said Mrs. Naylor, "your object in coming to school is doubtless the best object of all."
Ruth raised inquiring eyes.
"I mean," said the little old lady, "that you want to learn all you can—to gain knowledge and wisdom, to learn goodness and forbearance and long-suffering and charity."
"Oh, yes," said Ruth, her eyes dilating40.
"If," continued Miss Mackenzie, interrupting Mrs. Naylor, and speaking in a very firm tone—"if, instead of these pleasant things happening, a little girl learns to join insurrectionists, to forget those to whom she is indebted for such tremendous advantages, then how do matters stand—eh, Ruth Craven?"
"I don't understand," said Ruth.
Her trembling and fear had come back to her.
"The dear child is frightened, Miss Mackenzie," said Mrs. Naylor.
"I hope not," said Miss Mackenzie; "but I as chairwoman am obliged to question her.—Ruth Craven, is it true that you became a member of a silly schoolgirl society called the Wild Irish Girls, and that you wore a badge like this?"
Ruth nodded.
"Don't nod to me. Speak."
"It is true," said Ruth.
"Are you now a member of that society?"
"No."
"Why did you join it?"
"Because I loved Kathleen O'Hara."
"She is the promoter, then?"
Ruth was silent.
"You have heard me?"
"Yes, madam."
"Kathleen O'Hara is the promoter?"
Again Ruth was silent. Miss Mackenzie glanced at the other ladies. After a pause she continued:
"We will leave that matter for the present. Please write down, Miss Judson"—here she turned to the clerk—"that Ruth Craven has refused to answer my question with regard to Kathleen O'Hara. We will return to that point later on.—Why did you leave the society?"
"I did so because I wanted to join a scheme proposed by a girl who was not a foundationer and not a member of the society. Her name is Cassandra Weldon."
"One of our best and most promising pupils," interrupted Miss Ravenscroft.
"I know her," said Miss Mackenzie. "We have every reason to be proud of Cassandra Weldon.—And so she, this charming and excellent Cassandra Weldon, is your friend, little Ruth Craven?"
"She has been extremely good to me, madam. She offered me the services of her own coach in order that I might work up for the Ayldice Scholarship."
"And do you think you have a chance of getting it?"
"I don't know. I mean to try."
Her dark-blue eyes flashed with intelligence and longing41 as she uttered these words.
"I think we are now in possession of the facts," said Miss Mackenzie. "Is that not so, Mrs. Ross? Ruth Craven was a member of the objectionable society; she very wisely left it, knowing that she would better herself by doing so.—Now then, Ruth, we expect you to tell us all about the society—where it meets, and as much as you know about its rules. And you must also acquaint us with the names of the girls who are members."
Ruth again was silent, but now she held herself erect42 and looked full at Miss Mackenzie.
"You hear me, child. Speak. You can make your narrative43 brief. Where does the society meet? What does it do? What are its rules? Go on; you are not stupid, are you?"
"No, Miss Mackenzie," said Ruth, "I am not stupid; and I am very, sorry indeed to seem rude, but I cannot answer your questions. You know that Kathleen's society exists; that fact I cannot hide from you, but you will not hear anything more from me. It would be a very terrible thing for me to be expelled from this school; it would mean great sorrow to my grandfather and grandmother; but I cannot betray my friend Kathleen, nor any of the other girls of the society."
Miss Mackenzie was silent for quite a minute. The other ladies fidgeted as they sat. Ruth, having delivered her soul, looked down. After a long pause Miss Mackenzie said quite gently:
"Ruth Craven, you scarcely realize your own position. We cannot possibly let a little girl who is rebellious, who keeps secrets to herself which she ought to tell for the benefit of the school, continue in our midst. We will give you three days to think over this matter. If at the end of three days you are still obstinately44 silent, there is nothing whatever for it but that you should be expelled from the school. Do you understand what that means?"
"It means that I must go, that I shall lose all the advantages," said Ruth.
"It means that and more. It means that in the presence of the whole school you are pronounced unworthy, that you leave the school publicly, being desired to do so by your teacher. It is an unpleasant ceremony, and one which you will never be able to forget; it will haunt you for life, Ruth Craven. I trust, however, my dear child, that such extreme measures will not be necessary. You think now that you are honorable in making yourself a martyr45, but it is not so. We who are old must know more than you can possibly know, Ruth, with regard to the benefits of a great establishment like this. Insurrection must be put down with a firm hand. You will see for yourself how right we are, and how wrong and silly and childish you are.—Miss Ravenscroft, a special meeting of the governors will take place in this room on Saturday morning. This is Wednesday. Until then we hope that Ruth Craven will carefully consider her conduct, and be prepared to answer the very vital questions which will be put to her.—You can go, Ruth."
Ruth left the room.
"An extraordinary child," said Miss Mackenzie.
"A sweet child, I call her," said Mrs. Naylor. "What a beautiful face!"
"My dear Mrs. Naylor, does the beauty of Ruth Craven's face affect this question? She is, in my opinion, extremely silly, and a very naughty child.—Miss Ravenscroft, we leave it to you to bring the little girl to reason. I have known her grandfather ever since he kept a grocer's shop in the High Street. I have respected him more than any man I ever knew. This child in appearance is one of Nature's ladies, but we must get her to see things in the right light, and if necessary she must be made an example of. It will be very painful, but it must be done."
"I will do what I can," said Miss Ravenscroft; "but from the little I have seen of Ruth, I imagine she would go to the stake before she would betray those who are kind to her. I will, however, confide46 in Cassandra; she is extremely fond of Ruth, and she may influence her where others fail. I can't help saying, Miss Mackenzie, that it would be a very terrible thing, and would, I believe much injure the school, if a girl like Ruth were expelled. The other foundationers would feel it; there would be a sense of martyrdom. Sides would be taken for and against her. I trust that this extreme step will not be necessary."
"If she does not tell us what she knows, it will be not only necessary, but it will be carried into effect, and in my presence," said Miss Mackenzie. "But now to return to the more immediate47 business. You say these girls meet in a quarry?"
"I have heard rumors48 to that effect."
"Do you think they meet there every night? Are their scandalous proceedings a nightly occurrence?"
"Oh, no; I do not think they meet oftener than once a week."
"Have you any idea what night they choose?"
"I am rather under the impression that this is the night."
"Then send some one to see, Miss Ravenscroft. One or two of the teachers would be the best. They could go to the quarry to-night and wait there in order to see if the girls arrive. If they do, my orders are that they take no apparent notice of them, but write down the names of all present. If that can be done, and you are successful in finding the girls, we shall have the matter, as it were, in a nutshell, and we shall soon crush this disgraceful rebellion."
"And what about Kathleen?" asked Miss Ravenscroft.
"There is very little doubt that she will have to be expelled. Such a girl as that is a firebrand in a school, and however rich she may be, and however well-born, the sooner she leaves us the better."
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1
founders
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| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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3
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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4
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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7
expediency
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| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
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convened
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| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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11
havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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13
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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15
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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16
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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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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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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31
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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dilating
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| v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的现在分词 ) | |
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41
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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42
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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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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44
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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45
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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46
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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47
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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48
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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