While this scene was enacting1 in the cottage, I was hasting up from the beach, where the lifeboat men had rendered good service that night.
As the honorary agent for the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, I had been summoned by a special messenger as soon as it was known that vessels4 were on the rocks off the entrance to our harbour. I was accompanied by my niece, Lizzie Gordon, who always joined me on such occasions, carrying with her a basket in which were a flask6 of brandy, another of port wine, a bottle of smelling salts, and several small articles which she fancied might be of use in cases of emergency. We had called at the Sailors’ Home in passing, to see that they were astir there, and ready to receive shipwrecked people. We afterwards remained on the beach, under the lee of a boathouse, while the lifeboat men saved the crews of the wrecked3 vessels.
The work was nobly done! John Furby, the coxswain, with a sturdy crew of volunteers—twelve in all—were ready for action, with cork7 life-belts and oilskin coats on, when the team of four stout8 horses came tearing along the sands dragging the lifeboat after them, assisted and cheered on by a large crowd of men and boys. No unnecessary delay occurred. Opposite the first wreck2, the carriage was wheeled round, so that the bow of the boat pointed9 to the sea. The crew sprang into their seats, and, shipping10 the oars12, sat ready and resolute13.
Immense breakers thundered on the beach, and rushed inland in fields of gurgling foam14 that looked like phosphoric light in the darkness. Into this the carriage was thrust as far as it could be with safety by many strong and willing hands. Then the men in the surf seized the launching lines, by means of which the boat could be propelled off its carriage. A peculiar15 adaptation of the mechanism16 enabled them, by pulling backward, to force the boat forward. For a moment they stood inactive as a towering wave rolled in like a great black scroll17 coming out of the blacker background, where the sound of the raging storm could be heard, but where nothing could be seen, save the pale red light which proved that the wreck still held together.
The sea flew up, almost overwhelming the carriage. John Furby, standing18 at his post by the steering19 oar11, with the light of the small boat-lamp shining up into his rugged20 face, gave the word in a clear, strong voice.
“Hurrah!” shouted the men on shore, as they ran up the beach with the ends of the launching ropes.
The boat sprang into the surf, the crew bent21 to their oars with all their might, and kept pace with the rush of the retreating billow, while the sea drew them out as if it were hungry to swallow them.
The lifeboat met the next breaker end-on; the men, pulling vigorously, cleft22 it, and, passing beyond, gained the deep water and disappeared from view.
The minutes that followed appeared like hours, but our patience was not long tried. The boat soon re-appeared, coming in on the crest23 of a towering wave, with six saved seamen24 in her. As she struck the beach she was seized by the crowd on shore, and dragged out of danger by main force.
Thus far all was well. But there was stern work still to be done. Having ascertained25 that the vessel5 was a collier, and that none of her crew were lost, I sent the six men with an escort to the Sailors’ Home, and followed the lifeboat, which was already on its way to the second wreck, not more than five hundred yards from the first.
Here they were equally successful, three men and a boy being rescued from the vessel, which also proved to be a small collier. Then the boat was conveyed to the third wreck, which turned out to be a brig, and was nearly a mile removed from the harbour, just opposite the fishing village of Cove26.
The crew of the lifeboat being now much exhausted27, were obliged to give up their oars and life-belts to fresh men, who volunteered for the service in scores. Nothing, however, would persuade John Furby to resign his position, although he was nearly worn out with fatigue28 and exposure.
Once more the lifeboat dashed into the sea, and once again returned with a crew of rescued men, who were immediately led up to the nearest hut, which chanced to be that of Stephen Gaff. One of the saved men, being insensible, was carried up and laid in Stephen’s bed, as I have already described.
There was still some uncertainty29 as to whether all those on board the wreck had been rescued, so the boat put off again, but soon returned, having found no one. As she struck the shore a larger wave than usual overwhelmed her, and washed the coxswain overboard. A loud cry burst from those who witnessed this, and one or two daring fellows, running into the surf up to their waists, nearly perished in their brave but vain efforts to grasp the drowning man.
Furby did not struggle. He had been rendered insensible by the shock, and although several ropes were thrown to him, and one actually fell over him, he could make no effort to save himself, as the waves rolled him inshore and sucked him back again.
At this moment the sound of horses’ hoofs30 was heard on the sands, and my young friend Kenneth Stuart dashed past us, at full gallop31, into the sea!
Kenneth was a splendid and a fearless rider. He kept the finest horses in the neighbourhood. On this occasion he was mounted on a large strong chestnut32, which he had trained to gallop into a foaming33 surf.
Checking his pace suddenly, when about knee-deep in the foam, he took up such a position that the next billow would wash the drowning man within his reach.
The wave came on. When about a hundred yards from the spot where the young horseman stood, it fell with a prolonged roar, and the foam came sweeping34 in like a white wall, with the dark form of Furby tossing in the midst. The sea rushed furiously upon horse and rider, and the terrified horse, rearing almost perpendicular35, wheeled round towards the land. At the same instant the coxswain was hurled36 against them. Kenneth seized the mane of his steed with one hand, and grasping Furby with the other, held on. The noble charger, swept irresistibly37 landward, made frantic38 efforts to regain39 his footing, and partially40 succeeded before the full force of the retreating water bore back upon him.
For one moment he stood quivering with the strength of his effort. Kenneth was very strong, else he had never maintained his grasp on the collar of the coxswain.
A moment more, and the horse made a plunge41 forward; then a dozen hands caught him by bridle42 and saddle-girth, and almost dragged the trio out of the sea, while a loud cheer greeted their deliverance.
I ordered four stout men to carry the coxswain to Gaff’s cottage, remaining behind for a few minutes in order to congratulate my young friend on his escape and success, as well as to see that no other wrecks43 had occurred in the neighbourhood. Having satisfied myself as best I could on this latter point, I was about to proceed to the cottage when Kenneth came forward, leading his good horse by the bridle, and offered his disengaged arm to my niece.
Lizzie thanked him and declined, observing that, after his gallant44 and successful rescue of Furby, he must himself stand in need of assistance, or something to that effect. I cannot say what his reply was, but I observed that she immediately afterwards took the proffered45 arm, and we all walked up to the hut together.
On reaching it we met Kenneth’s groom46 coming out, he having failed, as has been shown, to make any impression on the Russians with his Turkish!
I found the place completely filled with men and women, the latter being in a state of great excitement.
“Here’s the agent! make way, lads! here comes Cap’n Bingley,” several voices exclaimed as I entered.
Going to the bed and seeing how matters stood with poor Furby, who had been placed on his back, I ordered the people to leave the hut, and had the half-drowned man turned instantly on his face. The other half-drowned man, having recovered, was lying on a blanket before the fire.
“Clear the room, lads,” said I firmly, “the man wants fresh air; open the window, and take these wrecked men up to the Home in town. Everything is prepared for them there, hot coffee and beds, and a hearty47 welcome. Away with you, now; carry those who can’t walk.”
With the assistance of Kenneth and his man the hut was soon cleared, only a few being allowed to remain to aid me in my efforts to recover the coxswain.
“You see,” said I, as I rolled Furby gently and continuously from his face to his side, in order to produce what I may term artificial breathing, “it is not good to lay a half-drowned man on his back, because his tongue will fall into his throat, and prevent the very thing we want to bring about, namely, respiration48. Go to the foot of the bed, Kenneth, put your hands under the blankets, and chafe49 his legs with hot flannel50. Hold the smelling salts to his nose, Lizzie. That’s it, now. Mrs Gaff, put more hot bottles about him; see, he begins to breathe already.”
As I spoke51 the mysterious vital spark in the man began to revive, and ere long the quivering eyelids52 and short fitful gasps53 indicated that “Uncle John,” as the coxswain of the lifeboat was styled by the household, had recovered. We gave him a teaspoonful54 or two of hot coffee when he was able to swallow, and then prepared to take our leave.
I observed, while I was busy with Furby, that my niece took Mrs Gaff aside, and appeared to be talking to her very earnestly. Lizzie was a lovely girl. She was tall and slightly formed, with rich brown hair and a dark clear complexion55 that might have been almost styled Spanish, but for the roses which bloomed on her cheeks. I could not help admiring the strong contrast between her and the fair face and portly figure of worthy56 Mrs Gaff, who listened to what she said with an air of deep respect.
Little Tottie had taken Lizzie’s hand in both of hers, and was looking up in her face, and the boy Billy was gazing at her with open-mouthed admiration57. I observed, too, that Kenneth Stuart was gazing at her with such rapt attention that I had to address him several times before he heard me!
This I was not surprised at, for I remember to this day the feelings of pleasure with which I beheld58 my pretty niece, when, having lost her father and mother, poor dear! she came to find a home under my roof, and it was natural she should inspire admiration in a young man like Kenneth.
My family and the Stuarts had become acquainted only a few weeks before the events of which I am now writing, and this was the first time that the young people had met. They were not altogether unknown to each other, however, for Lizzie had heard of Kenneth from the fishermen, who used to speak with interest of his horsemanship and his daring feats59 in rescuing drowning people from the sea during the storms that so frequently visited our coast, and Kenneth had heard of Lizzie, also from the fishermen, amongst whom she was a frequent visitor, especially when sickness entered their cots, or when the storm made their wives widows, and their little ones fatherless.
I had set my heart on seeing these two married. My dear wife, for the first time in her life I believe, thoroughly60 agreed with me in this wish. I mention the fact with unalloyed pleasure, as being what I may term a sunny memory, a bright spot, in a life of subdued61 though true happiness. We neither of us suspected at that time what bitter opposition62 to our wishes we were to receive from Kenneth’s father, who, although in many respects a good man, was very stern—unpleasantly stern.
Having done all that could be done for the wrecked people, Lizzie and I returned to our residence in Wreckumoft at about four in the morning.
Kenneth insisted on walking with us, sending his man home with his horse, which Lizzie patted on the neck, and called a noble creature. It was quite evident that Kenneth wished that he himself was his own horse on that occasion—so evident that Lizzie blushed, and taking my arm hurriedly urged me to go home as it was “very late.”
“Very early would be more correct, my dear,” said I, “for it is past four. You must be tired, Lizzie; it is wrong in me to allow you to subject yourself to such storms. Give her your arm, Kenneth.”
“If Miss Gordon will accept of it,” said the youth approaching her promptly63, “I shall be—”
“No, thank you,” said Lizzie, interrupting him and clinging closer to me; “I am not in the least tired, and your assistance is quite sufficient, uncle.”
I must confess to being surprised at this, for it was quite evident to me that Kenneth admired Lizzie, and I was pretty certain—so was my dear wife—that Lizzie admired Kenneth, although of course she never gave us the slightest hint to that effect, and it seemed to me such a good and reasonable opportunity for—well, well, I need not bore you, reader, with my wild ideas, so peculiarly adapted it would seem for the twentieth century—suffice it to say, that I was surprised. But if truth must be told, I have always lived in a state of surprise in regard to the thoughts and actions of women, and on this particular night I was doomed64 to the unpleasant surprise of being received with a sharp rebuke65 from Mrs Bingley, who roundly asserted that she would stand this sort of thing no longer. That she had no notion of being disturbed at such unearthly hours by the noisy advent66 of a disagreeably damp and cold husband, and that if I intended to continue to be an agent of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, she would insist upon a separate maintenance!
I was comforted, however, by finding a good fire and a hot cup of coffee in the parlour for myself and Lizzie, provided by our invaluable67 housekeeper68, Susan Barepoles, a girl who was worthy of a better name, being an active, good-looking, cheerful lass. She was the daughter of the skipper of one of our coal sloops69, named Haco Barepoles, a man of excellent disposition70, but gifted with such a superabundance of animal spirits, courage, and recklessness, that he was known in the port of Wreckumoft as Mad Haco.
Much exhausted by one of the hardest nights of toil71 and exposure I ever spent, I retired72 to my room and sought and found repose73.
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1
enacting
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 ) | |
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2
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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3
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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4
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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11
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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13
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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14
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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15
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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17
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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18
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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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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20
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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21
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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22
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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23
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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24
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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25
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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29
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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30
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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31
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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32
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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33
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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34
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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35
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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36
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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38
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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39
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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40
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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41
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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42
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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43
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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44
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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45
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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47
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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48
respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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49
chafe
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| v.擦伤；冲洗；惹怒 | |
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50
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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51
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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52
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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53
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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54
teaspoonful
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| n.一茶匙的量；一茶匙容量 | |
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55
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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56
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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57
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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58
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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59
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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60
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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61
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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62
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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63
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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64
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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65
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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66
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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67
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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68
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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69
sloops
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| n.单桅纵帆船( sloop的名词复数 ) | |
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70
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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71
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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72
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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73
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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