They were absolutely unintelligible4 to me — marks and nothing more. Useless to waste time over such unmeaning scrawls5 when I had other and more tangible6 subjects to consider. But I should not destroy them. There might come a time when I should be glad to give them the attention which my present excitement forbade. Putting them back in my desk, I settled myself into a serious contemplation of the one fact which seemed to give a partial if not wholly satisfactory explanation of Mrs. Packard’s peculiar7 conduct during the last two weeks — her belief that she had been visited by a specter of an unholy, threatening aspect.
That it was a belief and nothing more seemed sufficiently8 clear to me in the cold-blooded analysis to which I now subjected the whole matter.
Phantoms9 have no place in the economy of nature. That Mrs. Packard thought herself the victim of one was simply a proof of how deeply, though perhaps unconsciously, she had been affected11 by the traditions of the house. Such sensitiveness in a mind naturally firm and uncommonly12 well poised14, called for attention. Yet a physician had asserted that he could do nothing for her. Granting that he was mistaken, would an interference of so direct and unmistakable a character be wise in the present highly strung condition of her nerves? I doubted it. It would show too plainly the light in which we regarded her. I dared not undertake the responsibility of such a course in Mayor Packard’s absence. Some other way must be found to quiet her apprehensions16 and bring her into harmony again with her surroundings. I knew of only one course. If the influence of the house had brought on this hallucination, then the influence of the house must be destroyed. She must be made to see that, despite its unfortunate reputation, no specter had ever visited it; that some purely17 natural cause was at the bottom of the various manifestations18 which had successively driven away all previous tenants21.
Could I hope to effect this? It was an undertaking22 of no small moment. Had I the necessary judgment24? I doubted it, but my ambition was roused. While Mr. Steele was devoting himself to the discovery of Mayor and Mrs. Packard’s political enemy, I would essay the more difficult task of penetrating25 the mystery threatening their domestic peace. I could but fail; a few inquiries26 would assure me of the folly27 or the wisdom of my course.
Having reached this point and satisfied myself as to my real duty, I rose to leave my room for another word or two with Ellen. As I did so my eyes fell on the shade still drawn28 between me and the next house. The impulse to raise it was irresistible29. I must see if either of the two old faces still occupied that gable window. It was not likely. It was not in ordinary human nature to keep up so unremitting a watch. Yet as the shade flew up at my touch I realized that my astonishment30 would have been great and my expectations altogether disappointed if I had not encountered the fixed32 countenance33 and the set stare with which I had come to connect this solitary34 window. Miss Charity was there, and, though I now knew what underlay35 her senile, if not utterly36 mad watch, the impression made upon me by her hopeless countenance was as keen as it had ever been, and lent point and impetus37 to the task I had just set for myself.
It was apparent that Mrs. Packard had forgotten or changed her mind about joining me in her own room, but nevertheless I went out, to discover what possible duties she might have laid out for me. Ascertaining39 from Ellen that Mrs. Packard had engagements which would take her out at noon, I waited for that hour to pass, then excused myself and went out also.
The owner of the house whose shaded history I was now determined40 to learn was John Searles, a real estate agent. To his office in Main Street I at once proceeded, not without doubts and much inward trepidation41, but buoyed42 up by the assurance of Mayor Packard’s approval of any attempt, however far-fetched or unpromising, which held out the least possibility of relieving Mrs. Packard from her superstitious43 fears and restoring the peace and happiness of the household. If only Mr. Searles should prove to be an approachable man!
I had never seen him or heard him spoken of, or I should not have encouraged myself with this hope. At my first glimpse of his tall, gaunt figure, hard features, and brisk impatient movements, I knew that my wit and equanimity44 would be put to their full test in the interview.
He was engaged, at my entrance, in some harsh dispute with a couple of other men, but came forward quickly enough when he saw me. Recognizing at once that any attempt at ingratiation would fail with this man, I entered at once upon my errand by asking a question direct enough to command his attention, if it did not insure the desired reply.
“Mr. Searles, when you purchased the house on Franklin Street, did you know enough about it to have an answer ready for any one who might declare it haunted?”
The abruptness45 of the attack produced its effect. Annoyance46 swept every hint of patience from face and manner, and he exclaimed in a tone which conveyed, only too openly, how disagreeable the subject was to him.
“Again!”
I smiled. It would not do to show how much I felt the total lack of sympathy in his manner.
“You will have trouble,” said I, “until it is proved that the occurrences which have provoked this report have a very natural and quite human source.”
He stopped in his nervous fidgeting and gave me a quick hard look.
“Who are you?” he asked, “and why has Mrs. Packard made you her messenger instead of coming herself?”
“I am her companion, engaged by Mayor Packard to stay with her during his contemplated47 absence. I am here instead of Mrs. Packard because it is she herself who is the present sufferer from the disagreeable experiences which attend life in the Franklin Street house.”
“Mrs. Packard?” His tone betrayed a complete incredulity. “Mrs. Packard? a woman of such strong good sense! I think you must have been misled by some foolish attempt at humor on her part. Does she know that you have come to me with this complaint?”
“She does not. She is not in a condition to be consulted on the subject. I am Mayor Packard’s emissary. He is very anxious about his wife.” Then as Mr. Searles continued unmoved, I added in a straightforward48 manner, and with all the earnestness I felt: “Mrs. Packard believes herself to have come face to face with an undoubted specter in the library of the house they have rented from you. She related the circumstances to her husband and to myself this very morning. It occurred, according to her story, several days ago; meantime her manner and appearance have shown a great change. Mayor Packard is not the only one who has noticed it. The whole household has been struck by her condition, though no one knew its cause until to-day. Of course, we do not believe in the specter; that was pure hallucination on her part. This we no more doubt than you do.”
“Then what do you want here?” he asked, after a moment of harsh scrutiny49.
“Proof which will convince her that it was an hallucination and without the least basis in any spiritual fact,” I returned. “If you will give me a few minutes of your time, I will explain just what I mean and also make known to you my wishes. I can wait till you have finished your business with the gentlemen I see over there.”
He honored me with a look, which for the first time showed any appreciation50 of my feelings, and pushing open a door near by, called out to some one within:
“Here, Robinson, talk with this lady. Her business is not in my line.” Then, turning to me with a quick, “Step in, Madam,” he left me with the greatest abruptness and hurried back to the gentlemen awaiting him on the other side of the room.
I was considerably51 taken aback by this move, but knew no other course than to enter the room he had pointed31 out and pursue my conversation with whomever I should find there.
Alas52! the gentleman who rose at my entrance was also one of the tall, thin and nervous type. But he was not without heart, like the other, as was soon made apparent to me. Very few human faces are plainer than the one I now searched for the encouragement of which I stood in such sore need, but also very few faces, handsome or otherwise, have the attraction of so pleasant a smile. Its affable greeting was followed by the hasty pushing forward of a chair and a kind inquiry53 as to what he could do for me.
My answer woke an immediate54 interest. “My name is Saunders,” I said. “I am at present an inmate55 of Mayor Packard’s house — a house belonging to Mr. Searles, and one which has its drawbacks.”
The meaning look with which I uttered the last sentence called forth56 an answering one. A flash of excitement broke over his features and he cast a quick glance at the door which fortunately had swung to at my entrance.
“Has — have they — has anything of a disagreeable nature happened to any one in this house?” he asked with ill-concealed perturbation. “I did not expect it during their tenantry, but if such has occurred, I am obliged to Mrs. Packard for letting me know. She promised to, you see, and —”
“She promised!” I cried.
“Yes; in joke no doubt, being at the time in a very incredulous state of mind. She vowed57 that she would let me know the very day she saw the lights or encountered anything in the house, which could be construed58 into a spiritual visitation. Has such a manifestation19 occurred?” he eagerly inquired. “Has it? has it? Am I to add her name to the list of those who have found the house uninhabitable?”
“That I am not ready to say,” was my cautious response. “Mrs. Packard, during the period of her husband’s candidacy, would scarcely wish to draw public attention to herself or these supernatural happenings by any such move. I hope that what I say to you on this subject will go no further.”
“You may rest assured that it will never become public property,” he assured me. “One person I am bound to tell; but that is all. That person is too much interested in the house’s good name to spread so damaging a story. An experience, more or less disagreeable, must have occurred to some member of the family,” continued Mr. Robinson. “Your presence here assures me of that. What kind of experience? The — manifestations have not always been of the same nature.”
“No; and that is what so engages my attention. These experiences differ so much in their character. Do you happen to know the exact nature of each? I have a theory which I long to substantiate60. May I trust you with it?”
“You certainly may, Miss. No one has thought over this matter more earnestly than I have. Not because of any superstitious tendency on my part; rather from the lack of it. I don’t believe in spirits. I don’t believe in supernatural agencies of any kind; yet strange things do happen in that house, things which we find it hard to explain.”
“Mrs. Packard’s experience was this. She believes herself to have encountered in the library the specter of a man; a specter with a gaze so terrifying that it impressed itself upon her as an omen23 of death, or some other dire15 disaster. What have your other tenants seen?”
“Shadows mostly; but not always. Sometimes the outline of an arm projecting out of darkness; sometimes, the trace of steps on the hall floors, or the discovery in the morning of an open door which had been carefully closed at bedtime. Once it was the trailing of ghostly fingers across the sleeper’s face, and once a succession of groans61 rising from the lower halls and drawing the whole family from their beds, to find no one but themselves within the whole four walls. A clearly outlined phantom10 has been scarce. But Mrs. Packard has seen one, you say.”
“Thinks she has seen one,” I corrected. “Mayor Packard and myself both look upon the occurrence as a wholly imaginary one, caused by her secret brooding over the very manifestations you mention. If she could be convinced that these manifestations had a physical origin, she would immediately question the reality of the specter she now believes herself to have seen. To bring her to this point I am ready to exert myself to the utmost. Are you willing to do the same? If so, I can assure you of Mayor Packard’s appreciation.”
“How? What? You believe the whole thing a fraud? That all these tenants coming from various quarters manufactured all these stories and submitted to endless inconvenience to perpetuate62 a senseless lie?”
“No, I don’t think that. The tenants were honest enough, but who owned the house before Mr. Searles?” I was resolved to give no hint of the information imparted to me by Mrs. Packard.
“The Misses Quinlan, the two maiden63 ladies who live next door to Mayor Packard.”
“I don’t know them,” said I truthfully.
“Very worthy64 women,” Mr. Robinson assured me. “They are as much disturbed and as completely puzzled as the rest of us over the mysterious visitations which have lessened65 the value of their former property. They have asked me more than once for an explanation of its marked unpopularity. I felt foolish to say ghosts, but finally I found myself forced to do so, much to my lasting66 regret.”
“How? Why?” I asked, with all the force of a very rapidly increasing curiosity.
“Because its effect upon them has been so disastrous67. They were women of intelligence previous to this, one of them quite markedly so, but from that day they have given evidence of mental weakness which can only be attributed to their continual brooding over this mysterious topic. The house, whose peculiarities68 we are now discussing, was once their family homestead, and they shrink from the reproach of its unfortunate reputation. What! you don’t think so?” he impetuously asked, moved, perhaps, by my suggestive silence. “You are suspicious of these two poor old women? What reason have you for that, Miss Saunders? What motive69 could they have for depreciating70 the value of what was once their own property?”
So he knew nothing of the lost bonds! Mrs. Packard had made no mistake when she assured me of the secrecy71 with which they had endured their misfortune. It gave me great relief; I could work more safely with this secret unshared. But the situation called for dissimulation72. It was with anything but real openness that I declared:
“You can not calculate the impulses of an affected mind. Jealousy73 of the past may influence these unfortunate women. They possibly hate to see strangers in the rooms made sacred by old associations.”
“That is possible, but how could they, shut up in a house, separated from yours by a distance of several feet, be held accountable for the phenomena74 observed in 393? There are no means of communication between the two buildings; even the doors, which once faced each other across the dividing alley75, have been closed up. Interference from them is impossible.”
“No more impossible than from any other outside source. Is it a fact that the doors and windows of this strangely haunted house were always found securely locked after each occurrence of the phenomena you have mentioned?”
“So I have been told by every tenant20 I have questioned, and I was careful to question them, I assure you.”
“That settles the matter in my mind,” I asserted. “These women know of some means of entrance that has escaped general discovery. Cunning is a common attribute of the unsettled brain.”
“And they are very cunning. Miss Saunders, you have put a totally new idea into my head. I do not place much stress upon the motive you have attributed to them, nor do I see how the appearances noted76 could have been produced by these two antiquated77 women; but the interest they have displayed in the effect these have had upon others has been of the most decided78 nature. They have called here after the departure of every fresh tenant, and it was all that I could do to answer their persistent79 inquiries. It is to them and not to Mr. Searles I feel bound to report the apparition80 seen by Mrs. Packard.”
“To them!” I ejaculated in amazement81. “Why to them? They no longer have a proprietary82 interest in the house.”
“Very true, but they long ago exacted a promise from me to keep a strict account of such complaints as were raised against the house. They, in short, paid me to do so. From time to time they have come here to read this account. It annoys Mr. Searles, but I have had considerable patience with them for reasons which your kind heart will instantly suggest.”
I thought of the real pathos83 of the situation, and how much I might increase his interest by giving him the full details of their pitiful history, and the maddening hopes it engendered84 of a possible discovery of the treasure they still believed to be hidden in the house. What I said, however, was this:
“You have kept an account, you say, of the varied85 phenomena seen in this house? You have that account now?”
“Yes, Miss Saunders.”
“Let us look it over together. Let us see if it does not give us some clue to the mystery puzzling us.”
He eyed me doubtfully, or as much so as his great nature would allow. Meantime, I gauged86 my man. Was he to be thoroughly and unequivocally trusted? His very hesitation87 in face of his undoubted sympathy with me seemed to insure that he was. At all events, the occasion warranted some risk on my part. At least I persuaded myself that it did; so without waiting for his reply, I earnestly remarked:
“The matter is more serious than you suppose. If the mayor were not unavoidably called away by his political obligations, he would add his entreaties88 to mine for a complete sifting89 of this whole affair. The Misses Quinlan may very well be innocent of inciting90 these manifestations; if so, we can do them no harm by a little confidential91 consideration of the affair from the standpoint I have given you. If they are not, then Mr. Searles and Mayor Packard should know it.”
It appeared to convince him. His homely92 face shone with the fire of sudden interest and resolve, and, reaching for a small drawer at the right of his desk, he opened it and drew forth a folded paper which he proceeded to open before me with the remark:
“Here is a report that I have kept for my own satisfaction. I do not feel that in showing it to you I am violating any trust reposed93 in me by the Misses Quinlan. I never promised secrecy in the matter.”
I glanced at the paper, all eagerness. He smiled and pushed it toward me. This is what I read:
First tenant, Mr. Hugh Dennison and family.
Night 1: Heard and saw nothing.
Night 2: The entire household wakened by a scream seemingly coming from below. This was twice repeated before Mr. Dennison could reach the hall; the last time in far distant and smothered94 tones. Investigation95 revealed nothing. No person and no trace of any persons, save themselves, could be found anywhere in the house. Uncomfortable feelings, but no alarm as yet.
Night 3: No screams, but a sound of groaning96 in the library. The tall clock standing97 near the drawing-room door stopped at twelve, and a door was found open which Mr. Dennison is sure he shut tight on retiring. A second unavailing search. One servant left the next morning.
Night 4: Footfalls on the stairs. The library door, locked by Mr. Dennison’s own hand, is heard to unclose. The timepiece on the library mantel-shelf strikes twelve; but it is slightly fast, and Mr. and Mrs. Dennison, who have crept from their room to the stair-head, listen breathlessly for the deep boom of the great hall clock — the one which had stopped the night before. No light is burning anywhere, and the hall below is a pit of darkness, when suddenly Mrs. Dennison seizes her husband’s arm and, gasping98 out, “The clock, the clock!” falls fainting to the floor. He bends to look and faintly, in the heart of the shadows, he catches in dim outline the face of the clock, and reaching up to it a spectral99 hand. Nothing else — and in another moment that, too, disappears; but the silence is something awful — the great clock has stopped. With a shout he stumbles downward, lights up the hall, lights up the rooms, but finds nothing, and no one. Next morning the second servant leaves, but her place is soon supplied by an applicant100 we will call Bess.
Night 5: Mrs. Dennison sleeps at a hotel with the children. Mr. Dennison, revolver in hand, keeps watch on the haunted stairway. He has fastened up every door and shutter101 with his own hand, and with equal care extinguished all lights. As the hour of twelve approaches, he listens breathlessly. There is certainly a stir somewhere, but he can not locate it, not quite satisfy himself whether it is a footfall or a rustle102 that he hears. The clock in the library strikes twelve, then the one in the hall gives one great boom, and stops. Instantly he raises his revolver and shoots directly at its face. No sound from human lips answers the discharge of the weapon. In the flash which for a moment has lighted up the whole place, he catches one glimpse of the broken dial with its two hands pointing directly at twelve, but nothing more. Then all is dark again, and he goes slowly back to his own room.
The next day he threw up his lease.
Second tenant: Mrs. Crispin.
Stayed but one night. Would never tell us what she saw.
Third tenant: Mrs. Southwick. Hires Bess for maid-of-all-work, the only girl she could get.
Night 1: Unearthly lights shining up through the house, waking the family. Disappeared as one and all came creeping out into the hall.
Night 2: The same, followed by deep groans. Children waked and shrieked103.
Night 3: Nothing.
Night 4: Lights, groans and strange shadows on the walls and ceilings of the various hallways. Family give notice the next day, but do not leave for a week, owing to sickness. No manifestations while doctor and nurses are in the house.
House stands vacant for three months. Bess offers to remain in it as caretaker, but her offer is refused.
Police investigate.
An amusing farce104. One of them saw something and could not be laughed out of it by his fellows. But the general report was unsatisfactory. The mistake was the employment of Irishmen in a task involving superstition105.
Fourth tenant: Mr. Weston and family.
Remain three weeks. Leaves suddenly because the nurse encountered something moving about in the lower hall one night when she went down to the kitchen to procure106 hot water for a sick child. Bess again offered her services, but the family would not stay under any circumstances.
Another long period without tenant.
Mr. Searles tries a night in the empty house. Sits and dozes107 in library till two. Wakes suddenly. Door he has tightly shut is standing open. He feels the draft. Turns on light from dark lantern. Something is there — a shape — he can not otherwise describe it. As he stares at it, it vanishes through doorway108. He rushes for it; finds nothing. The hall is empty; so is the whole house.
This finished the report.
“So Mr. Searles has had his own experiences of these Mysteries!” I exclaimed.
“As you see. Perhaps that is why he is so touchy109 on the subject.”
“Did he ever give you any fuller account of his experience than is detailed110 here?”
“No; he won’t talk about it.”
“He tried to let the house, however.”
“Yes, but he did not succeed for a long time. Finally the mayor took it.”
Refolding the paper, I handed it back to Mr. Robinson. I had its contents well in mind.
“There is one fact to which I should like to call your attention,” said I. “The manifestations, as here recorded, have all taken place in the lower part of the house. I should have had more faith in them, if they had occurred above stairs. There are no outlets111 through the roof.”
“Nor any visible ones below. At least no visible one was ever found open.”
“What about the woman, Bess?” I asked. “How do you account for her persistency112 in clinging to a place her employers invariably fled from? She seems to have been always on hand with an offer of her services.”
“Bess is not a young woman, but she is a worker of uncommon13 ability, very rigid113 and very stoical. She herself accounts for her willingness to work in this house by her utter disbelief in spirits, and the fact that it is the one place in the world which connects her with her wandering and worthless husband. Their final parting occurred during Mr. Dennison’s tenancy, and as she had given the wanderer the Franklin Street address, you could not reason her out of the belief that on his return he would expect to find here there. That is what she explained to Mr. Searles.”
“You interest me, Mr. Robinson. Is she a plain woman? Such a one as a man would not be likely to return to?”
“No, she is a very good-looking woman, refined and full of character, but odd, very odd — in fact, baffling.”
“How baffling?”
“I never knew her to look any one directly in the eye. Her manner is abstracted and inspires distrust. There is also a marked incongruity114 between her employment and her general appearance. She looks out of place in her working apron115, yet she is not what you would call a lady.”
“Did her husband come back?”
“No, not to my knowledge.”
“And where is she now?”
“Very near you, Miss Saunders, when you are at your home in Franklin Street. Not being able to obtain a situation in the house itself, she has rented the little shop opposite, where you can find her any day selling needles and thread.”
“I have noticed that shop,” I admitted, not knowing whether to give more or less weight to my suspicions in thus finding the mayor’s house under the continued gaze of another watchful116 eye.
“You will find two women there,” the amiable117 Mr. Robinson hastened to explain. “The one with a dark red spot just under her hair is Bess. But perhaps she doesn’t interest you. She always has me. If it had not been for one fact, I should have suspected her of having been in some way connected with the strange doings we have just been considering. She was not a member of the household during the occupancy of Mrs. Crispin and the Westons, yet these unusual manifestations went on just the same.”
“Yes, I noted that.”
“So her connivance118 is eliminated.”
“Undoubtedly. I am still disposed to credit the Misses Quinlan with the whole ridiculous business. They could not bear to see strangers in the house they had once called their own, and took the only means suggested to their crazy old minds to rid the place of them.”
Mr. Robinson shook his head, evidently unconvinced. The temptation was great to strengthen my side of the argument by a revelation of their real motive. Once acquainted with the story of the missing bonds he could not fail to see the extreme probability that the two sisters, afflicted119 as they were with dementia, should wish to protect the wealth which was once so near their grasp, from the possibility of discovery by a stranger. But I dared not take him quite yet into my full confidence. Indeed, the situation did not demand it. I had learned from him what I was most anxious to know, and was now in a position to forward my own projects without further aid from him. Almost as if he had read my thoughts, Mr. Robinson now hastened to remark:
“I find it difficult to credit these poor old souls with any such elaborate plan to empty the house, even had they possessed120 the most direct means of doing so, for no better reason than this one you state. Had money been somehow involved, or had they even thought so, it would be different. They are a little touched in the head on the subject of money; which isn’t very strange considering their present straits. They even show an interest in other people’s money. They have asked me more than once if any of their former neighbors have seemed to grow more prosperous since leaving Franklin Street.”
“I see; touched, touched!” I laughed, rising in my anxiety to hide any show of feeling at the directness of this purely accidental attack. But the item struck me as an important one. Mr. Robinson gave me a keen look as I uttered the usual commonplaces and prepared to take my leave.
“May I ask your intentions in this matter?” said he.
“I wish I knew them myself,” was my perfectly121 candid59 answer. “It strikes me now that my first step should be to ascertain38 whether there exists any secret connection between the two houses which would enable the Misses Quinlan or their emissaries to gain access to their old home, without ready detection. I know of none, and —”
“There is none,” broke in its now emphatic122 agent. “A half-dozen tenants, to say nothing of Mr. Searles himself, have looked it carefully over. All the walls are intact; there is absolutely no opening anywhere for surreptitious access.”
“Possibly not. You certainly discourage me very much. I had hoped much from my theory. But we are not done with the matter. Mrs. Packard’s mind must be cleared of its fancies, if it is in my power to do it. You will hear from me again, Mr. Robinson. Meanwhile, I may be sure of your good will?”
“Certainly, certainly, and of my cooperation also, if you want it.”
“Thank you,” said I, and left the office.
His last look was one of interest not untinged by compassion123.
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enigma
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scraps
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unintelligible
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scrawls
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tangible
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peculiar
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sufficiently
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phantoms
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phantom
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affected
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uncommonly
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uncommon
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poised
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dire
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apprehensions
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purely
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manifestations
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manifestation
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tenant
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tenants
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undertaking
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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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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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28
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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29
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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34
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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35
underlay
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| v.位于或存在于（某物）之下( underlie的过去式 )；构成…的基础（或起因），引起n.衬垫物 | |
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36
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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37
impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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38
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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39
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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40
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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41
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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42
buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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43
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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44
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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45
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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46
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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47
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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48
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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49
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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50
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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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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52
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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53
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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54
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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58
construed
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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59
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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substantiate
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| v.证实；证明...有根据 | |
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61
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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62
perpetuate
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| v.使永存，使永记不忘 | |
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63
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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66
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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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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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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70
depreciating
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| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的现在分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
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71
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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72
dissimulation
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| n.掩饰，虚伪，装糊涂 | |
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73
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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74
phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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75
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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76
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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77
antiquated
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| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
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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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79
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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80
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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81
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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82
proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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83
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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84
engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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86
gauged
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| adj.校准的；标准的；量规的；量计的v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的过去式和过去分词 )；估计；计量；划分 | |
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87
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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88
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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89
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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90
inciting
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| 刺激的，煽动的 | |
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91
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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92
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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93
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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95
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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96
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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97
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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98
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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99
spectral
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| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
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100
applicant
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| n.申请人，求职者，请求者 | |
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101
shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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102
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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103
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104
farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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105
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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106
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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107
dozes
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| n.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的名词复数 )v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的第三人称单数 ) | |
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108
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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109
touchy
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| adj.易怒的；棘手的 | |
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110
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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111
outlets
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| n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店 | |
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112
persistency
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| n. 坚持(余辉, 时间常数) | |
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113
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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114
incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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115
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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116
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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117
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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118
connivance
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| n.纵容；默许 | |
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119
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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120
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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121
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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122
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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123
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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