And scal’d the walls of my undaunted heart,
Which, captive now, pines in a caitive case,
Unkindly met with rigour for desert; —
Yet not the less your servant shall abide1,
In spite of rude repulse2 or silent pride.’
WILLIAM FOWLER.
The next morning, Margaret dragged herself up, thankful that the night was over — unrefreshed, yet rested. All had gone well through the house; her mother had only wakened once. A little breeze was stirring in the hot air, and though there were no trees to show the playful tossing movement caused by the wind among the leaves, Margaret knew how, somewhere or another, by way-side, in copses, or in thick green woods, there was a pleasant, murmuring, dancing sound — a rushing and falling noise, the very thought of which was an echo of distant gladness in her heart.
She sat at her work in Mrs. Hale’s room. As soon as that forenoon slumber3 was over, she would help her mother to dress after dinner, she would go and see Bessy Higgins. She would banish4 all recollection of the Thornton family — no need to think of them till they absolutely stood before her in flesh and blood. But, of course, the effort not to think of them brought them only the more strongly before her; and from time to time, the hot flush came over her pale face sweeping6 it into colour, as a sunbeam from between watery7 clouds comes swiftly moving over the sea.
Dixon opened the door very softly, and stole on tiptoe up to Margaret, sitting by the shaded window.
‘Mr. Thornton, Miss Margaret. He is in the drawing-room.’
Margaret dropped her sewing.
‘Did he ask for me? Isn’t papa come in?’
‘He asked for you, miss; and master is out.’
‘Very well, I will come,’ said Margaret, quietly. But she lingered strangely. Mr. Thornton stood by one of the windows, with his back to the door, apparently8 absorbed in watching something in the street. But, in truth, he was afraid of himself. His heart beat thick at the thought of her coming. He could not forget the touch of her arms around his neck, impatiently felt as it had been at the time; but now the recollection of her clinging defence of him, seemed to thrill him through and through — to melt away every resolution, all power of self-control, as if it were wax before a fire. He dreaded9 lest he should go forwards to meet her, with his arms held out in mute entreaty10 that she would come and nestle there, as she had done, all unheeded, the day before, but never unheeded again. His heart throbbed11 loud and quick Strong man as he was, he trembled at the anticipation12 of what he had to say, and how it might be received. She might droop13, and flush, and flutter to his arms, as to her natural home and resting-place. One moment, he glowed with impatience14 at the thought that she might do this, the next, he feared a passionate15 rejection16, the very idea of which withered17 up his future with so deadly a blight18 that he refused to think of it. He was startled by the sense of the presence of some one else in the room. He turned round. She had come in so gently, that he had never heard her; the street noises had been more distinct to his inattentive ear than her slow movements, in her soft muslin gown.
She stood by the table, not offering to sit down. Her eyelids19 were dropped half over her eyes; her teeth were shut, not compressed; her lips were just parted over them, allowing the white line to be seen between their curve. Her slow deep breathings dilated20 her thin and beautiful nostrils21; it was the only motion visible on her countenance22. The fine-grained skin, the oval cheek, the rich outline of her mouth, its corners deep set in dimples — were all wan23 and pale today; the loss of their usual natural healthy colour being made more evident by the heavy shadow of the dark hair, brought down upon the temples, to hide all sign of the blow she had received. Her head, for all its drooping24 eyes, was thrown a little back, in the old proud attitude. Her long arms hung motion-less by her sides. Altogether she looked like some prisoner, falsely accused of a crime that she loathed25 and despised, and from which she was too indignant to justify26 herself.
Mr. Thornton made a hasty step or two forwards; recovered himself, and went with quiet firmness to the door (which she had left open), and shut it. Then he came back, and stood opposite to her for a moment, receiving the general impression of her beautiful presence, before he dared to disturb it, perhaps to repel27 it, by what he had to say.
‘Miss Hale, I was very ungrateful yesterday —’
‘You had nothing to be grateful for,’ said she, raising her eyes, and looking full and straight at him. ‘You mean, I suppose, that you believe you ought to thank me for what I did.’ In spite of herself — in defiance28 of her anger — the thick blushes came all over her face, and burnt into her very eyes; which fell not nevertheless from their grave and steady look. ‘It was only a natural instinct; any woman would have done just the same. We all feel the sanctity of our sex as a high privilege when we see danger. I ought rather,’ said she, hastily, ‘to apologise to you, for having said thoughtless words which sent you down into the danger.’
‘It was not your words; it was the truth they conveyed, pun-gently as it was expressed. But you shall not drive me off upon that, and so escape the expression of my deep gratitude29, my —’ he was on the verge30 now; he would not speak in the haste of his hot passion; he would weigh each word. He would; and his will was triumphant31. He stopped in mid32 career.
‘I do not try to escape from anything,’ said she. ‘I simply say, that you owe me no gratitude; and I may add, that any expression of it will be painful to me, because I do not feel that I deserve it. Still, if it will relieve you from even a fancied obligation, speak on.’
‘I do not want to be relieved from any obligation,’ said he, goaded33 by her calm manner. Fancied, or not fancied — I question not myself to know which — I choose to believe that I owe my very life to you — ay — smile, and think it an exaggeration if you will. I believe it, because it adds a value to that life to think — oh, Miss Hale!’ continued he, lowering his voice to such a tender intensity34 of passion that she shivered and trembled before him, ‘to think circumstance so wrought35, that whenever I exult36 in existence henceforward, I may say to myself, “All this gladness in life, all honest pride in doing my work in the world, all this keen sense of being, I owe to her!” And it doubles the gladness, it makes the pride glow, it sharpens the sense of existence till I hardly know if it is pain or pleasure, to think that I owe it to one — nay37, you must, you shall hear’— said he, stepping forwards with stern determination —‘to one whom I love, as I do not believe man ever loved woman before.’ He held her hand tight in his. He panted as he listened for what should come. He threw the hand away with indignation, as he heard her icy tone; for icy it was, though the words came faltering38 out, as if she knew not where to find them.
‘Your way of speaking shocks me. It is blasphemous39. I cannot help it, if that is my first feeling. It might not be so, I dare say, if I understood the kind of feeling you describe. I do not want to vex40 you; and besides, we must speak gently, for mamma is asleep; but your whole manner offends me —’
‘How!’ exclaimed he. ‘Offends you! I am indeed most unfortunate.’
‘Yes!’ said she, with recovered dignity. ‘I do feel offended; and, I think, justly. You seem to fancy that my conduct of yesterday’— again the deep carnation41 blush, but this time with eyes kindling42 with indignation rather than shame —‘was a personal act between you and me; and that you may come and thank me for it, instead of perceiving, as a gentleman would — yes! a gentleman,’ she repeated, in allusion43 to their former conversation about that word, ‘that any woman, worthy44 of the name of woman, would come forward to shield, with her reverenced45 helplessness, a man in danger from the violence of numbers.’
‘And the gentleman thus rescued is forbidden the relief of thanks!’ he broke in contemptuously. ‘I am a man. I claim the right of expressing my feelings.’
‘And I yielded to the right; simply saying that you gave me pain by insisting upon it,’ she replied, proudly. ‘But you seem to have imagined, that I was not merely guided by womanly instinct, but’— and here the passionate tears (kept down for long — struggled with vehemently) came up into her eyes, and choked her voice —‘but that I was prompted by some particular feeling for you — you! Why, there was not a man — not a poor desperate man in all that crowd — for whom I had not more sympathy — for whom I should not have done what little I could more heartily46.’
‘You may speak on, Miss Hale. I am aware of all these misplaced sympathies of yours. I now believe that it was only your innate47 sense of oppression —(yes; I, though a master, may be oppressed)— that made you act so nobly as you did. I know you despise me; allow me to say, it is because you do not understand me.’
‘I do not care to understand,’ she replied, taking hold of the table to steady herself; for she thought him cruel — as, indeed, he was — and she was weak with her indignation.
‘No, I see you do not. You are unfair and unjust.’
Margaret compressed her lips. She would not speak in answer to such accusations48. But, for all that — for all his savage49 words, he could have thrown himself at her feet, and kissed the hem5 of her wounded pride fell hot and fast. He waited awhile, longing50 for garment. She did not speak; she did not move. The tears of her to say something, even a taunt51, to which he might reply. But she was silent. He took up his hat.
‘One word more. You look as if you thought it tainted52 you to be loved by me. You cannot avoid it. Nay, I, if I would, cannot cleanse53 you from it. But I would not, if I could. I have never loved any woman before: my life has been too busy, my thoughts too much absorbed with other things. Now I love, and will love. But do not be afraid of too much expression on my part.’
‘I am not afraid,’ she replied, lifting herself straight up. ‘No one yet has ever dared to be impertinent to me, and no one ever shall. But, Mr. Thornton, you have been very kind to my father,’ said she, changing her whole tone and bearing to a most womanly softness. ‘Don’t let us go on making each other angry. Pray don’t!’ He took no notice of her words: he occupied himself in smoothing the nap of his hat with his coat-sleeve, for half a minute or so; and then, rejecting her offered hand, and making as if he did not see her grave look of regret, he turned abruptly54 away, and left the room. Margaret caught one glance at his face before he went.
When he was gone, she thought she had seen the gleam of unshed tears in his eyes; and that turned her proud dislike into something different and kinder, if nearly as painful — self-reproach for having caused such mortification55 to any one.
‘But how could I help it?’ asked she of herself. ‘I never liked him. I was civil; but I took no trouble to conceal56 my indifference57. Indeed, I never thought about myself or him, so my manners must have shown the truth. All that yesterday, he might mistake. But that is his fault, not mine. I would do it again, if need were, though it does lead me into all this shame and trouble.’
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1
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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2
repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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3
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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4
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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5
hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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6
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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7
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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8
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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9
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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10
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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11
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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12
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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13
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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14
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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15
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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16
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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17
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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18
blight
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| n.枯萎病；造成破坏的因素；vt.破坏，摧残 | |
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19
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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20
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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22
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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23
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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24
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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25
loathed
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢 | |
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26
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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27
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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28
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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29
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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30
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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31
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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32
mid
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| adj.中央的，中间的 | |
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33
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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34
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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35
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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36
exult
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| v.狂喜，欢腾；欢欣鼓舞 | |
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37
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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38
faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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39
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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40
vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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41
carnation
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| n.康乃馨（一种花） | |
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42
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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43
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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44
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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45
reverenced
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| v.尊敬，崇敬( reverence的过去式和过去分词 )；敬礼 | |
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46
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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47
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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48
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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49
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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50
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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51
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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52
tainted
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| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
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53
cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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54
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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55
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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56
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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57
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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