Chapter 30

Was this all there was? Was Nate it? Blair didn’t have much choice. She opened her eyes wide, silently asking Nate for help and praying he’d be up to the job. Ms. Agnelli frowned and turned around to see what Blair was staring at. Blair made a run for it, and Nate stepped in just in time. Thank God he was so stoned. “Nate Archibald,” Nate said, shaking hands with the woman. “My mother is a big fan of those falcons¹.” Ms. Agnelli laughed and blushed a little. What a charming young man. “Well, of course she is,” she said. “Your family has been very generous with our foundation.” Nate plucked two flutes² of champagne³ off a passing tray and handed one to her. He raised his glass. “To the birds,” he said, clinking his glass with hers and trying to fend⁴ off an outbreak of the giggles⁵. Ms. Agnelli blushed again. This boy was too cute! “Hey, those two girls helped plan the party, too,” Nate said, pointing at Kati and Isabel, who were standing⁶ on the edge of the dance floor, useless as usual. He waved them over. “Hello, Nate,” said Kati, tottering⁷ over on four-inch stilettos. Isabel clutched her drink and stared at the strange woman standing next to Nate. “Hi,” she said. “I love your suit.” “Thank you, dear. I’m Rebecca Agnelli, from the Central Park Save the Peregrine Falcons Foundation,” the woman said. She held her hand out to Isabel, who reached out with both arms to give her a drunken hug. “Excuse me,” said Nate, bowing out right on cue. “Blair?” Nate called, cautiously pushing open the ladies’ room door. “Are you in there?” Blair was crouched⁸ in the end stall. “Shit,” she said softly, wiping her mouth with toilet paper. She stood up and flushed. “I’ll be right out,” she said, waiting for him to leave. But Nate pushed the ladies’ room door open all the way and stepped inside. On a counter by the sinks were little bottles of Evian, perfume, hairspray, Advil, and hand lotion⁹. He unscrewed a bottle of water and shook a couple Advil onto his palm. Blair opened the stall door. “You’re still here,” she said. Nate handed her the pills and the water. “I’m still here,” he repeated. Blair swallowed the pills, sipping¹⁰ the water slowly. “I’m really fine,” she said. “You can go back to the party.” “You look nice,” Nate said, ignoring her. He reached out and rubbed one of Blair’s bare shoulders. Her skin felt warm and soft, and Nate wished they could lie down on her bed and fall asleep together like they always used to. “Thanks,” said Blair, her lower lip beginning to tremble. “So do you.” “I’m sorry, Blair. I really am,” Nate began. Blair nodded and began to cry. Nate pulled a paper towel from the dispenser and handed it to her. “I think the only real reason I did it . . . I mean, that I did it with Serena . . . is because I knew she’d do it,” he said, grasping for the right words. “But it was you I wanted all along.” Nice one. Blair swallowed. He’d said it just right, exactly the way she’d written it in the script in her head. She put her arms around Nate’s neck and let him hold her. His clothes smelled like pot. Nate pushed her away and looked down into her eyes. “So everything is okay now?” he said. “You still want me?” Blair caught the reflection of the two of them together in the bathroom mirror and gazed up into Nate’s gorgeous green eyes and nodded yes. “But only if you promise to stay away from Serena,” she sniffled. Nate wound a strand¹¹ of Blair’s hair around his finger and breathed in the scent¹² of her perfume. It felt okay, standing there, holding her. It felt like something he could do. For now, and maybe forever. He didn’t need Serena. He nodded. “I promise.” And then they kissed—a sad, soft kiss. In her head, Blair could hear the swell¹³ of music signaling the end of the scene. It had started out a little rocky, but at least the ending was okay. “Come on,” she said, pulling away and wiping the mascara smudges from under her eyes. “Let’s go see who’s here.” Holding hands, they left the ladies’ room. Kati Farkas smiled knowingly as she tottered¹⁴ past them on the way in. “You guys,” she scolded. “Get a room!” “This band rocks!” Serena shouted at Vanessa over the pounding drum and bass¹⁵. She wriggled¹⁶ her butt¹⁷ from side to side in her chair, her eyes shining. Dan was having trouble breathing normally. He’d barely touched his drink. Vanessa smiled, pleased that Serena liked the music. Personally, she hated it, although she’d never tell her sister Ruby¹⁸ that. SugarDaddy was all about people dancing and sweating and shaking their bodies around, which was definitely not Vanessa’s thing. She’d rather lie around in the dark listening to Gregorian chants or whatever. Yeehaw! “Come on,” Serena said, standing up. “Let’s dance.” Vanessa shook her head. “That’s okay,” she said. “You go.” “Dan?” Serena said, tugging¹⁹ on his jacket sleeve. “Come on!” Dan never, ever danced. He was bad at it, and it made him feel like a goofball. He hesitated, glancing at Vanessa, who raised her black eyebrows²⁰, challenging him. If you get up and dance right now, youwill go straight to the top of my loser list, her look said. Dan stood up. “Sure, why not,” he said. Serena grabbed his hand and pushed her way into the gyrating throng²¹ with Dan stumbling after her. Then Serena began to dance, her arms raised over her head, kicking her feet out in front of her and shaking her shoulders. She definitely knew how to dance. Dan nodded his head up and down and waggled his knees in time to the beat, watching her. Serena reached out and clasped Dan’s hips²², rocking them back and forth²³ and around and around, mimicking²⁴ what her hips were doing all on their own. Dan laughed and Serena smiled and closed her eyes, getting seriously down. Dan closed his eyes too, letting his body follow hers. It really didn’t matter that he danced like a moron²⁵, or that he was the only one in the room wearing a tuxedo²⁶—probably the only one in Williamsburg. He was with her, and that was what mattered. Alone at the table, Vanessa finished first her drink and then Dan’s. Then she got up and went to sit down at the bar. “Nice shirt,” the bartender remarked when he saw her. He was in his early twenties, with red hair, long sideburns, and a cute, sly smile. Her sister was always talking about how cute he was. “Thanks,” Vanessa said, smiling back at him. “It’s new.” “You should wear red more often,” he said. He held his hand out. “I’m Clark. You’re Vanessa, right? Ruby’s sister?” Vanessa nodded. She wondered if he was just being nice to her because he liked her sister. “Can I tell you a secret?” Clark said. He poured a few different things into a martini shaker and shook it up. Oh, fuck, Vanessa thought. Here’s when he pours out his heart andtells me all about how he’s been in love with Ruby forever, but shedoesn’t seem to notice him. And he wants me to play Cupid andblah, blah, blah. “What?” she said. “Well,” Clark said. “I see you and Ruby come in here all the time.” Here he goes, thought Vanessa. “And you never come up to the bar and talk to me. But I’ve kind of had a crush on you since I first saw you.” Vanessa stared at him. Was he joking? Clark poured the drink out of the martini shaker into a short little glass and squeezed a few limes into it. He pushed it toward her. “Try that,” he said. “It’s on the house.” Vanessa picked up the glass and tasted it. It tasted sweet and sour at the same time, and she couldn’t taste any alcohol in it at all. It was good. “What’s it called?” she said. “Kiss me,” Clark said, with an absolutely straight face. Vanessa put the drink down and leaned over the bar. Serena and Dan could dance their pretty asses²⁷ off for all she cared. She was about to be kissed. The Kiss on the Lips DJ had just broken up with her boyfriend of four years and was playing sad, slow, love songs back to back. Gorgeously dressed couples held onto each other and swayed to the lonesome riffs, barely moving beneath the soft lights. The air smelled of orchids²⁸ and candle wax and raw fish and cigarette smoke, and there was a peaceful sophistication to the evening that was both unexpected and familiar. It wasn’t the rocking slam-fest that some had hoped for, but it wasn’t a bad party, either. There was still plenty of booze left, nothing had caught fire, and the cops hadn’t shown up to card people. Besides, the year was just getting started—there were tons more parties to look forward to. Nate and Blair were dancing together, her cheek against his chest, both of their eyes closed, his lips brushing the top of her head. Blair had put her brain on pause, and her head was full of static. She was tired of dreaming up movies. Right now, real life suited her just fine. A few couples away, Chuck had his hands full of Jenny Humphrey. Jenny wished the DJ would bring up the tempo²⁹. She was trying to dance as fast as she could, to keep Chuck from groping her, but it was having the opposite effect. Every time she moved her shoulders, her boobs bounced out of her dress and practically hit him in the face. Chuck was absolutely delighted. He put his arms around Jenny’s waist and pulled her close, dancing off the dance floor and into the ladies’ room. “What are we doing?” Jenny said, confused. She gazed up into his eyes. She knew Chuck was friends with Serena and Blair, and she wanted to trust him. But Chuck still hadn’t asked her what her name was. He’d barely spoken to her at all. “I just want to kiss you,” Chuck said. He bent³⁰ his head down and enveloped³¹ her mouth in his, pressing his tongue against her teeth with such force that she let out a little gasp³². Jenny opened her mouth and let him thrust his tongue deep into her throat. She had kissed boys before, playing games at parties. But she’d never tongue kissed like this. Is this what it’s supposed to feel like? she wondered, suddenly feeling a little frightened. She reached up and pushed against Chuck’s chest, pulling her head away from him, desperate for air. “I have to go to the bathroom,” she mumbled³³, stumbling backwards³⁴ into a stall and locking the door. She could see Chuck’s feet, standing outside the stall. “All right,” he said. “But I’m not finished with you yet.” Jenny sat down on the toilet seat without pulling up her dress and pretended to pee. Then she stood up and flushed. “All done?” Chuck called. Jenny didn’t answer. Her mind was racing³⁵. What should she do? Anxiously, she reached inside her little black handbag for her cell phone. Chuck crouched down to look under the stall door. What was she doing in there, the little tease? He crawled forward on his hands and knees. “All right,” he said. “That’s it, I’m coming in.” Jenny closed her eyes and backed against the stall wall. Quickly, she pressed the buttons for Dan’s number into her cell phone, praying that he’d answer. Ruby’s band was playing their last song, and Serena and Dan were slick with sweat. Dan had some new moves down, and he was in the middle of an experimental slide to the side with a pelvic thrust when his cell phone went off. “Damn,” he said, pulling it out of his pocket. He flipped³⁶ it open. “Dan,” he heard his sister’s voice. “I—” “Hey Jen. Hold on, all right? I can’t hear you.” He tapped Serena on the arm and pointed³⁷ to his phone. “Sorry,” he shouted over the music. He walked back to the table and put his hand over his free ear. “Jenny?” “Dan?” Jenny said. Her voice sounded very small and scared and far away. “I need your help. Please come get me?” “Now?” Dan said. He looked up. Serena was walking toward him, a worried frown on her perfect face. “Is everything okay?” she mouthed. “Please, Dan?” Jenny pleaded. She sounded really upset. “What’s wrong?” Dan asked his sister. “Can’t you take a cab?” “No, I—” Jenny said, her voice trailing off. “Just please come, okay, Dan?” she finished hurriedly. And then she hung up. “Who was that?” Serena said. “My little sister,” Dan told her. “She’s at that party. She wants me to come get her.” “Are you going?” “Yeah, I think I’d better. She sounded kind of weird,” he said. “I’ll come with you,” Serena offered. “All right,” Dan said, smiling shyly. This night was getting better and better. “That would be cool.” “We’d better tell Vanessa,” Serena said, heading for the bar. Dan followed her. He’d forgotten all about Vanessa. But she looked like she was having a good time talking to the bartender. “Hey Vanessa,” Serena said, touching³⁸ Vanessa’s arm. “Dan just got a call from his sister at the party. He has to go get her.” Vanessa turned around slowly. She was waiting for Clark’s eyes to settle on Serena. For his eyeballs to suddenly register “beautiful girl” in bold black letters like the cherries in a slot machine. But Clark only glanced at Serena like she was just another customer. “What can I get you?” he said, slapping a cocktail³⁹ napkin down on the bar in front of her. “Oh, nothing, thanks,” Serena said. She turned to Vanessa. “I think I’m going to go with Dan.” “Hey Serena, we better take off,” Dan called urgently from behind them. Vanessa turned around to look at him, waiting so eagerly for Serena. His tongue was practically hanging out of his mouth. “Okay, have a good rest of the night,” Serena said. She leaned over and gave Vanessa a kiss on her cheek. “Tell Ruby I thought she was awesome⁴⁰.” Then she slipped away to join Dan. “See you, Vanessa,” Dan called, turning to go. Vanessa turned back to Clark without a word. She couldn’t wait to kiss him again, and forget all about Serena and Dan, heading off into the night together. “Who were they?” Clark said, resting his elbows on the bar. He picked an olive out of a dish and held it just in front of Vanessa’s lips. Vanessa bit into the olive and shrugged⁴¹. “Just some people I don’t really know.” Dan hailed a cab and opened the door for Serena. The October air was crisp and smelled of burnt sugar, and Dan suddenly felt very elegant and mature—a man in a tuxedo out on the town with a beautiful girl. He slid into the seat beside her and looked down at his hands as the cab pulled away from the curb⁴². They weren’t shaking anymore. Unbelievable as it seemed, he had touched Serena with those very hands while they were dancing. And now he was alone with her in a taxi. If he wanted to, he could take her hand, stroke her cheek, maybe even kiss her. He studied her profile, her skin shining in the yellow glow of the streetlights, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. “God I love to dance,” Serena said, letting her head fall back on the seat. She felt completely relaxed. “I could seriously dance every single night.” Dan nodded. “Yeah, me too,” he said. But only with you, he meant to add. It takes a girl like Serena to make a guy with two left feet say he loves to dance. They rode the rest of the way in silence, enjoying the tired feeling in their legs and the cool air from the open window on their sweat-dampened foreheads.

1 falcons   

n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Peregrine falcons usually pluck the feathers and strip the flesh off their bird prey. 游隼捕到鸟类猎物时，通常是先拔掉它们的羽毛，再把肉撕下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Though he doubted the wisdom of using falcons, Dr. de la Fuente undertook the project. 虽然德·拉·富恩特博士怀疑使用游隼是否明智，但他还是执行了这项计划。 来自辞典例句

2 flutes   

长笛( flute的名词复数 )； 细长香槟杯（形似长笛）

参考例句：

• The melody is then taken up by the flutes. 接着由长笛奏主旋律。
• These flutes have 6open holes and a lovely bright sound. 笛子有6个吹气孔，奏出的声音响亮清脆。

3 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

4 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

5 giggles   

n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 )；傻笑；玩笑；the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Her nervous giggles annoyed me. 她神经质的傻笑把我惹火了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I had to rush to the loo to avoid an attack of hysterical giggles. 我不得不冲向卫生间，以免遭到别人的疯狂嘲笑。 来自辞典例句

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 tottering   

adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠

参考例句：

• the tottering walls of the castle 古城堡摇摇欲坠的墙壁
• With power and to spare we must pursue the tottering foe. 宜将剩勇追穷寇。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 crouched   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
• The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。

9 lotion   

n.洗剂

参考例句：

• The lotion should be applied sparingly to the skin.这种洗液应均匀地涂在皮肤上。
• She lubricates her hands with a lotion.她用一种洗剂来滑润她的手。

10 sipping   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。
• She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。

11 strand   

vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地）

参考例句：

• She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.她把一缕散发夹到了耳后。
• The climbers had been stranded by a storm.登山者被暴风雨困住了。

12 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

13 swell   

vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强

参考例句：

• The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
• His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。

14 tottered   

v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠

参考例句：

• The pile of books tottered then fell. 这堆书晃了几下，然后就倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wounded soldier tottered to his feet. 伤员摇摇晃晃地站了起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

16 wriggled   

v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）

参考例句：

• He wriggled uncomfortably on the chair. 他坐在椅子上不舒服地扭动着身体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A snake wriggled across the road. 一条蛇蜿蜒爬过道路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 butt   

n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

参考例句：

• The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
• He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。

18 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

19 tugging   

n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. 汤姆捏住一个钮扣眼使劲地拉，样子显得很害羞。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• She kicked him, tugging his thick hair. 她一边踢他，一边扯着他那浓密的头发。 来自辞典例句

20 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

21 throng   

n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集

参考例句：

• A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
• The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

22 hips   

abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的

参考例句：

• She stood with her hands on her hips. 她双手叉腰站着。
• They wiggled their hips to the sound of pop music. 他们随着流行音乐的声音摇晃着臀部。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

24 mimicking   

v.（尤指为了逗乐而）模仿( mimic的现在分词 )；酷似

参考例句：

• She's always mimicking the teachers. 她总喜欢模仿老师的言谈举止。
• The boy made us all laugh by mimicking the teacher's voice. 这男孩模仿老师的声音，逗得我们大家都笑了。 来自辞典例句

25 moron   

n.极蠢之人，低能儿

参考例句：

• I used to think that Gordon was a moron.我曾以为戈登是个白痴。
• He's an absolute moron!他纯粹是个傻子！

26 tuxedo   

n.礼服，无尾礼服

参考例句：

• Well,you have your own tuxedo.噢，你有自己的燕尾服。
• Have I told you how amazing you look in this tuxedo?我告诉过你穿这件燕尾服看起来很棒吗？

27 asses   

n. 驴，愚蠢的人，臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人

参考例句：

• Sometimes I got to kick asses to make this place run right. 有时我为了把这个地方搞得像个样子，也不得不踢踢别人的屁股。 来自教父部分
• Those were wild asses maybe, or zebras flying around in herds. 那些也许是野驴或斑马在成群地奔跑。

28 orchids   

n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare. 兰花和报春花这类野花越来越稀少了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She breeds orchids in her greenhouse. 她在温室里培育兰花。 来自《简明英汉词典》

29 tempo   

n.(音乐的)速度；节奏，行进速度

参考例句：

• The boss is unsatisfied with the tardy tempo.老板不满于这种缓慢的进度。
• They waltz to the tempo of the music.他们跟着音乐的节奏跳华尔兹舞。

30 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

31 enveloped   

v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was enveloped in a huge white towel. 她裹在一条白色大毛巾里。
• Smoke from the burning house enveloped the whole street. 燃烧着的房子冒出的浓烟笼罩了整条街。 来自《简明英汉词典》

32 gasp   

n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说

参考例句：

• She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。
• The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。

33 mumbled   

含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。
• George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。

34 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

35 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

36 flipped   

轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥

参考例句：

• The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转，撞毁了。
• The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。

37 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

38 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

39 cocktail   

n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物

参考例句：

• We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
• At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

40 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

41 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

42 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。