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首页 » 经典英文小说 » The Rake’s Progress 浪子的历程 » Part 1 Chapter 1 Miss Susannah Chressham Observes
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Part 1 Chapter 1 Miss Susannah Chressham Observes
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“You ask me about Rose—what can I say? Alas1, that my talents should not be equal to your curiosity! My letters at best are feeble productions, and when I have a deliberate request to answer I swear my pen refuses its duty. ‘Tell me about Rose,’ you say. ‘Our one meeting, two years ago, remains2 in my mind.’ And you would know more of the most charming person you ever met—so I finish the sentence for you!

“And rightly, I am sure. But, again, what can I say? I know too much, and not enough.

“I have chosen a wet day to write to you and the afternoon hours when my duties are done, so that nothing interferes3 between us but my faltering4 pen. Aunt Agatha sits in the next room making knots. You see how I avoid the subject! And now how I valiantly5 strive faithfully to answer you.

“You say you have heard ‘whispers and more than whispers in London.’ You imply about Rose, and I cannot pretend not to understand.

“I, too, have been made aware (in what extraordinary fashion, more subtle than words, is scandal communicated!) of various rumours6. Remember that I have not seen Rose since I was last in town, six months ago, and then only amid the distractions7 of a gay season. Laughter passed between us, little else. You will recall the charming laughter of Rose. My prayer is that its gaiety may never be quenched8, as—ah!—I fear it may be. I must repeat—(here give me credit for a pause of earnest thought)—that I know nothing.

“If youth, beauty, race, talents, a fine name, the most winning manners, the sweetest temper, the lightest spirits are to be ruined by the common lures9 of the world, if ordinary vices10 are to tarnish11 a character so bright——

“But—no, I will not think it, nor must you. Remember Rose as all nobility, virtue12, and discretion13, the sweetest gentleman in England.

“Marius comes home to-night. His letters read full of a sparkling pleasure in the incidents of the tour. I fear he has not spared money; I dread14 the moment when he must be made aware how perilously15 near the limit of our fortunes we all live. Hideous16 subject! Even to you I shrink from putting the word on paper, but I anticipate that this lack of money will mean trouble for both Rose and Marius. The Lyndwoods were ever thriftless. I remember my sweet mother losing £300 at faro; the silk dress she wore, unpaid17 for, and my father having to sell the silver plate to pay her page and her carriage. I recall other scenes, but all taken with a smile on my mother’s part—like Rose!

“Aunt Agatha says (as you must have heard her) that my mother’s death alone saved my father from ruin, which seems to me a dreadful thing. Reflecting on it, I think of these two cousins of mine. Imagine Rose or Marius without money—impossible, is it not? Yet I know of mortgages, of encumbered18 estates.

“Still, I must not play the pedant19; I am not the monitor of the Lyndwoods nor any wiser than they. And Marius comes home to-night. We had hoped Rose would be here to meet him; but, no. He comes tomorrow, full of eagerness, his note reads, to see us all again. Yet I fear they will both find Lyndwood dull, and it will be but a while before their poor cousin is waving them farewell again.

“I must tell you (perceive that this epistle alters with the current of my thoughts) that Marius visited Genoa and saw the Lyndwood property, which is of but little value, he writes, since the whole town has fallen into neglect and decay.

“I notice that Aunt Agatha is rising, and I must follow her to see that Marius’s chamber20 is ready and the table set with flowers. So au revoir, my friend, and remember I await your letters with impatience21.—Ever your faithful

“Susannah Chressham.

“Lyndwood Holt,

Lyndwood in the County of Kent,

June 17, 1748.”

The clear and gentle evening sunlight fell through the long open windows on the bright hair and face of the writer as she rose, slowly folding her letter. Mellow22 shadows rested in the spacious23 beautiful chamber; smooth dark walls, painted ceiling and polished floor, rich sombre paintings of fruit made a glowing background for the rounded figure of Miss Chressham as she stood looking thoughtfully at the exquisite24 vista25 of parkland that spread beyond the stone terrace on to which the windows gave.

Where the distant golden green elms quivered in the steady breeze a few faint white clouds rested in the pale blue sky; the glade26 formed by the nearer trees was crossed with bars of sunshine where slow sheep moved.

Along the terrace grew late spring flowers—tulips, striped, purple, and red; hyacinths, deep blue, and soft clusters of fragrant27 stocks. A swallow flew by, a great sound of birds came from the trees about the house. Miss Chressham turned from the window to open folding doors that revealed an inner room.

“Aunt Agatha,” she said.

A lady emerged from the gloom of the other chamber. She held a number of knotted skeins of coloured silk.

“I thought I heard you moving,” smiled Miss Chressham, “so I finished my letter and am now at your service.” Her smile deepened prettily28. “How charming it will be to see Marius again,” she added.

Lady Lyndwood smoothed her silks out with delicate fingers.

“I wish Rose could have been here,” she answered.

Miss Chressham was ready.

“Marius has been so uncertain as to the date of his arrival, and Rose wrote he was under an engagement for to-night that he could not contrive30 to avoid. He is coming tomorrow.”

The elder lady replied with a certain languid impatience attractively in keeping with her slender dignified31 grace.

“Ah, my dear, I hope he will come tomorrow; not only because of Marius—for other reasons! And now you had better call for candles.”

Miss Chressham pulled the bell.

“For other reasons?” she repeated.

Lady Lyndwood’s answer came wearily through the twilight32.

“The estate, you know,” she complained. “I vow33 it worries me. Since Mr. Langham left us we have had no steward34. I wrote to Rose he must come and see after it; he is aware from Mr. Langham when he gave up his accounts that the value of the land is decreasing, or whatever the term may be.”

“And what does Rose say?”

“Rose laughed, of course, and Mr. Langham——”

“Oh—he,” cried the girl impatiently, “I know that he sold Brenton Farm at half its value, and the crops, too, always!”

“Perhaps so,” Lady Lyndwood laughed vaguely35, “but one must have someone. Rose should come himself and put a person he can trust into the place, for really I cannot be worried.”

“We understand so little about it,” said Miss Chressham sadly, “and Rose tells us nothing.”

“My dear!” the Countess protested. “Rose has managed his own affairs since he was eighteen. His fortune is his own concern, and it would be mightily36 ill-bred of him to trouble the ladies of his family with the buying and selling of horses and dogs.”

The servant entered with a long taper37 and began to light the candles. Miss Chressham answered with restraint.

“You have no head for business, Aunt Agatha.”

The Countess of Lyndwood was standing38 by the mantelshelf. As the sconces either side were lit her delicate shoulders and pale lovely face were reflected in the dark depths of the mirror.

“No,” she admitted; “after all, one can manage without it. I could never see it as a reproach, Susannah,” she added.

Miss Chressham looked at her.

“Not if one is as pretty as you are,” she answered, and smiled half sadly.

“Oh, fie, my dear! You must not flatter an old woman.”

The Countess sank easily into a brocaded chair and her pearl-coloured satin dress gleamed in the candle-light. The lace over her faint blonde hair and over her shoulder seemed pearl-coloured too. She folded her silks away into a blue and silver bead-bag and when the servant had left the room she spoke39 again.

“You are so sensible, Susannah,” she remarked in a tone of gentle helplessness; “such a comfort to me, my dear.” She sighed, and rested her cheek on her long white fingers. “Rose is heedless, and I really know so little of what he does in London. Of course, I hear things”—she paused, and added placidly—“which, of course, are also no business of mine. But I do wish”—she gave Susannah an appealing look—“that he would come down and look after the place, and I wish he would marry.”

“I dare swear he will do both,” answered Miss Chressham cheerfully; “nay41, it would be vastly strange if he did not.”

The room was very pleasantly full of candle-light; it sparkled in the folds of Miss Chressham’s red silk gown as she moved close to the Countess’s chair; through the still open window terrace, trees and sky showed luminous42 and purple.

“I have heard the names of several ladies,” remarked the Countess, “mentioned by Rose and other people, but not one he could or would marry.”

“Why, when he meets her he will not speak of it,” smiled Susannah.

Lady Lyndwood sighed.

“Well, I wish he would come. Marius will want to see him about his fortune.”

“Is it in Rose’s hands?” asked Miss Chressham, a faint look of surprise on her fair face.

“Ah—yes,” the Countess spoke vaguely, “all the money went to Rose; but Marius has something when he comes of age, which was last October. I am sorry he should have been abroad, and now, I suppose, he will want to leave us again.”

“I suppose so,” assented43 Susannah absently.

“Nothing else is to be expected,” returned Lady Lyndwood. “Rose cannot ask Marius to look after the estate, and really it is very dull here. I think we must all go to town this season.”

Susannah was silent.

The Countess continued her gentle disconnected talk.

“Two years ago—how different Marius will be! I hope he will get on with Rose. And—la, my dear, ’tis near seven of the clock!” She rose, her grey eyes agitated44 and a flush in her cheeks. “Seven he is to be here!”

“Let us walk to the front and watch for him,” said Miss Chressham.

The elder lady took her arm, and they went into the quiet hall, looked into the dining-room where early moss45 roses showed between the glass and silver on the table and the candles in their sconces sent flickerings on the portraits of fair gay Lyndwoods, past to the open door, and so on to the wide, shallow steps.

It was a most beautiful evening, a new moon floated in gauzy vapour above the soft dark lines of the trees; mysterious and beckoning46 the white road gleamed away into the twilight; the stone vases at the bottom of the steps were dimly visible; a faint sweetness rose from the early pinks they carried.

Jasmine and roses covered the front of Lyndwood Holt, and their tendrils, lightly stirring now and then, touched the dresses of the two ladies waiting in the dusk.

The village clock sounded faintly, then from the stable came the chimes of seven.

“He will be very tired,” said the Countess.

Miss Chressham laughed.

“He will only have ridden from Maidstone, dear.”

“Of course,” answered Lady Lyndwood’s sweet vague voice. “I always think of him as coming from Paris—as if he had come straight from there”—she laughed aimlessly. “I wish Rose had been here,” she added. “I swear I feel quite nervous.”

“Rose comes tomorrow,” repeated the younger lady.

A little pause, then the Countess spoke again.

“The place looks very well, does it not? though perhaps after the gaieties of the Continent——”

“Here he is,” interrupted Miss Chressham.

Down the dusky glimmer47 of road came the sound of a hurrying horse.

The Countess advanced impulsively48 down the steps. A rider galloped49 up through the twilight—a slender young man in a travelling cloak was kissing Lady Lyndwood, laughing and breathless, before Miss Chressham had freed her skirt from a long rose bough50.

“Susannah!” He held out his hand as she joined them. “May I still kiss her?” he asked his mother.

“Yes, Marius,” smiled Miss Chressham; “to-night, at least.”

He saluted51 her cheek and her hands. The three came towards the house together.

“And you are well and safe? And your portmantles? And where is Mr. Hardinge? And—oh, Marius—I fear it will seem so dull!” cried the Countess in a breath.

Marius Lyndwood laughed an answer.

“Indeed, I am well, and the man is following with the trunks. I left Mr. Hardinge at Dover. And, now my turn. Where is Rose?”

“He is coming tomorrow,” answered both the ladies, as they passed into the hall.

“Why, he wrote to me he would be here to-night,” said Marius Lyndwood.

“He could not,” replied Miss Chressham hastily. “His engagements.”

The young man flung off his cloak and hat with a pleasant laugh.

“Rose is the fashion—a town rake. His brother must not hope to see him. Well, I cannot care to-night——”

He turned into the dining-room, looking about him. The ladies followed, and there, in the strong fair light of the candles, the three cast eager eyes on each other.

After the gay warmth and joy of their meeting this pause came almost like embarrassment52, as if they found themselves, after all, strangers.

His mother was quick to see the change in the new arrival. At first she did not think this Marius as handsome as the boy who had left her two years ago. The next second she told herself that his powdered hair, his elegant clothes, his graceful53 bearing, had vastly improved him, and that he was very like his father.

He came round the table, took her hand and kissed it.

“How beautiful you are, mother,” he said.

The Countess coloured. That, too, was like his father. Across this scene of the handsome room, with its pleasant appointments, with the figures of young man and woman, rose the picture of a tablet in the parish church. She felt suddenly very lonely.

“Susannah will show you your room,” she said faintly, “and then we will have dinner.”

“The same room?” smiled Marius.

“Oh, yes!” nodded Susannah.

“Then I can find it. I have not been away a hundred years, my lady, and I hear them with the portmantles. You must not move for me.”

Laughing, he left the room. They heard his greetings to the servants in the hall, and the agreeable bustle54 of arrival filled the quiet house.

The Countess sat down at the head of the table; one of her fair hands lay among the glasses on the shining white cloth. The other drooped55 in her lap; she looked up at Susannah, and her eyes were wistful.

“Do you think he has changed?” she asked.

“Into a man—yes.”

Lady Lyndwood sighed.

“He has the air—he was never as handsome as Rose.”

Miss Chressham laughed shortly.

“He is handsome enough.” She moved a silver bowl of roses further on to the table. “Rose, of course, is—” She suddenly broke off, and her manner had an air of distance. “You must be very proud of them, Aunt Agatha.”

The Countess shook her delicate head.

“I feel a helpless old woman, my dear, and quite a stranger to both.”

The window stood open on the June evening, a most exquisite perfume lingered round the chamber, a perfume of roses, violets, and indefinable things of the night; an almost imperceptible breeze caused the candle flames to tremble against their shining silver sconces and filled the room with a sense of life and movement.

In each of the glasses on the table a gem29 of light quivered, and the little gold labels hung round the necks of the dark wine bottles gave forth56 long shuddering57 rays. The white china was painted in pink, the hue58 of the half-opened moss roses; in the centre of the table two harts in ivory, each wearing a collar of turquoise59, bore between their antlers a crystal dish filled with pale lilies.

Miss Chressham slipped to her seat, her brown hair and eyes, her rich complexion60 and bright dress made her catch the light in rivalry61 even of the sparkling crystal and silver. As she moved something fell from her dress. “My letter to Selina!” she laughed, picking it up, “and I have never addressed it—that was Marius.”

“Selina Boyle?” questioned the Countess, listening for her son’s step.

“Yes, my dearest friend, you know, though I so seldom see her; she is in Bristol with her family now,” smiled Miss Chressham.

Lady Lyndwood turned her sweet face to the door.

“Of course, I remember her, my dear; she was here two seasons back—how long Marius is!”

“She sends her greeting to you,” said Susannah, “and asks after Rose; she has heard so much of him, even in Bristol. I meant to tell you before.”

She glanced at the Countess with a feeling almost of guilt62, and two lines from Selina Boyle’s letter—“tell me, I pray you, of your cousin the Earl, who I hear has all the graces and all the vices—the saddest rake in London!”—seemed to weigh on her as if her own.

But Lady Lyndwood smiled absently.

“Marius must be so fatigued—he is rather pale, do you not think? And I wish he had brought Mr. Hardinge.”

Miss Chressham reminded her gently.

“Mr. Hardinge had to accompany Mr. Brereton’s son to London, and I expect Marius would not have cared to travel through England with a tutor.”

She was grateful her mention of Selina Boyle’s letter (that she had been nerving herself to for three days past) had passed without comment.

To attain63 this end she had chosen a moment of abstraction; Lady Lyndwood, weary with leisure, would most probably have desired to see the letter.

And Miss Chressham did not wish to show it to her.

Now Marius reentered, fresh and elegant in grey satin, his eyes wonderfully dark under his powdered hair, a knot of thick lace at his throat and a fine pink cameo clasping it—a more animated64 Marius, a more charming Marius than the slightly ungainly lad from college who had, on occasion, flouted65 his mother and teased his cousin two years ago.

“Mr. Hardinge has done wonders, I swear,” sighed the Countess, still striving with that sense of loss.

And Marius, too young to admit he had ever been different from what he was, blushed, and for a moment was awkward.

“’Tis only two years,” he said; then he caught his mother’s yearning66 gaze and became conscious of his modish67 side curls and all the little fopperies of his dress so delightfully68 new, and the fresh colour deepened in his smooth cheeks.

“’Twill seem very quiet here,” remarked Susannah, coming delicately to the rescue, as he took his place opposite her; “look at the moon”—she pointed69 towards the violet night.

“She appears so different in Venice,” cried Marius; “are you sure she is the same, Susannah?”

“Not at all,” she answered. “And did you like Venice?”

“All of it—so much, but this is sweet, the sweetest of all, my lady,” he bowed towards his mother.

“Ah, Marius,” said the Countess wistfully, “I do not look to keep you long.”

“Rose and I must talk of that,” he answered youthfully, and joyously70 important. “I shall take you and Susannah to London, my lady. I have been thinking you must be over quiet here.”

“We go to stay with Rose in the season,” answered Lady Lyndwood; then she became rather abruptly71 silent, since what she had been about to add could not be said before the servants.

Miss Chressham, sensitive to the reason of the pause, covered it. She spoke of little home affairs, and drew out Marius to relate again those incidents of his travels that had so entertained them in his letters.

He talked with animation72, with gaiety, his listeners were interested and loving; but whenever he touched on the future, on his bright plans, on his young unconscious hopes for it, Susannah Chressham winced73.

After dinner they went into the great withdrawing-room that looked on to the hidden fragrance74 of the terrace and the park, and Marius sat beside the Countess on the long Spanish leather couch; his laughing voice made the old room ring with youth, and his mother’s face flushed as she looked at him.

Miss Chressham moved to the writing-table and observed both of them; she felt curiously75 averse76 to speech to-night; in her heart she was sorry—sorry for all of them, and—afraid. Idly she picked a quill77 and stared at Marius.

His young English face, fair and bright, with rounded features, grey eyes, and rebellious78 brown hair under the powder, wore a proud air of distinction given by the beautiful mouth and arrogant79 cleft80 chin, common to the Lyndwoods; when he smiled, which was not seldom, he showed a charming dimple.

As Miss Chressham gazed at him, in a half-troubled manner, he looked round, and she glanced away and began addressing the letter she held in her hand.

Marius Lyndwood rose and crossed to her.

“How quiet you are, Susannah!”

She kept her face turned from him as she answered; lightly and hurriedly her quill glided81 over the smooth paper.

“I am finishing my letter to Selina—interrupted because of your return, Marius! You would not remember her, ’twas after you left that she was here.”

He scrutinised her clear writing.

“Miss Selina Boyle!” he said. “Is she a friend of yours?”

Susannah’s glittering brown hair was blown across her brow by the little breeze from the terrace as she turned to glance up at him.

“We were at school together—yes, a dear friend of mine; you do not know her?”

“I heard of her but now at Dover—Miss Selina Boyle——”

“Heard of her?”

Marius laughed.

“Mr. Hardinge met a friend who was lately from the Wells,” he explained, “and Rose was mentioned; this gentleman had seen him at the Wells; he had a rake-helly reputation, he declared. . . . ”

“Marius!” protested the Countess, rising delicately; “that is not fair to Rose.”

“But about Selina?” cried Miss Chressham, and her white brow was wrinkled.

“Oh, la, Susannah, I only heard that she was at the Wells, and what a name she had for a belle82, and how Rose was paying her a deal of attention—you must know that!”

Miss Chressham was completely off her guard.

“No!” she cried; “and I cannot understand Selina—she writes from Bristol, and Rose is in London.”

“Why, this was a month or so ago, maybe,” answered Marius.

“Still, it is rather curious,” remarked the Countess. “Rose never spoke of her—and their names coupled! my dear, it would be an impossible match.”

Susannah Chressham put her letter into her pocket.

“After all, they met here, Aunt Agatha.” She spoke slowly, looking the while at the moonlit park, “And why should Rose mention it? and as for the gossip, people will always gossip about anyone like Rose.”

Lady Lyndwood fluttered open a delicate ivory fan.

“Last time it was Mrs. Fanshawe—and one always hears it so indirectly,” she complained.

Marius glanced from her to his cousin.

“It seems I have thrown the apple of discord83, my lady; I was foolish to repeat it, but I thought you would know!”

Susannah laughed, clearly and suddenly.

“How vastly foolish that we are all fallen grave over this! Now I am going down to the lodge84 to leave my letters for the night coach, it will be passing soon. Do you remember how we used to wait for it? Nay, you must not come with me; I shall be only a moment, a few moments.”

She stepped out on to the terrace, her red gown showed a moment against the dark, then disappeared.

Marius Lyndwood was following her, when the Countess called him.

“Come and talk to me, Marius; Susannah is quite well alone.”

He was beside her instantly; a slender eager figure he looked leaning against the wide mantelshelf with the golden candle-light over him.

Lady Lyndwood kept silent, but her eyes were busy with him; the lace had fallen from her blonde curls and lay shimmering85 about her shoulders, she moved her fan to and fro as if she did not know she had it there.

“Dear heart,” she said softly, “you are wearing a miniature round your neck; may I see it?”

Marius became slowly pale and did not answer, but he loosened from his stock the black ribbon his mother had noticed, and held out the gold case.

The Countess opened it, gazed at the timid placid40 face of a girl it contained, and sighed and smiled.

“Where did you meet her, Marius?” she asked.

He answered, looking away.

“In Vienna—in Paris;” then he added, “she is coming to London this autumn, and then I may see her again.”

Lady Lyndwood returned the locket.

“Is she very sweet?”

“Yes,” said Marius Lyndwood stiffly; “I do not know her people—we met by chance—but I found her—sweet.”

The Countess fell into silence again; she thought of Rose, who had never mentioned to her the name of any woman in this manner, and she looked at the ardent86, innocent face of her younger son.

She spoke at last, under her breath.

“Thank you, Marius, and I hope you will present her to me—in the autumn. Now will you not show me what you brought me from Venice?”

Marius kissed her hand; he would have liked to have kissed her feet.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句:
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀!窗子破了!
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
2 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
3 interferes ab8163b252fe52454ada963fa857f890     
vi. 妨碍,冲突,干涉
参考例句:
  • The noise interferes with my work. 这噪音妨碍我的工作。
  • That interferes with my plan. 那干扰了我的计划。
4 faltering b25bbdc0788288f819b6e8b06c0a6496     
犹豫的,支吾的,蹒跚的
参考例句:
  • The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
  • I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。
5 valiantly valiantly     
adv.勇敢地,英勇地;雄赳赳
参考例句:
  • He faced the enemy valiantly, shuned no difficulties and dangers and would not hesitate to lay down his life if need be. 他英勇对敌,不避艰险,赴汤蹈火在所不计。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Murcertach strove valiantly to meet the new order of things. 面对这个新事态,默克塔克英勇奋斗。 来自辞典例句
6 rumours ba6e2decd2e28dec9a80f28cb99e131d     
n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 );风闻;谣言;谣传
参考例句:
  • The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
  • Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。
7 distractions ff1d4018fe7ed703bc7b2e2e97ba2216     
n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 );娱乐,消遣;心烦意乱;精神错乱
参考例句:
  • I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难,因为使人分心的事太多。
  • There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多,使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 quenched dae604e1ea7cf81e688b2bffd9b9f2c4     
解(渴)( quench的过去式和过去分词 ); 终止(某事物); (用水)扑灭(火焰等); 将(热物体)放入水中急速冷却
参考例句:
  • He quenched his thirst with a long drink of cold water. 他喝了好多冷水解渴。
  • I quenched my thirst with a glass of cold beer. 我喝了一杯冰啤酒解渴。
9 lures 43e770a1168e7235f5138d9f36ecd3b5     
吸引力,魅力(lure的复数形式)
参考例句:
  • He left home because of the lures of life in the city. 他离家是由于都市生活的诱惑。
  • Perhaps it is the desire for solitude or the chance of making an unexpected discovery that lures men down to the depths of the earth. 可能正是寻觅幽静的去处,或者找个猎奇的机会的欲望引诱着人们进入地球的深处。
10 vices 01aad211a45c120dcd263c6f3d60ce79     
缺陷( vice的名词复数 ); 恶习; 不道德行为; 台钳
参考例句:
  • In spite of his vices, he was loved by all. 尽管他有缺点,还是受到大家的爱戴。
  • He vituperated from the pulpit the vices of the court. 他在教堂的讲坛上责骂宫廷的罪恶。
11 tarnish hqpy6     
n.晦暗,污点;vt.使失去光泽;玷污
参考例句:
  • The affair could tarnish the reputation of the prime minister.这一事件可能有损首相的名誉。
  • Stainless steel products won't tarnish.不锈钢产品不会失去光泽。
12 virtue BpqyH     
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力
参考例句:
  • He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
  • You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。
13 discretion FZQzm     
n.谨慎;随意处理
参考例句:
  • You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
  • Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。
14 dread Ekpz8     
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧
参考例句:
  • We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
  • Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
15 perilously 215e5a0461b19248639b63df048e2328     
adv.充满危险地,危机四伏地
参考例句:
  • They were perilously close to the edge of the precipice. 他们离悬崖边很近,十分危险。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • It'seemed to me that we had come perilously close to failure already. 对我来说,好像失败和我只有一步之遥,岌岌可危。 来自互联网
16 hideous 65KyC     
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的
参考例句:
  • The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
  • They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗,是丑陋的畜牲。
17 unpaid fjEwu     
adj.未付款的,无报酬的
参考例句:
  • Doctors work excessive unpaid overtime.医生过度加班却无报酬。
  • He's doing a month's unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.他正在一家工程公司无偿工作一个月以获得工作经验。
18 encumbered 2cc6acbd84773f26406796e78a232e40     
v.妨碍,阻碍,拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The police operation was encumbered by crowds of reporters. 警方的行动被成群的记者所妨碍。
  • The narrow quay was encumbered by hundreds of carts. 狭窄的码头被数百辆手推车堵得水泄不通。 来自辞典例句
19 pedant juJyy     
n.迂儒;卖弄学问的人
参考例句:
  • He's a bit of a pedant.这人有点迂。
  • A man of talent is one thing,and a pedant another.有才能的人和卖弄学问的人是不一样的。
20 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
21 impatience OaOxC     
n.不耐烦,急躁
参考例句:
  • He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
  • He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
22 mellow F2iyP     
adj.柔和的;熟透的;v.变柔和;(使)成熟
参考例句:
  • These apples are mellow at this time of year.每年这时节,苹果就熟透了。
  • The colours become mellow as the sun went down.当太阳落山时,色彩变得柔和了。
23 spacious YwQwW     
adj.广阔的,宽敞的
参考例句:
  • Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞,足够建一座游泳池。
  • The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。
24 exquisite zhez1     
adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的
参考例句:
  • I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
  • I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。
25 vista jLVzN     
n.远景,深景,展望,回想
参考例句:
  • From my bedroom window I looked out on a crowded vista of hills and rooftops.我从卧室窗口望去,远处尽是连绵的山峦和屋顶。
  • These uprisings come from desperation and a vista of a future without hope.发生这些暴动是因为人们被逼上了绝路,未来看不到一点儿希望。
26 glade kgTxM     
n.林间空地,一片表面有草的沼泽低地
参考例句:
  • In the midst of a glade were several huts.林中的空地中间有几间小木屋。
  • The family had their lunch in the glade.全家在林中的空地上吃了午饭。
27 fragrant z6Yym     
adj.芬香的,馥郁的,愉快的
参考例句:
  • The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
  • The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。
28 prettily xQAxh     
adv.优美地;可爱地
参考例句:
  • It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back.此件雕刻精美,背面有花饰图案。
  • She pouted prettily at him.她冲他撅着嘴,样子很可爱。
29 gem Ug8xy     
n.宝石,珠宝;受爱戴的人 [同]jewel
参考例句:
  • The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
  • The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。
30 contrive GpqzY     
vt.谋划,策划;设法做到;设计,想出
参考例句:
  • Can you contrive to be here a little earlier?你能不能早一点来?
  • How could you contrive to make such a mess of things?你怎么把事情弄得一团糟呢?
31 dignified NuZzfb     
a.可敬的,高贵的
参考例句:
  • Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中,他始终沉默以保持尊严。
  • He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
32 twilight gKizf     
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期
参考例句:
  • Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
  • Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。
33 vow 0h9wL     
n.誓(言),誓约;v.起誓,立誓
参考例句:
  • My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿,每星期日都去做礼拜。
  • I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。
34 steward uUtzw     
n.乘务员,服务员;看管人;膳食管理员
参考例句:
  • He's the steward of the club.他是这家俱乐部的管理员。
  • He went around the world as a ship's steward.他当客船服务员,到过世界各地。
35 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地,暖昧地
参考例句:
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
36 mightily ZoXzT6     
ad.强烈地;非常地
参考例句:
  • He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet. 他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。
  • This seemed mightily to relieve him. 干完这件事后,他似乎轻松了许多。
37 taper 3IVzm     
n.小蜡烛,尖细,渐弱;adj.尖细的;v.逐渐变小
参考例句:
  • You'd better taper off the amount of time given to rest.你最好逐渐地减少休息时间。
  • Pulmonary arteries taper towards periphery.肺动脉向周围逐渐变细。
38 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
39 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
40 placid 7A1yV     
adj.安静的,平和的
参考例句:
  • He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
  • You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。
41 nay unjzAQ     
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者
参考例句:
  • He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的,不,应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
  • Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章,不,应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。
42 luminous 98ez5     
adj.发光的,发亮的;光明的;明白易懂的;有启发的
参考例句:
  • There are luminous knobs on all the doors in my house.我家所有门上都安有夜光把手。
  • Most clocks and watches in this shop are in luminous paint.这家商店出售的大多数钟表都涂了发光漆。
43 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
44 agitated dzgzc2     
adj.被鼓动的,不安的
参考例句:
  • His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定,回答全乱了。
  • She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时,她十分焦虑。
45 moss X6QzA     
n.苔,藓,地衣
参考例句:
  • Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
  • He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。
46 beckoning fcbc3f0e8d09c5f29e4c5759847d03d6     
adj.引诱人的,令人心动的v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
  • He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句
47 glimmer 5gTxU     
v.发出闪烁的微光;n.微光,微弱的闪光
参考例句:
  • I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她,感到了一线希望。
  • A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。
48 impulsively 0596bdde6dedf8c46a693e7e1da5984c     
adv.冲动地
参考例句:
  • She leant forward and kissed him impulsively. 她倾身向前,感情冲动地吻了他。
  • Every good, true, vigorous feeling I had gathered came impulsively round him. 我的一切良好、真诚而又强烈的感情都紧紧围绕着他涌现出来。
49 galloped 4411170e828312c33945e27bb9dce358     
(使马)飞奔,奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 ); 快速做[说]某事
参考例句:
  • Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
  • The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。
50 bough 4ReyO     
n.大树枝,主枝
参考例句:
  • I rested my fishing rod against a pine bough.我把钓鱼竿靠在一棵松树的大树枝上。
  • Every bough was swinging in the wind.每条树枝都在风里摇摆。
51 saluted 1a86aa8dabc06746471537634e1a215f     
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂
参考例句:
  • The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
  • He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》
52 embarrassment fj9z8     
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫
参考例句:
  • She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
  • Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
53 graceful deHza     
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的
参考例句:
  • His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
  • The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。
54 bustle esazC     
v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹
参考例句:
  • The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深,喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
  • There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。
55 drooped ebf637c3f860adcaaf9c11089a322fa5     
弯曲或下垂,发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。
  • The flowers drooped in the heat of the sun. 花儿晒蔫了。
56 forth Hzdz2     
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。
57 shuddering 7cc81262357e0332a505af2c19a03b06     
v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动
参考例句:
  • 'I am afraid of it,'she answered, shuddering. “我害怕,”她发着抖,说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
  • She drew a deep shuddering breath. 她不由得打了个寒噤,深深吸了口气。 来自飘(部分)
58 hue qdszS     
n.色度;色调;样子
参考例句:
  • The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
  • The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。
59 turquoise Uldwx     
n.绿宝石;adj.蓝绿色的
参考例句:
  • She wore a string of turquoise round her neck.她脖子上戴着一串绿宝石。
  • The women have elaborate necklaces of turquoise.那些女人戴着由绿松石制成的精美项链。
60 complexion IOsz4     
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格
参考例句:
  • Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
  • Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
61 rivalry tXExd     
n.竞争,竞赛,对抗
参考例句:
  • The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
  • He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。
62 guilt 9e6xr     
n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责
参考例句:
  • She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
  • Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。
63 attain HvYzX     
vt.达到,获得,完成
参考例句:
  • I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
  • His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。
64 animated Cz7zMa     
adj.生气勃勃的,活跃的,愉快的
参考例句:
  • His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
  • We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。
65 flouted ea0b6f5a057e93f4f3579d62f878c68a     
v.藐视,轻视( flout的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • North Vietnam flouted the accords from the day they were signed. 北越从签字那天起就无视协定的存在。 来自辞典例句
  • They flouted all our offers of help and friendship. 他们对我们愿意提供的所有帮助和友谊表示藐视。 来自辞典例句
66 yearning hezzPJ     
a.渴望的;向往的;怀念的
参考例句:
  • a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
  • He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。
67 modish iEIxl     
adj.流行的,时髦的
参考例句:
  • She is always crazy at modish things.她疯狂热爱流行物品。
  • Rhoda's willowy figure,modish straw hat,and fuchsia gloves and shoes surprised Janice.罗达的苗条身材,时髦的草帽,紫红色的手套和鞋使杰妮丝有些惊讶。
68 delightfully f0fe7d605b75a4c00aae2f25714e3131     
大喜,欣然
参考例句:
  • The room is delightfully appointed. 这房子的设备令人舒适愉快。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The evening is delightfully cool. 晚间凉爽宜人。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
69 pointed Il8zB4     
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。
70 joyously 1p4zu0     
ad.快乐地, 高兴地
参考例句:
  • She opened the door for me and threw herself in my arms, screaming joyously and demanding that we decorate the tree immediately. 她打开门,直扑我的怀抱,欣喜地喊叫着要马上装饰圣诞树。
  • They came running, crying out joyously in trilling girlish voices. 她们边跑边喊,那少女的颤音好不欢快。 来自名作英译部分
71 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地,出其不意地
参考例句:
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
72 animation UMdyv     
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作
参考例句:
  • They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
  • The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。
73 winced 7be9a27cb0995f7f6019956af354c6e4     
赶紧避开,畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He winced as the dog nipped his ankle. 狗咬了他的脚腕子,疼得他龇牙咧嘴。
  • He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg. 他左腿一阵剧痛疼得他直龇牙咧嘴。
74 fragrance 66ryn     
n.芬芳,香味,香气
参考例句:
  • The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
  • The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。
75 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
参考例句:
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
76 averse 6u0zk     
adj.厌恶的;反对的,不乐意的
参考例句:
  • I don't smoke cigarettes,but I'm not averse to the occasional cigar.我不吸烟,但我不反对偶尔抽一支雪茄。
  • We are averse to such noisy surroundings.我们不喜欢这么吵闹的环境。
77 quill 7SGxQ     
n.羽毛管;v.给(织物或衣服)作皱褶
参考例句:
  • He wrote with a quill.他用羽毛笔写字。
  • She dipped a quill in ink,and then began to write.她将羽毛笔在墨水里蘸了一下,随后开始书写。
78 rebellious CtbyI     
adj.造反的,反抗的,难控制的
参考例句:
  • They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反,他们就要发生危险。
  • Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和,但她的心里十分反感。
79 arrogant Jvwz5     
adj.傲慢的,自大的
参考例句:
  • You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
  • People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。
80 cleft awEzGG     
n.裂缝;adj.裂开的
参考例句:
  • I hid the message in a cleft in the rock.我把情报藏在石块的裂缝里。
  • He was cleft from his brother during the war.在战争期间,他与他的哥哥分离。
81 glided dc24e51e27cfc17f7f45752acf858ed1     
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔
参考例句:
  • The President's motorcade glided by. 总统的车队一溜烟开了过去。
  • They glided along the wall until they were out of sight. 他们沿着墙壁溜得无影无踪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
82 belle MQly5     
n.靓女
参考例句:
  • She was the belle of her Sunday School class.在主日学校她是她们班的班花。
  • She was the belle of the ball.她是那个舞会中的美女。
83 discord iPmzl     
n.不和,意见不合,争论,(音乐)不和谐
参考例句:
  • These two answers are in discord.这两个答案不一样。
  • The discord of his music was hard on the ear.他演奏的不和谐音很刺耳。
84 lodge q8nzj     
v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆
参考例句:
  • Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗?
  • I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。
85 shimmering 0a3bf9e89a4f6639d4583ea76519339e     
v.闪闪发光,发微光( shimmer的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The sea was shimmering in the sunlight. 阳光下海水波光闪烁。
  • The colours are delicate and shimmering. 这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。 来自辞典例句
86 ardent yvjzd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的
参考例句:
  • He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
  • Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。


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