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Part 1 Chapter 23
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The Sorrows of an OfficialIl piacere di alzar la testa tutto l'anno e ben pagato da certi quartid'ora che bisogna passar. CASTIBut let us leave this little man to his little fears; why has he taken intohis house a man of feeling, when what he required was the soul of aflunkey? Why does he not know how to select his servants? The ordinaryprocedure of the nineteenth century is that when a powerful and noblepersonage encounters a man of feeling, he kills, exiles, imprisons1 or sohumiliates him that the other, like a fool, dies of grief. In this instance itso happens that it is not yet the man of feeling who suffers. The greatmisfortune of the small towns of France and of elected governments, likethat of New York, is an inability to forget that there exist in the worldpersons like M. de Renal. In a town of twenty thousand inhabitants,these men form public opinion, and public opinion is a terrible force in acountry that has the Charter. A man endowed with a noble soul, of generous instincts, who would have been your friend did he not live a hundred leagues away, judges you by the public opinion of your town,which is formed by the fools whom chance has made noble, rich andmoderate. Woe2 to him who distinguishes himself!

  Immediately after dinner, they set off again for Vergy; but, two dayslater, Julien saw the whole family return to Verrieres.

  An hour had not gone by before, greatly to his surprise, he discoveredthat Madame de Renal was making a mystery of something. She brokeoff her conversations with her husband as soon as he appeared, andseemed almost to wish him to go away. Julien did not wait to be toldtwice. He became cold and reserved; Madame de Renal noticed this, anddid not seek an explanation. 'Is she going to provide me with a successor?' thought Julien. 'Only the day before yesterday, she was so intimate with me! But they say that this is how great ladies behave. They are like kings, no one receives so much attention as the minister who, on going home, finds the letter announcing his dismissal.'

  Julien remarked that in these conversations, which ceased abruptly4 onhis approach, there was frequent mention of a big house belonging to themunicipality of Verrieres, old, but large and commodious5, and situatedopposite the church, in the most valuable quarter of the town. 'What connection can there be between that house and a new lover?' Julien askedhimself. In his distress6 of mind, he repeated to himself those charminglines of Francois I, which seemed to him new, because it was not a monthsince Madame de Renal had taught them to him. At that time, by howmany vows7, by how many caresses8 had not each line been proved false!

  Souvent femme varie Bien fol est qui s'y fie.

  M. de Renal set off by post for Besancon. This journey was decidedupon at two hours' notice, he seemed greatly troubled. On his return, heflung a large bundle wrapped in grey paper on the table.

  'So much for that stupid business,' he said to his wife.

  An hour later, Julien saw the bill-sticker carrying off this large bundle;he followed him hastily. 'I shall learn the secret at the first street corner.'

  He waited impatiently behind the bill-sticker, who with his fat brushwas slapping paste on the back of the bill. No sooner was it in its placethan Julien's curiosity read on it the announcement in full detail of thesale by public auction9 of the lease of that large and old house which recurred10 so frequently in M. de Renal's conversations with his wife. The assignation was announced for the following day at two o'clock, in thetown hall, on the extinction11 of the third light. Julien was greatly disappointed; he considered the interval12 to be rather short: how could all thepossible bidders13 come to know of the sale in time? But apart from this,the bill, which was dated a fortnight earlier and which he read from beginning to end in three different places, told him nothing.

  He went to inspect the vacant house. The porter, who did not see himapproach, was saying mysteriously to a friend:

  'Bah! It's a waste of time. M. Maslon promised him he should have itfor three hundred francs; and as the Mayor kicked, he was sent to theBishop's Palace, by the Vicar-General de Frilair.'

  Julien's appearance on the scene seemed greatly to embarrass the twocronies, who did not say another word.

  Julien did not fail to attend the auction. There was a crowd of peoplein an ill-lighted room; but everyone eyed his neighbours in a singular fashion. Every eye was fixed15 on a table, where Julien saw, on a pewterplate, three lighted candle-ends. The crier was shouting: 'Three hundredfrancs, gentlemen!'

  'Three hundred francs! It is too bad!' one man murmured to another.

  Julien was standing16 between them. 'It is worth more than eight hundred;I am going to cover the bid.'

  'It's cutting off your nose to spite your face. What are you going to gainby bringing M. Maslon, M. Valenod, the Bishop14, his terrible Vicar-General de Frilair and the whole of their gang down upon you?'

  'Three hundred and twenty,' the other shouted.

  'Stupid idiot!' retorted his neighbour. 'And here's one of the Mayor'sspies,' he added pointing at Julien.

  Julien turned sharply to rebuke17 him for this speech; but the two Franc-Comtois paid no attention to him. Their coolness restored his own. Atthis moment the last candle-end went out, and the drawling voice of thecrier assigned the house for a lease of nine years to M. de Saint-Giraud,chief secretary at the Prefecture of ——, and for three hundred and thirtyfrancs.

  As soon as the Mayor had left the room, the discussion began.

  'That's thirty francs Grogeot's imprudence has earned for the town,'

  said one.

  'But M. de Saint-Giraud,' came the answer, 'will have his revenge onGrogeot, he will pass it on.'

  'What a scandal,' said a stout18 man on Julien's left: 'a house for whichI'ld have given, myself, eight hundred francs as a factory, and then itwould have been a bargain.'

  'Bah!' replied a young Liberal manufacturer, 'isn't M. de Saint-Giraudone of the Congregation? Haven't his four children all got bursaries? Poorman! The town of Verrieres is simply bound to increase his income withan allowance of five hundred francs; that is all.'

  'And to think that the Mayor hasn't been able to stop it!' remarked athird. 'For he may be an Ultra, if you like, but he's not a thief.'

  'He's not a thief?' put in another; 'it's a regular thieves' kitchen.

  Everything goes into a common fund, and is divided up at the end of theyear. But there's young Sorel; let us get away.'

  Julien went home in the worst of tempers; he found Madame de Renalgreatly depressed19.

   'Have you come from the sale?' she said to him.

  'Yes, Ma'am, where I had the honour to be taken for the Mayor's spy.'

  'If he had taken my advice, he would have gone away somewhere.'

  At that moment, M. de Renal appeared; he was very sombre. Dinnerwas eaten in silence. M. de Renal told Julien to accompany the childrento Vergy; they travelled in unbroken gloom. Madame de Renal tried tocomfort her husband.

  'Surely you are accustomed to it, my dear.'

  That evening, they were seated in silence round the domestic hearth;the crackle of the blazing beech20 logs was their sole distraction21. It was oneof those moments of depression which are to be found in the most unitedfamilies. One of the children uttered a joyful22 cry.

  'There's the bell! The bell!'

  'Egad, if it's M. de Saint-Giraud come to get hold of me, on the excuseof thanking me, I shall give him a piece of my mind; it's too bad. It'sValenod that he has to thank, and it is I who am compromised. What amI going to say if those pestilent Jacobin papers get hold of the story, andmake me out a M. Nonante-Cinq?' 3A good-looking man, with bushy black whiskers, entered the room atthis moment in the wake of the servant.

  'M. le Maire, I am Signor Geronimo. Here is a letter which M. leChevalier de Beauvaisis, attache at the Embassy at Naples, gave me foryou when I came away; it is only nine days ago,' Signor Geronimo added, with a sprightly24 air, looking at Madame de Renal. 'Signor deBeauvaisis, your cousin, and my good friend, Madame, tells me that youknow Italian.'

  The good humour of the Neapolitan changed this dull evening intoone that was extremely gay. Madame de Renal insisted upon his takingsupper. She turned the whole house upside down; she wished at all coststo distract Julien's thoughts from the description of him as a spy whichtwice in that day he had heard ringing in his ear. Signer Geronimo was afamous singer, a man used to good company, and at the same time thebest of company himself, qualities which, in France, have almost ceasedto be compatible. He sang after supper a little duet with Madame de3.M. Marsan explains this allusion25 to a satire26 by Barthelemy at the expense of theMarseilles magistrate27 Merindol, who in sentencing him to a fine had made use of theCommon Southern expression 'Nonante-cinq' for 'Quatre-vingt-quinze.

   Renal. He told charming stories. At one o'clock in the morning the children protested when Julien proposed that they should go to bed.

  'Just this story,' said the eldest28.

  'It is my own, Signorino,' replied Signer Geronimo. 'Eight years ago Iwas, like you, a young scholar in the Conservatorio of Naples, by which Imean that I was your age; for I had not the honour to be the son of theeminent Mayor of the beautiful town of Verrieres.'

  This allusion drew a sigh from M. de Renal, who looked at his wife.

  'Signer Zingarelli,' went on the young singer, speaking with a slightlyexaggerated accent which made the children burst out laughing, 'SignorZingarelli is an exceedingly severe master. He is not loved at the Conservatorio; but he makes them act always as though they loved him. I escaped whenever I could; I used to go to the little theatre of San Carlino,where I used to hear music fit for the gods: but, O heavens, how was I toscrape together the eight soldi which were the price of admission to thepit? An enormous sum,' he said, looking at the children, and the childrenlaughed again. 'Signer Giovannone, the Director of San Carlino, heardme sing. I was sixteen years old. "This boy is a treasure," he said.

  '"Would you like me to engage you, my friend?" he said to me one day.

  '"How much will you give me?"'"Forty ducats a month." That, gentlemen, is one hundred and sixtyfrancs. I seemed to see the heavens open.

  '"But how," I said to Giovannone, "am I to persuade the strictZingarelli to let me go?"'"Lascia fare a me."'

  'Leave it to me!' cried the eldest of the children.

  'Precisely, young Sir. Signor Giovannone said to me: "First of all, caro,alittle agreement." I signed the paper: he gave me three ducats. I had never seen so much money. Then he told me what I must do.

  'Next day, I demanded an interview with the terrible Signer Zingarelli.

  His old servant showed me into the room.

  '"What do you want with me, you scapegrace?" said Zingarelli.

  '"Maestro" I told him, "I repent29 of my misdeeds; never again will Ibreak out of the Conservatorio by climbing over the iron railings. I amgoing to study twice as hard."'"If I were not afraid of spoiling the finest bass23 voice I have ever heard,I should lock you up on bread and water for a fortnight, you scoundrel." '"Maestro" I went on, "I am going to be a model to the whole school,credete a me. But I ask one favour of you, if anyone comes to ask for me tosing outside, refuse him. Please say that you cannot allow it."'"And who do you suppose is going to ask for a good for nothing likeyou? Do you think I shall ever allow you to leave the Conservatorio? Doyou wish to make a fool of me? Off with you, off with you!" he said, aiming a kick at my hindquarters, "or it will be bread and water in a cell."'An hour later, Signer Giovannone came to call on the Director.

  '"I have come to ask you to make my fortune," he began, "let me haveGeronimo. If he sings in my theatre this winter I give my daughter inmarriage."'"What do you propose to do with the rascal30?" Zingarelli asked him. "Iwon't allow it. You shan't have him; besides, even if I consented, hewould never be willing to leave the Conservatorio; he's just told me sohimself."'"If his willingness is all that matters," said Giovannone gravely, producing my agreement from his pocket, "carta canta! Here is hissignature."'Immediately Zingarelli, furious, flew to the bell-rope: "Turn Geronimoout of the Conservatorio," he shouted, seething31 with rage. So out theyturned me, I splitting my sides with laughter. That same evening, I sangthe aria32 del Moltiplico. Polichinelle intends to marry, and counts up on hisfingers the different things he will need for the house, and loses countafresh at every moment.'

  'Oh, won't you, Sir, please sing us that air?' said Madame de Renal.

  Geronimo sang, and his audience all cried with laughter.

  Signor Geronimo did not go to bed until two in the morning, leavingthe family enchanted33 with his good manners, his obliging nature and hisgay spirits.

  Next day M. and Madame de Renal gave him the letters which he required for the French Court.

  'And so, falsehood everywhere,' said Julien. 'There is Signor Geronimoon his way to London with a salary of sixty thousand francs. But for thecleverness of the Director of San Carlino, his divine voice might not havebeen known and admired for another ten years, perhaps … Upon mysoul, I would rather be a Geronimo than a Renal. He is not so highly honoured in society, but he has not the humiliation34 of having to grant leaseslike that one today, and his is a merry life.'

   One thing astonished Julien: the weeks of solitude35 spent at Verrieres,in M. de Renal's house, had been for him a time of happiness. He had encountered disgust and gloomy thoughts only at the dinners to which hehad been invited; in that empty house, was he not free to read, write,meditate, undisturbed? He had not been aroused at every moment fromhis radiant dreams by the cruel necessity of studying the motions of abase36 soul, and that in order to deceive it by hypocritical words or actions.

  'Could happiness be thus within my reach? … The cost of such a life isnothing; I can, as I choose, marry Miss Elisa, or become Fouque's partner … But the traveller who has just climbed a steep mountain, sits downon the summit, and finds a perfect pleasure in resting. Would he behappy if he were forced to rest always?'

  Madame de Renal's mind was a prey37 to carking thoughts. In spite ofher resolve to the contrary, she had revealed to Julien the whole businessof the lease. 'So he will make me forget all my vows!' she thought.

  She would have given her life without hesitation38 to save that of herhusband, had she seen him in peril39. Hers was one of those noble and romantic natures, for which to see the possibility of a generous action, andnot to perform it gives rise to a remorse40 almost equal to that which onefeels for a past crime. Nevertheless, there were dreadful days on whichshe could not banish41 the thought of the absolute happiness which shewould enjoy, if, suddenly left a widow, she were free to marry Julien.

  He loved her children far more than their father; in spite of his strictdiscipline, he was adored by them. She was well aware that, if she married Julien, she would have to leave this Vergy whose leafy shade was sodear to her. She pictured herself living in Paris, continuing to provideher sons with that education at which everyone marvelled42. Her children,she herself, Julien, all perfectly43 happy.

  A strange effect of marriage, such as the nineteenth century has madeit! The boredom44 of married life inevitably45 destroys love, when love haspreceded marriage. And yet, as a philosopher has observed, it speedilybrings about, among people who are rich enough not to have to work, anintense boredom with all quiet forms of enjoyment46. And it is only driedup hearts, among women, that it does not predispose to love.

  The philosopher's observation makes me excuse Madame de Renal,but there was no excuse for her at Verrieres, and the whole town,without her suspecting it, was exclusively occupied with the scandal ofher love. Thanks to this great scandal, people that autumn were lessbored than usual.

   The autumn, the first weeks of winter had soon come and gone. It wastime to leave the woods of Vergy. The high society of Verrieres began togrow indignant that its anathemas47 were making so little impressionupon M. de Renal. In less than a week, certain grave personages whomade up for their habitual48 solemnity by giving themselves the pleasureof fulfilling missions of this sort, implanted in him the most cruel suspicions, but without going beyond the most measured terms.

  M. Valenod, who was playing a close game, had placed Elisa with anoble and highly respected family, which included five women. Elisafearing, she said, that she might not find a place during the winter, hadasked this family for only about two thirds of what she was receiving atthe Mayor's. Of her own accord, the girl had the excellent idea of goingto confess to the retired49 cure Chelan as well as to the new cure, so as tobe able to give them both a detailed50 account of Julien's amours.

  On the morning after his return, at six o'clock, the abbe Chelan sent forJulien:

  'I ask you nothing,' he said to him; 'I beg you, and if need be order youto tell me nothing, I insist that within three days you leave either for theSeminary at Besancon or for the house of your friend Fouque, who is stillwilling to provide a splendid career for you. I have foreseen and settledeverything, but you must go, and not return to Verrieres for a year.'

  Julien made no answer; he was considering whether his honour oughtto take offence at the arrangements which M. Chelan, who after all wasnot his father, had made for him.

  'Tomorrow at this hour I shall have the honour of seeing you again,' hesaid at length to the cure.

  M. Chelan, who reckoned upon overcoming the young man by mainforce, spoke51 volubly. His attitude, his features composed in the utmosthumility, Julien did not open his mouth.

  At length he made his escape, and hastened to inform Madame deRenal, whom he found in despair. Her husband had just been speakingto her with a certain frankness. The natural weakness of his character,seeking encouragement in the prospect52 of the inheritance from Besancon,had made him decide to regard her as entirely53 innocent. He had just confessed to her the strange condition in which he found public opinion atVerrieres. The public were wrong, had been led astray by envious54 ill-wishers, but what was to be done?

   Madame de Renal had the momentary55 illusion that Julien might beable to accept M. Valenod's offer, and remain at Verrieres. But she wasno longer the simple, timid woman of the previous year; her fatal passion, her spells of remorse had enlightened her. Soon she had to bear themisery of proving to herself, while she listened to her husband, that aseparation, at any rate for the time being, was now indispensable. 'Awayfrom me, Julien will drift back into those ambitious projects that are sonatural when one has nothing. And I, great God! I am so rich, and sopowerless to secure my own happiness! He will forget me. Charming ashe is, he will be loved, he will love. Ah, unhappy woman! Of what can Icomplain? Heaven is just, I have not acquired merit by putting a stop tomy crime; it blinds my judgment57. It rested with me alone to win over Elisa with a bribe58, nothing would have been easier. I did not take thetrouble to reflect for a moment, the wild imaginings of love absorbed allmy time. And now I perish.'

  One thing struck Julien; as he conveyed to Madame de Renal the terrible news of his departure, he was met with no selfish objection.

  Evidently she was making an effort not to cry.

  'We require firmness, my friend.'

  She cut off a lock of her hair.

  'I do not know what is to become of me,' she said to him, 'but if I die,promise me that you will never forget my children. Far or near, try tomake them grow up honourable59 men. If there is another revolution, allthe nobles will be murdered, their father may emigrate, perhaps, becauseof that peasant who was killed upon a roof. Watch over the family …Give me your hand. Farewell, my friend! These are our last moments together. This great sacrifice made, I hope that in public I shall have thecourage to think of my reputation.'

  Julien had been expecting despair. The simplicity60 of this farewelltouched him.

  'No, I do not accept your farewell thus. I shall go; they wish it; youwish it yourself. But, three days after my departure, I shall return to visityou by night.'

  Madame de Renal's existence was changed. So Julien really did loveher since he had had the idea, of his own accord, of seeing her again. Herbitter grief changed into one of the keenest bursts of joy that she had everfelt in her life. Everything became easy to her. The certainty of seeing herlover again took from these last moments all their lacerating force. From that instant the conduct, like the features of Madame de Renal was noble,firm, and perfectly conventional.

  M. de Renal presently returned; he was beside himself. For the firsttime he mentioned to his wife the anonymous61 letter which he had received two months earlier.

  'I intend to take it to the Casino, to show them all that it comes fromthat wretch62 Valenod, whom I picked up out of the gutter63 and made intoone of the richest citizens of Verrieres. I shall disgrace him publicly, andthen fight him. It is going too far.'

  'I might be left a widow, great God!' thought Madame de Renal. But almost at the same instant she said to herself: 'If I do not prevent this duel64,as I certainly can, I shall be my husband's murderess.'

  Never before had she handled his vanity with so much skill. In lessthan two hours she made him see, always by the use of arguments thathad occurred first to him, that he must show himself friendlier than evertowards M. Valenod, and even take Elisa into the house again. Madamede Renal required courage to make up her mind to set eyes on this girl,the cause of all her troubles. But the idea had come to her from Julien.

  Finally, after having been set three or four times in the right direction,M. de Renal arrived of his own accord at the idea (highly distressing,from the financial point of view) that the most unpleasant thing thatcould happen for himself was that Julien, amid the seething excitementand gossip of the whole of Verrieres, should remain there as tutor to M.

  Valenod's children. It was obviously in Julien's interest to accept the offermade him by the Governor of the Poorhouse. It was essential however toM. de Renal's fair fame that Julien should leave Verrieres to enter theseminary at Besancon or at Dijon. But how was he to be made to agree,and after that how was he to maintain himself there?

  M. de Renal, seeing the imminence65 of a pecuniary66 sacrifice, was ingreater despair than his wife. For her part, after this conversation, shewas in the position of a man of feeling who, weary of life, has taken adose of stramonium; he ceases to act, save, so to speak, automatically, andno longer takes an interest in anything. Thus Louis XIV on his deathbedwas led to say: 'When I was king.' An admirable speech!

  On the morrow, at break of day, M. de Renal received an anonymousletter. It was couched in the most insulting style. The coarsest words applicable to his position stared from every line. It was the work of someenvious subordinate. This letter brought him back to the thought offighting a duel with M. Valenod. Soon his courage had risen to the idea of an immediate3 execution of his design. He left the house unaccompanied, and went to the gunsmith's to procure67 a brace68 of pistols, which hetold the man to load.

  'After all,' he said to himself, 'should the drastic rule of the EmperorNapoleon be restored, I myself could not be charged with the misappropriation of a halfpenny. At the most I have shut my eyes; but I haveplenty of letters in my desk authorising me to do so.'

  Madame de Renal was frightened by her husband's cold anger, itbrought back to her mind the fatal thought of widowhood, which shefound it so hard to banish. She shut herself up with him. For hours onend she pleaded with him in vain, the latest anonymous letter had determined69 him. At length she succeeded in transforming the courage required to strike M. Valenod into that required to offer Julien six hundredfrancs for his maintenance for one year in a Seminary. M. de Renal, heaping a thousand curses on the day on which he had conceived the fatalidea of taking a tutor into his household, forgot the anonymous letter.

  He found a grain of comfort in an idea which he did not communicateto his wife: by skilful70 handling, and by taking advantage of the youngman's romantic ideas, he hoped to bind71 him, for a smaller sum, to refuseM. Valenod's offers.

  Madame de Renal found it far harder to prove to Julien that, if he sacrificed to her husband's convenience a post worth eight hundred francs,publicly offered him by the Governor of the Poorhouse, he mightwithout blushing accept some compensation.

  'But,' Julien continued to object, 'I have never had, even for a moment,the slightest thought of accepting that offer. You have made me too familiar with a life of refinement72, the vulgarity of those people would killme.'

  Cruel necessity, with its hand of iron, bent73 Julien's will. His prideoffered him the self-deception of accepting only as a loan the sumoffered by the Mayor of Verrieres, and giving him a note of hand promising74 repayment75 with interest after five years.

  Madame de Renal had still some thousands of francs hidden in thelittle cave in the mountains.

  She offered him these, trembling, and feeling only too sure that theywould be rejected with fury.

  'Do you wish,' Julien asked her, 'to make the memory of our loveabominable?'

   At length Julien left Verrieres. M. de Renal was overjoyed; at the decisive moment of accepting money from him, this sacrifice proved to be toogreat for Julien. He refused point-blank. M. de Renal fell upon his neck,with tears in his eyes. Julien having asked him for a testimonial to hischaracter, he could not in his enthusiasm find terms laudatory76 enough toextol the young man's conduct. Our hero had saved up five louis and intended to ask Fouque for a similar amount.

  He was greatly moved. But when he had gone a league from Verrieres,where he was leaving such a treasure of love behind him, he thoughtonly of the pleasure of seeing a capital, a great military centre likeBesancon.

  During this short parting of three days, Madame de Renal was dupedby one of love's most cruel illusions. Her life was tolerable enough, therewas between her and the last extremes of misery56 this final meeting thatshe was still to have with Julien.

  She counted the hours, the minutes that divided her from it. Finally,during the night that followed the third day, she heard in the distancethe signal arranged between them. Having surmounted77 a thousand perils78, Julien appeared before her.

  >

  From that moment, she had but a single thought: 'I am looking at younow for the last time.' Far from responding to her lover's eagerness, shewas like a barely animated79 corpse80. If she forced herself to tell him thatshe loved him, it was with an awkward air that was almost a proof to thecontrary. Nothing could take her mind from the cruel thought of eternalseparation. The suspicious Julien fancied for a moment that she hadalready forgotten him. His hints at such a possibility were received onlywith huge tears that flowed in silence, and with a convulsive pressure ofhis hand.

  'But, Great God! How do you expect me to believe you?' was Julien'sreply to his mistress's chill protestations. 'You would show a hundredtimes more of sincere affection to Madame Derville, to a mereacquaintance.'

  Madame de Renal, petrified81, did not know how to answer.

  'It would be impossible for a woman to be more wretched … I hope Iam going to die … I feel my heart freezing … '

  Such were the longest answers he was able to extract from her.

   When the approach of day made his departure necessary, Madame deRenal's tears ceased all at once. She saw him fasten a knotted cord to thewindow without saying a word, without returning his kisses. In vainmight Julien say to her:

  'At last we have reached the state for which you so longed. Henceforward you will live without remorse. At the slightest indisposition of oneof your children, you will no longer see them already in the grave.'

  'I am sorry you could not say good-bye to Stanislas,' she said to himcoldly.

  In the end, Julien was deeply impressed by the embraces, in whichthere was no warmth, of this living corpse; he could think of nothing elsefor some leagues. His spirit was crushed, and before crossing the pass, solong as he was able to see the steeple of Verrieres church, he turnedround often.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 imprisons 061cdfda138d2df09735cfefec786f57     
v.下狱,监禁( imprison的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves. 盖茨比深切地体会到财富怎样禁锢和保存着青春与神秘。 来自辞典例句
  • And he who defines his conduct by ethics imprisons his song-bird in a cage. 那用伦理道德界定他行为的人就像将他歌唱的鸟儿关进了笼子。 来自互联网
2 woe OfGyu     
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌
参考例句:
  • Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
  • A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸,自认福是福。
3 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
4 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。
5 commodious aXCyr     
adj.宽敞的;使用方便的
参考例句:
  • It was a commodious and a diverting life.这是一种自由自在,令人赏心悦目的生活。
  • Their habitation was not merely respectable and commodious,but even dignified and imposing.他们的居所既宽敞舒适又尊严气派。
6 distress 3llzX     
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛
参考例句:
  • Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
  • Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。
7 vows c151b5e18ba22514580d36a5dcb013e5     
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿
参考例句:
  • Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
  • The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。
8 caresses 300460a787072f68f3ae582060ed388a     
爱抚,抚摸( caress的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • A breeze caresses the cheeks. 微风拂面。
  • Hetty was not sufficiently familiar with caresses or outward demonstrations of fondness. 海蒂不习惯于拥抱之类过于外露地表现自己的感情。
9 auction 3uVzy     
n.拍卖;拍卖会;vt.拍卖
参考例句:
  • They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
  • They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。
10 recurred c940028155f925521a46b08674bc2f8a     
再发生,复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 ); 治愈
参考例句:
  • Old memories constantly recurred to him. 往事经常浮现在他的脑海里。
  • She always winced when he recurred to the subject of his poems. 每逢他一提到他的诗作的时候,她总是有点畏缩。
11 extinction sPwzP     
n.熄灭,消亡,消灭,灭绝,绝种
参考例句:
  • The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
  • The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。
12 interval 85kxY     
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息
参考例句:
  • The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
  • There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
13 bidders 6884ac426d80394534eb58149d20c202     
n.出价者,投标人( bidder的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Bidders should proceed only if they intend on using a PayPal account to complete payment. Bidders的唯一形式,应继续只当他们在使用贝宝帐户,以完成付款打算。 来自互联网
  • The other bidders for the contract complained that it had not been a fair contest. 其他竞标人抱怨说该合同的竞标不公平。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 bishop AtNzd     
n.主教,(国际象棋)象
参考例句:
  • He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
  • Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。
15 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
16 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。
17 rebuke 5Akz0     
v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise
参考例句:
  • He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
  • Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。
19 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
参考例句:
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
20 beech uynzJF     
n.山毛榉;adj.山毛榉的
参考例句:
  • Autumn is the time to see the beech woods in all their glory.秋天是观赏山毛榉林的最佳时期。
  • Exasperated,he leaped the stream,and strode towards beech clump.他满腔恼怒,跳过小河,大踏步向毛榉林子走去。
21 distraction muOz3l     
n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐
参考例句:
  • Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注,不能有丝毫分神。
  • Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。
22 joyful N3Fx0     
adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的
参考例句:
  • She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
  • They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。
23 bass APUyY     
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。
24 sprightly 4GQzv     
adj.愉快的,活泼的
参考例句:
  • She is as sprightly as a woman half her age.她跟比她年轻一半的妇女一样活泼。
  • He's surprisingly sprightly for an old man.他这把年纪了,还这么精神,真了不起。
25 allusion CfnyW     
n.暗示,间接提示
参考例句:
  • He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
  • She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。
26 satire BCtzM     
n.讽刺,讽刺文学,讽刺作品
参考例句:
  • The movie is a clever satire on the advertising industry.那部影片是关于广告业的一部巧妙的讽刺作品。
  • Satire is often a form of protest against injustice.讽刺往往是一种对不公正的抗议形式。
27 magistrate e8vzN     
n.地方行政官,地方法官,治安官
参考例句:
  • The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
  • John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。
28 eldest bqkx6     
adj.最年长的,最年老的
参考例句:
  • The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
  • The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
29 repent 1CIyT     
v.悔悟,悔改,忏悔,后悔
参考例句:
  • He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
  • Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。
30 rascal mAIzd     
n.流氓;不诚实的人
参考例句:
  • If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做,我就认为他是个恶棍。
  • The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。
31 seething e6f773e71251620fed3d8d4245606fcf     
沸腾的,火热的
参考例句:
  • The stadium was a seething cauldron of emotion. 体育场内群情沸腾。
  • The meeting hall was seething at once. 会场上顿时沸腾起来了。
32 aria geRyB     
n.独唱曲,咏叹调
参考例句:
  • This song takes off from a famous aria.这首歌仿效一首著名的咏叹调。
  • The opera was marred by an awkward aria.整部歌剧毁在咏叹调部分的不够熟练。
33 enchanted enchanted     
adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
  • He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。
34 humiliation Jd3zW     
n.羞辱
参考例句:
  • He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
  • He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
35 solitude xF9yw     
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方
参考例句:
  • People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
  • They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
36 abase 3IYyc     
v.降低,贬抑
参考例句:
  • He refused to abase himself in the eyes of others.他不愿在他人面前被贬低。
  • A man who uses bad language will only abase himself.说脏话者只会自贬身分。
37 prey g1czH     
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨
参考例句:
  • Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
  • The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。
38 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
39 peril l3Dz6     
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物
参考例句:
  • The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
  • The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。
40 remorse lBrzo     
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责
参考例句:
  • She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
  • He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。
41 banish nu8zD     
vt.放逐,驱逐;消除,排除
参考例句:
  • The doctor advised her to banish fear and anxiety.医生劝她消除恐惧和忧虑。
  • He tried to banish gloom from his thought.他试图驱除心中的忧愁。
42 marvelled 11581b63f48d58076e19f7de58613f45     
v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • I marvelled that he suddenly left college. 我对他突然离开大学感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I marvelled at your boldness. 我对你的大胆感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
43 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
44 boredom ynByy     
n.厌烦,厌倦,乏味,无聊
参考例句:
  • Unemployment can drive you mad with boredom.失业会让你无聊得发疯。
  • A walkman can relieve the boredom of running.跑步时带着随身听就不那么乏味了。
45 inevitably x7axc     
adv.不可避免地;必然发生地
参考例句:
  • In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去,毫无疑问是会散伙的。
  • Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。
46 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
47 anathemas 95325d7b130f1bf0499f4033fe0631cd     
n.(天主教的)革出教门( anathema的名词复数 );诅咒;令人极其讨厌的事;被基督教诅咒的人或事
参考例句:
48 habitual x5Pyp     
adj.习惯性的;通常的,惯常的
参考例句:
  • He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。
  • They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。
49 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
50 detailed xuNzms     
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的
参考例句:
  • He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
  • A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
51 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。
52 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
53 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
54 envious n8SyX     
adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的
参考例句:
  • I don't think I'm envious of your success.我想我并不嫉妒你的成功。
  • She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。
55 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
参考例句:
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
56 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
参考例句:
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
57 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见
参考例句:
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
58 bribe GW8zK     
n.贿赂;v.向…行贿,买通
参考例句:
  • He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
  • He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。
59 honourable honourable     
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的
参考例句:
  • I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号,我可担当不起。
  • I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。
60 simplicity Vryyv     
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯
参考例句:
  • She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
  • The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。
61 anonymous lM2yp     
adj.无名的;匿名的;无特色的
参考例句:
  • Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
  • The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。
62 wretch EIPyl     
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人
参考例句:
  • You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他,还埋怨他,真不知好歹。
  • The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。
63 gutter lexxk     
n.沟,街沟,水槽,檐槽,贫民窟
参考例句:
  • There's a cigarette packet thrown into the gutter.阴沟里有个香烟盒。
  • He picked her out of the gutter and made her a great lady.他使她脱离贫苦生活,并成为贵妇。
64 duel 2rmxa     
n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争
参考例句:
  • The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
  • Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。
65 imminence yc5z3     
n.急迫,危急
参考例句:
  • The imminence of their exams made them work harder.考试即将来临,迫使他们更用功了。
  • He had doubt about the imminence of war.他不相信战争已迫在眉睫。
66 pecuniary Vixyo     
adj.金钱的;金钱上的
参考例句:
  • She denies obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.她否认通过欺骗手段获得经济利益。
  • She is so independent that she refused all pecuniary aid.她很独立,所以拒绝一切金钱上的资助。
67 procure A1GzN     
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条
参考例句:
  • Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗?
  • I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。
68 brace 0WzzE     
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备
参考例句:
  • My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
  • You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。
69 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
70 skilful 8i2zDY     
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的
参考例句:
  • The more you practise,the more skilful you'll become.练习的次数越多,熟练的程度越高。
  • He's not very skilful with his chopsticks.他用筷子不大熟练。
71 bind Vt8zi     
vt.捆,包扎;装订;约束;使凝固;vi.变硬
参考例句:
  • I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
  • He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。
72 refinement kinyX     
n.文雅;高尚;精美;精制;精炼
参考例句:
  • Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
  • Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。
73 bent QQ8yD     
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。
74 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
75 repayment repayment     
n.偿还,偿还款;报酬
参考例句:
  • I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.我有权利索取货物损坏赔偿金。
  • The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.税务局一直在催她补交税款。
76 laudatory HkPyI     
adj.赞扬的
参考例句:
  • Now,when Carrie heard Drouet's laudatory opinion of her dramatic ability,her body tingled with satisfaction.听到杜洛埃这么称道自己的演戏才能,她心满意足精神振奋。
  • Her teaching evaluations are among the most laudatory in this department.她的教学评估在本系是居最受颂扬者之中。
77 surmounted 74f42bdb73dca8afb25058870043665a     
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上
参考例句:
  • She was well aware of the difficulties that had to be surmounted. 她很清楚必须克服哪些困难。
  • I think most of these obstacles can be surmounted. 我认为这些障碍大多数都是可以克服的。
78 perils 3c233786f6fe7aad593bf1198cc33cbe     
极大危险( peril的名词复数 ); 危险的事(或环境)
参考例句:
  • The commander bade his men be undaunted in the face of perils. 指挥员命令他的战士要临危不惧。
  • With how many more perils and disasters would he load himself? 他还要再冒多少风险和遭受多少灾难?
79 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。
80 corpse JYiz4     
n.尸体,死尸
参考例句:
  • What she saw was just an unfeeling corpse.她见到的只是一具全无感觉的尸体。
  • The corpse was preserved from decay by embalming.尸体用香料涂抹以防腐烂。
81 petrified 2e51222789ae4ecee6134eb89ed9998d     
adj.惊呆的;目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆,使惊呆;变僵硬;使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • I'm petrified of snakes. 我特别怕蛇。
  • The poor child was petrified with fear. 这可怜的孩子被吓呆了。 来自《简明英汉词典》


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