In compliance7 with Don Pedro’s request for Manatitlan aid and protection, the Dosch announced his intention of sending two giantescoes to act as auramental governantes for Lovieta and Lavoca, preparatory to their entrance into the Heraclean school, which were to be selected from the reserve maiden8 fund for the relief of widowers9. In answer to Mr. Welson’s inquiry10 with regard to their age, the Dosch assured him that there was no need of anxiety on that score, for the funded maidens11 were not of the soured acrimonious12 kind represented as “old maids” by Giga bruits13, whose passionate14 instincts of affection had been denied marriageable reciprocation15, but of matured 278kindly dispositions16 to whom the controlling influence of animal passion was unknown. “Yet,” he continued, “they possess the common inheritance of womankind, which delights in making the tongue vocalize thoughtful inspirations of affection; but with our Manatitlan matrons and maidens its use for detraction18 is also unknown.”
Correliana’s usually quiet composure had shown evidences of happy transition to fluttering excitement, after an interview with the padre, which was heightened when the Dosch, after the preliminaries for Manatitlan correspondence with the family of Don Pedro had been arranged, asked her to show the material cause of her gratefully glad perturbation. Upon this hint she produced from her bosom19 the photographic likeness20 of Captain Greenwood. This he had presented to her on board of the Tortuga; but while engaged in packing, the day before their departure for Heraclea, it had mysteriously disappeared, and after thorough search it was supposed to be irretrievably lost. The wind was charged with its abstraction, and the waters of the river as its receiver, but Correliana was confident in the belief of their innocence21 from the absence of the first party, as the day was perfectly22 calm, and she recollected23 of placing it beneath a book when the Captain required the aid of her hands. The book, unfortunately, was the “Art of Confession24 Made Easy,” by Fray25 Manuel de Jaen; and belonged to Padre Simon, who in one of his “fits” of abstraction recovered it, and used the photograph as a mark, unobserved by Correliana; and as it contained his polemical stock of knowledge for quotation26, he was guarded in withholding27 it from others, and immediately placed it in the transom locker28 of his stateroom, where it remained lost to his own memory until found by Antonio on the boat’s passage down the river. As the loss of the photograph had been the cause of continued anxiety to all, 279from the inconsolable regrets of the loser, the Captain determined29 to summons the padre to appear with the couriers at Amelcoy, to bear the treasure back to its owner, in penance30 for the sorrow he had caused by his heedlessness. Correliana’s conscious blush of happiness, as the semblance31 of her chosen was passed in review, imparted its impression to the invisible as well as the visible, for the Doschavita with her coterie32 of companions were anxious to judge of the selection made by their favorite.
The Dosch remarked that the odd fancy of the premeditated surroundings, was in kind characteristic of the jumble33 of gold, charity, and redeeming34 grace, as the barter35 conditions of salvation36 in the Giga mythology37. Professional craftsmen38, and mechanical members of societies and orders, parade their badges and insignia as the vain-glorious emblems39 of exclusive selfishness, while they preach a universal heaven free to all without distinction of persons. Your democratic orators40, styled the “heaven born,” assume attitudes for portraiture41 suited to their special assumptions of vanity for self-inflation; but with the evident fear that the beholder’s perception will fail to engross42 the reflection of their eloquent43 ability, they hold in their hands appropriately labeled books or manuscripts. The doctor’s idiosyncratic pose is defiant44, as if he recognized death in a successful rival. With his nose scornfully upturned he consults vacancy45 with his eyes, in search of prognostic symptoms for diagnostic antagonism46; his left hand advanced, is raised aloft inclosing a vial wand labeled Nostratic Viaticum, while his right with feeling expression triumphantly47 grasps the skull48 of a patient who had tested the value of his prescriptive vise. The lawyer, brigand49, and priest, assume attitudes as characteristically expressive50 of professional vanity. The vanity of the fashionable “lady,” with the mythological51 signification of intention, adverse52 to her impressions, 280rests with her hand, in studied negligence53, placed upon a volume of popular sermons, allowing the gilt54 label, “Christian Virtues,” to appear with an array of ringed jewels upon her fingers.
Captain Greenwood in keeping with the advertising55 disposition17 of selfish vanity, in emblematic56 signification of vocation57, but with a humorous variation, has perched himself upon a pile of bagged paddy (the Siamese apply the term paddy to everything unclean), while a companion with the evident design of expressing the gambling58 tendency of speculation59, is engaged in dealing60 “hands” from a pack of cards. In the background of the photograph the religious view exposes a pagoda61 and mill for cleaning paddy. The face of the captain expresses an impression of saturnine62 and cynical63 appreciation64 of the rare combinations entering into the tout65 ensemble66 of the picture. His dress, of Siamese fashion, is also in alliance with the counterparts of the scene, and his cognomic designation of Truly Rural Greenwood. The portrait reveals, with all its incongruous constituents67, the “sterling” qualities concealed68 beneath the acrid69 asperities70 of the outer husk. These were discovered by our waiftly Heraclean cousin; and her amused study of his germ, divested71 of the rough externals imposed by customary habits, attracted his attention to the cause, which led him to intrust the Kyronese to the care and direction of Mr. Dow, and the vessel72 to his subordinates, while he devoted73 himself to the removal of his civilized74 artificials, for the weft of his thoughts with the proffer75 of her own. His quick appreciation of her artless worth and purity directed his thoughts to self investigation76, with a perceptible improvement in all that pertained77 to the ruling power of her influence. Notwithstanding the growing strength of the attraction was open for the observance of all, not a word of surprise was uttered, or a quizzical manifestation78 of instinct to insinuate79 motives80 281other than those of the purest nature expressed in an alliance of the sexes. Even the “hands” and sailors’ tongues found no prompting encouragement for gossip, each rendering81 homage82 to her power with imposed reverence83 suited to their capabilities84 of perception, while in evidence of the controlling influence of her example, there was a marked change in their habits in all the essentials of purity.
Correliana submitted to the retrospective review of the Dosch, as a matter of fact relation, in freedom from other emotions than those of joyful85 gladness for the recovery of her treasure, and the appreciation bestowed86 by the Manatitlan matrons upon the wisdom of her choice. Then Mr. Dow smilingly offered the Dosch and Doschessa the privilege of reading the letter of his wife and children; but as it was one of reproof87 we will simply state, that in writing home he had been so much absorbed in the prospective88 grandeur89 of his elevation90 as the precentor of the discovery, that the remarkable91 traits of the Heracleans and Manatitlans had scarcely been noticed, but in a sufficient degree for the excitement of intense curiosity. This unpardonable oversight92 had caused, in the place of congratulations, a letter filled to overflowing93 with catechistic questions relating to the habits and customs of the Animalculans, to the entire exclusion94 of a remark touching95 his agency in the discovery, inasmuch as it would contribute to his personal fame. The reflex action of Mr. Dow’s omission96 greatly amused the Dosch and his wife. After the mirth had subsided97, occasioned by the reading of Mr. Dow’s family letter, which left him as void of home information as he had left them in his letter communication with regard to the habits and customs of the Manatitlans, M. Hollydorf proposed to read aloud the reply of the R. H. B. Society to his letter.
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1 emigrants | |
n.(从本国移往他国的)移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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2 undoubtedly | |
adv.确实地,无疑地 | |
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3 parasitic | |
adj.寄生的 | |
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4 instinctive | |
adj.(出于)本能的;直觉的;(出于)天性的 | |
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5 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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6 derived | |
vi.起源;由来;衍生;导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取 | |
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7 compliance | |
n.顺从;服从;附和;屈从 | |
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8 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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9 widowers | |
n.鳏夫( widower的名词复数 ) | |
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10 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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11 maidens | |
处女( maiden的名词复数 ); 少女; 未婚女子; (板球运动)未得分的一轮投球 | |
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12 acrimonious | |
adj.严厉的,辛辣的,刻毒的 | |
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13 bruits | |
n.传播(传说或谣言)( bruit的名词复数 ) | |
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14 passionate | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 | |
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15 reciprocation | |
n.互换 | |
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16 dispositions | |
安排( disposition的名词复数 ); 倾向; (财产、金钱的)处置; 气质 | |
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17 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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18 detraction | |
n.减损;诽谤 | |
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19 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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20 likeness | |
n.相像,相似(之处) | |
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21 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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22 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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23 recollected | |
adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24 confession | |
n.自白,供认,承认 | |
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25 fray | |
v.争吵;打斗;磨损,磨破;n.吵架;打斗 | |
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26 quotation | |
n.引文,引语,语录;报价,牌价,行情 | |
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27 withholding | |
扣缴税款 | |
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28 locker | |
n.更衣箱,储物柜,冷藏室,上锁的人 | |
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29 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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30 penance | |
n.(赎罪的)惩罪 | |
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31 semblance | |
n.外貌,外表 | |
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32 coterie | |
n.(有共同兴趣的)小团体,小圈子 | |
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33 jumble | |
vt.使混乱,混杂;n.混乱;杂乱的一堆 | |
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34 redeeming | |
补偿的,弥补的 | |
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35 barter | |
n.物物交换,以货易货,实物交易 | |
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36 salvation | |
n.(尤指基督)救世,超度,拯救,解困 | |
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37 mythology | |
n.神话,神话学,神话集 | |
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38 craftsmen | |
n. 技工 | |
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39 emblems | |
n.象征,标记( emblem的名词复数 ) | |
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40 orators | |
n.演说者,演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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41 portraiture | |
n.肖像画法 | |
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42 engross | |
v.使全神贯注 | |
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43 eloquent | |
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的 | |
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44 defiant | |
adj.无礼的,挑战的 | |
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45 vacancy | |
n.(旅馆的)空位,空房,(职务的)空缺 | |
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46 antagonism | |
n.对抗,敌对,对立 | |
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47 triumphantly | |
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 | |
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48 skull | |
n.头骨;颅骨 | |
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49 brigand | |
n.土匪,强盗 | |
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50 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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51 mythological | |
adj.神话的 | |
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52 adverse | |
adj.不利的;有害的;敌对的,不友好的 | |
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53 negligence | |
n.疏忽,玩忽,粗心大意 | |
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54 gilt | |
adj.镀金的;n.金边证券 | |
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55 advertising | |
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的 | |
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56 emblematic | |
adj.象征的,可当标志的;象征性 | |
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57 vocation | |
n.职业,行业 | |
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58 gambling | |
n.赌博;投机 | |
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59 speculation | |
n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机 | |
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60 dealing | |
n.经商方法,待人态度 | |
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61 pagoda | |
n.宝塔(尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔),(印度教或佛教的)塔式庙宇 | |
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62 saturnine | |
adj.忧郁的,沉默寡言的,阴沉的,感染铅毒的 | |
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63 cynical | |
adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的,不信世道向善的 | |
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64 appreciation | |
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨 | |
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65 tout | |
v.推销,招徕;兜售;吹捧,劝诱 | |
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66 ensemble | |
n.合奏(唱)组;全套服装;整体,总效果 | |
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67 constituents | |
n.选民( constituent的名词复数 );成分;构成部分;要素 | |
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68 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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69 acrid | |
adj.辛辣的,尖刻的,刻薄的 | |
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70 asperities | |
n.粗暴( asperity的名词复数 );(表面的)粗糙;(环境的)艰苦;严寒的天气 | |
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71 divested | |
v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 );脱去(衣服);2。从…取去…;1。(给某人)脱衣服 | |
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72 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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73 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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74 civilized | |
a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
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75 proffer | |
v.献出,赠送;n.提议,建议 | |
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76 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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77 pertained | |
关于( pertain的过去式和过去分词 ); 有关; 存在; 适用 | |
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78 manifestation | |
n.表现形式;表明;现象 | |
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79 insinuate | |
vt.含沙射影地说,暗示 | |
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80 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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81 rendering | |
n.表现,描写 | |
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82 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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83 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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84 capabilities | |
n.能力( capability的名词复数 );可能;容量;[复数]潜在能力 | |
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85 joyful | |
adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的 | |
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86 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87 reproof | |
n.斥责,责备 | |
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88 prospective | |
adj.预期的,未来的,前瞻性的 | |
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89 grandeur | |
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 | |
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90 elevation | |
n.高度;海拔;高地;上升;提高 | |
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91 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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92 oversight | |
n.勘漏,失察,疏忽 | |
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93 overflowing | |
n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的,充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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94 exclusion | |
n.拒绝,排除,排斥,远足,远途旅行 | |
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95 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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96 omission | |
n.省略,删节;遗漏或省略的事物,冗长 | |
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97 subsided | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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