Leonard Train made these remarks over a letter which had come by the morning post. It was a delicate perfumed friendly note, begging dear Mr. Train to come to dinner the next evening without ceremony. "I have just learned that your dear mother was at school with me," wrote Mrs. Ward in her most gushing3 style. "So you will see why I write informally. Do come." The "Do" was underlined, and Leonard could hardly contain himself for joy at this proof that a member of the aristocracy was disposed to be friendly. "A woman of the highest fashion, too," chuckled4 Leonard.
To account for Train's exuberant5 joy, which seemed out of all proportion to its reason, it must be explained that, notwithstanding his money, and what he regarded as his talents, he had never managed to enter the fashionable world. As he was as vain as a peacock, and anxious to shine and be admired among people worth knowing, this was a great grief to him. George took him to several houses, but Leonard did not seem to be a success, for after one visit he was never asked again, although he left cards assiduously. This invitation of Mrs. Ward's was purely6 voluntary, as she had met him only once and had snubbed him when she did meet him. At the time he had thought her a horrid7 woman, but now he was prepared to bow down and worship.
Leonard's father had been in trade, and the nice little income he inherited had been made out of a patent medicine, most drastic in its effects, that claimed to cure all diseases. Train senior, a shrewd innkeeper, had bought it from one of his customers--a drunken doctor meant for better things, but who had fallen on evil days. By judicious8 advertisement, and with the aid of many bought testimonials from penniless members of the aristocracy, Train managed to make the drug a success. Train's Trump9 Pill was seen on every boarding, and Mr. Ireland possessed10 one of the original posters.
Soon Train senior became rich, very rich, and, having improved his manners and suppressed his parents, he was taken up by people of good position who needed ready money. He bought his way into the fringe of the fashionable world, and finally married a rather elderly lady, who had blue blood, extravagant11 tastes, and no money. She presented him with Leonard, and then, thinking she had done her duty, arranged to enjoy herself. Mrs. Train spent the proceeds of the Trump Pill recklessly, and before her husband died she managed to get through the greater part of his wealth. Train settled an income of five thousand a year on his son, and let Mrs. Train do what she liked with the rest. Then he died, and Mrs. Train sent Leonard to Eton, afterward12 to college. When he was thus off her hands she enjoyed herself amazingly, and finally died in Paris, after spending every penny of the principal and interest of the large fortune left by her husband. Leonard mourned his mother, although he had seen very little of her. Then he settled in London on his five thousand a year and posed as a literary man. But the desire of his life was to be fashionable. Hence his delight at the letter.
"Of course I'll go," soliloquized Leonard, when calmer. "I wonder if George will be there. He loves that Ward girl, so he might. Mrs. Ward does not approve of the match, so he might not. I wonder if there is a regular engagement. If not, I might have a shot myself. The Honorable Mrs. Train--no, that would be the mother."
It will be seen that Leonard was not very faithful to his absent friend; but the fact is that Train was less devoted13 to Brendon than he had been. The episode of Amelia Square made him fight rather shy of George. The story of the marriage was shady, and in some way--Leonard couldn't exactly explain how--seemed to be connected with the murder of Mrs. Jersey14. Moreover, Leonard knew something which he had not mentioned to Brendon, and would not have mentioned it for the fashionable world. However, he had said nothing about George's history, and so far had kept faith. But Brendon saw that Leonard was no longer so pleased to see him as formerly15. He therefore avoided the fat young man, and Leonard did not seem to mind the avoidance. Indeed, he appeared to be rather relieved than otherwise. Brendon never asked himself the reason of this behavior, as he thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie. That Leonard would speak never entered his head.
And Leonard never intended to speak, being weak, but honorable in his own foolish way. But when Mrs. Ward's invitation came he walked blindfolded16 into a trap set by that clever little woman. She asked Train to dinner, not because she had known his mother--although that was true enough--but for the simple reason that she wished to hear what he knew about the Amelia Square tragedy. Brendon had told her much, but it was probable that Train, being a weak idiot in the hands of a pretty woman like herself, would tell her more. Mrs. Ward was by no means reconciled to the possibility of Brendon marrying her daughter, and wished to find some scandal smirching George, that she might induce Dorothy to break the engagement. She would have utilized17 the tales about Lola and Brendon, but that she was not sure of her ground in this particular direction, and, moreover, having seen the Spanish dancer, feared lest so passionate18 a woman should make an open scandal. It was the aim of Mrs. Ward's life to do wrong things, and to avoid troubles arising from them. Therefore, she, for the time being, put Lola on the shelf and arranged in her own scheming mind to make use of Leonard. "I can work him like a lump of putty," said Mrs. Ward, contemptuously. A vulgar illustration, but a true one. Besides, she said it in the solitude19 of her own room when she was dressing20 for dinner, so no one heard its vulgarity or its truth.
When Leonard entered the drawing-room he was welcomed by Dorothy, who told him that Mrs. Ward would be down shortly. "It is only a small dinner, Mr. Train," she said. "Mr. Vane is coming; no one else."
"I expected to find my friend Brendon here," said Leonard, thinking how beautiful she looked.
"No! Mr. Brendon is very busy at the present time with his book. He would have come otherwise."
"All things should give way where a lady is concerned," said Train, gallantly21.
Miss Ward laughed. She had heard much of Train from Brendon, and thought him a kindly22, but foolish young man. "I am not a woman of that sort, Mr. Train. I have no desire that a man should neglect his work for frivolity23. You are a great friend of Mr. Brendon?"
"The greatest he has."
"And he was stopping with you in the house where that tragedy took place. He told me about it."
Train secretly wished that George had held his tongue on this particular point, as he had his own reasons for not wishing to be questioned. With the very best intentions as to holding his tongue, he knew his weakness for babbling24 well enough, and found it easier to abstain25 from talking altogether than to be temperate26 in speech. "Brendon certainly stopped with me," he said reservedly, "but we were sound asleep when the murder took place. Neither of us heard anything. After the inquest we both returned to the West End."
"It was a most unpleasant experience," said Dorothy, thoughtfully.
"Very," assented27 Train, wiping his face. "I shall never go in search of types again."
"You can find amusing types in the West End," remarked Dorothy, in a low voice. "Here is one."
The young man who entered the room was a small, attenuated28, precise atom of a creature, immaculately dressed and with a rather shrill29 voice. He answered to the name of the Hon. Walter Vane, and was the cousin of Brendon, although he did not know of the relationship. But Dorothy and Train both knew, and compared Vane's physique disadvantageously with that of Brendon. The one man was a splendid specimen30 of humanity, the other a peevish31 hypochondriac. Walter Vane had been "fast" in his time, and although he was not yet thirty he was now suffering from the consequences of his rapid ways. He was in the twenties, yet he was bald. He was as nervous as an old woman and finicky as an elderly spinster. Lord Derrington, who was a bluff32 old giant of the country squire33 type, sneered34 at his degenerate35 descendant. All the same, he would not replace him by George, who was a man in looks and tastes after the old lord's own heart.
"Beastly night," lisped Vane, greeting Dorothy and taking no notice of Leonard. "I think there will be snow. I hope I won't get a bad cold. I am so subject to cold."
"Mr. Train--Mr. Vane," said Dorothy, introducing the two.
Vane stared and muttered something about "pleasure." Leonard caught no other word. He then continued his conversation with Miss Ward. "I sneezed twice at the Merry Music Hall the other night."
"That is where Velez dances," said Leonard, determined36 to speak.
Vane stared again, and it was Dorothy who answered. "My mother went to see her, and says she is a most extraordinary dancer."
"Oh, clever in a sort of mad way, and a regular bad one," chuckled the little man. Dorothy turned away. She did not like this conversation, as it offended her taste. But the next words of Vane made her pause. "I saw your friend Brendon at the hall, Miss Ward--the writing man, you know. A fine-looking chap, but sulky."
"The best man in the world," said Leonard, whereupon Dorothy gave him an approving look. She wondered what Vane would say did he know that the man he criticised so freely was his cousin and the legitimate37 heir to the Derrington title if he had his rights.
"Well, he has his larks38 like every one else. They say he is sweet on the dancer."
"Mr. Vane!" cried Dorothy, the blood rushing to her face.
The little man became confused, conscious that he had transgressed39 the bounds of good breeding. He knew that Brendon admired Dorothy, and that Dorothy took pleasure in his society, but he was unaware40 that any deeper feeling existed. Mrs. Ward had kept that sort of thing from him, as she did not want Vane to leave the coast clear for Brendon. And Vane was so egotistical that he never for one moment dreamed that George was his rival. Even if he had, he would have laughed the idea to scorn. In his eyes Brendon was merely a writing fellow and not to be named in the same breath with his noble, attenuated, rickety self.
"Well, good people," cried Mrs. Ward, entering the room at this very opportune42 moment, "are you all here? Mr. Vane, I am pleased. Mr. Train, how good of you to come. Ah," Mrs. Ward sighed, "you have your dear mother's eyes, and lovely eyes they were."
Having slipped in this compliment to put Leonard at his ease and throw him off his guard, Mrs. Ward delivered him to Dorothy and took Vane into a shady corner. "Dinner will be ready soon," she said, fanning herself although it was a cold winter's night. "I hope you are hungry, Mr. Vane."
"I was," admitted her guest, "but I have to nurse my appetite carefully, you know, Mrs. Ward, and I am rather put out."
"Not by Mr. Train, I hope. He is a nice fellow, really, very nice, with money made out of pigs or whisky or something," said Mrs. Ward, vaguely43, for she was not certain. "What did he say?"
"He said nothing, but Miss Ward did."
Mrs. Ward shrugged44. "Oh, well, you know, dear Dorothy has such odd ideas, and all that sort of thing. I suppose it was something about books, or philosophies, or grammar, or something. Enough to spoil any one's appetite, I'm sure."
"No. But I mentioned that Brendon--you know the writing fellow----"
"Yes, I know," said Mrs. Ward, viciously, and at once on the alert.
"Well, I said that it was rumored45 he was sweet on Lola Velez, and Miss Ward fired up. Is she so great a friend of his as all that?"
"Oh, by no means," responded Mrs. Ward, vivaciously46. "A mere41 acquaintance, you know. They talk books, I believe, and how moths47 get wings like those animals before the flood. She thinks he is goody-goody. I'm sure he's dull enough. Lola Velez! oh, a perfect dear. How she can kick! So Mr. Brendon is in--well, I never should have thought it of him; but these quiet men are always the worst."
So Mrs. Ward rattled48 on in her incoherent manner, but perfectly49 clear in her own mind as to the good Vane's injudicious observation would do. If Dorothy once got it into her brain that George was an admirer of Lola, then there would be a chance of breaking the engagement. Before Vane could make any more remarks the gong thundered. Mrs. Ward rose at once, rather glad of the stoppage of conversation. She liked a lively man, and Vane was a fool. But for all that she was quite prepared to give him Dorothy, as she would have given her to a prize idiot provided the idiot was sufficiently50 rich. "You take in Dorothy," she said to Vane, thus getting him off her shoulders, but not hoping to find Leonard a pleasant change. "I will take Mr. Train under my wing."
In this order they entered the dining-room, Mrs. Ward trying to stifle51 a yawn and wondering how she would get through such a dull evening. Luckily, Vane mentioned that his grandfather had expressed his intention of looking in during the course of the evening, "If you will not mind, Mrs. Ward," he said politely.
"Oh, I'm rather glad," replied the little woman, drawing off her gloves. "Such a delightful52 old gentleman! His anecdotes53 are quite in the best style."
"He told one to a bishop54 the other day," said Vane, laughing.
"Really, how amusing! And what did the bishop say?"
"He said nothing, but he looked sermons."
"Ah," sighed Mrs. Ward, "bishops55 are so particular."
"I find them delightful," said Dorothy, filling in the pause.
"Of course, my dear, because they talk of Renan and missionaries56 and those sort of dry things. I remember the Bishop of Timbuctoo, or Central Africa, or some of those places one never heard of, telling me how his old curate was eaten alive by blacks and mosquitoes. I quite forget which; but he was eaten."
"I trust the blacks and mosquitoes didn't find the curate tough."
"I'm sure I don't know. He was just thirty, I believe, and bald."
"You said he was an old curate."
"Oh, dear me, Dorothy how can you expect me to explain what I mean?--at dinner, too. I mean he was young in years and old in saintliness. Do try this dish, Mr. Train? It is so good."
Leonard did try it, and did full justice to the merits of Mrs. Ward's cook. She kept a particularly good chef, as she knew the value of good cooking. "People like nice things to eat," she explained to Leonard, while Dorothy labored57 to entertain Vane. "It makes one so popular if one's chef can always be relied upon. I have known a woman's position ruined by inattention to the kitchen. One can break all the ten commandments if only one feeds the men." Then, thinking she had said too much, she added sweetly, "But of course I am only joking, Mr. Train, as one must be good and all that sort of thing."
"I'm sure you are all that is good and kind, Mrs. Ward."
"Now, that's really very nice of you. Mr. Brendon would never say a really nice thing like that. Of course he's a great friend of yours, isn't he? and he stopped with you when that poor woman----"
Leonard uttered an ejaculation. It seemed to him that he was pursued by the Amelia Square tragedy. First Dorothy, and now her mother. Was there no other topic of conversation? He would have answered an ordinary person rudely, being wearied of being questioned, but Mrs. Ward, having the key of the door which led into the fashionable world, was to be conciliated. He replied to her almost in the same words as he had used to Dorothy. "Mr. Brendon did stop with me," he said, "but we were asleep when the murder took place."
"How extraordinary!" said Mrs. Ward, languidly, yet with a keen eye on the change in Leonard's face. "I wonder who killed her?"
"No one knows," replied Train, shortly.
"Does no one suspect any one?"
"I believe not. The police are quite at fault."
"Oh, the police!" said Mrs. Ward, in a proper tone of contempt. "They never do anything except make love to cooks. Do you suspect any one?"
Leonard flushed. "I, Mrs. Ward? Why should I suspect any one?"
"Oh, I don't know. You have a clever face. Just the kind of a face that one would think a brilliant detective would have. You must have some suspicions?" Again her eyes searched his face.
"No," he protested. "I was asleep. I know nothing about the matter."
"How stupid of you!" said Mrs. Ward, beginning to think that her condescension58 in asking Leonard to dinner was wasted. "But you men are always so blind, poor dears! What kind of a woman was Mrs. Jersey?"
"A nice motherly old creature."
"I know--like a monthly nurse. Was Mr. Brendon introduced to her?"
"Yes. I took him into the drawing-room."
"Really. Have they drawing-rooms in Bloomsbury? How nice and civilized59! Well, did Mrs. Jersey and Mr. Brendon get on well together? I want to know because you see, Mr. Train, he admires Dorothy, and it is such a sign of a man's good-nature if he gets on well with strangers. I suppose Mrs. Jersey liked him?"
"I think she did," replied Leonard, on whose weak head the claret was beginning to take effect, "but she was rather startled when she saw him first."
Mrs. Ward's eyes flashed so brightly that Leonard would have been warned of his indiscretion had he not been looking at his plate. "Oh, how very interesting! But she never saw him before. Why should she be startled?"
"It wasn't at him exactly," said Leonard, "but at a piece of yellow holly60 he wore in his coat."
"Yellow holly," repeated Mrs. Ward, with feigned61 surprise. "Why, of course Mr. Brendon wore a sprig. My daughter gave it to him."
"So he told me, Mrs. Ward."
"And I gave it to Dorothy," continued Mrs. Ward, who for some reason wished to make an explicit62 statement. "It is very rare, you know, and a man who lives in Devonshire sent me a bunch. Dorothy mentioned that Mr. Brendon had begged for a piece. Yes! he would naturally wear it on that night, as he had just left my house. But why was this unfortunate woman surprised?"
"I can't say; but she was," answered Train; "she turned white, and we all thought she was about to faint."
"Did she give any explanation?"
"No. In a few moments she recovered, and nothing more was said."
"Oh!" Mrs. Ward seemed disappointed. "Was that all?"
"Why--" Leonard turned his dull eyes on her flushed face--"what else did you expect to hear, Mrs. Ward?"
"Nothing! Nothing," she said hurriedly, for she did not wish to make him suspicious, "but it seems so odd. Dorothy giving the holly, you know, and that Mrs. Jersey should be upset. We must continue this conversation, Mr. Train. It is really most interesting. But you literary men are quite fascinating. After dinner in the drawing-room, Mr. Train. Dorothy!" She signaled with her fan, and her daughter arose. "Don't be too long over your wine," said Mrs. Ward, as she left the room. "We can't spare you, Mr. Train."
Leonard believed that all this attention was due to his own fascinations63. His head was still heated with the wine he had drunk, yet he began to regret that he had said anything about the yellow holly. Certainly he had not promised George to be silent on this especial point; but he nevertheless thought it wiser to hold his tongue about all that had taken place in Amelia Square on the night of the murder. Warned in this way by his mother sense, Train took no more wine, but after a rather dull conversation with Vane he went into the drawing-room. Dorothy was at the piano and thither64 repaired Vane; but Mrs. Ward, seated near the fire, called Leonard to her side. "I must introduce you: Lord Derrington--Mr. Train."
The grandfather of George was a huge man, burly, red-faced, white-haired, and with a rather truculent65 expression. He was over seventy, yet carried his years like a boy. Under his bushy white eyebrows66 he shot a quick glance at Leonard from a pair of keen gray eyes and summed him up at once as a fool. But Lord Derrington had been a diplomatist many years before, and knew that even fools are sometimes useful. Moreover, he had learned from Mrs. Ward's aimless chatter67 that Train was a great friend of Brendon's, and he knew more about George than George thought. However, Derrington, after that one glance of contempt, was very civil to Leonard.
"I am glad to meet you," he said, with a nod. "You go in for books, I understand from Mrs. Ward."
He had a deep, raucous68 voice like that of an early starling, and spoke69 in an abrupt70 staccato kind of way. Train, who stood before him like a rabbit before a snake, compared him in his own mind with Becky Sharp's friend, the Marquis of Steyne. Derrington was quite as wicked and savage71 and unscrupulous as that celebrated72 nobleman.
"I do write a little," said Leonard, nervously73.
"I believe in action rather than in writing," said Derrington. "There are far too many books written. Dreamers, all of you."
"Dreams may come true."
"And when they do come true, what is the use of them? Bah! In my young days we lived. Now people dream."
"I'm sure there's no dreaming about society nowadays," said Mrs. Ward, laughing. "Every one is as sharp as a needle to get the better of his or her neighbor."
"Mutual74 Deception75 Society," said Derrington. "You-give-me-so-much-and-I'll-let-you-go-so-far. That's the sort of thing."
"But there is a great deal of philanthropy nowadays."
"And what good does philanthropy do, Mr. Train?" said Derrington; "only makes people lazy. People are too sentimental76. I would give half these paupers77 the cat if I had my way."
Train was quite sure that he would, for, with his red face and heavy jowl and savage air of command, he looked the picture of a Roman emperor. Derrington had the instincts of a despot, and Leonard could imagine him slaying78 and burning and doing all manner of evil things. He wondered how Brendon ever came to have such a villainous grandfather. It was on the tip of his tongue to say something about Brendon, just to observe the effect on Derrington. But his courage failed him and he held his peace. And at that moment Fate intervened. The drawing-room door opened, and a servant announced, "Mr. Brendon!"
The next moment George came face to face with his grandfather.
点击收听单词发音
1 ward | |
n.守卫,监护,病房,行政区,由监护人或法院保护的人(尤指儿童);vt.守护,躲开 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 hurrah | |
int.好哇,万岁,乌拉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 gushing | |
adj.迸出的;涌出的;喷出的;过分热情的v.喷,涌( gush的现在分词 );滔滔不绝地说话 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 chuckled | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 exuberant | |
adj.充满活力的;(植物)繁茂的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 purely | |
adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 judicious | |
adj.明智的,明断的,能作出明智决定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 trump | |
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 extravagant | |
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 afterward | |
adv.后来;以后 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 jersey | |
n.运动衫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 blindfolded | |
v.(尤指用布)挡住(某人)的视线( blindfold的过去式 );蒙住(某人)的眼睛;使不理解;蒙骗 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 utilized | |
v.利用,使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 passionate | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 dressing | |
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 gallantly | |
adv. 漂亮地,勇敢地,献殷勤地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 frivolity | |
n.轻松的乐事,兴高采烈;轻浮的举止 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 babbling | |
n.胡说,婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 );作潺潺声(如流水);含糊不清地说话;泄漏秘密 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 abstain | |
v.自制,戒绝,弃权,避免 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 temperate | |
adj.温和的,温带的,自我克制的,不过分的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 assented | |
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 attenuated | |
v.(使)变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 );(使)变薄;(使)变小;减弱 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 specimen | |
n.样本,标本 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 peevish | |
adj.易怒的,坏脾气的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 bluff | |
v.虚张声势,用假象骗人;n.虚张声势,欺骗 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 squire | |
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 sneered | |
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 degenerate | |
v.退步,堕落;adj.退步的,堕落的;n.堕落者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 legitimate | |
adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 larks | |
n.百灵科鸟(尤指云雀)( lark的名词复数 );一大早就起床;鸡鸣即起;(因太费力而不想干时说)算了v.百灵科鸟(尤指云雀)( lark的第三人称单数 );一大早就起床;鸡鸣即起;(因太费力而不想干时说)算了 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 transgressed | |
v.超越( transgress的过去式和过去分词 );越过;违反;违背 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 unaware | |
a.不知道的,未意识到的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 opportune | |
adj.合适的,适当的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 vaguely | |
adv.含糊地,暖昧地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 shrugged | |
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 rumored | |
adj.传说的,谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 vivaciously | |
adv.快活地;活泼地;愉快地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 moths | |
n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 rattled | |
慌乱的,恼火的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 stifle | |
vt.使窒息;闷死;扼杀;抑止,阻止 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 anecdotes | |
n.掌故,趣闻,轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 bishop | |
n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 bishops | |
(基督教某些教派管辖大教区的)主教( bishop的名词复数 ); (国际象棋的)象 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 missionaries | |
n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 labored | |
adj.吃力的,谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 condescension | |
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 civilized | |
a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 holly | |
n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 feigned | |
a.假装的,不真诚的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 explicit | |
adj.详述的,明确的;坦率的;显然的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 fascinations | |
n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 );有魅力的东西;迷恋;陶醉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 truculent | |
adj.野蛮的,粗野的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 eyebrows | |
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 chatter | |
vi./n.喋喋不休;短促尖叫;(牙齿)打战 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 raucous | |
adj.(声音)沙哑的,粗糙的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 spoke | |
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: |
|
|
70 abrupt | |
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 nervously | |
adv.神情激动地,不安地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 deception | |
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 sentimental | |
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 paupers | |
n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 );贫民;贫穷 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 slaying | |
杀戮。 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |