"Duty, Mistress Barbara, i' faith! 'Tis no thought of duty your presence inspires."
There was an ominous2 glint in the speaker's eyes which caused his companion to interrupt him quickly with a nervous laugh.
"In that case, sir, 'twere best I should leave you; 'twere small good urging upon you the duty of saving your life by instant departure, if my presence play traitor3 to my words by bidding you stay. So fare thee well; I wish you a safe journey."
"Alas4, madame, and will you indeed send me away without one word of hope? I will die an you do. What is life to me without your favour? I entreat5 you, have pity."
Sir Peter's protestations were eager, nay6 ardent7, but they tripped too glibly8 from his tongue, they smacked9 too much of experience in the art of wooing and moved Mistress Barbara to naught10 save amusement.
"Nay, but listen to me, sir," she answered with mock solemnity. "As you well know, there are many who since the rising have been in hiding like yourself. For Rupert's sake, I will give help and shelter to all who need it, but it were too much to expect me to give to all such unfortunates what now you seek. Bethink you what complications might arise hereafter."
"But, madame, 'tis possible all will not adore you as devotedly12 as do I."
"'Twere scarcely worth my while to consider such a remote possibility, sir," she answered demurely13. "Nor do I see reason why you should prove an exception."
A man and a maid seated together on a bank of moss14 in the moonlight have been seen oft in England; nor, if the maid were fair and not unwilling15 to listen (and what maid ever refused?), was it ever matter for surprise if the man has made wise use of the opportunities the Fates had given to him to perfect a romantic harmony of time and place by pouring forth16 protestations of undying devotion and of admiration17 for the incomparable charms of his companion; for moonlight is in truth a marvellous loosener of tongues; the greatest matchmaker of the universe is the pale witch queen of the night.
But natural though the affair may at first sight appear, in the present case it was attended by certain untoward19 circumstances which would have rendered the conventional occupation of Sir Peter and the lady productive of astonishment20 to an onlooker21.
For it was but a week since the disastrous22 engagement at Sedgemoor where Sir Peter had commanded one of the foot regiments23 in Monmouth's ill-fated army. And though the ardour of his wooing for a time almost led him to forget the fact, he was nevertheless a condemned24 rebel with a price upon his head and little hope of life unless by some means he could reach the coast and so compass his escape from the country. Within a mile of where he sat there were those who were seeking high and low to take his person, dead or alive; yet despite his danger he seemed oblivious25 to everything beyond his immediate26 surroundings. He devoted11 himself to the wooing of his companion's favour with the same passionate27 assiduity which he had ever displayed in more peaceful days in the calm precincts of Whitehall, or even in the perhaps less reputable regions of Old Drury.
Three days after the rout28 at Sedgemoor, after experiencing the miseries29 of starvation and despair which fall to the lot of a hunted man, Sir Peter Dare had reached the village of Durford, hoping thence to escape to the coast. Driven by hunger and distress30 to desperate ventures, he had presented himself at the Manor31 House, trusting to his ready tongue, his handsome face and his large experience in the management of the sex to gain the sympathy and assistance at least of the women of the household. He met with a welcome even more kindly32 than he had dared to hope for. Mistress Barbara Winslow had a tender heart for all rebels, her own brother, Rupert, having also ridden with Monmouth, and being himself even then in hiding, she knew not where. Therefore, she and her cousin Lady Cicely gave shelter to Sir Peter gladly, and for some days he remained at the Manor House, lauding33 the Fates for directing him to such a pleasant haven34, and employing his time, having nought35 else to do, in losing his heart to his fair hostess, who, being a woman, thought no worse of him for his obvious admiration, which, to do her justice, she considered but her due.
But not many days could the wanderer remain in safety at Durford. The country was closely patrolled by those searching every hole and corner for fugitives36 from Monmouth's army, and a small search party had their headquarters in the village itself. The Manor House was suspected, and the Winslows could not hope longer to conceal37 the presence of their guest, especially as their household consisted exclusively of women—creatures of unquestioned loyalty38 but irresponsible tongues.
In the meantime, however, news had been received of a fishing vessel39 lying off the coast, some three miles from Listoke, and with the help of one Peter Drew, a smith by trade, and a devoted admirer of Mistress Barbara, arrangements had been made with the skipper to take the fugitive on board.
Four days, therefore, after his arrival, Sir Peter reluctantly bade farewell to his hostess, and prepared to ride away once more upon his wanderings.
But ere he started finally on his journey, Mistress Barbara, moved either by the beauty of the evening, or by pity for his somewhat forlorn condition, proposed to accompany him to the end of the narrow lane, leading from the Manor House to the high road, and so set him on his way.
Now at the side of this lane ran a mossy bank, and the night being warm, and the moonlight inspiring, it befell that an hour after his departure from the house, Sir Peter was still seated on the bank at the feet of Mistress Barbara, oblivious alike to her repeated assertions that if he would not depart she at least could remain no longer, and to her warning that each moment's delay meant additional danger.
Still they sat there, until Sir Peter, moved by the sweet tones of his companion's voice, by the gleam of her eyes in the moonlight, and by gloomy reflections on their approaching separation, threw prudence40 to the winds, and burst forth into desperate, and for the time being heartfelt, protestations of devotion, mingled41 with entreaties42 that she would at least give him hope of one day winning her favour.
But Mistress Barbara, though she had found satisfaction in Sir Peter's open admiration, was in no wise pleased at so serious a turn to the conversation. She shrewdly suspected that it was by no means the first time such vows43 had passed his lips, and was consequently quite unmoved by his despair; but this unexpected change from moonlight dreams in the present to practical discussions of the future brought back her mind to realities with a sudden shock. She had no inclination45 to enter into a serious discussion of the matter, so she put a sudden end to the affair by springing to her feet and insisting upon her companion taking his departure forthwith, lest he miss the tide.
Sir Peter, recognising that further pleading would be useless, heaved a forlorn sigh, at which Mistress Barbara smiled under cover of the darkness and they walked to the end of the lane in silence. Here they paused and Barbara gave her final directions.
"I can go with you no further. I would we could have kept you with us longer, but indeed it is not safe; they have traced you here and are hunting high and low for you. Your only hope is to cross the water. I have told you the road; two hours' riding should bring you to the place. Pray Heaven you fall not in with Captain Protheroe and his men. But if you do you should soon outstrip46 them, for their horses will be weary; they have been out seeking you since daylight, though thanks to their belief in their own intelligence they have sought diligently47 in the wrong direction. But they will come back to quarters presently and you must be gone. Farewell, my friend, and a pleasant ride."
Sir Peter stooped to kiss her hand and mounted his horse reluctantly.
"Farewell, madame. It were useless to try to thank you. But at least I shall hope for some future occasion of repaying my debt."
"I shall deem it well repaid if you can contrive48 to send me word of Rupert's safety," answered the girl with a sigh. "That he will escape I am assured; Rupert could never come to harm; but the waiting for news is weary, and on some days hope is only a duty, not a consolation49."
"See what it is to be a brother," exclaimed Sir Peter mournfully. "You care more for his little finger than you do for the offer of my heart."
"Well, sir, and is not the rarer commodity ever the more precious?" she answered saucily51. "Rupert hath but two little fingers, whereas——"
"I have but one heart, madame."
"True, sir; but what limit to the times it may be offered?"
"Ah! Mistress Barbara, you know naught of the matter, for you yourself have no heart at all."
"And I marvel18 that you should still have one, considering how frequently you have lost it."
"I vow44——"
"Hush52!"
The jingle53 of accoutrements sounded round the corner of the road, and at the same moment they became aware of horses slowly approaching, a sound which hitherto they had been too much engrossed54 in their conversation to heed55.
"Alack! 'Tis the troopers," whispered Barbara. "Back, ere it be too late."
But the time for escape had passed; for even as she spoke56, and before Sir Peter had fully50 grasped the situation, the troopers had rounded the corner of the road, and were face to face with the fugitive.
They could scarcely be described as an imposing-looking force. Since daybreak they had been out scouring57 the country for rebels, beating the woods, ransacking58 the barns, following a wild-goose chase after false information extracted from the sullen59 country-folk, and were now returning to the village, worn out, dejected, and mud-stained. It would have been difficult to find a more forlorn-looking crew, even among the unfortunate men whom they hunted.
But at sight of the couple before them their dejection instantly vanished. The man's rich dress, handsome still, despite its draggled appearance, his presence on the road at this hour, and the horrified60 exclamation61 of the girl, all tended to prove that this was the man whom they sought. With a quick exclamation, the leader sprang from his horse and striding up to Sir Peter seized his horse's bridle62, crying sharply, "I arrest you in the King's name. Surrender like a wise man, or take the consequences."
Sir Peter reined63 his horse back abruptly64, and glanced round at his enemies with a muttered curse. But in Mistress Barbara the danger only roused a spirit of excitement and mischief65. She flung up her head and laughed.
"Cock-a-doodle-do! Who is afraid of you?" she sang saucily.
Captain Protheroe was somewhat discomfited66 by this unexpected answer. He threw an angry glance in the direction of the girl, and otherwise ignoring her presence, turned again to his prisoner.
"Come, sir, I ask you again, do you surrender, or must I order my men to seize you?"
"And I repeat," remarked the girl again, "that you crow too loudly, noble sir."
One of the troopers in the background laughed, and the captain turned furiously on Barbara.
"Peace, wench," he began sharply. But at that moment, when all eyes were turned on the girl, Sir Peter dealt a furious blow in the captain's chest, driving him back against the bank, and at the same time wrenched67 the reins68 from his grasp and dug his spurs into the horse's flanks. The animal leaped forward suddenly, and before the men could recover from the confusion and make a further move to stop him, the prisoner was clear of the surrounding circle and galloping69 rapidly down the road, while Mistress Barbara clapped her hands and laughed delightedly at their discomfiture70.
Captain Protheroe sprang to his feet in an instant, furious with rage, but quickly realising that it would be vain with their wearied horses to attempt to overtake the fugitive, he opened his lips to give the order to fire, that the man might be stopped, dead or alive. But ere he could speak the word, two arms were flung round his neck, and two soft hands were pressed tightly over his lips, while again the girl's mischievous71 laugh rang in his ears.
For a moment the captain was too much astonished to move, then astonishment gave place to anger.
Roughly seizing the girl's wrists, he pulled away her hands and shouted to the men to fire at once. But it was already too late, the fugitive was out of sight, and though several troopers presently set out in pursuit, it was obvious that the hope of recapture was very slight, seeing he rode a fresh horse, and the moon, already low in the sky, promised soon to give the pursued the protection of darkness.
Then, balked72 of his prisoner, Captain Protheroe turned furiously upon the cause of his failure.
"You hussy," he exclaimed harshly, "I will teach you——"
He stopped abruptly, for the girl's hood73 had fallen back, and he found himself gazing into the most wonderful eyes he had ever beheld74.
Then a soft voice drawled in sympathetic tones, "'Deed, captain, hath he really escaped thee? How vastly annoying. For, an I mistake not, the orders were to take him at all costs, dead or alive, and now, being but few miles from the coast, and being well mounted, 'tis very like he may be altogether quit of the country by to-morrow morn. I vow 'tis too bad. But sure, you are eager to pursue him, so I will no longer delay you. I wish you a very good even."
She dropped him a sedate75 curtsey and turned to walk back to the house.
But by this time Captain Protheroe had recovered from the effect of her eyes. He seized her roughly by the wrist and dragged her back.
"Not so fast, my girl. I must have some information from you first concerning this same rebel."
Barbara eyed him in grave astonishment.
"You are hurting my wrist," she complained reproachfully.
The captain dropped her wrist instantly, and she held it out to him gravely, that he might see the red marks of his fingers on the white flesh.
"Come," he began, somewhat abashed76, "tell me but this: Was that Sir Peter Dare who hath escaped us, and if so, where and how did you fall in with him?"
"Indeed, sir," answered the girl demurely, "you are surely forgetful of the place and hour. Bethink you, 'tis scarce meet that I remain here alone, parleying thus with strangers."
"Tut! girl," answered the captain, laughing, "that excuse will not avail. You thought it no shame ten minutes since to remain here parleying with one man. There is safety in numbers."
"Ah! That is a different matter, sir," she answered with a most innocent glance. "He was a gentleman."
"A gentleman! Well! What then?"
"Such do not mishandle women, sir," she said and pointed77 again reproachfully to her injured wrist.
"Peste!" muttered the captain angrily. In truth he was somewhat puzzled as to whom the girl might be. She wore a rough scarlet78 cloak and hood common to all the country maids, and he could not see her dress beneath. Furthermore she spoke with a slight Somersetshire accent, and this, together with her saucy79 manner, had at first led him to suppose her to be merely a simple country wench. But now the suspicion grew that she was but masquerading in the part.
The only thing of which he felt certain was that she had the sweetest voice and the most bewitching dimple in the corner of her mouth of any woman he had ever met.
"Come now," he continued more gently, "I am sorry I hurt thee, girl, but an answer I must have. Who was the fellow?"
She looked at him gravely.
"Well, sir, an you will have it, he was—he was a certain Captain Miles Protheroe."
Captain Protheroe laughed unwillingly80 at her coolness.
"Come, you must give a better account of him than that, mistress."
"Nay, is that no good account?" she exclaimed with elaborate astonishment. "Marry! How one may be deceived. I have ever heard Captain Protheroe spoken of as passably honest, though perchance not overwise, and decidedly hard-featured."
But this was too much, and Captain Protheroe lost all patience. Yet if the girl persisted in her saucy masquerade, he resolved at least to play up to her, and let her see how she enjoyed the part.
"A truce81 of this fooling, girl," he began harshly.
"Faith, sir, an my conversation please you not, I will e'en take my leave," she interposed quickly, and again turned to leave him.
But Captain Protheroe seized her cloak and held her fast.
"Listen to me, my girl," he said sharply, "and bridle your saucy tongue. Give me the information I require or, by Heaven, I'll march you back to the village and keep you prisoner till you learn to obey. Make up your mind. Which shall it be?"
Barbara turned and regarded him gravely from head to foot.
"I like you not," she remarked coolly, as the result of her critical survey.
"That may well be," he answered, smiling scornfully. "But an you answer not my questions, and that speedily, I must find means to make you do so. Now speak; which shall it be?"
Barbara glanced round eagerly for a way of escape, her mouth drooped82, her eyes opened wide with fear, her hands were clasped convulsively at her throat, the fingers fidgeting with the ribbons of her cloak. She shook her head once or twice helplessly, casting at the captain glances of indignation, pleading, and reproach.
But he remained resolute83. Then she began in a trembling voice:
"Well, sir, if there be no other way of escape, I must—I must e'en——I must run!" And as she spoke the word, with a quick movement she twisted herself free from the cloak which she had previously84 unfastened, leaving it in the captain's hands, and darting85 up the bank by the roadside, disappeared into the plantation86 beyond.
One or two of the troopers made a motion to pursue her, but the captain called them back.
"Let her go. You would never find her in the dark." And added, laughing, "The wench deserves her freedom. Fall in, men, and back to quarters; we can do no more to-night."
Nothing loth, the troopers resumed their way back to the village; but ere he departed, Captain Protheroe stooped and tore a ribbon from the discarded cloak, and with a short, half-shamed laugh twisted it round his wrist.
点击收听单词发音
1 fugitive | |
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者 | |
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2 ominous | |
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 | |
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3 traitor | |
n.叛徒,卖国贼 | |
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4 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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5 entreat | |
v.恳求,恳请 | |
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6 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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7 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
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8 glibly | |
adv.流利地,流畅地;满口 | |
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9 smacked | |
拍,打,掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10 naught | |
n.无,零 [=nought] | |
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11 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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12 devotedly | |
专心地; 恩爱地; 忠实地; 一心一意地 | |
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13 demurely | |
adv.装成端庄地,认真地 | |
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14 moss | |
n.苔,藓,地衣 | |
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15 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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16 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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17 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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18 marvel | |
vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事 | |
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19 untoward | |
adj.不利的,不幸的,困难重重的 | |
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20 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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21 onlooker | |
n.旁观者,观众 | |
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22 disastrous | |
adj.灾难性的,造成灾害的;极坏的,很糟的 | |
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23 regiments | |
(军队的)团( regiment的名词复数 ); 大量的人或物 | |
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24 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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25 oblivious | |
adj.易忘的,遗忘的,忘却的,健忘的 | |
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26 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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27 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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28 rout | |
n.溃退,溃败;v.击溃,打垮 | |
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29 miseries | |
n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 );痛苦的事;穷困;常发牢骚的人 | |
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30 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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31 manor | |
n.庄园,领地 | |
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32 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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33 lauding | |
v.称赞,赞美( laud的现在分词 ) | |
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34 haven | |
n.安全的地方,避难所,庇护所 | |
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35 nought | |
n./adj.无,零 | |
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36 fugitives | |
n.亡命者,逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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37 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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38 loyalty | |
n.忠诚,忠心 | |
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39 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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40 prudence | |
n.谨慎,精明,节俭 | |
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41 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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42 entreaties | |
n.恳求,乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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43 vows | |
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿 | |
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44 vow | |
n.誓(言),誓约;v.起誓,立誓 | |
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45 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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46 outstrip | |
v.超过,跑过 | |
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47 diligently | |
ad.industriously;carefully | |
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48 contrive | |
vt.谋划,策划;设法做到;设计,想出 | |
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49 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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50 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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51 saucily | |
adv.傲慢地,莽撞地 | |
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52 hush | |
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静 | |
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53 jingle | |
n.叮当声,韵律简单的诗句;v.使叮当作响,叮当响,押韵 | |
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54 engrossed | |
adj.全神贯注的 | |
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55 heed | |
v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心 | |
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56 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 | |
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57 scouring | |
擦[洗]净,冲刷,洗涤 | |
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58 ransacking | |
v.彻底搜查( ransack的现在分词 );抢劫,掠夺 | |
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59 sullen | |
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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60 horrified | |
a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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61 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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62 bridle | |
n.笼头,束缚;vt.抑制,约束;动怒 | |
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63 reined | |
勒缰绳使(马)停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 ); 驾驭; 严格控制; 加强管理 | |
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64 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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65 mischief | |
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 | |
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66 discomfited | |
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词);使狼狈;使挫折;挫败 | |
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67 wrenched | |
v.(猛力地)扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 );扭伤;使感到痛苦;使悲痛 | |
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68 reins | |
感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带 | |
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69 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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70 discomfiture | |
n.崩溃;大败;挫败;困惑 | |
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71 mischievous | |
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 | |
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72 balked | |
v.畏缩不前,犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 );(指马)不肯跑 | |
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73 hood | |
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖 | |
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74 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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75 sedate | |
adj.沉着的,镇静的,安静的 | |
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76 abashed | |
adj.窘迫的,尴尬的v.使羞愧,使局促,使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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78 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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79 saucy | |
adj.无礼的;俊俏的;活泼的 | |
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80 unwillingly | |
adv.不情愿地 | |
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81 truce | |
n.休战,(争执,烦恼等的)缓和;v.以停战结束 | |
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82 drooped | |
弯曲或下垂,发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83 resolute | |
adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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84 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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85 darting | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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86 plantation | |
n.种植园,大农场 | |
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