It was some weeks since she had seen Ned Pullar. They had then agreed to terminate their covert9 meetings, hoping for a turn in the wheel of fate that would be auspicious10. She was deeply troubled over rumours11 that hinted embarrassment12 for Ned and his father. She had not learned the true facts but had drawn13 shrewd deductions14 from the reports of Mrs. Grundy. Lately a fear had obsessed15 her. She tried to banish16 the thought in view of the glad incident of the afternoon, but those minor vagaries17 would persist in stealing from her fingers.
A chat with Margaret Grant had informed her of the presence of the stranger Foyle as inimical to Ned. The old homestead was in some way involved. Shortly after her chat with Margaret she had observed her father in friendly conversation with Foyle before the office of Chesley Sykes. At the sight a shadow had flitted through her mind. Was her father involved in Ned's trouble?
She had abandoned herself to a sombre brooding upon this disquieting18 theme when a knock sounded upon the door. It startled her, for she was alone. Lifting her hands from the keys, she went to the door. On opening she was confronted with the great figure of Chesley Sykes. A smile lit his handsome face. Touching20 his hat with graceful21 courtesy, he greeted her respectfully.
"Good-day, Miss McClure!" was his quiet salute22.
At the sound of his voice the episode at the door flashed into her mind. She regretted the absence of her parents.
Hospitality forbade rudeness and she invited him within.
"I have come to see you, yourself," said he, smiling at her formality. "I am heartily24 glad there is nobody else about. I have been anxious to crave25 your pardon for my part in the incident at the door. It was inexcusable and foolish, I acknowledge. I am sorry."
The girl looked away with serious face. Instinct warned her against the man, but his tone and manner were agreeably penitent26. She believed him.
"I do not hold grudges27, Mr. Sykes," was her reply. "I remember the matter well and I am glad to forget it, since you desire it."
"That relieves me," was the pleased reply. "I promise to observe the good old conventions in the future. There was something extenuating28, had you known it. Have you no suspicion of what a real fact lay behind that silly act? Of that fact I am not ashamed."
Mary offered no surmise29 and moved to the window, where she became absorbed in the world without.
"I want to talk some things over to-day," said he frankly30, moving to her side. "This is probably the last time I shall solicit31 your forbearance. I am leaving Pellawa.
"You know of the college years and the unswerving interest a certain student at law took in a certain small co-ed. That interest had deepened during these days in Pellawa. You and you alone, Mary McClure, are the reason for my presence here. I have been chasing the gleam. I have been bitterly disappointed. The rustic33 life has not drawn us any nearer. And yet—I—I have not thrown up the sponge. I am not resigning you, Mary. That is my purpose here to-day. I want to let you know this. I have only one objective, only one dream in the alluring34 puzzle called life, and that is, Mary McClure. My single ambition is to win you for my wife. Some day, Mary, will you marry me?"
The girl turned toward him, astounded35 at his impudence36, a flush rising in her cheeks. At sight of him she could not doubt his sincerity37.
"Mr. Sykes," she said quickly, "you have no right to make such an approach to me."
"Only the right of a mighty38 big regard that keeps on growing without any especial attention from the most desirable quarter."
She remained silent a moment, suddenly reflective.
"Perhaps you are right," she said thoughtfully. "If you are, you already know my answer. I can never become the wife of Chesley Sykes. Never."
Her manner was so emphatic39, so deliberate, that the confidence of the man received a jolt40. He heard the ring of steel on steel and looked in wonder at the dainty antagonist41.
"I am sure you will not approach me again," said she in a manner he realized was imperative42. Then she smiled. "You are Daddy's friend," said she, with a pleasant courtesy. "I will not forget that."
There followed a long silence. At length she looked up. His face was a surprise to her. There was no vexation, no displeasure. Instead, the passion of the man expressed itself in a great friendliness43. There was something else that disturbed her. It was a confidence, an assurance, a determination not to be denied.
With a shrug44 of his shoulders he seemed to throw off the gloom that attended his defeat and, smiling ingenuously45, said:
"Play for me that sweet thing you were dreaming over when I broke up your paradise."
She shook her head.
"No," was her quiet refusal. "I cannot. My mood is not musical any longer. I hear Father's bells. He will be better able to entertain you."
"Sorry you cannot draw to me to-day," said he regretfully, taking up his hat. "But your mood will change. Some day you will take a delight in delighting me. I, myself, am not now in a frame of mind to be companionable. It is better that I return to Pellawa. Give my regards to your parents. And remember," enjoined46 he with peculiar47 emphasis, "remember that I am still on the trail of my distracting little Will-o'-the-wisp."
Sykes had gone but a few minutes when Helen McClure entered. Her face was flushed and unhappy. Gathering48 Mary into her arms, she kissed her with impulsive49 tenderness.
"Whatever happens, darling," she whispered hurriedly, "follow your heart. The happiness of us all depends upon it, though it may seem otherwise."
"Mother!" said the girl, excitement welling up in her eyes. "How troubled you are! What is it?"
"I am a little anxious for you," said the mother, disengaging herself gently from Mary's clasp. "Your father has been talking to me of your prospects50. He wishes to see you in the office. He is coming now. If you follow your heart all will some day be well."
With the words she bestowed51 upon Mary a clinging caress52.
The girl walked hesitantly to the office and stood looking out of the window as she awaited her father. She was threatened with panic but grew composed as she heard his footsteps in the hall. She turned as he entered and lifted her head, meeting his great eyes with the clear gaze of her own. He, too, was steeling himself to the interview. His unsmiling face distressed53 her. Passing by her, he seated himself in his office chair and whirled about. Before he could look up to where she stood he was surprised to feel the touch of her hands upon his head. Enfolding him in her arms, she kissed his brow. A thrill swept over him. For an instant he looked with the inner eye upon his own soul. He knew it to be unnatural55, brutal56.
"Daddy!" she whispered. "Let me tell you all before you speak."
Gently, but with a steady, rigid57 motion of his hands, he pressed her back. The tenderness that had betrayed him for but an instant vanished.
"We'll see about that in a moment," was the cold reply. "I want to ask you a few questions before you tell your story. Sykes tells me he had a talk with you this afternoon."
"A diplomatic conversation," corrected Mary, with a faint smile.
"What did he say?"
"A great deal. It was not, after all, very much of a conversation. It was a declaration. I almost fancied he was issuing a veiled ultimatum58. He did, however, ask me a pointed32 question and I gave him a blunt reply."
"You refused him?"
"Yes."
"Do you know Sykes?"
"Too wisely and too well. His father is a wealthy broker59; his mother a delightful60 aristocrat61 and a very fashionable lady. They live in a dreamland on The Crescent shut in with exclusive hedges amid the bloom of wonderful flowers. Their well-trimmed terraces run down to the water's edge. Sykes is a fellow-student of some years' duration. He has seemed to take rather more than a mild interest in the lone19 hope of the McClures. But I do not like him, Dad. I like Ned."
"So they tell me."
"I love Ned, Dad," was the gentle confession62.
"But Sykes is a gentleman," said McClure testily63.
"Ned is a man. I love a man, a real man, Dad."
McClure rose to his feet, the old passion rising afresh.
"I cannot agree with you. A man would not sneak64 into the bluffs65 to be alone with the girl he respects."
The stroke drew blood. A flush swept over the sensitive face.
"I did meet Ned once alone by accident," was the admission. "At all other times Margaret Grant joined us. We have not had even these interviews for weeks."
"How long have you been encouraging Pullar?"
"Ned and I became intimate in our first year at the University."
"Why did you not tell me?"
The girl looked pleadingly into the eyes that grew each moment more chill. She halted in her reply, irresolute66 and deeply troubled. Had she the courage to drag the family skeleton into the light? She dropped her eyes and pondered. When she lifted them they were wet with tears.
"Come!" was the brusque command. "Tell me why you and Pullar skulk67 about the ravines like a pair of coyotes."
"The reason I have not confided68 in you, Father," said the girl slowly, "is because of your strange enmity for Ned. That, however, would not have been a sufficient reason had it not been for the cruel thing that has robbed Mother and me of our husband and Daddy. You have become a stranger to us. We do not tell these dear tales to—strangers. I could love you, Father, if you did not trample69 our hearts with your cruel heels."
At her words McClure shrank back. He scarcely believed his ears. Yet it was little Mary who stood before him self-possessed and unafraid, smiting70 his conscience with her gentle voice. Her eyes were imploring71 and beautiful, with a yearning72 he could not face. With an impatient shrug he turned away.
"What would we have gained," continued the girl, "had I told you of my intimacy73 with the man you hate? It would have resulted in only deeper misery74 for our home. It is cruel of me to talk like this, but it is the truth. Mother suffers continuous anguish75, hiding it from us as only her wonderful love can devise. This is my only reason for loving Ned in secret. We are not afraid to let the world know of it. It already knows. As you well know, Ned fears nothing, not even the anger of Rob McClure."
The sight of the girl with her earnest eyes and tremulous lips touched the buried ruth of the man. At her frank arraignment76 he felt the stirrings of a compunction that was new. Her piteous helplessness held off from him by his own chill unrelenting pierced him to a depth she little dreamed. The memory of her suppliant77 figure haunted him through the after years.
But he resisted. A sudden bracing78 of the unyielding will stiffened79 his wavering resolution. As is usual when a man stifles80 the inner voice, Rob McClure swung instantly to the opposite extreme. "Here," he mused81, "is this daughter of mine, browbeating82 me rather than giving me dutiful obedience83." He was about to lash23 her with scandalous insinuation when the ulterior object recurred84 to him. He forthwith tempered his rage with a wise craftiness85.
"You have given a strange reason," said he judicially86. "I will not give my consent to your friendship with such a hound. Why not consider a red-blooded man like Chesley Sykes? He is intelligent, educated, wealthy and delightfully87 congenial. In addition, he is your father's close friend. Never before have I used my authority. But now I forbid you to have anything to do with Pullar. Turn your attention to something that offers you a future."
"You mean that I must break my engagement with Ned?"
"I do," was the adamant88 response.
At the brutal tone a swift change came over the girl. While an infinite suffering looked out of her eyes she stood erect89 and proud.
"Do you also command that I shall accept Chesley Sykes in Ned's place?"
Her voice had the ring that had shaken the confidence of Sykes but a short time before. He felt the danger in it and tempered his reply.
"No, Mary! I don't command. I urge you."
"But you have as much right to command me to marry Chesley Sykes as you have to forbid my friendship with Ned Pullar. Why not, then?"
McClure paused a moment, calculating her intention.
"I have the right to do either," was the triumphant90 reply. There was a threat in his voice.
The girl looked at him a moment, her face aquiver with pain. The anguish of her emotion blanched91 cheeks and lips. She addressed him in a voice strange for its quality of renunciation.
"Father," said she, "your words are terrible to me. They mean that you would deprive me of your affection—of my home. You have not the right to command me to do a wrong. That is not the prerogative92 of even a parent. As for Chesley Sykes, I abhor93 him as unscrupulous and cruel. The more I know of him the less I can discover to admire. I will never marry him. On the other hand, some day I shall marry Ned. You misunderstand him. He is not your enemy. He would be a real friend. I shall be forced to disobey you, Father."
Reluctantly the girl turned away and walked to the door.
McClure was the victim of an overwhelming rage. Never had he been so stoutly94 withstood. It galled95 him to know that his daughter was right. In logic96 of brain and ethics97 she had worsted him. He was eager for savage98 retort, but the offer of Sykes dangled99 before him like golden fruit. The venom100 of his rage would destroy it. So he was cunning and remained silent.
"Just a moment, Mary," said he in a conciliatory voice.
She turned eagerly toward him.
"I would not force you to do anything you do not wish to do," said he. "But do not be rash. Think it all over carefully. Your home is here. It will always be so. Perhaps after a time you will be able to meet my wishes."
Bitterly disappointed, the girl turned away. She was also surprised. Her father, though beyond doubt in a violent rage, had acquiesced101 to her will. Amid all the turmoil102 of her distress54 she recalled the nonchalance103 of Chesley Sykes as she refused his proposal. As with him, her father seemed not so greatly disappointed. As she pondered the enigma104 a thought flitted into her mind that caused a cold chill to clutch at her heart.
Without a reply she passed through the door.
点击收听单词发音
1 pensively | |
adv.沉思地,焦虑地 | |
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2 dulcet | |
adj.悦耳的 | |
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3 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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4 jaunt | |
v.短程旅游;n.游览 | |
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5 lighting | |
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光 | |
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6 query | |
n.疑问,问号,质问;vt.询问,表示怀疑 | |
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7 minor | |
adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修 | |
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8 plaintive | |
adj.可怜的,伤心的 | |
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9 covert | |
adj.隐藏的;暗地里的 | |
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10 auspicious | |
adj.吉利的;幸运的,吉兆的 | |
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11 rumours | |
n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 );风闻;谣言;谣传 | |
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12 embarrassment | |
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫 | |
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13 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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14 deductions | |
扣除( deduction的名词复数 ); 结论; 扣除的量; 推演 | |
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15 obsessed | |
adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 | |
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16 banish | |
vt.放逐,驱逐;消除,排除 | |
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17 vagaries | |
n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 );异想天开;异常行为;难以预测的情况 | |
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18 disquieting | |
adj.令人不安的,令人不平静的v.使不安,使忧虑,使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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19 lone | |
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 | |
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20 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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21 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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22 salute | |
vi.行礼,致意,问候,放礼炮;vt.向…致意,迎接,赞扬;n.招呼,敬礼,礼炮 | |
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23 lash | |
v.系牢;鞭打;猛烈抨击;n.鞭打;眼睫毛 | |
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24 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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25 crave | |
vt.渴望得到,迫切需要,恳求,请求 | |
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26 penitent | |
adj.后悔的;n.后悔者;忏悔者 | |
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27 grudges | |
不满,怨恨,妒忌( grudge的名词复数 ) | |
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28 extenuating | |
adj.使减轻的,情有可原的v.(用偏袒的辩解或借口)减轻( extenuate的现在分词 );低估,藐视 | |
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29 surmise | |
v./n.猜想,推测 | |
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30 frankly | |
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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31 solicit | |
vi.勾引;乞求;vt.请求,乞求;招揽(生意) | |
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32 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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33 rustic | |
adj.乡村的,有乡村特色的;n.乡下人,乡巴佬 | |
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34 alluring | |
adj.吸引人的,迷人的 | |
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35 astounded | |
v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词);愕然;愕;惊讶 | |
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36 impudence | |
n.厚颜无耻;冒失;无礼 | |
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37 sincerity | |
n.真诚,诚意;真实 | |
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38 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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39 emphatic | |
adj.强调的,着重的;无可置疑的,明显的 | |
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40 jolt | |
v.(使)摇动,(使)震动,(使)颠簸 | |
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41 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
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42 imperative | |
n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的 | |
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43 friendliness | |
n.友谊,亲切,亲密 | |
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44 shrug | |
v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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45 ingenuously | |
adv.率直地,正直地 | |
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46 enjoined | |
v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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48 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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49 impulsive | |
adj.冲动的,刺激的;有推动力的 | |
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50 prospects | |
n.希望,前途(恒为复数) | |
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51 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52 caress | |
vt./n.爱抚,抚摸 | |
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53 distressed | |
痛苦的 | |
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54 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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55 unnatural | |
adj.不自然的;反常的 | |
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56 brutal | |
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的 | |
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57 rigid | |
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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58 ultimatum | |
n.最后通牒 | |
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59 broker | |
n.中间人,经纪人;v.作为中间人来安排 | |
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60 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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61 aristocrat | |
n.贵族,有贵族气派的人,上层人物 | |
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62 confession | |
n.自白,供认,承认 | |
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63 testily | |
adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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64 sneak | |
vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝);偷偷摸摸做;n.潜行;adj.暗中进行 | |
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65 bluffs | |
恐吓( bluff的名词复数 ); 悬崖; 峭壁 | |
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66 irresolute | |
adj.无决断的,优柔寡断的,踌躇不定的 | |
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67 skulk | |
v.藏匿;潜行 | |
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68 confided | |
v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的过去式和过去分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等) | |
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69 trample | |
vt.踩,践踏;无视,伤害,侵犯 | |
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70 smiting | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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71 imploring | |
恳求的,哀求的 | |
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72 yearning | |
a.渴望的;向往的;怀念的 | |
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73 intimacy | |
n.熟悉,亲密,密切关系,亲昵的言行 | |
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74 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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75 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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76 arraignment | |
n.提问,传讯,责难 | |
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77 suppliant | |
adj.哀恳的;n.恳求者,哀求者 | |
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78 bracing | |
adj.令人振奋的 | |
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79 stiffened | |
加强的 | |
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80 stifles | |
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的第三人称单数 ); 镇压,遏制 | |
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81 mused | |
v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事) | |
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82 browbeating | |
v.(以言辞或表情)威逼,恫吓( browbeat的现在分词 ) | |
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83 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
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84 recurred | |
再发生,复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 ); 治愈 | |
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85 craftiness | |
狡猾,狡诈 | |
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86 judicially | |
依法判决地,公平地 | |
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87 delightfully | |
大喜,欣然 | |
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88 adamant | |
adj.坚硬的,固执的 | |
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89 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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90 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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91 blanched | |
v.使变白( blanch的过去式 );使(植物)不见阳光而变白;酸洗(金属)使有光泽;用沸水烫(杏仁等)以便去皮 | |
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92 prerogative | |
n.特权 | |
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93 abhor | |
v.憎恶;痛恨 | |
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94 stoutly | |
adv.牢固地,粗壮的 | |
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95 galled | |
v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 );擦伤;烦扰;侮辱 | |
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96 logic | |
n.逻辑(学);逻辑性 | |
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97 ethics | |
n.伦理学;伦理观,道德标准 | |
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98 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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99 dangled | |
悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口 | |
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100 venom | |
n.毒液,恶毒,痛恨 | |
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101 acquiesced | |
v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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102 turmoil | |
n.骚乱,混乱,动乱 | |
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103 nonchalance | |
n.冷淡,漠不关心 | |
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104 enigma | |
n.谜,谜一样的人或事 | |
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