Jean, her strained ankle now practically recovered, was tramping along the narrow footpath5 through the cornfield, following in Blaise’s footsteps, while Nick brought up the rear of the procession. She had not seen Claire since her engagement had become an actual fact, though a characteristically warm-hearted little note from the latter had found its way to Staple6, and this morning Jean had declared her inability to exist another day “without a ‘heart-to-heart’ talk with Claire.”
Hence the afternoon’s pilgrimage across the cornfield which formed part of a short cut between Staple and Chamwood.
At first Jean had feared lest her new-found happiness might raise a barrier of sorts betwixt herself and Claire. The contrast between the respective hands that fate had dealt them was so glaring, and the rose and gold with which love had suddenly decked Jean’s own life seemed to make the bleak7 tragedy which enveloped8 Claire’s appear ever darker than before.
But Claire’s letter, full of a quiet, unselfish rejoicing in the happiness which had fallen to the lot of her friend, had somehow smoothed away the little uncomfortable feeling which, to anyone as sensitive as Jean, had been a very real embarrassment9. Nick’s felicitations, too, had been tendered with frank cordiality and affection, and with a delicate perception that had successfully concealed10 the sting of individual pain which the contrast could hardly fail to have induced.
So that it was with a considerably11 lightened heart that Jean, with her escort of two, passed between the great gates of Charnwood and, avoiding the lengthy12 walk entailed13 by following the windings14 of the drive, struck off across the velvety15 lawns—smooth stretches of close-cropped sward which, broken only by branching trees and shrubbery, and undefaced by the dreadful formality of symmetrical flower-beds, swept right up to the gravelled terrace fronting the windows of the house itself.
The two men loitered to discuss the points of a couple of young spaniels rollicking together on the grass, but Jean, eager to see Claire, smilingly declined to wait for them, and, speeding on ahead, she mounted the short flight of steps leading to the terrace from the lower level of the lawns.
Facing her, as she reached the topmost step was a glass door, giving entrance to Claire’s own particular sanctum, which usually, in summer, stood wide open to admit the soft, warm air and the fragrant16 scents17 breathed out from a border of old-fashioned flowers, sweet and prim18 and quaint19, which encircled the base of the house.
But to-day the door was shut and forbidding-looking, and Jean experienced a sudden sense of misgiving20. Supposing Claire chanced to be out just when she had arrived brimming over with the hundred little feminine confidences that were to have formed part of the “heart-to-heart” talk! It would be too aggravating21!
Her eager glance flew ahead, searching the room’s interior, clearly visible through the wide glass panel of the door. Then, with a startled cry, she halted, her hand clapped against her lips to stifle22 the involuntary exclamation23 of dismay and terror that had leapt to them.
The afternoon sunshine slanted24 in upon a picture of grotesque25 horror—-a nightmare conception that could only have sprung from the macabre26 imagination of a madman.
In the middle of the room Claire sat bound to a high-backed chair, secured by cords which cut cruelly across her slender body. Her face had assumed a curious ashen27 shade, and her eyes were fixed28 in a numbed29 look of fascinated terror upon the tall, angular figure of her husband, which pranced30 in front of her jerkily, like a marionette31, while he threatened her with a revolver, his thin lips, smiling cruelly, drawn32 back from his teeth like those of a snarling33 animal.
He was addressing her in queer, high-pitched tones that had something inhuman34 about them—the echoing, empty sound of a voice no longer controlled by a reasoning brain.
“And you needn’t worry that Mr. Brennan will be overwhelmed with grief at your early demise35. He won’t—te-he-he!”—he gave a foolish, cackling laugh—“he won’t have time to miss you much! I’ll attend to that—I’ll attend to that! There’ll be a second bullet for your dear friend, Mr. Brennan.” ... Crack! The sharp report of a revolver shattered the summer silence as Jean sprang forward and wrenched36 at the handle of the door. But it refused to yield. It had been locked upon the inside!
Then, as the smoke cleared away, she saw that Claire was Unhurt. Sir Adrian had deliberately37 fired above her head and was now rocking his long, lean body to and fro in a paroxysm of horrible, noiseless mirth. Evidently he purposed to amuse himself by inflicting38 the torture of suspense39 upon his victim before he actually murdered her, for Latimer had been at one time an expert revolver shot, and, even drug-ridden as he had since become, he could not well have missed his helpless target by accident.
Claire’s head had fallen back, but no merciful oblivion of unconsciousness had come to her relief. Her mouth was a little open and the breath came in short, quick gasps40 between her grey lips. Her face looked like a mask, set in a blank stupor41 of horror.
The sound of the shot brought Blaise and Nick racing42 to Jean’s side. One glance through the glass door sufficed them.
“God in heaven! He’s gone mad!” Nick’s voice was quick with fear for the woman he loved.
“Get Tucker here at once!”
Blaise’s swift command, flung at her as he and Nick leaped forward, sent Jean flying along the terrace as fast as feet winged with unutterable terror could carry her. As she ran, she heard the crash of splintering glass as the two men she had left behind smashed in the panel of the locked door, and, almost simultaneously43, Sir Adrian’s pistol barked again—another shot, and then a third in quick succession.
The sound seemed to wring44 every nerve in her body... had that madman shot him?
With sobbing45 breath she rushed blindly on into the house and met the butler, running too, white faced and horror-stricken.
“My God, miss! Sir Adrian’s murdering her ladyship—and the room door’s locked!”
The man almost babbled46 out the words in his extremity47 of fear.
“The terrace door... Quick, Tucker!”—Jean gasped48 out the order. “Mr. Brennan’s there they’ve broken in the glass...”
Not waiting to hear the end of the sentence, Tucker bolted out of the hall and along the terrace, while Jean leaned up against the doorway49 drawing long, shuddering50 breaths that seemed actually to tear their way through her throat and yet brought no relief to the agonised thudding of her heart. For the moment she was physically51 unable to run another yard.
But her mind was working with abnormal clarity and swiftness. This was her doing—hers! If she had not dissuaded52 Nick that day when he had proposed taking Claire away with him, all this would never have happened.... Claire would have been safe—safe! But she had interfered53, clinging to her belief that no real good ever came by doing wrong, and now her creed54 had failed her utterly55. Nick’s resistance of temptation was culminating in a ghastly tragedy that might have been avoided. To Jean it seemed in that moment as if her world were falling in ruins about her.
Sick with apprehension56, she almost reeled out again into the mocking summer sunlight, and, running as fast as the convulsive throbbing57 of her heart would let her, regained58 the far end of the terrace and peered through the door that led into Claire’s room.
Its great panes59 were shattered. Jagged teeth and spites of glass stuck out from the wooden framework, while here and there, dependent from them, were bits of cloth tom from the men’s coats as they had scrambled60 through.
Within the room Jean could discern a confused hurly-burly of swaying, writhing61 figures—Blaise and Nick and the butler struggling to overpower Sir Adrian, who was fighting them with all the cunning and the amazing strength of madness. From beyond came the clamour of people battering62 uselessly at the door, the shrill63, excited voices of the frightened servants who had collected in the hall outside the room.
For a few breathless seconds Jean was in doubt—wondered wildly whether Sir Adrian would succeed in breaking away from his captors. Then she saw Nick’s foot shoot out suddenly like the piston-rod of an engine, and Sir Adrian staggered and came crashing down on to his knees. The other two closed in upon him swiftly, and a minute later he was lying prone64 on his back with the three men holding him down by main force.
With difficulty avoiding the protruding65 pieces of glass, Jean stepped into the room. Her first thought was for Claire, who now hung helpless and unconscious against the bonds that held her. But Blaise very speedily directed her attention to something of more urgent importance for the moment.
“Unlock that door,” he called to her. “Quick!” He was still panting from the exertion66 of the recent struggle. “Get a rope of some sort!”
Jean turned the key and tore open the door leading into the hall. The little flock of servants gathered outside it overflowed67 into the room, frightened and excitedly inquisitive68.
“Get some cord, one of you,” commanded Jean authoratively. “Anything will do if it’s strong.”
Two or three of the servants broke away from the main body and ran frantically69 in search of the required cord, glad to be of use, and very soon Sir Adrian, bound as humanely70 as his struggles rendered possible, was borne to his own room and laid upon his bed.
“Ring up the doctor,” ordered Blaise, as he assisted in the rather difficult process of conveying Sir Adrian upstairs. “Tell him to come to Charnwood as quickly as he can get here.” And another eager little detachment of domestics flew off to carry out his bidding. The under-footman won the race for the telephone by a good half-yard, and, in a voice which fairly twittered with the agitating71 and amazing news he had to impart, transmitted the message to the doctor’s parlour-maid at the other end of the wire, adding a few picturesque72 and stimulating73 details concerning the struggle which had just taken place—and which, apparently, he had perceived with the eye of faith through the wooden panels of the locked door.
Meanwhile Nick and Jean had turned their attention towards releasing Claire, who, as the last of her bonds was cut, toppled forward in a dead faint into the former’s arms.
A second procession wended its way upstairs, Nick bearing the slight, unconscious figure in his arms while Jean and a kindly-faced housemaid followed.
“Her ladyship’s maid is out, miss,” volunteered the girl. “But perhaps I can help?”
Jean smiled at her, the frank, friendly smile that always won for her the eager, willing service of man and maid alike.
“I’m sure you can,” she said gently. “As soon as we can bring her ladyship round, you shall help me undress her and put her to bed.”
In a few minutes Claire recovered consciousness, but she was horribly shaken and distraught, crying and clinging to Jean or to the housemaid—who was almost crying, too, out of sympathy—like a child frightened by the dark.
Jean, understanding just what was needed, shepherded Nick to the door of the room, where he lingered unhappily, his anxious gaze still fixed on the slender, shrinking figure upon the couch.
“Don’t worry, Nick,” she said reassuringly74. “She’ll he all right; it’s only reaction. But I know what she wants—she wants a real mother-person. Go down and ring up Lady Anne, will you, and ask her to come over in the car as quickly as she can.”
Nick nodded; the idea commended itself to him. His “pale golden narcissus,” so nearly broken, would be safe indeed with the kind, comforting arms of his mother about her.
It was an intense relief to Jean when Lady Anne arrived and quietly and efficiently75 took command of affairs. And there was sore need for her unruffled poise76 and capability77 throughout the night that followed.
Claire, nervous and utterly unstrung, slept but little, waking constantly with a cry of terror as in imagination she relived the ordeal78 of the afternoon, while in the big bedroom across the landing, where her husband lay, the grim shadow of death itself was drawing momentarily closer.
By the time the doctor had arrived in answer to the summons sent, there seemed small need for the strong cords with which Sir Adrian’s limbs were bound. The wild fury of the afternoon’s struggle had thoroughly79 exhausted80 him, and he lay, propped81 up with pillows, apparently in a state of stupor, breathing very feebly.
“Heart,” the doctor told Tormarin after he had made a swift examination. “I’ve known for months that Sir Adrian might go out at any moment. His heart was already impaired82, and, of course, he’s drugged for years. He may recover a little, but if, as I think is highly probable, there’s any recurrence83 of the brain disturbance—why, he’ll not live out a second paroxysm. The heart won’t stand it.”
Tormarin endeavoured to look appropriately shocked. But the doctor was a man and an honest one, and not even professional etiquette84 prevented his adding, with a jerk of his head in the direction of Claire’s bedroom:
“It would be a merciful deliverance for that poor little woman. There’s a strain of madness in the Latimer’s you know. And”—with a shrug—“naturally Sir Adrian’s habits have accentuated85 it in his own case.”
But the doctor was mistaken in his calculations. Sir Adrian’s constitution was stronger than he estimated. As Nick had once bitterly commented to Jean, the man was like a piece of steel wire, and two dreadful outbreaks of maniacal86 fury had to be endured before the wire began to weaken.
During the course of the first paroxysm it was all the four men could do to restrain him from leaping from the bed and rushing out of the room, since, during the period of quiescence87 which had preceded the doctor’s arrival, a mistaken feeling of humanity had dictated88 the loosening of the cords which bound him.
He fought and screamed, uttering the most horrible imprecations, and his evil intent towards the woman who was his wife was unmistakable. With her husband free to work his will, Claire’s life would not have been worth a moment’s purchase.
In the period of coma89 that succeeded this outbreak Sir Adrian, was again secured, as mercifully as possible, from any possibility of doing his wife a mischief90, and the second paroxysm which convulsed the bound and shackled91 madman was very terrible to witness.
Like its predecessor92, this attack was followed by a stupor, during which Sir Adrian appeared more dead than alive.
He was palpably weaker, restoratives failing to produce any appreciable93 effect, and towards morning, in those chill, small hours when the powers of the body languish94 and fail, the crazed and self-tormented spirit of Adrian Latimer quitted a world in which he had been able to perceive none of those things that are just and pure and lovely and of good report, but only distrust and malice95 and, finally, black hatred96.
A fortnight had come and gone. Sir Adrian’s body had been laid to rest in Coombe Eavie churchyard, and Claire, in the simplest of widow’s weeds, went about once more, looking rather frail97 and worn-out but with a fugitive98 light of happiness on her face that was a source of rejoicing to those who loved her.
She made no pretence99 at mourning the man who had turned her life into a living hell for nearly three years and who stood like a gaoler betwixt her and the happiness which might have been hers had she been free. But the conventions, as well as her own feelings, dictated that a decent interval100 must elapse before she and Nick could be married, and this would be for her a quiet period dedicated101 to the readjustment of her whole attitude towards life.
The length of that period was the subject of considerable discussion. Nick protested that six months was amply long enough to wait—too long indeed!—but Claire herself seemed disposed to prolong her widowhood into a year.
“It isn’t in the least because I feel I owe it to Adrian,” she said in answer to Nick’s protest. “I don’t consider that I owe him anything at all. But I feel so battered102, Nick, so utterly tired and weary after the perpetual struggle of the last three years that I don’t want to plunge103 suddenly into the new duties of a new life—not even into new happiness. It’s difficult to make you understand, but I feel just like a sponge which has soaked up all it can and simply can’t absorb any more of anything. You must let me have time for the past to evaporate a bit.”
But it required the addition of a few common-sense observations on the part of Lady Anne to drive the nail home.
“Claire is quite right, Nick,” she told him. “She is temporarily worn out—mentally, physically and spiritually spent. Her nerves have been kept at their utmost stretch off and on for years, and now that release has come they’ve collapsed104 like a fiddle-string when the peg105 that holds it taut106 is loosened. You must give her time to recover, to key herself up to normal pitch again. At present she isn’t fit to face even the demands that big happiness brings in its train.”
So Nick had perforce to bow to Claire’s decision, and it was settled that for the first month of two, at least, of her widowhood Jean should remove herself and her belongings107 from Staple and bear her company at Chamwood. And meanwhile Nick and Claire would spend many peaceful hours together of quiet happiness and companionship, while Claire, as she herself expressed it, “rebuilt her soul.”
To Jean the issue of events had brought nothing but pure joy. Her belief had been justified108, and the grim gateway109 of death had become for these two friends of hers the gateway to happiness.
She had neither seen nor heard anything from Burke since the day she had fled from him on the Moor110, although indirectly111 she had discovered that he had quitted the bungalow112 the day following that of her flight from it and had gone to London.
Judith sent her a brief, rather formal letter of congratulation upon her engagement, but in it she made no reference to him nor did she endeavour to explain away or palliate her own share in his scheme to force Jean’s hand. Probably? an odd kind of loyalty113 to her brother prevented her from clearing herself at his expense, added to a certain dogged pride which refused to let her extenuate114 any action of hers; to the daughter of Glyn Peterson.
But none of these things had any power to hurt Jean now. In her new-born happiness she felt that she could find it in her heart to forgive anybody anything! She was even conscious of a certain tentative understanding and indulgence for Burke himself. He had only used the “primitive man” methods his temperament115 dictated in his effort to win the woman he wanted for his wife. And he had failed. Just now, Jean could not help sympathising with anybody who had failed to find the happiness that love bestows116.
She reflected that the old gipsy on the Moor had been wonderfully correct in her prophecy concerning Nick and Claire. The sun was “shin’ butivul” for them at last, just as she had assured them that it would.
And, with the same, came a sudden little clutch of fear at Jean’s heart, like the touch of a strange hand. The gipsy had had other words for her—harsher, less sweet-sounding.
“For there’s darkness comin’... black darkness.”
She shivered a little. She felt as though a breath of cold air had passed over her, chilling the warm blood that ran so joyously117 in her veins118.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
justify
|
|
| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
repented
|
|
| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
footpath
|
|
| n.小路，人行道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
staple
|
|
| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
bleak
|
|
| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
enveloped
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
embarrassment
|
|
| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
lengthy
|
|
| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
entailed
|
|
| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
windings
|
|
| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
velvety
|
|
| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
scents
|
|
| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
prim
|
|
| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
misgiving
|
|
| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
aggravating
|
|
| adj.恼人的，讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
stifle
|
|
| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
slanted
|
|
| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
grotesque
|
|
| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
macabre
|
|
| adj.骇人的，可怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ashen
|
|
| adj.灰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
numbed
|
|
| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
pranced
|
|
| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
marionette
|
|
| n.木偶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
snarling
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
inhuman
|
|
| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
demise
|
|
| n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
inflicting
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gasps
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
stupor
|
|
| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
wring
|
|
| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
babbled
|
|
| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
shuddering
|
|
| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
physically
|
|
| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
dissuaded
|
|
| 劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
interfered
|
|
| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
creed
|
|
| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
throbbing
|
|
| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
panes
|
|
| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
writhing
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
battering
|
|
| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
prone
|
|
| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
protruding
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
exertion
|
|
| n.尽力，努力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
overflowed
|
|
| 溢出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
inquisitive
|
|
| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
humanely
|
|
| adv.仁慈地；人道地；富人情地；慈悲地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
agitating
|
|
| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
stimulating
|
|
| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
reassuringly
|
|
| ad.安心，可靠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
efficiently
|
|
| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
capability
|
|
| n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
propped
|
|
| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
impaired
|
|
| adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
recurrence
|
|
| n.复发，反复，重现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
etiquette
|
|
| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
accentuated
|
|
| v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
maniacal
|
|
| adj.发疯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
quiescence
|
|
| n.静止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
dictated
|
|
| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
coma
|
|
| n.昏迷，昏迷状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
shackled
|
|
| 给（某人）带上手铐或脚镣( shackle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
predecessor
|
|
| n.前辈，前任 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
appreciable
|
|
| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
languish
|
|
| vi.变得衰弱无力，失去活力，（植物等）凋萎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
malice
|
|
| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
fugitive
|
|
| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
pretence
|
|
| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
dedicated
|
|
| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
battered
|
|
| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
plunge
|
|
| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
collapsed
|
|
| adj.倒塌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
peg
|
|
| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
taut
|
|
| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
belongings
|
|
| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
gateway
|
|
| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
moor
|
|
| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
indirectly
|
|
| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
bungalow
|
|
| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
loyalty
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
extenuate
|
|
| v.减轻，使人原谅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
temperament
|
|
| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
bestows
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
joyously
|
|
| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |